{"data":{"id":13148,"title":"A SEPARATE LAW: PART TWO","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/en\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/13148-A-SEPARATE-LAW-PART-TWO","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/13148","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/13148","channel":"Serialized Fiction","category":"Undefined","series":"A Separate Law","images":[{"id":640,"name":"SeparateLawFI4.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/n6ik8s2agc03ur\/source\/SeparateLawFI4.jpg","alt":"","size":1558749,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2013-07-18T19:23:20+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/640","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/640\/similar"}],"images_count":1,"translations":{"en_EN":"Dropping his duffel, Gates looked around his tiny apartment a last time and verified he had every one of his very limited assortment of personal items. Satisfied, he took his MobiGlas out and called the management company to let them know he\u2019d vacated the premises.\n\nMundane matters complete, Gates cued the cutout software on his MobiGlas and placed another call. Angelique\u2019s heart-shaped face appeared in the pick-up, smiling. The bruises Kitty had put there were already fading. \u201cArmi!\u201d she said, eyes too bright for complete sobriety, but not so high he had to take notice.\n\n\u201cGood to see you\u2019re feeling better, Angelique.\u201d\n\nShe nodded, picking up on the cool response. \u201cWhat is it, Armi?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m leaving on business. You\u2019ll be on your own for a bit.\u201d\n\nAngelique frowned, pretty brows drawing tight, \u201cBut who\u2019s going to look after me?\u201d\n\n\u201cYou will continue as arranged. Nothing changes.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Se-\u201c\n\nHe interrupted her, not wanting her to use the title, \u201cNothing changes. Deposits will continue. Keep happy and listen well. I will be in touch.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat about the other thing?\u201d Angelique asked, brushing her bruised eye.\n\n\u201cTaken care of.\u201d\n\n\u201cJust like that?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks.\u201d\n\n\u201cA word of advice: clean up, if you can. I won\u2019t be around to correct such problems in the near future. Besides, you know that stuff does you no good.\u201d\n\nShe bit her lip, looked away, \u201cI know \u2026 thanks.\u201d\n\n\u201cBe safe.\u201d He closed the channel and put his MobiGlas away. She would either sort out her drug problem, or not. Either way, she was a good source on Senator Yaldiz\u2019s secret life, being the central pillar of it. He gave the apartment a final glance. Two years, reduced to a single ruck and a couple new assets; some on and some off the books. Not bad, but not the best use of an old agent\u2019s time. He sighed. It will be good to be back in the fold, back with Special Action. Picking up his ruck, Gates left.\n\nAn hour later he stepped up to the local Advocacy quartermaster\u2019s counter to claim the tag for the ship he\u2019d been allotted. The kid behind the counter smiled as he pushed the datakey across. \u201cAvenger, designated A3301. That old bitch is on flight line two.\u201d\n\nIgnoring the kid, Gates signed for the tag and hit the locker room. Donning his flight blues lit the old excitement, putting a bounce in his step as he walked onto the flight line. Gates found her by the designator painted on her tail. Found her, and snorted. He was tempted to go back and punch the kid quartermaster out: A3301 was an early model Avenger, but at least a decade younger than Gates.\n\nHe shrugged, mounted the ladder. It\u2019s been too long, he thought, slinging the ruck through the hatch of the old fighter.\n\nPre-flight was easy and quick, old skills coming back. Gates logged his ground-to-orbit flight plan and request to depart. Both were quickly approved.\n\nHe took off a bit gingerly, getting a feel for her. Been flying a desk for a long time, even before the suspension, after all.\n\nGates found an honest smile curling his lips. In comparison to the ships he\u2019d piloted at Special Action, she was sluggish and long in the tooth, but A3301 was his for the next little while.\n\nThe trip to the Black Box was long and less than entertaining, requiring several transits and a few stops to confound anyone trying to track him. The irregular black asteroid wasn\u2019t all that box-shaped. Gates was one of the few that knew its shape wasn\u2019t the reason Special Action had named the place \u2014 it was their policy of wiping the black box nav recorders of ships that stumbled upon it.\n\nThe defense network surrounding the Black Box sent multiple queries to verify his ID. For a long moment the only evidence he had that he\u2019d satisfied the security protocols was the fact he hadn\u2019t been blown to tiny particles.\n\nHe was given a flight path and followed it to the last decimal. Some things you just don\u2019t take chances with. He entered a blacker pit in the dark side of the asteroid and slowly linked up with the docking collar extended for his craft. The hull clunked as mag-locks gripped his ship, connecting his systems with those of the base.\n\nGates smiled as his sensors went off-line and all lights went dark before the docking collar started drawing A3301 into the asteroid. Advocacy agents were trusted, generally, but institutional paranoia was the name of the game with SA.\n\nThis way he couldn\u2019t have told anyone what ships were in the docking bay even had he wanted to.\n\n\u201cSpecial Agent Gates, welcome back to Special Action,\u201d a woman\u2019s voice interrupted his thoughts, mild trace of an accent spinning the words in pleasant fashion, \u201cI\u2019m Vasser, Special Agent in Charge. When your hatch opens, follow the blue line to me. I\u2019ll brief you in on your mission.\u201d\n\nThe Special Agent in Charge briefing me in herself? Unusual. Probably wants to set the tone by putting the old warhorse in his place first off. Setting himself to keep his temper, Gates collected his bag and waited for the hatch to pop. When it did, he followed the illuminated line along a series of empty passages to a hatch. It opened under his hand, revealing a small room.\n\nVasser sat inside, fingers interlocked on the table before her. White-blonde hair, cut short to fit under a flight helmet or combat armor. All in all, a bit hard on the edges for his personal preferences, but quite attractive. Her expression was neutral as she shook his hand. Nice grip. Not trying too hard. Good sign.\n\nGates smiled, \u201cSAC Vasser.\u201d\n\nShe gestured him into the seat across from hers, \u201cSpecial Agent Gates. I trust your trip wasn\u2019t too trying?\u201d\n\nHe shook his head. \u201cGood to be back in a cockpit.\u201d\n\nShe smiled, showing even white teeth for the first time, \u201cYou might grow to resent being in one before this is over and done.\u201d\n\n\u201cI doubt it, but do tell.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll right.\u201d She punched at the tabletop, calling up a series of files.\n\nGates heard his MobiGlas chirp as it received copies for later review.\n\n\u201cThree Advocacy agents have been murdered in recent months.\u201d\n\nThat got his attention. \u201cWhy haven\u2019t\u2013\u201d he snapped his jaw shut on the question when he realized why he hadn\u2019t heard: if these were deaths of undercover agents on active investigations, they wouldn\u2019t have been reported, not through any channels to which a suspended agent would have access.\n\nShe continued as if he hadn\u2019t started to say something stupid: \u201cWe already have a team chasing down the primary suspect in one case, but I\u2019m tasking you with looking into the other two. On the quiet, as a bounty hunter.\u201d\n\nNot adding up.\n\nShe read him too easily, or at least figured her explanation was lacking: \u201cProblem, Agent Gates?\u201d\n\nHe shrugged, \u201cJust that I\u2019m not known for the quiet quality of my investigations.\u201d\n\nHer smile returned. He decided he liked it as she continued, \u201cNo, you\u2019re known for breaking things. That works in our favor on this one: in fact, as far as anyone but you, me, and your old SAC knows, you\u2019re still on suspension.\u201d\n\n\u201cAbout Oda, she\u2019s not a fan of mine \u2026 And there\u2019s the quartermaster who assigned the ship I came here on.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy problem, and already dealt with.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll right.\u201d\n\nA barely-visible eyebrow arched, \u201cJust like that?\u201d\n\nHe smiled, \u201cIf you say Oda is handled, then she\u2019s handled. Same thing on the kid manning the ship depot. Beyond that, I\u2019d rather get on with learning what you know about someone who thinks they can plant our agents without retribution.\u201d\n\nShe looked at him a long moment, seeming on the verge of saying something.\n\nGates waited, expectant.\n\nVasser didn\u2019t speak, instead looked down and called up an image of an agent in his academy uniform. \u201cAgent Max Nawabi. Graduated twelve years ago. Most recent assignment: Customs Control and Enforcement. Sent in, undercover, at Corel, to investigate rumors of slave trading. Expected to be a long-term op, he was checking in regularly before his handler lost contact two months ago. He turned up dead in a back alley on Nexus last month.\u201d\n\nAnother graduation image. \u201cAgent Gage Knowles. Graduated ten years ago. Most recent assignment: Narcotics Investigations. Sent in at Nexus on long-term undercover operation regarding narcotics trade along the Magnus-Nexus-Corel systems. Made regular reports until contact was lost two months ago. Turned up on Nexus in a trash heap within days of Nawabi\u2019s corpse.\u201d\n\n\u201cAside from the timing, what makes you think the killings are related?\u201d\n\nShe looked at Gates, called up the autopsies of both agents. \u201cThey made almost no attempt to cover up either killing, and the weapon used was the same in both instances.\u201d\n\n\u201cExactly the same?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes.\u201d\n\n. . .to be continued","de_DE":"Gates lie\u00df seinen Seesack fallen und sah sich ein letztes Mal in seiner winzigen Wohnung um und best\u00e4tigte, dass er jedes einzelne seiner sehr begrenzten pers\u00f6nlichen Gegenst\u00e4nde hatte. Zufrieden nahm er sein MobiGlas heraus und rief die Verwaltungsgesellschaft an, um ihnen mitzuteilen, dass er das Gel\u00e4nde verlassen hatte.\n\nMundane Angelegenheiten abgeschlossen, Gates hat die Ausschnitt-Software auf seinem MobiGlas angeklickt und einen weiteren Anruf get\u00e4tigt. Angeliques herzf\u00f6rmiges Gesicht erschien l\u00e4chelnd im Pickup. Die blauen Flecken, die Kitty dort hinterlassen hatte, verblassten bereits. \"Arme!\" sagte sie, die Augen zu hell f\u00fcr v\u00f6llige N\u00fcchternheit, aber nicht so hoch, dass er aufpassen musste.\n\n\"Sch\u00f6n zu sehen, dass es dir besser geht, Angelique.\"\n\nSie nickte und nahm die coole Reaktion auf. \"Was ist los, Armi?\"\n\n\"Ich gehe gesch\u00e4ftlich weg. Du wirst f\u00fcr eine Weile auf dich allein gestellt sein.\"\n\nAngelique runzelte die Stirn, h\u00fcbsche Brauen zogen sich zusammen, \"Aber wer wird sich um mich k\u00fcmmern?\"\n\n\"Du wirst wie vereinbart weitermachen. Nichts \u00e4ndert sich.\"\n\n\" Das Se-\"\n\nEr unterbrach sie und wollte nicht, dass sie den Titel benutzt: \"Nichts \u00e4ndert sich. Die Einzahlungen werden fortgesetzt. Bleiben Sie gl\u00fccklich und h\u00f6ren Sie gut zu. Ich werde mich mit dir in Verbindung setzen.\"\n\n\"Was ist mit der anderen Sache?\" fragte Angelique und streichelte ihr gequetschtes Auge.\n\n\"Ich habe mich darum gek\u00fcmmert.\"\n\n\"Einfach so?\"\n\n\" Ja.\"\n\n\" Danke.\"\n\n\"Ein Ratschlag: R\u00e4um auf, wenn du kannst. Ich werde nicht da sein, um solche Probleme in naher Zukunft zu beheben. Au\u00dferdem wei\u00dft du, dass dieses Zeug dir nicht gut tut.\"\n\nSie biss sich auf die Lippe, sah weg, \"Ich wei\u00df... danke.\"\n\n\"Sei vorsichtig.\" Er schloss den Kanal und legte sein MobiGlas weg. Sie w\u00fcrde entweder ihr Drogenproblem l\u00f6sen oder nicht. So oder so, sie war eine gute Quelle f\u00fcr Senator Yaldiz' geheimes Leben, das die zentrale S\u00e4ule davon war. Er gab der Wohnung einen letzten Blick. Zwei Jahre, reduziert auf einen einzigen Ruck und ein paar neue Verm\u00f6genswerte; einige auf und einige au\u00dferhalb der B\u00fccher. Nicht schlecht, aber nicht die beste Nutzung der Zeit eines alten Agenten. Er seufzte. Es wird gut sein, wieder in der Falte zu sein, zur\u00fcck mit Special Action. Gates nahm seinen Ruck auf und ging.\n\nEine Stunde sp\u00e4ter trat er an den Schalter des \u00f6rtlichen Advocacy-Quartiermeisters, um das Tag f\u00fcr das Schiff zu beanspruchen, das ihm zugeteilt worden war. Das Kind hinter der Theke l\u00e4chelte, als es den Datenschl\u00fcssel r\u00fcber schob. \"R\u00e4cher, benannt nach A3301. Die alte Schlampe ist auf Fluglinie zwei.\"\n\nGates ignorierte das Kind und unterschrieb f\u00fcr das Schild und ging in die Umkleide. Doning his flight blues beleuchtete die alte Aufregung und setzte einen Sprung in seinen Schritt, als er auf die Fluglinie ging. Gates fand sie bei der Kennung, die auf ihren Schwanz gemalt war. Ich fand sie und schnaubte. Er war versucht, zur\u00fcckzugehen und den kleinen Quartiermeister zu schlagen: A3301 war ein fr\u00fches Modell Avenger, aber mindestens ein Jahrzehnt j\u00fcnger als Gates.\n\nEr zuckte mit den Achseln, bestieg die Leiter. Es ist zu lange her, dachte er und schleuderte den Ruck durch die Luke des alten K\u00e4mpfers.\n\nDer Vorflug war einfach und schnell, alte Fertigkeiten kamen zur\u00fcck. Gates protokollierte seinen Boden-Orbit-Flugplan und bat um Abflug. Beide wurden schnell genehmigt.\n\nEr zog sich etwas behutsam aus und bekam ein Gef\u00fchl f\u00fcr sie. Ich fliege schon lange einen Schreibtisch, immerhin schon vor der Aufh\u00e4ngung.\n\nGates fand ein ehrliches L\u00e4cheln, das seine Lippen kr\u00e4uselte. Im Vergleich zu den Schiffen, die er bei Special Action gesteuert hatte, war sie tr\u00e4ge und lange in der Klemme, aber A3301 war f\u00fcr die n\u00e4chste kleine Weile seins.\n\nDie Reise zur Black Box war lang und wenig unterhaltsam und erforderte mehrere Transite und ein paar Stopps, um jeden zu verwirren, der versucht, ihn zu verfolgen. Der unregelm\u00e4\u00dfige schwarze Asteroid war nicht ganz so kastenf\u00f6rmig. Gates war eines der wenigen, das wusste, dass seine Form nicht der Grund war, warum Special Action den Ort benannt hatte - es war ihre Politik, die Blackbox-Naviorekorder von Schiffen zu l\u00f6schen, die \u00fcber ihn stolperten.\n\nDas Verteidigungsnetzwerk um die Black Box herum schickte mehrere Anfragen zur \u00dcberpr\u00fcfung seiner ID. F\u00fcr einen langen Moment war der einzige Beweis, dass er die Sicherheitsprotokolle erf\u00fcllt hatte, die Tatsache, dass er nicht in winzige Partikel geblasen worden war.\n\nEr bekam eine Flugroute und folgte ihr bis zur letzten Dezimalstelle. Einige Dinge, bei denen man einfach kein Risiko eingeht. Er betrat eine schwarzere Grube in der dunklen Seite des Asteroiden und verband sich langsam mit dem f\u00fcr sein Schiff verl\u00e4ngerten Andockkragen. Der Rumpf kollidierte, als Magnete sein Schiff packten und seine Systeme mit denen der Basis verbanden.\n\nGates l\u00e4chelte, als seine Sensoren offline gingen und alle Lichter dunkel wurden, bevor der Andockring anfing, A3301 in den Asteroiden zu ziehen. Advocacy-Agenten wurde im Allgemeinen vertraut, aber institutionelle Paranoia war der Name des Spiels mit SA.\n\nAuf diese Weise h\u00e4tte er niemandem sagen k\u00f6nnen, welche Schiffe in der Andockbucht sind, selbst wenn er es gewollt h\u00e4tte.\n\n\"Special Agent Gates, willkommen zur\u00fcck bei Special Action\", unterbrach die Stimme einer Frau seine Gedanken, leichte Spur eines Akzents, der die Worte auf angenehme Weise dreht, \"I'm Vasser, Special Agent in Charge. Wenn sich deine Luke \u00f6ffnet, folge der blauen Linie zu mir. Ich werde dich \u00fcber deine Mission informieren.\"\n\nDie verantwortliche Special Agentin informiert mich in sich selbst? Ungew\u00f6hnlich. Will wahrscheinlich den Ton angeben, indem er das alte Schlachtross an seine Stelle setzt. Gates stellte sich darauf ein, sein Temperament zu bewahren, holte seine Tasche und wartete darauf, dass die Luke platzt. Dann folgte er der beleuchteten Linie entlang einer Reihe von leeren Durchg\u00e4ngen zu einer Luke. Es \u00f6ffnete sich unter seiner Hand und enth\u00fcllte einen kleinen Raum.\n\nVasser sa\u00df drinnen, die Finger verriegelten sich auf dem Tisch vor ihr. Wei\u00dfblondes Haar, kurz geschnitten, um unter einen Flughelm oder eine Kampfr\u00fcstung zu passen. Alles in allem ein bisschen hart an den Kanten f\u00fcr seine pers\u00f6nlichen Vorlieben, aber ziemlich attraktiv. Ihr Ausdruck war neutral, als sie ihm die Hand sch\u00fcttelte. Sch\u00f6ner Griff. Nicht zu viel M\u00fche. Gutes Zeichen.\n\nGates l\u00e4chelte, \"SAC Vasser\".\n\nSie deutete ihn auf den Sitz gegen\u00fcber von ihrem, \"Special Agent Gates\". Ich hoffe, deine Reise war nicht zu schwierig?\"\n\nEr sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf. \"Sch\u00f6n, wieder im Cockpit zu sein.\"\n\nSie l\u00e4chelte und zeigte zum ersten Mal sogar wei\u00dfe Z\u00e4hne: \"Du k\u00f6nntest es dir \u00fcbel nehmen, in einem zu sein, bevor das vorbei ist.\"\n\n\"Ich bezweifle es, aber erz\u00e4hl es mir.\"\n\n\"In Ordnung.\" Sie schlug auf die Tischplatte und rief eine Reihe von Akten auf.\n\nGates h\u00f6rte sein MobiGlas zirpen, als er Kopien f\u00fcr eine sp\u00e4tere \u00dcberpr\u00fcfung erhielt.\n\n\"Drei Advocacy-Agenten wurden in den letzten Monaten ermordet.\"\n\nDas hat seine Aufmerksamkeit erregt. \"Warum nicht -\" schlug er seinen Kiefer zu, als er erkannte, warum er es nicht geh\u00f6rt hatte: Wenn es sich um den Tod von verdeckten Ermittlern bei aktiven Ermittlungen handelte, w\u00e4ren sie nicht gemeldet worden, nicht \u00fcber irgendwelche Kan\u00e4le, zu denen ein suspendierter Agent Zugang h\u00e4tte.\n\nSie fuhr fort, als h\u00e4tte er nicht angefangen, etwas Dummes zu sagen: \"Wir haben bereits ein Team, das in einem Fall den Hauptverd\u00e4chtigen verfolgt, aber ich beauftrage Sie damit, die anderen beiden zu untersuchen. In aller Stille, als Kopfgeldj\u00e4ger.\"\n\nDas ergibt keinen Sinn.\n\nSie las ihn zu leicht, oder zumindest dachte sie, dass ihre Erkl\u00e4rung fehlt: \"Problem, Agent Gates?\"\n\nEr zuckte mit den Schultern: \"Nur, dass ich nicht f\u00fcr die ruhige Qualit\u00e4t meiner Untersuchungen bekannt bin.\"\n\nIhr L\u00e4cheln kehrte zur\u00fcck. Er entschied, dass es ihm gefiel, als sie weiter sagte: \"Nein, du bist daf\u00fcr bekannt, dass du Dinge zerbrochen hast. Das wirkt sich bei diesem Fall zu unseren Gunsten aus: In der Tat, soweit jemand au\u00dfer dir, mir und deinem alten SAC wei\u00df, bist du immer noch suspendiert.\"\n\n\"\u00dcber Oda, sie ist kein Fan von mir... Und da ist der Quartiermeister, der das Schiff, auf dem ich herkam, zugewiesen hat.\"\n\n\"Mein Problem, und ich habe mich bereits damit besch\u00e4ftigt.\"\n\n\"In Ordnung.\"\n\nEine kaum sichtbare Augenbraue gew\u00f6lbt, \"Einfach so?\"\n\nEr l\u00e4chelte: \"Wenn du sagst, dass Oda erledigt ist, dann ist sie erledigt. Das Gleiche gilt f\u00fcr den Jungen, der das Schiffsdepot besetzt h\u00e4lt. Dar\u00fcber hinaus w\u00fcrde ich lieber lernen, was man \u00fcber jemanden wei\u00df, der denkt, dass er unsere Agenten ohne Vergeltung einsetzen kann.\"\n\nSie sah ihn einen langen Moment lang an und schien kurz davor zu stehen, etwas zu sagen.\n\nGates wartete, Anw\u00e4rter.\n\nVasser sprach nicht, sondern sah nach unten und rief das Bild eines Agenten in seiner Akademieuniform auf. \"Agent Max Nawabi. Hat vor zw\u00f6lf Jahren seinen Abschluss gemacht. Letzter Auftrag: Zollkontrolle und -durchsetzung. Eingesandt, undercover, in Corel, um Ger\u00fcchte \u00fcber Sklavenhandel zu untersuchen. Erwartet, eine langfristige Operation zu sein, schaute er regelm\u00e4\u00dfig vorbei, bevor sein Betreuer vor zwei Monaten den Kontakt verlor. Er tauchte letzten Monat tot in einer Hinterhofgasse auf Nexus auf.\"\n\nEin weiteres Bild der Graduierung. \"Agent Gage Knowles. Abschluss vor zehn Jahren. Letzter Auftrag: Drogenfahndung. Eingesandt bei Nexus \u00fcber eine langfristige Undercover-Operation in Bezug auf den Drogenhandel entlang des Magnus-Nexus-Corel-Systems. Er berichtete regelm\u00e4\u00dfig, bis der Kontakt vor zwei Monaten unterbrochen wurde. Er erschien auf Nexus in einem M\u00fcllhaufen innerhalb von Tagen nach Nawabis Leiche.\"\n\n\"Abgesehen vom Zeitpunkt, was l\u00e4sst dich glauben, dass die Morde miteinander zusammenh\u00e4ngen?\"\n\nSie sah sich Gates an, rief die Autopsien beider Agenten an. \"Sie unternahmen fast keinen Versuch, beide Morde zu vertuschen, und die verwendete Waffe war in beiden F\u00e4llen die gleiche.\"\n\n\"Genau das Gleiche?\"\n\n\" Ja.\"\n\n. ...wird fortgesetzt","zh_CN":"Dropping his duffel, Gates looked around his tiny apartment a last time and verified he had every one of his very limited assortment of personal items. Satisfied, he took his MobiGlas out and called the management company to let them know he\u2019d vacated the premises.\n\nMundane matters complete, Gates cued the cutout software on his MobiGlas and placed another call. Angelique\u2019s heart-shaped face appeared in the pick-up, smiling. The bruises Kitty had put there were already fading. \u201cArmi!\u201d she said, eyes too bright for complete sobriety, but not so high he had to take notice.\n\n\u201cGood to see you\u2019re feeling better, Angelique.\u201d\n\nShe nodded, picking up on the cool response. \u201cWhat is it, Armi?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m leaving on business. You\u2019ll be on your own for a bit.\u201d\n\nAngelique frowned, pretty brows drawing tight, \u201cBut who\u2019s going to look after me?\u201d\n\n\u201cYou will continue as arranged. Nothing changes.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Se-\u201c\n\nHe interrupted her, not wanting her to use the title, \u201cNothing changes. Deposits will continue. Keep happy and listen well. I will be in touch.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat about the other thing?\u201d Angelique asked, brushing her bruised eye.\n\n\u201cTaken care of.\u201d\n\n\u201cJust like that?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks.\u201d\n\n\u201cA word of advice: clean up, if you can. I won\u2019t be around to correct such problems in the near future. Besides, you know that stuff does you no good.\u201d\n\nShe bit her lip, looked away, \u201cI know \u2026 thanks.\u201d\n\n\u201cBe safe.\u201d He closed the channel and put his MobiGlas away. She would either sort out her drug problem, or not. Either way, she was a good source on Senator Yaldiz\u2019s secret life, being the central pillar of it. He gave the apartment a final glance. Two years, reduced to a single ruck and a couple new assets; some on and some off the books. Not bad, but not the best use of an old agent\u2019s time. He sighed. It will be good to be back in the fold, back with Special Action. Picking up his ruck, Gates left.\n\nAn hour later he stepped up to the local Advocacy quartermaster\u2019s counter to claim the tag for the ship he\u2019d been allotted. The kid behind the counter smiled as he pushed the datakey across. \u201cAvenger, designated A3301. That old bitch is on flight line two.\u201d\n\nIgnoring the kid, Gates signed for the tag and hit the locker room. Donning his flight blues lit the old excitement, putting a bounce in his step as he walked onto the flight line. Gates found her by the designator painted on her tail. Found her, and snorted. He was tempted to go back and punch the kid quartermaster out: A3301 was an early model Avenger, but at least a decade younger than Gates.\n\nHe shrugged, mounted the ladder. It\u2019s been too long, he thought, slinging the ruck through the hatch of the old fighter.\n\nPre-flight was easy and quick, old skills coming back. Gates logged his ground-to-orbit flight plan and request to depart. Both were quickly approved.\n\nHe took off a bit gingerly, getting a feel for her. Been flying a desk for a long time, even before the suspension, after all.\n\nGates found an honest smile curling his lips. In comparison to the ships he\u2019d piloted at Special Action, she was sluggish and long in the tooth, but A3301 was his for the next little while.\n\nThe trip to the Black Box was long and less than entertaining, requiring several transits and a few stops to confound anyone trying to track him. The irregular black asteroid wasn\u2019t all that box-shaped. Gates was one of the few that knew its shape wasn\u2019t the reason Special Action had named the place \u2014 it was their policy of wiping the black box nav recorders of ships that stumbled upon it.\n\nThe defense network surrounding the Black Box sent multiple queries to verify his ID. For a long moment the only evidence he had that he\u2019d satisfied the security protocols was the fact he hadn\u2019t been blown to tiny particles.\n\nHe was given a flight path and followed it to the last decimal. Some things you just don\u2019t take chances with. He entered a blacker pit in the dark side of the asteroid and slowly linked up with the docking collar extended for his craft. The hull clunked as mag-locks gripped his ship, connecting his systems with those of the base.\n\nGates smiled as his sensors went off-line and all lights went dark before the docking collar started drawing A3301 into the asteroid. Advocacy agents were trusted, generally, but institutional paranoia was the name of the game with SA.\n\nThis way he couldn\u2019t have told anyone what ships were in the docking bay even had he wanted to.\n\n\u201cSpecial Agent Gates, welcome back to Special Action,\u201d a woman\u2019s voice interrupted his thoughts, mild trace of an accent spinning the words in pleasant fashion, \u201cI\u2019m Vasser, Special Agent in Charge. When your hatch opens, follow the blue line to me. I\u2019ll brief you in on your mission.\u201d\n\nThe Special Agent in Charge briefing me in herself? Unusual. Probably wants to set the tone by putting the old warhorse in his place first off. Setting himself to keep his temper, Gates collected his bag and waited for the hatch to pop. When it did, he followed the illuminated line along a series of empty passages to a hatch. It opened under his hand, revealing a small room.\n\nVasser sat inside, fingers interlocked on the table before her. White-blonde hair, cut short to fit under a flight helmet or combat armor. All in all, a bit hard on the edges for his personal preferences, but quite attractive. Her expression was neutral as she shook his hand. Nice grip. Not trying too hard. Good sign.\n\nGates smiled, \u201cSAC Vasser.\u201d\n\nShe gestured him into the seat across from hers, \u201cSpecial Agent Gates. I trust your trip wasn\u2019t too trying?\u201d\n\nHe shook his head. \u201cGood to be back in a cockpit.\u201d\n\nShe smiled, showing even white teeth for the first time, \u201cYou might grow to resent being in one before this is over and done.\u201d\n\n\u201cI doubt it, but do tell.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll right.\u201d She punched at the tabletop, calling up a series of files.\n\nGates heard his MobiGlas chirp as it received copies for later review.\n\n\u201cThree Advocacy agents have been murdered in recent months.\u201d\n\nThat got his attention. \u201cWhy haven\u2019t\u2013\u201d he snapped his jaw shut on the question when he realized why he hadn\u2019t heard: if these were deaths of undercover agents on active investigations, they wouldn\u2019t have been reported, not through any channels to which a suspended agent would have access.\n\nShe continued as if he hadn\u2019t started to say something stupid: \u201cWe already have a team chasing down the primary suspect in one case, but I\u2019m tasking you with looking into the other two. On the quiet, as a bounty hunter.\u201d\n\nNot adding up.\n\nShe read him too easily, or at least figured her explanation was lacking: \u201cProblem, Agent Gates?\u201d\n\nHe shrugged, \u201cJust that I\u2019m not known for the quiet quality of my investigations.\u201d\n\nHer smile returned. He decided he liked it as she continued, \u201cNo, you\u2019re known for breaking things. That works in our favor on this one: in fact, as far as anyone but you, me, and your old SAC knows, you\u2019re still on suspension.\u201d\n\n\u201cAbout Oda, she\u2019s not a fan of mine \u2026 And there\u2019s the quartermaster who assigned the ship I came here on.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy problem, and already dealt with.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll right.\u201d\n\nA barely-visible eyebrow arched, \u201cJust like that?\u201d\n\nHe smiled, \u201cIf you say Oda is handled, then she\u2019s handled. Same thing on the kid manning the ship depot. Beyond that, I\u2019d rather get on with learning what you know about someone who thinks they can plant our agents without retribution.\u201d\n\nShe looked at him a long moment, seeming on the verge of saying something.\n\nGates waited, expectant.\n\nVasser didn\u2019t speak, instead looked down and called up an image of an agent in his academy uniform. \u201cAgent Max Nawabi. Graduated twelve years ago. Most recent assignment: Customs Control and Enforcement. Sent in, undercover, at Corel, to investigate rumors of slave trading. Expected to be a long-term op, he was checking in regularly before his handler lost contact two months ago. He turned up dead in a back alley on Nexus last month.\u201d\n\nAnother graduation image. \u201cAgent Gage Knowles. Graduated ten years ago. Most recent assignment: Narcotics Investigations. Sent in at Nexus on long-term undercover operation regarding narcotics trade along the Magnus-Nexus-Corel systems. Made regular reports until contact was lost two months ago. Turned up on Nexus in a trash heap within days of Nawabi\u2019s corpse.\u201d\n\n\u201cAside from the timing, what makes you think the killings are related?\u201d\n\nShe looked at Gates, called up the autopsies of both agents. \u201cThey made almost no attempt to cover up either killing, and the weapon used was the same in both instances.\u201d\n\n\u201cExactly the same?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes.\u201d\n\n. . .to be continued"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":43,"created_at":"2013-07-18T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"12 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-28 22:37:15","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":13147,"next_id":13149}}