Much like the area around any Crusader station, the arcade surrounding Station Belveer became a sought-after destination once the sun dipped below the horizon and the workday came to an end. A variety of restaurants, bars and entertainment venues springing to life as citizens from all over New Kantler arrived, eager to end the day with good food, good drinks and good friends.

Many of these establishments offered unique deals and discounts for members of the LCF as part of an agreement between the local business owners and the Council of Trade and Commerce. As the presence of a Crusader Station guaranteed a steady stream of both station and field service personnel on a morning and nightly basis the land immediately surrounding it understandably became a hot commodity. Anticipating this the Council routinely bought up not only the land with which to build the station on but the land surrounding it. They would then sell the land at market price to any business willing to cater to their workforce. It was a shrewd business tactic many considered a win-win. The businesses gaining a reliable source of clientele while the Council manufactured another incentive for joining the LCF.

In regard to the clientele who didn't work for the LCF and therefore weren’t incentivized by discounts, many found intrigue in meeting people from outside the Commonwealth as well as other distant city states. As a result it became commonplace for cultures from other regions of the Expanse to find footing at or around stations following their introduction by the personnel who happened to be passing through.

Young people less set in their ways became eager to see and experience these unfamiliar cultures, finding added pleasure in hearing stories from the LCF personnel filling the seats beside them. Creating an even greater influx of visitors to the area. Needless to say field service personnel tended to be very popular among native citizens and only built on that popularity by utilizing their discounts to buy their admirers' drinks among a great many other things.

The fruits of the Council's labor were on full display this night much like any other as people packed the arcade, moving from one establishment to the next in both small and large groups. A bit further down from the station where the congestion gradually thinned stood Flannery, leaned beside a small alleyway tucked between a business and an apartment building. She wasn't alone as Cade was holding up the wall adjacent to her. They were both dressed casual, a comfortable silence existing between them. The sounds coming from deeper in the alleyway barely audible to them.

"Not the send-off you imagined?"

Flannery leaned her head back against the wall and let out a small sigh.

"Not exactly, but I know better than to be picky."

"I think we'll be able to change that narrative once we’re done here."

Cade gestured down the alleyway as he looked over at his senior. Flannery met his gaze with a somewhat jaded expression.

"I’d certainly hope so."

On cue Lux's form emerged from the darkness with a belt in hand, Reefe's. The service belt he'd discarded earlier in concert with his resignation from the LCF. She handed the belt to Flannery as Cade pushed off the wall and glanced down the alley.

"That took longer than expected."

"Can't be helped, I'm buzzed. My strikes aren't as accurate when I'm buzzed."

"That's on me."

Flannery carefully placed Reefe's belt in her handbag before turning back towards her companions.

"My intel had the wrong bar, but we had to stay a little while to be sure."

Lux waved her off.

"Please Flan, if anything it's the bar's fault. They just had to go an offer a deal on Blue Eights tonight of all nights."

Cade nudged Lux along as the trio began making their way back towards the busier area of the arcade.

"Funny, I don't remember seeing a discount on the Cinnamon Sherry you downed afterwards."

"It was a necessary step towards preparing my stomach for the rest of the evening."

Flannery recalled the moment in question. The speed at which the glass emptied had been rather impressive.

"Let's be glad we realized my mistake before things escalated any further."

The three turned down a street a couple blocks away from the station, a bounce in their step now that they’d recovered the belt. They were also excited to reach the restaurant where the others were waiting. A popular restaurant specializing in spiced chicken and tonight’s starting line for a night on the town.

"What do you suppose that station jackass planned on doing with Reefe’s belt?"

Cade began listing off the most likely possibilities on his fingers.

"Sell it, wear it, masquerade as a field service personnel...might just be into some kinky shit."

Lux smacked the engineer’s shoulder lightheartedly.

"I think those Blue Eights hit you harder than you're letting on if we're already at a point of the night where you're making jokes."

Flannery couldn't help but laugh at the back and forth from the two beside her, a reminder of how she'd managed to endure a career in field service for so long. Through moments like these. Connecting with fellow service members regardless of age or life experiences. Speaking of age...

"If her reports are anything to go by, I'd say our new CO has taken quite a liking to the two of you."

"She probably wasn't expecting to find others so close to her age range."

Lux stretched her arms out over her head and swayed back and forth, a small hiccup escaping her in the process.

"She younger than me?"

"No, she's actually the same age as I am."

Flannery was in no way surprised Cade had beaten her to the punch. As expected of someone who actually reads the manifest.

"That's a weird age to start field service..."

"Well, if you three get closer you'll find she has her reasons for joining when she did. In the meantime I'll be counting on you two to look after her. As you probably noticed she doesn't have much of a filter. It's bound to get her in all sorts of trouble."

"That's what I like about her though."

Cade didn't say anything at first, preoccupied by some thought or another. Although his eyes eventually flitted over to Flannery.

"I don't doubt trouble will find her, but that doesn't have anything to do with her lack of a filter does it?"

A smile played on the face of the burgundy haired woman.

"That's good, she already has your attention. Looks like I'll be able to rest easy in my domestic life after all."

Cade grumbled something but dropped the topic as the trio arrived at the front of the restaurant. The door was propped open to cater to the flow of foot traffic and the aroma of cooked chicken wafted out. The smell reminded all three how hungry they were, and they expeditiously made their way towards the back of the restaurant reserved for larger parties. Lux briefly broke away from the other two to make a stop at the bar, having to shoulder her way to the bartender.

"One Western Thrill."

The bartender showed his hand, his way of requesting ID. Lux rolled her eyes and fished around her pockets. Fortunately New Kantler's age for alcohol consumption was sixteen. At least for now. Her and others speculated that was subject to change soon now that the church would be calling the shots for the near future. She handed him her LCF ID, an accepted form of identification in any Expanse city. The man looked confused as his eyes darted between the name and photo on the ID and her several times.

If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Benecia Lader?"

Lux blinked a few times before a stark realization hit her like one of Evan's jabs.

"Do me a favor and hold onto this for me."

A sly hand slipped a card into her inside pocket.

"Cia Lader Miti!"

The young lady turned and winked before prancing off somewhere...

Lux squeezed her eyes shut and massaged her temples in an effort to jog the remainder of that memory. Or maybe delete it. But only managed an exasperated groan for all her efforts.

"Better make that two Western Thrills."

*

Ever since she'd been jostled awake by Cade mid-morning, there'd been a constant throbbing coming from Lux's forehead. Unfortunately, sleeping the discomfort away became impossible after repeated attempts at kicking her companion failed to drive him away. Turns out she'd been sent for by Commander Heenan, incentivizing Cade to seek her out in the dorms before the day ran long. So while it took some time Lux eventually managed to drag herself out of bed and into a pair of pants. Evan's pants by the looks of it. Her own fault for leaving them unattended on a nearby bunk.

She made a brief stop by the commissary but forwent eating anything due to lack of appetite. Instead she settled for a cup of hot chocolate that she nursed carefully on her way over to the station's admin offices. However, as she was in no rush to see Heenan, Lux made it a point to halt her progress whenever a sip of sugar became necessary to continue functioning. On one such sip her mind wandered back to the evening prior, specifically the restaurant with the awesome chicken. Not that this was a surprise, but she was able to recall the entire evening without issue. Lux wasn't THAT kind of drunk, even if her throbbing headache was trying to convince her otherwise.

She reached into her pockets to retrieve the ID again only to remember these weren't her pants, turning up a half empty box of matches instead.

"Perfect timing."

Lux squinted at the source of the voice, managing to make out the form of a female security officer. They pulled a smoke out from somewhere on their person and promptly plucked the box of matches from her hand. It was as they brought the smoke up to their lips for a light that Lux's recognized Leora, looking far more put together than she was. The other sharpshooter caught Lux's squint and repaid the favor, looking her up and down.

"Morning to you too sweetheart."

She blew the smoke in the direction of a cracked window nearby.

"Your in uniform...they assign you to another roster already?"

"Mhmm, I'm filling in for one of our casualties yesterday."

"That's nice of you."

Lux accepted the box of matches back and took another sip from her paper cup.

"Been meaning to head back down South anyways. Business to attend to."

Leora shifted her weight from one foot to the other, casually producing a small ashtray to collect the dregs of her smoke.

"Appreciated those drinks last night by the way, helped drown out all of Sigurd's whining."

"Shit was rough yesterday, can't be helped."

Finishing the remainder of her cup's contents, Lux offered it to her fellow sharpshooter who took the hint and deposited her smoke inside it.

"Shall we?"

Lux would have furrowed her brow in confusion if it didn’t pain her so.

"We?"

"You weren't the only one sent for, and I'm on a bit of a tight schedule."

The two promptly covered the remaining distance to the admin offices and proceeded to barge right into the CC staffroom without so much as knocking. The room itself being set up as a shared space, with a collection of desks lined up at the center of the room facing inwards. All sorts of potentially sensitive documentation covering them, not that either officer cared to poke around. Rather they both scanned the space for Heenan who was seated on the opposite side of the room discussing some manner of logistics with the room's only other occupant, another Convoy Commander. Convoy Commander Wencelas Nocte if Lux's memory was to be trusted. A big IF given her current state.

"You two do realize we have rooms designated for meetings between Commanders and personnel."

"Maybe lock the door next time."

Leora was equally unapologetic.

"On the topic of time, I'm running short on it. Isn't that right Commander Wence?"

Lux internally patted herself on the back. Looks like your functioning after all, brain.

The men shared a look before returning their attention to the officers who'd been sent for.

"Out of consideration of the favor officer Scholz is doing for us today, I think it best we take officer Ayfer's advice and lock the door next time. Now if you'll excuse me."

As Commander Wencelas left the room Heenan gestured for the girls to pull up a chair across from him. Lux took him up on the offer but not before placing the cup holding Leora's discarded smoke smack dab in the middle of the desk in front of her. Almost like one would a peace offering or souvenir. Leora on the other hand opted to remain standing and cocked her head in Heenan's direction, her way of saying he should begin. And so Heenan interlaced his fingers atop the desk's surface and proceeded.

"For starters allow me to thank the two of you for getting the convoy to Belveer, cargo and crew mostly intact. The rest of the roster played their respective roles of course, but those roles wouldn't have amounted to much if even one of those rockets hit home. Needless to say the higher ups made the right choice reaching out to the two of you for this job. As I'm sure you’re aware this entitles both of you to additional payment.

Heenan unclasped his hands and reached into a desk drawer to his lower right, pulling out a stack of pay slips.

You have the option of having it issued now or in Ms. Scholz's case we can have it waiting for you at your next station of arrival, if you could just inform me of your preference— "

"You said the cargo was intact."

Heenan looked up to meet Lux's gaze in lieu of finishing his thought.

“I believe the word intact was preceded by most—”

"So it was true then, that C217 was never transporting Cinnabark to begin with."

So she did know. Heenan swallowed before providing the official explanation.

"It was the belief of the higher ups that deviating from the contents of the manifest would minimize damage incurred by potential leaks. This order was several months in the making, precautions were necessary for the sake of the convoy."

Lux reached out and smacked the cup she'd placed clear off the desk, hard enough to see it deflect off one of the windows to the side of where they were seated.

"No your right, fuck does it matter if officers protecting a bunch of firewood die if it means a bunch of out-of-touch church assholes get their damn logs!"

She raised a hand abruptly to cut Heenan off from responding right away. Meanwhile Leora stayed quiet, finding amusement in the affect Lux's tirade was having on the older man.

"See what I did there? Dam, logs...or is it only the first part of the joke you found funny? But wait, thanks to those pious church officials declaring them terrorists we've already replaced what was lost and then some. All in a day's work as they say!"

Heenan ran both hands over his face and braved a look over at Leora.

"Anything you'd like to add?"

"No, I'd say she got her point across. Although if it's not too much trouble I would like my pay slip sent ahead to Station Bodrum."

"That can be arranged...as for you Ms. Ayfer?"

Lux, having settled down quickly due to the lingering headache, pinched the bridge of her nose and tapped the desk.

"Just hand it over..."

Heenan when about adhering to each of the officer's wishes before ushering them out. Now alone again he spied Lux's cup on the floor over by the window and went to retrieve it. After picking it up he lingered by the window, at first admiring the view of the New Kantler's skyline. He then dropped his gaze to the courtyard where various personnel often gathered ahead of each round of departures. Watching them go about their days got him thinking.

About how quiet things seemed from that office window, peaceful even. He couldn't help but recall the final moments of Guell Quay as he stood atop the bridge. Where rather than looking down at his opponents, he'd instead locked his gaze to the sky above. The source of the mysterious ensemble that appeared from time to time in the Expanse. Perhaps that was the only time he could tune out the rest of the world. His sole opportunity to claim a piece of that silence he so desperately sought after.

Ironically Quay’s end came as a result of actions diametrically opposed to that of Quiet Murn, who’d acted out upon witnessing the truth of silence in lieu of carrying out his duty. Ending in his name swapping places with those engraved on the stone he carried. Names when given new life, went on to bring catastrophe to the world. Yes, in Quay’s mind he’d made the conscious decision to put his self imposed duty ahead of survival. His flame dying out inconspicuously as a consequence. But Murn had arrived at an answer that required living, and in doing so immortalized himself forever in history. But it came at the cost of great change in the world he’d inherit. Such was the tale of Quiet Murn.

*

"Uh, Lux..."

"What's up Esma?"

The rookie CO had found the blonde sprawled out in the shade of the courtyard.

"Evan wants her pants back."

"Can't be helped then."

Lux performed a kip-up to get back on her feet and began in the direction of the dorms, Esma close behind.

"Any idea where you're heading next?"

"Why, hoping to tag along?"

Lux smiled to make it clear she wasn’t opposed.

"With no clear destination of my own I figured it couldn't hurt."

"Don't worry, it's the destination’s job to make itself obvious to you. Not the other way around."

Esma's face indicated she was having a hard time following.

"Doesn't make much sense I know, but you'll work it out eventually. Everyone does. In the meantime, enjoy traveling around with nowhere particular in mind. Or I suppose in our case according to the whims of our sender."

“The LCF you mean.”

A hum of acknowledgment.

“I’ll admit I’m excited to see what other city-states are like. Though I guess that’s most people’s rationale for joining up in the first place.”

To see, experience and eventually choose for yourself where you belong.

Lux stopped short of the doorway leading out of the courtyard and spun around, placing both hands on her hips she cocked her head to the side with a grin.

"Look forward to working with you!"