„Let me sum this up. You went on an unauthorized undercover mission, got attacked by pirates which was...part of your plan? And then you somehow heroically fought a whole crew off of your shuttle, except for the one you planned to retrieve to the station, wrecked said shuttle in the process, because you're simply ‚badass' like that, and now you want me to pay for the damage repair because it was in ‚the station's interest', plus you already charged me personally for your disguise. Did I get this right?", I nodded enthusiastically as Whisper repeated what had happened. Obviously, I couldn't tell him that I had a run-in with a certain Captain, he'd never let me out of his sight again, so I just twisted the truth a little, in a very believable way of course.

The boss-man somehow wasn't impressed though.

„Jace I hope you are aware that the costs that came up because your little excursion will be cut off your next pay.", my smile fell.

„- but, as you did retrieve a criminal you can have tomorrow off to plan how exactly you will question said convict. And I hope for your sake the questions you have won't have anything to do with capturing a certain Captain Wisp, you are to strictly adhere to the mission we gave you.", Whisper left the room to tend to the other agent who was already waiting in front of his office before I had barged in.

„And Quinn", he turned back to me as he motioned for the waiting, disgruntled agent to step into his office, „give Bastian his tool back. Now."

Pouting I made my way to the docking bay. I didn't want to give it back. I liked the thing.

Surprisingly enough, I found Bastian inside my shuttle. I didn't think he'd actually prioritize it over the bigger, technically more important Starfall. He was currently busy lifting off the covering of the control panel, exposing all the buttons and wires underneath.

„How bad is it.", I asked as I approached.

„Not as bad as I thought it was. Thankfully the fuse popped before all the wires got toasted. Some lightbulbs need exchanging and I gotta take care of the water damage. Should be up and running again in two days but the door is gonna have to be replaced. Deliveries have been taking longer ˋcause of all the pirate attacks. I'd say about two weeks in total."

Well, shit.

„I'll pull strings and get it done in five days if you give me my pressure measurement calculator back.", he continued with narrowed eyes, holding out his hand whilst staring me down.

I wordlessly dug into my pockets and handed him the calculator back.

„Try to stay out of trouble while you're grounded.", he turned back and removed a button of the exposed control panel, shoving the pressure tool into the space where several wires connected. The tool gave off a little ping and lit up purple.

I stared at it in fascination, now I really wanted to have it back.

As there was nothing else for me to do there, I made my way out of the docking bay. My communication chip beeped, and a message popped up, letting me know I could see the pirate prisoner the next day anytime after noon, as they were currently taking his personal data.

Immediately I went back to my room, grabbing the folder of the Wisp case and collecting all the papers on the floor that must have fallen out when I threw it off my bed before I went to sleep.

It was a long shot to assume a random pirate had information about Wisp and his crew, but taking into consideration that Wisp personally came to collect the gang, that was causing trouble for him, proved to me that they had to at least know something. Wisp mentioned how they kept going for his targets, so I was convinced the captive would be able to tell me more about the whereabouts of Wisp, maybe he could even tell me where they would strike next.

One thing was for sure, he would talk. I would make him.

One would think, that possessing the knowledge, as to where a notorious pirate crew is going to attack next, would be something I should share with the boss, and that is a completely correct assumption. The reason why I won't do it though is because, ultimately, they would send reinforcements to set up an ambush to capture the pirates and save as many lives as possible.

In theory a great thing.

Not so great is that I was very well aware that I wouldn't get my bounty if Wisp was taken in by authorities as a whole. Maybe I'd get a small cut because I was the one handing in the information. I also know that trained undercover agents have been trying to infiltrate Wisp's crew for years now without success, so I would also make a lot more enemies as being the one whose whole life doesn't revolve around capturing one pirate captain and then have an amateur in disguise find someone carrying valuable information on his first try.

No. That money was mine, which meant no one could know about the fact that that gang of pirates knew who Wisp's targets were.

I would also need something to jam the microphones inside the interrogation room and I already knew the perfect solution, but first things first.

My gauntlet was still broken and I was sick of having to use one arm only, so I got to work immediately.

It took me about two hours and five different sizes of screwdrivers, that were now scattered all across the floor, and then I finally closed the panel of the electrical components of my gauntlet. The bent metal was easily exchanged for fresh parts that I usually always had lying about but the wires and switches usually took me a couple of tries until I had them functioning again after replacing. With my other arm, I lifted my limp arm off the gauntlet, I had used it as a weight to keep the gauntlet from slipping whilst I worked, then I placed it, facing upwards on my table and, with my good arm, I pushed it back into its form as a bracelet.

Then I easily slipped it over my wrist, and after sending a prayer to whoever listening, I pushed it up, towards my elbow, triggering the transformation.

Relief flooded through my body as I watched the plates shift and encase my lower arm. I had regained movement and flexed my fingers a couple of times, then I flicked the switch into whip mode and swung my arm out, the see-through panel of my gauntlet lit up as it always did, signaling the flow of electricity through the whip that extended with a crack. There was nothing restricting the movement of the whip, so it immediately retracted and reformed my four long claws. Perfect.

Now only the gun had to work, which I would have to test out later at the shooting range.

With my gauntlet up and functional again I strode down the corridor to the holding cells.

The captivated pirate was sitting on a cot in the back of his cell. I waved at the guards who were stationed close by so that they could escort him to one of the interrogation chambers down the hallway.

Don't get me wrong I could've totally handled him myself but protocol is protocol.

The moment the cell door was opened the pirate squeezed past the first guard and went straight for my throat. Luckily, I stepped to the side quickly enough for the second guard to jab a taser right into his ribcage.

I tsked as the guy dropped to the floor convulsing.

Did he really think he could take me on? Funny lad.

„Alright boys, we'll put him in room 2.", they nodded as they started dragging the recovering pirate into the room after me.

They left and then we sat in silence, his burning gaze not shifting from my face for even a second.

„So, pirate, seems like you got into deep water with Wisp.", I started the interrogation after the silence became too suffocating.

I was met with further silence.

Sighing, I took the folder on Wisp's case, collected the missing people's papers, that were linked to Wisp, and put them out in front of him.

„Anyone familiar?"

Surprisingly enough he took a look at them.

„You didn't take me in, and sold my whole crew out to Wisp to ask me about missing people.", his cold eyes stared into my soul.

„You're right. I did not. I want to capture Wisp, and you apparently know where he is."

„And what makes you think that I would help you after you put me in this position."

I chuckled.

„I think this is the only position where you would ever help me."

His eyes narrowed, „Brave assumption. I wonder how you came to it."

„Well, regarding that I want to put Wisp behind bars and you want to have your men back, it seems the both of us are now sharing a common goal.", I smiled pleasantly at him.

„So you think I'm stupid enough to help the authorities rescue my crew from a fellow pirate? You'll throw us into a cell straight after Wisp."

I folded my arms before me, my smile turned into a smirk.

„Now that's where you are wrong. I do not care about what you pirates do. I care about the money that's out on Wisp's head. If you help me out here, we'll get your crew out and I'll hopefully never see you again. Just know if there's gonna be a bounty on your guys' head someday I'll come back for you, but as of right now you're of little value to me." I unfolded my hands and got up, pacing the room.

„Do you think really you'd still be safe out there while Wisp is on the loose?", I continued, which seemed to make him think.

He slowly shook his head no.

„Exactly."

„So, you want Wisp behind bars in exchange for my crew.", worded like a question but both of us knew this was a statement.

I nodded.

„Why should I believe you? You don't seem like a man of honor.", his eyes still tracking my every move.

„Oh I'm not, but neither are you. As much as it pains me to admit this, I need your help to find them, and you need mine to get your men back. So, do we have a deal?"

„Fine. Don't you dare make me regret this, or I'll hunt you down."

„You wouldn't be the first one.", I chuckled, the pieces of my plan slowly falling into place.

„I'll get you tomorrow before sunset. Better be ready."

The end of our conversation was underlined by Mr. Whisper stepping into the room.

„Stop the interrogation, Quinn. Some high-pitched noise has been messing with our mics. Our recordings are useless.", he rubbed his hands down his face.

I smirked at the pirate.

I knowingly didn't wire my gauntlet properly so it kept producing a very high-frequency noise that would deliberately make our voices nondistinguishable.

„Schedule for someone to do some more interrogating tomorrow then. So far he hasn't said a lot. I'll head out to speak to some townsfolk again about any sightings of Wisp in the morning. I'll need a replacement shuttle."

„You can take the one at docking port 5, just return it in one piece. I don't want you being ambushed by any more pirates anytime soon so make sure you'll stay on supervised grounds this time." he mumbled, watching the guards enter and lead the captive back into his cell.

„Of course, boss.", I smiled as I also turned to leave the room.