"We need to discuss this now," I said. "Only the Knights."
Torvyn nodded, his eyes still locked on the viewscreen.
"We here at the Corporate Council look forward to working with you to bring this terrorist to justice. May your shipments arrive safely and your bottom lines be black. Thank you for your attention to this matter," Voss said, then the screen went black.
"Ready room, now," Torvyn said.
We filed into the ready room. Vaelix pulled up a star map of the local area, highlighting space stations, supply routes, and known corporate frigate patrol areas.
"We need to reach out to our allied stations immediately," I said. "Get a feel for where they stand after that broadcast."
Torvyn nodded. "Vaelix, connect us to Station Bravo-Zulu. If Granthol won't help us, no one will."
"Connecting now," Vaelix said.
The star map dissolved, and a large, bulbous, bald head appeared. Six eyes blinked back at us.
"Greetings, Granthol," Torvyn said. "We need a safe harbor. Can you assist us?"
Four of Granthol's six eyes narrowed. "You saw that broadcast."
"We did,” Torvyn replied.
"And you still decided to contact me?" He let out a long breath. "Even if I wanted to offer you a docking bay, my insurance underwriters would triple my premiums the second you entered the system. Not tomention that my crew would toss me out of the closest airlock they could find. It’s nothing personal, Doctor Vale. This is strictly a business decision. Your presence is a liability and a risk that I cannot accept."
"We've been allies for a long time," Torvyn said. "And there was the Pegasus incident, which we helped you with."
Granthol sucked his teeth. "I wondered when you would bring that up. I remember what you and the Knights did for me, and I am still grateful. But you know who wasn't there?" He pointed at me. "Her. She didn't help me with anything. I owe her nothing."
"She is one of us now," Torvyn said, an edge creeping into his voice.
"But she wasn't when you helped me. So here is what I am willing to do," Granthol said, spreading his hands. "You, the Knights, and the Starbreaker are welcome on my station. She is not. If she enters this system, I will contact Director Voss and collect that bounty myself."
The words hung in the air. I felt Torvyn tense beside me, felt the anger rising through the Tether from all three of them. But I understood. Granthol wasn't betraying us. He was doing exactly what I would have done in his position, what anyone would do when the math stopped working in their favor.
"I understand," I said, before Torvyn could respond. "Thank you for your honesty, Granthol."
He blinked, clearly expecting an argument. "I truly am sorry, Doctor Vale. I wish all of you the best of luck."
I signaled Vaelix to cut the feed.
The star map reappeared. I stared at Station Bravo-Zulu's marker; still highlighted, still within range. But it might as well have been on the other side of the galaxy.
Voss hadn't turned Granthol against us. He'd just made my presence more expensive than our history was worth. Elegant. Surgical. I hated that I could see the craft in it.
"I won't forget this," Torvyn said quietly.
"You should," I said. "He made the right call. We'd do the same thing."
No one argued with me.
Lyrin steepled his fingers. "We must also consider the crew's reaction to this broadcast. Will anyone here try to turn Kira in? Do we trust everyone on board?"
New fear unlocked!
Not right now.
Sure. We’ll just wait for somebody to slip a knife in our back while we are eating that disgusting fake food in the—
