Return From Exile

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

The scent of coffee lingered in the air, half-empty mugs abandoned on the table. Garen, Conus, and Klamarez stood around, their attention fixed on the spot Klamarez had pointed out moments earlier. At first glance, the floor looked no different from the rest of the room, blending seamlessly.

Conus had thought Klamarez was joking—until his augmented eye caught the faint outline of a square hatch beneath the surface. How did I miss this?

His augments hadn't just restored his abilities; they'd enhanced them. But sometimes, Conus questioned their true purpose.

Klamarez knelt, claws extending as he slid his fingers under the seam and lifted the panel.

"Where does this lead?" Conus asked. "A cave?"

Klamarez chuckled and glanced at Garen, who responded with a short laugh. With the floor panel removed, a dark, marbled hatch was revealed. No visible lock—just a lever. Klamarez pulled out his PDA, activated a command, and a heavy click echoed through the room as the locks disengaged. A low, rolling sound followed as the hatch loosened.

"Is that Rinorite?" Conus asked, his eyes scanning the material.

"Ever seen it before?" His curiosity hard to miss.

"No, never thought I would." Conus tilted his head. Rinorite was rare—highly prized for its strength.

"Not many do," Garen said, shifting the topic. "I remember when you started putting the ship together. Wasn't long after I arrived, right?"

"Seemed impossible back then," Klamarez replied.

Klamarez had never expected Garen to stay on Chiex this long. There were times he'd seen Garen think about leaving, but somehow, he'd stuck around—almost as if he was waiting, outlasting them all until they finally came back, asking for his help. If they'd asked nine years ago, would he have gone? Klamarez wondered.

Now Garen's time on Chiex was ending. The thought unsettled Klamarez. What does this mean for me? We're heading to Rhyus, aren't we? His stomach tightened. What have I agreed to?

Klamarez gripped the lever and pulled. The metal creaked as the hatch opened. Garen descended first, followed by Conus. The ladder led into a narrow, square tunnel. Once they reached the bottom, the hatch clicked shut, the locks sliding back into place.

They stood in a small, well-lit chamber with a single door ahead. Klamarez stepped off the ladder, pulled out his PDA, and entered a few commands. A series of sharp clicks echoed as the locks disengaged. He pocketed the device and yanked the lever, swinging the door open. Once inside, he sealed it behind them.

The hallway was cluttered but organized, lined with shelves packed with spare parts, gears, and wiring. Despite the cramped space, everything had its place.

As they moved deeper, the corridor split at an intersection. Conus slowed, drawn to the half-finished projects scattered around. A partially built Synthetic caught his eye—a red frame, missing legs, its eyes narrow and lifeless.

"That's an Assault model," Conus said, inspecting the Synthetic. "A Render."

"I've been working on it for a while," Klamarez replied. "Still need a few components—an interface module, a couple of power cells. Legs."

Garen stepped closer, eyeing the scattered parts. "Too bad it's not operational," he said dryly. "Could've given us a hand—assuming it's been reprogrammed." He paused, his thoughts drifting. "The Kyther."

Before the Vorcon Empire, the Seven Worlds fought the Kyther of the Kohamus System, who had built a Synthetic army. The Kyther accomplished what others couldn't—they set foot on Rhyus itself. Yet, in the end, Rhyus's victory displayed the full might of its Defense Fleet, leaving no doubt about their power. That victory cemented Rhyus's dominance in the region. Ironically, years later, the Kyther and the Seven Worlds became close allies.