The holding cell door slid open.
Aurelion stood in the corridor, his hands in his pockets, his expression calm. Behind him, the guards were unlocking the other cells, their movements efficient and mechanical.
Nova was the first to emerge.
She stepped out cautiously, her eyes scanning the corridor, her body tense. A small, sleek robot floated beside her—her guide. It was silver and compact, its single optical sensor glowing with a soft blue light.
When Nova saw Aurelion, she let out a breath.
"You actually did it," she said. "You got us out."
Aurelion shrugged. "I made a deal. The Commissioner wanted my help. I made sure you and the others were part of it."
Nova stared at him.
"You barely know me."
"I know you're not a criminal. That's enough."
She was quiet for a moment. Then she almost smiled. "You're strange."
"I've been told."
The other beings emerged from their cells, each accompanied by their own guide—floating robots of various shapes and sizes, some sleek and modern, others ancient and worn. The reptilian creature's guide was a bulky, utilitarian model. The jellyfish-being's guide was little more than a glowing orb.
They looked around, confused, uncertain.
Aurelion raised his voice.
"Listen up," he said. "I don't know most of you. I don't know where you're from or what you did to end up here. But I got you out. You're free now."
The reptilian creature hissed something in its native language. Its guide translated, its voice flat and mechanical.
"It wants to know why."
Aurelion met the creature's eyes.
"Because I've been trapped before," he said. "Because I know what it's like to be stuck in a place you don't belong. And because I'm going to need help."
The reptilian creature studied him for a long moment. Then it nodded slowly.
The jellyfish-being pulsed with faint light. Its guide translated. "It says it will follow you. For now."
Aurelion nodded.
"Good. Then let's go."
They walked through the corridors of the holding facility.
The guards watched them pass, their eyes wary, their hands on their weapons. But they didn't stop them. The Commissioner's orders had been clear.
They reached the main entrance.
The doors slid open, revealing the city beyond—the gleaming spires, the bustling streets, the endless activity of a living world.
Aurelion stepped out into the light.
K-7 was waiting for him. A bunch of other guides silently hovered past him, going beside their own companions.
"Welcome back!" the robot chirped. "I see you have acquired companions!"
Aurelion almost smiled. "Yeah. They came with the deal."
He turned to the others.
"Alright," he said. "Here's the deal. I've got a job. The Commissioner wants us to clean up the city. Scammers, thieves, slavers—anyone who preys on travelers. We find them, we stop them, we bring them in."
Nova's guide beeped. She listened, then nodded.
"Freedom," she said. "And answers."
Aurelion nodded. "And maybe a way home."
The reptilian creature's guide translated its hiss. "It wants to know if it can kill them."
Aurelion blinked.
"I'm... going to say no to that. We bring them in alive. Mostly."
The creature seemed satisfied.
Aurelion looked at the group—at the beings from a dozen worlds, each with their own guide, their own story, their own reason for being here.
They were a strange team.
But they were a team.
"Alright," he said. "Let's get to work."
The jellyfish like creature made a little noise, it's guide beeping and translating
"What's the work?"
"great question"
Aurelion was about to ask K-7 for suggestions when the doors behind them slid open again.
The Commissioner emerged.
The green cloak billowed slightly in the artificial breeze, the metal mask gleaming under the city's lights. The gauntleted hands clasped behind its back. Its presence immediately silenced the group.
"I see you've gathered your team," the Commissioner said, its rasping voice carrying easily. "Good. You'll need them."
Aurelion turned. "We were just about to figure out where to start."
"Then allow me to provide direction." The Commissioner stepped forward, its masked face scanning the group. "There is a trafficking ring operating in the lower levels. They abduct travelers—new arrivals, mostly—and sell them to collectors across the Great Structure. They've been operating for years. No one has been able to stop them."
Nova frowned. "Why not?"
The Commissioner's mask tilted. "Because they are well-connected. They have informants in every level of the city. Every time we move against them, they vanish. Every time we find a lead, it goes cold. They're like shadows—you know they're there, but you can never quite catch them."
"Then why do you think we can do it?"
The Commissioner's gaze shifted to Aurelion. "I think he can do it."
Aurelion raised an eyebrow. "What makes you so sure?"
The Commissioner stepped closer. Its voice dropped, barely above a whisper.
"Because you're not part of this city's system. You have no connections, no informants, no history here. They won't see you coming." It paused. "And because I've seen you fight. I saw you in the Coliseum. The way you moved, the way you dominated. You're not just a fighter—you're a force of nature."
Aurelion was quiet for a moment.
Then he nodded slowly. "What's the target?"
The Commissioner pulled a datapad from beneath its cloak and handed it over. Aurelion scanned the information—a location, a description, a list of known associates. The warehouse was marked in red, surrounded by notes about guard rotations, escape routes, and possible entry points.
"They operate out of a warehouse in the lower levels," the Commissioner said. "It's heavily guarded—mercenaries, mostly, hired from across the Great Structure. They're expecting a shipment tonight. New arrivals. If you move fast, you can intercept them before they disappear."
Aurelion studied the datapad. "How many guards?"
"Twenty. Maybe thirty. The leader is a being called the Collector. He's been running this operation for decades. He never shows his face, never leaves a trace. He's the one who's been slipping through our fingers."
"And after we stop them?"
"Bring them to me. Dead or alive, I don't care. But I want the Collector alive. He has information I need."
The reptilian creature hissed. Its guide translated. "It wants to know if this Collector is worth killing."
The Commissioner's mask seemed to shift. Its voice was cold.
"He's worth more than you know."
The group exchanged glances.
Nova stepped forward. "What's our pay?"
The Commissioner's head turned toward her. "You'll earn your freedom. All of you. And you'll have my gratitude—which, in this city, is worth more than currency."
Nova frowned. "That's not a lot to go on."
"It's everything you need."
Aurelion pocketed the datapad. "We'll take the job."
The Commissioner nodded slowly. "Good. I'll have transport waiting for you at the eastern gate. Move fast, stay quiet, and don't trust anyone. The Collector has eyes everywhere."
It turned and walked back toward the holding facility, its green cloak trailing behind it.
The group was silent for a moment.
Then Aurelion turned to his team.
"Alright," he said. "You heard them. We've got a job to do."
Nova's guide beeped. "The Commissioner is withholding information," it said flatly. "Its data on the Collector is incomplete."
Aurelion nodded. "I figured. We'll find out what it's hiding when we get there."
The reptilian creature's guide translated a low growl. "It says it doesn't trust the Commissioner. It says the mask hides something."
Aurelion looked at the creature.
"Neither do I. But we need the job. And we need the freedom."
He turned toward the eastern gate.
"Let's move."