Ascension Through Monsters

A few days later, the dim light of Aidan's quarters flickered, casting uneven shadows across the cracked walls. The metallic tang of machinery lingered in the cold air, seeping through the thin walls of his cramped quarters. The soft hum of the ventilation system punctuated the silence, a monotonous backdrop to his solitary thoughts. His room was barely more than a closet, containing a cot, a small table, and a locker for his meager belongings. Yet, it was the only place on Vesta-7 where he could find even a semblance of peace. He sat on the edge of his cot, staring at the data slate in his hands. The numbers on the screen blurred together as his thoughts wandered.

"4,012 credits," he murmured. He had made a lot of progress these past few days, but the weight of his goal still pressed down on him like a mountain.

Aidan sighed and leaned back, letting the slate fall onto the cot beside him. His gaze drifted to the small window above his bed. Through the grime-covered glass, he could barely make out the dull glow of the mining outpost's floodlights against the swirling dust storms. Beyond that lay the unknown—a galaxy full of opportunities he could only dream of.

His reverie was broken by a sudden knock at the door. Aidan frowned. Visitors were rare for his place, and he wasn't in the mood for company—his mind was too preoccupied with the relentless grind of survival.

"Who is it?" he called, his voice edged with suspicion, fearing it might be some local thugs.

"It's Kiera," came the muffled reply. Aidan's expression softened. Kiera was one of the few people he trusted on Vesta-7, a bond forged through years of shared hardships and unspoken understanding. He remembered the time she had stepped in during a heated dispute with a gang of scavengers, shielding him from their wrath with nothing but her sharp tongue and fearless demeanor. Moments like those had solidified her place in his life as someone he could rely on. She was a fellow miner, the same age as his mother, with streaks of white in her once-black hair and fine lines etched across her face. Her eyes, though tired, held a spark of resilience that refused to fade.

He opened the door to find her standing there, her face smudged with dirt and her hair tied back in a loose braid. She held a small bundle wrapped in cloth.

"You look like hell," she said, stepping inside without waiting for an invitation.

"Thanks," Aidan replied dryly, closing the door behind her. "What's that?"

Kiera placed the bundle on the table and unwrapped it to reveal a piece of equipment—a small, handheld scanner—and a lunchbox.

"Found this in the scrap pile," she said. "Figured you might have a use for it."

Aidan's eyes widened. "Is that a Luminarite scanner?"

"Not a great one," Kiera admitted. "It's old and busted, but it should still work for small deposits. Thought it might help you get ahead."

Before Aidan could say anything, Kiera interrupted him. "You're not alone, you know. You also have to look for your sister. This will definitely help you a lot." She smiled fondly.

A Luminarite scanner was a rare and valuable tool, designed to detect deposits of the precious mineral hidden within the rock. Though the one Kiera had given him was battered and outdated, its core components were intact, making it functional enough to locate smaller deposits. For Aidan, it was a lifeline—a way to speed up his progress toward his goal of leaving Vesta-7. However, the scanner also came with its own risks. In a place where desperation ruled, possessing such a tool could make him a target. He would have to use it wisely and guard it fiercely, knowing that one misstep could cost him everything.

Aidan picked up the scanner, turning it over in his hands.

"Why are you giving this to me?" he asked, glancing at her.

Kiera shrugged. "I'm not getting any younger. This thing's no use to me, but it might just give you the edge you need".

Aidan felt a pang of gratitude. "Thanks, Aunt Kiera. I'll make good use of it."

"Just don't let Garrick see it," she warned. "He'll try to take it from you the first chance he gets."

Aidan nodded he knew better than anyone else what will happen if others were to discover this, He kept the scanner into his locker."I'll be careful."

Kiera lingered for a moment, her gaze thoughtful. "You ever wonder if there's more to this place than what we see?"

Aidan raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean... the Darnaths wouldn't keep this outpost running if it was completely tapped out. There's got to be something they're not telling us."

Aidan frowned. He had never considered that. The Darnaths were ruthless, but they were also shrewd. If Vesta-7 was as depleted as it seemed, why hadn't they abandoned it?

"Maybe," he said cautiously. "But what can we do about it?"

Kiera smiled faintly. "Probably nothing. Just a thought. Anyway, I should get back before someone notices I'm gone. Take care of yourself, Aidan."

"You too," he said as she left.

Alone again, Aidan sat on the cot, Kiera's words echoing in his mind. Could there be more to Vesta-7 than he realized?

From the bathroom came his sister. "Who was it?" she asked.

"Aunt Kiera."

"Oh, Big Sister Kiera came..."

"Yeah, she brought us dinner, like always."

Kiera had been a close friend of their parents. She, too, had once dreamed of leaving Vesta-7, but her husband had died in a cave-in, and those dreams had died with him. After Aidan's parents passed, Kiera had stepped in to care for him and his sister, often bringing food and offering support despite her own struggles.

When she learned of Aidan's plan to leave, she had insisted on giving him her savings. Aidan had refused, determined to earn his way out without burdening others. For one person to leave, they needed 4,000 credits. With a dependent like his sister, the cost rose to 5,000. Despite working tirelessly and earning 2–3 credits a day, the high cost of food and occasional thefts by gang members made progress slow. Without his parents' inheritance, he wouldn't have even come this far.

"Let's have our dinner, brother, or it will become cold." His sister's voice broke through his thoughts. Aidan nodded, joining her at the table.

As they ate, his resolve hardened. He would leave Vesta-7—not just for himself, but for his sister and the future they deserved.

---

The next morning, Aidan woke early. The faint light of the artificial sunrise seeped through the window, casting long shadows across the room. He dressed quickly, donning his patched work suit and boots. The scanner Kiera had given him rested on the table, its worn edges catching the light. He tucked it into his bag, along with a few tools and a water flask.

"I'll be back before dark," he told his sister as he headed for the door.

"Be careful," she said, her voice tinged with worry.

Aidan stepped out into the dusty air of the outpost. The settlement was a cluster of prefabricated buildings, their metal walls streaked with rust. Miners moved about, their faces etched with fatigue and resignation. The distant sound of drills and machinery filled the air, a constant reminder of the labor that sustained their lives.

He made his way to the mine entrance, a jagged opening in the rocky terrain. The air grew cooler as he descended, the walls of the tunnel closing in around him. The dim glow of overhead lights illuminated the path, casting eerie shadows on the rough stone.

Aidan found a secluded spot deeper in the mine, away from the prying eyes of other workers. He pulled out the scanner and activated it. The device hummed to life, its screen flickering before displaying a faint signal.

"Come on," he muttered, adjusting the settings. The scanner's readout began to stabilize, showing a small deposit of Luminarite nearby.

He set to work, carefully extracting the mineral. The scanner's precision allowed him to target the richest veins, making his efforts more efficient. Hours passed as he chipped away at the rock, the steady rhythm of his work broken only by the occasional distant rumble of the mine.

By the time he emerged from the tunnel, his bag was heavier, and his body ached from the effort. The sun was setting, casting a fiery glow across the horizon. Aidan made his way to the trading post, a small building near the center of the outpost. Inside, the air was thick with the scent of oil and metal. Traders haggled over goods, their voices blending into a chaotic symphony.

Aidan approached the counter, where a grizzled man with a cybernetic eye stood. He placed his haul on the counter, watching as the trader inspected the minerals.

"Not bad," the man said, his voice rough. "I'll give you 10 credits for the lot."

Aidan's heart swelled with happiness . It was much more than what he had imagined, It's his first time earning this much in just one day far better than his measly 2 credits per day. He nodded, accepting the payment. The scanner had given him an edge, and he knew with its help his dream will be achieved much sooner. 

As he left the trading post, his thoughts turned to Kiera's words. If there was more to Vesta-7 than met the eye, he needed to find it. For his sister, for their future, and for the chance to finally break free from the chains of the past.

As Aidan stepped into the fading light, unknown to him a shadow slipped into the alley, eyes glinting with malice. It had seen everything and it wasn't going to let him walk away unscathed.