Good news and bad news. I guess that describes the few hours that followed after this shootout the best.

The first was: Good news, I wasn’t dead. I know that because when I regained consciousness, I was staring at the ceiling of Nirazera’s office. Or at least I assumed that it was the ceiling of her office. Not like I had paid much attention to it before.

The bad news was that I wished I would have been dead. Fuck did I hurt. Did you ever have one of those nighttime leg cramps? You know the ones where your calf cramps so hard that it is like concrete and you wake up yelling and even two days later there is still this lingering pain? Yeah, that is how my whole body felt.

And then it hit me. The fight. What had happened in the end. I had blacked out and no idea how it ended. Was Ralgau still alive? Nirazera? I tried to move but even turning my head elicited a groan. Which was enough to alert the other people in the office.

“Someone is waking up from his beauty sleep.” I heard Ralgau’s voice.

Okay, so he was also alive. Was he captured? For that matter was I captured? I tried moving my hands. And the moment I tried to do that, the mistreated muscles locked up again and another groan escaped my lips.

“What happened?” I groaned out giving up on the idea of moving right now.

“You got zapped my friend.” Ralgau answered. Why did I hear a smirk in his voice? “Believe me, it looked awesome. Heroic and all. You were all authority. Hands up. Like a real Galaxy Ranger.”

“Didn’t work out though. His suit has a BSDU and you were on the receiving end of it.” Nirazera chimed in.

“BSDU?” my brain was still in catch-up mode.

“Stands for BioStatic Discharge Unit. It’s a last ditch module. Saves up any kind of electricity it can grab. Mostly from your body but can also be charged from other sources. Packs a punch in a tight spot.”

“Fair enough. What else happened and can someone please help me up?”

I heard Ralgau’s chuckle over the com. Then I saw the big lug looming over me. He carefully picked me up in a princess carry and then plopped me into one of the chairs in front of Nirazera’s desk. I never thought anybody would princess carry me and I am not sure I enjoyed the experience. It is one thing when someone lugged you around in a fireman’s carry to get you out of danger. Princess carry felt weirdly… vulnerable!?

When I was settled in the chair, I managed to turn my head and take in the office. Next to the desk and struggling against restraints was the guy that zapped me. Someone had made sure that he didn’t get away. His ankles were cuffed together, his knees were cuffed together, he was wearing a yoke around his neck that his hands were cuffed to and then his elbows were cuffed together as well. Didn’t look comfortable at all but my sympathy for him was surprisingly low.

Now that I had started moving a little, I actually felt the pain subsiding and my muscles started working again. So I used the chance to look around. I saw Brelics body lying face down on one wall and Four Arms was lying next to him. Both were rather dead. But considering that people came back from the dead, it didn’t really mean anything. Normally killing somebody was a pretty permanent solution to a problem. Here you couldn’t be sure that the guy you just killed wouldn’t kill you right back.

I turned to the office owner:”Nirazera, I am sure Ralgau already asked you about what happened but would you mind getting me up to speed? Oh, and how long was I out for?”

“You were unconscious for about ten minutes. Not a long time. That is the thing about BDUS. When they don’t kill you, they only provide enough time for people to tie you up before you come back for more.

“As for what happened? When I started making inquiries about the data I got some interest from people that would be beneficial for you to deal with. But apparently the Red Moon also found out that the data exists and that I had it. So they swung by with two thugs and the System Lord’s right hand. They demanded I hand over the data. The thing is when they disabled my door locks, I was able to contact some associates of mine but when I started playing for time they started to get rough.

“This piece of void cursed dirt,” she pointed at the boss guy, “was just telling me in detail how they would bring me in and give me to the Black Dragon in the hopes that I would be sold to some slumlord’s pleasure haven if I don’t play ball. Fat chance of that.”

“You know,” she said a little pensive, “They say power doesn’t change you, it just highlights who you really are. If that is true, then this one was always a piece of dirt and definitely on the dimmer side of the star chart.”

“Okay, I guess you guys managed to take that guy down just fine without me?”

“It was all the big guy. He surprised the ‘mighty right and of the system lord’ something fierce.”

“Yeah, how did you do that? I saw my plasma bolts just spash off of him?”

Instead of answering, Ralgau drew the big blade he had bought before we had shipped out to the claim. Then he looked at me.

“What you waved a knife in his face? His armor can shrug off plasma bolts but he caved to a knife?”

“Not just any knife Malcolm. This is a vibro blade.”

My facial expression must have clue him in to the fact that he might as well be speaking martian right now.

“The armor works because whenever there is a high impact, it distributes them. Same for heat. So plasma will do nothing against his armor. And lasers not much more. Slugs are completely shrugged off and aren’t even noticed. But our friend was too reliant on the armor. When you had him distracted with your Galaxy Ranger routine, I was able to shove the knife between his ribs. The tip and edge are vibrating at very high rotating frequencies. Great against armor and even better against smart fabrics. Disrupts the ability to distribute impacts and overloads a very small, very specific section. A fun toy.”

“And with a knife in his ribs, the fight left him,” Nirazera finished for Ralgau. “ When you came to, we had just gotten done cuffing him well and good.”

Okay, made sense. Or not. Whatever. How the fuck was I supposed to know about vibro knifes and shit? I mean unless I asked the question, nobody told me fuck all. Like: Hey Kade, you can zap the shit out of someone with a vac suit addon. But no, if I didn’t know what to ask about it, I didn’t know. The problem was that since I didn’t know so much, there was no question to ask. Not entirely true, because there was something else still bothering me. Actually at least two somethings.

“So why cuff him instead of putting a bullet in his brain. And why in the blaze was Brelic here?”

“Oh, you mean the Fell?” When I looked up at her, she added: “Ralgau already told me. Not sure how he was connected but considering that he was one of the thugs, I would say he was or is Red Dawn.”

“You mean he might have respawned again?”

“Respawn…” Nirazera savoured the word. “Interesting term. But as good as any. I am not sure but I would assume so.”

“Considering he died on the Asteroid, he couldn’t have been long out of the oven before his buddies picked him up.” Ralgau added.

“Yeah, I agree.” I nodded.

“That is also the reason why we kept Mr. Right Hand alive and locked up. No use to us dead and respawned. But if we can keep the local leadership occupied, we might buy us some time and we will be in a much stronger negotiating position.

“Talking of which, I have some options for you. And I can advise you on the risks and rewards of each but you need to make a decision. And considering that I am not after a new body, I would appreciate it if you could do this soon.”

Yeah, Nirazera had a point. We needed to put this stuff to rest. I did not want to fight a war when Nic arrived with her specialist cargo. I assumed they needed time to get us into the ship. And then we still had to see what state it was in and decide what the next steps would be.

“Before we get to that though: I would like to know what I am actually risking my sweet backside for. When I asked you last time what is so valuable on the Asteroid, you dodged the question. And I let you get away with it because a KKV strike by a criminal organisation was huge. But that was before I got guns shoved in my face and threatened to be the pleasure girl for some slumlord. So, what gives?”

Ah man. Shit, we were back to that question. I mean on one side I understood where she was coming from. But on the other hand, the more people knew about it, the bigger the risk for the whole salvage operation became. But then again… fucking Brelic. He knew about the ship. And I don’t think this attack on Nirazera was just about the data. Sure, the Red Dawn had painted a huge target on their asses by allowing the data of a KKV strike against an inhabited surface settlement to exist and fall into someone else’s hands. But I had a feeling that Brelic had also told them / sold them the information about the ship. And that meant it was a race against time. And real allies would help. If Nirazera would become one of them. I wasn’t sure that she would not turn around and sell us out to the highest bidder too.

I looked at Ralgau. Ralgau looked at me. I wiggled my hand in a so-so gesture at him. He nodded in return. And yes we did our non-verbal routine in front of Nirazera. But I wanted her to know that this was not only my decision. Then Ralgau thought for a moment, looked at the Grelic fixer and back at me and nodded his head.

Fuck.

“Okay. Have it your way. But know that what I am going to tell you now is something that six people knew. But I’d be surprised if the secret hadn’t made its way to the Red Dawn folks yet.”

Shit, she had a point. If Brelic was with the Red Dawn, then they had the information about the Relic already. And it would shape what options to move forward we had. But did I want to get more people involved? It was weird. On one hand I did not perceive this world as a game. On the other hand, I knew it was a game. And based on previous games, I did not expect these kinds of complications. We hadn’t even thrown people in the mix. But somehow, any NPC acted exactly like I would expect people to act. With their underlying motivations, betrayals, their own values and beliefs, etc. It made this world and this universe feel so alive and real. It also made it difficult to keep my priorities straight.

“Nah, nevermind. You should know what is going on because I am sure that will impact how we are going to handle this.”

I threw another look at Ralgau who ever so slightly nodded. I guess he agreed with me.

Taking a deep breath I explained to Nirazera how I had gotten the survey skill in the asteroid field and how I had tried to grind it. And how I had discovered the cave and the ship. Finally I told her how we got the asteroid claim registered to have salvage rights and the conflict with the Red Dawn and how I had given the other miners info of the ship and a tour to it. When I was done we all sat in silence for a moment. Well, Ralgau was standing, leaning against the wall but you catch my meaning. I guess we all were processing.

“Wow. That is a lot to take in. A relic. A functional relic. Right here. In this shitstain of a system. I can’t believe it.” Nirazera’s voice was equally awed and hysterical.

“Yeah. I mean we haven’t been able to get into it but we assume it is functional, considering there is still a shield around it. And I have a friend coming in with two experts from the university of Frieda 4 to help us get into it.”

“That sounds like a good plan. But yes, it also completely changes the dynamics and the options we have.”

When she paused I gave her the universal hand signal for go on / get to it.

“You see I was about to put five options on the table. But I think we are down to one.”

She paused again and I rolled my eyes. Either she thought we already got it or would get it now or she paused for dramatic effect. Neither one was working for me.

“What were the options and why aren’t they working anymore and what’s the last one we are left with in your opinion?”

“Hm? Oh yes. Option one was negotiating with Red Dawn. Or rather blackmailing the blackmailer. Use the KKV strike data and the threat to make it public or hand to system security as a threat to keep them in line. Could have worked but if they know about the ship they just won’t care. The threat vs. payoff rate is too skewed.

“Option two was negotiating with either the Black Dragons, the parental organisation of RD and handing them the data for a promise of non-aggression. Basically making sure they reign in their subsidiary. Won’t work for the same reason. Even if they don’t know about the relic yet, the moment they find out, they would encourage RD to take it no matter the fallout.

“Option three was negotiating with the Tsunami Syndicate. Another non-legal entity that is a counter to the Black Dragons. Basically threatening them with a bigger stick. Also won’t work because if Tsunami finds out about the ship, they will take the place of RD and try to get their hands on it.

“Option four was to actually release the KKV data to the system government and have them declare open season on RD. However, that had always a low chance of success because RD might have just not cared what system security does. Not like they are an unstoppable power. With information on the ship I can see them calling in reinforcements from other systems or even the Black Dragons which means system security would be outgunned and outmaneuvered. And if all that wouldn't come to pass, then there is a risk that system security finds out about the relic and then you would get the claim revoked and the system government will take charge on the salvage and you won’t see any benefit from it.”

I nodded along as she spoke. My thoughts had gone in similar directions even though I didn’t know all the players involved and who would be the ones to talk to. But the basics were the same. And I had a feeling I knew what the last option would be and I couldn’t say that I liked it much.

“Finally the fifth option and the one I think has some chance of success is to hire a mercenary corps for protection. Again, by itself that would not necessarily work but…”

“But?” I asked.

Nirazera hesitated a moment. I think now she was in the role of someone who needed to share something that made her uncomfortable. But you know, after airing my secrets I had a lot less sympathy for not playing with your cards open.

“Okay, let me start differently. Do you remember that job I offered you a while back?”

I nodded. “Sensitive data transfer something or the other. I rejected it because I didn’t have enough memory capacity and because I knew about the ship then.”

“Yes. Now that I know the whole story, I figured as much. Okay, here it is: That job is still open and needs to be completed. I assume you still don’t have enough money for the implant. The other thing is that you probably don’t have the ice for a good mercenary company or an in with any. And you need both if you don’t want your contract simply get taken over by RD and then you are up against two or three enemies.”

“That sounds like you would like to negotiate our arrangement. Sounds like we are talking about more than just putting us in contact with someone and negotiation.”

On one hand Nirazera had a few good points. On the other hand I was annoyed. We had already agreed to pay her 225k to advise us and negotiate on our behalf. Basically we agreed to pay two weekly claim shares to her to make the problem go away. Thinking back I was stunned that I thought the 100k she had offered me was good money. I really had no idea about the value of money here. And apparently I still didn’t.

Nirazera chuckled. “Malcolm, renegotiation would have happened anyway after you dropped the bomb with the KKV strike data. No way I get involved in something like that for chump change. However, now you have something that improves your negotiating position majorly.”

“And that’s the relic?”

“Yes,” she nodded. “But not only the fact that the relic exists and that you have the coordinates. That would net you a pretty penny or even a good ship.”

“So what do you want then?” Ralgau grunted.

“I want to be part of it. I want you guys to do this right. I want you to form a proper corporation with me as an investor and board member.”