Page 91 of Veiled Vixen

Perhaps he was just being strategic? If anyone were following him they would assume he’d gone through the closest gate.

But they knew who he was. At the very least, they knew who Booty Hunter was. Because she had a transponder. So they knew where he was going. Home to Harem Station, obviously. With his prize Cygnian queen.

On a whim, Booty grabbed a space sample as they passed the first gate in the sector to analyze later. Because something was off here.

And when they got to the third gate and found the exact same scenario—no planets, no suns, two gates, Serpint choosing the furthest one—she didn’t even think about it. Just took the sample from the first gate in each sector as they passed by.

It was hard to keep track of time as they passed though gate, after gate, after gate because there was no large gravity well to snatch a time from. And something about this—all of this—seemed very well-thought out.

Very planned.

Very… predetermined.

And she was sure that a lot of time had passed while they were on this trip. Also equally sure that if Booty were damaged when Serpint came this way, he would not have chosen this route.

He would’ve wanted to get home as soon as possible.

But there was nothing left to do now but continue forward.

Going back wouldn’t get them to Harem Station any quicker.

And it wouldn’t get them to the back door gate, either.

So onward they went.

Deeper and deeper into the darkest, most unknown regions of space.