Chapter 9
Alex approached Stonehand’s Supply & Salvage. The shop had been his lifeline for five years, ever since he’d arrived on Terrax with nothing but the clothes on his back and a peculiar System interface. Borin Stonehand, the owner, had seen something in the scrawny kid, offering him work and a place to sleep in exchange for scavenging odd bits of Titan salvage. Borin’s gruff exterior hid a generous heart, and he’d taught Alex the basics of appraisal and repair.
The shop itself was a testament to frontier resilience. Its sturdy timber frame was reinforced with quarried stone and what looked suspiciously like processed Titan plating. The sign above the door, "Stonehand's Supply & Salvage," was weathered but still legible, its bold lettering a promise of essential goods for the Veridia settlement.
He pushed open the heavy door, a bell above jingling merrily. The interior was a organized chaos of shelves stacked high with components, tools, and raw materials. The air smelled of metal, earth, and something faintly metallic Alex associated with refined alloys. Behind the main counter, meticulously sorting through a tray of what looked like Rank D bone fragments, sat Ziya.
She was Borin's daughter, a year younger than Alex, and just as dedicated to the shop. Her dark hair was pulled back in a practical braid, and her sharp hazel eyes, currently focused on the components, rarely missed a detail. She wore a sturdy, earth-toned tunic and a stained leather apron, a stylus tucked behind her ear. Ziya had always treated Alex with a professional courtesy that sometimes bordered on… something else. He’d never quite figured it out.
"Hey, Ziya,"
Ziya looked up, a small, almost imperceptible flush rising on her cheeks. She adjusted the shop goggles perched on her forehead.
"Alex. Back again? What do you need today?"
Her voice was measured, business-like, but her gaze lingered a moment too long on his face.
Alex pulled a data slate from his satchel.
"I need a few things for a new build. Let's see… two standard hydraulic actuators, a set of Rank C reinforced plating, four kilograms of processed nutrient paste—Grade B, if you have it—and… do you have any high-grade optical sensors?"
Ziya’s fingers stilled over the bone fragments. Her brow furrowed slightly as she scanned the list on his slate, her eyes narrowing with professional curiosity.
"Another project, Alex? You've been acquiring some... interesting components lately."
"Yeah, my first one is already finished, I'm now starting a new project."
Ziya’s eyes widened. She looked from the slate to Alex.
"Finished? Alex, that's wonderful!"
A slow smile spread across her face.
"So, your magnum opus is finally done? Does that mean our ledger might actually balance this season?"
Alex gave a simple affirmative.
The curtain separating the back workshop from the storefront rustled. Borin Stonehand emerged, wiping his substantial hands on a rag. He'd clearly overheard their exchange.
"Well now, Alex," Borin boomed, his voice carrying the weight of his size. "You're talkin' about settling your debts? Must be the end of the world."
Alex acknowledged Borin with a nod.
"Ziya told me you finished 'it'," Borin continued, his eyes twinkling. "The big project you've been fussing over for five years. Must be something special, then."
"It's functional," Alex stated, keeping his tone neutral. "The Arosaurer's combat systems are nominal."
Borin's eagerness was palpable. He stepped closer, his expression shifting from jovial to intensely curious.
"Functional, eh? Well, I'm eager for a look myself. I've sunk a fair bit of coin and good components into your long-term ventures, lad. Time I saw the results."
Alex hesitated, his gaze flicking towards the workshop’s reinforced door.
"It’s not… not something I can show yet."
Borin pressed, his brow furrowing slightly. "Not show? Come on, Alex. I've supplied you with materials for five years. Just a peek? What's the harm?"
"Father," Ziya interjected sharply, her voice cutting through the rising tension. "Alex’s decision should be respected. His project is his own."
Borin grumbled, running a hand over his beard. "Alright, alright. Trade secret, I get it." He then turned his attention back to Alex, a hint of shrewdness in his eyes. "So, how do you plan on becoming solvent, then? Eyeing a big score?"
Alex turned the question back on them. "Do you have any specific component needs? I can retrieve something from a particular Titan or handle a tricky salvage job."
Borin stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Well, funny you should mention it. A client needs Razor-Finch quills. Nuisance job, really. Rank 9 stuff, but it pays."
He slid a request slip across the counter. Alex glanced at it, a small frown forming.
"Charity work," Alex muttered.
"Steady work," Borin countered. "Pays the bills."
Alex dismissed the idea with a wave of his hand. "Steady work is for steady people. I need a challenge. What's the most difficult, long-standing request you have on file?"
Ziya’s professional demeanor faltered. Her eyes widened in alarm.
"Alex, no! Are you serious?" She turned to her father, her voice laced with deep concern. "Father, you know what taking on those requests means. They’re meant for Wardens of Rank 7, maybe even higher. For him to—"
"I can handle it," Alex said calmly, cutting her off. His voice held a quiet certainty that was unusual for him. "It's a simple fact."
Borin watched Alex, his joviality fading, replaced by a careful assessment. He saw the quiet confidence, the absence of Alex’s usual underlying frustration. This was different.
Borin held Alex's gaze for a long moment. He gave a slow, single nod.
"Alright then," Borin said, his voice losing its booming quality, becoming more serious. "We'll see what you're truly made of." He turned and lumbered toward the back workshop. "Ziya," he called over his shoulder, "Retrieve the red binder from the top shelf."
Ziya looked from her father to Alex, her mouth opening to protest, but Borin held up a hand.
"I'm serious, Zia."
He saw the conviction in Alex's eyes, a rare fire that belied his usual quiet demeanor. It wasn't just bravado; it was a deep-seated knowledge, a certainty Alex rarely displayed. Borin decided to trust it, just this once. Ziya sighed, her shoulders slumping in reluctant acceptance. She went to fetch the red binder.
Borin pulled the thick, worn binder from the top shelf. He flipped through its pages, his finger stopping on a marked request.
"Rank 7, hunt a pack of Thorn-Tusk Boars," Borin said, his finger anchoring the page. "Forest sector, quadrant Gamma. Standard procedure on paper, but packs hit harder than solo quarry. Their hides and tusks are mineral-infused — tough enough to shrug off basic rounds. Our shop's been running low on that material for months."
Alex studied the request, his brow furrowing. Thorn-Tusk Boars. Nasty, Rank D creatures, sometimes C if they were in a pack. They were tough, their hides infused with minerals that made them resistant to basic attacks. Their tusks, also mineral-laced, could pierce standard Warden armor. A pack of them was a serious threat to any Warden below Rank 6. Borin was still treating him like a kid, offering him charity work.
Alex shook his head. "Borin, that's not necessary. Just deduct it from the debt. I owe you too much for favors."
Borin threw his head back and laughed, a booming sound that echoed through the shop.
"Always so serious, Alex! But I like that. You're not like the other Wardens, always looking for glory." He clapped Alex on the shoulder, his hand heavy. "Tell you what. You're ordering those new parts and materials anyway, right? This request," Borin gestured to the slip, "will cover that. Sound fair?"
Alex considered it. It wasn't a full settlement of his debt, but it was a solid step. He looked at Ziya, who offered a small, almost imperceptible nod.
"Deal," Alex said, a flicker of a smile touching his lips.
Alex extended his hand. Borin's grip was firm, his calloused palm rough against Alex's own work-hardened skin.
"Don't do anything reckless, lad," Borin said, his booming voice dropping to something almost paternal. "I don't want to hear some Warden dragged you back here in pieces tomorrow. You're too good a customer to lose."
Alex gave a short nod. "I'll be careful."