In the near future, Zach works as an advocate for an influential family in the Central Territories. His job is to keep his clients out of jail, but they make it hard for him if they can't keep their mouths shut. He manages to convince his clients not to talk, but as he's getting ready to leave the penal satellite, an escaping prisoner takes him hostage. To his surprise, Zach recognizes the man.<br><br>Aron has to consider his next step carefully and quickly. He has to decide if he wants to go for the obvious and predictable, leave the penal satellite as everyone expects him to, or the unexpected but dangerous, stay and wait out the search team. But a familiar face from his days at the Academy makes his choice for him and he decides he's going to take a hostage.<br><br>There are a lot of obstacles between Aron and Zach, from Zach's loneliness but fear of commitment to Aron's lack of communication. And if that wasn't enough, their behavior is unfamiliar and they realize they might not be the same people they were in the Academy. Why isn't Zach working for the Marshal's Office as his moral code seemed to dictate? Is Aron more than an escaped prisoner? Will they manage to find a way to find those answers without also destroying what they've got?

Without a Paddle

Higgs is arrogant, he forgot or never received his lessons, and Zach wonders if he has enough pull to make Higgs pay. Even though Zach has been in the same situation, he finds that he has no mercy for people who break the unwritten rules because they imagine they have no equal and want no equal. It’s obscene that people that powerful want nothing but more of the same, especially when they use it to shit all over other people and their rights.


As things stand, though, Zach would be the one overextending if he does anything about this. He can tell his clients, of course, but, at the moment, his best course of action is to wait Higgs out. Whatever Higgs says next is going to be important because it can get him out of trouble relatively unscathed and, if he keeps his head down after this or is just lucky and it doesn’t get back at the Family through other sources, he can be home free. Or he can say something to bury him deeper.


Chapter 5