Kai packed the last of his essentials into his worn duffel bag, the cluttered apartment around him a reminder of his makeshift life. Tools, manuals, and scattered ship parts crowded every surface, the air thick with the scent of machine oil and old circuits. The place felt cramped, wedged into place as if forgotten by the city itself. It was the kind of space that suited Kai—a man always ready to leave.

He glanced around the room. It wasn’t home, not really. Just another stopover in a string of temporary places, none of which he ever allowed to feel permanent. A sharp, hollow echo rang in his mind: settling down had never been an option for him. It never would be.

He tugged the zipper closed on the duffel, his rugged hands moving quickly, practiced. His dark, tousled hair brushed against his brow as he stood, and the familiar hum of the city’s power grid filled the silence. He adjusted his well-worn leather jacket, a relic from years spent moving between spaceports and colonies.

Kai’s eyes, sharp and always searching, lingered on the few remnants of his time here. It was just clutter—like every place he’d lived, left behind like it meant nothing. But it wasn’t the clutter he feared; it was the way staying somewhere too long stirred up memories. He could still see the ship his family called home, hear the hum of its engines. And, if he let himself, he’d hear the gunfire that stole it all away. He’d been too young, too helpless to stop it.

He ran a hand over his beard, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. Survival had become second nature, but lately, Ironport had lasted a bit too long. He’d settled into something. And that scared him more than anything.

He heard the door creak open behind him, followed by familiar, deliberate footsteps. Aria. She didn’t knock; there was no need. They had been operating like this for weeks now, their plans moving faster than either of them had expected.

“Ready?” she asked, stepping into the room, her eyes glancing around the space. If she noticed its emptiness, she didn’t comment.

Kai nodded, slinging the bag over his shoulder. “Yeah. Just packing the essentials.”

He followed her out, locking the door behind him without a second thought. The streets outside were quiet, the afternoon light casting long shadows over the cracked pavement. The Slag was a far cry from Ironport’s more polished districts. Here, the buildings sagged under years of neglect, the streets were littered with remnants of failed ventures, and the air carried a weight that was hard to shake.

They made their way to the garage where the Auts was parked. It was an old model, reliable but worn, like much of what he owned. Kai ran a hand along its dented frame before climbing into the driver’s seat. Aria slipped into the passenger side, her gaze sharp, always looking forward.

As they pulled onto the main street, the sights of The Slag began to unfold around them. Kai was used to it—the mixture of decay and survival that permeated every corner. People hustled between crumbling buildings, trying to make a living however they could. There was a desperation in the air, but there was also resilience, a kind of tenacity that reminded him why he had stayed here so long.

“Feels like this place never changes,” Aria muttered, her voice laced with frustration.

“It’s not meant to,” Kai replied, keeping his eyes on the road. “People survive here because they have to. Not because they want to.”

They passed a group of workers huddled near an old factory, their faces worn but determined. Further down, a group of scavengers sifted through a pile of discarded parts, hoping to find something worth selling.

As they drove deeper into The Slag, the streets became narrower, the buildings more tightly packed. It was here, in the heart of the district, that they hoped to find what they were looking for—people with the skills and desperation to join them.

Aria shifted in her seat, her eyes scanning the faces they passed. “Think we’ll find anyone useful?”

Kai shrugged. “Always someone looking for a way out.”

He glanced over at her, noting the tension in her posture. She was always pushing forward, always looking for the next move. It was one of the things that had drawn him to her cause in the first place. But it was also one of the reasons he had his doubts.

“You know,” he began, his tone more casual, “I don’t like staying in one place too long.”

Aria turned to him, her brow furrowing slightly. “You’ve said that before.”

“Yeah, well, I mean it. This isn’t where we’re meant to be,” Kai said, his gaze shifting to the road ahead. “Building this ship—it’s the only way out for both of us.”

Aria nodded, her expression softening. “We’ll make it out. One way or another.”

Kai glanced at her, the determination flickering in his eyes. “Just want to make sure we’re ready when the time comes.”

“We will be,” Aria replied, more resolute. “It’s why we’re doing all this.”

Kai let out a quiet breath, his fingers tightening on the wheel. He wasn’t sure if she really believed that, or if she was just saying it to keep them both moving. Either way, they both knew the clock was ticking.

Ahead, the center of The Slag loomed, a mix of bars, workshops, and crumbling infrastructure. It was rough, but it was the kind of place where they could find what they needed.

“Alright,” Aria said, her tone more focused now. “Let’s see who’s desperate enough to join us.”

Kai nodded, his gaze hardening as they pulled the cramped barking space in front of a run down dive bar. The next step of their plan was about to begin.

The bar was tucked into one of The Slag’s deeper alleys, dimly lit and buzzing with the low murmur of voices. The air was thick with smoke and the scent of cheap alcohol, blending into the haze that settled over the room. Aria stepped in first, her boots hitting the floor with purpose as she scanned the tables. It wasn’t her usual scene, but it was exactly the kind of place where deals were made, where people with nothing left to lose looked for a way out.

Kai followed close behind, his presence steady but quieter. He had the ease of someone who knew the streets well, navigating the room with a natural familiarity, while Aria’s sharp gaze landed on the man they were looking for.

At a corner table, hunched over a drink, sat Bakari. The mechanic was a broad-shouldered man with deep-set eyes and a jaded look that spoke of years spent fixing things that only got broken again. His hands, calloused from years of labor, gripped the glass loosely, the alcohol in it barely touched.

Aria approached him without hesitation, sliding into the seat across from him. Kai lingered for a moment before taking his place beside her. Bakari didn’t look up at first, but the tightening of his fingers around the glass gave him away. He’d been waiting.

“You Bakari?” Aria asked, her tone direct but not unkind.

The man finally lifted his gaze, his eyes meeting hers with a calculating look. “Depends who’s asking.”

“I’m Captain Aria Benowitz. This is Kai.” She nodded to her companion. “We’ve got a job for you.”

Bakari’s eyes narrowed as he leaned back, giving her a long, hard look. “A job, huh? Last time someone talked to me about ‘jobs,’ I ended up fixing a busted shuttle for a month without pay. You’ll understand if I’m not exactly leaping at the chance.”

Aria kept her expression steady, unruffled. “This isn’t like that. We’re not looking for a one-off favor. We’re building something... long-term.”

Bakari raised an eyebrow, his skepticism evident. “Long-term’s another word for getting stuck. You don’t strike me as someone who’s just building a ship to hang around here.”

Kai jumped in, his tone smoother, more familiar with how these conversations worked in The Slag. “You’re right. We’re not. But we’re putting something together that’s bigger than just a few repairs. Something with... advanced blueprints.” He glanced at Aria, keeping the details just vague enough to pique interest.

Bakari chuckled dryly, swirling the liquid in his glass. “Advanced blueprints, huh? You two don’t look like government contractors to me. Or maybe you’re just good at hiding it.”

Aria leaned forward, dropping her voice, so low only Bakari could hear. “What we’re doing... no one from the government’s ever going to know about. That’s why we need someone who can work quiet, who doesn’t ask questions. You know your way around ships, and from what we’ve heard, you’re not afraid to take a little risk.”

Bakari’s eyes flicked between them again, his amusement gone. “Risk’s one thing. But building ships off the books? That’s more than risk. That’s asking for trouble.”

Kai shrugged, his tone casual but carrying a weight of truth. “Everyone here is already in trouble, Bakari. The question is, do you want to be part of something that gets you out of it?”

The mechanic stared at them for a long moment before letting out a slow breath. “What exactly are you building?”

Aria didn’t flinch. “A ship. More advanced than anything coming out of the Yards. But it’s... in pieces right now. We need someone with your skills to get it spaceworthy.”

Bakari drummed his fingers on the table, his gaze narrowing in thought. “Spaceworthy, huh? And what do I get out of it?”

Aria smiled faintly. “Freedom. You’re not building for the government, and you’re not working under anyone else’s thumb. You’re building your own way out. Away from this place.”

Bakari exhaled sharply, the weight of her words sinking in. He leaned back, crossing his arms. “You really think you can pull that off? Getting out, I mean. Everyone’s always talking about escaping The Slag, but no one ever does.”

Kai leaned in, his voice quiet but firm. “We’re not talking about running. We’re talking about leaving on our terms. And we’re already halfway there.”

Bakari sat back, tapping his fingers on the table, eyes narrowed in thought. He wasn’t fully convinced, not yet, but the idea had sunk in. “I’ll need more than promises. I want to see these ‘advanced blueprints’ you’re talking about. Then we’ll talk.”

Aria nodded. “We’ll show you what you need to see. But if you agree to this, there’s no backing out.”

The mechanic’s eyes hardened for a moment before he nodded. “Alright. I’ll hear you out. But if this goes bad, it’s on you.”

Aria’s smile returned, this time with a sharper edge. “We succeed together, or we don’t succeed at all.”

Kai stepped into the cool night air, the scent of smoke and spilled liquor clinging to him from the bar. Aria followed close behind, their silence a mix of shared understanding and weariness from the night’s negotiations. The streets of The Slag were still, with only a few figures lurking in the shadows, the neon lights from crumbling signs flickering above.

As they moved toward the Auts, a figure stepped out from an alley, her silhouette sharp against the dim light. Instinctively, Kai’s hand moved to his side, but recognition stopped him.

“Zaya,” he said, more a sigh than a greeting. His tone carried a blend of amusement and annoyance, as if seeing her again was both inevitable and unwelcome.

The smuggler, with her sharp eyes and familiar swagger, approached them with the confidence of someone who knew these streets intimately. She was tall, dressed in a blend of worn leathers and street gear, her short-cropped hair slicked back, catching the weak streetlight.

“Kai Halloway,” she greeted, her voice smooth, the smirk playing at the corner of her mouth. “Look at you, still haunting the Slag. Thought you’d finally skipped town.”

Kai chuckled, though his smile didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Could say the same about you.”

Zaya’s gaze flicked to Aria, sizing her up with quick precision. “This the famous Captain Benowitz?” she asked, her voice almost teasing. “Been hearing whispers. Word travels fast around here, you know.”

Aria crossed her arms, her expression unreadable. “Depends who’s asking.”

“Zaya,” she replied, her grin widening as if the name itself explained everything. “I deal in... movement. People, parts, things that aren’t supposed to be moved.”

Kai stepped in quickly, cutting off any tension. “We’ve worked together before. Zaya’s... effective.”

Zaya raised an eyebrow, amused. “Effective. Sure, we’ll go with that.”

Aria remained still, her eyes locked on Zaya. “And what do you want?”

Zaya shrugged, taking a step closer. “Word is you’re building something big. Something that’ll need parts, people, maybe a bit of discretion to keep under the radar. You don’t exactly get to pull off a project like this without help from someone who knows how to move things.”

Kai felt the shift in Aria’s posture, a subtle tightening of her shoulders. He could tell she was weighing the options, deciding just how much to let Zaya in on.

“And what’s your angle?” Aria asked, her voice low.

Zaya tilted her head, clearly enjoying the back and forth. “Ten percent of whatever you’re running. I get parts in and out, no questions asked. You know I’m the best at that.”

Aria’s eyes narrowed. “And what makes you think we’re running anything?”

Zaya let out a dry laugh. “Oh, come on. You’re putting together a ship, aren’t you? In this part of town, that means one thing—smuggling, moving goods off the grid. No one builds a ship this big without planning to run cargo.”

Kai caught Aria’s glance. She didn’t deny it, but neither did she confirm it. Zaya was right in one sense—they were operating off the grid—but the ship wasn’t for smuggling. Still, if Zaya thought it was, they could use that to their advantage.

Kai stepped forward, his voice calm and measured. “We’ll need a lot of parts. You’re right about that. Getting them in and out without drawing attention is no easy task.”

Zaya’s smirk grew. “That’s where I come in. You’ll need someone who can get what you need, no questions asked, without leaving a trail. I’ve been doing this long enough to know how the system works—and how to slip right under it.”

Aria nodded slowly, keeping her expression neutral. “What’s your price?”

“Ten percent,” Zaya said, the smirk never leaving her face. “Of whatever you move. And if this ship is as big as I’m hearing, it’ll pay off for all of us.”

Aria exchanged a glance with Kai. She was playing into Zaya’s assumption, letting her believe they were building a smuggling vessel, even though they had no intention of using the ship for that. It gave them leverage.

“Seven,” Aria countered. “We’re taking the real risks. We do the hard work. You move what we need, and you get seven percent.”

Zaya raised an eyebrow, clearly amused at the negotiation. “Seven? I usually don’t go below ten.”

“Then walk away,” Aria said, her voice cool. “But you and I both know no one else can do this as quietly as you. Seven.”

Zaya studied her for a long moment before breaking into a grin. “Alright, Captain. Seven it is. But if you’re moving anything high value, I get first dibs.”

Kai let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding, watching the deal take shape. Zaya thought she was cutting herself into a smuggling operation. Little did she know, the ship wasn’t for cargo at all.

“Fine,” Aria said, extending her hand. “But we’re running tight, so no slip-ups.”

Zaya grasped her hand firmly. “I don’t slip up, Captain. You’ll have what you need when you need it.”

As Zaya turned to leave, she glanced back over her shoulder. “I’ll be in touch. And trust me, this’ll be the start of something big.”

When she finally disappeared back into the shadows, Kai glanced at Aria, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “She has no idea, does she?”

“No,” Aria replied, her voice quiet but firm. “And let’s keep it that way.”

The night air was thick with dust and the hum of old machinery as Aria and Kai led the group toward the center of the mine. The few floodlights they had cast dim, yellow beams over the area, highlighting the skeletal structure of their half-built ship and the makeshift camp that had sprung up around it.

They had picked up a few more people since leaving The Slag—workers, mechanics, scavengers. Bakari, true to his word, had brought along a couple of seasoned engineers from the Yards, skeptical but curious enough to give the project a look. There were nearly a dozen now, scattered in small groups, their conversations low, glances wary.

The ship loomed in the background, little more than a skeleton of metal plating and salvaged parts. It looked fragile, like it could collapse under the weight of its own ambition, and the expressions on the new recruits’ faces reflected that doubt. Bakari, his arms crossed, stood at the front of the group, his eyes focused on the ship with a mix of disbelief and challenge.

Kai stepped up next to Aria, keeping his distance but always watchful. She knew he trusted her to take control of the situation, but she also felt the weight of his quiet concerns. This was a turning point.

Aria took a deep breath, her eyes sweeping over the faces before her. They were rough, tired, worn by years of hard labor and survival. But there was something else there too—a flicker of something she could work with. She stepped forward, her voice steady as she spoke, but kept low, not wanting any eavesdropping from wandering ears outside the mine.

“I’m sure some of you are wondering what you’re doing here. Wondering if this thing—” she gestured to the half-built ship “—is really going to fly.”

A few skeptical murmurs rippled through the group. Bakari raised an eyebrow but said nothing, waiting for her to continue.

Aria didn’t flinch. “I get it. It looks like a pile of scrap now. But with the right hands, and the right minds, this ship is going to be more than you can imagine.”

Bakari let out a small, amused scoff, drawing a few chuckles from those around him. “More than we can imagine, huh? From where I’m standing, looks like a glorified shuttle that can barely stay upright.”

Aria nodded, acknowledging the skepticism. “Yeah, it does. But that’s because none of you have seen the designs we’re working with.”

At the mention of the designs, some of the newer recruits glanced at each other, curiosity flickering in their eyes. The tension in the air shifted slightly, from outright disbelief to intrigue.

Bakari crossed his arms, his tone still challenging. “What makes you think you’ve got anything worth putting together? We’ve all seen projects like this—grand ideas that fall apart when reality hits.”

Kai, sensing the tension, stepped forward, his voice quieter but cutting through the murmurs. “This isn’t just some pipe dream. We’ve got designs from Samir Patel.”

That got their attention. Bakari’s eyes widened, and the murmurs among the group grew louder. Samir Patel’s name carried weight, even here in the roughest parts of Ironport. If his designs were involved, this wasn’t just a shot in the dark.

Bakari shook his head, still doubtful but now clearly intrigued. “Patel? That’s a name I didn’t expect to hear. What’s a bunch of outlaws doing with those kinds of connections?”

“We’re not outlaws,” Aria corrected him, her tone sharpening. “We’re building something that’s ours. Something the government can’t touch, something they don’t control. And that’s why we need you.”

One of Bakari’s companions, a wiry man with grease-stained hands, spoke up from the back. “And what’s in it for us? Why should we stick our necks out for this... dream of yours?”

Aria met his gaze, her voice firm but without aggression. “Because I know you’re tired. Tired of scraping by, tired of working for scraps in the Yards, of watching your skills go to waste for someone else’s profit. This ship is going to be more than just a way out. It’s a way to take back control. You work with us, and we all get free.”

The murmurs died down, and for a moment, the silence hung heavy. Aria could feel the weight of the decision pressing on each of them.

Bakari stepped forward, his voice quieter now, the jaded edge fading just slightly. “And if it doesn’t work? If this thing never flies?”

Aria held his gaze, her expression unyielding. “Then we go down trying. But at least we’ll have done something for ourselves.”

Another beat of silence. Then, slowly, Bakari nodded. “Alright, Captain. Let’s see what you’ve got.”

The tension in the air broke slightly as the others started to nod in agreement, the skepticism still there, but now tempered with curiosity and a glimmer of hope.

Aria stepped back, her heart pounding but her face calm. She could feel the shift—small, but significant. They weren’t fully on board yet, but this was the first step.

Kai moved closer to her, his voice low enough that only she could hear. “You really think they’re ready for this?”

Aria’s eyes didn’t leave the crew. “They don’t have to be. They just have to believe it’s possible.”

The crackle of the fire echoed softly through the quiet mine as Kai stared into the flames, lost in thought. The camp had settled for the night, the new recruits setting up their makeshift sleeping areas around the dimly lit shipyard. Overhead, the stars peeked through the broken canopy of the old mine, casting faint light over the skeleton of their unfinished ship.

Across from him, Aria sat, her back straight, eyes scanning the horizon as if even now, she couldn’t fully relax. The firelight danced across her face, making her look more alive, more energized than he had seen her in weeks. She looked like she was ready for the next step—already planning, already moving forward in her mind.

“We’ve come a long way today,” Aria said quietly, her gaze shifting to him. “More progress than I thought we’d make in one day.”

Kai nodded, his hands resting on his knees. “Yeah. It’s starting to come together.”

There was a pause, the kind of quiet that wasn’t uncomfortable, but reflective. Kai could feel the weight of the past few weeks settling over him, the rapid pace of their decisions starting to catch up. The fire crackled again, louder this time, as if reminding him of everything burning beneath the surface.

Aria must have sensed his unease because she turned her full attention to him. “What’s on your mind?”

He hesitated, choosing his words carefully. “It’s just... everything with Samir. You really went off back there. I get why you did it, but it felt like... more than what we’d talked about.”

Aria raised an eyebrow, her expression softening. “You mean when I told him off?”

Kai nodded, leaning back slightly. “Yeah. I mean, I’m not saying you were wrong—hell, you got us what we needed—but it caught me off guard. The way you talked about rebellion, about fighting back.”

Aria’s eyes flickered with a moment of realization before she looked back at the fire. “I wasn’t really thinking about it in those terms. I was just trying to get him to understand. We’re not rebels, I know that...”

Kai ran a hand through his hair, letting out a quiet breath. “I know. But the way things are moving... it’s starting to look like rebellion, even if that’s not what we’re calling it.”

Aria turned back to him, her expression hardening slightly, though not out of anger. “We’re not rebels,” she repeated, more firmly this time. “But if we have to push back to get what we need, then I’ll push back.”

Kai nodded slowly, understanding her point even if the unease lingered. “I’m with you, Aria. Always have been. Just... didn’t think we’d be toeing this line so soon.”

Her eyes softened at that, and she gave him a small, reassuring smile. “We’ll figure it out as we go. We always do.”

Kai chuckled, shaking his head. “That we do.” He glanced back at the half-built ship, its rough edges outlined in the faint glow of the fire. “We just need to make sure it’s worth it when we finally get up there.”

Aria followed his gaze, her expression unreadable for a moment. “It will be,” she said, her voice quiet but sure. “Once we’re out there... it’ll all make sense.”

Kai didn’t respond immediately, letting the fire’s crackle fill the silence between them. He wasn’t against the plan—not by a long shot. But as the flames flickered and the night stretched on, he couldn’t shake the feeling that they were standing on the edge of something far bigger than either of them had anticipated.

End of Episode 3