Phil docked the Cerberus with some coaxing. Since the fight the engine had been acting finicky. Likely burning it out with her maneuvers. The repairs would be costly for Olympus and they would take some time.

Luckily Isis Station was well known throughout Alliance space and beyond as the port of choice for its entertainment district, friendly staff and upgrade businesses. Olympus and crew deserved a break, Phil believed.

Behind her, Phil could hear Zeus talking to Junior about what was needed at a minimum.

"I'm just saying, Zeus," Junior said. "Hull repairs are fine but what we really need is some armour. You need newer, punchier guns and you could stand to upgrade the communications and electronic defenses."

These words meant nothing to Zeus. He sighed loudly, making Phil snort from her chair.

"Alright, Junior," he said, defeated. "Please write down upgrade ideas and bring them with us when we go speak to the dealers. What's everyone else doing, Belle?"

Belle appeared on the command terminal holo-terminal. "Sgt. Traverstine and Agent Thanatos are still recovering in the medical bay under Dr. Refik's care. They will not be joining you on the station. Mr. Gunn has offered to train those that wish to be trained and Agents Epione and Dionysus have taken him up on his offer, as has Dr. Wilson. Agent Tartarus has already entered the station with Mr. Cross and Ms. Jubei to explore entertainment options. Ms. Warsaw wishes to explore the dealerships alone but Sgt. Winters is shadowing her to ensure she does not contact the Realmic Concord. Dr. Fargood and Agent Enyo are still in the laboratory."

Zeus peered over to Phil. "It's your ship, too, Phil. You wanna come with me and Junior?"

Phil bit her bottom lip for a moment before standing. "Sure. I don't want to be alone on a ship with Eliza. Talk about boring."

Zeus, Phil and Junior made sure they had their credit chips. Phil and Junior barely had enough for lunch but Zeus's chip was paid out for the last five missions. With this he could buy a new ship!

"Don't forget you need to pay your staff, sir," Belle reminded him before taking out the payments for the crew. His pay dented but was still considerable. Phil marveled at how much money she had before sending half of it to her family. Junior received nothing but he didn't mind. He had another payment in mind for later.

"Alright, let's go." Zeus said, leading the other two off the bridge. "Belle, you have the bridge."

Zeus started reading the list as he walked along with Junior. Many of these terms did not make sense to him, so he questioned ashe moved, with Phil snorting at his ignorance behind him.

"So this first thing on the list... it isn't a ship upgrade, right?"

"No," Junior said. "It's a request from Marcella that's better to be bought in bulk rather than from a store. It's a Byrne Assault Rifle, a gun that fires 5.56mm ammunition in either single-shot of three-round burst fire shots that can be changed with a switch. It also has targeting computers that hook into Alliance heads-up displays, comes equipped with a 20mm grenade launcher and both the bullets and the explosives can be changed in ammunition types."

Zeus, apart from being incredibly shocked that a minor would have this knowledge in the first place, was in awe as the gun was described to him. He had known that the universe he found himself in now was far different than before. Having it described in detail to him, though, made it hit home. Gone were the days of AK-47s and Walther pistols.

"Does it have a scope?" Zeus asked.

"It can," Phil said, taking over. "The Byrne is designed to allow for huge customisation. Scopes, drum magazines, barrels, suppressors, whatever. Most Alliance weapons are like that, like the Falcon, which is what I use. No scope for me but I edited the barrel and changed the magazine to suit my needs. I turned it from a handgun to a machine pistol. Done."

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

Zeus, Phil and Junior left the ship via the loading ramp and walked into the docking bay. Zeus was letting Junior and Phil lead effectively so he could concentrate on the document before him.

"So if I skip down to here, these are the ship upgrades you want?"

Junior peered at the list and nodded.

"So this is a gun?"

"You actually saw it on Callista's ship actually," Phil quipped as the group stopped. Phil traced her finger along the holographic map, mentally creating a path to the shopping district.

"What we currently have are four Alcine fusion batteries, or cannons if you don't understand the difference." Junior turned to face Zeus as they waited for Phil. "It works by creating a fusion reaction and blasting it as a beam down the barrel. It's effective against smaller ships and land targets but against a dreadnought it... well, you saw. It needs continuous fire from multiple sources to be effective at all. The gun list I made keeps the cannons but parses the power level from the upgrades I want so the ship still runs effectively and allowing the weaponry can also work."

Zeus blinked, not quite understanding but glad he had Junior with him.

"Alright. Thanks, Junior."

Phil turned to face the boys behind her. "Alright, guns first. Kurt will probably thank us for it. Junior, anything other than Byrnes?"

"Yeah, probably a few Falcons, too. If we get lucky we could snag a hard-light rifle for Riley to take apart."

Zeus didn't want to ask further. Phil already had more than enough information over him. As Phil and Junior talked about which place to go first, Zeus felt his skin turn cold.

He breathed out, seeing a trail of vapour escape his lips. Zeus turned to find Phil and Junior frozen in place, unable to move but not reacting. Like they were photographs.

"What is going on?"

Zeus received no answer. He took a step and heard the footfall echo around him, the soundwaves even bouncing off of his crewmates.

"Who did this!?" Zeus called out. "Show yourself!"

"As you wish."

Zeus turned quickly to find himself face to face with another man. This man was wearing the same armour as Zeus, emblazoned with the symbol of the Alliance. Something was wrong about him, however. His armour was scorched from intense heat and there was an impact shot in his chest. Zeus could see straight through it onto the other side.

"What the fuck?" Zeus said.

"An interesting question," the man said, his voice soft but raspy. "Though the expletive was unnecessary. Replace 'what' with 'who'. To answer that question... I am Agent Vegas."

Zeus had heard the name before. Even if he hadn't, a smart person could connect the name to the right squad. Liberty Squad. The same squad Jonathan Love and Renee White had been a part of. The same squad Callista Sion had been apart of. With one very important difference.

Agent Vegas was dead.

The official story was that Agent Vegas had been killed in the ambush on the planet Syracuse by unknown forces. Agent Anchorage was the only person to report to the Alliance afterward, with no public explanation as to what happened to the other six members.

Being part of the Agency, though, Zeus knew about Jonathan Love (Agent Hollywood), Renee White (Agent Salem) and Callista Sion (Agent Chicago). Three more members of this squad.

"You're supposed to be dead," Zeus said.

"I am," Vegas said. "Oh, Ian, I am."

Zeus was shocked. This dead Agent knew his name! Vegas noticed and smiled, placing his hand on Zeus's shoulder.

"Do not be alarmed. There are many mysteries to life and death you do not know of. You will, however, learn as you live in this century. Learn as you decide. Understand me now, Ian Lostalim. You are in danger."

Zeus closed his hands into fists. "How? From what?!"

"Creations of steel and code that prevent the soul from moving on. This is your immediate threat lurking in the shadows of the protector of the dead."

Vegas's grip tightened and his dead eyes glared at Zeus.

"You must choose soon what side of the coin you call. Choose wisely."

Time returned to normal. Vegas disappeared. Zeus could hear Phil and Junior talking behind him. He breathed in heavily, his blood running cold. There was a threat on the station and only he was aware of it. This could be a chance to do some actual good but he needed to know what it was.

"Phil?" Zeus said, not moving.

"What's up, boss?" Phil said, looking over. When she saw how on edge he was, she walked over. "You okay?"

"I'm going to ask you something... Don't ask why but I need you to think about what's a threat in this galaxy. What this riddle could describe."

Phil was confused but she nodded.

"'Creations of steel and code that prevent the soul from moving on'. Any idea?"

"That could be robots. Or cyborgs, maybe." Phil's face took on a sheet of fear. "Oh... oh no. Zeus, where did you hear this riddle?!"

Zeus pressed his finger to Phil's lip and put his arm around her shoulders. "Shh... Phil, what's the answer. Tell me."

"One of the worst things in this galaxy. People are scared of the Klisk, for good reason, but the Klisk avoid these things. Orcs avoid these things! Orcs are stupid!"

"Phil, calm down. What's the answer."

Phil could barely bring herself to say the words. She whispered them so quietly that Zeus could barely hear her.

"The Wight Initiative."