I hadn’t been to the Pax System in forever. I remembered something about a hot Talian and a weird blue drink on one of the planets but the rest had faded into oblivion. Finding someone by a name alone would be difficult, but not impossible. The key to success, as always, would be my natural finesse and winning personality.

I knew there was a fixed outpost orbiting one of the planets in the sector so I decided to head there first. I switched the transponder on my ship and went to my quarters to look for a hood I bought during my disguise phase. I positioned it around my neck and turned it on. It created a holographic rendering of another face that synced almost perfectly with mine.

‘Don’t forget this.’ I shoved the translator into my nose and switched it on. I was cleared for docking and found my slip. Fixed stations were different from the one Rem worked on. Rather than existing in multiple locations simultaneously, fixed stations were exactly how they sounded: fixed in orbit around a planet. They tended to harbor less illicit activity and attracted a more reputable crowd interested in backdoor diplomacy, legitimate business and legal vice.

As I stepped onto the platform, I was reminded of how different the galaxy was for those who had enough credits. Smooth surfaces gleamed in the soft lighting and advertisements for gift shops and exotic restaurants filled the corridors. Various flora were grouped in glassed in containers, showcasing the wonders of the galaxy and I found myself surrounded by species I rarely encountered in the course of my work. Breather systems lined the walls for those who didn’t consume oxygen based air. The gravity was a bit on the heavy side, but comfortable enough for a casual stroll. Overall, I would give it a 9 out of 10.

There was a galactic class stratification, and in their current state, humans were somewhere near the bottom. Other humanoid species had managed to ascend the galactic hierarchy but the upper echelons of the governing classes were filled with individuals who alternately resembled goo, bonobos and praying mantises. Because I was a simple bounty hunter and not a political assassin, these creatures had never before graced my sights and I knew little about them.

It would have been nice for Ammet to give me a heads up about what to look for. I scanned the station, looking for somewhere to start. He might not even be here. There were seven planets in the Pax System, four of which were occupied by some sort of sentient life. Stations were a good place to start, but beating the bushes everywhere would take some time...

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‘Don’t let your next trip to Hades Minor turn into a major disaster. Visit Manuk Kai Sundries and Oddities, located on the lower level in shop 73.’

Ok- that was way too easy.

I walked towards the lift and waited for the stop at the lower level. I tried to look casual, but the holo emitter was incredibly uncomfortable around my neck. I had chosen to look like a Quo’shun Luo, they were similar to us but with a slightly pinkish tint to their skin. I cursed myself for getting the cheap model since I had to keep my head fairly still in order for the projection to look natural. So when I heard someone next to me talking way too loudly, I had to resist taking a peek to see who it was.

‘Yeah- Manuk Kai. Colleen’s intel said she would be meeting with him.’

My blood ran cold.

That fucker set me up.

When the lift stopped, I casually sauntered out and pretended to take a look at some produce in a nearby store, allowing the throngs of creatures around me to camouflage my presence. The person was definitely human and I could see a triangle tattoo on the back of his neck that identified him as a member of Colleen’s gang. I strolled slowly, pretending to window shop as I made my way down the corridor.

He turned and walked into a shop. I stopped and picked up something that looked like a music box but contained a holo image inside that was singing some sort of opera. I listened to the strange sounds as I weighed my options. Colleen knew that I was coming, but she didn’t know I was here yet.

Did Ammet tell Colleen about my impending rendez-vous with Manuk Kai or was she spying on him? I desperately hoped it was the latter and not the former, but Ammet’s dedication to his business superseded any loyalty towards me or anyone else. He had made that very clear. If he felt that his financial interests were being threatened, I had no doubt that he would squeal on me. And after that call, it just seemed too obvious.

Either way, Manuk Kai might still be willing to buy and was possibly waiting for me to show up. The surly looking dude walked out of the shop and stood around picking his teeth. There was only one way to figure out what was going on here.

I hid in a corner and swapped projections, changing to another humanoid. I cursed myself again for not getting the higher end model, but as there was no time travel portal in the immediate vicinity, I was stuck with what I had. Looking at myself in a nearby reflective surface, I pulled some faces to enable the best possible facial sync and started walking towards the nasty fucker.