Three weeks had passed since Youri took off with Barnaby. Laspeas was finally in sight.
Youri was walking down the corridor when Barnaby stepped out of his quarters, glanced at him, and said simply, "Come to the control room." Youri gave him a puzzled look, but he followed.
The control room door hissed open on a spacious room built on two levels. The lower one held the control crew and the navigation systems, a busy nest of consoles and soft lights. The upper one, smaller and ringed with a railing, was reached by a set of stairs on the left. From up there, an enormous viewport stretched across the whole front of the ship, giving a clear and uninterrupted view of space. In the middle of that upper level stood a single chair: the captain's chair, large, solid and commanding.
The ship itself was not especially big, but it was one of the newest Terrian models of its day. Ships of its class were called Brawlers, for their aggressive silhouettes, and Barnaby's was named Khasano. From the front, its nose narrowed to a spear-like point layered with angular plating that looked both aerodynamic and heavily armored, its surfaces faceted rather than smooth; its midsection was dense and mechanical, widening slightly to show the complexity of the systems inside; and toward the rear it grew bulkier and more industrial, dominated by great engine housings and thruster blocks arranged symmetrically and framed in thick armor. It was a top-of-the-line Terrian military ship. Barnaby had commanded many like it over the years, though he rarely stayed in open combat for long. His fleet had grown to ten of them by then.
As Youri stepped into the control room, his eyes were drawn at once to the great window. Barnaby sat down in the captain's chair and lit a cigarette, took a drag, and nodded at the glass. "Look. That's the planet of sin. Laspeas."
From far away, Laspeas looked like a glowing neon marble hanging in space. It was not a large planet — it was classified as a dwarf planet — and yet more than a billion people called it home. Its capital, Vegas, was the center of nightlife and gambling for more than five galaxies.
Khasano descended toward Vegas. When it landed and Youri stepped off it, he was completely overwhelmed. Color and light assaulted him from every side. Neon signs blazed in every direction, skyscrapers towered over the docking station, and the streets hummed with advanced vehicles while the newest ship models zipped past overhead. He stood frozen and speechless.
Barnaby laid a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, kid."
Youri turned to face him. Barnaby handed him a bag, took one last drag of his cigarette, and flicked it away. "Take it. That's your starter pack. From this moment on, you're a free man." He paused. "And I'll give you one more option. The Order's looking for new recruits. I can put in a good word for you."
Youri opened the bag. Inside were some spare clothes and a thick stack of bills. He looked up sharply. "Why are you doing this?"
Barnaby let out a slow breath. "I never wanted things to go the way they did. You can call this bullshit, but I truly liked you both — you and Six." He lit another cigarette and stared up at the dark sky. "Maybe I feel guilty about your brother. Or maybe it's the thought of throwing you into that pit just because you asked me to. I don't know. But this is my payment. Not to who you are now, but to that little kid whose life I turned upside down."
Youri studied him carefully. When he spoke, his voice had softened. "I learned to hate people early in my life. I've met my fair share of monsters. But after everything I've been through, for some reason, I can't put you in that category." He gave a quiet chuckle. "Don't get me wrong. I'll never forgive you for what you did to me and Six, not for as long as I live. But I know who's a monster and who isn't. You're not my monster. You were just a con — one we paid dearly for ever meeting."
Barnaby smiled faintly. "I'll take that as a compliment."
The wind swept around them and tugged at their hair as they stood there in silence. Then Barnaby shoved his hands into his pockets and turned back toward his ship. After a few steps he glanced over his shoulder. "Don't forget. Look for Malkom. He might be a dick, but he's an old-timer, and people like him keep their word."
And then he was gone into the distance.
Youri looked down at the bag, then around him. Vegas, he thought. Let's see what you've got.
He left the docks and walked out onto the gleaming streets. Casinos and pubs lined every block, but what dominated the city above all else were the gentlemen's clubs. Youri, who had spent years seeing no one but doctors, nurses and the other subjects behind their glass, had no idea what to do with any of it. As he walked, women of the night teased him, taking his arm, leaning close, slipping their hands over his shoulders. He blushed furiously and could barely keep up with any of it. In the end he stopped at a random corner and leaned against a wall, breathing hard.
A few moments later, a young woman came out of the building beside him and leaned against the same wall, pulled out a cigarette and lit it. After she had let out a long stream of smoke, she turned to him. "Hey. You're in fucking Vegas, and you're standing here staring at the ground?"
Youri flinched and looked up. "It's my first time here," he stammered. "I'm just… overwhelmed."
She chuckled. "Honey, it's everybody's first time once. But you don't see them sulking like that."
Youri gave an awkward laugh.
She held out her hand. "I'm Gloria."
After a brief hesitation, he shook it. "Youri."
"Nice to meet you, Youri. So — ready to have a good time?" Before he could answer, she nodded at the door behind her. "This is Lux. My club. Come on in. I promise you won't regret it." And she turned and went inside.
Youri stood there, stunned, as Barnaby's words came back to him. Look for a place called Lux. By chance — or by fate — he was already standing at its door.