"That sounds appetizing. Does anybody know anywhere good?"
"I know just the place," Torvyn said with a wink.
We sat down at a small round table, all of us crowding together. Above us, large aquatic animals swam in tanks with glass bottoms, the only things between us and the stars. Watching their dark shapes glide atop us was mesmerizing. I glanced to my right and saw an elderly waiter approaching, three of their four arms loaded with menus, the fourth hanging limp and scarred.
"I know you," they said, pointing at me with the good arm. "Your face has been plastered all over the news blasts."
"Is that so?" Torvyn asked, his hand disappearing beneath the table.
"Yes, sir. They are offering a lot of credits for you," they said, still pointing at me. "And you know what I have to say about that?"
I blinked, not sure how to respond.
The waiter leaned forward as the Knights tensed. "Those corpo's can go blast themselves into the sun! You are a hero here, lady. All of you. Your meals on the house, as long as you make me one promise."
"What's that?" I asked.
"You keep kicking those rich bastards' asses up and down the galaxy."
Kaedren barked out a loud laugh. "We are going to do more than that. They won't know what's coming!"
The waiter gave him a high-five, or high-ten I guess. They used both working hands while Kaedren used his bottom two.
"I'm going to bring you guys the special. Zorathi and human, right?"
We all nodded.
"Back in a jiffy."
The waiter hustled off and the table broke out in laughter.
"You see?" Lyrin asked. "People here hate the corporations."
"It is nice," I said.
"Which leads into something we should discuss," Torvyn said, setting down his glass.
"About me?" I asked.
"About you, yes. About us. About our future."
"Okay, lay it on me."
The table was silent for a beat. Torvyn looked at me, his yellow eyes glowing with something that looked like fear. "We've arranged safe passage for you back to Corporate space. If you want it."
The words hit harder than the pirate attack. I stared at him.
"New identity," Vaelix added quietly. "Enough credits to go anywhere, do anything."
Lyrin leaned forward. "Free will is sacred to the Zorathi. You'd be free from the corporations. From us. From all of it."
"No tether," Kaedren said, his voice rough. "No bond. No obligation."
The station noise faded. I couldn't hear anything except my own heartbeat.
They meant it.
Every man I'd ever known had wanted something from me—my credentials, my connections, my body, my compliance. Every corporation I'd worked for had owned a piece of me, whether I'd signed the contract or not.
