“Looky here,” Ezra grinned, his voice laced with amusement as he nudged his partner with an elbow. “Looks like we’ve caught ourselves a straggler.”

The lone traveler had wandered into their sights, oblivious to the trap they'd set. Traveling alone had its perks—peace and quiet, no one to argue over resources, and the luxury of choosing your own path. But it also made you a prime target. A solitary figure, no backup, no one to help if things went sideways. It was an invitation to anyone with a mind for trouble.

Ezra knew it all too well. He'd spent years roaming, surviving, and it was always the same. In the wilds of any system, the moment you were alone, you were vulnerable. And now, this stranger had wandered right into the hands of two scoundrels looking to make a quick profit.

His partner shot him a look, clearly not as thrilled by the encounter. They were used to this kind of thing—getting the drop on unsuspecting travelers. It wasn’t a hard job, but it was getting old. Still, there was no harm in taking advantage of an easy catch.

“Let’s see what we can get out of this one,” Ezra said, taking a slow step forward, his grin widening as he gauged the newcomer.