Rhenixa faced a metallic box with multiple lights slowly blinking. A microphone protruded from the very center of the box, she pressed a clear button turning it a bright yellow, She leaned forward until she was a few inches away from the microphone.

“Ahem… Attention crew members of the Warden. This is Officer Anaya speaking. We will be jumping for Eos Station in five minutes. Prepare for immediate departure on landing.”

She tapped the button turning it back to its original colorless state.

“Aaaaah.” She audibly sighed leaning back in the chair. She brought her hands to her face and moving them downward.

Everything about this mission was risky, Anaya shared some of the details to her but it still didn’t make a whole lot of sense why they were going through with it.

The M.O went like this. They would meet the slaver with no weapons and discuss the price of an and she quotes ‘rare and exotic species’.

But the risky deal with the slaver wasn’t what bothered her, what did was the fact that they were going into a contested space by a rival warlord named Zelgrek. Zelgrek was a fairly known greedy merc that earned his name by capturing Eos and a few other stations in just a few stellar cycles.

And once you crossed him, you were just as good as dead. He wouldn’t even need to send his men after someone. He would place an incredible bounty on your head that it became priority number one of most low-level scum bags.

And unfortunately, Anaya’s mercenary team had a bounty on their head. They were walking right into a literal landmine.

“Just what are you thinking Anaya.” In the past, Anaya had brought them into really shifty situations. But they all had turned from good to bad. This was bad going to worst.

The more she thought about it the faster the anxiety would rise in her chest. She decided she needed to get her mind off the clearly impending doom. She got up and left the communications room.

Her mind currently occupied by the massive amounts of pessimism she nearly walked right past the slithering squid-snake. This was just the distraction she needed. “Hey, Blitz.”

Blitz had nearly turned the corner leading to the actual medical lab of the ship, something that was practically unused since they didn’t currently have a combat medic causing Blitz to pull a double job.

“Yes, Rhenixa?”

“What are yah doing?”

“I’m preparing for the visit to Eos Station.”

“No, I meant-”

“Why am I not with Gabe.”

“Yeah.”

“He said he wanted to eat.”

“You didn’t stop him?”

“He sounded like he wouldn’t listen to my protests.”

She sighed. “Thank you.”

“Officer Anaya.” He turned around and continued slithering off into the direction he intended.

Even if they were going to sell him off in a couple of hours. It wouldn’t hurt to know a little more about him. Besides, maybe she can find a reason to convince them to stay out of Zelgrek’s hair.

She entered the kitchen lounge combo and noticed the human snoring, his food pushed further away from him. He really didn’t look too far from how a Caloricean looked. If any he looked like one that had hit its maturation stage.

Watching his calm form gently move up and down, She couldn’t help but be drawn closer to his strange appearance. Walking as soft as possible she studied the soft breaths he took, he was so calm as if nothing was going on, Oh how ignorance is bliss.

She reached out, her hand brushed away part of his unkempt black hair from his face. The hair stayed behind his ear.

To a Caloricean his color was something she’d expect to never see on something resembling her species. It was so alien, the darkest she’s ever seen was on one of her people was a dark brown. To her, that was the extent of the darkest, of the lightest it was a pure white. But that was limited to sub-species that lived pretty isolated lives on the 3rd moon of Claroicea. but at the best, the most common would be a silver or light gray.

Gabe’s face briefly contorted. In a shock, she pulled her hand away from his face. In the sudden moment, she had noticed his teeth and they too were something unusual, just how could he tear into flesh with canines that small?

If this a human, they are pretty inferior... she thought to herself. He was like an inferior copy of her race with just about everything that made them perfect gone.

Maybe if he wakes up before they sell she’ll have a conversation about this. It’s a shame he was pretty interesting.

A familiar microphone feedback sounded through the speakers. The only locations that had access to the ships broadcasting system were ship’s bridge and her office. So canceling out herself as making an announcement, obviously. It must’ve been Anaya.

“All hands to the hangar door.”

Rhenixa turned to leave through the door, she took a final glance to making sure he wasn’t awake.

Approaching the hangar she spotted the other two members of the crew who had been patiently waiting for her. Anaya tossed a breathing mask in her direction. The contents of the atmospherics on Eos Station was poisonous to most species that weren’t Vorlans. The gaseous mixture was actually much worse on her species. A mask was always a must.

She put the mask over her mouth and clipped the straps together behind her head.

“Yah ready, Rhenixa? Blitz?” Anaya asked as she hovered her hand above the console.

“Yes, Cap.” Blitz didn’t actually need a mask considering it’d be redundant to put one on a mouthless entity, his race actually was more plant-like in nature, regardless of the situation his body would convert the air into something breathable for him

Rhenixa gave a meek thumbs up. If she spoke now the courage she built up just to walk to the door would be drained straight through her mouth.

Anaya slammed the button down. Reaching behind her she flipped her waist cloak upward transforming it into a convenient hooded robe.

The two door slid open slowly and the trio entered the Station. The entire thing felt surreal because as they walked off, the dock had been completely deserted. For a space station, especial Eos this was weird.

“Anaya I have a bad feeling about this.”

Anaya’s eyes were glued to a tablet she pulled out.

“I agree with Officer Anaya.”

“I know, I feel it too. This is probably a setup.” She paused to scroll on the table a little longer. “The message says that our contact will meet us in the north sector.” She pointed forward towards the door directly in front of them. The area was immense, a perfect square.

They began walking. The only sounds that could be heard were the artificial wind kicking up the sand into the air. Once through they noticed a figure in the distance.

A lone alien in black and silver armor wearing a cloak that obscured most of his features. The figure didn’t make any movements just a pose with his hands on his belt.

As they continued to walk forward Blitz his mind. The alien raised a single open hand in the air.

“Cap, I’d prefer it if we turned back.”

“I agree with Blitz, This feels like a perfect-”

The alien closed his hand into a fist. Blaster fire began to appear from all sides.

“Ambush.” Rhenixa sighed. The trio jumped behind several crates. And drew their weapons. Rules number one of doing merc work, If the message says no weapons, bring small weapons.

They returned fire in the general direction that the blasters came from.

“Anaya I hope yah have a plan!” She was positioned over the crate letting out a stream of gunfire.

A lone merc fell to the ground dead as he changed his position to flank them.

“Yeah! I have one thing in mind.” She stood up and threw the blaster pistol to her side. “We surrender!”

The alien in the brown cloak threw an open hand in the air and the firing dissipated. He approached the buxom captain with a blaster rifle loosely grasped in his hand. Standing several meters away.

“I was looking forward to delivering your head to Zelgrek.” He felt really dissatisfied with the results of how quick the capture of the infamous Captain Anaya had been. “Whatever, I’m still getting paid for your capture.”

Anaya didn’t say a word. In fact she looked really calm. What the hell kind of plan was that? Surrender?

Rhenixa threw her weapon over the side as did Blitz.

The stout creature sighed once more. “You could have really made this fun, you know.

She simply shrugged and turned towards Rhenixa “Contact the ship.”

“Wha-Why?”

“Just do it!”

Rhenixa turned to the side to be slightly behind the crates pressed pulled a tiny device from a pouch, clicking the button on the side.

After a few seconds, the line was received.

“Ugh, finally!” Rhenixa was whispering. “We need your help.”

“Yeah?”

“Here’s the rundown, A deal went south and we got captured.”

“Okay...”

“There is a weapon under my desk, Find a bar named Lucky Lady Cantina, order the Caloricean ale, It’s a code. Then ask where we are, tell them you’re a bounty hunter.” *Click* She must’ve turned her communicator off.

Rhenixa dropped the communicator on the ground seeing as the bounty hunter’s men were literally just a few steps from seeing her.

The bounty hunter yelled his order for them to be taken to his employer.

“Hey watch it!” One of the minions of the pushed Rhenixa a little bit too hard.

“Shut it.” The grizzled voice sounded, even more, intimidating come from the cycled airway of his mask.

She growled at him while she kept walking. He promptly put a boot to her back causing her to fling forward into the sand.

“Try that again, asshole! I’ll rip your fucking throat out!”

“Rhenixa, quiet.” Anaya had appeared next to her to help her up. But was really passing along a message.

“Just play along, stick to the plan.”

Plan, What plan? There was a plan?