Slay-Ride

Frane Lewis is a hard‑boiled space‑way pirate who makes his living as a freelance triggerman, shooting down anyone who crosses his path. On a dimly lit freighter, the air still heavy with the scent of recent death, he executes a captain with a single, cold shot before a bewildered navigator lunges at him. The encounter erupts into a brutal scramble, bone‑crunching blows and blood‑spattered walls, revealing the ruthless efficiency that has kept Frane alive in the lawless void.

When the struggle forces him into the ship’s equipment locker, Frane discovers a bizarre, web‑like nylon garment—colloquially “spaceman’s underwear”—that he must slip into before he can suit up. The thin suit promises a fragile lifeline of air, and any breach could mean instant freeze‑death in the vacuum outside. With a grim chuckle, he mutters about the high price of his work, preparing to don the strange attire while the wounded crew watches, unsure whether he will become their savior or their final executioner.