The lights were distracting. They flashed across huge billboards hung across every surface—constant reminders of the lures that waited just a short walk away.

But Kaine cared little for those.

All he wanted was to get off this joint... but not before he’d talked to his client.

He could have made a holocall, but those were not secure enough for the man’s taste. He had insisted they only communicate through Secview terminals. Kaine had pointed out that these were not so common in the rim, but the man had shrugged and said that wasn’t his problem.

Well, if there were such terminals anywhere in this part of the universe, it’d have to be on Evenodds. With so many wealthy people coming here, they would have to want some privacy to conduct business whenever required.

He’d gone back to the Concourse and, after waiting an unreasonable amount of time, had finally got to meet a human—a mentor.

The woman apologized for the wait.

“The bots are usually enough. Clients rarely require help beyond their skills.”

She walked him through a high-ceilinged lobby with golden chandeliers and satin chairs.

“So how may I help you, Mister...?”

“Kaine. I need to contact my employer. Securely. Do you have Secview terminals in your hotel?”

They went through a door that opened on a crowded patio with a gigantic swimming pool.

“I’m afraid not. However, there are several spread across Evenodds. The closest is at the Sunset Mall.” She paused and looked around, then pointed toward a tall building that loomed even higher than the hotel. “That’s it, right there.”

After thanking her, he headed out and toward the mall. The crowd there was even thicker, making it almost difficult to walk without bumping into someone.

He hated these types of places.

It made him miss the quiet and the comfort of Val’s ship.

He slowly made his way to a desk, where he asked for directions.

“Third floor, second door to the right,” said a man with a shiny white smile—whom he had to assume was also a bot.

With some difficulty, and much annoyance, he waded through the crowd until he reached his destination.

The terminal station was almost deserted, which made for a welcome respite.

A woman smiled at him as he entered.

“How may I direct your call, sir?”

It was a strange phrasing, but perhaps appropriate, considering the circumstances.

“I would rather make it myself,” he said cautiously. “If you could be so kind as to lend me a module?”

“Of course. It will be 60 credits. Payable in advance.”

Kaine cringed. That was an insanely steep price. But since everything here belonged to the same owner, he doubted he’d find competitive rates elsewhere.

“Fine.”

After making the transaction, the bot led him down a corridor and stopped before a door, marked with a large green 7.

He went in alone and closed the door behind him.

As soon as he’d locked it, the walls became translucent and shifted into the shape of a sphere. Looking through the walls, he could only see stars, as if he was floating in space, all alone, in the middle of nowhere. It certainly helped make the whole experience feel more secure.

He turned and walked toward the small chair and table that had been set at the center of the chamber.

Sitting down, he grazed the glowing surface before him. Green symbols appeared in the air, swirling around, taking odd shapes he knew to be letters in an ancient alien language.

Though he knew the meaning of none of them, he was familiar enough with the patterns to know what to do.

With a few quick strokes, he initiated the call.

It did not take long for a face to appear before him, floating in the air.

The man had a square jaw, short black hair, and eyes that constantly darted around, as if to make sure there were no spies nearby.

“You are alone?”

Kaine nodded.

“Do you have it?”

He opened his bag and brought out the cube, holding it before him.

The man’s eyes went wide.

“Put it away!” he hissed. “Quick. Don’t let anyone see it.”

“I am alone,” reminded Kaine. Though he did as the man asked. “I’ve held my part of the deal. I now expect you to do the same.”

“Where are you?”

Kaine frowned. “Does it matter?”

“I need to know where to send your payment,” said the other with a hint of impatience in his voice.

“Just send it to my wristpad. I’ll give you my TransID.”

The man didn’t seem too happy about this.

“That wouldn’t be very secure. I’d rather go through the Secview terminal while you’re there.”

Kaine didn’t like this. He’d never heard of any security issues with TransID transfers.

“I don’t have the information on me right now,” he said curtly. “Let me get back to you on that.”

He cut the communication before the other could say anything else.

Leaning down, he grabbed the cube and stared at it for a moment.

“What the hell are you?” he muttered.

Placing it back in the bag, he stood and walked back out. At the front, he asked for the place’s transfer details. As the bot gave him the information, she added Evenodds took a 30% cut off all transactions processed through their services.

Kaine grunted as he headed out, slipping the holodisk with all the details into his pocket.

He decided he’d go to another Secview terminal and give his employer the information from there. It would allow him a security buffer—albeit a rather tenuous one.

As he stepped out of the terminal station and back into the mall, the deafening sound of the crowd overwhelmed him. He paused a moment, waiting to adjust, then headed toward an elevator.

Before he could reach it, two men grabbed his arms—one on each side—and pulled him toward the right.

“Hey! What is this?”

“Do not make a scene, Mister Kaine,” warned one of the fellows—a large bald man with a thick black beard.

“You would not like the outcome,” added the other, who looked like he could be the first’s twin brother.