The Lagos solar system has one viable habitat, Bloodroot, and one failing one, Nightshade. It seems the convention is to name them after plants. Sanguinaria canadensis. Satellite photos show a city made of whorled streets; plant heavy, green, peaceful. Reports say two other planets in the solar system might support life. Maxwell is more concerned about supporting commerce. It bothers him that the government in Bloodroot is modular and flat, with no visible head. How do they get anything done? Fucking communists. More business is done on the Lagos Space Station than Bloodroot at this point, but Maxwell’s experts say this is on the verge of change; plus, Bloodroot is only 1% occupied. A visionary such as himself has a lot to offer such a colony.

For a price, of course.

“They’re ready for you, sir.”

Wolf by his side, Maxwell proceeds to the laboratory.

A gentle-looking gigantic man stands naked, smiling at Maxwell. He is six-six and sports an enormous belly.

“Vitality Daniels,” says Maxwell. “Thank you for accompanying me on this trip.”

“It is my function, sir,” says Vitality.

“Begin,” says Maxwell.

Vitality lies down on a slab. Tools descend at the end of robotic arms. The wolf growls, but Maxwell calms him. A cutting device slices Vitality open from chest to groin. Gripping tools pull an opening apart, exposing his chest and abdominal cavities. No blood. An excavation that takes minutes.

“Go on, old friend. Set to,” says Maxwell to the wolf.

The wolf whines briefly, then leaps neatly into the space in Vitality. It curls into a ball, makes itself as small as possible, and fits. The tools seal the opening, spray it, leave no scar.

Vitality stands again.

“How do you feel?” says Maxwell.

“Fantastic.”

“Shut down.”

Vitality’s eyes film over and his head hangs down, inert.

Maxwell whistles.

A barn owl comes flying through the corridors and lands on his shoulder. Its head does a three-sixty turn before it comes to rest on Vitality Daniels.

“Not long now,” says Maxwell.

You can’t just leave the solar system if you’re as rich as Yan Maxwell. Entire economies will collapse if the departure is not managed well. Arrangements must be made. Assets sold or the management delegated.

Most importantly, court cases. There are always ongoing court cases. Very rarely does he have to make an appearance in court, and his entire legal team keeps everything under control; that said, leaving the solar system presents some challenge as he is clearly leaving the jurisdiction of every court. He has to petition each judge individually and sit for a few police interviews. It is painstaking because it has to be done case-by-case.