Earth's neighboring red planet was colonized by humanity around 800 years ago. Since then it has had its fair share of human moments, including a war 100 years ago that turned it into a lawless land and a separate planet from the Human Congregation.

The Avis was now landing in a large fenced-in area, where other ships were also camping. The place was used as a parking lot for small ships, something common on Mars thanks to the large influx of traders.

- Alvis crew, we've landed on Alkabar - Aurelia happily announced to the crew, a few hours after the decision to go to the red planet was made.

The crew was still in the meeting room. Markus, Baku and Paul were now each equipped with a gun and a long combat knife.

Baku and Paul were armed with plasma pistols with an almost unlimited number of shots. Markus, a fan of good old-fashioned gunpowder, had a 6-shot revolver on his belt, along with several spare bullets. In addition to the standard weaponry, Paul carried a dark blue backpack with him, always storing gadgets that could be useful to him.

- Is that really necessary? - Baku asked as he adjusted the belt that carried his equipment. The crew didn't answer directly, but they all gave muffled chuckles.

- Right! - Markus said, clapping his hands to attract attention. - We're on Mars to prepare for the mission, remember that. Paul will be in charge of getting a ship, and Baku and I will get some homunculi - the aforementioned nodded.

- I'll be waiting for you, be careful," said Lucy. Her tone was cheerful, but her voice faltered and her eyes moved, wanting to run away.

-Okay! - Markus and Paul said in unison as they opened the hatch.

- Why isn't Lucy coming? - Baku asked as he left the ship.

- Lucy already knows enough about Mars," Paul replied.

- What do you mean?

- She's from here - the engineer took a few seconds to reply and when he did, he looked away.

- Hey, idiots! - A hunchbacked old man with a big gray beard was coming towards Avis while shouting. - You should have asked permission before landing! Are you idiots? Do you even know you have to pay? - However, when the old man got close enough that he no longer had to squint to see, he began to choke on his words and toned down his tone before continuing. - Oh, Mr. Markus, I didn't recognize you. A thousand pardons. Make yourself at home.

- Thank you, Maltis. - Markus replied. - I'll leave Alvis here for a while. If you need anything, Lucy's inside - Markus said it cordially, but his words also held a warning in case the sneaky old man tried anything.

- Of course, Mr. Markus, enjoy your stay - the old man smiled and rubbed his hands together.

The trio walked for about ten minutes through the sandy terrain, passing several ships, before arriving at the exit of the site. As they passed through the gate, the crew found themselves in the middle of Alkabar. The city was not a well-spoken place, even on Mars; it was the epicenter of all of humanity's criminal dealings. If there was a major crime that shocked everyone, then it was clear as day that the idea had originated in Alkabar.

Baku's jaw dropped. He had already seen some pictures of Mars, but the place was completely different. "Has it changed over time?" he thought.

The city, Alkabar, was obviously large, but it had an extremely archaic structure. The buildings, without exception, were made of wood. The streets were just trodden earth, where many people and machines walked. The air was dry and dusty. The place reminded Baku of the old-west stories of an ancient Earth nation.

- Is the whole of Mars like this, Paul?

- No, just Alkabar - Paul looked at where Markus would be and put his hand to his forehead, sighing. - Good luck, Baku - then he turned and left to carry out his task.

- That was a bit strange. Where are we going now, Captain? - Baku turned to Markus and quickly understood Paul's reaction. Markus was no longer there.

The young man put both hands on his head and felt like a lost child. But he took a deep breath and put his neurons to work. "He took a path that was out of my sight. Right!" Baku began to follow the path that seemed most logical to him.

Although the city looked like a museum, there were many things that caught Baku's eye. He was impressed by the number of people walking through the streets - it was almost impossible not to bump into someone. He also found the contrast of seeing a wooden cart being pulled by a robot horse amusing.

- One exchanged for an old man attacked by the IAS - an old man interrupted Baku's thoughts. He was bald and, with his shirt off, you could see his thinness and two robot arms. He held out one arm asking for change, his hand shaking badly, probably because of the A.I. attack he had suffered.

Baku felt moved by the scene of the poor man alone in the midst of so many people. He took out his wallet, a present from Lucy. It was white and had a brooch from Avis, a bird perched on a star.

 - I don't think I have much.

- That's enough," the old man said laughing and quickly took Baku's wallet. - Thank you very much.

You have a very kind heart, boy," the old man sneered as he got up and walked off with his wallet. However, after a few steps, he decided to take a closer look at his winnings. The old man stopped his stride, swallowed and turned around. - It was just a joke, just a joke," he said as he forced out a few chuckles and handed the wallet back. When Baku took it back, not understanding anything, the old man hurried his pace to get out of sight.

"Has AI reached the brain too?".

Baku decided to erase that moment from his mind and went back to searching for his captain. After a few more minutes of walking, he heard someone calling him again. Now it was a woman inviting him to visit a certain salon where she worked. This time Baku knew exactly what it was about. He felt his mouth fill with saliva as his mind raced with indecent thoughts. But the priority now was to find Markus, so he just ignored her and kept walking. "Captain!" he shouted at every corner.

- Hey, kid - a fat man of almost two meters called Baku. - It's no good shouting around here, you'll attract strangers - the man licked his lips. - Where are you from?

- I'm from Xenos - the man said nothing for a few seconds, then started laughing.

- Yes, yes. I'm also from Xenos - Baku was already tired of this kind of reaction when he said where he came from. - Apart from that face, it's also fun - the man wet his lips again. - So, who are you looking for? Maybe I can help.

- For Captain Markus, from Avis - Baku slurred his words, beginning to wonder if he should be talking to that strange man.

- What? Is he here? - The man's eyes widened and he took a step back, but soon tried to return to his character. - Oh yes, I heard. In fact, I know where he is. Would you like me to take you? - The weirdo slung his arm around Baku's shoulders, and he felt a shiver run up his spine.

- No need! I've found it! - Shouted Baku, who sprang out of the giant arms and ran into the nearest hall.

Although Baku had only entered the place to get away from the man, he coincidentally found Markus in that hall. The place was a tavern, and Markus was sitting with three other men playing cards.

- I've won another one! - Said Markus laughing loudly, as Baku went to meet him. - Ah, boy, are you here already? I think it's about time we left - Markus said as he collected the money he had won from the game.

Markus quickly got up from the table, grabbed Baku's arm and started walking towards the exit.

- Let's get out of here before they discover my trickery. Don't look back and walk fast," whispered the captain.

As he left the salon, Baku saw the strange man causing a commotion in the street, running and pushing whoever was in front of him.

- Follow me, Baku. We're going to find the Pig. - Markus said simply as he set off.

Little by little, the pair began to move away from the city, walking along dozens of dirt roads. The dry air made their mouths dry out quickly. Ten minutes without water seemed like hours. And the idea of asking for or buying water was unfeasible.

Water on Mars has always been a delicate subject, and when 100 years ago its inhabitants decided to look for the essential resource on other planets, without government permission, a war broke out with the Human Congregation claiming that the search for resources was smuggling that could bring about the end of the economy and society. But after the war, no one rose to power and the planet became anarchy, and those who brought water from other planets also began to care only about making a profit on an indispensable product.

- Captain, isn't what we're doing wrong? I mean, using homunculi," asked Baku, when he had given up on saving any saliva.

- Yes, the Human Congregation forbids homunculi.

- No, not just that. You know - Baku was scratching the back of his head now, - I mean more morally, you know?

- Yes, it's wrong - Baku seemed surprised by the direct answer, so Markus continued. - Baku, I'm going to do this because I have to, I can't give you any more reason than that. Trying to justify a mistake is trying to escape the guilt of making it, so I start atoning for my sins by accepting them.

Baku still didn't fully understand his captain's personality and this was one of the points that intrigued him the most; the fact that the captain assumed some of his actions were bad, without moralistic explanations. But Baku missed the opportunity to learn more about this side of the captain because, after an hour's walk, they had reached their destination.

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Humanity currently resides on 11 planets, all in the Milky Way. Six of these are part of the Human Congregation, an interplanetary council that seeks joint governance of these, four are independent planet-states and the last is Mars anarchy :p