The siren of the Lawcraft grew louder as Sam darted out the truck. James looked back at the approaching craft, and then to Sam, who was pulling the doctor from the crashed vehicle. Sam supported an arm under the thin frame of the doctor—a tanned man in a light-grey suit, with glasses smashed and scratched into his temple.

James opened his door and helped Sam huddle the dazed doctor into the back beside Evan.

The Lawcraft came to them in a roar of engines and sirens. In a swift motion, Sam clambered into the front seat and drove off before it could land. Now they had to outrun the far superior Lawcraft, which James knew was a near impossible feat in their run-down maintenance truck.

Sam had to navigate through the vehicles on the road while the Lawcraft closed in on them once again from above. Between the Lawcraft’s sirens and the truck’s sirens still blazing, and Sam’s rollercoaster driving, James’s head spun and pounded, his stomach threatening vomit. They wouldn’t be able to outrun the Lawcraft for long.

“Abyss find me,” Sam called out in desperation, and added, “Hold on,” before spinning the wheel. The truck veered to the side, lurching up onto the side barrier, and they dove over the edge of the high road. Both James and Evan cried out as they fell through the air. The front-heavy truck met the street below hard, jolting them all and crushing parts of the front side. It managed to hold together as it careened through the on-coming traffic, with Sam doing his best to steady the vehicle.

The Lawcraft’s had to alter its direction to manoeuvre itself around the other side of the higher road, which gave them a few extra seconds of a lead. Sam switched off the truck’s sirens, much to James’s relief. When the road descended to ground level, Sam turned off to an intercepting street. Further ahead, the area darkened under a large platform. James looked up to see the Lawcraft was unable to lower itself into the street in time and continued its pursuit above the platform, searching for them.

Sam spun the truck down the next street, the wheels rising up on one side as they turned onto a lower ramp that led into an underground parking station. He maintained his speed while navigating the pathways of the station, careening around pillars, before stopping in a corner section. The echoing silence of the parking station surrounded them as they waited; the Lawcraft sirens soon faded away.

Sam turned to them. “Everybody all right?”

James nodded, gulping back a breath. His heart raced, and the gash on his nose was bleeding again, making him wonder if he’d bumped it during the chase.

Evan lay in the back, holding up the semi-conscious doctor. A trickle of blood ran down Dr. Velome’s crown from a patch of wetness in his short hair.

“Let’s see if the good doctor has been worth all this trouble,” Sam said, just as the doctor began to focus.

Dr. Velome’s heavy lids revealed golden hazel eyes which fell upon the vehicle’s occupants. Turning, he was most startled by Evan next to him.

“What… what’s going on here? Who are you people?” His dazed state turned to alarm, though his heavy voice was strained. He had a hint of an off-world accent which James couldn’t place, but made the doctor sound refined and well-spoken.

Sam said, “We have a few questions to ask you, Dr. Velome.”

As the doctor focused on Sam, his confused look faded and his mouth tightened with severity. “What do you want?”

“Just a simple matter of who you’re on your way to see.”

“I… I have no idea what—”

“Don’t bother,” Sam interjected. “We know you’ve had dealings with Codo Industries. Tell us who your contact is.”

“Fools,” the doctor spat with venom. “You do not know what you’ve gotten yourselves into.”

“We can get the answers from you. If we make you.” Sam paused a moment in thought, then nodded to Evan. “Cut off one of his fingers.”

Evan hesitated before reaching for his sword hilt.

The doctor remained resolute. “That means little to me. Compared to what my associates would do if I talked.”

Evan released his large sword, angling it awkwardly in the confined truck. He reached for Dr. Velome’s wrist. James was surprised to see the Voarn’s actions were no longer hesitant.

“Wait,” Sam said. “Perhaps we can threaten something more of value. It seems to me that a man’s legacy is more important than his wellbeing. We can make it so Laillen Technical never manufactures so much as an allergy pill. It’ll be the end of you, Dr. Velome.”

“Are your threats meant to scare me?”

“Yes,” Sam said bluntly, feigning surprise that the doctor had to ask. His voice hardened when he went on. “What if you lost the Elcannoy Trade Route? I can have every member of the Avancheon Military obstruct your every move. You won’t be able to fire up a production line anywhere in Centrepoint or Midway without my permission. I’ll make it a law if I have to.”

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This time the doctor paused, with something that could have been fear passing over his eyes. “You could do no such thing.”

“Perhaps,” Sam said. “Perhaps you could assume I’m bluffing. I can just put a call in to Captain Aharla out in the Zeyan outpost. Or Master General Bossoni is still eager to repay me a favour. Here’s a name you might know: Dessus End. He’ll be interested to hear of your actions on his planet.”

The doctor held his chin high, although an ugly scowl had crossed his face. “You do not understand, nothing can stop what is happening.”

“Enlighten us.”

The doctor sighed, looking defeated. “You could do nothing to my contact, so it makes little difference. I am going to meet Higero Jaxx, a powerful Vivanni Shaa you do not want to interfere with.”

James wasn’t sure if he’d heard of that race before, but he knew the name.

“Jaxx is working for Codo?” Sam asked.

“Jaxx is everywhere. You are fools to think he could be touched.”

Evan asked, “What is your business with this Higero Jaxx?”

Dr. Velome’s eyes narrowed as he looked upon Evan. “We are manufacturing a serum for him.”

“What kind of serum?” Sam asked.

“A cognizance modifying compound. An enhancer. For purposes beyond my knowledge.”

Sam scowled, and the contempt was clear in his voice. “For menticide. Why would you do this for Jaxx?”

“A simple business. He had enough coin to pay for my services.”

“I see that one,” Evan quickly said, pointing. He appeared to have startled himself and reddened at the faces looking at him. “I mean, that is a lie.” He turned to the doctor. “Why do you not tell us of Vallamill?”

The doctor’s eyes widened at this, though he tried—and failed—to contain his composure.

“Vallamill?” Sam asked. “The medical company?”

“Not just a medical company,” Dr. Velome said, giving Evan a deadly look. “One of the largest pharmaceutical corporations in the Centrepoint worlds. Along with Phiraton Solutions. Jaxx can make them both look like dirt-world drug stores compared to Laillen Technical. With a simple serum, I would become a god.”

“No matter the consequences,” Sam said in disgust. “Where are you meeting Jaxx?”

The doctor hesitated, but said, “Riondon.”

“You were going to him now?”

“I was on my way to my personal laboratory in Dukarro, for final preparations of the serum.”

“When is the meeting?”

“Two days from now.” Dr. Velome’s eyes shifted as he looked them over, gauging his situation. “He is expecting the final serum from me personally.”

James could see the threatening venom that had been coming from the doctor was being replaced with an uncertain fear that trembled his eyes.

“You have some of the serum on you?” Sam asked.

The doctor shook his head. “In my vehicle.”

Sam spared a glance to Evan before he said, “We’ll be making the meeting in your absence, doctor. I’ll make sure that Jaxx receives what’s owed to him.”

“I must make the delivery!” The doctor sprang forward in protest. Evan held him back with both hands.

“There’re many things you must do,” Sam said, keeping his voice even. “First of which is answering for your crimes.” He turned to James. “In the back you’ll find some fibre cables. Would you bring some?”

James nodded and left the truck to search through the back compartment. Under a heavy woollen blanket, he found the rolled-up fibre cable and returned to the passenger seat. He wasn’t sure what was going to happen next, and at this point was just going along with everything, feeling a little numb.

Evan held Dr. Velome while Sam tied the doctor’s hands behind his back.

“I’ll be sure that your help is not disregarded,” Sam told the doctor.

“This is not over,” Dr. Velome said through gritted teeth. “You will all burn for this.”

Sam opened a compartment between the front seats and withdrew a thick roll of plastic tape. He ripped a piece off and stuck it over Dr. Velome’s mouth, despite the protests from the doctor. With a gesture to his companions, Sam stepped out of the truck.

The muffled complaints of Dr. Velome gradually faded as they left the truck and made their way to a side exit of the parking station.

“We’re just leaving him there?” James asked, not wanting to have questioned Sam in the doctor’s presence.

“For now. We needed to get rid of the truck, anyhow.” Sam brought his sat-com out and tapped into it as they re-joined the street. “Is he busy?” Sam asked into the device. “I won’t be long. Promise.” After a moment, he spoke again. “Howdy, Vance… I know, I’ll be quick… I have a friend in the Hungen east-side parking station. Your men would be most interested in meeting him… Yes. That’s right. No, I promise I’m not causing trouble again. Ask Stelan to look into Dr. Arkay Velome. You’ll find him in a Rimas maintenance truck in the parking station. He’ll be waiting for you. Right. Thanks, Vance. Enjoy your conference.” Sam clicked off.

James looked at his sideways. “Vance?”

“Engphon. High Mark’s Judge.”

“You know the Judge of High Mark?” James exclaimed, taken aback.

Sam shrugged casually. “I know a lot of people.”

“I’m starting to get that.”

“Who is this man?” Evan asked.

“A Judge,” Sam told him. “They have charge of the districts. The Judge of this one is an acquaintance of mine. A poor Grime player, however. He’ll make sure that Dr. Velome meets the proper authorities.”

“Did you really know all those people you mentioned?” James asked as they entered a short tunnel that led to a bustling main road.

Sam simply nodded. “Aye.”

“Even Dessus End?” James found it difficult to believe that Sam could be acquainted with the president of the governing body of Carnan.

“Well, not so much. But I know his Guard Captain.”

“I think… I look forward to getting to know you better, Sam,” James said with a bemused look. His once-colleague was certainly full of surprises.

When they crossed the main road, James thought he could hear something among the commotion of the street life. He soon determined the sound of drums in the air and looked around the darkening sky, but couldn’t quite find their location.

“We can’t stay out in the open,” James said, feeling his nerves growing. “The Lawmen and Red Guards are probably still looking for us.”

“You’re right,” Sam said. “I’d say it’s time to leave.”

“Leave? Leave where?”

Sam met James’s questioning look. “Leave town. Higero Jaxx is expecting Dr. Velome in two days. We’ll get to Jaxx and find out what he’s really up to in the Riondon Iron Forge, and how Codo Industries ties in to all this. We’ve a way to go for the exit in Tammin Pass, though. This… yes, this way.”

Sam led them to a connecting street lined with small houses when a loud siren burst to life above them. A Lawcraft ascended to their location, the air shimmering around its underside engine pads. The wind whipped furiously around them as they faced the imposing craft and its blinding lights.