Starkraft Brewhouse, orbital ring X-14 · 3725 Rainmoon 20

The ring turns once every longhour, so the Brewhouse gets a sunrise every longhour, and Zip has stopped looking at them. Zip is mopping. Something with four stomachs had an opinion about the house tea.

The regular in the privacy robe sits in the corner booth, same as always. Hood up. Orders water, drinks tea nobody poured, says nothing. When the robe leaves, the green circle on the table goes red. Payment declined. Not enough funds. On the table is a scrap of paper with an address and four words: Meldan. Ask for the door.

Zip's watch buzzes. It is a cheap watch, with no reputation attached to it, and it has never buzzed for money before.

Zip has been paid in a lot of things. Never in money somebody set on fire. Zip reads the scrap again. Zip never shies away from a challenge.