As we approached the planet I asked its name. He answered by looking at the star map, "Tetra in the Baroque system. The leaders are only there by name. The actual rulers are the Soleils. They came and made the leaders into hardcore addicts. So now they would do anything for a fix. All they do is eat and sleep. The place used to be beautiful but now it is a wasteland. The place is mined for any and all usable minerals and metals. The place is divided into three parts. The royal palace where the addicts are sequestered. The mines where people work to death. Then there is the entertainment zone. A lone building that was built to cover a fourth of the planet. This is where we are going. So keep your mouth shut and your head down. If they like you then you will leave here as a dead body." I nodded my head as we landed the craft on the roof. I watched as he disembarked and I quickly used the memory stick of the library to record everything. I was asked to come as I hid the stick. The customs officer asked me my name and I said it was Neo. He gave me a look and waved me in. I walked out of the ship with my bag held tightly. The customs officer asked, "Hey Gidim. Where did you find this one?" He casually replied, "I found her in one of the planets wanting an honest work. So far she hasn't rubbed me the wrong way." One of them asked for specifics. He answered that I fixed his bike that everyone said was unfixable. The ship was scanned for any sort of traces before we were allowed in.
I was allowed to roam around as he handled the business. I was amazed. This was one single building. It is made to resemble a fortress. The people were curious. I remembered that valuta is worthless here. So I was tempted to use one of the stones to get me into the casino. But I remembered if I used the stones then these unsavory people might slit my throat whilst I sleep. The card players on one side. The slot machines on the other side. There were other types of gambling for those interested in getting their fix. The dancers were seen moving towards the entertainment area. I asked where the food court was and the nearest dancer pointed at the elevator. She mentioned the third floor. So I hopped on one and was taken to an all you can eat buffet. I ate and made my way to the ship. I saw Gidim sitting at the card table. I asked if I could go back to the ship. He explained that once someone lands here. They had better stay in one of the rooms. If they chose to stay on board the ship. It means they are here to rob the place. The security will kill everyone who came with the ship and abscond their belongings. I asked where I can get some sleep. He pointed at a robot who escorted me to a room on the green level. I got room nine. I took a shower and changed to the only outfit I had packed. The other was thrown away. I asked if I could go to the teller to exchange money. The cyborg directed me to a counter. I showed him the smallest gemstone in my possession and told him that I had won it. I want to exchange it for money so I can buy a few things. He examined the gem and gave me a bag filled with paper money. I asked where the shopping center was. I bought three of everything. Comfortable clothes and underwear. Also one pair of winter gear. I moved them all to the ship and spent the rest buying parts for the ship. Afterwards I hid the money in my bunk bed.
Gidim either got bored or he was asked to get back to work. So he packed up his things and stopped by the jailhouse on another system. The jailhouse was a hole in the ground with spiral steps. The lower we go the more troublesome the criminal was said to be. The warden was a tentacles monster who was speaking a language I had never heard of. He was short on money so I used the money I had hidden. He was grateful for my help. The warden waved his tentacles and his friend was summoned. He was tall and wide. He was bald but had a bushy beard and thick mustache. He had a raspy voice. The two spoke and we walked out of the hole. The moment I felt fresh air I started coughing violently. Only for a brief moment. The new addition said that it is one of the side effects of visiting that hole. All newcomers suffer a coughing spell. We hopped on the ship and flew away. I asked him why he was incarcerated. He gave me a look and I had to rephrase. I scrunched my face, "Why were you there of all places?" He laughed and his beard moved too. He said he was caught transporting serpent's breath, frostbite and black hourglass. All of them are poisons. Serpent's breath causes shortness of breath as the veins feel like they are on fire. Frostbite makes a person feel like they have plunged into frozen lake. The black hourglass is a poison that makes time slow down as the body starts to deteriorate. The death was said to be excruciating. As seconds feel like millennium. Gidim asked him why he didn't transport the dragon's breath. It looks colorless and is odorless and tastes like berries. It slows the person's breathing as their veins begin to crystallize and they die with an eerie smile on their faces.
Floof introduced himself as Togarashi. He asked me if I knew any sort of poisons. To which Gidim said, "She is from the cultured and united central systems. She wouldn't know about poisons." He asked, "Why is she here?" He shrugged, "Escaped forced conscription." Floof stared at me, "You are a child soldier?" He answered, "Escaped child soldier. Elsewhere you have to be at least twenty to enlist. But in her home world the primary business must be war. Everyone is ordered to serve the day they turn eighteen. So she came here to hide and live her life." I smiled, "I know plenty of poisons. One of them is white pearl. It makes you hallucinate all sorts of things as you bleed from your eyes and ears. There is Kuroura. A poison that puts you asleep and shuts down your breathing. Then there are Calamta. The red death. It can cause severe vomiting and dehydration. Then there is redwyn. A liquid resembles an alcohol beverage but it causes dizziness before the person stops breathing and dies. I am a medic so I am well versed with poison and antidotes. At least ones common in the central regions. I am going learn about the ones in this section of the galaxy too." Floof asked, "what poison has no antidote?" I answered, "That would be doubt. If we are being philosophical. But medically speaking the only poison without antidote so far is black death. It is a liquid black in color that has a bit of purple glitter if held out to light. The first is a feeling a warm all over. Then comes euphoria and then the person becomes drowsy and dies. People have tried to irrigate their stomachs. Ingest Sol. A universal antidote. Have taken diuretics but still they die under one hour. In the Callous regions there is the thorns of the night berries. One scratch means certain death. The person falls unconscious immediately and start spasming in and he stops moving when the heart stops moving. But that only found on the Tentative sector." Gidim retorted, "That is the civilized world to you my friend. Kid! You made a very smart choice coming here. Out here you have no such worries."
We flew to the next port where the Floof disembarked and walked off to find his ship. We took off to collect the next shipment. We stopped at Satsuma where the next shipment of Spice and Café were loaded. We were about to take off when a Chimerean ship showed up. Gidim turned off his ship and stayed perfectly still. I quietly moved and wrapped a sash to cover my face. Gidim asked if I have met the new visitors. I said that I have met them a d fought them. I don't know what they will do if they discover me. I had sent them back to their ships with their tails between their legs. He was amazed that I had singlehandedly did that without a firearm. I didn't mention the type of my firearm arsenal. The ship refueled and went elsewhere. I asked them where they are going. He said they are going to see Hive. I thought the leader was Tenebrae. He said the actual leader's name is Dementia. The psycho remains hidden in the Paralax district. The planet is surrounded by a ring of crumble bones of those who have tried to fight Dementia. The air is mostly toxic gas. There are spooks, wraiths and ghouls. The place was so horrible and hopeless. Anyone who goes there becomes insane. The ship was traveling through the lawless zone and I watched as the Mangalers popped out. I told him to take evasive maneuvers. He didn't question me. The ship took several hits. The only choice left was to use the escape pods. We hopped on and were put to sleep as the thing shot out of the invisible swift.