I'm normally pretty muscular, and that alone gave me quite a bit of strength. If I wanted to estimate it, I was right up there with a top class professional heavyweight boxer. That alone could do some damage when I hit someone. Now, I had been on Relique, or what I sometimes refer to as the fantasy world, for almost seven centuries. The entire time I was there, I had used Presence to reinforce my body to the same standards as Allirynn, the son of a goddess, who was damn near the strongest person on the planet and could wrestle pretty much any creature that existed.

Thanks to all that work, I didn't immediately die when the assassin blew up a building to kill me. It was very close, though. If it hadn't been for the pact I had made with god during that final fight, I would be dead.

After I had healed my broken and damaged body with magic, my Presence had to take time to bring my body back up to those standards. I wasn't quite there yet, much to Rhubin's relief, because when I punched him, it only shattered his nose, his cheek, his eye socket, and part of his forehead... and that was before the force of the punch threw him backwards and into the bulkhead across the hall. It was well padded, so he bounced off of it and fell to the floor, unconscious.

“RHUBIN!” Kalina yelled and went to him and rolled him over. She started crying at the mess of his face.

“Oh, goddess.” Someone whispered.

I used Presence Heal to fix the damage to his face and then poked his brain with a jolt of Presence to wake him up. “Get up, you bastard!” I said loudly.

“Rhubin!” Kalina gasped. “You're okay!”

Rhubin touched the cheek he had felt shatter and then he looked up at me from the floor.

“I said get up!” I used a Presence Hand to grab him by the throat and picked him up to stand him on his feet.

“STOP IT!” Kalina said and tried to grab the Presence Hand to pull it off.

I absorbed it instead and started to rant at him. “You fucking bastard! You rotten, selfish, egotistical...”

“Hunter, what's wrong?” Gleas asked. She knew something really bad happened and wanted to understand.

“LUXEA!” I yelled and she flinched, then I pointed to Rhubin. “Tell them what this... this...” I let out a low growl in frustration. “I can't think of a curse that's vile enough!”

“Hunter, calm down.” Hailey said and tried to take my hand.

I pulled my hand away and saw her sad face. “I can't let you feel this, Honey.” I said in a soft voice. “My thoughts right now are very bad and I don't want you to have them, too.”

“Don't hide anything from me.” Hailey said and held her hand out and dared me not to take it.

I opened my fist and let the crushed pieces of the datapad fall to the floor, used Presence to clean my hand, then slipped it into hers. Her eyes widened as my thoughts and emotions flowed into her and then she understood why I was so angry.

“He's a bad man.” Hailey growled out, because she was even angrier about it than I was.

“Someone needs to explain this mess right now.” Gleas demanded.

“Go ahead, Luxea.” I said and knelt beside Hailey to hug her. “Tell them.”

Luxea looked at the mess and sighed. “By making Kalina quit, he reduced her pay to what she had already received.”

“That's not... too bad.” Gleas said, knowing how much they had been paid so far.

“Now tell them the worst part.” I said.

“When you quit, you also forfeit your percentage of the salvage rights, which includes the sales.”

“Oh, goddess!” Gleas covered her mouth and the other women gasped. “Kalina! Why did you...”

“Mark was going to use me to put us deeper into debt.” Kalina said. “I thought I was stuck with that, until Rubin and I started talking...”

Everyone's eyes shifted to him.

“He said he loved me and that we could get married.” Kalina said and rubbed his chest. “We couldn't do anything with each other because of Hunter's policy, so he suggested that I quit and then he and I could be together and we'd share his percentage of the salvage.”

“You are such an idiot, Rhubin.” I said without looking up from Hailey's face. “Just two months. You only had to wait for two months and her contract would have been up, she would have been rich, and then you both could have done whatever the hell you wanted and I wouldn't have cared one bit.”

“I already told you that we didn't break your policy.” Rhubin said. “She's not your employee anymore.”

I gave Hailey a kiss on the cheek, then I stood up and she didn't let my hand go. “How many times have I told you that the policy is there to stop things from disrupting my happy work environment?” I asked him. “What the hell did you think was going to happen when you had one of my essential pilots quit in the middle of the salvage mission?”

“You have four pilots!” Rhubin exclaimed. “She's not essential to the ship's operation. You can manage with three pilots.”

“You're wrong and you know it, you... you...” I still couldn't come up with a good curse for him.

Hailey tugged on my hand when she felt that I wanted to punch Rhubin again and I looked at her.

“I know I can't hit him again and still be the bigger man.” I said to her and then looked back at Rhubin. “She was essential, because two pilots work each shift. One is the main pilot and one is the co-pilot, then they switch on the next shift. Sometimes it's the same two and they just switch places, other times, two new people come in and take over, or one new pilot comes in and the second becomes the co-pilot. I left it to them so that they would be happy with whatever arrangement they came up with.”

“That's why you hired all four of us, so that no matter how we split up our shifts or who was working, there would always be two people to keep an eye on things.” Gleas said.

“Yes, and now there's a huge hole in the established shift rotation and someone is going to have to work an extra shift every second day to make up for it, or the person working will be on shift all alone.” I said and grit my teeth. “I don't like that at all, because it's ruining my happy work environment.”

“Hunter, don't overreact.” Kalina said with a smile and hugged Rhubin. “We worked all of that out.” She said. “You can hire me again after this cargo drop and I can take my place back in the rotation.” She said with a self-satisfied smirk, as if that was the best solution for everyone.

“I don't fucking think so.” I spat and everyone hissed. “I'll apologize for all of the cursing later.”

“I don't mind it.” Hailey said and squeezed my hand. “He's ruined everything and cursing is stopping you from tearing him apart.”

“If you keep talking sense, you're going to make me fall in love with you even quicker. You know that, right?” I asked her and she giggled.

“If you hire her again...” Luxea started to say.

“I'd still have the same goddamn problem!” I said. “Do any of you really think that I can trust either of these two people again? With either of my ships?”

“Now, wait a minute.” Rhubin said and tried to take a step towards me. He hit an invisible Presence wall and bounced off instead. “What...”

“It's to protect you from your own stupidity.” I said. “Were you really going to approach me and threaten me?”

Rhubin closed his mouth and didn't say anything.

“Damn right you're not going to.” I said. “We were supposed to be friends.”

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

“We are.” Rhubin said.

“No, we aren't.” I said. “A friend doesn't ignore another friend's several pleas and pointed remarks about leaving a certain woman alone. A friend doesn't ruin that woman's chances of earning a ton of credits, just because he can't wait to get into her pants. A friend doesn't throw away years of friendship for a woman he just met and barely fucking knows!”

“Hunter.” Simone reached out to calm me and touched my free hand, then she jerked back. “Goddess!” She said and rubbed her hand. “How is Hailey still touching you with all of that inside of you?”

“I told you that she was special and we had a deep connection.” I said and felt Hailey's approval. “She can feel how much Rhubin's betrayal hurts me.”

“I didn't betray you!” Rhubin spat.

“Did you not listen to any of the words I just said?” I asked and shook my head. “No, you're still ignoring reason and common sense. You still believe you can talk your way out of it.”

“Look, Kalina is right. Just hire her again and everything can go back...”

“SHUT. UP.” I yelled and he closed his mouth. “She QUIT. That's it. She is no longer a part of my company. I will not hire someone that will quit to try and manipulate the rules that I had set in place to stop people from manipulating the rules.” I said. “I never thought you would believe that losing me as a friend was worth sleeping with a woman.”

“Hunter...” Rhubin started to say.

“No.” I shook my head. “She is out... and so are you.”

“WHAT?!?” Rhubin and Kalina yelled together.

“Missed that little detail, didn't you?” I asked and smiled evilly, and Hailey giggled. “Hear that sweet sound? That's the sound of delight, because Hailey knows something you have forgotten.”

No one said anything, so I continued.

“Rhubin is not an employee. He was never hired, never signed a contract, and has never been paid a wage. Not once.” I said and felt everyone's thoughts try to argue. “If you're going to refer to the last salvage job, three people worked at it and we made a ton of money. Because we were all friends, I amicably split the take three ways. I didn't have to, mainly because it's my company and my ship was was used, damaged, and suffered unbelievable wear and tear.”

Both Luxea and Rhubin took in sharp breaths.

“I didn't even take the repair bills out of the haul first and then split it. I paid for it out of my cut.” I said. “Oh, and Luxea... all this talk about the business money, it's all still my money. I never took my cut. If I did, then the business wouldn't have had any credits at all.”

Luxea gasped. “But... but...”

“Yeah, you've been spending it all over the place. I didn't complain, though. Why? Because you were keeping everything running and it was nice to see you so happy.” I said. “Now? What are you going to do when you get your money out of this salvage? Do you think I should give you a fair share, or let you take just the money you invested and leave it at that?”

“H-Hunter...” Luxea's face was red from embarrassment.

“Yeah, you get it now.” I said. “You're not an employee either.”

“It... it's all falling apart.” Luxea whispered. We were all right there and we all heard her.

“Yes, and it's all my fault.” I said and everyone looked at me. “I should have established firm rules when this business venture started, and I didn't. I waited too long and look where we are now. Three ruined relationships. Well, maybe five if you count Kalina's two with her old and new boyfriends.”

At some point Kalina's hands had fallen away from holding Rhubin and she had started crying silently.

I looked at Rhubin. “So, was throwing it all away worth it?” I asked him and he scowled at me. “Yeah, you can't answer that and not ruin your new relationship, can you?”

Rhubin put an arm around Kalina's shoulders and turned to walk away, then bounced off another invisible Presence Wall. “Hunter, let me go.” He said. “I'm going back to...”

“The only place you're going to is the cell.” I said and several of the women around us gasped.

“Who are you going to get to pilot...” Rhubin's bluster died before he could get it going, because I had three ship pilots and a shuttle pilot that could double as a ship pilot if necessary.

“You know too much about the operation of this ship, so I can't let you or Kalina roam free. You could cause damage, try to hold part of the ship's systems as a bargaining chip, or heaven forbid, hold one of its occupants hostage.”

“I wouldn't do that.” Rhubin said and the Presence wavered slightly.

“Then which one would you do?” I asked and he didn't respond. “The ship systems would be the easiest to get to, so I'll assume you would use them to try and bargain.”

Rhubin didn't say anything; but, I heard in his thoughts what he would do. He just couldn't help but think about it. “You can't get away with shafting me like this.”

“You were the one that shafted me, Rhubin.” I said. “Look at what you did.” I waved at the people around me. “Now, instead of losing one pilot like you intended, I've lost two, and it's going to be a struggle to maintain enough crew for both ships to operate properly.”

“I'll help where I can.” Jelly said.

“We all will.” Gleas said. “We'll work through this mess as best as we can.”

“Thank you.” I said and closed my eyes as I let myself calm down.

Hailey's hand reached up and touched my cheek and I felt her unconditional love, even after all of that.

“Thank you, most of all.” I said and picked her up. “How can you be so strong?”

“That's what you need.” Hailey said and smiled at me.

“Then thank god I found you.” I said and hugged her close for several moments, then I looked at Rhubin and Kalina. “Walk.”

They thought about refusing, so I used levitation on them and carried them to the cell. I used the security door and closed it, then covered the controls to block anyone from opening it again.

“I'll pack up your things and leave them in the room you used to use, Rhubin.” I said and walked back to the main hatch and I ignored their hollers and yells.

“Are you really going to keep them prisoner for the whole trip?” Luxea asked.

“Yes. I can't let them walk around free. They'll sabotage the ship.” I said and both Hailey and Simone nodded.

“Hunter, you... really shouldn't.” Luxea said.

“Do you know what the worst part of it is?” I asked. “They came up with the plan to defraud me, believed I would be stupid enough to go along with it, then they expected me to hire her back.” I shook my head. “They were so caught up in their own machinations that if they had taken even a few seconds to think it through, they would have realized it was never going to work.”

“Maybe they should have consulted you about it first.” Sandy said.

I turned and looked at her with raised eyebrows, then I realized what she meant and then I smiled. “Okay, yes. That could have worked.”

“What could have?” Luxea asked.

“Nope, I can't give that secret away.” I said. “Now we just have to figure out who wants to fly this ship for the next jump.”

“It's only for four days.” Gleas said. “I'll take primary if Jelly wants to co-pilot.”

“Are you sure you're comfortable with that?” Jelly asked.

“You won't be assuming the main chair. I'm just too used to having an extra pair of eyes on things.”

“Fair enough.” Jelly said with a smile. “I'll grab my things.”

“You two can share my room.” I said as they turned to leave. “It's the biggest one and the bed is huge.”

Gleas chuckled. “I can't remember the last time I had a sleep-over.”

“I had one the last time I went planet-side.” Jelly said. “The officer's quarters were double-booked.”

“You poor thing.” Gleas said as the two of them walked away. “I heard the rooms there were tiny.”

“Unbelievably so.” Jelly laughed. “I woke up with her foot on my face!”

“Eww!” Gleas said and they both laughed and disappeared down the curved hallway.

“I guess that means Beatrice and I are staying on the new ship.” Deborah said.

“So am I.” I said and we walked back into the ship. “Until I get Rhubin's things packed and the room cleared out, anyway.”

“Don't you want to do that now?” Sandy asked.

“I have to get Kalina's things first.” I said. “I'm not sure what she wants to do now, though.”

“What do you mean?”

“Will she stick with her horrible choice and stay with Rhubin in another system, or will she go back to her other horrible choice and return to the Fogaris System?” I asked, and no one had an answer for me. “I guess I'll find out when we offload the cargo and I kick Rhubin off the ship.”

“You're really going to do that.” Beatrice asked, a little surprised.

“I know it seems harsh.” I said and stopped walking by Kalina's room. “I've let some things he's done slide, and I've forgiven him for a few other things; but, ruining both my personal and professional relationships?” I shook my head. “No, that's the final straw. I don't want him around me anymore.”

“That... it's kind of...” Deborah tried to say I was heartless, then Hailey reached out and touched her cheek. She gasped as she felt a fraction of my emotional pain and how much I was hurting. “H-Hunter... oh, goddess.”

“He's good at hiding how he feels most times.” Hailey said. “Except for anger. He lets that out to play.”

Deborah nodded and pat Hailey's hand. “Thanks.”

“You might as well do me, too.” Sandy said and Hailey touched her cheek. “OH!”

Beatrice was touching Sandy, so she got a fraction of a fraction of it. “Oh, Hunter.”

“I'll be okay.” I said. “We've got a six hour normal space flight to get to the next jump coordinates, so you should get changed into your flight suit.”

“Can you pack Kalina's room up that soon?” Deborah asked.

I chuckled. “I just finished packing it all up.” I said and the room door behind me opened and I floated out her bags and several boxes.

“You were doing it while we talked?” Sandy asked, surprised.

“I can multitask like a champion... when I'm not so angry I could spit.” I said and she laughed.

“Come on, Beatrice. I'll help you get changed.” Sandy said and both women went into their room.

Deborah touched my shoulder. “I'm sorry.”

“Me, too.” I said. “You're going to be working full time now.”

“That's not what I meant.”

“I know.” I said. “I'll see you at supper.”

She walked away and entered her room to get changed and I carried Hailey and Kalina's bags and boxes to the main hatch, only to find both Simone and Luxea still stood there, both with shock on their faces and on ether side of where the main hatches were joined together.

“Hunter.” Luxea said and then didn't say anything else.

“No, I won't cut you off from your salvage rights.” I said. “Don't tell Rhubin that he still gets his share, minus operating costs and the cost of hiring another pilot to do the job he should be doing. That is, unless he messes up and actually does try to do something to harm the ship or anyone on it. Then he gets nothing except turned over the authorities.”

“But... if you tell him first...”

“It's a character test.” I said. “Plus, he still has lots of credits...”

Luxea's expression changed and I sighed.

“I don't want to know.” I said and walked by her and down the hall, then into Rhubin's old room. He didn't have a lot of things, surprisingly. That probably has to do with whatever he spent all those credits on. I thought and dropped Kalina's things beside his just inside the door of the room and then I used Presence Hands as I stripped the bed. I was tempted to crush the mattress, then flipped it over instead and added new sheets. I'll by a new mattress when we get to the Dizahl System.

I threw the sheets away and left the room and went back to the main hatch. Both women were still there. “We're separating right after Gleas and Jelly transfer over.” I said to them, and that seemed to knock them out of whatever trances they were in.

“See you at the next jump point.” Luxea said and walked away.