[Trafalgar, L-2 Colony Cluster, 2372 A.D.]
A full six months had passed since the heist at Isaac Korrin's mansion. And the dangerous, fast-paced life Lynx had led as a mercenary felt like it belonged to someone else now. Someone that she used to know. It was hard to believe that the woman who had once crawled through the shadows, stolen from the rich, and fought for every inch of survival had found peace in this remote corner of space. Far away from the glitz and glamour of her former home.
As Lynx sat on the balcony of her cozy little apartment, a cup of steaming coffee in hand, the woman couldn't help but gaze out over the rolling fields of crops that covered the majority of Trafalgar's landscape. The agricultural colony was the antithesis of everything she had known in the crowded, glitzy, and dangerous world of Utopia. Here, the air was crisp, and the sound of the wind rustling through the cornfields was akin to that of a sweet melody. It was peaceful and calm-a luxury that she hadn't known she craved until she found herself living it.
However, that wasn't the only positive aspect of the woman's new life. As of a few months ago, Lynx had finally kicked the drugs for good. The withdrawal had been brutal, the kind of physical torment that gnawed at her bones and made her question her decision at every turn. But she had held on. No more patches, no more treatments. It felt strange to be free of that constant itch, of that need that had driven so many of her reckless decisions. In a weird way, the work she now did kept her grounded, kept her busy, ensuring she didn't have time to think about the life she had left behind.
Trafalgar was a farming colony, and Lynx now worked as a security manager at one of the larger farms that produced some of the best corn and wheat in all of space. It wasn't glamorous, but it was steady. She monitored the perimeter, made sure the workers stayed safe, and ensured there was no tampering with the shipments that went out every week to the other colonies. She didn't have to look over her shoulder anymore, and she was no longer part of the high-stakes mercenary world that had always hung like a shadow over her life.
Her apartment, nestled on the outskirts of Trafalgar's capital city, was modest. It was small, but more than enough to suit her needs. The city itself was a quiet place, one with narrow streets lined with trees and small shops where the residents mostly kept to themselves. The tranquility was a sharp contrast to the chaos of Utopia. And that was exactly why Lynx had chosen it. The people here were simple, hardworking, and they didn't care about the past she was running from. She found comfort in that.
Still, every so often, her old life would creep back into her thoughts. Jack, her old friend and fellow mercenary, had been one of the few people she kept in touch with ever since she left her former home. She'd reached out to him every few weeks, asking how things were back in Utopia. He always assured her that the city hadn't changed much. It was still a haven for the rich, where they could escape their realities and enjoy the luxuries of life.
However, recently Jack had told her something that had caught Lynx off guard. Isaac Korrin, the wealthy business executive whose files she'd stolen all those months ago, had been found dead in a hotel room not too long ago. The news had spread quickly, but Lynx wasn't surprised. She had expected something like this would happen. Korrin had been a powerful figure, and whoever wanted the documents she had stolen was likely to eliminate him for whatever reason.
The idea of Korrin's death didn't weigh heavily on Lynx, though. After all, she had done what she was hired to do. She'd gotten out with the goods and gotten paid. But now, as she looked back, she couldn't help but wonder about the ripple effect that her actions had caused. However, the peace of Trafalgar made such thoughts easy to dismiss. The quiet had a way of helping her forget the chaos of her past.
The soft hum of a nearby speeder caught her attention, pulling her away from her thoughts. She smiled softly, looking at the horizon where the artificial sun was just beginning to dip while blanketing the fields in a warm, golden light. Moments like this made the decision to leave Utopia feel like the right one. She could breathe here.
Her phone buzzed in her pocket.
It was Jack. She quickly unlocked the screen.
-(o)-
Hey, Lynx. Hope you're doing well out there. Just wanted to let you know there's a rumor circulating. Word is, someone's looking to hire you for a job. I know you're not in the life anymore, but I'll keep my ear to the ground in case something comes of it. Talk to you soon. Deuces.
J-Man
-(o)-
Lynx stared at the message, her brow furrowing. Someone was looking for her? She hadn't expected that. The woman had cut all ties with Utopia when she left. Even Milo took her off his list of employees when she boarded the shuttle to leave. This message wasn't exactly a warning-Jack never was the type to sugarcoat things. It was just a reminder that no matter how far she ran, her past would always catch up to her in some way.
Not that she cared.
After shaking off the nagging thought, Lynx stood up and headed to the bakery on the corner for her usual evening treat.
-(o)-
The smell of freshly baked bread and pastries filled the air as Lynx entered the establishment, a welcome feeling in her opinion. The small, family-run shop was a fixture in Trafalgar and a favorite of the locals.
She ordered a chocolate croissant, her small indulgence for the day, and stood in line, looking out the window at the streets lined with more small shops and cafes.
As Lynx waited, she couldn't help but notice a man standing behind her. He was tall, with a strong build that was evident even under his uniform. His caramel skin glowed under the warm lights of the bakery, and his thick head of curly black hair framed a face that was striking in its handsomeness. He had a goatee and a set of emerald-green eyes that seemed to carry a certain depth to them, a quiet intelligence. He looked like someone who belonged to a different life, one of prestige and importance. But there he was, waiting in line like anyone else.
She caught his eye, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. He gave her a small, polite smile, and she nodded in return. There was something familiar about him, but she couldn't quite place it. Almost like she had seen his face somewhere else. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, wondering where she had seen him before.
The former mercenary suddenly felt an odd pull in her chest, like the quiet attraction that only happened when someone stood out in a crowd.
The man cleared his throat. "It's a nice day, isn't it?" His voice was warm, with a slight hint of curiosity.
Lynx nodded, smiling back. "Yeah, it is."
"You don't look like you're from here." The green-eyed man then said, looking her up and down. "You don't exactly have that local vibe." The words sounded like a compliment, but they made her pause, wondering what exactly he meant by it.
"I'm not." she replied with a soft chuckle. "I've been here for a while, though."
His eyes lit up in understanding. "I see...."
After a brief pause, the man then offered her his hand. "Oh man, where are my manners? Remy Thorton. Nice to meet you!"
"Arletta Parker." Lynx replied while shaking his hand. Even now, her birth name felt strange on her lips. But it was the name she'd used since she arrived in Trafalgar. She had buried her former identity deep in the past after leaving Utopia.
Remy grinned, his eyes narrowing in thought. "Arletta Parker, huh? I think I've heard that name before. Do you work in security here? Maybe I've read something about you?"
Arletta shrugged. "Something good, I hope. I try to keep a low profile these days." Her smile was faint, but there was a flicker of something deeper in her eyes.
"Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Arletta." His smile was warm and genuine.
Arletta didn't know what to make of it, but for the first time in a long while, she felt a connection to someone. Maybe she could try letting her guard down, even if just for a moment.
After grabbing their food, the two stepped outside the bakery to let the cool air brush against their skin. They stood there for a while, talking about the colony, the peaceful life, and the work Remy was doing.
As it turned out, the man was a researcher for the Colonial Institute of Research and Technology, the most prestigious university in all of space. It was the kind of place that only the brightest minds in the Federation ever got a chance to enter. That by itself let Arletta know exactly who she was talking to. However, the man's last name was another matter altogether.
'I wonder if he's related to the Federation's hero?' The woman couldn't help but wonder. Especially since he looked so similar to the person she was thinking of.
Everyone and their mother had at least heard of Elias Thorton before. He was the nephew of the colony's Governor and the current Fleet Admiral of the Colonial Navy. The guy was a living legend and hailed as the protector of those who lived in outer space. Arletta had once gotten the chance to see him in person when the guy made a brief visit to Utopia when she was out running a job. And just like everyone else, she couldn't help but be impressed by the man who played a pivotal role in the famed Battle of New Haven all those years ago.
Not much time later, Arletta and Remy were sitting down at a bench that overlooked a nearby park. The conversation flowed easily, as if they had known each other longer than just a few minutes. And the woman, for the first time in her life, actually enjoyed chatting with someone who wasn't involved in her previous line of work. Now that she thought about it, the raven-haired woman couldn't even remember the last time she had done something like this.
'This is fun.' She thought with a small grin as the man told her about his work. 'He seems pretty cool. Definitely nothing like the guys I've dealt with in the past.'
As the sun dipped below the horizon, Lynx couldn't help but feel like maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new. Something that could pull her forward instead of keeping her stuck in the past.
But for now, she was content with simply enjoying the moment and feeling the weight of her old life slowly slipping away while mindlessly chatting about the new developments on the Titan settlements.
"Well, Ms. Arletta, it was certainly nice talking to you! Maybe we'll bump into each other again in the future?" Remy said with a twinkle in his eyes as he stood up from the bench and began stretching out his limbs.
"That doesn't sound like a bad idea. But I think I'd be a lot happier getting your number, you know...just in case." Arletta replied with a small smile, her voice soft as the evening sky darkened around them.
"I like the sound of that."
"Good."
-(o)-
Author's Note: Thank you to everyone out there who took the time out of their lives to read my "Deep Orbit" series. This is my first attempt at publishing some of my writings on Wattpad, and I found it to be quite enjoyable. Hopefully, you enjoyed it. Feel free to leave any feedback or comments that you