Galactic Beastmaster: SSS Tier Tamer System

Aiden Cross kicked a rusty, dented can across the dusty yard, watching it clatter against a derelict piece of machinery. 

The abandoned planet he was stuck on was just as desolate as his current prospects. "Why do I always get the short end of the stick?" he muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.

"Hey, Cross! Stop slacking off and get back to work," Troy, the self-appointed leader of their ragtag crew, barked from the comfort of the shade. "Somebody's gotta do the grunt work, and we all know you're the best at that."

The others snickered, exchanging amused glances as they lounged around. Mira, their tech specialist, chimed in, 

"Yeah, Aiden. Maybe if you actually found something useful for once, you wouldn't be stuck doing all the dirty work."

Aiden clenched his fists, the sting of their words cutting deep. He forced himself to breathe, knowing that any retort would only fuel their mockery. 

"Just keep your head down," he told himself. "It's not worth it."

He scanned the barren landscape, his eyes settling on the scattered remnants of what once might have been a bustling industrial site. 

Now, it was just a graveyard of forgotten technology, slowly succumbing to time and the elements. 

His team had decided that Aiden, being the lowest-ranking member of their crew, was the perfect candidate for the menial task of cleaning up after their half-hearted attempts at scavenging.

As Aiden trudged through the debris, he heard Kurt, the muscle of the group, chuckle. "Don't wander too far, Cross. We wouldn't want you getting lost. Though, then again, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing."

More laughter followed, and Aiden felt his face flush with frustration. He let out a sigh and slumped against a crumbling wall, trying to tune them out. 

"If I had any luck, I'd have found something valuable by now, not just busted circuits and rusted panels," he thought bitterly.

A glint caught his eye, a flash of something metallic buried beneath a pile of rubble. 

Curiosity piqued, Aiden trudged over, kicking aside the debris until his fingers brushed against a smooth, cold surface. He dug deeper, pulling free what appeared to be an ancient, intricately designed mechanism.

"What is this?" Aiden murmured, brushing off the dust and grime. 

The mechanism suddenly whirred to life, emitting a soft, pulsating glow. Before Aiden could react, a holographic interface materialized in front of him.

"Welcome, user," a calm, synthetic voice greeted. "You have activated the SSS Tier Tamer System."

Aiden blinked, his heart racing. 

"Is this... some kind of joke?" He glanced around, half expecting his teammates to jump out and laugh at his expense. 

But there was nothing, only the gentle hum of the mechanism and the glowing interface before him.

"This is no joke, Aiden Cross," the AI responded, its tone unchanging. 

"You have been chosen to wield the power of the SSS Tier Tamer System, an advanced AI capable of turning even the wildest beasts into loyal companions and formidable allies."

Aiden scoffed, his disbelief evident. "Sure. And next, you'll tell me I'm the hero of some galactic fairy tale."

"Hey, Cross!" Troy's voice cut through the silence, startling Aiden. "What are you mumbling about over there? Found another piece of junk?"

Aiden quickly closed the interface, shoving the mechanism into his pack. "Nothing," he replied, trying to keep his voice steady. "Just more useless scrap."

Troy smirked. "Figures. You're consistent, I'll give you that."

As the sun dipped below the horizon, the base settled into an uneasy silence. 

Aiden tried to shake off the nagging feeling the AI's words had left him with, but sleep eluded him. Suddenly, a piercing alarm shattered the quiet, jolting him upright.

"Alert! Alert! The base is under attack!" The automated voice echoed through the camp, sending a wave of panic through the crew.

Aiden's blood ran cold. Rushing to the window, he saw shadowy figures moving in the distance, their outlines unmistakably beast-like.

The AI's words echoed in his mind, no longer sounding like a joke but a dire warning.

The blaring alarm and the sound of distant growls sent the camp into chaos. 

Crew members scrambled to grab their gear, shouting orders and directions that were quickly lost in the cacophony. 

Aiden's heart pounded in his chest as he followed the others, heading toward the emergency pod that was their only chance of escape.

"Move, move, move!" Troy barked, pushing past Aiden and shoving another crew member out of the way. "We've got to get to the pod before those things overrun the base!"

Aiden tried to keep up, his mind racing with fear and confusion. 

The beasts were closer now, their guttural roars echoing through the camp, mingling with the panicked screams of the crew. He could feel the ground tremble beneath his feet, the heavy thuds of the approaching creatures adding to the growing terror.

As they reached the emergency pod, the crew piled in quickly, shoving and scrambling to secure their spots. Aiden followed, breathless and desperate, only to be met by Troy blocking the entrance with a grim expression.

"There's no space left," Troy said flatly, his voice barely audible over the alarm. "We're at full capacity."

Aiden's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? No, there has to be room—"

Troy's gaze hardened, and he crossed his arms. "You're the lowest-ranking person here, Aiden. You know how this works. Someone has to stay behind, and it's going to be you."

Aiden's stomach dropped. "You can't be serious," he pleaded, glancing at the others who avoided his eyes. "Please, Troy. You can't just leave me here."

Mira spoke up from inside the pod, her voice cold. "It's not personal, Aiden. It's just the way things are. We can't risk the whole crew for one person."

Troy gave a slight shrug, his expression devoid of sympathy. "You should have worked harder. Maybe then you wouldn't be in this position."

The pod's doors began to close, the automated system preparing for launch. Aiden stepped back, his heart sinking as he realized there was no persuading them. "Fine," he muttered, his voice thick with bitterness. "Go. I'll figure something out."

Without another word, Troy and the others sealed the pod. Aiden watched as it lifted off, the whir of its engines fading into the night sky. 

The distant roars of the beasts grew louder, snapping him out of his daze. He was alone now, with the creatures closing in fast.

Desperation surged through him as he turned and sprinted back toward the camp, his mind racing for a plan. 

The memory of the SSS Tier Tamer System flickered in his mind. It had warned him about the danger, but he had ignored it. Now, it might be his only chance.