The next six months passed in a blur of blood and gore. Aria moved through the solar system like a ghost, crossing names off her list with ruthless efficiency. Each elimination was a dance of death, each target a step closer to her ultimate goal.
Dr. Ameilia Sharpova (Target 752) died in her sleep, her nervous system quietly shutting down from an engineered virus. She never knew death was coming.
Dr. Elias Vance (Target 934) recognized Aria the moment she walked into his highly advanced computing lab on Mars. His last words were "I knew someone would come." He faced his death with dignity, asking only that she make it quick. She did.
The Wong twins (Targets 445 and 446) tried to run when their security systems detected her presence in their Luna facility. Their robotic enhancements gave them extraordinary speed, but Aria was faster. Their deaths marked the first time she felt nothing at all while watching the light fade from human eyes.
Colonel Sarah Walker (Target 891) nearly escaped. Her military grade augmentations and tactical experience made her a worthy opponent. The firefight lasted six minutes—the longest any target had survived. In the end, though, she joined the others.
Each death changed Aria in subtle ways. The part of her that might have once felt remorse grew smaller, replaced by only cold indifference. Her movements became more robotic, her decisions grew more and more detached. The last traces of the child who had survived Project Nexus were being systematically erased, replaced by something closer to what her creators had intended.
By the time she eliminated Dr. Marius Blackwood (Target 623) in his apartment, she realized she hadn't spoken a word in three weeks. Communication had become purely tactical—neural transmissions to Krell, coded messages to informants. Human interaction felt increasingly irrelevant.
Target 567 died during afternoon tea.
Target 892 never saw it coming.
Target 445 begged for mercy.
Target 776 tried to fight back.
Target 334 accepted death with scientific curiosity.
The pattern continued until her count reached 965 eliminated targets. Each death was perfectly executed, each body disposed of without remorse. But the monotony of hunting was beginning to affect even her enhanced systems. She needed something different—a change in routine to maintain optimal efficiency.
The delivery contract came through their usual channels. A simple job: transport one sealed container from Europa to Titan, no questions asked. The pay was good, though not exceptional. The client's identity was hidden behind layers of encryption that she didn’t even care enough to crack.
Most importantly, it was different.
"Do not open the container," the contract specified in bold text. "Any attempt to examine the contents voids payment and triggers automatic security protocols."
Aria studied the contract details with her quicksilver eyes. The container+/'s dimensions were precise: 2.1 meters long, 0.9 meters wide, 0.8 meters high. Temperature controlled. Magnetically shielded. Power source independent.
Perfect dimensions for a cryo pod.
Aria's fingers danced across the holographic display, accepting the delivery contract with a single gesture. The terms were simple, the payment adequate—a perfect cover for gathering more intelligence about The Architect's operations.
"Taking a quick contract," she transmitted to Krell through their neural link, her voice carrying that familiar blasé detachment. "Simple delivery run from Europa to Titan. Should give our equipment time to recalibrate."
Krell's cybernetic eye flickered with mild interest. "Delivery contracts aren't usually your style. What's the cargo?"
"Sealed container. Temperature controlled. Magnetically shielded." Her eyes reflected cascading data streams. "Dimensions suggest a cryo pod."
"Interesting timing," Krell observed, his mechanical hand flexing thoughtfully. "Given Hayes's current status."
A ghost of a smile touched Aria's lips. "My thoughts exactly. The contract's routing protocols share certain... similarities with The Architect's encryption patterns."
"You're hoping it's connected." It wasn't a question.
"Every piece of data is valuable, and we’ve hit a dead end" she responded, already running potential scenarios. "I'll be back at base in a few days. We can recalibrate the targeting systems then."
Krell's laugh carried a metallic edge. "Just try not to start any wars while you're out there. The last thing we need is another Mars Colony incident."
"Please," Aria's voice carried a rare hint of amusement. "That was one time."
As she prepared for departure, her enhanced systems continued processing the data from their recent eliminations. The delivery contract might be simple, but in their world, nothing was ever quite what it seemed.
TARGETS REMAINING: 965/1200
NEXT OBJECTIVE: EUROPA
The journey to Titan stretched before them like an endless void, each moment marked only by the quiet hum of the ship's engines and the soft pulsing of life support systems. Aria had positioned the sealed container in the cargo hold, its presence a constant whisper in her enhanced awareness.
Three days into the five-day journey, her neural implants detected an anomaly. The box's power signature had changed—subtle fluctuations that most systems would miss, but to her enhanced senses, they sang like warning bells.
"Interesting," she subvocalized, her quicksilver eyes analyzing the data streams. The container's independent power source was cycling faster, its magnetic shielding exhibiting micro-fluctuations that suggested internal activity.
The ship's sensors confirmed her suspicions: the temperature inside the box had dropped by 0.3 degrees. Not enough to compromise whatever—or whoever—was inside, but enough to indicate something was changing.
At the four-day mark, it happened. The container's magnetic seals disengaged with a soft hiss that her enhanced hearing caught instantly. Steam rose from the edges as internal pressure equalized, carrying the distinct scent of cryo-preservation chemicals.
Inside lay a woman Aria had never seen before—her form absolutely perfect, a fusion of human grace and technological enhancement. Unlike the crude augmentations Aria had seen before, this woman's modifications seemed to flow naturally within her body, as if she had been born with them rather than enhanced.
Her skin held a subtle glow and fine iridescent patterns traced her limbs in designs that seemed both organic and deliberately engineered. Platinum blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders like spun silk, and when her eyes opened, they revealed irises of the most striking azure blue—engineered to an impossible shade of brilliance that seemed to glow with their own inner light.
The woman's pupils dilate in sheer terror as she registered Aria's presence. Her body jerked against the restraints, confusion and fear etched across her features.
"What... who are you?" she gasped, her voice trembling despite its enhanced harmonics. Her azure eyes darted wildly around the room, searching for escape routes, for any sign of familiarity in this nightmare scenario.
Aria ignores her question and connects to Krell’s neural link. "The delivery just got complicated," she transmitted to Krell, her voice carrying that familiar characteristic, analytical distance. "The cargo's awake."
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“Is it… functional?” Krell inquired, “Payment is contingent on intact delivery.”
"Functional isn't the word I'd use," Aria responded, her quicksilver eyes tracking the woman's every move. "She's... extraordinary. Modifications beyond anything I've seen. Seamless integration, almost organic."
"We should terminate," Krell's voice carried that familiar metallic edge through their neural link. "Unknown variables are tactical liabilities."
"Patience," Aria transmitted back, studying the way light played across the woman's engineered skin. "She might have valuable intelligence."
"Or a deadman's switch that turns your ship into atoms," he countered.
"All the more reason to find out why." A predatory smile curved Aria's lips. "Besides, I'm curious. These modifications... they're beyond anything in our data. Even Project Eclipse's designs seem crude in comparison."
"Curiosity gets people killed," Krell reminded her, but she could hear resignation in his tone. He knew that once she decided on a course of action, nothing would deter her. "Just remember—if this goes wrong, I get first pick of whatever's left of your equipment."
"The contract was explicit," Aria replied, her quicksilver eyes fixed on the woman. "Container remains sealed, no examination of contents, secure delivery to Titan. Breaking those terms voids payment and triggers security protocols." A cold smile played across her lips. "Though I suppose that's irrelevant now."
"So, she’s valuable?" Krell translated, his cybernetic eye flickering with calculations. "Perhaps more valuable than the original contract."
"Perhaps," Aria agreed, a predatory glint entering her eyes. "Let's see what secrets she's carrying."
She turns back to the woman, saying without any warmth or empathy, "You should've stayed asleep."
The azure-eyed woman's muscles tensed beneath her iridescent skin, preparing for a fight she couldn't possibly win. Her modifications were extraordinary—perhaps the most advanced Aria had seen since leaving the facility—but they were still just improvements on an original design.
Aria released the restraints, freeing the woman from the cryo pod. Naked and vulnerable, the woman stumbled to the far side of the cramped ship, pressing herself into a corner like a frightened animal. The display of utter submission triggered a predatory instinct in Aria, a flicker of something akin to lust. With a cold detachment, Aria reigns in her instincts, and left her there, exposed and vulnerable.
The woman's body trembled—a purely human response that intrigued Aria. She watched the beautiful stranger with cold fascination, noting every nervous twitch, every panicked breath.
"Who... who are you?" the woman asked again, her voice shaking as her eyes darted around the metal room, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings. "Where am I?"
"You tell me first," Aria replied, moving closer with predatory intent. "What's your name?"
The woman swallowed hard, pressing herself further into the corner. "Eden," she whispered. "Just... Eden. That's all I know." Her voice cracked slightly. "I can't remember anything else."
Aria's metallic eyes narrowed. "Nothing? Not where you're from? Who you are?"
"If I knew, don't you think I'd tell you?" Eden shot back, a spark of defiance breaking through her fear. "Since you're clearly the one with all the answers here."
A ghost of a smile touched Aria's lips at the unexpected sass. "Interesting. Scared out of your mind, yet still finding room for attitude."
"Well excuse me for not being more polite to the scary woman who's got me cornered in what I'm assuming is her murder ship," Eden retorted, crossing her arms. Despite her brave words, Aria could see her hands still trembling.
"Murder ship?" Aria echoed, almost amused. "That's a new one."
"Would you prefer 'floating house of horrors'? I can workshop it if you'd like." Eden's voice dripped with sarcasm, even as she kept a wary eye on Aria's every movement.
Aria studied her with cold fascination. Most people in Eden's position would be begging for mercy or trying to bargain. But this woman, despite having no memories and every reason to be terrified, was choosing defiance wrapped in sharp wit.
"You're either very brave," Aria observed, "or very foolish."
"Maybe I just figure if you're going to kill me anyway, I might as well go out with some decent one-liners," Eden replied with a bitter smile. "Seems like a shame to die boring."
The response drew another ghost of a smile from Aria. "Who said anything about killing you?"
"Oh I'm sorry, did I misread the whole 'predator cornering prey' vibe you've got going on?" Eden gestured vaguely at Aria's stance. "My mistake. Clearly this is just a friendly kidnapping."
“Kidnap? You were cargo—nothing more than a delivery." Aria paused, her quicksilver eyes assessing Eden. "And now you are an unexpected variable I need to understand.”
"Well that makes two of us," Eden muttered. "Because I'd really love to understand why I woke up here with a blank slate for a memory." She met Aria's metallic gaze. "But something tells me you're not the sharing type."
"Come here," Aria commanded suddenly, her quicksilver eyes unwavering.
Eden's azure eyes widened, and she covered herself as best she could with her hands. "Excuse me?"
"Your modifications. I need to examine them properly." Aria's voice carried no emotion, no hint of anything beyond scientific interest. "The sooner you comply, the sooner this ends."
"Right, because that's not creepy at all," Eden muttered, but she slowly began to move. Her iridescent skin caught the harsh cabin lights as she turned, revealing intricate patterns that seemed to shift and flow with each movement. The modifications weren't just surface-deep—they appeared to be woven into her very cellular structure.
Aria circled her slowly, cataloging every detail. No scars. No seams. No injection points or neural ports. Either this was the most advanced bioengineering she'd ever encountered, or...
"Impossible," she breathed, reaching out to trace one of the flowing patterns with a finger. Eden flinched at the contact, but Aria barely noticed. "These aren't modifications. They're genetic."
"What does that mean?" Eden asked, wrapping her arms around herself.
"It means," Aria replied, stepping back, "that you weren't enhanced. You were engineered. Built from the ground up." Her quicksilver eyes narrowed. "Which makes you either a very valuable asset—or a very dangerous weapon."
Eden laughed, the sound tinged with hysteria. "That's just perfect. I wake up with no memories in a death ship, and now you're telling me I'm some kind of designer baby?" She slid down the wall, burying her face in her hands. "Any other wonderful news you'd like to share?"
Ignoring Eden's distress, Aria transmitted to Krell, "She wasn't augmented. The modifications are inherent, woven into her DNA. A product of advanced genetic engineering. However, her personality matrix indicates a prior life distinct from her current state."
“Intriguing. She’d be a valuable acquisition for several of my contacts,” Krell replied.
Eden, overhearing the exchange, bristled. “I’m not cattle! I’m not a commodity to be traded!”
Aria dismissed her outburst. “Krell, I’m rerouting. We need to refuel.”
Eden’s indignation flared, fueled by their casual dismissal of her as a person. “You’re nothing but a glorified slaver!”
Aria's eyes flashed dangerously at Eden's accusation. "Careful," she warned, her voice carrying a lethal edge. "Your value has limits."
Eden met her gaze with surprising steel. "And yours doesn't? Someone engineered you too—I can see it in those pretty mercury eyes. We're both just expensive toys for someone else's game."
The observation hit closer to home than Aria cared to admit. She transmitted to Krell, "Setting course for Callisto Station. Their security protocols are... flexible."
"Noted," Krell's response carried a hint of amusement. "Try not to break your new toy before we understand what makes her tick."
Aria turned her attention back to Eden. "Get dressed. There are spare clothes in the storage compartment. Unless you'd prefer to remain naked?"
Eden's iridescent skin flushed slightly as she moved to the compartment, pulling out a simple jumpsuit. "How thoughtful. Let me guess—you keep spare clothes around for all your kidnapping victims?"
"Usually they don't survive long enough to need them."
The words hung in the air between them as Eden dressed, her movements careful and measured. Aria noticed how she tested the fabric's stretch, evaluated its weight—unconscious assessments that spoke of combat training she might not even remember having.
"Callisto Station," Aria announced as she pulled up the navigation controls. "We'll be docking in six hours. Try anything—anything—and I'll demonstrate exactly what its really like to be cattle."
Eden's only response was a slight nod, but Aria's enhanced senses detected elevated heart rate, increased adrenaline production. The woman was already planning something.
Good, Aria thought. It would make things more interesting.
The station grew larger in their viewport, a sprawling collection of habitation rings and industrial complexes. Callisto Station wasn't pretty—it was functional, a pit stop for ships crossing the outer system. Perfect for their needs.
As they docked, Eden tracked every movement, every procedure. She was mapping the ship's systems, memorizing the sequence. Aria pretended not to notice, curious to see how this would play out.
"Stay here," Aria commanded as she secured the docking clamps. "I need to arrange the refueling."
"What, no leash?" Eden's sarcasm couldn't quite mask her calculating tone.
Aria smiled coldly. "The ship's security systems are linked to my neural network. One wrong move, and the air locks engage. Space is an ugly way to die."
She left Eden in the cabin, but kept her enhanced awareness focused on the ship's internal sensors. The woman's genetic modifications were extraordinary—it would be interesting to see what she tried.
She didn't have to wait long.
Three minutes into the refueling sequence, Eden made her move. The ship's systems registered her accessing a maintenance panel—quickly, efficiently, like she'd done it a thousand times before. Muscle memory, Aria realized. Her body remembered things her mind had forgotten.
Aria allowed it to continue, watching through the ship's cameras as Eden bypassed the first security layer. Her movements were precise, almost beautiful in their efficiency. But she had no idea what she was really dealing with.
"Impressive," Aria transmitted to the ship's internal comms, making Eden freeze. "But did you really think I'd leave you unsupervised if I wasn't absolutely certain you couldn't escape?"
Eden's response was unexpected. Instead of surrendering, she smiled—a fierce, wild thing—and slammed her fist into the panel. The ship's lights flickered as a surge of energy transferred from her iridescent skin into the circuits.
Now things were getting interesting.
