UGT: 31th Ascent 280 a.G.A. / 01:12 p.m.

  Location: trade road near the Aurolin Ruins, Au'Shalis Prime, Clinton's Beak system (red dwarf), Republic of Nox, Second Human Federation, Milky Way

  The truck’s low hum reverberated through the uneven terrain, a sound that might have been soothing under different circumstances. Instead it was drowned out by the drumming of my pulse and the muffled roar of blood in my ears. The driver kept his eyes on the road but I caught him stealing glances at me through the rearview mirror, his expression torn between curiosity and unease. The cargo bed was cramped, filled with stacked crates of rations, machine parts and what looked like medical supplies. The sharp scent of oil mixed with the faint metallic tang of blood, a reminder that my bandages weren’t holding as well as they should.

  “Hey,” the driver called, his gravelly voice cutting through the silence. “You sure you’re not dying back there?”

  I shifted, biting back a groan as my side protested the movement. “I’ve had worse,” I lied, though I wasn’t sure who I was trying to convince. Based on the short time of my life I could currently remember? No, I hadn't. He snorted, unimpressed. Obviously knowing very well that I had just lied to him.

  “You’ve got guts, I’ll give you that. Most folks who crawl outta those ruins end up much less alive than you. At least that's the theory, after all no one else made it out again before. The few times the SHF actually managed to get people inside the ruins, who knows how, they at least didn't come back. What’s your story?”, the driver askek, clearly driven by his curiosity.

  “Just passing through. Bad timing, that’s all. There's no interesting story to tell, I'm afraid,” I said, leaning my head back against the cool metal of the truck’s side. The driver’s eyes narrowed.

  “Yeah, well, bad timing doesn’t usually involve SHF drones chasing someone. Whatever mess you’re in, I don’t want it spilling onto my rig.”, he said.

  [ He’s not wrong. You’re a walking disaster zone right now. And speaking of disasters, the SHF isn’t far behind. That drone we ditched probably sent your location back and well... There's only a single road. Not hard to guess the correct way to take. ]

  I grimaced, running a hand through my matted hair. What were my odds of staying ahead of them in this truck?

  [ Slim to none. This thing’s about as fast as a glacier. ]

  The driver must have noticed the shift in my expression and muttered a curse under his breath. He obviously didn't appreciate my intrusion on his comparatively peaceful life.

  “Listen, if you’re planning to jump ship, do it soon. A good junction's coming up in around two kilometers. After that it’s open road and you’re on your own.”, he said gruffly. I nodded, my decision already made. Staying on the truck was a death sentence. If the SHF caught up, they wouldn’t hesitate to tear through this rig to get to me. And not much later, we reached the junction the driver had talked about.

  The truck slowed as we approached, its engines emitting a low whine. The terrain was rough, the ground uneven with jagged rocks and patches of loose gravel. Ahead, the road split into two paths: one leading deeper into the trade routes, the other winding into the barren wilderness. The driver brought the truck to a halt, glancing back at me one last time. “This is your stop, buddy. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  “Thanks for the lift,” I said, hauling myself over the side of the cargo bed. My legs wobbled as I hit the ground, but I forced myself upright, leaning on the crates for balance. My choice was made, I wasn't going to go back on it. The driver didn’t linger. The truck’s engines roared to life and it sped off down the trade road, leaving a trail of dust in its wake. I watched it go, a pang of regret tightening in my chest. Alone again.But it was the best option I had. The wilderness stretched out before me, an expanse of jagged cliffs and dry cracked earth. Fen’s guidance pinged in my neural interface, overlaying a faint red line on my vision.

  [ You need to move. The SHF’s scout drones will sweep this area soon, I believe. We’ve got twenty kilometers to cover before we reach the next shuttle station and our only way back to New Hamton. If you push hard, you’ll make it in four hours. ]

  I adjusted the straps of my pack, wincing as the motion pulled at my injuries. “Let’s hope you’re right," I muttered. The first few steps were agony. My leg throbbed with every movement and my side burned beneath the makeshift bandages. But I gritted my teeth and pressed on, each step taking me farther from the junction and closer to whatever slim chance of survival lay ahead. The sun beat down mercilessly, casting sharp shadows across the barren landscape. Each step felt like dragging a lead weight, the combination of my injuries and the unyielding terrain sapping my strength faster than I could have imagined. The cracked earth beneath my boots seemed to stretch endlessly, broken only by the occasional jagged outcrop or twisted remnants of ancient vegetation. The neural overlay from Fen was my only guide, a faint red line hovering just above the ground. It wove through the wilderness with purpose, avoiding the obvious paths and weaving around exposed ridges that could leave me visible to SHF scout drones.

  [ Pace yourself. If you push too hard now, you won’t make it to the station.]

  I didn’t respond. Talking, even to him, felt like too much effort. Instead, I focused on the rhythm of my steps, the steady crunch of boots on gravel. My mind wandered as I walked, flitting between fragmented memories and the sharp, immediate reality of the wilderness. An hour later, the first sign of trouble came as a low, mechanical hum. I froze, crouching low behind a jagged boulder as the sound grew louder. Fen’s interface pinged urgently, marking the source of the noise. It was a sleek SHF scout drone gliding just above the ridgeline to my left.

  [ Stay still. It’s scanning. Heat signatures, motion sensors, probably other things as well. You move now and it’ll find you for sure. ]

  I held my breath, willing myself to become part of the landscape. The drone hovered, its metallic shell glinting in the sunlight. Its optical sensors swept the area, pausing for a heart-stopping moment in my direction. My pulse thundered in my ears, drowning out everything else, as much as I tried to surpress it. Then, just as suddenly as it had appeared, the drone veered away, continuing its patrol along the ridge. I didn’t dare move until the hum faded completely. “Fen, are there any more of those ahead?", I finally whispered.

  Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

  [ Hard to say. SHF’s drone patterns are probably quite erratic. Best assume they’re everywhere and act accordingly. ]

  I sighed and pushed forward, sticking to the low ground whenever possible. The terrain grew more challenging as the sun walked over the horizon, starting to cast shadows that played tricks on my vision. Loose rocks shifted underfoot, threatening to send me sprawling with every misstep. By the time I reached the halfway point, my body was screaming for rest. A shallow gully provided a brief reprieve, its cool shade a welcome contrast to the relentless heat. I slumped against the rock wall, resting for a moment.

  [ You’ve got about ten kilometers left. You’re making good time. Just keep it up. ]

  “Easy for you to say. You’re not the one doing the walking," I muttered slightly spiteful.

  [ True, but I am the one keeping an eye on your vitals. And they’re… well, let’s just say you’ve been better. ]

  A faint grin tugged at the corner of my mouth despite myself. Fen did have a way with words, didn't he? My reprieve didn’t last much longer. A sharp beep from Fen’s interface jolted me upright.

  [ Incoming! Two drones, approaching fast. No time to hide, you’ve got to run! ]

  I didn’t hesitate. Pain and exhaustion fell away as adrenaline surged through my veins. I scrambled out of the gully, following the red line that Fen adjusted on the fly. The hum of the drones grew louder, closer, until I could almost feel the vibrations in the air. The ground sloped upward ahead, a narrow ridge offering the only escape. I pushed myself harder, my lungs burning with every ragged breath. The drones’ sensors pinged behind me, their pursuit relentless.

  “Fen! Any ideas?” I gasped, slightly desperate.

  [ Just one. There’s a cave system up ahead. If you can make it there, you might lose them in the tunnels. ]

  Better than nothing. The ridge leveled out, revealing the dark mouth of a cave nestled against the cliffside. The drones were almost on top of me as I reached the entrance, their searchlights slicing through the gathering darkness. I dove inside, the cool air of the cave enveloping me like a second skin. The drones hesitated at the threshold, their sensors seemingly struggling to penetrate the dense rock.

  [ Keep moving. They’ll call for reinforcements if they lose you, if they didn't already the moment they spotted you. You’ve got to put as much distance as you can between yourself and this spot or the SFH ground troops will be upon you in no time. ]

  I stumbled deeper into the cave, the sound of the drones fading behind me. For now, I was safe. But the shuttle station was still ten kilometers away, and the SHF wasn’t going to give up that easily. The cave’s damp air clung to my skin as I pressed forward, each step an act of will. Fen’s guidance flickered in my vision, a faint overlay showing the path through the rocky terrain ahead.

  [ You’re almost out. The drones are still tracking you, though. You’ll need to lose them before we reach the station. If they spot you boarding a shuttle, this whole escape goes down in flames. ]

  “How close are they?” I asked, my voice tight.

  [ Close enough that you don’t have time to second-guess. Two scout drones are sweeping the area. Notihing else is even near though, which is suspicious. I would have thought the'd make you a high priority target, but seemingly not. ]

  The exit loomed ahead, sunlight spilling through the jagged opening. I quickened my pace, wincing as my side throbbed with each step. The hum of the drones grew louder, their sleek forms darting into view as I emerged from the cave. The barren landscape offered little cover. A rocky outcrop to the left and a shallow depression beyond it were my only viable options.

  [ Head for the rocks. I’ll jam their sensors as best I can, but you’ll need to finish them off. ]

  The drones swooped low, their engines emitting a sharp mechanical whine. I dove behind the outcrop, pressing my back against the cool stone. Fen’s interference caused their movements to stutter, the drones hesitating as they struggled to recalibrate. I gripped the disintegrator, its weight a comforting presence despite the strain on my injured side. The weapon’s blade gleamed in the sunlight, a last-resort tool for close combat. The first drone swept around the rock, its sensors locking onto my position.

  I raised the disintegrator, aiming for its sleek, metallic body. A burst of energy erupted from the weapon’s barrel, but the drone darted to the side, evading the shot. “Come on,” I muttered, adjusting my aim for a second shot. Suddenly, the weapon’s hum sputtered, the charge fading as its core overloaded.

  [ The disintegrator’s fried! We overused it massively in the Aurolin Ruins, especially with you using it as a makeshift close-quarters weapon. Not something it was designed for. You’re going to have to take the drones down the hard way! ]

  “Great,” I hissed. I truly was out of luck. Instantly I swotched the disintegrators mode for close quarter brawls. Than I deactivated all safeguards, loading up the core again. Instantly, a small flickering transperent blade formed. Way less energy hungry and more stable than disintegration beams. The weapon wasn't designed to be used as a racket, but it could be used as a small sword. I just didn't have much time to change the modes in the ruins, given how fast the Aetherian drones were compared to the SHF drones.

  Still, my time was limited even with the SHF drones. The drone swooped closer, its whirring engines drowning out all other sounds. I lunged forward, slashing at its undercarriage. Sparks flew as the blade connected, severing one of its stabilizers. The drone wobbled, struggling to maintain altitude. I didn’t give it a chance to recover. Gripping the disintegrator’s hilt tightly, I plunged the blade into its central processor. The drone shuddered violently before crashing to the ground in a shower of sparks. One down, one to go.

  Suddenly the disintegrator grew increasingly hot in my hand and I threw it far away. Not a second to early as just a few seconds later, the entire disintegrator went uo in a violent explosion. I had overloaded the core completely and now had no weapon left. The second drone circled high above, its sensors scanning the area. I darted toward the shallow depression, my boots kicking up dust as I slid into the dry creek bed. The drone’s shadow loomed overhead, its targeting systems locking onto me. “Fen, options?” I asked, my breath ragged.

  [ There’s a metal pipe buried in the debris to your left. It’s sturdy enough to take out the drone if you can time it right. ]

  I spotted the pipe half-buried in the dirt. The drone hovered lower, its sleek frame glinting in the fading sunlight. I grabbed the pipe, hefting its weight as the drone closed in. Its targeting laser flickered, locking onto my chest. “Now or never,” I muttered, bracing myself. The drone lunged forward and I swung the pipe with all my strength. The metal connected with a sickening crunch, smashing into the drone’s sensor array. It spun wildly, its engines sputtering as it crashed into the creek bed. For a moment, I stood frozen, the pipe still in my hands. The drone’s remains sparked and hissed, the scent of burning circuitry filling the air.

  [ That’s the last of them. For now, you're clear. Nothing else is close. But let’s not wait around for them to send reinforcements. Though I still think that's highly suspicious. ]

  I dropped the pipe, wiping sweat from my brow. My body ached, every movement a reminder of the injuries I’d sustained. But the path ahead was clear. “Let’s get to that shuttle station. I'll be just thankful for having luck for once and won't question it further,” I said, my voice firm despite the exhaustion threatening to pull me under. In the shuttle station, I would see how to continue from here.