When interstellar smuggler Haz Taylor loses his ship, his money, and his tattered reputation, drinking himself to death on a backwater planet seems like his only option. Then the Coalition offers him a contract to return a stolen religious artifact. Sounds simple enough, but politics can be deadly--and the artifact's not enthusiastic about being returned.

Then he finds out what awaits Mot at home, and suddenly hard vacuum doesn't look so bad. Haz is no hero, but he can't consign Mot to his fate. Somewhere under the space grime, Haz has a sliver of principle. It's probably going to get him killed, but he doesn't have much to live for anyway....