3-

Dumping her large duffel bag on the floor of her room, Raine, out of pure habit, scanned the immediate area, her shaded eyes thoroughly probing every familiar corner of her room. After a moment she paused letting out a small sigh. All was as it should be.

She was just changing from her loose dark coloured clothes that she'd worn for the Broode job when the noise of someone entering downstairs met her ears. Straightening and throwing on comfortable cargo's and shirt she walked downstairs, a slow smile spreading over her pale face.

"Da'?" She called, her raspy voice not able to hide the note of happiness that crept into it.

"Raine, that you?" Her adopted Father's voice washed all the last two weeks of concern and watchfulness from Raine's mind. She was a child again, just one of the population like everyone else, at least, for the moment.

Smiling broadly a tall lanky gray-headed man walked forward, in his late forties, his arms outstretched to take Raine into a firm hug.

"Your back early aren't you?" He asked after a moment, his smile spreading crease marks over his face. Raine, pushing back her glasses in the already darkening room, answered, her tone even out of long practice, "Break let out earlier than usual, I wanted to be home. Besides, I've only two months left till I'm out of there. They're too easy, classes I mean. I don't learn much."

Her Father grin widened, if possible, his pride showing clearly. "That's because your already smarter than your instructors." He replied, a booming chuckle rising from his throat.

Raine smiled again, "If I am it's your fault. Not all that many children grow up with a Father that gives them lectures and hypotheses on scientific matters when they're only four. Also, being an electrician doesn't help matters." She laughed then, her hoarse rasping voice pleased.

Later that night Raine, a data-pad in hand, flipped through the various view-cams stationed in and around the house. The merc in her was always uneasy, was always watching for anything out of place. Only a year ago she'd installed various sensors and viewing systems throughout her Father's home. It never hurt to be cautious, even if no-one besides herself knew who she really was. What she did for a living.

Finished with her double-checking Raine let the data-pad rest, rising from the various controls and search systems that made up her desk she stretched out on her bed, unshaded eyes looking upwards through the glass ceiling, into the starry night.

Her love for stars, constellations made it easy to be in space, she spent hours observing the different moons and suns of various planets, examining their atmospheres, the way they were shaped. Her unique knowledge of physics and the way of planets workings made her appreciate their complexity even more.

Letting out a slow sigh Raine relaxed, enjoying the feel of home. No place could ever make her feel like this place, this was her own spot.

Raine loved her life, she relished the thrill and chase of merc life, money wasn't important to her. Besides, she was ridding planets of menacing murders and criminals. There really was no downside to being a bounty-hunter. Raine shifted uncomfortably on her bed. There was one downside... Her Father.

Even though she told herself that she was doing numerous planets favours by catching convicts she knew deep within that bounty-hunters were, in a general sense, an unsavory lot. Her many dealings with various teams let her know that all to well.

Mercs were the scum of the earth, they would do anything, anything, for a price. They hunted more than criminals, they would hunt whatever they were paid to hunt, innocent men, women, children... It didn't matter.

Raine had learned merc laws the hard way. Through experience. She had been cheated her first time on a team, dumped after doing the dirty work and it was only until after that she'd realised their objective had been an innocent man, wanted dead by a political enemy.

After that she choose her own business, making sure she knew what was what. Convicts were her only prey, and preferably alive. But... dead was always an alternative, after all, they were criminals. They didn't deserve any better.

Pushing herself deeper into the covers on her bed Raine let herself drift, her thoughts become hazy, distorted until she fell into the first real sleep she'd had in over two weeks.