Doc Burrell and I were swapping stories over a bulb of snakebite tonic, and eventually the talk turned to Jesse Ford. Mech jock that Doc'd known back in the bad old days.

They say you can't go home again, Belter, and any vet of the Consolidation knows that for certain and true. But Jesse? Well, Jesse might just --through no fault of his own-- try. It's a long story. But settle in and stick with us. It's a good one.