It was then that I realized I was not alone. A large ship, twice the size of Miranda, and shaped like an arrowhead pointed straight down at the Hub. It stood, or rather floated, unnaturally, as if suspended in the air. Motionless. While I had been frantically swooping all over the place like some annoying insect, the Python had blasted the turret from kilometres high, using plasma accelerators to break down the turret into its basic elements.

I quickly turned to my ships panels, and saw the mission objective updated. My job was done. I was alive, and that was it for me. I wasted no time getting out of there. In this kind of business, it does not pay to stick around.

My mind was blank all the way back to the station, my feelings numb. I cruised as if on autopilot, only snapping back to reality as the Vulture, my Vulture now, touched down on the landing pad. I powered down the ship, and made my way unsteadily out, the adrenaline crash threatening to overwhelm me.

A woman stood on the corridor just outside the hanger, casually leaning against the wall. She was dressed in impeccable business attire, and a slight smile was drawn across her face.

“So you’re the one Eggen got to do his job?” It wasn’t so much a question as a statement. “I hope he didn’t promise you too much. He is not in a position to offer much in terms of, let’s say, remuneration.”

I tried forming words, but failed miserably. Hand gestures were not much better, but she seemed more amused than perplexed at my inferior communication skills.

“The ship? Oh, don’t tell me he promised you the ship. And you believed him?” She chuckled. “That ship is not his to give.”

It felt as if the whole station lurched, and I was the only one who had noticed.

The woman pushed away from the wall and stood up straight. She was considerably tall. Probably lived in space all her life. It certainly added to her imposing demeanour. “Why, commander, if I didn’t know better, it appears you stole a ship and used it to attack a scientific outpost in another system. Looks like you have graduated from smuggling to something more aggressive. That does not look good, now, does it.”

I had still not regained use of my verbal abilities, but my expression must have communicated the turmoil going through my head.

“Now, now, commander,” She said, her friendly disposition never leaving her “The local authorities might not look favourably at your activities, but you have done Elysium Corp a favour. And we are always grateful to those who help us out. Plus, we can always use pilots with your, if not skills, then at least flexible morals.”

I should have felt offended, but for some reason, it sounded more like a compliment. “The ship?” I managed to mutter, pointing at the Vulture in the hangar behind me.

She chuckled and answered “Like I said, the ship was not Eggens to give. And, if we are being honest, it is not much use to you. Hardly your style, now, is it? But,” she continued before I could get a word in, “we can help you fix up Granuja’s Eidolon. Oh yes, we know about your ship. Make her the best smuggling ship you can dream of. But first, there are a couple of things we would like you to do for us.”

This kind of negotiation, and negotiator, were familiar to me. Their offers always included both the carrot and the stick. Eggen had played me. “Do I have a choice?” I asked. I didn’t really need for her to reply. I knew what the answer was.

It appeared to me I had a job in store for me, whether I wanted it or not.