All of the sudden, I awoke.
However, whether I had been sleeping or not in the first place was entirely questionable.
I was aware of myself, but I didn't feel like an entity.
I wondered whether my words were being said out loud or just thought.
When most people think of nothingness, they think of either a brilliant white space, or the complete opposite-- an impenetrable darkness.
In reality, it is neither.
Nothingness is grey, a deep, heavy, ominous grey.

"Help!" I said or thought. I was alone, and frightened.

"Don't worry." came the comforting reply. "You're safe."

"Where am I?" I asked.

"Where are you?" the voice chuckled. "At this current moment in time, you do not exist. At least not in the entity you are used to."

"What are you talking about?"

"The Law of Conservation of Mass, my dear."

The Law of Conservation of Mass, for those who don't know, states that nothing in the universe is ever created or destroyed-- it just changes forms. Energy to matter, et cetera, et cetera.

"What are you saying?"

"We're energy, right now. Nothing more, nothing less... no more visible to any passing ships than a primitive radio or micro wave."

It suddenly dawned on me why everything was grey.
We were traveling at a speed formerly thought completely impossible to man.
I felt light and beautiful, and like everything would be all right.
As suddenly as it had began, the world began to melt back into shape.
I started to perceive my body again, fingertips, hands, wrists, arms... shoulders... and the rest came into place.
I ran my hands, as soon as I perceived them, over my body, as soon as I perceived it.
I then looked beside me, and the man was there, grinning.

"First time?" he asked me, the way he pronounced the words making sure I knew it was a double entendre.

I smirked a bit, happy to be myself again, but still dizzy, amazed with the fact that for seconds I was literally one with the universe.
I chose not to answer his question, men were all the same.

"I'm glad I got you before those Heliotian bastards did. It's not like they even have a currency, anyhow." he said, causing me to look at him.

"What the hell are you talking about?" I asked in alarm.

Money for me-- there's only two situations where that could happen.
Scenario One: Rescue.
But that was impossible-- all fighter pilots live by The Code.
The Code states, in section 3, that our lives are disposable-- our employers will not negotiate in a ransom situation.
So that left Scenario Two:
Bounty.