The unlucky ones, those without smarts or skills, lived hand-to-mouth.Begging, borrowing, and stealing so they could survive another day.
Orphans were common.Criminals even more so.
To live a decent life, you had to be ruthless.
Anyone who pretended otherwise usually had an agenda or was looking for an opportunity to stab you in the back.
Loyalty was the ultimate currency.Its presence so rare that some considered it a myth.
“Everyone knows where to go when they’re done?”Kira asked.
The rendezvous point was a station hostel Jin had chosen.They’d stayed there on rare occasions.Usually when they had business in the area and didn’t want to invite their contacts onto their ship.
“Reservations are already made.They’re under the alias I set up for you at customs,” Jin announced.
Arly handed off Pye to Bez who took him with a troubled expression.“I don’t like this.I should really be coming with you.”
“I know where you’re coming from, but that’s not happening,” Kira said firmly.
Already, things were too crowded on her side.
“Take care of your people,” Kira advised Bez.“I’m sure that’s what Caius would have wanted.”
She couldn’t imagine he’d be very happy if they saved him at the expense of Pye’s life.Caius obviously cared about his people.He wouldn’t want them sacrificing themselves unnecessarily.
Still, Bez’s reluctance wasn’t going anywhere.
Kira sighed.“This is just a fact finding mission.I promise we won’t go after him without you.”
Not unless they had to.
Her assurance did the trick.Bez jerked his chin at Az.Together, they disappeared into the crowd with Pye, Roderick following at a slower pace.
Maksym clapped a hand on Arly’s shoulder, tilting his head in the opposite direction.He waved and smiled at Kira as the two headed off.“Don’t get in too much trouble, youngest.Your seon’yer would never forgive me.”
Kira waited until everyone was on their way before turning back to Raider.“Where are we heading?I assume you know.”
“Cat Three.You heard of it?”
“Yeah, I’ve heard of it.”
There wasn’t anybody on Titan who hadn’t.It was the watering hole of choice for locals looking to let off a little steam
“We’ll need to head up to the entertainment level.”Kira waved for them to follow.“This way.”
For all its rampant poverty, Titan was actually the third largest station in Consortium territory.An unimaginable amount of wealth flowed through its port in the form of weekly cargo deliveries from the nearby mining colonies.
Kira was pretty sure she’d heard somewhere that its docks saw the most traffic of any station or planetary port.
It was also the main hub for salvaged Tsavitee tech due to the station’s proximity to the Falling’s debris field.
That tech was the primary reason for the military’s presence on Titan.It was also likely why the station hadn’t fully descended into lawlessness and anarchy long ago.
Leaving the crowded hallways behind, they headed for the station elevators.A trio of humans took one look at Finn and Dylan’s larger than average physiques, made even more hulking by their loose attire, and backed away, saying they’d take the next one.
There were four levels in total belonging to the entertainment district.They were heading for the third of those levels.The most dissolute and debauched among them.A place often referred to by station inhabitants as the Pleasure District.Where flesh was bought and sold.Whore houses were as common as gambling dens.It was where miners came to let off steam and spend the money they’d accumulated over endless months of hard work.
It was also where Cat Three was located.
