Backstory: When your uncle-in-law’s brother--which I suppose is just your OTHER uncle-in-law--puts a bounty on your head for being too close to his ambitions, you would usually go to the local sheriff or something.
But sometimes you can’t do that, because the uncle in law is the king, the brother is the prince, the “too close” is getting designated heir apparent, and the sheriff is the prince’s man and even if he wasn’t he’s hated your guts specifically for years.
And that’s when you start hoping that the secret interplanetary society of spies and outlaws and secret agents is more than just a post-urban legend. Especially since you’re pretty sure you were offered membership, once upon a time, but you had thought it was an herbal supplement scam.
And if you’re actually lucky enough that they turn out to be real? Then you’re already in no position to haggle over price, WHATEVER it is.
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Commentary: I’m not 100% sure how I feel about the flipping. But I think it does work better, compositionally? ...maybe.
I think this is the first one where I have a clue that hints at stuff outside the character’s established canon?