We arrived back at the compound a while later. Nobody said a word on the ride. I sat in silence reviewing my stats and notifications to pass the time. I stared at my overall stats for a while, pondering exactly how long it would take me to get them all past level P-50 so I would be able to get my next level. I eventually decided that it didn’t do any good to think about it right now. I needed my armor before I could use my abilities and it didn’t look like that would be happening for a while. I dismissed my stats and opened my pending notifications.

  Level 50 reached!

  New ability unlocked!

  +New ability cannot be assigned until armor suppression is nullified.*

  I was happy to see I was going to gain a new ability, but frustratingly, I couldn’t even see the available options until I got my armor back.

  The transport stopped, and everyone jumped out and rushed into the compound. Dan grabbed Red and proceeded to guide him toward the bunk rooms to get him settled. I needed to get him up to speed, but after the way he looked at me after I killed Theodrus told me that right now wasn’t the time.

  I was heading to the locker room with the rest of the squad when Kindo rushed up behind me and grabbed me by the shoulder.

  “Me and you need to have a chat, Boy.” Kindo said.

  I pulled my shoulder away without turning and took another step toward the locker room. A cold chill passed through my body before I saw Kindo phase in front of me.

  “Move,” I said coldly.

  “Make me, boy,” Kindo growled in response.

  Without hesitation, my left hand shot forward with a jab, passing right through Kindo’s head.

  “I’m not in the mood for your games, Kindo. Just let me get changed,” I shook my head in frustration.

  Kindo phased back to his solid form before calmly putting a hand on my chest. “Ya don’t get it, do ya, boy?” He looked down solemnly. “We all been in yer shoes, y’know. We all hated the galaxy at some point er other.” Kindo held his hands out to his sides. “Look where it got us. We got nothing. We kill fer the little bit o joy we do have. We been overwhelmed by circumstance since we got sucked into our reapings, boy. You don’t have to be like us.” Kindo put his finger to my chest. “You ain’t gotta be running round trying to kill everything you label enemy. You’re supposed to be different.”

  “What makes you believe I’m different? All I want to do is save my crew and get back to planet. I can protect them but I can’t do it from here.” I said.

  “See? Do ya even see what you said there, boy?” Kindo leaned his back against the hallway wall and slid down. “Sit down ya stubborn ass of a boy.” He patted the floor beside him. “Andrew…” His using my name instead of calling me boy got my attention. “I been watching you. When you got here I thought you were just another Chaff, just gonna be another member of the squad. I can’t say as I thought that was a bad idea since we haven’t had a new member in some time so I decided to keep an eye on you. Matthias pulled me aside the day we let you loose and told me a few things about you. As he learned more, he told me more. I seen something in you the more I watched. You are different…that’s the conclusion I came to, boy.”

  “I’m not different. I fight the same as all of you do.” I said.

  “Wrong, Boy!” Kindo hissed. “We fight for money. We fight so we have a bed to lay our heads on. That’s not you though. Just now, when you tried to convince me that you ain’t different from us, did you hear what you said?”

  “Yeah, I said I need to save my crew,,” I responded.

  “Not a one of us does this for anyone else but ourselves, boy. Not you, though. You do this for yer people. Do ya know how rare that is in these parts? We are on the capital planet of the Galactic Council. Everyone here is working an angle. Everyone is out for themselves. This place is a pile of shit and bile floating in cold dead space, so I get you wanting to get home. I understand that you are fighting for your crew, for your friends. That is what I am trying to tell you, though. You do it for them. That is why you are different,” Kindo stood up and straightened his jacket. “You killed Theodrus in cold blood back there. Now, I ain’t saying he didn’t deserve it, but I am saying it wasn’t necessary. You take too many steps down that path, and it’s gonna be real hard to come back. Just think about that.” Kindo walked toward the locker room before speaking back over his shoulder. “Matthias is gonna wanna talk about what happened. I figure you oughta try and convince him that won’t happen again.”

  I sighed before getting up and heading toward Matthias’ office. I got to his door and knocked. “Matthias, Kindo said you needed to talk to me.”

  “Come in,” the response was cold. “Captain Dawes, we need to discuss your actions before we take our partnership any further,” Matthias said as I sat in one of the large, overstuffed chairs facing his desk.”

  “I can explain,” I said.

  “Oh! You can explain. Well, I must say I would be delighted to hear why you killed a defenseless man in cold blood in full view of multiple Council security feeds,” He leaned back and pulled a stinger from the ornate case on his desk. “Please do proceed, Captain Dawes.”

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

  “The man insulted me. He had already attacked and tried to kill us all.” I said.

  “Stop,” Matthias held up a hand. “Let me be very clear here, Mr. Dawes. What you did was not only sloppy and unnecessary but also illogical and hurt the overall chances for our plan’s success. I have given you people, resources, and a base of operations. In return, I have asked you for nothing other than your skills. How do you repay me? You kill a man in the streets. You endanger my squad, and you risk the entire plan.”

  “Look, I get it. I control myself moving forward. I really don’t need a lecture right now.” I moved to get up.

  “Sit down, Mr Dawes,” Matthias snapped. “I am on the verge of dissolving our plans and putting you and your friend on the streets to fend for yourselves.”

  I sat back down and sighed. “Look, I don’t know what came over me. I have a lot of anger inside me because of everything that has gone on since the Orbs dropped on my planet. I never had the power to do much about that, though. Once I had the power it became easier and easier just to end the people that got in my way. I don’t know what else to say. I will be more strategic moving forward, the plan can still work.”

  Matthias put his elbow on his desk and eyed me closely. “I will allow you to continue, Mr. Dawes. You will, however, have to understand that I can’t put myself or my squad at risk like this again. You work the plan as it is intended to be worked. No more collateral damage than absolutely necessary. If I am to take this city, I will need support from its remaining citizens, and allowing you to run around and carve them up just won’t do.”

  “So, what now?” I asked.

  “Well, that is a very long answer to a very short question, Mr. Dawes. I dispatched some of my men to clean up the mess and dispose of Thedrus’s body. His men won’t cause much of a stir,\ but Theodrus had some influential clientele. I will need to ensure that his club is back up and running soon if I am to pacify the powers that be. I will need to install a new club owner in order to do that.”

  I put my hands up defensively. “Well, I don’t want it.”

  “Ha!” Matthias slapped his leg. “You do have a sense of humor, don’t you, Mr. Dawes?”No, no, I don’t believe you, and I will be expanding our partnership outside of our current venture. No, I believe I will be installing Kindo into that role. I will, of course, maintain a majority stake as a silent partner, but Kindo has been loyal for many years, and it is time to allow him to reap the benefits of his many years of service.”

  “So, what does that have to do with me?” I asked.

  “Well, Mr. Dawes. I will need some reassurance from you moving forward. I have full confidence in your ability to complete your task. I, after all, am the person backing you. Unfortunately, I cannot be sure that this little business venture of ours will not come back to haunt me in the future. In that vein, I require some insurance. I am afraid I must ask that your friend, Red, stay on as club manager for the foreseeable future.”

  “You’ve lost your fucking mind!” I shouted, standing up from my chair. “I am not just gonna leave one of my friends on this shithole of a planet. I came for all of my crew and I will leave with ALL of them.”

  Matthias put his hands up. “Mr. Dawes. While I can respect your…energy. I would ask that you speak to your friend first. He will be paid a good wage, and if I’m not mistaken, he seemed rather at home in that club. If he refuses, we can continue this conversation. If he accepts, then you have no reason to ‘save’ him.”

  I stood without a word and headed to find Red. Matthias was out of line and I needed to make sure Red and I had a plan. I walked down the hallway a bit before seeing Red step out of a room.

  “Hey, man. We need to talk.” I said before pushing the door open and going into his room. Red followed before closing the door behind him.

  “What’s up, Cap.” Red sat in a chair near the bed.

  “Matthias is threatening to hold you here as insurance. I am not gonna let that happen. I don’t know what the solution is right now, though. I need him to help me save the rest of the crew. I can’t do it without him.”

  “Wait a sec. What do you mean ‘keep me here’? Red asked.

  “He is giving Kindo the club. He said he wanted to keep you here as club manager. I told him there was no wa….”

  Red shot up from his chair and clapped. “Hell yeah! finally some good news! I mean, I like fighting with you, Cap. Flying around on the Bloodhound and all that, but damn. A guy can only take so much of that shit.”

  “Wait…” I tilted my head in confusion. “You want to stay here? What about your friends and family, what about Earth?”

  “I got nobody back home, Cap. Honestly, I didn’t have many before the drop. It’s just me, well, I got you guys now, but let’s be honest, I’m not exactly an integral member of the crew.”

  “What are you talking about? You killed that Lycoan back there in the club. You stomped his fucking head in!”

  “Cap, I get it. I can fight. And if the time comes when you need me, you will know where to find me.” Red sat on the bed beside me. “I’m gonna help you get the rest of the crew, nothing could keep me from helping with that. I gotta be honest though, I don’t really care for all this levelling up shit. I mean, the way I see it, I’m lucky to be alive right now. I’m not gonna get as strong as Elvis, or Kaj, or you. The chances of me ending up like Claire are way better than me ending up like you. So, if I can stay here and literally live in a brothel, then I would be stupid to pass that up.”

  I chuckled at his response before putting a hand on his shoulder. “You know he wants to keep you around as insurance in case I decide to double-cross him down the road, right?”

  Red shrugged, “Well, if you decide to come after him down the road, that means you will be stronger and more badass than you already are. I don’t think there will be shit he can do about it at that point. At that point, it will be easy. Just call me 50 Cent, because you can find me in the club.”

  “What are you talking about?” I asked.

  “You know, when you need to save me…I’ll be at the club.” Red sighed. “Look, Cap. It’s all good. Let’s finish saving the others, and then we can talk more about it. Tell Matthias I’m in, though.” Red stood up and motioned toward the door. “Now, can we get some damn food? I been exercising like a mother fucker for the last few days and I am starving!”

  We walked toward the kitchen as Dan ran up to us. “Andrew, you guys wanna get to the control room. Matthias got a message from one of your guys.”

  “A message? How?” I asked, surprised.

  “Not sure. It’s a guy named Jax. Says he has a couple more of your crew being held hostage.” Dan stopped and put a hand on my chest. “Says if you don’t do something, he is gonna kill them and stream it to all the feeds on the entire planet as an example.”

  I felt the anger and feelings of betrayal burning inside. How? How could Jax turn on his friends and his brother? I clenched my fists as a pain shot through my head, followed by the now-familiar voice.

  “Kill?” the voice asked.

  “Kill that piece of shit dead!” I growled in response.