-The ROBIN, Deep Space-

"So, where are we off to now, Robin?"

"Tharja, didn't I tell you keep off my ship?" Robin sighed, keying in navigation commands. "I thought you were supposed to be ghosting around the Ylissean Castle."

"Yeah, I just set up a few bugs for people to think I was there." Tharja said. "I mean, would you rather an AI pranking everyone, or not around at all?"

"So, you're hoping that by being a malevolent AI, you're hoping people will underestimate you. Sounds like something I would do." A yellow alarm went off on Robin's console. Robin stared at it for a second, then brought it up on the main screen. A flashing alert appeared. SOS. "Hold that thought, Tharja."

"An alarm?" Robin furiously keyed in commands. In seconds, he had brought up the co-ordinates of the SOS. Tharja mused, "Wonder who it's from."

The co-ordinates were close to the Robin's current position. "Might as well see." Robin said, taking manual control over the ship. "Accelerate."

-Deep Space-

"Arrived at SOS." Tharja said.Robin looked through the viewport. Two bandit ships were engaged against a single transport. The transport was a unique bright red. "Running a diagnostic scan right now. Ship: Unknown. Ship: Unknown. Ship: Anna Freighter-Class transport. In other words, two bandits, one merchant. She's hailing us."

"Answer and go dark. We don 't want to scare whoever's piloting it." Robin answered. He tapped the comm. "Go for Robin."

A redheaded Anna appeared on the screen in front of him. "Glad someone got my call. Hey, mysterious stranger, want to help? There's something in it if you do…"

"No problem." Robin said. He took manual control of the Robin and fired its main weapons. Plasma bursts raked across one of the two ships, breaking through its shields and exposing the interior to space. Robin tapped another button, firing a missile within the holes.

The bandit's ship exploded.

One down, one to go." Robin said.

"Nice weapons." Anna said. "Who's your supplier?"

"They're illegal for civilian use." Robin said, concentrating fire on the second ship. The bandit ship dodged his bursts, and flew around the large freighter. "He's hiding behind you. Move."

"Sorry. My thrusters are broken." Anna said. "Along with a couple other things. Like, gravity. Also, they're boarding, so there's not really a point."

"Airlock?"

"No, the airlock's on your side. They're entering through holes in my ship." Anna sighed. "You know, I kind of liked this ship. I mean, insurance will buy me a new one, but it just won't be the same, you know? I mean, it'll take awhile for me to illegally modify - eh, forget what I just said and hurry up with the rescue."

"You don't seem worried."

"Worried?" Anna held up energy sword. "Why would I be worried? You think this is the first time I've been attacked? I just would rather fly out in your ship than the nasty tub of a bandit ship."

"I see." Robin said. "I'll be over to help."

-Anna Light Freighter-

Robin drifted through the holes in the freighter. He pushed himself around the corridors, heading to the cockpit. When he rounded the bend, he saw a group of five brigands standing in front of the sealed bridge doors. The bandits were unsuccessfully attempting to bash it in

"Two things, idiots. First, in zero-G, there's nothing to brace yourself against. Meaning, when every action has an equal and opposite reaction, the opposite reaction is going to stop you from breaking a door." The bandits turned to Robin, broadcasting over a wide range of frequencies. "Second, catch."

Robin tossed one of Ricken's concussive sphere towards the bandits, then activated the magnetic grips in space suit, crouching low. The blast went off, splitting the bandits like bowling pins, while Robin stuck to the wall. Robin watched in faint amusement as they went ricocheting around the corridors. Robin stood up, and activated the pulse cannon on his suit, picking off the wildly-spinning bandits one by one.

"Simple physics." Robin floated to the airlock door. The door slid open, revealing a pressure lock within. Robin stepped in. The door sealed behind him, and the room pressurized. The far door slid open. Robin was greeted by a smiling Anna.

"Thanks! I owe you one." Anna smiled. "Now, how are we getting out of here?"

Robin unhooked the package behind him. "I've got a spare environment suit in this pack here. Throw it on."

"Okay." The redhead cheerfully agreed. "I'm just going to grab the stuff from my cabin, and we'll be off."

"Where is that?"

"We'll need the suit to get there."

-Robin-

"Wow." Anna flopped into a chair aboard the Robin. "Who knew packing in zero-G could be so much work?"

Robin sighed, a hand pressed against his forehead. "You're awfully cheery."

"Wouldn't you be? I was running late for my deliveries, and then I got attacked from bandits who wrecked my ship and destroyed all my merchandise."

"That's supposed to be a bad thing."

"It is." The redhead winked. "Unless, say, you've got insurance which pays double when both my ship and my cargo is destroyed. I'm set. And, to top it all off, I get rescued by a handsome and mysterious stranger."

"Well, I suppose the pleasure was all mine." Robin said. "Or something like that. Anyway, Miss Anna, where can I take you?"

"Miss? Ooh, that's awfully formal. I mean, you don't call my sisters Anna, do you?" Anna asked. "It's no good that way. Just call me Anna, would you? And you are?"

"Robin."

"Robin." Anna placed a finger on her lips. "I know that name. Wait, you're the Robin? As in Ylissean tactician Robin? The one who won the Plegian-Ylissean war Robin?"

Robin sighed. "To tell you the truth, we couldn't have done it without the Feroxi."

"Yes, yes." Anna waved her hand. "Oh, could I have a signature? Or like, fifty? I'm a huge fan."

"So you can sell them?" Robin blinked. "I'm not that gullible."

"Fine." Anna puffed her cheeks. "Thirty-seventy split."

"Sounds fair."

"My way, thirty-seventy."

"That's unreasonab-" Robin caught himself mid-sentence. "Never mind, just tell me where to go?"

"I don't have anywhere particular to go to right now." Anna smiled. "It'll take a while until I get the money from my insurance anyway. How about I travel with you?"

"I'll pass."

"Oh, come on!" Anna said. "I can do more than just sell, you know! I can fight with a blade, and I've been trained in the use of medical stims. Anyway, wanna know what my cargo is?"

Hmm. Robin said. "Go on…"

"Encryption locks." Anna winked. "I'm an expert, Robin."

"In that case, welcome aboard." Robin said. "There won't be pay, aside from adventure and whatever loot we come across, but I could definitely use someone with your particular set of skills."

"We have a sneak thief now. Excellent."

"AHHHH!" Anna spun. "JEEZ!"

"Tharja, stop spooking the second mate."

"Who is THAT?" Anna's eye narrowed. "You have an AI capable of human grade speech synthesis aboard?"

"No." Robin corrected. "I have an AI capable of human grade speech synthesis that's my first mate."

"Seriously?" Anna sighed, rubbing her temples. "Do you know how much one of those go for? I mean, it's a lot, but my net worth is still more?"

"I don't hire people based on their net worth, Anna." Robin said. "I hire them based on their particular set of skills."

"What can she do that I can't!?"

"I can turn off the ventilation system."

"Point taken." Anna said, swiveling her chair around. "That's what I like to hear. Where to now?"

"Questions, questions, questions." Robin said. "It's almost like you think I don't have anything specific in mind."