“Charge one: breach of contract and illegal use of an Argonaut while under strict terms.

  Charge two: Damage to Vanguard property without Pantheon clearance.

  Charge three: illegal trespassing on a Vanguard owned planet.

  Charge four-”

  “Let me guess, breathing Vanguard owned air?” Jax says, lending back in his chair. The fluorescent light flickered slightly as he spoke, as if reacting to his words. The room was small, only big enough to fit a single desk with various documents and holopads, two chairs, the one where he sat and the other across the desk where one “Daniel Alkanov” sat, his assigned handler. There was another person in the room. Leaning against a wall on Daniel’s side, Fraser. She had her arms crossed and stared in some random direction, occasionally holding up a device to her mouth and taking a long sip before blowing out a puff of smoke. “Well, I was going to say that you made illegal use of Vanguard equipment after you breached your contract, and technically we own the air on that planet so on a technical level, you’re right, but we like to skip those levels of granularity, saves me some paper work.” Daniel said, inspecting some papers before putting back down. “There are many other charges, but we can skip most of them. The point is that you’re being cut off and will have a debt placed on your name.” Jax furrowed his brow as Daniel spoke. Every fibre in his body screamed at him to just lunge forward and grip his throat. But he knew the only way that ended was with a bullet through his skull. “How big?” said, letting out a large sigh, sinking deeper in his chair while staring the man opposite him dead in the eye.

  “Approximately five hundred million, nine hundred thousand, three hundred and sixty-six Vaux and three one hundred and one Merz. adjusted for planetary inflation across the three sectors is nine and ninety-nine hundred million, nine hundred and ninety-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine hundred Vaux and nine hundred and ninety-nine Merz. We have a limit of debt we can assign, sadly. Do you want to hear the full value?”

  “Nah… I think I’m fine…” Jax said, the hate in his voice very much apparent. Fraser took another long drag of her device, letting out a cloud of toxic smelling mist from her nose. Jax glanced at her for just a moment. She was warning her full uniform, this time with all the emblems and insignia that gave away her affiliation. She tugged the collar slightly, as if in a state of uncomfort, before she noticed him staring and returned the gaze with a dead pan shrug. “Why is, she, here?” Jax asked

  “She brought you in, plus she wanted to be around while you heard your terms.” Daniel replied with a smirk on his face.

  “Nice, the hunter wants to hear the fate of her prey.” Jax said, his gaze still fixed on Fraser. Daniel sighed, “I swear, you pilots are all the same… Anyways,” he continued, adjusting the collar similarly as Fraser, this time with the intent of remaining proper. “As for the conditions of your sentence, we won’t be bringing you to prison, despite the fact you don’ t have enough money to pay off the debt with the Vaux in your account and possessions combined. The higher ups decided that you're too valuable to have locked away, they think it's best to have a different sentence that is still compliant to Pantheon regulations.” Jax raised an eyebrow at Daniel’s statement. He was ready to spend time in jail again. “Instead, you will be let free, with the debt still tied to your name. But there will be no time limit. You are free to send money to the provided account when you can.” Jax physically reacted to the information. Sitting up in his chair as his brain tried to make sense of the conditions of his sanction. Fraser was also taken back from the information, stopping mid-drag as she got off the wall she was leaning on. “What?” she remarked, “So all he gets off with is a slap on the wrist?

  “Why are you so ticked off? Mind your own business!” Jax snapped back

  “Ladies” Daniel said, raising his hand. Fraser pulled back, still with a confused face and resentful glare. Jax also sat back down in his chair, still staring daggers at Fraser. “While there isn’t a set date, you need to have your dues paid back by, Because you are a valuable assent, to ensure that Vanguard still has access to your skills you will be required to have permanent employment as a soldier rather than a mercenary when Vanguard deems their situation to be, war-like.” Daniel spoke with an almost deceiving tone. Conveying all the information on paper, but still leaving Jax puzzled. “I hope these terms are to your liking. If not, you can always settle for a life sentence…”

  “I’ll take your deal” Jax said. “But if I’m able to pay it back before then, I’m off the hook. Right?”

  The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “Correct-”

  “Then mark my words” Jax interrupted, “I’ll have that amount back before you guys even consider me an option”

  Daniel, slightly annoyed at Jax’s interruption, then stands up, adjusting the lower half of his decorated uniform and gathers his papers before saying “Glad to hear you will take our offer. Sergeant Fraser will escort you out.”

  The cold air hit Jax and Fraser like a brick wall. Behind them, the monolithic structure casts neon light onto the street and buildings in front of them. “I can finally smoke for real…” Fraser says, plucking a cigarette from the breast pocket of her uniform. “You smoke?” She asks, glancing at Jax. “No, they taste bad…” Jax says, adjusting the bag on his shoulder containing the few things he was allowed to keep.

  “Suit yourself” Fraser says, lighting the cigarette. “What's your next move?”

  “Get an Argonaut and get back to work…” Jax replies.

  “Have you paid any thought to the idea that maybe you should stop piloting?”

  “Why would I do that? It's the best way to make money. Plus, I’m pretty sure I’m the only one who takes jobs crazy enough that pay off my debt.” Fraser takes a drag on her cigarette, ash falling to the ground and landing on the snow covered floor. “Hmm… surprisingly, I agree with you for once.” She then lets out a sigh, a cloud of smoke blowing into the night sky. A silence falls over the two. Wind whistles through the air, blowing flocks of snow across the street. “Why’d you tag along to see my theoretical execution?” Jax asks. The thought lingered in his mind for long enough. Fraser looked back at him again. Her face was a combination of perplexment and mild irritation, as if she hoped he wasn’t going to ask. “Well, I did say that it was none of your business. And now that you’re no longer part of Vanguard, that's doubly true.”

  “Damm, you are one stubborn bastard.” The wind started to pick up. Fraser shook a little as the cold started to get to her. She flicked the cigarette onto the street before saying, “Well. I wish you the best, Jax. The waters of the world are stirring behind closed doors. I hope you don’t get caught up in the tidal wave when we open them.” She wormed a cigarette into his hand before turning around and waving goodbye as she went inside once more. Jax looked down at the little paper cylinder in his palm. He didn’t even have a lighter. At first, he wanted to throw it away. Simply chuck it onto the street. But something stopped him.

  Instead, he stuffed it into his pocket. And turned to face the long stretch of road ahead of him. On the horizon line, glowing lines of flying vehicles lines the sky, creating a cage of light around the planet. If you looked even further, you could see the massive floating platforms that housed the rich and powerful. The moon, amongst everything, was just a dim blue sphere. Its light overpowered by the cities own illumination. Despite its size, its importance, it was outshone by the light of others, by the light of man. Inside his pocket, Jax griped the cigarette, he gripped it so tight that he could feel the artificial nicotine spill out. With a deep sigh, he took one step, then another, then another. The simple act of walking became an elaborate manoeuvre that took every thought in his mind to preform. The dread hung on him, the number so forefront it almost physically pushed him deeper into the snow. His mind wandered, his train of thought racing around the corners of his brain. But every time it reached a definitive point all he found were burnt memories, or empty corners. He tried to think about what he would do. Who to make a deal with, how to keep fighting. How to spill blood. But he couldn’t. Instead, he remembered things. People, familiar faces. He didn’t think of people often. Mainly because he never had consistent people in his life. Instead, he only had numbers, contacts, call signs. Other official designators. But now. As he wallowed, the streets of some unknown planet under the gaze of the conga line of light. He remembered people he swore to forget. A woman in white holding a gun, tears streaming down her face. A man holding his hand as they walked through a dark alley way. And now, Fraser. He hated it.

  After hours of wandering, his feet began to give out. The cold had finally gotten to him as the bitter sensation ate away at his fingers, toes, and ears. He jaw was clattering so violently that he was scared he’d chip a tooth. The straps of his bag began to dig into his shoulders, and his lungs were starting to burn from heavy breathing. The ports on his body and other implants also cooled down. The now freezing metal almost burning his skin. He had wandered so far by now that the neon lights of the main district had been replaced with small led signs and abandoned buildings with occasional passed out beggar lining the walls. Taking a hint from them, he found an empty patch of floor and huddled up. Reaching into his bag, he grabbed a couple of spare clothes and other pieces of cloth and draped himself in them. Creating a makeshift duvet. The bitter coldness still ate through his defences though. The shaking didn’t stop, and the wet floor started to soke his clothes. But he was so tired, his bones ached, his muscles felt like they had been torn apart, and his head was dizzy from the blinding lights and the bind bending headspace he was in, caused by the feedback from his implants. Gripping his makeshift cover tightly, he slowly closes his eyes. His brain is too exhausted to wander, but also too tiered to sleep. The wind continues to blow. And snow continues to fall. In the distance, he hears the sound of the city. Cars, people, and other ambiance faintly cover the dead atmosphere of the street. As Jax, one of many lost souls, try to escape to the land of dreams.