We had docked in an older part of the station that had been repurposed for civilian use after the war. It was smaller and grimier than the newer sections, but it also offered better prices. Here, the original military design was evident: everything was arranged for maximum efficiency and minimal aesthetics—functional but ugly.

“Turn right,” Kee said over the comm. “I figured you’d want the ship parts first. The best prices I found are two levels down, but you can skip the first elevator. I’m sending the info to your comm.”

“Thank you,” I said subvocally.

“I’m looking at food prices next. I’ll let you know what I find. Yell if you need anything else.”

“Will do.”

I turned right and bypassed the line for the first elevator. The crowd thinned as we moved away from the landing bay door. By the time we made it to the second elevator, the line was only a few people deep. I pulled out my comm and checked Kee’s directions while we waited.

I was used to monitoring my surroundings no matter what I was doing, so I saw the moment the man in front of us decided to become a problem. His leer at me turned into a scowl as he caught sight of Torran.

He stared at me. “Dirty Valoff fucker,” he muttered, loud enough that he wanted to be heard.

He had dark hair and naturally pale skin made even paler by years in the black. He was thickly muscled, likely either a soldier or mercenary. When he caught me looking, his lip curled up.

I deliberately looked back down at my comm, dismissing him completely.

“Didn’t you hear me, Valoff fucker?” he persisted.

The few people around us edged back. I sighed and put my comm away. This was another reason I hadn’t wanted Torran to accompany me. His presence created as many problems as it solved.

“If you’re trying to insult me, you’re going to have to do better than that. It’s good you have all those muscles, because clearly no one is hiring you for your brainpower.”

The man’s mouth opened, then clicked shut. I could see the mouse wheel of his mind slowly turning, then his cheeks flushed red with outrage. Bullies didn’t like it when the tables were turned and insults started flying back toward them.

“You stupid little c—”

The man’s mouth clicked shut again, but by the way his eyes widened, he wasn’t the one responsible. When the elevator opened, he slid two meters to the left, terror plain on his face. With his removal, space opened for me to push the levcart into the lift.

Torran’s expression never changed.

One brave lady who had been in front of us ducked into the elevator, but everyone else suddenly decided they didn’t need to change levels after all.