{"data":{"id":16465,"title":"One Good Deed: Part One","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/16465-One-Good-Deed-Part-One","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/16465","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/16465","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"One Good Deed","images":[{"id":6793,"name":"OneGoodDeed.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/8z9kc85o7d9rgr\/source\/OneGoodDeed.jpg","alt":"","size":4403083,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2018-04-19T00:58:38+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/6793","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/6793\/similar"}],"images_count":1,"translations":{"en_EN":"\u201cAll right, Jess. I\u2019m heading there now.\u201d With a flick, Umar closed the comm channel. Break time over. Swinging his feet out of the bunk, a swarm of sandwich crumbs cascaded off his chest and onto the bed. He really should start eating at the table again. At least his bad habit of wearing his boots to bed made sense. After working for In-A-Fix Assistance for the past six years he had learned that comms for help always happen about five minutes into a nap.\n\nLeaving the crew quarters, Umar performed a quick a visual inspection on the three BARD drones nestled into the mid-ship docking ports. Charged and not leaking? Check and check. Skipping over the empty fourth port, he gave his favorite drone, Spear, a traditional pat for luck before heading up to the bridge.\n\nUmar adjusted his settings as he sat down in the pilot seat, transitioning the power he had routed to the shields for nap-time back to the engines. With a growl, the thrusters came back online. He keyed the coordinates Jess had sent over into his navigation, swung the Vulcan\u2019s nose around and initiated quantum to the nearside of Cano\u2019s asteroid belt.\n\nUnder two minutes, Umar noted as the light smears from the quantum field streaked past. Not too shabby of a response time. While you could always count on life\u2019s ill fortune sending clients your way, providing good service was how you could convert a random refuel run into a potential repeat customer. Especially out in Cano where traffic was a bit sparse.\n\nThe ship slowed out of QT and Umar adjusted his flight path towards the beacon\u2019s origin on the rim of the belt. After a few moments of navigating through the field, he spotted the client\u2019s Reliant clinging near the underside of one of the asteroids. He might have missed it completely if he hadn\u2019t had the beacon frequency. Its signature was low enough that the small craft almost blended seamlessly into the surrounding radiation. Pilot must have shut down everything to conserve energy once they ran out of fuel.\n\nBefore opening comms, he followed protocol and did a full scan of the area. No point in flying to the rescue if you fly straight into a threat and wind up needing rescuing too. With his MFD giving the all clear, he hailed the client. \u201cHi, there. I\u2019m Umar Deluca from In-A-Fix. You requested a refueling?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s me. Thanks for coming out,\u201d responded the pilot, with a kind, weathered smile.\n\n\u201cOf course, that\u2019s what we\u2019re here for. Let me get into position, and then we can have you back flying in no time.\u201d\n\nAs Umar rolled his ship above and behind the vessel, he could clearly see that the Reliant\u2019s hull had been badly damaged. There were scorch marks all along the rear fuselage and multiple ballistic holes perforated the wing. Umar had a pretty good guess what caused the pilot to run out of fuel.\n\n\u201cNot sure if you know this but your port dorsal side is pretty banged up. If you want, I could patch you up while I\u2019m out here. Wouldn\u2019t take long and it\u2019d be heck of a lot safer to fly.\u201d\n\n\u201cAppreciate the offer, but creds are tight. Just the fuel for now.\u201d\n\n\u201cSure. No problem. Stand by and I\u2019ll have the drone right over.\u201d\n\nUmar got out of the pilot seat and went to the control station at the rear of the bridge. He scrolled through his options \u2014 Spear for rearming, Shake for repairs, and Liam for refueling. Selecting Liam, he did one last check, and seeing all green, launched the fuel-laden drone. With practiced ease, he maneuvered Liam towards the other vessel\u2019s fuel port.\n\n\u201cTransfer in progress,\u201d Umar informed the pilot.\n\n\u201cListen, I hate to ask this, but there is actually one more thing you could do for me,\u201d said the pilot, looking bashful as he nervously rubbed the back of his head. \u201cAny chance you have a drink or some water you could spare? Fuel wasn\u2019t the only thing I forgot to stock up on and I\u2019m starting to feel pretty dehydrated.\u201d\n\nUmar hesitated in answering. It wasn\u2019t the sharing that was the issue, but the time. He had hoped to be able to pick up at least two more jobs today and he knew from experience how hard it could sometimes be getting a guest to leave your ship.\n\n\u201cListen, if it\u2019s a problem, I can just wait till I can fly myself to a station or something.\u201d\n\nUmar felt a twinge of guilt. What was he doing out here if he wasn\u2019t going to help people? \u201cIt\u2019s no problem,\u201d Umar said with as much hospitality as he could muster. \u201cIf I\u2019m filling up your ship, might as well top you off too. Swing on over and I\u2019ll fix you up.\u201d\n\nLeaving Liam to do its thing, Umar remotely opened the Vulcan\u2019s rear hatch and went to wait by the liftlock in the crew quarters. It wasn\u2019t too long before he heard the pressure begin to cycle. He cracked the fridge, removed two fizzy water cans, and turned just as the atmosphere in the lift equalized.\n\nUmar was a bit taken aback when the pilot bent slightly to avoid hitting his head as he stepped out. The man was very tall, and having a helmet on only made him more imposing. Suddenly, the crew quarters felt a lot more cramped.\n\n\u201cHope you like etrog flavor,\u201d said Umar, offering the can. \u201cOtherwise I\u2019m afraid you\u2019ll have to make do with tap.\u201d\n\nThe pilot didn\u2019t take the drink. Didn\u2019t even take off his helmet. \u201cThe rest of your crew still up in the cockpit?\u201d\n\n\u201cNo, it\u2019s just me.\u201d Umar regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth.\n\nWith a smooth motion, the pilot pulled out the pistol he had hidden in his EVA pack. \u201cSorry about this, but I need your ship.\u201d\n\n\nUmar\u2019s wrists were aching from struggling against the tape that bound him to the control terminal chair. It was rated for sealing hulls so it wasn\u2019t a huge surprise that he hadn\u2019t been able to loosen it, but he had to try.\n\nAt the front of the bridge, the pilot was navigating the Vulcan out of the asteroid field. The control terminal flashed a warning that Liam was moving out of range.\n\n\u201cCome on,\u201d implored Umar. \u201cYou could have at least let me get my drone.\u201d\n\n\u201cLook, I\u2019d prefer not to have to gag you,\u201d said the pilot. \u201cI know how uncomfortable it can be.\u201d\n\n\u201cScrew you. Don\u2019t pretend like you\u2019re some decent guy just because you have manners. Not only did you steal my ship, but you pretended to be in trouble to do it. I tried to help you and this is how you thank me?\u201d\n\nThe pilot didn\u2019t say anything, just kept his attention on the nav map.\n\n\u201cYou know, every time an asshole like you pulls a stunt like this it just makes it that much harder for real folks in trouble to get the help they need. Who\u2019s gonna stop and lend a hand if there\u2019s a more than decent chance they\u2019re gonna get a bullet for their troubles? So yeah, double screw you.\u201d Just like his struggles against the tape, Umar didn\u2019t really expect his rant to help the situation, but it definitely made him feel better.\n\nSurprisingly though, the pilot responded. \u201cI\u2019m not stealing your ship. As soon as I get where I\u2019m going, you can have it back.\u201d\n\n\u201cOh, in that case, let\u2019s crank some tunes and enjoy the ride,\u201d said Umar with a sneer when a sudden thought occurred to him. \u201cWait. What the hell was wrong with your ship?\u201d\n\n\u201cThey knew my regtag.\u201d\n\n\u201cWho\u2019s they?\u201d\n\nNo response. Instead, the pilot finished plotting a course on the nav, and spooled the quantum drive. Colorful lights streaked past as the Vulcan surged forward. In the distance, Umar could see Pox, the last planet in the system, steadily growing larger. Umar had been hoping that they would head towards Carteyna where there would have been more of a chance of running into some authorities, but out here in the far reaches the chances of running into another ship were far slimmer.\n\n\u201cYou know you could have just asked for a ride,\u201d said Umar, breaking the temporary silence. \u201cBut that\u2019s the problem with people like you, isn\u2019t it? Just take what you want rather than earn it. You wanna know why I fly this rig? It\u2019s so I can undo a little bit of the damage that people like you create. The universe is dark enough without us having to hurt each other.\u201d\n\nThe quantum lights faded and the pilot pushed back his chair and stood. Walking past his captive, he headed down into the rear of the ship.\n\n\u201cWhere you going?\u201d asked Umar.\n\n\u201cTo get the gag.\u201d\n\nBefore Umar could respond, a shrill alarm sounded.\n\n\u201cWhat the hell is that?\u201d the pilot demanded, leaping back up the stairs.\n\n\u201cECN alert.\u201d Umar looked down at the pop-up notification on his terminal. \u201cNearby ship sprung a core leak in their power plant. They\u2019re not gonna have long.\u201d\n\nThe pilot tapped the controls, silencing the notification. \u201cPoor bastards. That\u2019s a tough way to go.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have to go help them.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m really starting to think you don\u2019t understand this whole kidnapped thing.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf we don\u2019t help them now, they\u2019re going to die.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s terrible, but it\u2019s not my problem.\u201d\n\n\u201cOf course it\u2019s your damn problem. You heard the alert. Their power plant is overloading and if the radiation doesn\u2019t fry them, the explosion will. You ignore it, you\u2019re killing them. That simple.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd if there\u2019s any security in the area and they show up to help, then I\u2019m as good as dead too.\u201d\n\n\u201cDo you know where we are? It\u2019s a miracle we even heard the alert. We are it. We are their only hope in this universe. Don\u2019t you get that?\u201d Unbidden, tears welled up in Umar\u2019s eyes. \u201cPlease.\u201d\n\nThe pilot stared at his captive for a long moment.\n\n\u201cIf you say one word about me, or try to signal them in any way, you\u2019re going out the airlock. No second chances. Understood?\u201d\n\nNot daring to say anything and risk the pilot changing his mind, Umar quickly and emphatically nodded his agreement.\n\n\u201cCan\u2019t believe I\u2019m doing this.\u201d\n\nThe pilot sat back down and adjusted the Vulcan\u2019s course towards the beacon\u2019s signal. As he spun the quantum drive back up, he shook his head in disbelief, \u201cI mean, look how well stopping to help someone worked out for you.\u201d\n\nTO BE CONTINUED","de_DE":"\"In Ordnung, Jess. Ich fahre jetzt dorthin.\" Mit einem Klick schloss Umar den Kommunikationskanal. Die Pause ist vorbei. Als er seine F\u00fc\u00dfe aus der Koje schwang, kaskadierte ein Schwarm von Sandwichkr\u00fcmeln von seiner Brust auf das Bett. Er sollte wirklich wieder am Tisch essen. Zumindest seine schlechte Angewohnheit, seine Stiefel im Bett zu tragen, machte Sinn. Nachdem er in den letzten sechs Jahren f\u00fcr In-A-Fix Assistance gearbeitet hatte, hatte er gelernt, dass Kommunikation f\u00fcr Hilfe immer etwa f\u00fcnf Minuten nach einem Nickerchen stattfindet.\n\nAls Umar die Mannschaftsunterk\u00fcnfte verlie\u00df, f\u00fchrte sie eine schnelle visuelle Inspektion der drei BARD-Drohnen durch, die sich in die mittleren Dockh\u00e4fen der Schiffe schmiegen. Geladen und nicht undicht? \u00dcberpr\u00fcfen und \u00fcberpr\u00fcfen. Als er \u00fcber den leeren vierten Hafen sprang, gab er seiner Lieblingsdrohne Speer, einen traditionellen Gl\u00fcckstreffer, bevor er zur Br\u00fccke aufbrach.\n\nUmar passte seine Einstellungen an, als er sich auf den Pilotsitz setzte und die Energie, die er zu den Schilden geleitet hatte, f\u00fcr die Nickerchenzeit zur\u00fcck zu den Triebwerken \u00fcbertrug. Mit einem Knurren gingen die Triebwerke wieder an. Er tippte die Koordinaten ein, die Jess in seine Navigation geschickt hatte, schwang die Nase des Vulkaniers herum und initiierte Quanten zur Unterseite von Canos Asteroideng\u00fcrtel.\n\nUnter zwei Minuten stellte Umar fest, wie das Licht aus dem vorbeifliegenden Quantenfeld schimmert. Nicht zu schlecht f\u00fcr eine Antwortzeit. W\u00e4hrend Sie sich immer darauf verlassen konnten, dass das Ungl\u00fcck des Lebens Kunden auf Ihre Weise schickt, war der gute Service, wie Sie einen zuf\u00e4lligen Tankvorgang in einen potenziellen Wiederholkunden umwandeln konnten. Vor allem in Cano, wo der Verkehr etwas sp\u00e4rlich war.\n\nDas Schiff verlangsamte sich aus QT und Umar stellte seine Flugroute auf den Ursprung des Bakens am Rand des G\u00fcrtels ein. Nach ein paar Augenblicken der Navigation durch das Feld entdeckte er den Reliquenten des Klienten, der sich in der N\u00e4he der Unterseite eines der Asteroiden befand. Er h\u00e4tte es vielleicht komplett verpasst, wenn er nicht die Bakenfrequenz gehabt h\u00e4tte. Seine Signatur war so niedrig, dass sich das kleine Schiff fast nahtlos in die umgebende Strahlung einf\u00fcgt. Der Pilot muss alles abgeschaltet haben, um Energie zu sparen, sobald ihm der Treibstoff ausgegangen ist.\n\nBevor er die Kommunikation \u00f6ffnete, folgte er dem Protokoll und machte einen vollst\u00e4ndigen Scan des Bereichs. Es macht keinen Sinn, zur Rettung zu fliegen, wenn man direkt in eine Gefahr fliegt und sich aufl\u00f6st, die ebenfalls gerettet werden muss. Mit seinem MFD, das alles in Ordnung brachte, begr\u00fc\u00dfte er den Kunden. \"Hi, hallo. Ich bin Umar Deluca von In-A-Fix. Du wolltest betankt werden?\"\n\n\"Das bin ich. Danke, dass du gekommen bist\", antwortete der Pilot mit einem freundlichen, verwitterten L\u00e4cheln.\n\n\"Nat\u00fcrlich sind wir daf\u00fcr da. Lass mich in Position gehen, und dann k\u00f6nnen wir dich im Handumdrehen wieder zur\u00fcckfliegen lassen.\"\n\nAls Umar sein Schiff \u00fcber und hinter dem Schiff rollte, konnte er deutlich sehen, dass der Rumpf des Relianten stark besch\u00e4digt war. Entlang des gesamten hinteren Rumpfes gab es Verbrennungen und mehrere ballistische L\u00f6cher perforierten den Fl\u00fcgel. Umar hatte eine ziemlich gute Ahnung, was den Piloten dazu veranlasste, den Treibstoff zu verlieren.\n\n\"Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob du das wei\u00dft, aber deine Backbord-Dorsalseite ist ziemlich ramponiert. Wenn du willst, kann ich dich zusammenflicken, w\u00e4hrend ich hier drau\u00dfen bin. Es w\u00fcrde nicht lange dauern und es w\u00e4re um einiges sicherer zu fliegen.\"\n\n\"Ich sch\u00e4tze das Angebot, aber die Kreuze sind eng. Nur der Treibstoff f\u00fcr den Moment.\"\n\n\"Sicher. Kein Problem. Bleiben Sie dran und ich schicke die Drohne gleich r\u00fcber.\"\n\nUmar stieg aus dem Pilotsitz und ging zur Kontrollstation auf der R\u00fcckseite der Br\u00fccke. Er scrollte durch seine Optionen - Speer f\u00fcr das Aufr\u00fcsten, Shake f\u00fcr Reparaturen und Liam f\u00fcr das Tanken. Er w\u00e4hlte Liam aus, machte einen letzten Check und sah alles Gr\u00fcn und startete die mit Treibstoff beladene Drohne. Mit ge\u00fcbter Leichtigkeit man\u00f6vrierte er Liam in Richtung des Treibstoffanschlusses des anderen Schiffes.\n\n\"Transfer l\u00e4uft\", informierte Umar den Piloten.\n\n\"H\u00f6r zu, ich hasse es, das zu fragen, aber es gibt eigentlich noch eine Sache, die du f\u00fcr mich tun k\u00f6nntest\", sagte der Pilot und sah sch\u00fcchtern aus, als er sich nerv\u00f6s den Hinterkopf rieb. \"Besteht die Chance, dass du einen Drink oder etwas Wasser hast, das du entbehren kannst? Der Treibstoff war nicht das Einzige, was ich vergessen habe, und ich fange an, mich ziemlich dehydriert zu f\u00fchlen.\"\n\nUmar z\u00f6gerte, zu antworten. Nicht das Teilen war das Problem, sondern die Zeit. Er hatte gehofft, heute noch mindestens zwei weitere Jobs aufnehmen zu k\u00f6nnen, und er wusste aus Erfahrung, wie schwer es manchmal sein kann, einen Gast dazu zu bringen, dein Schiff zu verlassen.\n\n\"H\u00f6r zu, wenn es ein Problem ist, kann ich einfach warten, bis ich selbst zu einem Bahnhof oder so fliegen kann.\"\n\nUmar sp\u00fcrte einen Anflug von Schuldgef\u00fchlen. Was wollte er hier drau\u00dfen, wenn er den Menschen nicht helfen wollte? \"Es ist kein Problem\", sagte Umar mit so viel Gastfreundschaft, wie er aufbringen konnte. \"Wenn ich dein Schiff voll tanke, kannst du auch noch nachf\u00fcllen. Schwing dich r\u00fcber und ich mache dich wieder gesund.\"\n\nAls er Liam verlie\u00df, um sein Ding zu tun, \u00f6ffnete Umar aus der Ferne die hintere Luke des Vulkaniers und ging an der Heckschleuse in den Mannschaftsr\u00e4umen warten. Es dauerte nicht lange, bis er h\u00f6rte, wie sich der Druck zu entwickeln begann. Er knackte den K\u00fchlschrank, entfernte zwei kohlens\u00e4urehaltige Wasserbeh\u00e4lter und drehte sich um, als die Atmosph\u00e4re im Aufzug ausbalancierte.\n\nUmar war ein wenig verbl\u00fcfft, als sich der Pilot leicht beugte, um zu vermeiden, seinen Kopf zu schlagen, als er herauskam. Der Mann war sehr gro\u00df, und ein Helm auf dem Kopf machte ihn nur noch imposanter. Pl\u00f6tzlich f\u00fchlten sich die Mannschaftsunterk\u00fcnfte viel enger an.\n\n\"Ich hoffe, du magst Etrog-Geschmack\", sagte Umar und bot die Dose an. \"Andernfalls f\u00fcrchte ich, musst du dich mit dem Wasserhahn begn\u00fcgen.\"\n\nDer Pilot hat den Drink nicht genommen. Er hat nicht mal seinen Helm abgenommen. \"Der Rest deiner Crew ist noch im Cockpit?\"\n\n\"Nein, ich bin's nur.\" Umar bedauerte die Worte, sobald sie aus seinem Mund kamen.\n\nMit einer sanften Bewegung zog der Pilot die Pistole heraus, die er in seinem EVA-Paket versteckt hatte. \"Tut mir leid, aber ich brauche dein Schiff.\"\n\n\nUmars Handgelenke schmerzten vom Kampf gegen das Band, das ihn an den Steuerstuhl fesselte. Es war f\u00fcr das Abdichten von R\u00fcmpfen ausgelegt, so dass es keine gro\u00dfe \u00dcberraschung war, dass er es nicht l\u00f6sen konnte, aber er musste es versuchen.\n\nAn der Vorderseite der Br\u00fccke navigierte der Pilot die Vulkanier aus dem Asteroidenfeld heraus. Das Bedienterminal blinkte und warnte, dass Liam au\u00dfer Reichweite war.\n\n\"Komm schon\", flehte Umar an. \"Du h\u00e4ttest mich wenigstens meine Drohne holen lassen k\u00f6nnen.\"\n\n\"Schau, ich w\u00fcrde es vorziehen, dich nicht w\u00fcrgen zu m\u00fcssen\", sagte der Pilot. \"Ich wei\u00df, wie unangenehm es sein kann.\"\n\n\"Fick dich. Tu nicht so, als w\u00e4rst du ein anst\u00e4ndiger Kerl, nur weil du Manieren hast. Du hast nicht nur mein Schiff gestohlen, sondern auch so getan, als w\u00e4rst du in Schwierigkeiten, es zu tun. Ich habe versucht, dir zu helfen, und so dankst du mir?\"\n\nDer Pilot hat nichts gesagt, nur seine Aufmerksamkeit auf der Navigationskarte behalten.\n\n\"Wei\u00dft du, jedes Mal, wenn ein Arschloch wie du einen Stunt wie diesen abzieht, macht es es es f\u00fcr echte Leute in Schwierigkeiten umso schwieriger, die Hilfe zu bekommen, die sie brauchen. Wer wird anhalten und helfen, wenn es eine mehr als anst\u00e4ndige Chance gibt, dass sie eine Kugel f\u00fcr ihre Probleme bekommen? Also ja, fick dich doppelt.\" Genau wie seine K\u00e4mpfe gegen das Band erwartete Umar nicht wirklich, dass sein Gerede der Situation helfen w\u00fcrde, aber es gab ihm definitiv ein besseres Gef\u00fchl.\n\n\u00dcberraschenderweise antwortete der Pilot jedoch. \"Ich stehle nicht dein Schiff. Sobald ich da bin, wo ich hingehe, kannst du es wiederhaben.\"\n\n\"Oh, in diesem Fall, lasst uns ein paar Melodien drehen und die Fahrt genie\u00dfen\", sagte Umar h\u00f6hnisch, als ihm ein pl\u00f6tzlicher Gedanke kam. \"Warte. Was zum Teufel war mit deinem Schiff los?\"\n\n\"Sie kannten meinen Regtag.\"\n\n\"Wer ist das?\"\n\nKeine Antwort. Stattdessen beendete der Pilot die Aufzeichnung eines Kurses auf dem Navigationsger\u00e4t und spulte den Quantenantrieb. Bunte Lichter zogen vorbei, als die Vulkanier nach vorne schossen. In der Ferne konnte Umar Pox sehen, den letzten Planeten im System, der st\u00e4ndig gr\u00f6\u00dfer wurde. Umar hatte gehofft, dass sie nach Carteyna fahren w\u00fcrden, wo es mehr Chancen gegeben h\u00e4tte, auf einige Beh\u00f6rden zu treffen, aber hier drau\u00dfen in den Weiten waren die Chancen, auf ein anderes Schiff zu treffen, viel geringer.\n\n\"Du wei\u00dft, dass du h\u00e4ttest einfach um eine Mitfahrgelegenheit bitten k\u00f6nnen\", sagte Umar und brach die vor\u00fcbergehende Stille. \"Aber das ist das Problem mit Leuten wie dir, nicht wahr? Nimm dir einfach, was du willst, anstatt es zu verdienen. Willst du wissen, warum ich dieses Ger\u00e4t fliege? Es ist so, dass ich ein wenig von dem Schaden r\u00fcckg\u00e4ngig machen kann, den Leute wie du verursachen. Das Universum ist dunkel genug, ohne dass wir uns gegenseitig verletzen m\u00fcssen.\"\n\nDie Quantenlichter verblassten und der Pilot schob seinen Stuhl zur\u00fcck und stand auf. Er ging an seinem Gefangenen vorbei und ging hinunter in das Heck des Schiffes.\n\n\"Wohin gehst du?\" fragte Umar.\n\n\"Um den Knebel zu bekommen.\"\n\nBevor Umar reagieren konnte, ert\u00f6nte ein schriller Alarm.\n\n\"Was zum Teufel ist das?\", verlangte der Pilot und sprang die Treppe hinauf.\n\n\" ECN-Alarm\". Umar blickte auf die Popup-Benachrichtigung auf seinem Terminal hinunter. \"Das nahe gelegene Schiff sprang ein Kernleck in ihrem Kraftwerk. Sie werden nicht mehr lange brauchen.\"\n\nDer Pilot hat auf die Bedienelemente getippt und die Benachrichtigung zum Schweigen gebracht. \"Arme Bastarde. Das ist ein schwieriger Weg.\"\n\n\"Wir m\u00fcssen ihnen helfen.\"\n\n\"Ich fange wirklich an zu denken, dass du diese ganze entf\u00fchrte Sache nicht verstehst.\"\n\n\"Wenn wir ihnen jetzt nicht helfen, werden sie sterben.\"\n\n\"Und das ist schrecklich, aber es ist nicht mein Problem.\"\n\n\"Nat\u00fcrlich ist es dein verdammtes Problem. Du hast den Alarm geh\u00f6rt. Ihr Kraftwerk ist \u00fcberlastet und wenn die Strahlung sie nicht frittiert, wird die Explosion es tun. Du ignorierst es, du bringst sie um. So einfach ist das.\"\n\n\"Und wenn es irgendwelche Sicherheitsleute in der Gegend gibt und sie auftauchen, um zu helfen, dann bin ich auch so gut wie tot.\"\n\n\"Wei\u00dft du, wo wir sind? Es ist ein Wunder, dass wir sogar den Alarm geh\u00f6rt haben. Wir sind es. Wir sind ihre einzige Hoffnung in diesem Universum. Verstehst du das nicht?\" Ungebetene Tr\u00e4nen str\u00f6mten in Umars Augen. \" Bitte.\"\n\nDer Pilot starrte seinen Gefangenen f\u00fcr einen langen Moment an.\n\n\"Wenn du ein Wort \u00fcber mich sagst oder versuchst, sie in irgendeiner Weise zu signalisieren, gehst du aus der Luftschleuse. Keine zweiten Chancen. Verstanden?\"\n\nUmar wagte es nicht, etwas zu sagen und riskierte, dass der Pilot seine Meinung \u00e4nderte, und nickte schnell und nachdr\u00fccklich seine Zustimmung.\n\n\"Ich kann nicht glauben, dass ich das tue.\"\n\nDer Pilot setzte sich zur\u00fcck und passte den Kurs des Vulcan auf das Signal des Bakens an. Als er den Quantenantrieb wieder hochdrehte, sch\u00fcttelte er ungl\u00e4ubig den Kopf: \"Ich meine, schau, wie gut es ist, anzuhalten, um jemandem zu helfen, der f\u00fcr dich trainiert hat.\"\n\nWIRD FORTGESETZT","zh_CN":"\u201cAll right, Jess. I\u2019m heading there now.\u201d With a flick, Umar closed the comm channel. Break time over. Swinging his feet out of the bunk, a swarm of sandwich crumbs cascaded off his chest and onto the bed. He really should start eating at the table again. At least his bad habit of wearing his boots to bed made sense. After working for In-A-Fix Assistance for the past six years he had learned that comms for help always happen about five minutes into a nap.\n\nLeaving the crew quarters, Umar performed a quick a visual inspection on the three BARD drones nestled into the mid-ship docking ports. Charged and not leaking? Check and check. Skipping over the empty fourth port, he gave his favorite drone, Spear, a traditional pat for luck before heading up to the bridge.\n\nUmar adjusted his settings as he sat down in the pilot seat, transitioning the power he had routed to the shields for nap-time back to the engines. With a growl, the thrusters came back online. He keyed the coordinates Jess had sent over into his navigation, swung the Vulcan\u2019s nose around and initiated quantum to the nearside of Cano\u2019s asteroid belt.\n\nUnder two minutes, Umar noted as the light smears from the quantum field streaked past. Not too shabby of a response time. While you could always count on life\u2019s ill fortune sending clients your way, providing good service was how you could convert a random refuel run into a potential repeat customer. Especially out in Cano where traffic was a bit sparse.\n\nThe ship slowed out of QT and Umar adjusted his flight path towards the beacon\u2019s origin on the rim of the belt. After a few moments of navigating through the field, he spotted the client\u2019s Reliant clinging near the underside of one of the asteroids. He might have missed it completely if he hadn\u2019t had the beacon frequency. Its signature was low enough that the small craft almost blended seamlessly into the surrounding radiation. Pilot must have shut down everything to conserve energy once they ran out of fuel.\n\nBefore opening comms, he followed protocol and did a full scan of the area. No point in flying to the rescue if you fly straight into a threat and wind up needing rescuing too. With his MFD giving the all clear, he hailed the client. \u201cHi, there. I\u2019m Umar Deluca from In-A-Fix. You requested a refueling?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s me. Thanks for coming out,\u201d responded the pilot, with a kind, weathered smile.\n\n\u201cOf course, that\u2019s what we\u2019re here for. Let me get into position, and then we can have you back flying in no time.\u201d\n\nAs Umar rolled his ship above and behind the vessel, he could clearly see that the Reliant\u2019s hull had been badly damaged. There were scorch marks all along the rear fuselage and multiple ballistic holes perforated the wing. Umar had a pretty good guess what caused the pilot to run out of fuel.\n\n\u201cNot sure if you know this but your port dorsal side is pretty banged up. If you want, I could patch you up while I\u2019m out here. Wouldn\u2019t take long and it\u2019d be heck of a lot safer to fly.\u201d\n\n\u201cAppreciate the offer, but creds are tight. Just the fuel for now.\u201d\n\n\u201cSure. No problem. Stand by and I\u2019ll have the drone right over.\u201d\n\nUmar got out of the pilot seat and went to the control station at the rear of the bridge. He scrolled through his options \u2014 Spear for rearming, Shake for repairs, and Liam for refueling. Selecting Liam, he did one last check, and seeing all green, launched the fuel-laden drone. With practiced ease, he maneuvered Liam towards the other vessel\u2019s fuel port.\n\n\u201cTransfer in progress,\u201d Umar informed the pilot.\n\n\u201cListen, I hate to ask this, but there is actually one more thing you could do for me,\u201d said the pilot, looking bashful as he nervously rubbed the back of his head. \u201cAny chance you have a drink or some water you could spare? Fuel wasn\u2019t the only thing I forgot to stock up on and I\u2019m starting to feel pretty dehydrated.\u201d\n\nUmar hesitated in answering. It wasn\u2019t the sharing that was the issue, but the time. He had hoped to be able to pick up at least two more jobs today and he knew from experience how hard it could sometimes be getting a guest to leave your ship.\n\n\u201cListen, if it\u2019s a problem, I can just wait till I can fly myself to a station or something.\u201d\n\nUmar felt a twinge of guilt. What was he doing out here if he wasn\u2019t going to help people? \u201cIt\u2019s no problem,\u201d Umar said with as much hospitality as he could muster. \u201cIf I\u2019m filling up your ship, might as well top you off too. Swing on over and I\u2019ll fix you up.\u201d\n\nLeaving Liam to do its thing, Umar remotely opened the Vulcan\u2019s rear hatch and went to wait by the liftlock in the crew quarters. It wasn\u2019t too long before he heard the pressure begin to cycle. He cracked the fridge, removed two fizzy water cans, and turned just as the atmosphere in the lift equalized.\n\nUmar was a bit taken aback when the pilot bent slightly to avoid hitting his head as he stepped out. The man was very tall, and having a helmet on only made him more imposing. Suddenly, the crew quarters felt a lot more cramped.\n\n\u201cHope you like etrog flavor,\u201d said Umar, offering the can. \u201cOtherwise I\u2019m afraid you\u2019ll have to make do with tap.\u201d\n\nThe pilot didn\u2019t take the drink. Didn\u2019t even take off his helmet. \u201cThe rest of your crew still up in the cockpit?\u201d\n\n\u201cNo, it\u2019s just me.\u201d Umar regretted the words as soon as they were out of his mouth.\n\nWith a smooth motion, the pilot pulled out the pistol he had hidden in his EVA pack. \u201cSorry about this, but I need your ship.\u201d\n\n\nUmar\u2019s wrists were aching from struggling against the tape that bound him to the control terminal chair. It was rated for sealing hulls so it wasn\u2019t a huge surprise that he hadn\u2019t been able to loosen it, but he had to try.\n\nAt the front of the bridge, the pilot was navigating the Vulcan out of the asteroid field. The control terminal flashed a warning that Liam was moving out of range.\n\n\u201cCome on,\u201d implored Umar. \u201cYou could have at least let me get my drone.\u201d\n\n\u201cLook, I\u2019d prefer not to have to gag you,\u201d said the pilot. \u201cI know how uncomfortable it can be.\u201d\n\n\u201cScrew you. Don\u2019t pretend like you\u2019re some decent guy just because you have manners. Not only did you steal my ship, but you pretended to be in trouble to do it. I tried to help you and this is how you thank me?\u201d\n\nThe pilot didn\u2019t say anything, just kept his attention on the nav map.\n\n\u201cYou know, every time an asshole like you pulls a stunt like this it just makes it that much harder for real folks in trouble to get the help they need. Who\u2019s gonna stop and lend a hand if there\u2019s a more than decent chance they\u2019re gonna get a bullet for their troubles? So yeah, double screw you.\u201d Just like his struggles against the tape, Umar didn\u2019t really expect his rant to help the situation, but it definitely made him feel better.\n\nSurprisingly though, the pilot responded. \u201cI\u2019m not stealing your ship. As soon as I get where I\u2019m going, you can have it back.\u201d\n\n\u201cOh, in that case, let\u2019s crank some tunes and enjoy the ride,\u201d said Umar with a sneer when a sudden thought occurred to him. \u201cWait. What the hell was wrong with your ship?\u201d\n\n\u201cThey knew my regtag.\u201d\n\n\u201cWho\u2019s they?\u201d\n\nNo response. Instead, the pilot finished plotting a course on the nav, and spooled the quantum drive. Colorful lights streaked past as the Vulcan surged forward. In the distance, Umar could see Pox, the last planet in the system, steadily growing larger. Umar had been hoping that they would head towards Carteyna where there would have been more of a chance of running into some authorities, but out here in the far reaches the chances of running into another ship were far slimmer.\n\n\u201cYou know you could have just asked for a ride,\u201d said Umar, breaking the temporary silence. \u201cBut that\u2019s the problem with people like you, isn\u2019t it? Just take what you want rather than earn it. You wanna know why I fly this rig? It\u2019s so I can undo a little bit of the damage that people like you create. The universe is dark enough without us having to hurt each other.\u201d\n\nThe quantum lights faded and the pilot pushed back his chair and stood. Walking past his captive, he headed down into the rear of the ship.\n\n\u201cWhere you going?\u201d asked Umar.\n\n\u201cTo get the gag.\u201d\n\nBefore Umar could respond, a shrill alarm sounded.\n\n\u201cWhat the hell is that?\u201d the pilot demanded, leaping back up the stairs.\n\n\u201cECN alert.\u201d Umar looked down at the pop-up notification on his terminal. \u201cNearby ship sprung a core leak in their power plant. They\u2019re not gonna have long.\u201d\n\nThe pilot tapped the controls, silencing the notification. \u201cPoor bastards. That\u2019s a tough way to go.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have to go help them.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m really starting to think you don\u2019t understand this whole kidnapped thing.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf we don\u2019t help them now, they\u2019re going to die.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd that\u2019s terrible, but it\u2019s not my problem.\u201d\n\n\u201cOf course it\u2019s your damn problem. You heard the alert. Their power plant is overloading and if the radiation doesn\u2019t fry them, the explosion will. You ignore it, you\u2019re killing them. That simple.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd if there\u2019s any security in the area and they show up to help, then I\u2019m as good as dead too.\u201d\n\n\u201cDo you know where we are? It\u2019s a miracle we even heard the alert. We are it. We are their only hope in this universe. Don\u2019t you get that?\u201d Unbidden, tears welled up in Umar\u2019s eyes. \u201cPlease.\u201d\n\nThe pilot stared at his captive for a long moment.\n\n\u201cIf you say one word about me, or try to signal them in any way, you\u2019re going out the airlock. No second chances. Understood?\u201d\n\nNot daring to say anything and risk the pilot changing his mind, Umar quickly and emphatically nodded his agreement.\n\n\u201cCan\u2019t believe I\u2019m doing this.\u201d\n\nThe pilot sat back down and adjusted the Vulcan\u2019s course towards the beacon\u2019s signal. As he spun the quantum drive back up, he shook his head in disbelief, \u201cI mean, look how well stopping to help someone worked out for you.\u201d\n\nTO BE CONTINUED"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":29,"created_at":"2018-03-21T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"8 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-07 23:24:51","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":16464,"next_id":16467}}