The bass thumped through the bar like a heartbeat, pounding in sync with the flickering, dim lights that struggled to cut through the smoky haze. The air reeked of galactic species body odour and desperation—the kind of place where nobody asked questions and everyone had something to hide. Just the kind of place for a has-been detective. I leaned against the counter, nursing a glass of vodka that tasted more like jet fuel, watching the crowd swirl around me like a school of oblivious fish.

My target was across the room, a short, muscular four-armed man with dark blue skin. His singlet stretched tight over bulging muscles, and he moved with an exaggerated confidence. He was talking to a hooded figure draped in a black robe. Red skin glinted faintly under the hood whenever the lights hit just right. Definitely not your average barflies.

I shifted my weight, trying to blend into the shadows as much as a nearly seven foot tall person could. The gauntlet hummed faintly on my wrist, its interface pulsing with data feeds I barely needed to glance at. The intel was simple: this guy had stolen plans for the Galactic Weapons Storage Facility, a fortress the size of a small moon. My job was to get those plans back, quietly.

I was about to approach the men as their deal seemed to be heading elsewhere when I saw him.

Sarek—a pale-skinned, red-haired corporate type whose expensive suit screamed “I’m better than you.” His presence was like a blaster shot in a crowded room. Heads turned, and I knew mine should’ve stayed down. Instead, his piercing blue eyes locked onto mine. He sauntered over, casual, like he wasn’t about to ruin my night.

“Max Ludger,” he said, his voice smooth and calculating. “Just the man I’m looking for. I have a proposition for you.”

I took a slow sip of my drink, letting the burn settle before I answered. “Can’t you see I’m busy?”

“Busy blending into the wallpaper? Sure. But I’ve got a job you’ll want to hear about.”

“Not now, I really am busy. Can we chat later?” I said, though my gut told me he wasn’t the type to take no for an answer.

“Rusthaven,” he said, sliding into the seat next to me.

The Crimson hooded man and the four-armed man were nearly out of sight now. “Not now, Sarek,” I said as I put the glass down and started walking towards where they were.

“We’ve got a problem there—a productivity downturn in the mines. The Federation wants answers, and I need someone with your…particular skill set to get them,” Sarek said as he started to follow right behind me.

Pushing through the crowd, I quickened my pace. Rusthaven was on the other side of the galaxy, where my current targets would be soon if I didn’t hasten.

“Sounds like a Federation problem, not mine.”

“It’ll be your problem when I transfer 500,000 credits to your account,” he said, his smile thin.

500,000 credits got my attention. Although it shouldn't have... I still had a job to do.

"Drats! You made me lose them!" I moved my hand to the grip of my plasma gun."Oh, don't be dramatic, so what's your answer?"

Before I could respond, movement caught my eye. The four-armed guy had doubled back, his fist flying into my jaw. His hooded partner was coming in from the other side with a vibrating blade drawn.

In a quick flash my blaster grazed the cloak of the hooded figure, knocking him sideways into four arms. The bar erupted into chaos. Tables overturned, drinks spilled, and someone screamed as I scrambled to my feet. I chased both criminals out into the alley. The hooded man scaled a fire escape like a spider, and the blue-skinned guy charged down the narrow passageway. I picked the bigger target first.

I launched into a sprint after the blue-skinned guy, but my legs felt heavy. The sting of his punch still buzzed through my jaw, and I realized how long it had been since I’d pushed myself like this. The alley stretched on, a maze of shadows and flickering neon signs. He was fast—too fast for someone his size. My boots pounded against the ground, every step a reminder of my aching knees and lack of recent conditioning.

He veered left into another alley, and I followed, my breath coming hard and fast. He shoved a pile of crates into my path. I vaulted over them, the rough edges scraping my palms. The gauntlet on my wrist beeped, registering the bio-signature of my target.

"Yeah, yeah, I see him," I muttered to the device. He reached the end of the alley, scaling a fence with his lower set of arms while the top pair gripped the stolen data drive. I skidded to a halt, raising my blaster.

"Not so fast!" I yelled, firing a warning shot that singed the metal next to him. It was enough to make him drop back down, snarling.

He lunged at me, swinging two fists while the other two reached for my blaster. I ducked and countered with a solid punch to his ribs, but it was like hitting a solid steel wall. Pain shot up my arm, but I gritted my teeth and stepped back to keep my footing.

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“You’re getting sloppy,” I muttered to myself, dodging another swing. The next one connected with my shoulder, knocking me off balance. My back hit the alley wall hard, and I gasped as the wind was knocked out of me.

He grinned, thinking he had the upper hand, but he didn’t see me swing my gauntleted hand up. A bright blue pulse shot out, knocking him flat on his back. He groaned but wasn’t out yet.

Before I could catch my breath, movement above drew my attention. The hooded man descended from the rooftops, leaping from the building while simultaneously slashing with his vibro dagger with an agility that made my stomach turn. I hesitated for a second to long as his blade found the top of my shoulder.Luckily he wasn't really after me as his other hand reached out for the data stick.

I refound my balance, adrenaline dulling the ache in my shoulder.  Lunging at the hooded figure as his fingers wrapped around the drive, only for my body to knock him across the floor.

The hooded figure scrambled to his feet, but I was faster this time. I grabbing his arm and twisting it behind his back, my pistol resting on his temple. The data drive clattered to the ground. He let out a growl, struggling against my grip with surprising strength.

"Enough!" I barked, shoving him against the alley wall. His hood slipped back, revealing sharp, angular features and black eyes that burned with hatred. He spat on the ground, his breath ragged but defiant.

“You think this is a victory?” His voice was low and venomous, each word dripping with contempt.

I tightened my grip, pinning him harder against the wall. "You’re going to tell me who you’re working for and what’s on that drive. Now.”

A sharp laugh escaped his lips. "Do you really think you’ve stopped anything? You’re a fool. My masters already have what they need. The plans are just insurance."

“Insurance for what?” I pressed, shoving him harder. My patience was running thin, and the pounding in my shoulder wasn’t helping.

His grin was unsettling, his crimson eyes narrowing as though savoring my frustration. “The facility. It’s more than weapons. It’s progress. Evolution. The Federation’s bio-weapon research will ensure their dominance across the stars.”

The words hit me like a freight ship. A bio-weapon? The implications twisted in my gut, making me feel sicker than the cheap vodka ever could.

“You’re lying,” I said, though I wasn’t sure if I was trying to convince him or myself.

“Am I?” he hissed. “It doesn’t matter what you believe. My masters will have the weapon, whether I deliver this or not. The Federation is blind to it’s own vulnerabiliites.”

I searched his face for any sign of deception, but his grin held a maddening certainty that made my stomach churn.

“I’ve heard enough,” I said, cuffing the crimson skinned man.  I bent down grabbing the data drive off the ground and shoving it into my pocket. “Your masters won’t get this, and you’re coming with me.”

The figure snarled, his body suddenly going slack in my grip. Before I could react, a faint, high-pitched whine filled the air. His body convulsed, and smoke began rising from his skin. My hold faltered as his black eyes dulled, his body slumping to the ground.

A self-destruct implant. Damn it.

I staggered back, my heart pounding. The acrid stench of burning flesh filled the alley as I looked down at what was left of him. 

Behind me, footsteps echoed in the alley. Sarek’s voice cut through the haze.

“Well, that was messy,” he said, his tone as infuriatingly smug as ever. “But effective.”

I turned to glare at him, my shoulder still throbbing. “You were the one that made this harder on me.”

He shrugged, a thin smile playing on his lips. “Yet you still achieved the desired result. That’s why I want to hire you, Ludger. To get answers.”

I clenched my fists, resisting the urge to wipe that smug look off his face. “Since your from the federation, you may as well pay me for their bounty then.”

Sarek smirked, brushing imaginary lint off his pristine suit. "You’ll get your bounty, Ludger, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Rusthaven isn’t going to solve itself, and I need you on this job before we start exchanging credits.”

I crossed my arms, glaring at him. "This sounds suspiciously like you're trying to drag me into Federation problems for less than what I’m worth."

“Not at all," Sarek replied smoothly, leaning against the alley wall. "It’s exactly what you’re worth—a cool 20,000 credits upfront, with another 500,000 waiting for you on completion. That is, once you’ve uncovered why productivity is tanking and—more importantly—who’s sabotaging the mines."

"Twenty thousand that you already owe me," I scoffed. "Beside’s that’s barely enough to get my ship fueled and ready for the trip out there."

"Consider it a retainer," he said, his grin unshaken. "The rest depends on results."

I looked away, weighing my options. Sarek had a way of dangling carrots just out of reach, knowing exactly when to reel someone in. And I hated how much I needed those credits. My gaze drifted to the smoldering remains of the hooded man. The implications of his words about the Federation’s bio-weapon research still churned in my mind, but that could wait, there was a fortune to be made.

“Fine,” I muttered, turning back to Sarek. “I’ll take the job. But let’s get one thing straight—you’re paying for any unexpected ‘complications’ that come up. And I don’t work well with corporate types, so keep out of my way.”

“Oh, but that’s where the fun part comes in,” Sarek said, his grin widening. “I’m coming with you.”

My stomach sank. “Absolutely not.”

“It’s non-negotiable,” he said, straightening his tie. “The Federation insists on oversight for this mission. Think of me as your…partner.”

I let out a sharp laugh. “Partner? You wouldn’t last five minutes outside your cushy office without someone to clean up your mess.”

“Good thing I have you, then,” he replied, his calm demeanor unwavering. “Now, shall we?”

I clenched my jaw, tempted to walk away right then and there. But 500,000 credits wasn’t something I could afford to pass up. Begrudgingly, I nodded.

“Meet me at Dock 47 in two hours. Don’t be late.”

Sarek’s smile stayed fixed, but his eyes gleamed with satisfaction. “I’ll be there. Oh, and Ludger? Try not to make too many enemies before we leave.” He said as he transferred the 20,000 credits.

I didn’t dignify him with a response. Turning on my heel, I stalked out of the alley, my shoulder still aching and my temper simmering. The idea of working with Sarek made my skin crawl, but if Rusthaven held the answers he was looking for—and the payout I needed—it would have to be worth the trouble.

Two hours. Just enough time to stock up, patch myself up, and maybe grab a drink strong enough to make Sarek tolerable. Maybe.