The Night Has a Thousand Eyes

"The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" by John De Courcy is a science fiction story that looks at regret and tough choices in a harsh space world. A space pirate named Captain Brace accidentally causes the death of a young man's sister during a fight in a space bar, and he has to decide what to do with the only witness. Brace is torn between protecting himself and his crew, and an unexpected connection he feels with as he thinks about his decisions and his troubled and violent past starts to affect him and his hard exterior begins to show flickers of humanity. He is reminded of a past love, and as the story goes on, Brace tries to come to terms with his violent way of life as he develops sympathy for the girl and they both confront the dark situation they are in.