The Calypso zipped through space as Jax tapped flashing, multicolor buttons on the control panel, and announced, "Our ETA to the Obsidian Cluster is thirteen hours."

"Thank you, Jax." Syd cocked a dark brow and took a few steps towards Liri. "Now, Lady Delaney, why exactly are we going into that region of space?"

"We are heading to a branch of Bazentine Werks on Leechaha." She glanced at Ardon and then said, "We need to get in and see why our client's money is being diverted to such an inhospitable sector of space."

"Why would you have a client?" Jax asked.

"It's a job for Nico," Ardon stated while locking eyes with the orangutan. "And as I said, I'm giving Liri an adventure."

"Right."

Syd adjusted the goggles holding curly black-hair out of her eyes as she moved to the command chair and sat. "That sector has been considered wild space since the cluster was strip-mined over five-hundred years ago. We will most likely run into pirates, so we need a plan and have several backups."

"We will leave getting us on the planet for you and Jax to figure out. Liri and I need to go over the company's blueprints to find a way in; then, we'll let you know the whole plan."

Syd rolled her eyes and growled, "Fine. You have a couple of hours to work out your kinks, or whatever in your usual quarters. Then we need to know if we go in there guns blazing or if we keep a low profile."

"Thanks, Syd," Ardon sarcastically stated. "I appreciate you getting us out of there...like I paid you to do."

"I work for your rich-ass girlfriend now." Syd chuckled. "As a matter of fact, I'm going to go make my wishlist for my new ship while you two go chat."

"Whatever you choose, I'll give you, so long as we get what we need," Liri stated as Ardon led her off the command deck and towards the crew's quarters.

Syd's voice followed them out, "I like that one; she speaks my language."

The door closed behind them with a hiss after entering in their temporary quarters.

"Give me a minute," Ardon said. He pulled out a scanner and waved it over the bed, holo-table, chairs, as well as the lone dresser. Once he was satisfied, he set the device in the center of the room and tapped a few buttons.

He ran his hands through his hair, freezing when noticing Liri's arms crossed over her chest and wearing a frown.

"You look like a man in need of a smoke or three." She studied him intensely.

"No, no." He shook his head and clenched his jaw.

She jutted her chin at him. "How many days have you gone without?"

He squinted. "How did...a week." Clearing his throat loudly when Liri's frown deepened, he flew to the replicator. "I need a stiff drink. Do you want one?"

"Make it a double."

Ardon pressed a few buttons on the wall panel and handed her a green and orange layered liquid in a scotch glass after it materialized in the nook. They sat at the small, round table and took a few sips while studying one another.

She cleared her throat before demanding, "Now tell me the real reason you are helping me."

"I already told you that you're—"

She held her hand up to stop him. "The truth, Mr. Rowe."

He took a sip of his drink. "Fine. I need you to clear some charges against me."

"I knew it." Closing her eyes, she pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Aren't you going to at least hear me out before you jump to conclusions?"

Her eyes snapped open. "Explain yourself then."

He took a long pull from his glass before speaking, "I came across some disturbing information about a prestigious man on the grand council. I leaked the information to the media and caused legal issues for said person. Of course, they have loads of money and were able to buy their way out of trouble. Trumped-up charges concerning black-market trading were slapped on me as a way to shut me up."

"Who?" She took several deep gulps of the dual-hued liquid.

"Councilman Mekaal Angaran."

Liri nodded slowly. "My father had some dealings with Angaran and his trophy husband. From what I remember, they were less than pleasant guests when they visited the estate. Father cut ties with him soon after."

"Sounds like him," Ardon agreed.

"What information did you find on Angaran?"

"He was siphoning tax money into a private account off-planet."

"So the dirty Councilman was lining his pockets, hum? I'm not even remotely surprised."

"That would have been one thing, but it's not that simple. It turns out that money was being used to bolster the drug cartel in several nearby systems."

"More money to line his pockets with?"

"If only. Essentially, the cartel was numbing the citizens so they could strip the natural resources of the planets it was targeting."

Liri frowned. "It sounds exactly like what happened to the Obsidian Cluster."

"I thought the same thing when you told Syd where we were heading."

She studied him for a long moment. "I take it you know what I'm running from?"

Cocking his head to the side, he said, "I know what the news says."

With a shake of her head, she protested, "I didn't—"

"I know." He reached over, placed his hand on hers, and gave it a light squeeze. "There's no way you murdered your parents."

"How can you be so sure?"

He kept his eyes locked on hers. "You don't fit the profile."

Liri's chin quivered, and she downed the last of her drink. "I love my parents; they were my world."

"You must have people back home that miss you."

She nodded. "I'm sure a few of my harem-mates miss me, as I do them."

His eyes widened along with his smile. "So, the harem thing is true?"

Her light chuckle filled the cabin. "Yes, with such long lives, Dubrovn's tend to form strong relationships of sexual and intellectual natures without committing to a life-bond. Most of us don't exchange the unbreakable-promise until we are at least a century old, so a harem is a safe space for close relations."

"How many harem-mates do you have?"

Her mouth fell open. "That's a rather personal thing to ask someone you've known for less than a day."

"No." Running his hand over his whiskered chin, he said in a playful tone, "A personal question would have been, what sexual position do you like best? Do you prefer men or women? What's the prerequisite to join your sex club? That sort of thing."

She cocked her eyebrow at him.

"I wouldn't mind if you answered that last one, by the way." He winked.

"Are you capable of being serious?" Liri asked while trying to keep a smile from her face.

"No, not really. Besides, I've been told that it's unhealthy to be somber more than five minutes at a time." He frowned at his empty tumbler. "Unless you're drinking."

Shaking her head, Liri stood, moved to the replicator and ordered two more glasses of the same alcoholic beverage as before. Giving one to Ardon, she wandered the room before stopping in front of the small port window.

Her voice sounded far away as she spoke, "My parents were funding a large project with several other well-to-do Dubrovn families. Two of which have been missing for over a year, and now my parents... That's what led me to Bazentine Werks and the Obsidian Cluster."

"Do you know what kind of project they were funding?"

She tapped her bracelet and sent several documents to hover over the holo-table for Ardon to inspect. "The ledgers never stated specifics, just materials, and labor."

He flipped through the transparent pages. "It's odd that a company this size wouldn't itemize things neatly for the government to take their fair share, but it's not mandatory, nor does it seem to be reason enough for alarm."

"My father was a visionary who established schools and healthcare facilities as well as furthering science advancement. He invested trillions into the company, and all the ledgers say is that load of bullshit." She jerked her chin at the holo-pages. "It doesn't make sense, and the Obsidian Cluster isn't a place people usually want anything to do with."

"I see." He took a drink. "I know this may be unpleasant to talk about, but why are they pegging your parent's murders on you?"

With a heavy sigh, she stated, "My folks and I had our problems, families always do. That night we had a public disagreement about what I should or shouldn't be wasting my time on."

"Yeah, but isn't it required that parents be overprotective?"

"I suppose, but there are vicious creatures on the outskirts of my hometown. They are nothing more than a nocturnal shadow with glowing red eyes. However, I can tell you, they have razor-sharp teeth and knife-like claws." She tucked her hair behind her left ear and turned her head to show the three gashes across her face.

"That's how you acquired those?" He lifted his eyebrows.

She nodded, and a wavering smile graced her face. "Yes, when I was in my forties, I think. But that's a story for another time."

"I'll hold you to that," he said as he leaned back in his chair.

"Needless to say, my father didn't think I should be shadow hunting anymore. He claimed that I needed to be alive in case something happened to him and my mother since I haven't produced an heir. So we fought, rather passionately," Liri's voice cracked. "My mother was the calm one, but once she puts her foot down—her word was law, and she decided to do so that last night."

"Why was that night any different than the rest?"

Liri ran her finger along the rim of her glass. "Pasley asked for my hand, and my parents wouldn't allow me to life-bond with her. Then they tried to arrange another match for me in the same breath as they denied her request. I should have the right to choose who I bond with, but my parents are a little backward in their thinking."

"Her?" He frowned.

Liri nodded.

"Well, a thousand credits says she did it."

"What?" Liri's cheeks flushed dark blue.

"Come on, she got told she couldn't have you all to herself." He ran his eyes over her. "I'd be mad too."

"I know for a fact that Pasley didn't do it."

"How can you be so sure?"

She sighed heavily. "The crime scene was something from a horror movie, and what's worse is that the security cameras had footage of my doppelganger killing them. I gave my statement to the authorities and was told I was an amazing truth-twister who was going to rot in prison for the rest of my life." She took a deep breath. "So, I ran."

Ardon downed the last of his drink and set it on the table with a click. "I will help you clear your name Liri, as long as you return the favor."

"I have a ship." She looked around. "Why do I need to keep you?"

"I have connections you may need. Consider me the winged-muscle that can swoop in when you find yourself in a bind, like earlier today."

She smiled. "I suppose you're right, and thank you for that, by the way."

"Anytime."

"Well, I can't guarantee that I can get your charges dropped, but I can promise you that I'll try my hardest."

"I think you'll be able to." He pushed his glass aside and pressed several buttons on the holo-table. A schematic appeared where the documents had been. "Now, let's see if we can come up with a way to get into Bazentine Werks without raising the alarms."

"Right." Liri moved back to the table, and the two began discussing their next move.