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High above Epsilon Eridani, dozens of ships made their way to and from the planet. Everything from bulky freighters to armored patrol craft to sleek pleasure yacht all plied the space lanes above the planet, heading to one of the many spaceports dotted around the main continent. All ships, but one. The Azure Phoenix broke off from her standard approach orbit, aiming for somewhere else, for someone else...

"Alright, we're entering atmosphere, be prepared for some chop," Denryk's voice sounded over the ship's intercom. Zuri nodded, even though she knew there was no way the badger could see the reaction-he'd be far too busy flying to keep an eye on the internal cameras. And at the moment, she was too busy making the last minute checks to her gear and her team to care. The readouts on her power armor's HUD were finishing their final checks, ensuring the suit was airtight, fully powered, and free of any errors. In short order, the yellow icons on her HUD switched all to green, confirming she was ready to go. Her heavy rifle cleared the check as well, linking in with the rest of her suit's systems.

She looked around the cramped airlock at the rest of her crew making last minute checks. Myra was toying with the wristcomp mounted on her forearms, her armored fingers flying across the small keyboard. Zhora was making last minute adjustments to her binoculars, ensuring it was wirelessly linked in with her rifle's scope, and that her scope was, in turn, linked to her helmet. Denari and Bjorn were checking each other over, making sure their exo-suits were ready to go. Unlike the lighter power armor worn by Zuri, Myra, and Zhora, the two bears took up nearly half of the airlock by themselves in their hulking armor suits. The thick armor plating, nearly an inch and a half, was so heavy it required it's own mini fusion core and exoskeleton to assist the wearer in moving. And while they would be slower than the other three hunters, they would also be invaluable in high-risk breaching operations like this one.

"Everybody set?" Zuri asked, looking around the airlock. They all nodded and gave her a thumbs up, and Zuri nodded to Myra. "Go ahead and punch it up." Myra tapped a few commands into her wristcomp and pointed at the wall. The small projector mounted on the device flicked into life, displaying the picture of a surly-looking gazelle, his horns wrapped in gold filigree.

"This," Zuri began, "is Irduan Zhakov." Her briefing was interrupted as the airlock began to rattle and bounce, just as Denryk had warned. Fortunately, it was easy enough for the group to stay on their feet and pay attention, but they all looked around just the same. "He said we'd hit some chop," she mentioned before continuing. "Known slaver and sex trafficker working for the Devi Cartel. Once they were wiped out by the rival Pallas crime family, he lost his protected status and went to ground. Terra Nova's got quite an extensive batch of warrants out on him totalling one hundred and twenty thousand if he's brought in alive. Dead's half, and we get less than that since I've already paid Captain Barsuk his share for alive."

Zhora made a disgusted snort through her helmet mic. "Don't know why we had to pay him ahead like that."

"Because he wasn't going to go on good will and promises, and we need someone with his skill set for this batch. Moving on," she said, shutting down any further dissent. "Mister Zhakov here has managed to evade just about everyone for the past five months. Until one of the girls he'd enslaved ID'd him and reported it through our network. Next slide." Myra swiped across the wristcomp and the picture shifted to a three-dimensional wireframe of the top two floors of an apartment complex.

"Our charming target lives here-on the top two floors of this mid-rise apartment complex. He usually gets a compliment of girls every night, who leave of their own volition, so probably prostitutes. We'll be striking at midnight, local time, so the party should be in full swing. Check your targets if things go loud, I want zero collateral damage on this one."

"Any intel on how many thugs he has with him?" Bjorn rumbled.

Zuri nodded to Myra, who swiped through to the next slide. An unhinged looking jackal and a cold-blooded boar stared back at the group. "Our contact was only able to identify these two with him. Cartel gangbangers, Jorgen "Crazy Eyes" Middleston and Jerry Neville. Multiple arrests for the usual. Murder, arson, racketeering, blah blah blah. Multiple warrants, but quite frankly, I'm not interested in them. If we can bring them in, great, but if they so much as blink funny, take them down."

"Infiltration will be via cable drop, along with extraction, which means we have a very small window to pull this off. Actually, while we're on the subject..." She switched over to her direct line to the Phoenix's cockpit. "Captain, do you have an update on our window?"

"Yeah," Denryk's voice filled the airlock again, "We've got a thirty minute window as soon as you drop. After that, I've got to either park it at the starport or break for high orbit."

"Thank you, Captain," Zuri replied before gesturing at Myra to shut down the projector. The mouse dutifully obeyed and secured the wristcomp, getting ready for the drop. "Any questions?" They all shook their heads. "Then go to internal comms and prep for insertion."

On her HUD, she saw her teammates link into the channel they used while out on missions one by one. Once they were all in, she spoke again. "Listen up, team, this has to go smooth and by the numbers. We screw this up and we're looking for a new ride, so I want no mistakes on this one."

"Yeah, wouldn't want to disappoint your new toyfriend," Myra snarked, getting a chuckle out of Zhora. Bjorn and Denari remained silent, but motion of their helmeted heads towards each other told Zuri all she needed to know.

"You have a problem with me sleeping with the Captain, Myra?" Zuri snapped, irritation building in her, stepping up to the mouse and towering over her. "Because I seem to recall you banging the cargo master so many times on our last run there wasn't a goddamn tie down that didn't have your fur and fluids on it."

"Heh, yeah, that was a fun run," Myra chuckled softly before she got back on the subject at hand. "And besides, I'm not team lead, and I wasn't fucking the ship's Captain. It's different when it's the people in charge, you know. You already gave him his cut up front because you think he's cute, what else are you gonna do for him?"

Zuri's armored hands balled up into fists, and she took a deep breath, keeping the anger under control before responding slowly. "For the last time, I didn't do it because he's cute. I did it because he's a damn good pilot who came highly recommended with top marks. When was the last bloody time you heard Hendrickson ever say a pilot was 'top shelf'? Hell, when was the last time you heard him say that about anyone?"

Myra looked away, her body language shifting, becoming less combative. "...never."

"Never," Zuri repeated. "We've got three marks on this docket that are known to operate spaceships and have a habit of evading authorities in said spaceships. Now, knowing what you know about Captain Barsuk, who would you rather have in his place?" Myra's stony silence was deafening. "I can't hear you, Hanscombe."

"Nobody, alright!" Myra exploded. "Fine. You're right, with a recommendation like that, we need someone like him. Just...thought you were fucking him to keep him on."

"No," Zuri shook her head. "The money is to keep him on, and if we deliver on this run, he's agreed to go to shares, just like the rest of us." She pauses a moment. "I fuck him because he's cute." That got a laugh out of all of them, the tension that had been building up in that small space shattered.

"Hitting the drop zone in five minutes" Denryk announced, and hatches in the airlock ceiling retracted and heavy cables, originally intended for hauling heavy cargo onboard, dropped to the deck. Her team immediately moved into action, silently hooking themselves onto the cables. Denari and Bjorn once again checking each other's connections before returning to quietly waiting.

As Zuri finished hooking her own cable up, her mind began to return to the badger in the cockpit. What she said was true, he was a top notch pilot, or at least, had been billed as one, and she did find him cute. But had she been sleeping with him to try and keep him in case this run went bad? The more she thought about him leaving after this run, she liked it less and less. And not just because she'd be out a good ship captain. She liked having him around, and not just for the sex. He was attentive, steadfast, and gentle with her. It was clear he adored her, but he treated her as a person, not some prize he'd won in a lottery. Was she...was she developing feelings for him? Was he feeling the same way? Was this really the best time for this?

"One minute to drop," the badger stated, startling the hyena. "Switching to point to point comms with team lead." There was a brief crackle in her ears as Denryk joined a private channel meant just for the ship's pilot and her. "Comm check."

"Comm check sat," Zuri answered.

"Comm check sat, aye. How are you feeling?"

"Uh...we're...good, I guess?" The question caught Zuri off guard. "Just want this to go smoothly."

"You and me, both. I like having you on the ship, and you've got a good crew. Well, most of them."

"Oh?"

"Yeah, Myra can get on my nerves a bit."

Zuri snorted. "She's good at that. But she's a better hacker so we deal with it."

"Fair enough. Drop in thirty seconds. And for what it's worth, I've really enjoyed our time together, and I'm looking forward to even more if this goes as well as advertised."

"Even all the teasing?" she smirked.

"...yes. And if this gets out, I will deny this entire conversation never happened. Fifteen seconds, killing running lights."

"Awww, spoilsport. You know my armor records these conversations, right? Be a shame if this one was to just...oh, I don't know...make its way into the ship intercom..."

There was a second of silence. "You wouldn't dare," he said. She let out a raucous laugh and shook her head.

"Of course not. But it's so much fun to tease you..."

"One of these days, you know, I'm going to get revenge. Eyes on drop zone, looks clear, no guards outside. Patching in external camera feed."

Within seconds, a video display appeared in the upper right of her HUD showing the top of the complex. Sure enough, nobody was outside, even though there was an outdoor pool on the lower level. Must be too cold for it, she thought. Or they're all busy doing drugs and banging hookers.

"Put us over the top floor, we'll make our way down from the roof."

"Copy that," Denryk answered, and the video feed cut out again. "Stand by to open airlock."

"Standing by," she said, and gripped the cable tightly, giving the signal that everyone else do the same. The normal, white lights in the airlock cut out, replaced by flashing red warning strobes as the floor beneath them opened up with a hiss. The coiled cables fell away towards the roof, stopping just short of hitting it.

Once the cables had finished unspooling, Zuri gave the thumbs up and began sliding down. Just before she hit the roof, she put more pressure on the cable, slowing her descent enough for her to lightly touch down on the roof rather than landing heavily on it. Around her, the team did the same, immediately taking up a defensive formation, checking for any threats the camera didn't pick up.

"Down and clear," Zuri stated, and the cables began retracting back into the Phoenix.

"Phoenix copies. Cables are retracted, and I'm moving to a safe distance to reactivate running lights. Good hunting, Zuri. Oh, and one last thing? You look really dashing in that armor. Denryk out." Zuri grinned, shook her head, and clicked the mic twice in acknowledgement and signaled to her team to form up on her.

Fortunately, there was a exterior staircase that lead from the roof to a service door on the top floor. A quick check showed it was locked with an electronic keypad. She grinned and motioned at Myra.

"You're up, Myra."

"Showtime," Myra chirped, moving rapidly to the door and flipping her wristcomp open. A few seconds of rapid tapping and she chuckled, shaking her head. "Amatuers. They've tied their whole system into this. I've got access to lights, thermostat, door locks, cameras, the works."

"Oh, this is perfect," Zuri grinned. "Is there a way to cause a distraction on the other side of the apartment?"

"Gimme a sec...yeah. Not exactly the other side, but I can set off the doorbell downstairs, should get their attention."

"Do it."

Myra tapped a few commands in and seconds later, they all heard the muffled sound of a doorbell going off...at a ridiculous pace. As one, the team turned to Myra, who simply shrugged. "What? Wanted to get their attention." The sound of angry yelling from the interior confirmed that it had certainly gotten their attention.

"I'd say it worked. Unlock the door, and then kill the power. Everyone, switch to night vision and prepare to move on my mark." The team readied their weapons as Myra finished her work and shut her wristcomp down, readying her SMG. Inside, she could hear the sounds of people screaming and panicking as the lights all shut down, with several booming male voices trying to get some semblance of order.

"Go go go," she said, and Myra silently swung the door open. Bjorn went in first, his massive riot shield nearly scraping the doorjamb as he entered. Denari was second, her plasma gatling gun held at the ready. Zuri, Myra, and Zhora entered next, fanning out behind the two bears, scanning for any targets.

The upper floors seemed to be bedrooms and bathrooms, all ostentatiously decorated, but no signs of life. "Bjorn, Denari, secure the staircases up here and keep watch. Myra, Zhora, on me." The bears immediately lumbered into position, placing themselves at the top of each staircase, effectively blocking it with their heavy armor. Zuri, meanwhile, was going room to room, checking each one for any hidden threats or targets. Zhora and Myra followed behind, checking corners and in any closets large enough for someone to hide in. Within a minute, they had cleared the upper level, finding only one passed out woman, who they locked in the room for her own safety.

"Upper level clear," she announced, "Bjorn, Denari, begin your descent. Don't fire unless fired upon. Zhora, Myra, you're on Denari, I'm on Bjorn."

The bears made their way down the grand staircases, the marble steps cracking under the sheer weight of their feet. By now, the screaming had subsided, and the rhythmic crunching of stone had gotten the attention of someone.

"What the fuck is that noise?" a male voice called out.

"Go check it out," another male commanded. That's gotta be him, Zuri thought, trying to locate the direction the voice was coming from. He quickly lapsed back into silence, the sound of booted footsteps approaching replacing it. A jackal came around the corner, a flashlight in one hand and a machine pistol in the other, and a shocked expression on his face when his light shone across five bounty hunters in power armor.

"BOUNTY HUNTERS, DROP YOUR WEAPONS AND GIVE UP NOW!!!" Bjorn roared, his already deep voice amplified by his suit's speakers to an almost demonic timbre. The jackal nearly jumped out of his skin . Without a second thought, he raised his pistol and fired wildly the bullets spattering harmlessly off of Bjorn's shield.

"Go loud, go loud!" Zuri yelled and opened fire, the heavy laser rifle catching Crazy Eyes directly in the chest, igniting his shirt and sending him flying back onto the floor. All hell had now broken loose, with women running and screaming, trying to flee past the hunters or simply running around in a blind panic. She swore under her breath and activated her target/tracking system, scanning for any sign of Zhakov or the other bodyguard. Two men, one gator, one bear, came rushing down the hallway, both wearing heavy body armor and carrying the same kind of rifle Zuri was holding.

"Denari, showtime!" she called out over the din. Denari never verbally acknowledged her, but Zuri could feel the heavy footfalls coming up behind her. "Remember, no collateral," she warned, firing a burst of laser fire over everyone's head in the hallway. The goons ducked slightly, but it also had the intended effect of causing everyone else to drop to the floor, giving Denari a clear shot. The barrels began to quietly whine as the weapon began to spin up, then erupted into thunderous fire, blue white bolts charging down the corridor. At that range, blocked in by the walls and the carpet of people, the two thugs stood no chance. The salvo of plasma fire burned through their armor like it was paper and incinerated their torsos. What was left of them dropped to the ground in a smoking heap.

As they fell to the ground, Zuri caught sight of her prey. Zhakov, trying to shoulder the door open as hard as he could. She shouldered her rifle and strode forward, the laser sight burning a red dot into the back of his head.

"Idruan Zhakov! Get down on your knees and get your hands up!" she commanded, her voice booming from her helmet speakers carefully stepping over and around the mass of people. The golden-horned gazelle did not comply, instead bashing his shoulder against the door harder and harder, trying frantically to escape. Zuri felt her victory approaching and allowed herself a confident grin. She'd have him secured and ready to go in moments, and still with fifteen minutes left to go. So much was riding on this, and it was so nice to see it, for once, go off without a single hitch.

Just when she was almost within reach of Zhakov, the door splintered and gave way, and the gazelle was down the hallway like a shot. Zuri swore loudly and took off after him, slinging her rifle onto her back. "Target got out the front door, in pursuit! Myra, lock down the elevators!"

"Already done!" Zuri had no time to reply, her steps thundering down the hall as she charged after her quarry. Dammit, she'd been so close! She quickly suppressed her recriminations, her worries, all of it, deep down for later, and focused on chasing Zhakov down. The gazelle skidded to a stop at the elevators, slapping the call button frantically. A glance over his shoulders and his eyes practically bugged out of his head as he saw her coming, and took off for the emergency stairwell.

She crashed through the door after him, the impact ripping the door of its hinges and sending it clattering down the steps. The fact that the door hadn't immediately crushed Zhakov quickly registered to her, and she looked up just in time to see him dashing for the roof exit. She kept her breathing regulated as she took the stairs three at a time, wondering just how much stamina her prey had.

The door to the roof was still open, and she ran out into the night after him, her night vision making him easy to spot. Zhakov was halfway across the roof now, waving his arms and shrieking for help into the night sky. A part of her meanly noted that the only thing in the night sky that would hear him right now would be Denryk, and he would most certainly not be the answer to her prayers. As she was gaining ground on him, he stopped screaming and outright sprinted to the edge, leaping off into the night. She cried out in despair, not wanting to watch as both payday and ship slip out of her grasp. Bolting to the edge, she saw that he had somehow actually managed to leap to the next building, barely. He was pulling himself up onto the building ledge, looking back over his shoulder at her. Or, rather, where he expected her to be, she doubted he could see her in the darkness.

Zuri gauged the distance between the buildings, took several steps back, a deep breath and then sprinted for the edge herself. Between her own powerful legs, and the suit's enhanced strength, she leapt into the air, silently praying to Gaia that she hadn't fucked this up. She thought she heard someone gasp, or was it just the wind whipping past her helmet?

Her feet slammed safely down onto the roof and she immediately tucked into a roll to absorb the impact. When she popped up, she saw Zhakov, the city light glinting off his golden horns just meters away. Determined not to let him get away, she sprinted after him, gaining ground much faster this time, until, when she was finally close enough, she tackled him, sending him toppling to the insulated roof.

"Irduan Zhakov, you are under arrest for warrants outstanding in the Terra Nova system. You have the right to remain silent, and I hope to Gaia you don't use it because I will kick the shit out of you if you so much as cough," she warned him, grabbing a pair of electromagnetic manacles and cuffing his hands behind his back.

"Agh! Fuck, that hurts! L-look, I've got twenty thousand in a safe back at the apartment! The code is five seven two five, just take it and say you never saw me. H-how's that? Sound good, right?" Zhakov nervously offered. Zuri responded by making good on her warning and clocked him with a single right cross to the face, knocking the gazelle out, along with two of his teeth.

"Zuri to team, target is in custody and alive. Everyone report in." There was a chorus of cheers on the line before Bjorn responded.

"All hostiles down, zero, I repeat, zero collateral damage. A few singed dresses, and a lot of therapy, most likely, but we're clear here."

"Good job, everyone. Stand down and wait for the Phoenix for extraction." Zuri switched her comm channel back over to the line she was sharing with Denryk.

"Phoenix, this is Zuri. We're all clear here, waiting on pickup." No sooner than had the words left her mouth, a spotlight lit up her position, nearly blinding her until the optics dimmed everything to a safe level. When she looked up at the source of the light, she saw the Phoenix hovering above, running lights back on, spotlight trained on her and her bounty. Over the comm channel, she suddenly heard the sound of clapping on Denryk's end.

"That was outstanding! I can't believe you managed to run down a gazelle of all people! That was probably the most impressive thing I have seen in a long while. You've got me for as long as you're willing to have me, Miss Amaka."

Zuri smiled from ear to ear at that, for many reasons. "Best thing I've heard all day, Captain."