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I glanced at the clock displayed in the corner of my vision by my smart glasses: 3:50 PM. I was a bit early but then Chris typically was too. I scanned the bar’s tables searching for my friend. The bar was always busy, being a fairly successful establishment, and preferred place for a variety of meetings both social and business; legal and illegal. In my case this was a social call. Chris caught my eye and called me over.

Chris Ledith was a well kept man; his short dirty blond hair was always well kept as was his much darker facial hair. His beard was well trimmed and highlighted a strong jaw that matched the firmness of his personality. At a first pass Chris was not a soft man. He maintained a quiet confidence and reservation some might mistake for arrogance, and his fierce intelligence didn’t reduce this impression whatsoever, but this seemingly arrogant reservation and intelligence was in service to a compassionate yet practical core.

I sat down across from him as he slid a glass of beer over to me.

“You didn’t have to buy me a beer Chris, that was a joke.” I chided him with a smile.

“Like I need that kind of excuse to buy a beer for a friend,” He replied returning the smile. “I have the money to spend, you don’t, and drinking alone is just depressing.”

“Well that might not be necessary for much longer I’ve got a rather lucrative job lined up.”

“Oh?”

“It’s off station, some kind of smuggling gig. I can’t say I fully understand the details but I don’t typically ask too many questions anyway. However, this will be a steady source of income for the foreseeable future,” my excitement over this opportunity became increasingly apparent as my words sped up, “and may give me connections I could use find out what happened to her”

Chris didn’t share my excitement but rather frowned with concern.

“What's wrong, Chris?”

“I don’t think I need to tell you lucrative smuggling jobs are dangerous. I know you can take care of yourself, but if you catch SolA’s attention it’s going to make things… difficult, and sooner or later you’re going to learn that you can’t ignore the details forever; you’re likely to fall in with some dangerous people.”

“I am dangerous people, Chris. I’m the ex-bodyguard, hitman and personal assistant to the founder of Iron fucking Phoenix.”

“I know you are, Ray, but there’s always a bigger fish, and if you get caught between SolA and EXO you’ll be in over your head.”

“Well, what would you suggest then!? I can’t just keep doing small jobs around the station. It’s getting me nowhere. I’m no closer to finding Ferah, I’m just jogging in place waiting for my life to change. This is my chance to move forward!” I was practically yelling; my agitation running away with me.

Chris was slightly cowed by my sudden agitation, but nonetheless continued still speaking with customary softness.

“Chasing after Ferah isn’t moving forward, Ray. It’s moving backward.” His quiet rationality was maddening. “Whether you see it or not: she left you. I don’t wish to presume what kind of relationship you two had, but it seems to me she left either because she didn’t care for you as deeply as you thought, or she went off to do something so dangerous it’s best you stay away.” Chris went silent gauging my reaction. I managed to hold my composure recognizing the rationality of his words if rejecting the possibility of their truth.

“Either way, Ray, You should move on.” Chris continued letting his compassion soften his words further “Whether she would want you to or not.” I opened my mouth to speak but he cut me off anticipating my objection.

“I don’t care about your ‘contract’, and you shouldn’t either” he said, referring to the document I lived most of my life by, in a frustratingly dismissive tone. “She can’t legally enforce it, and, from what you told me, she broke the spirit of it anyway. Either you signed it under the false pretense she cared more deeply for you than she did, or she abandoned it in order to protect you. Regardless it’s now irrelevant.”

I was close to storming out of the bar. He had no right to talk of our relationship and the contract like he understood. He had never even met Ferah.

“Chris, the terms of the contract are specific and clear and so far neither of us has directly breached them.” My anger expressed itself with quiet venom. “I have no choice but to assume it is still relevant and in effect.”

“It’s been 3 years. And you’ve heard nothing. She’s not coming back Ray, and she probably doesn’t want to be found. Don’t throw your life and possibilities away on this dead end.”

“What other choice do I have!? I have nothing, no one else!”

Chris just stared at me for a moment of agonizing silence; his expression, inscrutable. He finally spoke with surprising softness.

“Fine. Do whatever you feel is right. I just hope you realize that there are other options, while they’re still open to you.”

At that he stood up to leave, turning back for a final cryptic reassurance.

“If you need to talk I’m always available for you. Please don’t let yourself struggle alone.”