{"data":{"id":17212,"title":"One Last Job: Part Four","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/17212-One-Last-Job-Part-Four","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/17212","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/17212","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"One Last Job","images":[],"images_count":1,"translations":{"en_EN":"Writer\u2019s Note: One Last Job: Part Four was published originally in Jump Point 3.12. Read Part One here, Part Two here, and Part Three here.\nArdoss\u2019 finger rested on the trigger of his gun. He always knew it would go down like this. Well, maybe not exactly like this.\n\nHe\u2019d finally tracked down his partner, Pietro Marquez, with the help of ship pilot Jonah Ruskella. Jonah was a delivery boy for the pirate Mickey Black who chose to turn on his employer.\n\nBut everything had gone wrong. Ardoss\u2019 cover was blown, the ship had been temporarily hijacked, and now that they were finally here, it turned out that Mickey had double-crossed Pietro and the promised cargo was missing.\n\nNow, they stood in an old, abandoned fueling station, guns drawn on one another, Jonah caught in between. After everything Ruskella had risked for Ardoss, he couldn\u2019t let Pietro shoot him.\n\nAs Ardoss watched a bead of sweat trickle down his ex-partner\u2019s face, he couldn\u2019t help but think to when the Advocacy had first assigned him as his partner. Pietro had been a fresh-faced rookie.\n\nThat young man was gone. Ardoss hadn\u2019t really noticed until this moment. His black hair was graying and thin. Lines surrounded his mouth and eyes and the youthful exuberance was gone. Now all that was left was an older man, tired and scared.\n\n\u201cI remember this place,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cIt was held by a pack of contraband runners.\u201d\n\n\u201cSlave traders,\u201d said Pietro.\n\n\u201cContraband\u2019s contraband,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cYou always did simplify everything, Ardoss,\u201d Pietro said. \u201cThings don\u2019t fall into neat little piles of good guy and bad guy, contraband and not contraband. It\u2019s so much messier than that.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m beginning to see that,\u201d said Ardoss. His hand began to tense. They couldn\u2019t do this forever. Eventually, someone was going to shoot.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t think you do,\u201d said Pietro. \u201cIf you can\u2019t see what Mickey Black is doing, you\u2019re blind.\u201d\n\nArdoss realized the man was tired. He wasn\u2019t some master spy who had betrayed his principles. He was trapped. Ardoss didn\u2019t want to kill him any more than he wanted to kill Jonah. It wasn\u2019t their fault.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve had my eyes opened,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cMickey Black is a monster. I want to help you any way I can. You don\u2019t have to run. We can take him down.\u201d\n\nPietro laughed. \u201cYou don\u2019t take down a man like Mickey Black. Do you know how big his organization is? Thousands of people. Everything from couriers like Jonah, to spies like me, to hitmen you don\u2019t even want to think about. He\u2019s a nightmare. A walking, talking, breathing nightmare. There\u2019s something coming. It\u2019s big, bigger than big. It\u2019s going to change everything. I\u2019m just a small piece of it.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou don\u2019t have to live in fear,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cJust talk to me. Tell me why.\u201d\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t even remember anymore,\u201d said Pietro. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. My life is over. I have to get away from here.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou had to know someone was going to find out,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cThings like this don\u2019t stay secret. And the Advocacy won\u2019t stop. Even if you go into Banu territory, they\u2019ll keep searching.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt beats being dead,\u201d said Pietro.\n\n\u201cA life of fear?\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cSleepless nights? Always on the move? Looking over your shoulder? You and I have both seen those guys. Eventually, they take their own lives or isolate themselves so far from the known universe they lose their mind, don\u2019t know what\u2019s real anymore. That\u2019s not a life, Pietro. That\u2019s its own prison. Let me take you in. Give the Advocacy everything you have on Mickey Black and we can take him down.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere will always be someone to take his place,\u201d said Pietro.\n\n\u201cSure there will,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cBut he\u2019ll be one less. We can make it harder for them. Look for people they\u2019ve forced into their service. We can help, Pietro. You know we can.\u201d\n\n\u201cSeeing as I\u2019m stuck between a couple of gun barrels right now,\u201d said Jonah, \u201cI\u2019d like to chime in.\u201d\n\nPietro glanced at Jonah.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m in the same place as you,\u201d Jonah said. \u201cConstantly afraid of what Mickey Black might have me do next. Scared I\u2019ll get arrested or my family will be hurt. But I\u2019m standing up. I want to stop living in fear. I know you feel the same way. You have to. This is not a life, not one worth having anyway. We have to at least try.\u201d\n\n\u201cListen to him, Pietro,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cHe\u2019s got a wife and kids at home. He\u2019s thinking about them. You need to think about your own family. Do you want them worrying about you, never knowing where you are? Or do you want to protect them?\u201d\n\n\u201cI want to keep them safe,\u201d said Pietro.\n\n\u201cOf course you do,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cThat\u2019s all you\u2019ve ever wanted. What any of us want.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou\u2019ll put them in protective custody, won\u2019t you?\u201d said Pietro, lowering his gun. Jonah took the gun and pocketed it. Ardoss lowered his own.\n\n\u201cYes,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cMickey won\u2019t find them.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll tell you everything,\u201d said Pietro. \u201cPickups, info drops, who I met with and where. You should know he\u2019s planning \u2014\u201d\n\nBut what he was planning, Ardoss would never find out from Pietro. A shot rang out across the docking bay and Pietro dropped like a puppet with its strings cut.\n\nJonah dove for a stack of crates as Ardoss dropped to the floor.\n\nArdoss crawled under cover and scanned the area, looking for a shooter. There were too many vantage points here. He should have surveyed the station first, but there wasn\u2019t time. Now he saw several crannies. Old ducts, abandoned crates, elevated crosswalks, doors into adjacent rooms. And worse, it echoed. It made finding the source difficult.\n\nAnother shot rang out and ricocheted. The shooter was good, having hit Pietro in one shot. But wherever the shooter was perched, there wasn\u2019t a line of sight to Ardoss. He made a choice.\n\nHe rushed forward, crouching, and knelt by his old partner.\n\nBlood soaked through Pietro\u2019s clothes and his skin was pale. They were out in the open here. He lifted him by the shoulders and quickly dragged him back to his cover.\n\nPietro spoke barely above a whisper and Ardoss had to crouch low to hear it.\n\n\u201cThe Senate,\u201d said Pietro. \u201cThe Senate.\u201d\n\nThen he was gone. Ardoss stared at him, unsure what to make of what his old partner had said. Mickey Black was planning something and it had to do with the Senate.\n\nThey had been so close. Pietro had agreed to turn on Mickey, knowing it would eventually mean his death. They just didn\u2019t count on it being so soon.\n\nArdoss looked down at Pietro. It was a waste. Pietro was a good man, or at least he tried to be. If only Ardoss had known sooner what was going on, maybe his partner would still be alive.\n\nHe peeked out of his cover, trying again to see where the shots had come from. Who else knew they were here? There was no way anyone could. Pietro had waited until Jonah contacted him to give him the coordinates. Not even Mickey could know.\n\nThat left only one other possibility. There was a spy on board Jonah\u2019s ship.\n\nHis vantage point was lousy. He couldn\u2019t see much of anything from where he was. Cautiously, he left his cover, gun drawn, and began to creep across the old cargo bay.\n\nBut before Ardoss could investigate further, another shot rang out and he staggered backwards. It felt as though a man twice his size had just punched him in the chest. He looked down to see red blossom down his suit from his left shoulder.\n\nAnother shot rang out, ricocheting off a bulkhead. Shaking off his momentary daze, Ardoss managed to duck behind some old crates. They stank of rotting food.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s higher up,\u201d said Jonah, crouching beside him.\n\nArdoss had forgotten he was there.\n\n\u201cHow can you tell?\u201d said Ardoss. Jonah was a coward. Ardoss couldn\u2019t imagine him looking for the shooter.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s an energy burn on the floor, just there,\u201d said Jonah, pointing.\n\nArdoss blinked and followed Jonah\u2019s finger. Sure enough, there was a burn mark on the floor. If the shot had come straight across, the burn would be behind them or further back on the floor. The shooter was most certainly up higher.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t get it,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cThat sniper got Pietro in one clean shot. Then he misses? Is he playing with us?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s more likely he\u2019s under fire,\u201d said Jonah.\n\n\u201cChar?\u201d said Ardoss.\n\nJonah nodded. \u201cI asked her to keep lookout in case Pietro lied. She\u2019s a crack shot. \u201d\n\n\u201cThen why is that sniper still firing?\u201d said Ardoss as another blast rang out.\n\nJonah shrugged, \u201cYou assume it\u2019s the sniper.\u201d\n\nThe gunshots stopped. Jonah cautiously peeked his head above the crate and Ardoss pulled him back down.\n\n\u201cChar, did you get him?\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cChar?\u201d\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d she said. Her voice bitter. \u201cShe\u2019s still in here. Stay on your toes.\u201d\n\n\u201cWait,\u201d said Ardoss, \u201cshe?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes,\u201d said Char, \u201cnow keep your eyes open.\u201d\n\nArdoss felt the adrenaline pumping. Pietro was dead and this woman was still hunting them. How many did she plan to kill? Just Ardoss? The whole crew? What about the other passengers?\n\nThat\u2019s when he realized it had to be the businesswoman. She was so quiet and unassuming, the perfect cover for an assassin. It made him sick to think about the time he had spent in close quarters with her. He crept out from the crates, gun still drawn, his left arm useless.\n\nJonah grabbed his good shoulder. \u201cYou\u2019ll be shot.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlready been shot,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cWe have to find her. She\u2019s not going to just leave us be. We know too much.\u201d\n\nJonah worked his jaw, but didn\u2019t say anything else.\n\nArdoss stuck his head out. He needed to know where she was, what her options were.\n\nThen, movement.\n\nArdoss leveled his gun. It was not as high up as he expected, not in the ducts or on a crosswalk. She was on top of some crates. Maybe.\n\nHe didn\u2019t think a trained gun would be so sloppy.\n\nChar\u2019s head poked out from behind the crates. She pointed to Ardoss then behind him. He turned on his heels, still crouched. His shoulder throbbed, but thankfully the intense pain he knew was coming was still being kept at bay. Too much adrenaline, he figured.\n\nHe glanced back to Char, but she was gone, creeping among the abandoned cargo. He moved behind the stack of moldy food where Jonah still hid. Jonah just looked at him as he passed, eyes wide.\n\nThere was another stack of crates further along, and some old tanks. A perfect place for her to hide.\n\nHow many shots had she fired? How many rounds did she have? Enough to take down one or two people? More?\n\nArdoss knew he would be the main target, then Char. Jonah would be last, if she didn\u2019t just go ahead and kill the teen and Thrumm after that, to remove any witnesses.\n\nThe stack was shadowy and stank. There were too many dark corners for someone to hide. Ardoss scooted along the edge of one crate and around a fuel tank.\n\nThere he found himself face to face with his partner\u2019s killer.\n\nHer business suit was torn and bloody in places. Sweat matted her short hair to her forehead. Her skin was flushed and her chest pumped heavily.\n\n\u201cDrop the gun,\u201d she said. She aimed the pistol Jonah had tried to use on him earlier.\n\n\u201cNot likely,\u201d Ardoss said.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll shoot,\u201d the woman said.\n\nArdoss smiled. \u201cIf you had any more rounds, you would have killed me already.\u201d\n\nThe woman grinned, but it was gone in an instant, replaced by a snarl. She dropped the gun, and lunged.\n\nShe put all her effort into impacting his left shoulder.\n\nThere was the pain.\n\nHe cried out and crumpled to the deck. She scrabbled over him and went for his gun. Ardoss rolled over and grabbed her leg with his good hand, yanking hard.\n\nThe woman cursed and kicked at him. The first kick hit his forearm, but he held fast. The next connected with his knuckles and his grip loosened. She shook free and crawled to the gun.\n\nArdoss started to crawl towards her, but the gun was in her hand. She flopped over on her back and fired.\n\nThe shot went wild and Ardoss used the moment to roll for cover. He glanced behind him.\n\nThe woman was on her feet.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll make this quick,\u201d she said, \u201cI promise.\u201d\n\nHe crouched to pounce on her, but he never got the chance.\n\nThere was a scream, primal and terrified as a dark blur collided with the assassin. Two forms fell to the ground and the gun skittered across the deck.\n\nArdoss went after the gun, all but throwing himself after it. His fingers closed on the grip and he spun around.\n\nJonah lay on top of the woman, knees straddling her hips, hands on her shoulders.\n\nJonah punched her and immediately grabbed his hand, rubbing the knuckles.\n\n\u201cFeel better?\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d said Jonah, \u201cmy hand hurts.\u201d\n\nArdoss laughed.\n\nJonah glared at him and then he began to laugh.\n\n\u201cDid I miss something funny?\u201d said Char.\n\nArdoss looked. She stood behind Jonah and the assassin, gun slack in her hands, eyes wide.\n\n\u201cPietro?\u201d said Char.\n\n\u201cHe didn\u2019t make it,\u201d said Ardoss, his laughter gone. Jonah stopped as well.\n\n\u201cShe got you,\u201d said Char.\n\nArdoss glanced down. \u201cAt least it wasn\u2019t a few inches over.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall consolation,\u201d she said.\n\n\u201cSo how did we miss an assassin on the ship?\u201d said Jonah. He rolled off the woman.\n\nChar crossed the few feet between them. She pointed her rifle at the woman\u2019s head. \u201cStart talking.\u201d\n\nThe woman licked her lips, smearing blood across them.\n\n\u201cNone of your business,\u201d she said.\n\nChar cocked the gun. \u201cThat\u2019s not a good answer.\u201d\n\nThe woman glared.\n\n\u201cIf you kill her, we won\u2019t get our answers,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cWho said anything about killing her?\u201d said Char. She swung the butt of her gun around and slammed it against the woman\u2019s knee.\n\nThe assassin screamed and clutched her leg.\n\n\u201cPietro was never meant to leave alive,\u201d she said, panting.\n\n\u201cWhat?\u201d said Jonah.\n\nChar nudged the woman\u2019s knee with the barrel of her gun. \u201cGo on.\u201d\n\nThe woman winced. \u201cThe drop-off was a farce,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was a setup. Mickey knew Pietro would only trust you, so he set the whole thing up, arranged for passengers, made sure I could book passage.\u201d\n\nJonah slumped. \u201cWhy?\u201d said Jonah. \u201cWhy all of this?\u201d\n\nThe woman shrugged. \u201cI do what I\u2019m paid to do. Mickey\u2019s going to kill you when finds out you\u2019re working with an Agent.\u201d\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t count on it,\u201d said Char. \u201cWhat do you want to do with her?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll need to take her back to the Advocacy,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cI want a deal,\u201d the woman said. \u201cI gave you information. You have to protect me.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy?\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cYou did your job.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd when Black finds out you\u2019re still alive, I\u2019m dead,\u201d the woman said.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll think about it,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019ve as good as killed me, then,\u201d she said.\n\n\u201cYou should have thought about that before you signed on with Mickey Black.\u201d\n\nChar nodded and kicked her.\n\nLocal authorities collected the politician Thrumm at the next port. Advocacy Agents took Ardoss\u2019 statement. He advised them the assassin was a material witness and should be protected. The Agents also took custody of Pietro\u2019s body. Ardoss had started working on the request for his partner to be given full honors on the flight back. He had just sent it off when his new orders from Junior Director Vami arrived on his mobi.\n\nReturn. Immediately.\n\nNot likely, he thought.\n\nArdoss wanted to warn the Advocacy that Black had some-thing planned against the Senate, but he had no evidence. He couldn\u2019t follow Vami\u2019s orders until he found it.\n\nThe three of them sat in the cockpit, drinking a bottle of Sky whiskey from Croshaw.\n\n\u201cWhat will you do now?\u201d said Jonah.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m supposed to go back to my office and quietly retire,\u201d said Ardoss, \u201cbut I don\u2019t think I can do that.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou want to go after Mickey Black,\u201d said Jonah.\n\nArdoss nodded. Mickey had destroyed one of the best men he\u2019d ever known, and he wasn\u2019t going to let the bastard walk away from that.\n\n\u201cPietro said he had plans,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cSomething to do with the Senate. But without evidence to back up the story . . .\u201d\n\n\u201cYou want to find that proof,\u201d said Char.\n\n\u201cAnd nail him to the wall with it,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cI want to make sure he can never hurt another living soul.\u201d\n\nJust then, the ship\u2019s comm started to beep. Jonah held up a finger and Ardoss stepped out of the way of the vid.\n\nJonah hit a button and Mickey\u2019s ruined face filled the screen.\n\n\u201cJonah, my boy, I heard the mission was done,\u201d said Mickey.\n\nThe pilot clenched his jaw. \u201cYou killed Pietro.\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, sorry about that, had to be done,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cTerrible business, but I couldn\u2019t risk him blabbing.\u201d\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t like being used,\u201d said Jonah.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll use you however I see fit,\u201d said Mickey. His voice was dangerous. \u201cWhat did you do with my assassin?\u201d\n\n\u201cI had to turn her in to local authorities,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cPietro is dead and so is his partner. The Advocacy wanted answers.\u201d\n\nMickey\u2019s eyes went wide. \u201cI didn\u2019t actually think you\u2019d do it.\u201d\n\n\u201cI didn\u2019t,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cYour woman did that.\u201d\n\nChar glanced at Ardoss. He felt pretty good for a dead man, but he stayed silent. He hoped the Agents would keep the assassin safe.\n\nMickey looked impressed. \u201cI had hoped to get my hitwoman back. She was rather good, but I suppose you can\u2019t win all the time. I\u2019ll have to take care of her, of course, but that\u2019s my problem, not yours.\u201d\n\n\u201cI did what you asked and nearly died in the process,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cI want my money.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s coming lad, it\u2019s coming,\u201d said Mickey, \u201cbut see, you didn\u2019t do exactly as I asked. My woman killed the Agent, not you.\u201d\n\nJonah stared, his eyes full of rage.\n\nMickey shrugged. \u201cHey, a deal\u2019s a deal. I asked you to do something and you didn\u2019t. You still owe me.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou knew I wouldn\u2019t,\u201d said Jonah.\n\n\u201cEvery man has to make that choice,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cYou made yours.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d asked Jonah.\n\n\u201cGo to these coordinates for further instruction,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cAnd Jonah, I really am expecting you to see it through this time. All of it. Screw it up, and you\u2019ll be so deep in debt with me, your kids will be paying it off long after you die.\u201d\n\nThe screen went blank before Jonah had a chance to argue. He turned and looked at Ardoss.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s what he wanted,\u201d said Char, \u201cto hold something over you.\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, Ardoss,\u201d said Jonah, \u201clooks like you\u2019ll get your chance to get even. I\u2019ll do whatever I can to help you end this bastard.\u201d\n\n\u201cGreat,\u201d said Ardoss, tossing back the last dregs of whiskey in his glass. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of work ahead of us.\u201d\n\nThe End","de_DE":"Anmerkung des Autors: Ein letzter Auftrag: Teil Vier wurde urspr\u00fcnglich in Jump Point 3.12 ver\u00f6ffentlicht. Lies Teil Eins hier, Teil Zwei hier und Teil Drei hier.\nArdoss' Finger lag auf dem Abzug seiner Waffe. Er wusste immer, dass es so ablaufen w\u00fcrde. Nun, vielleicht nicht ganz so.\n\nMit Hilfe des Schiffspiloten Jonah Ruskella hatte er schlie\u00dflich seinen Partner Pietro Marquez aufgesp\u00fcrt. Jonah war ein Lieferjunge f\u00fcr den Piraten Mickey Black, der sich entschied, seinen Arbeitgeber zu verraten.\n\nAber alles war schief gelaufen. Ardoss' Deckung wurde aufgeflogen, das Schiff war vor\u00fcbergehend entf\u00fchrt worden, und jetzt, da sie endlich hier waren, stellte sich heraus, dass Mickey Pietro hintergangen hatte und die versprochene Fracht fehlte.\n\nNun standen sie in einer alten, verlassenen Tankstelle, Waffen aufeinander gerichtet, Jonas steckte dazwischen. Nachdem Ruskella alles f\u00fcr Ardoss riskiert hatte, konnte er sich von Pietro nicht erschie\u00dfen lassen.\n\nAls Ardoss zusah, wie eine Schwei\u00dfperle \u00fcber das Gesicht seines Ex-Partners tropfte, konnte er nicht umhin, daran zu denken, wann die Advocacy ihn zum ersten Mal als seinen Partner eingesetzt hatte. Pietro war ein frischgebackener Anf\u00e4nger.\n\nDieser junge Mann war weg. Ardoss hatte es bis zu diesem Zeitpunkt nicht wirklich bemerkt. Sein schwarzes Haar war grau und d\u00fcnn. Linien umgaben seinen Mund und seine Augen und der jugendliche \u00dcberschwang war vorbei. Jetzt war nur noch ein \u00e4lterer Mann \u00fcbrig, m\u00fcde und ver\u00e4ngstigt.\n\n\"Ich erinnere mich an diesen Ort\", sagte Ardoss. \"Es wurde von einer Gruppe von Schmugglern gehalten.\"\n\n\"Sklavenh\u00e4ndler\", sagte Pietro.\n\n\"Schmuggelware ist Schmuggelware\", sagte Ardoss.\n\n\"Du hast immer alles vereinfacht, Ardoss\", sagte Pietro. \"Die Dinge fallen nicht in ordentliche kleine Haufen von guten und schlechten Menschen, Schmuggelware und nicht Schmuggelware. Es ist so viel unordentlicher als das.\"\n\n\"Ich fange an, das zu erkennen\", sagte Ardoss. Seine Hand begann sich zu verspannen. Sie konnten das nicht ewig machen. Irgendwann w\u00fcrde jemand schie\u00dfen.\n\n\"Ich glaube nicht, dass du das tust\", sagte Pietro. \"Wenn du nicht siehst, was Mickey Black tut, bist du blind.\"\n\nArdoss erkannte, dass der Mann m\u00fcde war. Er war kein Meisterspion, der seine Prinzipien verraten hatte. Er war gefangen. Ardoss wollte ihn nicht mehr t\u00f6ten, als er Jonas t\u00f6ten wollte. Es war nicht ihre Schuld.\n\n\"Ich habe mir die Augen ge\u00f6ffnet\", sagte Ardoss. \"Mickey Black ist ein Monster. Ich m\u00f6chte dir helfen, wo immer ich kann. Du musst nicht weglaufen. Wir k\u00f6nnen ihn erledigen.\"\n\nPietro lachte. \"Man macht einen Mann wie Mickey Black nicht fertig. Wei\u00dft du, wie gro\u00df seine Organisation ist? Tausende von Menschen. Alles von Kurieren wie Jonah, \u00fcber Spione wie mich, bis hin zu Killern, an die man nicht einmal denken will. Er ist ein Albtraum. Ein wandelnder, sprechender, atmender Albtraum. Da kommt etwas. Es ist gro\u00df, gr\u00f6\u00dfer als gro\u00df. Es wird alles ver\u00e4ndern. Ich bin nur ein kleines St\u00fcck davon.\"\n\n\"Du musst nicht in Angst leben\", sagte Ardoss. \"Rede einfach mit mir. Sag mir, warum.\"\n\n\"Ich erinnere mich nicht einmal mehr daran\", sagte Pietro. \"Es spielt keine Rolle. Mein Leben ist vorbei. Ich muss hier weg.\"\n\n\"Man musste wissen, dass jemand es herausfinden w\u00fcrde\", sagte Ardoss. \"Solche Dinge bleiben nicht geheim. Und die Advocacy wird nicht aufh\u00f6ren. Selbst wenn du in das Gebiet von Banu gehst, werden sie weiter suchen.\"\n\n\"Es ist besser, tot zu sein\", sagte Pietro.\n\n\"Ein Leben in Angst?\", sagte Ardoss. \"Schlaflose N\u00e4chte? Immer in Bewegung? Du schaust dir \u00fcber die Schulter? Du und ich haben beide diese Typen gesehen. Schlie\u00dflich nehmen sie sich das Leben oder isolieren sich so weit vom bekannten Universum, dass sie den Verstand verlieren, nicht mehr wissen, was real ist. Das ist kein Leben, Pietro. Das ist sein eigenes Gef\u00e4ngnis. Ich bringe dich rein. Gib der Anwaltschaft alles, was du \u00fcber Mickey Black hast, und wir k\u00f6nnen ihn erledigen.\"\n\n\"Es wird immer jemanden geben, der seinen Platz einnimmt\", sagte Pietro.\n\n\"Sicher wird es das\", sagte Ardoss. \"Aber er wird einer weniger sein. Wir k\u00f6nnen es ihnen schwerer machen. Suchen Sie nach Leuten, die sie in ihren Dienst gezwungen haben. Wir k\u00f6nnen helfen, Pietro. Du wei\u00dft, dass wir das k\u00f6nnen.\"\n\n\"Da ich gerade zwischen ein paar Gewehrl\u00e4ufen festsitze\", sagte Jonah, \"m\u00f6chte ich mich einschalten.\"\n\nPietro blickte auf Jonas.\n\n\"Ich bin am selben Ort wie du\", sagte Jonah. \"St\u00e4ndig Angst davor, was Mickey Black mich als n\u00e4chstes tun lassen k\u00f6nnte. Aus Angst, dass ich verhaftet werde oder meine Familie verletzt wird. Aber ich stehe auf. Ich will nicht mehr in Angst leben. Ich wei\u00df, dass du genauso denkst. Das musst du aber. Das ist kein Leben, kein Leben, das es wert ist, es zu haben. Wir m\u00fcssen es zumindest versuchen.\"\n\n\"H\u00f6r auf ihn, Pietro\", sagte Ardoss. \"Er hat eine Frau und Kinder zu Hause. Er denkt an sie. Du musst an deine eigene Familie denken. Willst du, dass sie sich um dich sorgen, ohne zu wissen, wo du bist? Oder willst du sie besch\u00fctzen?\"\n\n\"Ich m\u00f6chte, dass sie sicher sind\", sagte Pietro.\n\n\"Nat\u00fcrlich tust du das\", sagte Jonah. \"Das ist alles, was du je wolltest. Was jeder von uns will.\"\n\n\"Du wirst sie in Schutzhaft nehmen, nicht wahr?\" sagte Pietro und senkte seine Waffe. Jonah nahm die Waffe und steckte sie ein. Ardoss senkte seinen eigenen.\n\n\"Ja\", sagte Ardoss. \"Mickey wird sie nicht finden.\"\n\n\"Ich werde dir alles erz\u00e4hlen\", sagte Pietro. \"Abholungen, Infoboxen, mit wem ich mich getroffen habe und wo. Du solltest wissen, dass er plant -\"\n\nAber was er vorhatte, w\u00fcrde Ardoss von Pietro nie erfahren. Ein Schuss ert\u00f6nte \u00fcber die Andockbucht und Pietro fiel wie eine Marionette mit geschnittenen Schn\u00fcren.\n\nJonah tauchte nach einem Stapel Kisten, als Ardoss auf den Boden fiel.\n\nArdoss kroch unter Deck und scannte die Gegend und suchte nach einem Sch\u00fctzen. Es gab hier zu viele Aussichtspunkte. Er h\u00e4tte zuerst die Station \u00fcberwachen sollen, aber es blieb keine Zeit. Jetzt sah er mehrere Risse. Alte Kan\u00e4le, verlassene Kisten, erh\u00f6hte Gehwege, T\u00fcren zu Nebenr\u00e4umen. Und noch schlimmer, es hallte. Das machte es schwierig, die Quelle zu finden.\n\nEin weiterer Schuss ert\u00f6nte und ricochete. Der Sch\u00fctze war gut, nachdem er Pietro mit einem Schuss getroffen hatte. Aber wo immer der Sch\u00fctze sich befand, gab es keine Sichtlinie zu Ardoss. Er traf eine Entscheidung.\n\nEr eilte vorw\u00e4rts, hockte sich hin und kniete bei seinem alten Partner.\n\nBlut sickerte durch Pietro's Kleidung und seine Haut war blass. Sie waren hier drau\u00dfen im Freien. Er hob ihn an den Schultern und zog ihn schnell wieder auf seine Deckung zur\u00fcck.\n\nPietro sprach kaum \u00fcber ein Fl\u00fcstern und Ardoss musste sich tief hinsetzen, um es zu h\u00f6ren.\n\n\"Der Senat\", sagte Pietro. \" Der Senat.\"\n\nDann war er weg. Ardoss starrte ihn an, unsicher, was er von dem halten sollte, was sein alter Partner gesagt hatte. Mickey Black plante etwas und es hatte mit dem Senat zu tun.\n\nSie waren so nah dran gewesen. Pietro hatte zugestimmt, Mickey anzumachen, weil er wusste, dass es schlie\u00dflich seinen Tod bedeuten w\u00fcrde. Sie haben einfach nicht damit gerechnet, dass es so fr\u00fch ist.\n\nArdoss blickte auf Pietro herab. Es war eine Verschwendung. Pietro war ein guter Mann, oder zumindest hat er versucht, es zu sein. Wenn nur Ardoss fr\u00fcher gewusst h\u00e4tte, was los war, w\u00e4re sein Partner vielleicht noch am Leben.\n\nEr blickte aus seiner Deckung und versuchte erneut zu sehen, woher die Sch\u00fcsse kamen. Wer wusste noch, dass sie hier sind? Es gab keine M\u00f6glichkeit, dass jemand das konnte. Pietro hatte gewartet, bis Jona ihn kontaktierte, um ihm die Koordinaten zu geben. Nicht einmal Mickey konnte es wissen.\n\nDas lie\u00df nur eine weitere M\u00f6glichkeit offen. Es gab einen Spion an Bord von Jona's Schiff.\n\nSein Aussichtspunkt war lausig. Er konnte nicht viel von allem sehen, von dort, wo er war. Vorsichtig lie\u00df er seine Deckung, die Waffe gezogen und begann, \u00fcber den alten Laderaum zu kriechen.\n\nAber bevor Ardoss weiter ermitteln konnte, ert\u00f6nte ein weiterer Schuss und er taumelte r\u00fcckw\u00e4rts. Es f\u00fchlte sich an, als h\u00e4tte ihm ein doppelt so gro\u00dfer Mann gerade in die Brust geschlagen. Er blickte nach unten, um zu sehen, wie rote Bl\u00fcten seinen Anzug von der linken Schulter aus nach unten bl\u00fchten.\n\nEin weiterer Schuss ert\u00f6nte, der von einer Schottwand abprallte. Ardoss sch\u00fcttelte seine momentane Benommenheit ab und schaffte es, sich hinter einigen alten Kisten zu verstecken. Sie stanken nach verrottendem Essen.\n\n\"Es ist h\u00f6her oben\", sagte Jonas und kauerte neben ihm.\n\nArdoss hatte vergessen, dass er da war.\n\n\"Woher wei\u00dft du das?\" sagte Ardoss. Jonas war ein Feigling. Ardoss konnte sich nicht vorstellen, dass er nach dem Sch\u00fctzen suchte.\n\n\"Da liegt ein Energiebrand auf dem Boden, genau da\", sagte Jonah und zeigte darauf.\n\nArdoss blinzelte und folgte Jona's Finger. Tats\u00e4chlich war da eine Brandspur auf dem Boden. W\u00e4re der Schuss direkt angekommen, w\u00e4re die Verbrennung hinter ihnen oder weiter hinten auf dem Boden. Der Sch\u00fctze war ganz sicher h\u00f6her.\n\n\"Ich verstehe es nicht\", sagte Ardoss. \"Dieser Scharfsch\u00fctze hat Pietro mit einem sauberen Schuss erwischt. Dann verfehlt er? Spielt er mit uns?\"\n\n\"Es ist wahrscheinlicher, dass er unter Beschuss steht\", sagte Jonah.\n\n\"Char?\" sagte Ardoss.\n\nJonah nickte. \"Ich bat sie, Ausschau zu halten, falls Pietro l\u00fcgt. Sie ist ein guter Sch\u00fctze. \u201d\n\n\"Warum schie\u00dft der Scharfsch\u00fctze dann noch?\" sagte Ardoss, als eine weitere Explosion ert\u00f6nte.\n\nJonah zuckte mit den Schultern: \"Du nimmst an, es ist der Scharfsch\u00fctze.\"\n\nDie Sch\u00fcsse h\u00f6rten auf. Jonas schaute vorsichtig mit dem Kopf \u00fcber die Kiste und Ardoss zog ihn wieder nach unten.\n\n\"Char, hast du ihn erwischt?\", sagte Ardoss. \" Char?\"\n\n\"Nein\", sagte sie. Ihre Stimme war bitter. \"Sie ist immer noch hier drin. Bleib auf Zack.\"\n\n\"Warte\", sagte Ardoss, \"sie?\"\n\n\"Ja\", sagte Char, \"jetzt halte deine Augen offen.\"\n\nArdoss f\u00fchlte, wie das Adrenalin pumpte. Pietro war tot und diese Frau jagte sie immer noch. Wie viele wollte sie t\u00f6ten? Nur Ardoss? Die ganze Crew? Was ist mit den anderen Passagieren?\n\nDa wurde ihm klar, dass es die Gesch\u00e4ftsfrau sein musste. Sie war so still und bescheiden, die perfekte Tarnung f\u00fcr einen Attent\u00e4ter. Es machte ihn krank, \u00fcber die Zeit nachzudenken, die er auf engstem Raum mit ihr verbracht hatte. Er schlich sich aus den Kisten, die Waffe noch gezogen, sein linker Arm nutzlos.\n\nJonah packte seine gute Schulter. \"Du wirst erschossen.\"\n\n\"Wurde bereits angeschossen\", sagte Ardoss. \"Wir m\u00fcssen sie finden. Sie wird uns nicht einfach in Ruhe lassen. Wir wissen zu viel.\"\n\nJonah arbeitete an seinem Kiefer, sagte aber nichts anderes.\n\nArdoss streckte den Kopf aus. Er musste wissen, wo sie war, welche M\u00f6glichkeiten sie hatte.\n\nDann die Bewegung.\n\nArdoss richtete seine Waffe aus. Es war nicht so hoch oben, wie er es erwartet hatte, nicht in den Kan\u00e4len oder auf einem Steg. Sie war auf einigen Kisten. Vielleicht.\n\nEr dachte nicht, dass eine trainierte Waffe so schlampig sein w\u00fcrde.\n\nChar's Kopf ragte hinter den Kisten hervor. Sie zeigte auf Ardoss und dann hinter ihm. Er drehte sich auf die Fersen, kauerte immer noch. Seine Schulter pocht, aber zum Gl\u00fcck wird der starke Schmerz, von dem er wusste, dass er kommen w\u00fcrde, immer noch in Schach gehalten. Zu viel Adrenalin, dachte er sich.\n\nEr blickte zur\u00fcck zu Char, aber sie war weg und schlich sich zwischen die verlassene Ladung. Er bewegte sich hinter dem Stapel mit verschimmelten Lebensmitteln, wo Jonah sich noch versteckte. Jonah sah ihn gerade an, als er vorbeikam, mit gro\u00dfen Augen.\n\nEs gab noch einen weiteren Stapel Kisten weiter hinten und ein paar alte Tanks. Ein perfekter Ort f\u00fcr sie, um sich zu verstecken.\n\nWie viele Sch\u00fcsse hatte sie abgegeben? Wie viele Runden hatte sie? Genug, um ein oder zwei Menschen zu erledigen? Mehr?\n\nArdoss wusste, dass er das Hauptziel sein w\u00fcrde, dann Char. Jonah w\u00e4re der Letzte, wenn sie nicht einfach den Teenager und Thrumm danach t\u00f6ten w\u00fcrde, um alle Zeugen zu entfernen.\n\nDer Stapel war schattig und stank. Es gab zu viele dunkle Ecken, als dass sich jemand verstecken konnte. Ardoss st\u00fcrzte am Rand einer Kiste und um einen Kraftstofftank herum.\n\nDort fand er sich von Angesicht zu Angesicht mit dem M\u00f6rder seines Partners wieder.\n\nIhr Gesch\u00e4ftsanzug war teilweise zerrissen und blutig. Schwei\u00df verfilzte ihr kurzes Haar bis zur Stirn. Ihre Haut wurde err\u00f6tet und ihre Brust stark gepumpt.\n\n\"Lass die Waffe fallen\", sagte sie. Sie zielte auf die Pistole, die Jonah zuvor bei ihm benutzt hatte.\n\n\"Nicht wahrscheinlich\", sagte Ardoss.\n\n\"Ich werde schie\u00dfen\", sagte die Frau.\n\nArdoss l\u00e4chelte. \"Wenn du noch mehr Kugeln h\u00e4ttest, h\u00e4ttest du mich schon get\u00f6tet.\"\n\nDie Frau grinste, aber es war im Handumdrehen weg, ersetzt durch ein Knurren. Sie lie\u00df die Waffe fallen und sprang los.\n\nSie setzte alle ihre Kr\u00e4fte ein, um seine linke Schulter zu treffen.\n\nDa war der Schmerz.\n\nEr schrie auf und knitterte zum Deck. Sie krabbelte \u00fcber ihn und griff nach seiner Waffe. Ardoss drehte sich um und packte ihr Bein mit seiner guten Hand und zog hart.\n\nDie Frau fluchte und trat ihn an. Der erste Tritt traf seinen Unterarm, aber er hielt sich fest. Der n\u00e4chste war mit seinen Kn\u00f6cheln verbunden und sein Griff l\u00f6ste sich. Sie sch\u00fcttelte sich los und kroch zur Waffe.\n\nArdoss begann, auf sie zuzukriechen, aber die Waffe war in ihrer Hand. Sie fiel auf den R\u00fccken und feuerte.\n\nDer Schuss wurde wild und Ardoss nutzte den Moment, um nach Deckung zu rollen. Er blickte hinter sich.\n\nDie Frau war auf den Beinen.\n\n\"Ich mache es schnell\", sagte sie, \"Ich verspreche es.\"\n\nEr kauerte, um sich auf sie zu st\u00fcrzen, aber er hatte nie die Chance dazu.\n\nEs gab einen Schrei, urt\u00fcmlich und ver\u00e4ngstigt, als ein dunkler Fleck mit dem Attent\u00e4ter kollidierte. Zwei Formen fielen auf den Boden und die Waffe huschte \u00fcber das Deck.\n\nArdoss verfolgte die Waffe und warf sich fast hinter ihr her. Seine Finger schlossen sich am Griff und er drehte sich um.\n\nJonas lag auf der Frau, die Knie spreizten ihre H\u00fcften, die H\u00e4nde auf ihren Schultern.\n\nJonas schlug sie und packte sofort seine Hand und rieb die Kn\u00f6chel.\n\n\"Geht es dir besser?\", sagte Ardoss.\n\n\"Nein\", sagte Jonah, \"meine Hand tut weh.\"\n\nArdoss lachte.\n\nJonas starrte ihn an und dann begann er zu lachen.\n\n\"Habe ich etwas Lustiges verpasst?\", sagte Char.\n\nArdoss sah nach. Sie stand hinter Jonas und dem Attent\u00e4ter, mit einer Schusswaffe in den H\u00e4nden und mit gro\u00dfen Augen.\n\n\"Pietro?\" sagte Char.\n\n\"Er hat es nicht geschafft\", sagte Ardoss, sein Lachen war vorbei. Auch Jonas hielt an.\n\n\"Sie hat dich\", sagte Char.\n\nArdoss blickte nach unten. \"Wenigstens war es nicht ein paar Zentimeter \u00fcber dem Ziel.\"\n\n\"Kleiner Trost\", sagte sie.\n\n\"Also, wie konnten wir einen Attent\u00e4ter auf dem Schiff \u00fcbersehen?\" sagte Jonah. Er rollte von der Frau ab.\n\nChar \u00fcberquerte die wenigen Meter zwischen ihnen. Sie richtete ihr Gewehr auf den Kopf der Frau. \"Fang an zu reden.\"\n\nDie Frau leckte ihre Lippen und schmierte Blut \u00fcber sie.\n\n\"Das geht dich nichts an\", sagte sie.\n\nChar hat die Waffe gespannt. \"Das ist keine gute Antwort.\"\n\nDie Frau starrte.\n\n\"Wenn du sie t\u00f6test, bekommen wir unsere Antworten nicht\", sagte Ardoss.\n\n\"Wer hat etwas davon gesagt, sie zu t\u00f6ten?\" sagte Char. Sie schwang den Kolben ihrer Waffe herum und schlug ihn gegen das Knie der Frau.\n\nDer Attent\u00e4ter schrie und packte ihr Bein.\n\n\"Pietro war nie dazu bestimmt, lebendig zu bleiben\", sagte sie keuchend.\n\n\"Was?\" sagte Jonah.\n\nChar stie\u00df das Knie der Frau mit dem Lauf ihrer Waffe an. \" Nur zu.\"\n\nDie Frau zuckte zusammen. \"Die \u00dcbergabe war eine Farce\", sagte sie. \"Es war eine Falle. Mickey wusste, dass Pietro dir nur vertrauen w\u00fcrde, also arrangierte er die ganze Sache, arrangierte sie f\u00fcr die Passagiere und stellte sicher, dass ich die Passage buchen konnte.\"\n\nJonah ist zusammengebrochen. \"Warum?\" sagte Jonah. \"Warum das alles?\"\n\nDie Frau zuckte mit den Schultern. \"Ich tue, wof\u00fcr ich bezahlt werde. Mickey wird dich umbringen, wenn er erf\u00e4hrt, dass du mit einem Agenten zusammenarbeitest.\"\n\n\"Verlass dich nicht darauf\", sagte Char. \"Was willst du mit ihr machen?\"\n\n\"Ich muss sie zur\u00fcck zur Advocacy bringen\", sagte Ardoss.\n\n\"Ich will einen Deal\", sagte die Frau. \"Ich habe dir Informationen gegeben. Du musst mich besch\u00fctzen.\"\n\n\"Warum?\" sagte Ardoss. \"Du hast deinen Job gemacht.\"\n\n\"Und wenn Schwarz herausfindet, dass du noch am Leben bist, bin ich tot\", sagte die Frau.\n\n\"Ich werde dar\u00fcber nachdenken\", sagte Ardoss.\n\n\"Dann hast du mich so gut wie get\u00f6tet\", sagte sie.\n\n\"Du h\u00e4ttest dar\u00fcber nachdenken sollen, bevor du bei Mickey Black unterschrieben hast.\"\n\nChar nickte und trat sie.\n\nDie lokalen Beh\u00f6rden holten den Politiker Thrumm im n\u00e4chsten Hafen ab. Advocacy Agents nahm Ardoss' Aussage auf. Er riet ihnen, dass der Attent\u00e4ter ein wichtiger Zeuge sei und besch\u00fctzt werden m\u00fcsse. Die Agenten \u00fcbernahmen auch das Sorgerecht f\u00fcr Pietros Leiche. Ardoss hatte mit der Arbeit an der Bitte begonnen, dass seinem Partner auf dem R\u00fcckflug die volle Ehre zuteil wird. Er hatte es gerade abgeschickt, als seine neuen Befehle von Junior Director Vami auf seinem Mobi ankamen.\n\nZur\u00fcckkehren. Sofort.\n\nDas ist unwahrscheinlich, dachte er.\n\nArdoss wollte die Advocacy warnen, dass Schwarz etwas gegen den Senat geplant hatte, aber er hatte keine Beweise. Er konnte Vamis Anweisungen nicht folgen, bis er sie fand.\n\nDie drei sa\u00dfen im Cockpit und tranken eine Flasche Sky Whiskey von Croshaw.\n\n\"Was wirst du jetzt tun?\", sagte Jonah.\n\n\"Ich soll zur\u00fcck in mein B\u00fcro gehen und mich ruhig zur\u00fcckziehen\", sagte Ardoss, \"aber ich glaube nicht, dass ich das kann.\"\n\n\"Du willst Mickey Black jagen\", sagte Jonah.\n\nArdoss nickte. Mickey hatte einen der besten M\u00e4nner zerst\u00f6rt, die er je gekannt hatte, und er wollte den Bastard nicht davon abhalten.\n\n\"Pietro sagte, er h\u00e4tte Pl\u00e4ne\", sagte Ardoss. \"Hat etwas mit dem Senat zu tun. Aber ohne Beweise, die die Geschichte untermauern....\"\n\n\"Du willst diesen Beweis finden\", sagte Char.\n\n\"Und ihn damit an die Wand nageln\", sagte Ardoss. \"Ich will sichergehen, dass er nie wieder eine lebende Seele verletzen kann.\"\n\nGerade dann begann die Kommunikation des Schiffes zu piepen. Jonas hielt einen Finger hoch und Ardoss trat aus dem Weg des Videos.\n\nJonah dr\u00fcckte einen Knopf und Mickeys ruiniertes Gesicht f\u00fcllte den Bildschirm.\n\n\"Jonah, mein Junge, ich habe geh\u00f6rt, dass die Mission erledigt ist\", sagte Mickey.\n\nDer Pilot presste seinen Kiefer zusammen. \"Du hast Pietro get\u00f6tet.\"\n\n\"Ja, tut mir leid, das musste erledigt werden\", sagte Mickey. \"Schreckliche Sache, aber ich konnte nicht riskieren, dass er plaudert.\"\n\n\"Ich mag es nicht, wenn man mich benutzt\", sagte Jonah.\n\n\"Ich werde dich benutzen, wie es mir passt\", sagte Mickey. Seine Stimme war gef\u00e4hrlich. \"Was hast du mit meinem Attent\u00e4ter gemacht?\"\n\n\"Ich musste sie zu den \u00f6rtlichen Beh\u00f6rden bringen\", sagte Jonah. \"Pietro ist tot und sein Partner auch. Die Advocacy wollte Antworten.\"\n\nMickeys Augen gingen weit auseinander. \"Ich h\u00e4tte nicht wirklich gedacht, dass du es tun w\u00fcrdest.\"\n\n\"Das habe ich nicht\", sagte Jonah. \"Deine Frau hat das getan.\"\n\nChar blickte auf Ardoss. Er f\u00fchlte sich f\u00fcr einen Toten ziemlich gut, aber er schwieg. Er hoffte, dass die Agenten den Attent\u00e4ter in Sicherheit bringen w\u00fcrden.\n\nMickey sah beeindruckt aus. \"Ich hatte gehofft, meine Killerin wiederzubekommen. Sie war ziemlich gut, aber ich nehme an, man kann nicht immer gewinnen. Ich muss mich nat\u00fcrlich um sie k\u00fcmmern, aber das ist mein Problem, nicht deins.\"\n\n\"Ich habe getan, was du wolltest, und bin dabei fast gestorben\", sagte Jonah. \"Ich will mein Geld.\"\n\n\"Es kommt, Junge\", sagte Mickey, \"aber sehen Sie, Sie haben nicht genau das getan, was ich Sie gefragt habe. Meine Frau hat den Agenten get\u00f6tet, nicht dich.\"\n\nJona starrte, seine Augen voller Wut.\n\nMickey zuckte mit den Schultern. \"Hey, ein Deal ist ein Deal. Ich habe dich gebeten, etwas zu tun, aber du hast es nicht getan. Du schuldest mir immer noch etwas.\"\n\n\"Du wusstest, dass ich es nicht tun w\u00fcrde\", sagte Jonah.\n\n\"Jeder Mann muss diese Entscheidung treffen\", sagte Mickey. \"Du hast deins gemacht.\"\n\n\"Was willst du?\" fragte Jonah.\n\n\"Geh zu diesen Koordinaten f\u00fcr weitere Anweisungen\", sagte Mickey. \"Und Jonah, ich erwarte wirklich, dass du es diesmal schaffst. Alles davon. Wenn du es vermasselst, wirst du so tief in meiner Schuld stehen, dass deine Kinder es lange nach deinem Tod auszahlen werden.\"\n\nDer Bildschirm wurde leer, bevor Jonah die M\u00f6glichkeit hatte, zu argumentieren. Er drehte sich um und sah Ardoss an.\n\n\"Das ist es, was er wollte\", sagte Char, \"um etwas \u00fcber dich zu sagen.\"\n\n\"Nun, Ardoss\", sagte Jonah, \"sieht so aus, als h\u00e4ttest du deine Chance, dich zu r\u00e4chen. Ich werde alles tun, was ich kann, um dir zu helfen, diesen Bastard zu beenden.\"\n\n\"Gro\u00dfartig\", sagte Ardoss und warf die letzten Tropfen Whiskey in sein Glas zur\u00fcck. \"Wir haben noch eine Menge Arbeit vor uns.\"\n\nDas Ende","zh_CN":"Writer\u2019s Note: One Last Job: Part Four was published originally in Jump Point 3.12. Read Part One here, Part Two here, and Part Three here.\nArdoss\u2019 finger rested on the trigger of his gun. He always knew it would go down like this. Well, maybe not exactly like this.\n\nHe\u2019d finally tracked down his partner, Pietro Marquez, with the help of ship pilot Jonah Ruskella. Jonah was a delivery boy for the pirate Mickey Black who chose to turn on his employer.\n\nBut everything had gone wrong. Ardoss\u2019 cover was blown, the ship had been temporarily hijacked, and now that they were finally here, it turned out that Mickey had double-crossed Pietro and the promised cargo was missing.\n\nNow, they stood in an old, abandoned fueling station, guns drawn on one another, Jonah caught in between. After everything Ruskella had risked for Ardoss, he couldn\u2019t let Pietro shoot him.\n\nAs Ardoss watched a bead of sweat trickle down his ex-partner\u2019s face, he couldn\u2019t help but think to when the Advocacy had first assigned him as his partner. Pietro had been a fresh-faced rookie.\n\nThat young man was gone. Ardoss hadn\u2019t really noticed until this moment. His black hair was graying and thin. Lines surrounded his mouth and eyes and the youthful exuberance was gone. Now all that was left was an older man, tired and scared.\n\n\u201cI remember this place,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cIt was held by a pack of contraband runners.\u201d\n\n\u201cSlave traders,\u201d said Pietro.\n\n\u201cContraband\u2019s contraband,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cYou always did simplify everything, Ardoss,\u201d Pietro said. \u201cThings don\u2019t fall into neat little piles of good guy and bad guy, contraband and not contraband. It\u2019s so much messier than that.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m beginning to see that,\u201d said Ardoss. His hand began to tense. They couldn\u2019t do this forever. Eventually, someone was going to shoot.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t think you do,\u201d said Pietro. \u201cIf you can\u2019t see what Mickey Black is doing, you\u2019re blind.\u201d\n\nArdoss realized the man was tired. He wasn\u2019t some master spy who had betrayed his principles. He was trapped. Ardoss didn\u2019t want to kill him any more than he wanted to kill Jonah. It wasn\u2019t their fault.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ve had my eyes opened,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cMickey Black is a monster. I want to help you any way I can. You don\u2019t have to run. We can take him down.\u201d\n\nPietro laughed. \u201cYou don\u2019t take down a man like Mickey Black. Do you know how big his organization is? Thousands of people. Everything from couriers like Jonah, to spies like me, to hitmen you don\u2019t even want to think about. He\u2019s a nightmare. A walking, talking, breathing nightmare. There\u2019s something coming. It\u2019s big, bigger than big. It\u2019s going to change everything. I\u2019m just a small piece of it.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou don\u2019t have to live in fear,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cJust talk to me. Tell me why.\u201d\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t even remember anymore,\u201d said Pietro. \u201cIt doesn\u2019t matter. My life is over. I have to get away from here.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou had to know someone was going to find out,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cThings like this don\u2019t stay secret. And the Advocacy won\u2019t stop. Even if you go into Banu territory, they\u2019ll keep searching.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt beats being dead,\u201d said Pietro.\n\n\u201cA life of fear?\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cSleepless nights? Always on the move? Looking over your shoulder? You and I have both seen those guys. Eventually, they take their own lives or isolate themselves so far from the known universe they lose their mind, don\u2019t know what\u2019s real anymore. That\u2019s not a life, Pietro. That\u2019s its own prison. Let me take you in. Give the Advocacy everything you have on Mickey Black and we can take him down.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere will always be someone to take his place,\u201d said Pietro.\n\n\u201cSure there will,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cBut he\u2019ll be one less. We can make it harder for them. Look for people they\u2019ve forced into their service. We can help, Pietro. You know we can.\u201d\n\n\u201cSeeing as I\u2019m stuck between a couple of gun barrels right now,\u201d said Jonah, \u201cI\u2019d like to chime in.\u201d\n\nPietro glanced at Jonah.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m in the same place as you,\u201d Jonah said. \u201cConstantly afraid of what Mickey Black might have me do next. Scared I\u2019ll get arrested or my family will be hurt. But I\u2019m standing up. I want to stop living in fear. I know you feel the same way. You have to. This is not a life, not one worth having anyway. We have to at least try.\u201d\n\n\u201cListen to him, Pietro,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cHe\u2019s got a wife and kids at home. He\u2019s thinking about them. You need to think about your own family. Do you want them worrying about you, never knowing where you are? Or do you want to protect them?\u201d\n\n\u201cI want to keep them safe,\u201d said Pietro.\n\n\u201cOf course you do,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cThat\u2019s all you\u2019ve ever wanted. What any of us want.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou\u2019ll put them in protective custody, won\u2019t you?\u201d said Pietro, lowering his gun. Jonah took the gun and pocketed it. Ardoss lowered his own.\n\n\u201cYes,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cMickey won\u2019t find them.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll tell you everything,\u201d said Pietro. \u201cPickups, info drops, who I met with and where. You should know he\u2019s planning \u2014\u201d\n\nBut what he was planning, Ardoss would never find out from Pietro. A shot rang out across the docking bay and Pietro dropped like a puppet with its strings cut.\n\nJonah dove for a stack of crates as Ardoss dropped to the floor.\n\nArdoss crawled under cover and scanned the area, looking for a shooter. There were too many vantage points here. He should have surveyed the station first, but there wasn\u2019t time. Now he saw several crannies. Old ducts, abandoned crates, elevated crosswalks, doors into adjacent rooms. And worse, it echoed. It made finding the source difficult.\n\nAnother shot rang out and ricocheted. The shooter was good, having hit Pietro in one shot. But wherever the shooter was perched, there wasn\u2019t a line of sight to Ardoss. He made a choice.\n\nHe rushed forward, crouching, and knelt by his old partner.\n\nBlood soaked through Pietro\u2019s clothes and his skin was pale. They were out in the open here. He lifted him by the shoulders and quickly dragged him back to his cover.\n\nPietro spoke barely above a whisper and Ardoss had to crouch low to hear it.\n\n\u201cThe Senate,\u201d said Pietro. \u201cThe Senate.\u201d\n\nThen he was gone. Ardoss stared at him, unsure what to make of what his old partner had said. Mickey Black was planning something and it had to do with the Senate.\n\nThey had been so close. Pietro had agreed to turn on Mickey, knowing it would eventually mean his death. They just didn\u2019t count on it being so soon.\n\nArdoss looked down at Pietro. It was a waste. Pietro was a good man, or at least he tried to be. If only Ardoss had known sooner what was going on, maybe his partner would still be alive.\n\nHe peeked out of his cover, trying again to see where the shots had come from. Who else knew they were here? There was no way anyone could. Pietro had waited until Jonah contacted him to give him the coordinates. Not even Mickey could know.\n\nThat left only one other possibility. There was a spy on board Jonah\u2019s ship.\n\nHis vantage point was lousy. He couldn\u2019t see much of anything from where he was. Cautiously, he left his cover, gun drawn, and began to creep across the old cargo bay.\n\nBut before Ardoss could investigate further, another shot rang out and he staggered backwards. It felt as though a man twice his size had just punched him in the chest. He looked down to see red blossom down his suit from his left shoulder.\n\nAnother shot rang out, ricocheting off a bulkhead. Shaking off his momentary daze, Ardoss managed to duck behind some old crates. They stank of rotting food.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s higher up,\u201d said Jonah, crouching beside him.\n\nArdoss had forgotten he was there.\n\n\u201cHow can you tell?\u201d said Ardoss. Jonah was a coward. Ardoss couldn\u2019t imagine him looking for the shooter.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s an energy burn on the floor, just there,\u201d said Jonah, pointing.\n\nArdoss blinked and followed Jonah\u2019s finger. Sure enough, there was a burn mark on the floor. If the shot had come straight across, the burn would be behind them or further back on the floor. The shooter was most certainly up higher.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t get it,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cThat sniper got Pietro in one clean shot. Then he misses? Is he playing with us?\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s more likely he\u2019s under fire,\u201d said Jonah.\n\n\u201cChar?\u201d said Ardoss.\n\nJonah nodded. \u201cI asked her to keep lookout in case Pietro lied. She\u2019s a crack shot. \u201d\n\n\u201cThen why is that sniper still firing?\u201d said Ardoss as another blast rang out.\n\nJonah shrugged, \u201cYou assume it\u2019s the sniper.\u201d\n\nThe gunshots stopped. Jonah cautiously peeked his head above the crate and Ardoss pulled him back down.\n\n\u201cChar, did you get him?\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cChar?\u201d\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d she said. Her voice bitter. \u201cShe\u2019s still in here. Stay on your toes.\u201d\n\n\u201cWait,\u201d said Ardoss, \u201cshe?\u201d\n\n\u201cYes,\u201d said Char, \u201cnow keep your eyes open.\u201d\n\nArdoss felt the adrenaline pumping. Pietro was dead and this woman was still hunting them. How many did she plan to kill? Just Ardoss? The whole crew? What about the other passengers?\n\nThat\u2019s when he realized it had to be the businesswoman. She was so quiet and unassuming, the perfect cover for an assassin. It made him sick to think about the time he had spent in close quarters with her. He crept out from the crates, gun still drawn, his left arm useless.\n\nJonah grabbed his good shoulder. \u201cYou\u2019ll be shot.\u201d\n\n\u201cAlready been shot,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cWe have to find her. She\u2019s not going to just leave us be. We know too much.\u201d\n\nJonah worked his jaw, but didn\u2019t say anything else.\n\nArdoss stuck his head out. He needed to know where she was, what her options were.\n\nThen, movement.\n\nArdoss leveled his gun. It was not as high up as he expected, not in the ducts or on a crosswalk. She was on top of some crates. Maybe.\n\nHe didn\u2019t think a trained gun would be so sloppy.\n\nChar\u2019s head poked out from behind the crates. She pointed to Ardoss then behind him. He turned on his heels, still crouched. His shoulder throbbed, but thankfully the intense pain he knew was coming was still being kept at bay. Too much adrenaline, he figured.\n\nHe glanced back to Char, but she was gone, creeping among the abandoned cargo. He moved behind the stack of moldy food where Jonah still hid. Jonah just looked at him as he passed, eyes wide.\n\nThere was another stack of crates further along, and some old tanks. A perfect place for her to hide.\n\nHow many shots had she fired? How many rounds did she have? Enough to take down one or two people? More?\n\nArdoss knew he would be the main target, then Char. Jonah would be last, if she didn\u2019t just go ahead and kill the teen and Thrumm after that, to remove any witnesses.\n\nThe stack was shadowy and stank. There were too many dark corners for someone to hide. Ardoss scooted along the edge of one crate and around a fuel tank.\n\nThere he found himself face to face with his partner\u2019s killer.\n\nHer business suit was torn and bloody in places. Sweat matted her short hair to her forehead. Her skin was flushed and her chest pumped heavily.\n\n\u201cDrop the gun,\u201d she said. She aimed the pistol Jonah had tried to use on him earlier.\n\n\u201cNot likely,\u201d Ardoss said.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll shoot,\u201d the woman said.\n\nArdoss smiled. \u201cIf you had any more rounds, you would have killed me already.\u201d\n\nThe woman grinned, but it was gone in an instant, replaced by a snarl. She dropped the gun, and lunged.\n\nShe put all her effort into impacting his left shoulder.\n\nThere was the pain.\n\nHe cried out and crumpled to the deck. She scrabbled over him and went for his gun. Ardoss rolled over and grabbed her leg with his good hand, yanking hard.\n\nThe woman cursed and kicked at him. The first kick hit his forearm, but he held fast. The next connected with his knuckles and his grip loosened. She shook free and crawled to the gun.\n\nArdoss started to crawl towards her, but the gun was in her hand. She flopped over on her back and fired.\n\nThe shot went wild and Ardoss used the moment to roll for cover. He glanced behind him.\n\nThe woman was on her feet.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll make this quick,\u201d she said, \u201cI promise.\u201d\n\nHe crouched to pounce on her, but he never got the chance.\n\nThere was a scream, primal and terrified as a dark blur collided with the assassin. Two forms fell to the ground and the gun skittered across the deck.\n\nArdoss went after the gun, all but throwing himself after it. His fingers closed on the grip and he spun around.\n\nJonah lay on top of the woman, knees straddling her hips, hands on her shoulders.\n\nJonah punched her and immediately grabbed his hand, rubbing the knuckles.\n\n\u201cFeel better?\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cNo,\u201d said Jonah, \u201cmy hand hurts.\u201d\n\nArdoss laughed.\n\nJonah glared at him and then he began to laugh.\n\n\u201cDid I miss something funny?\u201d said Char.\n\nArdoss looked. She stood behind Jonah and the assassin, gun slack in her hands, eyes wide.\n\n\u201cPietro?\u201d said Char.\n\n\u201cHe didn\u2019t make it,\u201d said Ardoss, his laughter gone. Jonah stopped as well.\n\n\u201cShe got you,\u201d said Char.\n\nArdoss glanced down. \u201cAt least it wasn\u2019t a few inches over.\u201d\n\n\u201cSmall consolation,\u201d she said.\n\n\u201cSo how did we miss an assassin on the ship?\u201d said Jonah. He rolled off the woman.\n\nChar crossed the few feet between them. She pointed her rifle at the woman\u2019s head. \u201cStart talking.\u201d\n\nThe woman licked her lips, smearing blood across them.\n\n\u201cNone of your business,\u201d she said.\n\nChar cocked the gun. \u201cThat\u2019s not a good answer.\u201d\n\nThe woman glared.\n\n\u201cIf you kill her, we won\u2019t get our answers,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cWho said anything about killing her?\u201d said Char. She swung the butt of her gun around and slammed it against the woman\u2019s knee.\n\nThe assassin screamed and clutched her leg.\n\n\u201cPietro was never meant to leave alive,\u201d she said, panting.\n\n\u201cWhat?\u201d said Jonah.\n\nChar nudged the woman\u2019s knee with the barrel of her gun. \u201cGo on.\u201d\n\nThe woman winced. \u201cThe drop-off was a farce,\u201d she said. \u201cIt was a setup. Mickey knew Pietro would only trust you, so he set the whole thing up, arranged for passengers, made sure I could book passage.\u201d\n\nJonah slumped. \u201cWhy?\u201d said Jonah. \u201cWhy all of this?\u201d\n\nThe woman shrugged. \u201cI do what I\u2019m paid to do. Mickey\u2019s going to kill you when finds out you\u2019re working with an Agent.\u201d\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t count on it,\u201d said Char. \u201cWhat do you want to do with her?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll need to take her back to the Advocacy,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cI want a deal,\u201d the woman said. \u201cI gave you information. You have to protect me.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhy?\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cYou did your job.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd when Black finds out you\u2019re still alive, I\u2019m dead,\u201d the woman said.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll think about it,\u201d said Ardoss.\n\n\u201cYou\u2019ve as good as killed me, then,\u201d she said.\n\n\u201cYou should have thought about that before you signed on with Mickey Black.\u201d\n\nChar nodded and kicked her.\n\nLocal authorities collected the politician Thrumm at the next port. Advocacy Agents took Ardoss\u2019 statement. He advised them the assassin was a material witness and should be protected. The Agents also took custody of Pietro\u2019s body. Ardoss had started working on the request for his partner to be given full honors on the flight back. He had just sent it off when his new orders from Junior Director Vami arrived on his mobi.\n\nReturn. Immediately.\n\nNot likely, he thought.\n\nArdoss wanted to warn the Advocacy that Black had some-thing planned against the Senate, but he had no evidence. He couldn\u2019t follow Vami\u2019s orders until he found it.\n\nThe three of them sat in the cockpit, drinking a bottle of Sky whiskey from Croshaw.\n\n\u201cWhat will you do now?\u201d said Jonah.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m supposed to go back to my office and quietly retire,\u201d said Ardoss, \u201cbut I don\u2019t think I can do that.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou want to go after Mickey Black,\u201d said Jonah.\n\nArdoss nodded. Mickey had destroyed one of the best men he\u2019d ever known, and he wasn\u2019t going to let the bastard walk away from that.\n\n\u201cPietro said he had plans,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cSomething to do with the Senate. But without evidence to back up the story . . .\u201d\n\n\u201cYou want to find that proof,\u201d said Char.\n\n\u201cAnd nail him to the wall with it,\u201d said Ardoss. \u201cI want to make sure he can never hurt another living soul.\u201d\n\nJust then, the ship\u2019s comm started to beep. Jonah held up a finger and Ardoss stepped out of the way of the vid.\n\nJonah hit a button and Mickey\u2019s ruined face filled the screen.\n\n\u201cJonah, my boy, I heard the mission was done,\u201d said Mickey.\n\nThe pilot clenched his jaw. \u201cYou killed Pietro.\u201d\n\n\u201cYes, sorry about that, had to be done,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cTerrible business, but I couldn\u2019t risk him blabbing.\u201d\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t like being used,\u201d said Jonah.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll use you however I see fit,\u201d said Mickey. His voice was dangerous. \u201cWhat did you do with my assassin?\u201d\n\n\u201cI had to turn her in to local authorities,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cPietro is dead and so is his partner. The Advocacy wanted answers.\u201d\n\nMickey\u2019s eyes went wide. \u201cI didn\u2019t actually think you\u2019d do it.\u201d\n\n\u201cI didn\u2019t,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cYour woman did that.\u201d\n\nChar glanced at Ardoss. He felt pretty good for a dead man, but he stayed silent. He hoped the Agents would keep the assassin safe.\n\nMickey looked impressed. \u201cI had hoped to get my hitwoman back. She was rather good, but I suppose you can\u2019t win all the time. I\u2019ll have to take care of her, of course, but that\u2019s my problem, not yours.\u201d\n\n\u201cI did what you asked and nearly died in the process,\u201d said Jonah. \u201cI want my money.\u201d\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s coming lad, it\u2019s coming,\u201d said Mickey, \u201cbut see, you didn\u2019t do exactly as I asked. My woman killed the Agent, not you.\u201d\n\nJonah stared, his eyes full of rage.\n\nMickey shrugged. \u201cHey, a deal\u2019s a deal. I asked you to do something and you didn\u2019t. You still owe me.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou knew I wouldn\u2019t,\u201d said Jonah.\n\n\u201cEvery man has to make that choice,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cYou made yours.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat do you want?\u201d asked Jonah.\n\n\u201cGo to these coordinates for further instruction,\u201d said Mickey. \u201cAnd Jonah, I really am expecting you to see it through this time. All of it. Screw it up, and you\u2019ll be so deep in debt with me, your kids will be paying it off long after you die.\u201d\n\nThe screen went blank before Jonah had a chance to argue. He turned and looked at Ardoss.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s what he wanted,\u201d said Char, \u201cto hold something over you.\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, Ardoss,\u201d said Jonah, \u201clooks like you\u2019ll get your chance to get even. I\u2019ll do whatever I can to help you end this bastard.\u201d\n\n\u201cGreat,\u201d said Ardoss, tossing back the last dregs of whiskey in his glass. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of work ahead of us.\u201d\n\nThe End"},"links_count":3,"comment_count":17,"created_at":"2019-08-28T00:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"6 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-07 22:00:14","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":17211,"next_id":17213}}