The First Run: Episode Five - [Comm-Links](https://api.star-citizen.wiki/comm-links) - The First Run: Episode Five The First Run: Episode Five =========================== Undefined Undefined The First Run [Previous](https://api.star-citizen.wiki/comm-links/13859) [Next](https://api.star-citizen.wiki/comm-links/13861) Content ------- English When the Night Stalker, Burnett’s ship, lurched into the docking station, the sounds of metal coupling together echoed through the ship. Immediately, faint music played against the outer steel. Looking out the Night Stalker’s port view, the meteor-scarred haven of the Stardevils reflected in the reddish light from the gas giant. The base looked like two or three old Starfarers had been dragged out of mothballs and welded together. “Home sweet home,” said Burnett from behind me. He showed me all his teeth and I went back to staring at the Stardevil’s base. “Why do you do this?” I asked. “Why do I do what?” A wrench or some other heavy device banged against the air lock. We were being allowed to enter. Burnett moved to the door, so I stepped forward. “Why do you steal? Tell me this at least, before you sell me. You owe me that much.” “No, I don’t,” he replied, gazing at me with half-lidded eyes. “Well, it won’t cost you anything, either.” Burnett made a grumbling noise in his throat. “Fine. It’s not like it’ll matter long. The UEE stinks of corruption, every damn corporation cheats, and if you try to do the right thing you get screwed. One day you just get sick of it and take what’s been owed.” He placed his massive hands on the door panels, both of them, and briefly gripped so tight his knuckles cracked. He shook his head as if some memory was invading it. When he glared back at me, I tried not to recoil. “While we’re here, I expect nothing but silence from you. If you’re good, I’ll tell them you have some skills that they can use. If you piss me off, I’ll tell them you’re only good for one thing, and I think you can guess what that is. Got it?” I nodded. “Good,” he said and punched the code into the airlock. Music flooded into the Night Stalker, if you were liberal with your definition of music. A strobing bass sounded like one note stuck on repeat and turned up to brain-melting levels. There were other screeching instruments overtop, but it was hard to distinguish between them. It sounded like the instruments were disintegrating as they were being played. The whole mess could have been mood music for a Robotic Underworld. Burnett pushed me through first as I held my ears closed with my fingertips. The artificial gravity was set really high and my legs sagged with each step. Burnett seemed to enjoy it. The innards of the base made the haphazard outside look planned. Tubes and other random shapes of metal had been welded to the walls. In the middle of the floor, a large phallic object made for a giant had been constructed. I didn’t see the Stardevil greeting committee until the man stepped out of the shadows. He had hair like rubber tubes, an abnormally long face, and inky black streaks in his arms and neck — marks of a heavy WIDoW user. “Gonna whicha broda sista,” said the tripped-out Stardevil with rubber tube hair, before he grabbed my arm and started dragging me down the hall. I struggled against him, but he was more used to the higher gravity and my boots slid along the metal grating in stunted clanks. Burnett stepped forward and shoved the Stardevil in the back, making him release my arm. “Keep your damn hands off,” said Burnett. I rubbed my arm. “Thank you.” “They haven’t paid for you, yet,” he said, looking away. A woman’s voice called out over the music. “Well, Burnett, have you brought us more than a little decryption business?” The woman was long and lithe, like a dancer, with black and white dreads, wearing a black leather jumpsuit. She wasn’t pretty, but had the confidence of a model. “Fresh meat, Synthia, if you’d like it,” he said, shrugging. “But if not, I can sell it somewhere else. I just need this file opened. The girl’s a bonus.” Synthia gave me a considering glance. “Follow me.” The passage was more of the same, like the twisted dream of an insane artist. At least the music wasn’t as deafening in the next part of the ship. Synthia brought us to what appeared to be a bar, if you enjoyed sitting on sharp objects. I eyed the stool made of bent rifles and remained standing. Burnett wisely leaned against the bar, while Synthia took position on a lumpy molded chair with sharp nails composing the backstop. “Let’s see it,” said Synthia, picking at an ebony fingernail. Burnett pulled the stolen MobiGlas from his breast pocket with two fingers and casually tossed it to Synthia. I must have made a noise in my throat, because Burnett narrowed his gaze in my direction, reminding me to keep my trap shut. Licking her lips, Synthia expertly tapped on the device for a minute before glancing up. “So?” he asked. “It can be done,” she said and her lips curled out, “for double the normal price.” The vein in Burnett’s neck pulsed to full standing. I’ll give him credit though, he swallowed it back and after stretching his neck gave his answer. “One-fifty and you get her.” He nodded in my direction. Synthia’s mouth pinched down to a point. “Her? You’re kidding me, right? She’d better be able to hot-wire an Avenger blindfolded to be worth that.” The grumble started in Burnett’s chest. When his forehead slumped, I knew he was going to give in. If you asked me later why I spoke up, I’d tell you it was quick thinking, but I’d be lying. Really it was pride and I didn’t even know how many credits they were talking. “I’m worth double that,” I said, right as Burnett was about to speak. Wide-eyed shock registered across Synthia’s face like a seismic event, which was probably the only thing that kept her from noticing Burnett about to reach over and choke me out. “I’m a trained chemist,” I blurted out. “I can double the efficiency on your WIDoW making. And not cutting it with junk. High quality only. Less side effects and better sell rate.” “Burnett?” asked Synthia. “Why’re you be so cagey? I’m as interested as a honey doll, but don’t chaw me. If she’s lying and wasting my time, then it’s two-fifty.” If the vein on Burnett’s neck had burst at that moment, I wouldn’t have been surprised. I spit the words out before he could ruin it: “My father owned a bar, and we brewed our own beer, and when times got tough, he brewed other stuff.” “You could be lying, girl,” said Synthia, tapping her lower lip with her black fingernail. “It’s on my MobiGlas, back on the ship. Brewers certifications, chemistry texts, the whole works. You’ll see. Let me go get it and I’ll show you.” When I moved toward the door, Burnett grabbed my arm. His fingers dug into the muscle and I had to suppress a cry of pain. “I’ll. Get. It.” intoning each word with such menace that I could feel my bones snapping already. He wasn’t going to just throw me out the airlock now, he was going to break me piece by piece. “You stay,” and pointed his meaty finger to the matching stool across from Synthia. After Burnett left, Synthia crossed her arms, tilted her head, and licked her lips in anticipation. “You’re lying, aren’t you?” I’d been making a spacer’s gamble without a plan in sight, but the way she looked at me, the way her eyes creased at the corners and sparkled with a mischievous light, made me realize I had to come up with something really fast. Rubbing my temples, I tried to think of something. Whatever it was, it had to be quick. Burnett would be back with my MobiGlas soon and then I’d be dead. MobiGlas. My MobiGlas. “He kidnapped me,” I said. “I’m a courier. The courier that was carrying that MobiGlas. He was going to throw me out the airlock, but I told him about the beacon the company puts on us for safety. So he decided to stick me with you to cover his tracks from what’s on the other MobiGlas.” “And why should I believe you?” asked Synthia. “You don’t have to believe me. Believe him. I recorded everything he said.” Or at least I hope I did. “It’s on the MobiGlas. I’ll play it back for you when he gets back.” Synthia stretched her neck and corralled her dreads to hang over her shoulder. Then she sub-vocalized some commands, I assumed to bring in reinforcements, and gave me a lazy wait-and-see glance. When Burnett returned, he threw me the MobiGlas. His lips were flat and his nostrils flared in twitches. “Show her your files.” I tapped on the glass, silently cheering when I found it was still recording, and handed the MobiGlas over to Synthia. She set the other one onto the table and started watching the playback. When a half-dozen other members of the Stardevils sauntered in with lead pipes and crowbars, each one looking successively more twisted than Synthia, Burnett backed against the bar and bared his teeth. His eyes flitted around the room. He knew something was going to happen. “Leave us to the UEE?” asked Synthia. “Not a very nice thing to do to a business partner. Maybe once I get these files off, we’ll shove this MobiGlas up you wide-wise and throw you out the airlock.” I backed away from Burnett as the others converged. He cracked his knuckles and looked ready for a fight. Despite being outnumbered, he didn’t look intimidated. In fact, he looked downright ready to sling fists. “I was going to ghost your ass,” said Synthia, “but I decided I’d let the gang have a little fun first. They don’t get these opportunities that often.” When Burnett made a desperate lunge towards Synthia, the others attacked. The fight quickly devolved into blunt weapons and fists, and Burnett, outnumbered and outarmed, was surprisingly holding his own. I used the distraction to grab the company MobiGlas and dart out of the room, my personal Glas unfortunately left behind. I wasn’t sure if they saw me, but I kept running as if they had. Thankfully, each corridor was so unique that I easily found my way back to the Night Stalker. With the airlock closed, I raced to the cockpit and started hammering buttons, hoping that Burnett hadn’t locked his system. When I hit the right sequence and the Night Stalker disengaged from the Stardevil’s base, I set the ship to head towards Oya III, fast as possible. Locking myself into the harness, I prepared for acceleration, right as an explosion rocked the ship. to be continued … Als der Night Stalker, Burnetts Schiff, in die Dockingstation eintauchte, hallte der Klang der Metallkupplung durch das Schiff. Sofort spielte schwache Musik gegen den äußeren Stahl. Mit Blick auf die Hafenansicht des Night Stalkers spiegelt sich der meteorgeschädigte Hafen der Sternenteufel im rötlichen Licht des Gasriesen wider. Die Basis sah aus, als wären zwei oder drei alte Starfarers aus Mottenkugeln gezogen und miteinander verschweißt worden. "Home sweet home", sagte Burnett von hinten. Er zeigte mir alle seine Zähne und ich starrte wieder auf die Basis des Sternenteufels. "Warum tust du das?" fragte ich. "Warum tue ich was?" Ein Schraubenschlüssel oder eine andere schwere Vorrichtung schlug gegen die Luftschleuse. Wir durften eintreten. Burnett ging zur Tür, also trat ich vor. "Warum stiehlst du? Sag mir zumindest das, bevor du mich verkaufst. Du schuldest mir so viel." "Nein, habe ich nicht", antwortete er und starrte mich mit halbleitenden Augen an. "Nun, es wird dich auch nichts kosten." Burnett machte ein meckerndes Geräusch in seinem Hals. "Gut. Es ist nicht so, dass es lange dauern wird. Die UEE stinkt nach Korruption, jede verdammte Firma betrügt, und wenn man versucht, das Richtige zu tun, wird man gefickt. Eines Tages wird man es einfach leid und nimmt, was einem geschuldet wird." Er legte seine massiven Hände auf die Türverkleidungen, beide von ihnen, und griff kurz so fest, dass seine Knöchel brachen. Er schüttelte den Kopf, als ob eine Erinnerung in ihn eindrang. Als er mich anstarrte, versuchte ich, nicht zurückzuschrecken. "Solange wir hier sind, erwarte ich nichts als Stille von dir. Wenn du gut bist, sage ich ihnen, dass du einige Fähigkeiten hast, die sie nutzen können. Wenn du mich sauer machst, sage ich ihnen, dass du nur für eine Sache gut bist, und ich denke, du kannst erraten, was das ist. Verstanden?" Ich nickte. "Gut", sagte er und drückte den Code in die Luftschleuse. Musik strömte in den Night Stalker, wenn Sie mit Ihrer Definition von Musik liberal waren. Ein stroboskopischer Bass klang wie eine Note, die bei der Wiederholung festgehalten und auf Hirnschmelzpegel eingestellt wurde. Es gab noch andere kreischende Instrumente, aber es war schwer, sie zu unterscheiden. Es klang, als würden die Instrumente beim Spielen zerfallen. Das ganze Chaos könnte Stimmungsmusik für eine robotische Unterwelt gewesen sein. Burnett schob mich zuerst durch, als ich meine Ohren mit den Fingerspitzen geschlossen hielt. Die künstliche Schwerkraft war sehr hoch angesetzt und meine Beine hingen bei jedem Schritt durch. Burnett schien es zu genießen. Die Innenseiten der Basis ließen den zufälligen Außenauftritt geplant erscheinen. Rohre und andere zufällige Formen aus Metall wurden an die Wände geschweißt. In der Mitte des Bodens war ein großes phallisches Objekt für einen Riesen gebaut worden. Ich habe das Stardevil-Grußkomitee erst gesehen, als der Mann aus dem Schatten trat. Er hatte haarartige Gummischläuche, ein ungewöhnlich langes Gesicht und tintenschwarze Streifen in Armen und Hals - Spuren eines schweren WIDoW-Anwenders. "Gonna whicha broda sista", sagte der ausgefallene Sternenteufel mit Gummischlauchhaaren, bevor er meinen Arm packte und anfing, mich den Flur entlang zu ziehen. Ich kämpfte gegen ihn, aber er war mehr an die höhere Schwerkraft gewöhnt und meine Stiefel rutschten in verkümmerten Klumpen über das Metallgitter. Burnett trat vor und schob den Sternenteufel in den Rücken und ließ ihn meinen Arm los. "Lass deine verdammten Hände weg", sagte Burnett. Ich rieb mir den Arm. " Danke." "Sie haben noch nicht für dich bezahlt", sagte er und sah weg. Die Stimme einer Frau rief über die Musik. "Nun, Burnett, hast du uns mehr als nur ein kleines Entschlüsselungsgeschäft gebracht?" Die Frau war lang und geschmeidig, wie eine Tänzerin, mit schwarz-weißen Dreads und trug einen schwarzen Lederoverall. Sie war nicht hübsch, hatte aber das Vertrauen eines Models. "Frisches Fleisch, Synthia, wenn du es magst", sagte er zuckend. "Aber wenn nicht, kann ich es woanders verkaufen. Ich brauche nur diese Datei geöffnet. Das Mädchen ist ein Bonus." Synthia gab mir einen überlegten Blick. " Folgt mir." Die Passage war eher die gleiche, wie der verdrehte Traum eines verrückten Künstlers. Zumindest war die Musik im nächsten Teil des Schiffes nicht so ohrenbetäubend. Synthia brachte uns in eine anscheinend bar, wenn man gerne auf scharfen Gegenständen saß. Ich sah den Hocker aus gebogenen Gewehren an und blieb stehen. Burnett lehnte sich weise an die Stange, während Synthia auf einem klumpig geformten Stuhl mit scharfen Nägeln, die den Rückanschlag bilden, Platz nahm. "Lass es uns sehen", sagte Synthia und riss an einem Ebenholz-Fingernagel. Burnett zog das gestohlene MobiGlas mit zwei Fingern aus seiner Brusttasche und warf es beiläufig an Synthia. Ich muss ein Geräusch in meinem Hals gemacht haben, denn Burnett verengte seinen Blick in meine Richtung und erinnerte mich daran, meine Klappe zu halten. Synthia leckte ihre Lippen und klopfte eine Minute lang fachmännisch auf das Gerät, bevor sie nach oben blickte. "Und?" fragte er. "Es ist machbar", sagte sie und ihre Lippen lockten sich, "für das Doppelte des normalen Preises." Die Vene in Burnetts Hals pulsierte bis zum Anschlag. Ich werde ihm jedoch Anerkennung zollen, er hat es zurückgeschluckt und nach dem Dehnen seines Halses seine Antwort gegeben. "Ein Fünfziger und du bekommst sie." Er nickte in meine Richtung. Synthias Mund wurde bis zu einem gewissen Punkt eingeklemmt. "Sie? Du verarscht mich, oder? Sie sollte besser in der Lage sein, einen Rächer mit verbundenen Augen kurzgeschlossen zu verkabeln, um das wert zu sein." Das Meckern begann in Burnetts Brust. Als seine Stirn zusammenbrach, wusste ich, dass er nachgeben würde. Wenn du mich später fragen würdest, warum ich mich gemeldet habe, würde ich dir sagen, dass es schnell geht, aber ich würde lügen. Wirklich es war Stolz und ich wusste nicht einmal, wie viele Credits sie sprachen. "Ich bin das Doppelte wert", sagte ich, gerade als Burnett im Begriff war zu sprechen. Mit großen Augen wurde ein Schock über Synthias Gesicht registriert, wie ein seismisches Ereignis, was wahrscheinlich das Einzige war, was sie davon abhielt, Burnett zu bemerken, die gleich nach vorne griff und mich erstickte. "Ich bin ausgebildeter Chemiker", sprang ich heraus. "Ich kann die Effizienz Ihrer WIDoW-Produktion verdoppeln. Und nicht mit Schrott schneiden. Nur hohe Qualität. Weniger Nebenwirkungen und bessere Verkaufsrate." "Burnett?" fragte Synthia. "Warum bist du so zurückhaltend? Ich bin so interessiert wie eine Honigpuppe, aber kau mich nicht an. Wenn sie lügt und meine Zeit verschwendet, dann ist es zwei zu fünfzig." Wenn die Vene an Burnetts Hals in diesem Moment geplatzt wäre, wäre ich nicht überrascht gewesen. Ich spucke die Worte aus, bevor er sie ruinieren konnte: "Mein Vater besaß eine Bar, und wir brauten unser eigenes Bier, und wenn es hart auf hart kam, braute er anderes Zeug." "Du könntest lügen, Mädchen", sagte Synthia und klopfte mit ihrem schwarzen Fingernagel auf ihre Unterlippe. "Es ist auf meinem MobiGlas, wieder auf dem Schiff. Brauereibescheinigungen, Chemie-Texte, das Ganze. Du wirst sehen. Lass es mich holen und ich zeige es dir." Als ich mich der Tür näherte, packte Burnett meinen Arm. Seine Finger gruben sich in den Muskel und ich musste einen Schmerzensschrei unterdrücken. "Ich werde. Holen Sie sich. Es..." jedes Wort mit einer solchen Bedrohung intonierend, dass ich schon jetzt spüren konnte, wie meine Knochen knickten. Er wollte mich jetzt nicht einfach aus der Luftschleuse werfen, er wollte mich Stück für Stück durchbrechen. "Du bleibst", und zeigte mit seinem fleischigen Finger auf den passenden Hocker gegenüber von Synthia. Nachdem Burnett gegangen war, verschränkte Synthia ihre Arme, neigte ihren Kopf und leckte ihre Lippen in Erwartung. "Du lügst, nicht wahr?" Ich hatte das Glücksspiel eines Spacers ohne einen Plan in Sichtweite gemacht, aber die Art und Weise, wie sie mich ansah, die Art und Weise, wie ihre Augen an den Ecken knitterten und mit einem schelmischen Licht funkelten, ließ mich erkennen, dass ich mir wirklich schnell etwas einfallen lassen musste. Als ich meine Schläfen rieb, versuchte ich, mir etwas auszudenken. Was auch immer es war, es musste schnell gehen. Burnett wäre bald mit meinem MobiGlas zurück und dann wäre ich tot. MobiGlas. Mein MobiGlas. "Er hat mich entführt", sagte ich. "Ich bin ein Kurier. Der Kurier, der das MobiGlas trug. Er wollte mich aus der Luftschleuse werfen, aber ich erzählte ihm von dem Leuchtfeuer, das die Firma uns zur Sicherheit anbringt. Also beschloss er, mich mit dir zusammenzuschlagen, um seine Spuren von dem zu verwischen, was auf dem anderen MobiGlas ist." "Und warum sollte ich dir glauben?" fragte Synthia. "Du musst mir nicht glauben. Glaub ihm. Ich habe alles aufgezeichnet, was er gesagt hat." Oder zumindest hoffe ich, dass ich es getan habe. "Es ist auf dem MobiGlas. Ich spiele es dir vor, wenn er zurückkommt." Synthia streckte ihren Hals aus und schloss ihre Dreads ein, um über ihre Schulter zu hängen. Dann hat sie einige Befehle sub-vokalisiert, von denen ich annahm, dass ich Verstärkung mitbringen würde, und mir einen faulen, abwartenden Blick zuwarf. Als Burnett zurückkam, warf er mir das MobiGlas zu. Seine Lippen waren flach und seine Nasenlöcher zuckten. "Zeig ihr deine Akten." Ich klopfte auf das Glas, jubelte leise, als ich feststellte, dass es noch aufgenommen wurde, und übergab das MobiGlas an Synthia. Sie stellte den anderen auf den Tisch und begann, sich die Wiedergabe anzusehen. Als ein halbes Dutzend andere Mitglieder der Stardevils mit Bleirohren und Brecheisen, die nacheinander verdrehter aussahen als Synthia, schlenderten, stützte sich Burnett gegen die Stange und entblößte seine Zähne. Seine Augen flogen durch den Raum. Er wusste, dass etwas passieren würde. "Überlass uns der UEE?" fragte Synthia. "Keine sehr schöne Sache, die man einem Geschäftspartner antun kann. Vielleicht schieben wir dir dieses MobiGlas in die Breite und werfen dich aus der Luftschleuse." Ich wich von Burnett zurück, als die anderen zusammenkamen. Er knackte seine Knöchel und sah bereit für einen Kampf aus. Obwohl er in der Unterzahl war, sah er nicht eingeschüchtert aus. Tatsächlich sah er geradezu bereit aus, Fäuste zu schießen. "Ich wollte deinen Arsch geistern lassen", sagte Synthia, "aber ich beschloss, dass ich die Bande zuerst ein wenig Spaß haben ließ. Sie bekommen diese Möglichkeiten nicht so oft." Als Burnett einen verzweifelten Ausfallschritt in Richtung Synthia machte, griffen die anderen an. Der Kampf entwickelte sich schnell zu stumpfen Waffen und Fäusten, und Burnett, in der Unterzahl und unterlegen, hielt sich überraschend gut. Ich nutzte die Ablenkung, um die Firma MobiGlas zu schnappen und aus dem Raum zu huschen, mein persönliches Glas blieb leider zurück. Ich war mir nicht sicher, ob sie mich sahen, aber ich rannte weiter, als hätten sie es getan. Glücklicherweise war jeder Korridor so einzigartig, dass ich leicht den Weg zurück zum Night Stalker fand. Mit geschlossener Luftschleuse raste ich zum Cockpit und fing an, Knöpfe zu hämmern, in der Hoffnung, dass Burnett sein System nicht gesperrt hatte. Als ich die richtige Sequenz traf und der Night Stalker sich von der Basis des Sternenteufels löste, setzte ich das Schiff so schnell wie möglich auf Oya III zu. Ich schloss mich in den Gurt ein und bereitete mich auf die Beschleunigung vor, gerade als eine Explosion das Schiff erschütterte. wird fortgesetzt..... When the Night Stalker, Burnett’s ship, lurched into the docking station, the sounds of metal coupling together echoed through the ship. Immediately, faint music played against the outer steel. Looking out the Night Stalker’s port view, the meteor-scarred haven of the Stardevils reflected in the reddish light from the gas giant. The base looked like two or three old Starfarers had been dragged out of mothballs and welded together. “Home sweet home,” said Burnett from behind me. He showed me all his teeth and I went back to staring at the Stardevil’s base. “Why do you do this?” I asked. “Why do I do what?” A wrench or some other heavy device banged against the air lock. We were being allowed to enter. Burnett moved to the door, so I stepped forward. “Why do you steal? Tell me this at least, before you sell me. You owe me that much.” “No, I don’t,” he replied, gazing at me with half-lidded eyes. “Well, it won’t cost you anything, either.” Burnett made a grumbling noise in his throat. “Fine. It’s not like it’ll matter long. The UEE stinks of corruption, every damn corporation cheats, and if you try to do the right thing you get screwed. One day you just get sick of it and take what’s been owed.” He placed his massive hands on the door panels, both of them, and briefly gripped so tight his knuckles cracked. He shook his head as if some memory was invading it. When he glared back at me, I tried not to recoil. “While we’re here, I expect nothing but silence from you. If you’re good, I’ll tell them you have some skills that they can use. If you piss me off, I’ll tell them you’re only good for one thing, and I think you can guess what that is. Got it?” I nodded. “Good,” he said and punched the code into the airlock. Music flooded into the Night Stalker, if you were liberal with your definition of music. A strobing bass sounded like one note stuck on repeat and turned up to brain-melting levels. There were other screeching instruments overtop, but it was hard to distinguish between them. It sounded like the instruments were disintegrating as they were being played. The whole mess could have been mood music for a Robotic Underworld. Burnett pushed me through first as I held my ears closed with my fingertips. The artificial gravity was set really high and my legs sagged with each step. Burnett seemed to enjoy it. The innards of the base made the haphazard outside look planned. Tubes and other random shapes of metal had been welded to the walls. In the middle of the floor, a large phallic object made for a giant had been constructed. I didn’t see the Stardevil greeting committee until the man stepped out of the shadows. He had hair like rubber tubes, an abnormally long face, and inky black streaks in his arms and neck — marks of a heavy WIDoW user. “Gonna whicha broda sista,” said the tripped-out Stardevil with rubber tube hair, before he grabbed my arm and started dragging me down the hall. I struggled against him, but he was more used to the higher gravity and my boots slid along the metal grating in stunted clanks. Burnett stepped forward and shoved the Stardevil in the back, making him release my arm. “Keep your damn hands off,” said Burnett. I rubbed my arm. “Thank you.” “They haven’t paid for you, yet,” he said, looking away. A woman’s voice called out over the music. “Well, Burnett, have you brought us more than a little decryption business?” The woman was long and lithe, like a dancer, with black and white dreads, wearing a black leather jumpsuit. She wasn’t pretty, but had the confidence of a model. “Fresh meat, Synthia, if you’d like it,” he said, shrugging. “But if not, I can sell it somewhere else. I just need this file opened. The girl’s a bonus.” Synthia gave me a considering glance. “Follow me.” The passage was more of the same, like the twisted dream of an insane artist. At least the music wasn’t as deafening in the next part of the ship. Synthia brought us to what appeared to be a bar, if you enjoyed sitting on sharp objects. I eyed the stool made of bent rifles and remained standing. Burnett wisely leaned against the bar, while Synthia took position on a lumpy molded chair with sharp nails composing the backstop. “Let’s see it,” said Synthia, picking at an ebony fingernail. Burnett pulled the stolen MobiGlas from his breast pocket with two fingers and casually tossed it to Synthia. I must have made a noise in my throat, because Burnett narrowed his gaze in my direction, reminding me to keep my trap shut. Licking her lips, Synthia expertly tapped on the device for a minute before glancing up. “So?” he asked. “It can be done,” she said and her lips curled out, “for double the normal price.” The vein in Burnett’s neck pulsed to full standing. I’ll give him credit though, he swallowed it back and after stretching his neck gave his answer. “One-fifty and you get her.” He nodded in my direction. Synthia’s mouth pinched down to a point. “Her? You’re kidding me, right? She’d better be able to hot-wire an Avenger blindfolded to be worth that.” The grumble started in Burnett’s chest. When his forehead slumped, I knew he was going to give in. If you asked me later why I spoke up, I’d tell you it was quick thinking, but I’d be lying. Really it was pride and I didn’t even know how many credits they were talking. “I’m worth double that,” I said, right as Burnett was about to speak. Wide-eyed shock registered across Synthia’s face like a seismic event, which was probably the only thing that kept her from noticing Burnett about to reach over and choke me out. “I’m a trained chemist,” I blurted out. “I can double the efficiency on your WIDoW making. And not cutting it with junk. High quality only. Less side effects and better sell rate.” “Burnett?” asked Synthia. “Why’re you be so cagey? I’m as interested as a honey doll, but don’t chaw me. If she’s lying and wasting my time, then it’s two-fifty.” If the vein on Burnett’s neck had burst at that moment, I wouldn’t have been surprised. I spit the words out before he could ruin it: “My father owned a bar, and we brewed our own beer, and when times got tough, he brewed other stuff.” “You could be lying, girl,” said Synthia, tapping her lower lip with her black fingernail. “It’s on my MobiGlas, back on the ship. Brewers certifications, chemistry texts, the whole works. You’ll see. Let me go get it and I’ll show you.” When I moved toward the door, Burnett grabbed my arm. His fingers dug into the muscle and I had to suppress a cry of pain. “I’ll. Get. It.” intoning each word with such menace that I could feel my bones snapping already. He wasn’t going to just throw me out the airlock now, he was going to break me piece by piece. “You stay,” and pointed his meaty finger to the matching stool across from Synthia. After Burnett left, Synthia crossed her arms, tilted her head, and licked her lips in anticipation. “You’re lying, aren’t you?” I’d been making a spacer’s gamble without a plan in sight, but the way she looked at me, the way her eyes creased at the corners and sparkled with a mischievous light, made me realize I had to come up with something really fast. Rubbing my temples, I tried to think of something. Whatever it was, it had to be quick. Burnett would be back with my MobiGlas soon and then I’d be dead. MobiGlas. My MobiGlas. “He kidnapped me,” I said. “I’m a courier. The courier that was carrying that MobiGlas. He was going to throw me out the airlock, but I told him about the beacon the company puts on us for safety. So he decided to stick me with you to cover his tracks from what’s on the other MobiGlas.” “And why should I believe you?” asked Synthia. “You don’t have to believe me. Believe him. I recorded everything he said.” Or at least I hope I did. “It’s on the MobiGlas. I’ll play it back for you when he gets back.” Synthia stretched her neck and corralled her dreads to hang over her shoulder. Then she sub-vocalized some commands, I assumed to bring in reinforcements, and gave me a lazy wait-and-see glance. When Burnett returned, he threw me the MobiGlas. His lips were flat and his nostrils flared in twitches. “Show her your files.” I tapped on the glass, silently cheering when I found it was still recording, and handed the MobiGlas over to Synthia. She set the other one onto the table and started watching the playback. When a half-dozen other members of the Stardevils sauntered in with lead pipes and crowbars, each one looking successively more twisted than Synthia, Burnett backed against the bar and bared his teeth. His eyes flitted around the room. He knew something was going to happen. “Leave us to the UEE?” asked Synthia. “Not a very nice thing to do to a business partner. Maybe once I get these files off, we’ll shove this MobiGlas up you wide-wise and throw you out the airlock.” I backed away from Burnett as the others converged. He cracked his knuckles and looked ready for a fight. Despite being outnumbered, he didn’t look intimidated. In fact, he looked downright ready to sling fists. “I was going to ghost your ass,” said Synthia, “but I decided I’d let the gang have a little fun first. They don’t get these opportunities that often.” When Burnett made a desperate lunge towards Synthia, the others attacked. The fight quickly devolved into blunt weapons and fists, and Burnett, outnumbered and outarmed, was surprisingly holding his own. I used the distraction to grab the company MobiGlas and dart out of the room, my personal Glas unfortunately left behind. I wasn’t sure if they saw me, but I kept running as if they had. Thankfully, each corridor was so unique that I easily found my way back to the Night Stalker. With the airlock closed, I raced to the cockpit and started hammering buttons, hoping that Burnett hadn’t locked his system. When I hit the right sequence and the Night Stalker disengaged from the Stardevil’s base, I set the ship to head towards Oya III, fast as possible. Locking myself into the harness, I prepared for acceleration, right as an explosion rocked the ship. to be continued … Links ----- No links available. Images ------ 1 image/jpeg [ ![](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/media/khggyuby7bo7rr/source/SorriLyrax_test2.jpg) ](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/media/khggyuby7bo7rr/source/SorriLyrax_test2.jpg) SorriLyrax_test2.jpg [Details](https://api.star-citizen.wiki/comm-links/images/1571) Last Modified 12 years ago Size 1.68 MB [Source](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/media/khggyuby7bo7rr/source/SorriLyrax_test2.jpg) [Info](https://api.star-citizen.wiki/comm-links/images/1571) Metadata -------- CIG ID 13860 Channel Undefined Category Undefined Series The First Run Comments 78 Published 11 years ago (2014-05-15T00:00:00+00:00) [RSI Article](https://robertsspaceindustries.com/comm-link/serialized-fiction/13860-The-First-Run-Episode-Five) [API](https://api.star-citizen.wiki/api/comm-links/13860)