Voyages of the Solar Wind 1: A Fire in Heaven by Michael Erickston

put on one of her flightsuits with 'Solar Wind' stitched across the back, and I put on a tanker, jacket, pants, and boots. I made sure my pants were baggy enough to conceal the holdout. I sent a text to Bili to tell him we were ready, and we walked out with a couple old PuNCH pistols for him to 'confiscate' as he took us into custody. I also called Jeka before we went down the ramp.
    "Hey, Dex. What's up?" She asked with that just been fucked and satisfied tone in her voice.
    "Hey, Jeka. You sound happy! Anyway, we might not be able to make it tomorrow morning. If not, go ahead and contact CFC with the evidence against Jen. Bili's here, and we've got a plan to take her for every credit she has." I was grinning.
    "Tell Bili I said Hi, and if he hurts either of you, I will bleed him of every drop he has!" Jeka was laughing now, and I could hear Rick laughing close by.
    "Will do, Jeka. We're diamond here. It's all good. See ya when we see ya." I hung up and we went down the ramp to where Bili was waiting.
    "We good?" He asked.
    Rilar and I handed him the old trophies from past battles. "Good to go, Bili." I said, and he slapped the cuffs on us. He marched us to the next bay over and we boarded his modified patrol cutter, the SS Bloodhound.
    We sat in the cockpit with him as we undocked from the bay and headed out to where he would meet the Grant. We entered slipstream as he turned to us. "Ok, it'll be about fifteen minutes until we reach the Grant. Once there, I will turn you over and get paid. Once I have the creds, it will be up to you to escape. You'll have thirty minutes while I weasel a drink out of her for a bonus, and then I'll leave. I'm leaving the hatch unlocked so you can get back aboard. Clearcut?"
    "Diamond, Bili. Pure diamond." I replied with a grin. It was a solid plan. I was still wondering where the fuck she got a hundred K to blow on us, though.
    We dropped out of the slipstream and saw the CSS Ulysses S. Grant looming large in front of us. Its 500mm Rail turrets were fuckin' huge, but Bili asked for, and received clearance to dock. He slipped us a couple of speed picks for the cuffs, and then he popped the hatch and lowered the ramp down to the shuttle bay. We walked down with sullen expressions, and there she was.
    Jen was smirking in triumph. "Why, Jen? Why hire a bounty hunter for me? Seriously!" I sounded desperate, which is how I wanted to sound.
    "Because, my dear Dex Relway. Because you screwed me over for your little Gurshinkan tart here! Because you've been an everlasting obsession of mine for the past SEVEN YEARS!" She was screaming by the time she said the last. All I could think now was that old saying from ancient Earth. 'Hell hath no fury, like that of a woman scorned.'
    "Ok, Jen. Seriously, I was NOT screwing Rilar when we were together! I've told you this LORDS KNOW how many times! You know I'm not lying!" I was mad. I was pissed. I watched as her aide handed Bili the credit sticks for both of us. 75K on one, and 25K on the other. He then approached Jen.
    "Captain, might I impose on you for a drink before I depart? I'm a bit thirsty." He sounded sincere.
    Jen grinned in triumph. "I don't see why not. I'll have my security team escort these two to the brig, and you and I can get to know each other better." She turned and took Bili's arm as her two security goons pushed us forward. I'd already picked the cuffs, and so had Rilar. We were just waiting for the right opportunity.
    As soon as we entered the 'vater to the Brig, Ri stumbled forward. A goon went to grab her, and she socked him in the nuts as I turned and disarmed his buddy. I used the butt of the rifle on his face, and he collapsed unconscious. Ri had choked out her guard, and both were unconscious now. I rigged the 'vater with a loopback and closed the panel. Once the doors closed, it would go up one deck, down one deck. Up one... yeah, you get the idea. The door wouldn't open, as the loopback plug would be constantly feeding the command