The Starlight Lancer

Chapter Thirty: The Angel's Deal

"Many people have been hoodwinked into rebellions on fake promises of success. A mountain of bodies throughout time, all unsuspecting souls who wandered into a cause they didn't fully understand. To the rebels, they're little more than useful meat shields."

—Drobr Dathow, renowned Humanoid Psychologist

Zaina stared at Bilvane's headquarters in the distance. It wasn't right to let the people of this world suffer—but this seemed too big for her. She didn't know what to do. "I—I—"

"I can even make it worth your while," Reida said. "We have a bit saved up in our coffers. If you help us with one mission—one big one—we'll make sure your ship gets fixed up right as rain. From there, if you want to leave, that's up to you."

Now it was even more tempting. The thought of another week—another month—of toiling away behind the counter at Hobst's shop made her numb. The sooner she got off Otmonzas, the sooner she'd begin her lancer career.

"How do I know if I can trust you?" Zaina asked.

Reida shrugged. "You don't. It's all faith."

Zaina's thoughts turned to Jveldaq, who only wanted to take care of people—and how he was gunned down by those security droids. They'd almost killed Reida, too—and Zaina herself, multiple times now. Plus, if there was a chance she could get to Kaado faster, didn't she have to take it—no matter the risk? Despite being grateful to Hobst for his help, if she could get the money together, wasn't that better for both of them?

Indecision paralyzed her mind. She sighed.

"What's holding you back, partner?" Reida asked.

"I—I don't know."

"This is a chance to do some real good. We can make people's lives better right here. Plus, you'll get everything you want out of it—you can even still be a lancer after all's said and done, if you still want to."

Despite Zaina's misgivings about getting involved in a war, it was worth the risk. "I—I wouldn't have to kill anyone, would I?"

Reida's eyebrow rose. "What, you've never killed before?"

"What, you have?"

A grimace came over Reida's face. She turned toward the dark tower looming in the distance. "I've been in this game for a long time."

Zaina frowned. She couldn't imagine growing up in this—spending your whole life fighting. Despite Reida's outward exuberance, there was a deep sorrow that came through in glimpses. This whole world needed help—maybe stopping Bilvane was a start. And if, in doing so, she got help getting offworld, all the better.

"Well," Zaina said, "what would we be doing?"

Reida faced her and said, "Bilvane's a crafty bastard, he is—but there's a flaw in his system. A big one. All of his security androids are controlled by a central processing station beneath the basement levels of that tower."

"So we shut it down?"

"Sort of. We'll be taking its power source—the Vahataman Crystal. One of the rarest substances in the galaxy—and superior to Celestium in energy processing, in every single way. One rock off that crystal could power an entire neighborhood up here for centuries with the right engine setup—but instead, it's down there powering his mechanized army."

"And without that, he won't have his army," Zaina remarked. "Pretty smart."

Reida nodded. "Exactly."

"So that's the plan, then? Steal the crystal and—then you want to kill Bilvane, I'm assuming?"