{"data":{"id":17836,"title":"Drifters (Part Two)","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/comm-link\/serialized-fiction\/17836-Drifters-Part-Two","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-links\/17836","api_public_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/comm-links\/17836","channel":"Undefined","category":"Undefined","series":"Drifters","images":[{"id":24643,"name":"Drifters-Title.jpg","rsi_url":"https:\/\/robertsspaceindustries.com\/media\/wtilj01zds70xr\/source\/Drifters-Title.jpg","alt":"","size":725702,"mime_type":"image\/jpeg","last_modified":"2020-09-21T17:00:57+00:00","api_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/24643","similar_url":"https:\/\/api.star-citizen.wiki\/api\/comm-link-images\/24643\/similar"}],"images_count":1,"translations":{"en_EN":"Writer\u2019s Note: Drifters: Part Two was published originally in Jump Point 5.2. You can read Part One here.\nMaybe a Starliner . . .\n\nMags rolled onto her side and pieced together a scenario: pick up a new Starliner, deck it out real nice and make passenger runs from hotspot to hotspot, but \u2014 and this was the important thing \u2014 not open it up to every sucker that can pay the ticket. Keep it exclusive. Choice clientele who would keep it classy. Make it be the party experience of the universe.\n\nAlthough . . . the more she thought about it. Partying every day sounded like it\u2019d get kinda exhausting after a couple months.\n\nShe\u2019d been at this for hours. Ever since they\u2019d identified the eriesium from the lockbox, the potential payout kept overtaking their conversations. Everything was a joke now: the terrible food packs, the shitty condition of the Harlequin, all of it. Because now they could see a way out. Hard to think that hours before, they were arguing about whether to put a bullet in Mags.\n\nThey were right though. It was hard not to get excited. The strange, rare element wasn\u2019t just a \u2018nice payout\u2019 kind of score. This was life-changing.\n\nShe couldn\u2019t believe it herself. From a youth spent picking tourist pockets on nameless stations and breaking into cargo haulers to sleep among the pallets and crates, to growing up bouncing from hustle after hustle, scrape after scrape. All that was about to end. She was actually about to be able to take a breath and relax . . .\n\nBut not yet. She still needed to line up a buyer. Someone who could pay them what this beautiful lump of ore was worth. An amount that would wash away all the betrayal, murder and despair the crew had waded through to get to this point.\n\nShe flicked the safety off her pistol with her thumb while gripping the knife with her other hand and carefully opened the hatch to her sleeping berth. The door hissed slowly as it slid. Mags looked out. The hall was empty.\n\nMags gave it another second to be sure. Underneath the persistent hum of the power plant, she could hear the intermittent banging of the engine echo down the hall, but still nothing else. Trin wasn\u2019t waiting with a shotgun.\n\nShe put the knife back in its hiding place, pulled on her boots and thudded down onto the floor. Still no ambush. Mags finally relaxed, confident in the knowledge that Trin wasn\u2019t that patient. She safetied the pistol, tucked it in her waistband and pulled on a heavy sweater to hide it from sight.\n\nThe bridge of the Harlequin was quiet. Ozzy was up there alone, casually flying the massive ship through the seemingly endless void. He glanced over as Mags stepped onto the bridge. She couldn\u2019t read what was behind that look. Maybe nothing. She had yet to really get a bead on the guy. Outside of his obvious loyalty to his sister, Trin, he seemed to speak the bare minimum. Even when they picked him up from Quarterdeck, he said nothing. After spending five years in that hellhole, he just walked onto the Harlequin and sat down.\n\n\u201cAnything exciting?\u201d she asked.\n\n\u201cNope,\u201d he replied and cracked open a can of Smoltz.\n\n\u201cNeed to take a break?\u201d\n\n\u201cNope.\u201d Ozzy took a long swig from the beer and settled back.\n\nA few moments of silence passed.\n\n\u201cOkay, cool. Give a shout if you do.\u201d Mags moved over to one of the side terminals and slumped into the seat.\n\nIt was time to get to work.\n\n\u201cWhat kind of work do you do?\u201d the gruff, friendly voice asked over the comm.\n\n\u201cCommercial hauling mostly,\u201d Trevor responded. As captain of Veronica\u2019s Dream, he\u2019d received the distress comm from a downed hauler about a half hour after shoving off from Port Red Oak above Angeli in Croshaw system. Damn lucky too, he was just spinning up his quantum when the comm came through. They\u2019d been talking ever since.\n\n\u201cCool, cool. You work for one of those big name companies? Covalex or some such?\u201d\n\n\u201cUsed to, but got out as soon as I raised the creds for a rig of my own,\u201d Trevor finally saw the faint beacon appear on his scans. \u201cJust tired of working for other people, I guess.\u201d\n\n\u201cI hear that,\u201d the voice responded. It had a scratchy quality to it, reminded Trevor of the way his grandfather talked after a day in the mines. Reminded him of home. \u201cAin\u2019t never been the type to take orders.\u201d\n\n\u201cFinally caught your signal. Adjusting course now. Should be there real soon. How you holding up otherwise?\u201d\n\n\u201cOh been doing fine. Got plenty of air and tunes. All I need.\u201d\n\n\u201cI hear that, brother.\u201d Trevor kept sweeping with his scanners. Turns out the hauler he was looking for had busted down in a small cluster of asteroids. \u201cYou got yourself in quite the bind.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, like my mama always said, I ain\u2019t got nothin\u2019 if not a knack for finding trouble.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy uncle used to say the same thing.\u201d Trevor brought his ship around to get a first look at the disabled hauler.\n\n\u201cI believe it,\u201d the old voice over the comms said.\n\nTrevor crested the final asteroid blocking his view, he finally got a look at . . .\n\nNothing.\n\nA gap of space between several silently tumbling rocks. There was something small floating out there, blinking, but that was it. No ship.\n\nNothing.\n\nHis terminal pinged, pleasantly alerting him that the aft airlock had opened. Trevor reached over to see if it was an error, but it looked like someone had run a bypass. He didn\u2019t see the incoming rocket launched from one of the asteroid clusters up ahead before it punched through the canopy of Veronica\u2019s Dream. The explosion incinerated the entire cockpit in a flash. The ship hardly moved.\n\nBlind Jack Sticha scratched his chin through his frazzled beard with a faulty cybernetic hand as he watched the damaged hauler slowly begin to pitch down.\n\n\u201cAlright Southers. Get to it.\u201d\n\nThe rest of the Souther Titans emerged one by one from their hiding places. Slashes of bright colors criss-crossed their hulls in ritualistic marks. The lead breacher moved inside the wreck while two more leapt from airlocks towards the damaged ship to try and get it flyable again.\n\nBlind Jack settled back and ripped open a pack of Ma\u2019s Chicken Patty while his crew got to work.\n\nDr. Honan Yao woke up face down on a grate. He\u2019d weirdly gotten used to waking up in strange places, but there was always that initial shock. It felt like that moment when you start to fall, a jolt goes through your body as if to right itself. Then two things would happen: the reality would set in, along with the dull ache in your veins after a long high. His professors in med school said it was the WiDoW burning the lining of the veins, contributing to the black marks that stained the body. He glanced down; the inky black lines had moved up to his wrist.\n\nYao rolled onto his back and looked around. As his eyes focused and his head settled, he could see he was in the engine room of the Harlequin, so, all in all, it could\u2019ve been much worse. There was that one time he woke up in the airlock . . .\n\nA wrench clattered to the ground. He looked over. Trin was working on the piping system. Her mobi was pulsing to the tune of whatever song she was pumping into her headphones.\n\nYao dragged himself to his feet. His head swam a little while he acclimated to the elevation change, but maintained his balance. None of these things surprised him. Although this morning was a little worse; his head a little heavier, the fog in his brain a little thicker . . . over the past year, this had more or less become a standard ritual of waking up.\n\nHe slowly shuffled through the ship. Kel was in the cargo hold, studying what looked like a rock . . .\n\nThat jogged a memory. Yao slowed down as he tried to sift through the cobwebs of his memories. Yeah . . . something had happened earlier. Something big . . .\n\nThat would explain why he was a little more sluggish. They\u2019d been celebrating something.\n\n\u201cHello, doctor!\u201d Kel said cheerily. \u201cIncredible, yes? Very exciting to be.\u201d\n\nYao nodded and made his way toward the bridge. As he made his way to his sleeping berth for a change of clothes and a quick shower, memories of the eriesium and subsequent party made their way back to his consciousness. It was about halfway through the shower before Yao remembered what had nearly transpired before they found the wreck.\n\nHe found Mags on the bridge, entrenched with a bunch of business pages on her terminal while Ozzy was napping on the stick.\n\n\u201cHey Mags.\u201d\n\n\u201cDoc . . .\u201d she said without looking up, and clicked through another page.\n\n\u201cHave any luck finding a buyer?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m barely finding anything at all.\u201d She sat back in her seat and rubbed her eyes. \u201cNo one seems to know nothing. Every mining company I\u2019ve found doesn\u2019t even list it as something they\u2019ll buy. TDD don\u2019t even have it listed on their commodities. It\u2019s like the stuff doesn\u2019t even exist.\u201d\n\nYao nodded and looked out the window at space as he searched for the words.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d\n\n\u201cAbout what?\u201d\n\n\u201cThe whole Trin thing. I should\u2019ve been there.\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, if you know someone I could talk to about eriesium, that\u2019d make it up to me.\u201d Mags chuckled and went back to scouring the spectrum.\n\nYao paused for a moment.\n\n\u201cActually, I might.\u201d\n\n\u201cWait, really?\u201d\n\n\u201cOzzy!\u201d Yao shouted, jolting Ozzy up from his nap. \u201cCan you get us to Kallis?\u201d\n\nThe Willoughby Housing Exchange had been extremely popular among miners cracking the Daedulus Cluster in Croshaw. That was over a hundred and fifty years ago now. Since the HEX shuttered in 2863, the station slowly decayed. Longterm residents, unable or unwilling to leave, eventually died off and the station fell silent, just another hulk drifting in the black.\n\nThat was until the Souther Titans moved in. Blind Jack couldn\u2019t believe his luck, finding a perfectly good station that only needed updated parts to bring it back online . . . or at least functional. Seemed like as good a place as any to have the pack hole up. They\u2019d fixed it up smart too. Put in dead man switches to automatically cut the power, gravity and airshields if anyone but the Titans tried to take control. After years on the move, he had to admit, it was nice to find a place to call home.\n\nBlind Jack Sticha and the rest of the Souther Titans set down on the various landing pads and quickly moved their ships out of sight. It was best to keep up appearances that the place was abandoned. They slammed the wreck of the hauler onto one of the larger platforms. Skivner and Leedy weren\u2019t able to retrieve the manifest from the blast, but did a quick check through the hold. Thing was packed to the gills. That was the great thing about indie operators, they had to make each run count. Sure they\u2019d put up more of a fight, but Jack didn\u2019t mind a little scrap for his rewards.\n\nThat was just half of the haul too. Once they offloaded the merch, they\u2019d break down the ship. Blind Jack would pick through the parts, keep a portion for upkeep on their own fleet, then sell the rest. All in all, they stood to make a nice little cut.\n\nBlind Jack flipped on his suit lights as he trudged towards the HEX\u2019s airlock. All the timers had tripped, so he needed to power the station back up. About halfway through the startup routine . . .\n\n\u201cBlind Jack Sticha\u201d came over the general comms.\n\nJack paused momentarily then continued the startup procedure. The hidden power plants chugged awake. The lights in the airlock pulsed to life and the systems came online. His knee ached as he got back to his feet.\n\nAs the airlock cycled, he drew his pistol, a custom Coda pistol with compensators, and flipped the safety off. Whoever had called to him must be close. Leedy jogged up, weapon ready. The other Southers had heard it too.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s no need for that,\u201d the voice said. \u201cWe\u2019re here to talk.\u201d\n\nJack looked up at the security cameras in the airlock. They must be in the system. Jack holstered the pistol and motioned for Leedy to sling the rifle.\n\nThe airlock hissed open. Music echoed through the halls. Blind Jack pulled off his helmet and tossed it on the ground.\n\n\u201cEyes up, kid,\u201d he muttered. He yanked his gloves off and threw them by the helmet. \u201cAnything go sideways, you paint the walls, hear?\u201d\n\nThey walked towards the living area to find their two guests waiting. They were Human. One male. One female. Real nice flight suits. Male was visibly armed. Female wasn\u2019t, but definitely didn\u2019t look skittish.\n\nBlind Jack casually walked over to one of their cargo containers converted to a cooler and pulled out a can of Smoltz. He offered it to the duo.\n\n\u201cDrink?\u201d\n\nThe woman didn\u2019t move. The man smiled and shook his head. Blind Jack shrugged, popped the can and downed the whole thing in a long protracted drink. He crumpled the can and flung it into the darkness.\n\n\u201cSo who the hell are you?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re listeners, really. Our employer sends us to ask questions and listen. We\u2019re then entrusted to act accordingly.\u201d\n\n\u201cUh huh,\u201d Blind Jack said with a glance to Leedy.\n\n\u201cBut we aren\u2019t bounty hunters or Advocacy if that\u2019s what you\u2019re worried about. Think of us more like professional colleagues.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo what do you want?\u201d\n\n\u201cNot much. We\u2019ve got two questions for you. The second is significantly more difficult than the first, but both need to be answered to our satisfaction or . . .\u201d the man shrugged. \u201cWe will act accordingly.\u201d\n\nBlind Jack burst out laughing. His bellows echoed in the abandoned station. The man smiled. The woman didn\u2019t move. The laughter finally died down.\n\n\u201cYou walk into our den and make threats?\u201d Blind Jack grabbed another can and popped it. \u201cThat\u2019s a quick path to a short life, my friend.\u201d\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t do anything for myself,\u201d the man stood and walked over to Leedy. The scrawny, tattooed outlaw stood tall and met the man\u2019s gaze without flinching. \u201cAs I mentioned, we are representatives. All you need to know is that, for all intents and purposes, Damien Martel of the Four Points is asking the questions.\u201d\n\nBlind Jack Sticha coughed. Leedy looked over at his boss, whose demeanor had completely changed.\n\nThe Four Points were one of those syndicates that never seemed to die. They never dominated the criminal hierarchy, but somehow persevered for decades, maintaining a rep that was as calculating as they were ruthless. The leadership each represented a swath of territory, forming a council of Four that dictated orders down to their footsoldiers. Damien Martel was one of those Points.\n\n\u201cI see I require no further explanation,\u201d the man said after one look at Blind Jack\u2019s face. \u201cGood.\u201d\n\nThe man walked over to Jack and studied him for a moment.\n\n\u201cWere you responsible for the attack on Mr. Martel\u2019s ship?\u201d\n\n\u201cHuh?\u201d\n\n\u201cDo you want me to repeat the question?\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat? No.\u201d Blind Jack glanced at the woman. She\u2019d circled into Leedy\u2019s blind spot. \u201cI ain\u2019t heard about any attack.\u201d\n\n\u201cAre you lying to me?\u201d The man said, never breaking his gaze. His voice was even, devoid of inflection.\n\n\u201cHell no,\u201d Blind Jack looked right back. \u201cMy people are all here. All accounted for and nobody would make a move like that without me knowing about it.\u201d\n\nThe man watched Jack for a few moments. Processing him. Finally:\n\n\u201cYou Titans have an interesting set of tattoos,\u201d the man said as he brought up his mobi and began to cycle through menus. \u201cI never quite understood the appeal myself, but more so, could never just settle on a design I was comfortable living with the rest of my life.\u201d\n\nThe man found a picture and held it up for Jack to see. It was a surveillance grab.\n\n\u201cSecond question,\u201d he pointed to the surveillance grab. Some scrap yard that Blind Jack had used to offload scrap in the past. Wardlow Rec or something. The man pointed to a woman in the frame; it looked like she was sporting Titan ink. \u201cDo you know who that is?\u201d\n\nIt took Blind Jack a second to recognize her.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll be damned,\u201d he said with a fond smile. \u201cName\u2019s Trin Liska. Been a spell since we ran with her. What\u2019d she do?\u201d\n\n\u201cTook something of value.\u201d\n\nBlind Jack nodded, filing that little tidbit away for future deliberation. He took another drink from his can.\n\n\u201cLast I\u2019d heard, she\u2019d linked up with Reza Malcolm\u2019s ship. Horrible piece of shit called the Harlequin.\u201d\n\n\u201cI want that ship.\u201d\n\nBlind Jack took his time thinking it over. He stepped past the man and took a seat in his busted up leather chair.\n\n\u201cSure, I can help,\u201d he said with a satisfied grin.\n\nThirty minutes later, the two syndicate hitmen left without incident and fully loaded with the Harlequin\u2019s multitude of reg tags and everything the Southers knew about Trin.\n\nBlind Jack was halfway through the case of Liberty Lake, sitting quietly and humming to himself. The rest of the Titans watched their boss, perplexed. Leedy finally spoke up.\n\n\u201cWhat the hell, Jack?\u201d\n\n\u201cSpeak your mind, Leedy.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrin was one of us.\u201d\n\n\u201cWas, kid.\u201d Blind Jack settled back in his seat and popped another can. \u201cShe walked away. I told you before, we got no loyalty for quitters and besides, you\u2019re missing the big picture.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d\n\n\u201cIf she got the attention of the Four Points,\u201d a grin spread behind Blind Jack\u2019s beard, \u201cwe talking big money.\u201d\n\nThe Titans looked at each other. The prospect of a payout sparked that familiar fire behind their eyes.\n\n\u201cStrip your ships and travel light,\u201d Blind Jack said as he slammed the next can. \u201cLet\u2019s go get paid.\u201d\n\nThe Harlequin dropped out of the Bremen-Kallis jump point near a cluster of cargo supply ships that were on their way out of the system. Recently installed CommRelays now floated near the jump point and the Army station charged with protecting this developing system.\n\nThe entire crew had gathered on the bridge of the ship. Mags and Trin were entirely focused on the Army base, looking for any sign that the military were paying them equal attention. Ozzy flew with his usual sullen indifference. Yao\u2019s hand trembled as he chewed on a nail. To the others, it seemed like the usual byproduct of going for such a long stretch without some kind of chemical balance. They did not know that it was something else.\n\nKel was the only one paying attention to the view. Outside the front of the ship was a staggeringly beautiful display of destruction and creation. Kallis was the very definition of a developing system. Discovered while the planetary bodies were still in the process of forming, it had become a nexus for astronomers and scientists who were eager for this unique opportunity to observe a solar system in its infancy. The system had even attracted its fair share of philosophers and spiritualists, who came to witness and contemplate all sorts of questions about existence.\n\n\u201cPretty . . .\u201d was all Kel could muster.\n\n\u201cYou really sure about this, doc?\u201d Mags asked, her eyes still locked on the passing military station.\n\n\u201cYeah . . . I think so,\u201d Yao replied. He realized he was biting his nails and stopped himself. \u201cNo, we should be good.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo this guy is a doctor?\u201d Trin asked while she chewed on some jerky.\n\n\u201cBuddy of mine from med school until he dropped out and shifted over to physics and geology. He\u2019s cool, though.\u201d\n\n\u201cUh huh,\u201d Trin replied and took another bite.\n\nYao made his way to one of the chairs and brought up the commlink. He isolated OB Station Gryphon and sent a comm. It took a few moments before a bleary-eyed administrator answered.\n\n\u201cMain Junction.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, hi, Lev Dennis, pleas-\u201d\n\nThe administrator had already cut him off and transferred the comm. After a few seconds of waiting, the rest of the Harlequin crew staring at him, someone new picked up. Lev answered the comm without really looking. Based on the rapid tapping, he was still clearly more interested in typing something.\n\n\u201cYeah?\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s up, man? It\u2019s Honan.\u201d\n\nLev stopped typing and turned to look at the comm. His face brightened up.\n\n\u201cHoly shit,\u201d he rubbed his eyes and looked closer. \u201cWhat the hell are you doing here?\u201d\n\n\u201cNeeded a bit of your expertise, actually.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, right.\u201d\n\nYao shrugged and nodded.\n\n\u201cReally?\u201d Lev sounded genuinely shocked. \u201cOh, damn, yeah, okay. Come on by. I\u2019ll arrange a pad.\u201d\n\nTwenty minutes later, the Harlequin set down on the observation station. The landing bay door opened up as Lev Dennis burst into the bay.\n\n\u201cYaooooo-\u201d He stopped short at the sight of the rest of the Harlequin crew. Lev was around Yao\u2019s age, but clearly living in near isolation away from civilization hadn\u2019t done much for his personal hygiene. He backed towards the door.\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s up, man?\u201d Yao quickly stepped forward and shook his hand. Lev froze mid-reach. Yao looked down to see the WiDoW marks peeking out from under his sleeve.\n\n\u201cWhat are you doing, man?\u201d Lev said in a whisper. \u201cThat looks really bad.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo, it\u2019s okay, man.\u201d\n\n\u201cShit don\u2019t look okay.\u201d\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t sweat it,\u201d Yao said, mustering up as much of a smile as he could, but realizing how much he\u2019d probably changed since the last time he saw his friend. So much had happened . . . but he didn\u2019t want to think about that now. \u201cCome on, meet my crew.\u201d\n\nLev forced a smile and looked past Yao. Although Trin and Ozzy weren\u2019t (visibly) armed, they were more than intimidating for the scientist. Kel quickly approached.\n\n\u201cHello, Lev Dennis. Pleasure to acquaint. I Kel.\u201d He patted Lev on the forehead then hugged him. \u201cBeautiful station here. Sound construction.\u201d\n\n\u201cHey . . .\u201d Lev sheepishly replied. Yao could tell Lev was getting skittish, so he kept the ball rolling.\n\n\u201cYou got somewhere private we could talk?\u201d He pulled Lev towards the halls and got them walking. Lev seemed to calm down the further they got and soon began to explain the various research companies and non-profits that had come and gone over the years he\u2019d been there to study various facets of the growing system.\n\nBy the time they got to his lab, he seemed to be relaxed with the group, even fielding some questions from Trin about the station\u2019s security protocols. Inside, there were multiple scan arrays positioned around a massive floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the swirl of flame and debris outside.\n\n\u201cSo, what\u2019d you wanna see me about?\u201d Lev finally said.\n\nYao nodded over to Mags, who was carrying their lockbox. She set it on a table and opened it up, revealing the massive chunk of eriesium inside.\n\nLev glanced at Yao before looking in the box. At first, he didn\u2019t really notice anything special. It was when he tried to get closer and the light caught the violet glints just under the surface of the ore that he paused and looked at the faces around him in disbelief.\n\n\u201cIs that . . .\u201d\n\nYao grinned. Lev made a move toward the eriesium.\n\n\u201cCan I?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re here, man.\u201d\n\nLev excitedly grabbed some gloves and picked up the ore. He shifted it between hands, testing its weight, then gave it a closer look.\n\n\u201cWhere\u2019d you find this?\u201d he asked, never taking his eyes off the prized mineral.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a long story,\u201d Mags replied as she watched him study it. \u201cBut it is eriesium, right?\n\n\u201cYeah, I think so,\u201d Lev put the ore underneath a table lamp to study it closer. \u201cYou gotta remember they\u2019ve only found eriesium in the UEE like four or five times. Ever. And I don\u2019t think any of them were the size of this. So it\u2019s not like there\u2019s a wealth of knowledge about the stuff.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou know anyone who\u2019d buy it?\u201d Trin chimed in from the back, obviously bored. Yao cut her a glance. She shrugged and picked up a small statue from a shelf. Lev slumped down on a nearby stool.\n\n\u201cPlenty, but they won\u2019t touch it. The government\u2019s oppressively regulated any kind of open market. Until they know more about it, all discoveries and sales have to be reported. You have to indicate where you found it, how it was extracted, provide dig permits. So it\u2019s not as simple as walking into a TDD and offloading some ore.\u201d\n\n\u201cWait a second.\u201d Trin tossed the statue back on the shelf and started to cross the room towards Lev. \u201cYou\u2019re telling me, we\u2019ve got the most valuable mineral in the universe and we can\u2019t sell it?\u201d\n\n\u201cUm . . . yes?\u201d Lev said as he shrunk away from Trin. She stopped right in front of him and stared before shooting a glare at Mags and walking away. \u201cI mean, you might be able to sell it to some Xi\u2019an. They\u2019d probably buy it, but that\u2019d be treason . . .\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019d you say?\u201d Mags perked up.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019d be treason?\u201d\n\n\u201cBefore that.\u201d\n\n\u201cApparently eriesium\u2019s a little more common in the Xi\u2019an Empire. They\u2019ve worked with it a bit more.\u201d\n\nMags turned to the group.\n\n\u201cI think I know a buyer.\u201d\n\nSearches for the Harlequin were coming up empty. For days, Arno Maas had been flooding his whole catalogue of snitches, corrupt Customs officials, local militia bruisers and general scumbags with the reg-tags, but so far, nothing. Blind Jack had been forthright and comprehensive with what he knew about Trin Liska, but Arno remained open to the possibility that the old outlaw would withhold some key fact to trip up their search.\n\nHe shut down his terminal and made his way to the cockpit where Osane was flying.\n\n\u201cHad any luck?\u201d he asked as he approached.\n\n\u201cWaiting on word from Masterson. He\u2019s checking the Advocacy archives for known associates of this Malcolm guy.\u201d\n\nArno sat quietly for a few moments.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m wondering if we should\u2019ve killed a Titan or two. You know, punctuate our point.\u201d\n\n\u201cBlind Jack\u2019s old school.\u201d Osane placed the ship on autopilot and turned back to face him. \u201cIt would\u2019ve made us look desperate to intimidate him.\u201d\n\nAn incoming comm chimed on both their terminals. Arno immediately activated the encryption protocols and answered it.\n\n\u201cMr. Martel.\u201d\n\nIt took a moment for the image to appear. A man in his late fifties with strong angular features flickered in. Encrypting the comm created some sync issues, so his face sometimes jumped to catch up with his words. Damien Martel looked into the comm with completely emotionless eyes.\n\n\u201cStatus.\u201d A sync jump made it look like his lips hadn\u2019t even moved.\n\n\u201cWe cleared out any evidence of the Echo Calling from that scrapyard, staged the thing to look like slavers, so that\u2019s done. Just got a name and a ship for who\u2019s got the item now, but we think the Titans might have edited their responses.\u201d Arno double-checked his mobi to see if he\u2019d received any incoming messages. \u201cWe\u2019ve put the word out and are waiting to hear back.\u201d\n\nMartel stared at them silently, his expression inscrutable.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got a fortune\u2019s worth of Four Points property on the drift and you\u2019re waiting for people to comm you back?\u201d\n\nArno glanced at Osane.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t know what\u2014\u201d\n\n\u201cYou kick down every door you have to. Raze cities to the ground. I don\u2019t care. Find it or we\u2019re all dead.\u201d\n\nMartel clicked off.\n\nArno and Osane exchanged a glance. She spun her seat back and flipped the ship off autopilot.\n\n\u201cGuess we should\u2019ve killed a couple Titans.\u201d\n\nA comm message pinged on Arno\u2019s mobiGlas. He glanced at it and exhaled.\n\n\u201cWell, that\u2019s fun . . .\u201d\n\nAccessing the Bremen-Nyx jump point took forever. The Bremen Militia, paranoid on their best days, must have taken double their paranoia pill dosage today. Mags had sent an old reg-tag that they hadn\u2019t used in a while reserved for \u2018clean travel.\u2019\n\nThe grilling from the militia almost made the tense flight through outlaw space more preferable. Mags was piloting the Harlequin while Ozzy ran escort in the P52. They passed the wreckage of a Hull. Mags couldn\u2019t tell what model, the thing was blasted into hundreds of pieces. A group of outlaws, presumably the ones who did the blasting, were picking through the detritus. One of them, a heavily armed gunship, turned to watch the Harlequin pass.\n\nMags was pretty sure there was a private conversation going on, weighing whether they\u2019d stolen enough cargo that day or if there was room to tangle for a little more.\n\nShe kept the speed even, didn\u2019t accelerate or slow down, just flew on past and kept heading towards the Glaciem Ring and their destination: Levski.\n\nMags had spent some time there as a kid. She\u2019d hooked up with Frank McGarr\u2019s crew: running spec scams, short cons and the occasional heist. They\u2019d based themselves out of the \u2018burnout collective\u2019 (as Frank liked to call the residents of Levski) simply because they left people alone under the auspices of respecting their privacy. For a bunch of liars and thieves, it was perfect.\n\nThe rest of the flight to Levski passed without incident. Ozzy redocked with the Harlequin before they made their final approach. By the time they set down, the rest of the group had already gathered in the cargo lift. Trin waited with her foot on the lockbox with the eriesium. Yao was leaning against the wall, absent-mindedly chewing on his nail again. Kel was wearing all his \u2018Human clothes\u2019: a mismatched collage of Sataball team swag, a UEE scarf and a sweatshirt of the popular gag quote (\u201cI\u2019m With Mom\u201d) from a decade-old spec show.\n\nMags pulled on her coat and hopped down to join them.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m thinking we should separate, my guy can be a little skittish.\u201d Mags reached down for the lockbox, but Trin didn\u2019t budge.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s staying with me.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, okay,\u201d Mags said as she hit the lift button. The platform shuddered and began to descend. She turned to Kel. \u201cRemember what we talked about.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am friend. Not slave.\u201d He replied with a carefully practiced cadence.\n\nThe lift thudded to the ground. The group walked towards the airlock as the massive overhead hangar doors screeched closed. The air had a tangy taste to it, probably been years since they\u2019d cleaned out the scrubbers in the hangars.\n\nThey passed a banner outlining the \u2018rules\u2019 of the People\u2019s Alliance. One of these hung in each of the hangars, but this one had been stitched up multiple times, presumably from people throwing rocks or bottles through the sign.\n\nYao immediately darted away once they got inside and headed into the tunnels. Kel rushed to look at the crude map of the abandoned mining station and immediately struck up a (one-sided) conversation with a local who happened to be standing nearby. Mags, Trin and Ozzy took the elevator down to the main floor.\n\nThe Grand Barter was bustling, as usual. Transient hawkers shouted at anyone who happened to drift in their eyeline. If given the slightest acknowledgement, the hawker pounced.\n\nThe three of them stalked through the stalls, getting swarmed by wares from all corners of the UEE and beyond. Assurances of quality and rarity were laced into every sentence.\n\nThey finally cleared the other side. Ozzy shoved away a particularly persistent merchant and they all stepped towards the bar.\n\nCafe Musain was packed. A hauling team loudly celebrated in one of the side rooms, clearly blowing off steam after a big job. The rest of the place was filled with miners, locals wearing homemade clothes and transients who\u2019d stopped off for a rest and a drink. Bartenders hustled to keep the glasses full.\n\nMags scanned the booths that ringed the room. She nudged Trin towards a secluded one in the corner where a Xi\u2019an sat quietly.\n\n\u201cOzzy, do you think you could hang back?\u201d Mags asked with a little hesitancy. Ozzy glanced at Trin, who nodded. He broke away and headed for the bar.\n\nMags cut through the crowd towards the Xi\u2019an while Trin followed.\n\n\u201cNyas\u0113ng\u2019s.uo S.oam,\u201d Mags said as she approached.\n\nThe Xi\u2019an looked up.\n\n\u201cx\u0113\u2019sueren, Thief Magdalena.\u201d Soahm settled back and took a moment to appraise Trin and the lockbox. \u201c.axyoa? I hope you are well.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou know, ups and downs.\u201d\n\n\u201cI believe I know the expression.\u201d Soahm kept his eyes locked on Trin. \u201cWhat can I do for you?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad you asked.\u201d\n\nThe two sat down.\n\nAs far as Ozzy could tell, although there were about a dozen people who were armed in the place, maybe three of them looked legit serious. Two were sitting by themselves at the bar, but the way they were scanning the room, they had the look of vultures. The last was perched up near a back room, trying not to look like he was guarding it.\n\nIt was a habit he had picked up on Quarterdeck. A habit everybody picked up. You needed to assess every room, every moment, to know who was a threat or not. Maybe it was valuable training. Certainly wasn\u2019t worth being sent there to learn it.\n\nHe drained the glass and waved the bartender over for another.\n\n\u201cOzzy Liska,\u201d a voice said behind him. There was something familiar about it.\n\nOzzy glanced back as Blind Jack Sticha climbed onto the next stool.\n\n\u201cHey, Jack, how ya been?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m too old to change, you know that.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah.\u201d\n\n\u201cHeard you got out,\u201d Blind Jack said as he paid for both drinks. Probably off some dead man\u2019s account.\n\n\u201cYup.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd back running with Trin.\u201d\n\n\u201cYup.\u201d\n\n\u201cHeard you two got a decent score going.\u201d\n\nOzzy turned to face Jack, mentally priming himself to jam his stashed blade in Jack\u2019s throat if need be.\n\n\u201cWhere\u2019d you hear that?\u201d\n\n\u201cWhispers, son.\u201d Blind Jack grinned and took a sip. \u201cWhispers always find their way to me.\u201d\n\n\u201cThen you know the answer.\u201d\n\n\u201cI can help.\u201d Blind Jack polished off the rest of his glass. \u201cHelp you move it.\u201d\n\n\u201cI think we got it handled,\u201d Ozzy glanced around to see if Jack had any more help lurking. There. Some tall lanky bastard posted up near the front.\n\n\u201cFair enough.\u201d Blind Jack ordered two more glasses. He set them both in front of Ozzy. \u201cSurprising you\u2019d be so eager to jump back in with Trin after you got out.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s that supposed to mean?\u201d\n\nBlind Jack pushed himself out of his chair, careful to keep his hands in plain view and smiled.\n\n\u201cWell, she was the one who bailed on you to the Advocacy.\u201d\n\n\u201cUh huh,\u201d Ozzy managed to muster between clenched teeth. The rage began to build. \u201cSo she called the shots for the Titans? Thought it was your crew, Jack.\u201d\n\n\u201cWasn\u2019t my finest moment, Ozzy, but you know how she can get,\u201d Blind Jack said with a shrug. \u201cShe\u2019s got that temper that makes her real convincing. Offer\u2019s still open to come back if you want it. Family\u2019s one thing, but pack\u2019s another. Think about it.\u201d\n\nBlind Jack motioned to the lanky stooge in the corner and they drifted.\n\nOzzy turned to look at the booth in the corner as Trin picked up the lockbox. She glanced around the bar before opening it. Her eyes met Ozzy\u2019s. She grinned then looked back at the Xi\u2019an.\n\nMags had never seen Soahm so impressed. A former cop in the Xi\u2019an Empire, he now worked as a security consultant for whoever would pay his fee, but he prided himself on his poise.\n\n\u201cYou have outdone yourself, Magdalena,\u201d was all he kept repeating as he examined the eriesium.\n\n\u201cFunny . . .\u201d a voice said behind them. Mags, Trin and Soahm turned back to see Arno and Osane step up to the table. \u201cWe were thinking the same thing.\u201d\n\nTO BE CONTINUED\u2026","de_DE":"Anmerkung des Verfassers: Drifters: Teil Zwei wurde urspr\u00fcnglich in Jump Point 5.2 ver\u00f6ffentlicht. Sie k\u00f6nnen Teil Eins hier lesen.\nVielleicht ein Starliner . . .\n\nMags rollten auf ihre Seite und stellten ein Szenario zusammen: einen neuen Starliner abholen, ihn richtig sch\u00f6n dekorieren und Passagiere von Hotspot zu Hotspot laufen lassen, aber - und das war das Wichtigste - nicht jedem Trottel \u00f6ffnen, der das Ticket bezahlen kann. Behalten Sie es exklusiv. W\u00e4hlen Sie eine Kundschaft aus, die es stilvoll halten w\u00fcrde. Lassen Sie es zum Party-Erlebnis des Universums werden.\n\nObwohl . . . . je mehr sie dar\u00fcber nachdachte. Jeden Tag zu feiern klang, als w\u00fcrde es nach ein paar Monaten ziemlich anstrengend werden.\n\nSie war schon seit Stunden damit besch\u00e4ftigt. Seit sie das Eriesium aus dem Schlie\u00dffach identifiziert hatten, \u00fcberholte die potenzielle Auszahlung immer wieder ihre Gespr\u00e4che. Jetzt war alles ein Witz: die schrecklichen Essenspakete, der beschissene Zustand des Harlequin, alles das. Denn jetzt sahen sie einen Ausweg. Kaum vorstellbar, dass sie Stunden zuvor dar\u00fcber stritten, ob sie Mags eine Kugel verpassen sollten.\n\nSie hatten jedoch Recht. Es war schwer, nicht aufgeregt zu sein. Das seltsame, seltene Element war nicht nur eine \"nette Auszahlung\". Das war lebensver\u00e4ndernd.\n\nSie konnte es selbst nicht glauben. Von einer Jugend, die damit verbrachte, Touristen auf namenlosen Bahnh\u00f6fen Taschen zu klauen und in Frachtschlepper einzubrechen, um zwischen den Paletten und Kisten zu schlafen, bis hin zum Erwachsenwerden, das von Hektik um Hektik, Schramme um Schramme h\u00fcpfte. All das stand kurz vor dem Ende. Sie war tats\u00e4chlich kurz davor, durchzuatmen und sich zu entspannen . . .\n\nAber noch nicht. Sie musste noch einen K\u00e4ufer finden. Jemanden, der ihnen bezahlen konnte, was dieser sch\u00f6ne Erzklumpen wert war. Eine Summe, die all den Verrat, den Mord und die Verzweiflung wegsp\u00fclen w\u00fcrde, die die Besatzung durchgemacht hatte, um an diesen Punkt zu gelangen.\n\nSie schnippte die Sicherung ihrer Pistole mit dem Daumen ab, w\u00e4hrend sie mit der anderen Hand das Messer ergriff, und \u00f6ffnete vorsichtig die Luke zu ihrer Schlafkoje. Die T\u00fcr zischte langsam, w\u00e4hrend sie gleiten konnte. Mags schaute hinaus. Der Flur war leer.\n\nMags gab ihm noch eine Sekunde Zeit, um sicherzugehen. Unter dem anhaltenden Brummen des Kraftwerks konnte sie das intermittierende Klopfen des Motors in der Halle h\u00f6ren, aber sonst nichts. Trin wartete nicht mit einer Schrotflinte.\n\nSie legte das Messer zur\u00fcck in sein Versteck, zog ihre Stiefel an und stie\u00df es auf den Boden. Immer noch kein Hinterhalt. Mags entspannte sich schlie\u00dflich, zuversichtlich in dem Wissen, dass Trin nicht so geduldig war. Sie sicherte die Pistole, steckte sie in ihren Hosenbund und zog einen schweren Pullover an, um sie vor den Blicken zu verstecken.\n\nDie Br\u00fccke des Harlequin war ruhig. Ozzy war allein dort oben und flog das riesige Schiff l\u00e4ssig durch die scheinbar endlose Leere. Er blickte hin\u00fcber, als Mags die Br\u00fccke betrat. Sie konnte nicht lesen, was sich hinter diesem Blick verbarg. Vielleicht gar nichts. Sie hatte noch keinen wirklichen Blick auf den Mann geworfen. Abgesehen von seiner offensichtlichen Loyalit\u00e4t zu seiner Schwester Trin schien er nur das N\u00f6tigste zu sagen. Selbst als sie ihn vom Quarterdeck abholten, sagte er nichts. Nachdem er f\u00fcnf Jahre in diesem H\u00f6llenloch verbracht hatte, ging er einfach auf den Harlequin und setzte sich hin.\n\n\"Irgendetwas Aufregendes\", fragte sie.\n\n\"Nein\", antwortete er und knackte eine Dose Smoltz auf.\n\n\"Brauchen Sie eine Pause?\n\n\"Nein\". Ozzy nahm einen langen Schluck von dem Bier und lehnte sich zur\u00fcck.\n\nEinige Momente der Stille vergingen.\n\n\"Okay, cool. Sagen Sie Bescheid, wenn Sie das tun.\" Mags bewegte sich zu einem der seitlichen Terminals und sackte in den Sitz.\n\nEs war Zeit, sich an die Arbeit zu machen.\n\n\"Die schroffe, freundliche Stimme fragte \u00fcber das Kommando: \"Welche Art von Arbeit machen Sie?\n\n\"Haupts\u00e4chlich kommerzielle Transporte\", antwortete Trevor. Als Kapit\u00e4n von Veronica's Dream hatte er etwa eine halbe Stunde nach dem Ablegen von Port Red Oak oberhalb von Angeli im Croshaw-System die Notrufmeldung von einem ausgefallenen Schlepper erhalten. Auch er hatte verdammtes Gl\u00fcck, denn er war gerade dabei, seinen Quantum zu erh\u00f6hen, als die Verbindung hergestellt wurde. Seitdem hatten sie sich unterhalten.\n\n\"Cool, cool. Sie arbeiten f\u00fcr eine dieser gro\u00dfen Namensfirmen? Covalex oder eine \u00e4hnliche Firma?\"\n\n\"Fr\u00fcher schon, aber ich bin ausgestiegen, sobald ich den Antrag f\u00fcr einen eigenen Bohrturm gestellt hatte\", sah Trevor schlie\u00dflich das schwache Leuchtfeuer auf seinen Scans erscheinen. \"Ich bin es wohl einfach leid, f\u00fcr andere Leute zu arbeiten.\n\n\"Das h\u00f6re ich\", antwortete die Stimme. Sie hatte eine kratzende Qualit\u00e4t, erinnerte Trevor an die Art und Weise, wie sein Gro\u00dfvater nach einem Tag in den Minen sprach. Sie erinnerte ihn an zu Hause. \"Ich war nie der Typ, der Befehle entgegennimmt.\n\n\"Endlich habe ich Ihr Signal aufgefangen. Kurs wird jetzt angepasst. Sollte sehr bald da sein. Wie halten Sie sonst durch?\"\n\n\"Oh, es geht mir gut. Habe viel Luft und Melodien. Alles, was ich brauche.\"\n\n\"Das h\u00f6re ich, Bruder\". Trevor fegte weiter mit seinen Scannern. Es stellte sich heraus, dass der Schlepper, den er suchte, in einem kleinen Asteroidenhaufen abgest\u00fcrzt war. \"Sie haben sich selbst in eine ziemliche Klemme gebracht.\n\n\"Ja, wie meine Mama immer sagte, ich habe nichts, wenn ich nicht ein H\u00e4ndchen daf\u00fcr habe, \u00c4rger zu finden\".\n\n\"Mein Onkel sagte immer dasselbe.\" Trevor brachte sein Schiff herum, um einen ersten Blick auf den behinderten Schlepper zu werfen.\n\n\"Ich glaube es\", sagte die alte Stimme \u00fcber die Comms.\n\nTrevor kr\u00f6nte den letzten Asteroiden, der ihm die Sicht versperrte, er bekam schlie\u00dflich einen Blick auf . . .\n\nNichts.\n\nEine L\u00fccke zwischen mehreren lautlos herabst\u00fcrzenden Steinen. Etwas Kleines schwebte da drau\u00dfen und blinkte, aber das war es auch schon. Kein Schiff.\n\nNichts.\n\nSein Terminal klemmte und machte ihn angenehm darauf aufmerksam, dass sich die hintere Luftschleuse ge\u00f6ffnet hatte. Trevor griff hin\u00fcber, um zu sehen, ob es sich um einen Fehler handelte, aber es sah aus, als h\u00e4tte jemand eine Umgehung durchgef\u00fchrt. Er sah nicht, wie die eintreffende Rakete von einem der Asteroidenhaufen vor ihm gestartet wurde, bevor sie durch die Haube von Veronicas Traum schlug. Die Explosion verbrannte blitzschnell das gesamte Cockpit. Das Schiff bewegte sich kaum.\n\nDer blinde Jack Sticha kratzte sich mit einer fehlerhaften kybernetischen Hand durch seinen zerfetzten Bart am Kinn, als er beobachtete, wie der besch\u00e4digte Schlepper langsam anfing, sich nach unten zu neigen.\n\n\"Alles klar S\u00fcdstaatler. An die Arbeit\".\n\nDer Rest der S\u00fcdtitanen tauchte einer nach dem anderen aus ihren Verstecken auf. Schlangen von leuchtenden Farben durchzogen ihre H\u00fcllen mit rituellen Zeichen. Der Bleibrecher bewegte sich innerhalb des Wracks, w\u00e4hrend zwei weitere aus Luftschleusen in Richtung des besch\u00e4digten Schiffes sprangen, um zu versuchen, es wieder flugf\u00e4hig zu machen.\n\nBlind Jack lehnte sich zur\u00fcck und riss eine Packung Ma's Chicken Patty auf, w\u00e4hrend seine Mannschaft an die Arbeit ging.\n\nDr. Honan Yao wachte mit dem Gesicht nach unten auf einem Gitterrost auf. Er hatte sich seltsamerweise daran gew\u00f6hnt, an seltsamen Orten aufzuwachen, aber es gab immer diesen ersten Schock. Es f\u00fchlte sich an wie der Moment, in dem man anf\u00e4ngt zu fallen, ein Ruck durch den K\u00f6rper geht, als ob er sich aufrichten wollte. Dann passierten zwei Dinge: Die Realit\u00e4t setzte ein, zusammen mit dem dumpfen Schmerz in Ihren Adern nach einem langen Hochgef\u00fchl. Seine Professoren an der medizinischen Fakult\u00e4t sagten, es sei das WiDoW, das die Auskleidung der Venen verbrennt und zu den schwarzen Flecken beitr\u00e4gt, die den K\u00f6rper verf\u00e4rben. Er blickte nach unten; die tintenschwarzen Linien waren bis zu seinem Handgelenk hinaufgezogen.\n\nYao rollte sich auf den R\u00fccken und sah sich um. Als seine Augen sich konzentrierten und sein Kopf sich setzte, konnte er sehen, dass er sich im Maschinenraum des Harlequin befand, so dass es alles in allem viel schlimmer h\u00e4tte sein k\u00f6nnen. Da war das eine Mal, als er in der Luftschleuse aufwachte . . .\n\nEin Schraubenschl\u00fcssel klapperte auf den Boden. Er schaute hin\u00fcber. Trin arbeitete an dem Rohrsystem. Ihr Mobi pulsierte zur Melodie des Liedes, das sie in ihre Kopfh\u00f6rer pumpt.\n\nYao schleppte sich auf die Beine. Sein Kopf schwamm ein wenig, w\u00e4hrend er sich an den H\u00f6henunterschied gew\u00f6hnte, aber er hielt das Gleichgewicht. Nichts von all diesen Dingen \u00fcberraschte ihn. Obwohl es heute Morgen etwas schlimmer war; sein Kopf etwas schwerer, der Nebel in seinem Gehirn etwas dichter ... im Laufe des letzten Jahres war dies mehr oder weniger zu einem Standardritual des Aufwachens geworden.\n\nEr schlurfte langsam durch das Schiff. Kel war im Frachtraum und studierte etwas, das aussah wie ein Fels . . .\n\nDas hat eine Erinnerung wachger\u00fcttelt. Yao wurde langsamer, als er versuchte, die Spinnweben seiner Erinnerungen zu durchforsten. Ja . . . es war schon fr\u00fcher etwas passiert. Etwas Gro\u00dfes . . .\n\nDas w\u00fcrde erkl\u00e4ren, warum er etwas tr\u00e4ger war. Sie hatten etwas gefeiert.\n\n\"Hallo, Herr Doktor!\" sagte Kel fr\u00f6hlich. \"Unglaublich, ja? Es ist sehr aufregend, Arzt zu sein\".\n\nYao nickte und machte sich auf den Weg zur Br\u00fccke. Als er sich auf den Weg zu seinem Schlafplatz machte, um sich umzuziehen und schnell zu duschen, kehrten die Erinnerungen an das Eriesium und die anschlie\u00dfende Party in sein Bewusstsein zur\u00fcck. Etwa nach der H\u00e4lfte der Dusche erinnerte sich Yao an das, was beinahe geschehen w\u00e4re, bevor man das Wrack fand.\n\nEr fand Mags auf der Br\u00fccke, verschanzt mit einem Haufen Gesch\u00e4ftsseiten auf ihrem Terminal, w\u00e4hrend Ozzy auf dem Stock schlief.\n\n\"Hey Mags.\"\n\n\"Doc . . . .\" sagte sie, ohne aufzuschauen, und klickte sich durch eine weitere Seite.\n\n\"Haben Sie Gl\u00fcck bei der Suche nach einem K\u00e4ufer?\n\n\"Ich finde so gut wie gar nichts\". Sie setzte sich zur\u00fcck auf ihren Sitz und rieb sich die Augen. \"Niemand scheint etwas zu wissen. Jedes Bergbauunternehmen, das ich gefunden habe, f\u00fchrt es nicht einmal als etwas auf, das sie kaufen werden. TDD hat es nicht einmal auf ihren Rohstofflisten. Es ist, als ob das Zeug nicht einmal existiert.\"\n\nYao nickte und schaute aus dem Fenster ins Leere, w\u00e4hrend er nach den W\u00f6rtern suchte.\n\n\"Es tut mir leid.\n\n\"Wor\u00fcber?\n\n\"Die ganze Trin-Sache. Ich h\u00e4tte dabei sein sollen.\"\n\n\"Nun, wenn Sie jemanden kennen, mit dem ich \u00fcber Eriesium sprechen k\u00f6nnte, w\u00fcrde das alles wieder gutmachen. Mags kicherte und ging zur\u00fcck, um das Spektrum zu durchk\u00e4mmen.\n\nYao hielt einen Moment inne.\n\n\"Eigentlich k\u00f6nnte ich das.\"\n\n\"Warten Sie, wirklich?\"\n\n\"Ozzy! rief Yao und r\u00fcttelte Ozzy von seinem Mittagsschlaf auf. \"K\u00f6nnen Sie uns nach Kallis bringen?\"\n\nDer Willoughby-Wohnungsaustausch war bei den Bergarbeitern, die den Daedulus-Cluster in Croshaw knackten, \u00e4u\u00dferst beliebt gewesen. Das ist jetzt \u00fcber hundertf\u00fcnfzig Jahre her. Seit der HEX im Jahr 2863 geschlossen wurde, verfiel die Station langsam. Langj\u00e4hrige Bewohner, die nicht gehen konnten oder wollten, starben schlie\u00dflich aus, und die Station verstummte, ein weiterer Schiffsrumpf, der in die schwarzen Zahlen trieb.\n\nDas war, bis die S\u00fcdtitanen einzogen. Blind Jack konnte sein Gl\u00fcck nicht fassen, eine perfekt gute Station zu finden, die nur noch aktualisierte Teile brauchte, um wieder online zu gehen ... oder zumindest funktionsf\u00e4hig zu sein. Es schien ein ebenso guter Ort wie jeder andere zu sein, um die Packung zu verstauen. Sie hatten es auch geschickt repariert. Sie setzten Totmannschalter ein, um automatisch den Strom, die Schwerkraft und die Luftschilde abzuschalten, wenn jemand anderes als die Titanen versuchte, die Kontrolle zu \u00fcbernehmen. Nach Jahren in Bewegung musste er zugeben, dass es sch\u00f6n war, einen Ort zu finden, den er sein Zuhause nennen konnte.\n\nDer blinde Jack Sticha und der Rest der S\u00fcdtitanen setzten sich auf den verschiedenen Landepl\u00e4tzen ab und brachten ihre Schiffe schnell au\u00dfer Sichtweite. Es war am besten, den Anschein zu wahren, dass der Ort verlassen war. Sie knallten das Wrack des Schleppers auf eine der gr\u00f6\u00dferen Plattformen. Skivner und Leedy waren nicht in der Lage, die Ladeliste von der Explosion zu bergen, unternahmen aber einen kurzen Check durch den Laderaum. Das Ding war bis an die Kiemen gepackt. Das war das Tolle an Indie-Operators, sie mussten jeden Durchgang z\u00e4hlen lassen. Sicherlich hatten sie sich mehr gewehrt, aber Jack machte es nichts aus, ein bisschen Schrott f\u00fcr seine Belohnungen zu bekommen.\n\nAuch das war nur die H\u00e4lfte der Beute. Sobald sie die Ware entladen hatten, machten sie das Schiff kaputt. Blind Jack w\u00fchlte sich durch die Teile, behielt einen Teil zum Unterhalt der eigenen Flotte und verkaufte den Rest. Alles in allem konnten sie einen netten kleinen Schnitt machen.\n\nBlind Jack schaltete seine Anzuglichter an, als er auf die Luftschleuse des HEX zuging. Alle Zeitmesser waren ausgefallen, so dass er die Station wieder mit Strom versorgen musste. Ungef\u00e4hr nach der H\u00e4lfte des Startvorgangs . . .\n\n\"Blind Jack Sticha\" kam \u00fcber die allgemeinen Kommunikationen.\n\nJack machte eine kurze Pause und setzte dann den Startvorgang fort. Die versteckten Kraftwerke tuckerten wach. Die Lichter in der Luftschleuse erwachten zum Leben und die Systeme gingen in Betrieb. Sein Knie schmerzte, als er wieder auf die Beine kam.\n\nAls sich die Luftschleuse drehte, zog er seine Pistole, eine speziell angefertigte Coda-Pistole mit Kompensatoren, und klappte die Sicherung ab. Wer ihn gerufen hatte, musste in der N\u00e4he sein. Leedy joggte auf, die Waffe bereit. Die anderen S\u00fcdstaatler hatten es auch geh\u00f6rt.\n\n\"Das ist nicht n\u00f6tig\", sagte die Stimme. \"Wir sind hier, um zu reden.\"\n\nJack sah zu den Sicherheitskameras in der Luftschleuse auf. Sie m\u00fcssen sich im System befinden. Jack steckte die Pistole ins Holster und forderte Leedy auf, das Gewehr zu werfen.\n\nDie Luftschleuse zischte auf. Musik hallte durch die Hallen. Blind Jack zog seinen Helm ab und warf ihn auf den Boden.\n\n\"Augen auf, Junge\", murmelte er. Er riss seine Handschuhe aus und warf sie neben den Helm. \"Wenn etwas zur Seite geht, streichst du die W\u00e4nde, h\u00f6rst du?\"\n\nSie gingen auf den Wohnbereich zu, wo ihre beiden G\u00e4ste warteten. Sie waren menschlich. Einer m\u00e4nnlich. Eine weibliche Person. Wirklich sch\u00f6ne Fluganz\u00fcge. Der Mann war sichtbar bewaffnet. Die Frau war nicht bewaffnet, sah aber definitiv nicht nerv\u00f6s aus.\n\nBlind Jack ging beil\u00e4ufig zu einem ihrer zur K\u00fchlbox umgebauten Frachtcontainer hin\u00fcber und holte eine Dose Smoltz heraus. Er bot sie dem Duo an.\n\n\"Trinken?\n\nDie Frau hat sich nicht bewegt. Der Mann l\u00e4chelte und sch\u00fcttelte den Kopf. Blind Jack zuckte die Achseln, knallte die Dose auf und sch\u00fcttelte das Ganze in einem lang anhaltenden Drink zu Boden. Er zerkn\u00fcllte die Dose und schleuderte sie in die Dunkelheit.\n\n\"Also, wer zum Teufel sind Sie?\"\n\n\"Wir sind Zuh\u00f6rer, wirklich. Unser Arbeitgeber schickt uns, um Fragen zu stellen und zuzuh\u00f6ren. Dann werden wir beauftragt, entsprechend zu handeln.\"\n\n\"Uh huh\", sagte Blind Jack mit einem Blick zu Leedy.\n\n\"Aber wir sind keine Kopfgeldj\u00e4ger oder Advocacy, wenn es das ist, wor\u00fcber Sie sich Sorgen machen. Betrachten Sie uns eher als Berufskollegen\".\n\n\"Also, was wollen Sie?\"\n\n\"Nicht viel. Wir haben zwei Fragen an Sie. Die zweite ist wesentlich schwieriger als die erste, aber beide m\u00fcssen zu unserer Zufriedenheit beantwortet werden oder . . .\", zuckte der Mann mit den Achseln. \"Wir werden entsprechend handeln.\"\n\nBlind Jack brach in Gel\u00e4chter aus. Sein Blasebalg hallte in der verlassenen Station wider. Der Mann l\u00e4chelte. Die Frau bewegte sich nicht. Das Lachen verstummte schlie\u00dflich.\n\n\"Sie gehen in unseren Bau und drohen uns?\" Blind Jack schnappte sich eine weitere Dose und lie\u00df sie fallen. \"Das ist ein schneller Weg zu einem kurzen Leben, mein Freund\".\n\n\"Ich tue nichts f\u00fcr mich selbst\", stand der Mann auf und ging zu Leedy hin\u00fcber. Der d\u00fcrre, t\u00e4towierte Gesetzlose stand aufrecht und begegnete dem Blick des Mannes ohne mit der Wimper zu zucken. \"Wie ich bereits erw\u00e4hnte, sind wir Repr\u00e4sentanten. Alles, was Sie wissen m\u00fcssen, ist, dass im Grunde genommen Damien Martel von den Four Points die Fragen stellt\".\n\nDer blinde Jack Sticha hustete. Leedy schaute zu seinem Chef hin\u00fcber, dessen Verhalten sich v\u00f6llig ver\u00e4ndert hatte.\n\nDie Four Points waren eines dieser Syndikate, die nie zu sterben schienen. Sie haben die kriminelle Hierarchie nie dominiert, aber irgendwie \u00fcber Jahrzehnte durchgehalten und einen ebenso berechnenden wie skrupellosen Ruf aufrecht erhalten. Die F\u00fchrung repr\u00e4sentierte jeweils einen Teil des Territoriums und bildete einen Viererrat, der ihren Fu\u00dfsoldaten die Befehle diktierte. Damien Martel war einer dieser Punkte.\n\n\"Ich sehe, ich brauche keine weitere Erkl\u00e4rung\", sagte der Mann nach einem Blick in Blind Jacks Gesicht. \"Gut\", sagte er.\n\nDer Mann ging zu Jack hin\u00fcber und studierte ihn einen Moment lang.\n\n\"Waren Sie f\u00fcr den Angriff auf das Schiff von Herrn Martel verantwortlich?\"\n\n\"Hm?\n\n\"M\u00f6chten Sie, dass ich die Frage wiederhole?\n\n\"Was? Nein\". Blind Jack blickte die Frau an. Sie war in Leedys toten Winkel eingekreist. \"Ich habe nichts von einem Angriff geh\u00f6rt.\"\n\n\"L\u00fcgen Sie mich an?\" sagte der Mann, ohne jemals seinen Blick zu brechen. Seine Stimme war gleichm\u00e4\u00dfig, ohne jeglichen Tonfall.\n\n\"Verdammt nein\", schaute Blind Jack sofort zur\u00fcck. \"Meine Leute sind alle hier. Alle sind vollz\u00e4hlig und niemand w\u00fcrde einen solchen Schritt machen, ohne dass ich davon w\u00fcsste.\n\nDer Mann beobachtete Jack f\u00fcr einige Augenblicke. Er verarbeitete ihn. Endlich:\n\n\"Ihr Titanen habt eine interessante Reihe von T\u00e4towierungen\", sagte der Mann, als er sein Mobi erhob und begann, die Speisekarten durchzugehen. \"Ich selbst habe den Reiz nie ganz verstanden, aber mehr noch, ich konnte mich nie einfach auf ein Design festlegen, mit dem ich den Rest meines Lebens gut leben konnte.\n\nDer Mann fand ein Bild und hielt es hoch, damit Jack es sehen konnte. Es handelte sich um eine \u00dcberwachungsaufnahme.\n\n\"Zweite Frage\", wies er auf den \u00dcberwachungsgriff hin. Irgendein Schrottplatz, auf dem Blind Jack in der Vergangenheit Schrott abgeladen hatte. Wardlow Rec oder so \u00e4hnlich. Der Mann deutete auf eine Frau im Bild; es sah so aus, als ob sie mit Titan-Tinte beklebt war. \"Wissen Sie, wer das ist?\"\n\nBlind Jack brauchte eine Sekunde, um sie zu erkennen.\n\n\"Ich werde verdammt sein\", sagte er mit einem liebevollen L\u00e4cheln. \"Ich hei\u00dfe Trin Liska. Es ist ein Zauber, seit wir mit ihr gelaufen sind. Was hat sie getan?\"\n\n\"Etwas von Wert genommen\".\n\nBlind Jack nickte und legte diesen kleinen Leckerbissen f\u00fcr zuk\u00fcnftige Beratungen ab. Er nahm einen weiteren Drink aus seiner Dose.\n\n\"Das Letzte, was ich h\u00f6rte, war, dass sie sich mit Reza Malcolms Schiff verbunden hatte. Ein schreckliches St\u00fcck Schei\u00dfe namens Harlequin\".\n\n\"Ich will dieses Schiff\".\n\nBlind Jack nahm sich Zeit, dar\u00fcber nachzudenken. Er ging an dem Mann vorbei und setzte sich in seinen kaputten Ledersessel.\n\n\"Sicher, ich kann helfen\", sagte er mit einem zufriedenen Grinsen.\n\nDrei\u00dfig Minuten sp\u00e4ter gingen die beiden Auftragskiller des Syndikats ohne Zwischenfall und voll beladen mit den zahlreichen Reg-Tags des Harlequin und allem, was die S\u00fcdstaatler \u00fcber Trin wussten.\n\nBlind Jack war auf halbem Wege durch den Fall Liberty Lake, sa\u00df ruhig da und summte vor sich hin. Der Rest der Titanen sah ihrem Chef ratlos zu. Leedy ergriff schlie\u00dflich das Wort.\n\n\"Was zum Teufel, Jack?\"\n\n\"Sag deine Meinung, Leedy\".\n\n\"Trin war einer von uns.\"\n\n\"War, Kind\". Blind Jack setzte sich wieder auf seinen Platz und lie\u00df eine weitere Dose fallen. \"Sie ging weg. Ich habe Ihnen bereits gesagt, dass wir keine Loyalit\u00e4t f\u00fcr Dr\u00fcckeberger haben und au\u00dferdem verpassen Sie das Gesamtbild.\n\n\"Was ist das?\n\n\"Wenn sie die Aufmerksamkeit der Four Points bekam\", breitete sich ein Grinsen hinter Blind Jacks Bart aus, \"dann reden wir \u00fcber das gro\u00dfe Geld\".\n\nDie Titanen sahen sich gegenseitig an. Die Aussicht auf eine Auszahlung entfachte das vertraute Feuer hinter ihren Augen.\n\n\"Zieht eure Schiffe aus und reist mit leichtem Gep\u00e4ck\", sagte Blind Jack, als er die n\u00e4chste Dose zuschlug. \"Gehen wir uns bezahlen lassen.\"\n\nDie Harlequin verlie\u00df den Absprungpunkt Bremen-Kallis in der N\u00e4he einer Gruppe von Frachtversorgungsschiffen, die auf dem Weg aus dem System waren. K\u00fcrzlich installierte CommRelays schwebten nun in der N\u00e4he des Absprungpunktes und die Armeestation wurde mit dem Schutz dieses sich entwickelnden Systems beauftragt.\n\nDie gesamte Besatzung hatte sich auf der Br\u00fccke des Schiffes versammelt. Mags und Trin waren ganz auf den Armeest\u00fctzpunkt konzentriert und suchten nach Anzeichen daf\u00fcr, dass das Milit\u00e4r ihnen die gleiche Aufmerksamkeit schenkte. Ozzy flog mit seiner \u00fcblichen m\u00fcrrischen Gleichg\u00fcltigkeit. Yaos Hand zitterte, als er an einem Nagel kaute. F\u00fcr die anderen schien es wie das \u00fcbliche Nebenprodukt, wenn man eine so lange Strecke ohne eine Art chemisches Gleichgewicht zur\u00fccklegt. Sie wussten nicht, dass es etwas anderes war.\n\nKel war der einzige, der auf die Ansicht achtete. Drau\u00dfen an der Vorderseite des Schiffes war eine umwerfend sch\u00f6ne Darstellung von Zerst\u00f6rung und Sch\u00f6pfung. Kallis war die eigentliche Definition eines sich entwickelnden Systems. Es wurde entdeckt, w\u00e4hrend sich die Planetenk\u00f6rper noch in der Entstehung befanden, und war zu einem Knotenpunkt f\u00fcr Astronomen und Wissenschaftler geworden, die sich nach dieser einzigartigen Gelegenheit sehnten, ein Sonnensystem in seinen Anf\u00e4ngen zu beobachten. Das System hatte sogar einen beachtlichen Anteil an Philosophen und Spiritualisten angezogen, die gekommen waren, um Zeugen zu werden und \u00fcber alle m\u00f6glichen Fragen der Existenz nachzudenken.\n\n\"H\u00fcbsch . . . .\" war alles, was Kel auftreiben konnte.\n\n\"Sind Sie sich da wirklich sicher, Doc? fragte Mags, ihre Augen noch immer auf die vorbeifahrende Milit\u00e4rstation gerichtet.\n\n\"Ja . . . . Ich denke schon\", antwortete Yao. Er bemerkte, dass er an seinen N\u00e4geln kaute und hielt sich selbst an. \"Nein, wir sollten gut sein.\"\n\n\"Dieser Typ ist also ein Arzt?\" fragte Trin, w\u00e4hrend sie auf etwas D\u00f6rrfleisch kaute.\n\n\"Ein Kumpel von mir hat Medizin studiert, bis er sein Studium abgebrochen und sich der Physik und Geologie zugewandt hat. Aber er ist cool\".\n\n\"Uh huh\", antwortete Trin und nahm einen weiteren Bissen.\n\nYao machte sich auf den Weg zu einem der St\u00fchle und brachte den Commlink zur Sprache. Er isolierte die OB-Station Gryphon und schickte ein Kommando. Es dauerte einige Augenblicke, bis ein tr\u00e4nen\u00fcberstr\u00f6mter Administrator antwortete.\n\n\"Hauptknotenpunkt\".\n\n\"Ja, hallo, Lev Dennis, bitte-\"\n\nDer Administrator hatte ihn bereits abgeschnitten und die Verbindung \u00fcbertragen. Nach einigen Sekunden des Wartens, in denen ihn der Rest der Harlequin-Crew anstarrte, nahm jemand Neues auf. Lev antwortete auf das Kommando, ohne wirklich hinzusehen. Aufgrund des schnellen Abh\u00f6rens war er immer noch deutlich mehr daran interessiert, etwas zu tippen.\n\n\"Ja?\"\n\n\"Was ist los, Mann? Es ist Honan\".\n\nLev h\u00f6rte auf zu tippen und drehte sich um, um auf die Komm zu schauen. Sein Gesicht wurde heller.\n\n\"Heilige Schei\u00dfe\", rieb er sich die Augen und schaute genauer hin. \"Was zum Teufel machst du hier?\"\n\n\"Brauchte eigentlich ein wenig von Ihrem Fachwissen\".\n\n\"Ja, genau.\"\n\nYao zuckte die Schultern und nickte.\n\n\"Wirklich? Lev klang wirklich schockiert. \"Oh, verdammt, ja, okay. Kommen Sie vorbei. Ich besorge einen Block.\"\n\nZwanzig Minuten sp\u00e4ter setzte sich der Harlequin auf der Beobachtungsstation ab. Die T\u00fcr der Landebucht \u00f6ffnete sich, als Lev Dennis in die Bucht eindrang.\n\n\"Yaooooooo-\" Beim Anblick des Rests der Harlequin-Crew blieb er kurz stehen. Lev war etwa so alt wie Yao, aber da er in der N\u00e4he von der Zivilisation isoliert lebte, hatte er offensichtlich nicht viel f\u00fcr seine K\u00f6rperpflege getan. Er ging mit dem R\u00fccken zur T\u00fcr.\n\n\"Was ist los, Mann? Yao trat schnell nach vorne und sch\u00fcttelte seine Hand. Lev blieb auf halber Strecke stehen. Yao blickte nach unten und sah die WiDoW-Markierungen unter seinem \u00c4rmel hervorblitzen.\n\n\"Was machst du da, Mann? sagte Lev im Fl\u00fcsterton. \"Das sieht wirklich schlecht aus.\"\n\n\"Nein, ist schon gut, Mann.\"\n\n\"Schei\u00dfe sieht nicht gut aus\".\n\n\"Machen Sie sich nichts draus\", sagte Yao und l\u00e4chelte so viel wie m\u00f6glich, aber ihm wurde klar, wie sehr er sich wahrscheinlich seit dem letzten Mal, als er seinen Freund sah, ver\u00e4ndert hatte. Es war so viel passiert ... aber dar\u00fcber wollte er jetzt nicht mehr nachdenken. \"Kommen Sie, lernen Sie meine Crew kennen.\"\n\nLev zwang ein L\u00e4cheln auf und schaute an Yao vorbei. Obwohl Trin und Ozzy (sichtbar) nicht bewaffnet waren, waren sie f\u00fcr den Wissenschaftler mehr als einsch\u00fcchternd. Kel kam schnell n\u00e4her.\n\n\"Hallo, Lev Dennis. Es war mir ein Vergn\u00fcgen, Sie kennenzulernen. I Kel.\" Er klopfte Lev auf die Stirn und umarmte ihn dann. \"Sch\u00f6ner Bahnhof hier. Solide Konstruktion\".\n\n\"Hey . . .\" antwortete Lev sch\u00fcchtern. Yao merkte, dass Lev nerv\u00f6s wurde, also hielt er den Ball am Rollen.\n\n\"Haben Sie einen privaten Ort, wo wir reden k\u00f6nnen? Er zog Lev in Richtung der Hallen und brachte sie zum Laufen. Lev schien sich zu beruhigen, je weiter sie kamen, und begann bald, die verschiedenen Forschungsunternehmen und gemeinn\u00fctzigen Organisationen zu erkl\u00e4ren, die in den Jahren, in denen er dort gewesen war, um verschiedene Facetten des Anbausystems zu studieren, gekommen und gegangen waren.\n\nAls sie in seinem Labor ankamen, schien er mit der Gruppe entspannt zu sein und stellte sogar einige Fragen von Trin zu den Sicherheitsprotokollen der Station. Im Inneren befanden sich mehrere Scan-Reihen, die um ein massives, vom Boden bis zur Decke reichendes Fenster herum positioniert waren und den Wirbel von Flammen und Tr\u00fcmmern drau\u00dfen \u00fcbersahen.\n\n\"Also, weshalb wollten Sie mich sehen?\" sagte Lev schlie\u00dflich.\n\nYao nickte Mags zu, der ihre Schlie\u00dfkassette trug. Sie stellte sie auf einen Tisch und \u00f6ffnete sie, wobei sie den massiven Eriesiumbrocken darin zum Vorschein brachte.\n\nLev warf einen Blick auf Yao, bevor er in den Kasten schaute. Zun\u00e4chst bemerkte er nicht wirklich etwas Besonderes. Als er versuchte, n\u00e4her heranzukommen, und das Licht die violetten Schimmer direkt unter der Oberfl\u00e4che des Erzes einfing, hielt er inne und schaute ungl\u00e4ubig in die Gesichter um ihn herum.\n\n\"Ist das . . . .\"\n\nYao hat gegrinst. Lev machte einen Schritt in Richtung Eriesium.\n\n\"Darf ich?\n\n\"Deshalb sind wir hier, Mann\".\n\nLev schnappte sich aufgeregt einige Handschuhe und hob das Erz auf. Er schob es zwischen den H\u00e4nden, testete sein Gewicht und warf dann einen genaueren Blick darauf.\n\n\"Wo haben Sie das gefunden?\", fragte er und lie\u00df das kostbare Mineral nie aus den Augen.\n\n\"Das ist eine lange Geschichte\", antwortete Mags, w\u00e4hrend sie ihm dabei zusah, wie er sie studierte. \"Aber es ist eriesium, nicht wahr?\n\n\"Ja, ich glaube schon\", stellte Lev das Erz unter eine Tischlampe, um es n\u00e4her zu untersuchen. \"Man darf nicht vergessen, dass sie in der UEE nur vier oder f\u00fcnf Mal Eriesium gefunden haben. Jemals. Und ich glaube nicht, dass einer von ihnen so gro\u00df war wie dieser. Es ist also nicht so, als g\u00e4be es eine F\u00fclle von Wissen \u00fcber das Zeug.\n\n\"Kennen Sie jemanden, der es kaufen w\u00fcrde?\" Trin schlug von hinten ein, offensichtlich gelangweilt. Yao warf ihr einen Blick zu. Sie zuckte die Achseln und nahm eine kleine Statue aus einem Regal. Lev lie\u00df sich auf einen Hocker in der N\u00e4he fallen.\n\n\"Reichlich, aber sie werden es nicht anfassen. Die Regierung hat jede Art von offenem Markt unterdr\u00fcckend reguliert. Bis sie mehr dar\u00fcber wissen, m\u00fcssen alle Entdeckungen und Verk\u00e4ufe gemeldet werden. Sie m\u00fcssen angeben, wo Sie es gefunden haben, wie es gewonnen wurde und Grabungsgenehmigungen vorlegen. Es ist also nicht so einfach, wie in eine TDD zu gehen und etwas Erz abzuladen\".\n\n\"Warten Sie eine Sekunde\". Trin warf die Statue zur\u00fcck auf das Regal und begann, den Raum in Richtung Lev zu durchqueren: \"Sie wollen mir sagen, dass wir das wertvollste Mineral im Universum haben und es nicht verkaufen k\u00f6nnen?\n\n\"\u00c4hm . . . . ja?\" sagte Lev, als er vor Trin zur\u00fcckschreckte. Sie blieb direkt vor ihm stehen und starrte ihn an, bevor sie Mags b\u00f6se anstarrte und wegging. \"Ich meine, vielleicht k\u00f6nnen Sie es an einige Xi'an verkaufen. Die w\u00fcrden es wahrscheinlich kaufen, aber das w\u00e4re Verrat . . .\"\n\n\"Was haben Sie gesagt?\" Die Mags haben sich verbessert.\n\n\"Das w\u00e4re Hochverrat?\"\n\n\"Davor\".\n\n\"Anscheinend ist Eriesium im Xi'an-Reich etwas h\u00e4ufiger anzutreffen. Sie haben ein bisschen mehr damit gearbeitet\".\n\nMags wandten sich an die Gruppe.\n\n\"Ich glaube, ich kenne einen K\u00e4ufer\".\n\nDie Suche nach dem Harlequin ging ins Leere. Seit Tagen hatte Arno Maas seinen ganzen Katalog von Spitzeln, korrupten Zollbeamten, lokalen Miliz-Pr\u00fcgeleien und allgemeinen Drecks\u00e4cken mit den Reg-Tags \u00fcberschwemmt, aber bisher nichts. Blind Jack war offen und umfassend mit dem umgegangen, was er \u00fcber Trin Liska wusste, aber Arno blieb offen f\u00fcr die M\u00f6glichkeit, dass der alte Gesetzlose einige wichtige Fakten zur\u00fcckhalten w\u00fcrde, um die Suche zu behindern.\n\nEr schaltete sein Terminal ab und machte sich auf den Weg zum Cockpit, wo Osane flog.\n\n\"Hatten Sie Gl\u00fcck?\" fragte er, als er sich n\u00e4herte.\n\n\"Warten auf Nachricht von Masterson. Er durchsucht die Advocacy-Archive nach bekannten Komplizen dieses Malcolm\".\n\nArno sa\u00df f\u00fcr einige Augenblicke still da.\n\n\"Ich frage mich, ob wir ein oder zwei Titanen h\u00e4tten t\u00f6ten sollen. Sie wissen schon, um unseren Standpunkt zu unterstreichen\".\n\n\"Blind Jack's alte Schule\". Osane stellte das Schiff auf Autopilot und drehte sich zu ihm um. \"Es h\u00e4tte uns verzweifelt aussehen lassen, wenn wir ihn eingesch\u00fcchtert h\u00e4tten.\n\nEine eingehende Kommunikation l\u00e4utete auf ihren beiden Terminals. Arno aktivierte sofort die Verschl\u00fcsselungsprotokolle und antwortete darauf.\n\n\"Herr Martel\".\n\nEs dauerte einen Moment, bis das Bild erschien. Ein Mann in den sp\u00e4ten F\u00fcnfzigern mit stark eckigen Z\u00fcgen flackerte herein. Bei der Verschl\u00fcsselung der Kommunikation gab es einige Synchronisierungsprobleme, so dass sein Gesicht manchmal sprang, um seine Worte einzuholen. Damien Martel schaute mit v\u00f6llig emotionslosen Augen in die Kommunikation.\n\n\"Status\". Ein Synchronisations-Sprung lie\u00df es so aussehen, als h\u00e4tten sich seine Lippen nicht einmal bewegt.\n\n\"Wir haben alle Beweise f\u00fcr das Echo-Rufen von diesem Schrottplatz entfernt und das Ding so inszeniert, dass es wie Sklavenh\u00e4ndler aussieht, also ist das erledigt. Wir haben nur einen Namen und ein Schiff daf\u00fcr bekommen, wer den Gegenstand jetzt hat, aber wir glauben, dass die Titanen ihre Antworten bearbeitet haben k\u00f6nnten. Arno \u00fcberpr\u00fcfte sein mobi doppelt, um zu sehen, ob er irgendwelche eingehenden Nachrichten erhalten hatte. \"Wir haben das Wort herausgegeben und warten auf eine Antwort.\n\nMartel starrte sie schweigend an, sein Gesichtsausdruck undurchschaubar.\n\n\"Wir haben ein Four-Points-Grundst\u00fcck im Wert von einem Verm\u00f6gen auf dem Drift und Sie warten darauf, dass man Sie zur\u00fcckruft?\n\nArno warf einen Blick auf Osane.\n\n\"Ich wei\u00df nicht, was...\"\n\n\"Sie treten jede T\u00fcr ein, die Sie eintreten m\u00fcssen. St\u00e4dte dem Erdboden gleichmachen. Das ist mir egal. Finden Sie es, oder wir sind alle tot\".\n\nMartel hat abgebrochen.\n\nArno und Osane tauschten einen Blick aus. Sie drehte ihren Sitz zur\u00fcck und schaltete das Schiff vom Autopiloten ab.\n\n\"Sch\u00e4tze, wir h\u00e4tten ein paar Titanen t\u00f6ten sollen\".\n\nEine Komm-Nachricht, die an Arnos mobiGlas angeheftet ist. Er blickte es an und atmete aus.\n\n\"Nun, das macht Spa\u00df. . .\u201d\n\nDer Zugang zum Absprungpunkt Bremen-Nyx dauerte ewig. Die Bremer Miliz, die an ihren besten Tagen paranoid war, muss heute die doppelte Dosis ihrer Paranoia-Pille genommen haben. Mags hatten einen alten Reg-Tag geschickt, den sie eine Zeit lang nicht benutzt hatten und der f\u00fcr \"saubere Reisen\" reserviert war.\n\nDas Grillen durch die Milizen machte den angespannten Flug durch den gesetzlosen Raum beinahe noch angenehmer. Mags steuerte den Harlequin, w\u00e4hrend Ozzy in der P52 als Eskorte fuhr. Sie passierten das Wrack einer H\u00fclle. Mags konnte nicht sagen, um welches Modell es sich handelte, das Ding wurde in hunderte von Teilen gesprengt. Eine Gruppe von Gesetzlosen, vermutlich diejenigen, die die Sprengung vornahmen, durchw\u00fchlte das Ger\u00f6ll. Einer von ihnen, ein schwer bewaffneter Kampfhubschrauber, drehte sich um, um den Harlequin passieren zu sehen.\n\nMags war sich ziemlich sicher, dass ein privates Gespr\u00e4ch stattfand, bei dem er abw\u00e4gte, ob sie an diesem Tag genug Fracht gestohlen hatten oder ob es noch Platz f\u00fcr ein wenig mehr gab.\n\nSie hielt die Geschwindigkeit gleichm\u00e4\u00dfig, beschleunigte oder verlangsamte nicht, sondern flog einfach weiter, vorbei und steuerte weiter auf den Glaciem-Ring und ihr Ziel zu: Levski.\n\nMags hatte als Kind einige Zeit dort verbracht. Sie hatte sich mit Frank McGarr's Crew zusammengetan: Spekulationsbetrug, kleine Betr\u00fcgereien und gelegentliche Raub\u00fcberf\u00e4lle. Sie hatten sich aus dem \"Burnout-Kollektiv\" (wie Frank die Bewohner von Levski gern nannte) herausgerissen, einfach weil sie die Leute unter der Schirmherrschaft der Achtung ihrer Privatsph\u00e4re in Ruhe lie\u00dfen. F\u00fcr eine Bande von L\u00fcgnern und Dieben war das perfekt.\n\nDer Rest des Fluges nach Levski verlief ohne Zwischenf\u00e4lle. Ozzy dockte noch einmal an den Harlequin an, bevor sie den Endanflug machten. Als sie absetzten, hatte sich der Rest der Gruppe bereits im Lastenaufzug versammelt. Trin wartete mit dem Fu\u00df auf dem Schlie\u00dffach mit dem Eriesium. Yao lehnte an der Wand und kaute geistesabwesend wieder an seinem Nagel. Kel trug all seine \"Menschenkleider\": eine ungleiche Collage aus Sataball-Team-Swag, einen UEE-Schal und ein Sweatshirt mit dem beliebten Gag-Zitat (\"I'm With Mom\") aus einer zehn Jahre alten Brillenshow.\n\nMags zog ihren Mantel an und h\u00fcpfte hinunter, um sich ihnen anzuschlie\u00dfen.\n\n\"Ich denke, wir sollten uns trennen, mein Typ kann etwas nerv\u00f6s sein. Mags griff nach dem Schlie\u00dffach, aber Trin r\u00fchrte sich nicht vom Fleck.\n\n\"Es bleibt bei mir\".\n\n\"Ja, okay\", sagte Mags, als sie den Lift-Knopf dr\u00fcckte. Die Plattform zitterte und begann abzusteigen. Sie drehte sich zu Kel um. \"Erinnere dich, wor\u00fcber wir gesprochen haben.\"\n\n\"Ich bin ein Freund. Nicht Sklave\". Er antwortete mit einer sorgf\u00e4ltig ge\u00fcbten Kadenz.\n\nDer Lift schlug zu Boden. Die Gruppe lief auf die Luftschleuse zu, als die massiven Hangart\u00fcren kreischten und sich schlossen. Die Luft hatte einen w\u00fcrzigen Geschmack, wahrscheinlich war es Jahre her, dass sie die Schrubber in den Hangars gereinigt hatten.\n\nSie verabschiedeten ein Transparent mit den \"Regeln\" der People's Alliance. Eines davon hing in jedem der Hangars, aber dieses war mehrfach gen\u00e4ht worden, vermutlich von Leuten, die Steine oder Flaschen durch das Schild warfen.\n\nYao huschte sofort weg, als sie in die Tunnel eindrangen und sich auf den Weg machten. Kel st\u00fcrzte sich auf die grobe Karte der verlassenen Bergbaustation und kam sofort in ein (einseitiges) Gespr\u00e4ch mit einem Einheimischen, der zuf\u00e4llig in der N\u00e4he stand. Mags, Trin und Ozzy fuhren mit dem Aufzug hinunter in das Hauptgeschoss.\n\nDer Gro\u00dfe Tauschhandel war wie \u00fcblich lebhaft. Vor\u00fcbergehende H\u00e4ndler schrien jeden an, der zuf\u00e4llig in ihrer Augenlinie trieb. Bei der geringsten Best\u00e4tigung st\u00fcrzte sich der H\u00e4ndler auf denjenigen, der sich in der Augenlinie treiben lie\u00df.\n\nDie drei pirschten sich durch die St\u00e4nde und wurden von Waren aus allen Ecken der UEE und dar\u00fcber hinaus \u00fcberschwemmt. A In jeden Satz wurden Qualit\u00e4ts- und Seltenheitszusicherungen geschn\u00fcrt.\n\nSie r\u00e4umten schlie\u00dflich die andere Seite. Ozzy schubste einen besonders hartn\u00e4ckigen H\u00e4ndler weg, und sie alle traten auf die Bar zu.\n\nDas Caf\u00e9 Musain war voll. Eine Schleppmannschaft feierte lautstark in einem der Nebenr\u00e4ume und lie\u00df nach einem gro\u00dfen Auftrag deutlich Dampf ab. Der Rest des Platzes war voll mit Bergarbeitern, Einheimischen in selbstgemachter Kleidung und Durchreisenden, die f\u00fcr eine Pause und einen Drink Halt gemacht hatten. Die Barkeeper beeilten sich, die Gl\u00e4ser voll zu halten.\n\nMags scannte die Kabinen, die den Raum beringten. Sie stie\u00df Trin zu einer abgelegenen Kabine in der Ecke, in der ein Xi'an ruhig sa\u00df.\n\n\"Ozzy, meinst du, du k\u00f6nntest dich zur\u00fcckhalten? fragte Mags etwas z\u00f6gerlich. Ozzy warf Trin einen Blick zu, der nickte. Er riss sich los und ging auf die Bar zu.\n\nMags zogen durch die Menge in Richtung Xi'an, w\u00e4hrend Trin folgte.\n\n\"Nyas\u0113ng's.uo S.oam\", sagte Mags, als sie sich n\u00e4herte.\n\nDer Xi'an schaute auf.\n\n\"x\u0113'sueren, Diebin Magdalena\". Soahm lehnte sich zur\u00fcck und nahm sich einen Moment Zeit, Trin und das Schlie\u00dffach zu begutachten. \".axyoa? Ich hoffe, es geht Ihnen gut\".\n\n\"Sie wissen schon, H\u00f6hen und Tiefen\".\n\n\"Ich glaube, ich kenne den Ausdruck\". Soahm hielt seine Augen auf Trin gerichtet. \"Was kann ich f\u00fcr Sie tun?\"\n\n\"Ich bin froh, dass Sie fragen\".\n\nDie beiden setzten sich zusammen.\n\nSoweit Ozzy sagen konnte, waren zwar etwa ein Dutzend Personen bewaffnet, aber vielleicht drei von ihnen wirkten seri\u00f6s. Zwei sa\u00dfen allein an der Bar, aber so, wie sie den Raum absuchten, sahen sie wie Geier aus. Der letzte sa\u00df in der N\u00e4he eines Hinterzimmers und versuchte, nicht so auszusehen, als w\u00fcrde er es bewachen.\n\nEs war eine Gewohnheit, die er sich auf dem Achterdeck angew\u00f6hnt hatte. Eine Gewohnheit, die sich jeder angew\u00f6hnt hatte. Man musste jeden Raum und jeden Moment beurteilen, um zu wissen, wer eine Bedrohung darstellte und wer nicht. Vielleicht war es ein wertvolles Training. Sicherlich war es nicht wert, dorthin geschickt zu werden, um es zu lernen.\n\nEr leerte das Glas und winkte den Barkeeper zu einem weiteren.\n\n\"Ozzy Liska\", sagte eine Stimme hinter ihm. Irgendwie kam mir das bekannt vor.\n\nOzzy blickte zur\u00fcck, als der blinde Jack Sticha auf den n\u00e4chsten Hocker kletterte.\n\n\"Hey, Jack, wie geht's?\"\n\n\"Ich bin zu alt, um mich zu \u00e4ndern, das wissen Sie\".\n\n\"Ja.\"\n\n\"Ich h\u00f6rte, dass Sie ausgestiegen sind\", sagte Blind Jack, als er f\u00fcr beide Getr\u00e4nke bezahlte. Wahrscheinlich vom Konto eines Toten.\n\n\"Ja\".\n\n\"Und wieder mit Trin laufen\".\n\n\"Ja\".\n\n\"Ich habe geh\u00f6rt, dass Sie beide ein gutes Ergebnis erzielt haben\".\n\nOzzy drehte sich zu Jack um und bereitete sich mental darauf vor, seine versteckte Klinge notfalls in Jacks Kehle zu rammen.\n\n\"Wo haben Sie das geh\u00f6rt?\"\n\n\"Fl\u00fcstert, mein Sohn\". Blind Jack l\u00e4chelte und nahm einen Schluck. \"Fl\u00fcstern findet immer den Weg zu mir.\"\n\n\"Dann wissen Sie die Antwort.\"\n\n\"Ich kann helfen\". Blind Jack polierte den Rest seines Glases ab. \"Ich kann Ihnen helfen, es zu bewegen.\"\n\n\"Ich glaube, wir haben es im Griff\", blickte Ozzy sich um, um zu sehen, ob Jack noch weitere Hilfe auf sich warten lie\u00df. Dort. Irgendein gro\u00dfer schlaksiger Bastard postierte sich in der N\u00e4he der Front.\n\n\"Fair genug\". Blind Jack bestellte zwei weitere Gl\u00e4ser. Er stellte sie beide vor Ozzy auf. \"\u00dcberraschend, dass Sie so eifrig waren, wieder mit Trin zusammenzuspringen, nachdem Sie rausgekommen waren.\n\n\"Was soll das bedeuten?\"\n\nDer blinde Jack stie\u00df sich aus seinem Stuhl, wobei er darauf achtete, seine H\u00e4nde frei zu halten, und l\u00e4chelte.\n\n\"Nun, sie war diejenige, die Sie vor der Anwaltschaft im Stich gelassen hat\".\n\n\"Ozzy schaffte es, sich zwischen zusammengebissenen Z\u00e4hnen zu versammeln. Die Wut begann sich zu steigern. \"Also gab sie den Titanen das Heft in die Hand? Ich dachte, es sei deine Mannschaft, Jack.\"\n\n\"Das war nicht mein bester Moment, Ozzy, aber Sie wissen, wie sie werden kann\", sagte Blind Jack mit einem Achselzucken. \"Sie hat dieses Temperament, das sie wirklich \u00fcberzeugend macht. Das Angebot ist immer noch offen, wenn Sie zur\u00fcckkommen m\u00f6chten. Familie ist eine Sache, aber das Rudel ist eine andere. Denken Sie dar\u00fcber nach\", sagte Blind Jack.\n\nBlind Jack ging auf den schlaksigen Handlanger in der Ecke zu und sie drifteten ab.\n\nOzzy drehte sich um und sah sich den Stand in der Ecke an, als Trin die Schlie\u00dfkassette aufhob. Sie blickte um die Bar herum, bevor sie sie \u00f6ffnete. Ihre Augen trafen sich mit denen von Ozzy. Sie grinste und schaute dann\nzur\u00fcck in Xi'an.\n\nMags hatten Soahm noch nie so beeindruckt gesehen. Als ehemaliger Polizist im Xi'an-Reich arbeitete er jetzt als Sicherheitsberater f\u00fcr denjenigen, der sein Honorar bezahlen w\u00fcrde, aber er war stolz auf seine Selbstsicherheit.\n\n\"Du hast dich selbst \u00fcbertroffen, Magdalena\", war alles, was er immer wieder wiederholte, w\u00e4hrend er das Eriesium untersuchte.\n\n\"Lustig . . .\" sagte eine Stimme hinter ihnen. Mags, Trin und Soahm drehten sich um und sahen Arno und Osane an den Tisch treten. \"Wir dachten dasselbe.\"\n\nFORTSETZUNG FOLGT...","zh_CN":"Writer\u2019s Note: Drifters: Part Two was published originally in Jump Point 5.2. You can read Part One here.\nMaybe a Starliner . . .\n\nMags rolled onto her side and pieced together a scenario: pick up a new Starliner, deck it out real nice and make passenger runs from hotspot to hotspot, but \u2014 and this was the important thing \u2014 not open it up to every sucker that can pay the ticket. Keep it exclusive. Choice clientele who would keep it classy. Make it be the party experience of the universe.\n\nAlthough . . . the more she thought about it. Partying every day sounded like it\u2019d get kinda exhausting after a couple months.\n\nShe\u2019d been at this for hours. Ever since they\u2019d identified the eriesium from the lockbox, the potential payout kept overtaking their conversations. Everything was a joke now: the terrible food packs, the shitty condition of the Harlequin, all of it. Because now they could see a way out. Hard to think that hours before, they were arguing about whether to put a bullet in Mags.\n\nThey were right though. It was hard not to get excited. The strange, rare element wasn\u2019t just a \u2018nice payout\u2019 kind of score. This was life-changing.\n\nShe couldn\u2019t believe it herself. From a youth spent picking tourist pockets on nameless stations and breaking into cargo haulers to sleep among the pallets and crates, to growing up bouncing from hustle after hustle, scrape after scrape. All that was about to end. She was actually about to be able to take a breath and relax . . .\n\nBut not yet. She still needed to line up a buyer. Someone who could pay them what this beautiful lump of ore was worth. An amount that would wash away all the betrayal, murder and despair the crew had waded through to get to this point.\n\nShe flicked the safety off her pistol with her thumb while gripping the knife with her other hand and carefully opened the hatch to her sleeping berth. The door hissed slowly as it slid. Mags looked out. The hall was empty.\n\nMags gave it another second to be sure. Underneath the persistent hum of the power plant, she could hear the intermittent banging of the engine echo down the hall, but still nothing else. Trin wasn\u2019t waiting with a shotgun.\n\nShe put the knife back in its hiding place, pulled on her boots and thudded down onto the floor. Still no ambush. Mags finally relaxed, confident in the knowledge that Trin wasn\u2019t that patient. She safetied the pistol, tucked it in her waistband and pulled on a heavy sweater to hide it from sight.\n\nThe bridge of the Harlequin was quiet. Ozzy was up there alone, casually flying the massive ship through the seemingly endless void. He glanced over as Mags stepped onto the bridge. She couldn\u2019t read what was behind that look. Maybe nothing. She had yet to really get a bead on the guy. Outside of his obvious loyalty to his sister, Trin, he seemed to speak the bare minimum. Even when they picked him up from Quarterdeck, he said nothing. After spending five years in that hellhole, he just walked onto the Harlequin and sat down.\n\n\u201cAnything exciting?\u201d she asked.\n\n\u201cNope,\u201d he replied and cracked open a can of Smoltz.\n\n\u201cNeed to take a break?\u201d\n\n\u201cNope.\u201d Ozzy took a long swig from the beer and settled back.\n\nA few moments of silence passed.\n\n\u201cOkay, cool. Give a shout if you do.\u201d Mags moved over to one of the side terminals and slumped into the seat.\n\nIt was time to get to work.\n\n\u201cWhat kind of work do you do?\u201d the gruff, friendly voice asked over the comm.\n\n\u201cCommercial hauling mostly,\u201d Trevor responded. As captain of Veronica\u2019s Dream, he\u2019d received the distress comm from a downed hauler about a half hour after shoving off from Port Red Oak above Angeli in Croshaw system. Damn lucky too, he was just spinning up his quantum when the comm came through. They\u2019d been talking ever since.\n\n\u201cCool, cool. You work for one of those big name companies? Covalex or some such?\u201d\n\n\u201cUsed to, but got out as soon as I raised the creds for a rig of my own,\u201d Trevor finally saw the faint beacon appear on his scans. \u201cJust tired of working for other people, I guess.\u201d\n\n\u201cI hear that,\u201d the voice responded. It had a scratchy quality to it, reminded Trevor of the way his grandfather talked after a day in the mines. Reminded him of home. \u201cAin\u2019t never been the type to take orders.\u201d\n\n\u201cFinally caught your signal. Adjusting course now. Should be there real soon. How you holding up otherwise?\u201d\n\n\u201cOh been doing fine. Got plenty of air and tunes. All I need.\u201d\n\n\u201cI hear that, brother.\u201d Trevor kept sweeping with his scanners. Turns out the hauler he was looking for had busted down in a small cluster of asteroids. \u201cYou got yourself in quite the bind.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, like my mama always said, I ain\u2019t got nothin\u2019 if not a knack for finding trouble.\u201d\n\n\u201cMy uncle used to say the same thing.\u201d Trevor brought his ship around to get a first look at the disabled hauler.\n\n\u201cI believe it,\u201d the old voice over the comms said.\n\nTrevor crested the final asteroid blocking his view, he finally got a look at . . .\n\nNothing.\n\nA gap of space between several silently tumbling rocks. There was something small floating out there, blinking, but that was it. No ship.\n\nNothing.\n\nHis terminal pinged, pleasantly alerting him that the aft airlock had opened. Trevor reached over to see if it was an error, but it looked like someone had run a bypass. He didn\u2019t see the incoming rocket launched from one of the asteroid clusters up ahead before it punched through the canopy of Veronica\u2019s Dream. The explosion incinerated the entire cockpit in a flash. The ship hardly moved.\n\nBlind Jack Sticha scratched his chin through his frazzled beard with a faulty cybernetic hand as he watched the damaged hauler slowly begin to pitch down.\n\n\u201cAlright Southers. Get to it.\u201d\n\nThe rest of the Souther Titans emerged one by one from their hiding places. Slashes of bright colors criss-crossed their hulls in ritualistic marks. The lead breacher moved inside the wreck while two more leapt from airlocks towards the damaged ship to try and get it flyable again.\n\nBlind Jack settled back and ripped open a pack of Ma\u2019s Chicken Patty while his crew got to work.\n\nDr. Honan Yao woke up face down on a grate. He\u2019d weirdly gotten used to waking up in strange places, but there was always that initial shock. It felt like that moment when you start to fall, a jolt goes through your body as if to right itself. Then two things would happen: the reality would set in, along with the dull ache in your veins after a long high. His professors in med school said it was the WiDoW burning the lining of the veins, contributing to the black marks that stained the body. He glanced down; the inky black lines had moved up to his wrist.\n\nYao rolled onto his back and looked around. As his eyes focused and his head settled, he could see he was in the engine room of the Harlequin, so, all in all, it could\u2019ve been much worse. There was that one time he woke up in the airlock . . .\n\nA wrench clattered to the ground. He looked over. Trin was working on the piping system. Her mobi was pulsing to the tune of whatever song she was pumping into her headphones.\n\nYao dragged himself to his feet. His head swam a little while he acclimated to the elevation change, but maintained his balance. None of these things surprised him. Although this morning was a little worse; his head a little heavier, the fog in his brain a little thicker . . . over the past year, this had more or less become a standard ritual of waking up.\n\nHe slowly shuffled through the ship. Kel was in the cargo hold, studying what looked like a rock . . .\n\nThat jogged a memory. Yao slowed down as he tried to sift through the cobwebs of his memories. Yeah . . . something had happened earlier. Something big . . .\n\nThat would explain why he was a little more sluggish. They\u2019d been celebrating something.\n\n\u201cHello, doctor!\u201d Kel said cheerily. \u201cIncredible, yes? Very exciting to be.\u201d\n\nYao nodded and made his way toward the bridge. As he made his way to his sleeping berth for a change of clothes and a quick shower, memories of the eriesium and subsequent party made their way back to his consciousness. It was about halfway through the shower before Yao remembered what had nearly transpired before they found the wreck.\n\nHe found Mags on the bridge, entrenched with a bunch of business pages on her terminal while Ozzy was napping on the stick.\n\n\u201cHey Mags.\u201d\n\n\u201cDoc . . .\u201d she said without looking up, and clicked through another page.\n\n\u201cHave any luck finding a buyer?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m barely finding anything at all.\u201d She sat back in her seat and rubbed her eyes. \u201cNo one seems to know nothing. Every mining company I\u2019ve found doesn\u2019t even list it as something they\u2019ll buy. TDD don\u2019t even have it listed on their commodities. It\u2019s like the stuff doesn\u2019t even exist.\u201d\n\nYao nodded and looked out the window at space as he searched for the words.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m sorry.\u201d\n\n\u201cAbout what?\u201d\n\n\u201cThe whole Trin thing. I should\u2019ve been there.\u201d\n\n\u201cWell, if you know someone I could talk to about eriesium, that\u2019d make it up to me.\u201d Mags chuckled and went back to scouring the spectrum.\n\nYao paused for a moment.\n\n\u201cActually, I might.\u201d\n\n\u201cWait, really?\u201d\n\n\u201cOzzy!\u201d Yao shouted, jolting Ozzy up from his nap. \u201cCan you get us to Kallis?\u201d\n\nThe Willoughby Housing Exchange had been extremely popular among miners cracking the Daedulus Cluster in Croshaw. That was over a hundred and fifty years ago now. Since the HEX shuttered in 2863, the station slowly decayed. Longterm residents, unable or unwilling to leave, eventually died off and the station fell silent, just another hulk drifting in the black.\n\nThat was until the Souther Titans moved in. Blind Jack couldn\u2019t believe his luck, finding a perfectly good station that only needed updated parts to bring it back online . . . or at least functional. Seemed like as good a place as any to have the pack hole up. They\u2019d fixed it up smart too. Put in dead man switches to automatically cut the power, gravity and airshields if anyone but the Titans tried to take control. After years on the move, he had to admit, it was nice to find a place to call home.\n\nBlind Jack Sticha and the rest of the Souther Titans set down on the various landing pads and quickly moved their ships out of sight. It was best to keep up appearances that the place was abandoned. They slammed the wreck of the hauler onto one of the larger platforms. Skivner and Leedy weren\u2019t able to retrieve the manifest from the blast, but did a quick check through the hold. Thing was packed to the gills. That was the great thing about indie operators, they had to make each run count. Sure they\u2019d put up more of a fight, but Jack didn\u2019t mind a little scrap for his rewards.\n\nThat was just half of the haul too. Once they offloaded the merch, they\u2019d break down the ship. Blind Jack would pick through the parts, keep a portion for upkeep on their own fleet, then sell the rest. All in all, they stood to make a nice little cut.\n\nBlind Jack flipped on his suit lights as he trudged towards the HEX\u2019s airlock. All the timers had tripped, so he needed to power the station back up. About halfway through the startup routine . . .\n\n\u201cBlind Jack Sticha\u201d came over the general comms.\n\nJack paused momentarily then continued the startup procedure. The hidden power plants chugged awake. The lights in the airlock pulsed to life and the systems came online. His knee ached as he got back to his feet.\n\nAs the airlock cycled, he drew his pistol, a custom Coda pistol with compensators, and flipped the safety off. Whoever had called to him must be close. Leedy jogged up, weapon ready. The other Southers had heard it too.\n\n\u201cThere\u2019s no need for that,\u201d the voice said. \u201cWe\u2019re here to talk.\u201d\n\nJack looked up at the security cameras in the airlock. They must be in the system. Jack holstered the pistol and motioned for Leedy to sling the rifle.\n\nThe airlock hissed open. Music echoed through the halls. Blind Jack pulled off his helmet and tossed it on the ground.\n\n\u201cEyes up, kid,\u201d he muttered. He yanked his gloves off and threw them by the helmet. \u201cAnything go sideways, you paint the walls, hear?\u201d\n\nThey walked towards the living area to find their two guests waiting. They were Human. One male. One female. Real nice flight suits. Male was visibly armed. Female wasn\u2019t, but definitely didn\u2019t look skittish.\n\nBlind Jack casually walked over to one of their cargo containers converted to a cooler and pulled out a can of Smoltz. He offered it to the duo.\n\n\u201cDrink?\u201d\n\nThe woman didn\u2019t move. The man smiled and shook his head. Blind Jack shrugged, popped the can and downed the whole thing in a long protracted drink. He crumpled the can and flung it into the darkness.\n\n\u201cSo who the hell are you?\u201d\n\n\u201cWe\u2019re listeners, really. Our employer sends us to ask questions and listen. We\u2019re then entrusted to act accordingly.\u201d\n\n\u201cUh huh,\u201d Blind Jack said with a glance to Leedy.\n\n\u201cBut we aren\u2019t bounty hunters or Advocacy if that\u2019s what you\u2019re worried about. Think of us more like professional colleagues.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo what do you want?\u201d\n\n\u201cNot much. We\u2019ve got two questions for you. The second is significantly more difficult than the first, but both need to be answered to our satisfaction or . . .\u201d the man shrugged. \u201cWe will act accordingly.\u201d\n\nBlind Jack burst out laughing. His bellows echoed in the abandoned station. The man smiled. The woman didn\u2019t move. The laughter finally died down.\n\n\u201cYou walk into our den and make threats?\u201d Blind Jack grabbed another can and popped it. \u201cThat\u2019s a quick path to a short life, my friend.\u201d\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t do anything for myself,\u201d the man stood and walked over to Leedy. The scrawny, tattooed outlaw stood tall and met the man\u2019s gaze without flinching. \u201cAs I mentioned, we are representatives. All you need to know is that, for all intents and purposes, Damien Martel of the Four Points is asking the questions.\u201d\n\nBlind Jack Sticha coughed. Leedy looked over at his boss, whose demeanor had completely changed.\n\nThe Four Points were one of those syndicates that never seemed to die. They never dominated the criminal hierarchy, but somehow persevered for decades, maintaining a rep that was as calculating as they were ruthless. The leadership each represented a swath of territory, forming a council of Four that dictated orders down to their footsoldiers. Damien Martel was one of those Points.\n\n\u201cI see I require no further explanation,\u201d the man said after one look at Blind Jack\u2019s face. \u201cGood.\u201d\n\nThe man walked over to Jack and studied him for a moment.\n\n\u201cWere you responsible for the attack on Mr. Martel\u2019s ship?\u201d\n\n\u201cHuh?\u201d\n\n\u201cDo you want me to repeat the question?\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat? No.\u201d Blind Jack glanced at the woman. She\u2019d circled into Leedy\u2019s blind spot. \u201cI ain\u2019t heard about any attack.\u201d\n\n\u201cAre you lying to me?\u201d The man said, never breaking his gaze. His voice was even, devoid of inflection.\n\n\u201cHell no,\u201d Blind Jack looked right back. \u201cMy people are all here. All accounted for and nobody would make a move like that without me knowing about it.\u201d\n\nThe man watched Jack for a few moments. Processing him. Finally:\n\n\u201cYou Titans have an interesting set of tattoos,\u201d the man said as he brought up his mobi and began to cycle through menus. \u201cI never quite understood the appeal myself, but more so, could never just settle on a design I was comfortable living with the rest of my life.\u201d\n\nThe man found a picture and held it up for Jack to see. It was a surveillance grab.\n\n\u201cSecond question,\u201d he pointed to the surveillance grab. Some scrap yard that Blind Jack had used to offload scrap in the past. Wardlow Rec or something. The man pointed to a woman in the frame; it looked like she was sporting Titan ink. \u201cDo you know who that is?\u201d\n\nIt took Blind Jack a second to recognize her.\n\n\u201cI\u2019ll be damned,\u201d he said with a fond smile. \u201cName\u2019s Trin Liska. Been a spell since we ran with her. What\u2019d she do?\u201d\n\n\u201cTook something of value.\u201d\n\nBlind Jack nodded, filing that little tidbit away for future deliberation. He took another drink from his can.\n\n\u201cLast I\u2019d heard, she\u2019d linked up with Reza Malcolm\u2019s ship. Horrible piece of shit called the Harlequin.\u201d\n\n\u201cI want that ship.\u201d\n\nBlind Jack took his time thinking it over. He stepped past the man and took a seat in his busted up leather chair.\n\n\u201cSure, I can help,\u201d he said with a satisfied grin.\n\nThirty minutes later, the two syndicate hitmen left without incident and fully loaded with the Harlequin\u2019s multitude of reg tags and everything the Southers knew about Trin.\n\nBlind Jack was halfway through the case of Liberty Lake, sitting quietly and humming to himself. The rest of the Titans watched their boss, perplexed. Leedy finally spoke up.\n\n\u201cWhat the hell, Jack?\u201d\n\n\u201cSpeak your mind, Leedy.\u201d\n\n\u201cTrin was one of us.\u201d\n\n\u201cWas, kid.\u201d Blind Jack settled back in his seat and popped another can. \u201cShe walked away. I told you before, we got no loyalty for quitters and besides, you\u2019re missing the big picture.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s that?\u201d\n\n\u201cIf she got the attention of the Four Points,\u201d a grin spread behind Blind Jack\u2019s beard, \u201cwe talking big money.\u201d\n\nThe Titans looked at each other. The prospect of a payout sparked that familiar fire behind their eyes.\n\n\u201cStrip your ships and travel light,\u201d Blind Jack said as he slammed the next can. \u201cLet\u2019s go get paid.\u201d\n\nThe Harlequin dropped out of the Bremen-Kallis jump point near a cluster of cargo supply ships that were on their way out of the system. Recently installed CommRelays now floated near the jump point and the Army station charged with protecting this developing system.\n\nThe entire crew had gathered on the bridge of the ship. Mags and Trin were entirely focused on the Army base, looking for any sign that the military were paying them equal attention. Ozzy flew with his usual sullen indifference. Yao\u2019s hand trembled as he chewed on a nail. To the others, it seemed like the usual byproduct of going for such a long stretch without some kind of chemical balance. They did not know that it was something else.\n\nKel was the only one paying attention to the view. Outside the front of the ship was a staggeringly beautiful display of destruction and creation. Kallis was the very definition of a developing system. Discovered while the planetary bodies were still in the process of forming, it had become a nexus for astronomers and scientists who were eager for this unique opportunity to observe a solar system in its infancy. The system had even attracted its fair share of philosophers and spiritualists, who came to witness and contemplate all sorts of questions about existence.\n\n\u201cPretty . . .\u201d was all Kel could muster.\n\n\u201cYou really sure about this, doc?\u201d Mags asked, her eyes still locked on the passing military station.\n\n\u201cYeah . . . I think so,\u201d Yao replied. He realized he was biting his nails and stopped himself. \u201cNo, we should be good.\u201d\n\n\u201cSo this guy is a doctor?\u201d Trin asked while she chewed on some jerky.\n\n\u201cBuddy of mine from med school until he dropped out and shifted over to physics and geology. He\u2019s cool, though.\u201d\n\n\u201cUh huh,\u201d Trin replied and took another bite.\n\nYao made his way to one of the chairs and brought up the commlink. He isolated OB Station Gryphon and sent a comm. It took a few moments before a bleary-eyed administrator answered.\n\n\u201cMain Junction.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, hi, Lev Dennis, pleas-\u201d\n\nThe administrator had already cut him off and transferred the comm. After a few seconds of waiting, the rest of the Harlequin crew staring at him, someone new picked up. Lev answered the comm without really looking. Based on the rapid tapping, he was still clearly more interested in typing something.\n\n\u201cYeah?\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s up, man? It\u2019s Honan.\u201d\n\nLev stopped typing and turned to look at the comm. His face brightened up.\n\n\u201cHoly shit,\u201d he rubbed his eyes and looked closer. \u201cWhat the hell are you doing here?\u201d\n\n\u201cNeeded a bit of your expertise, actually.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, right.\u201d\n\nYao shrugged and nodded.\n\n\u201cReally?\u201d Lev sounded genuinely shocked. \u201cOh, damn, yeah, okay. Come on by. I\u2019ll arrange a pad.\u201d\n\nTwenty minutes later, the Harlequin set down on the observation station. The landing bay door opened up as Lev Dennis burst into the bay.\n\n\u201cYaooooo-\u201d He stopped short at the sight of the rest of the Harlequin crew. Lev was around Yao\u2019s age, but clearly living in near isolation away from civilization hadn\u2019t done much for his personal hygiene. He backed towards the door.\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s up, man?\u201d Yao quickly stepped forward and shook his hand. Lev froze mid-reach. Yao looked down to see the WiDoW marks peeking out from under his sleeve.\n\n\u201cWhat are you doing, man?\u201d Lev said in a whisper. \u201cThat looks really bad.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo, it\u2019s okay, man.\u201d\n\n\u201cShit don\u2019t look okay.\u201d\n\n\u201cDon\u2019t sweat it,\u201d Yao said, mustering up as much of a smile as he could, but realizing how much he\u2019d probably changed since the last time he saw his friend. So much had happened . . . but he didn\u2019t want to think about that now. \u201cCome on, meet my crew.\u201d\n\nLev forced a smile and looked past Yao. Although Trin and Ozzy weren\u2019t (visibly) armed, they were more than intimidating for the scientist. Kel quickly approached.\n\n\u201cHello, Lev Dennis. Pleasure to acquaint. I Kel.\u201d He patted Lev on the forehead then hugged him. \u201cBeautiful station here. Sound construction.\u201d\n\n\u201cHey . . .\u201d Lev sheepishly replied. Yao could tell Lev was getting skittish, so he kept the ball rolling.\n\n\u201cYou got somewhere private we could talk?\u201d He pulled Lev towards the halls and got them walking. Lev seemed to calm down the further they got and soon began to explain the various research companies and non-profits that had come and gone over the years he\u2019d been there to study various facets of the growing system.\n\nBy the time they got to his lab, he seemed to be relaxed with the group, even fielding some questions from Trin about the station\u2019s security protocols. Inside, there were multiple scan arrays positioned around a massive floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the swirl of flame and debris outside.\n\n\u201cSo, what\u2019d you wanna see me about?\u201d Lev finally said.\n\nYao nodded over to Mags, who was carrying their lockbox. She set it on a table and opened it up, revealing the massive chunk of eriesium inside.\n\nLev glanced at Yao before looking in the box. At first, he didn\u2019t really notice anything special. It was when he tried to get closer and the light caught the violet glints just under the surface of the ore that he paused and looked at the faces around him in disbelief.\n\n\u201cIs that . . .\u201d\n\nYao grinned. Lev made a move toward the eriesium.\n\n\u201cCan I?\u201d\n\n\u201cThat\u2019s why we\u2019re here, man.\u201d\n\nLev excitedly grabbed some gloves and picked up the ore. He shifted it between hands, testing its weight, then gave it a closer look.\n\n\u201cWhere\u2019d you find this?\u201d he asked, never taking his eyes off the prized mineral.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s a long story,\u201d Mags replied as she watched him study it. \u201cBut it is eriesium, right?\n\n\u201cYeah, I think so,\u201d Lev put the ore underneath a table lamp to study it closer. \u201cYou gotta remember they\u2019ve only found eriesium in the UEE like four or five times. Ever. And I don\u2019t think any of them were the size of this. So it\u2019s not like there\u2019s a wealth of knowledge about the stuff.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou know anyone who\u2019d buy it?\u201d Trin chimed in from the back, obviously bored. Yao cut her a glance. She shrugged and picked up a small statue from a shelf. Lev slumped down on a nearby stool.\n\n\u201cPlenty, but they won\u2019t touch it. The government\u2019s oppressively regulated any kind of open market. Until they know more about it, all discoveries and sales have to be reported. You have to indicate where you found it, how it was extracted, provide dig permits. So it\u2019s not as simple as walking into a TDD and offloading some ore.\u201d\n\n\u201cWait a second.\u201d Trin tossed the statue back on the shelf and started to cross the room towards Lev. \u201cYou\u2019re telling me, we\u2019ve got the most valuable mineral in the universe and we can\u2019t sell it?\u201d\n\n\u201cUm . . . yes?\u201d Lev said as he shrunk away from Trin. She stopped right in front of him and stared before shooting a glare at Mags and walking away. \u201cI mean, you might be able to sell it to some Xi\u2019an. They\u2019d probably buy it, but that\u2019d be treason . . .\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019d you say?\u201d Mags perked up.\n\n\u201cThat\u2019d be treason?\u201d\n\n\u201cBefore that.\u201d\n\n\u201cApparently eriesium\u2019s a little more common in the Xi\u2019an Empire. They\u2019ve worked with it a bit more.\u201d\n\nMags turned to the group.\n\n\u201cI think I know a buyer.\u201d\n\nSearches for the Harlequin were coming up empty. For days, Arno Maas had been flooding his whole catalogue of snitches, corrupt Customs officials, local militia bruisers and general scumbags with the reg-tags, but so far, nothing. Blind Jack had been forthright and comprehensive with what he knew about Trin Liska, but Arno remained open to the possibility that the old outlaw would withhold some key fact to trip up their search.\n\nHe shut down his terminal and made his way to the cockpit where Osane was flying.\n\n\u201cHad any luck?\u201d he asked as he approached.\n\n\u201cWaiting on word from Masterson. He\u2019s checking the Advocacy archives for known associates of this Malcolm guy.\u201d\n\nArno sat quietly for a few moments.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m wondering if we should\u2019ve killed a Titan or two. You know, punctuate our point.\u201d\n\n\u201cBlind Jack\u2019s old school.\u201d Osane placed the ship on autopilot and turned back to face him. \u201cIt would\u2019ve made us look desperate to intimidate him.\u201d\n\nAn incoming comm chimed on both their terminals. Arno immediately activated the encryption protocols and answered it.\n\n\u201cMr. Martel.\u201d\n\nIt took a moment for the image to appear. A man in his late fifties with strong angular features flickered in. Encrypting the comm created some sync issues, so his face sometimes jumped to catch up with his words. Damien Martel looked into the comm with completely emotionless eyes.\n\n\u201cStatus.\u201d A sync jump made it look like his lips hadn\u2019t even moved.\n\n\u201cWe cleared out any evidence of the Echo Calling from that scrapyard, staged the thing to look like slavers, so that\u2019s done. Just got a name and a ship for who\u2019s got the item now, but we think the Titans might have edited their responses.\u201d Arno double-checked his mobi to see if he\u2019d received any incoming messages. \u201cWe\u2019ve put the word out and are waiting to hear back.\u201d\n\nMartel stared at them silently, his expression inscrutable.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got a fortune\u2019s worth of Four Points property on the drift and you\u2019re waiting for people to comm you back?\u201d\n\nArno glanced at Osane.\n\n\u201cI don\u2019t know what\u2014\u201d\n\n\u201cYou kick down every door you have to. Raze cities to the ground. I don\u2019t care. Find it or we\u2019re all dead.\u201d\n\nMartel clicked off.\n\nArno and Osane exchanged a glance. She spun her seat back and flipped the ship off autopilot.\n\n\u201cGuess we should\u2019ve killed a couple Titans.\u201d\n\nA comm message pinged on Arno\u2019s mobiGlas. He glanced at it and exhaled.\n\n\u201cWell, that\u2019s fun . . .\u201d\n\nAccessing the Bremen-Nyx jump point took forever. The Bremen Militia, paranoid on their best days, must have taken double their paranoia pill dosage today. Mags had sent an old reg-tag that they hadn\u2019t used in a while reserved for \u2018clean travel.\u2019\n\nThe grilling from the militia almost made the tense flight through outlaw space more preferable. Mags was piloting the Harlequin while Ozzy ran escort in the P52. They passed the wreckage of a Hull. Mags couldn\u2019t tell what model, the thing was blasted into hundreds of pieces. A group of outlaws, presumably the ones who did the blasting, were picking through the detritus. One of them, a heavily armed gunship, turned to watch the Harlequin pass.\n\nMags was pretty sure there was a private conversation going on, weighing whether they\u2019d stolen enough cargo that day or if there was room to tangle for a little more.\n\nShe kept the speed even, didn\u2019t accelerate or slow down, just flew on past and kept heading towards the Glaciem Ring and their destination: Levski.\n\nMags had spent some time there as a kid. She\u2019d hooked up with Frank McGarr\u2019s crew: running spec scams, short cons and the occasional heist. They\u2019d based themselves out of the \u2018burnout collective\u2019 (as Frank liked to call the residents of Levski) simply because they left people alone under the auspices of respecting their privacy. For a bunch of liars and thieves, it was perfect.\n\nThe rest of the flight to Levski passed without incident. Ozzy redocked with the Harlequin before they made their final approach. By the time they set down, the rest of the group had already gathered in the cargo lift. Trin waited with her foot on the lockbox with the eriesium. Yao was leaning against the wall, absent-mindedly chewing on his nail again. Kel was wearing all his \u2018Human clothes\u2019: a mismatched collage of Sataball team swag, a UEE scarf and a sweatshirt of the popular gag quote (\u201cI\u2019m With Mom\u201d) from a decade-old spec show.\n\nMags pulled on her coat and hopped down to join them.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m thinking we should separate, my guy can be a little skittish.\u201d Mags reached down for the lockbox, but Trin didn\u2019t budge.\n\n\u201cIt\u2019s staying with me.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah, okay,\u201d Mags said as she hit the lift button. The platform shuddered and began to descend. She turned to Kel. \u201cRemember what we talked about.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am friend. Not slave.\u201d He replied with a carefully practiced cadence.\n\nThe lift thudded to the ground. The group walked towards the airlock as the massive overhead hangar doors screeched closed. The air had a tangy taste to it, probably been years since they\u2019d cleaned out the scrubbers in the hangars.\n\nThey passed a banner outlining the \u2018rules\u2019 of the People\u2019s Alliance. One of these hung in each of the hangars, but this one had been stitched up multiple times, presumably from people throwing rocks or bottles through the sign.\n\nYao immediately darted away once they got inside and headed into the tunnels. Kel rushed to look at the crude map of the abandoned mining station and immediately struck up a (one-sided) conversation with a local who happened to be standing nearby. Mags, Trin and Ozzy took the elevator down to the main floor.\n\nThe Grand Barter was bustling, as usual. Transient hawkers shouted at anyone who happened to drift in their eyeline. If given the slightest acknowledgement, the hawker pounced.\n\nThe three of them stalked through the stalls, getting swarmed by wares from all corners of the UEE and beyond. Assurances of quality and rarity were laced into every sentence.\n\nThey finally cleared the other side. Ozzy shoved away a particularly persistent merchant and they all stepped towards the bar.\n\nCafe Musain was packed. A hauling team loudly celebrated in one of the side rooms, clearly blowing off steam after a big job. The rest of the place was filled with miners, locals wearing homemade clothes and transients who\u2019d stopped off for a rest and a drink. Bartenders hustled to keep the glasses full.\n\nMags scanned the booths that ringed the room. She nudged Trin towards a secluded one in the corner where a Xi\u2019an sat quietly.\n\n\u201cOzzy, do you think you could hang back?\u201d Mags asked with a little hesitancy. Ozzy glanced at Trin, who nodded. He broke away and headed for the bar.\n\nMags cut through the crowd towards the Xi\u2019an while Trin followed.\n\n\u201cNyas\u0113ng\u2019s.uo S.oam,\u201d Mags said as she approached.\n\nThe Xi\u2019an looked up.\n\n\u201cx\u0113\u2019sueren, Thief Magdalena.\u201d Soahm settled back and took a moment to appraise Trin and the lockbox. \u201c.axyoa? I hope you are well.\u201d\n\n\u201cYou know, ups and downs.\u201d\n\n\u201cI believe I know the expression.\u201d Soahm kept his eyes locked on Trin. \u201cWhat can I do for you?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad you asked.\u201d\n\nThe two sat down.\n\nAs far as Ozzy could tell, although there were about a dozen people who were armed in the place, maybe three of them looked legit serious. Two were sitting by themselves at the bar, but the way they were scanning the room, they had the look of vultures. The last was perched up near a back room, trying not to look like he was guarding it.\n\nIt was a habit he had picked up on Quarterdeck. A habit everybody picked up. You needed to assess every room, every moment, to know who was a threat or not. Maybe it was valuable training. Certainly wasn\u2019t worth being sent there to learn it.\n\nHe drained the glass and waved the bartender over for another.\n\n\u201cOzzy Liska,\u201d a voice said behind him. There was something familiar about it.\n\nOzzy glanced back as Blind Jack Sticha climbed onto the next stool.\n\n\u201cHey, Jack, how ya been?\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m too old to change, you know that.\u201d\n\n\u201cYeah.\u201d\n\n\u201cHeard you got out,\u201d Blind Jack said as he paid for both drinks. Probably off some dead man\u2019s account.\n\n\u201cYup.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnd back running with Trin.\u201d\n\n\u201cYup.\u201d\n\n\u201cHeard you two got a decent score going.\u201d\n\nOzzy turned to face Jack, mentally priming himself to jam his stashed blade in Jack\u2019s throat if need be.\n\n\u201cWhere\u2019d you hear that?\u201d\n\n\u201cWhispers, son.\u201d Blind Jack grinned and took a sip. \u201cWhispers always find their way to me.\u201d\n\n\u201cThen you know the answer.\u201d\n\n\u201cI can help.\u201d Blind Jack polished off the rest of his glass. \u201cHelp you move it.\u201d\n\n\u201cI think we got it handled,\u201d Ozzy glanced around to see if Jack had any more help lurking. There. Some tall lanky bastard posted up near the front.\n\n\u201cFair enough.\u201d Blind Jack ordered two more glasses. He set them both in front of Ozzy. \u201cSurprising you\u2019d be so eager to jump back in with Trin after you got out.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat\u2019s that supposed to mean?\u201d\n\nBlind Jack pushed himself out of his chair, careful to keep his hands in plain view and smiled.\n\n\u201cWell, she was the one who bailed on you to the Advocacy.\u201d\n\n\u201cUh huh,\u201d Ozzy managed to muster between clenched teeth. The rage began to build. \u201cSo she called the shots for the Titans? Thought it was your crew, Jack.\u201d\n\n\u201cWasn\u2019t my finest moment, Ozzy, but you know how she can get,\u201d Blind Jack said with a shrug. \u201cShe\u2019s got that temper that makes her real convincing. Offer\u2019s still open to come back if you want it. Family\u2019s one thing, but pack\u2019s another. Think about it.\u201d\n\nBlind Jack motioned to the lanky stooge in the corner and they drifted.\n\nOzzy turned to look at the booth in the corner as Trin picked up the lockbox. She glanced around the bar before opening it. Her eyes met Ozzy\u2019s. She grinned then looked back at the Xi\u2019an.\n\nMags had never seen Soahm so impressed. A former cop in the Xi\u2019an Empire, he now worked as a security consultant for whoever would pay his fee, but he prided himself on his poise.\n\n\u201cYou have outdone yourself, Magdalena,\u201d was all he kept repeating as he examined the eriesium.\n\n\u201cFunny . . .\u201d a voice said behind them. Mags, Trin and Soahm turned back to see Arno and Osane step up to the table. \u201cWe were thinking the same thing.\u201d\n\nTO BE CONTINUED\u2026"},"links_count":1,"comment_count":19,"created_at":"2020-10-21T02:00:00+00:00","created_at_human":"5 years ago"},"meta":{"processed_at":"2026-05-08 12:02:21","valid_relations":["images","links"],"prev_id":17835,"next_id":17838}}