After breakfast and working on the Locust Swarm for a while, Zoe decided to go for a run. While running she started researching Hayabusa Transportation. The company employed about twice as many couriers as Henri did while paying similar rates. With twice the employees, Zoe figured pay advancement wouldn’t be easy to get. She dismissed the idea of jumping ship to them unless she had no other alternatives.

For most of the run, Zoe researched other courier outfits and found similar results. The problem wasn’t that too many couriers or transport companies, it was that the business owners didn’t want to pay just like any other industry. She sighed and ended her search. Zoe decided to go to Riverside Bakery and Café to get some lemonade and bread.

“Hey Wendy,” Zoe said as she got to the counter.

“Hi Zoe. What can I get for you besides lemonade?” the waitress asked.

“A small loaf of wheat bread and…. two apple-cinnamon muffins,” Zoe answered after quickly scanning today’s specials.

“Sure. That’ll be 15 credits even,” Wendy said. “And if you’re willing to wait about five minutes, I’ll be sure to snag you a loaf of bread just as soon as they’re out of the oven.”

“I can wait,” Zoe replied as she paid. She went and took a seat at a nearby table so she would be out of the way.

“How’s your back?” a male voice asked.

“Excuse me?” Zoe asked looking up at an elven man and dismissing the news article she had been reading. The man looked to be in his late 30s, in shape, with a full beard of dark brown hair, and a crewcut that showed off his pointed ears. If not for the beard, Zoe would have thought he was in a corporate military service. Her scanner showed him to be Memphis Braddock even though he was going under the public profile of Garrett Brown. Zoe just managed to keep the grin off her face at that bit of info.

“You’re Zoe Blanco, correct?” Memphis asked. Zoe nodded. “I heard about your race and wreck a while back, and since this is the first time, I’ve seen you out and about, I thought I would ask how your back is.”

“Oh. And you are?” Zoe asked giving the man the chance to truthfully name himself while she did a quick search on him.

“Garrett Brown. I work for Braddock Transportation Services,” Memphis said.

“You’re a courier?” Zoe asked. He nodded. That much was true at least. Memphis was the first independent courier Zoe had met. “My back is better than ever. Doc Brown got me an Alimpetinum Bone replacement.”

“Never heard of that before,” Memphis said as Wendy brought Zoe her bread and muffins. “Zoe, mind if I join you?”

“Thanks Wendy,” Zoe said to the waitress. “No, I don’t mind.”

“Thanks,” Memphis said as he sat. Wendy told him she would bring his order before going back to the counter. “It’s good you’re healthy at any rate.”

“It is,” Zoe agreed. She decided to test him. “So, why are you pretending to be Garrett Brown when you’re really Memphis Braddock?”

“What? I’m not…” Memphis stammered.

“Sure, you are. Cloak is a fine daemon, but there are ways around it,” Zoe replied.

“Alright. You got me,” Memphis admitted. “Hiding my profile keeps people from asking for a job or money since they assume the company is mine. It’s also something I picked up in my youth in service of a corporate military unit.”

“The company isn’t yours?” Zoe asked giving him a questioning look.

“It is.”

“I have a question for you,” Zoe said.

“I’m not hiring. I’m perfectly happy working alone,” Memphis replied.

“Not that,” Zoe said waving a hand in dismissal. “I’m just wondering what it’s like being an independent courier and how you went about it.”

“Oh. That’s easy enough to answer. I bought the license and paid the registration fee at the county clerk’s office,” Memphis said.

“That’s all it took?”

“Yeah,” Memphis answered.

“How much is the license?” Zoe asked.

“It was 5000 when I bought mine a few years ago. They’ve probably gone up since then,” Memphis said. “Why are you asking? Not happy with Henri?”

“Something like that,” Zoe replied. Zoe glanced over his shoulder and saw Wendy starting to come their way with a tray of food. “Do you enjoy being independent?”

“Best career decision I’ve ever made,” Memphis answered. “I work when I want and make good money doing so. Plus, I only need to answer to myself.”

“That does sound nice,” Zoe replied. Wendy was almost to their table. “Anyway, I don’t want to take up too much of your time.”

“It’s not a problem,” Memphis said as Wendy sat the tray down. He thanked her before she walked back to her station. Zoe stood. “Leaving already?”

“Yeah. I want to go home and do some more research.”

“It was nice meeting you,” Memphis said. “If you have any more questions, don’t’ hesitate to reach out to me.”

“Thanks, and it was nice meeting you as well,” Zoe replied. “Do you know any other independent couriers?”

“I was wondering how long it would take before you asked that,” Memphis said giving Zoe a smile. “I have a few names I can give you. In fact, start with Dalton. She’s getting a bit cranky in her old age but knows her stuff.”

“Thanks again,” Zoe said.

“Don’t mention it,” Memphis replied sending Zoe a list of names.