Chapter 20: Watching Vykhor

“If I take, Evelyn, I take everything.”

Vykhor’s rough voice still echoed inside her, like a shadow refusing to fade. She woke up once again with a start, that phrase etched in her mind. This was the third night, and since that incident, she hadn’t found the same peaceful sleep she used to have. She constantly shifted between embarrassment, confusion, and... something else. Something she couldn’t quite name.

For three days, the tension between them had been palpable. Vykhor had avoided touching her, his movements were sharper, more controlled. She could see the intense effort he put into restraining his desire, holding himself back, and in some strange way, that self-control unsettled her just as much as it reassured her. She could almost feel his gaze on her when he thought she wasn’t looking, a gaze heavy with an intensity she didn’t fully understand but that made her heart beat a little faster.

Love. It was a mysterious concept to her, a feeling she had read about in books, seen in movies. But outside of Dr. Griffin, who had protected her like a father, Evelyn had never experienced any kind of intimate attachment. Griffin hadn’t had the time—or perhaps the desire—to teach her about those kinds of emotions, and now she found herself trying to untangle what she felt for Vykhor.

This strange desire twisting in her stomach, the growing curiosity about him, and the memory of the firm and steady way he had held her… all stirred a turmoil inside her that she didn’t know how to handle. Was it a mistake, a dangerous path in this unpredictable universe? Or was it an opportunity, something that could offer her answers about herself?

On his side, Vykhor said nothing, but she sensed his frustration with each glance, each move. He seemed both determined to keep control and irritated by the need to hold back. This silent battle within him, that wild part of him slipping through despite his best efforts to stay in control, fascinated her as much as it unsettled her.

In those restless nights, Evelyn wondered if she’d been honest with herself by calling the incident a “simple mistake.” What if it went beyond that? What if Vykhor, with his untamable nature, really could show her what it meant to love, with all the passion and complexity it entailed? She sighed in the darkness of her cabin, torn between this fear of the unknown and a strange thirst for discovery.

Fortunately, Vykhor found a mission that truly piqued his interest: tracking down a notorious fugitive named Kranos Varg. The contract brought a welcome relief to the tense atmosphere that had been hanging over them on the Narak'Tharr. This mission promised to be intense and challenging, and Vykhor’s excitement for the hunt seemed to ease some of the tension between him and Evelyn.

The fugitive, Kranos Varg, was no ordinary target. A former soldier turned criminal, he was wanted for a series of violent crimes on Zephyros, a planet infamous for its unforgiving environment. Zephyros wasn’t just wild; it was a world covered in dense forests, sharp mountain ranges, and vast plains, all swept by fierce winds. The planet itself added an extra layer of danger to the mission, and Vykhor was eager to face it.

As they entered orbit around Zephyros, Vykhor briefly outlined his plan to Evelyn. “I’ll handle Varg alone,” he said in a commanding tone that left no room for debate. He knew she would be curious to participate directly, but he wasn’t yet ready to expose her to the risks of a field mission.

Still, he gave her an essential role in observation. “Stay on board, monitor the scans, and track my every movement,” he added, his voice grave and serious. For Evelyn, it would be an opportunity to learn his tracking methods, understand how he hunted his targets, and pick up skills that might prove useful to her in the future.

She knew he wasn’t just asking her to watch; it was a way of preparing her for a more active role, of training her without putting her life at risk, even though she hadn’t fully made up her mind. As he prepared to leave, Evelyn took her position in front of the control screens, determined not to miss a single detail of her first mission with him.

Evelyn stood in the control room, surrounded by the screens managed by Kryna, the Narak'Tharr’s AI. The ship was equipped with advanced sensors capable of tracking Vykhor in real time, no matter where he went on the planet.

“Commander Kael’seth has landed,” Kryna announced calmly, showing a detailed map of the area where Vykhor had just touched down. Zephyros was a wild world where nature ruled, and Evelyn could already imagine the challenges this posed.

Vykhor, dressed in a combat suit that hugged his muscular form, stepped out of the small transport shuttle. The landscape around him was both beautiful and hostile: towering trees, rugged rocks, and a sky roiling with powerful winds. He made his way toward the small town of Borealis, where the local authorities awaited. Thanks to Kryna, Evelyn could observe each step of his progress.

When he arrived in the town, Vykhor was met by a group of locals and an official who seemed to be in charge. The people of Zephyros, sturdy beings with angular features and slate-colored skin, were visibly reserved. They spoke little, but their unease was clear. They gave Vykhor a detailed description of Kranos Varg: a tall, imposing man known for his ability to blend into the surrounding wilderness. They reminded him that he was extremely dangerous.

Evelyn watched closely as Vykhor interacted with the inhabitants of Zephyros, and one detail caught her attention. Despite their obvious fear of Kranos Varg, they seemed almost as nervous in Vykhor’s presence. It showed in their hesitant movements, in the way they avoided his piercing yellow eyes. For Evelyn, it was both understandable and a little sad. Sure, Vykhor was a formidable warrior, a ruthless hunter whose reputation preceded him, but he wasn’t a monster. She knew that behind his cold, domineering exterior, there was a more complex being.

Yet she wondered if he even noticed. Vykhor seemed indifferent to others’ opinions, but Evelyn sensed there was an element of loneliness in that respect mixed with fear, a distance between him and the rest of the world that few would ever cross. The people looked at him with an admiration tinged with fear, as if they knew one wrong move could put them in danger. Evelyn often saw that same feeling in the eyes of those who crossed her path.

She began to wonder if Vykhor felt the distance he created, this gulf between himself and others, whether it was intentional or not. Maybe he was used to it, maybe he was indifferent. But to her, it showed the price he paid for living as he did: this mercenary’s life, a solitary warrior’s life, imposed an insurmountable barrier between him and the rest of the galaxy.

Once he’d gathered the necessary information, Vykhor set out. Evelyn could follow his every movement thanks to the Narak'Tharr’s sensors, which projected a real-time image of his progress through Zephyros’s wilderness. She was struck by the fluidity of his movements, by the way he seemed to belong in this hostile landscape. His instincts, sharpened by years of similar missions, guided him with precision through the natural obstacles. He moved swiftly and silently, like a predator tracking his prey.

Kryna occasionally commented on the environmental conditions in her calm voice, but Evelyn was mainly captivated by how Vykhor used both instinct and technology to locate the fugitive. The Narak'Tharr’s sensors soon detected a heat signature matching Kranos Varg, hiding in a cave on the side of a mountain.

“Target located,” Kryna reported as the cave image appeared on the screens.

Vykhor approached the cave with caution, his senses on high alert. Evelyn held her breath as she watched him enter the darkness of the rocky hollow. The interior was dim, barely lit by the glow of a few bioluminescent mushrooms. Vykhor moved carefully, his steps measured and silent, his eyes adjusting to the faint light.

Suddenly, a massive figure lunged from the shadows. Kranos Varg, a towering mountain of muscle and rage, attacked without warning, but Vykhor was ready. In one smooth motion, he dodged the fugitive’s assault and, using his cybernetic arm, delivered a blow that sent Kranos staggering back. The fight was short but fierce. Despite his brute strength, Kranos couldn’t match Vykhor’s speed and precision. In seconds, he was pinned to the ground, Vykhor’s blade pressed against his throat.

Watching the scene from the Narak'Tharr, Evelyn couldn’t help but be fascinated by how Vykhor neutralized his enemies so efficiently. There was no unnecessary violence, no triumph in his actions. He simply did what needed to be done with a skill few could match.

Vykhor then handed Kranos Varg over to the Borealis authorities, who greeted the fugitive with a mixture of relief and fear. They gave Vykhor the agreed reward, trying to stay respectful but still visibly nervous in his presence. Vykhor, true to himself, stayed silent, merely confirming the mission’s success and accepting the bounty.

Back on the Narak'Tharr, Vykhor uploaded the mission data to the mercenary management system, officially recording another success in his file. Evelyn watched this final step, realizing how structured and closely monitored this world of mercenaries and bounty hunters was. Every mission, every bounty was carefully logged, every action monitored.

When Vykhor finally joined her in the control room, Evelyn greeted him with a mix of curiosity and admiration. “That was… impressive,” she said, unable to find a better word to describe what she’d seen.

Vykhor shrugged slightly, as if it had all been routine for him. “Just a job,” he replied calmly, with no hint of vanity in his voice.

Evelyn smiled, beginning to understand this enigmatic man a little better. For him, every mission was just a task to be completed, no fanfare, no misplaced pride. But she couldn’t help but think that, despite his cold and detached appearance, there was more to Vykhor than he let on.

As they left Zephyros’s orbit, Evelyn felt ready for whatever came next. Working with Vykhor might turn out to be more than a simple collaboration of convenience. It was an opportunity to learn, to grow, and maybe even to understand what drove her forward in this vast and often hostile universe.