{"data":{"id":13248,"title":"A SEPARATE LAW: PART NINE","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/13248-A-SEPARATE-LAW-PART-NINE","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/13248","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/13248","channel":"Undefined","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":"Gates was growing tired of Nemo, or at least the tiny patch of it he and Seabrook had gone to ground in. The safe house was spartan, yes, but that was to be expected. Seabrook was fine as a housemate, though she had disappeared into the nets as soon as she believed it safe to do so. That left him only Stroller\u2019s statement and Morgan\u2019s dying declaration for distraction, and they weren\u2019t helping much to contain his mounting impatience. He could only listen to Morgan\u2019s last moments so many times without wanting to kill Stroller, and Stroller was no longer on hand for the killing. Gates had the man shipped him off to Special Action\u2019s blackest holding cells, the ones set aside for traitors awaiting trial.\n\nStroller had given up a lot before he\u2019d been shipped. There was a meet planned for next month. Les Inconnus leadership was looking to integrate the heads of a couple of new slaver organizations into the fold, and had a meeting set up on the White Stag. It had all gone in the report, along with Seabrook\u2019s assurances that she\u2019d managed to cover for Stroller\u2019s absence by planting transfer papers into his file and answering his mail with the data he\u2019d provided them.\n\nIt\u2019s driving me mad, this waiting for a response from Vasser!\n\nThere was a knock at the front door.\n\nGates pulled his sidearm and glanced across at Seabrook. No one is supposed to know we\u2019re here, let alone come calling. She tapped a command into her terminal, checking the security feed. She nodded at Gates. Because he wasn\u2019t the trusting sort, he still kept the pistol ready as he opened the door. He nearly dropped it when he saw who was standing on the front step.\n\n\u201cGates,\u201d Vasser said, brushing past him.\n\n\u201cMa\u2019am,\u201d Gates muttered, still off balance.\n\n\u201cSeabrook.\u201d\n\nGates closed the door, tried to get his thoughts moving.\n\nVasser looked back at him, \u201cGood to see you\u2019re recovered.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks, Ma\u2019am.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, it\u2019s the only good thing about this visit.\u201d\n\nGates opened his mouth, but she held up a hand to stop him: \u201cLook, Internal Investigations Division, in the person of one Agent Jakob Neustedt, made a run at me last week, at almost exactly the same time your report hit my MobiGlas \u2014\u201d she paused, held the device up, showing it was in active recording mode, and giving both her agents a chance to think about the timing of that bit of news before resuming: \u201cI told him to walk out the airlock, that it was under my direct orders and supervision. My associates at headquarters are saying that IID is now looking at \u2018fiduciary inconsistencies\u2019 in Special Action. They listed Seabrook\u2019s Caterpillar as one of those irregularities.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow the hell?\u201d Seabrook blurted.\n\nGates kept his mouth shut, anger building as he worked through the implications.\n\nVasser shook her head, \u201cAs I was the one gave the order, I felt I owed it to you both to tell you face to face: we can\u2019t continue against Les Inconnus while this crap is going on. They clearly have people with clout on payroll, and those people will tip off the targets as soon as we move.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnderstood,\u201d Gates said, holding his temper tight.\n\nSeabrook shook her head, \u201cSomeone in IID is working for them and we have to call it off?\u201d\n\n\u201cIf some Advocacy agent is working for or with them, I can\u2019t prove it, yet. Therefore Special Action is not undertaking any investigation of Les Inconnus until I can clear it. Am I understood?\u201d\n\n\u201cUnderstood,\u201d Gates repeated, letting out a long, slow breath.\n\n\u201cWhat!?\u201d Seabrook barked at him. \u201cYou were the one who said we had to move, that taking them down wa\u2013\u201d\n\nHe spoke over her: \u201cYes, I did say that.\u201d Gates gestured at Vasser, \u201cThe Special Agent in Charge just told us Special Action is no longer on the case.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll follow orders \u2026 but \u2026 it\u2019s \u2026\u201d Seabrook spluttered.\n\nGates turned to Vasser, clicking heels together. \u201cThank you, Agent Vasser, for personally informing us.\u201d\n\nVasser nodded, \u201cYou\u2019re welcome. I am sorry I can\u2019t offer more comforting news.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnderstood,\u201d Gates said, decision made.\n\n\u201cSeabrook, I have a seat for you on the shuttle departing in five hours. I have other business to attend in the meantime.\u201d\n\nUnderstood.\n\nSeabrook looked back and forth between Vasser and Gates, clearly puzzled.\n\nVasser left without another word.\n\n\u201cWhat the hell, Gates?\u201d\n\nHe paused a moment before replying, wanting to get it right. \u201cVasser\u2019s hands are tied, Seabrook. She had to give the order to stand down, and do so on the record. Remember, she had her MobiGlas on and active. If she hadn\u2019t, then she wouldn\u2019t be able to deny responsibility for what I\u2019m going to do.\u201d\n\n\u201cWait, what?\u201d\n\n\u201cThink about what she said.\u201d\n\n\u201cShe said we \u2014\u201d\n\n\u201cNo, she didn\u2019t. Think. Her exact words were \u2026\u201d\n\n\u201cShe said \u2014\u201d her eyes shot wide. \u201cShe said Special Action.\u201d\n\n\u201cExactly. And I\u2019m on suspension. As in: not even Advocacy.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut, that\u2019s messed up.\u201d\n\nHe snorted. \u201cDon\u2019t like the heat this close to the sun, change your orbit.\u201d\n\nSeabrook\u2019s eyes narrowed with suspicion. \u201cWhat are you going to do, Gates?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m going to take them down, of course.\u201d\n\n\u201cCall it what it is: you mean to kill them.\u201d\n\nHe cocked his head, just looked at her.\n\n\u201cI didn\u2019t sign up for murder. We\u2019re not above the law.\u201d\n\nGates nodded, \u201cYou\u2019re right, we aren\u2019t above it. That said, there\u2019s a separate law for this.\u201d\n\nShe sniffed. \u201cGates, do you actually listen to yourself, sometimes?\u201d\n\n\u201cLook, Seabrook, I\u2019ve been around a long, long time. Longer, probably, than the people you called dinosaurs when you were coming through the Academy. One thing I learned at the knee of the agents I called dinosaurs back when: we can never allow the murder of Advocacy agents to go unpunished. Never. Not once. Usually that means making an arrest and walking someone into a prison cell. Sometimes that means going all the way: off the charts and into the big black, and maybe not coming back. Stroller\u2019s information gives us a shot at the leadership. I\u2019m taking it.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s not right, Gates.\u201d\n\n\u201cAgent Max Nawabi. Agent Gage Knowles.\u201d\n\nShe blanched. He was sure she\u2019d have controlled her shock better if he\u2019d slapped her.\n\n\u201cThey are what this is about. Nawabi and Knowles, and making sure Les Inconnus don\u2019t make any more like them.\u201d\n\nShe held up a hand in surrender, \u201cAll right. I understand. I won\u2019t go shooting my mouth off.\u201d\n\nHe nodded, once. \u201cI didn\u2019t think you would.\u201d\n\nShe turned away.\n\n\u201cAnd Seabrook: you\u2019re good people.\u201d\n\n\u201cScrew you, Gates!\u201d she said under her breath. Reaching for her console, Seabrook hunched over the table and started typing.\n\nGates shrugged. Pacifiers come in all shapes and sizes, I suppose.\n\n\u201cSorry,\u201d she muttered, \u201cjust getting a few things you might find useful.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou sure that\u2019s a good idea? I mean, I appreciate it, but Vasser won\u2019t be happy if she has to cover for your ass after that talk.\u201d\n\nShe turned and leveled a dark look at him, \u201cYou really think I\u2019m that slow? That I don\u2019t know how to dance the data to pick up a few items without it leading back to us?\u201d\n\n\u201cSorry,\u201d he said, meaning it. \u201cIt\u2019s not my area of expertise.\u201d\n\n\u201cI know, it\u2019s mine,\u201d she said, turning back to the comp.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll just start packing, then.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou do that.\u201d\n\nWhen he returned a few minutes later, she was done and on her way to her room. She said nothing to him. Even so, he heard the accusation in the silence.\n\nHe put it away, sat down in the front room and pulled out his MobiGlas. Time to set my people digging. They made a mistake coming after Vasser, now there\u2019s a chance my people can work backward from that point of contact. If there\u2019s an after for me, it\u2019d be helpful to know who Neustedt sold his soul to.\n\nAngelique can start working Senator Yaldiz\u2019s contacts from that end, see if there\u2019s something the Senate Oversight Committee on Advocacy Affairs might do with the knowledge Neustedt is working with Les Inconnus.\n\nHe sent Angelique\u2019s message and started going through the mental list of his other contacts. He typed Zara\u2019s address in. Might come across a thing or two as well, with her ties among the corporate lobbyists. Best tap her as well, since Stroller confirmed the corporate connection Seabrook revealed. She still owes me big for keeping her and her corporate clients out of the newsfeeds on the Holbrook case.\n\nHe was sending the last message when Seabrook spoke from behind him: \u201cStill using the old protocols?\u201d\n\nGates looked over his shoulder at her. From the drawn look to her, she\u2019d been thinking about hard choices and harsher realities. He didn\u2019t feel good about opening that particular door for her. He remembered, too well, having the same thing done to him. They were not pleasant memories.\n\nHe realized he\u2019d left her question unanswered for too long. \u201cThey work, last I checked?\u201d Gates said, wondering how his answer ended up a question.\n\nSeabrook smiled, \u201cOh, it works quite well, given enough message traffic to bury it in.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood. Our earlier conversation had me worried.\u201d\n\n\u201cHad I known we weren\u2019t going to be working together, I\u2019d have shown you a few tricks.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou may have noticed, being an agent and paid to notice things, but I\u2019m an old man. Learning new things does not come easy for me, or for those trying to teach me.\u201d\n\nSeabrook snorted and reached for his MobiGlas, \u201cYou mind?\u201d\n\nHe handed it over without showing too much hesitation.\n\nShe punched several keys, then handed it back to him. An image of an ID and passcode appeared on the screen. \u201cI set up a blind account for you. Check it in a few days, there\u2019ll be something for your use \u2026 call it \u2026 call it my contribution to the cause.\u201d\n\n. . . to be continued","de_DE":"Gates wurde von Nemo m\u00fcde, oder zumindest von dem kleinen Fleckchen davon, in dem er und Seabrook zu Boden gegangen waren. Der Unterschlupf war spartanisch, ja, aber das war zu erwarten. Seabrook war als Mitbewohnerin in Ordnung, obwohl sie in den Netzen verschwunden war, sobald sie es f\u00fcr sicher hielt. Das lie\u00df ihn nur Strollers Aussage und Morgans sterbende Erkl\u00e4rung f\u00fcr Ablenkung zur\u00fcck, und sie halfen nicht viel, seine wachsende Ungeduld zu enthalten. Er konnte Morgans letzte Momente nur so oft h\u00f6ren, ohne den Kinderwagen t\u00f6ten zu wollen, und der Kinderwagen war nicht mehr zur Hand f\u00fcr den Mord. Gates lie\u00df den Mann ihn zu den schw\u00e4rzesten Gef\u00e4ngniszellen der Special Action bringen, die f\u00fcr Verr\u00e4ter bestimmt waren, die auf den Prozess warten.\n\nDer Kinderwagen hatte viel aufgegeben, bevor er ausgeliefert wurde. Es war ein Treffen f\u00fcr n\u00e4chsten Monat geplant. Die F\u00fchrung von Les Inconnus war bestrebt, die Leiter einiger neuer Sklavenh\u00e4ndlerorganisationen in den Betrieb zu integrieren, und hatte ein Treffen \u00fcber den Wei\u00dfen Hirsch eingerichtet. Es war alles in den Bericht eingegangen, zusammen mit Seabrook's Zusicherungen, dass sie es geschafft hatte, die Abwesenheit von Kinderwagen abzudecken, indem sie Transferpapiere in seine Akte pflanzte und seine Mail mit den Daten beantwortete, die er ihnen gegeben hatte.\n\nEs macht mich verr\u00fcckt, dieses Warten auf eine Antwort von Vasser!\n\nEs klopfte an der Vordert\u00fcr.\n\nGates zog seine Pistole und blickte r\u00fcber zu Seabrook. Niemand soll wissen, dass wir hier sind, geschweige denn, dass wir anrufen. Sie hat einen Befehl in ihr Terminal getippt und die Sicherheitszufuhr \u00fcberpr\u00fcft. Sie nickte Gates zu. Weil er nicht der vertrauensw\u00fcrdige Typ war, hielt er die Pistole immer noch bereit, als er die T\u00fcr \u00f6ffnete. Er lie\u00df es fast fallen, als er sah, wer auf der vorderen Stufe stand.\n\n\"Tore\", sagte Vasser und stie\u00df an ihm vorbei.\n\n\"Ma'am\", murmelte Gates, immer noch aus dem Gleichgewicht.\n\n\"Seabrook.\"\n\nGates schloss die T\u00fcr, versuchte, seine Gedanken in Bewegung zu setzen.\n\nVasser blickte zu ihm zur\u00fcck: \"Sch\u00f6n zu sehen, dass du dich erholt hast.\"\n\n\"Danke, Ma'am.\"\n\n\"Leider ist es das einzig Gute an diesem Besuch.\"\n\nGates \u00f6ffnete seinen Mund, aber sie hielt eine Hand hoch, um ihn aufzuhalten: \"Schau, Internal Investigations Division, in der Person eines Agenten Jakob Neustedt, hat mich letzte Woche angegriffen, fast genau zur gleichen Zeit, als dein Bericht mein MobiGlas traf -\" hielt sie inne, hielt das Ger\u00e4t hoch, zeigte es im aktiven Aufnahmemodus und gab beiden ihren Agenten die M\u00f6glichkeit, \u00fcber den Zeitpunkt dieser Nachricht nachzudenken, bevor sie weitermachte: \"Ich sagte ihm, er solle die Luftschleuse verlassen, dass sie unter meinen direkten Befehlen und meiner Aufsicht stand. Meine Mitarbeiter in der Zentrale sagen, dass das IID sich jetzt mit \"treuh\u00e4nderischen Inkonsistenzen\" in Special Action besch\u00e4ftigt. Sie haben Seabrook's Caterpillar als eine dieser Unregelm\u00e4\u00dfigkeiten aufgef\u00fchrt.\"\n\n\"Wie zum Teufel?\" Der Seebach hat geplatzt.\n\nGates hielt seinen Mund geschlossen und w\u00fctend, als er die Auswirkungen durcharbeitete.\n\nVasser sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf: \"Da ich derjenige war, der den Befehl gab, f\u00fchlte ich mich, als schulde ich es euch beiden, um euch von Angesicht zu Angesicht zu sagen: Wir k\u00f6nnen nicht gegen Les Inconnus weitermachen, w\u00e4hrend dieser Mist weitergeht. Sie haben eindeutig Leute mit Einfluss auf die Gehaltsliste, und diese Leute werden die Ziele aufzeigen, sobald wir uns bewegen.\"\n\n\"Verstanden\", sagte Gates und hielt sein Temperament fest.\n\nSeabrook sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf, \"Jemand im IID arbeitet f\u00fcr sie und wir m\u00fcssen es absagen?\"\n\n\"Wenn ein Advocacy-Agent f\u00fcr oder mit ihnen arbeitet, kann ich es noch nicht beweisen. Daher f\u00fchrt Special Action keine Untersuchung von Les Inconnus durch, bis ich es kl\u00e4ren kann. Habe ich verstanden?\"\n\n\"Verstanden\", wiederholte Gates und lie\u00df einen langen, langsamen Atemzug aus.\n\n\" Was!?\" Seabrook bellte ihn an. \"Du warst diejenige, die gesagt hat, dass wir umziehen m\u00fcssen, dass wir sie runterbringen wollen.\"\n\nEr sprach \u00fcber sie: \"Ja, das habe ich gesagt.\" Gates gestikulierte an Vasser: \"Der verantwortliche Special Agent sagte uns gerade, dass Special Action nicht mehr an dem Fall arbeitet.\"\n\n\"Ich werde den Befehlen folgen... aber... es ist...\" Der Seebachsbaum stotterte.\n\nGates wandte sich an Vasser und klickte die Abs\u00e4tze zusammen. \"Danke, Agent Vasser, dass Sie uns pers\u00f6nlich informiert haben.\"\n\nVasser nickte: \"Gern geschehen. Es tut mir leid, dass ich keine beruhigenderen Nachrichten anbieten kann.\"\n\n\"Verstanden\", sagte Gates, Entscheidung getroffen.\n\n\"Seabrook, ich habe einen Platz f\u00fcr dich auf dem Shuttle, das in f\u00fcnf Stunden abf\u00e4hrt. Ich habe in der Zwischenzeit noch andere Gesch\u00e4fte zu erledigen.\"\n\nVerstanden.\n\nSeabrook blickte zwischen Vasser und Gates hin und her, klar verwirrt.\n\nVasser ging ohne ein weiteres Wort.\n\n\"Was zum Teufel, Gates?\"\n\nEr hielt einen Moment inne, bevor er antwortete, um es richtig zu machen. \"Vassers H\u00e4nde sind gebunden, Seabrook. Sie musste den Befehl zum R\u00fcckzug geben, und zwar zu Protokoll. Denken Sie daran, sie hatte ihr MobiGlas auf und aktiv. Wenn sie es nicht getan h\u00e4tte, dann w\u00e4re sie nicht in der Lage, die Verantwortung f\u00fcr das zu leugnen, was ich tun werde.\"\n\n\"Warte, was?\"\n\n\"Denk dar\u00fcber nach, was sie gesagt hat.\"\n\n\"Sie hat gesagt, dass wir -\"\n\n\"Nein, hat sie nicht. Denke nach. Ihre genauen Worte waren....\"\n\n\"Sie sagte -\" ihre Augen schossen weit. \"Sie sagte, Sonderaktion.\"\n\n\"Genau. Und ich bin suspendiert. Wie in: nicht einmal Advocacy.\"\n\n\"Aber das ist Mist gebaut.\"\n\nEr schnaubte. \"Mag die Hitze nicht so nah an der Sonne, \u00e4ndere deine Umlaufbahn.\"\n\nSeabrook's Augen verengten sich vor Verdacht. \"Was wirst du tun, Gates?\"\n\n\"Ich werde sie nat\u00fcrlich ausschalten.\"\n\n\"Nenn es, wie es ist: Du willst sie t\u00f6ten.\"\n\nEr spannte den Kopf, sah sie nur an.\n\n\"Ich habe mich nicht f\u00fcr Mord gemeldet. Wir stehen nicht \u00fcber dem Gesetz.\"\n\nGates nickte: \"Du hast Recht, wir sind nicht dar\u00fcber hinaus. Allerdings gibt es daf\u00fcr ein eigenes Gesetz.\"\n\nSie schn\u00fcffelte. \"Gates, h\u00f6rst du dir manchmal wirklich selbst zu?\"\n\n\"Schau, Seabrook, ich bin schon lange dabei. Wahrscheinlich l\u00e4nger als die Leute, die du Dinosaurier genannt hast, als du durch die Akademie kamst. Eine Sache, die ich am Knie der Agenten gelernt habe, die ich damals Dinosaurier nannte: Wir d\u00fcrfen nie zulassen, dass der Mord an Advocacy-Agenten ungestraft bleibt. Niemals. Nicht einmal. Normalerweise bedeutet das, eine Verhaftung vorzunehmen und jemanden in eine Gef\u00e4ngniszelle zu bringen. Manchmal bedeutet das, den ganzen Weg zu gehen: aus den Charts in das gro\u00dfe Schwarz, und vielleicht nicht zur\u00fcckzukehren. Die Informationen des Kinderwagens geben uns einen Einblick in die F\u00fchrung. Ich nehme es.\"\n\n\"Es ist nicht richtig, Gates.\"\n\n\"Agent Max Nawabi. Agent Gage Knowles.\"\n\nSie blanchierte. Er war sicher, dass sie ihren Schock besser kontrolliert h\u00e4tte, wenn er sie geschlagen h\u00e4tte.\n\n\"Sie sind es, worum es hier geht. Nawabi und Knowles, und daf\u00fcr sorgen, dass Les Inconnus nicht mehr wie sie werden.\"\n\nSie hielt eine Hand in der Kapitulation hoch und sagte: \"In Ordnung. Ich verstehe schon. Ich werde mir nicht den Mund abschlagen.\"\n\nEr nickte einmal. \"Ich h\u00e4tte nicht gedacht, dass du das w\u00fcrdest.\"\n\nSie wandte sich ab.\n\n\"Und Seabrook: Ihr seid gute Menschen.\"\n\n\"Fick dich, Gates!\" sagte sie unter ihrem Atem. Seabrook griff nach ihrer Konsole, kr\u00fcmmte sich \u00fcber den Tisch und begann zu tippen.\n\nGates zuckte mit den Schultern. Schnuller gibt es in allen Formen und Gr\u00f6\u00dfen, nehme ich an.\n\n\"Tut mir leid\", murmelte sie, \"nur ein paar Dinge besorgen, die du vielleicht n\u00fctzlich findest.\"\n\n\"Bist du sicher, dass das eine gute Idee ist? Ich meine, ich wei\u00df das zu sch\u00e4tzen, aber Vasser wird nicht gl\u00fccklich sein, wenn sie nach diesem Gespr\u00e4ch deinen Arsch decken muss.\"\n\nSie drehte sich um und nivellierte einen dunklen Blick auf ihn: \"Denkst du wirklich, ich bin so langsam? Dass ich nicht wei\u00df, wie man die Daten tanzt, um ein paar Gegenst\u00e4nde aufzunehmen, ohne dass sie zu uns zur\u00fcckf\u00fchren?\"\n\n\"Tut mir leid\", sagte er und meinte es ernst. \"Es ist nicht mein Fachgebiet.\"\n\n\"Ich wei\u00df, es ist meins\", sagte sie und kehrte zu der Firma zur\u00fcck.\n\n\"Dann fange ich einfach an zu packen.\"\n\n\"Mach das.\"\n\nAls er ein paar Minuten sp\u00e4ter zur\u00fcckkam, war sie fertig und auf dem Weg zu ihrem Zimmer. Sie sagte nichts zu ihm. Dennoch h\u00f6rte er die Anschuldigung in der Stille.\n\nEr legte es weg, setzte sich in den vorderen Raum und zog sein MobiGlas heraus. Zeit, meine Leute zum Graben zu bringen. Sie machten einen Fehler, als sie hinter Vasser her waren, jetzt besteht die M\u00f6glichkeit, dass meine Leute von diesem Kontaktpunkt aus r\u00fcckw\u00e4rts arbeiten k\u00f6nnen. Wenn es ein Nachspiel f\u00fcr mich gibt, w\u00e4re es hilfreich zu wissen, an wen Neustedt seine Seele verkauft hat.\n\nAngelique kann anfangen, die Kontakte von Senator Yaldiz von diesem Ende aus zu bearbeiten, um zu sehen, ob es etwas gibt, was der Senatsaufsichtsausschuss f\u00fcr Advocacy Affairs mit dem Wissen tun k\u00f6nnte, das Neustedt mit Les Inconnus arbeitet.\n\nEr schickte Angeliques Botschaft und begann, die mentale Liste seiner anderen Kontakte durchzugehen. Er hat Zaras Adresse eingegeben. K\u00f6nnte auch auf ein oder zwei Dinge sto\u00dfen, mit ihren Verbindungen zu den Unternehmenslobbyisten. Am besten tippen Sie auch auf sie, da der Kinderwagen die Firmenverbindung, die Seabrook enth\u00fcllte, best\u00e4tigte. Sie schuldet mir immer noch viel, weil ich sie und ihre Firmenkunden aus den Nachrichtensendungen \u00fcber den Holbrook-Fall herausgehalten habe.\n\nEr schickte die letzte Nachricht, als Seabrook hinter ihm sprach: \"Benutzt du immer noch die alten Protokolle?\"\n\nGates sah sie \u00fcber seine Schulter. Vom gezogenen Blick auf sie hatte sie \u00fcber harte Entscheidungen und h\u00e4rtere Realit\u00e4ten nachgedacht. Er f\u00fchlte sich nicht gut dabei, ihr diese spezielle T\u00fcr zu \u00f6ffnen. Er erinnerte sich zu gut daran, dass ihm dasselbe angetan wurde. Es waren keine angenehmen Erinnerungen.\n\nEr erkannte, dass er ihre Frage zu lange unbeantwortet gelassen hatte. \"Sie funktionieren, zuletzt \u00fcberpr\u00fcft?\" Gates sagte und fragte sich, wie seine Antwort zu einer Frage f\u00fchrte.\n\nSeabrook l\u00e4chelte: \"Oh, es funktioniert ganz gut, wenn man genug Nachrichtenverkehr hat, um es einzubauen.\"\n\n\"Gut. Unser Gespr\u00e4ch vorhin hat mich beunruhigt.\"\n\n\"H\u00e4tte ich gewusst, dass wir nicht zusammenarbeiten w\u00fcrden, h\u00e4tte ich dir ein paar Tricks gezeigt.\"\n\n\"Du hast es vielleicht bemerkt, ein Agent zu sein und daf\u00fcr bezahlt, Dinge zu bemerken, aber ich bin ein alter Mann. Es f\u00e4llt mir nicht leicht, neue Dinge zu lernen, auch nicht f\u00fcr diejenigen, die versuchen, mich zu unterrichten.\"\n\nSeabrook schnaubte und griff nach seinem MobiGlas, \"Hast du was dagegen?\"\n\nEr \u00fcbergab es ohne zu viel Z\u00f6gern.\n\nSie schlug mehrere Schl\u00fcssel und gab sie ihm dann zur\u00fcck. Auf dem Bildschirm wurde ein Bild einer ID und eines Passwortes angezeigt. \"Ich habe ein blindes Konto f\u00fcr dich eingerichtet. \u00dcberpr\u00fcfen Sie es in ein paar Tagen, es wird etwas f\u00fcr Sie geben.... nennen Sie es... nennen Sie es meinen Beitrag zur Sache.\"\n\n. ... wird fortgesetzt","zh_CN":"Gates was growing tired of Nemo, or at least the tiny patch of it he and Seabrook had gone to ground in. The safe house was spartan, yes, but that was to be expected. Seabrook was fine as a housemate, though she had disappeared into the nets as soon as she believed it safe to do so. That left him only Stroller\u2019s statement and Morgan\u2019s dying declaration for distraction, and they weren\u2019t helping much to contain his mounting impatience. He could only listen to Morgan\u2019s last moments so many times without wanting to kill Stroller, and Stroller was no longer on hand for the killing. Gates had the man shipped him off to Special Action\u2019s blackest holding cells, the ones set aside for traitors awaiting trial.\n\nStroller had given up a lot before he\u2019d been shipped. There was a meet planned for next month. Les Inconnus leadership was looking to integrate the heads of a couple of new slaver organizations into the fold, and had a meeting set up on the White Stag. It had all gone in the report, along with Seabrook\u2019s assurances that she\u2019d managed to cover for Stroller\u2019s absence by planting transfer papers into his file and answering his mail with the data he\u2019d provided them.\n\nIt\u2019s driving me mad, this waiting for a response from Vasser!\n\nThere was a knock at the front door.\n\nGates pulled his sidearm and glanced across at Seabrook. No one is supposed to know we\u2019re here, let alone come calling. She tapped a command into her terminal, checking the security feed. She nodded at Gates. Because he wasn\u2019t the trusting sort, he still kept the pistol ready as he opened the door. He nearly dropped it when he saw who was standing on the front step.\n\n\u201cGates,\u201d Vasser said, brushing past him.\n\n\u201cMa\u2019am,\u201d Gates muttered, still off balance.\n\n\u201cSeabrook.\u201d\n\nGates closed the door, tried to get his thoughts moving.\n\nVasser looked back at him, \u201cGood to see you\u2019re recovered.\u201d\n\n\u201cThanks, Ma\u2019am.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnfortunately, it\u2019s the only good thing about this visit.\u201d\n\nGates opened his mouth, but she held up a hand to stop him: \u201cLook, Internal Investigations Division, in the person of one Agent Jakob Neustedt, made a run at me last week, at almost exactly the same time your report hit my MobiGlas \u2014\u201d she paused, held the device up, showing it was in active recording mode, and giving both her agents a chance to think about the timing of that bit of news before resuming: \u201cI told him to walk out the airlock, that it was under my direct orders and supervision. My associates at headquarters are saying that IID is now looking at \u2018fiduciary inconsistencies\u2019 in Special Action. They listed Seabrook\u2019s Caterpillar as one of those irregularities.\u201d\n\n\u201cHow the hell?\u201d Seabrook blurted.\n\nGates kept his mouth shut, anger building as he worked through the implications.\n\nVasser shook her head, \u201cAs I was the one gave the order, I felt I owed it to you both to tell you face to face: we can\u2019t continue against Les Inconnus while this crap is going on. They clearly have people with clout on payroll, and those people will tip off the targets as soon as we move.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnderstood,\u201d Gates said, holding his temper tight.\n\nSeabrook shook her head, \u201cSomeone in IID is working for them and we have to call it off?\u201d\n\n\u201cIf some Advocacy agent is working for or with them, I can\u2019t prove it, yet. Therefore Special Action is not undertaking any investigation of Les Inconnus until I can clear it. Am I understood?\u201d\n\n\u201cUnderstood,\u201d Gates repeated, letting out a long, slow breath.\n\n\u201cWhat!?\u201d Seabrook barked at him. \u201cYou were the one who said we had to move, that taking them down wa\u2013\u201d\n\nHe spoke over her: \u201cYes, I did say that.\u201d Gates gestured at Vasser, \u201cThe Special Agent in Charge just told us Special Action is no longer on the case.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll follow orders \u2026 but \u2026 it\u2019s \u2026\u201d Seabrook spluttered.\n\nGates turned to Vasser, clicking heels together. \u201cThank you, Agent Vasser, for personally informing us.\u201d\n\nVasser nodded, \u201cYou\u2019re welcome. I am sorry I can\u2019t offer more comforting news.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnderstood,\u201d Gates said, decision made.\n\n\u201cSeabrook, I have a seat for you on the shuttle departing in five hours. I have other business to attend in the meantime.\u201d\n\nUnderstood.\n\nSeabrook looked back and forth between Vasser and Gates, clearly puzzled.\n\nVasser left without another word.\n\n\u201cWhat the hell, Gates?\u201d\n\nHe paused a moment before replying, wanting to get it right. \u201cVasser\u2019s hands are tied, Seabrook. She had to give the order to stand down, and do so on the record. Remember, she had her MobiGlas on and active. If she hadn\u2019t, then she wouldn\u2019t be able to deny responsibility for what I\u2019m going to do.\u201d\n\n\u201cWait, what?\u201d\n\n\u201cThink about what she said.\u201d\n\n\u201cShe said we \u2014\u201d\n\n\u201cNo, she didn\u2019t. Think. Her exact words were \u2026\u201d\n\n\u201cShe said \u2014\u201d her eyes shot wide. \u201cShe said Special Action.\u201d\n\n\u201cExactly. And I\u2019m on suspension. As in: not even Advocacy.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut, that\u2019s messed up.\u201d\n\nHe snorted. \u201cDon\u2019t like the heat this close to the sun, change your orbit.\u201d\n\nSeabrook\u2019s eyes narrowed with suspicion. \u201cWhat are you going to do, Gates?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m going to take them down, of course.\u201d\n\n\u201cCall it what it is: you mean to kill them.\u201d\n\nHe cocked his head, just looked at her.\n\n\u201cI didn\u2019t sign up for murder. We\u2019re not above the law.\u201d\n\nGates nodded, \u201cYou\u2019re right, we aren\u2019t above it. That said, there\u2019s a separate law for this.\u201d\n\nShe sniffed. \u201cGates, do you actually listen to yourself, sometimes?\u201d\n\n\u201cLook, Seabrook, I\u2019ve been around a long, long time. Longer, probably, than the people you called dinosaurs when you were coming through the Academy. One thing I learned at the knee of the agents I called dinosaurs back when: we can never allow the murder of Advocacy agents to go unpunished. Never. Not once. Usually that means making an arrest and walking someone into a prison cell. Sometimes that means going all the way: off the charts and into the big black, and maybe not coming back. Stroller\u2019s information gives us a shot at the leadership. I\u2019m taking it.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s not right, Gates.\u201d\n\n\u201cAgent Max Nawabi. Agent Gage Knowles.\u201d\n\nShe blanched. He was sure she\u2019d have controlled her shock better if he\u2019d slapped her.\n\n\u201cThey are what this is about. Nawabi and Knowles, and making sure Les Inconnus don\u2019t make any more like them.\u201d\n\nShe held up a hand in surrender, \u201cAll right. I understand. I won\u2019t go shooting my mouth off.\u201d\n\nHe nodded, once. \u201cI didn\u2019t think you would.\u201d\n\nShe turned away.\n\n\u201cAnd Seabrook: you\u2019re good people.\u201d\n\n\u201cScrew you, Gates!\u201d she said under her breath. Reaching for her console, Seabrook hunched over the table and started typing.\n\nGates shrugged. Pacifiers come in all shapes and sizes, I suppose.\n\n\u201cSorry,\u201d she muttered, \u201cjust getting a few things you might find useful.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou sure that\u2019s a good idea? I mean, I appreciate it, but Vasser won\u2019t be happy if she has to cover for your ass after that talk.\u201d\n\nShe turned and leveled a dark look at him, \u201cYou really think I\u2019m that slow? That I don\u2019t know how to dance the data to pick up a few items without it leading back to us?\u201d\n\n\u201cSorry,\u201d he said, meaning it. \u201cIt\u2019s not my area of expertise.\u201d\n\n\u201cI know, it\u2019s mine,\u201d she said, turning back to the comp.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll just start packing, then.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou do that.\u201d\n\nWhen he returned a few minutes later, she was done and on her way to her room. She said nothing to him. Even so, he heard the accusation in the silence.\n\nHe put it away, sat down in the front room and pulled out his MobiGlas. Time to set my people digging. They made a mistake coming after Vasser, now there\u2019s a chance my people can work backward from that point of contact. If there\u2019s an after for me, it\u2019d be helpful to know who Neustedt sold his soul to.\n\nAngelique can start working Senator Yaldiz\u2019s contacts from that end, see if there\u2019s something the Senate Oversight Committee on Advocacy Affairs might do with the knowledge Neustedt is working with Les Inconnus.\n\nHe sent Angelique\u2019s message and started going through the mental list of his other contacts. He typed Zara\u2019s address in. Might come across a thing or two as well, with her ties among the corporate lobbyists. Best tap her as well, since Stroller confirmed the corporate connection Seabrook revealed. She still owes me big for keeping her and her corporate clients out of the newsfeeds on the Holbrook case.\n\nHe was sending the last message when Seabrook spoke from behind him: \u201cStill using the old protocols?\u201d\n\nGates looked over his shoulder at her. From the drawn look to her, she\u2019d been thinking about hard choices and harsher realities. He didn\u2019t feel good about opening that particular door for her. He remembered, too well, having the same thing done to him. They were not pleasant memories.\n\nHe realized he\u2019d left her question unanswered for too long. \u201cThey work, last I checked?\u201d Gates said, wondering how his answer ended up a question.\n\nSeabrook smiled, \u201cOh, it works quite well, given enough message traffic to bury it in.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood. Our earlier conversation had me worried.\u201d\n\n\u201cHad I known we weren\u2019t going to be working together, I\u2019d have shown you a few tricks.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou may have noticed, being an agent and paid to notice things, but I\u2019m an old man. Learning new things does not come easy for me, or for those trying to teach me.\u201d\n\nSeabrook snorted and reached for his MobiGlas, \u201cYou mind?\u201d\n\nHe handed it over without showing too much hesitation.\n\nShe punched several keys, then handed it back to him. An image of an ID and passcode appeared on the screen. \u201cI set up a blind account for you. Check it in a few days, there\u2019ll be something for your use \u2026 call it \u2026 call it my contribution to the cause.\u201d\n\n. . . to be continued"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":26,"created_at":"2013-09-05T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"12 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-08 12:01:20","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":13247,"next_id":13249}}