HILDA SPOILER!

The outlaw known as Hot Ice Hilda is the person who detonates Gene and Jim's ordinary life. Disguised as Rachel Sweet, she hires them as bodyguards on Sentinel III while carrying information stolen from the Kei Pirates. Hilda has already taken something far more valuable from them: Melfina and access to the experimental XGP15A-II. She is experienced, guarded and completely comfortable operating in a criminal world Gene only thinks he understands. For Gene, Hilda becomes both mentor and warning, showing him what an outlaw looks like when freedom is backed by competence rather than swagger. She dies during the escape from Farfallus after ensuring Gene, Jim and Melfina can leave with the XGP, but her unfinished search for the Galactic Leyline becomes the journey they inherit.