Cavalier had come to a halt. A massive asteroid field occupied the area in front of the ship. It stretched from one edge of their sensor monitor to the other. The stones drifted around randomly, like leaves on the surface of a pond. One of the larger rocks was silently struck, the impact causing a slow-motion geyser of fragments.

  A swirling conflagration of green light sat in the distance. The asteroid field was overlooked by a sweeping nebula, its emerald splendor contrasting with the dead rock.

  One of Tarl’s bodies sat in the cockpit section, which was open. This was the newest body. It hadn’t reached full maturity yet, but it was certainly capable of piloting the ship.

  Gami and Eli stood beside him. Gami’s injuries had mostly healed, but a few ugly bruises still marred her pallid skin. Her right eye was still noticeably red. She wore her suit, with the helmet resting on a control console.

  Eli wore jeans and a t-shirt with the logo of a band from Narrin IV on it. This logo reflected the nature of this band’s music, as one side was formal and controlled while the other was barbarous and chaotic.

  “Their base is hidden inside of an asteroid field,” Gami observed, this comment armed with an invisible razor edge.

  “Yes, inside of a hollowed-out asteroid,” Eli stated, wondering if he should just go ahead and answer her next inevitable question.

  It was actually Tarl that asked it, “Why?”

  “Because they are wanted in a neighboring system. They are wildcat miners.”

  “So, the neighboring system has mineral rights for this field?”

  “For this whole system, so they say. They say that they have it for most of the surrounding stars. This group has chosen to ignore this claim. And when you think about it, that is a pretty ridiculous demand to make.”

  “That’s fair,” Gami said in a slow, steady voice, “But just because that government is corrupt, doesn’t mean that we can trust these people.”

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  “That is also fair.,” Eli admitted, “That is why you’ll stay invisible and get the drop on them if they try anything.”

  “Agreed.”

  “And Tarl, two of your bodies will back me up.”

  “One,” Tarl corrected, “That will leave one in the cockpit and one on each of the turrets.”

  “Okay, good, good. And you’ll keep the flying ones in reserve, ready to drop explosives on them.”

  “You’ve got it all planned out,” Gami said, it sounding close to an allegation.

  “We’ve got this,” Eli countered, even though an accusation hadn’t actually been made.

  Gami’s tone stayed even, just a series of facts being stated, “Of course we do. There are no valid governments in this sector. So, I’m sure that none of them will have bounties that I’ll be interested in taking.”

  “And if they did?”

  “Then I’d have to take them.”

  Tarl spoke, but it did little to break the tension between the two, “We just received a transmission, tight beam. They say that we are welcome aboard.”

  “Take us in,” Eli ordered.

  Tarl retracted the cockpit and gave the primary thrusters a bit of gas. Even with Tarl on the internal coms, this made it feel like the two of them had been left alone.

  Eli stared out the window, silently watching the tumbling rocks. They needed the money. They needed the money, and Gami was going to mess up the deal.

  Tarl carefully wove his way through the asteroid field. He weaved around, plotted out a course, only to adjust it at the last second as a threat presented itself. A rock that was nearly as big as the ship zipped toward them. Tarl dodged it, turning at the last moment.

  “How do they operate in such a place?” Eli asked.

  “We boarded a base that was hidden in an asteroid field when I was with the ISS,” Gami began, “Lost a ship going in. Turned out that it had been overrun by some sort of creature that was native to a nearby dwarf planet. Lost three squads worth to them.”

  “Thank you, Gami,” Eli grumbled, “Now you’ve put that image in my head. Tarl, you think that you can handle this?”

  “Of course. I used to cut through one all the time during the war. And that was in ships less maneuverable than this. It’s a good way to lose pursuers or discourage fast movers from thinking that they can score an easy kill,” he dodged another rock, “Although I will admit, this field is particularly thick.”

  They pushed on, dodging the countless rocks. Even with Tarl at the controls, Eli was starting to get nervous. Taking a cautious glance at Gami he discovered that even she was starting to look anxious.

  “There,” Tarl said, “The one with the big crater on one side and the huge chunk missing on the opposite side.”

  Eli looked at it through the window. It was indistinguishable from any of the others. He brought it up on the scanner feed. Gami leaned over his shoulder and they examined it. They could see where a plasma screen had been cut into the side of the rock. In another spot, there was an antenna and a dish.

  Eli nodded his head, “Alright. It’s show time. Gami, let’s get to the cargo hold.”

  Cavalier entered the plasma window and gently settled down onto the deck plates.