New Beginnings

[Avyloran]

JANUARY 13 29482

Scarcity looked around Lumen Orien's communications hub. This really wasn't the job she had hoped for.
Llesa, her prospective employer, swept a hand across the room.
"I want all of this ripped out and replaced."
Her new boss peered at her over amber shades
"Do you think you can handle it?"
Scarcity sighed, she needed the work though and this org president looked like she could pay at least.
"Like I told you, I can do anything comms"
Scarcity really could, this job was way below her particular talents but she needed a start.
She had come to Rubi-Ka believing there was easy money to be made here, boy was she ever wrong.
The young fixer shook her head slightly.
She needed to get the hell off this rock...

*************************************************************


July 07 29462

Perrin swore at the console.
"Dumb fucking robot!"
Perrin Hanratty, skipper and sole crew of 'The Pony Express' was having a bad day.
As if plying the outer reaches of civilisation for salvage wasn't stressful enough. Now he'd have to suit up and go over to the  derelict he found himself.
He had figured this for an easy job too. Send the robot over, check for any valuables, tag the ship for the authorities to retrieve and he would collect a fee.
The fee was rubbish, just about covered maintenance on the ship but the rare finds could be something else.
Rare indeed though after the pirates had been through the place.
Pirates were generally in a hurry and frequently drunk so every so often they missed something, or he found some good tech on board to salvage or sell.
The wreck itself was too far out for him to get back with his salvage boat. Not very cost efficient.
Still it was the best pickings out here, just had to steer clear of scumbags.
Now his robot had frozen up and he had to go get it back.
How he hated leaving his ship in space...

*****************************************************************


"So I want all the latest tracking...radar..."
The Lumen Orien president waved her hand around vaguely.
"You know, all that...stuff."
Scarcity wondered just how rich the metaphysicist was.
"All that 'stuff' costs you know?"
Looking at Llesa she went on
"I don't usually do such small jobs but I will take this on, I do have some free time."
The 19 year old had way too much free time but wasn't about to let on.
"Right, it will take a while for all the new equipment to arrive. But of course you don't want to be blind and helpless in the meantime."
Scarcity smiled
"I will put together a plan so we can do the switchover smoothly. First of all..."

*****************************************************************


He felt naked without his ship. And he could really do without the bodies. Especially looking as fresh as these did. He hoped it had been quick for them at least.
The derelict's power was still on and the emergency lighting was giving everything a dark and sinister tone.
Hanratty carefully made his way to where his robot had frozen.
"There ye are, ye crock of shit!"
A loose power conduit had fallen on the robot's shell and the surge had scrambled something inside.
"Something expensive I'll wager!"
It wasn't too bad, he could easily patch it up enough to get back to the 'Pony' for proper repairs.
Well he'd have to fix it after he checked the rest of this wreck for something to make it worthwhile.
He'd had a run of bad luck lately so he could really use a break.
Grumbling and swearing to himself he went on through the ship...

*****************************************************************


Llesa was glad all that technical talk was over.
"Please, stay in the org while you do the work, we have everything you might need right here."
She smiled at Scarcity
"Though I suppose you would prefer to be nearer the parties? Hmm?"
Scarcity nodded weakly.
"Yeah sure, all those...um, parties."
She turned away towards the door then stopped and looked back at Llesa.
"Oh, I will need the numbers of everyone's comm to link them into the new system."
Llesa scrabbled for her comm
"Of course, mine is..."
Scarcity cut her off
"No, nearer the time...I have your number anyway silly..."

*****************************************************************


Hanratty had almost done with the ship. The pirates hadn't left much worth salvaging.
Just one more room with a busted door. It was jammed almost shut and he figured it for a sick-bay or something.
He could even see some type of equipment still functioning through a crack.
Might be something sellable if he could just get that door open...

"Aye, yer still useful then."
Closing the access plate on his robot he switched it back on and checked his repairs.
"Right then, come open this door and I may even let ye back aboard!"
The robot went through, ripped the door out and stood aside. Hanratty approached a large metal humming unit, lights blinking across the surface.
He looked inside and for once in his life he was lost for profanity.
Amid this mayhem...floating through space in a virtual slaughterhouse...
Looking right back at him was a baby girl...

*****************************************************************

[Llesa Varela]

You know that already but I have to say it anyway. I like the story a lot so far

[Avyloran]

((This episode(and the next) uses actual logs.))

*****************************************************************************
March 21 29482
Fireplace Room, Reets Retreat

Scarcity: hello
Hadrensen looks over
Anamelle looks up
Anamelle: Hi Scarc
Anamelle smiles
Hadrensen: Hello Scarcity
Anamelle: How are you doing?
Scarcity: yeah, I am good
Anamelle: How's the project going?
Scarcity waves a hand dismissively
Scarcity: oh thats ok, easy in fact
Hadrensen's gaze returns to the fire
Anamelle: Good.
Scarcity: Most of the equipment is arriving now
Anamelle nods
Scarcity: I'll be hiring an assistant
Anamelle: Let me know if you need anything extra. I have a supplies company you know.
Anamelle: An assistant?
Scarcity: someone to do all the boring stuff
Anamelle: Laundry?
Scarcity: wiring
Scarcity: I don't lay cable
Anamelle frowns for a moment
Anamelle: OOOH!
Anamelle shakes her head
Hadrensen chuckles softly
Anamelle: I had an image of wires in a washing machine for a moment
Anamelle giggles

**********************************************************************
July 8 29462
The Pony Express, The Galactic Rim

Eight days...then he would be rid of this latest passenger.
Hanratty glanced over at the incubator, thankful he didn't have to lift a finger.
The unit he'd found her in was self-contained and provided for every possible need a newborn could have.
Good thing too...last time he'd been around a baby was his little sister...long time ago now but the pain of loss was still there.
He shook his head "Yer better off in there than out here."
The incubator looked pretty expensive, virtually brand new, once it was empty he could maybe sell it on.
He considered the odds of him finding the baby alive. That far out a wreck could drift for years before discovery.
It was a fancy unit he'd found her in but recycling only went so far, that type of device still needed additional raw materials to operate efficiently.
In any case, the wreck's power wouldn't have lasted much longer and once life support was gone the unit wouldn't have been enough.
If he hadn't turned up when he did...
Poor little mite didn't have a clue about any of it. Well, in just over a week he would be back in civilisation.
Or at least what passed for civilisation this far out. He figured he could find somewhere for her, any system with a sizable population would have facilities he was sure.
Maybe some kind of charitable institute or hospital could take her off his hands. Bring her up, educate her, look out for her.
For some reason, he couldn't help it, every so often he would go over and check on her. She always held his gaze through the clear panel on the top.
He found it quite disconcerting how alive with intelligence her eyes seemed, despite her tender age.
She would smile up at him...and he'd feel his heart melt, poor thing had no idea the kinda universe she was born into...

**********************************************************************

Scarcity looks at Joe
Scarcity: So are you a native too?
Hadrensen: Native?  Yeah, I was born in Hope.
Scarcity nods
Scarcity: and how are you about animals? Do you have them at home?
Anamelle looks at Scarcity
Hadrensen: Not as a rule.
Scarcity: hmmm
Scarcity: Ana led me to belive it was what you did
Scarcity: for...er, cuddles, talking, can't remember the rest
Hadrensen: Animals?  Well in pie maybe..
Scarcity: well I can understand that ok
Scarcity giggles
Scarcity: only good animal is a cooked animal
Anamelle: hey!
Hadrensen: Well I wouldnt go that far.
Anamelle: I didn't say everyone had pets...
Hadrensen chuckles
Hadrensen: I know too many advis to say that.
Scarcity looks at Ana
Scarcity: yeah
Anamelle glares at Scarc
Anamelle: So, apart from eating animals, what do you do, Scarc?
Scarcity: electrics, nanotech
Scarcity: small stuff
Anamelle: Nanotech?
Scarcity: what do you do exactly?
Anamelle: Who? Me?
Scarcity nods
Anamelle: I run a small company: Reet Trading Inc.
Anamelle: That and do stuff for the org now and then.
Scarcity: yeah
Scarcity: me too
Scarcity: the org part
Scarcity: I don't run a small company
Anamelle: Administration... contacts, help with parties... and generally whatever any of the org officers bugs me for.

************************************************************************

Planetside. He hated it, it was always too hot, too cold...the air was full of dust, it was noisy and worst of all: the people.
Way too many of them, brushing past him as he went along the street. It was crazy, how they could stand it he had no idea.
Hanratty needed a break. He'd been all over the principal city on this planet and now he wanted a drink.
He spotted a sign. "Ah, there we go, no matter where ye go ye can always find a bar" He smiled to himself as he entered the place.
"Whiskey! Or as near to it as you got"
A nervous looking bartender placed a glass in front of him.
"The finest Whizgee this side of anywhere!"
Hanratty took a drink and pulled a face.
"Ugh, this has got to be some local muck!" He peered at the bartender
"I'm not a tourist you know"
"No sir! Of course not sir!" The bartender reached under the counter and pulled out another bottle.
Hanratty took a small sip "Better than the first one at least"
" So..." the bartender smiled knowingly at Hanratty,"is sir a merchant perhaps?"
The barkeep looked him up and down "Buying or selling? Hmmm?"
"Neither...I'm here...er, on business of sorts"
The bartender nodded. "I see"
"Tell me, what happens to orphans on this planet?"
"Orphans?" The bartender looked at Hanratty curiously "Well the state looks after them for a while I guess. Why do you ask?"
"Oh, nothing important" Hanratty took another drink
"Course once they are older they are sold"
"Sold? How d'ye mean?"
The bartender smiled, "Well not sold exactly. Some nice company comes along and offers to take guardianship...like an apprenticeship you might say."
He smiled again and continued  "Oh its all quite legal, the company pays the state for their cost of raising the child."
"Then, at 16, the 'apprentice' goes to work. We get recruiters here from mines, brothels...its hard to get good staff I hear"
The barkeep chuckled to himself and winked at Hanratty "So is that it? You want to buy yourself a 'companion'?"
Hanratty shook his head in disgust
"Great planet ye have here"

***********************************************************************

Anamelle: Maybe you should.
Scarcity: should what?
Anamelle: Run a small company. It's fun
Scarcity sighs
Scarcity: yeah
Anamelle: Well, unless you get to deal with stubborn atrox farmers...
Scarcity: I would if I had the start up capital...
Anamelle sighs
Scarcity: it doesn't matter anyway
Scarcity: I won't be around that long
Anamelle: You're not planning to stay?
Hadrensen: Oh? Why not?
Scarcity: I will be off this...
Scarcity pulls a face
Scarcity: ...dust bowl soon as I can
Anamelle: You don't like it here then?
Scarcity: ugh
Scarcity: no offence, I know you don't know any better, but this is a horrible place
Anamelle chuckles
Anamelle: Why so?
Scarcity laughs a little
Scarcity: how do you even need to ask?
Anamelle: Because I actually prefer this place to the rest of the universe
Scarcity: you mean apart from the civil war, the alien intrusions?
The social injustices....but above all, the single lack of an easy way to make money to get off THIS ROCK!
Anamelle observes Scarc for a moment
Scarcity: I need a drink
Hadrensen chuckles
Anamelle: You do
Hadrensen: I hate to say this but few places do much better.

**********************************************************************

Back on The Pony Express Hanratty was drunk. He didn't know what to do. He had seen what the mines did to people, miners had a pretty short life expectancy, though given their poor quality of life that was probably a blessing. He grunted.
This little one would more likely end up in a brothel, one of the Pleasuredomes you found in the trade hubs.
"Aye, its a bad enough start ye've had" He was sat on the floor, his back resting against the girl's incubator.
"I don't wanna be the one to make it any worse" He could hear her gurgling away to herself inside, it was quite soothing actually.
It reminded him of his baby sister. Well apart from the skin colour that is, for from head to toe his little guest was grey.
He hadn't noticed it on the wreck, the emergency lighting had cast a deathly hue everywhere and the faces of the victims hadn't much looked like faces anymore. Shuddering he finished the bottle off.
"Damn, this stuff goes down too fast" It was the real thing though, proper whiskey. He'd found half a case some months before.
It would fetch a decent price in these parts but there were some things you just couldn't sell.
Hanratty got up and took the last bottle from the case. He took it back over to where the incubator hummed busily, sustaining its precious cargo.
There were lights flickering from inside. Some kind of display, designed as a sensory stimulus he supposed.
Putting the bottle down he reached across the top of the unit and typed on the control panel. There was a hiss and the top of the incubator slid across and down.
He reached inside and picked up the baby, tiny in his large hands. She was cooing gently to herself, totally relaxed with him.
"Sure ye weigh not a thing" He thought about his sister again, and his mother, both lost long ago. He sighed to himself.
He couldn't let this one go, couldn't just leave her and forget. He looked around his ship, it was no palace but it was certainly big enough for two.
It was big enough for more than that truth be told but he liked to hoard a lot, tinker with stuff. He'd need to clear up a bit, finish a few projects, lay off the drinking too.
"Well yer no miner, thats for sure"
Placing her gently back and unhooking her tiny hand from one of his fingers, he closed the incubator safely.
"Sleep well little one, rest easy"
In the morning he would set a new course. Right out there, somewhere peaceful.
Home...

**********************************************************************

[Avyloran]

March 27 29482,
Lumen Orien Headquarters.


Vektria: hey
Scarcity: Hi
Scarcity smiles shyly
Vektria: How's the upgrades?
Scarcity: sorry, did you want to use the lab?
Vektria: It can wait.
Scarcity: these tests will be running all night
Vektria: Was gonna melt something
Vektria: Ahh, ok.
Scarcity: I can do them later though if you like, they aren't urgent
Vektria: No, go ahead.
Vektria: I'll get more stuff to melt in the meantime
Vektria chuckles
Scarcity: hmm, actually if you just want the smelter go ahead, I am not using it
Vektria: Was just bored
Scarcity: these tests are just using the computer
Vektria: k
Scarcity: I have a few components which need...persuading to work well together
Scarcity: so I am using the main computer to give them simulations in tandem and I can analyse the results to check for errata
Vektria opens her pack and starts pulling all sorts of stuff from it: jewellery, odd pieces of wire, strange unidentifiable objects and
puts them on the table
Scarcity watches the growing pile
Vektria: going good so far?
Vektria mutters something looking into her pack
Scarcity: so...are you building something?
Scarcity: oh, my tests?
Vektria: yup
Scarcity: yeah
Vektria: Not building, more like putting apart
Scarcity: I have a few problems
Vektria: Problems?
Scarcity: stuff that doesn't do what it should
Scarcity: and Llesa wanted everything
Vektria pulls something that looks like a bunch of copper wire out of her pack and adds it to the pile
Vektria: Need any parts?
Scarcity looks at the pile of junk
Scarcity: no thanks
Scarcity smiles sweetly
Vektria: No, I mean, I could get you parts
Vektria: For your work
Vektria: this...
Vektria nods towards the pile
Vektria: is just junk
Scarcity: ah
Vektria: Soon to be melted junk
Vektria grins
Scarcity: no, Llesa has given me a big budget and I don't need anything...um, shady
Vektria: Hmm
Scarcity smiles again
Vektria looks at Scarcity
Vektria: You're weird, girl.
Vektria: Anyway, let me find something... hmm
Vektria looks around
Scarcity sighs

************************************************** *********************************************
May 10 29463
Gracie IV, Cindall Free Trade Hub


"So what size do you need sir?" The trader looked up at Hanratty.
He scratched his head "Er...small, I guess."
Despite how much he hated it, docking in these places was necessary. Most large stations were independantly owned, managed and defended.
The licences they issued to traders and ridiculous taxes were how they made their money. In these outlying regions a person needed a safe place to trade unmolested.
From time to time he needed various supplies, equipment replacements he couldn't scavenge.
Now, embarassingly, he was shopping for childrens clothing. He didn't have the faintest idea about sizes or styles.
The little girl had been with him for just over a year now and was starting to explore her surroundings a bit more.
His old t-shirts just weren't suitable any longer, she needed proper fitting clothes...which was a nightmare in itself since she
was growing, albeit slowly.
"Like this?" The shopkeeper gave Hanratty an amused look and held up a tiny jumpsuit.
"Its tough wearing, easy to clean...they do like to get themselves in a mess don't they sir?"
Hanratty sighed. He had cleared up most of the more dangerous stuff aboard The Pony Express, locked it all safely away.
Good thing too, the little one seemed incredibly agile, climbing in and around the bigger structures on board.
He had to admit though, despite her explorations she never seemed to hurt herself. It was uncanny the way she avoided harm.
"Ye better give me five of those then, in whatever colours it comes in." He thought for a moment
"And five more of the next size up"
The shopkeeper gave a broad grin "Of course sir! Now, what about the feet?"
"Feet?" Hanratty sighed again, this was becoming more complicated than he had hoped.

************************************************** *********************************************


Vektria comes back with a trash can in her hands, puts it on the ground and shoves the pile into it
Scarcity: weren't you going to melt something?
Vektria: I am
Scarcity: in the can?
Vektria: I won't be carrying all this stuff one at a time though, I'll just shove it all in the machine
Vektria shrugs and takes the can, shoving the stuff into the smelter
Vektria: It'll take a moment.
Scarcity: so what? do you sell what comes out?
Vektria: Probably
Vektria: Or use the reusable stuff
Scarcity: I need a way to make more money
Vektria: Don't we all, eh?
Vektria looks at Scarc
Scarcity wonders why Vektria needs money
Vektria: So, how's business?
Scarcity: well, I have this job here
Vektria: Which will take you a while
Scarcity nods
Scarcity: But thats just small stuff really
Vektria: I'd take it myself but Llesa won't entrust me with as much as a screwdriver
Scarcity: I need a lot of money
Vektria: Oh? You're in trouble?
Scarcity: Trouble? What do you mean?
Vektria: Well, like a local mafia being after you or something.
Scarcity looks at Vektria
Scarcity: Is that why you need money?
Vektria shakes head
Vektria: I took care to be free of that kind of trouble on this planet
Scarcity: well I don't know anyone here so I haven't had any trouble yet
Scarcity smiles
Vektria: I need cash because I need to make a living.
Vektria shrugs
Scarcity: well thats just incidental
Scarcity: its a given you want to eat
Scarcity giggles
Vektria: Yeah, if I wanted to hunt my own food I'd become an adventurer
Scarcity: I am living pretty cheaply right now, using the org facilities mostly
Scarcity: saving every cred I can
Vektria: Oh? What for? If I may ask
Scarcity looks away
Scarcity: you'll just laugh
Scarcity: ...like the rest
Vektria: The rest who?
Scarcity: anyone I tell it to
Scarcity: they don't believe me or they think I am stupid
Vektria: Oh. Well, I can't promise anything if I don't know the reason people laugh
Scarcity: they don't think I could pilot it alone
Scarcity catches herself
Vektria: Pilot what?
Scarcity: damn
Scarcity looks at Vektria
Vektria raises a brow
Scarcity: a spaceship

************************************************** *********************************************


Back in the hangar Hanratty sealed the entrance closed behind himself. He went through The Pony, looking around for her.
"Grey! Where are ye?" He really would have to give her a proper name. Naming her after his sister had been his first thought...
But it didn't seem right, too much pain was still associated with it. No, this one needed a name of her own.
Damned if he could think of one though.
Where was she now? He chuckled to himself, never had he met anyone able to make themselves so scarce before.
"I have yer new clothes, come and see!"
Nothing. Not a sound. Usually he could find her that way, her little voice making various sounds.
He wasn't sure if it was some other language he didn't know or if it was just the noises a baby makes.
Oh well, he could just scan the ship and find her that way.
Sitting at the main console he set the ship's scanners to pick up bio signs and started the scan.
Looking at the screen he raised an eyebrow...several small traces and his large blob.
"Critters!" Bloody things were a nuisance, busy stations like this were full of them. But where was the girl?
He paled...some of the vermin you picked up had pretty sharp teeth. Taking a hand-held scanner he went through the ship.
As the device picked out each one's location he eliminated it, growing more and more unsettled. They had nasty teeth indeed...

He felt sick, that was it, he'd been through the whole ship...no more life signs, not a trace. He sank to the floor distraught.
It was all his fault. What had he been thinking? He wasn't able to raise a child alone on a ship.
He leaned his head against the wall beside him.
So stupid, he should have given her over to proper authorities somewhere...any life was better than no life at all.
Suddenly he heard a soft noise, coming from behind the wall, as far as he could tell. He brought the scanner round and scanned the wall...nothing.
He waved his hand in front of the device, it beeped, registering the bio signature as it should.
He heard the noise again. Throwing the scanner aside he started opening a nearby access hatch in the wall.
There wasn't a whole load of room in these spaces but different refittings and customisations left nooks and crannies in most ships, normally utilised by smugglers and the like.
Sliding the hatch aside he poked his head through and gasped...

************************************************** *********************************************

Vektria: You want to buy a spaceship?
Scarcity: not a big one
Vektria looks at Scarc incredulously
Scarcity: I just don't feel at home planet-bound
Scarcity: this was only meant to be a short stopover to make some creds
Scarcity: heh, three months later...
Vektria: Okey... Sounds insane. I like it.
Scarcity: I grew up out there
Vektria opens her bag again and pulls two cups
Vektria: Coffee?
Scarcity: and I mean really far out there
Scarcity: where its empty
Scarcity grins
Vektria: Sounds lonely and void of opportunities
Vektria: But hey, to each their own
Scarcity: I know space is relatively empty generally, but I mean the outer reaches
Vektria pours coffee into both cups and takes one
Scarcity: I...I never was used to lots of people
Vektria: Lots of people is good. You can hide in the crowd
Scarcity: It was just me and...
Scarcity trails off and looks sad
Vektria frowns
Vektria: You lost someone?
Scarcity bites her lip and looks away
Scarcity: Its...nothing...nevermind
Vektria: ok, drink your coffee
Vektria drinks hers
Scarcity looks into her coffee cup and takes a sip
Vektria: It's coffee
Vektria: Not spiked
Vektria grins
Scarcity smiles weakly
Scarcity: its good
Vektria: Made it myself.
Scarcity glances at the computer screen
Scarcity: excuse me one sec...
Scarcity reaches over, fingers dancing over the keyboard
Scarcity: I just need to adjust something...
Scarcity: there, lets see how that runs
Scarcity looks back at Vektria
Vektria picks up her cup again and drinks
Scarcity: It has to be just right
Scarcity: its like devices...computers...machines
Scarcity: they can strike a harmony together
Vektria: I rarely do that stuff anymore
Vektria shrugs
Vektria: Spend most of the time running from someone or to someone
Scarcity: but its so fascinating!
Vektria glances at the console
Scarcity: its like they are speaking
Scarcity: or singing rather
Scarcity smiles
Vektria smiles to herself a bit
Scarcity: you can tune and tweak them to be even more harmonious
Vektria: You're good at it I think
Scarcity: and the more interconnections, the greater the chorus
Scarcity: this is small stuff...I want to be working on a whole orchestra!
Scarcity sighs and looks faraway

************************************************** *********************************************


There she was!
But different somehow. She was wimpering to herself, obviously distressed.
He reached in and gently lifted the frightened little girl out of her hiding place.
All over her little head were brightly coloured blueish bumps. He shook his head, this was something new.
She had always had the bumps certainly, but previously they had been grey, same tone as the rest of her skin.
Hanratty carried her through to the lab, which was the closest thing he had to a sick-bay.
He carefully checked her for any injuries but she seemed completely unharmed.
"So ye were scared by the bugs and hid away. Aye, yer a clever wee thing!"
The sound of his voice was calming her somewhat but she was still clearly upset.
He carried her through to the ship's main console and placed her on the chair in front of it.
He switched the ship scanner on again and still she didn't show up.
"...Now thats just weird."
Flipping through the whole spectrum of settings he was unable to pick up any sign of her sat right there in front of him.
"Well its picking me up fine so its not the scanner...its you"
Shaking his head in bewilderment he turned to the shopping he had brought back with him.
"Well lets see if these'll fit ye" rummaging through the bags he glanced up at her and winked.
She started smiling back at him and suddenly the scanner beeped and she appeared on the screen.
He roared with laughter "Well I never!"
Hanratty dressed the now giggling little girl and sat her back in the seat where she stroked the fabric, cooing gently to herself.
"Its a bit big for now but I'm sure ye'll grow into it"
Nodding to himself he prepared The Pony for launch.
"Lets get away from the nasty little bugs eh?"

************************************************** *********************************************


Vektria: like a starship?
Vektria drinks more coffee
Scarcity: a ship? Well yeah, if you know what you are doing the same applies
Scarcity: its all one entity, but as with most kit, things can be stubborn...
Scarcity: the different components, systems...you teach them to speak to each other
Vektria: Have you been to Fgrid?
Scarcity pauses
Scarcity: I have heard of it...its something I am looking into actually
Scarcity: what do you know about it?
Scarcity looks at Vektria
Vektria: Basically, it's some old transportation system you can hack into
Vektria: You can hack *yourself* into
Scarcity looks thoughtful
Vektria: And from different rumours I heard there's more than two grid systems
Scarcity: thats the draw, why I want to learn more
Scarcity: imagine it...being part of that chorus!
Vektria: being inside a machine, on the wire!
Vektria nods
Scarcity looks hungry
Vektria: I heard about a fixer who got stuck inside
Vektria: Two, actually. You can still meet one of them. He's still human.
Scarcity: stuck?
Vektria: Yeah. I heard rumours of one fixer who became one with the grid permanently
Scarcity: wouldn't be such a bad thing...
Vektria: For me it would, I always take care inside the grid
Scarcity: I always take care everywhere
Scarcity: especially on such a strange planet as this
Vektria nods
Vektria: It is weird
Vektria: Has its advantages though
Scarcity: well, its not the place for me...
Vektria looks at Scarc
Vektria: You never know.
Scarcity: sooner I get off this rock the better
Scarcity yawns
Vektria: why do you hate the place so much?
Scarcity looks at Vek
Scarcity: you a native?
Vektria: nope
Scarcity: so why do you have to ask me?
Vektria: Because I like it here
Vektria: Omni Pol are incompetent enough
Scarcity: oh boy, I hate to think where you were before
Vektria: Clans can be easily avoided
Scarcity: the whole planet can be avoided, which is my plan
Vektria: And you can basically use all the factions and groups to your advantage
Vektria: You'd be surprised.
Scarcity: factions and groups mean nothing to me
Scarcity: I am not from here, I couldn't care less about their silly wars
Vektria: I guess, for you. I work with people though.
Scarcity: I just want to make enough to buy my way off this planet to somewhere they can afford my talents
Vektria: And the alien blockade and Omni-Tek keeping all trade routes has its... advantages.
Scarcity shakes her head
Scarcity: there is a ship somewhere I will make my home
Scarcity: go somewhere away from wars, away from factions
Vektria: You'll never get away from them
Vektria: Unless you isolate yourself totally, but even then you will have to get supplies somewhere
Scarcity: somewhere the stars sing to each other unmarred by the static and noise generated by so-called civilisation
Vektria: oh please
Vektria: You're a hippie
Vektria shakes her head
Scarcity looks at Vektria
Scarcity: you were born on a planet?
Vektria: Yeah
Scarcity: you grew up on a planet?
Vektria: Yeah, I did
Scarcity: then you don't understand
Scarcity: out there is serenity, here is madness
Scarcity yawns again
Scarcity: I need to go rest, these programs can run overnight
Vektria: Ok, I'll get the stuff I melted
Vektria puts away her cup
Scarcity: It was nice to talk to you
Vektria: Same
Scarcity: I don't much like crowds but this is ok
Vektria: You'll get used to them
Scarcity: I don't need to, I won't be among them for long enough
Scarcity: See you later

************************************************** *********************************************


A few hours later and they were outward bound again. He was always more relaxed when he wasn't docked.
"There we go...finished." He glanced down at the little girl playing on the floor.
The blueness of the bumps on her head had faded a little now but they were still unmistakably different.
There must be some connection to her being undetectable on the scanner he mused.
It was a big galaxy, he had been all over the Rim systems and seen lots of different races.
This little girl wasn't like anything he had encountered before.
All over the Milky Way huge corporations colonised vast swathes of systems, tailoring the genetics of their colonists for survival...and for commerciality.
There was a multitude of variations, specialisations for various ecosystems and tasks.
However the giant melting pot that resulted meant for every intended genetic blueprint there were many different offshoots, hybrids.
Despite tight controls on the seeding of colonists there was no real practical way to stop them from breeding themselves.
Nature had a way of taking back what humanity tried to control.
The little girl was in a world of her own, playing with some random electrical components. Picking each one up in turn she held it by her ear.
Chuckling to himself over what she might be listening for he picked her up and sat her down on the workbench in front of him.
"I made ye this" He took her wrist and attached a small device on a strap
"Lets see if ye can get it off easily" he watched her for a while as she pulled and played with the new toy.
Hanratty figured it was a good idea to have a quick way of finding her again.
She was increasingly more mobile now and he couldn't keep an eye on her every single second.
The device was a powered chip, a simple echo circuit tied into the ship's systems. She had it next to her ear, head cocked to the side.
He smiled at her, she looked so happy.
"So what am I gonna call ye, eh?" He needed a name for her, 'Grey' wouldn't do at all.
Hopefully he would find her more easily from now on but she would be speaking soon too, best to have a name for her to learn.
"Can't be calling ye Grey next time ye make yerself scarce now can we?"
Wait...that was it...Scarce...Scarcity!
"Aha! The perfect name for my little disappearing pixie!"
Hanratty's eyes twinkled as Scarcity smiled back at him.

************************************************** *********************************************

[Llesa Varela]

When I read it now our little improvised RP in HQ lab seems almost written for the story

I already told you that but going to repeat here: great job, Avy. 

[Redesine]

Grr, still can't post on the AO Forums as Red...

Really really enjoying this story. Love the layout style too. The clothes shopping bit was brilliant! "Feet?" hehe.

[Avyloran]

((Episode 4 at last heheh. Huge thanks to those who took part and allowed me to use their characters. I couldn't have done this in any other org. You guys are all stars!))
((This isn't completely finished...will be linking to another piece giving what happened outside too))((no pressure lol!))


19 August 29482

Lumen Orien HQ

Scarcity was worried. She didn't like the look of this one bit. Poking around in the back of a panel she had found a strange device.
This section was full of such gadgets, all doing their various jobs in keeping Lumen Orien's members linked together.
Connected to each other and the larger planetary and system-wide channels. The device she had found just didn't belong.
It looked too 'homemade' and while it was reading data from the other devices it wasn't sharing any back.
She called Llesa's com

Scarcity: Hello Llesa?
Llesa: Yes?
Scarcity: I am at the org HQ, got something a bit weird. Can you come over?
Llesa: Sure. I'll be right there.
Llesa: Everything ok?
Scarcity: Ok, I am upstairs in the Comms hub.
Scarcity: I found something...can't really indentify what it is ...or why its here
Llesa: Oh? Interesting.
Scarcity: I want to show it to you before I remove it.
Llesa: I'm on my way. I'll be there soon. Going to grid

Llesa gridded into Lumen's city and smiled as she waved to some Lumen members in the org cafe.
Kate, the leet which seemed to have adopted them all, was jumping around them as they were chatting.
From what she could see Ughers was relating some kind of story to a few others.
She hoped he'd finished the painting
"I'll be right down again!"
She went up to the communications hub to see what Scarc was talking about.

Llesa: Hi
Scarcity: Heya
Scarcity smiled
Llesa smiled back
Llesa: What's the problem?
Scarcity: well its over here, behind this panel
Scarcity showed Llesa a small device tucked away behind some cables in the wall
Scarcity: It just doesn't belong
Scarcity looked at Llesa
Scarcity: Any idea what it is?
Llesa adjusted her glasses and peered in the general direction where Scarcity was pointing
Llesa: err
Llesa adjusted her glasses again
Llesa: I'm not good at this...
Scarcity: Its been there a fair while too
Llesa: You mean there's something that's not supposed to be here?
Scarcity: yeah, its connected to the rest but not part of the rest
Llesa: Hmm, any idea what it does?
Scarcity: It seems to transmit data
Scarcity: From your systems
Llesa frowned
Llesa: And it doesn't belong here? Hmm, not good.
Scarcity: All the comms, mainframe, tracking, radar
Llesa: It transmits all that?
Scarcity: What about Dal, would he help? He knows about this stuff
Llesa looked at Scarcity
Llesa: Great idea, I'll call him.
Scarcity: cool, we can even show him the...whatever it is on the comm
Llesa: No
Llesa: If this thing transmits everything...
Llesa looked at Scarcity
Scarcity: Not absolutely everything
Scarcity: it seems to be selective, not always on
Llesa: Do you know *what* it transmits?
Scarcity: No, I haven't managed to unscramble it yet
Llesa typed on her comm

Llesa: Hey Dal? Are you busy?
Dalonte: No, I can talk
Scarcity shouted at Llesa's comm
Scarcity: Dal?
Llesa jumped a bit
Dalonte: Yeah?
Llesa: easy there
Scarcity: we got something to show you, some kind of device
Llesa: Mind coming to the headquarters?
Scarcity: here, show him over the comm
Llesa: That's not a good idea...
Scarcity: well its been here for quite some time anyway...
Llesa sighed
Llesa: Alright
Llesa moved the comm so that the device tucked away among cables in the wall was visible
Llesa: Can you see it?
Scarcity: can you make that out ok?
Dalonte: Yeah, its not very clear...
Llesa: Do you know what it is? Have you seen it before?
Llesa: I'm not good with this technical mumbo jumbo
Scarcity sighed
Dalonte: I don't know what it is, but I think I seen it before.
Llesa: Really? Where?
Dalonte: It was on one of my old jobs. I was told to destroy it after I cleared the whole building.
Llesa glanced at Scarcity
Scarcity: thats probably what we should do
Llesa: Yeah...
Dalonte: Ok I'll be there in a few minutes to take a closer look
Scarcity: Ok, Dal, see you when you get here
Dalonte: Ok



*********************************************************

7 July 29477

The Pony Express

Hanratty was restless. He kept pacing up and down the control deck checking the time.
All the viewing hatches on the ship were sealed closed...he wanted it to be a surprise for her. Well...one of the surprises.
Today was Scarcity's birthday. It had been many years now she had been with him, fifteen to be precise.
He had no idea what her actual birth date was but he always counted it from the day he had found her.
She couldn't have been much more than a week or two old at the time. Fifteen years...had it really been that long he mused.
It hadn't all been plain sailing, that was for sure.
He remembered one time she had run away, a few years before while they were planetside for major repairs.
He had thought then that he'd lost her forever. They'd had a silly fight about something
and she went off leaving him a note saying she was old enough to look after herself.
After two days of frantically looking for her she had just appeared back, rather subdued.
From what he gathered later she had spent two cold, hungry nights sleeping rough.
There had been other disagreements, periods of sulking but their father/daughter relationship had steadily grown over their time together.
He felt truly blessed that after his years of solitude before he had such a little angel in his life.
He used to think of her as his pupil too, now however he had nothing left to teach her, she was way more advanced than he was.
These days it was often the case that she showed him a new trick or idea, she was a true natural with anything technical.
The intercom buzzed and Scarcity's sleepy sounding voice came through
"Ratty? Ratty! Why are all the hatches sealed?"
He chuckled
"Just get up here birthday girl and ye'll find out!"



************************************************************

Llesa put her comm away
Scarcity: I don't think he has any idea what it is either.
Llesa: Well, can you safely remove it?
Scarcity: Lets find out
Llesa nodded
Llesa: Be careful
Scarcity stuck a large screwdriver behind the device and prised it off the conduit it was attached to
Llesa observed curiously
Scarcity  examined it all over, adjusting her eyepeice, she selected a small powered screwdriver
Scarcity: I think I can get the cover off...
Llesa: you think it's safe?
As she spoke the device began to vibrate and started emitting a single low-pitched tone
A console nearby started beeping urgently
Llesa looked nervous, as if afraid the device would bite her
Scarcity: Whats that now?
Llesa: uh oh
Scarcity checked the readout on the console and her eyes grew wide
She started tapping buttons all over the console frantically
Scarcity: Er...the city cloak just switched itself off!
Llesa: What??!
Llesa: What's going on?
Scarcity glanced at Llesa guiltily
Scarcity: I...er, I don't know
Llesa: Any alien activity?
Scarcity: Its jammed somehow...I can't get it back onlin...
Her voice was cut off by a high pitched keening noise and then...
KABOOOM!!
A massive explosion which rocked the entire building knocked them both to the floor.



**********************************************************

Scarcity giggled as she quickly threw on some clothes. Headed for the control deck, she wondered what Ratty was up to.
He really was a sweet old man, she owed him everything. He had taught her so much, from cooking to piloting a ship.
She was better at the piloting than the cooking mind you. Well that suited her just fine. Above all though he had given her a home.
There wasn't a feeling to compare to flying through the far reaches of space.
That sense of freedom, your journey only limited by imagination. Scarcity shared Hanratty's disdain of planet-dwellers.
As he always said: 'Why choose to live in one place? We have the whole galaxy to call home!'
The control deck was the hub of the ship and had been converted by Ratty to show as much of the surroundings as possible.
He had fitted the upper half of the hull with panels which could be opaque, could display sensor readouts or made transparent for a viewing gallery effect,
Where they were right now the sensors wouldn't work properly at all but once he made them transparent...
Scarcity rushed in
"Well?" she looked at him expectantly
"Happy birthday my little space monkey..." and he pressed a button on the console in front of him.
As the walls and ceiling disappeared Scarcity gasped. The control deck was flooded with colours, greens, blues, golden hues.
"Oh...! Oh my!...Its so...beautiful!"
Hanratty chuckled at how wide her eyes were
"Tis playing merry hell with the scanners but I reckoned right in the middle of a nebula would be a good place to have breakfast"



********************************************************

Llesa and Scarcity picked themselves up off the floor. The Lumen Orien president looked fiercely determined as she made for the exit
"See if you can get it back online again, I am going to organise some defences."
She ran out and went back down to the cafe to collect the others.
With her hands trembling Scarcity picked up her screwdriver and desperately started trying to bypass the blocked circuits.
BOOM!
There was another even more massive explosion which threw her to the floor again.
She felt dizzy as she sat up shaking her head, tasting blood and coughing and spluttering.
As the smoke and dust cleared Scarcity's heart missed a beat and she froze.
The last salvo had blasted a hole in the roof of the building and staring down at her on the floor from the gap in the ceiling was an alien!
She looked around for her beamer and a whimper escaped her lips...she couldn't see it anywhere amid the devastation.
The bug started weaving its head from side to side then, making a horrible screeching noise it hopped inside.
"Llesa sent me back in to see...HOLY SHIT!"
Redesine was standing in the doorway, his mouth gaping in shock
His eyes darted from the hole in the ceiling back to Scarcity's horrified face.
Redesine froze as he saw the alien creature start to advance on the terrified girl. The alien paused, glanced over at Red, then back at Scarcity.
There was a timeless moment when the creature seemed unsure who to attack first.
Then, in what felt like slow motion, Red drew his weapon, took aim and opened fire.
The bug immediately switched its attention to Red and screeching in pain and fury it charged him, blasting him with hostile nanobots as it closed in on him.
Red frantically gestured for Scarc to get out as he led the enraged alien away from her.
Stumbling around the piles of rubble he continued emptying his weapon into the approaching alien.
The pain from the nukes seemed to be someone else's pain for now...he had no time to think about it.
He wasn't sure if he got off a lucky shot or not but it finally stopped dead just a couple of meters away.
Red collapsed, suddenly very aware of the damage the bug had inflicted.
As he faded from conciousness the last thing he saw was Scarcity frantically calling for help on her comm...



********************************************************

Scarcity hugged Hanratty tightly
"Its the bestest birthday present ever!"
Hanratty smiled. They had seen nebulae before, but never like this one and certainly never this close.
"There was also this wee thing I made..."
He gave her a small device
"Its an eyepeice, it should fit over yer right eye just fine."
She put it on and looked all about
"What is it supposed to do? Where are the controls?"
Hanratty grinned
"It views the whole electromagnetic spectrum...and the controls are in yer head of course!"
Scarcity blinked and looked puzzled
"What do you mean in my head?"
"Well, to have buttons and controls on it would make it too big and clumsy to wear comfortably. Would look silly on such a small head like yours.
This works by direct control."
Still looking puzzled she shook her head
"I don't get it, I can't see anything"
"It uses feedback from yer brain activity...ye have to learn how to control it by thinking and focussing."
Scarcity looked at Hanratty with admiration
"Thats so clever!"
The old pilot blushed and shook his head
"Oh its not that difficult to make...its more tricky to control. I had some success but I have a feeling you will fare better with it."
He tried not to laugh as she started pulling faces of extreme concentration.
"Oooooooh! I got something!"
She pointed to an area of the nebula
"Whats that? Like a fuzzy shape."
Hanratty looked where she was pointing
"You must have it working then, I can't see a thing."
He didn't mention it took him three weeks to finally see something with it. She really was amazing.
Hanratty peered closer. Hmm, now that she mentioned it there did seem to be an strange flicker.
Proximity alarms started going off as suddenly, right before their eyes a ship decloaked. A large ship, bristling with turrets.
It was headed straight for them. They glanced at each other in fear, only one thing such a ship could be...
"Pirates...!"



*********************************************************

[Avyloran]

((This is to add some background to stuff which happened after the attack. Mostly so Lumen members(old and new) are 'up to speed' as it were with the story. It won't be posted on Buzz. I saved the log from just after the attack. Episode 5 is imminent(honest heheh) ))

25 August 29482

Reet's Retreat, Fireplace room.

Scarcity: oh heya guys!
Anamelle looks up and chuckles
Hadrensen: Hello there Scarcity
Scarcity smiles
Anamelle: Hi there
Anamelle: fixers...
Hadrensen: can be as sneaky as some agents.....
Hadrensen smirks
Anamelle chuckles
Scarcity: heheh
Anamelle: How's it going?
Scarcity puts her gun away
Scarcity: its going ok
Scarcity: i am concerned we still haven't found...
Scarcity looks at Joe and pauses
Scarcity: its going ok
Hadrensen smiles slightly
Scarcity: have you seen Vek?
Hadrensen: I'll head on out.  Could use some sleep as it is.
Hadrensen smiles and leans over and gives Ana a kiss on the cheek.
Anamelle smiles at Joe
Scarcity: see you Joe
Hadrensen: See you guys around
Anamelle: see you later
Anamelle: I haven't seen Vek lately, no.
Scarcity: she is good at disappearing
Scarcity shakes her head
Anamelle: I have an odd feeling we're on some sort of a timer
Scarcity: timer?
Anamelle: yeah. Well, just an ominous feeling something bad's going to happen
Anamelle shrugs
Scarcity: i truly hope not
Scarcity: that raid was enough
Anamelle nods
Scarcity: I never want to see an alien that close ever again
Anamelle: There are worse things to see in close up
Scarcity: heh
Anamelle: Like giant spiders...
Scarcity: you weren't there
Anamelle shudders a bit
Scarcity: if not for Red I wouldn't be here now
Anamelle frowns
Anamelle: You're pretty young, aren't you?
Scarcity: yeah...what of it?
Anamelle: It's just... insurance...
Scarcity: heh
Scarcity: I am too young
Anamelle nods
Scarcity: its another year and a half before I can use it
Anamelle: Well, I don't know what's going on but I think we all might be in danger.
Anamelle: So... I'd get insured... it usually doesn't work but if there's even a slight chance....
Scarcity: well the systems were compromised but the main goal was siphoning off the creds
Anamelle: what do you mean?
Scarcity: it was linked in to the tax system
Scarcity: shop sales and org tax was...compromised
Scarcity: a percentage was filtered off
Anamelle: damn...
Anamelle: so we were being robbed.
Scarcity: a very small percentage, but after two years...
Anamelle nods
Scarcity: the org bank has suffered as a result
Scarcity: not the members
Scarcity: but of course they rely on the org bank too
Anamelle: It's the same thing really. The org bank belongs to us all
Scarcity: also you can consider any conversations held over comm to be not a secret
Scarcity: but that's more a personal concern
Scarcity giggles
Anamelle thinks for a moment then blushes a bit
Scarcity: anyway
Anamelle: If I get my hands on whoever did it...
Anamelle: ok
Scarcity: I am going to find Vektria
Anamelle: Be careful there.
Scarcity: oh I think I got her number
Scarcity smiles
Scarcity: see you later
Anamelle: See you later Scarc

***********************************************

Lumen Orien HQ, Org laboratory.

Scarcity: hey
Scarcity looks stressed
Scarcity: come over and sit down, we can talk
Vektria opens a bag and starts looking for something
Scarcity glances over at a screen and checks some data
Scarcity: so, Vek...you are ok with 'Vek'?
Vektria nods, still digging in her bag
Scarcity: ok
Vektria: HA! There it is.
Scarcity: what is?
Vektria offers Scarcity a Club-Beer Can
Vektria: Looks like you need it
Scarcity: heh
Scarcity: ok sure, I could use a drink
Scarcity takes a long drink
Scarcity sighs
Vektria: So, what's the job Ana told me about?
Scarcity: we would be talking in the comm center but theres a big hole in the roof
Scarcity: I need an assistant
Vektria: Oh?
Vektria raises a brow
Scarcity: the work I had already done was ruined
Scarcity: in the attack
Scarcity: and I need to replace that, I also need to spend more time analysing the systems
Scarcity: for breaches of security
Vektria nods
Scarcity: so I need another pair of hands
Scarcity: that's where you come in
Vektria: I don't know if I like the term "assistant" but... what exactly would I be doing?
Scarcity: well the design work is all done
Scarcity: its just installing it
Scarcity: but I have very high standards...
Scarcity looks at Vek
Vektria: You mean like... working and stuff?
Vektria makes a face
Scarcity: maybe this is a bad idea
Vektria chuckles
Vektria: Why did you ask for me in the first place then?
Scarcity: first time I met you
Scarcity: you were using the equipment in the lab
Scarcity: you seemed to know what you were doing
Vektria: Yeah, it's useful sometimes
Scarcity: but I am not sure
Scarcity: its not just knowing how it works
Vektria: Show me that design
Scarcity pulls out some scrappy drawings
Scarcity: er...well
Scarcity: that's another thing
Vektria looks at Scarcity and smiles
Scarcity: what?
Scarcity: I know what I want
Vektria: what what?
Scarcity: I can see it in my head
Vektria: Well, I can't see it in *your* head...
Scarcity: its not difficult
Scarcity: you just need to do exactly what I say
Vektria: Let me see those drawings.
Scarcity: the equipment is very sensitive
Scarcity passes over the scraps of paper
Vektria takes them and studies them for a while
Scarcity: you won't understand most of it
Vektria smiles to herself
Vektria: Ok, I'll do it
Vektria passes the drawings back to Scarcity
Scarcity: did you understand any of that?
Scarcity looks doubtful
Vektria: Maybe
Vektria: Do you want help or not?
Scarcity: i do
Vektria: Then I'll do it
Scarcity: but I really need you to follow my specifications precisely
Scarcity: I have run many tests on this stuff
Vektria: Don't worry, this thing will work
Scarcity: I can see how it works together more than you can know...
Scarcity: we will see how it goes, I could really use the help
Scarcity: you may even find it interesting...
Scarcity: we need to salvage what we can from the debris in there first
Scarcity: then the roof will be fixed...not by us of course
Vektria: It's not what I usually do but I'll manage
Scarcity: well we can start right now
Scarcity: or rather, you can start right now
Scarcity smiles
Vektria chuckles
Vektria: Sure, let me get a hammer
Scarcity sighs
Vektria grins
Vektria: just kidding
Scarcity: ok, I will let Llesa know you are working on this so you will get an allowance of sorts
Vektria: thanks
Scarcity: if you do well I will give you a bonus
Scarcity: its only fair
Vektria laughs
Scarcity: whats funny?
Vektria: Sorry
Vektria: Thanks for the bonus, but I'm not doing it for money
Scarcity: well if you don't want it...
Vektria: Where do you want to start?
Scarcity: ah right
Scarcity: come with me into the comm center...


((EDIT: I will be posting these logs in Buzz after all  ))

[Avyloran]

17 September 29482, Lumen Orien HQ


Scarcity picked her way through the stacks of building materials.
She watched Vektria hungrily eyeing up stuff for 'salvage'.
"The workmen will be moving all this out tomorrow, I am sure they have it all inventoried."
"Er...what?"
Vek looked evasive
"I was just thinking what a mess it is and all..."

Scar wondered what she would have thought of the mess if she had seen it first hand. It was still giving her nightmares.
"Well, we are here for the important stuff. No point in fixing the building if its prone to more attacks.
I do NOT want to go through THAT again!"

She wondered how much of the work she could leave to Vek.
The new assistant seemed good with tools and anyone who could understand the 'schematics' she had drawn up must have some talent at least.
Scarcity looked around and shivered, this place was full of bad memories now. The more she could leave Vektria unsupervised the better.
It would free her own time up to make creds on other jobs...safer jobs.
 
Like everyone else on Ka she needed to increase her income, it felt the longer she stayed here the more involved she was getting.
She didn't like the growing feeling of being 'trapped'.
It had been her 20th birthday the month before and she certainly didn't want to be here for her 21st.
That would drive her mad if she was here another whole year.


***************************************************

7 July 29477, The Pony Express

Searing pulses of light came hurtling towards them, breaking on The Pony's limited shielding.
Against the background maelstrom of colours from the nebula it was strangly beautiful.

"Scarcity!" Hanratty's shout broke her reverie
"Get on the Nav and plot us an evasive course. We're too far away from any safe havens for protection!"
Ratty wished he'd mounted some decent weapons on this boat. All he had were countermeasures and they wouldn't hold up for long against such a powerful ship.
Too late now of course and anyway, what did he know about combat. At least the Pony was fast.

He glanced over at his terrified companion. This wasn't just about him. He'd seen a fair few years himself,
he'd be damned if some pirates were gonna stop her doing the same... Or worse.
There had to be something they could do...
"Think damnit!"

He continued dropping countermeasures and sent out an emergency distress beacon. He tried not to think about the fact he had found that very same beacon alongside the gutted hull of a transport ship...
The ship rocked as the relentless pounding slowly ate away their shields.

10,000 miles and closing...

The captain of the pirate vessel smiled to himself. He loved this part most of all, the chase...
"Keep wearing them down. Make them believe they have a chance"

He chuckled to himself. He didn't really care what was aboard, they'd had a couple of good runs lately and their current quarry
didn't look to be worth a lot.
Well, he'd play until it bored him, then in for the kill. Anyway you never knew what you'd find, appearances could be deceptive.

*********************************************

4 September 29482

Scarcity entered the HQ quietly, it was late and she was hoping to catch her assistant off guard.
Vektria had told her she preferred working at night. The work was taking longer than she anticipated and she wanted to find out why.
A tall silent cloaked figure watched her from the shadows.

Making her way up to the lab Scarcity tried not to make a noise. She didn't mind if Vek was doing other jobs too, everyone had to make creds how they could.
She just wanted to make sure her work with Lumen wasn't suffering.
"So how's it coming along?"

Vektria jumped. She had been deep in concentration.
"Look at this, some weird energy signal..."
She pointed at the readout.
"Nevermind that, how is the job progressing?"
"The job is fine" Vek glanced at Scar and back at the readout, "You really should look at this"

Reaching over to switch off the monitor Scarcity shook her head.
"Its no wonder you are getting behind if you are so easily distracted. Is there something else taking up your time? Some other work?"
Vek pouted, "Thats not fair...do you have some problem with the quality of my work?"
Scarcity rubbed her temples, she was getting a headache.
"No, the quality is...adequate. Its the quantity I am concerned about."

Vektria pulled a face. "Its not like we have a deadline or anything..."
"You don't get it" Scarcity sighed "The sooner we finish up here the sooner I can take on another big project.
This could be good for both of us. If you do well I may take you with me."
Pulling another face Vek replied "What makes you think I want to go with you?"

"Look I really don't need this hassle now" Scarcity rubbed her temples again, she was seeing strange flashes of light over by the door.
She turned back to Vektria who switched the monitor back on.
"Look, its in here now" Vek glanced at the monitor and then pointed at the door "Over there"
Scarcity blinked, "What... its not just me...?"


**********************************************


Scarcity was scared witless as she tried to keep the Pony intact. It was taking all her piloting skills to avoid the heaviest fire.
The evasive manouvres however meant they weren't getting enough distance, despite their speed.

She glanced over at Hanratty. She'd never seen him look so worried before.
Hanratty was at a loss. He couldn't see any way out of this for them both. He needed to calm Scarcity too, reassure her.

"How's the power plant holding up?" He hoped to focus Scarcity's mind, to panic now could be fatal instantly.
"We are good for maybe 30 mins at this rate...the shields won't hold that long though!"
The look in her eyes told him she wasn't fooled. She knew how bad this was. He suddenly knew what he had to do.

"I've got an idea. I think we can fool these guys. Give me a sec, I'll be right back"
He went aft leaving Scarcity alone at the helm for a few minutes.
Hanratty came back carrying a large box.

"Ok, we're going to use the escape pod. I programmed it with the co-ordinates of the nearest outpost"
"But they'll just catch that!" Scarcity wondered if he had lost his mind
"No, they will follow the ship till its disabled, then come back for us."
Scarcity shook her head, "But we'll be defenceless in that pod!"
"I've set the Pony to self-destruct, there won't be any more pirates after that"

She couldn't believe what she was hearing "But its everything you own! Your whole life!"
Hanratty gave her hand a tight squeeze and smiled,"No, you are"
"Now no more buts! Get this box down to the escape pod, I'll join ye shortly"

Hanratty took over the helm as she made her way to the escape pod. He watched her on the internal monitors until he saw her enter the capsule.
"I'm here, what's keeping you?" as Scarcity's voice came over the comm he reached over and pressed a button on the console in front of him.


***********************************************

Following Scarcity quietly up to the lab the shadowy figure could barely contain herself. It was the one she was looking for!
The meddler who had ruined her plans... her years of work. Despite being nothing more than a damn kid!
Well revenge would be sweet indeed she thought as she sneaked into the lab.
 
The cloak she was using was painful but very clever. It drained her nano while operating so she would have to turn it off to attack.
The skeletal figure had checked the data dump her device had performed when it was discovered. Her target was under insurance age.
This lesson would be brutal and final.

Oooh, she's got a little friend, what fun! She cackled quietly to herself. This would be twice as satisfying.
She couldn't wait to see their faces.
She stayed in the shadows for a while listening to their conversation. She wanted to choose her moment.
One of them pointed right at her. Oh well, time for action she thought switching her cloak off.

Zhere Vryst's grinning nanomage countenance materialised in front of them, her hands moving as she started running nanoprograms.

"Who the f..."

Vektria's cry was cut off as the Nanotech's area nuke blasted her and Scar against the back of the lab.

"Hello kiddies! Hahahaha!"

Nanobots streamed through the air. Ripples of energy coursed through the nanomage's fingers as she rooted the two fixers where they lay.
The two girls were paralyzed as Zhere bombarded them with hostile programs. Vek was terrified, Scarcity looked unconscious..or worse.
She called out to her but there was no reply. She started inching her fingers towards her stims. She had to break loose somehow.

"Sticking your nose in where it doesn't belong!" another searing nuke hit Scar, animating her limp body like a puppet.
"You wanted to know who I am did you?" Another blast of energy
" ZHERE VRYST is who I am!! Now you can die happy!" The nanomage cackled wildly and hit Scarcity again.

Vektria took advantage of the nanomage's concentration on Scar and took a stim. She could feel the effects of the paralysis fading away.
Her limbs felt like lead as she slowly pulled her gun out. Thanking her lucky stars she kept it loaded at all times she opened fire.

"Ahahaha!" Zhere easily dodged the terrified girl's clumsy attempts at aiming and rooted her again.
She took out a scanner and pointed it at Scar. The reading seemed to please her.
She moved towards Vek a chilling smile growing on her lips.

"You can relax, the one I came for is dead."

Vek's eyes widened in fear as Zhere bent over and gently stroked her tear-stained face with a bony finger
"I think I'll let you live for now, you can tell the rest what happened here. But don't think I won't come back for you one day."

Vek struggled helplessly against her paralysis as the depraved witch went on

"You can count on it. I'll be in every shadow, every dark place you go. You won't forget my name now will you dearie...?"

With a final maniacal laugh the evil nanotechnician activated her cloak and was gone.


*****************************************************


Scarcity put the box down in the capsule. She wondered what was in it, the pod already had vital supplies stowed.
She flipped the internal comm, "I'm here, whats keeping you?"
The door of the pod slid shut behind her. She hit the release button but nothing happened.

"Ratty? There's a problem with the door! You need to open it from up there"
There was no reply from the flight deck. Suddenly there was a whirring noise and the pod started moving into launch position.

"What?! No, wait!" Scarcity frantically started beating on the door.
The capsule suddenly accelerated out of the Pony and she was thrown to the floor.



"There's an escape pod launched from the target boss"
The captain of the pirate ship raised an eyebrow, "Lifesigns?"
"Not too sure, the readings are a bit, er...fuzzy."
"No matter, track it's trajectory, we'll come back for it." Rats deserting a sinking ship he thought.
"I am more interested in the ship. Why haven't you caught it yet?!"
"Working on it Captain, its faster than it looks..."


Scarcity picked herself up. "Ratty! Ratty! What happened?"
The comm came suddenly to life, Hanratty's grizzled face looking at her.
"Scarcity, listen to me."

She shook her head, "You can't fight them! We're salvagers, not soldiers! They'll catch you and come back for me too!"

Hanratty gave a sad smile
"Scarcity, you were the best thing that ever happened to me. You changed my life, hell, ye gave me a life. Now its my turn to do the same."
"What do you mean?...no...NO...!" Scarcity sank to the floor, distraught

Hanratty sighed, as Scarcity sobbed, a tear rolling down his own cheek "I'm sorry, there's no other way, just don't hate me too much"
"In years to come mebbe you'll tell folk about the crazy old fool ye flew the galaxy with."
"I love ye Grey..."

Hanratty switched off the comm. There wasn't much time left. He changed course.
The self-destruct idea wasn't completely a lie, he just couldn't leave it to chance the pirates would be close enough to the blast.
There was only one way to be sure.


"Er Captain, they've changed course"
"Well they would do, they are trying to get away" He really would have to replace that one, too dumb for words.
"Actually no, they are headed straight for us, gaining fast"
The captain laughed hard, "So what are they trying to do, ram us...?"
"Er...yes Captain"


There was a silent blinding flash, as each of the two ships' engines went critical, outshining the nebula briefly, then fading to nothing.
The last image in Hanratty's head was of a little grey baby girl giggling up at him...


****************************************

[Llesa Varela]

 

Congrats on finishing the story. Great work