Neirdith checked the comms chatter as they closed in on the research colony of New Dundas. As they approached she noticed an incoming transmission from a security vessel. “Independent Ship Shining Knight to New Dundas security picket three, requesting clearance to dock.” Neirdith said over a direct link as she communicated with the security vessel.

After a moment a voice crackled back “Shining Knight, you are clear to proceed to bay two. Please land in hangar seven, and might I add off the record, it's good to see you back safe and sound.”

“Thanks, have a good one.” She replied brightly before severing the link and turning back to the navigation screen that Creesh was sitting behind.

"Approach seems good. We should be in the clear." Creesh chirped in a bright voice.

Neirdith turned her face towards the large wall screen that displayed a view of the ship’s many sensors. She watched the small grey ball of Tartarus's moon get closer and the telltale silver domes of New Dundas grow larger. As they got close enough that the silver expanse seemed to fill the entire view the ship slipped into a tunnel and entered into the cavernous hangar bay, slowing to a near hover and gliding onto the seventh landing pad the ship seemed to give a soft sigh as it touched down. She turned off the dampeners and the ship’s gravity seemed to shift slightly as the colony's gravity generators took hold.

Releasing a breath that she hadn't realised she was holding, Neirdith stood and stretched her arms above her head before announcing "Here we are. New Dundas awaits." Seth grinned and looked at Creesh.

Creesh stood on her chair and hopped to the floor before stating "So this is a terraforming colony huh? I would love to see what the planet below looks like. I wonder if it's safe to go down?"

Seth replied "Not a chance, the temperature is still in the hundreds of degrees and the atmosphere is acidic enough to etch steel. The only people that can go down there are jeseo. Hey, I wonder if Gloom has ever visited the surface, it's got to be like going home for them." Pulling up his assistant he sent a quick message to Gloom and after a second continued "Well what do you know, Gloom has been to the surface twice. Gloom said it's a barren volcanic wasteland, devoid of water or life, a veritable home away from home for them. They said it's a lot like their home world Xeccessinesoor."

"Well remind me never to visit there, I value my life too much." Neirdith said dryly.

Creesh chittered quietly and said "It may be a far cry from what we are used to, but you know how hardy the jeseo are. They are nearly indestructible, so those conditions wouldn't even slow them down. Have either of you ever been to Sabith?" Neirdith shook her head and Seth shrugged.

"I haven't been to a lot of places, now that I think about it, I haven't even been to my own people’s home world." Seth said noncommittally.

Creesh sighed before saying "Well, Sabith is beautiful, it's a lush world of flowing plains and thin forests. The sky is blue and the grass is green, the gravity is only seventy percent normal meaning that we swanith can fly there. How I miss the feeling of the wind through my feathers as the ground drops beneath my feet. Where were you born, Neirdith?" She finished with a tilt of her white feathered head.

Neirdith folded her arms behind her back as she said "Well I was born on an agricultural colony world. Near standard gravity and a rather thin atmosphere, it was nevertheless a great place to grow crops and families. My parents had a fungus farm and we raised a small herd of ranx. We would use their manure to make fertilizer for our crops. I spent most of my juvenile years working or at the learning institution. When I became old enough I trained to become an engineer and landed a job with a freighter that was passing through. That's where I met Seth." She finished with a happy smile and a look into Seth's eyes.

Seth began unbidden. "My story is a bit more tragic I must admit." He paused for a minute and Creesh made a small move to ask if he was ok but he continued first "I grew up on a small human and vinarfel colony situated on the surface of a large icy moon. The colonists mined the surface for water ice and sold it to passing ships for life support and cheap chemical fuel for hydrogen thrusters. Because of the location on a shipping route we would get hit by pirate raids a lot, and the colony had a large security contingent. One day my parents were killed in a pirate raid, I managed to kill one of them but was shot in the shoulder by another. If my uncle Todd hadn't saved me I wouldn't be here. I owe that man my life, he died of natural causes and I decided to leave my home to get away from the memories mostly. That's when I managed to beg my way onto a passing starship that was in need of a communications specialist. I never would have guessed that I would have wound up here with you. But I wouldn't have done anything different had I known my fate." As he finished Creesh walked forwards and gripped his arm in a supporting way.

"That is indeed a tragic tale, but I am glad it brought us together. As we are on the subject of memories I suppose I should tell you a bit about my past too." Seth looked at her and raised an eyebrow while Neirdith simply nodded in an encouraging way, not wanting to say anything that might cause her to change her mind.

Creesh began softly, gaining volume and confidence as she spoke, seeming to stand straighter as if letting a great weight off her shoulders "I was born on Sabith to a very wealthy dynasty, they had gained their wealth through a combination of legal and less than legal means. I was born to a lower caste family unit however. From a very young age I was trained to suppress my natural emotions, then I was trained how to sneak and sabotage. As I was but a hatchling I didn't know that it was wrong, it was just the way things were. But then they started teaching me how to fight, to kill. They showed me how to shoot and even with my rigorous mental training it was still a near mind shattering experience. To take the life of another sapient, to end their existence. It was almost too much for me at that age, but I did it. After I passed the trials my real training began, I was an assassin of sorts you might say. My dynasty was large, and as one of the lesser branches of the family unit, my duty was to serve and protect those that considered themselves my betters. They were just as monstrous as I was however, maybe even more so." As she spoke her feathered mane started to stand on end in anger and regret.

Neirdith watched as the small feathered woman continued with sadness in her voice, it's usually musical quality somewhat muted by her strong emotions "I was on a mission to protect a shipment of illegal cargo when I finally decided that I would no longer be a pawn to them. At this point I had already received my bionics and some internal modifications to make me a more efficient tool in their arsenal. But I never lost myself. I decided that I would no longer play their game. I left…. I stole a ship and tried to flee to the edge of known space but was caught by Medrigil and his thugs. When I got thrown in that room I thought my life was over, but then by chance I met Samantha. She was a kindred spirit, trapped like I was. I filled her mind with hope of a better life as we tried to find a way to escape. We didn't need too though as you came and saved us both. And for that I am eternally in your debt." She finished her story standing tall, her graspers clasped in front of her as she waited on their judgment.

Seth spoke first "They say actions speak louder than words, and even knowing what I do, I would still trust you Creesh. You have acted in a manner that is honorable and kind, you will hear no ill judgment from me, and I know Neirdith feels the same." He finished.

Neirdith nodded and agreed "Seth is right, you and Samantha have had a rough start, but you stayed on track no matter how hard it got, you did the right thing even though it might have cost you everything. I trust you Creesh, if you were to tell me that you needed us to fly across the galaxy to protect you I would do it. And I can guarantee that this crew cares about you for who you are, we won't let you down Creesh." Creesh bowed her head but remained silent, probably not trusting herself not to break down if she spoke. Instead she just nodded jerkily and with shining eyes walked off the bridge with the faint whir of her leg bionics.

Seth turned to Neirdith and smiled, saying "I'm surprised that she decided to open up to us like that. But I guess you always were a good judge of character." Smiling back at him she waved her hand in a gesture of humble acceptance as he continued "Now what do we do?"

Neirdith motioned for Seth to follow as she started off the bridge, as he fell in beside her she began "First off, we need to get the passengers off and to the right places, the pirates to the brig and the prisoners to the precinct for processing and relocation. Then we should do what Skorr said and purchase some better armor and weapons, we can't go fighting criminals in just our daywear." She said with a smirk.

Seth nodded solemnly and said "That's true, I think I know a person who can help us find what we need. I can't guarantee it but they did sell me your countertop fryer. So I figure if they can get one of those, then they can probably tell us where to get other things as well. I should tell you in advance though, they did try to hit on me." He added in a cautious tone.

Neirdith just smiled and said "Well of course they did, you are a very good looking for a human you know." Seth scowled as she said it. Ignoring the look he was shooting at her she continued “Well let's let Skorr know where we are headed and give Briyn a call, then we can go check it out together."

Seth agreed "Sounds like a plan Neirdith. I’ll go give Briyn a call while you talk to Skorr, then we will meet by the cargo ramp." Seth started off as she continued towards the crew area.

Walking down the corridor that led to the rooms she approached Skorr and called out to them "Hey Skorr. How have the pirates been behaving?"

Skorr turned their massive frame towards her and rumbled "They have given me no trouble, and they have been treated with more dignity than they deserve. I still don't know why we had to cart them all the way here." Their burning eyes searched her face as she replied.

"Because it's the right thing to do Skorr, I don't like pirates any more than you do, but they are sapient entities deserving of at least a small measure of respect. Even if it is their fate to be confined for the remainder of their days." Neirdith turned and stood in front of the titan silently for a moment before changing the subject. "Seth and I are going to the market district to look for an armor dealer, maybe purchase some weapons too. Don't worry, Seth has his .44 and I will grab a beamer before we go so we won't be in any real danger."

Skorr looked at her with their piercing gaze before resting their huge hand on her shoulder with a surprising gentleness. A feeling of warmth flowed through their bond and she knew that nothing more needed to be said, but Skorr still replied "I trust Seth with your life. I know he will keep you safe for me. Go and find your gear, I wish you luck." Seeming to be done they removed their hand and stood back at attention.

Neirdith smiled and walked towards the cargo bay. As she entered the room she saw Seth standing at the top of the now open ramp next to Samantha and Creesh. Seth was wearing his usual attire, worn blue jeans and a faded brown ranxleather jacket, while Samantha was wearing what could only be described as form fitting black shorts that her tail poked out of and a loose tee shirt that ended at her massive biceps. Creesh was naked as her species was covered in feathers and had no need of clothing for modesty, she was however wearing a pocketed chest harness for item storage.

As she approached, Smantha waved and hollered "Hey Neirdith, er, captain." Neirdith smiled as she closed the gap.

"You can call me Neirdith when we are off duty Samantha, it's fine." She said.

Samantha ducked her head slightly in embarrassment and flicked her long fuzzy tail in acknowledgement. Creesh looked at her companion with her feathers raised in humor while saying "You always come off as stiff, you need to relax, let yourself go a bit." Samantha didn't reply, just adjusted the hem of her shirt and looked out towards the station.

Seth then spoke up "Briyn said he sent a contingent of officers to take the pirates into custody, as well as escort the rescued prisoners to the precinct. I let him know that several of the prisoners decided to join our crew and thus needed no escort." He said with a smile at Creesh and Samantha. He started to turn but stopped himself and mentioned "Oh and he wanted to ask how you convinced Gloom to quit their job and join the crew as well. I just told him that you are a very convincing conversationalist."

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Neirdith laughed at that and said "I guess I am at that then huh? Well now that we are all here I guess I should tell you my plan. Seth will take you two to go look for gear while I head to the precinct to collect the mission reward and look for more jobs. After that I was going to head back to the ship." Samantha gave a nod and Creesh trilled in acknowledgement.

Seth put his hands on Samantha and Creesh's shoulders and stated "Alrighty, lets go buy some shit." Creesh looked amused and Samantha giggled in a manner that didn't match her predatory features.

Neirdith watched them walk down the ramp and out of the cavernous hanger with a fond smile. This was what it meant to be alive, to have people you cared about and a purpose in life. She folded her arms behind her back and idly swished her tail as she waited for the security force to arrive.

**********

Seth was having a great time, here he was safe and sound with solid ground below him again, and in the company of new friends no less. He was about to do one of his favorite things. Wander around a shopping district and buy random shit.

Samantha and Creesh were talking to each other as Seth led them to a small storefront that sold electronics. He turned towards them and said "Alright, since you haven't gotten paid yet I will cover your equipment costs for now, but I expect you to pay me back alright?"

Creesh gave a low whistle before saying "Of course we are going to pay you back. We aren't expecting charity, well, no more than you have already given us that is." She finished with a slight wince.

Smantha nodded her broad head before saying in her gruff voice "Yeah, we already owe you so much, I don't know if we can ever really repay you for what you've done."

Seth shifted a bit uncomfortably. He generally wasn't used to this kind of praise, especially from people that so obviously meant it. "Well yeah, it was just the right thing to do ya know. Anyways, you two need assistants so you can communicate with us and each other. So we are going to get that sorted out first of all, then we can go check out that curio shop for the fun stuff." Creesh simply nodded her head but Samantha nearly jumped in her excitement.

"Oh! An assistant? I have seen them but I never used one before, it's like having your very own computer with you all the time. This is so exciting, I wonder if they have any specifically for yeown? I wonder what color they are, you think they would let me get a cover for it so I don't accidentally break it when I'm working on the ship?" Samantha's excitement was palpable as she rattled off questions and ideas like a possessed information terminal. Seth just shook his head and led them into the store.

Creesh looked apologetically at the surprised looking sales associate as Samantha began to bombard them in a similar manner. Seth turned his attention from the rapidly overwhelmed sales person and walked towards the store entrance to wait for Samantha and Creesh to make up their minds. As he was looking out over the throngs of people going about their days he reflected upon his own priorities.

Neirdith was foremost on that list, but very quickly after her was an ever growing list of people that he cared about, he had only know Samantha and Creesh for a few days, but they were already friends and rapidly growing closer like family. Samantha was starting to feel like an energetic little sister, while Creesh was more like a somewhat stern aunt. Skorr was of course Skorr, but they were also Seth’s friend. They had shared a few conversations while on board the ship and Seth had gotten the impression that the old cyborg was trying to make up for past sins, they were actively trying to become a better person. Seth trusted them with his, and more importantly, Neirdith’s life. Then there was Gloom, the dark brooding jeseo was still a bit of an enigma to him, but their motives were clear. Their best friend had been killed by pirates and they wanted to make them hurt back. Seth could understand revenge, if anything it made him trust Gloom’s resolve even more.

His darkening thoughts were interrupted by an excited yelp from behind him. Smiling to himself he turned to see Samantha bouncing on her toes as she played with a brand new assistant that the salesman had strapped to her furred forearm. She was completely absorbed into the small device, messing with the settings with the skill of someone who understands computers on an almost instinctual level. Creesh however was much more calmly setting up her smaller assistant that she had attached to her chest harness. Seth walked over to the counter and asked the salesman if they had both decided to which they affirmed. Seth quickly paid for the new devices, smiling as he thought about how this would have been a lot more bank breaking just a few weeks ago.

As they walked out of the store Samantha, who was still absorbed into her new toy, walked into a large yeown male that was walking by. As she stumbled and let out a surprised yelp, the slightly shorter but wider man gave an angry growl and raised a large hand to slap her for her insolence. But to Seth’s utter amazement Creesh darted Between the two and shrieked “Oh no you don’t, it was clearly an accident, there is no reason to get violent.” Samantha seemed just as stunned as the furred man whose eyes nearly popped out of his head at this tiny feathered female giving him the business.

After a second they lowered their arm and growled, “You're lucky I'm in a hurry today duster, or I might have had a reason to get nasty.” Then they turned and stalked away.

Samantha was still staring at Creesh in shock while Seth took his hand off his .44 with an audible sigh of relief. Creesh smacked Samantha on the stomach saying “I told you I would get the next one didn't I? And you need to be more careful, what if you had been alone, that guy might have hurt you.”

Samantha looked abashed for a moment till her normal boisterous self confidence started to come back as she laughed “Wow, remind me not to make you angry Creesh, that was incredible.” Creesh’s mane stood in embarrassment for a moment before settling.

Seth said “I agree, that was awesome, you have got to be one of the fiercest people that I know, and I don't know that many people. But enough lollygagging around, we should head over to the, well, I'm not actually sure what it's called, but I know where it is. Here follow me.”

Seth led the two through the market district, keeping a close watch on the side streets. Eventually he spotted what he was looking for sandwiched in a short alleyway between a brightly lit dancehouse and a small diner. Looking at the storefront more closely this time he saw that the small shop was called The Keepsake.

Smiling at the likely dual meaning he strode through the front door to the sound of a small bell chiming. It rang two more times as Creesh and Samantha entered, walking up to the counter he was delighted to see the small silver service bell was still there and he rang it several times before stepping back closer to Smanatha and Creesh and putting on his most charming smile.

As a slightly annoyed female voice echoed out from the back he saw the familiar female nerivith stalk out behind the counter only for her to pull up short at the sight of the three of them standing there expectantly.

“Who are you, what do you want?” she asked suspiciously, scrutinizing their faces she seemed to recognise Seth and she smiled in pleasure before announcing “My, my, if it isn't that young gallant that bought the counter oven. Who are your friends, if I may ask?” she said, leaning on the counter with her elbows and obviously pushing out her impressive chest.

Seth ignored her antics and introduced his companions “This is Samantha, and this is Creesh, they are some of my crewmates and we are in need of combat armour and weapons. Now for some reason I get the impression that you can help us with that. Or am I incorrect?”

Standing straight the shopkeep gave them an appraising look before saying slowly "And what if I could provide you with these items? What could I expect in return?"

"How does 'We will pay you handsomely for your support' sound?" Seth said with exasperation in his voice.

The woman gave him another appraising look before saying "Well then, I didn't catch your name. Mine is Silveena."

"Seth." he stated dryly "Now about that combat gear?"

Samantha and Creesh shifted nervously at the woman's continued silence. She spoke after a minute however, saying "I will need a list of things to acquire for you. And at least a day to gather them. How will I contact you when I have them?"

"Don't worry about that, I will get in touch with you tomorrow. Until then, here's a list of what we need, the items in red are essential, the items in yellow are not, but still would be nice. Have a good one, and I wish you the best of luck." Seth said, turning away. Creesh and Samantha fell in behind him in a protective way as they exited the small store.

As they were walking away Samantha mentioned "I didn't like the way that woman was looking at you Seth, she was eyeing you like a juicy steak." Creesh raised her mane in agreement but switched to puzzlement when Seth just laughed.

"Of course she was, I have money and that's what she wants. She will do anything we ask her too if we promise her a paycheck. My uncle knew a bunch of people like that when he was alive, he called em movers. They aren't exactly lawful citizens, but they aren't actively hurting anyone, just evading taxes. To which I have no problem, I'm not a fan of taxes either." Seth said with a dismissive gesture. "At least this way we get exactly what we need without having to worry about breaking some sort of regulation, and if anyone were to ask us where we got them we would just say they were salvaged from one of our bounties. Flawless."

Creesh looked at Seth seemingly impressed while Samantha seemed a little confused. Neither spoke though and as they walked Seth exclaimed "Oh, look they have a Jikinos Bar and Grill here. Hey, what do you say we get some lunch eh?"

Creesh fluffed her feathers in approval and Samantha said "Oh yeah, now you're talkin my language. Let's go!"

Seth and Creesh shared a knowing look as Samantha rushed at the aforementioned establishment. Then they shared a heartfelt laugh as they moved to follow her.

**********

Neirdith was sitting on a bench outside the main office area of the security precinct. She had been waiting for the better part of an hour and was starting to get very impatient at this point. Holding her breath for a few seconds she let it out in a huge sigh, trying to relax. She once again typed a message to Seth, but he must have been busy because he hasn't responded yet.

Just as she was about to get up and begin pacing, the door opened and a human female in a neat suit poked her head through and said "Briyn will see you now."

'About time' she thought to herself with a huff. As she stepped into the precinct proper, she was walked past rows of desks at which at least half a dozen security personnel were situated, tapping away at screens and data pads. Finally she was steered down an adjacent hallway lined with rooms and offices, and at the end, a large metal door. The woman knocked on the door and after a second opened it up for Neirdith, as she stepped inside she saw Briyn sitting behind a desk, partially resting on a short Vinarfelien couch.

As she entered he turned towards her and said "Hello again captain Neirdith. Your misssion wass an incredible ssuccesss, eleven piratess captured and you resscued every sssingle prisssoner. Most of them are calling your crew herosss you know?"

Neirdith shifted in her seat and said "I was just doing the right thing, I'm sure anyone in my position would have done the same." She looked at his face but saw no hint of emotion on its hard, chitinous facade.

He twitched the two antennae that he had held swept down along his back like twin ponytails and continued, his faceplates moving slightly "Well, regardlesss of the fact, I personally wanted to thank you for what you did. Assssuming a standard bounty of five thousand ossmir for the capture of each pirate, and the fact that sseveral of the ressscued prissonersss wanted to thank you with their cardsss, you are looking at another sssignificant payday of ninety eight thoussand osmir. Add thiss onto the fact that your licensssing requesst to apply your ssship asss an independent auxiliary sspacecraft, which I made ssure was accepted of coursse. Thiss meansss you are now a fully licenssed bounty hunter, with the ability to assk for assisstance from just about any Union run ssecurity forcess you meet." He leaned back to gauge her reaction as his faceplates arranged into a vinarfelien smile. The pinkish skin under the plates just barely visible through the gesture.

She was stunned, there was so much good news in that single statement she could scarcely believe it. Not only was the Shining Knight a fully registered and licensed armed merchant now, but they had made almost a hundred thousand credits as well. That was enough to pay everyone on the crew very healthy wages for several months. Of course some of those credits would go towards arming the crew and buying supplies, but it was still a significant payout for what was essentially a week of work.

Shaking her head slightly and calming the nervous flicks of her tail she looked towards Briyn and asked "Alright then, if we got all the news out of the way, what have you got for active bounties?" Briyn chuckled as he handed her a dataslate with one of his upper arms.

As she perused its contents he said "Now, asss happy as I am to finally ssee ssomeone around thesse partsss that is willing to take the fight to thesse ssscum, I must remind you to be careful. If you go out and die on uss I would feel mighty bad about it." He finished with a hiss.

"This one looks good, Hungaro, Skorp drone, aged thirty seven years. Multiple accounts of damage to property and murder. Luckily no kidnapping though so we should be able to just blast him. Bounty, eighty five thousand credits dead or alive." Neirdith said spinning the tablet around to show him.

He hissed low in approval "Hungaro, now that iss a nassty one indeed. They have been praying on a ssmall refining sssettlement to the galactic easst for a while now. I'm ssure that the inhabitantss would appreciate all the help you could give them."

She stood and reached out a hand to him, palm up as she had seen Seth do before, Briyn looked at her for a moment before chuckling and giving her the traditional three handed slap with his upper arms. As she made to walk out of the door he said "Captain, I undersstand that your new crew are from the ressscued prissonerss correct?" As she nodded he continued. "I undersstand that Gloom decided to ssstay asss well. They will be misssed, but I am proud that they will be sserving under a captain asss great as you."

Not knowing the proper words to thank him for his help and the kind words she just gave a solemn nod of thanks and exited the station.