Three weeks had passed since Youri's had taken off with Barnaby aboard his ship, and Las Peas was finally in sight.
Youri was walking down the corridor when Barnaby stepped out of his quarters. He glanced at Youri and said simply, "Come to the control room."
Youri gave him a confused look but followed anyway.
The door to the control room hissed open as they entered. It was spacious, built on two levels. The lower level housed the control crew and navigation systems, a busy nest of consoles and soft lights. The upper level was smaller and wrapped in a railing, accessible by stairs to the left. From there, a massive glass viewport stretched across the front of the ship, offering a clear, uninterrupted view of space.
At the center of the upper level stood a single chair—the captain's chair. It was large, solid, and commanding.
The ship itself wasn't especially big, but it was one of the newest Terrian models of its time. These ships were called Brawlers, named for their aggressive silhouettes. Barnaby's Brawler was called Khosano.
From the front, Khosano's nose tapered into a narrow, spear-like point, layered with angular plating that looked both aerodynamic and heavily armored. Its surfaces were faceted rather than smooth. The midsection was dense and mechanical, widening slightly to reveal structural complexity and internal systems. Toward the rear, the design became bulkier and more industrial—large engine housings and thruster blocks dominated the section, arranged symmetrically and framed by thick armor.
Khosano was a top-notch Terrian military ship. Barnaby had commanded many vessels like it, though he rarely stayed in open combat for long. Even so, his fleet had grown to ten ships.
As Youri stepped into the control room, his attention was immediately pulled to the massive window ahead. Barnaby sat in the captain's chair, lighting a cigarette. He took a drag and said, "Look. That's the planet of sin—Las Peas."
From afar, Las Peas looked like a glowing neon marble suspended in space. The planet itself wasn't large; by comparison, it was classified as a dwarf planet. Despite that, it was home to over a billion people. Its capital city, Vegas, was the center of nightlife and gambling across more than five galaxies.
Khosano descended toward Vegas.
As the ship landed, Youri felt completely overwhelmed. The moment he stepped off the ship, he was assaulted by color and light. Neon signs blazed from every direction, skyscrapers towered over the docking station, and the streets were alive with the hum of advanced vehicles and the newest ship models zipping overhead.
Youri stood frozen, speechless.
Barnaby placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hey, kid."
Youri turned to face him.
Barnaby handed him a bag. After taking one last drag from his cigarette, he flicked it away and said, "Take it. That's your starter pack. From this moment on, you're a free man."
He paused before continuing. "I'll give you one more option. The Order is looking for new recruits. I can put in a good word for you."
Youri opened the bag. Inside were extra clothes and a thick stack of bills. He looked up sharply."Why are you doing this?"
Barnaby exhaled slowly. "I never wanted things to get to where they did. You might call this bullshit, but I truly liked you both— you and Six."
He lit another cigarette, took a drag, and stared up at the dark sky."Maybe I feel guilty about your brother. Or maybe it's the thought of throwing you into that pit just because you asked me. I don't know. But this—this is my payment. Not to who you are now, but to that little kid whose life I turned upside down."
Youri looked at him carefully. His voice softened."I learned to hate people early in life. I've met my fair share of monsters. But after everything I've been through… for some reason, I can't put you in that category."
He gave a quiet chuckle."Don't get me wrong—I'll never forgive you for what you did to me and Six. Not for as long as I live. But I know who's a monster and who isn't. You're not my monster. You were just a con—one that we paid dearly for ever meeting."
Barnaby smiled faintly."I'll take that as a compliment."
The wind swept around them, tugging at their hair as they stood there in silence. Then Barnaby shoved his hands into his pockets and turned toward his ship. After a few steps, he glanced back.
"Don't forget—look for Malkom. He might be a dick, but he's an old-timer. People like him keep their word."
Barnaby disappeared into the distance.
Youri looked down at the bag, then around him.Vegas, he thought. Let's see what you've got.
He left the bay and stepped onto the gleaming streets of Vegas. Casinos and pubs lined every block, but what dominated the city were the gentlemen's clubs. It had been five years since Youri had even seen a woman up close—let alone been touched by one.
As he walked, women of the night teased him, holding his arm, leaning close, slipping hands over his shoulders. Youri blushed furiously, barely able to process it all.
Eventually, he stopped at a random street corner and leaned against a wall, breathing heavily.
Moments later, a young woman stepped out of the building beside him. She leaned against the wall too, pulled out a cigarette, and lit it. After exhaling a long stream of smoke, she turned to him.
"Hey," she said. "You're in fucking Vegas, and you're standing here staring at the ground?"
Youri flinched slightly and looked up."It's my first time here," he said, stuttering. "I'm just… overwhelmed."
She chuckled. "Honey, it's everybody's first time. But you don't see them sulking like that."
Youri gave an awkward laugh.
She extended her hand. "I'm Gloria."
After a brief hesitation, Youri shook it. "Youri."
"Nice to meet you, Youri," Gloria said. "So—ready to have a good time?"
Before he could answer, she gestured behind her."This is Lux. My club. Come in—I promise you won't regret it."
She turned and walked inside.
Youri stood there, stunned. Then Barnaby's words echoed in his mind.
Look for Lux.
By chance—or fate—Youri realized he was already standing at its entrance.