Chapter 5 Beneath The Surface

As the Marauder's Revenge emerged from the asteroid field, Jax let out a sigh of relief. They had escaped their pursuers, but he knew that this was far from over.

"Grimjack, set a course for the nearest planet," Jax said, his eyes fixed on the viewscreen.

Grimjack nodded, his fingers flying across the console. "Aye, Captain. Setting course for planet Delta-4."

As the ship jumped into hyperspace, Jax's mind turned back to Rinneth's warning. Who was behind the tracking device? And what did they want with him?

Just then, the ship's computer beeped, signaling an incoming message. Jax's eyes snapped to the viewscreen, his heart racing with anticipation.

"Play the message," Jax said, his voice low and urgent.

The viewscreen flickered to life, and a holographic image appeared before them. It was Rinneth, her eyes serious and urgent.

"Jax, I'm sorry I couldn't warn you sooner," Rinneth said, her voice low and husky. "But I've discovered something. The tracking device... it's not just any device. It's a marker, designed to attract the attention of a very powerful and very ruthless organization."

Jax's eyes widened, his mind racing with the implications. What kind of organization would go to such lengths to track him down?

Rinneth's image flickered, and her voice dropped to a whisper. "Jax, you need to be careful. They'll stop at nothing to get what they want. Meet me on planet Delta-4, and I'll tell you everything I know."

The message ended, and the viewscreen went dark. Jax's eyes locked onto Grimjack's, his mind racing with questions.

"What do you think, Grimjack?" Jax asked, his voice low and urgent.

Grimjack's face was grim. "I think we're in over our heads, Captain. But we can't back down now."

Jax nodded, his eyes fixed on the viewscreen. "Agreed. Let's get to planet Delta-4 and see what Rinneth has to say."

As the Marauder's Revenge emerged from hyperspace, Jax's heart was racing with anticipation. What would they find on planet Delta-4? And what secrets would Rinneth reveal?

As they entered the atmosphere of planet Delta-4, Jax's eyes scanned the viewscreen for any signs of trouble. The planet's surface was a vast, barren expanse of sand and rock, with towering mountains in the distance.

"Where are we meeting Rinneth?" Grimjack asked, his eyes fixed on the navigation console.

Jax checked the coordinates Rinneth had sent. "She said to meet her at an old abandoned mine on the outskirts of the planet's largest settlement."

Grimjack nodded, his face grim. "I don't like it, Captain. This feels like a trap."

Jax's eyes narrowed. "I know what you mean, Grimjack. But we need to know what Rinneth has to say. Let's just be careful, okay?"

Grimjack nodded, and they set down near the abandoned mine. Jax and Grimjack stepped out of the ship, their blasters at the ready.

The mine was a vast, cavernous space, with tunnels stretching off in every direction. Jax's eyes scanned the shadows, his heart racing with anticipation.

"Rinneth?" Jax called out, his voice echoing off the walls.

There was no answer. Jax's eyes narrowed, his instincts screaming at him to be careful.

Suddenly, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was Rinneth, her eyes serious and urgent.

"Jax, I'm glad you're here," Rinneth said, her voice low and husky. "I have something to show you."

Jax's eyes narrowed. "What is it?"

Rinneth hesitated, her eyes darting back and forth. "It's about the tracking device," she said finally. "I've discovered who's behind it."

Jax's heart was racing with anticipation. "Who is it?" he demanded.

Rinneth's face was grim. "It's the Red Vipers," she said. "A ruthless and powerful organization that will stop at nothing to get what they want."

Jax's eyes widened, his mind racing with the implications. The Red Vipers were notorious throughout the galaxy, feared by all who knew of them.

"What do they want with me?" Jax asked, his voice low and urgent.

Rinneth's eyes locked onto his. "I'm not entirely sure," she said. "But I think it has something to do with your past, Jax. Something you've been trying to keep hidden."

Jax's heart was racing with fear. What did Rinneth mean? And what secrets was he keeping hidden?

Jax's eyes narrowed, his mind racing with the implications. What did Rinneth mean? And what secrets was he keeping hidden?

"I don't know what you're talking about," Jax said, trying to keep his voice steady.

Rinneth's eyes locked onto his, her gaze piercing. "Don't lie to me, Jax," she said. "I know all about your past. I know about the job you did on Tartarus-IV. And I know about the cargo you were carrying."

Jax's heart sank, his mind racing with panic. How did Rinneth know about that? And what did it have to do with the Red Vipers?

"What does that have to do with anything?" Jax asked, trying to keep his voice neutral.

Rinneth's face was grim. "The cargo you were carrying... it was a valuable artifact, one that the Red Vipers have been searching for for years. And they'll stop at nothing to get it back."

Jax's eyes widened, his mind racing with the implications. He had thought he had left that part of his life behind, but it seemed that his past was coming back to haunt him.

"What do I do?" Jax asked, feeling a sense of desperation creeping in.

Rinneth's eyes locked onto his. "You need to get off the grid, Jax. You need to disappear. Because if the Red Vipers find you, they'll kill you without hesitation."

Jax's heart was racing with fear, but he knew that Rinneth was right. He needed to get out of there, and fast.

"Let's go," Jax said, turning to Grimjack. "We need to get off this planet, now."

Grimjack nodded, his face grim. "Aye, Captain. Let's move."

As they turned to leave, Jax heard a faint humming noise coming from outside the mine. It was a sound he knew all too well - the sound of incoming ships.

"It's too late," Jax said, his voice low and urgent. "The Red Vipers are here."