Saltwater Bay

CHAPTER 20:

Saltwater Bay

Tomorrow, Morning

The morning tide rolled in slow, glistening silver beneath the soft break of dawn. Seagulls cawed overhead, circling the ship as the men worked.

Rylis reeled in the heavy net, hands calloused but steady, his cigarette hanging from the edge of his lips. The wooden cages rattled as he secured them, fish thrashing inside, their silver scales flashing against the rising sun.

Behind him, Christian Harper, Alria’s most trusted fisherman, leaned against the railing, hat in hand, watching the waves.

"Is that enough, Sergeant?" Harper asked, his voice carrying across the open water.

Rylis scoffed, exhaling a cloud of smoke. "Yeppppp! I can feed the entire conference with this one... First batch… a winner." His accent clipped, laced with traces of Mandarin.

Harper hummed, stepping toward the sailing section, adjusting the rotors with practiced ease. The ship shifted smoothly, gliding across the sea instead of humming with resistance.

"First batch, huh?" Harper mused. "You think we can make five of the same size?"

Rylis flicked ash from his cigarette, smirking. "If the sea allows it, old man."

They worked in silence, the rhythmic sound of water sloshing against the hull filling the spaces between them. The sky stretched wide, painted in hues of orange and violet as the morning fully broke over Saltwater Bay.

Nova’s Quarters

A hush loomed over The Library of Knossos, its ancient walls lined with centuries of history bound in leather and ink.

As the view drifted slowly into the house, Nova’s Residence, Karys can be seen as she sat alone on the porch. Her fingers idly flipping through the pages of an old book about Alria’s past. Sunlight streamed through the towering columns, casting long shadows across the worn wooden floors.

Her mind wasn’t on the text.

Instead, she reached for her smart device, a Tablet of some sort, tapping the screen as she unlocked it with her Biometrics.

Rylis’s number flashed.

She hesitated for a moment before pressing call.

It rang.

Once.

Twice.

No answer.

She sighed, setting the book aside. Ever since General Xerox had pardoned him, Rylis had been trying to build a new life. A fisherman now, a far cry from the Sophonts who once claimed him as their own. Being an outsider, Rylis had been accepted as part of the city's people, abandoned by his group of Sophonts, he was now a part of these walls that stretched beyond oblivion. He was a part of the seas of Alria, a part time fisherman and casually did what he loved most, working with food.

But Alria never forgot.

And neither did she.

The weight of the past still hung over them, even in moments of peace.

She tapped her fingers against the concrete marble she was sitting on at the porch, waiting.

Somehow, she already knew— this morning wouldn’t end as quietly as it began.

Later That Day

She swayed her hand over her Bionic arm, her systems already knew what she wanted, as a digital holo-projection appeared from her forearm revealing a shining interface that appeared with a numerical consistent keyboard. Her eyes moving left to write she could basically flip through the list of her contacts. Faces appearing in their shapes, colors and sizes, showing how very connected she was around the city of Alria. The interface scrolling endlessly, using her iris to flip the page as she telepathically typed onto the screen.

The holographic interface hovered in the air, shimmering in blue luminescence as Karys scrolled through her contacts with nothing but a flick of her iris movements. The glowing digital faces passed by, some static, some blinking, smirking, or nodding as their animations looped in response to her gaze.

She stopped on one.

"Rylis The Ironman."

A digital face appeared, animated as it blinked and winked with a smile. It was the AI-generated avatar of Rylis Oshihomimi, winking at her once more, before the system engaged the call.

Her bionic system was very good and indeed engineered with the highest supremacy. She could touch it when she wanted to do things manually, she could make voice and video calls, she could take notes, besides from shooting and the tactical masculinity that embodied her.

"Call Rylis," she announced, taking a small sip of Guava juice, her free hand absentmindedly fixing her dark auburn curls that had fallen over her face.

"CALLING MR. OSHIHOMIMI. SYSTEM ENGAGED."

The interface blinked twice, sending the request. The ringing tone pulsed through her Bionic arm’s embedded speakers. The call rang for a while, lasting longer than expected, each ring stretching time into slow-motion.

Her arm responded, for a minute that seemed like eons.

Karys exhaled. She hated waiting.

On The Fishing Boat

The open sea stretched endlessly around them, its surface reflecting the burning orange hues of the rising sun. A salty breeze cut through the air, ruffling the ship’s flags as the engine hummed in the background.

Rylis’s smart earpiece buzzed, vibrating softly beneath the damp strands of his tied-dark looking hair, which was tied to the back. It shimmered black in the mist of the ocean, as his hands were occupied, gripping the thick net as he hauled another massive catch over the railing.

"ANSWER CALL!" He shouted out loud onto an empty space, shouting into the air, as his hands were caught up. His voice commanding yet slightly breathless.

The earpiece chirped in response.

"System Online. Answering Call."

His earpiece responded quickly, a result of his ever-busy hands. He previously had upgraded its components to interact without being handheld nor by touch, to allow him to work freely and not damage any internal components. A very big deal that assisted him along the freezing waters.

The line connected.

"HELLO?" His voice carried a hint of surprise, followed by the sound of flapping fish and the rhythmic creaking of the ship.

Karys Sitting On The Porch

"Yeahhhh! It's Karys... How you doing?" she said smoothly, readjusting her sitting position, a lazy smirk playing on her lips.

[SPLIT SCREEN VIEW ACTIVATED]

On the left side of the interface, Rylis’s live feed flickered into view. His expression turned into one of mild amusement.

"Ohhhh! Hey there, Karys. What a pleasant surprise— I never thought you would... Ugghhh!"

The call crackled as a wave of fish knocked into the line, their sheer weight tipping the balance of the deck.

THWAAAART! SPLASH!

A giant Yellowfin Tuna slammed against the container basket, wriggling with uncontrollable force.

The fish slammed in, unnaturally, but otherwise, a normal thing that happens once every while when there's too much fish in the net.

"Hey! Karys, what's good? What are you up to? I'm kinda—" Rylis gritted his teeth as he wrestled the net, "—in a pickle over here! WASSUP?"

Karys chuckled softly. "Noooo! I'm fine, nothing much. I was just wondering, so I thought I’d check on you— haven’t had a good laugh in a while. And I know some good sushi goes along with it."

[VIDEO CALL INITIATED]

The screen adjusted as Rylis’s camera feed widened, showing the ship’s hectic deck, fish scattered across the planks, water splashing in all directions.

The view from the fishing boat was clearly possible thanks to the connection with Spark Link Corporation Satellites. The entire grid was riddled with them, and everyone could basically connect without being censored, or directly connecting their I.P Address to the interlocking web.

[VIDEO SEQUENCE INITIATED]

Establishing Image Feed...

Fetching Data...

Rylis appeared on her screen, grabbing a large spade, as he wedged it against the net to unloosen the rope. Letting the fish spill onto the deck’s floor, their silvery scales glistening in the dawn light.

His electronic earpiece device, was capable to generate a live feed of image data, collected through the airwaves. And because he was near water, the system had to compromise to either give a high-resolution feed and slow up bandwidth, or use the magnetic field of the boat to provide a stable picture.

His Earpiece device responded, as he attended his Subordinate.

"HARPER! I hope this won't erase my day's paycheck— help me out here!"

Harper’s heavy boots thudded against the wooden floor, stomping toward the writhing Tuna, covering it with extra netting to keep it from escaping.

"GET UNDER THERE, YOU!" he muttered, shoving the fish back into place. One of them nearly pierced his boot, missing his calf by mere inches.

[BACK TO SPLIT SCREEN]

The net swayed from side to side as the Tuna Fish wanted to make a run for it. Rylis, understanding how busy Harper was, he unloosened the rope and allowed the Yellow-Fin to bleed onto the Ship's deck for the second time. Splashing water everywhere as the fish flipped, and flipped up and down, landing side to side.

Rylis exhaled sharply, adjusting the earpiece. "Karys, you still there?"

Karys smirked. "Of course, Ironman. Now, what’s this about sushi?"

Rylis wiped his damp forehead with the back of his hand, dodging another slap from a flailing fish. "We can get some this evening if you're up for it. My shift doesn't overlap with the night today. Ehhhhh!"

The ship lurched, hitting some bedrock. He stumbled, barely catching himself against the railing.

"We can have a little bite at Kimisun Akisawa’s place. What do you say?"

Rylis clenched his fists as he pulled the net forward, shaking it to get the tangled fish out and into the basket.

Karys tilted her head playfully. "Hmm... You wanna take me on a date, I see."

Rylis snorted, shaking his head. "If you call eating raw fish and drinking cheap sake a date, then sure."

Karys giggled, flicking her holographic interface closed with a blink of her eye. "Alright, you’re on. But I expect the best cut of the catch."

Their banter continued for another few minutes until—

[A SUDDEN INTERRUPTION]

"The rest of these fellows should have a date with the freezer. I don't think there's enough Ice on this container, the system is way on overload." Mr. Christian Harper said, walking his heavy boots over the water on the deck, he covers the loose Tuna fish with an extra net, making sure they don't leap out of the boat.

He murmured to himself, kicking the giant Yellow Fin Tuna into sections, making sure that they align properly by size before they are frozen, locking in that needed juice, and creamy flesh.

This time, Mr. Harper was getting ready to drop Rylis off early after they’ve with the market. He knew that, if they headed too early, the fish might scale up beneficially, and with it being only fat fish on the deck floor, he was well glad and joyous.

All of a Sudden-

A Tuna’s sharp FIN sliced through the air, grazing Harper’s calf. He grunted, instinctively grabbing his leg while keeping the net in place.

"That’s not gonna stop me, you damn scoundrel," he muttered under his breath, tightening the ropes, securing the fish against the ship’s steel barrier.

Rylis turned sharply. "YOU ALRIGHT, CAPTAIN?"

Harper waved him off. "Yeahhhhh! I’m fine. This is nothing— I’ve seen way more waves than a small scratch." He grimaced slightly, glancing at the forming wound. "Where’s the Aid Kit? Think I saw it in the Haul…"

Rylis clenched his jaw. "Karys, I think I might have to call you back. Like I said… I’m in a bit of a pickle."

Karys nodded, watching as Harper hobbled toward the lower deck. "Go take care of that. I’ll see you later, Ironman."

The call ended.

A sudden wave crashed against the ship’s side, sending a spray of saltwater across the screen— dissolving the scene into static.

[A FADE TO BLACK]

Nova's Residence:

Late Afternoon

Karys sat on her couch, her mind drifting back to the video call with Rylis. She could still picture his busy hands—calloused yet dexterous—as they worked to reel in another fish from the icy waters. The way he wrestled with every catch, his breath hitching slightly as he steadied himself on the boat, was oddly fascinating. He seemed tough for a Sophont Scavenger, yet she couldn’t shake the memory of him nearly tumbling overboard.

"He’s resilient… but still reckless," she mused, smirking at the thought.

The sound of rushing waters still lingered in Karys' mind, the memory of Rylis' busy hands wrangling a fish on the line playing over like a looping reel. There was something about the way he moved—strong, confident, but clumsy at times, especially when he'd nearly fallen overboard during their last mission.

"He seems pretty tough, for a Sophont Scavenger…" she mused, shaking her head at the thought.

She absentmindedly flipped the pages of her book, but the words blurred together. The video call from earlier had left her stomach restless—not from the sight of Harper's bloodied calf (she’d long since desensitized herself to such things) but from the way the fish flopped around, its shimmering scales catching the light. The idea of a fresh tuna salad was far more enticing than any brutal memory.’

Her mind was elsewhere—tonight’s plans, what she would wear, how the evening would unfold. The prospect of stepping out into the city brought a familiar tingling excitement to her stomach. Not from nerves, of course. Bloodshed didn’t faze her. The fresh memory of Harper’s calf splitting open, crimson spilling onto the cold floor, barely registered. She was used to seeing blood. Used to making it appear.

No, her stomach fluttered for an entirely different reason.

The fish.

She could almost taste it already. The glistening scales, the soft flesh beneath—freshly caught, just like the ones she’d seen Rylis pull from the sea.

"A little tuna salad would do," she decided, standing up with a stretch. She grabbed the empty juice glass and the half-read book beside her, and made her way toward the kitchenette.

SCREEEEECH!!!

The sharp skittering sound shattered her thoughts, and jolted her out of her memory.

A deep thud followed—a hollow impact against the glass enclosure on her desk.

She turned to see Morris, Nova’s Tarantula, bouncing against the transparent walls of his terrarium, his eight legs scrambling in agitated movements. His small, chittering sounds were uncharacteristic, as if something in the room had unsettled him.

Morris had thrown himself against the glass of his terrarium, his legs twitching in agitation. His glossy black eyes fixated on her, his body subtly shifting as though sensing something she couldn’t.

"What's wrong, Mr. Morris? Is it lunchtime yet?" Karys scoffed, arching an eyebrow as she approached his enclosure.

"Hmph. What’s got you so riled up, little guy?" Karys murmured, but she was only half paying attention. giving the tarantula a passing glance before disappearing into the kitchen.

But the way he moved—frantic, erratic—sent a chill down her spine. Tarantulas weren’t easily startled. They were patient predators, unbothered by most disturbances.

Karys hesitated.

Morris wasn’t afraid of her.

So, what, exactly, was he sensing?

Her fingers twitched toward the hilt of the knife on the counter.

Then—

DONK! DONK! DONK!

The sound came again—this time not from the terrarium, but from somewhere else.

Morris struck the glass again.

Karys' pulse slowed, her senses heightening. She set the glass down carefully, her mind flipping through possibilities.

Was it just the ship’s metal plating contracting? A maintenance drone passing through the hall?

Or was something—or someone—lurking just beyond the door?

Unknown Message

Karys stood still, her breath slow and measured.

Morris remained rigid, his many legs planted firmly against the glass, eyes locked on the door.

The soft DONK! came again.

This time, it was deliberate.

Someone was there.

Slowly, Karys reached for the concealed blade beneath her sleeve, her fingers wrapping around the familiar grip.

A slow exhale. A shift in stance.

Then—

A sharp beep.

Her comm unit flashed. Incoming transmission.

She flicked her gaze toward the screen, her heartbeat quickening.

Unknown Sender.

One word appeared on the display:

"DON’T TRUST SCOTT."

Karys’ grip tightened on the knife.

Morris stilled.

The world went silent.

Then—

The lights flickered.

And everything went dark.

[TO BE CONTINUED…]