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Miklin sighed and scrubbed at his face. "I know, it was stupid, but I felt I couldn't do nothing. Every night I returned home to see my crippled sister and it drove me crazy. So, I gathered information on the accident and the account discrepancies and I realized I had enough to seriously hurt the business if I played my cards right. This time I didn't bother with the station police. I sent it directly to the police planetside and to the tax department in the government. They cracked down on E&S and the owner so fast that the station master couldn't do more than save him from going to prison. The eatery was shut down and seized by the authorities. I lost my job, but the owner was forced to pay compensation to everyone who had been injured in the accident. However, the station manager rigged it so his son only had to pay a tiny amount to each person.
And it was when I tried to find a new job that I found out the worst news. Someone leaked my involvement to the station manager or his son and they retaliated by blacklisting me and threatened to do the same for anyone who hired me. I haven't had a steady job since and my sister and I are barely surviving on what I can find for work now and then."
"I see. And going planetside?"
"Never an option. What money we had went to keeping my sister alive and we could never afford the tickets to leave. Also, I never knew how much power and connections the station manager would have planetside to make our lives hell."
"So, you are saying that you need to take care of your sister somehow and you aren't free and clear to leave this station?"
Miklin hung his head. "That's right. I would want both of us to leave and to set her up in a different location. I wouldn't betray her by leaving her behind in this cesspool."
"That could possibly be arranged, provided you actually pass bootcamp. I will need to contact those you previously worked for to find references on your work." He held up a hand. "Don't worry. Blacklists mean nothing to us. We hire misfits from all sorts of backgrounds, both innocent and even some criminal. Your situation isn't new to us. Do you think you can survive bootcamp?"
Miklin straightened at the officer's doubtful look. "Yes, I can do it. If I can have some square meals before then."
"You're that far gone?"
Miklin flushed. "There's no money so we make food last as long as possible."
"Meaning you skip meals so your sister is fed. Well, you definitely have willpower in abundance. I'll contact my superiors back at our home base to arrange for your sister. I think we can arrange for passage if you give up free passage home. We provide a ticket home for those that quit or flunk out normally."
"I can accept that. Anywhere should be better than here. Even if I do flunk out, I can find a normal job. It's just being blacklisted here that's been my downfall. People here try to help us on the side, but they can't do it openly without being hammered."
Lieutenant Franks tapped on his tablet and brought up an electronic form. "Read this and sign it. Once you do, you'll officially be recruited."
The form contained quite a bit of text and Miklin felt dizzy just looking through it, so he skipped most of it and signed. A job was a job, regardless of the fine print. This would be their ticket off station.
"I'll send you a copy of the form for reading later. I hope, in the future, you'll be more careful about reading before signing."
Miklin flushed at his tone. "Yes, sir."
"Welcome to Cardinal." He stood up and held out his hand. "Our ship will most likely be leaving in less than a week. Be ready to leave on her."
"My sister too?"
"Most likely. Send me a copy of her latest medical report so I can check to see if she can be accommodated on the ship."
Miklin shook the officer's hand. "Thank you. Thank you for giving me a chance."
"Mercs like us exist to give people second chances. I hope you succeed. Also, I'll send some food to your home. We can't have you walking around as our employee looking like you'll keel over and die at any moment. You'll need to present yourself for a medical evaluation either before leaving or once on board the ship."
"Thank you once again."
True to his word, a large package filled the dropbox upon Miklin's return. The mercs worked fast to deliver the food. Natalie's jaw dropped wide open as she watched Miklin unload all of the fresh food into the unit.
"Where did that come from?"
"I've got a new job, Nat. They provided the food."
"But won't that come out of your first paycheck? And what job? Who would hire you?"
"If it does, that's ok. They will provide food and board so I don't have to worry about having no pay for a while." He finished and shut the unit door. "I went to the mercs who just set up shop on the station, Nat. They hire people like us who need a second chance. I just have to survive bootcamp."
"Mercs?! But that would take you away from here? And don't they all have questionable morals?"
"I looked them up. Cardinal Military Corporation is rated pretty highly as being honorable. They don't take just any contract. And yes, I will be leaving. Most likely in the next week when their ship leaves the station." Miklin wiped away his sister's tears. "Don't cry, Nat. I got them to agree to take you along too. Since I never want to come back here, they'll pay for your passage on the same ship to CMC's home base. At the worst, you'll leave on a different ship later on. We'll find a place for you to live on that planet."
"Really?"
"Really! I'm not going to abandon you. I'm doing this for both of us. So, start thinking about what you want to bring with us. We probably won't be allowed much cargo space, so we may have to leave things behind."
"As if we even have that much. Packing won't be hard."
The next package to arrive contained more food and a letter with a checklist to complete as well as where to report for the medical check.
Miklin completed the checklist,passed the medical check, barely, and finally it was time to present himself and his sister to board the ship. He carried her out of their apartment and placed her in the rented hoverchair. They watched the door close for the last time on a place that contained so many memories, but then they turned their backs on it. A few people dared to openly come and wish them good-bye. The florist even presented Natalie with another flower.
Natalie stiffened when Miklin guided her chair up to the boarding tube for the merc ship, CMC Eidolon. Two guards stood at the entrance examining them with professional interest. Miklin presented their papers.
"Miklin Chandler and Natalie Chandler?"
"Yes."
"That's all in order. That hover chair won't fit up the boarding tube. Medical will come and escort you on board."
"Thank you." That came from Natalie and the guard softened slightly.
"It's my job, Miss."
An hour later, Miklin found himself assigned to a bunk in a room filled with lower ranked soldiers. Natalie had a place in a female junior officer's cabin close to the medical center. He wouldn't be able to see her much while on board outside of meals, but he felt that she would do well even so.
And then, less than 24hrs later, the engines rumbled to life, slowly moving the ship away from the station. Miklin didn't have an assigned station so he found a viewport to watch the station disappear.
Oddly enough, he did feel slightly sad at leaving it behind, but excitement for the future overwhelmed the sadness. Whatever lay ahead would certainly be better than what they left behind. He was sure of it.
END