A/N: Enjoy chapter, bit of an early release, so have fun! Leave a review!!
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[The Tangled Shore – Spider's Den]
The base buzzed with low chatter and the clink of Ether tanks. Spider sat heavily in his throne, his bulk shadowed by the warm orange glow of archaic monitors. Void stood before him, silent, composed.
"Recall all your squads," Void said simply. "We've got a lot to discuss."
Spider hissed, his mechanical arm twitching. "And what would that be? What is it that you really want? Surely, you didn't massacre my people on a whim? What exactly is your grand plan?"
Void stepped forward, shadows clinging to his boots. "Watch your tone Spider. There's more than one syndicate on the Shore."
Spider eyed the four men surrounding him, he grumbled and chose to stay quiet.
Void dropped a hologram disk onto the table. It flared to life—designs of modified weapon frames, exotic parts, sleek armour mods, and automated forges.
"A workshop," Void said. "We build premium gear and weapons. Bespoke. Customized. High-impact."
Spider studied the display. Calculations ran behind his eyes. Profits. Risks. Power. He leaned in, one eye narrowing. "And you think there's a market for this? Not enough buyers in the Shore."
Void's voice lowered. "The buyers aren't your concern. The Shore only needs to play its part. Is that understood?"
He nodded—slowly, grudgingly. "Fine. How might I be of service."
Void turned away, already walking. "Your syndicate will cover the costs. The Workshops need machines, droids, the usual. Plus the ground effort and deliveries. I am sure you're aware."
Spider's mandibles twitched, "And in return?"
Void stopped, "I don't suppose your life suffices?"
Pahanin's blade dug deeper into his skin, but Spider sniggered.
"Please. I wasn't born yesterday." He raised his hand and wiped his cheek, then continued with a jeer. "Your schemes, they bore me. I know your laws, human. I've studied your people and I won't be fooled."
"I think you'll find me quite willing to forego those laws." Void retorted, his hand caressed the grip of a revolver.
"Maybe so" Spider's eyes gleamed, "If that was your only objective. Let's not be shy here...friend. If you truly wanted me dead, I'd be gone. But you need me, don't you?"
Void stayed silent.
"After all, isn't there more than one syndicate on the Shore?"
Spider shuffled on his throne, waiting for a response, but an eerie silence echoed in the room. Void's eyes looked him up and down.
"Interesting. You're not as dumb as you look." Void chuckled, his laughter was odd, as if a shadow had wheezed. Then he was solemn, " You're right. I do need you. For now."
Spider eased up, and chuckled as drops of sweat trailed down his face, "Of course, that's splendid. Don't we all like some Quid Pro Quo."
"Now, what do I get in return?" Spider rubbed his fingers, "I was thinking a percentage of the profits. Perhaps, 20%. Add on a few crates of weapons here and there?"
Void tapped his holster, as if deep in thought, "Let's not cross the line Spider. The market's gonna come, and it'll be huge. 20% is far too much."
"What number were you thinking?" Spider's eye twitched.
"3% on all profits. I'll add in free weapons for your squads. Maybe a discount on armours."
Spider frowned, "My life maybe in your hands, but that doesn't mean I am willing to work for scraps", He spread his arms, "This is my house, my kingdom. My Shore."
Void nudged the disc towards him, "You've seen the designs. You've done the calculations. Don't think I am stupid Spider. I know your ways. But even you don't know what's coming."
"Soon, there'll be thousands every day. More Glimmer than you can imagine. You'll be drowning in loot." Void spoke in a low voice.
Spider paused, gauging Void's words. As a lifelong trader, he could discern lies from truth. Now, more than ever, he knew the shadow in front of him was speaking the truth.
"Fine," Spider muttered. "Six percent. Not a mote less. And I want favors. Quiet favors. Your kind are good at things that disappear in the night."
Void nodded, "You have my word", he waved Pahanin off and the hunter sheathed his blade. The three spectres gathered beside him and flickered away.
Only Pahanin and Void remained, they walked to the exit.
Spider called out, "Wait. What should I call you?"
Pahanin had already flickered out, leaving only Void behind. Void turned, and paused. Then he spoke, "Call me Viper. I'm the only one you need to know."
"I see, Viper. I'll remember that." Spider curled his fingers and chuckled, eyeing Void.
But as Void was about to leave, he stopped.
"Spider," he said without looking back, voice suddenly colder, "if betrayal ever crosses your mind…"
A silence stretched.
"…look at your shadow first."
Something ghastly peeled away from Void's body, like a phantom. For a moment, it felt as though something else—something older—had grinned at Spider from beneath that armour.
Then Void vanished.
Spider's laugh died in his throat. His den felt colder.
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[The Tangled Shore – Forgotten Workshop]
The rusted doors groaned open, revealing a cavernous chamber carved deep into the jagged rock. Dust and oil hung in the stagnant air, mingling with the ghostly hum of old tech waiting to be awakened. The place hadn't seen life in years—only echoes.
Void stepped through first, his pace unhurried, silent. Behind him, the squad of figures filed in, their footsteps hollow on the metal grate. Then, as if on cue, each one stopped mid-stride.
A breath passed.
Then the shadows unravelled.
One by one, the false figures dissolved into black smoke, their armour clattering to the floor with a heavy metallic thud—helmets, gauntlets, plating, all hollow. Empty. Illusion peeled away, leaving only Pahanin standing at Void's side.
Pahanin stretched his arms with a languid sigh, as if shedding a weight. Then he looked at the scattered armour, and chuckled, half in disbelief.
"Well," he said, scratching the back of his head. "Guess I've been underusing my toolkit."
Void turned, glancing at the pile of discarded gear before fixing his eyes on the Hunter. "You've always had the clones. Just never used them like this."
"Never thought to," Pahanin admitted.
Void smirked, "If Spider knew it was just the two of us, he'd have laughed us out of his throne room."
"Agreed." Pahanin walked towards the workbench.
"How'd you even come up with such a technique?" Void asked, stepping past him.
"It was nothing much." Pahanin recalled his early days, "I liked to work on gadgets. But never got time to tidy up. Kabr lost it a few times with me. So I figured I needed a few extra hands around."
Void didn't respond and nodded.
He stared at the flickering diagnostic display as it came to life with a pulse of old light. Wiping the dust off the screen, Void continued, "I want you to bring this place back online. Basic weapon frames first. Scrap-grade mods. Nothing too flashy. Get the syndicate to funnel us salvage through the side routes."
"Simple and scalable. Got it," Pahanin nodded, already mentally sketching schematics. "Any particular reason?"
"We'll probably need to flesh out our network soon." Void answered.
Then a soft ping echoed through his mind—subtle, familiar. His system window flickered open.
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New Quest Received: A Guardian Rises
Objectives: Help new Guardians reach the City!
Rewards: +20 Reputation [Players].
Remarks: First impression is the last impression. Don't be late!
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Void's eyes narrowed.
The players were coming.
Fledgling Guardians, newly risen. Confused, disoriented. Trudging through the Cosmodrome outskirts till they found a half-broken jumpships, only to fend off a fallen squad alone.
He could already imagine all their hardships. A single tear welled up in his eye.
He, as their predecessor, had a duty. 'How could I sit back and enjoy while my custome- "Fellow Guardians" have to fight for their survival?'
No Void instantly shook his head. He had to help them. Of course, that wasn't all.
Somewhere out there, The Exo Stranger was watching.
She didn't appear by accident. She appeared at crossroads—when the right people started walking the wrong roads. She wouldn't intervene directly, not yet. She never did. Not until she saw something in them worth stepping forward for.
But she would be watching.
And if there was anyone in this broken world who could help Void thread the needle through time's tangle, it was her. Not because she guessed the future.
Because she'd lived it. Dozens of it. And survived. She was seer that had run many loops.
Void exhaled slowly, locking the quest window away in the corner of his HUD.
He had to guide the new players, but ultimately? He had to act accordingly, to draw her out.
Because the fate of this world wasn't going to change on power alone.
"Pahanin," Void spoke up.
"Yeah?" the Hunter replied, elbow-deep in a pile of broken servos.
"I want at least a few prototype weapons ready as soon as possible. Clean builds. Stuff that'll help with basic recon or grunt-level fights."
Pahanin raised an eyebrow. "You planning to start handing out freebies now?"
Void turned to him, smiling faintly. "Consider it samples."
He stepped forward, resting a hand on the cold steel laying on the workbench.
"For some, early customers."
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