The rest of the wait on the exempted planet passed without incident. On this ramp, there were hardly any Sluggers. The collection of pristine and advanced vehicles all reeked of baronhood opulence. Most likely here to sample whatever vices this place offered. Alec refused to linger on that thought; those in the baronhood had… unique tastes. He went through the process, the lights, the grounder, the rift, and through the milky view, Alec could see the sprawling lit skyscrapers of Earth Prime.

  Exiting to Earth Prime's rift-station was unlike any other experience. The vast towers of the Rift-station's sappers were shining like beacons. Walking between them were the soldiers, not the militia of the outer worlds. Baronhood soldiers made Alec think twice, and it was one of the reasons he despised coming back here. They couldn't replicate Alec, though they had tried. All those lives and sufferings did have a final result, but it was not of Alec's mould. These monstrosities were mech-suits that the operator was biologically welded to. There was no way to separate them once the procedure was complete. It did not require Aamaranth, it did not grant long life. Their strength and military prowess were unparalleled. Other than Alec.

  Alec didn't leave the rift-station this time. If even a fraction of what happened on that exempt planet, Alec's life would be forfeit here. The rift stations on Earth Prime were like small kingdoms unto themselves. Multiple stages, multiple rifts, all under the central control of the baronhood. He drove down the indicated passages to reach his next portal platform. It was at the farthest station. The lights were dimmer here, and there were a few small sluggers and a fleet of odd vehicles Alec had never seen before. They hovered. Being wheelless was usually a perk of the ultra-wealthy. The fuel required to maintain a consistent hover could feed a few planets.

  As he pulled into his place in line, a few more of the hovering vehicles pulled up behind Alec. They were rectangular and heavily armoured but still looked like cargo transporters. Each, however, had a large turret manned by a baronhood soldier. Alec felt incredibly uneasy, a feeling he was more stranger to than familiar. Quip's voice chimed in as Alec began to plan a way out.

  "Alec." Quip's voice was quiet and filled with the apprehension Alec felt. "I have finished compiling all low-level communications regarding Kelter III. Making very few jumps in logic or reasoning, I can tell you why this contract is so secretive. This planet we are going to is the last remaining Aamaranth mine."

  Alec let the silence hang. The vehicles all now made sense. They hovered so as not to compromise the Aamaranth and have it bring the rift station down in a glorious explosion. He assumed these were all going back empty.

  "How much does this job pay?"

  "Alec, they started at 6 vials, and with how long we've let this sit, they are now offering 25 vials. It seems they are well supplied in soldiers, and a young baron rules the planet. Baron Von Sinclair.”

  Alec knew the surname; they were one of the originating families of the baronhood. If this was indeed the last Aamaranth mine, Alec understood why it was so protected.

  Quip continued, "There has been a rebellion there that has appeared to have disrupted the shipments to the baronhood enough that the price for your contract has been offset by Earth Prime."

  That made things even more suspicious to Alec. Baronhood planets very rarely shared anything, especially a cost. "Hey Quip, new query. The hovers beside us, how much Aamaranth could one of those hold?"

  Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

  "We would no longer be talking about vials, we would be talking about oceans." Alec saw the analytics pop up on the Vidtronic device. With the amount of Aamaranth from just one hover transport, he could live for a century. Alec was fairly certain he was the last of his kind left, and the soldiers of the baronhood had no need for it. Outside of that, it was only ever used as a devastating explosive.

  This rift-station opened with no countdowns and no alarms. The lights flickered slightly as it was opening, as if it were one of the first rifts to ever be opened. The sluggers and hovers began to pull through at a measured pace. No one here was rushing. Alec followed suit, easy quip into the line. There was another large bump as he moved forward. Maybe Quip was in need of a break and repairs. The thought of living on reserves left Alec's arm itching, and he wiped the thought from his mind. His last thought as he drove through the rift to his final destination was "what did the baronhood need all that Aamaranth for?"

  The rift station on the other side was compact and efficient. It boasted shining steel Sappers, and they mirrored an amber sun. A forty-foot wall blocked out any outside view save for a clear, blue, cloudless sky. Mechanized baronhood soldiers capped the wall like parapets, scanning their half mechanical eyes inward at the station with no regard for what lay beyond the wall. Alec had seen prison planets with less security. The line here to exit the ramp was slow-moving.

  "Alec, this station is scanning each vehicle one by one. Shall I jam the signal?"

  "No Quip, we're here for a job. Ain't nothing inside that poses a threat here outside of me."

  "I feel even that is mitigated here."

  "Nothing a little preparation can't give as an edge on. Start your own scan and tap into the local communications. Get the changeling machine primed up. As soon as we are through, I want the cover of local fashions."

  "I can do my best, Alec, but without any accessible information, it is a guess at best."

  The line pulled slowly ahead. Alec saw the large flickering lights of the scanner pass over Quip. His loyal steed stayed quiet, and Alec felt his apprehension. The artificial sentience remained silent as it waited for the scan to complete. Large red lights flashed rapidly, indicating that Alec should stop. A mechanized soldier stepped forward. The human part of him was dressed in a simple collared shirt and worn canvas pants. He tapped the side of his head, indicating to Alec that he should enable his radio to an open channel.

  Alec flipped the switch, and a crisp voice came over the radio. "State your business. Vehicle classification is unidentified, and we do not accept visitors to Keltar III."

  "I ain't no visitor, here on business with Baron Von Sinclair." The soldier seemed to double-take at this. He switched his radio to a different channel and mouthed a conversation Alec could not hear". The radio voice cracked to life in Quip's cockpit again.

  "Declare your crew, weapons and any dangerous or controlled goods".

  "Crew is me, I got a gun, and I run special equipment that utilizes Aamaranth". Alec looked at the vial in his arm. Down two lines, those last two jumps had not been kind. The voice took a long time to respond.

  "Security bay three." Lights flashed as the final command directed Alec to the left. He saw what looked like a corral that could fit a slugger. Military deterrents surrounded the pit, and razor wire topped it. Alec sighed. He had hoped for an easy crossing, and he wanted this job done. He manually drove Quip over to the security bay and down a small ramp into a pit. The gate closed behind him with a large booming alarm. Six baronhood soldiers stepped out from the shadows and levelled Energon rifles at Quip.

  A voice called out with no radio assistance. "Step out from the vehicle, both of you."

  Alec's mind reeled. Both of you? Were they meaning Quip? Was he about to lose his loyal ride? The thought gave the vehicle sentimental value, and Alec realized he was beginning to see Quip as more than just transportation. He was a part of this cyclical life now.

  Alec cracked the outer door and climbed out of the cockpit. He looked apprehensively around for an escape, but there was no going back now. As his feet touched the dusty orange dirt, Alec heard a sound coming from under Quip. The sound of a bump, so familiar on the last two jumps, finally made sense to Alec. The Grounder boy, who had seen fall on the platform, crawled out from his stow-away place under Quip.