A SEPARATE LAW: PART NINE - [Comm-Links](https://api.star-citizen.wiki/comm-links) - A SEPARATE LAW: PART NINE A SEPARATE LAW: PART NINE ========================= Undefined Undefined A Separate Law [Previous](https://api.star-citizen.wiki/comm-links/13247) [Next](https://api.star-citizen.wiki/comm-links/13249) Content ------- English Gates was growing tired of Nemo, or at least the tiny patch of it he and Seabrook had gone to ground in. The safe house was spartan, yes, but that was to be expected. Seabrook was fine as a housemate, though she had disappeared into the nets as soon as she believed it safe to do so. That left him only Stroller’s statement and Morgan’s dying declaration for distraction, and they weren’t helping much to contain his mounting impatience. He could only listen to Morgan’s last moments so many times without wanting to kill Stroller, and Stroller was no longer on hand for the killing. Gates had the man shipped him off to Special Action’s blackest holding cells, the ones set aside for traitors awaiting trial. Stroller had given up a lot before he’d been shipped. There was a meet planned for next month. Les Inconnus leadership was looking to integrate the heads of a couple of new slaver organizations into the fold, and had a meeting set up on the White Stag. It had all gone in the report, along with Seabrook’s assurances that she’d managed to cover for Stroller’s absence by planting transfer papers into his file and answering his mail with the data he’d provided them. It’s driving me mad, this waiting for a response from Vasser! There was a knock at the front door. Gates pulled his sidearm and glanced across at Seabrook. No one is supposed to know we’re here, let alone come calling. She tapped a command into her terminal, checking the security feed. She nodded at Gates. Because he wasn’t the trusting sort, he still kept the pistol ready as he opened the door. He nearly dropped it when he saw who was standing on the front step. “Gates,” Vasser said, brushing past him. “Ma’am,” Gates muttered, still off balance. “Seabrook.” Gates closed the door, tried to get his thoughts moving. Vasser looked back at him, “Good to see you’re recovered.” “Thanks, Ma’am.” “Unfortunately, it’s the only good thing about this visit.” Gates opened his mouth, but she held up a hand to stop him: “Look, Internal Investigations Division, in the person of one Agent Jakob Neustedt, made a run at me last week, at almost exactly the same time your report hit my MobiGlas —” she paused, held the device up, showing it was in active recording mode, and giving both her agents a chance to think about the timing of that bit of news before resuming: “I told him to walk out the airlock, that it was under my direct orders and supervision. My associates at headquarters are saying that IID is now looking at ‘fiduciary inconsistencies’ in Special Action. They listed Seabrook’s Caterpillar as one of those irregularities.” “How the hell?” Seabrook blurted. Gates kept his mouth shut, anger building as he worked through the implications. Vasser shook her head, “As I was the one gave the order, I felt I owed it to you both to tell you face to face: we can’t continue against Les Inconnus while this crap is going on. They clearly have people with clout on payroll, and those people will tip off the targets as soon as we move.” “Understood,” Gates said, holding his temper tight. Seabrook shook her head, “Someone in IID is working for them and we have to call it off?” “If some Advocacy agent is working for or with them, I can’t prove it, yet. Therefore Special Action is not undertaking any investigation of Les Inconnus until I can clear it. Am I understood?” “Understood,” Gates repeated, letting out a long, slow breath. “What!?” Seabrook barked at him. “You were the one who said we had to move, that taking them down wa–” He spoke over her: “Yes, I did say that.” Gates gestured at Vasser, “The Special Agent in Charge just told us Special Action is no longer on the case.” “I’ll follow orders … but … it’s …” Seabrook spluttered. Gates turned to Vasser, clicking heels together. “Thank you, Agent Vasser, for personally informing us.” Vasser nodded, “You’re welcome. I am sorry I can’t offer more comforting news.” “Understood,” Gates said, decision made. “Seabrook, I have a seat for you on the shuttle departing in five hours. I have other business to attend in the meantime.” Understood. Seabrook looked back and forth between Vasser and Gates, clearly puzzled. Vasser left without another word. “What the hell, Gates?” He paused a moment before replying, wanting to get it right. “Vasser’s hands are tied, Seabrook. She had to give the order to stand down, and do so on the record. Remember, she had her MobiGlas on and active. If she hadn’t, then she wouldn’t be able to deny responsibility for what I’m going to do.” “Wait, what?” “Think about what she said.” “She said we —” “No, she didn’t. Think. Her exact words were …” “She said —” her eyes shot wide. “She said Special Action.” “Exactly. And I’m on suspension. As in: not even Advocacy.” “But, that’s messed up.” He snorted. “Don’t like the heat this close to the sun, change your orbit.” Seabrook’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “What are you going to do, Gates?” “I’m going to take them down, of course.” “Call it what it is: you mean to kill them.” He cocked his head, just looked at her. “I didn’t sign up for murder. We’re not above the law.” Gates nodded, “You’re right, we aren’t above it. That said, there’s a separate law for this.” She sniffed. “Gates, do you actually listen to yourself, sometimes?” “Look, Seabrook, I’ve been around a long, long time. Longer, probably, than the people you called dinosaurs when you were coming through the Academy. One thing I learned at the knee of the agents I called dinosaurs back when: we can never allow the murder of Advocacy agents to go unpunished. Never. Not once. Usually that means making an arrest and walking someone into a prison cell. Sometimes that means going all the way: off the charts and into the big black, and maybe not coming back. Stroller’s information gives us a shot at the leadership. I’m taking it.” “It’s not right, Gates.” “Agent Max Nawabi. Agent Gage Knowles.” She blanched. He was sure she’d have controlled her shock better if he’d slapped her. “They are what this is about. Nawabi and Knowles, and making sure Les Inconnus don’t make any more like them.” She held up a hand in surrender, “All right. I understand. I won’t go shooting my mouth off.” He nodded, once. “I didn’t think you would.” She turned away. “And Seabrook: you’re good people.” “Screw you, Gates!” she said under her breath. Reaching for her console, Seabrook hunched over the table and started typing. Gates shrugged. Pacifiers come in all shapes and sizes, I suppose. “Sorry,” she muttered, “just getting a few things you might find useful.” “You sure that’s a good idea? I mean, I appreciate it, but Vasser won’t be happy if she has to cover for your ass after that talk.” She turned and leveled a dark look at him, “You really think I’m that slow? That I don’t know how to dance the data to pick up a few items without it leading back to us?” “Sorry,” he said, meaning it. “It’s not my area of expertise.” “I know, it’s mine,” she said, turning back to the comp. “I’ll just start packing, then.” “You do that.” When he returned a few minutes later, she was done and on her way to her room. She said nothing to him. Even so, he heard the accusation in the silence. He put it away, sat down in the front room and pulled out his MobiGlas. Time to set my people digging. They made a mistake coming after Vasser, now there’s a chance my people can work backward from that point of contact. If there’s an after for me, it’d be helpful to know who Neustedt sold his soul to. Angelique can start working Senator Yaldiz’s contacts from that end, see if there’s something the Senate Oversight Committee on Advocacy Affairs might do with the knowledge Neustedt is working with Les Inconnus. He sent Angelique’s message and started going through the mental list of his other contacts. He typed Zara’s address in. Might come across a thing or two as well, with her ties among the corporate lobbyists. Best tap her as well, since Stroller confirmed the corporate connection Seabrook revealed. She still owes me big for keeping her and her corporate clients out of the newsfeeds on the Holbrook case. He was sending the last message when Seabrook spoke from behind him: “Still using the old protocols?” Gates looked over his shoulder at her. From the drawn look to her, she’d been thinking about hard choices and harsher realities. He didn’t feel good about opening that particular door for her. He remembered, too well, having the same thing done to him. They were not pleasant memories. He realized he’d left her question unanswered for too long. “They work, last I checked?” Gates said, wondering how his answer ended up a question. Seabrook smiled, “Oh, it works quite well, given enough message traffic to bury it in.” “Good. Our earlier conversation had me worried.” “Had I known we weren’t going to be working together, I’d have shown you a few tricks.” “You may have noticed, being an agent and paid to notice things, but I’m an old man. Learning new things does not come easy for me, or for those trying to teach me.” Seabrook snorted and reached for his MobiGlas, “You mind?” He handed it over without showing too much hesitation. She punched several keys, then handed it back to him. An image of an ID and passcode appeared on the screen. “I set up a blind account for you. Check it in a few days, there’ll be something for your use … call it … call it my contribution to the cause.” . . . to be continued Gates wurde von Nemo müde, oder zumindest von dem kleinen Fleckchen davon, in dem er und Seabrook zu Boden gegangen waren. Der Unterschlupf war spartanisch, ja, aber das war zu erwarten. Seabrook war als Mitbewohnerin in Ordnung, obwohl sie in den Netzen verschwunden war, sobald sie es für sicher hielt. Das ließ ihn nur Strollers Aussage und Morgans sterbende Erklärung für Ablenkung zurück, und sie halfen nicht viel, seine wachsende Ungeduld zu enthalten. Er konnte Morgans letzte Momente nur so oft hören, ohne den Kinderwagen töten zu wollen, und der Kinderwagen war nicht mehr zur Hand für den Mord. Gates ließ den Mann ihn zu den schwärzesten Gefängniszellen der Special Action bringen, die für Verräter bestimmt waren, die auf den Prozess warten. Der Kinderwagen hatte viel aufgegeben, bevor er ausgeliefert wurde. Es war ein Treffen für nächsten Monat geplant. Die Führung von Les Inconnus war bestrebt, die Leiter einiger neuer Sklavenhändlerorganisationen in den Betrieb zu integrieren, und hatte ein Treffen über den Weißen Hirsch eingerichtet. Es war alles in den Bericht eingegangen, zusammen mit Seabrook's Zusicherungen, dass sie es geschafft hatte, die Abwesenheit von Kinderwagen abzudecken, indem sie Transferpapiere in seine Akte pflanzte und seine Mail mit den Daten beantwortete, die er ihnen gegeben hatte. Es macht mich verrückt, dieses Warten auf eine Antwort von Vasser! Es klopfte an der Vordertür. Gates zog seine Pistole und blickte rüber zu Seabrook. Niemand soll wissen, dass wir hier sind, geschweige denn, dass wir anrufen. Sie hat einen Befehl in ihr Terminal getippt und die Sicherheitszufuhr überprüft. Sie nickte Gates zu. Weil er nicht der vertrauenswürdige Typ war, hielt er die Pistole immer noch bereit, als er die Tür öffnete. Er ließ es fast fallen, als er sah, wer auf der vorderen Stufe stand. "Tore", sagte Vasser und stieß an ihm vorbei. "Ma'am", murmelte Gates, immer noch aus dem Gleichgewicht. "Seabrook." Gates schloss die Tür, versuchte, seine Gedanken in Bewegung zu setzen. Vasser blickte zu ihm zurück: "Schön zu sehen, dass du dich erholt hast." "Danke, Ma'am." "Leider ist es das einzig Gute an diesem Besuch." Gates öffnete seinen Mund, aber sie hielt eine Hand hoch, um ihn aufzuhalten: "Schau, Internal Investigations Division, in der Person eines Agenten Jakob Neustedt, hat mich letzte Woche angegriffen, fast genau zur gleichen Zeit, als dein Bericht mein MobiGlas traf -" hielt sie inne, hielt das Gerät hoch, zeigte es im aktiven Aufnahmemodus und gab beiden ihren Agenten die Möglichkeit, über den Zeitpunkt dieser Nachricht nachzudenken, bevor sie weitermachte: "Ich sagte ihm, er solle die Luftschleuse verlassen, dass sie unter meinen direkten Befehlen und meiner Aufsicht stand. Meine Mitarbeiter in der Zentrale sagen, dass das IID sich jetzt mit "treuhänderischen Inkonsistenzen" in Special Action beschäftigt. Sie haben Seabrook's Caterpillar als eine dieser Unregelmäßigkeiten aufgeführt." "Wie zum Teufel?" Der Seebach hat geplatzt. Gates hielt seinen Mund geschlossen und wütend, als er die Auswirkungen durcharbeitete. Vasser schüttelte den Kopf: "Da ich derjenige war, der den Befehl gab, fühlte ich mich, als schulde ich es euch beiden, um euch von Angesicht zu Angesicht zu sagen: Wir können nicht gegen Les Inconnus weitermachen, während dieser Mist weitergeht. Sie haben eindeutig Leute mit Einfluss auf die Gehaltsliste, und diese Leute werden die Ziele aufzeigen, sobald wir uns bewegen." "Verstanden", sagte Gates und hielt sein Temperament fest. Seabrook schüttelte den Kopf, "Jemand im IID arbeitet für sie und wir müssen es absagen?" "Wenn ein Advocacy-Agent für oder mit ihnen arbeitet, kann ich es noch nicht beweisen. Daher führt Special Action keine Untersuchung von Les Inconnus durch, bis ich es klären kann. Habe ich verstanden?" "Verstanden", wiederholte Gates und ließ einen langen, langsamen Atemzug aus. " Was!?" Seabrook bellte ihn an. "Du warst diejenige, die gesagt hat, dass wir umziehen müssen, dass wir sie runterbringen wollen." Er sprach über sie: "Ja, das habe ich gesagt." Gates gestikulierte an Vasser: "Der verantwortliche Special Agent sagte uns gerade, dass Special Action nicht mehr an dem Fall arbeitet." "Ich werde den Befehlen folgen... aber... es ist..." Der Seebachsbaum stotterte. Gates wandte sich an Vasser und klickte die Absätze zusammen. "Danke, Agent Vasser, dass Sie uns persönlich informiert haben." Vasser nickte: "Gern geschehen. Es tut mir leid, dass ich keine beruhigenderen Nachrichten anbieten kann." "Verstanden", sagte Gates, Entscheidung getroffen. "Seabrook, ich habe einen Platz für dich auf dem Shuttle, das in fünf Stunden abfährt. Ich habe in der Zwischenzeit noch andere Geschäfte zu erledigen." Verstanden. Seabrook blickte zwischen Vasser und Gates hin und her, klar verwirrt. Vasser ging ohne ein weiteres Wort. "Was zum Teufel, Gates?" Er hielt einen Moment inne, bevor er antwortete, um es richtig zu machen. "Vassers Hände sind gebunden, Seabrook. Sie musste den Befehl zum Rückzug geben, und zwar zu Protokoll. Denken Sie daran, sie hatte ihr MobiGlas auf und aktiv. Wenn sie es nicht getan hätte, dann wäre sie nicht in der Lage, die Verantwortung für das zu leugnen, was ich tun werde." "Warte, was?" "Denk darüber nach, was sie gesagt hat." "Sie hat gesagt, dass wir -" "Nein, hat sie nicht. Denke nach. Ihre genauen Worte waren...." "Sie sagte -" ihre Augen schossen weit. "Sie sagte, Sonderaktion." "Genau. Und ich bin suspendiert. Wie in: nicht einmal Advocacy." "Aber das ist Mist gebaut." Er schnaubte. "Mag die Hitze nicht so nah an der Sonne, ändere deine Umlaufbahn." Seabrook's Augen verengten sich vor Verdacht. "Was wirst du tun, Gates?" "Ich werde sie natürlich ausschalten." "Nenn es, wie es ist: Du willst sie töten." Er spannte den Kopf, sah sie nur an. "Ich habe mich nicht für Mord gemeldet. Wir stehen nicht über dem Gesetz." Gates nickte: "Du hast Recht, wir sind nicht darüber hinaus. Allerdings gibt es dafür ein eigenes Gesetz." Sie schnüffelte. "Gates, hörst du dir manchmal wirklich selbst zu?" "Schau, Seabrook, ich bin schon lange dabei. Wahrscheinlich länger als die Leute, die du Dinosaurier genannt hast, als du durch die Akademie kamst. Eine Sache, die ich am Knie der Agenten gelernt habe, die ich damals Dinosaurier nannte: Wir dürfen nie zulassen, dass der Mord an Advocacy-Agenten ungestraft bleibt. Niemals. Nicht einmal. Normalerweise bedeutet das, eine Verhaftung vorzunehmen und jemanden in eine Gefängniszelle zu bringen. Manchmal bedeutet das, den ganzen Weg zu gehen: aus den Charts in das große Schwarz, und vielleicht nicht zurückzukehren. Die Informationen des Kinderwagens geben uns einen Einblick in die Führung. Ich nehme es." "Es ist nicht richtig, Gates." "Agent Max Nawabi. Agent Gage Knowles." Sie blanchierte. Er war sicher, dass sie ihren Schock besser kontrolliert hätte, wenn er sie geschlagen hätte. "Sie sind es, worum es hier geht. Nawabi und Knowles, und dafür sorgen, dass Les Inconnus nicht mehr wie sie werden." Sie hielt eine Hand in der Kapitulation hoch und sagte: "In Ordnung. Ich verstehe schon. Ich werde mir nicht den Mund abschlagen." Er nickte einmal. "Ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass du das würdest." Sie wandte sich ab. "Und Seabrook: Ihr seid gute Menschen." "Fick dich, Gates!" sagte sie unter ihrem Atem. Seabrook griff nach ihrer Konsole, krümmte sich über den Tisch und begann zu tippen. Gates zuckte mit den Schultern. Schnuller gibt es in allen Formen und Größen, nehme ich an. "Tut mir leid", murmelte sie, "nur ein paar Dinge besorgen, die du vielleicht nützlich findest." "Bist du sicher, dass das eine gute Idee ist? Ich meine, ich weiß das zu schätzen, aber Vasser wird nicht glücklich sein, wenn sie nach diesem Gespräch deinen Arsch decken muss." Sie drehte sich um und nivellierte einen dunklen Blick auf ihn: "Denkst du wirklich, ich bin so langsam? Dass ich nicht weiß, wie man die Daten tanzt, um ein paar Gegenstände aufzunehmen, ohne dass sie zu uns zurückführen?" "Tut mir leid", sagte er und meinte es ernst. "Es ist nicht mein Fachgebiet." "Ich weiß, es ist meins", sagte sie und kehrte zu der Firma zurück. "Dann fange ich einfach an zu packen." "Mach das." Als er ein paar Minuten später zurückkam, war sie fertig und auf dem Weg zu ihrem Zimmer. Sie sagte nichts zu ihm. Dennoch hörte er die Anschuldigung in der Stille. Er legte es weg, setzte sich in den vorderen Raum und zog sein MobiGlas heraus. Zeit, meine Leute zum Graben zu bringen. Sie machten einen Fehler, als sie hinter Vasser her waren, jetzt besteht die Möglichkeit, dass meine Leute von diesem Kontaktpunkt aus rückwärts arbeiten können. Wenn es ein Nachspiel für mich gibt, wäre es hilfreich zu wissen, an wen Neustedt seine Seele verkauft hat. Angelique kann anfangen, die Kontakte von Senator Yaldiz von diesem Ende aus zu bearbeiten, um zu sehen, ob es etwas gibt, was der Senatsaufsichtsausschuss für Advocacy Affairs mit dem Wissen tun könnte, das Neustedt mit Les Inconnus arbeitet. Er schickte Angeliques Botschaft und begann, die mentale Liste seiner anderen Kontakte durchzugehen. Er hat Zaras Adresse eingegeben. Könnte auch auf ein oder zwei Dinge stoßen, mit ihren Verbindungen zu den Unternehmenslobbyisten. Am besten tippen Sie auch auf sie, da der Kinderwagen die Firmenverbindung, die Seabrook enthüllte, bestätigte. Sie schuldet mir immer noch viel, weil ich sie und ihre Firmenkunden aus den Nachrichtensendungen über den Holbrook-Fall herausgehalten habe. Er schickte die letzte Nachricht, als Seabrook hinter ihm sprach: "Benutzt du immer noch die alten Protokolle?" Gates sah sie über seine Schulter. Vom gezogenen Blick auf sie hatte sie über harte Entscheidungen und härtere Realitäten nachgedacht. Er fühlte sich nicht gut dabei, ihr diese spezielle Tür zu öffnen. Er erinnerte sich zu gut daran, dass ihm dasselbe angetan wurde. Es waren keine angenehmen Erinnerungen. Er erkannte, dass er ihre Frage zu lange unbeantwortet gelassen hatte. "Sie funktionieren, zuletzt überprüft?" Gates sagte und fragte sich, wie seine Antwort zu einer Frage führte. Seabrook lächelte: "Oh, es funktioniert ganz gut, wenn man genug Nachrichtenverkehr hat, um es einzubauen." "Gut. Unser Gespräch vorhin hat mich beunruhigt." "Hätte ich gewusst, dass wir nicht zusammenarbeiten würden, hätte ich dir ein paar Tricks gezeigt." "Du hast es vielleicht bemerkt, ein Agent zu sein und dafür bezahlt, Dinge zu bemerken, aber ich bin ein alter Mann. Es fällt mir nicht leicht, neue Dinge zu lernen, auch nicht für diejenigen, die versuchen, mich zu unterrichten." Seabrook schnaubte und griff nach seinem MobiGlas, "Hast du was dagegen?" Er übergab es ohne zu viel Zögern. Sie schlug mehrere Schlüssel und gab sie ihm dann zurück. Auf dem Bildschirm wurde ein Bild einer ID und eines Passwortes angezeigt. "Ich habe ein blindes Konto für dich eingerichtet. Überprüfen Sie es in ein paar Tagen, es wird etwas für Sie geben.... nennen Sie es... nennen Sie es meinen Beitrag zur Sache." . ... wird fortgesetzt Gates was growing tired of Nemo, or at least the tiny patch of it he and Seabrook had gone to ground in. The safe house was spartan, yes, but that was to be expected. Seabrook was fine as a housemate, though she had disappeared into the nets as soon as she believed it safe to do so. That left him only Stroller’s statement and Morgan’s dying declaration for distraction, and they weren’t helping much to contain his mounting impatience. He could only listen to Morgan’s last moments so many times without wanting to kill Stroller, and Stroller was no longer on hand for the killing. Gates had the man shipped him off to Special Action’s blackest holding cells, the ones set aside for traitors awaiting trial. Stroller had given up a lot before he’d been shipped. There was a meet planned for next month. Les Inconnus leadership was looking to integrate the heads of a couple of new slaver organizations into the fold, and had a meeting set up on the White Stag. It had all gone in the report, along with Seabrook’s assurances that she’d managed to cover for Stroller’s absence by planting transfer papers into his file and answering his mail with the data he’d provided them. It’s driving me mad, this waiting for a response from Vasser! There was a knock at the front door. Gates pulled his sidearm and glanced across at Seabrook. No one is supposed to know we’re here, let alone come calling. She tapped a command into her terminal, checking the security feed. She nodded at Gates. Because he wasn’t the trusting sort, he still kept the pistol ready as he opened the door. He nearly dropped it when he saw who was standing on the front step. “Gates,” Vasser said, brushing past him. “Ma’am,” Gates muttered, still off balance. “Seabrook.” Gates closed the door, tried to get his thoughts moving. Vasser looked back at him, “Good to see you’re recovered.” “Thanks, Ma’am.” “Unfortunately, it’s the only good thing about this visit.” Gates opened his mouth, but she held up a hand to stop him: “Look, Internal Investigations Division, in the person of one Agent Jakob Neustedt, made a run at me last week, at almost exactly the same time your report hit my MobiGlas —” she paused, held the device up, showing it was in active recording mode, and giving both her agents a chance to think about the timing of that bit of news before resuming: “I told him to walk out the airlock, that it was under my direct orders and supervision. My associates at headquarters are saying that IID is now looking at ‘fiduciary inconsistencies’ in Special Action. They listed Seabrook’s Caterpillar as one of those irregularities.” “How the hell?” Seabrook blurted. Gates kept his mouth shut, anger building as he worked through the implications. Vasser shook her head, “As I was the one gave the order, I felt I owed it to you both to tell you face to face: we can’t continue against Les Inconnus while this crap is going on. They clearly have people with clout on payroll, and those people will tip off the targets as soon as we move.” “Understood,” Gates said, holding his temper tight. Seabrook shook her head, “Someone in IID is working for them and we have to call it off?” “If some Advocacy agent is working for or with them, I can’t prove it, yet. Therefore Special Action is not undertaking any investigation of Les Inconnus until I can clear it. Am I understood?” “Understood,” Gates repeated, letting out a long, slow breath. “What!?” Seabrook barked at him. “You were the one who said we had to move, that taking them down wa–” He spoke over her: “Yes, I did say that.” Gates gestured at Vasser, “The Special Agent in Charge just told us Special Action is no longer on the case.” “I’ll follow orders … but … it’s …” Seabrook spluttered. Gates turned to Vasser, clicking heels together. “Thank you, Agent Vasser, for personally informing us.” Vasser nodded, “You’re welcome. I am sorry I can’t offer more comforting news.” “Understood,” Gates said, decision made. “Seabrook, I have a seat for you on the shuttle departing in five hours. I have other business to attend in the meantime.” Understood. Seabrook looked back and forth between Vasser and Gates, clearly puzzled. Vasser left without another word. “What the hell, Gates?” He paused a moment before replying, wanting to get it right. “Vasser’s hands are tied, Seabrook. She had to give the order to stand down, and do so on the record. Remember, she had her MobiGlas on and active. If she hadn’t, then she wouldn’t be able to deny responsibility for what I’m going to do.” “Wait, what?” “Think about what she said.” “She said we —” “No, she didn’t. Think. Her exact words were …” “She said —” her eyes shot wide. “She said Special Action.” “Exactly. And I’m on suspension. As in: not even Advocacy.” “But, that’s messed up.” He snorted. “Don’t like the heat this close to the sun, change your orbit.” Seabrook’s eyes narrowed with suspicion. “What are you going to do, Gates?” “I’m going to take them down, of course.” “Call it what it is: you mean to kill them.” He cocked his head, just looked at her. “I didn’t sign up for murder. We’re not above the law.” Gates nodded, “You’re right, we aren’t above it. That said, there’s a separate law for this.” She sniffed. “Gates, do you actually listen to yourself, sometimes?” “Look, Seabrook, I’ve been around a long, long time. Longer, probably, than the people you called dinosaurs when you were coming through the Academy. One thing I learned at the knee of the agents I called dinosaurs back when: we can never allow the murder of Advocacy agents to go unpunished. Never. Not once. Usually that means making an arrest and walking someone into a prison cell. Sometimes that means going all the way: off the charts and into the big black, and maybe not coming back. Stroller’s information gives us a shot at the leadership. I’m taking it.” “It’s not right, Gates.” “Agent Max Nawabi. Agent Gage Knowles.” She blanched. He was sure she’d have controlled her shock better if he’d slapped her. “They are what this is about. Nawabi and Knowles, and making sure Les Inconnus don’t make any more like them.” She held up a hand in surrender, “All right. I understand. I won’t go shooting my mouth off.” He nodded, once. “I didn’t think you would.” She turned away. “And Seabrook: you’re good people.” “Screw you, Gates!” she said under her breath. Reaching for her console, Seabrook hunched over the table and started typing. Gates shrugged. Pacifiers come in all shapes and sizes, I suppose. “Sorry,” she muttered, “just getting a few things you might find useful.” “You sure that’s a good idea? I mean, I appreciate it, but Vasser won’t be happy if she has to cover for your ass after that talk.” She turned and leveled a dark look at him, “You really think I’m that slow? That I don’t know how to dance the data to pick up a few items without it leading back to us?” “Sorry,” he said, meaning it. “It’s not my area of expertise.” “I know, it’s mine,” she said, turning back to the comp. “I’ll just start packing, then.” “You do that.” When he returned a few minutes later, she was done and on her way to her room. She said nothing to him. Even so, he heard the accusation in the silence. He put it away, sat down in the front room and pulled out his MobiGlas. Time to set my people digging. They made a mistake coming after Vasser, now there’s a chance my people can work backward from that point of contact. If there’s an after for me, it’d be helpful to know who Neustedt sold his soul to. Angelique can start working Senator Yaldiz’s contacts from that end, see if there’s something the Senate Oversight Committee on Advocacy Affairs might do with the knowledge Neustedt is working with Les Inconnus. He sent Angelique’s message and started going through the mental list of his other contacts. He typed Zara’s address in. Might come across a thing or two as well, with her ties among the corporate lobbyists. Best tap her as well, since Stroller confirmed the corporate connection Seabrook revealed. She still owes me big for keeping her and her corporate clients out of the newsfeeds on the Holbrook case. He was sending the last message when Seabrook spoke from behind him: “Still using the old protocols?” Gates looked over his shoulder at her. From the drawn look to her, she’d been thinking about hard choices and harsher realities. He didn’t feel good about opening that particular door for her. He remembered, too well, having the same thing done to him. They were not pleasant memories. He realized he’d left her question unanswered for too long. “They work, last I checked?” Gates said, wondering how his answer ended up a question. Seabrook smiled, “Oh, it works quite well, given enough message traffic to bury it in.” “Good. Our earlier conversation had me worried.” “Had I known we weren’t going to be working together, I’d have shown you a few tricks.” “You may have noticed, being an agent and paid to notice things, but I’m an old man. Learning new things does not come easy for me, or for those trying to teach me.” Seabrook snorted and reached for his MobiGlas, “You mind?” He handed it over without showing too much hesitation. She punched several keys, then handed it back to him. An image of an ID and passcode appeared on the screen. “I set up a blind account for you. Check it in a few days, there’ll be something for your use … call it … call it my contribution to the cause.” . . . to be continued Links ----- No links available. Images ------ 1 image/jpeg [ ![](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/media/n6ik8s2agc03ur/source/SeparateLawFI4.jpg) ](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/media/n6ik8s2agc03ur/source/SeparateLawFI4.jpg) SeparateLawFI4.jpg [Details](https://api.star-citizen.wiki/comm-links/images/640) Last Modified 12 years ago Size 1.49 MB [Source](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/media/n6ik8s2agc03ur/source/SeparateLawFI4.jpg) [Info](https://api.star-citizen.wiki/comm-links/images/640) Metadata -------- CIG ID 13248 Channel Undefined Category Undefined Series A Separate Law Comments 26 Published 12 years ago (2013-09-05T00:00:00+00:00) [RSI Article](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/serialized-fiction/13248-A-SEPARATE-LAW-PART-NINE) [API](https://api.star-citizen.wiki/api/comm-links/13248)