PROLOGUE

Aaron peeked around the corner of the alley. Through the dark tinted goggles he could see the empty streets and the random assortment of shops that lined the sidewalks. Stale, hyper filtered air filled his lungs as he stepped out of his shadowed safety. He felt uneasy strolling through this part of the city.

Hell, he felt uneasy walking through any part of the city during the light cycle. Aaron could blend into the crowd that filled the dark cycle, but few people moved around in the heat of the longer light cycle. That made him, and anyone else on the streets, clear and visible to anyone looking. The very thought made him step a little faster towards his destination.

Three months stuck in the stuffy city had Aaron’s skin crawling. He missed his work shop and all his tools. The Trove had been his home for years and after he had to leave it behind Aaron had been lost without its comfort. The very idea of Galactic troops marching through its hallways and rummaging through his stuff made his jaw tighten and his teeth grind.

Briskly walking down the sidewalk, Aaron felt his determination shoot through his spine. After all this time the government couldn’t still be there. They would have left in search of their real target. Even if it wasn’t safe to move back to the Trove he could at least get his tools back. It wouldn’t take him long to grab the things he wanted and leave. Just in and out. That’s all he wanted, but for that he’d have to find a transport ship with a captain that was willing to take him there.

He had a feeling he could find what he needed in the seedy little bar hidden on a back alley near the launching bay area of the city. Stepping out of the bright light and into the dim bar was a visual challenge and Aaron squinted his eyes behind the glass of his ever present goggles. Strolling up to the bar, Aaron perched on one of the tall stools and waited for the beefy bartender to make his way over.

The man waddled over and put a large hand down flat on the metal bar. “What can I get you?”