Tooley kept a close eye on every sensor array they had as she approached the surface of Paga For. She saw nothing beyond the ordinary traffic yet. If anyone was angling to kill them as they descended, they hadn’t made a move just yet. That did not, of course, rule out anyone hoping to kill them after they landed. Tooley had never thought she’d be so worried to go to Paga For. It was usually one of her favorite places in the universe, and now she was imagining threats from every side.

“We’re in the clear for now,” Tooley said. “No promises planetside, though. You two will have to keep your heads on a swivel.”

Farsus and To Vo were waiting by the exit hatch, ready to leave as soon as the ship was stable. Kamak wanted them off the ship and into Thoth’s lair as soon as possible, and then back aboard as soon as they’d asked every relevant question. Even if the tenuous truce on Paga For protected them, staying too long would put them in danger. Even if no one drew a gun, Kamak had no doubt there were many on Paga For who would be more than happy to sell information to Morrakesh, and let him know that his favorite targets had been on Paga For.

“In and out as fast as you can, and leave at the first sign of trouble,” Kamak insisted. “There’s no info Thoth has that’s worth your life.”

“Lives,” Doprel corrected. To Vo kept a deliberately neutral expression. Years of bureaucracy had taught her to remain stoic in the face of passive aggressive behavior. Kamak’s casual disdain had nothing on the unrestrained vitriol of an irate food vendor trying to debate a loitering charge.

“Just get it done and stay alive,” Kamak said. “However many of you feel like living.”

Kamak waved a dismissive hand and walked away as Tooley landed the ship and opened the bay doors. To Vo tried to break into a dead sprint the moment she saw dirt, but Farsus grabbed her by the collar and held her back.

“Sprinting is suspicious,” Farsus chided. “Walk. At moderate speeds, but with purpose.”

Farsus took the lead and demonstrated, moving at a brisk yet measured pace across the dusty streets of Paga For. It reminded To Vo of the “patrol walk” that Mokai had once showed her. With a determined stride and intense stare, even someone as small as To Vo could cut a path through a crowd. She kept the lessons from Mokai and Farsus in mind as she followed in his footsteps, until those footsteps stopped. She stopped as well, and peered around Farsus’ broad frame.

There were no guns involved, but To Vo felt the tension in the face off all the same. Farsus was staring down a tall, lithe woman, with dark skin and short horns on her head. Half her face was covered by a prosthetic that almost looked natural.

“Ghul.”

“Farsus. Good to see you’ve survived all this.”

There was sincerity in her voice, but not enough to ward off Farsus’ skepticism.

“If you’ve come to claim a bounty, you have chosen the worst place in the universe to set your ambush,” Farsus warned.

“I know the rules of Paga For,” Ghul said. Curious and wary spectators were already lining up to keep an eye on their staredown, just in case it became violent. “Though I’ve had to chase off a hell of a lot of new blood that didn’t. You’re welcome.”

Farsus double-checked his corners, just in case any of those “new bloods” had any big ideas. The coast looked clear, at least. Ghul had been thorough in her work.

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

“Then why are you here?”

“I’m not here for you or your crew,” Ghul said. She looked past Farsus, at the tiny eyes peering from behind. “To Vo. I’m here to take you back.”

To Vo La Su stepped to the side, though she did not move away from Farsus just yet.

“Full disclosure, there’s a reward for your safe return,” Ghul said. “Which means I get paid, yes, and also that there’s no need for you to be a part of this. I know there’s more going on here, and I know you know that, but you don’t need to tie yourself to this kind of chaos.”

Ghul figured there was some larger conspiracy at work, one she was trying to stay as far away from as possible. She hoped to give To Vo the same chance. Whoever was in charge of the chaos clearly didn’t see To Vo as a threat, and it benefited them more to portray her as an innocent kidnapping victim than a traitor.

“This is your clean break, kid,” Ghul said. “I suggest you take it.”

The staredown turned silent as Ghul let her offer linger in the air. To Vo stared down at the dirt for a moment, and then glanced up at Ghul’s half-false face.

“What happened to your face?”

A synthetic eyebrow raised in surprise.

“Is that really relevant right now?”

“I’ve heard Kamak’s side of the story,” To Vo said, undeterred by her skepticism. “I want to hear yours.”

Ghul shrugged and relented.

“Not much to tell. It was a bounty hunt. Serial killer, got his sick kicks carving people up with a knife,” Ghul explained. “I was sloppy. Got dropped on. Kamak chased the guy off before he could finish the job.”

“Why not go after the bounty, take the prize for himself?”

Ghul merely shrugged again.

“Too early in his career for that,” she said. “You have to build a reputation before you can play loose cannon. We were hunters on the same job. You help each other out.”

“Then, in terms you would understand, I am ‘on the same job’ as Kamak.”

The unexpected defiance from To Vo’s small voice caught Ghul off guard. She crossed her arms and did a quick double take between Farsus and To Vo.

“You really want to stick this out?”

“Yes. I will not turn my back on those who have helped me,” To Vo said. “Or on all the good they are trying to do.”

“You feel that strongly about it, you should come back to Centerpoint anyway,” Ghul said. “Spread the word. You could tell your side of the story.”

“Or you could tell it for me.”

Once again, Ghul was caught off guard. Everything in her files had described To Vo La Su as timid and restrained -and rational. None of those qualities were on display right now. Ghul was still feeling plenty rational, however.

“No thanks,” she said. “Not painting a target on my back for Kamak’s sake.”

“There’s more at stake here than just Kamak,” To Vo said. “However big you think this is, it’s bigger. And it will affect you too. We’re all on the same job here.”

After a moment of skeptical consideration, Ghul looked to Farsus for confirmation. He nodded. That disturbed her.

“Well…”

The concern lingered on Ghul’s half-false face for a moment. Then it melted into an apathetic shrug.

“Good luck with that,” Ghul said. She stepped aside and started walking away.

“W-wait!”

Farsus grabbed To Vo by the shoulder to stop her from following Ghul, and shook his head.

“Do not waste your effort,” Farsus said.

“But she could help us!”

“Could,” Farsus said. “But will not. She is still, by trade, a bounty hunter, and we can not compensate her in any way for her aid.”

Farsus continued down their path to Thoth’s lair, and To Vo reluctantly followed.

“She really won’t help if there’s no money for it?”

“Money, or some other reward,” Farsus said. “Nothing we can offer at this time.”

To Vo looked to the side and watched Ghul disappear into one of the many bars of Paga For, without so much as a glance over her shoulder.

Once inside the bar, Ghul took a seat and ordered two shots of something very strong. She ended up getting more than she bargained for. Whatever the bartender had served her tasted terrible and hit so hard the first shot made her face numb. Most of it, anyway.

Ghul traced fingers across the edge of her synthetic face. She almost forgot about it, most of the time. Sometimes she even forgot about the knife that had carved it off, and the face of the maniac holding that knife. But she never forgot Kamak shooting that same lunatic, hitting him in the leg, leaving him nearly crippled. A grand and easy prize for any bounty hunter. But Kamak had dragged her to safety instead.

Ghul took her second shot. It tasted even worse.