The rush of the fight faded, leaving a deep ache in Kaelen's arm and a crushing exhaustion that settled into his bones.
The wounds from the creature's claws were deep, bleeding slowly into the toxic soil.
SC with his sharp and analytical nature returning, examined the injuries at once.
"We need to clean that," he said, his voice calm and practical. "Creatures on a world like this carry every disease you can imagine. An infection would kill you faster than the monsters."
He reached into a small survival kit hidden inside his uniform, one that Kaelen knew was not standard issue for prisoners. From it, he pulled out a medical sterilizer and a tube of synth skin.
They moved into the shallow shelter of a nearby cave. With an unexpectedly gentle touch, SC cleaned and sealed Kaelen's wounds. Neither of them spoke. The silence had changed, it was no longer empty or hostile, but shared.
The first test had been passed and what bound them was not trust, but shared violence and proven ability.
Using an ignition coil salvaged from the pod and some dry, brittle moss growing along the rocks, Kaelen started a small fire.
The flames pushed back the canyon's darkness and the bitter cold of the Tartarus night.
Light flickered across their faces, throwing long shadows along the cave walls.
They sat close to the fire, two survivors stranded on a forgotten world. For a long time, the only sounds were the crackling flames and the distant, alien noises of the wilderness.
At last, SC spoke.
"You saved my life, General. I am in your debt."
"You pulled me off a transport that was taking me to my execution," Kaelen replied flatly. "I would say we are even."
He stared into the fire, the orange glow reflected in eyes that felt hollow and cold.
"Fair enough," SC said. "But being even will not get us off this planet. We need to work together. We need an arrangement."
Kaelen looked at him, his expression unreadable.
"You called me your weapon. Your key. That does not sound like an arrangement. It sounds like I am your tool."
SC paused, clearly uncomfortable.
"My choice of words was poor," he admitted. "I think in terms of assets and objectives. Let me be clear. I need your help. You are a survivor, a strategist, a fighter, and my skills are useless without yours. And if we are honest, your chances of surviving this planet alone and finding a way out are almost none. We need each other."
He leaned forward, his eyes sharp in the firelight.
"So I am offering you a real deal. A partnership. Help me find this hidden facility. Help me get the information I need. In return, I will give you what you want more than anything."
"And what do you think I want?" Kaelen asked, bitterness creeping into his voice. "My rank? My honor? You cannot give me those."
"No," SC said quietly. "But I can give you the truth. I can give you the means to uncover the conspiracy that put you here. The names, the locations, and the evidence. Everything you need to understand why your father was killed and why your life was destroyed. I can give you the weapons you need to tear their rotten system apart."
The words hung between them, heavy with promise.
Revenge
Justice
Answers
SC was offering the one thing Kaelen had never been able to bury, the question that had kept him alive through numbness and despair.
For weeks, Kaelen had survived on logic alone, but the offer reignited something he thought was dead, a purpose.
This was no longer just about staying alive. It was about honoring his father. It was about uncovering betrayal. The apathy that had protected him began to crack, not with anger, but with sharp, focused resolve.
He studied SC, this brilliant and dangerous man who was trapped by his own mission just as Kaelen was trapped by the Empire.
He did not trust him.
He knew SC was manipulative and secretive and would sacrifice him if needed, but he was also the only path forward, the only source of truth in a galaxy full of lies.
"You will give me everything?" Kaelen asked quietly. "Full access to everything you find. No secrets."
"Everything," SC said, meeting his eyes. "The complete truth. You have my word."
Kaelen knew that promise meant little, but the deal itself mattered. They were bound by need, and for now, their goals were the same.
He extended his hand, not in friendship, but as if sealing a contract.
"I will help you find your facility."
SC took his hand, his grip firm.
"An excellent decision, General."
A fragile alliance was born beside a small fire on a deadly world under a poisonous sky. It was a truce built on desperation and sealed with the promise of vengeance.
The pawn had agreed to move for the player, but Kaelen intended to see the entire board, and when the time came, to clear it himself.