I said I was going to be busy. Fuck, that was an understatement. Ehka did indeed leave the system completely open for me to take over. But the issue was that there was so much to take in. If it wasn’t for Kalo, I may not have been able to take over the business smoothly. Yes, I call Kalomoira Kalo now. She became my girlfriend officially not long after she told me that she was interested. I had my doubts but figured why not. It was time to remove my virginity status either way. Besides, while I didn’t want to admit it, I was kind of eyeing her body for a while.


    “Hey,” she greeted me as she flew into the captain’s lounge. Yes, Cleo has been my base of operations. The frigate was parked very closely to the Duchess’ boobs and this was where I conducted almost every affair. And, yes, it was her voice. She spoke. Sae the little Witch came back not long after she left and cured her of her muteness. So much for “we are never gonna meet again” bullcrap. Anyway, she came back to heal her because she didn’t forget to add “little” to her nickname. Kalo did tell me more about her condition as our relationship developed. Her family wasn’t really in condition to help her, but she did seek doctors after she fled her family. None of them was really able to help unless she was willing to give up her esper abilities, which she was not willing to give up. Then, the little witch came along and cured as if it was nothing more than a minor matter.


    “Doctors follow the path of biology. We, espers, follow the path of the unknown,” was what she claimed as she cured her with a finger click. I had a feeling that she just liked to spew bullshit and wanted to sound cool…, like a child would love to. She did also say “We are never gonna meet again”. I did feel that would be true this round because we no longer had any reasons to run into each other. I asked her how Duke and Ehka were doing, and she told me that Ehka got pregnant not long after they settled down on the Freedom colony.


    Anyway, you’d think being cured of muteness would be great, but she had to go through some hardships. Having never spoken a word for her entire life, she had to learn how to pronounce words physically. Even after a year, her pronunciations were frequently off. Simple greeting words were fine for her, but she grew a new fear of not being understood when spoken. She also stammered somewhat badly. Therefore, she still opted to use telepathy to speak for longer sentences or for words that were too complicated for her.


    “Hey,” I replied back casually. “How was your day so far?”


    “It…, it is … okay,” she said with some effort. She tried to speak whenever she could, especially when she was around those close to her.


    “Anything to report?”


    She was officially in charge of what Ehka had been doing, managing the wholesale business side of the Duchess’ boobs. Since espers in general were smarter than common folks, she was quite suited for the job.


    ‘The fish delivery went fine,’ she told me in my head. ‘Aktug personally led the escort squadron.’


    Aktug’s Copper wing had grown its members to twelve, and Tylarr had become his vice captain to lead four robins. Aktug had essentially become a chief of security for all intents and purposes. Additionally, I retired all badgers and replaced them with robins, which was only possible with a loan from Wemer. Nothing much changed in what we’ve been doing, including some illegal activities like the fish delivery she mentioned just now.


    “Good, let''s keep it that way.”


    ‘Kamen sent a message today that he is making good progress on dealing with pirates.’


    “He did, huh.”


    He was spared. Wemer wasn’t really interested in getting rid of him and wanted to use him instead. To his credit, it worked. As a part of an agreement to let him go scot-free, he was ordered to rid the Cassandra belt of pirates. He was using pretty much his entire time and wealth to battle pirates and was winning. We actually met each other to make up, so to speak. We shook hands and had a drink together. He told me that he loathed Ehka and was quite glad that she was gone for good. “Too good of a business woman,” he complained with a bitter smile. Indeed, I had to admit that she was good. It was easy to see when I was looking through her computer. She clearly had a knock for it. I wonder what she''s doing now for a living. Anyway, we exchanged hugs, and she went straight for a shower. There was a reason she came in here; it was for the shower. Her room had one. Well, every room had its own shower, but mine was the most luxurious and spacious one. Normally, I might mind but, whenever she took a shower in my lounge, there was always a reward.


    “I am done.” I heard her voice from where the shower was, and she was floating slowly toward me, fully naked. Her cleanly shaven body piqued my interest immediately. She did have a very nice body. I think I said before; she could have easily been a model if it wasn’t her being a mute.


    “Nice, you shaved.” I smiled at her while looking down there.


    “You did say you preferred it clean.”


    She spinned slowly and cutely, showing me every inch of her bare body.


    “Come over here.” I beckoned over.


    When we flew out onto the bridge after we were done… cuddling, I saw Yating. Yes, she was here. After Juno eventually left after telling me that she didn’t want to see violence anymore, it was apparently when Yating learned what went down and displayed rather strong interest in joining for “a new adventure”. This was the same reason she joined the group before, so I had little doubt about her motives. Thus, I welcomed her, and she replaced Kalo as a bridge member. She eventually became a sort of traffic controller for the Duchess’ boobs. This was something she was especially good at, talking to people and controlling the flow of traffic.


    “Docking permission granted. Your docking spot is number 47. Do make sure to expand your landing feet,” she said, minding her own business and not paying attention to us. “Akabasa freight, Rock head, please stop. You are still in the docking queue. Don’t make me issue a fine.”


    The woman could speak for hours without feeling tired apparently. She was born for this sort of job, I felt. Anyway, I looked at Kalo who looked back at me on cue. We exchanged a nod and went our own ways. She was going back to the station, and so was I although our destination was a bit different.


    “Yo, boss,” said Rabinovich behind the bar counter where Duke used to be. He was in charge of the bar slash brothel side of business with a rather unexpected partner. The bar was busier than before by a fair amount. After the Cassandra belt was announced to be integrated into the Podlezl republic, there had been a steady flow of tourists. The number was increasing according to Kalo. This was also why Wemer wanted Kamen to deal with pirates since I would be too busy dealing with other stuff.


    “I got your email. You have something to talk about?”


    He nodded and said, “Yeah, I do. It’s about Vavaina.”


    Yes, he and she got together. I never saw that coming. Subsequently, she retired from the Copper wing and took control of the brothel side of the business while he looked after the bar.


    “What about her?” I asked, not expecting anything substantial.


    “She is pregnant.”


    “What?” I blurted.


    “Pregnant, just two days old. She needs to go to New Earth ASAP.”


    True, everyone knew that a fetus must grow under around 1G. The consequences of not doing that were unthinkable, for the baby mostly.


    “Well, that’s fine. She can go.”


    “No, that’s not the problem. You do know her past, do you not?”


    “Ah, right…”


    If I recall correctly, she murdered her stepson for being a clone of her husband. Whether he was really a clone, that was questionable. If he wasn’t, that was straight murder.


    “You are the only one I can count on for this since you do have a connection now.”


    “Hang on. You want me to talk to the Knights and do something?”


    “What else can be done at this point? Even if we launch a legal challenge, it will be too late.”


    I groaned, not wanting to owe a favor to Wemer although he did have a point. There was really no other way. He probably saw me through and pressed.


    “I will owe you one. It’s my child.”


    I was going to help him but decided to pull harder by looking like I was really troubled.


    “Vazken, I swear to whatever celestial entity out there. If you help me out on this, I will work for you until I draw my last breath.”


    That was … a bit too extreme, wasn’t it? I wondered what was making him push this hard. Then I realized that I didn''t know his backstory.


    “You want to make this work, I get it. Why? What’s pushing you?”


    Looking away, he seemed to grit his teeth.


    “I was … a second generation wealthy son,” he eventually confessed after one-shotting a cup of gin. “I was young and stupid. I messed up so much to a point that my family’s wealth couldn’t do anything to help me, so here I am.”


    He told me additionally that his drug addiction came from his wealthy background. He sought chemical pleasure and he got it since money wasn’t an issue. The problem was that he went too far and ended up killing a hooker by choking during a wild intercourse. After that incident, he lost his father’s favor and lost all of support, eventually ending up in the Cassandra belt as a last resort. To his father’s credit, he did clear him of any criminal charges by bribing.


    “I see,” I replied, finally understanding how his addictions began.


    “I’ve come a long way,” he said with a remorseful smile. “Please, help me out, Vazken. She was the first one to actually try to understand the reasoning behind my addiction. I feel like she was the first woman who tried to understand me instead of just keeping a distance. She is a keeper, for me at least. I have always wanted to restart my life, and this is it. Please, help me.”


    Then he lowered his upper body to a point where his forehead touched the surface of the counter.


    The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.


    “Please!” he cried.


    At that point, I was no longer able to refuse him. Perhaps, I shouldn’t have pressed it. Now, it was too late.


    “Lieutenant governor.”


    Ah, yes, lieutenant governor. That was my official title. Supposedly, according to Wemer, a proper governor was to be appointed. However, he stated that it was not going to happen. The only reason I was not appointed to a full governor was due to the fact that I did not have any credentials. By remaining as a lieutenant governor for eight years without issues, I would be able to step up as a full governor. Why eight specific years? Apparently, that was what a term for a governor was and then supposedly there would be an election, but that wasn’t going to happen, either.


    “What can I do for you?”


    I was in my captain’s lounge on Cleo.


    “Sir, it’s not about me, but …”


    I explained Vavaina’s situation to him as briefly as possible, omitting almost everything but her criminal record and her pregnancy.


    “Do you have her information? I will need to check before going further.”


    “Yes, sir.”


    I sent him the content of the chip Rabinovich gave me. It took a minute due to the distance, but he received it eventually.


    “Murder, huh…,” he mumbled with a slight frown. “Do you know the circumstances?”


    “She did tell me what went down. Whether her story can be trusted, I don’t know.”


    “Well, tell me because there isn’t much to look at in the database.”


    So, I did.


    “The stepson was a clone? If that can be proven, she will be innocent.”


    “How does that work?”


    “Cloning without a medical license is illegal. A clone has no right and is not considered a human being unless a clone is completely isolated from its original body. From what you told me, that man raised his son, a clone, close by.”


    “I don’t think it can be proven now, can it? It’s been many years, probably.”


    “Indeed, the police record shows that fifteen years have passed, and physical evidence has been disposed of already, which is a little suspicious.”


    “Many people in the Cassandra belt are looking for their second chances. I’ve worked with many of them for many years. They have shown little signs of being deranged criminals. Many have said that the justice system is not fair. Is that true?”


    He chuckled. “It is true. I will admit. When judges themselves are deeply flawed beings, you cannot expect the system to be fair, especially when money seems to win over almost everything else.”


    “If the justice system is broken, how can we rely on them?”


    There was a moment of a pause from him as if he was thinking hard to come up with a proper answer.


    “The system has to be there. Otherwise, it will be anarchy. It’s not perfect, I admit, but it’s better than nothing.”


    “The Cassandra belt has no justice system, but we seem to get along fine.”


    “The population density is playing a part as well as the unique nature of those who live there. Unfortunately, it cannot work here.”


    I wasn’t going to argue. I didn’t know what the outside world was like anyway. But it was true that those who lived here were fairly unique. They were here for their second chances and they didn’t wish to mess up. Rabinovich was a good example of this, where he fought hard against his addictions and tried to steer his path back. He knew he didn’t have anywhere else to go.


    “Anyway, I should be able to do something about this case since it’s an insignificant one. Besides, this one smells. I will send an update to your email in several days.”


    “Thank you. I just have one question.”


    “Go ahead.”


    “Why are you going so far to help her? To me, objectively, this looks like an insignificant matter.”


    He beamed a smile at me. “It indeed is.”


    “Then why?”


    “It is my belief that the most basic right for a couple is a baby, a literal crystallization of their affection. Who am I to deny this right?”


    Perhaps, it was. It wasn’t my place to argue that because I never had a serious relationship, nevermind getting a woman pregnant. My relationship with Kalo wasn’t serious enough to warrant a discussion about that at the moment even though flesh was exchanged. If we did decide to have a child, her situation would need to be sorted out as well.


    “How is it going over there? I know I am getting regular reports, but let’s hear it from you directly.” He changed the subject, pulling me out of the brief thought I was getting dragged into.


    “It’s been busy, I admit. Taking over Ehka’s business has been hell, but I’ve had help.”


    “Do you have someone you can trust? Like a partner?”


    I hesitated momentarily before answering him. I trusted Kalomoira more than anyone else around me but I wasn’t sure she was feeling the same since the circumstances where she approached me was a bit of a question mark.


    “You saw the woman, the mute esper.”


    “Ah, her. Yes, I do recall. Makes sense since I''ve always seen you with her.”


    I could tell him that the little Witch cured her but chose not to. After all, she was a universally wanted criminal. It was something I found out while browsing the database. The bounty on her was 100 million credits which was set over a hundred years ago. Clearly, no one managed to catch her.


    “Let me give you a reality check,” he said all of a sudden. “The only reason the Podlezl republic has taken over the Cassandra belt was due to the current incumbent political party. They don’t intend to develop the belt, nor are they interested in governing it. That is why you are keeping your seat over there.”


    He told me this before. The current political party in power campaigned on taking over the belt.


    “What happens if the current party loses its grip on power?”


    “There is a chance that you will get replaced but, look at me.”


    “You?”


    “I’ve seen several party changes in my life and have kept my seat as the leader of the Knights. Just a piece of advice from me, always cooperate with whoever is in power. Once it’s known that you have no political affiliation, you won’t get replaced generally. Besides, the belt is a very low key place. There is a decent chance that they will never bother you.”


    “I don’t have a political affiliation anyway.”


    “For now, yes. Do make sure to stay neutral. There might be someone who might want your favor. Keep mindful of those from outside especially.”


    I nodded. “Understood.”


    “There is one downside to this, though. You don’t get to learn much money.”


    I chuckled. I knew what he was trying to say indirectly. The communication ended soon after.


    A few days later, an email from Wemer arrived in my mailbox. This registered email address associated with my ID was legally protected, meaning sending any spam to this address was punishable by the laws, and the punishment was harsh as well with a minimum sentence of 15 years. A personal email account wasn’t easy to create to begin with since it required connecting it to an ID card. A corporate email account was connected to a corporate and was punished even more harshly with financial penalties. Anyway, his email account contained a resolution to Vavaina’s matter. It was somewhat complicated, and so I decided to visit the couple to discuss it.


    “Hello,” Vavaina was the first one to greet me when I entered a VIP room at the bar. She looked a bit embarrassed for some reason.


    “Hello, boss,” Rabinovich was equally formal.


    “I have good and bad news. Which one would you like first?”


    The couple glanced at each other with Rabinovich speaking up.


    “Let’s hear bad news. Let’s get this over with.”


    If she was denied entry to New Earth, she would need to find somewhere else with as high as gravity as possible. Finding a planet with around 1G wasn’t a hard task, but finding one with a developed civilization on it was nigh impossible. In fact, I was aware of a rogue planet that had 0.8G. It was a planet called Dawn that moved around in a random pattern on the edge of the Cassandra belt. It was a den of pirates, however. Sending her there was hard an option. Creg had 0.6G which wasn’t enough for a proper fetus growth. In the absolutely worst case, she’d need to go to Dawn. Whether she would be alive when she and her child needed to be picked up…, that was a question mark.


    “Well, I have to break good news first then because I can’t share good news without breaking bad one.”


    The couple smiled, feeling instinctively that she would be able to enter New Earth, and they’d be right.


    “First of all, I was able to get her an entry to New Earth, but instructions are quite tricky.”


    Statute of limitations, basically an expiry date on any court case, was 30 years, meaning her case was not yet closed. Should she try to enter New Earth or any other planets controlled by the Podlezl republic, she’d be arrested. And I explained to them about that.


    “Her ex-husband has his court case still open. Since she never showed up in court, she was found guilty by default.”


    She cast her eyes downcast but didn’t say anything.


    “But sentencing wasn’t done due to your absence, Vavaina. Once you are arrested, you’d be given the maximum sentence possible.”


    “So, that’s the bad news, right?” Rabinovich asked, to which I nodded.


    “The good news is that she will be able to enter New Earth, but there are some things you must be aware of and must keep in your mind.”


    She would be arrested, yes, but she wasn’t going to be taken by the police. Instead, the Knights will escort her to a hotel.


    “Expect to be arrested, but it won’t be the police,” I said with a mild grin. “The Knights will arrest you on the surface since they will be there first.”


    “Oh, I see where this is going,” he said with a crooked grin.


    I continued, “The Knights will be conducting their own private investigation on you before releasing you to the police. The reality is, however, that you will never be released, and they will keep moving you from one place to another to keep the police off your tail.”


    “Wow, this is getting complicated,” she remarked, looking rather flabbergasted. “I am just a nobody, you know.”


    Ignoring her, I continued, “They will help you deliver your baby. As soon as your child is delivered, you will be taken off the planet.”


    “Sounds simple enough,” he said, holding her hand on the table tightly.


    “Yeah,” she nodded in agreement. “It sounds simple enough.”


    “There is always a risk that you might get arrested by the police,” I added, pouring cold water over them. “If you do, the Knights won’t help you there.”


    “I understand,” she said with determination in her voice. “I might need to do my part, yeah?”


    I nodded back. “Yeah, they will help you, but it’s down to you ultimately.”


    “I will do this!” she proclaimed. “I have to do this! Rabi, we can do this!”


    With welling tears, he held her hand tighter and said, “Yeah, let’s make this happen. Let’s start a family, Vavi.”


    How cute, I thought initially. It also made me realize why Duke and Ehka did what they did. They were denied their basic right, which was having offspring. That was what made them push for what they did.


    “Good luck to you all.”


    With a firm nod, he told me with his voice carrying some weight.


    “Vazken, I thank you. I will not forget this.”


    All I could do was smile back at him at that moment. After leaving them, I was back in my captain’s lounge on Cleo. I needed a moment to think. I kind of missed the simpler days as a miner. Juno probably felt similar and chose to go back. I could understand her somewhat. But I wouldn''t give up what I have now and go back to those simpler days. It was something I realized after having helped Rabinovich and Vavaina. I had powers which was one of feats from being on the top of the food chain. Yeah, simpler days were … simple and easy. You watch rocks break up, scoop them up, and sell them. Simple and easy. In stark contrast, my days as “Lieutenant governor” was hectic. There was always something that needed to be looked after and there were many decisions to be made. It was one extreme to another. I wish there was something in the middle. But that was probably wishful thinking. Nothing in life was easy anyway. I mean, just look at how my life turned out.


    “It all … started with money, eh,” I whispered to myself.


    Yeah, it all started with money. Rabinovich, Juno, Santino, and I desired to earn more money and dipped our hands on a business which we perhaps should have never bothered about. If we didn’t, if we kept our heads down, none of this would have occurred.


    “Why am I talking as if it’s a bad thing?” I wondered aloud.


    That was true. My current situation wasn’t something negative. I became someone and, while I wasn’t earning an official wage from the government, I was earning far more than I could ever dream. Any direct profits from the station and deliveries were basically mine. Nobody even questioned where and how the money was used. Of course, it wasn’t exactly mine. Most of the money went straight back. Something changed inside me after handling millions of credits come and go for a year, though. I was no longer swayed by money itself. Back in the days, I would have drooled at the amount. I suppose … that is becoming someone from nobody. I grinned broadly at the thought.


    “I''ve became somebody.”