{"data":{"id":16770,"title":"Phantom Bounty: Part One","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/16770-Phantom-Bounty-Part-One","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/16770","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/16770","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"Phantom Bounty","images":[{"id":22588,"name":"PhantomBountyPartOne.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/72j785cy6zps6r\/source\/PhantomBountyPartOne.jpg","alt":"","size":110844,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2018-09-24T17:24:32+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/22588","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/22588\/similar"}],"images_count":1,"translations":{"en_EN":"Writer\u2019s Note: Phantom Bounty: Part One was published originally in Jump Point 3.1.\nTwo hundred and sixty-five days. That\u2019s how long they\u2019d been hunting the Phantom. It seemed like they\u2019d entered a thousand of these tiny, dark, hole-in-the-wall taverns, seeking leads from shifty informants, always just too far behind. Mila leaned against the metal prefab wall and tried to breathe through her mouth, but the scent of stale alcohol and vomit flooded her nostrils anyway.\n\nRhys stood at the bar, towering above the other patrons, his broad back all she could see as he haggled with the owner for information, likely bribing away the last of their meager credits. Her stomach churned just watching him. They had to be close this time. Because if they didn\u2019t land that massive bounty soon, they wouldn\u2019t be able to afford so much as a mug of this dive\u2019s swill.\n\nMila ran a hand through her straight brown hair, and a toothless patron leered at her from his stool at the bar. She crossed her arms and shot him a challenging glare, which unnerved him enough that he looked away and took another swig of his drink.\n\nA younger man with a ripped synth liavold-skin jacket and questionable hygiene inched his way up to the bar and stood off to the side, pulling on the silver hoop in his ear. Typical.\n\nThere was usually at least one lowlife in a place like this \u2014 wearing synth-skin of nearly extinct creatures. They thought it made them look badass, like they didn\u2019t fear the law, like they were above it. Mila\u2019s nails bit into her palms, and she forced herself to unclench her fists. He probably didn\u2019t even know it was a fake. Real liavold skin never came in that shade of grey.\n\nThe lowlife stepped closer to Rhys, clearly trying to eavesdrop, and Mila pushed away from the wall to go run him off. But Rhys finished haggling before she made it to the bar, and he gestured at her toward the exit. Relieved, she followed him outside.\n\nThe yellow-white sun had finished its descent while she and Rhys had been inside the tavern, and one by one the century-old light globes running the length of Tevistal\u2019s streets flickered on. A loud murmur echoed down the alleyway, voices in the night, evidence of the crowd that had been gathering a few streets over in the square to celebrate the new year.\n\nDamn Traveler\u2019s Day. Sure, the huge crowd afforded her and Rhys an easy way to blend in, but that went both ways. If they could stay low profile, then the Phantom could do the same, slipping away like always.\n\nRhys grabbed Mila\u2019s arm as the tavern doors swung closed behind them, and she gazed up at him: at the sharp angles of his face, his tousled brown hair, at the rough beard he\u2019d allowed to grow in as they\u2019d chased the Phantom from system to system, barely sleeping.\n\nRhys\u2019s green eyes were bright, glinting in the light of the globes as he leaned down close. Mila warmed at the look in them. If she was being honest, their recent sleepless nights had less to do with the Phantom and more to do with . . . other things. They had been sharing a bunk for almost a month now.\n\n\u201cGood news,\u201d Rhys said. \u201cMaybe.\u201d A familiar smirk appeared on his face.\n\nShe cleared her throat. \u201cOh yeah? What did he say?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat we might actually catch our Phantom this time.\u201d\n\nMila\u2019s pulse quickened, and her hand involuntarily dropped to the laser pistol holstered beneath her jacket. \u201cShe\u2019s here? Still in Tevistal?\u201d\n\nRhys\u2019s smirk faded, and he took Mila by the arm and led her down the alleyway toward the main street. \u201cI want to believe it,\u201d he said, keeping his voice low. \u201cI paid the fixer his fee and . . .\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd what?\u201d\n\n\u201cHe gave me an address to a hostel. RoomTab\u2019s still clicking. Said he saw the Phantom yesterday.\u201d\n\nYesterday. \u201cWhy do I hear a \u2018but\u2019 coming?\u201d\n\nRhys halted as they exited the alley. \u201cBut I\u2019m not sure we can trust him. It was all . . . too easy.\u201d\n\nPressure grew in Mila\u2019s chest, and she blew out a breath, surveying the crowd at the end of the globe-lit street. Rhys had solid instincts \u2014 one of the many reasons Mila had charmed the successful bounty hunter into forming a partnership with her. With his hunches and her tech skills, they made a great team.\n\n\u201cWell, what do you want to do?\u201d she asked, a note of the desperation she felt seeping into her tone. \u201cI think we should check it out. We need this.\u201d\n\n\u201cI know.\u201d\n\nShe met his eyes. \u201cWe don\u2019t have a choice.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s always a choice.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re too close. I say we check this out.\u201d\n\nRhys worked his jaw and finally nodded. He pushed up the sleeve of his jacket, revealing the mobiGlas strapped to his forearm, and swiped his finger along the flexible clear screen to bring up a street map of Tevistal. After a moment, he concluded, \u201cThe address isn\u2019t far from here. Travel advisory says it\u2019s a high crime area.\u201d\n\nMila snorted and swept her arm around. \u201cAnd this isn\u2019t?\u201d\n\nFetid pools of water had gathered in potholes from the last rains, and the low prefab buildings here were dirty and dented, nothing like the tall, sparkling skyscrapers that had grown up further from the docks as the city matured. If Tevistal had an armpit, this was it.\n\nRhys laid a heavy hand on her shoulder. \u201cDoesn\u2019t matter. Because you\u2019re heading back to the ship. I\u2019ll scout this out to see if it\u2019s legit.\u201d\n\n\u201cLike hell I am. No way.\u201d Mila flared her nostrils and shrugged off his hand. \u201cIt\u2019s dangerous. You need back-up.\u201d\n\nThe Phantom had single-handedly attacked seven Phan Pharmaceutical research facilities in the past year and had managed to evade every agent of the law since. The UEE wanted the saboteur \u2014 dead or alive \u2014 on charges of terrorism, murder and armed robbery. Dangerous was an understatement.\n\n\u201cLet me scout it out,\u201d Rhys repeated, his voice rough.\n\n\u201cWe go together,\u201d Mila responded through gritted teeth.\n\nRhys let out a low growl, but when it was clear Mila wouldn\u2019t back down, he shook his head and started walking.\n\nMila released a breath and caught up to him. Rhys never would have suggested going alone before. He\u2019d grown more cautious, more protective since they\u2019d taken things to the next level. Controlling, even. It needed to stop, but right now wasn\u2019t the time to address it.\n\nThe mobi directed them away from the crowds and deeper into the dockside slums. One cramped alleyway led to another, and the scent of burning garbage wafted over them as they passed homeless transients tending fires in front of scrap-metal lean-tos.\n\nHovers flew overhead, their lights illuminating the dark night as they ferried those who could afford it between the docks and the gleaming towers in the more affluent sections of the city. The soothing hum of their engines reminded Mila of another life, where she\u2019d have been the one headed for better lodgings. But that old existence on Terra was long gone. And this \u2014 the chase, the hunt, taking down criminals with Rhys by her side \u2014 this was her life now. No regrets.\n\nWhen Rhys\u2019s mobi beeped to tell them they\u2019d reached their destination, he deactivated it and drew his Arclight. \u201cDown that alley. Building Two. Apartment Nine.\u201d\n\nMila readied her own pistol and followed him into the dark alley. The prefab self-service \u201chostels\u201d that filled this area were owned by investors who probably never set foot here. If you wanted to do something shady, this was the place for it.\n\nAdrenaline flooded Mila\u2019s body, making her pulse thrum faster. A cracked globe flickered above the low buildings, barely illuminating the letters engraved in the walls. She activated her pistol\u2019s nightlight, but it didn\u2019t help much.\n\nA slow drip echoed from somewhere, and the only other sound was the pad of their boots on the pavement. Mila pointed her light at the nearest building and found the number etched in the side.\n\n\u201cOne,\u201d she said quietly.\n\nA low rustle emanated from where she\u2019d cast her light, and she and Rhys tensed. Metal hit metal, and Mila swung her weapon toward it. A skap tore out of the darkness and skittered across their path. Another dark shape, a blur of claws and fur, raced after the rat-like creature. As the predator and prey disappeared into the gloom, the skap let out a brief, interrupted shriek.\n\nMila released her breath with a shaky laugh. Maybe it was an omen. Maybe this would be the night she and Rhys finally caught their prey.\n\n\u201cBuilding Two,\u201d Rhys said, shining his light on the building where the animals had headed.\n\nMila barely breathed as Rhys pushed open the outer metal door. It swung in on rusty hinges, creaking in the silence.\n\nDim globes lit up the space automatically, revealing a narrow corridor that was strewn with litter and stank of piss.\n\nMila darted a glance at Rhys. His eyes were narrowed, and that hint was enough for Mila to know he was worried.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s too quiet,\u201d Rhys murmured.\n\n\u201cMaybe it\u2019s pickpocket-the-pilgrims night,\u201d Mila responded, but her sarcasm didn\u2019t ease the tension. Rhys was right. These prefab buildings had paper-thin walls, yet the place was dead silent. Not a good sign.\n\nThey walked a few more paces, and Rhys pointed his weapon at a door on the right. \u201cNine. Watch my back. I go in first.\u201d\n\nAs he turned the knob, every muscle in Mila\u2019s body went tight. The door swung open, unlocked, and the bright lights inside flooded the dimly lit hallway.\n\nRhys stepped through the door, and Mila\u2019s jumpsuit suddenly felt too tight. Sweat dripped down her back as she scanned the other doors and kept an eye on the one they\u2019d come in.\n\nRhys returned, finished with his sweep of the small space. His face was a blank mask. \u201cEmpty. RoomTab\u2019s been hacked.\u201d\n\nHeat coursed through Mila. She let out a grunt and shoved past him and into the room. So close. Her throat thickened, and she fought the urge to punch a hole through one of the thin walls.\n\nThe room contained a low mattress and a metal folding table and chair. A partition separated the sink and toilet from the rest of the room, but other than that, the room had been stripped bare.\n\nMila whirled around to face the hacked payment scanner. Wires had been ripped out and reconnected in a knot, forcing the RoomTab system to keep the water running and the lights on without payment.\n\n\u201cSearch the room,\u201d Mila said, her voice hard. \u201cYou find so much as a hair, you save it.\u201d\n\nRhys gave her a pained look. \u201cYou know we won\u2019t.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll check the scanner.\u201d Mila clenched her jaw as she rolled up her sleeve to activate her mobiGlas and access the payment scanner.\n\nShe brought up the program she\u2019d written to hack basic systems. Technically it was illegal to use a program like this, but she\u2019d written it so she could bring criminals to justice, hadn\u2019t she? She\u2019d never use one of her programs to break the law.\n\n\u201cThis was rigged less than twenty-four hours ago. We just missed her.\u201d Mila disconnected her mobi and slammed a hand into the room\u2019s thin metal wall. The whole thing shuddered in response. \u201cWe need to \u2014\u201d\n\n\u201cMila.\u201d Rhys\u2019s sharp voice was a warning, and she turned to face him. The heat drained from her as she saw what he held in his hands. He\u2019d turned the folding table over and part of it rested on his thighs. A small bundle was taped to the underside of it. It let out a low beep. Then another.\n\nExplosives.\n\nMila\u2019s pulse skyrocketed, roaring in her ears. She kept her eyes glued to Rhys, to the thinly masked fear on his face, and reluctantly backed out the door. It had happened too fast. They should have listened to Rhys\u2019s gut on this.\n\nShe paused for a moment outside the unit\u2019s door, indecisive, then turned and took off running down the corridor.\n\nReaching the outer door, she threw it open and glanced back to find Rhys hurtling toward her. They stumbled into the alleyway together as a deafening blast rocked the flimsy structure, and the shock wave knocked them both to their knees. Heat rushed over them and stole Mila\u2019s breath away.\n\nMila stared down at the pavement, ears ringing as the shock faded.\n\nRhys recovered first, panting, and pulled a shaking Mila to her feet. He held her close and searched her face. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d\n\nIt took Mila a second to find her voice. \u201cYeah. You?\u201d\n\n\u201cFine.\u201d Rhys glanced back toward the building. \u201cDo you think anyone else was in there?\u201d\n\n\u201cYou know it was empty. We gotta get out of here. If we get stopped here, we\u2019ll be wrapped up for a day or more in questioning.\u201d\n\nRhys nodded, looking as dazed as she felt, and they jogged down the alleyway and back out to the street. The explosion had summoned a small group of the transients, and they openly gaped at Mila and Rhys as they ran by.\n\nRed crowded the edges of Mila\u2019s vision, and her anger mingled with an old, dark pain. They needed to bring the Phantom to justice. Had to. It was a need that overwhelmed logic, a need she couldn\u2019t deny, and Mila probably would have chased the Phantom even if the bounty had been far lower.\n\nIt was all because of Casey, even if Mila tried to pretend it wasn\u2019t. Casey Phan, kidnapped and murdered when they were sixteen. The inept police force had just let the killer get away. Watching that crime go unpunished was the reason Mila decided to work for justice. The reason she abandoned her family to become a bounty hunter.\n\nCasey\u2019s father owned Phan Pharmaceuticals, and seeing the Phantom blow up the facilities, kill Phan Pharm workers, steal research . . . it had rekindled all of Mila\u2019s old memories. She\u2019d take out the Phantom the way she\u2019d never been able to take out the screwed up person who had stolen Casey away.\n\nWhen Mila and Rhys were almost to the crowded square, she halted and wiped the sweat from her face, still breathing hard. She was dangerously close to losing it, and she wasn\u2019t about to have a breakdown in front of all the revelers between them and their ship.\n\nRhys stopped when she did. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat was a set-up,\u201d Mila said, her voice breaking. \u201cThat fixer knew he was sending us to die. Everyone must have known it. Someone warned the rest of the tenants to get out.\u201d\n\nShe swung her body around, seeking something, anything, to take her anger out on. She slammed the toe of her boot into a piece of scrap metal and sent it flying. A sharp pain coursed through her foot, but she gritted her teeth against it and tried to ignore the burning sensation in her eyes.\n\nShe let out a little guttural scream and turned back to Rhys, her hands clenched into tight fists. \u201cWe need to beat the kak out of that fixer until he gives us the truth.\u201d\n\nRhys grabbed Mila by the shoulders and leaned down so his eyes were level with hers. \u201cCalm. Down.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo!\u201d Mila pushed him away with both hands, but he held her tight and didn\u2019t let go. She blinked against the continued burning sensation in her eyes. \u201cWe need this bounty.\u201d\n\nRhys shook his head. \u201cIf that fixer knowingly sent us to a trap, I\u2019m not about to advertise we survived it. This is his turf. We\u2019re at a disadvantage here. You should know that.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe were just so close,\u201d Mila replied, her voice shaking.\n\nRhys loosened his tight hold on her. \u201cI\u2019m calling it, Mi. This isn\u2019t worth getting blown up over. There are plenty of other bounties to go after.\u201d\n\nBut none like this one. Hot anger lit a fire in Mila\u2019s chest, and she shoved Rhys away. \u201cCoward.\u201d\n\nSurprise flashed across his face, and he stiffened. \u201cDon\u2019t be an idiot. This isn\u2019t about bravery, it\u2019s about survival. You wanted to hunt this one, so I agreed. For you. It was always a long shot. We\u2019ll survive off less until something else comes along. We\u2019re done.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d Mila shoved Rhys again, and he stumbled back a step. \u201cWe\u2019re finding the Phantom. And if you won\u2019t help, I\u2019ll keep searching by myself.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat is it about this case that you\u2019re not telling me? You\u2019ve never been this stubborn about any of the others. It\u2019s like you\u2019re not thinking clearly.\u201d\n\nMila swallowed the lump in her throat and pushed past him so he couldn\u2019t see the look on her face. She\u2019d have to tell Rhys about her past someday . . . when she was ready. And today wasn\u2019t that day.\n\n\u201cMila.\u201d Rhys was by her side again. \u201cTell me what\u2019s going on.\u201d\n\nShe took a deep breath as she turned toward him, struggling to get her roiling emotions under control. He really thought he was making the right choice. But he was wrong.\n\n\u201cThe trail was cold before,\u201d she said, trying to keep her voice even. \u201cWhispers of the Phantom passing through, week-old transactions. Twenty-four hours, Rhys. Twenty-four! The Phantom was in that room a day ago. We can\u2019t stop now. We need food. Devana needs maintenance and upgrades. And maybe . . . maybe after we finish this, we can take a break, right? Go to some pleasure planet, maybe Cassel . . . together.\u201d\n\nHer cheeks flushed at how her own words sounded, but Rhys\u2019s eyes grew dark, and he cupped her chin in his callused hand and tilted her head up until their eyes met.\n\n\u201cOne more time. We\u2019ll try to find one more lead,\u201d Rhys conceded, his voice rough. \u201cBut if we don\u2019t . . . we can\u2019t afford to keep ignoring other work for this bounty. So if the next lead doesn\u2019t work out, promise me you\u2019ll give it up.\u201d\n\nMila pushed his hand away. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. But no. I can\u2019t promise you that.\u201d\n\nThe low hum of an approaching hover caught their attention, and they both looked up. Flashing lights. Local police.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s get lost in the crowd,\u201d Rhys said. \u201cBut this conversation isn\u2019t over.\u201d\n\nMila pushed down her irritation and followed him. She\u2019d convince him. Because they were not quitters.\n\nThey kept up a brisk pace until they were well into the main square, where the mass of people had gathered outside the Journeymen Hall. It was an interesting spectacle \u2014 a mix of normal-looking civilians and people dressed for the occasion. Some of these Travelers liked to mimic old Earth customs, more-so than those on Terra.\n\nA cluster near Mila and Rhys wore silken cloaks and fantastic masks adorned with feathers. Another dozen had forgone the costumes, but their walking sticks were intricately carved and inlaid with gems and smooth stones. Another pair wore gold robes with masks carved to resemble predatory animals.\n\nRhys pushed through the crowd, carving a path to the far edge of the square where vendors had set up booths filled with all the goods and trinkets a crowd of pilgrims could want on Traveler\u2019s Day.\n\nThe scent of roasting meat made her mouth water and her stomach growl, reminding her she hadn\u2019t eaten since this morning\u2019s breakfast on Devana. Rhys seemed to be of the same mind, because he led her to where the nearest food vendor had set up a grill.\n\n\u201cWhat kind of meat?\u201d Rhys scoffed.\n\nThe middle-aged woman winked and waved the skewer at Rhys. \u201cSpecial. Is a secret.\u201d\n\n\u201cAh, right. Might that be some special skap meat from dockside?\u201d\n\nThe woman\u2019s face soured. \u201cInsults! I no sell skap.\u201d\n\nMila wandered over to the next table, zoning out Rhys\u2019s haggling. He was so tight-fisted with their creds. How could he not see how important catching the Phantom was to their bottom line?\n\nThe table Mila found herself at was strewn with trinkets. Incense burners, Christian crosses, Wiccan pentagrams, Buddhist statues, and a wide range of other eclectic-looking jewelry.\n\nA bronze-toned pendant on a long chain caught Mila\u2019s eye. She picked it up without thinking and turned it over in her palm. It resembled the shape of an infinity symbol, and small pearlescent stones in all different shapes and sizes dangled from the end of it.\n\n\u201cThat piece is almost as beautiful as you.\u201d\n\nMila started and felt her cheeks redden as she met the vendor\u2019s gaze. The colorfully dressed woman looked to be in her early thirties and had pale skin and ice blue eyes like Mila\u2019s, but that\u2019s where their similarities ended. The woman\u2019s space-black hair was styled in dozens of tiny braids, and she wore a nose ring that glinted beneath the sparkling lights hanging from the metal awning above.\n\n\u201cUm . . . thanks,\u201d Mila said. \u201cIt is a nice piece.\u201d\n\n\u201cBetter than nice, girl. It\u2019s the ideal gift to celebrate the new sun. That is, if you want to have good luck. That pendant\u2019s been blessed by Cassa.\u201d\n\nMila glanced back down at the pendant, at the way the twinkling lights overhead made the colors on each stone warp and change, like tiny rainbows. She wasn\u2019t superstitious or religious, but the pendant reminded her of a ring she\u2019d owned as a child. She wanted to try it on, hold the stones closer to the light and see them change, but she resisted.\n\n\u201cWhat kind of stones are these?\u201d Mila asked.\n\n\u201cThose stones were collected from the null point between two binary stars. Only travelers with great luck and persistence can thread the needle to reach that point.\u201d\n\nA low laugh sounded from behind Mila, and she whirled to find Rhys standing there, two skewers of meat in hand. \u201cStones collected from between paired stars, eh?\u201d\n\nThe woman\u2019s serious expression didn\u2019t change. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what they are.\u201d\n\nRhys shook his head. \u201cMaybe you should get off this rock some time. Because nothing hangs between binary stars; one or the other pulls everything in.\u201d\n\nThe woman leaned across the table, and a slow smile spread on her blood-red lips. \u201cThe journey can teach us much, my friend. But build a life on false beliefs, and you\u2019ll soon find your ship has drifted into a minefield.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou done here, Mi?\u201d Rhys\u2019s question came out like a command, and he looked like he was trying hard not to respond to the woman. He didn\u2019t have a lot of patience for religious types, Journeywomen or otherwise.\n\nThe merchant ignored Rhys and looked at Mila expectantly. \u201cThe colors in that piece really do suit you.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s gorgeous. But maybe some other time.\u201d\n\nMila sighed and reluctantly dropped the necklace into the woman\u2019s waiting palm. Mila grabbed a meat skewer from Rhys without meeting his eyes and strode toward the center of the square. Why did he always have to be such a buzzkill?\n\nShe stopped at the edge of the crowd, watching an unfamiliar ritual unfold at the center of the square, and gnawed at the stringy meat. Skap meat or not, it was a thousand times better than the bland nutrition bars on their ship.\n\nShe finished it, tossed the stick, and started searching the crowd for Rhys. Time to convince him to continue their search for the Phantom.\n\nShe found him only a few yards away, watching her intently, and despite her earlier annoyance, a smile budded on her lips. He knew when to give her space, and he knew when she really needed him not to. His solid presence in her life had been the best part of these past months.\n\nA flash of grey in her peripheral vision drew her gaze, and it landed on a man wearing a silver hoop earring and a fake liavold skin jacket. It was the lowlife from the tavern.\n\nMila\u2019s pulse quickened, and she pushed past the people surrounding her to get closer. The lowlife was staring at Rhys, but when he noticed Mila heading for him, his eyes widened and he scrambled away, disappearing into the crowd.\n\nMila shouted and sprinted after him, shoving people out of her way, ignoring the obscenities they yelled in her wake. She was vaguely aware of Rhys falling into step behind her. That dock scum knew something, she was sure of it. He might even be a spy for the fixer. She couldn\u2019t let him escape.\n\nThe cries of anger erupting in front of her let her know she was on the right path, and as she exited the main press of the crowd, she caught sight of a grey jacket disappearing around the corner.\n\nShe ran faster, a stitch growing in her side as she caught up. When the man faltered ahead of her, trying to decide which way to turn at the end of an alleyway, she launched herself forward, knocking him into the wall. They both hit hard and slid toward the grimy pavement.\n\nRhys was there an instant later, hauling Mila out of the way and pinning the man\u2019s arms behind his back so he couldn\u2019t pull a weapon. The man\u2019s bloodshot eyes were wild, darting between Mila and the alley\u2019s exit.\n\nRhys raised a brow. \u201cCare to explain?\u201d\n\nMila sniffed and wiped the dust off her pants. \u201cWhat? Didn\u2019t you notice him back at the tavern? This snake was eavesdropping on you. I bet he works with the fixer. And he was definitely watching you back there.\u201d\n\n\u201cIs that so?\u201d Rhys pulled his pistol and shoved the man against the building to frisk him. He pulled out a slide blade concealed at the man\u2019s waist, then retrieved a small black case from his jacket. He tossed Mila the case, and she opened it, her heart still beating a staccato rhythm against her ribcage.\n\nInside lay a syringe and a vial filled with black, viscous liquid.\n\n\u201cShow us your arm,\u201d Mila demanded.\n\nThe man was shaking as he pushed his sleeve up, revealing a web of veins stained black from his habit.\n\nRhys whistled. \u201cGot ourselves a WiDoWer, eh?\u201d He adjusted his Arclight so it lined up with the man\u2019s face. \u201cNow why were you following us?\u201d\n\nThe man\u2019s Adam\u2019s apple bobbed as he swallowed, and he held his hands palm out as a drop of sweat slid down his forehead and into his eye. \u201cI followed you \u2019cause I got info. I\u2019ll trade for it.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat kind?\u201d Rhys asked, his eyes hard. \u201cThe last info we got wasn\u2019t worth much.\u201d\n\n\u201cHarris \u2014 he set you up. But I know the truth.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo trades.\u201d Mila closed on the addict, still holding his drugs in her grasp, and wrapped her other hand around his throat, squeezing. \u201cIf you knew about the trap, you should have told us before. We could have died.\u201d\n\n\u201cMila.\u201d Rhys\u2019s low warning did nothing to calm the rage buzzing in Mila\u2019s head.\n\n\u201cNo trades,\u201d Mila repeated, squeezing tighter. The lowlife gasped for air.\n\n\u201cMila.\u201d This time Rhys\u2019s voice broke through, and Mila dropped her hand from the man\u2019s throat, then forced herself to step back.\n\nRhys narrowed his eyes at her, then turned back to the addict. \u201cWhat do you want for the info?\u201d\n\n\u201cCreds,\u201d the man said, wheezing. \u201cNinety creds.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor drugs.\u201d Mila opened the case and held the vial high so the addict could see it. \u201cHow \u2019bout this? You tell us everything you know, or I feed your precious sludge to the pavement.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo. No no no.\u201d The man was sweating more freely now, and the desperation in his voice made Mila nauseous with sudden self-loathing. But she wouldn\u2019t back down. She was done with haggling. With the trades. Done with all the lies and dead leads.\n\nShe placed the vial on the ground and positioned her boot over it. \u201cYou get one second to decide.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll tell you. I\u2019ll tell you! Don\u2019t. It\u2019s my last one. The Phantom was here. She was callin\u2019 herself Elaine. Harris hooked her up with new tags. I got a shot of \u2019em on my mobi.\u201d\n\n\u201cShow us,\u201d Rhys demanded.\n\nThe man revealed the mobi beneath his sleeve and brought up the data. Mila swiped her arm across his screen and her mobi captured the tag numbers. Then she placed her boot back over the vial of WiDoW. The lowlife seemed to turn green in the dim light of the globes overhead.\n\n\u201cWhere was Elaine headed next?\u201d Rhys asked.\n\n\u201cSepta \u2014 she had a meeting on the platform. She\u2019s got a way into Xi\u2019an space. Someone powerful is helpin\u2019 that girl. Musta paid off Harris big, \u2019cause I ain\u2019t never seen him help set up a bounty hunter like he did to you two.\u201d\n\nMila\u2019s mind raced, considering the implications of what this snitch was saying. If the Phantom truly had a way into Xi\u2019an space, they\u2019d never find her again. She\u2019d reach Rihlah, and the Xi\u2019an wouldn\u2019t do kak to help them catch a terrorist. They\u2019d just pretend to, acting diplomatic while the Phantom got to live out her life, with the Advocacy and the rest of the UEE stuck waiting for her to voluntarily cross into Human-controlled space again.\n\n\u201cHe could be lying,\u201d Mila said. \u201cDescribe this Elaine.\u201d\n\n\u201cUh \u2014 red hair. I think it was a wig. I followed her back to that hostel and saw her leave with black hair. Dark skin. Late twenties. Kept her face all covered up. Never got a good vid.\u201d The addict tapped his mobi again and brought up an image of a woman, covered up as he\u2019d described.\n\nAll Mila and Rhys had ever seen were blurry images of this woman, no better than what this man was showing them. But what else did they have to go on?\n\nShe exchanged glances with Rhys, and Rhys gave her a slow nod.\n\nMila picked up the vial and shoved it back in the case. She wanted to destroy the drugs, force this scum into withdrawal, but the withdrawal could kill him. And Mila was no murderer and never would be.\n\nShe dropped the case back into the man\u2019s hands and flicked his jacket with her finger. He flinched at the touch.\n\n\u201cIf you need creds, you should start by demanding a refund from whoever sold you this knock-off.\u201d\n\nHis brows went up in surprise, and he glanced down at his jacket, then back to Rhys, who still held his weapon. \u201cCan I get my blade back?\u201d\n\n\u201cGet out of here,\u201d Rhys barked.\n\nThe man flinched again, then pocketed his drugs and took off running.\n\n\u201cWhat the hell was that?\u201d Rhys\u2019s face was red, his voice so low Mila knew he was pissed. \u201cThat\u2019s not our agreement. I do the haggling. I handle the contacts. Not you. That\u2019s our deal.\u201d\n\nMila put her hands on her hips. \u201cWell, it worked, didn\u2019t it? We need to get back to our ship and get to Septa before our phantom disappears for good.\u201d She turned heel and walked off without waiting for a reply.\n\nRhys didn\u2019t speak a word as they made their way back to the docks, and his anger hung in the heavy silence between them, ruining what should have been a celebration and leaving her to her own thoughts. When they finally reached the well-lit entryway that led up to their Freelancer, Mila turned to Rhys.\n\nHis expression was blank again, showing nothing of what he might be feeling. Sometimes he was so damn hard to read. She pressed a hand to his chest, and his eyes softened slightly at her touch.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry. For how I acted back there. You\u2019re right. I broke our agreement. I promise I\u2019ll try to keep it together from now on \u2014\u201d\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t. You got what we needed. But if this lead doesn\u2019t pan out?\u201d\n\n\u201cFine. If it doesn\u2019t pan . . . then we\u2019re done searching.\u201d\n\nIt didn\u2019t matter. Because if the Phantom really was headed for Xi\u2019an space, and they missed her one more time, it was as good as over anyway.\n\nA look of relief passed over Rhys\u2019s face. \u201cGood. Then we agree. We\u2019ll follow this lead, but if we lose her, we move onto something else.\u201d\n\nHe hesitated, then reached into his pocket and drew out a small velvet bag. Mila\u2019s lips parted as he pulled out a length of chain, the Cassa pendant hanging from it, its gorgeous pearlescent stones shimmering in the light of the dockside globes.\n\nRhys fastened the good luck pendant around Mila\u2019s neck.\n\n\u201cBut our credits . . .\u201d Mila warmed at his light touch. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have enough to waste on this.\u201d\n\nHe shrugged. \u201cCould be that Journeywoman was right about this thing after all. All we needed was a little luck. And it seems we got it.\u201d\n\nHis voice came out husky, and Mila stood on tiptoes to kiss him. He responded with intensity, pulling her close, pressing her body to his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lost herself in him.\n\nWhen he pulled away, his eyes were dark. \u201cFlight plan first. But while we\u2019re waiting for clearance . . . \u201d\n\nMila gave him a small smile. \u201cMeet me in the bunk?\u201d\n\nHe smirked and pulled her close for another kiss. \u201cAnd after that . . . we catch our phantom.\u201d\n\nTO BE CONTINUED\u2026","de_DE":"Anmerkung des Autors: Phantom-Bounty: Teil Eins wurde urspr\u00fcnglich in Jump Point 3.1 ver\u00f6ffentlicht.\nZweihundertf\u00fcnfundsechzig Tage. So lange hatten sie das Phantom gejagt. Es schien, als w\u00e4ren sie in tausend dieser winzigen, dunklen, l\u00f6chrigen Tavernen eingedrungen und suchten nach Hinweisen von scharfsinnigen Informanten, die immer einfach zu weit hinten lagen. Mila lehnte sich an die Metall-Fertigteilwand und versuchte, durch ihren Mund zu atmen, aber der Geruch von abgestandenem Alkohol und Erbrochenem \u00fcberflutete ohnehin ihre Nasenl\u00f6cher.\n\nRhys stand an der Bar und ragte \u00fcber die anderen G\u00e4ste, sein breiter R\u00fccken, alles, was sie sehen konnte, als er mit dem Besitzer um Informationen feilschte und wahrscheinlich den letzten ihrer mageren Kredite bestach. Ihr Bauch wand sich, als sie ihn nur beobachtete. Sie mussten diesmal in der N\u00e4he sein. Denn wenn sie nicht bald diese massive Pr\u00e4mie landen w\u00fcrden, w\u00e4ren sie nicht in der Lage, sich auch nur einen Becher des Sp\u00fcltrinks dieses Tauchgangs zu leisten.\n\nMila lief eine Hand durch ihr glattes braunes Haar, und ein zahnloser G\u00f6nner sah sie von seinem Hocker an der Bar aus an. Sie verschr\u00e4nkte ihre Arme und schoss ihm einen herausfordernden Blick zu, der ihn so sehr verunsicherte, dass er wegblickte und einen weiteren Schluck von seinem Getr\u00e4nk nahm.\n\nEin j\u00fcngerer Mann mit einer zerrissenen Synthie-Liavold-Hautjacke und fragw\u00fcrdiger Hygiene zog sich zur Bar hoch und stand zur Seite und zog den silbernen Reifen in seinem Ohr an. Typisch.\n\nAn einem Ort wie diesem gab es normalerweise mindestens ein Lowlife, das Synthie-Haut von fast ausgestorbenen Kreaturen trug. Sie dachten, es lie\u00df sie knallhart aussehen, als h\u00e4tten sie keine Angst vor dem Gesetz, als w\u00e4ren sie dar\u00fcber. Milas N\u00e4gel bissen in ihre Handfl\u00e4chen, und sie zwang sich, ihre F\u00e4uste zu \u00f6ffnen. Er wusste wahrscheinlich nicht einmal, dass es eine F\u00e4lschung war. Echte liavolde Haut kam nie in diesem Grauton daher.\n\nDas niedertr\u00e4chtige Leben trat n\u00e4her an Rhys heran und versuchte eindeutig, zu lauschen, und Mila dr\u00fcckte sich von der Wand weg, um ihn davonzutreiben. Aber Rhys beendete das Feilschen, bevor sie es zur Bar schaffte, und er deutete sie zum Ausgang hin an. Erleichtert folgte sie ihm nach drau\u00dfen.\n\nDie gelb-wei\u00dfe Sonne hatte ihren Abstieg beendet, w\u00e4hrend sie und Rhys in der Taverne waren, und eine nach der anderen flackerten die hundertj\u00e4hrigen Gl\u00fchbirnen, die \u00fcber die L\u00e4nge der Stra\u00dfen von Tevistal liefen. Ein lautes Raunen hallte die Gasse hinunter, Stimmen in der Nacht, Beweise f\u00fcr die Menge, die ein paar Stra\u00dfen weiter auf dem Platz versammelt hatte, um das neue Jahr zu feiern.\n\nVerdammter Reisetag. Sicher, die riesige Menge bot ihr und Rhys eine einfache M\u00f6glichkeit, sich anzupassen, aber das ging in beide Richtungen. Wenn sie sich zur\u00fcckhalten k\u00f6nnten, dann k\u00f6nnte das Phantom das Gleiche tun und wie immer wegrutschen.\n\nRhys packte Milas Arm, als die T\u00fcren der Taverne hinter ihnen geschlossen schwangen, und sie blickte auf ihn: in den scharfen Winkeln seines Gesichts, sein zerzaustes braunes Haar, auf den rauen Bart, in dem er nachwachsen durfte, als sie das Phantom von System zu System gejagt hatten, kaum schlafend.\n\nRhys' gr\u00fcne Augen waren hell und glitzerten im Licht der Kugeln, als er sich ganz nah nach unten lehnte. Mila erw\u00e4rmte sich an dem Blick in ihnen. Wenn sie ehrlich war, hatten ihre letzten schlaflosen N\u00e4chte weniger mit dem Phantom zu tun, sondern mehr mit.... anderen Dingen. Sie hatten sich seit fast einem Monat eine Koje geteilt.\n\n\"Gute Nachrichten\", sagte Rhys. \" Vielleicht.\" Ein vertrautes Grinsen erschien auf seinem Gesicht.\n\nSie r\u00e4usperte sich. \"Oh ja? Was hat er gesagt?\"\n\n\"Damit wir unser Phantom diesmal tats\u00e4chlich fangen k\u00f6nnen.\"\n\nMilas Puls wurde schneller, und ihre Hand fiel unwillk\u00fcrlich auf die Laserpistole, die unter ihrer Jacke versteckt war. \"Sie ist hier? Immer noch in Tevistal?\"\n\nRhys' Grinsen verblasste, und er nahm Mila am Arm und f\u00fchrte sie die Gasse hinunter zur Hauptstra\u00dfe. \"Ich will es glauben\", sagte er und hielt seine Stimme leise. \"Ich habe dem Fixer sein Honorar bezahlt und....\"\n\n\"Und was?\"\n\n\"Er gab mir eine Adresse in einem Hostel. RoomTab klickt immer noch. Er sagte, er h\u00e4tte das Phantom gestern gesehen.\"\n\nGestern. \"Warum h\u00f6re ich ein \"aber\" kommen?\n\nRhys hielt an, als sie die Gasse verlie\u00dfen. \"Aber ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob wir ihm vertrauen k\u00f6nnen. Es war alles.... zu einfach.\"\n\nDer Druck in Milas Brust wuchs, und sie blies einen Atemzug heraus und beobachtete die Menge am Ende der von Kugeln beleuchteten Stra\u00dfe. Rhys hatte solide Instinkte - einer der vielen Gr\u00fcnde, warum Mila den erfolgreichen Kopfgeldj\u00e4ger dazu verleitet hatte, eine Partnerschaft mit ihr einzugehen. Mit seinen Eingebungen und ihren technischen F\u00e4higkeiten bildeten sie ein gro\u00dfartiges Team.\n\n\"Nun, was willst du tun?\", fragte sie, eine Notiz von der Verzweiflung, in der sie sich in ihren Ton versickerte. \"Ich denke, wir sollten es uns ansehen. Wir brauchen das.\"\n\n\" Ich wei\u00df.\"\n\nSie traf seine Augen. \"Wir haben keine Wahl.\"\n\n\"Es gibt immer eine Wahl.\"\n\n\"Wir sind zu nah dran. Ich sage, wir \u00fcberpr\u00fcfen das.\"\n\nRhys arbeitete mit dem Kiefer und nickte schlie\u00dflich. Er schob den \u00c4rmel seiner Jacke hoch, enth\u00fcllte das an seinem Unterarm befestigte mobiGlas und streichelte seinen Finger \u00fcber den flexiblen klaren Bildschirm, um eine Stra\u00dfenkarte von Tevistal zu erhalten. Nach einem Moment schloss er: \"Die Adresse ist nicht weit von hier. Die Reiseberatung sagt, es ist ein Bereich mit hoher Kriminalit\u00e4t.\"\n\nMila schnaubte und fegte ihren Arm um sich. \"Und das ist es nicht?\"\n\nStinkende Wasserbecken hatten sich in Schlagl\u00f6chern aus den letzten Regenf\u00e4llen gesammelt, und die niedrigen Fertigh\u00e4user hier waren schmutzig und verbeult, nichts wie die hohen, funkelnden Wolkenkratzer, die mit zunehmender Reife der Stadt weiter von den Docks entfernt aufgewachsen waren. Wenn Tevistal eine Achselh\u00f6hle hatte, dann war es das.\n\nRhys legte eine schwere Hand auf ihre Schulter. \"Es spielt keine Rolle. Weil du zur\u00fcck zum Schiff gehst. Ich werde das auskundschaften, um zu sehen, ob es echt ist.\"\n\n\"Zum Teufel, das tue ich. Auf keinen Fall.\" Mila blies ihre Nasenl\u00f6cher auf und zuckte mit den Schultern. \"Es ist gef\u00e4hrlich. Du brauchst Verst\u00e4rkung.\"\n\nDas Phantom hatte im vergangenen Jahr im Alleingang sieben Phan Pharmaceutical Forschungseinrichtungen angegriffen und es geschafft, sich seitdem jedem Agenten des Gesetzes zu entziehen. Die UEE wollte den Saboteur - tot oder lebendig - wegen Terrorismus, Mordes und bewaffneten Raub\u00fcberfalls. Gef\u00e4hrlich war eine Untertreibung.\n\n\"Lass mich das auskundschaften\", wiederholte Rhys, seine Stimme rau.\n\n\"Wir gehen zusammen\", antwortete Mila mit knirschenden Z\u00e4hnen.\n\nRhys lie\u00df ein leises Knurren aus, aber als klar war, dass Mila nicht nachgeben w\u00fcrde, sch\u00fcttelte er den Kopf und begann zu laufen.\n\nMila lie\u00df einen Atemzug los und holte ihn ein. Rhys h\u00e4tte nie vorgeschlagen, vorher alleine zu gehen. Er war vorsichtiger und besch\u00fctzerischer geworden, seit sie die Dinge auf die n\u00e4chste Stufe gehoben hatten. Kontrolle, sogar. Es musste aufh\u00f6ren, aber jetzt war nicht die Zeit, es anzugehen.\n\nDie Mobi f\u00fchrten sie weg von der Menge und tiefer in die Slums am Hafen. Eine enge Gasse f\u00fchrte zur anderen, und der Geruch von brennendem M\u00fcll wehte \u00fcber sie, als sie an obdachlosen Transienten vorbeikamen, die Br\u00e4nde vor Schrott-Metall-Schuppen trieben.\n\nHover flogen \u00fcber uns, ihre Lichter erhellten die dunkle Nacht, als sie diejenigen, die es sich leisten konnten, zwischen den Docks und den gl\u00e4nzenden T\u00fcrmen in den wohlhabenderen Teilen der Stadt bef\u00f6rderten. Das beruhigende Summen ihrer Motoren erinnerte Mila an ein anderes Leben, wo sie diejenige gewesen w\u00e4re, die auf dem Weg zu besseren Unterk\u00fcnften war. Aber diese alte Existenz auf Terra war schon lange vorbei. Und das - die Jagd, die Jagd, die Vernichtung von Kriminellen mit Rhys an ihrer Seite - das war jetzt ihr Leben. Keine Reue.\n\nAls Rhys' Mobi piepste, um ihnen zu sagen, dass sie ihr Ziel erreicht hatten, deaktivierte er es und zeichnete sein Arclight. \" In dieser Gasse. Geb\u00e4ude Zwei. Apartment Nine.\"\n\nMila bereitete ihre eigene Pistole vor und folgte ihm in die dunkle Gasse. Die vorgefertigten Selbstbedienungs-Herbergen, die dieses Gebiet f\u00fcllten, befanden sich im Besitz von Investoren, die wahrscheinlich nie einen Fu\u00df hierher gesetzt haben. Wenn du etwas Schr\u00e4ges machen wolltest, war dies der richtige Ort daf\u00fcr.\n\nAdrenalin \u00fcberflutete Milas K\u00f6rper und lie\u00df ihren Puls schneller thrummen. Eine zerbrochene Kugel flackerte \u00fcber den niedrigen Geb\u00e4uden und beleuchtete kaum die in die W\u00e4nde eingravierten Buchstaben. Sie aktivierte das Nachtlicht ihrer Pistole, aber es half nicht viel.\n\nEin langsamer Tropfen hallte von irgendwo her, und das einzige andere Ger\u00e4usch war das Pad ihrer Stiefel auf dem B\u00fcrgersteig. Mila richtete ihr Licht auf das n\u00e4chstgelegene Geb\u00e4ude und fand die in die Seite ge\u00e4tzte Zahl.\n\n\"Eins\", sagte sie leise.\n\nEin geringes Rascheln ging von dort aus, wo sie ihr Licht geworfen hatte, und sie und Rhys verspannten sich. Metal traf Metal, und Mila schwang ihre Waffe darauf zu. Ein Skap riss aus der Dunkelheit und schlich sich \u00fcber ihren Weg. Eine weitere dunkle Form, eine Unsch\u00e4rfe aus Krallen und Fell, raste der rattenartigen Kreatur hinterher. Als Raubtier und Beute in der Dunkelheit verschwanden, lie\u00df der Skap ein kurzes, unterbrochenes Kreischen aus.\n\nMila lie\u00df ihren Atem mit einem zitternden Lachen los. Vielleicht war es ein Omen. Vielleicht w\u00e4re das die Nacht, in der sie und Rhys endlich ihre Beute gefangen haben.\n\n\"Geb\u00e4ude zwei\", sagte Rhys und leuchtete mit seinem Licht auf das Geb\u00e4ude, in das die Tiere gegangen waren.\n\nMila atmete kaum, als Rhys die \u00e4u\u00dfere Metallt\u00fcr aufschob. Er schwang sich in rostigen Scharnieren ein und knarrte in der Stille.\n\nDunkle Kugeln erhellten den Raum automatisch und enth\u00fcllten einen schmalen Korridor, der mit M\u00fcll und Piss \u00fcbers\u00e4t war.\n\nMila warf einen Blick auf Rhys. Seine Augen waren verengt, und dieser Hinweis war genug, damit Mila wusste, dass er sich Sorgen machte.\n\n\"Es ist zu ruhig\", murmelte Rhys.\n\n\"Vielleicht ist es die Taschendieb-Abend\", antwortete Mila, aber ihr Sarkasmus lockerte die Spannung nicht. Rhys hatte Recht. Diese Fertigh\u00e4user hatten hauchd\u00fcnne W\u00e4nde, aber der Ort war v\u00f6llig still. Kein gutes Zeichen.\n\nSie gingen noch ein paar Schritte weiter, und Rhys richtete seine Waffe auf eine T\u00fcr rechts. \"Neun. Pass auf meinen R\u00fccken auf. Ich gehe zuerst rein.\"\n\nAls er den Knopf drehte, spannte sich jeder Muskel in Milas K\u00f6rper. Die T\u00fcr schwang auf, entriegelte sich, und die hellen Lichter im Inneren durchfluteten den schwach beleuchteten Flur.\n\nRhys trat durch die T\u00fcr, und Milas Overall f\u00fchlte sich pl\u00f6tzlich zu eng an. Schwei\u00df tropfte \u00fcber ihren R\u00fccken, als sie die anderen T\u00fcren scannte und ein Auge auf diejenige hatte, in die sie reingekommen waren.\n\nRhys kehrte zur\u00fcck, beendet mit seiner Suche nach dem kleinen Raum. Sein Gesicht war eine leere Maske. \"Leer. RoomTab wurde gehackt.\"\n\nDie Hitze str\u00f6mte durch Mila. Sie lie\u00df ein Grunzen los und schob sich an ihm vorbei in den Raum. So nah dran. Ihre Kehle verdickte sich, und sie k\u00e4mpfte gegen den Drang, ein Loch durch eine der d\u00fcnnen W\u00e4nde zu schlagen.\n\nDer Raum enthielt eine niedrige Matratze und einen Klapptisch und Stuhl aus Metall. Eine Trennwand trennte Waschbecken und Toilette vom Rest des Raumes, aber ansonsten war der Raum entbl\u00f6\u00dft worden.\n\nMila wirbelte herum, um dem gehackten Zahlungsscanner ins Auge zu sehen. Die Dr\u00e4hte waren herausgerissen und in einem Knoten wieder verbunden worden, so dass das RoomTab-System gezwungen war, das Wasser am Laufen zu halten und die Lichter ohne Bezahlung einzuschalten.\n\n\"Durchsucht den Raum\", sagte Mila, ihre Stimme hart. \"Du findest so viel wie ein Haar, du sparst es dir.\"\n\nRhys gab ihr einen schmerzhaften Blick. \"Du wei\u00dft, dass wir das nicht tun werden.\"\n\n\"Ich \u00fcberpr\u00fcfe den Scanner.\" Mila presste ihren Kiefer zusammen, als sie ihren \u00c4rmel hochrollte, um ihr mobiGlas zu aktivieren und auf den Zahlungsscanner zuzugreifen.\n\nSie erw\u00e4hnte das Programm, das sie geschrieben hatte, um Grundsysteme zu hacken. Technisch gesehen war es illegal, ein solches Programm zu benutzen, aber sie hatte es geschrieben, damit sie Kriminelle vor Gericht bringen konnte, nicht wahr? Sie w\u00fcrde nie eines ihrer Programme benutzen, um das Gesetz zu brechen.\n\n\"Das wurde vor weniger als vierundzwanzig Stunden manipuliert. Wir haben sie gerade verpasst.\" Mila trennte ihre Mobi und schlug mit der Hand in die d\u00fcnne Metallwand des Raumes. Die ganze Sache schauderte als Reaktion. \"Wir m\u00fcssen -\"\n\n\" Mila.\" Rhys' scharfe Stimme war eine Warnung, und sie wandte sich ihm zu. Die Hitze entzog sich ihr, als sie sah, was er in seinen H\u00e4nden hielt. Er hatte den Klapptisch umgedreht und ein Teil davon lag auf seinen Oberschenkeln. Ein kleines B\u00fcndel wurde an die Unterseite geklebt. Es ert\u00f6nte ein leises Piepen. Dann noch eine.\n\nSprengstoffe.\n\nMilas Puls schoss in die H\u00f6he und br\u00fcllte in ihren Ohren. Sie hielt ihre Augen auf Rhys geklebt, auf die d\u00fcnn maskierte Angst auf seinem Gesicht, und zog sich widerwillig aus der T\u00fcr zur\u00fcck. Es war zu schnell passiert. Sie h\u00e4tten auf Rhys' Bauchgef\u00fchl h\u00f6ren sollen.\n\nSie hielt einen Moment vor der T\u00fcr der Einheit inne, unentschlossen, drehte sich dann um und rannte den Flur hinunter.\n\nAls sie die \u00e4u\u00dfere T\u00fcr erreichte, warf sie sie auf und blickte zur\u00fcck, um Rhys zu finden, der auf sie zukam. Sie stolperten zusammen in die Gasse, als eine ohrenbet\u00e4ubende Explosion die d\u00fcnne Struktur ersch\u00fctterte, und die Sto\u00dfwelle schlug sie beide auf die Knie. Die Hitze st\u00fcrzte \u00fcber sie hinweg und stahl Milas Atem.\n\nMila starrte auf den B\u00fcrgersteig, die Ohren klangen, als der Schock nachlie\u00df.\n\nRhys erholte sich zuerst, keuchend, und zog eine zitternde Mila auf die F\u00fc\u00dfe. Er hielt sie fest und durchsuchte ihr Gesicht. \"Geht es dir gut?\"\n\nMila brauchte eine Sekunde, um ihre Stimme zu finden. \"Ja. Du?\"\n\n\"Gut.\" Rhys blickte zur\u00fcck zum Geb\u00e4ude. \"Glaubst du, da war noch jemand anderes drin?\"\n\n\"Du wei\u00dft, dass es leer war. Wir m\u00fcssen hier weg. Wenn wir hier angehalten werden, sind wir f\u00fcr einen oder mehrere Tage in Frage gestellt.\"\n\nRhys nickte und sah so benommen aus, wie sie sich f\u00fchlte, und sie joggten die Gasse hinunter und gingen zur\u00fcck auf die Stra\u00dfe. Die Explosion hatte eine kleine Gruppe der Transienten herbeigerufen, und sie starrten Mila und Rhys offen an, als sie vorbeiliefen.\n\nRot \u00fcberf\u00fcllte die R\u00e4nder von Milas Vision, und ihre Wut vermischte sich mit einem alten, dunklen Schmerz. Sie mussten das Phantom vor Gericht bringen. Ich musste es tun. Es war ein Bed\u00fcrfnis, das sie nicht leugnen konnte, und Mila h\u00e4tte wahrscheinlich das Phantom gejagt, auch wenn das Kopfgeld viel niedriger gewesen w\u00e4re.\n\nEs war alles wegen Casey, auch wenn Mila versuchte, so zu tun, als w\u00e4re es das nicht. Casey Phan, entf\u00fchrt und ermordet, als sie sechzehn Jahre alt waren. Die unf\u00e4hige Polizei hatte den M\u00f6rder gerade entkommen lassen. Als Mila zusah, wie dieses Verbrechen ungestraft blieb, entschied sie sich, sich f\u00fcr die Gerechtigkeit einzusetzen. Der Grund, warum sie ihre Familie verlie\u00df, um Kopfgeldj\u00e4gerin zu werden.\n\nCasey's Vater besa\u00df Phan Pharmaceuticals, und sah, wie das Phantom die Einrichtungen in die Luft jagte, Phan Pharm Arbeiter t\u00f6tete, die Forschung stahl.... es hatte alle alten Erinnerungen von Mila wieder entfacht. Sie w\u00fcrde das Phantom so herausnehmen, wie sie es noch nie geschafft hatte, die vermasselte Person herauszunehmen, die Casey gestohlen hatte.\n\nAls Mila und Rhys fast auf dem \u00fcberf\u00fcllten Platz waren, hielt sie an und wischte sich den Schwei\u00df vom Gesicht und atmete immer noch schwer. Sie war gef\u00e4hrlich nahe dran, es zu verlieren, und sie war nicht im Begriff, vor all den Offenbarungen zwischen ihnen und ihrem Schiff eine Panne zu haben.\n\nRhys h\u00f6rte auf, als sie es tat. \"Was ist das?\"\n\n\"Das war eine Falle\", sagte Mila und ihre Stimme brach zusammen. \"Dieser Fixer wusste, dass er uns in den Tod schicken w\u00fcrde. Jeder muss es gewusst haben. Jemand warnte den Rest der Mieter, zu gehen.\"\n\nSie schwang ihren K\u00f6rper herum und suchte nach etwas, irgendetwas, um ihre Wut auszudr\u00fccken. Sie schlug den Zeh ihres Stiefels in ein St\u00fcck Schrott und lie\u00df ihn fliegen. Ein scharfer Schmerz ging durch ihren Fu\u00df, aber sie knirschte mit den Z\u00e4hnen dagegen und versuchte, das brennende Gef\u00fchl in ihren Augen zu ignorieren.\n\nSie lie\u00df einen kleinen kehligen Schrei los und drehte sich zu Rhys zur\u00fcck, ihre H\u00e4nde zu engen F\u00e4usten zusammengedr\u00fcckt. \"Wir m\u00fcssen den Kak aus dem Fixer schlagen, bis er uns die Wahrheit sagt.\"\n\nRhys packte Mila an den Schultern und lehnte sich nach unten, so dass seine Augen auf gleicher H\u00f6he mit ihren waren. \"Ruhig. Runter.\"\n\n\"Nein!\" Mila schob ihn mit beiden H\u00e4nden weg, aber er hielt sie fest und lie\u00df nicht los. Sie blinzelte gegen das anhaltende brennende Gef\u00fchl in ihren Augen. \"Wir brauchen dieses Kopfgeld.\"\n\nRhys sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf. \"Wenn uns dieser Fixer wissentlich in eine Falle geschickt hat, werde ich nicht daf\u00fcr werben, dass wir sie \u00fcberlebt haben. Das ist sein Revier. Wir sind hier im Nachteil. Das solltest du wissen.\"\n\n\"Wir waren einfach so nah dran\", antwortete Mila und ihre Stimme zitterte.\n\nRhys lockerte seinen festen Griff an ihr. \"Ich sage es, Mi. Das ist es nicht wert, in die Luft gesprengt zu werden. Es gibt viele andere Belohnungen, hinter denen man her ist.\"\n\nAber keine wie diese. Hei\u00dfer Zorn entz\u00fcndete ein Feuer in Milas Brust, und sie schob Rhys weg. \" Feigling\".\n\nDie \u00dcberraschung flog \u00fcber sein Gesicht und er versteifte sich. \"Sei kein Idiot. Hier geht es nicht um Tapferkeit, sondern um das \u00dcberleben. Du wolltest diesen hier jagen, also habe ich zugestimmt. F\u00fcr dich. Es war immer ein langer Weg. Wir werden weniger \u00fcberleben, bis sich etwas anderes ergibt. Wir sind fertig.\"\n\n\"Nein\", schubste Mila Rhys wieder, und er stolperte einen Schritt zur\u00fcck. \"Wir finden das Phantom. Und wenn du nicht helfen willst, werde ich weiter selbst suchen.\"\n\n\"Was ist es an diesem Fall, was du mir nicht sagst? Du warst noch nie so stur bei einem der anderen. Es ist, als w\u00fcrdest du nicht klar denken.\"\n\nMila schluckte den Klumpen in ihrem Hals und dr\u00fcckte an ihm vorbei, so dass er den Ausdruck auf ihrem Gesicht nicht sehen konnte. Sie m\u00fcsste Rhys eines Tages von ihrer Vergangenheit erz\u00e4hlen.... als sie bereit war. Und heute war nicht dieser Tag.\n\n\"Mila.\" Rhys war wieder an ihrer Seite. \"Sag mir, was los ist.\"\n\nSie atmete tief durch, als sie sich ihm zuwandte und darum k\u00e4mpfte, ihre aufgew\u00fchlten Emotionen unter Kontrolle zu bringen. Er dachte wirklich, dass er die richtige Wahl traf. Aber er lag falsch.\n\n\"Die Spur war vorher kalt\", sagte sie und versuchte, ihre Stimme gleichm\u00e4\u00dfig zu halten. \"Fl\u00fcstern des Phantoms, das durch einw\u00f6chige Transaktionen geht. Vierundzwanzig Stunden, Rhys. Vierundzwanzig! Das Phantom war vor einem Tag in diesem Raum. Wir k\u00f6nnen jetzt nicht aufh\u00f6ren. Wir brauchen Essen. Devana ben\u00f6tigt Wartung und Upgrades. Und vielleicht.... vielleicht k\u00f6nnen wir, nachdem wir das beendet haben, eine Pause machen, oder? Geh auf einen Vergn\u00fcgungsplaneten, vielleicht Cassel... zusammen.\"\n\nIhre Wangen err\u00f6teten, wie ihre eigenen Worte klangen, aber Rhys' Augen wurden dunkel, und er schr\u00f6pfte ihr Kinn in seine schwielige Hand und neigte ihren Kopf nach oben, bis sich ihre Augen trafen.\n\n\"Noch einmal. Wir werden versuchen, eine weitere F\u00fchrung zu finden\", gab Rhys zu, seine Stimme rau. \"Aber wenn wir es nicht tun.... k\u00f6nnen wir es uns nicht leisten, andere Arbeiten f\u00fcr dieses Bounty zu ignorieren. Also, wenn die n\u00e4chste Spur nicht klappt, versprich mir, dass du sie aufgibst.\"\n\nMila dr\u00fcckte seine Hand weg. \"Es tut mir leid. Aber nein. Das kann ich dir nicht versprechen.\"\n\nDas leise Summen eines sich n\u00e4hernden Schwebers erregte ihre Aufmerksamkeit, und beide sahen auf. Blinkende Lichter. Lokale Polizei.\n\n\"Lasst uns in der Menge verloren gehen\", sagte Rhys. \"Aber dieses Gespr\u00e4ch ist noch nicht beendet.\"\n\nMila dr\u00fcckte ihre Irritation herunter und folgte ihm. Sie w\u00fcrde ihn \u00fcberzeugen. Weil sie keine Aufgeber waren.\n\nSie hielten ein lebhaftes Tempo aufrecht, bis sie weit auf dem Hauptplatz waren, wo sich die Masse der Menschen vor der Journeymen Hall versammelt hatte. Es war ein interessantes Schauspiel - eine Mischung aus normal aussehenden Zivilisten und Leuten, die f\u00fcr diesen Anlass gekleidet waren. Einige dieser Reisenden mochten es, alte Erdbr\u00e4uche nachzuahmen, mehr als die auf Terra.\n\nEine Gruppe in der N\u00e4he von Mila und Rhys trug seidene M\u00e4ntel und fantastische Masken, die mit Federn verziert waren. Ein weiteres Dutzend hatte auf die Kost\u00fcme verzichtet, aber ihre Wanderst\u00f6cke waren aufwendig geschnitzt und mit Edelsteinen und glatten Steinen \u00fcberzogen. Ein anderes Paar trug goldene Roben mit Masken, die so geschnitzt waren, dass sie an Raubtiere erinnerten.\n\nRhys dr\u00e4ngte sich durch die Menge und schnitzte einen Weg zum hinteren Rand des Platzes, wo die Verk\u00e4ufer St\u00e4nde mit all den Waren und Schmuckst\u00fccken aufgebaut hatten, die eine Menge von Pilgern am Reisetag haben wollte.\n\nDer Duft von gebratenem Fleisch lie\u00df ihren Mund w\u00e4ssrig werden und ihren Magen knurren, was sie daran erinnerte, dass sie seit dem Fr\u00fchst\u00fcck heute Morgen auf Devana nichts mehr gegessen hatte. Rhys schien derselben Meinung zu sein, denn er f\u00fchrte sie dorthin, wo der n\u00e4chste Lebensmittelh\u00e4ndler einen Grill aufgestellt hatte.\n\n\"Welche Art von Fleisch?\" Rhys hat verspottet.\n\nDie Frau mittleren Alters zwinkerte und winkte dem Spie\u00df bei Rhys zu. \"Besonders. Ist ein Geheimnis.\"\n\n\"Ah, richtig. K\u00f6nnte das ein spezielles Skap-Fleisch vom Dockside sein?\"\n\nDas Gesicht der Frau war sauer. \"Beleidigungen! Ich verkaufe Skap nicht.\"\n\nMila ging zum n\u00e4chsten Tisch und schob Rhys' Feilschen heraus. Er war so knauserig mit ihren Glaubensrichtungen. Wie konnte er nicht sehen, wie wichtig es f\u00fcr sie war, das Phantom zu fangen?\n\nDer Tisch, an dem Mila sich befand, war mit Schmuckst\u00fccken \u00fcbers\u00e4t. Weihrauchbrenner, christliche Kreuze, wikkanische Pentagramme, buddhistische Statuen und eine gro\u00dfe Auswahl an anderem eklektisch aussehendem Schmuck.\n\nEin bronzefarbener Anh\u00e4nger an einer langen Kette fiel Mila auf. Sie hob es auf, ohne nachzudenken, und drehte es in ihrer Handfl\u00e4che um. Es glich der Form eines unendlichen Symbols, und kleine perlmuttfarbene Steine in allen m\u00f6glichen Formen und Gr\u00f6\u00dfen baumelten am Ende davon.\n\n\"Dieses St\u00fcck ist fast so sch\u00f6n wie du.\"\n\nMila begann und f\u00fchlte, wie ihre Wangen rot wurden, als sie dem Blick des Verk\u00e4ufers begegnete. Die bunt gekleidete Frau sah aus, als w\u00e4re sie Anfang 30 und hatte blasse Haut und eisblaue Augen wie Mila, aber da endeten ihre Gemeinsamkeiten. Das raumschwarze Haar der Frau war in Dutzenden von winzigen Z\u00f6pfen gestylt, und sie trug einen Nasenring, der unter den funkelnden Lichtern, die an der Metallmarkise dar\u00fcber hingen, schimmerte.\n\n\"\u00c4hm... danke\", sagte Mila. \"Es ist ein sch\u00f6nes St\u00fcck.\"\n\n\"Besser als sch\u00f6n, M\u00e4dchen. Es ist das ideale Geschenk, um die neue Sonne zu feiern. Das hei\u00dft, wenn du Gl\u00fcck haben willst. Dieser Anh\u00e4nger wurde von Cassa gesegnet.\"\n\nMila blickte wieder nach unten auf den Anh\u00e4nger, auf die Art und Weise, wie die funkelnden Lichter \u00fcber uns die Farben auf jeder Steinkette und Ver\u00e4nderung machten, wie winzige Regenb\u00f6gen. Sie war nicht abergl\u00e4ubisch oder religi\u00f6s, aber der Anh\u00e4nger erinnerte sie an einen Ring, den sie als Kind besessen hatte. Sie wollte es anprobieren, die Steine n\u00e4her an das Licht halten und sehen, wie sie sich ver\u00e4ndern, aber sie widersetzte sich.\n\n\"Was f\u00fcr Steine sind das f\u00fcr Steine?\" fragte Mila.\n\n\"Diese Steine wurden aus dem Nullpunkt zwischen zwei Doppelsternen gesammelt. Nur Reisende mit viel Gl\u00fcck und Ausdauer k\u00f6nnen die Nadel einf\u00e4deln, um diesen Punkt zu erreichen.\"\n\nEin leises Lachen erklang hinter Mila, und sie wirbelte, um Rhys zu finden, der dort stand, zwei Fleischspie\u00dfe in der Hand. \"Steine, die zwischen gepaarten Sternen gesammelt wurden, was?\"\n\nDer ernste Ausdruck der Frau \u00e4nderte sich nicht. \"Das ist genau das, was sie sind.\"\n\nRhys sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf. \"Vielleicht solltest du mal von diesem Felsen runterkommen. Weil nichts zwischen den Bin\u00e4rsternen h\u00e4ngt; der eine oder andere zieht alles hinein.\"\n\nDie Frau lehnte sich \u00fcber den Tisch, und ein langsames L\u00e4cheln breitete sich auf ihren blutroten Lippen aus. \"Die Reise kann uns viel lehren, mein Freund. Aber bauen Sie ein Leben auf falschen \u00dcberzeugungen auf, und Sie werden bald feststellen, dass Ihr Schiff in ein Minenfeld getrieben wurde.\"\n\n\"Bist du hier fertig, Mi?\" Rhys' Frage kam wie ein Befehl heraus, und er sah aus, als w\u00fcrde er sich sehr bem\u00fchen, der Frau nicht zu antworten. Er hatte nicht viel Geduld mit religi\u00f6sen Typen, Journeywomen oder anderen.\n\nDer Kaufmann ignorierte Rhys und sah Mila erwartungsvoll an. \"Die Farben in diesem St\u00fcck passen wirklich zu dir.\"\n\n\"Es ist wundersch\u00f6n. Aber vielleicht ein anderes Mal.\"\n\nMila seufzte und lie\u00df die Halskette widerwillig in die Wartehandfl\u00e4che der Frau fallen. Mila schnappte sich einen Fleischspie\u00df von Rhys, ohne auf seine Augen zu treffen, und ging zur Mitte des Platzes. Warum musste er immer so ein Spielverderber sein?\n\nSie blieb am Rande der Menge stehen, beobachtete ein unbekanntes Ritual, das sich in der Mitte des Platzes entfaltete, und nagte an dem z\u00e4hen Fleisch. Skap-Fleisch oder nicht, es war tausendmal besser als die faden Nahrungsriegel auf ihrem Schiff.\n\nSie beendete es, warf den Stock und begann die Menge nach Rhys zu durchsuchen. Es ist Zeit, ihn davon zu \u00fcberzeugen, die Suche nach dem Phantom fortzusetzen.\n\nSie fand ihn nur wenige Meter entfernt und beobachtete sie aufmerksam, und trotz ihres fr\u00fcheren \u00c4rgers knospte ein L\u00e4cheln auf ihren Lippen. Er wusste, wann er ihr Freiraum geben musste, und er wusste, wann sie ihn wirklich brauchte, um es nicht zu tun. Seine solide Pr\u00e4senz in ihrem Leben war der beste Teil der letzten Monate gewesen.\n\nEin grauer Blitz in ihrem peripheren Blick zog ihren Blick auf sich, und er landete auf einem Mann, der einen silbernen Reifenohrring und eine gef\u00e4lschte liavolde Hautjacke trug. Es war das Leben aus der Taverne.\n\nMilas Puls wurde schneller, und sie dr\u00e4ngte an den Menschen um sie herum vorbei, um n\u00e4her heranzukommen. Das niedertr\u00e4chtige Leben starrte Rhys an, aber als er bemerkte, dass Mila auf ihn zusteuerte, weiteten sich seine Augen und er kletterte davon und verschwand in der Menge.\n\nMila rief und sprintete ihm nach, schob die Leute aus dem Weg, ignorierte die Obsz\u00f6nit\u00e4ten, die sie in ihrem Gefolge schrien. Sie war sich vage bewusst, dass Rhys hinter ihr in einen Schritt fiel. Dieser Dock-Abschaum wusste etwas, sie war sich dessen sicher. Er k\u00f6nnte sogar ein Spion f\u00fcr die Reparatur sein. Sie konnte ihn nicht entkommen lassen.\n\nDie Wutausbr\u00fcche vor ihr lie\u00dfen sie wissen, dass sie auf dem richtigen Weg war, und als sie die Hauptpresse der Menge verlie\u00df, sah sie eine graue Jacke, die um die Ecke verschwand.\n\nSie rannte schneller, ein Stich wuchs in ihrer Seite, als sie auftauchte. Als der Mann vor ihr z\u00f6gerte und versuchte, sich zu entscheiden, in welche Richtung er sich am Ende einer Gasse wenden sollte, st\u00fcrzte sie sich nach vorne und schlug ihn gegen die Wand. Sie schlugen beide hart zu und rutschten auf den schmutzigen B\u00fcrgersteig.\n\nRhys war einen Moment sp\u00e4ter da, schleppte Mila aus dem Weg und befestigte die Arme des Mannes hinter seinem R\u00fccken, damit er keine Waffe ziehen konnte. Die blutunterlaufenen Augen des Mannes waren wild und huschten zwischen Mila und dem Ausgang der Gasse.\n\nRhys hob eine Stirn. \"M\u00f6chtest du das erkl\u00e4ren?\"\n\nMila schn\u00fcffelte und wischte sich den Staub von der Hose. \"Was? Hast du ihn nicht in der Taverne bemerkt? Diese Schlange hat dich belauscht. Ich wette, er arbeitet mit dem Fixer. Und er hat dich definitiv da hinten beobachtet.\"\n\n\"Ist das so?\" Rhys zog seine Pistole und schob den Mann gegen das Geb\u00e4ude, um ihn zu durchsuchen. Er zog eine Schiebeklinge heraus, die sich an der Taille des Mannes verbarg, und holte dann eine kleine schwarze Tasche aus seiner Jacke. Er warf Mila den Fall zu, und sie \u00f6ffnete ihn, ihr Herz schlug immer noch einen Stakkato-Rhythmus gegen ihren Brustkorb.\n\nIm Inneren befanden sich eine Spritze und ein Fl\u00e4schchen mit schwarzer, viskoser Fl\u00fcssigkeit.\n\n\"Zeig uns deinen Arm\", verlangte Mila.\n\nDer Mann zitterte, als er seinen \u00c4rmel nach oben schob und ein Netz von Adern enth\u00fcllte, das aus seiner Gewohnheit schwarz gef\u00e4rbt war.\n\nRhys pfiff. \"Wir haben einen WiDoWer, was?\" Er passte seine Arclight so an, dass sie mit dem Gesicht des Mannes \u00fcbereinstimmte. \"Warum sind Sie uns gefolgt?\"\n\nDer Adamsapfel des Mannes wackelte, als er schluckte, und er hielt seine Handfl\u00e4che heraus, als ein Tropfen Schwei\u00df \u00fcber seine Stirn und in sein Auge glitt. \"Ich bin dir gefolgt, weil ich Informationen bekommen habe. Ich tausche gegen ihn.\"\n\n\"Was f\u00fcr eine Art?\" fragte Rhys, seine Augen hart. \"Die letzte Information, die wir bekamen, war nicht viel wert.\"\n\n\"Harris - er hat dich reingelegt. Aber ich kenne die Wahrheit.\"\n\n\"Kein Handel.\" Mila schloss den S\u00fcchtigen, hielt seine Drogen immer noch in ihrem Griff und wickelte ihre andere Hand um seinen Hals und dr\u00fcckte sie zusammen. \"Wenn du von der Falle w\u00fcsstest, h\u00e4ttest du es uns vorher sagen sollen. Wir h\u00e4tten sterben k\u00f6nnen.\"\n\n\"Mila.\" Rhys' geringe Warnung konnte die Wut, die in Milas Kopf brummte, nicht beruhigen.\n\n\"Kein Handel\", wiederholte Mila und dr\u00fcckte fester. Die Lowlife keuchte nach Luft.\n\n\"Mila.\" Diesmal brach Rhys' Stimme durch, und Mila lie\u00df ihre Hand von der Kehle des Mannes fallen und zwang sich dann, zur\u00fcckzutreten.\n\nRhys verengte seine Augen auf sie und wandte sich dann wieder dem S\u00fcchtigen zu. \"Was willst du f\u00fcr die Info?\"\n\n\"Creds\", sagte der Mann und keuchte. \"Neunzig Credits.\"\n\n\"F\u00fcr Drogen.\" Mila \u00f6ffnete das Geh\u00e4use und hielt das Fl\u00e4schchen hoch, damit der S\u00fcchtige es sehen konnte. \"Was ist damit? Du erz\u00e4hlst uns alles, was du wei\u00dft, oder ich f\u00fcttere deinen kostbaren Schlamm auf den B\u00fcrgersteig.\"\n\n\"Nein. Nein. Nein, nein, nein, nein, nein.\" Der Mann schwitzte jetzt freier, und die Verzweiflung in seiner Stimme machte Mila krank mit pl\u00f6tzlichem Selbsthass. Aber sie wollte nicht nachgeben. Sie war fertig mit dem Feilschen. Mit den Trades. Erledigt mit all den L\u00fcgen und toten Spuren.\n\nSie stellte das Fl\u00e4schchen auf den Boden und legte ihren Stiefel dar\u00fcber. \"Du hast eine Sekunde Zeit, um dich zu entscheiden.\"\n\n\"Ich sage es dir. Ich sage es dir! Nicht. Es ist mein letzter. Das Phantom war hier. Sie nannte sich Elaine. Harris hat sie mit neuen Tags ausgestattet. Ich habe eine Aufnahme von ihnen auf meinem Mobi.\"\n\n\"Zeig es uns\", verlangte Rhys.\n\nDer Mann enth\u00fcllte die Mobi unter seinem \u00c4rmel und brachte die Daten hoch. Mila streichelte ihren Arm \u00fcber seinen Bildschirm und ihr Mobi nahm die Tag-Nummern auf. Dann legte sie ihren Stiefel wieder \u00fcber das Fl\u00e4schchen von WiDoW. Die Lowlife schien im schwachen Licht der Kugeln \u00fcber Kopf gr\u00fcn zu werden.\n\n\"Wo wollte Elaine als n\u00e4chstes hin?\" fragte Rhys.\n\n\"Septa - sie hatte ein Meeting auf dem Podium. Sie hat einen Weg in den Raum Xi'an. Jemand, der m\u00e4chtig ist, hilft diesem M\u00e4dchen. Musta hat Harris Big bezahlt, denn ich habe ihn noch nie dabei gesehen, wie er einen Kopfgeldj\u00e4ger gegr\u00fcndet hat, wie er es bei euch beiden getan hat.\"\n\nMilas Verstand raste, wenn man die Auswirkungen dessen bedenkt, was dieser Spitzel sagte. Wenn das Phantom wirklich einen Weg in den Raum Xi'an h\u00e4tte, w\u00fcrden sie sie nie wieder finden. Sie w\u00fcrde Rihlah erreichen, und die Xi'an w\u00fcrden keinen Kak machen, um ihnen zu helfen, einen Terroristen zu fangen. Sie taten einfach so, als w\u00fcrden sie diplomatisch handeln, w\u00e4hrend das Phantom ihr Leben ausleben konnte, mit der Advocacy und dem Rest der UEE, die darauf warteten, dass sie freiwillig wieder in den von Menschen kontrollierten Raum geht.\n\n\"Er k\u00f6nnte l\u00fcgen\", sagte Mila. \"Beschreibe diese Elaine.\"\n\n\"\u00c4h - rote Haare. Ich glaube, es war eine Per\u00fccke. Ich folgte ihr zur\u00fcck zum Hostel und sah sie mit schwarzen Haaren gehen. Dunkle Haut. Ende zwanzig. Sie hielt ihr Gesicht bedeckt. Ich habe nie ein gutes Video bekommen.\" Der S\u00fcchtige klopfte wieder auf seine Mobi und brachte ein Bild von einer Frau zur Sprache, die, wie er es beschrieben hatte, verdeckt war.\n\nAlles, was Mila und Rhys je gesehen hatten, waren verschwommene Bilder dieser Frau, nicht besser als das, was dieser Mann ihnen zeigte. Aber was mussten sie sonst noch tun?\n\nSie tauschte Blicke mit Rhys aus, und Rhys nickte ihr langsam zu.\n\nMila nahm die Ampulle und schob sie zur\u00fcck in den Koffer. Sie wollte die Drogen zerst\u00f6ren, diesen Abschaum zum Entzug zwingen, aber der Entzug k\u00f6nnte ihn t\u00f6ten. Und Mila war keine M\u00f6rderin und w\u00fcrde es auch nie sein.\n\nSie lie\u00df die Tasche wieder in die H\u00e4nde des Mannes fallen und schnippte seine Jacke mit ihrem Finger. Er zuckte bei der Ber\u00fchrung zusammen.\n\n\"Wenn du Creds brauchst, solltest du damit beginnen, eine R\u00fcckerstattung von demjenigen zu verlangen, der dir diesen Mist verkauft hat.\"\n\nSeine Augenbrauen stiegen \u00fcberrascht nach oben, und er blickte auf seine Jacke, dann zur\u00fcck zu Rhys, der immer noch seine Waffe hielt. \"Kann ich meine Klinge wiederhaben?\"\n\n\"Verschwinde von hier\", bellte Rhys.\n\nDer Mann zuckte wieder zusammen, dann steckte er seine Drogen ein und rannte davon.\n\n\"Was zum Teufel war das?\" Rhys' Gesicht war rot, seine Stimme so leise, dass Mila wusste, dass er sauer war. \"Das ist nicht unsere Vereinbarung. Ich mache das Feilschen. Ich k\u00fcmmere mich um die Kontakte. Nicht du. Das ist unser Angebot.\"\n\nMila legte ihre H\u00e4nde auf ihre H\u00fcften. \"Nun, es hat funktioniert, nicht wahr? Wir m\u00fcssen zur\u00fcck zu unserem Schiff und nach Septa, bevor unser Phantom f\u00fcr immer verschwindet.\" Sie drehte sich um und ging weg, ohne auf eine Antwort zu warten.\n\nRhys sprach kein Wort, als sie zu den Docks zur\u00fcckkehrten, und seine Wut hing in der schweren Stille zwischen ihnen, ruinierte das, was eine Feier h\u00e4tte sein sollen, und \u00fcberlie\u00df sie ihren eigenen Gedanken. Als sie schlie\u00dflich den gut beleuchteten Eingang erreichten, der zu ihrem Freelancer f\u00fchrte, wandte sich Mila an Rhys. \n\nSein Ausdruck war wieder leer und zeigte nichts von dem, was er f\u00fchlen k\u00f6nnte. Manchmal war er so verdammt schwer zu lesen. Sie dr\u00fcckte eine Hand an seine Brust, und seine Augen wurden bei ihrer Ber\u00fchrung leicht weicher.\n\n\"Es tut mir leid. F\u00fcr das, was ich vorhin getan habe. Du hast Recht. Ich habe unsere Vereinbarung gebrochen. Ich verspreche, ich werde versuchen, mich von jetzt an zusammenzurei\u00dfen.\"\n\n\"Nicht. Du hast bekommen, was wir brauchten. Aber wenn diese Spur nicht funktioniert?\"\n\n\"Gut. Wenn es nicht schwankt.... dann sind wir mit der Suche fertig.\"\n\nEs spielte keine Rolle. Denn wenn das Phantom wirklich in den Raum Xi'an unterwegs war und sie sie noch einmal vermissten, war es sowieso so gut wie vorbei.\n\nEin erleichterter Blick ging \u00fcber Rhys' Gesicht. \"Gut. Dann sind wir uns einig. Wir werden dieser Spur folgen, aber wenn wir sie verlieren, gehen wir zu etwas anderem \u00fcber.\"\n\nEr z\u00f6gerte, griff dann in seine Tasche und zog einen kleinen Samtbeutel heraus. Milas Lippen trennten sich, als er eine Kette herauszog, der Cassa-Anh\u00e4nger hing daran, seine wundersch\u00f6nen perlmuttartigen Steine schimmerten im Licht der Hafenkugeln.\n\nRhys befestigte den Gl\u00fccksanh\u00e4nger um Milas Hals.\n\n\"Aber unser Verdienst....\" Mila erw\u00e4rmte sich bei seiner leichten Ber\u00fchrung. \"Wir hatten nicht genug, um das zu verschwenden.\"\n\nEr zuckte mit den Schultern. \"K\u00f6nnte sein, dass Journeywoman mit dieser Sache doch Recht hatte. Alles, was wir brauchten, war ein bisschen Gl\u00fcck. Und es scheint, wir haben es geschafft.\"\n\nSeine Stimme kam heiser heraus, und Mila stand auf Zehenspitzen, um ihn zu k\u00fcssen. Er reagierte mit Intensit\u00e4t, zog sie n\u00e4her heran und dr\u00fcckte ihren K\u00f6rper an seinen. Sie legte ihre Arme um seinen Hals und verlor sich in ihm.\n\nAls er sich zur\u00fcckzog, waren seine Augen dunkel. \"Flugplan zuerst. Aber w\u00e4hrend wir auf die Freigabe warten..... \u201d\n\nMila schenkte ihm ein kleines L\u00e4cheln. \"Triff mich in der Koje?\"\n\nEr grinste und zog sie f\u00fcr einen weiteren Kuss zu sich heran. \"Und danach.... fangen wir unser Phantom.\"\n\nWIRD FORTGESETZT......","zh_CN":"Writer\u2019s Note: Phantom Bounty: Part One was published originally in Jump Point 3.1.\nTwo hundred and sixty-five days. That\u2019s how long they\u2019d been hunting the Phantom. It seemed like they\u2019d entered a thousand of these tiny, dark, hole-in-the-wall taverns, seeking leads from shifty informants, always just too far behind. Mila leaned against the metal prefab wall and tried to breathe through her mouth, but the scent of stale alcohol and vomit flooded her nostrils anyway.\n\nRhys stood at the bar, towering above the other patrons, his broad back all she could see as he haggled with the owner for information, likely bribing away the last of their meager credits. Her stomach churned just watching him. They had to be close this time. Because if they didn\u2019t land that massive bounty soon, they wouldn\u2019t be able to afford so much as a mug of this dive\u2019s swill.\n\nMila ran a hand through her straight brown hair, and a toothless patron leered at her from his stool at the bar. She crossed her arms and shot him a challenging glare, which unnerved him enough that he looked away and took another swig of his drink.\n\nA younger man with a ripped synth liavold-skin jacket and questionable hygiene inched his way up to the bar and stood off to the side, pulling on the silver hoop in his ear. Typical.\n\nThere was usually at least one lowlife in a place like this \u2014 wearing synth-skin of nearly extinct creatures. They thought it made them look badass, like they didn\u2019t fear the law, like they were above it. Mila\u2019s nails bit into her palms, and she forced herself to unclench her fists. He probably didn\u2019t even know it was a fake. Real liavold skin never came in that shade of grey.\n\nThe lowlife stepped closer to Rhys, clearly trying to eavesdrop, and Mila pushed away from the wall to go run him off. But Rhys finished haggling before she made it to the bar, and he gestured at her toward the exit. Relieved, she followed him outside.\n\nThe yellow-white sun had finished its descent while she and Rhys had been inside the tavern, and one by one the century-old light globes running the length of Tevistal\u2019s streets flickered on. A loud murmur echoed down the alleyway, voices in the night, evidence of the crowd that had been gathering a few streets over in the square to celebrate the new year.\n\nDamn Traveler\u2019s Day. Sure, the huge crowd afforded her and Rhys an easy way to blend in, but that went both ways. If they could stay low profile, then the Phantom could do the same, slipping away like always.\n\nRhys grabbed Mila\u2019s arm as the tavern doors swung closed behind them, and she gazed up at him: at the sharp angles of his face, his tousled brown hair, at the rough beard he\u2019d allowed to grow in as they\u2019d chased the Phantom from system to system, barely sleeping.\n\nRhys\u2019s green eyes were bright, glinting in the light of the globes as he leaned down close. Mila warmed at the look in them. If she was being honest, their recent sleepless nights had less to do with the Phantom and more to do with . . . other things. They had been sharing a bunk for almost a month now.\n\n\u201cGood news,\u201d Rhys said. \u201cMaybe.\u201d A familiar smirk appeared on his face.\n\nShe cleared her throat. \u201cOh yeah? What did he say?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat we might actually catch our Phantom this time.\u201d\n\nMila\u2019s pulse quickened, and her hand involuntarily dropped to the laser pistol holstered beneath her jacket. \u201cShe\u2019s here? Still in Tevistal?\u201d\n\nRhys\u2019s smirk faded, and he took Mila by the arm and led her down the alleyway toward the main street. \u201cI want to believe it,\u201d he said, keeping his voice low. \u201cI paid the fixer his fee and . . .\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd what?\u201d\n\n\u201cHe gave me an address to a hostel. RoomTab\u2019s still clicking. Said he saw the Phantom yesterday.\u201d\n\nYesterday. \u201cWhy do I hear a \u2018but\u2019 coming?\u201d\n\nRhys halted as they exited the alley. \u201cBut I\u2019m not sure we can trust him. It was all . . . too easy.\u201d\n\nPressure grew in Mila\u2019s chest, and she blew out a breath, surveying the crowd at the end of the globe-lit street. Rhys had solid instincts \u2014 one of the many reasons Mila had charmed the successful bounty hunter into forming a partnership with her. With his hunches and her tech skills, they made a great team.\n\n\u201cWell, what do you want to do?\u201d she asked, a note of the desperation she felt seeping into her tone. \u201cI think we should check it out. We need this.\u201d\n\n\u201cI know.\u201d\n\nShe met his eyes. \u201cWe don\u2019t have a choice.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s always a choice.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re too close. I say we check this out.\u201d\n\nRhys worked his jaw and finally nodded. He pushed up the sleeve of his jacket, revealing the mobiGlas strapped to his forearm, and swiped his finger along the flexible clear screen to bring up a street map of Tevistal. After a moment, he concluded, \u201cThe address isn\u2019t far from here. Travel advisory says it\u2019s a high crime area.\u201d\n\nMila snorted and swept her arm around. \u201cAnd this isn\u2019t?\u201d\n\nFetid pools of water had gathered in potholes from the last rains, and the low prefab buildings here were dirty and dented, nothing like the tall, sparkling skyscrapers that had grown up further from the docks as the city matured. If Tevistal had an armpit, this was it.\n\nRhys laid a heavy hand on her shoulder. \u201cDoesn\u2019t matter. Because you\u2019re heading back to the ship. I\u2019ll scout this out to see if it\u2019s legit.\u201d\n\n\u201cLike hell I am. No way.\u201d Mila flared her nostrils and shrugged off his hand. \u201cIt\u2019s dangerous. You need back-up.\u201d\n\nThe Phantom had single-handedly attacked seven Phan Pharmaceutical research facilities in the past year and had managed to evade every agent of the law since. The UEE wanted the saboteur \u2014 dead or alive \u2014 on charges of terrorism, murder and armed robbery. Dangerous was an understatement.\n\n\u201cLet me scout it out,\u201d Rhys repeated, his voice rough.\n\n\u201cWe go together,\u201d Mila responded through gritted teeth.\n\nRhys let out a low growl, but when it was clear Mila wouldn\u2019t back down, he shook his head and started walking.\n\nMila released a breath and caught up to him. Rhys never would have suggested going alone before. He\u2019d grown more cautious, more protective since they\u2019d taken things to the next level. Controlling, even. It needed to stop, but right now wasn\u2019t the time to address it.\n\nThe mobi directed them away from the crowds and deeper into the dockside slums. One cramped alleyway led to another, and the scent of burning garbage wafted over them as they passed homeless transients tending fires in front of scrap-metal lean-tos.\n\nHovers flew overhead, their lights illuminating the dark night as they ferried those who could afford it between the docks and the gleaming towers in the more affluent sections of the city. The soothing hum of their engines reminded Mila of another life, where she\u2019d have been the one headed for better lodgings. But that old existence on Terra was long gone. And this \u2014 the chase, the hunt, taking down criminals with Rhys by her side \u2014 this was her life now. No regrets.\n\nWhen Rhys\u2019s mobi beeped to tell them they\u2019d reached their destination, he deactivated it and drew his Arclight. \u201cDown that alley. Building Two. Apartment Nine.\u201d\n\nMila readied her own pistol and followed him into the dark alley. The prefab self-service \u201chostels\u201d that filled this area were owned by investors who probably never set foot here. If you wanted to do something shady, this was the place for it.\n\nAdrenaline flooded Mila\u2019s body, making her pulse thrum faster. A cracked globe flickered above the low buildings, barely illuminating the letters engraved in the walls. She activated her pistol\u2019s nightlight, but it didn\u2019t help much.\n\nA slow drip echoed from somewhere, and the only other sound was the pad of their boots on the pavement. Mila pointed her light at the nearest building and found the number etched in the side.\n\n\u201cOne,\u201d she said quietly.\n\nA low rustle emanated from where she\u2019d cast her light, and she and Rhys tensed. Metal hit metal, and Mila swung her weapon toward it. A skap tore out of the darkness and skittered across their path. Another dark shape, a blur of claws and fur, raced after the rat-like creature. As the predator and prey disappeared into the gloom, the skap let out a brief, interrupted shriek.\n\nMila released her breath with a shaky laugh. Maybe it was an omen. Maybe this would be the night she and Rhys finally caught their prey.\n\n\u201cBuilding Two,\u201d Rhys said, shining his light on the building where the animals had headed.\n\nMila barely breathed as Rhys pushed open the outer metal door. It swung in on rusty hinges, creaking in the silence.\n\nDim globes lit up the space automatically, revealing a narrow corridor that was strewn with litter and stank of piss.\n\nMila darted a glance at Rhys. His eyes were narrowed, and that hint was enough for Mila to know he was worried.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s too quiet,\u201d Rhys murmured.\n\n\u201cMaybe it\u2019s pickpocket-the-pilgrims night,\u201d Mila responded, but her sarcasm didn\u2019t ease the tension. Rhys was right. These prefab buildings had paper-thin walls, yet the place was dead silent. Not a good sign.\n\nThey walked a few more paces, and Rhys pointed his weapon at a door on the right. \u201cNine. Watch my back. I go in first.\u201d\n\nAs he turned the knob, every muscle in Mila\u2019s body went tight. The door swung open, unlocked, and the bright lights inside flooded the dimly lit hallway.\n\nRhys stepped through the door, and Mila\u2019s jumpsuit suddenly felt too tight. Sweat dripped down her back as she scanned the other doors and kept an eye on the one they\u2019d come in.\n\nRhys returned, finished with his sweep of the small space. His face was a blank mask. \u201cEmpty. RoomTab\u2019s been hacked.\u201d\n\nHeat coursed through Mila. She let out a grunt and shoved past him and into the room. So close. Her throat thickened, and she fought the urge to punch a hole through one of the thin walls.\n\nThe room contained a low mattress and a metal folding table and chair. A partition separated the sink and toilet from the rest of the room, but other than that, the room had been stripped bare.\n\nMila whirled around to face the hacked payment scanner. Wires had been ripped out and reconnected in a knot, forcing the RoomTab system to keep the water running and the lights on without payment.\n\n\u201cSearch the room,\u201d Mila said, her voice hard. \u201cYou find so much as a hair, you save it.\u201d\n\nRhys gave her a pained look. \u201cYou know we won\u2019t.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll check the scanner.\u201d Mila clenched her jaw as she rolled up her sleeve to activate her mobiGlas and access the payment scanner.\n\nShe brought up the program she\u2019d written to hack basic systems. Technically it was illegal to use a program like this, but she\u2019d written it so she could bring criminals to justice, hadn\u2019t she? She\u2019d never use one of her programs to break the law.\n\n\u201cThis was rigged less than twenty-four hours ago. We just missed her.\u201d Mila disconnected her mobi and slammed a hand into the room\u2019s thin metal wall. The whole thing shuddered in response. \u201cWe need to \u2014\u201d\n\n\u201cMila.\u201d Rhys\u2019s sharp voice was a warning, and she turned to face him. The heat drained from her as she saw what he held in his hands. He\u2019d turned the folding table over and part of it rested on his thighs. A small bundle was taped to the underside of it. It let out a low beep. Then another.\n\nExplosives.\n\nMila\u2019s pulse skyrocketed, roaring in her ears. She kept her eyes glued to Rhys, to the thinly masked fear on his face, and reluctantly backed out the door. It had happened too fast. They should have listened to Rhys\u2019s gut on this.\n\nShe paused for a moment outside the unit\u2019s door, indecisive, then turned and took off running down the corridor.\n\nReaching the outer door, she threw it open and glanced back to find Rhys hurtling toward her. They stumbled into the alleyway together as a deafening blast rocked the flimsy structure, and the shock wave knocked them both to their knees. Heat rushed over them and stole Mila\u2019s breath away.\n\nMila stared down at the pavement, ears ringing as the shock faded.\n\nRhys recovered first, panting, and pulled a shaking Mila to her feet. He held her close and searched her face. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d\n\nIt took Mila a second to find her voice. \u201cYeah. You?\u201d\n\n\u201cFine.\u201d Rhys glanced back toward the building. \u201cDo you think anyone else was in there?\u201d\n\n\u201cYou know it was empty. We gotta get out of here. If we get stopped here, we\u2019ll be wrapped up for a day or more in questioning.\u201d\n\nRhys nodded, looking as dazed as she felt, and they jogged down the alleyway and back out to the street. The explosion had summoned a small group of the transients, and they openly gaped at Mila and Rhys as they ran by.\n\nRed crowded the edges of Mila\u2019s vision, and her anger mingled with an old, dark pain. They needed to bring the Phantom to justice. Had to. It was a need that overwhelmed logic, a need she couldn\u2019t deny, and Mila probably would have chased the Phantom even if the bounty had been far lower.\n\nIt was all because of Casey, even if Mila tried to pretend it wasn\u2019t. Casey Phan, kidnapped and murdered when they were sixteen. The inept police force had just let the killer get away. Watching that crime go unpunished was the reason Mila decided to work for justice. The reason she abandoned her family to become a bounty hunter.\n\nCasey\u2019s father owned Phan Pharmaceuticals, and seeing the Phantom blow up the facilities, kill Phan Pharm workers, steal research . . . it had rekindled all of Mila\u2019s old memories. She\u2019d take out the Phantom the way she\u2019d never been able to take out the screwed up person who had stolen Casey away.\n\nWhen Mila and Rhys were almost to the crowded square, she halted and wiped the sweat from her face, still breathing hard. She was dangerously close to losing it, and she wasn\u2019t about to have a breakdown in front of all the revelers between them and their ship.\n\nRhys stopped when she did. \u201cWhat is it?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat was a set-up,\u201d Mila said, her voice breaking. \u201cThat fixer knew he was sending us to die. Everyone must have known it. Someone warned the rest of the tenants to get out.\u201d\n\nShe swung her body around, seeking something, anything, to take her anger out on. She slammed the toe of her boot into a piece of scrap metal and sent it flying. A sharp pain coursed through her foot, but she gritted her teeth against it and tried to ignore the burning sensation in her eyes.\n\nShe let out a little guttural scream and turned back to Rhys, her hands clenched into tight fists. \u201cWe need to beat the kak out of that fixer until he gives us the truth.\u201d\n\nRhys grabbed Mila by the shoulders and leaned down so his eyes were level with hers. \u201cCalm. Down.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo!\u201d Mila pushed him away with both hands, but he held her tight and didn\u2019t let go. She blinked against the continued burning sensation in her eyes. \u201cWe need this bounty.\u201d\n\nRhys shook his head. \u201cIf that fixer knowingly sent us to a trap, I\u2019m not about to advertise we survived it. This is his turf. We\u2019re at a disadvantage here. You should know that.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe were just so close,\u201d Mila replied, her voice shaking.\n\nRhys loosened his tight hold on her. \u201cI\u2019m calling it, Mi. This isn\u2019t worth getting blown up over. There are plenty of other bounties to go after.\u201d\n\nBut none like this one. Hot anger lit a fire in Mila\u2019s chest, and she shoved Rhys away. \u201cCoward.\u201d\n\nSurprise flashed across his face, and he stiffened. \u201cDon\u2019t be an idiot. This isn\u2019t about bravery, it\u2019s about survival. You wanted to hunt this one, so I agreed. For you. It was always a long shot. We\u2019ll survive off less until something else comes along. We\u2019re done.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d Mila shoved Rhys again, and he stumbled back a step. \u201cWe\u2019re finding the Phantom. And if you won\u2019t help, I\u2019ll keep searching by myself.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat is it about this case that you\u2019re not telling me? You\u2019ve never been this stubborn about any of the others. It\u2019s like you\u2019re not thinking clearly.\u201d\n\nMila swallowed the lump in her throat and pushed past him so he couldn\u2019t see the look on her face. She\u2019d have to tell Rhys about her past someday . . . when she was ready. And today wasn\u2019t that day.\n\n\u201cMila.\u201d Rhys was by her side again. \u201cTell me what\u2019s going on.\u201d\n\nShe took a deep breath as she turned toward him, struggling to get her roiling emotions under control. He really thought he was making the right choice. But he was wrong.\n\n\u201cThe trail was cold before,\u201d she said, trying to keep her voice even. \u201cWhispers of the Phantom passing through, week-old transactions. Twenty-four hours, Rhys. Twenty-four! The Phantom was in that room a day ago. We can\u2019t stop now. We need food. Devana needs maintenance and upgrades. And maybe . . . maybe after we finish this, we can take a break, right? Go to some pleasure planet, maybe Cassel . . . together.\u201d\n\nHer cheeks flushed at how her own words sounded, but Rhys\u2019s eyes grew dark, and he cupped her chin in his callused hand and tilted her head up until their eyes met.\n\n\u201cOne more time. We\u2019ll try to find one more lead,\u201d Rhys conceded, his voice rough. \u201cBut if we don\u2019t . . . we can\u2019t afford to keep ignoring other work for this bounty. So if the next lead doesn\u2019t work out, promise me you\u2019ll give it up.\u201d\n\nMila pushed his hand away. \u201cI\u2019m sorry. But no. I can\u2019t promise you that.\u201d\n\nThe low hum of an approaching hover caught their attention, and they both looked up. Flashing lights. Local police.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s get lost in the crowd,\u201d Rhys said. \u201cBut this conversation isn\u2019t over.\u201d\n\nMila pushed down her irritation and followed him. She\u2019d convince him. Because they were not quitters.\n\nThey kept up a brisk pace until they were well into the main square, where the mass of people had gathered outside the Journeymen Hall. It was an interesting spectacle \u2014 a mix of normal-looking civilians and people dressed for the occasion. Some of these Travelers liked to mimic old Earth customs, more-so than those on Terra.\n\nA cluster near Mila and Rhys wore silken cloaks and fantastic masks adorned with feathers. Another dozen had forgone the costumes, but their walking sticks were intricately carved and inlaid with gems and smooth stones. Another pair wore gold robes with masks carved to resemble predatory animals.\n\nRhys pushed through the crowd, carving a path to the far edge of the square where vendors had set up booths filled with all the goods and trinkets a crowd of pilgrims could want on Traveler\u2019s Day.\n\nThe scent of roasting meat made her mouth water and her stomach growl, reminding her she hadn\u2019t eaten since this morning\u2019s breakfast on Devana. Rhys seemed to be of the same mind, because he led her to where the nearest food vendor had set up a grill.\n\n\u201cWhat kind of meat?\u201d Rhys scoffed.\n\nThe middle-aged woman winked and waved the skewer at Rhys. \u201cSpecial. Is a secret.\u201d\n\n\u201cAh, right. Might that be some special skap meat from dockside?\u201d\n\nThe woman\u2019s face soured. \u201cInsults! I no sell skap.\u201d\n\nMila wandered over to the next table, zoning out Rhys\u2019s haggling. He was so tight-fisted with their creds. How could he not see how important catching the Phantom was to their bottom line?\n\nThe table Mila found herself at was strewn with trinkets. Incense burners, Christian crosses, Wiccan pentagrams, Buddhist statues, and a wide range of other eclectic-looking jewelry.\n\nA bronze-toned pendant on a long chain caught Mila\u2019s eye. She picked it up without thinking and turned it over in her palm. It resembled the shape of an infinity symbol, and small pearlescent stones in all different shapes and sizes dangled from the end of it.\n\n\u201cThat piece is almost as beautiful as you.\u201d\n\nMila started and felt her cheeks redden as she met the vendor\u2019s gaze. The colorfully dressed woman looked to be in her early thirties and had pale skin and ice blue eyes like Mila\u2019s, but that\u2019s where their similarities ended. The woman\u2019s space-black hair was styled in dozens of tiny braids, and she wore a nose ring that glinted beneath the sparkling lights hanging from the metal awning above.\n\n\u201cUm . . . thanks,\u201d Mila said. \u201cIt is a nice piece.\u201d\n\n\u201cBetter than nice, girl. It\u2019s the ideal gift to celebrate the new sun. That is, if you want to have good luck. That pendant\u2019s been blessed by Cassa.\u201d\n\nMila glanced back down at the pendant, at the way the twinkling lights overhead made the colors on each stone warp and change, like tiny rainbows. She wasn\u2019t superstitious or religious, but the pendant reminded her of a ring she\u2019d owned as a child. She wanted to try it on, hold the stones closer to the light and see them change, but she resisted.\n\n\u201cWhat kind of stones are these?\u201d Mila asked.\n\n\u201cThose stones were collected from the null point between two binary stars. Only travelers with great luck and persistence can thread the needle to reach that point.\u201d\n\nA low laugh sounded from behind Mila, and she whirled to find Rhys standing there, two skewers of meat in hand. \u201cStones collected from between paired stars, eh?\u201d\n\nThe woman\u2019s serious expression didn\u2019t change. \u201cThat\u2019s exactly what they are.\u201d\n\nRhys shook his head. \u201cMaybe you should get off this rock some time. Because nothing hangs between binary stars; one or the other pulls everything in.\u201d\n\nThe woman leaned across the table, and a slow smile spread on her blood-red lips. \u201cThe journey can teach us much, my friend. But build a life on false beliefs, and you\u2019ll soon find your ship has drifted into a minefield.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou done here, Mi?\u201d Rhys\u2019s question came out like a command, and he looked like he was trying hard not to respond to the woman. He didn\u2019t have a lot of patience for religious types, Journeywomen or otherwise.\n\nThe merchant ignored Rhys and looked at Mila expectantly. \u201cThe colors in that piece really do suit you.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s gorgeous. But maybe some other time.\u201d\n\nMila sighed and reluctantly dropped the necklace into the woman\u2019s waiting palm. Mila grabbed a meat skewer from Rhys without meeting his eyes and strode toward the center of the square. Why did he always have to be such a buzzkill?\n\nShe stopped at the edge of the crowd, watching an unfamiliar ritual unfold at the center of the square, and gnawed at the stringy meat. Skap meat or not, it was a thousand times better than the bland nutrition bars on their ship.\n\nShe finished it, tossed the stick, and started searching the crowd for Rhys. Time to convince him to continue their search for the Phantom.\n\nShe found him only a few yards away, watching her intently, and despite her earlier annoyance, a smile budded on her lips. He knew when to give her space, and he knew when she really needed him not to. His solid presence in her life had been the best part of these past months.\n\nA flash of grey in her peripheral vision drew her gaze, and it landed on a man wearing a silver hoop earring and a fake liavold skin jacket. It was the lowlife from the tavern.\n\nMila\u2019s pulse quickened, and she pushed past the people surrounding her to get closer. The lowlife was staring at Rhys, but when he noticed Mila heading for him, his eyes widened and he scrambled away, disappearing into the crowd.\n\nMila shouted and sprinted after him, shoving people out of her way, ignoring the obscenities they yelled in her wake. She was vaguely aware of Rhys falling into step behind her. That dock scum knew something, she was sure of it. He might even be a spy for the fixer. She couldn\u2019t let him escape.\n\nThe cries of anger erupting in front of her let her know she was on the right path, and as she exited the main press of the crowd, she caught sight of a grey jacket disappearing around the corner.\n\nShe ran faster, a stitch growing in her side as she caught up. When the man faltered ahead of her, trying to decide which way to turn at the end of an alleyway, she launched herself forward, knocking him into the wall. They both hit hard and slid toward the grimy pavement.\n\nRhys was there an instant later, hauling Mila out of the way and pinning the man\u2019s arms behind his back so he couldn\u2019t pull a weapon. The man\u2019s bloodshot eyes were wild, darting between Mila and the alley\u2019s exit.\n\nRhys raised a brow. \u201cCare to explain?\u201d\n\nMila sniffed and wiped the dust off her pants. \u201cWhat? Didn\u2019t you notice him back at the tavern? This snake was eavesdropping on you. I bet he works with the fixer. And he was definitely watching you back there.\u201d\n\n\u201cIs that so?\u201d Rhys pulled his pistol and shoved the man against the building to frisk him. He pulled out a slide blade concealed at the man\u2019s waist, then retrieved a small black case from his jacket. He tossed Mila the case, and she opened it, her heart still beating a staccato rhythm against her ribcage.\n\nInside lay a syringe and a vial filled with black, viscous liquid.\n\n\u201cShow us your arm,\u201d Mila demanded.\n\nThe man was shaking as he pushed his sleeve up, revealing a web of veins stained black from his habit.\n\nRhys whistled. \u201cGot ourselves a WiDoWer, eh?\u201d He adjusted his Arclight so it lined up with the man\u2019s face. \u201cNow why were you following us?\u201d\n\nThe man\u2019s Adam\u2019s apple bobbed as he swallowed, and he held his hands palm out as a drop of sweat slid down his forehead and into his eye. \u201cI followed you \u2019cause I got info. I\u2019ll trade for it.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat kind?\u201d Rhys asked, his eyes hard. \u201cThe last info we got wasn\u2019t worth much.\u201d\n\n\u201cHarris \u2014 he set you up. But I know the truth.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo trades.\u201d Mila closed on the addict, still holding his drugs in her grasp, and wrapped her other hand around his throat, squeezing. \u201cIf you knew about the trap, you should have told us before. We could have died.\u201d\n\n\u201cMila.\u201d Rhys\u2019s low warning did nothing to calm the rage buzzing in Mila\u2019s head.\n\n\u201cNo trades,\u201d Mila repeated, squeezing tighter. The lowlife gasped for air.\n\n\u201cMila.\u201d This time Rhys\u2019s voice broke through, and Mila dropped her hand from the man\u2019s throat, then forced herself to step back.\n\nRhys narrowed his eyes at her, then turned back to the addict. \u201cWhat do you want for the info?\u201d\n\n\u201cCreds,\u201d the man said, wheezing. \u201cNinety creds.\u201d\n\n\u201cFor drugs.\u201d Mila opened the case and held the vial high so the addict could see it. \u201cHow \u2019bout this? You tell us everything you know, or I feed your precious sludge to the pavement.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo. No no no.\u201d The man was sweating more freely now, and the desperation in his voice made Mila nauseous with sudden self-loathing. But she wouldn\u2019t back down. She was done with haggling. With the trades. Done with all the lies and dead leads.\n\nShe placed the vial on the ground and positioned her boot over it. \u201cYou get one second to decide.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll tell you. I\u2019ll tell you! Don\u2019t. It\u2019s my last one. The Phantom was here. She was callin\u2019 herself Elaine. Harris hooked her up with new tags. I got a shot of \u2019em on my mobi.\u201d\n\n\u201cShow us,\u201d Rhys demanded.\n\nThe man revealed the mobi beneath his sleeve and brought up the data. Mila swiped her arm across his screen and her mobi captured the tag numbers. Then she placed her boot back over the vial of WiDoW. The lowlife seemed to turn green in the dim light of the globes overhead.\n\n\u201cWhere was Elaine headed next?\u201d Rhys asked.\n\n\u201cSepta \u2014 she had a meeting on the platform. She\u2019s got a way into Xi\u2019an space. Someone powerful is helpin\u2019 that girl. Musta paid off Harris big, \u2019cause I ain\u2019t never seen him help set up a bounty hunter like he did to you two.\u201d\n\nMila\u2019s mind raced, considering the implications of what this snitch was saying. If the Phantom truly had a way into Xi\u2019an space, they\u2019d never find her again. She\u2019d reach Rihlah, and the Xi\u2019an wouldn\u2019t do kak to help them catch a terrorist. They\u2019d just pretend to, acting diplomatic while the Phantom got to live out her life, with the Advocacy and the rest of the UEE stuck waiting for her to voluntarily cross into Human-controlled space again.\n\n\u201cHe could be lying,\u201d Mila said. \u201cDescribe this Elaine.\u201d\n\n\u201cUh \u2014 red hair. I think it was a wig. I followed her back to that hostel and saw her leave with black hair. Dark skin. Late twenties. Kept her face all covered up. Never got a good vid.\u201d The addict tapped his mobi again and brought up an image of a woman, covered up as he\u2019d described.\n\nAll Mila and Rhys had ever seen were blurry images of this woman, no better than what this man was showing them. But what else did they have to go on?\n\nShe exchanged glances with Rhys, and Rhys gave her a slow nod.\n\nMila picked up the vial and shoved it back in the case. She wanted to destroy the drugs, force this scum into withdrawal, but the withdrawal could kill him. And Mila was no murderer and never would be.\n\nShe dropped the case back into the man\u2019s hands and flicked his jacket with her finger. He flinched at the touch.\n\n\u201cIf you need creds, you should start by demanding a refund from whoever sold you this knock-off.\u201d\n\nHis brows went up in surprise, and he glanced down at his jacket, then back to Rhys, who still held his weapon. \u201cCan I get my blade back?\u201d\n\n\u201cGet out of here,\u201d Rhys barked.\n\nThe man flinched again, then pocketed his drugs and took off running.\n\n\u201cWhat the hell was that?\u201d Rhys\u2019s face was red, his voice so low Mila knew he was pissed. \u201cThat\u2019s not our agreement. I do the haggling. I handle the contacts. Not you. That\u2019s our deal.\u201d\n\nMila put her hands on her hips. \u201cWell, it worked, didn\u2019t it? We need to get back to our ship and get to Septa before our phantom disappears for good.\u201d She turned heel and walked off without waiting for a reply.\n\nRhys didn\u2019t speak a word as they made their way back to the docks, and his anger hung in the heavy silence between them, ruining what should have been a celebration and leaving her to her own thoughts. When they finally reached the well-lit entryway that led up to their Freelancer, Mila turned to Rhys.\n\nHis expression was blank again, showing nothing of what he might be feeling. Sometimes he was so damn hard to read. She pressed a hand to his chest, and his eyes softened slightly at her touch.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry. For how I acted back there. You\u2019re right. I broke our agreement. I promise I\u2019ll try to keep it together from now on \u2014\u201d\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t. You got what we needed. But if this lead doesn\u2019t pan out?\u201d\n\n\u201cFine. If it doesn\u2019t pan . . . then we\u2019re done searching.\u201d\n\nIt didn\u2019t matter. Because if the Phantom really was headed for Xi\u2019an space, and they missed her one more time, it was as good as over anyway.\n\nA look of relief passed over Rhys\u2019s face. \u201cGood. Then we agree. We\u2019ll follow this lead, but if we lose her, we move onto something else.\u201d\n\nHe hesitated, then reached into his pocket and drew out a small velvet bag. Mila\u2019s lips parted as he pulled out a length of chain, the Cassa pendant hanging from it, its gorgeous pearlescent stones shimmering in the light of the dockside globes.\n\nRhys fastened the good luck pendant around Mila\u2019s neck.\n\n\u201cBut our credits . . .\u201d Mila warmed at his light touch. \u201cWe didn\u2019t have enough to waste on this.\u201d\n\nHe shrugged. \u201cCould be that Journeywoman was right about this thing after all. All we needed was a little luck. And it seems we got it.\u201d\n\nHis voice came out husky, and Mila stood on tiptoes to kiss him. He responded with intensity, pulling her close, pressing her body to his. She wrapped her arms around his neck and lost herself in him.\n\nWhen he pulled away, his eyes were dark. \u201cFlight plan first. But while we\u2019re waiting for clearance . . . \u201d\n\nMila gave him a small smile. \u201cMeet me in the bunk?\u201d\n\nHe smirked and pulled her close for another kiss. \u201cAnd after that . . . we catch our phantom.\u201d\n\nTO BE CONTINUED\u2026"},"links_count":0,"comment_count":34,"created_at":"2018-09-26T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"7 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-07 22:55:42","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":16769,"next_id":16771}}