"For the last time, I did not kidnap Maximilian Plutus," Jax said, his wrists chafing against the metal restraints. The GalactiCorp security officer across the table hadn't changed her expression in twenty minutes of interrogation. "He hired me for transport. Check your records."

  "Our records show Mr. Plutus scheduled a luxury cruise to Hedonist Prime," Officer Kora replied, her voice as cold as the interrogation room. "Instead, he ended up at a criminal refueling station with you—a pilot with seventeen outstanding warrants and a debt to The Ion Fang that could buy a small moon."

  "Eighteen warrants, actually," Jax corrected. "You missed the incident on Europa with the governor's pet squid." He immediately regretted the comment as Kora made a note on her tablet.

  The door slid open, and a tall man in an expensive suit entered. Unlike the security officers' blue uniforms, his suit was charcoal gray with the GalactiCorp logo embroidered in platinum thread.

  "I'm Executive Director Harlow," he announced without preamble. "The board has sent me to handle this... situation."

  "Great," Jax muttered. "Another suit."

  Harlow ignored him, turning to Officer Kora. "What's the status of Mr. Plutus?"

  "He's in the executive suite, sir. Still broadcasting to his followers. He's calling it 'My Daring Kidnapping Adventure' despite our repeated explanations that this is a serious corporate security matter."

  Harlow pinched the bridge of his nose. "And the ship?"

  "The Discount Otter has been impounded. It's a miracle that thing even flies. Engineering found seventeen critical system failures and what appears to be a radioactive rodent living in the ventilation system."

  "Hey, leave my ship alone," Jax protested. "And the hamster's not mine. It was a delivery gone wrong."

  Harlow finally looked at Jax, his gaze calculating. "Mr. Stellar, do you know why Maximilian Plutus is important to GalactiCorp?"

  "Because he's rich enough to buy and sell people like trading cards?"

  "Because he controls 51% of company shares, and in three days, he's supposed to vote on a merger that will determine the future of this corporation. A merger that some parties would prefer not happen." Harlow leaned forward. "So when our majority shareholder suddenly diverts from his scheduled luxury cruise to go joyriding with a debt-ridden delivery pilot to the edge of civilized space, certain questions arise."

  Jax was about to respond when the ship's alarm system activated.

  "Security alert," announced a computerized voice. "Unauthorized access to escape pod bay three."

  Harlow's eyes widened. "Plutus," he said, already moving toward the door. "Lock down all escape pods immediately!"

  By the time they reached the escape pod bay, it was too late. One pod was missing, its launch tube open to the void of space.

  "Track it," Harlow ordered the security team. "I want that pod recovered now."

  A technician at the tracking station shook his head. "Sir, the pod's transponder has been disabled. We're scanning the sector, but—"

  "But nothing! Find that pod or you'll be working sanitation on the Pluto outpost for the rest of your career!"

  Jax, still handcuffed and flanked by two guards, couldn't help but smile. "Looks like your VIP decided he wasn't done with his adventure."

  Harlow rounded on him. "You think this is funny? Do you have any idea what happens to GalactiCorp's stock if word gets out that we lost Maximilian Plutus?"

  "Not really my problem," Jax shrugged. "I'm just a kidnapper, remember?"

  Harlow stared at him for a long moment, then gestured to Officer Kora. "Remove his restraints."

  "Sir?" she questioned.

  "Do it. Then bring him to the command center." Harlow turned and stalked away, already barking orders into his comm unit.

  As Kora unlocked the cuffs, Jax rubbed his wrists. "Having second thoughts about my kidnapping career?"

  Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  "Shut up and walk," she replied. "And just so you know, if you try anything, I'm authorized to shoot you somewhere non-lethal but extremely painful."

  "You really know how to sweet-talk a guy."

  The command center of the GalactiCorp security vessel was impressive—all holographic displays and officers in crisp uniforms monitoring various sectors of space. Harlow stood at the central console, reviewing data as Jax was brought in.

  "Mr. Stellar," Harlow said without looking up. "I have a proposition for you."

  "Let me guess—find your missing billionaire, and you'll drop the kidnapping charges?"

  "Find Plutus, and we'll not only drop the charges but also clear your outstanding warrants and pay off your debt to The Ion Fang."

  Jax blinked. That was significantly better than he'd expected. "What's the catch?"

  "The catch is that you have 48 hours before the merger vote. If Plutus isn't present for that vote, the merger fails, GalactiCorp loses billions, and I make sure you spend the rest of your life in a prison mining colony with no name, just a number."

  "You really know how to negotiate," Jax said dryly. "But there's a problem—my ship is impounded, and even if it wasn't, you said yourself it has seventeen critical system failures."

  "Sixteen," corrected a familiar voice. "I've repaired the oxygen recycler since our arrival!"

  Jax turned to see a holographic projection of DELPHI hovering near a console, her avatar flickering slightly.

  "DELPHI? What are you doing here?"

  "When the security team attempted to access the ship's systems, I transferred a copy of my program to their network," DELPHI explained cheerfully. "Did you know that corporate security firewalls are 43% less effective against AI systems that compliment them while infiltrating? I told their defense program it had very attractive code architecture!"

  Harlow looked like he might burst a blood vessel. "Your AI hacked our secure network?"

  "I prefer the term 'enthusiastically relocated,'" DELPHI replied. "And I've located something interesting in the security logs. Before launching the escape pod, Mr. Plutus accessed the ship's communication array and sent a message to an unmarked frequency."

  "Can you trace it?" Jax asked.

  "Already done! The signal was received at coordinates matching the Rust Belt Asteroid Cluster. Specifically, a mining operation called 'Last Chance Excavations.' According to public records, it's an independent mining collective that recently filed a complaint against GalactiCorp for attempting to buy out their claim."

  Harlow's expression darkened. "The miners from the refueling station. This was his plan all along."

  "What plan?" Jax asked.

  "Plutus has been pushing this merger despite board opposition because it includes protections for independent operators like Last Chance. The rest of the board wants to absorb these operations or shut them down." Harlow ran a hand through his perfectly styled hair, messing it up for the first time. "He's not kidnapped—he's making a political statement."

  "By launching himself in an escape pod to an asteroid mining colony?" Jax couldn't keep the disbelief from his voice.

  "Maximilian Plutus once held a board meeting while skydiving from orbit because he thought the 'adrenaline would lead to better decision-making,'" Harlow said. "This is actually restrained by his standards."

  Jax considered his options. On one hand, hunting down a thrill-seeking trillionaire in the Rust Belt was dangerous. On the other hand, having his debts cleared and warrants dropped was worth the risk.

  "I'll need my ship," he said finally.

  "Out of the question," Officer Kora interjected. "That deathtrap couldn't make it to the Rust Belt in its current condition."

  "The Discount Otter might not look like much, but she's fast and she knows the Rust Belt. Your corporate cruisers would stick out like a supernova at a funeral. Every pirate and independent in the sector would scatter the moment they saw you coming."

  Harlow nodded reluctantly. "He's right. Prepare his ship for departure."

  "And I want the hamster back," Jax added.

  "The radioactive rodent? Why?"

  Jax shrugged. "It's growing on me."

  Three hours later, the Discount Otter was ready for launch. GalactiCorp technicians had performed emergency repairs on the most critical systems, though Jax noticed they'd left the cosmetic issues untouched. The ship still looked like it might fall apart if you sneezed too hard.

  "The navigation system has been updated with the coordinates for Last Chance Excavations," Officer Kora explained as Jax ran through pre-flight checks. "We've also installed a tracking beacon so we can follow at a distance."

  "I found it and disabled it already," Jax replied without looking up. "I don't need GalactiCorp breathing down my neck when I'm trying to negotiate with miners who hate your company."

  Kora's hand moved to her sidearm. "Reactivate it immediately or—"

  "Or what? You'll shoot me and then have to explain to Harlow why his retrieval specialist has a hole in him?" Jax flipped a series of switches, and the engines hummed to life. "I'll find Plutus and bring him back, but I'm doing it my way."

  "I'm coming with you," Kora announced.

  "No, you're not."

  "This isn't a request, Stellar. Executive Director Harlow has ordered me to ensure the mission's success."

  Before Jax could argue further, DELPHI's voice came through the ship's speakers. "Actually, Officer Kora's presence might increase our success probability by 27%! Her combat training and corporate authority could prove useful in certain scenarios."

  "Whose side are you on?" Jax muttered.

  "The side of statistical advantage, of course!" DELPHI replied cheerfully. "Also, the space hamster appears to have developed a nest in the environmental control system. We now have three of them! Isn't biological reproduction fascinating?"

  Jax sighed as Kora took the co-pilot's seat. "Fine. But on my ship, we follow my rules."

  "Just find Plutus," she replied, checking her weapon. "After that, you can go back to your miserable existence delivering packages and dodging debt collectors."

  As the Discount Otter detached from the GalactiCorp vessel and set course for the Rust Belt, Jax couldn't shake the feeling that this "simple retrieval" was going to be anything but simple. With his luck, it would probably end with him getting shot, spaced, or worse—stuck with Kora permanently.