“... what did you just say?”

Remi sighed. Briefing the crew on their mission was going about as well as he’d expected… poorly. If this was any indication of their feelings on the subject, just wait until he introduced them to Doctor Axchxairx.

“You heard me,” he retorted, “the Admiral tasked us with another one of his ‘Special Assignments’. It seems he’s a fan of our work.”

“Wonderful,” Mairead groaned. “We almost got ourselves killed on the last one.”

“It can’t be worse than playing chicken with Yīqún drones,” Slavko pointed out.

“I’ll take that bet,” Xuilan said unhappily.

“What odds are you giving?” Isi asked the pilot, suddenly curious.

“Enough,” the captain barked. “And no, we’re not taking bets on our own demise. It’s bad luck.” As much as ship crews loved to gamble, they were even more superstitious... not uncommon for those who routinely risked their lives.

“This is straight from the Admiral,” he reminded them, “so don’t start thinking there’s some way we can wriggle off this hook. It’s an order. So deal with it and figure out how to make it work.”

There were unhappy faces all around. Well, he was used to that. “Now, your new assignments before we depart. Xuilan, we’ll need charts for that region of space, not to mention any intel we can get.”

“Yeah, I figured,” she sighed. “I’ll get right on it.”

“Isi, on top of the added supplies we’ll need, we’ll be taking on a lot of extra cargo. Make room for it. I don’t care how you do it.”

“I’ll figure something out,” he shrugged.

“Mairead, you’ve already got your hands full with the refit, but we’re going to be way off the beaten path. Make sure you top up your spares, plus any other goodies you can snag. I don’t want to end up stranded out beyond the black over a ten-credit part.”

“You got it, Cap’n,” she agreed.

“Slavko,” he said, turning his attention to the last member of the crew, “ammo, as much as you can steal, and then I want you to go out and steal some more. If you come to me before we cast off and ask, “Is this enough?” guess what my answer will be.”

“No?” the gunner predicted.

“Got it in one,” Remi agreed.

“Aye aye, Cap’n,” Slavko nodded, before glancing over at the others.

“There'll be more, especially after we cast off, but that’s all for now. Make it happen.” The crew remained where they were, in case there was more. Remi glared at them. “Why are you all still here? You have your orders.”

The others scrambled out of the compartment as the captain shook his head. Well, at least they were moving now. They’d get it done before it was time to go, he was certain of that. They were still a good crew, even if they needed a swift kick now and then to get them moving. Satisfied for the moment Remi departed the ship as well to confer about the mission… only to suddenly have his passage blocked.

“... Hadad,” Maggie growled, “we need to talk.”

“I swear to Terra, I do not fucking need this,” Remi snarled. “Whatever your problem is, take it up with the Admiral.” He moved to shoulder his way past her, but the Tinker stiff-armed his chest, bringing him to a halt once more.

“You’re about two seconds away from losing that arm,” he snapped, grabbing her wrist and yanking her aside, before glancing about to see if her diminutive companion was lurking nearby.

“I sent Diggs on an errand,” Maggie informed him, anticipating his concerns, “so we could chat in private.”

“Other than you telling me my ship is ready, we have nothing to discuss,” he barked at her, “and you are dangerously close to having an unfortunate accident.” He gave her a feral smile, one full of both promise and intent, before resuming his journey and leaving her in his wake.

“It’s about your mission!” she bellowed, her outburst forcing him to pause, then turn back to face her.

“My ‘mission’ is classified, and none of your goddamn business, Tinker,” he seethed, “so stay the hell out of it.”

“I know all about your mission,” she spat back at him, “who the hell do you think installed all them security devices to keep folks away from your… buggy friend. You think anythin’ happens on this ship I don’t know about?”

Remi rapidly closed the distance between them. “Then you sure as hell shouldn’t discuss it here,” he hissed, “or don't they teach basic security in your clan?”

Maggie glared right back at him. “Look… you don’t like me, and I don’t like you. But I want two minutes, and after that? If we never talk again, that’d be just fine in my book.”

He folded his arms across his chest. “All right… two minutes.”

She gave him a brusque nod. “You remember Genvass?”

“... the Dharmist,” he nodded in return, “from the last mission. What about him?”

“We stayed in touch, him and me, since I settled here. Figured I owed him for the way I treated him when we met.” Remi raised a questioning eyebrow at her comment, earning a dark scowl in return. “Unlike some others I could mention, *he never did nothin’ to deserve it.”

Remi snorted in disgust. “Get to the point.”

“He needs a ride, and he’s travelin’ the same direction you are. I want you to take him where he’s goin’.”

The Corsair threw back his head and laughed. “What part of ‘Classified’ don’t you get?” he demanded. “I’m not running a passenger service, and I sure as hell aren’t taking any hitchhikers on this trip. I’m guessing you already asked the Admiral, and he shot you down, so what makes you think I’d say yes? What possible incentive could you offer me, Maggie Al-Hajjah?” he sneered.

The Tinker’s expression was of someone forced to swallow engine degreaser. She took a deep breath and made eye contact. “I. Would Owe You. A Favor,” she managed to get out, her mouth rebelling against every word.

“A favor,” Remi repeated, cautiously sampling the word. “What sort of favor?” he asked suspiciously.

“If it’s in my power to grant, it’s yours,” she informed him, her vocal cords threatening to strangle her.

“Oh, I bet that hurt to say,” Remi chortled, savoring her discomfort.

“... you got no idea how much,” she muttered. “So, we got a deal or not?”

The pirate leaned in close, leering at her. “And what if I want to cash in my favor now?” he grinned.

“I ain’t Samara,” she fired back, “and we both know that ain’t what you want from me. Yes or no, Hadad? No more games.” She crossed her arms as well, awaiting his answer.

Remi cocked his head, considering her offer. “... Deal,” he said at last, spitting on his palm and holding it out to her.

The Tinker did likewise, the pair never taking their eyes off each other. “I’ll need his contact info, plus his itinerary,” he informed her, “and make sure he knows his movements will be restricted during the trip, preferably without breaking security.”

“I’ll let him know,” she agreed, before turning away and starting back towards Engineering.

“Just tell me why,” he called after her. “Why go to all this trouble for someone you barely know, and owing me a favor? Why would you do that?”

Maggie froze, and then slowly turned back around. “I doubt I could ever explain why folks do for one another to the likes of you,” she sniffed, before resuming her grand trampling exit.

Chuckling at her back, Remi toyed with the notion of never calling in his marker, instead just letting it dangle over her like the Sword of Damocles. The thought of giving her a few sleepless nights, tossing and turning as she agonized over what he might demand from her, made him chortle with glee.

Maggie completed repairs to Gyrfalcon on schedule, though Remi was more than happy to leave the details in Mairead’s capable hands. He’d already had enough of her company, thank you very much, and the less time spent in each other’s vicinity, the better. It was likely one of the few things the two of them actually agreed on. She’d also provided the information he’d requested for their passenger… their second passenger… though he’d tucked that away until they were clear of Freya.

Loading Doctor Axchxairx’s equipment proved not to be an issue, though it required some shuffling on Isi’s part. Gyrfalcon wasn’t a big ship by anyone’s standards, and some of the overflow ended up filling a couple of the staterooms. They still had space for the Doctor and Genvass, so he kept his thoughts to himself regarding the matter. There were more than a few questioning looks regarding their mission, but Remi simply stared them down until they backed off. They’d learn the truth soon enough.

Slavko came through with the spare missiles, though it forced them to get creative in storing them on top of all the other gear. Space was rapidly becoming a premium aboard ship, and if that Troika installation couldn’t be brought back online, they were likely to end up at each other’s throats before their deadline was up.

Of course, before it got to that point, he’d simply jettison the cargo, not to mention the good doctor, and tell the Admiral there’d been an accident. Such a shame.

Xuilan discovered their charts were kind of sparse on data that far out, much to their chagrin. Sadly, there was nothing for it, though perhaps they could trade with one of the other races for intel. Unfortunately, the odds weren’t great on that option, but like every other Terran before them, they’d manage.

Somehow.

Finally, the day of departure arrived. Remi had ensured there’d be enough space left in the hold for one final crate, the dimensions of which he just happened to have on hand. When said container arrived at the last moment and just fit within the available space, the crew seemed equally divided on treating him with awe at his foresight, or with suspicion, because they believed he was holding something back.

Unsurprisingly, it was the ladies who were eyeing him like a phony credit slip. Those two didn’t miss a trick.

Admiral Van Aalst came down to see them off, wishing them all luck before pulling Remi off to the side to ensure everything was in place, including their passenger. Assured that he was, he made a discreet exit as they closed and sealed the hatch… though not before the captain gave the docking bay a quick once over to confirm a certain Tinker wasn’t lurking in the shadows. That done, the crew took to their stations as they prepared to depart.

Settling into the captain’s chair, Remi punched up the intercom. “Mairead, bring the engines online, and ready the ship for navigation.”

“Aye aye, Cap’n,” she answered from Engineering. “Engines are hot, Life Support is at 94% and holding, reading green across the board. We’re ready when you are.”

“Excellent,” he nodded. “Xuilan, release docking clamps, and plot us a course.”

“Docking clamps released,” she confirmed. “We are detached from Freya. Engaging thrusters.” She brought the ion jets online and gently nudged Gyrfalcon away from the larger vessel, giving them room to maneuver. Once they were at a safe distance, she shut the jets down before locking the coordinates for their first stop into the navigation array. “Course plotted and laid in, Cap’n,” she informed him, “we’re ready when you are.”

No matter how many times they got underway, this moment was always special. All the promise, all the possibilities, the excitement of a brand-new adventure, an electric current filling the air that all of them felt. Nothing but open space ahead, and the stars to guide them. For a race that’d spent the last two centuries hovering near the brink of extinction, it was a sense of freedom unlike any other.

“Xuilan… take us out,” Remi ordered.

They spent the first few hours of the journey on ordinary tasks; diagnostics, communication checks, physical inspections to ensure nothing had shifted during transit. As the crew settled into their routine, Remi pulled up a plot of their current location, gauging their distance from other vessels with a practiced eye.

Good enough.

Punching the intercom, he made his announcement. “All hands, this is the captain. Form up on the Mess deck for mandatory briefing. No exceptions.” Xuilan looked back at him curiously. “Lock the helm on autopilot,” he ordered, “this won’t take long.”

“Aye aye, Cap’n,” she shrugged, doing as he’d commanded before rising from her station to join the others.

It only took the crew a couple of minutes to assemble, Mairead being the last to arrive since Engineering was on the opposite end of the ship. “So are you finally going to tell us what we’re doing out here?” she asked, leaning against a bulkhead.

“Admiral’s orders,” Remi explained. “Security is tight on this, even tighter than the mission to Earth. We couldn’t let it leak.”

“Figured we’d find out eventually,” Isi nodded. “We all knew you’d tell us when the time was right.”

They all looked at him expectantly. “Well, long story short, we’re headed to an abandoned research station. Admiral thinks we might learn something there, maybe even a way to beat the Yīqún. We’ll remain on station for a while, while we conduct research.”

“Research?” Slavko scratched his head, puzzled by that. “Cap’n, none of us are scientists. We meeting up with somebody?”

Remi sighed. “Not exactly. Before I tell you the rest… if you’re strapped, leave it here.” He paused for a moment before shooting a look at his engineer. “In your case, that includes the tool belt.”

The crew stared at him curiously, before glancing at each other. They’d served together for years and were well familiar with everyone’s standard carry. Mairead just shook her head, unhooking her belt and dumping it on the mess table; like most Tinkers, she preferred a heavy wrench for close-up mayhem. Isi produced a heavy slug thrower with well-worn grips, while Xuilan slipped a wickedly curved dagger from her sleeve. Last but not least, Slavko set a deadly little beam pistol onto the pile.

Their captain didn’t disarm himself, a fact that did not go unnoticed. He glanced at the collection of weapons before jerking his head towards the cargo hold. “All right then… follow me.” Leading the way, the others quickly followed suit, the glances growing more pronounced.

“So here’s the deal,” he explained, as they headed aft. “We’re taking a passenger with us to the Orion Nebula. His involvement is classified higher than Mother Terra herself, so not a word to anyone. Don’t even tell yourselves. The Admiral personally vouched for him, so before you ask me what the hell he’s doing here, that’s what. Those are our orders, and we’re going to follow them.” He paused for a moment, giving the crew a hard look. “Anybody got a problem with that?”

A chorus of, “No Cap’n’” filled the narrow corridor. “Good,” he nodded, “remember that in about thirty seconds.” Arriving at the hold, he undogged the hatch, letting it slide open. The final crate stood just inside the compartment as he crossed the threshold, taking a moment to locate the hidden catches that opened the container.

“Ladies and gentlemen… meet our passenger,” he announced, swinging the crate wide open.

A burst of gasps heralded the insectoid Eleexx staring back at them. “Greetings!” Doctor Axchxairx said enthusiastically, addressing the crew.