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There was a flurry of activity onboard the vessels, as all the star wolves adopted pre-agreed actions.

Miral’s voice came over comms, level and unreadable. ‘I’m going in, like a lamb to the slaughter. Commander, you and Kaal keep to the plan.’

She was far from an innocent ingénue as she exited the Signet craft, shimmer-phasing into mid-space like a phantasm born of heat lightning.

Silver-blue light rippled across her armored skin as she glided forward, a celestial predator launching into the void.

Eugene shimmered out to meet her, rising from theVeleno di Sogniin a mockery of grace.

Xander and the rest of the crew observed the unfolding drama via their neural node or HUD feed.

The crat bot wore the same ridiculous getup: a red velvet smoking jacket emblazoned with glittering casino sigils, neon-splashed pajama shorts, and plush slippers embroidered with cartoon duck faces.

His chest was bare, exposed, pale, and too smooth, like wax melted wrong.

Santi murmured over the neural node.Saints, help me. Does he always dress like a fever dream in a midlife crisis?

Miral sent a ping. ‘I’m about tofokkup thiskinai. Thoughts and prayers for him, please.’

Eugene floated close to her, the void wrapping them both like a tensioned wire. ‘Ah, darling. Such a spectacle. All this trouble for little ol’ me.’

He gave her a deep, sardonic bow. ‘Let’s talk about the woman and her exchange for you.’

Miral didn’t flinch. ‘I’m not here to barter with anyone.’

Eugene’s face twitched. ‘That’s not how this works. Try anything, and I’ll wipe the entire generational ship she came from. Just for laughs.’

Miral’s mouth curved, dangerous, and cold. ‘There will be no trade or swap.’

His smile faltered.

‘What?’

‘Because,’ she murmured, her utterance cutting and disdainful, ‘we already have her.’

Eugene laughed. Loud and insane. ‘What the fokk areyou talking about? I’m reading all crew present and accounted for. I’ve been monitoring your fleet since you came within range. Every ship, signature, and crewman.’

‘She’s safe and sound,’ he added, with mocking glee. ‘Strapped in like the ransom she is. Can’t have my almost-wife wandering too far now, can we?’

He leaned closer to her. ‘You’ve got just moments to decide before I lose my shit. Maybe I’ll send you pieces of her to keep you entertained.’

‘Nada, you won’t,’ Miral cut in, lifting one slender, armored hand. ‘You’re watching the wrong things, playboy.’

Eugene stilled.

‘Your attempts to sabotage Signet and, in effect, the Sable Riders are cute,’ she added, ‘but you’re not the only ones who know how to manipulate systems. Turns out your yacht’s back-end is crawling with back doors, and I’m a dab hand at neural patching, biometric displacement, and spectral ghosting. I slid into your mainframe long before you started your song and dance.’

Eugene’s face paled. Realization crawled over him like frostbite.

Miral gave a feline smile, all threat. ‘Game’s up. I also have my CO’s permission to burn you from the core out. On his words, he can’t wait to see me rid this expanse of your malformed sentience and waste of chrome.’

Eugene reeled back, shaken. His systems flickered.

The yacht behind him glitched, its strobing lights flickering.

Then, he screamed, a guttural, tortured snarl.

Light him up, Miral,Xander ordered in her neural node.This ends tonight.