As Munda Ek're led his crew through the dimly lit corridors of their captured vessel, his mind raced with thoughts and suspicions. He had been a pirate for long enough to know when something didn't quite add up. And the situation they found themselves in, was setting off alarm bells in his mind.

His gut had always been one of his greatest assets, guiding him through countless dangerous encounters and narrow escapes from authorities. And right now, his gut was telling him that there was something very wrong about the man… or rather teenager they had captured in the mining ship.

Walking alongside him were his most trusted crew members and some of his trusted captains of his fleet. They had been through thick and thin together and Munda Ek're trusted them implicitly. But even they, themselves couldn't shake the sense of unease that hung heavy in the air as they made their way to the brig of their prize.
Normally, capturing a lone miner ship in the debris field of the asteroid belt would be a routine affair. They would sell the mining crew to slavers and refit the mining ship for combat. Just like all that they had done countless times before. But there was something about this situation that didn't sit right with Munda Ek're.
For one thing, the mining ship was new, with no trace codes to identify its origins. That in itself was unusual, as most ships in the asteroid belt were either Terran or Alliance-made, with clear markings to indicate their ownership. But this ship was different, a mystery waiting to be unraveled.

No miner would go to the belt, with no escort ships. Let alone, without an accompanying mothership.

And then there was the pilot of the mining ship himself.

Instead of putting up a fight or begging for mercy like most captives would, the teenager had remained eerily calm and composed throughout the entire ordeal. Even during the boarding sequence, his boarding team was as surprised as they reported to him that the mining ship had only one crew and he quickly surrendered without resistance. It was as if he had no fear of death or enslavement or as if he had resigned himself to whatever fate awaited him in the hands of the pirates.

A stupid notion.

He and his crew may have been pirates but there were others out there who did far worse things to their captives. Such as those who practice cannibalism or mutilation to increase their infamy and reputation. But he was also not merciful enough to make his captors think of yielding completely without a fight. This made the fact that their prisoner showed no signs of fear or resistance only served to deepen the mystery surrounding him.

As they reached the brig, Munda Ek're glanced at his crew, his expression grim.

"Keep your wits about you," he said quietly with his voice low and serious. "Something tells me this won't be like any interrogation we've done before."

Munda Ek're stepped into the brig of the mining ship, his eyes narrowing as he took in the sight before him. The man sitting in the cell seemed entirely unfazed by his presence, greeting him with a casual nod as if they were old acquaintances meeting for a friendly chat.
For a moment, Munda Ek're felt a surge of disorientation wash over him. This man, with his calm demeanor and lack of concern, seemed utterly out of place in the harsh and unforgiving universe of deceit, violence and sin. But Munda Ek're pushed aside his bewilderment and focused on the task at hand.

The footsteps reached a crescendo as their group approached their prisoner's cell. Their silhouettes illuminated by the dim glow of the corridor lights. And then they were there, standing just outside the bars of a cell, their faces obscured by the shadows. But even in the dim light, anyone could tell from their rough demeanor and mismatched attire that they were up to no good.

And it should be obvious to their prisoner.
Yet… he showed no sign of it.

"Who?" Their prisoner asked.

Then to intimidate him, one of their crew beat the bars of the cell with an electric baton, causing sparks as it hit the metal bars.

“We are the ones who will be asking questions!”
Their prisoner however couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, as if at the absurdity of his attempt to make him cower.

“Really?” he teased.

The same crew got angry at the strange reaction of the prisoner and was about to repeat it again but was stopped by Munda Ek're, who stepped forward, his features illuminated by the faint light filtering in from above.

"My name is Munda Ek're," he introduced himself.

His name alone would give anyone shaking knees for he was a notorious pirate and leader of the Demonic Monkeys, one of the most feared pirate groups in the Sol System.

Then while he was obviously suppressing his urge to laugh out loud of the situation, the prisoner composed himself and greeted the pirate captain with a casual nod.

"Good morning," he said, his voice tinged with a hint of sarcasm. "Or is it still morning? I seem to have lost track of time inside this cell."

Munda Ek're nodded, his gaze fixed on the boy before him.

"It's still morning," he replied, his tone cautious. "But that's not why we're here. We need to know who you are and what you're doing in this part of our space."

The boy smiled faintly, as if amused by Munda Ek're's question.

"My name is Ubel," he said. "And I'm just a humble miner, trying to make a living in this vast universe."

Munda Ek're raised an eyebrow, his suspicions growing with each passing moment.

"A miner, you say?" he asked. "Alone in the debris field with no escort, allied ships or protection? That seems... unlikely."

Ubel shrugged nonchalantly.

"I prefer to work alone," he replied. "Less complications that way and more profit for my work. Just like what you guys do, you don’t stay in a system where there’s a lot of competition. As for why I'm here, well... I was actually testing out my new ship. This seemed like the perfect spot for it, remote and isolated. No traffic to cause any collision in case something happens."

Munda Ek're frowned, his gut telling him that there was more to this boy's story than he was letting on.

"And you're alone?" he pressed, his voice tinged with skepticism.

Ubel nodded.

"Yes, I'm alone," he confirmed. "Just me and my ship."

Munda Ek're exchanged a meaningful glance with his crew, his mind racing with possibilities. Something about this man and his story didn't add up, and Munda Ek're was determined to get to the bottom of it. But for now, all he could do was continue the interrogation and see where it leads.