When I finished Unending Cycle and What Remains, my attention shifted to my patrons’ final genre for the month, a sci-fi narrative. The genre offers a wide range of characters and ideas to explore. While that can be a blessing, there are times when too many avenues slow progress instead of helping it. As I worked through my options and revisited my back catalogue, I found myself returning to the crew of the Scythe. With the characters settled, I reviewed the last installment and had a clear direction for where this story would go.
Some jobs come wrapped in routine. A crate, a destination, and a payout. On paper, nothing about that formula stands out. But for crews who operate in the murky space between laws and loyalties, those ordinary jobs are often the first sign that something is wrong. When a shipment feels too simple, something beneath the surface is already waiting to disrupt the normal cadence.
Aboard the Scythe, Captain Daniel Shaw relies on his instincts more than any manifest or employer. Every deal carries weight. Every exchange carries risk. Even the quiet moments demand his full attention. Those are the moments when his decisions matter most, long before anything begins to unravel.
What begins as another delivery draws attention in ways no one aboard the Scythe can ignore. As tension builds within the ship’s cargo hold, the crew must rely on experience and timing to see the job through. In their line of work, survival is never guaranteed, and opportunity rarely stays for long.
Excerpt of Shaw’s Silent Cut
Daniel paused beside a crate, his fingers moving along its edge. The container looked ordinary. He dropped to a knee and shifted the box, studying each inch, committing it to memory. He tilted it up to peer at the bottom.
“Are you trying to understand Stepan Glazov’s twisted mind?”
Daniel lowered the cargo and rose. With a scoff, he turned toward Harlan and jerked a thumb at it. “Every shipment from him is dangerous by definition. No matter how it looks.”
“I’m aware of that,” Harlan said, tapping the box with his foot. “Besides, why are you obsessed with this job?”
“Harlan,” Daniel said, shifting the crate back against the ship’s hull. Once secured, he rapped the lid with his knuckles. “Am I the only one who’s concerned by this shipment? Or do you share that anxiety with me?”
Harlan shook his head as he gripped Daniel’s shoulder. He gestured at the box with his chin. “Your face is my only concern. I am always bothered when it takes on that expression.”
“What look are you talking about?” Daniel rubbed the side of his nose.
A harsh laugh filled the hold as Harlan sat atop the container and pounded its surface. “What I’m seeing tells me you’re wondering if someone lied to you in the last couple of days.”
Daniel thumped his fist against Harlan’s shoulder as he pressed his back against his ship. “Based on what others have said, it’s not a unique expression.”
The ship’s speakers crackled overhead as Franco’s voice filled the chamber. “Are we unloading soon, or did you drag me away from my engines to stare at his cargo?”
With a shake of his head, Daniel sauntered over to the intercom and activated it. “I didn’t invite you into the hold. Since that’s not your realm of expertise.”
“You stopped me from getting the gear I need to care for the ship. Where’s the gratitude?”
“Franco, seeking upgrades consumes your every breath.” Daniel chuckled as he thumped the hull. “Keep doing what I pay you to do and ensure my engines do not stop running.”
Rachel stepped into the hold and leaned against the opening. “Captain, if this delivery is simple, why is everyone assembled like something’s about to go wrong?”
“I don’t know why Harlan’s here,” Daniel said, eyeing the cargo, “but I’m convinced trouble’s coming.”
As the speakers crackled again, Laurie’s voice filled the space. “We have a shuttle incoming.”
Daniel clenched his hand, reactivating the comm. “Tell me it’s something we were expecting?”
“That would make me a liar.”
Swallowing a curse, Daniel kicked a nearby support. “Is it armed, and are they targeting us?”
A long second stretched into a faux eternity.
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