“Well, see you in a few,” Dax said, and then he strode off, the black implant on the back of his head reminding Jeth again of a giant spider.

He shook off the disorientation and headed inside. It occurred to him that Hammer’s decision to send Dax was yet another indication of how important this job was to him. Whatever this weapon was, he must want it pretty bad. The idea tickled Jeth’s mind with possibilities. Obsession could be a powerful pressure point. If only he had a way to apply that pressure. But he didn’t see how. It wasn’t like he could steal the weapon and hide it. Not if being near it was potentially fatal. There wasn’t much point in finally getting his ship back if he was dead.

Stowing away such thoughts for now, Jeth opened the envelope and examined its contents as he walked along.

“Son of a bitch,” he said when he realized what he was holding. Hammer had sent him a print copy of Avalon’s title and transfer papers. On actual paper. Jeth’s hands curled into fists. He should’ve seen the ploy coming. A print copy would be harder to counterfeit than the official electronic one.

Still, Jeth couldn’t deny the hope he felt at seeing his name there beside the “owner” heading. He hurried to his cabin and stowed the papers in a hidden compartment beneath his bed.

Fifteen minutes later, after he’d wrangled the crew back onto Avalon, Jeth darted up the stairs to the bridge, excitement exploding in his chest. He was going to pilot his ship. Jeth placed his hands on the control column to keep them from trembling as he waited for the locks that had held Avalon captive for so long to finally come undone. A loud, grating creak of metal echoed a moment later.

He waited, unmoving, for several minutes after the sound faded.

“Um, Jeth?” Lizzie said from the copilot’s chair. “Are we going anywhere today, or are we just gonna hang out here?”

In answer, Jeth eased the controls forward, keeping the pace slow despite his desire to push it hard. He met up with Dax, who was piloting the Citation, one of Hammer’s Vipers. Vipers were cruiser class ships, flashy and expensive, but this one didn’t stand a chance of keeping up with Avalon.

“We’ll meet you at the Cerulean Metagate,” Jeth said over the comm line to Dax’s ship. “Avalon hasn’t been out in a while. I want to stretch her wings.”

“Have at it,” Dax replied. “But wait for me before queuing up.”

“Right,” Jeth said, and he disconnected the link. He maintained a steady pace until he was clear of the spaceport’s restricted zone, the area clearly marked on Avalon’s nav system. Then he let her go, pushing her as hard and fast as she would go.

“Hey, whoa,” Flynn’s voice called from the engine room on the ship’s main comm line. “Take it easy up there. The old girl ain’t exactly in shape, you know.”

Jeth pressed the mute button. He didn’t care if Flynn was right or not. He didn’t care about consequences. A wild recklessness had come over him. Avalon felt like something alive, a massive bird of prey. She had so much power and force, yet smooth, graceful control. Jeth had flown dozens of ships the last few years, and none of them had come close to making him feel like this—as if the entire universe awaited his command. The planets and stars would flee before their path or risk being blown apart in their wake. He could fly her forever.

They came into range of the Cerulean Metagate some time later, and Jeth was finally forced to slow down as the nav system flashed a warning that he was entering a zoned area. Speed limits were regulated around the gates due to all the ships traveling in and out. At the moment, the place was so congested, Jeth couldn’t have sped even if he wanted to. Twenty ships were waiting in line to use the gate ahead of them.

“What the crap?” said Lizzie. “Why’s it so backed up?

Jeth turned the ship to port, flying aimlessly as they waited for Dax to arrive. “The ITA closed down the Lateritus Gate for repairs a couple of weeks ago.”

Lizzie made a face. “Another one? They still haven’t reopened the Aurelius Gate. What the heck is taking so long?”

“Don’t know.” Jeth pulled up the nav system, prepping it for connection with the metagate’s Master Control. “But don’t complain too loudly. Shortage is good for our business.”

“Yeah, so long as it doesn’t turn into a none available anywhere situation. Just imagine the lines then.”

“Good point,” Jeth said, picturing the Montrose’s metadrive. “All right, here’s Dax.”

Dax piloted the Citation in behind Avalon, and they headed to the line.

“What’s the holdup, Boss?” Shady said, entering the bridge a few minutes later. “Errr, or should I call you ‘Captain’ now, seeing how this is your ship and not Hammer’s?”

Jeth ignored the question and waved out the front window. “Traffic.”

“What else is new?” Shady sat down at the comm station to the left of the cockpit.

Lizzie sighed. “At least they’re pretty to look at.”

“What are?” Shady propped his feet up on the comm station’s instrument panel. His big boots made a loud bang as he set them down.

Jeth winced. “You break something, and Flynn will kick your ass.”

“Heh,” Shady said, flipping his shaggy hair behind his shoulders, “like to see the little weasel try. So what’s the pretty thing we’re looking at?”