The short bald man took a red hanky out of his back pocket, blew his nose loudly, and returned it to its place as he led Fade past the small kitchen. Two young men worked on burnt greasy grills. A lit soda fountain stood against the back wall, sandwiched between two refrigeration units. The dish washer rumbled quietly; its indicator light glowed in the center of its pale red surface. There was a great unused oven to side. Vertical lines of grease stained its door. They walked to a black door at the back of a small, closet-like hall and stepped into a small office.

A ventilation fan built into the side wall swished around slowly, producing a slight air current. An electric panel produced a buzzing white glow from the ceiling. Frames containing various certifications hung from nail and wire on the wood board wall. On the center of the back wall hung a family portrait, ten people in front of a gnarled oak tree. Next to the door was a long jute calendar. An iron waste can sat underneath it.

A small metal desk with a name plate that read: Morris C. Delfi, was occupied by a tanned man with a dark black mustache and a loose Hawaiian shirt. He looked up from his phone and floated above his desk. Mr. Delfi rode on a cushioned disc lined with anti-gravitational pads that replaced his missing lower half. He hugged Fade fondly.

His voice had a soft high pitch, “How I wait for moments like these! What brings you back here Captain? Aren’t the mercenaries working for the Buldethians now?”

“Well I’m not exactly…”

Morris leaned back and smiled, “You must be here on business. I’ve never known you to be a man of pleasure. Wait now, I don’t want know. I never even asked, kay? What do you need; cash, weapons, technology, supplies? I can’t loan you any money if that’s what you want. Since the Buldethians hit around Hakkut, I’ve had a lot trouble keeping order in the restaurant, why if it wasn’t for the freighter captains I don’t know what I’d do. It seems like every low life from the outer regions is taking refuge here. The police have been no help whatsoever, they’re not even collecting taxes beyond the Jovian system right now.

I swear, everything’s falling apart. Last week I had three waitresses, now two are missing, and my poor little Betsy is afraid to go outside the kitchen half the time, especially when the freighters aren’t in. My head is swirling with so much anxiety; I’m like an over inflated beach ball. I’ve even called the Centralized Imperial Department of Regulatory Investigation seven times. They say ‘Your station is in a war zone sir, we can’t help you.’ They simply don’t understand how much revenue I’m losing because the station isn’t safe. I’m going out of business!”

Morris switched to a whisper, attempted to do it in Fade’s ear, but he was swatted to the side, “Sometimes I hope the Buldethians do come. Maybe they’ll keep some good old fashioned law and order. I can’t think about it anymore. Yes, it’s that unbearable!”

“I have some cash that I need converted into electronic credits,” Fade laid the case on the desk. “Banks get ten percent for every conversion; I’ll pay you twenty if you can get your boy to hack it for me.”

“I certainly could use the money, but my love-- err-- computer expert was killed a few days ago, brutally murdered, looked at someone the wrong way and had his smooth little throat slit from ear to ear, and such a sexy throat too! It’s so disheartening; the gangs have taken over here, without police protection they’re practically the law. I’ve been discreet, but I know what’s going on around here. I keep watch, but that’s the best I can do after all.”

Morris fussed with his palm computer, scrolling down a list of recent entries. The type, model number, and location of every parked ship constantly monitored.

“First Destiny, now this.”

“Destiny, you don’t mean fate, or is that a name?”

“A name, she’s being held hostage by, well who he is doesn’t matter. I just need to get her back safe as soon as I can.”

“You have a girl! Well, that’s just awful!” Morris extended his pinky finger and gnawed the tip, “I have to meet her though, please introduce us some time.”

“It’s not like that. She’s a crew member. It’s strictly business.”

“With you it’s probably the truth, how marvelous,” Morris took a worn derby style hat from a low hanger and tilted it over his forehead, assuming a mock apathetic posture and a deeper voice. “I’m the honorable Captain Harold Defacto, follower of the code of a true imperial mercenary.”

Morris threw the hat behind his desk and broke into a feigned fit of laughing, slapping his desk to emphasize his amusement.

The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

“Can’t you activate some of the cash, maybe five thousand Haricons? I’ll pay you for the docking fees and give you an extra thousand if you promise to stop laughing like an idiot.”

Morris sobered quickly, “I didn’t see your cruiser on the registry. Now where could you be hiding it?”

“That’s a long story. I came in a transport. No time for the details.”

“I think I can handle the activation anyway, certainly much easier than conversion onto your cards, of course hard currency is going to look seeeehspicious,” his voice raised eerily high and emphatic, “Tell me, this girl you do biihziness with. Is sheeee, pretty?”

Fade smirked, “Prettier than you’ll ever be.”

“Well, well, well, well. Let us activate you some cash. I don’t have any aversion to activating hard currency when it’s done in increments to avoid suspicion. In addendum, I just made a deal with one of the freight captains for a load of contraband weapons and ammunition, even some of those hard to get accessories for that revolver of yours. If you’re interested they’re cheap, and I’ll even store what you buy surplus for a small fee.”

“I’ll check into that when I have some cash.”

-----

Condensation gathered on the frosty mugs of ale. Bert left his mug half full as he rubbed a welt forming on the back of his head. When Fade emerged from Delfi’s office with the black case, Bert and Nicole looked his way expectantly.

“We have some money,” Fade noticed Bert’s grimace “What’s wrong with you now?”

“Bumped my head, that’s all. I’ll get over it.”

“Morris activated some of the money Karen gave us. We can get a room and some rest tonight, then tomorrow we can catch a public transport to Dofu.”

“Is one running tomorrow?”

“Yep.”

-----

Small orbs dangling from the ceiling released their light as Fade entered room 23C. Two single beds with worn green comforters were pressed against the side wall. A metal writing table sat next to a set of drawers on the other side. A large screen was built into the wall above the dresser. A blank, plain white canvas hung over the beds. Green velvety carpet absorbed his steps. A light green paisley patterned the walls.

Bert rushed past him to the economy sized bathroom, which contained a white porcelain toilet and a shower stall with a fuzzy white curtain. The little blue and green tiles rounded within white grout were spotless. The sink was white imitation marble with two faucets, one for water and one for laser cleansing. A digital counter at the top of a medicine cabinet mirror displayed the remaining water ration for the day in liters. A wall dispenser sold tooth cleaning pills for one Haricon a piece and contraceptives for two each.

Nicole lounged on one of the beds; her mattress sunk deeply. Fade hung his red trench coat on a hanger by the entrance, took one of the chairs, put his feet up, and put his head back while closing his eyes.

“Why don’t you take the bed?” Nicole asked, “You look tired.”

“I’ll be fine.”

Bert came out of the bathroom and bounced in the other bed. Ten minutes passed with nothing being said. Bert fell asleep and Nicole followed shortly.

Fade quietly stood, replaced his trench coat, and walked to the hall. The swirling atmosphere of Jupiter glowed in the distance. The ceiling lights subdued themselves in a representation of Ganyemede’s night. Voices in the hall reduced to a murmur. Fade watched the bottom of a freighter fly overhead on route to an interior garage runway. The short bald man from Delfi’s eatery waddled next to a nearby bench. A thin wooden crate tucked under his arm.

“Haricons... the entire box for five hundred,” he said, sitting it on the bench. “He’ll take what’s not activated. He really wants you to have this... halved the... wholesale price.”

“That so? What’s the catch?”

“Some equipment... ain’t full... condition, but... all is repairable.”

The dumpy little man left the equipment and walked away. Fade prodded the box with his foot. It popped open. A pair of night vision goggles sat on top of three stun grenades. Two titanium restraint guns were packed to the side. Four energy shield packs lined the edges. Fade picked up the goggles and saw a metal tube under the stun grenades. He dug two fingers in the box and pulled out the tube. The plastic top popped open when he pried it with his thumb. A collection of coded shells slid into his palm. There were quite a few that were rusty or coated in carbon dust. Some of the shells had a thick green scale. Fade poured the shells back into the tube and replaced it in the case.

Fade tucked a few stun grenades in the folds of his coat. He stood around watching the stars, his foot resting over the closed box. Soft footsteps from the side told of Nicole’s approach. Her damp dark hair smelt of lavender as she wore unassuming brown shorts and a loose sleeveless top.

“You better get some sleep,” she said.

“I can handle myself.”

“Is that so? I’m going to do some shopping, you can have the bed if you like.”

She walked down the hall before turning to look at him for an instant.

“Do you love that girl?”

She waited a moment without receiving an answer and decided to continue walking. When she was gone, Fade carried his box back to the room. He slid it next to the bed before collapsing onto the mattress. Sleep finally crept over him.

A slap in the gut from Nicole woke Fade with a start. He checked the time. They had an hour until the transport left. The box of weapons was set onto Bert’s stomach, which proved a useful expedient for rousing his senses.

“Take them to Delfi’s eatery for storage, and make it quick if you don’t want to be left behind.”

Nicole waited until Bert left.

“First time in three years I didn’t have to take a chemical bath. It feels good to get clean that way, even if there’s still limited water.”

“Find any new outfits?”

Nicole smiled, “I wasn’t really shopping for clothes. I asked you a question this morning. You never answered me.”

“Stupid question.”

“Why?” Because the answer is obvious?”

“Get off it,” Fade growled.