{"data":{"id":13901,"title":"The First Run: Episode Eight","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/13901-The-First-Run-Episode-Eight","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/13901","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/13901","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"The First Run","images":[{"id":1571,"name":"SorriLyrax_test2.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/khggyuby7bo7rr\/source\/SorriLyrax_test2.jpg","alt":"","size":1760627,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2014-04-17T20:30:23+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/1571","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/1571\/similar"}],"images_count":1,"translations":{"en_EN":"\u201cWhy aren\u2019t you moving?\u201d I murmured under my breath, as if the slightest noise would set off the fireworks between the two pirate packs.\n\nDario tapped on the controls, one after another, and readouts bloomed and faded across the console. My question seemed to take a moment to register before he stopped, finger hovering over a glowing semi-circle that I thought might be our shield power. His eyebrows drew together as he looked at me.\n\n\u201cEver seen a mad dog in the street? Well, we\u2019re stuck between two of the meanest, and one move might set them off.\u201d\n\nI opened my mouth, but Pushkin\u2019s voice came over the system, and I could hear the mad dog in his tone.\n\n\u201cYou trying to ghost us all? Inviting the Stardevils? I know I push a hard deal, but getting them involved is dumb move. Dumber than I thought you were, Dario.\u201d\n\nDario glanced around the cockpit before answering. \u201cI didn\u2019t invite them, Pushkin.\u201d\n\n\u201cThen what they doing here!\u201d\n\nDario licked his lips. \u201cLet me take care of it.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou\u2019d better.\u201d\n\nI had the impression that Dario hadn\u2019t told him the Stardevils were on my tail. That explained why he wanted to make a quick deal, except one part confused me.\n\n\u201cThey weren\u2019t that close on my tail, were they?\u201d\n\nDario leaned his head back and forth. \u201cThey might have used quantum drives once they realized that you were heading for the jump point. Regardless, they\u2019re here and we\u2019ve got to deal with them.\u201d\n\nA red blinking light bloomed on his controls. Dario frowned. The Stardevils. He tapped the panel.\n\nSynthia\u2019s voice came over the system: \u201cDario Oberon?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s me,\u201d said Dario, making a half-shrug.\n\n\u201cYou have something that belongs to me,\u201d she said.\n\nDario smiled at me and made a face like can-you-believe-what-she-just-said? \u201cAn invitation? Because I certainly didn\u2019t give you one. This is a private meeting here.\u201d\n\nSynthia made a noise like she was spitting. \u201cYour little witch stole something of mine.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll\u2019s fair in love and piracy. I think we \u2014\u201d Dario winked at me, \u201c\u2014 just stole it back. I assume ol\u2019 thunder thighs is lurking back there somewhere.\u201d\n\nThe comment seemed to thoroughly confuse Synthia, which I guess was Dario\u2019s point. \u201cThunder thighs?\u201d\n\n\u201cMy old friend, Burnett. Or did you jettison him out the air lock as any sensible human being would do?\u201d\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s here,\u201d growled Synthia. \u201cAnd we want the data, and her, back.\u201d\n\nDario raised an appraising eyebrow and showed me a thumbs-up. My earlier terror at being obliterated wasn\u2019t gone, but I could breathe again.\n\n\u201cAnd why would I want to do that?\u201d asked Dario.\n\n\u201cBecause if you don\u2019t, we\u2019ll open fire on the Silent Sons, and you\u2019ll be space dust within seconds after that.\u201d\n\nThe smile faded from Dario\u2019s lips. \u201cAnd you\u2019ll lose your deal.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou win some, you lose some. Like you said, all\u2019s fair in love and piracy. Better that people know we can\u2019t be messed with than take a deal for something we know nothing about. And besides, Burnett says he can do better, that this was a one-off and he has lines on a weapon system that would make me swoon.\u201d\n\nI sprung straight up in my seat and Dario reached over and tapped the screen.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s lying,\u201d I exclaimed, as soon as communications had been silenced.\n\n\u201cHow can you know that?\u201d he asked, wrinkling his nose.\n\n\u201cI just know. I can tell,\u201d I said, but truthfully, it was just a hunch from my brief time with him.\n\nMy argument was cut short when the panel pinged again. This time, it was Pushkin from the Silent Sons.\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s taking so long? Why won\u2019t they leave? I don\u2019t want any triggers pulled. Let\u2019s just do the deal and be done with it. I\u2019m feeling generous at thirty-eight percent of original deal.\u201d\n\nDario rubbed the back of his neck. I knew what he was thinking. I was thinking it, too. If anyone tried to leave, Synthia and the Stardevils would open fire. Otherwise, he\u2019d probably jump at the deal, just to get out of danger.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re almost gone, Pushkin. Let me just finish,\u201d replied Dario, and the red communications light blinked again. \u201cI\u2019m sure we can work out a deal.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou\u2019d better not be two-timing \u2014\u201d Dario tapped the screen.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s lying,\u201d I whispered quickly before Dario answered the Stardevils.\n\n\u201cHow about,\u201d began Dario in a wandering sort of way, \u201cI sell you a copy of the weapons plans at half of what I was going to sell them to the Silent Sons.\u201d\n\nI swallowed. I couldn\u2019t believe he was negotiating at a time like this. And if they took it, he\u2019d make more than what the Silent Sons were currently offering.\n\nThat\u2019s when Synthia started ranting, spitting out expletives faster than a rotating neutron star. Dario hit the silence and turned to me. \u201cWhy do you think he\u2019s lying? Tell me. Give me a reason and I\u2019ll believe you.\u201d\n\nI swallowed a second time. He\u2019ll believe me? \u201cI \u2026 uh \u2026 I can just tell.\u201d\n\nHe bent his neck forward and slowly shook his head. \u201cI need something more than that. I can\u2019t play a dead hand.\u201d\n\nI pressed my fingers against my temples and squeezed my eyes together, trying to get my brain to spit out an answer.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s lying because \u2026,\u201d the answer exploded into my head, \u201che doesn\u2019t have anything else going on. He said so. And his ship, it was new, not customized. He still called it \u2018Ship\u2019 and he hadn\u2019t even bothered to put in voice locks yet. Even when he grabbed my MobiGlas on Oya III, he was riding an electrocycle three sizes too small. It\u2019s as if he caught wind of what you were doing at the last second and dropped everything else. You wouldn\u2019t do that if you had a good deal going, right?\u201d\n\nDario\u2019s lips parted and he reached over and patted my leg. \u201cThat\u2019s all I needed to know. Thank you.\u201d\n\nHe stabbed the communication button. \u201cAre you done yet? Look, I\u2019ve changed my mind. I\u2019ll sell it to you at seventy percent, but first you have to back off. Reverse thrusters and put some distance between you and the Sons.\u201d\n\n\u201cSeventy? Are you crazy? I\u2019ll just take the deal with Burnett,\u201d said Synthia.\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t tell whether you or he is lying, but he has no deal. Otherwise, my old friend wouldn\u2019t have bothered messing with mine. He\u2019s out of funds and desperate. Is that really who you want to hook your transport to?\u201d\n\n\u201cWell then, we\u2019ll just open fire and see how you like that,\u201d countered Synthia.\n\nHis smile never faltered as he replied, \u201cYou won\u2019t do that either. Yes, we might get blown to space dust, but you\u2019ll take losses, and losses aren\u2019t good business. You\u2019re a smart one, Synthia, not like Pushkin and the Silent Sons. You\u2019re playing an empty hand, and playing it well, but you\u2019ve got nothing. Take the deal. Seventy-five percent.\u201d\n\n\u201cSeventy-five? I\u2019ll give you sixty.\u201d\n\n\u201cSixty-five?\u201d\n\n\u201cFine,\u201d spat Synthia. \u201cDeal. I\u2019ll send you the funds as soon as we get the transmission.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood, good. But for now, just so we don\u2019t start a mini-war here, reverse thrusters please.\u201d\n\n\u201cAgreed.\u201d\n\nThen Dario called up the Silent Sons, right as the Stardevils began backing away.\n\n\u201cMy apologies, Pushkin,\u201d said Dario. \u201cThe Stardevils aren\u2019t the smartest pirates in the galaxy. They didn\u2019t understand how easily you\u2019d destroy them until I explained it.\u201d\n\n\u201cThey did, eh?\u201d said Pushkin.\n\n\u201cShall we do the deal then? Fifty-five percent?\u201d\n\nI could almost hear Pushkin nodding. \u201cOnly because I want to be rid of this place. This space stinks like Stardevil skag. Forty-five and it\u2019s a deal.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou drive a hard bargain,\u201d conceded Dario, as he winked at me.\n\nWhen communications were down, and the red dots on the screen were moving away, Dario kicked his heels up on the panel and put his hands behind his head.\n\n\u201cToo close, man. Too close.\u201d\n\nMy jaw hung open. \u201cYou got your original deal and then some.\u201d\n\nHe looked ready to give me some witty response when the proximity alarms started blaring again.\n\n\u201cGreat. What do we have here, another pirate pack?\u201d\n\nDario flipped the view screen to visuals the moment the new ships came sliding through the jump point. He leapt into action even before I noticed the silhouette of what was probably a military Hornet.\n\nHis stone-eyed glance told me everything I needed to know about how bad it\u2019d just gotten.\n\nAnd then a similarly tagged bristling Idris frigate blew through the gate and opened fire.\n\nto be continued \u2026","de_DE":"\"Warum bewegst du dich nicht?\" Ich murmelte unter meinem Atem, als ob schon das kleinste Ger\u00e4usch das Feuerwerk zwischen den beiden Piratenpacks ausl\u00f6sen w\u00fcrde.\n\nDario tippte nacheinander auf die Bedienelemente, und die Anzeigen blitzten und verblassten \u00fcber die Konsole. Meine Frage schien sich einen Moment Zeit zu nehmen, um sich zu registrieren, bevor er aufh\u00f6rte, mit dem Finger \u00fcber einem gl\u00fchenden Halbkreis schwebend, von dem ich dachte, er k\u00f6nnte unsere Schildkraft sein. Seine Augenbrauen zogen sich zusammen, als er mich ansah.\n\n\"Hast du schon mal einen verr\u00fcckten Hund auf der Stra\u00dfe gesehen? Nun, wir stecken zwischen zwei der gemeinsten, und ein Zug k\u00f6nnte sie ausl\u00f6sen.\"\n\nIch \u00f6ffnete meinen Mund, aber Puschkins Stimme kam \u00fcber das System, und ich konnte den tollw\u00fctigen Hund in seinem Ton h\u00f6ren.\n\n\"Versuchst du, uns alle zu geistern? Die Stardevils einladen? Ich wei\u00df, dass ich einen harten Deal vorantreibe, aber sie einzubeziehen, ist ein dummer Zug. Dummer, als ich dachte, dass du es bist, Dario.\"\n\nDario blickte um das Cockpit herum, bevor er antwortete. \"Ich habe sie nicht eingeladen, Puschkin.\"\n\n\"Was machen sie dann hier?\"\n\nDario leckte seine Lippen. \"Ich k\u00fcmmere mich darum.\"\n\n\"Das solltest du besser.\"\n\nIch hatte den Eindruck, dass Dario ihm nicht gesagt hatte, dass die Sternenteufel hinter mir her sind. Das erkl\u00e4rte, warum er einen schnellen Deal machen wollte, nur ein Teil verwirrte mich.\n\n\"Sie waren mir nicht so nah, oder?\"\n\nDario lehnte seinen Kopf hin und her. \"Sie k\u00f6nnten Quantenantriebe verwendet haben, als sie merkten, dass Sie auf den Sprungpunkt zusteuern. Egal, sie sind hier und wir m\u00fcssen uns um sie k\u00fcmmern.\"\n\nEin rotes blinkendes Licht bl\u00fchte auf seinen Bedienelementen auf. Dario runzelte die Stirn. Die Sternenteufel. Er hat das Panel angetippt.\n\nSynthias Stimme kam \u00fcber das System: \"Dario Oberon?\"\n\n\"Das bin ich\", sagte Dario und machte ein halbes Achselzucken.\n\n\"Du hast etwas, das mir geh\u00f6rt\", sagte sie.\n\nDario l\u00e4chelte mich an und machte ein Gesicht, wie man glaubt, was sie gerade gesagt hatte? \"Eine Einladung? Weil ich dir mit Sicherheit keinen gegeben habe. Das ist ein privates Treffen hier.\"\n\nSynthia machte ein Ger\u00e4usch, als w\u00fcrde sie spucken. \"Deine kleine Hexe hat etwas von mir gestohlen.\"\n\n\"In Liebe und Piraterie ist alles fair. Ich glaube, wir -\" Dario blinzelte mir zu, \"- stahl es einfach zur\u00fcck. Ich nehme an, die alten Oberschenkel lauern irgendwo da hinten.\"\n\nDer Kommentar schien Synthia gr\u00fcndlich zu verwirren, was wohl Darios Standpunkt war. \"Donner Schenkel?\"\n\n\"Mein alter Freund, Burnett. Oder hast du ihn aus der Luftschleuse geworfen, wie es jeder vern\u00fcnftige Mensch tun w\u00fcrde?\"\n\n\"Er ist hier\", knurrte Synthia. \"Und wir wollen die Daten und sie zur\u00fcck.\"\n\nDario hob eine bewertete Augenbraue und zeigte mir einen Daumen hoch. Meine fr\u00fchere Angst vor der Ausl\u00f6schung war nicht weg, aber ich konnte wieder atmen.\n\n\"Und warum sollte ich das tun wollen?\" fragte Dario.\n\n\"Denn wenn du es nicht tust, werden wir das Feuer auf die Stillen S\u00f6hne er\u00f6ffnen, und du wirst innerhalb von Sekunden danach Weltraumstaub sein.\"\n\nDas L\u00e4cheln verblasste von Darios Lippen. \"Und du wirst deinen Deal verlieren.\"\n\n\"Man gewinnt einiges, man verliert einiges. Wie du sagtest, in Liebe und Piraterie ist alles fair. Besser, dass die Leute wissen, dass wir nicht verarscht werden k\u00f6nnen, als einen Deal f\u00fcr etwas zu machen, von dem wir nichts wissen. Und au\u00dferdem sagt Burnett, dass er es besser machen kann, dass dies ein Einzelfall war und er Linien auf einem Waffensystem hat, das mich in Ohnmacht fallen lassen w\u00fcrde.\"\n\nIch sprang direkt in meinen Sitz und Dario griff nach vorne und klopfte auf den Bildschirm.\n\n\"Er l\u00fcgt\", rief ich aus, sobald die Kommunikation zum Schweigen gebracht worden war.\n\n\"Woher willst du das wissen?\" fragte er und knitterte mit der Nase.\n\n\"Ich wei\u00df es einfach. Ich kann es sagen\", sagte ich, aber ehrlich gesagt, war es nur eine Ahnung von meiner kurzen Zeit mit ihm.\n\nMein Argument wurde gek\u00fcrzt, als das Panel wieder angezapft wurde. Diesmal war es Puschkin von den Stillen S\u00f6hnen.\n\n\"Warum dauert das so lange? Warum wollen sie nicht gehen? Ich will nicht, dass irgendwelche Ausl\u00f6ser gezogen werden. Lasst uns einfach den Deal machen und damit fertig werden. Ich bin gro\u00dfz\u00fcgig bei 38 Prozent des urspr\u00fcnglichen Deals.\"\n\nDario rieb sich den Nacken. Ich wusste, was er dachte. Ich habe es auch gedacht. Wenn jemand versuchen w\u00fcrde zu gehen, w\u00fcrden Synthia und die Stardevils das Feuer er\u00f6ffnen. Sonst w\u00fcrde er wahrscheinlich auf den Deal eingehen, nur um aus der Gefahr herauszukommen.\n\n\"Sie sind fast weg, Puschkin. Lassen Sie mich nur zum Schluss kommen\", antwortete Dario, und die rote Kommunikationsleuchte blinkte wieder. \"Ich bin sicher, wir k\u00f6nnen einen Deal aushandeln.\"\n\n\"Du solltest besser nicht betr\u00fcgen.\" Dario klopfte auf den Bildschirm.\n\n\"Er l\u00fcgt\", fl\u00fcsterte ich schnell, bevor Dario den Sternenteufeln antwortete.\n\n\"Wie w\u00e4r's\", begann Dario auf eine wandernde Art und Weise, \"Ich verkaufe dir eine Kopie der Waffenpl\u00e4ne f\u00fcr die H\u00e4lfte dessen, was ich an die stillen S\u00f6hne verkaufen wollte.\"\n\nIch habe geschluckt. Ich konnte nicht glauben, dass er zu einem Zeitpunkt wie diesem verhandelt hat. Und wenn sie es nahmen, w\u00fcrde er mehr verdienen, als die Stillen S\u00f6hne derzeit anbieten.\n\nDas ist der Zeitpunkt, an dem Synthia anfing zu schimpfen und Schimpfw\u00f6rter schneller auszuspucken als ein rotierender Neutronenstern. Dario traf die Stille und drehte sich zu mir um. \"Was glaubst du, warum er l\u00fcgt? Sag es mir. Gib mir einen Grund und ich werde dir glauben.\"\n\nIch schluckte ein zweites Mal. Wird er mir glauben? \"Ich... \u00e4h... Ich kann es einfach erkennen.\"\n\nEr beugte seinen Hals nach vorne und sch\u00fcttelte langsam den Kopf. \"Ich brauche etwas mehr als das. Ich kann keine tote Hand spielen.\"\n\nIch dr\u00fcckte meine Finger gegen meine Schl\u00e4fen und dr\u00fcckte meine Augen zusammen und versuchte, mein Gehirn dazu zu bringen, eine Antwort auszuspucken.\n\n\"Er l\u00fcgt, weil...\", die Antwort explodierte in meinem Kopf, \"er hat nichts anderes am Laufen. Das hat er gesagt. Und sein Schiff, es war neu, nicht angepasst. Er nannte es immer noch'Schiff' und hatte sich noch nicht einmal die M\u00fche gemacht, Voice Locks einzubauen. Selbst als er mein MobiGlas auf Oya III ergatterte, fuhr er ein Elektrofahrrad, das drei Gr\u00f6\u00dfen zu klein war. Es ist, als h\u00e4tte er Wind von dem bekommen, was du in letzter Sekunde getan hast, und alles andere fallen gelassen. Das w\u00fcrdest du nicht tun, wenn du ein gutes Gesch\u00e4ft machen w\u00fcrdest, oder?\"\n\nDarios Lippen trennten sich, und er griff nach meinem Bein und streichelte es. \"Das ist alles, was ich wissen musste. Ich danke dir.\"\n\nEr stach auf den Kommunikationsknopf. \"Bist du jetzt fertig? Schau, ich habe meine Meinung ge\u00e4ndert. Ich verkaufe es dir zu siebzig Prozent, aber zuerst musst du dich zur\u00fcckziehen. Kehrt die Triebwerke um und bringt etwas Abstand zwischen euch und den Sons.\"\n\n\"Siebzig? Bist du verr\u00fcckt? Ich werde einfach den Deal mit Burnett annehmen\", sagte Synthia.\n\n\"Ich kann nicht sagen, ob du oder er l\u00fcgt, aber er hat keinen Deal. Sonst h\u00e4tte sich mein alter Freund nicht die M\u00fche gemacht, sich mit meinem anzulegen. Er hat keine Mittel mehr und ist verzweifelt. Ist das wirklich der, an den du deinen Transport anschlie\u00dfen willst?\"\n\n\"Nun, dann werden wir einfach das Feuer er\u00f6ffnen und sehen, wie es dir gef\u00e4llt\", konterte Synthia.\n\nSein L\u00e4cheln schwankte nie, als er antwortete: \"Das wirst du auch nicht tun. Ja, wir k\u00f6nnten in den Weltraumstaub geblasen werden, aber du wirst Verluste erleiden, und Verluste sind kein gutes Gesch\u00e4ft. Du bist klug, Synthia, nicht wie Puschkin und die stillen S\u00f6hne. Sie spielen eine leere Hand und spielen sie gut, aber Sie haben nichts. Nimm den Deal an. F\u00fcnfundsiebzig Prozent.\"\n\n\"F\u00fcnfundsiebzig? Ich gebe dir sechzig.\"\n\n\" F\u00fcnfundsechzig?\"\n\n\"Gut\", spuckte Synthia. \"Abgemacht. Ich schicke dir das Geld, sobald wir die \u00dcbertragung haben.\"\n\n\"Gut, gut, gut. Aber im Moment, nur damit wir hier keinen Mini-Krieg beginnen, bitte R\u00fcckw\u00e4rtsstrahler.\"\n\n\" Einverstanden.\"\n\nDann rief Dario die Stillen S\u00f6hne herbei, als die Sternenteufel begannen, sich zur\u00fcckzuziehen.\n\n\"Ich entschuldige mich, Puschkin\", sagte Dario. \"Die Sternenteufel sind nicht die kl\u00fcgsten Piraten der Galaxie. Sie verstanden nicht, wie leicht man sie zerst\u00f6ren kann, bis ich es erkl\u00e4rte.\"\n\n\"Das haben sie, was?\" sagte Puschkin.\n\n\"Sollen wir dann den Deal machen? F\u00fcnfundf\u00fcnfzig Prozent?\"\n\nIch konnte Puschkin fast nicken h\u00f6ren. \"Nur weil ich diesen Ort loswerden will. Dieser Raum stinkt wie Stardevil skag. 45 und das ist ein Deal.\"\n\n\"Du machst einen harten Deal\", gestand Dario, als er mir zuzwinkerte.\n\nAls die Kommunikation unterbrochen war und sich die roten Punkte auf dem Bildschirm bewegten, trat Dario seine Abs\u00e4tze auf das Panel und legte seine H\u00e4nde hinter seinen Kopf.\n\n\"Zu nah dran, Mann. Zu nah dran.\"\n\nMein Kiefer hing offen. \"Du hast deinen urspr\u00fcnglichen Deal und noch einiges mehr.\"\n\nEr sah bereit aus, mir eine witzige Antwort zu geben, als die N\u00e4herungsalarme wieder zu br\u00fcllen begannen.\n\n\"Gro\u00dfartig. Was haben wir hier, ein weiteres Piratenpack?\"\n\nDario drehte den Sichtbildschirm um und visualisierte ihn, als die neuen Schiffe durch den Sprungpunkt glitten. Er sprang in Aktion, noch bevor ich die Silhouette einer wahrscheinlich milit\u00e4rischen Hornisse bemerkte.\n\nSein steinerner Blick erz\u00e4hlte mir alles, was ich wissen musste, um zu wissen, wie schlimm es gerade geworden war.\n\nUnd dann blies eine \u00e4hnlich getagte, bristierende Fregatte Idris durch das Tor und er\u00f6ffnete das Feuer.\n\nwird fortgesetzt.....","zh_CN":"\u201cWhy aren\u2019t you moving?\u201d I murmured under my breath, as if the slightest noise would set off the fireworks between the two pirate packs.\n\nDario tapped on the controls, one after another, and readouts bloomed and faded across the console. My question seemed to take a moment to register before he stopped, finger hovering over a glowing semi-circle that I thought might be our shield power. His eyebrows drew together as he looked at me.\n\n\u201cEver seen a mad dog in the street? Well, we\u2019re stuck between two of the meanest, and one move might set them off.\u201d\n\nI opened my mouth, but Pushkin\u2019s voice came over the system, and I could hear the mad dog in his tone.\n\n\u201cYou trying to ghost us all? Inviting the Stardevils? I know I push a hard deal, but getting them involved is dumb move. Dumber than I thought you were, Dario.\u201d\n\nDario glanced around the cockpit before answering. \u201cI didn\u2019t invite them, Pushkin.\u201d\n\n\u201cThen what they doing here!\u201d\n\nDario licked his lips. \u201cLet me take care of it.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou\u2019d better.\u201d\n\nI had the impression that Dario hadn\u2019t told him the Stardevils were on my tail. That explained why he wanted to make a quick deal, except one part confused me.\n\n\u201cThey weren\u2019t that close on my tail, were they?\u201d\n\nDario leaned his head back and forth. \u201cThey might have used quantum drives once they realized that you were heading for the jump point. Regardless, they\u2019re here and we\u2019ve got to deal with them.\u201d\n\nA red blinking light bloomed on his controls. Dario frowned. The Stardevils. He tapped the panel.\n\nSynthia\u2019s voice came over the system: \u201cDario Oberon?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s me,\u201d said Dario, making a half-shrug.\n\n\u201cYou have something that belongs to me,\u201d she said.\n\nDario smiled at me and made a face like can-you-believe-what-she-just-said? \u201cAn invitation? Because I certainly didn\u2019t give you one. This is a private meeting here.\u201d\n\nSynthia made a noise like she was spitting. \u201cYour little witch stole something of mine.\u201d\n\n\u201cAll\u2019s fair in love and piracy. I think we \u2014\u201d Dario winked at me, \u201c\u2014 just stole it back. I assume ol\u2019 thunder thighs is lurking back there somewhere.\u201d\n\nThe comment seemed to thoroughly confuse Synthia, which I guess was Dario\u2019s point. \u201cThunder thighs?\u201d\n\n\u201cMy old friend, Burnett. Or did you jettison him out the air lock as any sensible human being would do?\u201d\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s here,\u201d growled Synthia. \u201cAnd we want the data, and her, back.\u201d\n\nDario raised an appraising eyebrow and showed me a thumbs-up. My earlier terror at being obliterated wasn\u2019t gone, but I could breathe again.\n\n\u201cAnd why would I want to do that?\u201d asked Dario.\n\n\u201cBecause if you don\u2019t, we\u2019ll open fire on the Silent Sons, and you\u2019ll be space dust within seconds after that.\u201d\n\nThe smile faded from Dario\u2019s lips. \u201cAnd you\u2019ll lose your deal.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou win some, you lose some. Like you said, all\u2019s fair in love and piracy. Better that people know we can\u2019t be messed with than take a deal for something we know nothing about. And besides, Burnett says he can do better, that this was a one-off and he has lines on a weapon system that would make me swoon.\u201d\n\nI sprung straight up in my seat and Dario reached over and tapped the screen.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s lying,\u201d I exclaimed, as soon as communications had been silenced.\n\n\u201cHow can you know that?\u201d he asked, wrinkling his nose.\n\n\u201cI just know. I can tell,\u201d I said, but truthfully, it was just a hunch from my brief time with him.\n\nMy argument was cut short when the panel pinged again. This time, it was Pushkin from the Silent Sons.\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s taking so long? Why won\u2019t they leave? I don\u2019t want any triggers pulled. Let\u2019s just do the deal and be done with it. I\u2019m feeling generous at thirty-eight percent of original deal.\u201d\n\nDario rubbed the back of his neck. I knew what he was thinking. I was thinking it, too. If anyone tried to leave, Synthia and the Stardevils would open fire. Otherwise, he\u2019d probably jump at the deal, just to get out of danger.\n\n\u201cThey\u2019re almost gone, Pushkin. Let me just finish,\u201d replied Dario, and the red communications light blinked again. \u201cI\u2019m sure we can work out a deal.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou\u2019d better not be two-timing \u2014\u201d Dario tapped the screen.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s lying,\u201d I whispered quickly before Dario answered the Stardevils.\n\n\u201cHow about,\u201d began Dario in a wandering sort of way, \u201cI sell you a copy of the weapons plans at half of what I was going to sell them to the Silent Sons.\u201d\n\nI swallowed. I couldn\u2019t believe he was negotiating at a time like this. And if they took it, he\u2019d make more than what the Silent Sons were currently offering.\n\nThat\u2019s when Synthia started ranting, spitting out expletives faster than a rotating neutron star. Dario hit the silence and turned to me. \u201cWhy do you think he\u2019s lying? Tell me. Give me a reason and I\u2019ll believe you.\u201d\n\nI swallowed a second time. He\u2019ll believe me? \u201cI \u2026 uh \u2026 I can just tell.\u201d\n\nHe bent his neck forward and slowly shook his head. \u201cI need something more than that. I can\u2019t play a dead hand.\u201d\n\nI pressed my fingers against my temples and squeezed my eyes together, trying to get my brain to spit out an answer.\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s lying because \u2026,\u201d the answer exploded into my head, \u201che doesn\u2019t have anything else going on. He said so. And his ship, it was new, not customized. He still called it \u2018Ship\u2019 and he hadn\u2019t even bothered to put in voice locks yet. Even when he grabbed my MobiGlas on Oya III, he was riding an electrocycle three sizes too small. It\u2019s as if he caught wind of what you were doing at the last second and dropped everything else. You wouldn\u2019t do that if you had a good deal going, right?\u201d\n\nDario\u2019s lips parted and he reached over and patted my leg. \u201cThat\u2019s all I needed to know. Thank you.\u201d\n\nHe stabbed the communication button. \u201cAre you done yet? Look, I\u2019ve changed my mind. I\u2019ll sell it to you at seventy percent, but first you have to back off. Reverse thrusters and put some distance between you and the Sons.\u201d\n\n\u201cSeventy? Are you crazy? I\u2019ll just take the deal with Burnett,\u201d said Synthia.\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t tell whether you or he is lying, but he has no deal. Otherwise, my old friend wouldn\u2019t have bothered messing with mine. He\u2019s out of funds and desperate. Is that really who you want to hook your transport to?\u201d\n\n\u201cWell then, we\u2019ll just open fire and see how you like that,\u201d countered Synthia.\n\nHis smile never faltered as he replied, \u201cYou won\u2019t do that either. Yes, we might get blown to space dust, but you\u2019ll take losses, and losses aren\u2019t good business. You\u2019re a smart one, Synthia, not like Pushkin and the Silent Sons. You\u2019re playing an empty hand, and playing it well, but you\u2019ve got nothing. Take the deal. Seventy-five percent.\u201d\n\n\u201cSeventy-five? I\u2019ll give you sixty.\u201d\n\n\u201cSixty-five?\u201d\n\n\u201cFine,\u201d spat Synthia. \u201cDeal. I\u2019ll send you the funds as soon as we get the transmission.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood, good. But for now, just so we don\u2019t start a mini-war here, reverse thrusters please.\u201d\n\n\u201cAgreed.\u201d\n\nThen Dario called up the Silent Sons, right as the Stardevils began backing away.\n\n\u201cMy apologies, Pushkin,\u201d said Dario. \u201cThe Stardevils aren\u2019t the smartest pirates in the galaxy. They didn\u2019t understand how easily you\u2019d destroy them until I explained it.\u201d\n\n\u201cThey did, eh?\u201d said Pushkin.\n\n\u201cShall we do the deal then? Fifty-five percent?\u201d\n\nI could almost hear Pushkin nodding. \u201cOnly because I want to be rid of this place. This space stinks like Stardevil skag. Forty-five and it\u2019s a deal.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou drive a hard bargain,\u201d conceded Dario, as he winked at me.\n\nWhen communications were down, and the red dots on the screen were moving away, Dario kicked his heels up on the panel and put his hands behind his head.\n\n\u201cToo close, man. Too close.\u201d\n\nMy jaw hung open. \u201cYou got your original deal and then some.\u201d\n\nHe looked ready to give me some witty response when the proximity alarms started blaring again.\n\n\u201cGreat. What do we have here, another pirate pack?\u201d\n\nDario flipped the view screen to visuals the moment the new ships came sliding through the jump point. He leapt into action even before I noticed the silhouette of what was probably a military Hornet.\n\nHis stone-eyed glance told me everything I needed to know about how bad it\u2019d just gotten.\n\nAnd then a similarly tagged bristling Idris frigate blew through the gate and opened fire.\n\nto be continued \u2026"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":76,"created_at":"2014-06-05T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"11 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-09 02:27:53","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":13900,"next_id":13902}}