Gabriel and Madeline headed further into Roniean station 51. The station had a similar layout to US 535. But this one had two docking rings for larger ships and between them, smaller ones could dock. Mostly transports and personal ships. Just outside the docks were restaurants and some shops for essentials and it reminded Gabriel of an airport, but while more airports Gabriel had been to felt more like malls, here it was like walking down any regular street found in most cities. Maybe it was the traffic delivering goods around the station.

Or maybe Gabriel thought about it all wrong, the docks were not really like airports, after all, many of them were public, any trade vessel could dock. He pondered that for a moment while they walked further in. A few minutes later they reached a subway station that traveled from one of the spokes on the ring through the central station and out the other side.

“So, how far are we going?” Gabriel asked as Madeline stopped looking at a map on a screen.

“Well, as far as I can tell from this, we need to make it over to the central spire. This station has close to the same layout as US 535. Or more accurately it’s the other way around, this one is older.” She touched the screen and moved the map around displaying the central spire. “I’m sure there’s a way down there somewhere.”

“Has to be, unless they have docks. What was the level we were going to again?”

“14, so we need to go far down,” Madeline said looking closer.

“How many stories does the station have?” Gabriel asked remembering the docks were at level 40, “Can’t only be 80 stories to this station. Seems small,” He remarked.

“Yeah, they have a strange way of counting, only public sections are included, I think, and some sections are huge. The ring we docked at was considered one floor and was at least...well whatever measurement would make sense to you” Madeline said and grinned at him.

Gabriel chuckled, then tried doing the measurements in his head. In the quote-unquote street, there were five-story buildings and the roof was domed which meant the center could probably fit two more. And of course, the ring was round which meant it had to go down just as far.

“The ring would have to be fifty meters in diameter.” Gabriel realized. “Or thereabouts, I think”

“I’m sure that’s correct, and some levels just about fit a two-story building, I think. This map is not that precise, but we did examine some similar layouts in school” Madeline grabbed Gabriel’s hand again, “This way”

They headed further into the station and got on a train, “So we need to get to the central station, then find an elevator down?” Gabriel asked, studying a map of the subway system. Two trains traveled down every ‘spoke’ of the docking rings and four more traveled around the edge of the station, just after exiting the docks. They were now on a train heading towards the other side of the station.

“Yep, I assume anyways,” Madeline said and shrugged. “I suppose there could be some other way to get down to the lower levels”

“If the Ronieans are as fond of efficiency as they appear to be it’s a safe bet,” Gabriel said and leaned back, noticing a few curious but discreet looks from other passengers. Everyone on the train was Ronieans from what he could tell, in the docks other Xenos were running around though. He wondered if the percentage of Ronieans matched Yavichans and Phigos on US 535.

They soon arrived at the central station and got off. Gabriel and Madeline both got a lot of looks as they walked out of the station. “Maybe I should get a disguise as well,” Madeline said while looking around, “I might be the first Zilgi on this station”

“Might be a good idea, though I have not seen any other race with a tail,” Gabriel pointed out.

“Good point, well Cecaiampals have a tail but dressing up as one will be difficult”

“They do?” Gabriel asked, realizing he had only seen one briefly and a picture from the front.

“Yeah” Madeline stopped for a moment and looked around. “Now where is the elevator?”

The elevator down was relatively easy to find, the problem was mainly that neither Gabriel nor Madeline spoke Roniean so the signs were not very helpful. But with another stop at an information terminal, they found the way. Gabriel had, for some reason, expected a normal elevator found anywhere on earth. Maybe a bit larger but still, and while this one was not entirely alien, which in of itself was a strange thought, it was a bit odd.

The shaft was clear a few meters above the doors until it traveled up to the next level and Gabriel could not see any cables or anything that would move it really. He supposed that was attached to the sides or the back. Regardless of how it moved it soon arrived and Gabriel and Madeline got on with some other pedestrians. It was large and there were seats which the elderly quickly took possession of. Gabriel remained standing to one side, trying to act nonchalantly and ignore the stares.

After many more stops, they arrived close to the correct level. This elevator went as far down as level 20 which seemed to be the lowest residential level. From there they had to find a somewhat shabby much smaller elevator which took them the rest of the way down to level 14.

They stepped out and Gabriel immediately got the impression that this was the backstreets of the station, so to speak. It was a bit dimmer because some light panels in the ceiling were out. The streets were not swept as often and there was some garbage in corners. The entire street before them carried a damp smell.

“Lovely,” Madeline muttered while inspecting a dripping pipe behind an open panel in the wall.

Gabriel chuckled, “Come on, let’s find us a Captain” He took a few steps then stopped, “Uh, we do have the coordinates to the ship right?”

“Yeah, it’s on you pcu,” Madeline said confused, then she smirked at him, “You have had it for weeks and not once checked your messages have you?”

“Guilty as charged,” Gabriel fished the pcu out of his pocket, “Where’re the messages?”

“The one that looks like text in a box,” Madeline said looking over his shoulder.

Gabriel pressed it and found one containing the coordinates, as well as a message with dangers of what not to eat and drink. Though Gabriel ignored most of that as it said caffeine was hazardous. Preposterous. After yet again some asking around they finally found the bar they were looking for. The neon sign above the door showed a box with some twinkling stars and the words Empty Space underneath. The windows had bars over them and the door looked reinforced.

“Is it strange that I’m actually excited to walk into this sketchy bar?” Gabriel asked.

“I’m probably not the right alien to ask,” Madeline said and grinned, “I’m a bit of a thrill junkie remember?”

“Right...well no time like the present,” Gabriel said and pushed open the door. The inside was not quite as sketchy as it appeared from the outside. While it was dimly lit it looked relatively clean. Cleaner than several bars he had visited at least. And it contained less burly men in leather jackets potentially carrying knives, although he was unsure about the knives part of that statement. The patrons kept to themselves sitting in booths or quietly drinking at the bar. Gabriel saw one Igris drinking alone, the rest were Ronieans. Gabriel wondered if this was the first Igris he’d seen since US 535 or he had just not paid attention. Gabriel pulled Madeline along to an empty section of the bar.

“What’ll it be?” The barkeep said, a slight slur to her voice. She was Roniean like most others and a large scar traveled from her left nostril across her mouth to the right side of her chin.

“What percentage are your drinks?” Gabriel asked looking the selection over.

“2 to 20,” She answered.

“Damn, I could really use a whiskey” Gabriel muttered, “I’ll have some of the strongest then. Wait, I heard you make some out of a fruit? From a Yavichan world that starts with...Hir…”

“L'Hiri” Madeline finished.

“Yeah, that’s the one, how strong is it?”

“About 15,” The bartender said.

“I’ll try some of that,” Gabriel said.

The bartender gave him a long look, “Alright, but don’t come crying to me tomorrow” She poured him a small glass of the drink.

“You want one?” Gabriel asked Madeline.

“Absolutely not, I’ll take something nonalcoholic, thank you” She looked at the short drink selection and chose something that smelled slightly of ginger, only a lot sweeter.

Gabriel sipped his own drink which tasted like a dry apple cider with lemon although it was a bit too sweet. “I hope I’m not putting too much of a dent in our finances,” Gabriel said when the bartender had left.

“No, as long as we don’t go crazy or buy too many unnecessary items we are good. We technically have an entire government backing us.” Madeline said softly so no one would overhear.

“Alright good, I don’t want to have a massive debt when I visit Zilg for the first time”

“But on the second time, anything goes?” Madeline said grinning.

Gabriel shrugged and took another sip, “You never know...now how do we find a pilot, or Captain or whatever?”

“Not that I mind the conversation but why do you keep asking me? we are both new to this,” Madeline said glancing around the room.

“Sorry, I might be a bit nervous,” Gabriel admitted.

“Can’t blame you for that, I am as well. But I usually go quiet,” she said.

Gabriel flagged down the bartender, “Excuse me, do you know if anyone in here is a pilot for hire?”

The bartender hooked a thumb towards two booths against the far wall, “Both of them have ships, the rest you have to ask yourself”

“Thanks, can I have another one?” Gabriel shook the drink, “A double?” He got a long look and then got his glass refilled. "Let's go"

In one booth two Ronieans sat talking softly and more or less glared at Gabriel and Madeline when they approached. On the other, a Roniean female sat drinking by herself, and while she looked them up and down she didn’t glare. So Gabriel decided that she was probably the better option.

“Hi, you wouldn’t happen to have a ship, and be available, would you?” Gabriel asked.

“For you?” She said and looked him up and down with a smirk, “I might be available in more ways than one” She winked at him.

Gabriel was caught a bit off guard, “Great?” He said down opposite her, Madeline remained standing. “I want to hire you to take us...well that’s for later, do you have a ship?”

“I do, but before we get to business, I know who you are,” She said and studied him, occasionally glancing at Madeline.

“I’m not surprised,” Gabriel said and sipped his drink, “More than a few seem to do,” Gabriel said.

“Yeah...” She smirked again, “And I for one don’t believe all the rumors I’ve heard”

“Rumors are often exaggerated, not that I can confirm any,” Gabriel shrugged, “I have been traveling in FTL for almost two weeks so I don’t know them.”

“Hm, well I heard you have an impressive physique, what do you say we go back to my place and see how we compare?” She gave him a look that was meant to look seductive, and while it succeeded there was something off about it. Either he was bad at picking up authentic signals or she was testing him. Maybe both.

Gabriel leaned back and chuckled, “Could be interesting, but I have to say no. But where are my manners, I’m Gabriel Walker, the human stand-in ambassador, as you might already know.”

“And that’s Mhadeleaine Nioni,” She said nodding to Madeline. “I know” She grabbed his drink and took a sip grimacing slightly at the alcohol. “I like your taste in drinks”

“Thanks, now I told you my name, what’s yours?” Gabriel took the glass back and emptied it.

“Captain Cani E’Vulca” She reached her hand forwards.

“I have to admit I’m not familiar with Roniean greetings,” Gabriel said.

“Shake it” She wagged her hand up and down.

Gabriel laughed, “Would you believe we have the same greeting?” He said and grabbed her hand. She squeezed his hand firmly and when Gabriel tried to break the handshake she held on and squeezed tighter. Gabriel smiled and squeezed back harder and harder until she grimaced and relented.

“Alright, I give” She pulled her hand back and shook it grinning, “I’m not used to males being stronger than me, just checking if it was true. Now I know you beat me in grip strength.” Just then the door opened and a group of Ronieans walked in, “Ah, Tono crap”

“Friends of yours?” Gabriel asked as Madeline moved over to stand on the other side of the booth away from the path to the door.

“Not quite, they are from a small crime group that is not too fond of me,” Cani said and sighed, Gabriel saw one of her hands moving towards her belt.

“Why? do you keep seducing their men?” Gabriel asked watching the group move closer.

“No, I refused to smuggle for them...and I only seduced one”

“If I get rid of them, will you fly us?”

“Depends on the destination so no promises but I will consider it,” Cani said.

Gabriel turned to Madeline, “I would have liked this to be the first station where I would not get into a fight.”

Madeline shrugged, “Better luck next time?”

“Thanks,” Gabriel stood up in the way of the group, “Hello, can I help you?”

“Yes, get out of the way” The female in front put a hand on his shoulder and tried to push him out of the way, but considering that with the weighted suit on Gabriel probably weight twice what she did he didn’t budge.

“No,” Gabriel said.

She got up into his face, “Do you have any idea who I am?” she snarled.

“Nope,” Gabriel said, infuriating the Roniean even further.

She grabbed his collar, “If you don’t move there will be consequences, ambassador” She said the last word with a very sarcastic tone.

Gabriel ignored her and turned to Cani, “Are these guys widespread?”

“No, just this station, if you mean their influence” Cani answered, her hand still at whatever she had hidden at her belt.

“Yeah I did, thanks” Gabriel turned back, “As the odds are slim that I will return here, I’ll take my chances.” Gabriel gave her a friendly smile, “Although now that I think of it, I might go past on the way back...”

Anger flashed across the Roniean's face and she threw a punch with her left, her right hand still on his collar. Gabriel easily blocked it, pulled her hand out from her pocket, and whatever she had there, sidestepped, pulled, and more or less threw her behind him towards Madeline. The Roniean stumbled and managed not to fall headfirst by more or less power sliding, instead she caught Madeline's foot with her face and fell back in an awkward position with blood flowing down her nose. Madeline placed her foot and sharp claws at the Ronieans throat.

Gabriel turned to the rest, “Well then, are we good, or do someone else want to try anything?” Gabriel saw one male reach for his belt and quickly stepped up grabbing his hand twisting it, “One more thing, I really hate fighting with knives, everyone involved just gets hurt” He reached into the Ronieans belt and pulled out a telescopic bat. “Wait, my mistake, this is a bat”

“Let me go!” The female on the ground said.

“Only if you behave,” Madeline said, bringing her claws closer. She sounded confident but Gabriel heard at least some of that was an act. He flicked the handle extending the bat and then bent it over his knee and tossed it at the other's feet.

“Are we done?” He asked again, “Please say yes, I don’t want to hurt any more of you...or let my companion hurt any more of you.” Gabriel glares at the three Ronieans, they backed off a little. Gabriel took that as confirmation and sighed, walking over to the fallen leader. Madeline removed her foot and Gabriel pulled the Roniean to her feet, “You can’t win against us, we will leave the station shortly, just leave us alone.”

“I will make sure...” She started.

“Yes, yes,” Gabriel interrupted, “Break knees, break fingers, take money, something or another” He brushed off her shoulder then gripped them tightly. “Are you sure you can get enough men, and women, to make a difference?” He squeezed her arms and turned her around marching her backward towards her friends. “I would suggest you let this go, please, we can fight later if we travel through here.” Gabriel picked up the bent bat and forced it as straight as he could before handing it back.

And with that, and a few angry stares, the group left. “Is this going to bite us in the tails?” Madeline asked him.

“Yours maybe, for me they have to settle with something else” He turned to Cani, “Can we go? preferably quickly?”

“I hope you know what you’re doing,” Cani said and followed them out. They quickly headed for the elevator and managed it without any more stops. “I might have some bad news,” Cani said looking at her pcu. “There might be some waiting for us when we arrive on level 20”

Gabriel looked at the panel with buttons, “Right, I’m not even going to ask how you know that. I don’t suppose we can just go to another level and take another route?”

“No, the stairs leading up arrive in the same building as this elevator, and I would guess there are some at others as well, so we can’t just take another.”

“But that means it’s a small group right?” Gabriel started pacing, “I mean how many elevators are there?”

“Four large ones like this, and several more for maintenance but we can’t use those,” Cani said and pulled a gun from her belt.

“Can we do this without shooting anyone please?” Gabriel asked.

“This is a stun gun,” Cani said,

“Oh, good, what are the odds they play by the same rules?” He asked as they passed the 17th floor.

“Guns, lethal guns that are, are illegal for civilians on the station, while I’m sure they have some I don’t think they want the trouble with the Security for just me,” Cani said.

“Great, how about knives?”

“Killing brings Security, but I don’t know how far they are willing to go”

They were quickly approaching level 20, “You two stand to the sides,” Gabriel said and placed himself in the middle in front of the door. Madeline and Cani stood to the sides and waited.

“Alright, I don’t know what you plan is but good luck,” Cani said.

The door opened and Gabriel stood looking at a group of about twenty Ronieans, “Well, shit” Gabriel said.