"Spare some change, lady?" a young boy asked from the shadows of a porch.
Had he not drawn attention to himself, he and the girl by his side would likely have gone unnoticed.
His hair was even more shaggy than yesterday, a cowlick sticking up like a bird's nest on his head. Clear eyes regarded Kira with a demand.
Next to him, the girl tucked in close as if too shy to interact with strangers.
Finn's hand on Kira’s arm stalled her approach. She looked up to find his expression cautious as he stared at the children.
"I've never heard of beggars on any planet belonging to the Haldeel," he warned.
There was good reason for that. The Haldeel had strict rules about employment. To stay on a planet—especially those who didn't have birth citizenship—they had to demonstrate an ability to contribute to society.
If you lost your job, another would be found for you. Should you reject the gifts the Haldeel procured in your name, you would be escorted off the planet.
The only exceptions were for those with injuries or mental health issues who needed time for recovery. Very rarely was an allowance made and usually only if that person had rendered extraordinary aid to society or the Haldeel in general.
Their rules were strict, but it also meant their citizens enjoyed the lowest level of poverty of any planet Kira had visited.
The boy made a tsking sound. "Who's begging? We want some money to buy treats for our friends."
Finn remained unmoved. "What about your parents?"
The boy's expression hardened, showing the junkyard dog he hid at his heart. Physically, he resembled an eight or nine-year-old, but that one glimpse showed the survivor he'd had to be.
Beside him, the girl flinched, her eyes dropping to the ground, but not before her mask slipped. Bright amber eyes, slitted like a snake's, appeared. It was brief, but her eyes nictated, once then twice, before they reverted to a more human appearance, muddy brown replacing the former amber.
Finn's stance stiffened as the children went from cute but harmless to potential threats.
The children above stopped licking their ice treats, sensing the change. Their focus moved to Kira and Finn.
"That child—"
Kira couldn't afford for him to finish that sentence.
She grabbed his arm and yanked him back. "If you want to live past the next few seconds, you'll keep any comments or questions to yourself."
Finn didn't look happy about the order, but he also didn't argue.
Kira approached the two children. "The war left a lot of orphans. Not all of the planets wanted to or could afford to support those they viewed as dead weight during the rebuilding efforts. The Haldeel accepted many of the castoffs and established orphanages for those children who were sent here."
As she explained, Kira held out the wrist with her id chip. The boy mirrored the action, allowing her to touch her wrist to his and transfer credits.
"Jettie's arrangements take into account the children's basic care. They don't go hungry, and they always have clothes, but they don't provide any of the comforts that a child may crave—such as candy or treats."
The boy turned and pressed his wrist against the girl's. She grinned and took off, disappearing into another alley in a blink of an eye.
"The Haldeel turn a blind eye to the orphans’ money-raising skills," Kira finished.
The boy aimed a crooked grin at her that didn't hide the sly gleam in his eyes. "The newb doesn't suit you."
"He has his charms."
The boy grunted, unconvinced. "I think a mountain is much more your speed."
Someone had been talking to Elena. That was promising.
Jin had already informed her that Elena’s MinMin, and therefore her niece, hadn’t slept in her customary bed last night.
