After passing through a checkpoint of sorts, The Lazy Wolf approached an asteroid that seemed more like a moon and began their descent through the atmosphere, strange creatures that resembled stingrays, except much larger (the largest one Steven spotted close to the size of a Sperm whale) flying by in the murky green clouds.

  "What are those?", Steven asked, nudging his elbow for the creature that floated by outside.

  "Fays", Mozzie replied, her focus mostly on the path ahead of her, lowering, rising and turning the levers, along with Ric. "They're indigenous to a lot of the asteroids and other bodies around here. You see that mist?"

  "Yeah", Steven replied.

  "This being an asteroid, the atmosphere is of course artificial. Unintended sides effect, however, was its effects on the fays. It used to be, you wouldn't see a fay larger than a Kumbah-"

  Mozzie briefly turned around to Steven.

  "That's the creature that nearly killed you on the dune, by the way. I know your lot doesn't see much of them over on Anaxian."

  Mozzie turned her gaze back forward.

  "But regardless, it used to be they weren't that large. Then, come the artificial atmosphere, along with whatever other effects came from terraforming the asteroid, they suddenly began to sprout in size. On some of the asteroids further out, in the truly lawless and barren sectors, there's reports of some the size of ships."

  Steven stared out at awe at one that was slightly smaller than the whale sized one he saw earlier, and imagined one the size of a ship.

  "Are they dangerous?"

  "Only if you agitate them", Ric said, his voice monotone as he shifted the ship sideways, passing like a blade between two fays.

  "Hm", Steven only replied, thinking it best to cease his line of questioning.

  After they descended through the atmosphere, they arrived at a sprawling, neon cityscape. They lowered for a hangar, after landing, exiting the craft for the harsh winds and rain. The air smelled of smog and electricity.

  "Move", Ric said, giving Steven a shove.

  They left the hanger, a six foot something tattooed man with a cybernetic arm lowering his gun and stepping aside. When outside, the raging elements clawed and pried at Steven, the wind so great it threatened to push him back.

  "Where are we going?", Steven shouted over the tempest.

  "To see a man named Paul", Mozzie responded.

  After getting into what (Steven assumed) was a taxi (the craft which was shaped like something between a sedan and a chopper lowering down from the clouds and thunder onto the wet city streets), they shortly arrived at a towering, obsidian structure.

  "So", Steven began. "This Paul, he some type of monarch or king?"

  Mozzie's chest heaved, a hearty chuckle escaping.

  "No...no king or monarch. Unlike Anaxian, we consider ourselves a free people here. No kings or queens, just the rule of the triumphant."

  Mozzie turned back to look at Steven, who sat sardined between Peter and Ric.

  "Are you one of the triumphant, Steven?"

  Steven looked at Mozzie, then shifted his gaze out towards the towering structures and thundering sky.

  "No...I don't think so."

  Once they landed, they entered the building, which appeared to be a casino, and took an elevator to the top floor. A female, robotic voice began to speak.

  "Tired of Sqaugiens sneaking onboard your ship and taking your food? Try our new Sqaugien repellent system: Sqaugien be gone. It's simple: attach a Fleporian electric eel to your nervous system, and once your spinal fluids have properly fertilized the-"

  The elevator door dinged, and Steven found himself in a large and luxurious office space. After a moment, the door to the left of the room opened, and a tall, flaxen haired man in a white suit came in, two guards behind him.

  Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

  "My apologies Ms. Mozzie for being late. Had some delinquents causing a scene. Poor temper management and low intelligence, combined with loosing a hefty sum of Heigon, never a good mix."

  "Ne'er-do-wellers", Mozzie replied.

  "Exactly", the main said with a chuckle. His eyes landed on Steven.

  "My, my, seems you have an Anaxian pilot in your captivity?"

  "Yes, he apparently crashed here while booming. Claims it was due to a Fen-Har attack."

  The man's eyebrows rose.

  "On Anaxian?"

  Mozzie nodded.

  "So he says."

  The man stepped towards Steven, after observing him a moment outstretching his hand.

  "Paul."

  Steven stuck out his elbow, his hands still cuffed.

  "Steven."

  Paul stared at Steven's elbow a moment before shaking it as best he could.

  "Pleased to make your acquaintance."

  Paul walked to his desk.

  "Free him, if you will", he said.

  Mozzie's mouth opened, and the beginning of a word sputtered out before she groaned, motioning for Ric to free him.

  "So", Paul said, pulling back his chair and sitting. "Mozzie, what brings you here? I'm hoping that it pertains to your...arrears?"

  Mozzie swallowed, Steven noticing that her hands began to fidget.

  "Um...well, no. I'm close, though. Closer than I've ever been. I was- I wanted to know if there's any buyer for an Anaxian pilot. If not, we also have some salvage from a dwarf-star battle. Android parts and whatnot. Hard to come by nowadays."

  Paul studied Mozzie a moment before chuckling.

  "Mozzie, Mozzie...Anaxian pilots. Android parts. While good finds...it won't get you much. Anaxian solders are plentiful here, just look for their bastard children running in the streets. As for the androids, scorched and destroyed material is of no value. Unless you can tell me it's relatively intact?"

  Mozzie sighed, her shoulders slumping. Paul nodded his head in faux understanding.

  "I see."

  Paul released a sigh, leaning back in his chair.

  "I do have a proposition for you that will free you of your debt, and who knows, maybe even leave a little left for disposable income. If you're interested."

  Mozzie nodded her head.

  "Alright, let's hear it."

  A grin snaked across Paul's lips.

  "Are you familiar with the Zhar clan?"

  Mozzie nodded.

  "Yeah, gun runners. Quite a powerful family, or so I've been told."

  Paul nodded.

  "Correct. Tomorrow, they'll be getting a package from the Jebaur clan. So dangerous is this cargo, that none of the Jebaur will be present for its delivery. Instead, they'll be using a team of mercenaries. They won't be delivering it directly to the Zhar estate, but to a moon near the edge of sector eighty-five. A base of the Zhar clan. Like the Jebaur, mercenaries will be acccepting the cargo, which they'll then deliver to the Zhar clan on their home planet Gefen. I want you to interpose in this transaction, steal the cargo, and report back to me."

  Mozzie's mouth went agape, and she stammered for a brief moment, incoherent sounds coming out.

  "I...stealing from the Zhar clan? In sector eighty-five? From mercenaries? T-this is crazy. This is suicide."

  Paul leaned forward in his chair.

  "This is a way to pay off your debts."

  Mozzie began to open her mouth, then closed it. Her eyes darted.

  "H-how do we even go about this? Just stroll in, take it and leave?"

  Paul smiled.

  "Excellent question as always, Mozz."

  Paul nodded at the two guards, the one that stood to the left speaking into his comm.

  "Bring them in."

  "You're familiar with the Hartshorn brothers I assume? Pair of two young ruffians, around the same age as yourself, who have made a name for themselves working with the mercenary group Skinned Lion?"

  Mozzie nodded her head, uncertain of where this was going.

  "Yes, I'm familiar. Excellent strategists supposedly."

  "Supposedly", a young ginger haired boy said with a scoff as he came out the door, another ginger haired boy next to him, though slightly taller. "I'm crushed that you would say that. I consider myself at least top three. Maybe five, if I'm feeling humble."

  Mozzie's brows furrowed.

  "W-what are they doing here? Last I heard they were doing an operation out in the deep blue with the Mongolian fisherman."

  "Listen darling", the shorter one spoke once more. "We're all over the place, you know? High value men such as ourselves."

  "I sent a team and kidnapped them", Paul said. "It was...an arduous affair-"

  "We saw it coming hours before", the short one interjected. "Something smelled fishy."

  "-but", Paul continued, giving a sharp look at the shorter one. "in the end, it worked out. The Hartshorns owe me a debt, much like yourself, Mozzie. I feel this would be not only a good way for them to pay it off, but also get something I greatly desire."

  "Which is...?", Mozzie replied, a coldness in her eyes and voice.

  Paul grinned.

  "The sickle of the Hunter Wolvesbane."

  A sudden silence and dread filled the room, as if an airlock had been opened and the void of space coming in. Mozzie stepped back.

  "Y-you can't be serious. This is...this is crazy. Stealing from the Zhar is bad enough, but from the Hunter Wolvesbane? I don't know how the Jebaur got it, but when he discovers we took it, he's going to kill me, he's going to kill you...he's going to kill everybody."

  Paul put out his hands in pleading.

  "Calm down, calm down. No, he won't. I have a plan."

  "Which is...?", Mozzie replied.

  "Of no concern to you, unlike the plans of the Hartshorn brothers", Paul said, gesturing at the taller brother. The taller brother stepped forward, his movements robotic and face and voice monotone.

  "The Jebaur and Zhar clan both believe we are still working with the Skinned Lion, and as such, have hired us to help oversee the dealing. We'll be with the Jebaur's mercenary team when they come to deliver the sickle to the Zhar, and will create an opening for Mozzie and the Lazy Wolf. On our signal, you'll come in, snatch the sickle, and boom back to Leken, a nearby moon using Fen-Har portal bomb tech."

  Paul gave a round of applause.

  "Bravo Hartshorns, I'm glad to have you with us."

  Mozzie looked at Peter and Ric, her gaze eventually landing on Steven. In them was a deep sadness, and Steven, if only for a brief moment, felt some strange sympathy for his captor. Mozzie turned back to Paul.

  "Alright, we'll do it."