Miles never had a chance to get to the infirmary. The staff were overwhelmed with the incoming wounded. As he heard it, multiple men needed to have complete organ restructuring as most of their internals had been obliterated. It was only through emergency brain stabilization built into their suits that any of them was alive at all. And that was even before one considered the limb replacements.

He could stomach to wait. His injury was mild in comparison to what others were going through. Thankfully, the rest of the intruders had been dealt with in quick succession. The use of hull cutters had eliminated the rest of the things. Although they had saved the remnants of one for examination.

It had been hectic since the encounter with the unknown craft. There was no telling when further vessels might show up—and they didn’t many more cards up their sleeve. Time was of the essence, and it was quickly running out. That only made what they were doing more important.

He waited in front of Tank No. 4 of the water distribution system. Several marines were currently draining the tank of water and another four kept watch of all entrances. Beside him was Father Soren and the Captain. They stood still, watching as the men worked.

“I’ve had Ensign Williams confined to solitary,” The old priest spoke. “She won’t be talking to anyone unless it’s us.”

“Good.” Captain Singh crossed his arms. “I want you to keep watching Commander Terese just in case. Even if it is likely she’s just a decoy. And as for you—“ Singh turned towards Miles. “I apologize for getting you into this. Your records were suspicious.”

Miles rubbed the back of his neck, fingers searching for scars that were not there. “It seems I was involved in this anyway, Captain.”

“It looks like we all were.” Captain Singh looked somberly at the water distribution tank. “We might have been pawns in the Free Exchange game, but I doubt they wanted us to see this.”

“Captain.” Miles looked downwards, never meeting the man’s face. “We might have won this round, but I knew Tannis. This isn’t a victory, not yet anyway.”

“It’s a first step.” The grizzled captain walked forward. “I’ll question Ensign Williams later but for now…”

The hatch of the water distribution tank screeched as it unlocked. A section of the metal slid out and then to the side by large hydraulics. The new large opening revealed just what the computer had told Miles earlier. A huge boxy slab of metal that had been hidden away inside.

It looked to be some sort of container, not too dissimilar to the cargo crates Miles had to transport while he worked on freighters. The large metal box was only marked by a blue key pad which asked for a numerical passcode.

The Captain sighed. “Always another obstacle.”

One of the marines stepped forward with a handheld pulse scanner. Running the device over the box, the man turned to them and shook his head. “It’s made out of a lithoid alloy.”

“I won’t doubt it’s also trapped.” Father Soren scratched his chin. “If we try to get inside, there are probably failsafes.”

“Then we space it.” Captain Singh sneered, not hiding the disgust on his face. “Throw it into the star and be done with it.”

“Sir.” Miles slumped his shoulders. “I knew Tannis and—“

“You think he would’ve thought of that?” Singh pressed his lips with a frown. “They’re not gods! They can’t think of everything!”

“Unfortunately, I have to concur with our pilot.” Father Soren glared at the container. “We don’t have enough information yet to dispose of it. But we can make sure that whatever this thing is doesn’t leave this room.”

“And?” Singh tapped his feet impatiently.

The priest gave a sideways glance. “Rig a missile on it. Whatever mind games the Free Exchange play, they’re not going to outwit a sufficiently large explosion.”

“But that risks comprising the integrity of the ship.” Singh furrowed his brow.

Father Soren gave a wry grin. “They’re certainly not going to be predicting that.”

Miles looked at the blue keypad. Whatever that is, it obviously needs someone to input the password. Setting a proximity bomb might just be the best solution. Regardless of the countermeasures inside, if no one could get close to activate it, then it wouldn’t even matter what the Free Exchange had thought of. Seal off the section and have the missile detonate if it detected anyone trying to get near.

“Get a missile and calibrate sensors at a thirty meter radius,” Singh finally ordered a marine. “I want it clear, if anything crosses that radius, I don’t want a countdown timer. It detonates immediately, understand?”

The man nodded and ran off.

“And that only leaves the possibility of remote activation.” Miles sighed. “What if it’s a bomb? One last failsafe in case we don’t do what the Free Exchange wants?”

“I had Ensign Williams searched when we captured her. I also had her quarters thoroughly inspected. We found nothing,” Father Soren mentioned. “If this is a bomb, then she’ll have to escape confinement before she can set it off.”

“That is, unless there are other agents aboard.” Samir frowned. “I don’t think it’s a bomb. I don’t think the the Free Exchange would want to blow up their only vessel out here. Whatever this thing is, it was meant to be opened by someone. And if it can be remote activated, no one is getting to the container to access what’s inside anyway.”

Miles shook his head frustrated. It was annoying to be so close to the truth and yet so far at the same time. The Free Exchange had planted something here. And yet, despite being tens of thousands of light years away, there was nothing they could do beyond making sure it never got opened.

“In the meantime.” Samir narrowed his eyes. “We need to make sure we’re prepared for whatever move the Free Exchange makes next. Sergeant Barnes!”

The youth who had been standing at the top of the elevated walkway jogged down and saluted the Captain.

“I want you to put together a list of every marine that you know is absolutely loyal to the chain of command.” Samir turned to Father Soren. “And I want you to do likewise with the civilians on the ship. Contact Amos and get his assessment of engineering. I want a detailed breakdown of the entire crew within the day.”

“I can already tell you that most of the men stand with you, Captain.” Sergeant Barnes affirmed. “We’ll back you no matter what.”

“Based on what I’ve seen from the civilians, those numbers aren’t going to be as pretty.” Father Soren leaned in. “I’d wager more than ninety percent are only out for their protectorates. If we are going to do this, then it needs to be fast. Lockdown of all key systems and shutting off all internal communication.”

“And do what exactly?” Miles rubbed his eyes, trying to keep up.

Captain Singh glanced over to him. His face was as still as stone. “If necessary, secure the ship.”

Miles retired to his quarters soon after. Thankfully, one of the medical personnel were able to take a break for a few minutes to fix up his leg. Some flesh regeneration and a new bandage would reduce the recovery time although he would still need some painkillers in order to walk.

He tiredly rested on his bed. Taking his cowboy hat and placing it over his face, he closed eyes and silently drifted. The day had been a hard one to say the least. He was still processing that moment with Ensign Williams—let alone the ship that had attacked them.

I thought I was finally free. He snorted in dejection. That illusion had been ripped away in the most brutal way possible. His mind a prisoner in its own body. Miles planned to go to the doctor once they were finished with the injured and get whatever device had been put in him removed. If it can be removed. He slipped his hand under the hat and tiredly rubbed his face.

It was humiliating. How easily he’d been turned into a tool. More than that, how the Free Exchange had played him. They knew every move he made, and it was only by sheer luck that Mia hadn’t killed him when she had the chance. He bitterly laughed.

Whatever the Captain and that Father Soren thought, this wasn’t a victory. The Free Exchange had won long before the expedition had ever set out. It was only a matter of when the knife would strike. That was his last thought before sleep finally took him. It was a dark, dreamless void until a buzzer awoke him from his slumber. Miles checked the time and saw that an hour had passed. Shaking himself up, he answered the door.

Father Soren in his black cassock stood in the hallway. The old man held both his hands behind his back and looked impatient. Glancing into the quarters, he faced Miles. “May I come in?”

“Why not?” Miles groaned as he stepped aside and lifted an arm to his room.

The priest shut the door as he entered. The old man took a moment to size up his surroundings before turning to Miles. “I thought it would be prudent to give you this.” A wrinkled hand lifted the remote from his pocket.

Miles pressed his lips into a half-smile. “I didn’t think you would’ve offered it.”

He had noticed that the priest had retrieved it soon after capturing Mia. Miles had expected the man to keep hold over it for leverage. It was a welcome surprise then, to see the priest offering it back.

Father Soren’s face never moved from his usual frown. “Whatever you may think of me, I try to be a moral man. It doesn’t seem right to hold another man’s freedom in the palm of my hand.”

Miles snatched it away from the priest before the old man had time to reconsider. Deftly putting it into his pocket, Miles sighed as a defeated look came about him. “I’ll never know if there are any more of those remotes out there. At any moment…” He snapped his fingers.

“At any moment a man may also die.” Father Soren titled his head. “There isn’t much difference between the two. We are not guaranteed any time but what we have already spent.”

“You know I came here for freedom?” Miles curled his lip in disgust. “All the while, the Free Exchange had its leash around my neck.”

Father Soren raised a eye in in interest. “Freedom for what exactly?”

Miles rolled his eyes. “Whatever I wanted. A life away from the Free Exchange. Something else besides that existence. Besides slavery.” He resisted the urge to spit.

Father Soren chuckled which caused Miles to shoot an annoyed glance. The priest raised his hand. “I mean no offense, but humans are slaves. We spend our lives in service to someone—or something. Some to a government, some to a god, and some to their own appetite. Everyone has a master. That’s how the Free Exchange always wins. They know whom you serve, and then they turn that against you.”

“Then maybe I should shoot myself now. Get it over with.” Miles’ hand reached down to his pistol tucked in his waistband. “Seems better than as a mule for the Free Exchange.”

Miles was ready to end it now. He knew that there was no getting away from the Free Exchange. No matter how far or how fast he fled into the void, the leash would be around his neck. He would always be the dog of the Free Exchange, dragged back and used until it finally killed him. That life wasn’t one worth living, and he wrapped his hand around the grip of the pistol.

Father Soren shrugged his shoulders, seeing Miles holding the gun. “That option is entirely your prerogative.” He turned to the door to let himself out—although he paused as he stood in the hallway. “There is one freedom afforded to us. We do get to choose which master we serve, and not all masters are the same. I bought you some semblance of that freedom back. Seems to me a shame to waste it so readily.” The priest closed the door and left Miles to the gun.