{"data":{"id":17134,"title":"One Last Job: Part Two","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/17134-One-Last-Job-Part-Two","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/17134","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/17134","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"One Last Job","images":[],"images_count":1,"translations":{"en_EN":"Writer\u2019s Note: One Last Job: Part Two was published originally in Jump Point 3.10. Read Part one here.\nJonah, for the second time that day, broke into a cold sweat. They were already at the jump point, on their way to drop off supplies to a known criminal with a ship full of passengers that weren\u2019t supposed to be there, and one of them was an Advocacy Agent. Added to that, the Agent was the criminal\u2019s former partner.\n\nThings were not going well.\n\n\u201cChar, I need you to check the cargo,\u201d said Jonah.\n\nShe raised a thin black eyebrow. He knew how odd it must\u2019ve sounded. They\u2019d just taken off.\n\n\u201cJust make sure nothing shifted and no one\u2019s been messing with it,\u201d he said.\n\nShe pursed her lips and nodded. He could tell by the look in her eyes she didn\u2019t buy it, but she would do as he asked. She gave him a final glance before she left the cockpit. The door clanged shut and Jonah punched the comms.\n\nHe\u2019d only used this code a handful of times. It was only for emergencies and this was an emergency.\n\n\u201cThis better be important,\u201d a voice growled.\n\n\u201cI need to talk to Mickey,\u201d said Jonah.\n\nSilence.\n\n\u201cIf you\u2019re backing out,\u201d the voice said. It must\u2019ve been Mickey\u2019s second, a man known only as The Second. No one knew his name except Mickey.\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cI have a problem and I need to talk to Mickey.\u201d\n\nTruth was, he wanted to back out, more now than ever. Before, it was the fear of Mickey that kept him going. He owed him money and he was behind on payment. Now, there was an Agent. He was an old fella, but Pietro used to talk about him with awe in his voice, like the man was part god. He\u2019d caught or ghosted so many bad guys, Jonah was surprised he hadn\u2019t known what Pietro was up to.\n\nSilence crackled over the comms and sweat poured down Jonah\u2019s face. His scalp itched and his mouth was dry.\n\nFinally, Mickey came on.\n\n\u201cHow big a problem we talkin\u2019, Jonah my boy?\u201d There was an edge to his voice. He wasn\u2019t happy.\n\n\u201cOh, about six feet tall, goes by the name of Ardoss.\u201d\n\nMickey sniffed. \u201cName sounds familiar.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s Pietro\u2019s partner,\u201d said Jonah.\n\n\u201cAh, yes, that\u2019d be it,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cWhy do you have a passenger, Jonah? I checked your schedule. You had no passengers. It was cargo only.\u201d\n\nHe didn\u2019t yell. He never did. He was always calm and even toned. He liked to make you feel like everything was fine. Jonah couldn\u2019t help but remember the bartender\u2019s ruined face.\n\n\u201cPassengers, plural,\u201d said Jonah, trying to keep his voice from shaking. \u201cI have a full flight. Haru changed it on me, last minute. I thought some politician pulled some strings, but now I think it was this Ardoss guy.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou think he\u2019s after his partner?\u201d said Mickey.\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t think of anything else,\u201d said Jonah.\n\nMickey took a slow breath. \u201cI need the job done and Pietro taken care of. We can\u2019t have this Ardoss fella causing trouble.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I called,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cCan we postpone?\u201d\n\nJonah could practically hear Mickey\u2019s teeth grind.\n\n\u201cPostpone?\u201d he said, his voice still even, but a pitch higher.\n\n\u201cKick Ardoss off at the next station,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cHe\u2019s got to be here for Pietro. He blew up a shopping mall to get him. I don\u2019t want that kind of trouble. When he\u2019s off, I\u2019ll go back and give Pietro his cargo.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s not what we agreed to, Jonah,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cYou deliver your cargo when I say you deliver it. You show up late, Pietro will bolt. He knows things about my organization. I need to make sure he\u2019s happy. Stick to the schedule. Do you understand?\u201d\n\nJonah\u2019s heart sank. \u201cYes, I understand. What do you want me to do about Ardoss?\u201d\n\n\u201cKill him,\u201d said Mickey.\n\nThe sweat on Jonah\u2019s face and back went cold and he thought he\u2019d be sick.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve never killed anyone,\u201d said Jonah.\n\n\u201cThe first one\u2019s tough, sure,\u201d said Mickey, his voice softer. \u201cBut if he lives, you put the entire job at risk. If you drop him off somewhere, he\u2019ll be back and you\u2019ll go to jail. And if you think sitting in an Advocacy prison will keep you safe from me, I have people everywhere, Jonah. I will get what\u2019s owed me, one way or another.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Advocacy will be after me if I kill him,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cI\u2019ll be a wanted man.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou let me worry about that,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cYou just think about your family, my boy. They need their father. They need the money.\u201d\n\nJonah swallowed. Talking to Mickey didn\u2019t make it any better. He was still caught between two impossible choices.\n\n\u201cAnd how do you propose I go about killing an Advocacy Agent?\u201d said Jonah. \u201cIt\u2019s not like I can shove him out an airlock.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou could,\u201d said Mickey. Jonah could hear the smile on his lips.\n\n\u201cBut I\u2019ve got a much simpler solution for you,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cThere\u2019s a gun in the crate for Pietro. It\u2019s in a hidden compartment, no code, just a special latch. It\u2019s loaded, so be careful. Have you ever fired a gun?\u201d\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d said Jonah, shaking his head. He\u2019d seen them fired, and heard the awful sound they made. His ears hurt just to think about it.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s real simple,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cJust point it at the fella you want dead and squeeze the trigger. It\u2019s like magic. Hit \u2019em in the right spot and they\u2019re just gone.\u201d\n\nJonah\u2019s stomach twisted.\n\n\u201cAnything else?\u201d asked Mickey after a moment.\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d said Jonah, \u201cthat\u2019s it, I guess.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cI know you\u2019ll do the right thing. Call me when it\u2019s done.\u201d\n\nThe comm disconnected.\n\nJonah stared at his console. Ten years of working for Mickey and he\u2019d never been asked to kill anyone.\n\nBut then, he\u2019d never had an Agent on board before.\n\nA knock came at the door and Jonah jerked his head up. Char was back from the cargo hold.\n\nHe let her in.\n\n\u201cJesus, Jo, you look pale as a sheet,\u201d she said. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah,\u201d he said, pushing away from his station. \u201cI need to go check the cargo.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d she said.\n\n\u201cNothing,\u201d he said as he waved her off. \u201cI forgot something. I won\u2019t be long.\u201d\n\nHe could feel her eyes on him as he exited the cockpit. She knew something was up. He just hoped he could keep her away from it. This wasn\u2019t her burden to bear.\n\nHe spotted the Agent in the passenger area and gritted his teeth. Time to get it over with.\n\nArdoss shifted in his seat. He\u2019d never had any dealings with Jonah Ruskella; they\u2019d never once crossed paths. The pilot would not have recognized him. The last thing Ardoss needed was some pompous blowhard blowing his cover. He hadn\u2019t wanted to spook Ruskella, but it was too late now.\n\nThe co-pilot came back from the cargo hold. Something was going on. He ignored most of what the politician was saying and watched the cockpit.\n\nThe door was open and he could hear urgent whispers filter through to the passengers. A moment later, Ruskella appeared at the doorway and looked directly at Ardoss.\n\nRuskella was pale, much paler than when everyone boarded, and his hands shook. He looked at the deck as he passed Ardoss.\n\nHe was up to something.\n\nArdoss unhooked from his seat and followed Ruskella to the cargo hold. He crept along the corridor and found a gun in his face as soon as he rounded the corner.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s not do anything we\u2019re going to regret, Ruskella,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cI regret too much already,\u201d Ruskella said. \u201cThis was supposed to be an easy drop-off. That\u2019s it, but you had to go and make it harder. You should have stayed out of it and let Pietro get away.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo you are meeting with Marquez,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cLike you didn\u2019t know?\u201d said Ruskella. \u201cYou pushed to get booking on my ship. You took a fake name. You know who Pietro and I work for.\u201d The pilot was near hysterics. This man wasn\u2019t a killer, Ardoss could see that. He didn\u2019t even hold the gun right.\n\n\u201cYou don\u2019t have to shoot me,\u201d said Ardoss, raising his hands, slowly. The gun made Ruskella off-balanced. He was nervous and the slightest move could cause him to fire. The bullet would pierce the hull or ricochet. Either way, it would end badly.\n\n\u201cI do,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\nArdoss shook his head and took a step forward. Ruskella put both hands on the gun. It still shook, but not as badly. He might actually hit Ardoss if he pulled the trigger.\n\n\u201cYou don\u2019t have it in you,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cYou\u2019re a smuggler, a courier. That\u2019s it. You\u2019re not a murderer. You never will be. This isn\u2019t you.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou think I want to kill you? I just want to get through this job and see my family again,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cMy concern is Pietro,\u201d Ardoss soothed. \u201cHe\u2019s the only one I\u2019m after. Help me and you won\u2019t see the inside of a jail cell. You\u2019ll go home to your family, you have my word.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf I give you Pietro, I\u2019m a dead man,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to go down that way. I protect my informants, but if you kill me, you\u2019re done,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cMaybe not immediately, but it will happen.\u201d\n\nRuskella\u2019s nostrils flared. Ardoss\u2019 arms were getting tired. Something needed to happen, and soon.\n\n\u201cGet in the locker,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cWhat?\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a tool locker right behind you,\u201d said Ruskella. It locks from the outside and it\u2019s just big enough for you. Now get in.\u201d\n\nArdoss creased his brow. \u201cI\u2019m not getting in a locker.\u201d\n\n\u201cGet in or I\u2019ll shoot you,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re not shooting me, either,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\nRuskella raised the gun and took a step forward. Ruskella\u2019s hands must have been sweating because the gun slipped and he struggled to get a grip on it. Ardoss took the momentary distraction to rush the pilot. He collided with Ruskella\u2019s midsection and the two men plowed into the shipping crates.\n\nThe gun flew out of Ruskella\u2019s hand and skittered across the floor. Ruskella reared back and punched Ardoss in the shoulder. No doubt, he was aiming for the face, but it was still a hard blow. The man might not know his way around a gun, but he knew how to swing.\n\nArdoss stumbled back and Ruskella rushed him. Ardoss braced and grabbed him under the arms. He shoved the man backwards. Ruskella stumbled a bit and then charged again.\n\nArdoss had spent some time on a farm as a child, a cattle ranch to be exact. The farmer had a bull with a legendary temper. He charged any person who came near him. That\u2019s what Ruskella was. A bull. He had no focus in his fight. Just a deep-down desperation to win. Ardoss couldn\u2019t blame him.\n\nAll the same, he had a job to do.\n\nArdoss side-stepped Ruskella and clasped both his fists together. He brought them down on Ruskella\u2019s back and the man crumpled like a stack of cards.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t have time for this,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cTell me where you\u2019re meeting Pietro Marquez.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d said Ruskella, panting, \u201cnot a chance.\u201d He pushed up on wobbly arms.\n\n\u201cIf you give me his location, we can protect you,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\nRuskella rolled over, laughing. Tears rolled down his face. \u201cDon\u2019t you get it? Pietro knows too much. He knows way more than I do. I turn him over, there\u2019s nothing that can protect me. Mickey Black has people everywhere. Everywhere. Do you understand? There\u2019s no safe place for me if I help you. And there\u2019s no safe place for Pietro. Just let him go.\u201d\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cThen kill me,\u201d said Ruskella. \u201cI\u2019m dead either way.\u201d\n\nArdoss shook his head. \u201cNot what I\u2019m here to do. I\u2019m going to arrest Pietro Marquez, then I\u2019ll take you both into an Advocacy station and you\u2019ll stand trial for your crimes. Now you get in the locker.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy co-pilot won\u2019t stand for this,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cI can handle her.\u201d\n\nA smile spread across Ruskella\u2019s face. \u201cI very much doubt that.\u201d\n\nPain blossomed across the back of Ardoss\u2019 head and he fell to his knees.\n\n\u201cYou okay, Jo?\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, Char,\u201d said Ruskella. \u201cThanks for that.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo this was the cargo you wanted to check?\u201d she said. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you just tell me that in the first place?\u201d\n\nArdoss\u2019 vision blurred and their conversation was somewhat muted. She\u2019d hit him hard. Not hard enough to knock him unconscious, obviously, but hard enough to make him think really good and long about standing up.\n\n\u201cYeah, sorry about that,\u201d said Ruskella. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to involve you.\u201d\n\nShe gave an exasperated sigh. \u201cThis ship is my home, too. Whatever happens here involves me.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll remember that,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cWhat do you want to do with him?\u201d said the co-pilot. She tapped him with her boot.\n\n\u201cI won\u2019t kill him,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cI wouldn\u2019t even suggest such a thing, Jo,\u201d she said. \u201cBut he\u2019s interfering with your job for Mickey, isn\u2019t he?\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah,\u201d said Ruskella. \u201cWait, how did you know about Mickey?\u201d\n\nShe laughed. \u201cJo, I\u2019ve known you for sixteen years. Be worried if I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on in your life.\u201d\n\nArdoss\u2019 vision started to clear and he managed to turn just enough to look over his shoulder.\nThe co-pilot had the gun pointed at his face.\n\n\u201cPlease,\u201d she said. \u201cUnlike my friend, I know how to shoot a gun.\u201d\n\nHe blinked. She wasn\u2019t kidding. The way she held her gun, the crispness of her flight suit, they were dead giveaways. Former military by the look of it. He should have noticed earlier. Would have if he wasn\u2019t so focused on catching his partner.\n\nArdoss let out a sigh. \u201cWhat will you do with me, then?\u201d\n\nThe co-pilot didn\u2019t take her eyes off him. Ardoss turned his head back to Ruskella who thinned his lips.\n\n\u201cI . . .\u201d he started, but the ship shuddered.\n\nArdoss almost lost his balance. \u201cWhat the hell?\u201d\n\nAnger flashed across Ruskella\u2019s face.\n\n\u201cSomeone\u2019s flying my ship.\u201d\n\nThings were not going at all as planned. Ardoss wanted to slip on the ship, Open Sky, undetected, get to the rendezvous with Pietro Marquez, and arrest the lot of them.\n\nNow, some stuffy politician too big for his very expensive suit had ruined Ardoss\u2019 cover, leading to a showdown in the cargo bay. And now it looked like the situation was about to go from bad to even worse.\n\n\u201cSomeone\u2019s hijacked your ship?\u201d asked Ardoss.\n\n\u201cNo idea,\u201d said Ruskella, \u201cbut I have a schedule to keep. Mickey will have my head if I\u2019m late.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat do you want to do about him?\u201d asked the co-pilot, jerking her head in Ardoss\u2019 direction.\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t let him loose on the ship,\u201d said Ruskella. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to put him in the locker.\u201d\n\n\u201cI can help,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cNot a chance,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cYou forget,\u201d said Ardoss, \u201cif you miss your meeting with Pietro, so do I. We both have a vested interest in what happens on this ship and where it goes.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd when we get there,\u201d said Ruskella, \u201cyou\u2019re going to arrest Pietro Marquez and I\u2019m going to die. I see it as a conflict of interest rather than a mutual goal.\u201d\n\n\u201cI could arrest him after you drop off your package,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\nRuskella creased his brow.\n\n\u201cGo on,\u201d said the co-pilot.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re only supposed to drop it off, right?\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cMickey never said anything about seeing him off safely?\u201d\n\n\u201cHe didn\u2019t,\u201d said Ruskella, \u201cbut he also told me to kill you.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd you didn\u2019t,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cEither way, you\u2019re defying your boss. Drop off your package, then let me have Pietro. That way, we both get what we want.\u201d\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s got a point, Jo,\u201d the co-pilot said.\n\n\u201cAnd if I don\u2019t?\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019ll be arrested for aiding and abetting,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cWhat do you think Mickey will do with you then? Help me and I can protect you.\u201d\n\nRuskella\u2019s nostrils flared and his jaws clenched.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll think about it,\u201d he said. \u201cYou help us and you don\u2019t stab me in the back and I just might do as you ask. First, we get the ship back.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s fair,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cSo how do you want to handle it?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe kick them out of the cockpit,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\nArdoss raised an eyebrow. \u201cReally? You don\u2019t strike me as the violent type.\u201d\n\nRuskella\u2019s face reddened. \u201cIt\u2019s my ship. I want it back.\u201d\n\n\u201cOkay,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cLet\u2019s say you storm up there and pull whoever it is from your seat. Or try to. Then what?\u201d\n\nRuskella looked at the floor. \u201cI don\u2019t know. Lock them up?\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd if they put up a fight?\u201d\n\n\u201cI fought you.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd lost.\u201d\n\nRuskella glared at him, but the co-pilot stepped forward.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll handle it,\u201d she said.\n\nArdoss shook his head. \u201cLet me handle it.\u201d\n\nBoth pilot and co looked at him, eyebrows raised.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m an Agent,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cI\u2019m trained for this.\u201d Ruskella shot the co-pilot a look.\n\nShe shrugged, \u201cHe\u2019s got a point.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re not getting the gun,\u201d warned Ruskella.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t need it,\u201d Ardross returned.\n\n\u201cFine,\u201d the pilot conceded, \u201cwhat\u2019s the plan?\u201d\n\n\u201cFirst, we see what the hell is going on out there.\u201d\n\n\u201cAfter you,\u201d said the co-pilot, gesturing to the door. Ardoss nodded. His plan, he\u2019d go first.\n\nHe reached for the door and turned the wheel.\n\nIt didn\u2019t budge.\n\nHe put his weight on it, but still it wouldn\u2019t move. \u201cIt\u2019s stuck.\u201d\n\nThe co-pilot pushed him out of the way, and she shoved her own weight against the door, her face turning red from the exertion. \u201cNo way in hell it\u2019s stuck,\u201d she said and pushed again. \u201cWe keep this ship in tip-top condition.\u201d The door\u2019s inability to move was a personal affront to her.\n\nShe tried the door one last time before finally accepting the reality of their situation. She peered through the window.\n\n\u201cI see the woman and the kid,\u201d said Ardoss, \u201cbut no sign of the politician. I guess we know who\u2019s behind this.\u201d\n\n\u201cHe didn\u2019t seem like the hijacking type,\u201d said Ruskella. She shrugged. \u201cWe\u2019re assuming this is a hijacking.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe door\u2019s locked,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cPoint,\u201d she said. She knocked on the door and peered through the glass. She pounded on the door. Nothing.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s too thick,\u201d she said. \u201cI would try the comms, but it would alert Thrumm or whoever took over.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe emergency hatch,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\nThe co-pilot looked at him and narrowed her eyes.\n\n\u201cIf we go that way, one of us has to operate the airlock and one of us has to go out there,\u201d she said. \u201cSomeone will have to be alone with the Agent.\u201d\n\n\u201cI can retake the cockpit,\u201d Ardoss said.\n\nRuskella shook his head. \u201cI can\u2019t risk you taking over the ship and leaving us back here. One of us needs to go too.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll go,\u201d said the co-pilot. \u201cI have more zero-g training and you\u2019d be in the locker as soon as I leave.\u201d\n\n\u201cFine,\u201d said Ruskella. \u201cWe\u2019re getting farther off course the longer we stand here arguing. Char, take the Agent and get me my ship back.\u201d\n\nArdoss could see in the man\u2019s face he\u2019d rather be the one going. He must have had a lot of trust in this woman. Ardoss knew what that was like, to trust someone to do what needed to be done.\n\nBut that was gone now, ripped away when he found out about Pietro\u2019s dealings. Twenty years they were together and never a word, not a hint.\n\nThe three of them made quick work to strap down the cargo hold. Ruskella helped Ardoss and the co-pilot into the evac suits.\n\n\u201cWait. What about you?\u201d asked Ardoss, \u201cThere\u2019s no airshield on this ship\u2019s hold.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\nArdoss raised an eyebrow.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve got it rigged,\u201d said Ruskella. He pointed to a small seat with straps and an O2 tank right by the control panel. It had a small enclosure with a door around it, barely big enough for a person.\n\n\u201cYou two have done this before,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cMust be interesting working for Mickey.\u201d\n\nThe co-pilot stole a hard look at Ruskella. \u201cCouldn\u2019t say.\u201d\n\nRuskella turned bright red, something unspoken passing between the two. Changing the subject the pilot said, \u201cWe need to hurry.\u201d\n\nArdoss nodded and, with help, donned his helmet. It snapped into place. His breath warmed the dome and the visor fogged a little. The familiar hissing started, followed by the clinical, yet somewhat musty odor of oxygen filtered into the suit. He coughed once as it filled his lungs.\n\n\u201cCan you hear me?\u201d the co-pilot asked over the suit comms.\n\n\u201cLoud and clear,\u201d replied Ardoss. \u201cIt\u2019s Char, right?\u201d\n\nShe took a moment to respond.\n\n\u201cYeah,\u201d she said. \u201cNow grab the railing. We\u2019ve only got one really good chance at doing this.\u201d\n\nHe nodded, aware as soon as he did it that the suit swallowed simple gestures.\n\nChar grabbed the rail and gave a thumbs up to Ruskella. Ardoss followed her example. Ruskella had an O2 mask strapped to his face and returned the gesture, punching a button on the console.\n\nVacuum yanked at Ardoss. He lost his footing, but kept his hand tight on the rail. Just as his fingers started to slip, the pressure equalized and the pull lessened.\n\n\u201cReady?\u201d asked Char.\n\n\u201cYes.\u201d\n\nShe reached outside the ship and grabbed a hold on the hull. Ardoss followed.\n\nOnce they were outside, the door closed. He could only imagine what kind of discomfort Ruskella must be in. It was gutsy for sure. And downright dangerous.\n\nHe suddenly thought better of the man.\n\n\u201cYou guys are pretty close,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\nChar didn\u2019t say anything.\n\n\u201cYou get that way, I suppose,\u201d he continued, \u201cout here alone, just the two of you.\u201d\n\nSilence.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s how Pietro and I were,\u201d he said. \u201cOr I thought we were. Twenty years together and I never had a clue he was working for Mickey. Betrayal like that makes you question everything.\u201d\n\n\u201cI wouldn\u2019t do that to Jonah,\u201d she said.\n\n\u201cWhat about him screwing you over?\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s clear that he ran with Mickey and didn\u2019t tell you about it.\u201d\n\n\u201cHe didn\u2019t have to,\u201d she said. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be a good partner if I didn\u2019t notice the little things. He didn\u2019t bring it up, so I didn\u2019t mention it. We\u2019ve known each other for sixteen years, he\u2019s worked for Mickey for ten. I knew the day Mickey approached him.\u201d\n\n\u201cAre you two . . .?\u201d said Ardoss.\n\nShe laughed. \u201cOf course not. Jonah is married with three children. I introduced him to his wife.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat doesn\u2019t keep people from enjoying the company of each other,\u201d he said.\n\nHe could almost feel the scowl she must have given him.\n\n\u201cI owe him more than you could understand,\u201d she said. \u201cJonah\u2019s a good man. He wouldn\u2019t work for Mickey if he had a choice.\u201d\n\n\u201cAre you saying he was coerced?\u201d he said.\n\n\u201cOf course he was,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s the way Mickey Black works. He finds something on you, a way to squeeze you. He manipulates you into doing what he needs done.\u201d\n\nArdoss wanted to ask more, but they had reached the cockpit.\n\n\u201cThis will be just like the cargo hold,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen I open the door, the cabin will decompress. Grab onto something or you may be blasted out into space.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnderstood,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\nShe reached for the latch and Ardoss looked around for a hook or a bar or something to hold onto. There was a small ledge and he dug his fingers in.\n\n\u201cReady,\u201d he said.\n\nWithout another word, she twisted the handle and the door popped open. Air whooshed past them, knocking Ardoss\u2019 hands loose from his hold. He tried to grab back onto something, anything, but he\u2019d already drifted away from the ship. Food wrappers expelled from the cockpit whirled around him.\n\nHe stared for a moment as the ship grew smaller. The hiss of air pumping into his suit was the only sound. Gradually, the panic built as he realized the ship wasn\u2019t coming back. The pounding of his own heart and his rapid breathing smothered the sound of the oxygen.\n\nA red light blinked on his display. His O2 was low. These suits weren\u2019t meant for long excursions. He had minutes. Ardoss steadied his breathing. He needed to conserve. If he was going to survive, he needed to be calm.\n\nThe ship dwindled smaller and Ardoss couldn\u2019t help but feeling he was about to die.\n\nTo be continued","de_DE":"Anmerkung des Autors: Ein letzter Auftrag: Teil Zwei wurde urspr\u00fcnglich in Jump Point 3.10 ver\u00f6ffentlicht. Lesen Sie hier Teil eins.\nJonah, zum zweiten Mal an diesem Tag, brach in einen kalten Schwei\u00df aus. Sie waren bereits am Sprungpunkt, auf dem Weg, die Vorr\u00e4te an einen bekannten Verbrecher mit einem Schiff voller Passagiere, die nicht dort sein sollten, abzugeben, und einer von ihnen war ein Advocacy-Agent. Hinzu kam, dass der Agent der ehemalige Partner des Verbrechers war.\n\nDie Dinge liefen nicht gut.\n\n\"Char, du musst die Ladung \u00fcberpr\u00fcfen\", sagte Jonah.\n\nSie hob eine d\u00fcnne schwarze Augenbraue. Er wusste, wie seltsam es sich angeh\u00f6rt haben muss. Sie waren gerade abgehauen.\n\n\"Stellen Sie nur sicher, dass sich nichts bewegt hat und niemand damit herumgespielt hat\", sagte er.\n\nSie sch\u00fcrzte die Lippen und nickte. Er konnte an dem Blick in ihren Augen erkennen, dass sie es nicht gekauft hatte, aber sie w\u00fcrde tun, was er wollte. Sie gab ihm einen letzten Blick, bevor sie das Cockpit verlie\u00df. Die T\u00fcr klopfte zu und Jonah schlug auf die Kommunikation.\n\nEr hatte diesen Code nur ein paar Mal benutzt. Es war nur f\u00fcr Notf\u00e4lle und das war ein Notfall.\n\n\"Das ist besser wichtig\", knurrte eine Stimme.\n\n\"Ich muss mit Mickey reden\", sagte Jonah.\n\nStille.\n\n\"Wenn du aussteigst\", sagte die Stimme. Es muss Mickeys zweiter gewesen sein, ein Mann, der nur als der zweite bekannt ist. Niemand kannte seinen Namen au\u00dfer Mickey.\n\n\"Nein\", sagte Jonah. \"Ich habe ein Problem und muss mit Mickey reden.\"\n\nDie Wahrheit war, er wollte zur\u00fccktreten, jetzt mehr denn je. Fr\u00fcher war es die Angst vor Mickey, die ihn am Laufen hielt. Er schuldete ihm Geld und er war mit der Zahlung im R\u00fcckstand. Nun, da war ein Agent. Er war ein alter Mann, aber Pietro sprach immer mit Ehrfurcht in seiner Stimme \u00fcber ihn, als w\u00e4re der Mann ein Teil von Gott. Er hatte so viele b\u00f6se Jungs erwischt oder gejagt, dass Jonah \u00fcberrascht war, dass er nicht gewusst hatte, was Pietro vorhatte.\n\nDie Stille knisterte \u00fcber die Kommunikation und der Schwei\u00df str\u00f6mte \u00fcber Jona's Gesicht. Seine Kopfhaut juckte und sein Mund war trocken.\n\nEndlich kam Mickey dazu.\n\n\"Wie gro\u00df ist das Problem, Jonah, mein Junge?\" Seine Stimme war unangenehm. Er war nicht gl\u00fccklich.\n\n\"Oh, etwa 1,80 m gro\u00df, hei\u00dft Ardoss.\"\n\nMickey schn\u00fcffelte. \"Der Name kommt mir bekannt vor.\"\n\n\"Es ist Pietros Partner\", sagte Jonah.\n\n\"Ah, ja, das w\u00e4re es\", sagte Mickey. \"Warum hast du einen Passagier, Jonah? Ich habe deinen Zeitplan \u00fcberpr\u00fcft. Du hattest keine Passagiere. Es war nur Fracht.\"\n\nEr hat nicht geschrien. Das hat er nie getan. Er war immer ruhig und sogar get\u00f6nt. Er mochte es, dir das Gef\u00fchl zu geben, dass alles in Ordnung ist. Jonah konnte nicht anders, als sich an das ruinierte Gesicht des Barkeepers zu erinnern.\n\n\"Passagiere, Plural\", sagte Jonah und versuchte, seine Stimme vom Zittern abzuhalten. \"Ich habe einen vollen Flug. Haru \u00e4nderte es an mir, in letzter Minute. Ich dachte, ein Politiker h\u00e4tte ein paar F\u00e4den gezogen, aber jetzt glaube ich, es war dieser Ardoss.\"\n\n\"Denkst du, er ist hinter seinem Partner her?\", sagte Mickey.\n\n\"Mir f\u00e4llt nichts anderes ein\", sagte Jonah.\n\nMickey atmete langsam durch. \"Ich brauche den Job erledigt und Pietro k\u00fcmmert sich darum. Wir k\u00f6nnen nicht zulassen, dass dieser Ardoss \u00c4rger macht.\"\n\n\"Deshalb habe ich angerufen\", sagte Jonah. \"K\u00f6nnen wir das verschieben?\"\n\nJonah konnte Mickeys Z\u00e4hneknirschen praktisch h\u00f6ren.\n\n\"Verschieben?\" sagte er, seine Stimme ist noch eben, aber eine Tonlage h\u00f6her.\n\n\"Kick Ardoss an der n\u00e4chsten Station ab\", sagte Jonah. \"Er muss wegen Pietro hier sein. Er hat ein Einkaufszentrum in die Luft gejagt, um ihn zu kriegen. Ich will diese Art von \u00c4rger nicht. Wenn er weg ist, gehe ich zur\u00fcck und gebe Pietro seine Ladung.\"\n\n\"Das ist nicht das, worauf wir uns geeinigt haben, Jonah\", sagte Mickey. \"Sie liefern Ihre Fracht, wenn ich sage, dass Sie sie liefern. Wenn du zu sp\u00e4t kommst, wird Pietro abhauen. Er wei\u00df Dinge \u00fcber meine Organisation. Ich muss sichergehen, dass er gl\u00fccklich ist. Halten Sie sich an den Zeitplan. Hast du verstanden?\"\n\nJonas Herz sank. \"Ja, ich verstehe. Was soll ich mit Ardoss machen?\"\n\n\"T\u00f6te ihn\", sagte Mickey.\n\nDer Schwei\u00df auf Jona's Gesicht und R\u00fccken wurde kalt und er dachte, er sei krank.\n\n\"Ich habe noch nie jemanden get\u00f6tet\", sagte Jonah.\n\n\"Der erste ist hart, sicher\", sagte Mickey, seine Stimme weicher. \"Aber wenn er lebt, riskierst du den gesamten Job. Wenn du ihn irgendwo absetzt, kommt er zur\u00fcck und du kommst ins Gef\u00e4ngnis. Und wenn du denkst, dass das Sitzen in einem Gef\u00e4ngnis von Advocacy dich vor mir besch\u00fctzen wird, habe ich \u00fcberall Leute, Jonah. Ich werde bekommen, was mir zusteht, auf die eine oder andere Weise.\"\n\n\"Die Advocacy wird hinter mir her sein, wenn ich ihn t\u00f6te\", sagte Jonah. \"Ich werde gesucht werden.\"\n\n\"Lass das meine Sorge sein\", sagte Mickey. \"Du denkst nur an deine Familie, mein Junge. Sie brauchen ihren Vater. Sie brauchen das Geld.\"\n\nJonah schluckte. Mit Mickey zu reden, hat es nicht besser gemacht. Er war immer noch zwischen zwei unm\u00f6glichen Entscheidungen gefangen.\n\n\"Und wie soll ich einen Advocacy-Agenten t\u00f6ten?\" sagte Jonah. \"Es ist ja nicht so, dass ich ihn aus einer Luftschleuse schieben kann.\"\n\n\"Das k\u00f6nntest du\", sagte Mickey. Jonah konnte das L\u00e4cheln auf seinen Lippen h\u00f6ren.\n\n\"Aber ich habe eine viel einfachere L\u00f6sung f\u00fcr dich\", sagte Mickey. \"In der Kiste ist eine Waffe f\u00fcr Pietro. Es ist in einem versteckten Fach, kein Code, nur ein spezieller Verschluss. Sie ist geladen, also seien Sie vorsichtig. Hast du schon mal eine Waffe abgefeuert?\"\n\n\"Nein\", sagte Jonah und sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf. Er hatte gesehen, wie sie gefeuert wurden, und h\u00f6rte das schreckliche Ger\u00e4usch, das sie machten. Seine Ohren schmerzten, nur um dar\u00fcber nachzudenken.\n\n\"Es ist ganz einfach\", sagte Mickey. \"Richte es einfach auf den Kerl, den du tot sehen willst, und dr\u00fccke den Abzug. Es ist wie Magie. Triff sie an der richtigen Stelle und sie sind einfach weg.\"\n\nJonas Magen hat sich verdreht.\n\n\"Noch etwas?\" fragte Mickey nach einem Moment.\n\n\"Nein\", sagte Jonah, \"das ist es, sch\u00e4tze ich.\"\n\n\"Gut\", sagte Mickey. \"Ich wei\u00df, dass du das Richtige tun wirst. Ruf mich an, wenn es erledigt ist.\"\n\nDie Verbindung wurde getrennt.\n\nJonah starrte auf seine Konsole. Zehn Jahre lang f\u00fcr Mickey gearbeitet und er war noch nie aufgefordert worden, jemanden zu t\u00f6ten.\n\nAber dann hatte er noch nie einen Agenten an Bord gehabt.\n\nEin Klopfen kam an die T\u00fcr und Jonah riss seinen Kopf hoch. Char war vom Frachtraum zur\u00fcck.\n\nEr lie\u00df sie rein.\n\n\"Jesus, Jo, du siehst blass aus wie ein Laken\", sagte sie. \"Geht es dir gut?\"\n\n\"Ja\", sagte er und dr\u00e4ngte sich von seiner Station weg. \"Ich muss die Ladung \u00fcberpr\u00fcfen.\"\n\n\"Was ist los?\", sagte sie.\n\n\"Nichts\", sagte er, als er sie abwinkte. \"Ich habe etwas vergessen. Es wird nicht lange dauern.\"\n\nEr konnte ihre Augen auf ihn sp\u00fcren, als er das Cockpit verlie\u00df. Sie wusste, dass etwas nicht stimmte. Er hoffte nur, dass er sie davon fernhalten konnte. Das war nicht ihre Last.\n\nEr entdeckte den Agenten im Passagierbereich und knirschte mit den Z\u00e4hnen. Zeit, es hinter sich zu bringen.\n\nArdoss bewegte sich auf seinem Sitz. Er hatte noch nie mit Jonah Ruskella zu tun gehabt, sie hatten sich nie gekreuzt. Der Pilot h\u00e4tte ihn nicht erkannt. Das Letzte, was Ardoss brauchte, war ein aufgeblasener Wichtigtuer, der seine Tarnung aufflog. Er wollte Ruskella nicht erschrecken, aber jetzt war es zu sp\u00e4t.\n\nDer Co-Pilot kam aus dem Frachtraum zur\u00fcck. Etwas ging vor sich. Er ignorierte das meiste von dem, was der Politiker sagte, und beobachtete das Cockpit.\n\nDie T\u00fcr war offen und er konnte h\u00f6ren, wie dringendes Fl\u00fcstern zu den Passagieren durchdrang. Einen Moment sp\u00e4ter erschien Ruskella an der T\u00fcr und sah Ardoss direkt an.\n\nRuskella war blass, viel blasser als beim Einsteigen, und seine H\u00e4nde zitterten. Er sah auf das Deck, als er an Ardoss vorbeikam.\n\nEr hatte etwas vor.\n\nArdoss hakte sich von seinem Platz ab und folgte Ruskella zum Frachtraum. Er schlich den Flur entlang und fand eine Waffe im Gesicht, sobald er um die Ecke ging.\n\n\"Lass uns nichts tun, was wir bereuen werden, Ruskella\", sagte Ardoss.\n\n\"Ich bereue schon zu viel\", sagte Ruskella. \"Das sollte eine einfache \u00dcbergabe sein. Das war's, aber du musstest gehen und es schwieriger machen. Du h\u00e4ttest dich da raushalten und Pietro entkommen lassen sollen.\"\n\n\"Also treffen Sie sich mit Marquez\", sagte Ardoss.\n\n\"Als ob du es nicht w\u00fcsstest?\", sagte Ruskella. \"Du hast gedr\u00e4ngt, um auf meinem Schiff zu buchen. Du hast einen falschen Namen angenommen. Du wei\u00dft, f\u00fcr wen Pietro und ich arbeiten.\" Der Pilot war fast hysterisch. Dieser Mann war kein M\u00f6rder, das konnte Ardoss sehen. Er hielt nicht einmal die Waffe richtig.\n\n\"Du musst mich nicht erschie\u00dfen\", sagte Ardoss und hob seine H\u00e4nde, langsam. Die Waffe brachte Ruskella aus dem Gleichgewicht. Er war nerv\u00f6s und schon die kleinste Bewegung konnte ihn zum Feuern bringen. Die Kugel w\u00fcrde den Rumpf durchbohren oder abprallen. So oder so, es w\u00fcrde b\u00f6se enden.\n\n\"Das tue ich\", sagte Ruskella.\n\nArdoss sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf und machte einen Schritt nach vorne. Ruskella legte beide H\u00e4nde auf die Waffe. Es zitterte immer noch, aber nicht so stark. Er k\u00f6nnte Ardoss tats\u00e4chlich treffen, wenn er den Abzug dr\u00fcckt.\n\n\"Du hast es nicht in dir\", sagte Ardoss. \"Du bist ein Schmuggler, ein Kurier. Das ist es. Das ist es. Du bist kein M\u00f6rder. Du wirst es nie sein. Das bist nicht du.\"\n\n\"Denkst du, ich will dich t\u00f6ten? Ich will nur durch diesen Job kommen und meine Familie wieder sehen\", sagte Ruskella.\n\n\"Meine Sorge ist Pietro\", beruhigte Ardoss. \"Er ist der Einzige, hinter dem ich her bin. Hilf mir und du wirst das Innere einer Gef\u00e4ngniszelle nicht sehen. Du gehst nach Hause zu deiner Familie, du hast mein Wort.\"\n\n\"Wenn ich dir Pietro gebe, bin ich ein toter Mann\", sagte Ruskella.\n\n\"Es muss nicht so ablaufen. Ich besch\u00fctze meine Informanten, aber wenn Sie mich t\u00f6ten, sind Sie fertig\", sagte Ardoss. \"Vielleicht nicht sofort, aber es wird passieren.\"\n\nRuskellas Nasenl\u00f6cher flackerten. Ardoss' Arme wurden m\u00fcde. Etwas musste passieren, und zwar bald.\n\n\"Geh in den Spind\", sagte Ruskella.\n\n\"Was?\" sagte Ardoss.\n\n\"Da ist ein Werkzeugkasten direkt hinter dir\", sagte Ruskella. Er wird von au\u00dfen verschlossen und ist gerade gro\u00df genug f\u00fcr dich. Jetzt steig ein.\"\n\nArdoss faltete seine Stirn. \"Ich gehe nicht in einen Spind.\"\n\n\"Steig ein oder ich erschie\u00dfe dich\", sagte Ruskella.\n\n\"Du erschie\u00dft mich auch nicht\", sagte Ardoss.\n\nRuskella hob die Waffe und machte einen Schritt nach vorne. Ruskellas H\u00e4nde m\u00fcssen geschwitzt haben, weil die Waffe gerutscht ist und er darum gek\u00e4mpft hat, sie in den Griff zu bekommen. Ardoss nahm sich die momentane Ablenkung, um den Piloten zu \u00fcberrumpeln. Er kollidierte mit Ruskellas Mittelteil und die beiden M\u00e4nner pflogen in die Transportkisten.\n\nDie Waffe flog aus Ruskellas Hand und skitterte \u00fcber den Boden. Ruskella zog sich zur\u00fcck und schlug Ardoss in die Schulter. Kein Zweifel, er zielte auf das Gesicht, aber es war immer noch ein harter Schlag. Der Mann kennt sich vielleicht nicht mit einer Waffe aus, aber er wusste, wie man schwingt.\n\nArdoss stolperte zur\u00fcck und Ruskella st\u00fcrzte ihn. Ardoss st\u00fctzte sich und packte ihn unter die Arme. Er schob den Mann nach hinten. Ruskella stolperte ein wenig und st\u00fcrzte dann wieder auf.\n\nArdoss hatte als Kind einige Zeit auf einem Bauernhof verbracht, genau genommen eine Rinderfarm. Der Bauer hatte einen Stier mit einem legend\u00e4ren Temperament. Er hat jeden angegriffen, der sich ihm n\u00e4herte. Das ist es, was Ruskella war. Ein Bulle. Er hatte keine Konzentration in seinem Kampf. Nur eine tiefe Verzweiflung, um zu gewinnen. Ardoss konnte es ihm nicht ver\u00fcbeln.\n\nTrotzdem hatte er einen Job zu erledigen.\n\nArdoss trat Ruskella zur Seite und dr\u00fcckte seine beiden F\u00e4uste zusammen. Er brachte sie auf Ruskellas R\u00fccken und der Mann knitterte wie ein Kartenstapel.\n\n\"Ich habe keine Zeit daf\u00fcr\", sagte Ardoss. \"Sag mir, wo du Pietro Marquez triffst.\"\n\n\"Nein\", sagte Ruskella keuchend, \"keine Chance\". Er dr\u00fcckte sich auf wackeligen Armen nach oben.\n\n\"Wenn du mir seinen Standort gibst, k\u00f6nnen wir dich besch\u00fctzen\", sagte Ardoss.\n\nRuskella drehte sich um und lachte. Tr\u00e4nen rollten \u00fcber sein Gesicht. \"Verstehst du es nicht? Pietro wei\u00df zu viel. Er wei\u00df viel mehr als ich. Wenn ich ihn ausliefere, gibt es nichts, was mich besch\u00fctzen k\u00f6nnte. Mickey Black hat \u00fcberall Leute. \u00dcberall. Hast du verstanden? Es gibt keinen sicheren Ort f\u00fcr mich, wenn ich dir helfe. Und es gibt keinen sicheren Ort f\u00fcr Pietro. Lass ihn einfach gehen.\"\n\n\"Ich kann nicht\", sagte Ardoss.\n\n\"Dann t\u00f6te mich\", sagte Ruskella. \"Ich bin so oder so tot.\"\n\nArdoss sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf. \"Nicht das, wof\u00fcr ich hier bin. Ich werde Pietro Marquez verhaften, dann bringe ich euch beide in eine Advocacy-Station und ihr werdet wegen eurer Verbrechen vor Gericht gestellt. Jetzt gehst du in den Spind.\"\n\n\"Mein Co-Pilot wird das nicht zulassen\", sagte Ruskella.\n\n\"Ich kann mit ihr umgehen.\"\n\nEin L\u00e4cheln breitete sich auf Ruskellas Gesicht aus. \"Das bezweifle ich sehr.\"\n\nDer Schmerz bl\u00fchte \u00fcber dem Hinterkopf von Ardoss auf und er fiel auf die Knie.\n\n\"Alles in Ordnung, Jo?\"\n\n\"Ja, Char\", sagte Ruskella. \"Danke daf\u00fcr.\"\n\n\"Das war also die Ladung, die du \u00fcberpr\u00fcfen wolltest?\", sagte sie. \"Warum hast du mir das nicht gleich gesagt?\"\n\nArdoss' Sicht verschwamm und ihr Gespr\u00e4ch war etwas ged\u00e4mpft. Sie w\u00fcrde ihn hart schlagen. Nicht hart genug, um ihn bewusstlos zu schlagen, offensichtlich, aber hart genug, um ihn dazu zu bringen, wirklich gut und lange dar\u00fcber nachzudenken, aufzustehen.\n\n\"Ja, das tut mir leid\", sagte Ruskella. \"Ich wollte dich nicht mit reinziehen.\"\n\nSie seufzte ver\u00e4rgert. \"Dieses Schiff ist auch meine Heimat. Was auch immer hier passiert, es betrifft mich.\"\n\n\"Ich werde mich daran erinnern\", sagte Ruskella.\n\n\"Was willst du mit ihm machen?\", sagte der Co-Pilot. Sie klopfte ihn mit ihrem Stiefel an.\n\n\"Ich werde ihn nicht t\u00f6ten\", sagte Ruskella.\n\n\"Ich w\u00fcrde so etwas nicht einmal vorschlagen, Jo\", sagte sie. \"Aber er st\u00f6rt deinen Job f\u00fcr Mickey, nicht wahr?\"\n\n\"Ja\", sagte Ruskella. \"Warte, woher wusstest du von Mickey?\"\n\nSie lachte. \"Jo, ich kenne dich seit sechzehn Jahren. Sei besorgt, wenn ich nicht wei\u00df, was in deinem Leben vor sich geht.\"\n\nArdoss' Vision begann sich zu kl\u00e4ren und er schaffte es, sich gerade genug zu drehen, um ihm \u00fcber die Schulter zu schauen.\nDer Co-Pilot hatte die Waffe auf sein Gesicht gerichtet.\n\n\"Bitte\", sagte sie. \"Im Gegensatz zu meinem Freund wei\u00df ich, wie man eine Waffe abfeuert.\"\n\nEr blinzelte. Sie hat nicht gescherzt. Die Art und Weise, wie sie ihre Waffe hielt, die Klarheit ihres Fluganzuges, das waren tote Werbegeschenke. Ehemaliges Milit\u00e4r, so wie es aussieht. Er h\u00e4tte es fr\u00fcher merken sollen. H\u00e4tte er, wenn er sich nicht so sehr darauf konzentriert h\u00e4tte, seinen Partner zu fangen.\n\nArdoss lie\u00df einen Seufzer los. \"Was wirst du dann mit mir machen?\"\n\nDie Co-Pilotin lie\u00df ihn nicht aus den Augen. Ardoss drehte seinen Kopf zur\u00fcck zu Ruskella, die seine Lippen verd\u00fcnnt hatte.\n\n\"Ich...\" begann er, aber das Schiff schauderte.\n\nArdoss verlor fast das Gleichgewicht. \"Was zum Teufel?\"\n\nWut blitzte \u00fcber Ruskellas Gesicht.\n\n\"Jemand fliegt mein Schiff.\"\n\nDie Dinge liefen \u00fcberhaupt nicht wie geplant. Ardoss wollte unbemerkt auf das Schiff steigen, Open Sky, unbemerkt, zum Rendezvous mit Pietro Marquez kommen und die meisten von ihnen verhaften.\n\nNun hatte ein muffiger Politiker, der f\u00fcr seinen sehr teuren Anzug zu gro\u00df war, Ardoss' Deckung ruiniert, was zu einem Showdown im Frachtraum f\u00fchrte. Und jetzt sah es so aus, als w\u00fcrde die Situation von schlecht zu noch schlimmer werden.\n\n\"Jemand hat dein Schiff entf\u00fchrt?\" fragte Ardoss.\n\n\"Keine Ahnung\", sagte Ruskella, \"aber ich habe einen Zeitplan einzuhalten. Mickey wird meinen Kopf haben, wenn ich zu sp\u00e4t komme.\"\n\n\"Was willst du mit ihm machen?\" fragte die Co-Pilotin und ruckte ihren Kopf in Ardoss' Richtung.\n\n\"Ich kann ihn nicht auf dem Schiff loslassen\", sagte Ruskella. \"Wir m\u00fcssen ihn in den Spind legen.\"\n\n\"Ich kann helfen\", sagte Ardoss.\n\n\"Keine Chance\", sagte Ruskella.\n\n\"Du vergisst\", sagte Ardoss, \"wenn du dein Treffen mit Pietro verpasst, dann auch ich. Wir beide haben ein gro\u00dfes Interesse daran, was auf diesem Schiff passiert und wohin es f\u00fchrt.\"\n\n\"Und wenn wir dort ankommen\", sagte Ruskella, \"werden Sie Pietro Marquez verhaften und ich werde sterben. Ich sehe es eher als einen Interessenkonflikt denn als ein gemeinsames Ziel.\"\n\n\"Ich k\u00f6nnte ihn verhaften, nachdem du dein Paket abgegeben hast\", sagte Ardoss.\n\nRuskella faltete seine Stirn.\n\n\"Nur zu\", sagte der Co-Pilot.\n\n\"Du sollst es nur abgeben, oder?\", sagte Ardoss. \"Mickey hat nie etwas davon gesagt, ihn sicher zu verabschieden?\"\n\n\"Hat er nicht\", sagte Ruskella, \"aber er sagte auch, ich solle dich t\u00f6ten.\"\n\n\"Und das hast du nicht\", sagte Ardoss. \"So oder so, du trotzt deinem Boss. Bringen Sie Ihr Paket zur\u00fcck, dann geben Sie mir Pietro. Auf diese Weise bekommen wir beide, was wir wollen.\"\n\n\"Er hat Recht, Jo\", sagte der Co-Pilot.\n\n\"Und wenn ich es nicht tue?\", sagte Ruskella.\n\n\"Du wirst wegen Beihilfe und Anstiftung verhaftet\", sagte Ardoss. \"Was denkst du, was Mickey dann mit dir machen wird? Hilf mir und ich kann dich besch\u00fctzen.\"\n\nRuskellas Nasenl\u00f6cher flackerten und seine Kiefer wurden zusammengedr\u00fcckt.\n\n\"Ich werde dar\u00fcber nachdenken\", sagte er. \"Du hilfst uns und du stichst mir nicht in den R\u00fccken und ich k\u00f6nnte einfach tun, was du verlangst. Zuerst bringen wir das Schiff zur\u00fcck.\"\n\n\"Das ist fair\", sagte Ardoss. \"Also, wie willst du damit umgehen?\"\n\n\"Wir werfen sie aus dem Cockpit\", sagte Ruskella.\n\nArdoss hob eine Augenbraue. \"Wirklich? Du kommst mir nicht wie ein gewaltt\u00e4tiger Typ vor.\"\n\nRuskellas Gesicht r\u00f6tete sich. \"Es ist mein Schiff. Ich will es zur\u00fcck.\"\n\n\"Okay\", sagte Ardoss. \"Sagen wir, du st\u00fcrmst da hoch und ziehst denjenigen, der es ist, von deinem Platz. Oder versuchen Sie es. Was dann?\"\n\nRuskella sah auf den Boden. \"Ich wei\u00df nicht. Sie einsperren?\"\n\n\"Und wenn sie sich wehren?\"\n\n\"Ich habe gegen dich gek\u00e4mpft.\"\n\n\"Und verloren.\"\n\nRuskella starrte ihn an, aber der Co-Pilot trat vor.\n\n\"Ich k\u00fcmmere mich darum\", sagte sie.\n\nArdoss sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf. \"Lass mich das machen.\"\n\nSowohl Pilot als auch Co sahen ihn an, die Augenbrauen wurden angehoben.\n\n\"Ich bin ein Agent\", sagte Ardoss. \"Ich bin darauf vorbereitet.\" Ruskella schoss dem Co-Piloten einen Blick zu.\n\nSie zuckte mit den Achseln, \"Er hat Recht.\"\n\n\"Du bekommst die Waffe nicht\", warnte Ruskella.\n\n\"Ich brauche es nicht\", kehrte Ardross zur\u00fcck.\n\n\"Gut\", r\u00e4umte der Pilot ein, \"wie lautet der Plan?\"\n\n\"Zuerst sehen wir, was zum Teufel da drau\u00dfen los ist.\"\n\n\"Nach dir\", sagte der Co-Pilot mit einer Geste zur T\u00fcr. Ardoss nickte. Sein Plan, er w\u00fcrde zuerst gehen.\n\nEr griff nach der T\u00fcr und drehte das Rad.\n\nEs hat sich nicht bewegt.\n\nEr legte sein Gewicht darauf, aber es bewegte sich trotzdem nicht. \"Es klemmt.\"\n\nDer Co-Pilot schob ihn aus dem Weg, und sie schob ihr eigenes Gewicht gegen die T\u00fcr, ihr Gesicht wurde durch die Anstrengung rot. \"Es klemmt auf keinen Fall in der H\u00f6lle\", sagte sie und dr\u00fcckte erneut. \"Wir halten das Schiff in Top-Zustand.\" Die Unf\u00e4higkeit der T\u00fcr, sich zu bewegen, war eine pers\u00f6nliche Beleidigung f\u00fcr sie.\n\nSie versuchte es ein letztes Mal an der T\u00fcr, bevor sie schlie\u00dflich die Realit\u00e4t ihrer Situation akzeptierte. Sie blickte durch das Fenster.\n\n\"Ich sehe die Frau und das Kind\", sagte Ardoss, \"aber keine Spur von dem Politiker. Ich sch\u00e4tze, wir wissen, wer dahinter steckt.\"\n\n\"Er schien nicht der Entf\u00fchrertyp zu sein\", sagte Ruskella. Sie zuckte mit den Schultern. \"Wir gehen davon aus, dass es sich um eine Entf\u00fchrung handelt.\"\n\n\"Die T\u00fcr ist verschlossen\", sagte Ardoss.\n\n\"Punkt\", sagte sie. Sie klopfte an die T\u00fcr und blickte durch das Glas. Sie schlug gegen die T\u00fcr. Nichts.\n\n\"Es ist zu dick\", sagte sie. \"Ich w\u00fcrde die Kommunikation versuchen, aber es w\u00fcrde Thrumm oder denjenigen, der die Leitung \u00fcbernommen hat, alarmieren.\"\n\n\"Die Notluke\", sagte Ruskella.\n\nDie Co-Pilotin sah ihn an und verengte ihre Augen.\n\n\"Wenn wir diesen Weg gehen, muss einer von uns die Luftschleuse bedienen und einer von uns muss da raus gehen\", sagte sie. \"Jemand muss mit dem Agenten allein sein.\"\n\n\"Ich kann das Cockpit wieder einnehmen\", sagte Ardoss.\n\nRuskella sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf. \"Ich kann nicht riskieren, dass du das Schiff \u00fcbernimmst und uns hier zur\u00fcckl\u00e4sst. Einer von uns muss auch gehen.\"\n\n\"Ich gehe schon\", sagte der Co-Pilot. \"Ich habe mehr Zero-G Training und du w\u00e4rst im Spind, sobald ich gehe.\"\n\n\"Gut\", sagte Ruskella. \"Wir kommen immer weiter vom Kurs ab, je l\u00e4nger wir hier stehen und streiten. Char, nimm den Agenten und bring mir mein Schiff zur\u00fcck.\"\n\nArdoss konnte im Gesicht des Mannes sehen, dass er lieber derjenige sein w\u00fcrde, der geht. Er muss viel Vertrauen in diese Frau gehabt haben. Ardoss wusste, wie das war, jemandem zu vertrauen, der das tut, was getan werden muss.\n\nAber das war jetzt weg, weggerissen, als er von Pietros Gesch\u00e4ften erfuhr. Zwanzig Jahre waren sie zusammen und kein Wort, kein Hinweis.\n\nDie drei machten sich schnell an die Arbeit, um den Laderaum festzuzurren. Ruskella half Ardoss und dem Co-Piloten in die Evakuierungsanz\u00fcge.\n\n\"Warte. Was ist mit dir?\" fragte Ardoss, \"Es gibt kein Luftschild auf diesem Schiffsladeraum.\"\n\n\"Es wird alles gut\", sagte Ruskella.\n\nArdoss hob eine Augenbraue.\n\n\"Ich habe es manipuliert\", sagte Ruskella. Er zeigte auf einen kleinen Sitz mit Gurten und einen O2-Tank direkt am Bedienfeld. Es hatte ein kleines Geh\u00e4use mit einer T\u00fcr um sich herum, kaum gro\u00df genug f\u00fcr eine Person.\n\n\"Ihr zwei habt das schon mal gemacht\", sagte Ardoss. \"Muss interessant sein, f\u00fcr Mickey zu arbeiten.\"\n\nDer Co-Pilot stahl einen harten Blick auf Ruskella. \"Kann ich nicht sagen.\"\n\nRuskella wurde knallrot, etwas Unausgesprochenes zwischen den beiden. Der Pilot wechselte das Thema und sagte: \"Wir m\u00fcssen uns beeilen.\"\n\nArdoss nickte und zog mit Hilfe seines Helmes an. Es raste ein. Sein Atem erw\u00e4rmte die Kuppel und das Visier vernebelte ein wenig. Das vertraute Zischen begann, gefolgt von dem klinischen, aber etwas muffigen Geruch von Sauerstoff, der in den Anzug eingedrungen war. Er hustete einmal, als es seine Lungen f\u00fcllte.\n\n\"Kannst du mich h\u00f6ren?\" fragte der Co-Pilot \u00fcber die Anzugkommunikation.\n\n\"Laut und deutlich\", antwortete Ardoss. \"Es ist Char, richtig?\"\n\nSie nahm sich einen Moment Zeit, um zu antworten.\n\n\"Ja\", sagte sie. \"Jetzt schnapp dir das Gel\u00e4nder. Wir haben nur eine wirklich gute Chance, das zu tun.\"\n\nEr nickte und wusste sofort, dass der Anzug einfache Gesten schluckte.\n\nChar packte die Reling und gab Ruskella einen Daumen nach oben. Ardoss folgte ihrem Beispiel. Ruskella hatte eine O2-Maske an seinem Gesicht befestigt und erwiderte die Geste, indem er einen Knopf auf der Konsole schlug.\n\nDas Vakuum wurde bei Ardoss gezogen. Er verlor den Halt, hielt aber seine Hand fest auf der Schiene. Gerade als seine Finger zu rutschen begannen, glich der Druck aus und die Zugkraft nahm ab.\n\n\"Bereit?\" fragte Char.\n\n\" Ja.\"\n\nSie griff nach au\u00dferhalb des Schiffes und griff nach einem Griff an der H\u00fclle. Ardoss folgte.\n\nAls sie drau\u00dfen waren, schloss sich die T\u00fcr. Er konnte sich nur vorstellen, in was f\u00fcr einer Art Unannehmlichkeit Ruskella stecken muss. Es war mit Sicherheit mutig. Und geradezu gef\u00e4hrlich.\n\nPl\u00f6tzlich dachte er besser an den Mann.\n\n\"Ihr steht euch ziemlich nahe\", sagte Ardoss.\n\nChar hat nichts gesagt.\n\n\"Du gehst da lang, nehme ich an\", fuhr er fort, \"allein hier drau\u00dfen, nur ihr beide.\"\n\nStille.\n\n\"So waren Pietro und ich\", sagte er. \"Oder ich dachte, wir w\u00e4ren es. Zwanzig Jahre zusammen und ich hatte nie eine Ahnung, dass er f\u00fcr Mickey arbeitete. Ein solcher Verrat l\u00e4sst dich alles in Frage stellen.\"\n\n\"Das w\u00fcrde ich Jonah nicht antun\", sagte sie.\n\n\"Was ist mit ihm, der dich verarscht?\", sagte er. \"Es ist klar, dass er mit Mickey zusammen war und dir nichts davon erz\u00e4hlt hat.\"\n\n\"Das musste er nicht\", sagte sie. \"Ich w\u00e4re kein guter Partner, wenn ich die kleinen Dinge nicht bemerkt h\u00e4tte. Er hat es nicht erw\u00e4hnt, also habe ich es nicht erw\u00e4hnt. Wir kennen uns seit sechzehn Jahren, er arbeitet seit zehn Jahren f\u00fcr Mickey. Ich wusste, als Mickey sich ihm n\u00e4herte.\"\n\n\"Seid ihr beide...?\" sagte Ardoss.\n\nSie lachte. \"Nat\u00fcrlich nicht. Jonah ist verheiratet und hat drei Kinder. Ich stellte ihn seiner Frau vor.\"\n\n\"Das h\u00e4lt die Menschen nicht davon ab, die Gesellschaft des anderen zu genie\u00dfen\", sagte er.\n\nEr konnte fast den finsteren Blick sp\u00fcren, den sie ihm gegeben haben muss.\n\n\"Ich schulde ihm mehr, als du verstehen konntest\", sagte sie. \"Jonah ist ein guter Mann. Er w\u00fcrde nicht f\u00fcr Mickey arbeiten, wenn er eine Wahl h\u00e4tte.\"\n\n\"Willst du damit sagen, dass er gezwungen wurde?\", sagte er.\n\n\"Nat\u00fcrlich war er das\", sagte sie. \"So funktioniert Mickey Black. Er findet etwas bei dir, einen Weg, dich zu quetschen. Er manipuliert dich, damit du das tust, was er tun muss.\"\n\nArdoss wollte mehr fragen, aber sie hatten das Cockpit erreicht.\n\n\"Das wird genau wie der Laderaum sein\", sagte sie. \"Wenn ich die T\u00fcr \u00f6ffne, wird sich die Kabine entspannen. Greif nach etwas, oder du wirst ins All geschleudert.\"\n\n\"Verstanden\", sagte Ardoss.\n\nSie griff nach dem Schloss und Ardoss suchte nach einem Haken oder einer Stange oder etwas zum Festhalten. Da war ein kleiner Vorsprung und er grub seine Finger hinein.\n\n\"Bereit\", sagte er.\n\nOhne ein weiteres Wort zu sagen, drehte sie den Griff und die T\u00fcr sprang auf. Die Luft huschte an ihnen vorbei und schlug Ardoss die H\u00e4nde aus seinem Griff. Er versuchte, sich an etwas, irgendetwas festzuhalten, aber er war bereits vom Schiff weggetrieben. Aus dem Cockpit vertriebene Lebensmittelverpackungen wirbelten um ihn herum.\n\nEr starrte einen Moment lang, als das Schiff kleiner wurde. Das Rauschen der Luft, die in seinen Anzug pumpt, war das einzige Ger\u00e4usch. Allm\u00e4hlich baute sich die Panik auf, als er erkannte, dass das Schiff nicht zur\u00fcckkam. Das Schlagen seines eigenen Herzens und seine schnelle Atmung erstickten den Klang des Sauerstoffs.\n\nEin rotes Licht blinkte auf seinem Display. Sein Sauerstoffgehalt war niedrig. Diese Anz\u00fcge waren nicht f\u00fcr lange Ausfl\u00fcge gedacht. Er hatte Minuten Zeit. Ardoss beruhigte seine Atmung. Er musste konservieren. Wenn er \u00fcberleben wollte, musste er ruhig bleiben.\n\nDas Schiff wurde kleiner und Ardoss konnte nicht anders, als das Gef\u00fchl zu haben, dass er kurz davor war zu sterben.\n\nFortsetzung folgt","zh_CN":"Writer\u2019s Note: One Last Job: Part Two was published originally in Jump Point 3.10. Read Part one here.\nJonah, for the second time that day, broke into a cold sweat. They were already at the jump point, on their way to drop off supplies to a known criminal with a ship full of passengers that weren\u2019t supposed to be there, and one of them was an Advocacy Agent. Added to that, the Agent was the criminal\u2019s former partner.\n\nThings were not going well.\n\n\u201cChar, I need you to check the cargo,\u201d said Jonah.\n\nShe raised a thin black eyebrow. He knew how odd it must\u2019ve sounded. They\u2019d just taken off.\n\n\u201cJust make sure nothing shifted and no one\u2019s been messing with it,\u201d he said.\n\nShe pursed her lips and nodded. He could tell by the look in her eyes she didn\u2019t buy it, but she would do as he asked. She gave him a final glance before she left the cockpit. The door clanged shut and Jonah punched the comms.\n\nHe\u2019d only used this code a handful of times. It was only for emergencies and this was an emergency.\n\n\u201cThis better be important,\u201d a voice growled.\n\n\u201cI need to talk to Mickey,\u201d said Jonah.\n\nSilence.\n\n\u201cIf you\u2019re backing out,\u201d the voice said. It must\u2019ve been Mickey\u2019s second, a man known only as The Second. No one knew his name except Mickey.\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cI have a problem and I need to talk to Mickey.\u201d\n\nTruth was, he wanted to back out, more now than ever. Before, it was the fear of Mickey that kept him going. He owed him money and he was behind on payment. Now, there was an Agent. He was an old fella, but Pietro used to talk about him with awe in his voice, like the man was part god. He\u2019d caught or ghosted so many bad guys, Jonah was surprised he hadn\u2019t known what Pietro was up to.\n\nSilence crackled over the comms and sweat poured down Jonah\u2019s face. His scalp itched and his mouth was dry.\n\nFinally, Mickey came on.\n\n\u201cHow big a problem we talkin\u2019, Jonah my boy?\u201d There was an edge to his voice. He wasn\u2019t happy.\n\n\u201cOh, about six feet tall, goes by the name of Ardoss.\u201d\n\nMickey sniffed. \u201cName sounds familiar.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s Pietro\u2019s partner,\u201d said Jonah.\n\n\u201cAh, yes, that\u2019d be it,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cWhy do you have a passenger, Jonah? I checked your schedule. You had no passengers. It was cargo only.\u201d\n\nHe didn\u2019t yell. He never did. He was always calm and even toned. He liked to make you feel like everything was fine. Jonah couldn\u2019t help but remember the bartender\u2019s ruined face.\n\n\u201cPassengers, plural,\u201d said Jonah, trying to keep his voice from shaking. \u201cI have a full flight. Haru changed it on me, last minute. I thought some politician pulled some strings, but now I think it was this Ardoss guy.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou think he\u2019s after his partner?\u201d said Mickey.\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t think of anything else,\u201d said Jonah.\n\nMickey took a slow breath. \u201cI need the job done and Pietro taken care of. We can\u2019t have this Ardoss fella causing trouble.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why I called,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cCan we postpone?\u201d\n\nJonah could practically hear Mickey\u2019s teeth grind.\n\n\u201cPostpone?\u201d he said, his voice still even, but a pitch higher.\n\n\u201cKick Ardoss off at the next station,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cHe\u2019s got to be here for Pietro. He blew up a shopping mall to get him. I don\u2019t want that kind of trouble. When he\u2019s off, I\u2019ll go back and give Pietro his cargo.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s not what we agreed to, Jonah,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cYou deliver your cargo when I say you deliver it. You show up late, Pietro will bolt. He knows things about my organization. I need to make sure he\u2019s happy. Stick to the schedule. Do you understand?\u201d\n\nJonah\u2019s heart sank. \u201cYes, I understand. What do you want me to do about Ardoss?\u201d\n\n\u201cKill him,\u201d said Mickey.\n\nThe sweat on Jonah\u2019s face and back went cold and he thought he\u2019d be sick.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve never killed anyone,\u201d said Jonah.\n\n\u201cThe first one\u2019s tough, sure,\u201d said Mickey, his voice softer. \u201cBut if he lives, you put the entire job at risk. If you drop him off somewhere, he\u2019ll be back and you\u2019ll go to jail. And if you think sitting in an Advocacy prison will keep you safe from me, I have people everywhere, Jonah. I will get what\u2019s owed me, one way or another.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Advocacy will be after me if I kill him,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cI\u2019ll be a wanted man.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou let me worry about that,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cYou just think about your family, my boy. They need their father. They need the money.\u201d\n\nJonah swallowed. Talking to Mickey didn\u2019t make it any better. He was still caught between two impossible choices.\n\n\u201cAnd how do you propose I go about killing an Advocacy Agent?\u201d said Jonah. \u201cIt\u2019s not like I can shove him out an airlock.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou could,\u201d said Mickey. Jonah could hear the smile on his lips.\n\n\u201cBut I\u2019ve got a much simpler solution for you,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cThere\u2019s a gun in the crate for Pietro. It\u2019s in a hidden compartment, no code, just a special latch. It\u2019s loaded, so be careful. Have you ever fired a gun?\u201d\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d said Jonah, shaking his head. He\u2019d seen them fired, and heard the awful sound they made. His ears hurt just to think about it.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s real simple,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cJust point it at the fella you want dead and squeeze the trigger. It\u2019s like magic. Hit \u2019em in the right spot and they\u2019re just gone.\u201d\n\nJonah\u2019s stomach twisted.\n\n\u201cAnything else?\u201d asked Mickey after a moment.\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d said Jonah, \u201cthat\u2019s it, I guess.\u201d\n\n\u201cGood,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cI know you\u2019ll do the right thing. Call me when it\u2019s done.\u201d\n\nThe comm disconnected.\n\nJonah stared at his console. Ten years of working for Mickey and he\u2019d never been asked to kill anyone.\n\nBut then, he\u2019d never had an Agent on board before.\n\nA knock came at the door and Jonah jerked his head up. Char was back from the cargo hold.\n\nHe let her in.\n\n\u201cJesus, Jo, you look pale as a sheet,\u201d she said. \u201cAre you all right?\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah,\u201d he said, pushing away from his station. \u201cI need to go check the cargo.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d she said.\n\n\u201cNothing,\u201d he said as he waved her off. \u201cI forgot something. I won\u2019t be long.\u201d\n\nHe could feel her eyes on him as he exited the cockpit. She knew something was up. He just hoped he could keep her away from it. This wasn\u2019t her burden to bear.\n\nHe spotted the Agent in the passenger area and gritted his teeth. Time to get it over with.\n\nArdoss shifted in his seat. He\u2019d never had any dealings with Jonah Ruskella; they\u2019d never once crossed paths. The pilot would not have recognized him. The last thing Ardoss needed was some pompous blowhard blowing his cover. He hadn\u2019t wanted to spook Ruskella, but it was too late now.\n\nThe co-pilot came back from the cargo hold. Something was going on. He ignored most of what the politician was saying and watched the cockpit.\n\nThe door was open and he could hear urgent whispers filter through to the passengers. A moment later, Ruskella appeared at the doorway and looked directly at Ardoss.\n\nRuskella was pale, much paler than when everyone boarded, and his hands shook. He looked at the deck as he passed Ardoss.\n\nHe was up to something.\n\nArdoss unhooked from his seat and followed Ruskella to the cargo hold. He crept along the corridor and found a gun in his face as soon as he rounded the corner.\n\n\u201cLet\u2019s not do anything we\u2019re going to regret, Ruskella,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cI regret too much already,\u201d Ruskella said. \u201cThis was supposed to be an easy drop-off. That\u2019s it, but you had to go and make it harder. You should have stayed out of it and let Pietro get away.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo you are meeting with Marquez,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cLike you didn\u2019t know?\u201d said Ruskella. \u201cYou pushed to get booking on my ship. You took a fake name. You know who Pietro and I work for.\u201d The pilot was near hysterics. This man wasn\u2019t a killer, Ardoss could see that. He didn\u2019t even hold the gun right.\n\n\u201cYou don\u2019t have to shoot me,\u201d said Ardoss, raising his hands, slowly. The gun made Ruskella off-balanced. He was nervous and the slightest move could cause him to fire. The bullet would pierce the hull or ricochet. Either way, it would end badly.\n\n\u201cI do,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\nArdoss shook his head and took a step forward. Ruskella put both hands on the gun. It still shook, but not as badly. He might actually hit Ardoss if he pulled the trigger.\n\n\u201cYou don\u2019t have it in you,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cYou\u2019re a smuggler, a courier. That\u2019s it. You\u2019re not a murderer. You never will be. This isn\u2019t you.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou think I want to kill you? I just want to get through this job and see my family again,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cMy concern is Pietro,\u201d Ardoss soothed. \u201cHe\u2019s the only one I\u2019m after. Help me and you won\u2019t see the inside of a jail cell. You\u2019ll go home to your family, you have my word.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf I give you Pietro, I\u2019m a dead man,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cIt doesn\u2019t have to go down that way. I protect my informants, but if you kill me, you\u2019re done,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cMaybe not immediately, but it will happen.\u201d\n\nRuskella\u2019s nostrils flared. Ardoss\u2019 arms were getting tired. Something needed to happen, and soon.\n\n\u201cGet in the locker,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cWhat?\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s a tool locker right behind you,\u201d said Ruskella. It locks from the outside and it\u2019s just big enough for you. Now get in.\u201d\n\nArdoss creased his brow. \u201cI\u2019m not getting in a locker.\u201d\n\n\u201cGet in or I\u2019ll shoot you,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re not shooting me, either,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\nRuskella raised the gun and took a step forward. Ruskella\u2019s hands must have been sweating because the gun slipped and he struggled to get a grip on it. Ardoss took the momentary distraction to rush the pilot. He collided with Ruskella\u2019s midsection and the two men plowed into the shipping crates.\n\nThe gun flew out of Ruskella\u2019s hand and skittered across the floor. Ruskella reared back and punched Ardoss in the shoulder. No doubt, he was aiming for the face, but it was still a hard blow. The man might not know his way around a gun, but he knew how to swing.\n\nArdoss stumbled back and Ruskella rushed him. Ardoss braced and grabbed him under the arms. He shoved the man backwards. Ruskella stumbled a bit and then charged again.\n\nArdoss had spent some time on a farm as a child, a cattle ranch to be exact. The farmer had a bull with a legendary temper. He charged any person who came near him. That\u2019s what Ruskella was. A bull. He had no focus in his fight. Just a deep-down desperation to win. Ardoss couldn\u2019t blame him.\n\nAll the same, he had a job to do.\n\nArdoss side-stepped Ruskella and clasped both his fists together. He brought them down on Ruskella\u2019s back and the man crumpled like a stack of cards.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t have time for this,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cTell me where you\u2019re meeting Pietro Marquez.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d said Ruskella, panting, \u201cnot a chance.\u201d He pushed up on wobbly arms.\n\n\u201cIf you give me his location, we can protect you,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\nRuskella rolled over, laughing. Tears rolled down his face. \u201cDon\u2019t you get it? Pietro knows too much. He knows way more than I do. I turn him over, there\u2019s nothing that can protect me. Mickey Black has people everywhere. Everywhere. Do you understand? There\u2019s no safe place for me if I help you. And there\u2019s no safe place for Pietro. Just let him go.\u201d\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cThen kill me,\u201d said Ruskella. \u201cI\u2019m dead either way.\u201d\n\nArdoss shook his head. \u201cNot what I\u2019m here to do. I\u2019m going to arrest Pietro Marquez, then I\u2019ll take you both into an Advocacy station and you\u2019ll stand trial for your crimes. Now you get in the locker.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy co-pilot won\u2019t stand for this,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cI can handle her.\u201d\n\nA smile spread across Ruskella\u2019s face. \u201cI very much doubt that.\u201d\n\nPain blossomed across the back of Ardoss\u2019 head and he fell to his knees.\n\n\u201cYou okay, Jo?\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, Char,\u201d said Ruskella. \u201cThanks for that.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo this was the cargo you wanted to check?\u201d she said. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you just tell me that in the first place?\u201d\n\nArdoss\u2019 vision blurred and their conversation was somewhat muted. She\u2019d hit him hard. Not hard enough to knock him unconscious, obviously, but hard enough to make him think really good and long about standing up.\n\n\u201cYeah, sorry about that,\u201d said Ruskella. \u201cI didn\u2019t want to involve you.\u201d\n\nShe gave an exasperated sigh. \u201cThis ship is my home, too. Whatever happens here involves me.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll remember that,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cWhat do you want to do with him?\u201d said the co-pilot. She tapped him with her boot.\n\n\u201cI won\u2019t kill him,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cI wouldn\u2019t even suggest such a thing, Jo,\u201d she said. \u201cBut he\u2019s interfering with your job for Mickey, isn\u2019t he?\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah,\u201d said Ruskella. \u201cWait, how did you know about Mickey?\u201d\n\nShe laughed. \u201cJo, I\u2019ve known you for sixteen years. Be worried if I don\u2019t know what\u2019s going on in your life.\u201d\n\nArdoss\u2019 vision started to clear and he managed to turn just enough to look over his shoulder.\nThe co-pilot had the gun pointed at his face.\n\n\u201cPlease,\u201d she said. \u201cUnlike my friend, I know how to shoot a gun.\u201d\n\nHe blinked. She wasn\u2019t kidding. The way she held her gun, the crispness of her flight suit, they were dead giveaways. Former military by the look of it. He should have noticed earlier. Would have if he wasn\u2019t so focused on catching his partner.\n\nArdoss let out a sigh. \u201cWhat will you do with me, then?\u201d\n\nThe co-pilot didn\u2019t take her eyes off him. Ardoss turned his head back to Ruskella who thinned his lips.\n\n\u201cI . . .\u201d he started, but the ship shuddered.\n\nArdoss almost lost his balance. \u201cWhat the hell?\u201d\n\nAnger flashed across Ruskella\u2019s face.\n\n\u201cSomeone\u2019s flying my ship.\u201d\n\nThings were not going at all as planned. Ardoss wanted to slip on the ship, Open Sky, undetected, get to the rendezvous with Pietro Marquez, and arrest the lot of them.\n\nNow, some stuffy politician too big for his very expensive suit had ruined Ardoss\u2019 cover, leading to a showdown in the cargo bay. And now it looked like the situation was about to go from bad to even worse.\n\n\u201cSomeone\u2019s hijacked your ship?\u201d asked Ardoss.\n\n\u201cNo idea,\u201d said Ruskella, \u201cbut I have a schedule to keep. Mickey will have my head if I\u2019m late.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat do you want to do about him?\u201d asked the co-pilot, jerking her head in Ardoss\u2019 direction.\n\n\u201cI can\u2019t let him loose on the ship,\u201d said Ruskella. \u201cWe\u2019ll have to put him in the locker.\u201d\n\n\u201cI can help,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cNot a chance,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cYou forget,\u201d said Ardoss, \u201cif you miss your meeting with Pietro, so do I. We both have a vested interest in what happens on this ship and where it goes.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd when we get there,\u201d said Ruskella, \u201cyou\u2019re going to arrest Pietro Marquez and I\u2019m going to die. I see it as a conflict of interest rather than a mutual goal.\u201d\n\n\u201cI could arrest him after you drop off your package,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\nRuskella creased his brow.\n\n\u201cGo on,\u201d said the co-pilot.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re only supposed to drop it off, right?\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cMickey never said anything about seeing him off safely?\u201d\n\n\u201cHe didn\u2019t,\u201d said Ruskella, \u201cbut he also told me to kill you.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd you didn\u2019t,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cEither way, you\u2019re defying your boss. Drop off your package, then let me have Pietro. That way, we both get what we want.\u201d\n\n\u201cHe\u2019s got a point, Jo,\u201d the co-pilot said.\n\n\u201cAnd if I don\u2019t?\u201d said Ruskella.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019ll be arrested for aiding and abetting,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cWhat do you think Mickey will do with you then? Help me and I can protect you.\u201d\n\nRuskella\u2019s nostrils flared and his jaws clenched.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll think about it,\u201d he said. \u201cYou help us and you don\u2019t stab me in the back and I just might do as you ask. First, we get the ship back.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s fair,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cSo how do you want to handle it?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe kick them out of the cockpit,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\nArdoss raised an eyebrow. \u201cReally? You don\u2019t strike me as the violent type.\u201d\n\nRuskella\u2019s face reddened. \u201cIt\u2019s my ship. I want it back.\u201d\n\n\u201cOkay,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cLet\u2019s say you storm up there and pull whoever it is from your seat. Or try to. Then what?\u201d\n\nRuskella looked at the floor. \u201cI don\u2019t know. Lock them up?\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd if they put up a fight?\u201d\n\n\u201cI fought you.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd lost.\u201d\n\nRuskella glared at him, but the co-pilot stepped forward.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll handle it,\u201d she said.\n\nArdoss shook his head. \u201cLet me handle it.\u201d\n\nBoth pilot and co looked at him, eyebrows raised.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m an Agent,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cI\u2019m trained for this.\u201d Ruskella shot the co-pilot a look.\n\nShe shrugged, \u201cHe\u2019s got a point.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou\u2019re not getting the gun,\u201d warned Ruskella.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t need it,\u201d Ardross returned.\n\n\u201cFine,\u201d the pilot conceded, \u201cwhat\u2019s the plan?\u201d\n\n\u201cFirst, we see what the hell is going on out there.\u201d\n\n\u201cAfter you,\u201d said the co-pilot, gesturing to the door. Ardoss nodded. His plan, he\u2019d go first.\n\nHe reached for the door and turned the wheel.\n\nIt didn\u2019t budge.\n\nHe put his weight on it, but still it wouldn\u2019t move. \u201cIt\u2019s stuck.\u201d\n\nThe co-pilot pushed him out of the way, and she shoved her own weight against the door, her face turning red from the exertion. \u201cNo way in hell it\u2019s stuck,\u201d she said and pushed again. \u201cWe keep this ship in tip-top condition.\u201d The door\u2019s inability to move was a personal affront to her.\n\nShe tried the door one last time before finally accepting the reality of their situation. She peered through the window.\n\n\u201cI see the woman and the kid,\u201d said Ardoss, \u201cbut no sign of the politician. I guess we know who\u2019s behind this.\u201d\n\n\u201cHe didn\u2019t seem like the hijacking type,\u201d said Ruskella. She shrugged. \u201cWe\u2019re assuming this is a hijacking.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe door\u2019s locked,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cPoint,\u201d she said. She knocked on the door and peered through the glass. She pounded on the door. Nothing.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s too thick,\u201d she said. \u201cI would try the comms, but it would alert Thrumm or whoever took over.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe emergency hatch,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\nThe co-pilot looked at him and narrowed her eyes.\n\n\u201cIf we go that way, one of us has to operate the airlock and one of us has to go out there,\u201d she said. \u201cSomeone will have to be alone with the Agent.\u201d\n\n\u201cI can retake the cockpit,\u201d Ardoss said.\n\nRuskella shook his head. \u201cI can\u2019t risk you taking over the ship and leaving us back here. One of us needs to go too.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll go,\u201d said the co-pilot. \u201cI have more zero-g training and you\u2019d be in the locker as soon as I leave.\u201d\n\n\u201cFine,\u201d said Ruskella. \u201cWe\u2019re getting farther off course the longer we stand here arguing. Char, take the Agent and get me my ship back.\u201d\n\nArdoss could see in the man\u2019s face he\u2019d rather be the one going. He must have had a lot of trust in this woman. Ardoss knew what that was like, to trust someone to do what needed to be done.\n\nBut that was gone now, ripped away when he found out about Pietro\u2019s dealings. Twenty years they were together and never a word, not a hint.\n\nThe three of them made quick work to strap down the cargo hold. Ruskella helped Ardoss and the co-pilot into the evac suits.\n\n\u201cWait. What about you?\u201d asked Ardoss, \u201cThere\u2019s no airshield on this ship\u2019s hold.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll be fine,\u201d said Ruskella.\n\nArdoss raised an eyebrow.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve got it rigged,\u201d said Ruskella. He pointed to a small seat with straps and an O2 tank right by the control panel. It had a small enclosure with a door around it, barely big enough for a person.\n\n\u201cYou two have done this before,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cMust be interesting working for Mickey.\u201d\n\nThe co-pilot stole a hard look at Ruskella. \u201cCouldn\u2019t say.\u201d\n\nRuskella turned bright red, something unspoken passing between the two. Changing the subject the pilot said, \u201cWe need to hurry.\u201d\n\nArdoss nodded and, with help, donned his helmet. It snapped into place. His breath warmed the dome and the visor fogged a little. The familiar hissing started, followed by the clinical, yet somewhat musty odor of oxygen filtered into the suit. He coughed once as it filled his lungs.\n\n\u201cCan you hear me?\u201d the co-pilot asked over the suit comms.\n\n\u201cLoud and clear,\u201d replied Ardoss. \u201cIt\u2019s Char, right?\u201d\n\nShe took a moment to respond.\n\n\u201cYeah,\u201d she said. \u201cNow grab the railing. We\u2019ve only got one really good chance at doing this.\u201d\n\nHe nodded, aware as soon as he did it that the suit swallowed simple gestures.\n\nChar grabbed the rail and gave a thumbs up to Ruskella. Ardoss followed her example. Ruskella had an O2 mask strapped to his face and returned the gesture, punching a button on the console.\n\nVacuum yanked at Ardoss. He lost his footing, but kept his hand tight on the rail. Just as his fingers started to slip, the pressure equalized and the pull lessened.\n\n\u201cReady?\u201d asked Char.\n\n\u201cYes.\u201d\n\nShe reached outside the ship and grabbed a hold on the hull. Ardoss followed.\n\nOnce they were outside, the door closed. He could only imagine what kind of discomfort Ruskella must be in. It was gutsy for sure. And downright dangerous.\n\nHe suddenly thought better of the man.\n\n\u201cYou guys are pretty close,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\nChar didn\u2019t say anything.\n\n\u201cYou get that way, I suppose,\u201d he continued, \u201cout here alone, just the two of you.\u201d\n\nSilence.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s how Pietro and I were,\u201d he said. \u201cOr I thought we were. Twenty years together and I never had a clue he was working for Mickey. Betrayal like that makes you question everything.\u201d\n\n\u201cI wouldn\u2019t do that to Jonah,\u201d she said.\n\n\u201cWhat about him screwing you over?\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s clear that he ran with Mickey and didn\u2019t tell you about it.\u201d\n\n\u201cHe didn\u2019t have to,\u201d she said. \u201cI wouldn\u2019t be a good partner if I didn\u2019t notice the little things. He didn\u2019t bring it up, so I didn\u2019t mention it. We\u2019ve known each other for sixteen years, he\u2019s worked for Mickey for ten. I knew the day Mickey approached him.\u201d\n\n\u201cAre you two . . .?\u201d said Ardoss.\n\nShe laughed. \u201cOf course not. Jonah is married with three children. I introduced him to his wife.\u201d\n\n\u201cThat doesn\u2019t keep people from enjoying the company of each other,\u201d he said.\n\nHe could almost feel the scowl she must have given him.\n\n\u201cI owe him more than you could understand,\u201d she said. \u201cJonah\u2019s a good man. He wouldn\u2019t work for Mickey if he had a choice.\u201d\n\n\u201cAre you saying he was coerced?\u201d he said.\n\n\u201cOf course he was,\u201d she said. \u201cThat\u2019s the way Mickey Black works. He finds something on you, a way to squeeze you. He manipulates you into doing what he needs done.\u201d\n\nArdoss wanted to ask more, but they had reached the cockpit.\n\n\u201cThis will be just like the cargo hold,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen I open the door, the cabin will decompress. Grab onto something or you may be blasted out into space.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnderstood,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\nShe reached for the latch and Ardoss looked around for a hook or a bar or something to hold onto. There was a small ledge and he dug his fingers in.\n\n\u201cReady,\u201d he said.\n\nWithout another word, she twisted the handle and the door popped open. Air whooshed past them, knocking Ardoss\u2019 hands loose from his hold. He tried to grab back onto something, anything, but he\u2019d already drifted away from the ship. Food wrappers expelled from the cockpit whirled around him.\n\nHe stared for a moment as the ship grew smaller. The hiss of air pumping into his suit was the only sound. Gradually, the panic built as he realized the ship wasn\u2019t coming back. The pounding of his own heart and his rapid breathing smothered the sound of the oxygen.\n\nA red light blinked on his display. His O2 was low. These suits weren\u2019t meant for long excursions. He had minutes. Ardoss steadied his breathing. He needed to conserve. If he was going to survive, he needed to be calm.\n\nThe ship dwindled smaller and Ardoss couldn\u2019t help but feeling he was about to die.\n\nTo be continued"},"links_count":1,"comment_count":12,"created_at":"2019-06-26T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"6 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-07 22:08:58","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":17131,"next_id":17135}}