Frank double-checked the fit of his EVA suit. It fit a bit looser than it used to, it had been a while after all since he last wore it. Hell, the last time he was in anything but a flight suit was almost a year ago. However, where he was going, wouldn't be like any other station he'd been to, and he wanted to be ready.

He grabbed his belt, and after untangling the parts hanging down from it, he cinched securely the various plates around his legs, nearly catching the suit material on his arm on the deep gouge in the right hip plate. He had meant to hammer it down before he put it away, but he was too tired at the time. After a few pulls, the torso section finally released itself from the grasp of the closet. He pulled it over the top of his head, cinched the remaining plates down around his arms, began the self-test of the computer in his forearm, and attached the two hoses from it into the back of the neck of his suit.

After stretching a bit, and tightening the loose spot he found, he grabbed a pistol off the wall along with a magazine. He slapped the magazine home and chambered a round before holstering the weapon. He pulled a couple more magazines and loaded them into the pouches on his belt. Lastly, he grabbed an old metal and wood knife and slid it into a spot on his right boot. After taking a helmet and a pack from the wall, he made his way out of his room.

"That's a look I wasn't expecting," Zedoris said with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, after this jump, next stop is Morxik's Landing," Frank set down the pack beside the table and the helmet upon it, "and I'd rather have what I need on hand."

"Understandable. I can't wait to get on the station myself. Don't get me wrong, your food is great, but I feel as though I'm getting spoiled. Stations usually have some of the best food stalls. Also, not long after you went to change, this started blinking." She pointed at an envelope icon on the corner of the table's screen.

"Huh?" Frank looked over to see the 'new message' icon pulsing. He reached over and tapped it. It opened to a view of his sister at her desk.

"Who's that?" Zedoris asked.

"Oh, that? That's my sister, Elena. I'm surprised a message got out this far, to be honest," he chuckled slightly wondering how many regulations she broke to get it sent.

"Why does her skin look so much darker than yours?" Zedoris questioned.

"Same father, different mother... Anyway, I wonder what she has to say." He began to play the message while he prepared his coffee maker.

"Hey, broski, got your message. Do you know how much of a damned headache you're giving me? The can of worms you've opened? I swear, if you were here right now, I'd kick you in the nuts faster than you slippin' on by. Shoot a message home a bit more often, huh? Look, I'm glad you're okay, I haven't heard anything from you in a few months, and now we're dealing with aliens? Just be safe out there. Things are already crazy enough around here without more nonsense being brought around... Only you would do something this damned crazy. And I take it whoever that voice belonged to was one of them?

"Listen, I love ya. You better stay safe out there. You're a good four months out there at the fastest speed and I really don't have the vessels to spare, so if things go tits up, you're SOL and JWF. You better come back to that same old place. And if you don't, I'll find your body, bring you back, and kill you again myself. Anyway, come back all the same. I'm sure Lily would love to hear the story of how her uncle managed to rescue 'space demons'. Heh heh. Just don't become a Demon Lord out there, I know some of the stories you've read. Talk to you later, hopefully soon."

The message ended with a beep. Frank closed out the program and took a sip from his mug. Thinking about the message, parsing the few codes within. Zedoris had a thoughtful expression on her face before finally speaking up.

"That was a lot I didn't understand. I swear you primates always seem to talk in code. But, I guess, I don't know, I'm glad you heard back from her?" Zedoris shrugged.

"Yeah, thinking about my conversations with you three, perhaps we humans may have a few too many metaphors and idioms." He said before taking another sip.

"I would not say too many, you just use too many in general conversation." Ozakos' voice sounded as he and Lelith came from the bunk area. They both looked up and down Frank's form.

"That is quite the impressive set of armor," Lelith spoke up. "However, it looks as though it has been through a lot."

"Yeah." Frank scratched the back of his head. "It's saved my life on more than a few occasions though."

"I see." Lelith took another look over the armor.

"Well, " he took one last deep swig of the coffee before putting the mug into the dishwasher, "time to go."

Frank made his way to the bridge. He almost appreciated the added weight of his armor, which made his walk feel a little more normal. Well, about as normal as he can with these grav plates. He dialed in the next destination and let his ship do what it does. After a while, Lelith came to the bridge herself and sat in the copilot's seat.

"Frank, I must say, this has been quite the journey," she said.

"That it has. I wouldn't mind learning a bit more of what's out here. Perhaps I'll take a short jaunt around." Frank replied.

"Perhaps. To be perfectly honest, after that incident with Squambles, I have discussed this between the three of us. After this stop, and my repayment, would you be willing to continue to provide security and a full escort back to Brirali? You will be paid for this as well." Lelith offered.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Frank tried to put on his best poker face as he heard the request. Take the aliens back to their homeworld? Well, he was honestly the alien now, no longer in his part of the galaxy and it was honestly what he loved to hear. At the very least, he'd be able to get much more information as to what exists out this far from home. Not only could he get some upgrades, but another job, perhaps he can get some of their currency as well.

"I just have one question before we continue, why?" Frank glanced over quizzically.

"I will be honest, after your battle, you've shown a much higher proficiency at combat that I did not expect, and to be perfectly honest, I feel such skill may be needed further. You have kept your word and have gotten us this far, and," Lelith looked a bit nervous, "I believe your spirit of exploration might compel you to help us for your benefit."

"I got it." Frank sighed slightly, she wasn't exactly wrong and since he was younger, he DID was to have a 'grand' space adventure. This was his, perhaps only, real chance. "IF I was to do so, and escort you home, I would need not only upgrades, but I would need something to spend out here. After all, I doubt they accept UEG credits."

"Truly?" Lelith's face brightened up. "I can assure you, that will not be an issue whatsoever."

"Keep in mind, I said IF. Allow us to conclude our original deal first." Frank replied simply.

"On my name, Lelith, Daughter of Lelyvia, will see to it you are repaid." She settled down in her seat.

"Well, if so, I look forward to taking you to Brirali," Frank stated as he watched the countdown. "We're dropping out in a few seconds."

Frank closed his eyes just before dropping. The flash of the red star wasn't too strong and he made his standard turn out from its gravity well. He began going over the sensor data looking for the station in question. It wasn't overly far away, and other than a small handful of other ships, it was a fairly empty system. He made his way toward Morxik's Landing and double-checked the data package he was meant to send as he got closer. It was only a little larger than the stations he was accustomed to.

As he was nearing the station, he saw another ship heading his way, but maintaining a stand-off distance. He sent the data package to the station, and when he was within range, he clicked on his transceiver and transmitted the translation package. Once the connection was made, he began.

"This is Occasional Epiphany to Morxik's Landing, registration Charlie Echo Victor dash three eight two five eight. Commander Frank Barnet, with 3 Brirali passengers on board, requesting docking." Frank transmitted

"Occasional Epiphany, Morxik's Landing, we have no record of that registration. Entry will require a full escort. Failure to comply with docking procedures may be met with lethal force. Will you comply?" A strange buzzing voice responded.

"Morxik's Landing, understood and will comply. I'll wait out here for you."

A few moments later, four craft exited the station and headed toward him. Frank saw their energy signatures on the sensors, they looked ready for a fight, one he wasn't going to try and give them. He typed a few commands into his console to perform a maintenance backup, just in case. The craft took positions surrounding him.

"Occasional Epiphany, docking has been approved for bay eight. Follow beacons and lights, maintain low speed. Do not deviate." The buzzing was still present.

"Understood Morxik's Landing, proceeding as requested," Frank responded.

"I cannot say I'm surprised with these precautions." Lelith finally spoke up.

"I'm somewhat used to it, some systems I've been in had more than their fair share of pirate issues," Frank responded as he pulled a small card from the console and slotted it into a spot in the side of his chest plate.

He slowly accelerated while maintaining his orientation with the opening of the station as it rotated. He followed the beacon to a large pad with what his glasses said was a number eight painted on the ground. Some things never differ, he thought to himself. He lowered his landing gear and settled on the plating with a slight shudder. He still had it. He heard a few clanks in his hull he could only assume were docking clamps grabbing onto his gear, then the ground began to rise, or rather, he began descending into the station itself. The hatch above him closed as his ship shuddered again after reaching the lowest level.

The sensors were telling him the area was being filled with atmosphere. Half Nitrogen and Half Oxygen. 'Do they all breathe hi-ox out here?' he thought to himself. The lights in the bay finally activated and the atmospheric pressure remained stable. 'That's an easy way to tell,' he thought again. He stood in his seat to get a little more height to see a little more below the edge of his ship. There was a door out there he could see what could best be described as an armed squad entering the bay and taking position around his ship appearing to be of a few different species. It was one thing to be told what was out here, but it was another to see them in person.

"A dozen armed troops, that's what I call a welcoming party," Frank said, sitting back down. He glanced over to Lelith. "Shall we go and introduce ourselves?"

"I would think you would be a little more concerned," Lelith stated.

"Well, it's a station security force, taking up position around an unknown vessel from an unknown species, with an unknown purpose. If anything, I'm surprised they don't have a battalion at the ready." He punched in a few more commands.

"Maintenance standby initiated." Eden chimed as Frank stood.

Frank made his way from the bridge with Lelith in tow. In the back, he saw Zedoris and Ozakos now attired in the outfits he originally met them in, with their respective sword and shield on their backs. Frank lifted the pack over his head and slid it into place on his back then clipped his helmet on his belt. And waved the rest of the group to come with him toward the rear of the ship. As they all made their way into the cargo bay, he sealed the door behind him before hopping down the stairway to the deck plates. As the other three made their way down the steep stairway, he approached the rear panel. With a deep breath, he tapped the few commands to unseal and begin opening. Zedoris took a stand next to him as Ozakos and Lelith remained behind the two.

As the security team came into view with weapons drawn, Frank resisted the urge to reach for his sidearm. After a brief moment, the weapons were lowered but at the ready. An individual made their way in front of the squad in some form of a loose-fitting jacket with a gold insignia on their shoulder. To be more specific, slithered their way. He tried to remember the race as it was described to him, a member of the Serpens species if he remembered correctly.

"Wait, Selessa, is that you? I'd recognize those stripes anywhere!" Zedoris exclaimed, pushing down the ramp.

After a brief moment, what appeared to be a look of recognition came over the face of the Serpens. Frank was told that they were snakelike, but he didn't expect them to look so much like lamias from the fantasy books. 'First space demons, now space lamias' Frank thought quietly to himself. Recognition was good though, recognition means a lower chance of being shot at.

"Surely it can't be you Zedoris. Reports are you're dead, along with..." Selessa drifted off as she looked at the rest of the group standing at the top of the cargo ramp. She immediately went into a bow followed by the security detail moving to what could best be described as their version of attention. "Ambassador Lelith, I am honored to see you in good health."

"Ambassador?" Frank asked, slightly shocked.

"I may have not been entirely clear as to my standing," Lelith said sheepishly as she began to make her way down the cargo ramp with Ozakos in tow.

"Uh-huh..." Frank sounded. Not a business magnate after all, but someone of a much bit higher standing. "So... Ambassador... Makes a few more things make a bit more sense in that context." He followed suit down the ramp before tapping a command into his suit's computer to close the cargo door behind them.

"The news of our deaths have been greatly exaggerated." Lelith chuckled slightly, shooting a slight smirk toward Frank. "If it wasn't for Frank, we may still be adrift."

"Yeah, this prim... I mean, Human, found and rescued us. It took a while since the engines, well," she whispered to Selessa, "I've seen school projects with better jump ranges."

"Ahh..." Selessa said. "Welcome to the station, Frank. I do thank you for providing safe passage for the Ambassador and her entourage. I would go through the First Contact procedures, however... " She looked at the other three, "it may be a tad redundant."

"Understandable." Frank bowed slightly at the Serpens. "My own First Contact mandates were thrown out for the rescue," he spoke before looking around and seeing various advertisements on the walls. 'More than a few things are universal...' he thought to himself.

"Ambassador, if you would allow me to escort you to a location a bit more suitable for conversation." Selessa offered, raising an arm to indicate the door.

"That would be most appreciated," Lelith said and began her way toward the exit with Ozakos and Zedoris following right behind her.

Frank began walking with them as well but was stopped by something lightly impacting his chest piece and looked down to see it was the end of an oversized snake tail.

"And where do you think you're going?" He heard Selessa hiss.

"Part of my contract," Frank began, brushing aside the tail, "I have been tasked with the security and escort of Le... Ambassador Lelith."

"Frank is to be given the same considerations as are given to my Hands. Are we clear?" Lelith spoke with a tone Frank hadn't heard before while staring daggers at the Serpens.

"At your command, Ambassador." Selessa immediately removed the tail from Frank's path, and bowed, perhaps a bit too deeply.

Frank was about to speak up before he thought better of it. At least now he had a slightly better grasp on the situation, still not as a whole, but some things were falling into place. He thought silently to himself, 'I wonder if I bit off more than I can chew.'