{"data":{"id":16762,"title":"On The Run, pt. 2","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/spectrum-dispatch\/16762-On-The-Run-Pt-2","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/16762","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/16762","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"News Update","images":[{"id":7228,"name":"OnTheRun.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/djbr8vdya2st5r\/source\/OnTheRun.jpg","alt":"","size":5478510,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2018-08-21T20:00:29+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/7228","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/7228\/similar"},{"id":26463,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/weozjmuuh3hwh\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":843046,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2019-09-19T15:49:32+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/26463\/similar"},{"id":27892,"name":"source.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/media.robertsspaceindustries.com\/w3o9r4zgppm77\/source.jpg","alt":"","size":900916,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2021-09-06T14:48:40+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27892","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/27892\/similar"}],"images_count":8,"translations":{"en_EN":"Part One of the story can be read here.\nAlex leaned over the railing to look down at the sprawling plaza below. Streams of Banu flowed in and around the stalls and shops that crowded the marketplace. The near deafening noise was a constant presence. Sellers shouted proudly about their wares, shrewd traders loudly haggled over sips of sloma, while young runners darted about trying to lure potential customers back to their Souli\u2019s Merchantman where the finest fuel cyclers or crog berries or whatever it was they happened to be selling was waiting for just the right buyer.\n\nAnd even over all that noise Alex could still hear her stomach rumble.\n\nIt seemed the one thing that wasn\u2019t for sale on the Bacchus flotilla was a decent breakfast. After a harrowing experience with a \u2018Human Breakfast Special\u2019 that had resulted in a shallow dish filled with sliced hot dogs and popcorn covered in what she could only describe as very thick orange juice, Alex had sworn off eating till she could get back to the few ready meals still safely tucked away inside the Belligerent Duck\u2019s stores.\n\nThat would have to wait though. Pushing her hunger aside, Alex searched the crowds below for anything suspicious. Which, when you\u2019re inside a Banu flotilla, is sort of like looking for uptight swegs when on Earth. More specifically, she was looking for any undercover Advocacy Agents or bounty hunters who had the gall to follow them into Banu territory.\n\nTypically, the Advocacy would pursue a thief for a system, maybe two, before they called back their resources and left it to the Bounty Hunting Guild to chase the culprit down. It wasn\u2019t that the Advocacy weren\u2019t eager to see justice done, they just had more important things to spend their time and efforts on (like vicious outlaw gangs and crazed serial killers). It was why the Empire relied so heavily on the bounty system in the first place. Doubly so when the jurisdiction crossed into the Banu Protectorate. With a high enough price, you could have hundreds of bounty hunters searching for free and only have to pay the person who collected. It saved time and credits.\n\nThe Advocacy\u2019s focus was on big fish, and Alex had worked hard at staying a medium fish at best.\n\nYet, her and Mas\u2019 escape from Terra had proven to be anything but typical. Instead of having to deal with the normal gaggle of cocksure guilders fumbling all over themselves to get paid, the Advocacy had mobilized dozens of Agents across multiple systems in one of the biggest dragnets she had ever seen. Every jump point had been swarming. Plus, there had been the daily dispatches encouraging citizens to share information with the authorities. Why was it that law-abiding types were always so bored they couldn\u2019t just mind their own damn business?\n\nThe Duck could barely stop to refuel without some good Samaritan recognizing them from the wanted posters plastered all over the spec. Mas had to work overtime blocking or delaying comms until they were away, and even then, they still had to fight their way free more times than was healthy. They had always pulled through, but only by the slimmest of margins. Their Mercury had the scars to prove it.\n\nOn top of that, Alex had been forced to call in just about every outstanding favor she had. In Pyro, a crew that owed them for a records wipe had agreed to tangle with the bounty hunters who had cornered them there. Though, to be honest, she suspected they would have done it for free with the amount of joy they seemed to take in the fight. In Tram, Alex not only had to wipe Old Mac\u2019s debt clear to get him to help distract the Advos tailing them, but now they owed him a favor. And knowing the gummer, he was likely to milk it for all its worth. A problem for another day.\n\nAll in all, they had been pursued across seven systems and hadn\u2019t been able to rest for a moment. Well, Mas barely slept on a good day so he seemed relatively unperturbed by the whole experience. In fact, having the chance to coordinate an intrusion on the Meridian Transit network in Garron had the hacker humming louder than she had ever heard him. And admittingly, Alex had laughed herself watching the hacked starliner routes stymy their pursuers. But that had been days ago. Now, here she was in Bacchus, tired, hungry, surrounded by a hive of Banu, and she could tell that her brain was far from firing with all thrusters.\n\nSomething about this job wasn\u2019t adding up. Being paid to delete files at Behring instead of stealing them was strange enough, but now with the way the law had been after them? Even with a big player like Behring involved the response had been above and beyond. Alex felt like she was staring at a big red warning sign, but she was so exhausted she couldn\u2019t read it.\n\nWhat she really needed was about a month on Cassel with nothing to do but float, drink, flirt with Navy, and spend all her hard-earned credits.\n\nSpeaking of which, Alex brought up her mobi to check the time. Only a half hour until they met with Mr. Grouse and received the rest of their payment. Pushing herself up from the rail, she turned and headed towards the docking tube that connected Donosi Souli to the rest of the flotilla structure. Hopefully, Mas had been able to make progress on untangling the project data they had secretly downloaded from the lab.\n\nA few steps behind, Mr. Grouse quietly followed.\n\nTo say that Donosi was Mas\u2019 old Souli was a bit misleading, but it was easier for Alex to think of it that way. A programming guild, Donosi had been formed when the previous guild leader, Essosouli Olosso has died. Mas had used the turnover to buy his freedom, while most of the other guild members had joined Olosso\u2019s heir Donosi when she established her \u2018new\u2019 Souli. So basically, all the same people working out of the same place, doing the same thing.\n\nFortunately, while Mas was no longer considered family, Essosouli Donosi was inclined to temporarily hire them both whenever they needed a place to lay low for a while. In exchange for Mas doing some work for them, he and Alex received the protection that being part of a powerful Souli brought, keeping would-be Bounty Hunters at bay thanks to the intricacies of Banu politics.\n\nAlex arrived through the old airlock that marked where the Donosi\u2019s ship connected to the flotilla. Not that it was much of a ship anymore. The thing hadn\u2019t flown in decades and was so hemmed in on all side by other structures it was unclear if it could take off even if it had wanted to. Carefully stepping over thick cable bundles, she made her way inside. It was cluttered for sure, but compared to some of the other Souli she had visited, Donosi was neat and organized. Rather than the usual overflowing collection of odds and ends that most Banu seemed drawn to, the computer guild\u2019s wealth was all in data. Racks and racks of drives of various makes and models lined the walls, some of them older than her. In the center of the room, several Banu half-reclined at terminals pouring over lines of code. Over the sound of typing, she could hear Mas happily humming to himself.\n\n\u201cAny luck, Mas?\u201d asked Alex.\n\n\u201cOh, yes. Much,\u201d replied Mas with a wide smile. \u201cWe have confirmed that Project Stargazer is particularly worthless.\u201d\n\nAlex turned to see Essouli Donosi enter the room. You could always tell when Donosi was approaching because the dozens of mobiGlas that she wore clacked together as she walked. \u201cOh, yes,\u201d said Donosi. \u201cComplete garbage.\u201d\n\nThat red warning sign in Alex\u2019s head started flashing a little faster. \u201cWhat do you mean? We got paid a fortune to wipe this stuff.\u201d\n\nMas walked over to Alex with a datapad and gestured to the screen. \u201cThis is Project Stargazer.\u201d\n\n\u201cLooks like a targeting reticule.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is a targeting reticule. Part of a design that was supposed to help gunners recalibrate their weapons if the sighting was off during combat. The project was shelved last year when it was proven in tests to only be slightly more efficient than not using it.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe datapod you stored it on is worth more than this terrible information,\u201d said Donosi. \u201cTotal refuse. Utter trash. No one would ever pay anything for such a thing as what you have brought.\u201d\n\nAlex\u2019s stomach sank when she realized that Donosi was repeating herself. A sure sign that the Essosouli was negotiating. Part of the agreed upon price for the Souli\u2019s protection had been the info they\u2019d stolen and now it seemed that Donosi was no longer satisfied with that deal. This was not good news considering that both her and Mas were technically indentured to the guild currently.\n\n\u201cYou can keep the datapod then,\u201d replied Alex. \u201cLet\u2019s go, Mas.\u201d She pulled on his arm, trying to get him to follow her.\n\n\u201cMas, stay where you are,\u201d said Donosi in a firm voice. \u201cYour debt has not been cleared.\u201d\n\nMas stopped and Alex found herself uselessly pulling on what might as well have been a brick wall.\n\n\u201cWhat are you doing? Let\u2019s go.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am sorry, Alex,\u201d said Mas. \u201cI cannot leave until Essosouli Donosi approves.\u201d\n\n\u201cAre you serious?\u201d\n\n\u201cI will not break a given bond. I am not like a Human.\u201d With that, Mas winked at her.\n\nAlex had been the one to teach Mas to wink and it had quickly proven to be a terrible idea. More than a few deals had gone south thanks to him winking when Alex was attempting to stretch the truth a bit. However, since none of the other Banu knew what winking meant, the skill might finally have payed off. Mas wanted her to find a way out of this.\n\n\u201cAnd what do you think our debt is?\u201d asked Alex.\n\n\u201cA month of labor. Mas will gain access to some difficult locked drives we have acquired and you will clean.\u201d\n\nEven if they hadn\u2019t needed to make their rendezvous, there was no universe that existed where Alex would have taken those terms. A headache began to grow behind her eyes. Like she didn\u2019t have enough on her plate without becoming a Banu slave for a month. Actually, Alex thought, why am I having to deal with this?\n\n\u201cAnd I say there is no debt. You agreed to take the info on the datapod and that\u2019s what you got. A deal\u2019s a deal.\u201d\n\n\u201cInformation that is worthless.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, that sucks for you. Next time negotiate better.\u201d\n\nA smile broke across Donosi\u2019s face. \u201cVery well. You are free to go.\u201d\n\n\u201cOh,\u201d Alex responded a bit taken aback by the sudden shift. Even though she lived with a Banu, she still could be surprised by how alien the aliens sometimes felt. \u201cThanks.\u201d\n\n\u201cCome on, Alex,\u201d said Mas, getting up from the terminal. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to be late.\u201d\n\nMas worked the star runner\u2019s scanner as Alex guided the ship towards the rendezvous coordinates the courier had delivered to her a few days earlier.\n\nThe relative quiet of the Duck proved to be unnerving rather than the relief she had expected. And even though she should have been able to take a break from looking over her shoulder now that she was back aboard her own ship, Alex still felt on edge. Nothing about this job was sitting right. Why would Grouse want them to purge useless data? Why would the Advocacy be treating them like the Empire\u2019s most wanted? Why did Grouse want to meet again rather than just sending the credits. Why couldn\u2019t she figure out what the hell was going on?\n\n\u201cThis is a trap, yes?\u201d asked Mas, having similar thoughts.\n\n\u201cYeah,\u201d agreed Alex. \u201cYou want to forget the credits and bail?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is a lot of credits.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is so many credits.\u201d\n\nMas thought for a beat. \u201cWe can always get more credits. I am a very good hacker and you are also good at things.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah.\u201d Though she was sad to be losing the money, a huge sense of relief came over her now that the decision had been made. \u201cWhere do you want to go? Spider? Maybe finally check out Kayfa?\u201d\n\n\u201cNeither, I\u2019m afraid,\u201d said Mr. Grouse from behind them, the energy pistol in his hand trained at Mas\u2019 head. \u201cYou will maintain your current course.\u201d\n\nAlex, cursing herself, swore that from now on she and Mas were going to search all the berths for stowaways before taking off.\n\n\u201cLet me guess, Advocacy are waiting for us at the rendezvous?\u201d asked Alex.\n\n\u201cCorrect, Ms. Dougan. You will be arrested, tried and convicted. Of course, there is a chance I will be forced to kill you both before then, but I would prefer not to.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou know we\u2019ll tell them about you, right?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat has always been the plan. The only surprise was you managing to evade capture this long. I was certain they had you at the Davien jump point. It was most impressive when your Mercury gave them the slip once again.\u201d\n\n\u201cWait,\u201d said Mas. \u201cIf you wanted the thieves arrested, then why did you hire us? Why not hire bad thieves?\u201d\n\n\u201cThe job needed to be successful. A lesser team would have been caught before deleting the project.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut the files were worthless!\u201d protested Alex.\n\n\u201cEnough, Ms. Dougan. We should be arriving at the ambush any moment now.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat about Prairie Lightning Delta?\n\n\u201cWhat?\u201d\n\nA moment after she had uttered the phrase-key, the EMP rigged under the main console went off.\n\nWith a sickening lurch, the ship powered completely down.\n\nMr. Grouse, unprepared, tripped forward off balance. Mas, very prepared, slipped his knife from its sheath and slashed at their captor\u2019s arm. The pistol dropped to the floor and Alex dove, recovering the weapon before Grouse could.\n\n\u201cAn EMP. Clever,\u201d said Grouse, breathing hard, the deep gouge on his arm dripping blood onto the floor.\n\n\u201cMas\u2019 gets full credit,\u201d said Alex. \u201cNow, if you don\u2019t mind, why don\u2019t you start explaining what in hell it is you\u2019re up to.\u201d\n\nBefore Grouse could respond, bright headlights suddenly shone into the cockpit. An Advocacy Vanguard flanked by two Banu Defenders was quickly approaching their ship. The Agents must have negotiated their way in with the Security Souli in this sector.\n\n\u201cI am afraid it\u2019s too late,\u201d said Grouse.\n\n\u201cComm them and tell them we\u2019ll kill you if you don\u2019t stand down.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy would they care about a corpse?\u201d asked Grouse, reaching his fingers inside the wound on his arm.\n\n\u201cMas! Stop him!\u201d shouted Alex.\n\nMas reached out, but not fast enough.\n\n\u201cYour Empire thanks you for your service,\u201d said Grouse as he used his fingers to sever his brachial artery. The trickle of blood turned into a gushing flood. Grouse collapsed to the floor unconscious.\n\nAlex was certain that the memory of what Grouse had just done would hold the top spot for the most terrifying thing she\u2019s ever seen for a long time to come. \u201cCrap! Do you know first aid?\u201d\n\n\u201cNo.\u201d said Mas, looking down at the body and its widening pool of blood. \u201cDid we ever buy more medpens?\u201d\n\n\u201cCrap. Crap. Crap. Help me get some pressure on him or something.\u201d\n\nIt was then that the ship\u2019s power kicked back on.\n\n\u201c\u2014gent Duck. This is the UEE Advocacy. Prepare to be boarded.\u201d\n\nIt seemed Alex and Mas had a choice. Either tend to Grouse before he died, or try to avoid capture. It was a very easy choice. \u201cMas, dump his body in the lock and strap in!\u201d\n\nAlex threw herself into the pilot seat and opened up the throttles to max. The Mercury burst to life and hurtled towards the Vanguard, rolling to bring their port side to the Advocacy\u2019s ventral. The shields flared as the twin Sawbucks on the Vanguard\u2019s turret scored a direct hit. They held for now, but a few more hits like that and the Duck would be done for.\n\nA head to head fight wasn\u2019t an option here. They were outclassed. Emergency escape maneuvers were the order of the day.\n\nGaining a bit of distance from the pursuers as they rushed to turn around and give chase, Alex quickly opened up the rear ramp and turned off the cargo grid.\n\n\u201cMas, special delivery!\u201d\n\nAlex pulled hard on the controls and Mercury flew straight up, leaving the ten crates in their hold floating behind them. She grabbed the blackout helmet she kept nearby for just this moment and quickly slipped it on, giving all new meaning to the phrase \u2018flying blind.\u2019\n\nMas began counting down, \u201cThree\u2026 two\u2026 one\u2026 \u201c\n\nAlex heart skipped a beat before she remembered that Banu counted down to zero.\n\n\u201cZero!\u201d\n\nBehind them, a small new sun burst to life as the crates exploded. Or at least that\u2019s what it looked like. Or would have looked like if Alex could see anything.\n\nEach of the crates had contained the equivalent of a hundred flares. The ten crates combined was enough to overload any nearby sensors long enough for them to clear range. And forget trying to track them visually. Those poor pilots would be lucky if they got their vision back any time soon.\n\nAlex pulled off the helmet and lined up a QT towards the Bacchus asteroid belt.\n\n\u201cIf we are going to be on the run again,\u201d said Mas. \u201cI think I would like to go visit Leir.\u201d\n\n\u201cSure, Mas.\u201d said Alex. \u201cIt\u2019s your turn to pick anyway.\u201d\n\nAlex let out a deep sigh and for the moment tried to ignore the pool of blood at her feet by concentrating on flying.\n\nNo answers. No money. But for now at least, they had their freedom.\n\nTHE END.","de_DE":"Teil Eins der Geschichte kann hier nachgelesen werden.\nAlex lehnte sich \u00fcber das Gel\u00e4nder, um auf den weitl\u00e4ufigen Platz darunter zu schauen. Str\u00f6me von Banu flossen in und um die St\u00e4nde und Gesch\u00e4fte, die den Marktplatz \u00fcberf\u00fcllten. Der fast ohrenbet\u00e4ubende L\u00e4rm war eine st\u00e4ndige Pr\u00e4senz. Verk\u00e4ufer schrien stolz \u00fcber ihre Waren, kluge H\u00e4ndler feilten lautstark \u00fcber Schlucke von Sloma, w\u00e4hrend junge L\u00e4ufer versuchten, potenzielle Kunden zu ihrem Souli's Merchantman zu locken, wo die besten Benzinradfahrer oder Crogbeeren oder was auch immer sie verkauften, auf genau den richtigen K\u00e4ufer warteten.\n\nUnd selbst bei all dem L\u00e4rm konnte Alex immer noch ihr Magenger\u00e4usch h\u00f6ren.\n\nEs schien, dass das Einzige, was auf der Bacchus-Flottille nicht zum Verkauf stand, ein anst\u00e4ndiges Fr\u00fchst\u00fcck war. Nach einer ersch\u00fctternden Erfahrung mit einem \"Human Breakfast Special\", das zu einer flachen Sch\u00fcssel mit geschnittenen Hot Dogs und Popcorn gef\u00fchrt hatte, die mit etwas bedeckt war, was sie nur als sehr dicker Orangensaft bezeichnen konnte, hatte Alex das Essen geschworen, bis sie zu den wenigen Fertiggerichten zur\u00fcckkehren konnte, die noch sicher in den Gesch\u00e4ften der Belligerent Duck versteckt waren.\n\nDas m\u00fcsste allerdings warten. Alex schob ihren Hunger beiseite und suchte in der Menge unten nach etwas Verd\u00e4chtigem. Was, wenn man sich in einer Banu-Flottille befindet, so ist, als w\u00fcrde man auf der Erde nach verkrampften Swegs suchen. Genauer gesagt, suchte sie nach irgendwelchen verdeckten Advocacy-Agenten oder Kopfgeldj\u00e4gern, die die Ehre hatten, ihnen in das Gebiet von Banu zu folgen.\n\nTypischerweise w\u00fcrde die Advocacy einen Dieb f\u00fcr ein System verfolgen, vielleicht zwei, bevor sie ihre Ressourcen zur\u00fcckfordern und es der Kopfgeldj\u00e4ger-Gilde \u00fcberlassen, den T\u00e4ter zu verfolgen. Es war nicht so, dass die Advocacy nicht begierig darauf waren, Gerechtigkeit zu sehen, sie hatten einfach wichtigere Dinge, mit denen sie ihre Zeit und M\u00fche verbringen konnten (wie b\u00f6sartige Verbrecherbanden und verr\u00fcckte Serienm\u00f6rder). Deshalb verlie\u00df sich das Imperium \u00fcberhaupt erst so sehr auf das Kopfgeld-System. Zweifellos, als die Gerichtsbarkeit in das Banu Protektorat eindrang. Mit einem hohen genug Preis, k\u00f6nnten Sie Hunderte von Kopfgeldj\u00e4gern haben, die kostenlos suchen und nur die Person bezahlen m\u00fcssen, die gesammelt hat. Es sparte Zeit und Kredite.\n\nDer Fokus der Advocacy lag auf gro\u00dfen Fischen, und Alex hatte hart daran gearbeitet, bestenfalls einen mittleren Fisch zu behalten.\n\nDoch ihre und Mas' Flucht aus Terra hatte sich als alles andere als typisch erwiesen. Anstatt sich mit der normalen Schar von selbstbewussten Gulden herumtasten zu m\u00fcssen, um bezahlt zu werden, hatte die Advocacy Dutzende von Agenten \u00fcber mehrere Systeme hinweg in einem der gr\u00f6\u00dften Dragnetze mobilisiert, die sie je gesehen hatte. Jeder Sprungpunkt war voller Schw\u00e4rme. Au\u00dferdem gab es die t\u00e4glichen Botschaften, die die B\u00fcrger ermutigten, Informationen mit den Beh\u00f6rden auszutauschen. Warum waren die gesetzestreuen Typen immer so gelangweilt, dass sie sich nicht einfach um ihre eigenen verdammten Angelegenheiten k\u00fcmmern konnten?\n\nDie Ente konnte kaum anhalten, um zu tanken, ohne dass ein guter Samariter sie von den gesuchten Postern erkannte, die \u00fcberall auf der Spezifikation verputzt waren. Mas musste \u00dcberstunden blockieren oder die Kommunikation verz\u00f6gern, bis sie weg war, und selbst dann mussten sie sich noch \u00f6fter frei k\u00e4mpfen, als es gesund war. Sie hatten sich immer durchgesetzt, aber nur mit den kleinsten R\u00e4ndern. Ihr Merkur hatte die Narben, um es zu beweisen.\n\nDar\u00fcber hinaus war Alex gezwungen gewesen, so gut wie jeden ausstehenden Gefallen, den sie hatte, einzuholen. In Pyro hatte eine Crew, die ihnen ein Plattenwischtuch schuldete, zugestimmt, sich mit den Kopfgeldj\u00e4gern anzulegen, die sie dort in die Enge getrieben hatten. Aber um ehrlich zu sein, vermutete sie, dass sie es mit der Freude, die sie im Kampf zu haben schienen, umsonst getan h\u00e4tten. In Tram musste Alex nicht nur die Schulden von Old Mac l\u00f6schen, um ihn dazu zu bringen, die Advos abzulenken, die sie verfolgen, sondern jetzt schulden sie ihm einen Gefallen. Und da er den Gummer kannte, war es wahrscheinlich, dass er ihn f\u00fcr all seinen Wert melken w\u00fcrde. Ein Problem f\u00fcr einen weiteren Tag.\n\nAlles in allem waren sie \u00fcber sieben Systeme hinweg verfolgt worden und hatten sich nicht einen Moment lang ausruhen k\u00f6nnen. Nun, Mas schlief an einem guten Tag kaum, also schien er von der ganzen Erfahrung relativ unbeeindruckt. Tats\u00e4chlich lie\u00df der Hacker bei der Gelegenheit, einen Einbruch in das Meridian Transit-Netzwerk in Garron zu koordinieren, lauter summen, als sie ihn je geh\u00f6rt hatte. Und Alex hatte sich zugegebenerma\u00dfen ausgelacht, als sie zusah, wie die gehackten Starliner-Routen ihre Verfolger behinderten. Aber das war schon vor Tagen. Nun, hier war sie in Bacchus, m\u00fcde, hungrig, umgeben von einem Bienenstock von Banu, und sie konnte erkennen, dass ihr Gehirn noch lange nicht mit allen Triebwerken geschossen hatte.\n\nIrgendwas an diesem Job stimmte nicht. Bezahlt zu werden, um Dateien bei Behring zu l\u00f6schen, anstatt sie zu stehlen, war schon seltsam genug, aber jetzt, so wie das Gesetz hinter ihnen her war? Selbst mit einem Big Player wie Behring war die Resonanz mehr als ausreichend. Alex f\u00fchlte sich, als w\u00fcrde sie auf ein gro\u00dfes rotes Warnschild starren, aber sie war so ersch\u00f6pft, dass sie es nicht lesen konnte.\n\nWas sie wirklich brauchte, war etwa einen Monat auf Cassel, wo sie nichts anderes zu tun hatte, als zu schweben, zu trinken, mit der Marine zu flirten und all ihre hart erarbeiteten Credits auszugeben.\n\nWo wir gerade davon sprechen, Alex hat ihre Mobi angesprochen, um die Zeit zu \u00fcberpr\u00fcfen. Nur eine halbe Stunde, bis sie sich mit Herrn Grouse trafen und den Rest ihrer Zahlung erhielten. Sie dr\u00fcckte sich von der Schiene nach oben, drehte sich um und ging auf die Andockr\u00f6hre zu, die Donosi Souli mit dem Rest der Flottillenstruktur verband. Hoffentlich konnte Mas Fortschritte bei der Entwirrung der Projektdaten machen, die sie heimlich aus dem Labor heruntergeladen hatten.\n\nEin paar Schritte zur\u00fcck folgte Herr Grouse leise.\n\nZu sagen, dass Donosi Mas' alter Souli war, war ein wenig irref\u00fchrend, aber es war f\u00fcr Alex einfacher, es so zu sehen. Donosi, eine Programmiergilde, war gegr\u00fcndet worden, als der fr\u00fchere Gildenf\u00fchrer Essosouli Olosso gestorben ist. Mas hatte den Umsatz genutzt, um sich seine Freiheit zu erkaufen, w\u00e4hrend die meisten anderen Gildenmitglieder sich Olosso's Erben Donosi angeschlossen hatten, als sie ihre \"neue\" Souli gr\u00fcndete. Also im Grunde genommen, alle gleichen Leute, die von demselben Ort aus arbeiten und das Gleiche tun.\n\nGl\u00fccklicherweise, w\u00e4hrend Mas nicht mehr als Familie galt, neigte Essosouli Donosi dazu, sie beide vor\u00fcbergehend einzustellen, wann immer sie einen Platz brauchten, um sich f\u00fcr eine Weile zur\u00fcckzuziehen. Im Gegenzug daf\u00fcr, dass Mas f\u00fcr sie etwas Arbeit verrichtete, erhielten er und Alex den Schutz, den sie als Teil eines m\u00e4chtigen Souli mitbrachten, und hielten angebliche Kopfgeldj\u00e4ger dank der Komplexit\u00e4t der Banu-Politik in Schach.\n\nAlex kam durch die alte Luftschleuse, die markierte, wo das Schiff der Donosi mit der Flottille verbunden war. Nicht, dass es noch ein gro\u00dfes Schiff war. Das Ding war seit Jahrzehnten nicht mehr geflogen und war so von anderen Konstruktionen auf der ganzen Seite eingekesselt, dass unklar war, ob es abheben konnte, auch wenn es es wollte. Vorsichtig \u00fcber dicke Kabelb\u00e4ume gehend, machte sie sich auf den Weg nach innen. Es war sicher \u00fcberladen, aber im Vergleich zu einigen der anderen Souli, die sie besucht hatte, war Donosi ordentlich und organisiert. Anstatt der \u00fcblichen \u00fcberquellenden Sammlung von Kleinkram, zu der die meisten Banu angezogen zu sein schienen, befand sich der Reichtum der Computergilde in Daten. Regale und Regale mit Antrieben verschiedener Marken und Modelle s\u00e4umten die W\u00e4nde, einige von ihnen waren \u00e4lter als sie. In der Mitte des Raumes befinden sich mehrere Banu, die sich an den Terminals, die \u00fcber Codezeilen flie\u00dfen, halb geneigt befinden. Bei dem Ger\u00e4usch des Tippens konnte sie Mas h\u00f6ren, wie er gl\u00fccklich vor sich hin summte.\n\n\"Gl\u00fcck gehabt, Mas?\" fragte Alex.\n\n\"Oh, ja. Vieles\", antwortete Mas mit einem breiten L\u00e4cheln. \"Wir haben best\u00e4tigt, dass das Projekt Stargazer besonders wertlos ist.\"\n\nAlex drehte sich um und sah Essouli Donosi den Raum betreten. Man konnte immer erkennen, wann Donosi sich n\u00e4herte, weil die Dutzende von MobiGlas, die sie trug, beim Gehen zusammenklackerten. \"Oh, ja\", sagte Donosi. \"Vollst\u00e4ndiger M\u00fcll.\"\n\nDas rote Warnschild in Alex' Kopf begann etwas schneller zu blinken. \"Was meinst du damit? Wir bekamen ein Verm\u00f6gen, um dieses Zeug zu vernichten.\"\n\nMas ging mit einem Datenadaption zu Alex hin\u00fcber und gestikulierte auf den Bildschirm. \"Hier ist Project Stargazer.\"\n\n\"Sieht aus wie ein Zielraster.\"\n\n\"Es ist ein Fadenkreuz, das auf das Ziel gerichtet ist. Teil eines Designs, das den Sch\u00fctzen helfen sollte, ihre Waffen neu zu kalibrieren, wenn das Visier w\u00e4hrend des Kampfes ausgeschaltet war. Das Projekt wurde letztes Jahr zur\u00fcckgestellt, als es in Tests als nur geringf\u00fcgig effizienter erwiesen wurde, als es nicht zu nutzen.\"\n\n\"Der Datenpod, auf dem du ihn gespeichert hast, ist mehr wert als diese schrecklichen Informationen\", sagte Donosi. \"Totaler M\u00fcll. Utter M\u00fcll. Niemand w\u00fcrde jemals etwas f\u00fcr so etwas wie das bezahlen, was du mitgebracht hast.\"\n\nAlex' Magen sank, als sie merkte, dass Donosi sich wiederholte. Ein sicheres Zeichen daf\u00fcr, dass die Essosouli verhandelt haben. Ein Teil des vereinbarten Preises f\u00fcr den Schutz der Souli war die Information, die sie gestohlen hatten, und nun schien es, dass Donosi mit diesem Deal nicht mehr zufrieden war. Das war keine gute Nachricht, wenn man bedenkt, dass sowohl sie als auch Mas technisch an die Gilde gebunden waren.\n\n\"Dann kannst du den Datenpod behalten\", antwortete Alex. \"Los geht's, Mas.\" Sie zog an seinem Arm und versuchte, ihn dazu zu bringen, ihr zu folgen.\n\n\"Mas, bleib, wo du bist\", sagte Donosi mit fester Stimme. \"Deine Schulden wurden nicht beglichen.\"\n\nMas blieb stehen und Alex fand sich nutzlos dabei, an einer Mauer zu ziehen, die genauso gut eine Ziegelmauer gewesen sein k\u00f6nnte.\n\n\"Was machst du da? Lass uns gehen.\"\n\n\"Es tut mir leid, Alex\", sagte Mas. \"Ich kann nicht gehen, bis Essosouli Donosi es genehmigt hat.\"\n\n\"Ist das dein Ernst?\"\n\n\"Ich werde eine bestimmte Bindung nicht brechen. Ich bin nicht wie ein Mensch.\" Damit blinzelte Mas ihr zu.\n\nAlex war derjenige gewesen, der Mas das Blinzeln beigebracht hatte, und es hatte sich schnell als eine schreckliche Idee erwiesen. Mehr als ein paar Deals waren dank seines Zwinkerns nach S\u00fcden gegangen, als Alex versuchte, die Wahrheit ein wenig zu dehnen. Da jedoch keiner der anderen Banu wusste, was ein Zwinkern bedeutete, h\u00e4tte sich die F\u00e4higkeit schlie\u00dflich ausgezahlt. Mas wollte, dass sie einen Ausweg findet.\n\n\"Und was denkst du, was unsere Schuld ist?\" fragte Alex.\n\n\"Ein Monat der Wehen. Mas wird Zugang zu einigen schwierigen gesperrten Laufwerken erhalten, die wir erworben haben, und du wirst sie reinigen.\"\n\nSelbst wenn sie ihr Rendezvous nicht h\u00e4tte machen m\u00fcssen, gab es kein Universum, das existierte, in dem Alex diese Bedingungen angenommen h\u00e4tte. Hinter ihren Augen begannen Kopfschmerzen zu wachsen. Als ob sie nicht genug auf dem Teller h\u00e4tte, ohne einen Monat lang Banu-Sklavin zu werden. Eigentlich dachte Alex, warum muss ich mich damit befassen?\n\n\"Und ich sage, es gibt keine Schulden. Du hast zugestimmt, die Informationen auf dem Datenpod zu nehmen und das ist es, was du bekommen hast. Ein Deal ist ein Deal.\"\n\n\"Informationen, die wertlos sind.\"\n\n\"Ja, das ist schei\u00dfe f\u00fcr dich. N\u00e4chstes Mal verhandelst du besser.\"\n\nEin L\u00e4cheln brach \u00fcber Donosis Gesicht. \"In Ordnung. Ihr seid frei zu gehen.\"\n\n\"Oh,\" antwortete Alex etwas verbl\u00fcfft \u00fcber die pl\u00f6tzliche Ver\u00e4nderung. Obwohl sie mit einem Banu lebte, konnte sie immer noch \u00fcberrascht sein, wie fremd sich die Au\u00dferirdischen manchmal f\u00fchlten. \" Danke.\"\n\n\"Komm schon, Alex\", sagte Mas und stand vom Terminal auf. \"Wir wollen nicht zu sp\u00e4t kommen.\"\n\nMas arbeitete mit dem Scanner des Starrunners, als Alex das Schiff zu den Rendezvous-Koordinaten f\u00fchrte, die der Kurier einige Tage zuvor an sie geliefert hatte.\n\nDie relative Ruhe der Ente erwies sich eher als beunruhigend als die Erleichterung, die sie erwartet hatte. Und obwohl sie jetzt, da sie wieder an Bord ihres eigenen Schiffes war, eine Pause vom Schauen \u00fcber ihre Schulter machen h\u00e4tte k\u00f6nnen, f\u00fchlte sich Alex immer noch nerv\u00f6s. Nichts an diesem Job stand richtig. Warum sollte Grouse wollen, dass sie nutzlose Daten bereinigen? Warum sollte die Advocacy sie wie die Meistgesuchten des Imperiums behandeln? Warum wollte Grouse sich wieder treffen, anstatt nur die Credits zu schicken? Warum konnte sie nicht herausfinden, was zum Teufel los war?\n\n\"Das ist eine Falle, ja?\" fragte Mas und hatte \u00e4hnliche Gedanken.\n\n\"Ja\", stimmte Alex zu. \"Du willst die Kredite und die Kaution vergessen?\"\n\n\"Es sind eine Menge Credits.\"\n\n\"Es sind so viele Credits.\"\n\nMas dachte an einen Beat. \"Wir k\u00f6nnen immer mehr Credits bekommen. Ich bin ein sehr guter Hacker und du bist auch gut in Sachen.\"\n\n\" Ja.\" Obwohl sie traurig war, das Geld zu verlieren, kam ein gro\u00dfes Gef\u00fchl der Erleichterung \u00fcber sie, nachdem die Entscheidung gefallen war. \"Wohin willst du gehen? Spinne? Vielleicht endlich mal Kayfa ausprobieren?\"\n\n\"Ich f\u00fcrchte, auch nicht\", sagte Herr Grouse von hinten, die Energiepistole in seiner Hand trainierte auf Mas' Kopf. \"Du wirst deinen derzeitigen Kurs beibehalten.\"\n\nAlex, die sich selbst verfluchte, schwor, dass sie und Mas von nun an alle Liegepl\u00e4tze nach blinden Passagieren durchsuchen w\u00fcrden, bevor sie abflogen.\n\n\"Lass mich raten, Advocacy wartet auf uns beim Rendezvous?\" fragte Alex.\n\n\"Richtig, Ms. Dougan. Du wirst verhaftet, vor Gericht gestellt und verurteilt. Nat\u00fcrlich besteht die M\u00f6glichkeit, dass ich gezwungen werde, euch beide vorher zu t\u00f6ten, aber ich w\u00fcrde es lieber nicht tun.\"\n\n\"Du wei\u00dft, dass wir ihnen von dir erz\u00e4hlen werden, oder?\"\n\n\"Das war schon immer der Plan. Die einzige \u00dcberraschung war, dass du es geschafft hast, der Gefangennahme so lange auszuweichen. Ich war mir sicher, dass sie dich am Daviener Sprungplatz hatten. Es war sehr beeindruckend, als dein Merkur sie noch einmal vertrieb.\"\n\n\"Warte\", sagte Mas. \"Wenn Sie wollten, dass die Diebe verhaftet werden, warum haben Sie uns dann beauftragt? Warum stellen Sie nicht b\u00f6se Diebe ein?\"\n\n\"Der Job musste erfolgreich sein. Ein kleineres Team w\u00e4re erwischt worden, bevor man das Projekt gel\u00f6scht h\u00e4tte.\"\n\n\"Aber die Akten waren wertlos!\" protestierte Alex.\n\n\"Genug, Ms. Dougan. Wir sollten jeden Moment beim Hinterhalt ankommen.\"\n\n\"Was ist mit dem Pr\u00e4rie-Blitzdelta?\n\n\" Was?\"\n\nEinen Moment, nachdem sie den Phrasenschl\u00fcssel ausgesprochen hatte, ging das EMP unter der Hauptkonsole los.\n\nMit einem ekelhaften Ruck fuhr das Schiff komplett herunter.\n\nHerr Grouse, unvorbereitet, stolperte aus dem Gleichgewicht. Mas, sehr vorbereitet, schob sein Messer aus der Scheide und schlug auf den Arm ihres Entf\u00fchrers. Die Pistole fiel auf den Boden und Alex tauchte auf und holte die Waffe zur\u00fcck, bevor Grouse es konnte.\n\n\"Ein EMP. Clever\", sagte Grouse und atmete schwer, die tiefe Kerbe auf seinem Arm tropfte Blut auf den Boden.\n\n\"Mas' bekommt volle Anerkennung\", sagte Alex. \"Nun, wenn es dir nichts ausmacht, warum f\u00e4ngst du nicht an zu erkl\u00e4ren, was zum Teufel du vorhast.\"\n\nBevor Grouse reagieren konnte, leuchteten pl\u00f6tzlich helle Scheinwerfer in das Cockpit. Eine Advocacy Vanguard, flankiert von zwei Banu Defenders, n\u00e4herte sich schnell ihrem Schiff. Die Agenten m\u00fcssen sich mit den Sicherheits-Souli in diesem Sektor ausgehandelt haben.\n\n\"Ich f\u00fcrchte, es ist zu sp\u00e4t\", sagte Grouse.\n\n\"Befehlen Sie es ihnen und sagen Sie ihnen, dass wir Sie t\u00f6ten werden, wenn Sie sich nicht zur\u00fcckhalten.\"\n\n\"Warum sollten sie sich um eine Leiche k\u00fcmmern?\" fragte Grouse und erreichte seine Finger in der Wunde an seinem Arm.\n\n\"Mas! Haltet ihn auf!\" rief Alex.\n\nMas hat sich gemeldet, aber nicht schnell genug.\n\n\"Dein Reich dankt dir f\u00fcr deinen Dienst\", sagte Grouse, als er mit den Fingern seine Oberarmarterie durchtrennte. Der Blutstropfen verwandelte sich in eine rauschende Flut. Das Schneehuhn st\u00fcrzte bewusstlos zu Boden.\n\nAlex war sich sicher, dass die Erinnerung an das, was Grouse gerade getan hatte, den ersten Platz f\u00fcr das Schrecklichste, was sie je gesehen hat, f\u00fcr lange Zeit einnehmen w\u00fcrde. \"Mist! Kennst du Erste Hilfe?\"\n\n\"Nein.\" sagte Mas und blickte auf den K\u00f6rper und seinen sich erweiternden Blutkreislauf herab. \"Haben wir jemals mehr Medpen gekauft?\"\n\n\"Mist. Mist. Mist. Hilf mir, etwas Druck auf ihn auszu\u00fcben oder so.\"\n\nDann setzte die Energie des Schiffes wieder ein.\n\n\"-gent Duck. Dies ist die UEE Advocacy. Bereiten Sie sich darauf vor, geentert zu werden.\"\n\nEs schien, als h\u00e4tten Alex und Mas eine Wahl. Entweder neigen Sie dazu, vor seinem Tod zu jammern, oder versuchen Sie, eine Gefangennahme zu vermeiden. Es war eine sehr einfache Wahl. \"Mas, wirf seinen K\u00f6rper in das Schloss und schnall dich an!\"\n\nAlex st\u00fcrzte sich auf den Pilotsitz und \u00f6ffnete die Drosseln bis max. Der Merkur erwachte zum Leben und raste auf die Vorhut zu, rollte, um ihre Backbordseite in den Bauch der Advocacy zu bringen. Die Schilde flammten auf, als die Zwillinge Sawbucks auf dem Turm der Vanguard einen direkten Treffer erzielten. Sie hielten vorerst, aber ein paar weitere Hits wie diese und die Ente w\u00e4re erledigt.\n\nEin Kopf-an-Kopf-Kampf war hier keine Option. Sie wurden \u00fcbertroffen. Notfallman\u00f6ver waren an der Tagesordnung.\n\nAlex gewann ein wenig Abstand zu den Verfolgern, als sie sich beeilten, um sich umzudrehen und die Verfolgung aufzunehmen, und \u00f6ffnete schnell die hintere Rampe und drehte das Laderaster ab.\n\n\"Mas, Sonderlieferung!\"\n\nAlex zog hart an den Steuerungen und Mercury flog geradewegs nach oben und lie\u00df die zehn Kisten in ihrem Frachtraum schwebend hinter sich. Sie packte den Verdunkelungshelm, den sie f\u00fcr diesen Moment in der N\u00e4he hielt, und schob ihn schnell auf und gab dem Ausdruck \"blind fliegen\" eine ganz neue Bedeutung.\n\nMas begann zu z\u00e4hlen, \"Drei... zwei... zwei... eins...\".\n\nAlex Herz lie\u00df einen Schlag aus, bevor sie sich erinnerte, dass Banu auf Null herunterz\u00e4hlte.\n\n\" Null!\"\n\nHinter ihnen erwachte eine kleine neue Sonne zum Leben, als die Kisten explodierten. Oder zumindest sah es so aus. Oder h\u00e4tte so ausgesehen, als ob Alex etwas sehen k\u00f6nnte.\n\nJede der Kisten hatte das \u00c4quivalent von hundert Fackeln enthalten. Die zehn Kisten zusammen reichten aus, um alle Sensoren in der N\u00e4he so lange zu \u00fcberlasten, bis sie die Reichweite verlie\u00dfen. Und vergiss den Versuch, sie visuell zu verfolgen. Diese armen Piloten h\u00e4tten Gl\u00fcck, wenn sie ihre Sicht bald wiedererlangen w\u00fcrden.\n\nAlex zog den Helm ab und richtete ein QT zum Asteroideng\u00fcrtel von Bacchus aus.\n\n\"Wenn wir wieder auf der Flucht sein wollen\", sagte Mas. \"Ich glaube, ich w\u00fcrde gerne Leir besuchen gehen.\"\n\n\"Sicher, Mas.\" sagte Alex. \"Du bist an der Reihe, trotzdem zu w\u00e4hlen.\"\n\nAlex seufzte tief und versuchte im Moment, den Blutkreislauf zu ihren F\u00fc\u00dfen zu ignorieren, indem sie sich auf das Fliegen konzentrierte.\n\nKeine Antworten. Kein Geld. Aber zumindest f\u00fcr den Moment hatten sie ihre Freiheit.\n\nDAS ENDE.","zh_CN":"Part One of the story can be read here.\nAlex leaned over the railing to look down at the sprawling plaza below. Streams of Banu flowed in and around the stalls and shops that crowded the marketplace. The near deafening noise was a constant presence. Sellers shouted proudly about their wares, shrewd traders loudly haggled over sips of sloma, while young runners darted about trying to lure potential customers back to their Souli\u2019s Merchantman where the finest fuel cyclers or crog berries or whatever it was they happened to be selling was waiting for just the right buyer.\n\nAnd even over all that noise Alex could still hear her stomach rumble.\n\nIt seemed the one thing that wasn\u2019t for sale on the Bacchus flotilla was a decent breakfast. After a harrowing experience with a \u2018Human Breakfast Special\u2019 that had resulted in a shallow dish filled with sliced hot dogs and popcorn covered in what she could only describe as very thick orange juice, Alex had sworn off eating till she could get back to the few ready meals still safely tucked away inside the Belligerent Duck\u2019s stores.\n\nThat would have to wait though. Pushing her hunger aside, Alex searched the crowds below for anything suspicious. Which, when you\u2019re inside a Banu flotilla, is sort of like looking for uptight swegs when on Earth. More specifically, she was looking for any undercover Advocacy Agents or bounty hunters who had the gall to follow them into Banu territory.\n\nTypically, the Advocacy would pursue a thief for a system, maybe two, before they called back their resources and left it to the Bounty Hunting Guild to chase the culprit down. It wasn\u2019t that the Advocacy weren\u2019t eager to see justice done, they just had more important things to spend their time and efforts on (like vicious outlaw gangs and crazed serial killers). It was why the Empire relied so heavily on the bounty system in the first place. Doubly so when the jurisdiction crossed into the Banu Protectorate. With a high enough price, you could have hundreds of bounty hunters searching for free and only have to pay the person who collected. It saved time and credits.\n\nThe Advocacy\u2019s focus was on big fish, and Alex had worked hard at staying a medium fish at best.\n\nYet, her and Mas\u2019 escape from Terra had proven to be anything but typical. Instead of having to deal with the normal gaggle of cocksure guilders fumbling all over themselves to get paid, the Advocacy had mobilized dozens of Agents across multiple systems in one of the biggest dragnets she had ever seen. Every jump point had been swarming. Plus, there had been the daily dispatches encouraging citizens to share information with the authorities. Why was it that law-abiding types were always so bored they couldn\u2019t just mind their own damn business?\n\nThe Duck could barely stop to refuel without some good Samaritan recognizing them from the wanted posters plastered all over the spec. Mas had to work overtime blocking or delaying comms until they were away, and even then, they still had to fight their way free more times than was healthy. They had always pulled through, but only by the slimmest of margins. Their Mercury had the scars to prove it.\n\nOn top of that, Alex had been forced to call in just about every outstanding favor she had. In Pyro, a crew that owed them for a records wipe had agreed to tangle with the bounty hunters who had cornered them there. Though, to be honest, she suspected they would have done it for free with the amount of joy they seemed to take in the fight. In Tram, Alex not only had to wipe Old Mac\u2019s debt clear to get him to help distract the Advos tailing them, but now they owed him a favor. And knowing the gummer, he was likely to milk it for all its worth. A problem for another day.\n\nAll in all, they had been pursued across seven systems and hadn\u2019t been able to rest for a moment. Well, Mas barely slept on a good day so he seemed relatively unperturbed by the whole experience. In fact, having the chance to coordinate an intrusion on the Meridian Transit network in Garron had the hacker humming louder than she had ever heard him. And admittingly, Alex had laughed herself watching the hacked starliner routes stymy their pursuers. But that had been days ago. Now, here she was in Bacchus, tired, hungry, surrounded by a hive of Banu, and she could tell that her brain was far from firing with all thrusters.\n\nSomething about this job wasn\u2019t adding up. Being paid to delete files at Behring instead of stealing them was strange enough, but now with the way the law had been after them? Even with a big player like Behring involved the response had been above and beyond. Alex felt like she was staring at a big red warning sign, but she was so exhausted she couldn\u2019t read it.\n\nWhat she really needed was about a month on Cassel with nothing to do but float, drink, flirt with Navy, and spend all her hard-earned credits.\n\nSpeaking of which, Alex brought up her mobi to check the time. Only a half hour until they met with Mr. Grouse and received the rest of their payment. Pushing herself up from the rail, she turned and headed towards the docking tube that connected Donosi Souli to the rest of the flotilla structure. Hopefully, Mas had been able to make progress on untangling the project data they had secretly downloaded from the lab.\n\nA few steps behind, Mr. Grouse quietly followed.\n\nTo say that Donosi was Mas\u2019 old Souli was a bit misleading, but it was easier for Alex to think of it that way. A programming guild, Donosi had been formed when the previous guild leader, Essosouli Olosso has died. Mas had used the turnover to buy his freedom, while most of the other guild members had joined Olosso\u2019s heir Donosi when she established her \u2018new\u2019 Souli. So basically, all the same people working out of the same place, doing the same thing.\n\nFortunately, while Mas was no longer considered family, Essosouli Donosi was inclined to temporarily hire them both whenever they needed a place to lay low for a while. In exchange for Mas doing some work for them, he and Alex received the protection that being part of a powerful Souli brought, keeping would-be Bounty Hunters at bay thanks to the intricacies of Banu politics.\n\nAlex arrived through the old airlock that marked where the Donosi\u2019s ship connected to the flotilla. Not that it was much of a ship anymore. The thing hadn\u2019t flown in decades and was so hemmed in on all side by other structures it was unclear if it could take off even if it had wanted to. Carefully stepping over thick cable bundles, she made her way inside. It was cluttered for sure, but compared to some of the other Souli she had visited, Donosi was neat and organized. Rather than the usual overflowing collection of odds and ends that most Banu seemed drawn to, the computer guild\u2019s wealth was all in data. Racks and racks of drives of various makes and models lined the walls, some of them older than her. In the center of the room, several Banu half-reclined at terminals pouring over lines of code. Over the sound of typing, she could hear Mas happily humming to himself.\n\n\u201cAny luck, Mas?\u201d asked Alex.\n\n\u201cOh, yes. Much,\u201d replied Mas with a wide smile. \u201cWe have confirmed that Project Stargazer is particularly worthless.\u201d\n\nAlex turned to see Essouli Donosi enter the room. You could always tell when Donosi was approaching because the dozens of mobiGlas that she wore clacked together as she walked. \u201cOh, yes,\u201d said Donosi. \u201cComplete garbage.\u201d\n\nThat red warning sign in Alex\u2019s head started flashing a little faster. \u201cWhat do you mean? We got paid a fortune to wipe this stuff.\u201d\n\nMas walked over to Alex with a datapad and gestured to the screen. \u201cThis is Project Stargazer.\u201d\n\n\u201cLooks like a targeting reticule.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is a targeting reticule. Part of a design that was supposed to help gunners recalibrate their weapons if the sighting was off during combat. The project was shelved last year when it was proven in tests to only be slightly more efficient than not using it.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe datapod you stored it on is worth more than this terrible information,\u201d said Donosi. \u201cTotal refuse. Utter trash. No one would ever pay anything for such a thing as what you have brought.\u201d\n\nAlex\u2019s stomach sank when she realized that Donosi was repeating herself. A sure sign that the Essosouli was negotiating. Part of the agreed upon price for the Souli\u2019s protection had been the info they\u2019d stolen and now it seemed that Donosi was no longer satisfied with that deal. This was not good news considering that both her and Mas were technically indentured to the guild currently.\n\n\u201cYou can keep the datapod then,\u201d replied Alex. \u201cLet\u2019s go, Mas.\u201d She pulled on his arm, trying to get him to follow her.\n\n\u201cMas, stay where you are,\u201d said Donosi in a firm voice. \u201cYour debt has not been cleared.\u201d\n\nMas stopped and Alex found herself uselessly pulling on what might as well have been a brick wall.\n\n\u201cWhat are you doing? Let\u2019s go.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am sorry, Alex,\u201d said Mas. \u201cI cannot leave until Essosouli Donosi approves.\u201d\n\n\u201cAre you serious?\u201d\n\n\u201cI will not break a given bond. I am not like a Human.\u201d With that, Mas winked at her.\n\nAlex had been the one to teach Mas to wink and it had quickly proven to be a terrible idea. More than a few deals had gone south thanks to him winking when Alex was attempting to stretch the truth a bit. However, since none of the other Banu knew what winking meant, the skill might finally have payed off. Mas wanted her to find a way out of this.\n\n\u201cAnd what do you think our debt is?\u201d asked Alex.\n\n\u201cA month of labor. Mas will gain access to some difficult locked drives we have acquired and you will clean.\u201d\n\nEven if they hadn\u2019t needed to make their rendezvous, there was no universe that existed where Alex would have taken those terms. A headache began to grow behind her eyes. Like she didn\u2019t have enough on her plate without becoming a Banu slave for a month. Actually, Alex thought, why am I having to deal with this?\n\n\u201cAnd I say there is no debt. You agreed to take the info on the datapod and that\u2019s what you got. A deal\u2019s a deal.\u201d\n\n\u201cInformation that is worthless.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, that sucks for you. Next time negotiate better.\u201d\n\nA smile broke across Donosi\u2019s face. \u201cVery well. You are free to go.\u201d\n\n\u201cOh,\u201d Alex responded a bit taken aback by the sudden shift. Even though she lived with a Banu, she still could be surprised by how alien the aliens sometimes felt. \u201cThanks.\u201d\n\n\u201cCome on, Alex,\u201d said Mas, getting up from the terminal. \u201cWe don\u2019t want to be late.\u201d\n\nMas worked the star runner\u2019s scanner as Alex guided the ship towards the rendezvous coordinates the courier had delivered to her a few days earlier.\n\nThe relative quiet of the Duck proved to be unnerving rather than the relief she had expected. And even though she should have been able to take a break from looking over her shoulder now that she was back aboard her own ship, Alex still felt on edge. Nothing about this job was sitting right. Why would Grouse want them to purge useless data? Why would the Advocacy be treating them like the Empire\u2019s most wanted? Why did Grouse want to meet again rather than just sending the credits. Why couldn\u2019t she figure out what the hell was going on?\n\n\u201cThis is a trap, yes?\u201d asked Mas, having similar thoughts.\n\n\u201cYeah,\u201d agreed Alex. \u201cYou want to forget the credits and bail?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is a lot of credits.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt is so many credits.\u201d\n\nMas thought for a beat. \u201cWe can always get more credits. I am a very good hacker and you are also good at things.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah.\u201d Though she was sad to be losing the money, a huge sense of relief came over her now that the decision had been made. \u201cWhere do you want to go? Spider? Maybe finally check out Kayfa?\u201d\n\n\u201cNeither, I\u2019m afraid,\u201d said Mr. Grouse from behind them, the energy pistol in his hand trained at Mas\u2019 head. \u201cYou will maintain your current course.\u201d\n\nAlex, cursing herself, swore that from now on she and Mas were going to search all the berths for stowaways before taking off.\n\n\u201cLet me guess, Advocacy are waiting for us at the rendezvous?\u201d asked Alex.\n\n\u201cCorrect, Ms. Dougan. You will be arrested, tried and convicted. Of course, there is a chance I will be forced to kill you both before then, but I would prefer not to.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou know we\u2019ll tell them about you, right?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat has always been the plan. The only surprise was you managing to evade capture this long. I was certain they had you at the Davien jump point. It was most impressive when your Mercury gave them the slip once again.\u201d\n\n\u201cWait,\u201d said Mas. \u201cIf you wanted the thieves arrested, then why did you hire us? Why not hire bad thieves?\u201d\n\n\u201cThe job needed to be successful. A lesser team would have been caught before deleting the project.\u201d\n\n\u201cBut the files were worthless!\u201d protested Alex.\n\n\u201cEnough, Ms. Dougan. We should be arriving at the ambush any moment now.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat about Prairie Lightning Delta?\n\n\u201cWhat?\u201d\n\nA moment after she had uttered the phrase-key, the EMP rigged under the main console went off.\n\nWith a sickening lurch, the ship powered completely down.\n\nMr. Grouse, unprepared, tripped forward off balance. Mas, very prepared, slipped his knife from its sheath and slashed at their captor\u2019s arm. The pistol dropped to the floor and Alex dove, recovering the weapon before Grouse could.\n\n\u201cAn EMP. Clever,\u201d said Grouse, breathing hard, the deep gouge on his arm dripping blood onto the floor.\n\n\u201cMas\u2019 gets full credit,\u201d said Alex. \u201cNow, if you don\u2019t mind, why don\u2019t you start explaining what in hell it is you\u2019re up to.\u201d\n\nBefore Grouse could respond, bright headlights suddenly shone into the cockpit. An Advocacy Vanguard flanked by two Banu Defenders was quickly approaching their ship. The Agents must have negotiated their way in with the Security Souli in this sector.\n\n\u201cI am afraid it\u2019s too late,\u201d said Grouse.\n\n\u201cComm them and tell them we\u2019ll kill you if you don\u2019t stand down.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy would they care about a corpse?\u201d asked Grouse, reaching his fingers inside the wound on his arm.\n\n\u201cMas! Stop him!\u201d shouted Alex.\n\nMas reached out, but not fast enough.\n\n\u201cYour Empire thanks you for your service,\u201d said Grouse as he used his fingers to sever his brachial artery. The trickle of blood turned into a gushing flood. Grouse collapsed to the floor unconscious.\n\nAlex was certain that the memory of what Grouse had just done would hold the top spot for the most terrifying thing she\u2019s ever seen for a long time to come. \u201cCrap! Do you know first aid?\u201d\n\n\u201cNo.\u201d said Mas, looking down at the body and its widening pool of blood. \u201cDid we ever buy more medpens?\u201d\n\n\u201cCrap. Crap. Crap. Help me get some pressure on him or something.\u201d\n\nIt was then that the ship\u2019s power kicked back on.\n\n\u201c\u2014gent Duck. This is the UEE Advocacy. Prepare to be boarded.\u201d\n\nIt seemed Alex and Mas had a choice. Either tend to Grouse before he died, or try to avoid capture. It was a very easy choice. \u201cMas, dump his body in the lock and strap in!\u201d\n\nAlex threw herself into the pilot seat and opened up the throttles to max. The Mercury burst to life and hurtled towards the Vanguard, rolling to bring their port side to the Advocacy\u2019s ventral. The shields flared as the twin Sawbucks on the Vanguard\u2019s turret scored a direct hit. They held for now, but a few more hits like that and the Duck would be done for.\n\nA head to head fight wasn\u2019t an option here. They were outclassed. Emergency escape maneuvers were the order of the day.\n\nGaining a bit of distance from the pursuers as they rushed to turn around and give chase, Alex quickly opened up the rear ramp and turned off the cargo grid.\n\n\u201cMas, special delivery!\u201d\n\nAlex pulled hard on the controls and Mercury flew straight up, leaving the ten crates in their hold floating behind them. She grabbed the blackout helmet she kept nearby for just this moment and quickly slipped it on, giving all new meaning to the phrase \u2018flying blind.\u2019\n\nMas began counting down, \u201cThree\u2026 two\u2026 one\u2026 \u201c\n\nAlex heart skipped a beat before she remembered that Banu counted down to zero.\n\n\u201cZero!\u201d\n\nBehind them, a small new sun burst to life as the crates exploded. Or at least that\u2019s what it looked like. Or would have looked like if Alex could see anything.\n\nEach of the crates had contained the equivalent of a hundred flares. The ten crates combined was enough to overload any nearby sensors long enough for them to clear range. And forget trying to track them visually. Those poor pilots would be lucky if they got their vision back any time soon.\n\nAlex pulled off the helmet and lined up a QT towards the Bacchus asteroid belt.\n\n\u201cIf we are going to be on the run again,\u201d said Mas. \u201cI think I would like to go visit Leir.\u201d\n\n\u201cSure, Mas.\u201d said Alex. \u201cIt\u2019s your turn to pick anyway.\u201d\n\nAlex let out a deep sigh and for the moment tried to ignore the pool of blood at her feet by concentrating on flying.\n\nNo answers. No money. But for now at least, they had their freedom.\n\nTHE END."},"links_count":1,"comment_count":30,"created_at":"2018-09-18T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"7 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-14 16:21:10","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":16761,"next_id":16764}}