The underground bunker was damp, the air thick with the scent of blood, burnt metal, and desperation. Dim lights flickered, barely illuminating the ruined command center where Yuri stood.
Before him, slumped against a shattered console, was the rebel leader—a man who had once been a symbol of defiance. His body was broken, his breath ragged, yet his eyes still burned with defiance as he glared up at Yuri.
"You think this is the end?" the man spat, his voice hoarse but steady. "You may have killed my men, burned our homes, and crushed this rebellion—but others will rise. My death will be an inspiration. The people will fight. They will—"
The rebel leader's words were cut short as he gathered the last of his strength and spit at Yuri. The mercenary tilted his body slightly, dodging the pathetic insult with ease.
Yuri sighed. He had heard this speechs like this before—too many times to count. He raised his lasrifle and pulled the trigger. A bright red flash filled the dimly lit room, and the leader's body slumped lifelessly against the console.
No more speeches. No more rebellions.
With the matter settled, Yuri turned and walked out of the command center, stepping over bodies and discarded weapons. The battle was already won—the bunker was nothing more than a tomb now.
As he made his way through the corridors, he found Alexis finishing off the last pockets of resistance. The few rebels who had tried to flee had been cornered and gunned down, their escape routes cut off.
Yuri stopped beside Alexis, who wiped his blade clean on a fallen rebel's cloak.
"Take the leader's head," Yuri ordered. "The duke wants a trophy."
Alexis's expression soured, his lip curling slightly. "You enjoy giving me the dirty work, don't you?"
Yuri smirked but said nothing. Alexis scoffed before sighing and heading back toward the command center.
Stepping outside the bunker, Yuri breathed in the cool night air. The battle had been swift, brutal—just another job in a long list of battles he had fought. He walked a short distance to a large rock overlooking the valley.
The view was strangely serene. Beneath him, the farmlands stretched endlessly, waves of golden crops swaying gently in the evening breeze. The wind carried the scent of earth and harvest, a stark contrast to the bloodshed inside the bunker.
Yuri sat down, leaning back on his arms, and pulled out his lighter and a cigarette. He took a slow drag, watching the horizon. The sky darkened, stars beginning to pierce through the veil of twilight.
Among them, one star stood out—the brightest in the sky. It was not a star at all, but a planet. His home.
Cybertron.
His absence had lasted too long. Too many battles, too many contracts. His rivals back home had no doubt grown in power, trying to outdo him. But this campaign, this victory, would solidify his return. His influence would grow once more.
Flicking the cigarette aside, Yuri stood and stretched before heading back to his vehicle. The Nemesis loomed above in the sky, a dark silhouette against the stars as it descended toward its pickup point. The sight of his warship, a space frigate built for conquest, never failed to fill him with satisfaction.
He climbed into his buggy, the engine roaring to life, and sped toward the Nemesis. It was time to clean up, prepare for his report to the duke, and announce his return to Cybertron.
Aboard the Nemesis
The halls of the warship were quiet, the crew busy with their tasks. Yuri walked toward his quarters, stripping off his battle gear. He needed to look the part for his meeting with the duke. He wasn't a nobleman, but appearances mattered.
He pulled on his formal attire—dark, clean-cut, but undeniably military. The fit was unfamiliar, almost uncomfortable, but necessary. He was adjusting the final details when Lux entered the room, a datapad in hand.
"The rebels are finished," Lux reported, his voice professional. "Their remaining forces are scattered and imprisoned or dead. No survivors."
Yuri barely acknowledged it. The result was never in doubt.
"Orion's training?" he asked, more out of habit than genuine curiosity.
Lux handed him another report. "As usual, the kid is progressing fast. He did well today."
Yuri glanced over the notes briefly before tossing the datapad aside. "Anything else?"
Lux smirked. "Yeah. How do you look in that fancy getup?"
Yuri gave him a dry look. "I was about to ask you the same."
Lux scoffed, arms crossed. "You look like a soldier trying too hard to be a noble. Doesn't suit you."
Yuri smirked. "And you look like an uncivilized barbarian. Maybe that's why no woman will have you."
Lux barked a laugh. "You wound me, captain."
Yuri chuckled before turning serious again. "Prepare the ship. We're leaving for Cybertron soon. Restock on supplies. I want everything ready before we depart."
Lux gave a mock salute. "Aye, aye."
As Lux left, Yuri took one last look in the mirror before heading to the hangar. This war was over.
It was time to go home.
Duke's palace
Yuri strode through the grand hall with the confidence of a man who had no need to impress those around him. The clinking of glasses, murmured conversations, and occasional bursts of laughter filled the air. The scent of rich perfumes and fine cuisine mingled with the faint traces of wax from the towering chandeliers that illuminated the gathering. Nobles in extravagant attire mingled with merchants and officials, all basking in the Duke's latest victory—the complete destruction of the rebels.
At the center of it all sat Duke Karlos, a heavyset man with a thick beard, flushed from the effects of fine wine and the thrill of triumph. He spoke loudly, reveling in his success, his voice carrying across the hall.
"Let this be a lesson to all who would dare rise against me! The fools thought they could challenge my rule, and now they rot in the dirt!" he declared, his companions eagerly nodding along, offering flattery in hopes of gaining his favor. Overall simple politics
Yuri smirked as he grabbed a glass of Caladanian brandy from a passing servant's tray. He took a sip, letting the sharp yet smooth flavor coat his throat before making his way toward the Duke. Karlos turned as he approached, eyes sharpening slightly as he recognized him.
"Ah, Yuri! The man of the hour!" Karlos bellowed, raising his glass. "Your work was... effective, as always."
Yuri inclined his head slightly, never one for unnecessary formalities. "The job is done, Duke. The rebels have been put down. As per our contract, I came to inform you before I depart."
Before Karlos could respond, a voice, smooth and laced with subtle amusement, chimed in.
"Such a shame, truly."
The Duchess, seated beside her husband, regarded Yuri with sharp, calculating eyes. Unlike her husband, who ruled through strength and fear, she ruled through wit and manipulation. She was the true political mind behind the Duke's reign, the one who pulled the strings from behind the curtain.
"A man like you would thrive in our service, Yuri. We could offer you much—wealth, power, a place among the elite. Imagine what you could achieve as the head of our household army?"
Yuri met her gaze, unreadable as always. He had played this game before and knew better than to entangle himself in noble politics. A man like him was an asset until he became a threat, and when that happened, a poisoned dagger in the back was inevitable.
"Tempting offer," Yuri said smoothly, "but my place is among the stars, not behind castle walls."
The Duchess chuckled, swirling the wine in her glass. "Such a shame indeed."
"Speaking of which," Yuri continued, "there's still the matter of my payment. Also, I'd appreciate assistance in restocking my supplies before I leave. Consider it a gesture of goodwill."
The Duchess let out a soft laugh, a knowing look in her eyes. "Clever as always. Very well, I'll have it arranged."
Yuri gave a respectful nod before excusing himself, weaving through the party until he reached the garden veranda.
The night air was cool and crisp, a welcome contrast to the stifling atmosphere of the hall. He exhaled, rolling his shoulders as he leaned against the marble railing, gazing at the stars above.
He had stayed on this world for too long and It was time to go back.
As he stood there, enjoying the moment of peace, he thought about the future. His rivals would have made their own moves while he was away. This mission had certainly raised his status, but he needed to return and solidify his position. The game never stopped, and Yuri had no intention of being left behind.
For now, though, he would wait for the night to end. Soon, he would leave this world behind, and with it, all the nobles and their petty power struggles.
He smirked to himself.
"One more night."
ON THE NEMESIS
The morning light filtered through the hangar's reinforced window, casting long shadows over the metallic floor as Yuri stood near the loading dock, his eyes scanning the data slate in his hand. Lines of supply manifests scrolled across the screen, confirming that everything needed for the journey ahead had been accounted for. Fuel, rations, ammunition—everything was in place.
Footsteps echoed across the hangar bay, and without looking up, Yuri already knew who it was. Alexis entered with the ship's crew, moving in tight formation behind him. Crates of supplies were being carted toward Nemesis, the steady hum of loaders and loading machinery filling the space.
"All arrangements are complete," Alexis reported, his voice even and efficient.
Yuri nodded in affirmation, his gaze still on the data slate. "Good. Chart a course to the Cybertronian space station." His voice was calm, but there was an underlying note of anticipation. It was time to return home.
As he turned toward the command station, something caught his eye. Across the hangar, near a section used for training, Lux was sparring with Orion. The sight made Yuri pause.
The boy was taking a beating.
Lux, with his cybernetic arm, was relentless, launching brutal strikes that sent Orion stumbling back with every impact. Each blow should have shattered bones, left him writhing on the ground in pain. But the boy didn't fall. He took the hits, absorbing them like a storm-battered cliff refusing to break. His body, bruised and aching, still moved with determination. Each time he was knocked down, he rose again.
Yuri watched in silence, arms crossed, eyes narrowing slightly. He's strong. Stronger than most men I've met.
More than just raw power, there was a will in the boy—something rare, something dangerous. A will not easily broken.
A small smirk tugged at the corner of Yuri's lips. He had already considered the boy as his legacy, but now, watching him stand against impossible odds, the idea was no longer just a thought. It was a certainty.
With that, he turned away, making his way toward the command station. The engines of Nemesis roared to life, the ship shaking slightly as it prepared for launch. Through the reinforced windows of the bridge, the vastness of the sky stretched before them, soon to be replaced by the endless void of space.
It was time to leave this world behind. Cybertron awaited.
Orion pov
The day began as any other—training, studying, pushing his body and mind to their limits. Yet, today was different. Orion could sense it in the air, the excitement rippling through the crew of the Nemesis. Even without meaning to, his enhanced hearing picked up fragments of conversation, whispers of anticipation.
They were leaving.
Cybertron. That was their destination—Yuri's homeworld.
Orion had heard about it before, in passing, during training sessions with Lux. The gruff warrior had described it as a world unlike any other. A vast forge-world with sprawling cities of metal and glass, yet also blessed with pockets of natural beauty—forests, oceans, places untouched by industry. Lux had spoken of it with a rare fondness, calling it a land of opportunity. A place where strength, intelligence, and ambition shaped one's destiny. A world where the rewards of hard work came in double.
Orion had never seen such a place.
The idea of visiting Cybertron intrigued him, but a lingering sadness gnawed at the edges of his mind. Caladan—this world he had come to know, the people he had met—he would be leaving them behind. The slaves in the pits, the ones who had whispered to him about the world beyond the walls of the Nemesis... Jake.
He would never see them again.
The thought weighed on him as the day dragged on. By the time his training was finished, the sun was setting. Orion noticed Lux heading toward the halls—no doubt to meet with Yuri. That left him free to wander, something he had grown accustomed to doing over the last two years.
As he walked through the dimly lit corridors of the Nemesis, he found himself drawn to the hangar. He stood in the shadows, watching as crates of supplies were hauled into the ship. Small rations, replacement parts, fuel. Enough to last the journey.
So, it was true.
They were truly leaving.
Without a word, Orion turned and made his way to the ship's observation deck. This had become his refuge, the one place he could sit in silence, away from training, away from orders, away from Yuri's ever-calculating gaze.
He stared out into the vast sky, watching the stars blink into existence one by one. He traced the outlines of planets he had memorized, following their paths across the void. Then, his gaze settled on the one that mattered most—their next destination.
Cybertron.
A single thought crossed his mind.
Should I escape?
It wasn't the first time he had considered it. He had tried before, many times, only to be caught and punished. But now... the ship was still on Caladan. If he slipped away now, he could disappear into the world below. He could find his own path.
But then... why should he?
What did he have left on Caladan?
The pits? The broken warriors who had already been replaced? The faces he once knew had long since disappeared, one by one, leaving behind only ghosts in his memory.
The crew of the Nemesis—for all their rough edges—treated him better than anyone else had. They spoke to him, laughed with him, shared stories with him. Even Lux, despite his brutality in training, spoke to him like an equal, not a prisoner.
Orion sighed, pushing the thought aside. Escape wasn't an option. Not anymore.
The distant hum of machinery filled the silence, a sound he had grown familiar with over the years. His thoughts wandered as time passed, his mind drifting between what was and what could be.
Then, suddenly—
A loud clang snapped him from his thoughts.
Orion turned, already knowing who it was before he saw the figure step through the doorway.
Lux.
The massive warrior crossed his arms, his cybernetic augments glinting under the dim light. "Time for bed, kid," he grunted.
Orion hesitated for a moment before nodding. Without another word, he turned and walked past Lux, heading toward his quarters.
The future was uncertain.
But for now, all he could do was wait.
Author's thoughts
Hey guys I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I was going to make the next chapter one which explains the whole system but to make that you need to reach a point in the future chapters for it to make sense so it will be a small piece of info. I hope all of you liked this chapter and I hope you will give your thoughts of improvements and comments are appreciated. See you on next chapter