The Fogrunner drifted into the dock at Mid-Rim Trade Hub 9, better known as The Smuggler’s Mall.
Julian Fog strode down the ramp of his ship as if he expected an entourage of adoring fans to be waiting to greet him. His boots clanked onto the polished titanium deck of the floating bazaar.
The Smuggler's Mall was a place where you could buy unregistered plasma rifles, exotic pets, forged identities, and deep-fried noodles—all from the same kiosk. It was also a place you could be shot in the middle of the street and nobody would blink...Or vanish never to be seen again, voluntarily or not.
Massive. Sprawling. The engineered metropolis was an endless city of shops, warehouses, neon signs, and ramshackle roofs with countless tiny plumes of smoke drifting upwards. The entire complex was situated on a gargantuan, floating metal deck held aloft by physics-defying gravipulsers. Julian could feel the barely perceptible but constant hum of the engines through his boots.
Julian (taking a deep breath): “Ahh. Smells like grease, guilt, and second chances.”
M.O.L.L.I.E. (dry): “Statistically, it’s mostly grease. Reminder Julian, Larkon gave you 12 cycles for your second chance. This is cycle 2.”
Julian (groans): “I barely survived cycle 1 and I am still way short on credits." He squinted in the distance at the endless horizon of rooftops. "Alright, let’s shop fast before an enterprising bounty hunter tries to cash in on my teeth.”
Z1N (holding a tiny idol): “I have already made a wise purchase for the Shrine of the Ancients. I call him Kevin.”
Julian: “Put Kevin down. Last time you brought home an illegal cursed object, I spent a week stuck in reverse.”
Behind him, Z1N was carrying a cloth-wrapped bundle the size of a small goat.
Julian: “What is that?”
Z1N: “Also, a self-destruct core. I got a two-for-one.”
Julian: “Great. Just what I wanted. A religious war and a weapons charge.”
They moved through the crowd—Julian scanning for ship parts, bounty hunters, or ex-girlfriends. Preferably in that order.
Scene: A Booth Called “NO QUESTIONS PARTS & FUSION TACOS”
The main shopping complete, Julian was haggling over a Harley Davidson belt buckle with a slug merchant wearing a Hawaiian shirt when a familiar voice sliced through the crowd.
Voice (icy, lethal): “Of all the backwater hellholes in all the galaxy…”
Julian (without turning): “Mollie, confirm identity.”
M.O.L.L.I.E.: “Nikara Voss. Former associate. Former lover. Former attempted assassin.”
Julian turned slowly, smiling like a man who didn’t have great options.
There she was: Nikara Voss. Black armor, twin vibro-knives at her hips, and the same wild fire in her eyes. The only woman to ever kiss him and attempt to garrote him in the same hour.
Julian: (hands out to his sides) "Nikiiiiiiii, how's my favorite assassin?"
She smiled slightly.
The knives whispered free of their holsters.
Julian (frantically): “Hey, remember the waterfall moon? The moonlight, the music, the malfunctioning hoverbed?”
Nikara: “I remember you said you’d be right back. You owe me two thousand credits, a leather jacket, and about four hours of my life.”
Julian: “I was gonna call…”
Nikara (lunging): “Liar.”
Scene: Chaos in the Market
Julian ducked as the first knife buried itself in a wall display of illegal karaoke machines. The second vibro-knife hit a popcorn drone, which exploded in buttery fire.
Z1N (cheering): “BONZAI!”
Julian bolted through the maze of stalls. "Strategic retreat, Zin!"
Z1N: "Very honorable decision, Captain."
Julian (panting): “Mollie! We got what we came for?”
M.O.L.L.I.E.: “Yes. A new transflux coil, a discount stim-kit, and seven unprovoked death threats.”
Julian: “That’s actually fewer than usual. We'll need to come back for that belt buckle. That's a genuine relic, worn by General Harley Davidson himself!”
Z1N: “At least we acquired Kevin.”
M.O.L.L.I.E.: “Julian… Nikara wasn’t the only bounty hunter tracking you here. Multiple heat signatures converging. Other bounty hunters have joined the pursuit.”
Julian (dodging blaster fire): “Frazzing wonderful.”
Behind him, a burly Klorak with a flame cannon roared, a feathered Zeltian sharpshooter tracked him from the rafters, and two merc drones whirred into position overhead.
Z1N (drawing plasma blade): “BONZAI!”
Z1N vaulted into the chaos, slicing through one drone with a dramatic overhead strike and immediately tripping over a noodle cart. But not before tossing two plasma, throwing stars in opposite directions. One tore through the shoulder of the big Klorak's shooting arm. The massive arm fell to the deck still gripping the flame cannon. The second of Z1N's projectiles hit the sharpshooting birdman in the throat. He fell to the deck with a gurgling thud and a poof of feathers. Z1N bowed in their direction, noodles dangling from the bandanna wrapping his metallic forehead.
Scene: Warehouse Gauntlet
Julian: "Z1N, let's move buddy!" Julian vaulted into the industrial sector of the spaceport. More bounty hunters were close behind, guns blazing.
Barrels exploded. Sparks rained down. Julian slid under a closing cargo door, took a hard right into a crate maze, and ran straight into Nikara.
She leveled a blaster at him.
The moment held. Then her finger twitched—past Julian—and vaporized a bounty hunter sneaking up behind him.
Two more attackers rounded the corner.
Nikara spun, fluid and deadly, vibro-knife in one hand, blaster in the other. She dropped both assailants in seconds.
Julian blinked.
Julian: “…I’m so confused.”
Nikara: “You idiot. I wasn’t sent by Larkon. I just wanted to stun you and drag you back to finish our last date.”
Julian: “You were going to kidnap me to dinner?”
Nikara (winking): “You ghosted me. I was improvising.”
Scene: Escape and Aftermath
They dashed into a docking bay.
Mollie activated the ramp.
M.O.L.L.I.E.: “I will not pretend I’m happy about this.”
The trio dove aboard just as blaster bolts scorched the the struts on either side of the ramp.
The Fogrunner roared into space.
Julian collapsed into the pilot seat, panting.
Julian: “Mollie… meet Nikara. New crew member.”
M.O.L.L.I.E. (dry): “Of course. Why not add an armed ex-girlfriend to the list of catastrophes? What a fairy tale adventure this will be!.”
Nikara winked at the ceiling cam.
Nikara: “Don’t worry, sweetheart. I’m not here to steal your pilot.”
M.O.L.L.I.E. (Her hologram appearing next to Nikara, hands on hips): “We’ll see.”
Z1N (dragging in Kevin the idol): “The new warrior woman stays?”
Julian: “Put Kevin somewhere away from critical systems. And yes, she stays. I think I’m gonna need her."
M.O.L.L.I.E.: “What you need is therapy.”
Julian: "What I need is a big payout. AND I can feel my luck growing. I tell you i can feel it in my bones! It's like an itch that needs scratching."
M.O.L.L.I.E.: “Or it could be space fleas.”
Coming Next Week: Episode Four – “Space Rashes and Hover Hogs”
Julian accepts a livestock job to raise quick cash. Chaos, mutant pigs, and contagious rashes ensue. Mollie continues to side-eye Nikara.
