Chapter 1: An intriguing proposal

In the heart of Satton V's sprawling metropolis, towering skyscrapers, adorned with holographic billboards, cast long shadows over narrow alleyways. Neon lights reflected off rain-soaked surfaces and the air was thick with a cocktail of synthetic aromas, a blend of street food vendors and industrial exhaust that clung to the atmosphere.

People moved through the streets with rushed steps, their cybernetic enhancements catching the neon glow. Chrome limbs seamlessly blended with organics, and augmented eyes glowed with an eerie luminescence. Holographic projections danced above the crowded thoroughfares, advertising the latest cyber enhancements, illicit software, and corporate propaganda.

Street vendors peddled their wares from makeshift stalls, selling everything from junk food and black-market cyberware to virtual reality experiences that promised escape from the gritty reality. The distant hum of hover vehicles reverberated off the high-rises, creating a constant ambient soundtrack for the city's denizens.

Amidst the towering structures, the colossal shipyard stood as a testament to Satton V's technological prowess. Thousands of laborers and scientists toiled tirelessly, constructing sleek starships that would soon navigate the vast reaches of space.

The world was dominated by 15 megacorporations, each one far more important than the vestigial national remnants that encompass them. An over-council of representatives from those companies loomed in the background, ensuring that none of the megacorps stepped too far out of line.

In one of those streets, a figure emerged from the shadows, blending seamlessly with the neon-lit environment. Cloaked in darkness, she moved with purpose, navigating the crowded streets with the fluidity of a seasoned operative. She entered a dimly lit, tucked-away cyberpunk bar known as "The Null Nexus," where a diverse group of individuals were already gathered around a table, waiting for her amidst the pulsating beats of synthetic music. The air was thick with the scent of vaporized stimulants and the hum of concealed conversations. The bar's usual clientele included mercenaries, hackers, smugglers, pilots and rogues—individuals who thrived in the shadows of Satton V's towering corporate structures.

Her name was Lyra, and she was an information broker. Her attire blended seamlessly with the environment, a sleek trench coat adorned with luminescent circuit patterns. Strands of blue bioluminescent hair framed her face, adding a touch of ethereal charm to her appearance. Her eyes, enhanced with augmented lenses, glowed with intensity. A neural implant subtly visible on her temple hinted at her proficiency in navigating the intricate web of information that permeated Satton V.

Lyra's skills as an information broker were renowned throughout the metropolis. Her ability to unearth hidden secrets, decrypt data, connect people and navigate the dark corners of the net made her an invaluable asset in a city where knowledge was power.

Sitting at the table were Maya, Phantom, Ariel, Adeon and Nesta.

Sitting in the corner of the table, with her legs tucked in, her headphones on, and paying very close attention to her left forearm that emits a dull light, Nesta did not even notice when Lyra joined the group.

Wearing a big brown trench coat that contrasts its own plain appearance with a bright purple hair, that is well kept in a mohawk, gray eyes and a pale skin that reflects her many years with a lack of fondness for natural sunlight.

After years as a tech inside of a star freighter, she left this world behind when she discovered the rotten underbelly of the business, she will never forget that day, it was the day she lost her arm, the day she decided to become a hacker and earn her money in other ways, and the day she started her revenge plan.

That day was also the day when she met Maya, going after a rumor of a doctor that was able to fix almost anything, by very cheap and without asking many questions, Maya fixed her arm the best she could, and Nesta also added some modifications of her own. From them on, a great friendship flourished, fueled by a similar world view and a desperate need to make some money, with that came others who were in similar situations, and she is still learning how to cope with such a big group of friends.

Wearing a dark green shirt, black pants, and a pair of worn-out vintage boots, Maya, the black-and-green-haired doctor, was standing beside the table, trying to convince Nesta to take her headphones out, even though she already knew that it was a lost battle she was trying to win.

She found it funny how odd that group was, and how it was peculiar how little she cared about those individuals' past. She helped Nesta with her arm, no questions asked - ok, maybe a few questions asked, she needed to know how bad was the situation. Nesta seemed fine, Nesta treated her fine, so that was all she cared about.

Something similar happened when she found herself in the middle of a skirmish situation in Lumensky, the city that never sleeps. She got a call to help some injured kids who unfortunately happened to be around when the peace-breakers started the chaos. As she entered the pub, she found herself face-to-face with a white-haired badass woman kicking a bunch of strong and tall cyborgs. They were skeptical of each other's intentions due to the situation they'd met, but Maya soon noticed the woman was trying to protect the injured kids, then she showed her the only 2 things she was carrying: a small laser pistol and a backpack full of healing kits. That was enough of a conversation for both of them to understand that even though they had very different approaches to how to deal with that situation, they had a sense of justice connecting them. After they both did what they had to do to keep those kids safe, they only shared two phrases that marked the beginning of that friendship: 'The name is Rogue', said the woman. 'Pleasure. The name is Maya', she said.

Right as she was getting lost in her thoughts, she saw the bioluminescent-haired woman and thought to herself: oh, she really came!

At the far end of the table rests a figure one might dub a 'man' – Adeon. Short, black hair forms a spiky topknot, and a torn, dirty brown blanket envelops his entire body. Adeon's dark silhouette, a towering two meters in height with a broad torso, sharply contrasts the others gathered around the table.

Seated uncomfortably, his knees press against the table's base, leaving minimal room for movement. Beside him, Ariel and Rogue sit a tad too close, a result of the cramped space. Adeon, mindful not to jostle his companions, keeps his arms close.

Despite the awkward seating arrangement, Adeon remains tethered to the table, courtesy of newfound friends who extend warmth to this outsider discovered adrift in the cosmos. His companions, having stumbled upon him alone in an escape pod, resolved to make him feel at home. Adeon, having endured a week without sustenance or drink by Earth's reckoning, was plucked from space's vastness by Ariel's piloted ship during one of their crew missions. With Rogue's assistance, they transported Adeon into the vessel for much-needed medical and mechanical attention from Maya and Nesta.

Adeon, although his body is now a fusion of machinery and organic matter from the neck down – a creation despised by Conocorp, due to his basic human needs – hides beneath the tattered blanket. However, as he sits at the table, a metallic hand reaches out to grab 'The Blue Nexus', a local drink. Despite the prevalence of mechanical improvements among space travelers, Adeon is hesitant to reveal his full form.

Taking a sip, he remarks, "That's the best blue drink I've ever tasted. The other one left a foul taste, making my tongue oddly soft. Why you folks kept it near the cleaning supplies, I have no idea. Something called 'Downy,' I think."

As Lyra finally joins the table, Adeon, still somewhat perplexed, listens intently to her plan explanation. Without uttering a word, he mimics Angel, signing the contract. Now, he patiently awaits the signatures of the others.

Nesta is ready to go and starts looking up info on the Watson location, and it’s waiting on the others to head to the appointment.

Maya leans to catch a glimpse of where Watson is through Nesta's pads and starts to read the documents. She is in no financial condition to go around shopping, so she's ready to go.

"I guess I see you guys at the spaceport tomorrow!? Adeon, buddy, remember to set the alarm to before the appointment scheduled hour, okay?"

"Okay Dr. Maya, I'll try to set this alarm..." - Adeon looks at his compad confused, as he tries to deal with this.

"I found it! I'll set to 7:99 AM, is that ok with you?" - Adeon tries, but he fails miserably and gives up, because 7:99 AM doesn't exist. While making the puppy's eyes, he gives his compad to Maya "Dr. Maya can you set the alarm, for me please?"

Adeon tries to get up from the table without spilling the drinks on it, and takes a large rifle and 4 cartridges of bullets from under his blanket. "Anyway, I need to sell this Combat Rifle and 80 rounds ammo because I dont need it, anyone want go for a walk or want this items?"