We stepped through the door into ‘Archives, Records, Transit Logs and Station Information.’ And saw Mr Firby sitting in his office over in the far corner. He didn’t look overly pleased to see us, I have to say, although I think that was because he didn’t recognise us at first but I introduced Florence at which point he seemed to thaw out a bit.

“So you managed it then,” he said, referring to my prior plea for help to rescue Florence from the Dart of Celeste, “although, by all accounts you almost caused a major incident? Well, I’m guessing that was you forcibly releasing ship from its docking clamps while it was not under control?”

“Yes, Mr Firby, we managed,” I said, deciding to skirt round the whole docking clamp business, “and now I’m back to ask for your help again. Sorry, but if it’s any consolation, now the Florence is here I think we can pay this time. And I haven’t forgotten that I owe you a favour.” I smiled at him.. He ignored me totally and looked instead at Florence.

“And you, young lady, I presume you’re as involved in this, ‘whatever-it-is’, as he is? Although, I have to say, you actually look remarkably sensible to be swanning around the galaxy with him?”

“I think it’s fair to say that our aims converge,” Florence smiled that smile of hers, unleashing her fantastic blue eyes on him, “and actually, he’s a lot more sensible than he looks.” I blushed, for some reason.

“OK then, why don’t you tell me what you need and I’ll see what I can sort out. No promises, mind, I might not be able to help you at all.”

“There is an exhibition of galactic cultural artefacts taking place on the GEO station. It is being present by the Lotarans, under the direction of Director Shallan, who is an acquaintance of mine… well, ours. There is an item in that collection which we missed on our viewing at the GEO but that we really need to see and we think it is in the non-displayed part of the collection. As you probably know, if an exhibition is intended for display at a number of different sites, the exhibition on show at any one site may not show everything included in the set of exhibits, and we think this is the case here. The Exhibition ends and leaves the GEO for it’s next venue in six days, and we need to get to it before that.”

Mr Firby started pulling up the station manifests, his fingers flickering over the ancient terminal. I stood there like a spare part looking around his office. It had definitely seen better days. Probably, those better days were about fifty years ago. The air smelled of stale coffee and, well, a load of old stuff just piled everywhere. Florence stood beside me, arms folded, her usual air of authority somewhat undermined by the fact that we both looked like we’d been chased through half the station, which we had.

“GEO’s out of the question,” Firby muttered after a minute or two. He was scanning lines of text. “Shipping schedules don’t line up. Even if there was a ship, it’d be minimum a day late by the time you got there.”

I groaned and slumped into a chair. “Brilliant. That’s us done, then.”

“Not necessarily.” He said as he squinted at the screen. “The Lotaran exhibition is booked onto a ship that is actually stopping here at L1 before heading out-system. Even better, there is time in their schedule for the standard trans-shipping procedure, you know, offload from an intra-system freighter, reload onto the interstellar transport. You can get on that ship. If I arrange passage, you could be aboard when the cargo is moved.”

Florence perked up. “And the cargo includes everything they were carrying at GEO?”

“That’s what the manifests say.”

I sat down on a slightly rickety chair. “So, we’re back in the game! Great.” And then I thought for a moment and looked at Florence, who I could see was thinking through the same things. “Except for a couple of small problems,” I said to Jake. I held up three fingers. “One, we have to survive here for the next few days without Krenz or Shasta catching up with us. Two, I thought interstellar ships tend to put their passengers into cryo the second they board, which would be inconvenient for our whole sneaky plan. Three, even if we stay unfrozen, we have no idea how to access the cargo hold once we’re onboard.”

“Minor details,” Florence said dryly. “But one thing at a time.”

“Who’s Krenz?,” asked Jake.

“Yeah. Survival first.” I turned to Firby. “Krenz is the goon that grabbed Florence in the first place. He’s on the loose around the station looking for us. And Shasta, well, you warned me about her. I wish I’d listened. Anyway, I don’t suppose you’ve got anywhere we can lay low?”

He snorted. “What do I look like, a concierge? I’ve got nothing part from my own cubicle. There’s hardly room for me in there never mind two more” But after a moment’s thought, he sighed. “But… there’s a maintenance sector a couple of levels down. Some old storage units. Not exactly luxury, but it’s off the grid. I’ll give you access.”

“That’ll do,” I said. “Now, about getting onto that ship without becoming human ice popsicles?”

Mr Jake Firby smirked, looking very pleased with himself. “That’s where bribery and bullshit come in. Lucky for you, I’m well-versed in both.”