Liex slipped through the crowd without any hassle, not that he had expected anyone to confront him. Even as a child, people generally avoided him, and it suited him just fine.

He was headed to the outer rings of the space station, accessible only via a series of increasingly convoluted walkways. Most visitors weren't aware of the Deep Market, but those who did steered well clear. It was a place of illicit deals, dark politics and intrigue, which made the shady activities of the Main Braxon seem comparatively legal.

The Deep Market spread across the galaxy like the twitching, demented legs of a crushed spider, with outposts on many capital planets and members everywhere. They had their fingers in many pies, as it were, and subtly manipulated the markets and politics of many a space-faring nation to achieve their ends.

As he walked through the narrowing corridors, the crowds began to thin and the oppressive heat began to grow stronger. Liex scowled, heat was never something he enjoyed, and prolonged exposure had the tendency to put him in a foul mood. He wanted to finish what he'd come here for and retreat to the relatively cool interior of the Starchaser.

"State your business." A massive Sydonian stepped out from where he'd been leaning against a support beam. The creature rivalled Rynn for height, with a short, scarred snout filled with fangs, and two sets of small dark eyes. He folded his heavily-muscled, furry arms in a threatening manner, looking the Xyrenian up and down. If he was surprised to see an alien of his race on The Braxon, he certainly didn't show it.

"I intend to have a... talk with T'Anian." Liex seemed utterly unperturbed by the display of strength, neatly dodging around the towering guard to continue on his way. He didn't need more idiots in his day.

The guard called after him, but Liex spun to fix him with a withering glare. The Sydonian stopped in his tracks, then backed away and left the Xyrenian to his business. There was something in that glare that promised endless pain; he figured he didn't get paid anywhere near enough to deal with him.

Eventually, just as the heat reached near unbearable levels, Liex stopped before a guarded, extensively-fortified door. It looked out-of-place in the twisting, uninhabited corridors of the outer rings. The two heavily-armed guards narrowed their eyes on him silently, and he knew their question before they had to ask.

"No, T'Anian is not expecting me, but I know he will want to hear this."

"You do not speak for what T'Anian wants." Said one curtly, raising a laser-rifle and flicking the barrel in the direction of the corridor he'd arrived from. "Leave."

Before the guard could even realise what had happened, Liex was standing before him, shoving the rifle aside and pressing the deadly blade of his claw against the soft part of the Teronian's neck. A red gleam shone in his dark eyes.

"I suggest you reword that statement. T'Anian will want to see me."

The second guard raised his weapon, but Liex kicked it away without moving the blades from the first Teronian's neck. Silence fell, with the only sounds the ever-present hum of the station's overworked cooling system and the clatter of the fallen laser-rifle on the ground.

The door slid open.

Rynn arrived back at the Starchaser just in time to supervise the last of the crates as they were being loaded into the cargo bay. Moving the fixed HAG system back into Engineering had opened up plenty more space for the new goods, and selling their unneeded loot had neatened up the place somewhat. He checked the two crates of Gravhr spice individually, and was pleased to see that his intimidation had worked, and it was as pure as the stuff he'd tasted back in the Food District.

"You, get over here!" Rynn called out to a Huedrox who had been lazing about nearby, and hid a smirk at the sight of the beefy creature hopping to attention. He liked being in charge for once. "Bring these two crates straight to the galley."

Satisfied that he'd completed most of the assignment to the best of his ability (he snorted in irritation at the thought of the infuriating Jevuri), the Gracion headed back up the ramp and into the cargo bay. He was anticipating finding Frankie and then heading for a shower after spending so long in the oppressive heat of the space station.

Behind him, a hover-cart laden with crates began the ascent to the ship. Rynn stepped aside to let it through, then stopped, frowning. What in the Stars did the Starchaser need twenty crates of laser-pistol charges and another three boxes of disruptor-cannon components for?

Liex smirked, lowering his arm and allowing the guard to step away from his claws. The space beyond the door was dark, and cold air wafted out from the opening- a very pleasant contrast to the burning heat of the corridor.

"About bloody time, you bastard." The Xyrenian retracted his claws, brushing invisible dust off his hands in a habitual gesture, and stepped into the room.

As his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting of the room, the heavy door behind him hissed shut, leaving him in complete silence. Even the humming of The Braxon's cooling systems had seemingly vanished, leaving the Xyrenian with just his breath and heartbeat in his ears. Another door opposite him slid open, and suddenly the room was filled with the cold blue glow of wall-to-wall viewscreens.

"Liex, it's been a long time!" An old, well-built Tivian emerged from the doorway, arms wide in greeting. He was slightly taller than the Xyrenian, sporting a trailing silver moustache which had been braided spectacularly with gold and turquoise beads and swept back into his long ponytail. He would have been handsome once, but the scar which curved its way across his right eye and down the side of his neck pulled the corner of his mouth down in an unattractive grimace.

"Not long enough." Liex's voice was cold, and he made no movement towards the silver-haired alien. T'Anian slowly lowered his arms, his expression suddenly losing its warmth.

"And you were such a nice kid..." He let out a sarcastic laugh, his hand subconsciously moving to the cybernetic patch covering his dead eye. "It seems you've grown bitter with age." The Tivian shrugged and sat down in a plush armchair, swivelling to gaze out at the viewscreens. "What did you want after all this time?"

"I have some information that I think you would be very interested in. I have the draft navigational reports for the Starchaser's next destination."

"The Starchaser? Pah! That old hunk of titanium is of no interest to me, or the Deep Market." T'Anian steepled his long fingers, looking annoyed. Liex felt a thrill of amusement at the old alien's irritation.

"She's heading to Rus, with a full cargo hold of weapons--"

"Suicide?" T'Anian snorted. "What do I care?"

Liex's eyes narrowed dangerously. "And the Ruson Prince, Rackan."

T'Anian spun in his chair, actually looking surprised for once. The Xyrenian folded his arms and raised his chin.

"Interesting enough for you?"

The old Tivian stood, approaching Liex with a greedy gleam in his good eye, "He's alive? You're absolutely sure that Zale has him?"

"I've seen the boy with my own eyes. Zale tried to keep this revelation from me, but that bastard could never keep anything from me for long, especially not something so big."

T'Anian slowed his steps, then narrowed his eyes. "I know you hate me from the bottom of your heart, Xyrenian. Why come to me with this information?"

Liex's expression turned dark, bitter. "My help will ensure you can intercept the Starchaser before she arrives in Ruson space. I ask you only one favour in return."

The old Tivian's face was serious. "And what would that be?"

"You're the one who put this damned chip in my neck. Free me from the Vaxxon, and the navigational reports will be yours."