Gabriel looked over the helmet in his hands, not quite sure what to think. He looked over at Cani who was smiling and waiting to see what he thought about it. The helmet was used to race a type of motorcycle on Roniean II, especially popular in a desert city where large tournaments were held.

Gabriel turned the helmet around in his hands. It did look like a motorcycle helmet if a bit slimmer. It had some sophisticated system that inflated pads before crashes so less padding was needed in general. It also had a ridge along the top but as Ronieans had a leathery crest on their heads that made sense. It had two triangular air intakes on the head that would cool the crest and back of the neck and a filter shaped like a triangle with a line down to the chin. All with rounded edges. It looked like a cat helmet with a mohawk.

“So what do you think?” Cani said, “It’ll even protect your head if you get into a fight,” she said excitedly. “It’s the latest model,” she added when he didn’t respond.

“Thanks,” Gabriel said, “just reminded me of something back on earth, I appreciate it,” he smiled at her. Gabriel supposed he could wear his skull helmet but it might be better to be seen in this one. A racing helmet surely would attract less attention. And he didn’t have any time to go shopping as they were already on the way. After quickly leaving the station Cani had gotten them a spot on a ferry of sorts. A large carrier that traveled to a distant mining station far out in the system and would stop at the asteroid belt on the way.

“When are we arriving at the belt?” Gabriel asked.

Cani pulled up her pcu, “Well, the FTL time is negligible, less than half an hour I think. We are just waiting for everyone to arrive and load. And unloading always takes time but we will undock around...breakfast, give or take an hour.” Cani said and shrugged.

Gabriel consulted his pcu for the time and saw that the undocking from the station and docking here had taken longer than he thought, it would be about 9 in the evening earth time. “So eight or nine hours? Feels long for such a short jump”

Cani shrugged again, “Sure, but this carrier is taking ten ships and several hundreds of passengers. And we got here early, we leave in about six hours. The ship only makes one trip every day. Honestly, if you are unlucky you can sit waiting at a gate for half a day if you didn’t get a spot in time”

Gabriel nodded and wondered how long the trip would be without FTL, certainly weeks right, probably more. Unless humans figured out a more efficient fusion drive or something, they certainly have had plenty of time.

Gabriel shook himself out of the nostalgia, “How about we eat something? we’ve barely had lunch”

“I’ll see what I can find,” Cani said and began raiding her fridge. She found canned meat and some form of rice, only it tasted more like a plain vegetable. The meat itself was almost spongy or gelatinous which Gabriel quickly decided was not his favorite. They ate the meal mostly in silence and after cleaning up Cani sat down at the table once again.

“I don’t suppose you have any coff...drinks with caffeine?” Gabriel asked, hoping for an energy drink at least. The odds that coffee beans would exist in space were slim.

“Sure, one moment,” Cani said and started to boil water, making Gabriel unreasonable exited, he tried to force it down. Instead of the smell of coffee Gabriel caught a whiff of tea. “Mhadeleaine, you want a cup?” Cani asked.

Madeline, who seemed lost in thought looked up “Hm? no, thank you. Unless you have some without caffeine.”

“I think I have a bag somewhere,” Cani said and rummaged around her pantry for a moment. She finally found a bag and shortly after brought over two cups containing an amber liquid and one several shades greener. She set the green mug down in front of Madeline and Gave Gabriel one of the others.

“Thanks,” Gabriel and Madeline echoed.

Cani waved her hand dismissively, “What do you know about the black market ship?”

“Not much, never been to one.” Gabriel shrugged. He took a sip of tea and was surprised at how much it tasted like some he’d had back on earth. Or maybe like a mix between sorts.

“Then what is your plan?”

“I have to be honest, I don’t have one. Well not exactly. I don’t know how the black markets work, or how to get in but I suppose as long as we manage to talk our way inside finding a seller of alien creatures and drilling them for information is my best bet.” Gabriel said.

“I’ve been thinking,” Madeline said looking at her undrunk cup. “What if I act as a rich Zilgi looking for illegal goods? I could have hired a bodyguard and a pilot to find exotic goods not available anywhere else,” she looked at them in turn.

“That could work...” Cani said, “but you are quite recognizable, your picture is easily found.”

“I bought dyes and had colored contact lenses made back on US 421,” Madeline added. Gabriel felt his brows rise in surprise and Cani looked thoughtful. Madeline looked at Gabriel, then her fur ridge fluttered and she looked away, “It was just an idea.”

“No, no I think it’ll work,” Gabriel said grinning, “How else can we explain how a Zilgi found her way to a black market?”

Cani nodded slowly, “Yeah, that could work, Gabriel, do you think you could act like a Roniean soldier?”

“Um, I don’t know, how do they act?”

Cani stood, she widened her stance to shoulder width and clasped her hands behind her back. “Remember this stance, and It’s better if you don’t salute, you have to pretend to be a retired or discharged soldier.”

Gabriel stood up and mirrored her stance, “Anything else?”

Cani shrugged, “I can only speak from what family I have in the military but walk with confidence, keep a straight back and stand like that when you wait for...” She looked at Madeline, “You need a cover name.”

“...Mhirian Rimen,” Madeline said after a moment.

“Mhirian Rimen...” Cani said, chewing the name over. “Sounds like a Zilgi name to me, I wouldn’t think twice.”

“It is, or rather a combination of names from two different books I read as a kid. Both written by my great grandmother so neither are available to the public.” Madeline said.

“Smart, picking something easy to remember.” Gabriel nodded, he turned back to Cani, “I can do that, anything else?”

“Not that I’m aware of...look dangerous?” She suggested.

“And what should we tell anyone asking about the helmet?” Gabriel asked.

“Well, horrific scars? or you could just say it’s for anonymity's sake.”

“And what do I call him?” Madeline asked.

“Oh, right, we need a name either way. Guard?” Cani said and shrugged, “You are after all a highborn rich woman who just hired him for this day”

Madeline nodded, “Does Gabe sound like a Roniean name?”

“Kinda,” Cani said, “Gabe...Gethri...Gemi is Roniean name,” Cani said after thinking for a moment.

“Good enough,” Gabriel said. “Gemi it is”

“I’ll stick with my own name, it’s common enough. Now, It’s getting late and the spare bedroom is filled with boxes, would you mind helping me clear it?” Cani asked and wandered over to the door furthest to the back.

“Sure,” Gabriel got up and peaked in when she opened the door. Boxes were piled all over the room to about chest height. “You weren’t kidding”

“Nope, but I do keep the bed clean,” she pressed a button on the wall and a shutter slid up revealing a bed sunken into the wall. She pulled boxes at random and handed them out, with directions where to put them. It took over an hour to get everything out and sorted.

Gabriel yawned and looked at the time when they were finished, “We have to get up in about six, seven hours correct?” he asked Cani who just finished sorting the storage.

“Well, we arrive in about six hours, but we aren't first in line to undock. We can safely get up in eight hours, plus we can get some sleep traveling to the market ship.” She brushed some dust off her pants. “Maybe I should have cleaned the boxes as well, once in a while”

“You live, you learn, can I borrow your shower? I haven’t had one since the fight,” Gabriel said, glad his suit kept most of the smell in.

“Sure, and the freshener is at the foot of the bed,” Cani said, and paused, “Now, unless I’ve misread something, I’ll let you two share that bedroom.” She smiled, “But If I have, I can share with Mha...Miss Rimen” Cani said grinning.

Madeline chirped, “Thank you, yeah we’re fine with sharing.” Then she turned up her nose and got a serious expression, her voice turning more dismissive, “Now I expect to arrive right on time or it’s coming out of your paycheck”

Gabriel had made it to the shower with clothes in hand and he broke out in laughter as he closed the door. After a quick shower and change, he wandered over to the spare bedroom and found Madeline, already in sleeping wear, trying to figure out how the freshener worked.

“Almost got it,” she said before Gabriel got a word out. She raised a finger, hesitated for a heartbeat, and then pressed a button. The freshener blinked green and she smiled at Gabriel, “Got it.”

“Great, can you stop it so I can get my clothes inside?” Gabriel asked with a smile.

“So demanding,” she muttered and after a moment of hesitation, simply pulled the door open. The freshener beeped.

“Thanks,” Gabriel grinned and hung his suit and towel inside. He threw the shirt and pants in there as well for good measure, although the suit had protected them from his body odor. Madeline closed the door again and the freshener turned green.

“You would think that there is a system for these, but no, everyone makes their own with the same internals.” Madeline sighed and collapsed on the bed, she then spread her arms and measured the size of the bed. “Hm,” she got up, “You first”

Gabriel stopped halfway out of his pants, “What?”

“This bed is a bit smaller than the one in the sleeping cube and I don’t want to sleep with you on top of me,” Madeline smiled.

“It’s because I’m heavy isn’t it,” Gabriel said and flopped down on the bed. It gave off a confirming creak.

“Yep, or rather you are compact. If you were about half a head taller than that Roniean you fought...what was her name, I barely heard when Zentra told you.”

“Shano,” Gabriel said and tensed by reflex as Madeline rolled over him and placed herself against the wall.

“Right, your build with her height and then some,” Madeline said, settling in with her head on his arm. “That would fit your weight”

“Before you fall asleep, how long have you been planning the disguise?” Gabriel asked.

“Well, I’ve been thinking about it since we knew all the facts. We would have to get into a black market ship and I assume we can't just happily skip through,” She moved two fingers like legs and tapped them over his chest.

“No I suppose not,” Gabriel chuckled.

“So, when we arrived at US 421 I bought some fur dye and the contacts just in case. I thought about dressing up as a Yavichian or Phigos but it would be too difficult.”

“Yeah, I’m sure prosthetics are better than what I’m used to but getting more eyes or removing a nose and tail seems difficult.”

Madeline chirped softly, “That it is, so I had to remain Zilgi. And only a rich Zilgi with loose morals would come this far.”

“Speaking of riches, do you have clothes that convey that?”

“Yeah, I even believe I told you I was getting clothes on 421,” Madeline said, a satisfied smile on her face.

Gabriel thought back to the conversation that was only a week or so ago but felt like much longer. “Probably, my memory is very selective.”

“What does that mean?”

“That it decides by itself what to remember. The speed of sound is 343 meters a second at Earth's atmosphere and the Moon is 384 400 kilometers from earth, there are 1000 meters in a kilometer by the way. And I can’t remember what I had for breakfast yesterday. And I try but I’m usually quite bad at names.”

Madeline chirped, “I’ve always been good at names, can’t remember dates to save my life”

Gabriel sighed and closed his eyes, “Speaking of which, I suppose I should learn the names of days and months, assuming you have those.”

“Not in Station standard, but all have their own yeah,” Madeline said and yawned, she somehow snuggled close although there was hardly any space.

“I’ll start with Station standard then,” Gabriel said and he fell asleep shortly after.

Gabriel woke up from a knock on the door. “We are undocking soon, you two up?” Cani asked from outside.

Gabriel blinked and looked down, he had not moved but Madeline was almost sleeping on top of him, she blinked and yawned.

“Just about!” Gabriel shouted to the door. “Good morning,” he said to Madeline.

“Morning,” she said and rolled off him and went to work digging in her bag after clothes. Gabriel stood up and stretched feeling his shoulders pop. He took the suit from the freshener and pulled it on. It had a faint smell of citrus. He pulled the suit on and grabbed his shirt. “Wait,” Madeline said.

Gabriel froze looking around, “For what?”

“Stand up and look over here,” she said and inspected him as he stood there confused. She nodded to herself, “Keep the shirt off, the more people that see your 'powered armor' the better.”

Gabriel looked down at the suit, “Can I wear my jacket?”

“No, it looks strange and will attract more attention. Now, which one of these should I wear?” She said and held up two fancy shirts, both the same style. They looked professional, almost like a dress shirt, apart from the lack of collar and the fact they fanned out at the waist and flowed down over the legs to her knees. One was colored a dark red, the other a muted yellow.

“Hm, if Mhirian is the kind of woman that wants attention, go with the yellow” Gabriel said.

Madeline nodded, “Yellow it is,” she grabbed her bag and left for the showers. Gabriel walked out and sat down at the table, breakfast consisting of some type of energy bar was served.

“No time to cook,” Cani explained, “I have to be at the controls in a few minutes.”

“We’ll live,” Gabriel said with a smile, he took a bite of the bar and found it good, if a little boring. The undocking was underway half an hour later and went as expected. And another hour after that Madeline finally emerged from the bathroom, the green stripes in her fur were almost covered by red and in general, the colors looked a little duller.

“This dye worked great!” Madeline said and spun around.

Gabriel looked her over, “Looking good...now that I think about it, I have never seen another Zilgi, not covered entirely in armor that is, what are your colors like?”

Madeline sat down and grabbed a bar, “Green and red in different amounts,” she said. “As I am now is almost extreme towards the red, just thin stripes here and there. And there are some with the opposite. What coloration do humans have?”

“Humans range from pale pink to very dark brown,” Gabriel said, “Singular colors, apart from palms and soles of our feet that is.” He showed her his palm and back of his hand. Madeline nodded and both turned as Cani left the cockpit.

“There, we are on the right course,” she stopped and looked Madeline over, “That’s a good disguise, I would not recognize you in public,” she said and sat down as well. “Now, I have never been on a black market ship, but as long as you can talk your way inside we should be good.” she looked over at Gabriel and squinted, “You need a jacket.” She stood up and entered her room, coming back out with a few slung over her arm.

“I thought it would be a good idea to show off the suit,” Madeline said.

“Oh, it is, but professionals have jackets to hide their guns,” Cani said, “I’ll lend you my spare stun gun,” she said and held up a jacket. “See it this fits” She threw him a blue one that reached just below his waist, with a zipper reaching down to the middle of his stomach.

Gabriel put it on but found the shoulder a bit narrow, “Not quite”

“And not your style,” Cani said and handed him another. This one was longer and light grey, reaching his knees and closed with straps over his chest. “That’s better, and It’s commonly worn open,” Cani nodded and went to grab her spare gun.

Gabriel posed for Madeline, standing at attention “What do you think?”

“Well, apart from the grin on your face you look professional,” she said. Gabriel grabbed the helmet and put it on before posing once again, looking around as if scanning for threats. “That’s better,” Madeline nodded.

“Thank you miss...uh, I might have forgotten your last name.”

“Very professional,” Madeline said, adopting her cover and rolling her eyes, “It’s Rimen, you’d do well to remember it.”

“Miss Rimen,” Gabriel finished and tried sounding professional, glad the helmet hid his grin.

Cani came out with a shoulder strap and a holstered gun. “Perfect, now I suppose you can’t speak like a Roniean female?”

“I’m not very good at voices no. Why?” Gabriel asked and after pulling off the helmet accepted the gun and began strapping it on.

“You’ve seen the differences between genders. Males are a little shorter and stockier, with the helmet on you look more like a female with small breasts,” Cani shrugged.

Gabriel looked down at himself and shrugged as well. “I don’t suppose the translator can be tweaked? can’t do much about my physique”

“The armor hides enough. I thought you were wearing thick armor when we first met so I’m sure it will be seen that way,” Cani said and shrugged again. “I hope”

“Would make this thing easier, how long until we get there?”

“Three hours,” Cani said and sighed, “I kinda want to get this over with, I don’t like waiting.”

“Same,” Gabriel and Madeline echoed. “And we have traveled from US 535,” Madeline added. She stood and headed for the spare room, “Now If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to practice being Mhirian Rimen”

“Break a leg,” Gabriel said and received weird looks from both of them.

After explaining that peculiar idiom Gabriel focused on his own task. As long as they made it into the market he would first try and find Victoria, assuming she was still there, of which he had his doubts. Failing that he would find clues from the seller, one way or another. After that was finding anything else taken from Earth. There had to be some, after all, whoever took them created a vaccine for all the diseases on earth and made sure he would not get sick as well and would have plenty of opportunities to grab souvenirs.

The rest of the trip was spent separately, with Gabriel grumbling at the table, Cani as the helm in the cockpit, and Madeline practicing lines in the bedroom. Gabriel heard her shout insults and ‘don’t you know who I am?’ lines. Cani’s voice sounded out over the comms that they were a few minutes away from docking and Madeline came out of the room looking sure of herself and too important to be stuck on a small ship like this one.

She sat down opposite Gabriel and handed him his helmet, her face showing how much of a bother it was to do even that. Gabriel suppressed a smile and put the helmet on.

“So, miss Rimen,” Gabriel said, his voice level and professional, “Please stay close to me at all times so I can protect you if anything goes awry”

“Of course, what else do I pay you for?” She said and huffed. She broke character for just a moment to give him a sly smile.

Gabriel caught sight of the ship as they approached. It was a carrier containing both mining storage and several mining vessels. Cani explained it also had its own FTL drive and was outfitted with protection against pirates. They docked soon after and when the door opened Cani was first out and went through the standard procedure with the Roniean in charge of the docks. Gabriel walked out shortly after followed by Madeline and while they stayed at a distance Gabriel overheard Cani exaggerating the pay she’d received for the job of guiding a wealthy Zilgi lady around.

“Well?” Madeline asked when she felt she’d waited long enough, she strode up to the pair with Gabriel on her heels. “I came here to buy, not stand in a musty dock. Ships I can buy anywhere.” She glared at the Roniean dock manager.

“I have not received any message about your invitation,” the Roniean said diplomatically.

“Yes, that’s because we just happened to stumble upon a black market in the middle of Roniean space weeks from Zilgi,” She said sarcastically and huffed. “Please tell your superiors we are tired of waiting.” She inspected her claws, “Like the trip was not long enough.”

The Roniean briefly glanced at Gabriel who stood staring at him, although the helmet obscured his eyes. He stepped away and talked into an earpiece and came back shortly after. “I will need some assurance that you are who you say you are.”

Madeline huffed again, “Like I’m giving criminals details on my identity, I'm not an amateur. How many Zilgi do you think can afford to come this far into space? And on top of that hire a Roniean ex-military and get an armored and powered suit? Please look it up, It’s not like we are in a hurry or anything.”

The Roniean stepped away again and after a few more moments came back, “I just need a deposit of 10,000 credits that will be returned upon your departure miss Rimen.”

“Finally,” Madeline handed Cani her pcu, “Take care of it and catch up,” she said and walked past the Roniean and into the station. Gabriel followed along scanning every new place for threats. They reached a guarded door and Madeline waved dismissively. When they didn’t open she sighed heavily and waited for Cani to catch up.

“Here you go, miss,” Cani said and politely handed the pcu back.

“Fantastic, now can I enter?” she asked the guards.

“No weapons are allowed inside,” One guard said and held out a box. Gabriel and Cani both placed their guns in it and it was marked and stored away. “Welcome miss Rimen,” a guard said with a monotone voice while the other opened the door. They stepped through into a large interior with stores along a wide corridor. The massive cargo hold was open and more stalls showed through the giant open doors.

“Now then,” Madeline said, glancing at Gabriel. “Come on Gemi, let’s go get what we came for...”