When their bodies and tear ducts were sufficiently dried, the trio made their way back into the cavern.

  The area was still a mix of people eagerly waiting in line and groups that were sticking to the walls, as far away from the new arrivals as they could manage. More ships had arrived on the cavern floor, and the net was removed to make landing spaces for them. A man argued with a local enforcer that the unprocessed crystals in his pockets were his property, and he wasn't going to give them up or trade them for any monetary value.

  The altercation drew a few enterprising individuals out of line, while they reworked plans to take crystal up and out of the mineshaft with them. Reid couldn't blame any of them. They'd been stuck down here for who knew how long, and they were trying to give themselves some sort of advantage on release. He had his own small stash of crystals in his ring, too - alongside Win's pills, piles of rations and water, and a not-insignificant amount of bone-crafted equipment. So Reid was no different than they were - just a bit better at hiding his belongings.

  Win ensured the three of them ended up in the line of prisoners being processed by the CCE himself. She pointed out that the chest plates on each set of CCE power armor housed symbols and shapes that informed you whether the enforcer was local or not, along with other things could be gleaned from it. The triangle set onto this CCE's armor meant he was a highly decorated officer that could be trusted to follow the law to the letter. If it was instead blank in that area, it would've meant the person was a trainee or probationary enforcer. A circle meant they were experienced, but not decorated. A star meant they were a supervisory CCE, though not a multi-sector sergeant. And a heart symbol indicated they were a healer - either specializing in physical or mental trauma. Reid filed the information away in his mind palace, but his real takeaway was that they'd chosen the line with the person most likely to follow rules and regulations.

  In the moment they had in the showers, and the moment after, Win hadn't been specific about what she was trying to do. But Reid knew her well enough to see that she had a plan in mind. Her comments about arbitrating for them were all the confirmation he needed. She was planning to do something that involved this enforcer and some kind of legal stuff.

  But he didn't need to know all the details - and she probably had her reasons for not saying anything yet. Despite his concern, Reid would continue to trust her.

  #

  The line was long, and the three of them were the only ones around that had taken a shower. On realizing that fact, a few of their surrounding queue-mates peeled off to get their own bathing done. A pair of new CCEs descended into the cavern during their long wait, and took a few minutes to speak with the first CCE that had come through the mineshaft. It was a tense bit of time where Win was visibly ready to pull them out of line if the decorated officer was replaced by one of the newcomers. Thankfully, he returned to his post, and Win stayed. One of the new CCE's had a circle marker, and the other was sporting a heart. The one with the circle took over a processing queue from one of the local enforcers.

  The healer CCE set up a tent space, separate from the queues. After another ten minutes, a small group of healers emerged from that tent, and made their way up and down the lines. They asked people simple but leading questions about how they were doing emotionally. So, definitely the mental trauma style healer, Reid thought. It was good that the person was there and doing what was a very necessary job - but Reid could've done without the healers stopping repeatedly at their trio and no-so-subtly hinting that they would do well to get themselves evaluated. Reid was not in the mood for therapy, magical or otherwise.

  As they neared the front, the three of them were given tablet-like items to enter their details and speed up the processing itself. Reid was told the thing was called a datapad - but it acted like a mix between a stone tablet and modern-day electronic tablet. He had to etch information into the thing, which then displayed what he'd done electronically. Or magically. He was pretty sure the whole thing was magic, because the stone portion of the tablet always went back to 'normal' after he was done etching information into it.

  There weren't many times since the awakening that Reid had questioned language and understanding - but writing words into the tablet, he realized he wasn't quite writing in English. He recognized it as his native language, but there were oddities to what his brain told him to put down. He hadn't thought of the 'system standard' bit from Earth's awakening in a while, but understood that this is what standard meant. It wasn't an issue - neither now nor in any of the conversations he'd had with Lycra or Win. It just felt weird.

  Also weird was giving his false name and planet of origin. It was the first time he'd had to write Serroc out, anywhere. The stuff he'd done to make the fake name show up to skills didn't count as writing - so the 'forged paperwork' he was holding was the first time he'd ever written his own 'name'. That also felt weird.

  Lycra was frowning at his tablet. "Win, what are Official Connections?"

  She knelt down to better see his screen. "Ah, those are people or places or organizations you're affiliated with. If you wanted to go back to an old employer, for instance, you could put them down as a connection. Or if there was a place you were, you might be able to go back there. Once we put in our familial avouchment, you can put that down as an official connection - though we should avoid doing that for a little while."

  Lycra's face filled with worry. "I do not want to work for Thad again."

  Win's grim was warm, but filled with mischief. "Thad doesn't count. He bought you, Lycra - as a slave or a servant, doesn't matter. He wasn't an employer, and you're not going back to him. But, you are owed by Thad, and I intend to see that settled."

  Reid and Lycra exchanged looks, but Win wouldn't expand on her comment. Instead she asked the two of them whether they had any holdings or connections in the universe they wanted her to reach out to. That was met with an awkward and uncomfortable no.

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  #

  Somewhere during the day, the barrier protecting the main tunnel had been made entirely opaque. A pair of local enforcers were now stationed in front of it, and were checking along the sides. Reid didn't want to think about what that meant. Maybe more vicipods were separated from them by a thin sheet of magic. Maybe something else was lurking there. No matter the case, he hoped it would be irrelevant soon.

  They were next in line. Despite being so close, they couldn't hear the conversation of the group in front of them. A bubble stopped all sound from emerging out of the table area where the enforcer sat. After a long while, the pair of miners stood and shook hands with the CCE before walking themselves over to one of the waiting transports. Waves of anticipation, worry, and tension flowed through Reid. He wished Nyx were awake. He wanted reassurances that his disguise and work on identify would hold up to this level of scrutiny. He wanted to ask Win half a hundred questions. He wanted to make sure that even if they were separated from Win, he and Lycra would still be together. Something in his gut screamed at him to throw out all plans of secrecy and growth and to just tell this man that his daughter was Sara and he needed to be reunited with her. He tamped down the churning emotions.

  The gravel-like voice boomed out "Next", and the three of them stepped into the space. It was a series of chairs loosely arranged before a long table set sideways. On the other side, the CCE in his power armor sat like a gleaming statue. He didn't look the least bit fatigued or tired after the endless work of processing the prisoners. More than that, the man seemed bright - eager and ready and intently listening and watching the trio before him. When they entered the bubble, the drone of ships engines cut out completely. Reid hadn't realized just how loud and busy the space in the cavern had been.

  The mostly-human-looking enforcer waited in front of them patiently as they arranged three chairs in a line. His helmet sat on the table. It was more 'helmet' looking than 'face'-esque, but the thing still had two sets of divots in it that made the armor piece look like it was sporting two sets of eyes. Up close, the CCE's armor showed some age. There were scratches and a few tiny dents, but even those marks seemed to have been polished with pride.

  The man himself was... blue. Not 'Jim' blue, but it still gave Reid pause. The tone was more of an ocean-blue, and the CCE was certainly not as wide as the deceased man. He boasted a prominent flat jaw that extended inches below a pair of black lips. A black line on one side of his face ran from the inside of his right eye, down to his cheekbone, then back towards a black ear. Both of his ears were pierced in multiple places, and Reid saw gold bars and buttons among the jewelry. He also had a single, wide flat bar piercing set into his left eyebrow. His eyes were a cool orange tone, and aside from his eyebrows he was completely hairless. He had both gauntlets of his armor holding down pieces of paper so they didn't get whipped around by the transport's engine wash, and he took notes in a bound journal with a pen in his bare hand.

  As the three of them sat, he spoke.

  "My name is Fozzune Hoimchal, but you may call me Fozz. I understand this is a trying day, and you must be full of mixed emotion. My goal is to see you receive fair and humane treatment - and to ensure DenWu receives punishment befitting his deeds."

  The words were simple - probably standard and practiced - but the man made them sound sincere. He punctuated the end of his statement with a warm smile - and Win snapped at the opening like a viper.

  "Enforcer Hoimchal, I apologize for my urgency but I require an immediate and private review and processing of this emergency familial avouchment." She slid the datapad she'd been given over to him, and the enforcer blinked for a few moments before he shook his head and nodded.

  He looked at Reid and Lycra. "Lycra and... Serroc. Are the two of you aware of any spells, skills, or other pressure that would impair your ability to confidently say you are of sound mind?"

  They shook their heads.

  "I require verbal confirmation. If you cannot speak, I require a written response."

  "No." They said in unison.

  "Alright then. Lycra, Serroc, and Auluwin Ascheron, do all three of you agree to any and all implications and requirements set forth through this avouchment, so long as the avouchment lasts?" Reid stared at Win - Auluwin - with a raised eyebrow, even as they each let out a 'yes'. She shrugged with a grin. "Then, let me congratulate you on the creation of your familial bonds. Your avouchment is undergoing processing, but should not encounter anything that would cause it to be rejected. If you so chose, you may take a familial name once the paperwork is received by headquarters - and that can be a new name, or you could borrow Auluwin's family name." The enforcer nodded at Win. Reid wished he'd learned about her name at least 15 minutes ago. Win from Auluwin. He could've given her so much shit about bad nicknames. Revenge for her 'serroc' jokes. But now was not the time. Partly because they were sitting in front of a very high ranking space cop. But also because Win wasn't slowing down enough to let anyone - including the enforcer - get a word in over hers.

  "With that done, under Section 5 of the Humphries-Marnox Treaty, I request black-wall processing and recording procedures for myself and my immediate family."

  Reid caught the man's eyes visibly widen for a half second before he gathered himself. "I require proof that you are eligible for-"

  Win grabbed her datapad and flipped to the informational section on herself before shoving it back across the table towards the man. "Don't forget to delete the video of us in line, and mentions in the other interviews."

  Fozz's brow furrowed visibly as he read. He bit the inside of his lip, put a finger to his eyebrow piercing, then his hands flitted around too fast for Reid to see. Once he was done, Fozz went back to playing with the eyebrow piercing.

  "Black-wall processing is in place. Recording has ceased, and all visual and audial records are henceforth cordoned off from CCEIC. I've similarly deactivated your datapads from the local connections, added a visual barrier to our surroundings, and will ensure your names and any potentially identifiable references to you are redacted from all logs and testimony. I must say, it's been quite a while since someone has even mentioned that treaty. My apologies for not recognizing you-"

  Win waved a hand. "No worries, I'm not exactly primetime news, I'd think. And I get the rigidity, but you can loosen up a little on the performatives - talk normally, you know? I do need you to be an official witness to a transfer of renumeration, though. " Reid's jaw was still slack. He had almost no idea what was going on, but Win had held complete control of the interaction, and was now telling the enforcer what to do. She turned to Lycra. "Lycra, please tell this man you transfer all renumeration in any future cases to me."

  He looked at her for half a second, then turned to the enforcer. "That thing. I do that."

  Fozz rubbed his nose. "It needs to be clearer as a standalone statement than that. At least 'I transfer renumeration rights to Auluwin Ascheron.' That should be enough."

  Lycra repeated the phrase, and Win smiled warmly.

  "Thank you both. But the best is yet to come - I think. Time to see if my surprise is actually going to work." She took a quick breath, then aimed a predatory grin at enforcer Fozz.

  "Article 7.2.theta of Origination Contract Kappa. Both of them, priority transport."

  The enforcer flexed his jaw and pressed buttons on his arm.

  Fozz's eyes scanned over content no one else could see.

  "Okay. The paperwork is going through, so we may as well take the next step."

  He focused on Lycra and Reid.

  "Please affirm or deny your desire to attend Vuxarina's tutorial."

  Character Cheat Sheet: