Chapter 16 Ayden
Vlad and I are struggling to recover from that nasty virus we picked up when we boarded that floating coffin without the proper protection. Lesson learned, the hard way. By the time we made it back to base with our macabre discovery, we were already infected—and not just a little.
From the first symptoms, we knew something was seriously wrong. We were sick as dogs, unable to move without searing pain. Reaching the nearest base felt like surviving a battle.
Unsurprisingly, the doctors immediately threw us into quarantine. We were isolated in a small room set aside for exactly these kinds of situations.
Day one? The fever was unbearable. Our bodies were on fire, every movement a fresh torture. We couldn’t eat, barely kept water down.
Day two brought on muscle pain. Every inch of our bodies felt like it had been torched from the inside. Vlad was groaning in agony—I wasn’t any better.
The following days blurred into a haze of suffering.
The coughing became relentless. Our lungs felt like they were ripping apart with each convulsion, as we hacked up this foul green sludge.
Only a bit of sedation kept us from losing our minds completely while the serum kicked in. We lost all sense of time.
After more than ten days of pure agony, we finally started to feel a slight improvement.
The fever dropped, the pain dulled, and the coughing became less violent.
The overwhelming urge to sleep, though? Still going strong.
Vlad and I have basically turned into larvae.
The doctors told us we’re no longer in danger, but that recovery will be slow.
We’ve finally entered the final phase, according to the doc. We’re no longer contagious and have started getting a few visitors—not for long, though. We’re still weak as hell from the virus that nearly killed us.
“One of your friends is asking to see you,” says Helena, the gorgeous redhead who’s been our nurse this whole time.
I glance over at Vlad, who yawns so hard I think his jaw might dislocate.
“Up for a visit?” I ask.
“Why not? At this point, if the virus didn’t kill us, boredom just might.”
He’s not wrong. Being stuck in this tiny room together for this long has been... trying. And it’s not like we’ve had much entertainment in our more lucid moments.
“Let him in. Thanks, Helena,” I say with a small smile.
She gives us that killer grin of hers and walks out, her red hair swaying behind her. Vlad follows her with his eyes like a lost puppy.
A few seconds later, the door dematerializes again, and in walks Igor, grinning like a kid in a candy store.
“Hey, guys! You look like you’re having a blast in here,” he says, glancing around our shoebox-sized room.
“Oh, we’re living the dream,” Vlad mutters between yawns. “But with you here, maybe things’ll get interesting. What brings you?”
“I was in the area, heard you two found a solid excuse to kick back and do absolutely nothing, so I had to come check. And imagine my surprise when I find you under the care of a stunning redhead,” he adds with a nod toward the door Helena just disappeared through.
“Ah, Helena… If only she could hang out with us more often. She’s the sunshine in this miserable little room,” Vlad says, winking.
“Can’t argue with that,” Igor laughs.
“Okay, enough about Helena,” Vlad says, sitting up a bit straighter. “What’s going on in the galaxy while we’ve been benched?”
Igor’s face darkens slightly as he gets to the point.
“We don’t know what happened to Logan.”
“Logan? Wasn’t he supposed to meet his sister on Gekkaria?” I ask, suddenly alert.
“He did. He went to get Sam and convinced her to return to BN-22. But they never made it.”
I shoot up instinctively—bad idea. The room spins and I nearly collapse, barely catching myself on the bed.
“Hold on, Ayden. Let me finish before you freak out. It’s a long story,” Igor says, trying to calm me down.
“We’re listening,” Vlad adds, motioning for me to sit down and stay put.
“They left Gekkaria, headed for BN-22. But they got intercepted by a Coalition ship. They were taken to a planet called Vagantu—a hub for the Coalition’s auction network.
Luckily, Pherebos, a Sentinel agent under Akifumi, infiltrated the place and passed the exact coordinates to the Confed.
Our strike forces moved in, dismantled the network, and freed the prisoners.
Sam was among them. But she got separated from Logan as soon as they landed on Vagantu. ”
“Where is she now?” I ask, my voice tight.
“She’s safe. She took Logan’s biplane and flew back to Gekkaria. She says she searched for hours on Vagantu looking for Logan. She’s certain he’s not there. The place is basically one big ocean.”
Vlad and I exchange a look, trying to piece it all together.
“What are your theories?” Vlad asks.
“At the start of the raid, a few ships managed to escape. If Logan hasn’t contacted me, that means he’s either a prisoner, injured… or…”
“Or dead,” I finish grimly.
My chest tightens at the thought. Logan’s more than just a former partner. He’s like a brother. And he’s Sam’s actual brother. I know how crushed she’d be if something happened to him.
“Ayden, let’s not jump to conclusions. We’re putting together a search plan. If he’s alive, we’ll find him,” Igor says, trying to steady me.
“Right now, you’re not going anywhere,” Helena interrupts, re-entering the room with her no-nonsense tone. “You’ll need a few more days to regain your strength.”
Unfortunately, she’s not wrong. A wave of exhaustion hits me hard. I fight it just long enough to agree on a time with Igor to make a plan.
He’s fully operational and can gather all the data we need in the meantime.
The next morning, I’m already feeling better. Vlad and I push ourselves during our awake periods—light exercises, stretches… anything to get our bodies working again. Let’s be real, wanting it doesn’t make it easier. But we’re trying.
“So, still napping all day, huh?” Igor says as he walks in.
“Jealous much?” Vlad fires back. “Bet you’d love ten days of sleep.”
“Honestly, I wouldn’t say no to a nap. Speaking of which—your beloved Helena’s off-duty today. After last night, I think she earned it.”
“Igor, you bastard,” Vlad growls. “I was counting on leveling up with her once I could last more than two minutes without passing out!”
“Too late, my friend,” Igor chuckles. “Then again, I’m not sure she’d say no to either of you.”
I roll my eyes. I’m in no mood for flirting. Logan’s missing, Sam must be worried sick, and I still feel like I’ve been run over by a freighter.
“Igor, before we dive into your conquests—any updates?” I ask, serious again.
“Sure do. As I said yesterday, the Confed surrounded Vagantu with ships during the raid. A few enemy vessels managed to slip through in the chaos. We’ve got some visuals, but not much to go on.”
“There’s gotta be something,” I snap, frustrated.
“Hang on—I’m not done. The captured smugglers were split up. Those with minor involvement were sent to rehab centers for social reeducation.”
Vlad and I groan in unison. These centers are supposed to help people who weren’t born bad, just… misguided. Total waste of resources, in our opinion.
“And the others?” Vlad presses.
“Two high-security space prisons. I figured we’d go there, show them a photo of Logan. If he passed through, someone’s gotta have seen him.”
“Good idea,” I nod. “Is the nearest one far?”
“About two weeks’ journey. Since there won’t be much to do during that time, I asked Akifumi for a four-passenger ship. We leave tomorrow.”
“We’re not exactly mission-ready,” Vlad points out.
“No worries. I’ll play nurse while you sleep and heal. That way we don’t waste time—and we’ve got space for Logan if he’s hurt.”
I consider it. Igor’s plan makes sense. What worries me is being unable to help if trouble hits us mid-flight.
“What if something goes wrong?” I ask.
“Covered. Akifumi’s giving us a ship with full cloaking capabilities. His orders are clear: no stops, no detours. If we spot trouble, we dodge it.”
“I’ve got a question,” Vlad chimes in.
“Shoot.”
“Shouldn’t we head back to Vagantu? Even if it’s small, it’s the likeliest place Logan would be.”
“Nope. Akifumi already sent a team. Besides two tiny islands, it’s just water everywhere. They scanned it top to bottom.”
“So, tomorrow it is,” I say.
“Exactly,” Igor confirms. “Tonight, though? I’ve got a date with Helena. You wouldn’t want me to disappoint the woman who cared for your sorry butts, would you?”
Vlad and I pelt him with pillows as he laughs like an idiot.
But deep down, I’m relieved. Finally—we’re going after Logan. And no matter what it takes, I’m bringing him back to his sister.