Nova the Bounty Hunter: A Space Punk Story

By Tom Knocker

After the climate collapse of the Earth, humanity lives partially on a planet called Xalypso. The population is given a monthly budget for consumption because most of the work is done by androids. Their ruler, a power-hungry mutant, wants to colonize more planets with his military. But a political opponent hires bounty hunter Nova, who is 50 percent female cyborg after several surgeries ...

Tom Knocker is a pseudonym of Thomas Neukum. Ironically, the translation of this novella was done by an artificial intelligence.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookRix
• Release date: Oct 30, 2023
• ISBN: 9783755459255

Book preview

Titel Information

Tom Knocker

NOVA

THE BOUNTY HUNTER

A SPACE PUNK STORY

Copyright 2023

Prologue

Dr. Antraxa strides through the corridor wearing a dress as white as lithium nitrate and a bloodstone necklace. Then she pauses and looks out of a window with her narrow, pale-skinned face.

It is located in the floating palace above the metropolis of the planet Xalypso. Shuttle and transport capsules buzz between the skyscrapers, while two red suns seem to cross each other in the firmament. In truth, the closer celestial body is only a lava planet and not a fixed star. But the people speak of two suns, and once they cling to a designation - who will tell them anything smarter?

With a disdainful smile, Antraxa turns away and walks to a sluice-like door guarded by androids. These sophisticated robots resemble humans in dark military uniforms. Yet they seem harmless compared to the X9P standing in front, a prototype of the latest generation. He is the military's Inspector General and is encased in sleek armor with a black visor. He also has murderous weapons and a near omniscient AI. With it, the X9P can fight off all viruses and even simulate more humane behavior than the Doctor.

Apart from her electronic implants, which boost her hormonal performance and perceptions like drugs, Antraxa is human. But no one can beat her in the fields of bioengineering and medicine. Science has not only made her spiritually aristocratic, no, science is her god.

Gallantly, the X9P says, Have a nice day, Dr. Antraxa.

You're obviously trimmed for purpose-optimism, aren't you? Well, the patriarch sent for me.

Yes, he wants to talk to both of us, confirms the X9P.

Without any movement of his hand and only with his data network, he opens the door. Immediately, he enters a residence hall with Antraxa.

A bare-breasted footmaid bows and balances a crystal plate of exotic fruit on her fingertips. Antraxa coolly eyes this still inexperienced girl with her anklet. Although the doctor is considered a tall woman, she is but a stalk against the patriarch in his high-tech throne.

He straightens up like a purple giant boil with a bull's neck and scissor hands. Even if the people see a patriarch simply as a male tyrant, they call him 'mutant' in the back, and in this case the terms are correct. Everything about him shimmers as fearsome as it does awe-inspiring.

However, his Inspector General uses the salutation, Sir!

Ah yes, finally, the mutant says to Dr. Antraxa. You may be wondering why I sent for you.

I am honored, but certainly not because I would have to examine you again. You seem perfectly healthy, she replies matter-of-factly and dryly.

Silence.

Then the mutant laughs boomingly. Taking a step here and there, he commands the X9P, Summarize our successes.

Yes, our starship fleets have reached the planets in the neighboring galaxies to establish colonies and obtain raw materials for science. If there are indigenous people there, we will use diplomatic or military arguments to convince them of our desire for progress.

Exactly, affirms the patriarch. The oligarchs are stirring the hell out of the population because of the astronomical costs, but what do they want? On the one hand, people are grumbling about robots taking their jobs and leaving nothing but wealth. On the other hand, they are afraid that they will lose the prosperity and would have to work more again. Who is to make sense of these morons? Sometimes I would like to tear them apart in the air.

I understand you, assures Antraxa. All this will bear fruit, but they are still distant and sour.

As if on cue, the patriarch sighs and beckons the lackey closer with his menacing scissor hand. Bring me a juicy piece of fruit, little girl!

Unfortunately, the girl is shaking so badly that she drops the crystal plate. She apologizes a thousand times and gathers the shards on her knees, but now all frustration bursts out of the mutant.

"How can you be so clumsy, so sloppy in front of me and offend me? I'm tired of everyone thinking I'm a monster just because I look like one! To judge so blatantly by appearances is the height of ingratitude. I just had a chemical accident," he roars. But pah, it's beneath me to tell you more. Out!

The girl scurries out of the hall.

In fact, the patriarch's ancestors have already contracted an infestation. According to Dr. Antraxa, degenerations of this level cannot be reversed even with hypermodern genetic engineering. In any case, all this has led the patriarch to a tremendous supercompensation in power politics.

Petulantly, he sits back down in his throne to mumble something about his ingenious needs and rallies. Antraxa watches the spectacle as calmly as the X9P.

Finally, the mutant leans forward to receive reassurance or even flattery from the doctor. He says, Regardless of my research programs for the common good, there is in the universe what I personally seek, isn't there? The Element of Eternal Beauty?

In the universe there is everything, replies Antraxa. We will find it, whatever the cost, and then all people will - love you.

The mutant smiles transfigured.

Chapter 1

Nova sits on the edge of the bed, twirling a charred valve ring in her fingers as her reddish-blonde hair hangs forward. Her eyes are steel blue and beautiful, but the right pupil contracts like a black hole in the starlight. Actually, she might consider this ring-shaped component useless. After all, the associated hover car - a hovering car - and the engineer no longer exist. But this engineer has been her beloved husband.

What is the point of her living herself? Nova asks herself if she doesn't want to die.

Anyway, she doesn't like Xalypso, and least of all the city where she grew up. That's why she lives alone in a bungalow here on the prairie, or Step pe, as they would have called it on Earth.

Nova tucks the ring to the laser gun in her shorts, knots her hair and straightens up in a terra cotta colored top. Her breasts are medium-sized, but her thighs are strong and her slim waist is marked by surgical scars. She walks outside.

All around are brown-red rocks. Their jags are not high, but they offer a little protection from gusts of wind and herds of animals. The yellowish grasses look a bit burnt.

However, it rained early in