Lucian ate an early breakfast in the galley, though by his internal clock, it was far past dinnertime. There wasn’t much choice with his cheap meal plan. There were premium options, but he didn’t want to pay for them.

  When he picked the Western option, a tray spat out of the meal slot. Its contents looked sad: a dry slab of fake egg, half a boiled potato, and a burnt piece of toast with a slab of frozen butter on top.

  Wrinkling his nose, he took the tray to the same table where he had sat with Emma. He was the only one in the galley, for which he was thankful. It was still early enough that he might get to eat alone.

  That was when footsteps approached, accompanied by the sound of boisterous laughter. He ignored the sound until a shadow loomed over him, making his stomach tense. He looked up to see the pale-faced, blonde Fleet recruit from earlier. His sharp blue eyes held a mocking quality, only accentuated by his superior smirk. He stood way too close for comfort.

  On either side, his two friends flanked him. One was tall and well-built, with coppery brown skin and close-cropped hair. The other was thin, short, and pale as a ghost, with cloudy gray eyes and matching hair.

  “Do you need money for some real food?” the young man said mockingly. “You’d like the first-class plans. What you’re eating should be illegal.”

  Lucian did what he could to control his voice. “If you’re buying, sure. As long as I don’t have to put out.”

  The young man guffawed. “A sense of humor. You should be careful about that.”

  “Can I help you with something?”

  “Depends,” the young recruit said, taking up a chair without invitation. His two cronies sat with him, and all leered at him from across the table. Lucian knew interstellar liners like this one could attract a rougher crowd. Crime wasn’t uncommon, and the ship’s crew was usually no help except for the worst cases. Were they trying to shake him down or something? If they were after money, they’d be sorely disappointed. If this piss stain was in the first-class cabins, Lucian doubted he needed it.

  Which meant they were here for something else.

  The ringleader steepled his fingers in a businesslike manner and leaned forward, his smile more predatory than friendly. The last thing Lucian wanted was a fight, especially three on one.

  “Earther, aren’t you?” the recruit asked.

  Lucian nodded but offered nothing more.

  “Traveling alone can be dangerous,” he went on. “I admire you for doing it. You never know what kind of freaks you’ll be stuck with.” He let out a chuckle. “I’ve been on the wrong end when things get ugly. Believe me, the crew cares about nothing except your money. That being the case, I hope we can become friends.” He held out a hand. “My name’s Dirk. Dirk Beker. What's yours?"

  Lucian hesitated before taking the hand. No reason to stir the pot, even if Dirk’s spiel was rubbing him the wrong way. “Lucian.”

  “Nice to meet you, Lucian,” he said. “These are my friends.” He looked from one to the other. “Why don’t you fellows introduce yourselves?”

  The hulking youth with brown skin cracked his knuckles. “Kasim.”

  “Paul,” the thin one said in a nasal tone. Lucian only now noticed several scars covering his arms. The direction of the wounds suggested they hadn’t been self-inflicted.

  “Paul, Kasim, and I go way back,” Dirk said. “Mars-O is a rough Hab. One of the oldest, too. Filled with mining folk, mostly. It was designed for ten thousand people. Fifty thousand live there now. As you can imagine, that can make things dicey. Us three—we’re going to Volsung for training. Me as a fleet officer, these two as pod droppers.” Dirk chuckled, and his two “friends” showed no emotion. “I treat my friends well. They’re welcome to my food anytime. We have each other’s backs. It’s good to have that, wouldn’t you agree?”

  “Sure,” Lucian said. He was wondering where Dirk was going with this.

  “I have a friendly question. That girl you were talking to . . . Emma, was it?” Lucian’s skin went cold. How did he know her name? “Sorry, I couldn’t help but overhear. Voices carry very well on this ship.” He gave a slimy smile. “I need some help getting my foot in the door, so to speak. I’m a handsome guy, but between gentlemen, it always helps when a friend puts in a good word.”

  Lucian met Dirk’s challenging stare. “Good luck finding a friend, then.”

  “I was hoping we might be friends. Seems she’s taken a liking to you. She seemed a bit frosty to me, but you know how a lot of these spacer girls are with Earth boys like you.”

  He made a crude gesture with his hand, spreading his index and middle fingers. He snickered, and his two oafish friends joined him.

  With that one action, Lucian learned all he cared to know about Dirk. It had been obvious before, but now the idiot had tipped his hand.

  “Where are my manners?” Dirk asked. “I grew up in a rough place. It’s just how we talk. I’ve forgotten how . . . cultured . . . Earthers can be. You treat us Martians like we’re a waste of space. Why mince words, anyway?”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “And you want me to put in a good word for you?”

  “If you would be so kind. In return, all the steak, salmon, and cake you can stuff down your throat. Seems a fair trade to me.”

  “I won’t be doing that,” Lucian said. “I don’t make deals with creeps. Besides, you’re proving everyone’s theories about Mars-O true.”

  “What’s that?”

  Lucian’s eyes narrowed. “You’re a waste of space.”

  Dirk’s eyes glinted dangerously for a moment, but then he gave a loud, resonant laugh. His two cronies guffawed along with him.

  “Don’t be stupid, Lucian. You’re alone. Why try to play the hero?” He smirked. “Things might not go so well for you if you do.”

  “Is that a threat, prick?”

  Dirk blinked. He’d expected Lucian to be a pushover. Lucian couldn’t lie; he was a bit nervous going up against him, especially with the backup he had. Lucian had been in a few fistfights, but he’d never won anything three-on-one. And with someone the size of Kasim, the odds were even more against him.

  “That wasn’t a threat. I hope you'll make the right call. You seem like a smart guy. Do the smart thing. It’s better to be friends.”

  “Maybe you weren’t being friendly enough,” Kasim offered.

  “No,” Dirk mused. “Maybe not.”

  When Dirk glanced around to see if anyone was in the area, Lucian’s instincts kicked into overdrive. He jumped up, knocking over his chair in the process while balling his fists. Paul and Kasim got up to match, while Dirk gestured in a placating manner.

  “Boys, boys!” he said. “No need to fight. We’re friends, remember?”

  Lucian had to deescalate the situation, but how? He could try to get the jump on them, but with a fight, he was practically guaranteed to lose. Maybe one-on-one he could beat Dirk, but not with Kasim and Paul backing him up. Kasim alone probably weighed fifty kilos, accounting for the lower gravity. And that other one, Paul, had seen things, too, judging by those scars and cold, gray eyes. Lucian could just leave, but that wouldn’t be a good look. That would just make him a target for the rest of the trip.

  If he’d learned anything from boarding school, he couldn’t be soft. The only thing he could do was hold his ground and not let them push him around. If he bided his time, someone else might come into the galley.

  So, that was what he would do. Bide his time. Keep them talking.

  “Maybe we can work together,” Lucian said, fighting to keep his voice level and reasonable. “But until you do something that makes me like you, I’m not going to help you out with Emma.”

  Dirk seemed to consider for a moment. “Nah. I don’t think so.”

  Kasim took a step forward, seeming to think that it was permission to come off the leash. But Dirk held up a hand, bringing him to heel.

  “I’m not only a good friend, Lucian,” Dirk drawled. “I’m a good listener. Someone with sharp ears like me hears things. That’s valuable, you know. My Pa always taught me that. Information is power.”

  “What’s your point?”

  “You’d better watch yourself. That’s all. This is a long trip. And if you keep your nose where it belongs, it’ll pass pleasantly enough for the both of us.” Dirk leaned back, his features relaxing. “Do we understand each other? Put in a good word for me, Lucian, and I'll be in your debt. Maybe mention that you’ve seen me in the first-class cabins? That ought to do. Nothing like a little money to impress a pretty girl, right? With me, she can have all the comforts and sim pills she wants. But it’s best if it comes from you. I wouldn’t want to sound crass.”

  So long as Lucian breathed, this creep wouldn’t be bothering Emma. Like him, she was traveling alone, and she needed someone to watch her back. If he didn’t do that, no one would.

  Lucian remained silent, hoping they would leave it at that. But it seemed Dirk was expecting an answer.

  “I don’t think we’ll be friends,” Lucian said. “I think it’s probably best if you leave right now.”

  Dirk gave a throaty, mocking laugh, his two friends joining him. He nodded toward his friends.

  “Get him, boys.”

  As they came forward fast, Lucian raised his fists. Lucian threw a punch, but Paul dodged the blow easily. The next thing he knew, Kasim and Paul were grabbing him by his shoulders. They easily shoved him against the wall, pinning him. Dirk watched from a distance, his cold blue eyes drinking in the sight.

  “Let me go!”

  He yelled as loud as he could, in hopes that someone would hear. Kasim clocked him in the face, making him see stars. The pain rang and throbbed like a bell. Dazed, Lucian could only grunt.

  “Enough,” Dirk said. “Maybe he’s learned his lesson.”

  Kasim grunted as if he disagreed with that. But he obeyed his master’s order, loosening his grip. He and Paul stepped back, giving Lucian space to breathe. Lucian wiped his mouth and saw blood on the back of his hand.

  Despite Lucian’s shout, there was no one around to hear. The galley was still empty, as might be expected this early in the morning. It was just Lucian’s luck to run into these three. It was almost enough to make him wonder if they were stalking him for some reason.

  Dirk gave a gleeful little laugh. “I know something that could ruin you. Do you want to hear it?”

  “Piss off.”

  “Some advice. Don’t cross me. It’s not fun to be on the wrong side of public opinion. All I have to do is say a few words, and the witch hunt begins.”

  Lucian did his best to meet Dirk’s gloating stare. Somehow, he knew the truth.

  “So, what will it be?” Dirk asked.

  Finally, the moment Lucian had been waiting for arrived. He heard voices coming from down the corridor.

  “Hey, get off me, you assholes!”

  “Let’s go,” Dirk said.

  The loyal dogs came to heel at Dirk’s side.

  “Don’t forget what I said.”

  Dirk nodded toward his friends, and they walked out of the galley toward the bow of the ship. Not a moment later, others filtered in—an old man with snowy white hair and an eye patch, a red-headed woman. None looked his way, and none seemed to know what had happened. And even if Lucian told them, what would they care? He was a stranger to them.

  Lucian shook his head, not sure what to do. He could try to catch Dirk alone, but he had the feeling he didn’t go anywhere without his guard dogs. Nor could he ignore his threat. He knew what he and Emma were. He had all but said it. It wasn’t only Lucian at risk. Dirk could use the information to blackmail Emma, too. Just the thought of that set Lucian’s blood boiling.

  He slammed his fist on the table, ignoring the looks he got from the others sitting down to their coffees and breakfasts. Of course, Dirk’s talk could all be a bluff, but Lucian couldn’t assume that.

  Lucian didn’t think going to one of the crew would be helpful, either. Dirk would out him and Emma, and things might even get worse, especially with the likes of Believer Horatia on board. Besides, there were always stories of fights, crime, and worse on interstellar liners. The liner’s job was to get its passengers from one point to another. Maintaining anything more than the minimum of security cut into margins. There was the brig for bad cases, but a little bullying would likely not get anything more than a slap on the wrist.

  As much as Lucian disliked the reason he was here, it sure would be nice to have a bit of magic under his command. Could he threaten that and get them to back off? It might be worth a shot.

  He had to find Emma and tell her what to expect. Lucian had no idea how to do that without tipping his hand. He didn’t even know where her cabin was.

  He got up, bused his tray, and headed back to his cabin.