I wipe the dust off the fresh set of records I carve. One of the gruff voices speaks up from behind me “Come on, Ghera. Why do you gotta do that in here? The smell is awful!”

“I was doing this long before you came in here. And I will continue to do it after you leave.” My weary hands place the femur into the bag and lean over to inspect the next set of records I need to make.

I still hear his breathing behind me, “Why’d ya do this on bones anyway?” I place my tools down and turn to look at him. His bristly stubble trying to hide his gentle face underneath.

“Because, I honor the dead with each one carved. Do you remember any of the debtors that the Sable Chain has run through?” He stares as though struggling to recall anyone, “I remember each of them. They are carved into a permanent memory. Just like I will be.” I run my fingers along my tusks on which I engraved my own story. “And just like you will be Merton.” 

I put my hand on his shoulder and he looks back at me with a small smile growing at the corner of his mouth. “Thanks Gram, but I got no problem with people remembering me.” He lifts up his pistol which is marked with 15 notches. “I use this to help people remember.”

The ship shifts into a vertical descent, I look at Merton, who straightens up like he’s remembered somewhere he needs to be, before rushing off. I stand slowly, feeling the pain in my joints as I stretch from an extended time sitting. Then I grab my bag and head to the dock to see where we’ve landed. 

Passing by each of the faces I have seen since their families gave them to pay off debts. Just like my family did almost four hundred years ago. Back then, we would use a debtor for what they did best. If you could grow food, then you would be a farmer, feeding the rest of your clan. But the protection was given to them and payment was given at a fair exchange.

Yes, they would be a link in the chain, but that’s what people forget about a chain, it’s only as strong as its weakest link. You take care of the links and the links will hold together. Now, it’s just labor, and so many leaders have passed by, trying to abuse their links. And then become surprised when their chain snaps.

As I finally shuffle to the docking bay, my bag of records clinking together with a hollow sound that chills the people around me. I slowly maneuver down the stairs as the collectors don the gear traditionally used for raids. 

“What system are we in?” I shout to the captain, who is giving the collectors orders before they head out. He looks back at me like I wasn’t supposed to walk in on him. 

“Ghera, what are you doing out of your chambers?” He sends the collectors out and proceeds to try and help me down the stairs before I wave him off. He lingers around the stairs waiting for me to meet him at the bottom.

“I felt us landing and figured my bones could use a walk. You didn't answer my question. What system are we in?” He looks away, explicitly avoiding answering. “Are we in Ascendancy space?” He nods his head, I can see the shame and anger rise in him as he hides his gaze from me.

“Got an order from the Sable Chain head, Xan’Kirill is merging the clans, he gave us the new orders.” He gestures wildly trying to show his passion, or distaste. I proceed to walk towards the exit.

“So, are we collecting on another clan’s debt?” I touch my hand to the records and feel the memories of each debtor like a giant weight that follows me wherever I go. 

“I don't know much else, Gram. I just know what I’m told.” I look at his scaled chimeran face. The suppressed anger in him as he remembers the cruelty the ascendancy forced on him.

“Well I’m going for a walk, Kresk. Just make sure you don't leave without me.” I smile at him. Before heading out into the light of the planet.

My records rattle alongside me with each step as I reach in and grasp the oldest record, now yellowing from age. 

Ashford, born in 9,828, defaulted on a fifty thousand credit loan to start his business. Loan given by Sable Chain Warlord Silas in 9,845. Resolution, Sable Chain took part ownership of the business until profits repaid the loan.

All written in my cipher that none except myself can read. I place it amongst a garden and continue along my way, looking at the buildings typical of the Ascendancy. Ten thousand years and you'd think they would move past brown blocks.

Then I see the collectors coming back each of the debtors wearing Ascendancy prison uniforms. They must be members of another clan that got caught, If we paid their bail then that would need to be tracked. I head back to the ship, planting more bones as I go. 

When I get to the ship I see the faces, colonials, no tattoos, no scars. “What crew were you with?” I look at their confused faces. “Who is your clan leader?”

Kresk stands on the gantry over me “Put them in the hold, we will get them where they need to go.” 

“And where are they going?” I ask him.

“Come on Ghera, I’ll tell you what I can.” I stare at him bewildered before slowly shuffling myself towards the stairs. “Everybody else, get ready for take off.”

I make my way up the stairs and see him just waiting for me, I grab his arm and we walk to my quarters. “So who are the new debtors, and what do they owe?”

“Xan’Kirill says they're prisoners from the Ascendancy. He arranged it with some commander named Kharz.” I just look back at him, my brain racing from what this means.

“So, we’re now a prison for the Ascendancy to dump its trash? We don't have the money to sustain a long term indenture colony.” I sit down just as I feel the ship begin its ascent out of the atmosphere.

Kresk just looks back at me, he knows what I’m saying is true. “We all have to follow our orders, Gram.”

“Get me a connection to Xan’Kirill, I want to talk with them about these new debtors.” He looks at me like I just asked him to get me a meeting with one of the Elari founders of the order. “I can do it if you are unable.”

“We’re going to his planet, where he wants us to drop off the indentures. You can join and speak with Xan’Kirill directly. But I don't know if he’ll speak with you.” His face hiding the fear underneath, he must be terrified of this Xan’Kirill.

“I will do that. And dont worry, I can be persuasive.” I turn back around and pick up my tools from where I left them. Proceeding to carve the next set of records until we reach his planet.

I try to go through my memory to recall who this Xan’Kirill is, the name doesn't stick out and it certainly doesn’t fit with any standard naming convention. I carve the bones as I try to figure out the origins of the new warlord planning a takeover.

I carve out another 6 records before getting some sleep on my bunk. I feel the joints creak as I lay out on the mattress, contemplating what Kresk said, we all have our orders. My eyes shut and what feels like only a moment later I feel the ship begin its descent. I stand and use my comm-box, “Kresk, is this it?”

“Yeah Gram.” I hear it crackle through the speaker as I turn around to begin packing my tools. If this conversation didn't go well then I would need my belongings.

I walk to the docking bay and see Kresk is there with Merton, both of them discussing something while the prisoners just stand, chained together. Merton looks at me, “Looks like I’m going with ya Gram.” Kresk again offers to help me down the stairs when I wave him off again.

“Good, are we ready?” I don't want to sit with these thoughts any more. “Whatever happens, I’m thankful for my time with the crew.” They both look at me with resignation on their faces, as I start walking off the dock.

As soon as I set foot on the planet I realize who Xan’Kirill is. It was originally a Coil planet, but I had heard that it recently became a free port. Common tactic in the syndicate, especially the ones that need test subjects. So, they must have started with the Serpent’s Coil, but how did the other factions get involved. 

I walk alongside Merton as we make it to the largest building in the plaza, I spot the Whispered Knife assassins perched on ledges surrounding us on every side. 

As soon as we approach we are stopped by an Orclan. “Who You?”

Merton just hands him a slip of paper and says “Chartered Hauler 28 - Bonded Cargo. We got some new indentures requested by Xan’Kirill.” 

The Orclan looks at the paper and rotates it in his hand to try and make sense of the writing. “In dent sures? What this mean?”

I look at him and say, “Slaves. Ascendancy Slaves.”

He now squints his eyes at the paper and then loudly says “Why you not say that? Slaves to holding pen, collect credits from collection window.”

“I would like to speak with Xan’Kirill.” I look at the Orc and let him size me up. “I’m a book keeper for the sable chain, we just got incorporated. I’d like to speak to the new boss about the business.”

“Uhhh. You seem smart, so no trouble with Xan’Kirill.” He walks with me and leads me to a door. Oversized and Ornate, he knocks on it gently, as though he’s afraid of the consequences for disturbing. “Boss, smart lady, she want to talk.”

I hear the hiss of the exosuit before I see him turn in the chair to face me. Then I can finally place it. “X’k. You were just a chemist when the coil took you on. Can't believe you made it all the way here, usually you bloomers abandon the syndicate quickly. Like that kid that joined up with you, T’k, I think.”

His blue face peeked out from behind the misty glass of the helmet. “And you are?” he gestures to an empty chair across from him.

I shuffle towards it and begin speaking. “Ghera, I’m a book keeper for the Chain. Manage debt tracking.” He looks at me as I sit down, expression unchanged.

“And what do you want from me?” He opens his arms and shifts his tone to frustration.

“Just an explanation. How do you expect to run a chain operation when the indentures can provide no value to us?” I lean forward and my bag rattles gently against the leg of the chair.

“Can you specify? Slaves are largely useless for most tasks.” He leans forward to mirror my position. 

“I prefer indentures. Because they can work their way out of it. This is just a contract, once the contract is resolved they are free. To do what they choose.” I pat my hand on my bag again and the hollow sound it returns. “What did you choose after your contract was complete?”

He gestures with his hands all around him. “I built this. I made the whisper catalyst. I brought the Knife under the Coil, I got the Blades to offer protection, I even convinced the Fangs to join with me.” I look back at him unfazed. 

“You’ve made it farther than any before you. But loyalty is a transaction. It will fall apart without someone holding all the links, and you don't have enough hands.” He leans himself back in his chair. “But I’m not here to comment on what you choose to do. I came here for a question. Why are we taking prisoners from the Varkh?”

“Do you have some objection to it? The way I remember, the Sable Chain always needs bodies.” I hear a faint chuckle that escapes with the hiss of the suit. “Plus, for the deal I’ve worked out, we’re all going to benefit. Even the Varkh.”

“This model isn't sustainable, we can't run prison colonies. They have their own houses for that purpose.” I try to read his expression underneath. “Thats food, clothing, and medicine. Each of those are things that need to be made and transported.”

“Oh, dont worry, we’re going to charge the prisoners for their supplies.” I sit up straight and try to contemplate what he means with those words.

“If the debt grows then what happens when they can’t pay it off?” I ask him the logical question waiting for his plan to collapse.

“Then the debt passes to their kid, we keep the cycle moving, the debt grows bigger, the workforce grows bigger. If we can get enough breeding stock there, then we can maintain a local population. Debt keeps passing on.” He now stretches his arms behind his head, proud of his brilliant idea.

“And how does the Varkh benefit?” I remember the days of being threatened by Varkh peacekeepers, simply for being an Ossari. 

“The Varkh needs Iridite, the outer rim has an abundance. The Varkh has bodies, the outer rim needs bodies.” He still leans back expecting me to be astonished at his thinking. “I’ve got it worked out with one of their purity officers.”

“I can’t continue, if this is how things will be working. I apologize for the abruptness. But I cannot willingly work with the Varkh.” I stand from the chair and my knees crack. I push past it and start to turn myself towards the door.

“I could just always kill you now. You know everything now. You can't just walk out like nothing happened.” He hasn't changed from his relaxed position. I reach in my bag and find another bone that I’d been holding onto. I toss it on the desk at his feet.

He picks it up and attempts to understand my script. “What is this supposed to be?”

“That is your indenture contract. The terms, the history, the information. Everything related to the person that you used to be.” He looks back at me even more confused. 

“Is this supposed to intimidate me? It's gibberish.” he tosses the bone back at me. 

“I have been doing this work for almost four centuries. I have recorded every sin the syndicate has inflicted on the galaxy. And I have been planting these records all around. On every planet that the syndicate operates. These records are there.” He reaches into a drawer and pulls out a blaster.

“So why shouldn’t I just kill you now?” he levels the blaster at me.

“If you do, then that gibberish will be legible. It was a little something I had one of the early indentures work up for me.” He lowers the blaster slightly as I see him contemplate what the cost would be. “If I die, then every sin that the syndicate has done will be translated for the entire galaxy to read.”

He drops the blaster and I turn to walk out of his office, shuffling away. I hear him pull up his oracle console before I walk out the door. 

Merton stands there waiting for me, a sadness on his face. “How’d it go, Gram?” I just look back at him, his hand on his weapon.

“It seems like you know.” I look into his eyes, and stare into him. “Merton.” His hand goes limp like all the bones suddenly left it. 

“Where are you going?” He asks, still trying to look tough.

“Kaelen’s Folly… You heading that way?” He just nods as we walk back to the ship.