The distance between the stars is measured in steps between you and your legacy. Ruri liked to remember the slogan from time to time. It was printed on the pamphlet that got her interested in bounty hunting in the first place. There was a whole chapter dedicated to it. Friendship, effort and victory. A lifelong streak of explosions and praise. She could still see the stylized artworks in front of her whenever she closed her eyes. The big smile of a handsome fellow, with a jacket not unlike hers. A highlighted starship trail between the planets, screaming - there is nowhere I can’t take you. And of course, the coin. Credlons, Rerga and Lo, trickling down on every page. That’s how the BHC likes to trick people into hunting down names. It’s for the good cause – The only cause.

  She tried to hide her shaking hand and pressed harder on the dripping wound. The Gurlag hadn’t said a word, but his eyes were filled with enough apathy to tell a story – probably not one Ruri wanted to hear.

  “The Vorex came out of nowhere and took over the whole ship.”

  “LIES!”

  A tall man with short black hair and a worn trench coat stumbled out of the transporter. He pressed one hand against a bleeding wound – much like Ruri’s. Basint locks dangled from the other.

  “You shouldn’t trust him. He’s a Gurlag.”

  Ruri shifted her focus and pointed the gun at the stranger.

  “Who are you?”

  The Gurlag didn’t wait. He lunged.

  A shot rang out - precise. Between her head and the blaster bolt was barely enough space for a finger and a half. Close enough to feel the heat, almost close enough to cut her.

  She should have been grateful, but this just felt like another epic streak of bad luck. She wasn’t having it.

  “You tell me what the fuck is going on. Right now.”

  “Easy, love.”

  The stranger had already sheathed his blaster and half-heartedly raised his one hand. Sloppy and halfway.

  “I’m not the bad news. Only its messenger.”

  He chuckled slightly.

  “They invited the Vorex. Were too scared to say anything and thought to be up front might save their lives. Stupid, if you ask me.”

  “What did the Vorex want?”

  Ruri was only half-assing it. Holding the stranger at gunpoint seemed more like etiquette than a necessity. She didn’t really expect him to do something.

  “Some necklace - apparently it had a chip of some sort. The Gurlag captain had it. So, they thought, you have it.”

  “So, what’s on that ship now?”

  Leido had been really quiet until now. He couldn’t let go of the Dreadnought and suspected there were more Vorex.

  “Vorex obviously.”

  Leido looked at Ruri and shortly peeked at Riga.

  Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

  “We need to get out of here.”

  “Well, yes, that’s my professional opinion. Make a run, while the sun still shines.”

  The stranger chuckled again.

  “And what profession would that be?”

  “Pardon my manners, lady.”

  Everything he said was loaded with some degree of sarcasm. He stopped hiding it.

  “Cooper McClain. A most humble Courier.”

  Leido didn’t want to hear this twice. He collected the broken pieces of Riga’s spear and snapped her out of shock with a task.

  “See if you can find Corvo’s chip.”

  Ruri had to think. There were so many uncertainties, too many questions to ask and only so much time. She hadn’t forgotten about the distress call. Whatever happens next, it wouldn’t be pretty. Cooper took a good look at her. He saw the fear in her eyes, but had too much experience to talk about it.

  “Why were you involved?”

  “I’m a Courier. Warnog bought the necklace from me. I would have asked for more, if I knew that the Vorex are after it, but I got my fair share.”

  Ruri took a moment for consideration. She didn’t trust him but had no time to figure out what’s going on.

  “We send the transporter into space. It will give us enough time to escape or at least a good shot at not getting blown up right away.”

  Leido nodded, while Riga was still skimming the remains of Corvo.

  “If I may suggest something here.”

  “You are not coming with us.”

  Ruri didn’t care for Cooper. She simply had a bad feeling about him and wouldn’t want him near the crew.

  “They are going to kill me.”

  “Something tells me you had it coming.”

  Ruri stepped forward, waving with her gun at him. He knew exactly where this was going.

  “Wait. Wait. If I may.”

  She stopped briefly.

  “Give me the body. If I have the body, they won’t shoot at me. I’m the bait and you make the escape.”

  “Why should I trust you?”

  “You should trust that I don’t want to die. They are going to hunt you either way. This way you simply don’t have to kill me.”

  Ruri was considering it.

  “Don’t kill me – please.”

  It was as sincere as she expected it to be coming from a slick Courier. Nonetheless, actually hearing the words made it harder for her to follow through. Nobody wants a murder on their conscience – not even those someone convinces themselves to be necessary.

  “I got it!”

  Riga jumped from excitement - in her hand she tightly gripped the chip. Ruri wasn’t distracted and locked on to the eyes of the Courier. She tried to see his intentions, a trick, the slight of hand or just something that helped her making a call. Leido was already rerouting the fuel reserves on the other side of the hangar - the boosters were warming and the vents regulating the pressure. It would be close, but enough to make a run. Cooper could see that he hadn’t convinced her yet, but was also carefully considering what to say.

  “See. They probably kill me anyway. With the body I have a chance – not a real one but some. I don’t know where you are going and nothing, I can do would change that they hunt you anyway. Only this way, you don’t pull the trigger.”

  She hated to even think that he was right.

  “Fine, get the body.”

  She was still aiming at him for a couple of steps before running to the other side – always glancing over her shoulder every few steps. Cooper wouldn’t move immediately and just watched her run. Riga also made her way to the ship. Leido greeted them both with a faint smirk

  “We’ve seen worse, right?”

  Obviously a little nervous. Riga was still hyped about that chip in her hand.

  “We got this.”

  She meant this, which at least briefly sparked confidence in Leido. Ruri was still watching Cooper. He had hauled the Vorex inside. Something bothered her, but she couldn’t put her finger on it. Couldn’t take her mind off it either.

  Cooper had started the transporter. A nod from Ruri signalled Leido to stay ready for a call.

  As expected the Dreadnought guns locked onto the small transporter. Nothing special there - no quick movement, no twist or exploit. At least for now it seemed like the Courier told the truth and was trying to save his own skin with the little chance he expected. Maybe that was it – Ruri thought. Someone like him wouldn’t go for that small chance. Everyone knows the Vorex are notoriously brutal – it’s manufactured terror after all.

  Their ship rose slowly just hovering towards the end of the hangar. They watched the guns following the transporter slowly – tilting ever so slightly. Every degree meant more chance to burst past the killer ship.

  “Now.”

  Leido gave it all. Boosters on full throttle. Riga almost flew straight into the back but held on to a net at the side. Ruri tried to get a look into the transporter, but couldn’t. Without much thought they were already past the Dreadnought.

  “Jumping now.”

  He counted down from 4 and suddenly it was done. Hyperspace unfolded around them. Blue lights danced across the cockpit. Leido let out a sigh of relief. Riga caught her fall and had a good laugh about it. Ruri, however, just had a bad feeling.