Rio and Kayden went back to scavenging parts from a giant ship, and Kayden became bored.

“Thanks for helping out,” Rio said out of the blue, which surprised him.

“No problem, I’m the lowest man on the totem pole anyway,” Kayden said. Rio paused as he thought about that remark.

“Totem pole?” Rio asked.

“Uh…it’s slang from a different planet, sorry. It means I’m low ranked,” Kayden said as he groaned. He spent several years off and on back on Earth long before he met his lover and often found himself referencing its culture without care. He had to remind himself most other species didn’t know or care about that planet since humans weren’t that high on the list in space.

“Before you came…I was the lowest, so I didn’t get as many food rations as the others or a working weapon,” Rio said bittersweetly as he touched his rifle and looked down at it.

“You mean they gave you a dummy rifle?” Kayden asked in surprise.

“I suppose you could call it that, though, they said it was usable at one time. But now it’s just a piece of junk. I really don’t have any means to defend myself out there. It’s exciting to do the heists—don’t get me wrong, but I’m scared when I go out there because I don’t know if I’ll be coming back,” Rio admitted.

“Why did you become a Dusty Walker, anyway?” Kayden asked as he continued to remove plates off the ship. He normally didn’t want to delve that deep into the lives of those he’d bump into on missions, but he was terribly bored and wanted to pass the time.

“I had nowhere else to go, no trade skills of any kind…and I want to help pay for my sister’s education at the Guardianship,” Rio said as he went back to work. Kayden thought about what he said and what he could do. He felt bad for Rio and his position. (“Kayden, don’t even think about it! This guy is not your mission!”) Kayden thought to himself as he cursed quietly. Rio faintly smiled and looked back to his piece of metal and sized it up.

“But you know, no matter how hard it gets…I will keep putting one step in front of the other and toe the line to get to the future I want. I will never give up, and will always be true to my hearts,” Rio said with determination. Kayden paused as he heard him and felt a throb in his own hearts. An image of a familiar brunette woman came to his mind with a genuine and nurturing smile.

“Your heart shines in your eyes when you are true to it, Kayden Royal. Never give up hope, no matter how hard it gets,” she said with the light of love in her eyes. The vision ended and Kayden found himself smiling warmly. Rio couldn’t help but noticed and smiled too.

“What is it? I’ve never seen you wear such a soft expression before,” Rio asked. Kayden immediately jolted and found himself wearing a tense expression as he found that he lost himself in that moment.

“It’s nothing…just…what you said just…it reminded me of something,” Kayden said quietly. Rio raised his brow. Kayden eyed him and looked anxious.

“Nevermind. Let’s get this over with so we can get back to base,” Kayden said before putting on the welder’s mask and lighting up the blowtorch.

(“Just focus on the mission…”) He thought to himself.

Rio stayed with Kayden as the other Walkers left, including the woman who had attempted to sneak up on him. Rio grinned as he held out an envelope and went to the bottom bunk and opened it eagerly.

“What are you doing?” Kayden asked.

“My sister writes to me. She is working her way through the courts at the Guardianship Citadel. I bought information on her with all my pay for a couple of years’ worth of heists, and ever since she got my letter, she’s been writing to me regularly,” he said.

“Why don’t you join the Guardianship Citadel? They have lots of job opportunities,” Kayden said.

“A Sargasian like me? That’s been a Dusty Walker for seventeen years? I’ve got no trade skill…and besides that, I don’t get paid enough to get off this miserable planet,” Rio said sadly as he lowered his letter.

“I bet you your sister could pay for your trip,” Kayden said.

“I haven’t told her I’m a Dusty Walker, she…she’d quit writing to me if I did. I lied and told her I was a merchant on planets in the outer rim,” Rio said hesitantly. Kayden fretted as he heard one sad story too many in his line of work but saw the look of joy on his face from reading his letter and smirked.

“You look up to your sister, don’t you?” Kayden asked.

“I sure do. She’s my older sister, Antra,” he said, and Kayden smiled at him.

“I’m going to read my letter now,” Rio said, and Kayden nodded and decided to take a walk around the perimeter. He discovered the armory and sized up their weapons. (“They’re going to hold up a train on this kind of firepower? They’re totally going to get caught,”) Kayden thought as he remembered the kind of cargo trains and security they put on planets this far out in the system that was not inhabited with very many populace. (“Shit…Rio…”) he thought as his conscience ate at him. (“Do the job, Kayden. Just the job,”) he reassured himself as he walked back to the bunk and saw Rio lit up with passion as he smiled ear to ear.

“Was there good news?” Kayden asked.

“Very! She was promoted to live in the upper court!” Rio exclaimed.

“Congratulations. That means she has pull on getting you in there and getting a job if you were to go to her,” Kayden said, and Rio gulped.

“That’s why I’m getting in on this heist and all the heists coming up. I’ve sworn to put this life behind me and join her at the Guardianship Citadel!” Rio said.

“It’s going to take some time, mind you…but I’ll do it, eventually,” Rio said, feeling a little disheartened. Kayden patted his shoulder and smiled at him.

“I’ve got a good feeling about you, Rio. You’ll get it done. I promise you. You’ll see the Guardianship Citadel sooner than you think,” Kayden said, feeling deep down a sense of duty to help him out somehow. There had to be something he could do about him. He may not have been a Guardian anymore, but he had renown and favors he could pull.

“When is the heist?” Kayden asked.

“Tonight, at 6 pm, we leave to prepare our positions, but it doesn’t happen until 7 pm,” Rio said.

“I’m going to go for a walk,” Kayden said, and Rio nodded.

“Come back here before 5 pm so that we can get there in time,” Rio said, and Kayden nodded. He walked outside of the Dusty Walker perimeter and made it several kilometers away when he lifted his wristband to his face and pressed a couple of buttons.

“This is the Varner guard. Who is calling?” the guard on the comms said.

“This is Kayden Royal of the Guardianship Citadel, ID number 7-8-5-9-6-7, over,” Kayden said, making sure he was the only one in the vicinity.

“Copy that, Kayden Royal. What is your purpose for this call?” the guard asked.

“There is going to be a heist on your westbound cargo train at 19:00. I want all the offenders brought in alive, I repeat, alive,” Kayden said, and there was a pause.

“Is it the Dusty Walkers?” the guard asked.

“Yeah, but there’s a Dusty Walker I want to take into custody myself,” Kayden said. The guard was surprised.

“We will take them in alive. Thank you for the advance notice. Are you on mission?” the guard asked.

“Affirmative. I’m taking down a high-profile target, but I need one of the Dusty Walkers for another mission and can’t be in two places at the same time. Your cooperation is necessary, and I wanted to give you a heads up on an attack,” Kayden said.

“We will take them into custody, alive,” the guard said.

“Thank you, I’ll be in touch after the heist goes south, I’ll be arriving at the cargo train after you apprehend them to take my intended target,” Kayden said. The guard nodded.

“Copy that,” he replied.

“Over and out,” Kayden said as he pressed a button on his wristband. He started walking back toward the Dusty Walker hideout and suddenly stopped as he sensed the thoughts of someone nearby. He looked as casual as possible as he passed the woman from earlier.

“What are you doing out here by yourself?” she asked.

“I’m taking a walk. It’s too claustrophobic at the hideout,” he said as he started walking. She walked beside him and watched him.

“You look pretty strong. Are you sure you don’t want to be in on the heist where the action is?” she asked. He shook his head.

“I’m better with a rifle,” he said, and she grinned.

“You’re just afraid of getting caught,” she said, and he looked at her like she was insane.

“You’re damn right I don’t want to be, but for the record, being a sniper gets you in more trouble when you do get caught versus just being a thief. Keep that in mind,” Kayden argued. She grinned.

“Kavlia, my name is Kavlia,” she said, and Kayden shook her hand. She was the same race as Abel and Rio, a Sargasian with a second nostril and a third eye otherwise fairly human-looking.

“Kay,” he said.

“Wow, that name, and a metal left arm…that reminds me of a famous Guardian, if your name was Kayden—that name could get you places,” she said. He flinched.

“Really now?” he asked. She nodded.

“Of course, you couldn’t be seen by anyone in person. They’d see you were a puny human,” she said as she giggled. He sweated as he realized he would actually have to be more careful in the future with his cover. He never realized he was so well known, even at backwater planets like Varner by the so-called Dusty Walkers’ two-bit gang.

“I doubt I’m anything like that Kayden. I’ve got two eyes for starters,” he said as he pointed to his eyes.

“Yeah, you couldn’t be,” Kavlia said.

“I wonder what being a cyclops would feel like by just having one eye, or even two like you. I couldn’t imagine it,” Kavlia said.

“So, what about you? What are you doing with the Dusty Walkers?” he asked.

“Just another sad story, stuck out here nowhere to go, etcetera, etcetera,” she said.

“Why not join the Guardianship Citadel? It pays better,” he asked.

“I would if only I could afford to get off this dustbowl planet. I was born and raised here by a slaver until the Dusty Walkers paid for my release to join them…they saw my potential for heists,” she said.

“So, you feel like you owe them?” Kayden asked.

“Not even! I want to earn enough pay to get out of here and get to the Guardianship Citadel. I want to earn a respectable living,” she said defiantly. He grinned and took note of her.

“You may pick up on your luckiest heist yet,” he remarked.

“You think they’re that loaded?” she asked excitedly.

“Maybe, you never know what goes through here. It’s the last planet in the lower eighty…sometimes very valuable things come through,” he said with an ironic tone.

“Do you know something about this heist that I should know?” she suddenly asked, concerned. He averted his eyes.

“You do! What is it? Spill it!” she exclaimed.

“How badly do you want to go to the Guardianship Citadel?” he asked.

“With all my hearts,” she said excitedly.

“Make sure you go on the heist. I guarantee you’ll make it there,” he said, hoping he wasn’t giving it away too much.

“Just what are you planning, Kay?” she asked excitedly.

“Something, but I’ll need you not to share that information,” he said as he stopped walking and turned toward her.

“To whom do you owe your loyalty?” he asked.

“No one, I am my own boss,” she said. He continued walking again.

“What do you think the Dusty Walkers want in life?” Kayden asked.

“To get off this rock, they all want a shot at life,” Kavlia said.

“You really think so?” he asked.

“I know so, that’s all Rio and Ronde talk about. Rio’s got a sister at the Citadel, but he’s too ashamed to tell her what he’s been up to,” Kavlia said.

“I heard about that…so if you had an opportunity, you’d take it?” he asked. She nodded. They returned to the hideout, and before long, it turned 5 pm in the evening.