The Stars Cry For You

Ren wiped the sweat off his forehead, leaning against the open cargo bay of his ship as he surveyed the crates stacked neatly inside. The materials gleamed under the faint light of Tadmor's twin moons, the culmination of days spent scouring the planet with the help of the locals.

"Alright, old man Jora, this is where we part ways," Ren said, turning to the elder who had come to see him off. "Thanks for the hospitality and the help. I'll be sure to put all this to good use."

Jora inclined his head, his metallic skin catching the moonlight. "Safe travels, star-walker. May the skies be kind to you."

With a final wave, Ren ascended the ship's ramp, sealing it behind him. He settled into the pilot's seat and powered up the engines, the vessel rumbling to life. As the ship rose above the treetops, he glanced down at the clearing one last time, the firelight and figures growing smaller and smaller until they disappeared.

Slumping back in his chair, Ren exhaled deeply. "Well, that's another one for the books. Finally found the stuff I was looking for."

[The exterior thruster components can now be fully repaired,] Aria chimed in. [However, the warp engine will require further work. The damage is too extensive for the current materials to suffice.]

"Yeah, yeah, I know," Ren said, stretching his arms above his head. "At least the exterior's done. That asteroid belt had me on edge for days. Damn thing nearly turned me into stardust."

[The ceramite deposits were a fortunate find,] Aria continued. [I did not anticipate such a large amount to be available on a planet of this technological level.]

Ren frowned slightly, tapping his fingers on the console. "Yeah, makes you wonder, doesn't it? But hey, I'm not complaining."

The ship broke through the atmosphere, the vast expanse of space stretching endlessly before him. Ren set the coordinates for his next destination, inputting them into the navigation system.

"Next stop: Quadrant 4-C. The Cygnus system better have the tools I need to get this warp engine back in action."

The ship accelerated, stars streaking past the viewport as it sped away.

One thing about the Cygnus system: it was hot as hell. The blue star that Ortheon-456B orbited was definitely not in the Goldilocks zone, at least not for humans. Even with the ship's state-of-the-art insulation, the heat seeped through, making it just uncomfortable enough for Ren to feel sluggish.

He wiped the sweat off his brow, muttering under his breath as he worked on a device he'd been tinkering with for a few days. "Yeah, I definitely don't miss this place. Feels like a damn sauna."

The planet was classified as Class B, technologically advanced but environmentally hostile for most life forms without proper gear. Still, the one upside was that it had everything he needed. If there was a place to find the parts to fix his warp engine, this was it.

As his ship touched down at the sprawling port outside the city of Thermos Vek, Ren couldn't help but sigh. "Alright, let's make this quick. In and out."

Walking through the streets, he was struck by how bustling the city was, despite the oppressive heat. Crowds of aliens, each stranger than the next, filled the narrow pathways, some haggling loudly while others darted between shops and stalls. Ren kept his head down, trying to recall where the shop he needed was located.

After wandering for a while, he finally spotted the sign he was looking for. Pushing open the door, a wave of cold, artificial air hit him, offering a brief reprieve from the outside heat.

The moment he stepped inside, however, the room went quiet. All eyes turned toward him, the conversations and clinks of metal abruptly halting.

The shop was packed with beings of all shapes and sizes—slender, towering figures with insect-like limbs, bulky creatures with scales and tusks, and even a few humanoid ones with odd-colored skin and extra appendages. Yet, despite the variety, Ren could tell he was the odd one out.

"They've probably never even heard of humans out here," he muttered under his breath, scanning the room. "Much less seen one."

Judging by their scars, weapons, and hardened expressions, most of the patrons looked like bounty hunters or mercenaries—definitely not the friendly type. Ren ignored their stares and headed straight for the counter, his eyes darting over the various mechanical parts on display.

Ren leaned against the counter, tapping his fingers impatiently. "I'm looking for a nickel-cadmium supercapacitor with titanium shelling," he said, keeping his tone casual.

The shopkeeper, a grizzled alien with dark, leathery skin and three glowing eyes, tilted his head. "That's a premium part. Pricey."

Ren shrugged. "Yeah, I figured. Just add it to the tab."

As the shopkeeper rummaged through the back for the part, Ren scanned the shelves and picked out a few more materials he needed for his ongoing project. By the time the shopkeeper returned, Ren had a small pile of components ready to go.

"That's everything. Pack it up," Ren said, sliding a credit chip across the counter.

The shopkeeper began boxing the items, and Ren leaned back, letting his gaze drift across the room. That's when he noticed it—someone was staring at him.

The figure was unmistakable. A myrmidde, an ant-like alien species. Ren's mind raced as recognition clicked. 'They're native to the Milky Way. What the hell is one doing here?'

His heart sank. 'Shit'.

Ren kept his movements casual, but his focus was sharp. He quickly grabbed his packed items and headed for the exit, trying not to draw attention.

Behind him, the myrmidde wasn't subtle. It followed him, clicking its mandibles and whispering into a communicator.

Great. 'Calling in backup.'

Ren's pace quickened as he weaved through the bustling port, the oppressive heat doing little to help his nerves. If it came down to it, he'd fight them, but he knew he couldn't rely on the warp engine to make a proper escape. At best, it could cover 15 light-years before stalling. Not nearly enough.

He boarded his ship in record time, slamming the hatch shut behind him. "Aria, we've got company. Get us out of here, now."

[Engines firing. Plotting escape route.]

As the ship lifted off, Ren glanced at the sensor display. Two ships were already following him. His stomach dropped when he recognized the design: Galactic Union standard ships. If they didn't know I was here before, they sure do now.

"Damn," he muttered, gripping the edge of the console. "They're closing in fast.Aria take the wheel and open the rear bay."

[Opening rear bay as requested.]

Ren made his way to the back of the ship, the open bay revealing the two pursuing vessels in the distance. He stretched his hand forward, his fingers splayed. "Sorry about this, guys," he muttered under his breath.

With a quick motion, he closed his hand into a fist. The two ships slammed into each other violently, their hulls crunching and warping. In seconds, they collapsed into a sphere of mangled metal before exploding in a blinding flash.

Ren shielded his eyes, then sighed heavily as he wiped sweat from his brow. "Didn't want to do that, but it's them or me."

Later, he slumped back into the pilot's seat covered in coolant from the engine room. 'Finally fixed', he thought, glancing at the now-functioning warp console.

[Course set for Earth. Ready to initiate warp.]

Ren took a deep breath. "Let's go home."