Starbound: A Space Odyssey - Chapter 181

Before everything, Aoi firstly told John her complete and real name, Miyazaki Aoi, from the Miyazaki family.

A family that have served the Fujiwara clan even before the Hylotl-Floran War.

It was a custom that the younger generation of the Miyazaki family would serve and be the most loyal aide of the younger generation, and future leader of the Fujiwara clan.

Aoi was one of the children selected to go through the training to become Fujiwara Rei’s most loyal aide.

Of course, Aoi was a rebellious young girl and just rejected her father and mother’s choice for her.

She always tried to leave, to escape from her predestined fate.

One day, she managed to flee when she ran inside a Cargo Spaceship.

She was barely 11 years old when she was suddenly thrown at the endless and expanded universe without any direction or help.

As a normal young girl, she was afraid at first, but also happy that she didn’t have to return.

And so she stayed hidden in the ship.

From time to time, she would use the skills she learned with the shinobis in her family to steal food and water from the people of the ship.

Of course they realized some of the food disappearing, but when they looked at the amount, they thought it was some kind of rat or other alien creature with similar behavior.

They tried to capture it, but Aoi was simply too nimble and smarter, so they could only leave it be and see if they could do something once the ship landed.

Since Aoi was inside a Cargo Spaceship, she didn’t experience a Warp Jump, the ship was way too big and heavy for the FTL Engine to work.

It was all peaceful, when the spaceship was suddenly attacked by pirates.

Aoi stayed hidden in the air vents.

From up there, she watched as the crew was brutally murdered by those bloodthirsty pirates.

The pirates only killed those that resisted and fought back, as such, they kept a few alive and threw them in prison.

Aoi was shocked as she never saw people dying in front her.

She was no strange to blood, fights and injury, but she never saw people dying.

It was in that day that Aoi learned that the universe wasn’t as peaceful as she once believed.

People day everyday, and if she wasn’t careful enough, she would be next.

Even today Aoi could still remember the name and symbol of those pirates, the Redhook pirates leaded by the infamous Captain Redhook.

Luckily for Aoi, she had stored enough food from stealing the crew.

Now, she kept herself hidden and fearfully awaited for what fate decided to her.

Maybe it wasn’t her time yet, as not very long after the spaceship was captured by the pirates, some Terrene Protectorate patrol fleet.

After a fierce battle, the pirates ran away, some of them hid in the Cargo ship.

One of these pirates found Aoi’s hiding spot and attacked her.

Aoi managed to defend herself with a kitchen knife she found.

But she was still overwhelmed by the pirate and almost killed if a Protector didn’t appear out of nowhere to save her.

The one that saved her was kind, middle-aged woman.

Her primary job in the fleet was being one of the medics, and as such she helped tend Aoi’s wounds.

Aoi was impressed by the kindness and prowess displayed by the Terrene Protectorate.

Ever since that day, she became infatuated with the Protectorate and wished to be one herself.

The Protectors save her and gave her a ride back to Kuraokami, the capital of the UHG, and her home.

Back home, Aoi was severely punished by her father and was even grounded for a few years, and only when she reached 17 years old did she find a chance to escape from Kuraokami.

A lot older and experienced, Aoi easily found her way towards Earth, the Headquarters of the Terrene Protectorate.

“And this is my story, basically.” Aoi finished her tale, “You’re the first person beside my mother that I told everything. Not even young master Rei knows this much.”

“Impressive.” John commented, “Even as young as 11 years you were that daring. You were a lot different than I thought you were.”

Aoi giggled as she said, “Yeah, I changed a lot from 11 years old to the 22 years old now. Looking back, I really was a daredevil back then.”

“Everyone changes with time.” John spoke, “We never stay the same…”

“I can see it.” Aoi’s eyes gleamed as she looked up and down at John’s figure, “You’ve matured. You are a lot more calmer, rational, somber, and visibly stronger.”

“…yeah…I have experienced a lot in this last weeks.” John said with a downcast expression.

Aoi sighed when she saw John that way. She decided to break the somber atmosphere and chatted with John about other things.

They talked for a few more minutes before Aoi received an urgent message.

Aoi opened her PIPS and indifferently looked over the message. After reading it, she glanced up and spoke to John with a smile on her face, “Looks like I have to go…”

John nodded and smiled in response.

“I’ll be at Kuraokami with young master.” Aoi said, “When he finds something relevant, I’ll come with him.”

“Don’t worry about me.”

“How can’t I?” Aoi rolled her eyes before she switched her tone to a more serious as she warned, “You should be careful, John, there’s a bounty on your head.”

“Bounty?” John was surprised.

“Yes, it was apparently posted by the Reef Faction.” Aoi carefully spoke, “Tepei was killed as he was being transported towards the prison, Alpis. Of course everyone knows that it was the Reef Faction itself that got rid of him, but still, they want to placate Tepei’s family by killing those that indirectly led to his death. That means, they want yours and your friend’s head. You should be very careful around the Outpost. Although the security is good and the Ocean Faction somewhat have taken control, some of the guards still belong to Reef Faction. They probably won’t try to kill you, as this would be a crime and they will be severely punished, but that doesn’t mean they can’t turn a blind eye you are suddenly ambushed and attacked.”

“I’ll be careful.” John nodded seriously with a grim expression.

He never expected that his thoughtless action of wanting to fix his spaceship would led him to the murky waters of the conflict between Letheia’s factions. Now, he ended up offending the most unreasonable faction, the Extremist Reef Faction. John knew his future wouldn’t be as easy as before now that he fell on Reef Faction’s eyes