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[MiniKitty]

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Check out the bar, get a drink!

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Freeport 14, that is where she brought me. Just like that. I have water, thanks to her. I am here, thanks to her. I am alive, thanks to her. I got a bit of money, thanks to her.

Your name?

Uhm, Levan!

Last name?

Never thought of a last name. Cannot use my former one. Do not have one for Levan. Just Levan. What about the angel? She told me her real name.


Harlow, I guess.

Good. Levan Harlow, here is your ID. Bound to your ship.

Nice, bound to my ship. So now my name is actually Levan Harlow. Have fun telling Aspen about that. You have one friend, and you already made it awkward.

They escort me to medical. Sure, I take off my mining jumpsuit. No, no underwear. No, I did not get to shower. Yes, I stink. I see your looks. I know he is big. Yes, I am thin. Yes, those are cuts and bruises. Yes, it does hurt when you touch me there. It hurts when you touch me anywhere. I am in pain. You want my piss? Sure. My shit, too? Sure. My what? Sure, when I get to that. Yes, I am undernourished. Yes, I have trouble speaking. Yes, I am not going to have sex until I bring the samples to the lab.

I want to shower. I want new clothes. I need to piss, too.

Yes, I will go to that office. Thank you for nothing, Miss administrator.

Yes, I will go back to the main hall to the rental terminal. Thank you for nothing, Sir.

So many people in queue. I will get clothes first.

I have 100.000 Credits, thanks to her. Enough for what I want. Leather looks cool, feels nice. A beanie, too. Tailored to my body measurements? Sure. I can afford that, probably. Will come back later.

More people at the rental terminal. I can wait. I have waited my whole life, I can wait a bit more.

Cheap apartment, right next to a massage parlor. Sure, why not. Give me anything.

Cute, one room, one bed. Makes noises, but okay. Huh, neighbour is noisy, too. Moaning. Her voice is quite sexy. Time to shower.

My first shower since my parents got deported. Make it count. No shampoo, no gel, all good. A sponge, nice. The water is clean, then it gets on my skin. Sand, dust, sweat, blood. My body is a wreck. But I am alive.

I am clean, I do not stink anymore. My mining jumpsuit still does. Whatever. She said I should get a drink, I will do that.

Hey sweety!

Hello, Miss!

Had a rough day, huh?

Uhm, uh, sort of!

Maybe I can sweeten it up a bit? You look quite handsome.

I guess my suit does not stink enough.


Uhm, what do you mean?


She sits down next to me and smiles. Pretty woman, a bit older than me. Blond hair, long. Taller than me. Sexy outfit, my eyes got caught by her chest a few times. I try to resist. Her hand is on my thigh as she talks to me. Her arm rubs against mine. I have a Liberty Ale, she has something else. Probably not water, but looks like water. With bubbles. Her perfume is strong. Pink lipstick, shiny. Make-up eyes, she is very pretty. Tamara, or Tammy. I call her Miss Tamara. She laughs, her hand rubs my thigh, up and down.

I get what this is about.


Uhm, I do not think I can afford you...

You are missing out, kid.

Her hand is no longer on my thigh, but somewhere else.

Huh, big boy. Sure you do not have the money?

Her teasing makes it hard to think. Staying alive was worth it.


I am sorry.


She pecks my cheek. Maybe next time, she says and leaves, leaving her glass on my table. I just sit there, minutes pass. Bartender comes, here is the bill. One Liberty Ale, one Crystal Champus. Thank you, Tamara.

I go get the tailored clothes from the store. Looks good. Cannot wait to try it on. I go to my apartment, strip, put on the new stuff. I look good. Never looked this good before. I feel good. A woman touched me, and it did not hurt. She kissed me. She scammed me, too. Still, a kiss from a pretty woman.

I am alone, and I have not processed what happened. I am happy. I look good and I am clean. I have water, and I have synth paste. I am alive. I am still alive. I made it away from Pittsburgh. I got kissed. I have clothes. I showered. I got kissed.

I have a room. I can sleep without anyone attacking me or stealing my things.

Need to deal with the ship and need to make money. But now, I will just sleep. This bed is better than the wooden pallet. I have a pillow. It is dirty, but I do not care.

This is better than anything I had before. Thank you, Aspen.

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