FA+
Shop
372
Views
Views
5
Favorites
Favorites
Category
Story / Fantasy
Species Alien (Other)
Size 1614 x 2283
File Size 434.2 kB
Report this content
More from ArchiGalaxy
Listed in Folders
1.1, Tip-off - Sirius
"Nisa'Tar, I have something for you that might interest you.
There is one place, I checked it, you will have something to look at, and perhaps you will find something interesting there. It is in the mines at Sirius station.
Everything is ready for your visit, I will attach all the necessary documents to the message, use them, and work in the mines has been suspended. Do not look for me at the station, I am heading further.
P.S. hurry, work in the mines has been suspended for a couple of days.
Dreydan"
This message came today, just when we finished the last expedition. As part of a small group, I, Drake and Lina, set out on the Kolibris to the designated place, having provided ourselves with all the necessary equipment in advance: tasers with ammunition, portable communicators, a multi-tool and a portable shield generator. There is no such thing as too much safety.
This was the first outing in a very long time, I had already forgotten what it was like to step into such a social place and felt like a naive, xarth, tourist.
Upon arrival, we could look around, but Drake suggested looking for our local contacts, which we did, leaving the spaceship at the landing strip. However, an awkward incident awaited us from the threshold - some unfamiliar robotic personality, running away from local guards and a gang of thugs, rudely attacked our company. Fortunately, no one was hurt, they did not pay attention to us and we continued on our way.
At that time we did not yet know that with this collision we had become participants in an extremely suspicious and complicated case...
Despite the lack of a contact, I managed to catch one familiar face among the traders in the terminal lists. This was one of my old contacts. He turned out to be a prominent local bigwig, had settled in well on the trading levels, had built himself a decent reputation, and also shared territory with the local mafia. Few people come to him and no one dares to disturb him without warning or his personal invitation, while all doors were thrown open for him, so... making our way up the street, we caught many different looks from everyone we met, and behind our backs there was a whisper of gossip. Conspiracy could be forgotten, rumors spread quickly in such places, but they can be used for one's own purposes.
The meeting place turned out to be a prominent and wealthy establishment, an antique shop. The owner of the establishment was no less an interesting person, to match his goods - he was the rark Ceatus, a collector, whom everyone here knew under another name - Maximus.
Ceatus was not in the mood to receive guests, but his mood quickly changed when he learned who his visitor was, who had so brazenly and without regard for anything burst into his house.
— I said GET OUT! - someone barked, heavily walking around the numerous display cases in a fairly spacious room.
The doors creaked shut behind the visitors. Their eyes immediately fell on all the wealth of the collection, various objects, decorations, artifacts, figurines, dishes, various devices, weapons, and even a small living corner with miniature vegetation and no less miniature creatures, mostly chitinous.
— And what if I say that an old friend has arrived and a very rare buyer, to match your equally rare things? Maximus. Or should I call you Ceatus? - with these words, Sai took off her helmet, disconnected it from the atmosphere supply tubes and put it on the shelf near the high carved table, next to a very similar one, and almost the same, older, but carefully maintained, like everything in this place. A tall, hunchbacked and armored figure came out of its labyrinth, stopped near the table and gave the visitors a surprised look with all its eyes.
— Only if he himself replenishes my collection with something special. - he finished the words of the vargod, looking at the black thorn under his feet (Drake). His voice sounded unusually soft, as for such a heavy creature, and was completely different from the one that was heard behind the door.
We quickly found a common language and there, I found a package thrown into my pocket. Probably it is from that robotic muzzle. He told us about the local hierarchy, about the games and intrigues that unfold on the lower levels of the station, about curious guests and hinted at what we had unwittingly gotten ourselves into. We could have talked much longer, but a small incident occurred, which is why we had to leave the rare establishment soon.
At the exit, a not very pleasant surprise awaited us - again this mug, who, having damaged my drone, contacted me on a closed channel. The bot offers a deal, he intends to shoot two birds with one stone, find out what we have for a beautiful stone and give it "into the right hands". Naturally for a reward. The conversation turns out to be quite tense:
"- Well, hello." - a calm voice of the robot was heard, who continued to stand near the library, trying to stay in the shadows - "Behave naturally, don't twitch. I see you found my present, right? Forgive me, but I had no other choice. Otherwise, I would have been torn apart by primates, or even put behind bars or handed over for scrap metal. Listen. I have a proposal for you... I saw your ship, your equipment. I bet you probably have excellent scanners that can check this beautiful thing. How about you scan the object, then tell me all the information you were able to find out, and after that, I will take the thing from you and hand it over to the right hands. Naturally, all this is not for free. We divide the fee I receive in half, and we work in pairs. You do not tell anything to your comrades. Because I'm being watched, and if they suspect that you're connected to me, you'll have a lot of trouble..."
"- Hm. So you're letting me study the thing, and then you'll take it and the information about it and sell it? You want to get double the profit. You know, I can just board a ship and fly away, so far away that you won't find me in your entire existence. And you should also understand the possible risk, because if the "stone" turns out to be from the local ruins, you won't get it."
"- Oh. So you're also a girl."- the tone of his voice became a little playful and self-confident, and then he quietly laughed at the stranger's words
"- Baby," - he began conciliatorily - "I can actually put a spoke in the wheel, too, by simply handing you over to those who kept this thing. Believe me, they'll sweep everything away here just to get it. So what's the point of setting us up? It's better to make money from it."
He looked at the lizard that came forward, then smoothly returned his attention to his interlocutor.
"- It seems you didn't hear me. I was saying that you and I are working together, and you will get your share for the work done. Exactly half. 50%. Do you understand?... It is important to determine what kind of thing this is, and then we will decide what to do with it. Sell it, or get rid of it, if it suddenly turns out that the game is not worth the candle..."
"- First, unlike you, I do not exist. Second, if you want cooperation, then you will have to come up with a different reward. Third, keep in your electronic brains the option that in front of you is an excellent mechanic, who will not cost anything to hack you and give your head to Tsea.., ahem, Maximus."
"- And you are stubborn," - he praised her, lowering the bag with fish - "ohh ... Maybe you're not even on the register of ships arriving at the station? Don't be stupid."
But her further words made the bot come to the conclusion that he had been delayed at this station, and the prospect of leaving it began to take shape. And it also seemed that this stranger knew something about the big guy Maximus. Girlfriend?
"- So. 50% is a very good deal. Usually, adventurers who barely know each other don't offer each other such amounts, and this is already a plus in my favor, I am generous and appreciate other people's work. Further, if you don't have enough money, then I can become your mercenary, security guard, spy for three months, and for free. And since you have a large ship, very little will be required of you. A separate cabin for me, and a place for my fighter. You know, it is bad at long-distance flights, but on the other hand, I can always protect you if someone attacks in space."
And then he sighs dreamily.
"- Ah, did anyone really desire me, even if only in parts?" -a cheerful hoarse laugh interrupts his words, but seeing that the trio is about to leave, the steel one looks towards the street where the fruit selling area was.
"- What do you say to this arrangement?"
"- Keep the money for yourself, if you insist, then I will think of something else for you." -she finished, and then squeezed the drone in her hand. There was a crunch of metal mechanism and lenses, a flash of torn contacts.
— What a shame, it burned up! - she suddenly blurted out in an annoyed voice, took the valuable core out of the drone and threw away the remaining unremarkable metal fragments. And with them that strange little thing with the words "I'll think about it" scrawled on it.
I'm not interested in credits and the bot remains unanswered. Almost unanswered. I left him a tip that I'd think about it.
(Test page of the comic strip for this story fragment - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/53767630/ )
We went further and before continuing our journey we stopped at one of the restaurants to have some refreshments. There I was mistaken for a representative of the Bafadian species, a young civilization that had not yet reached the stars and, of course, my appearance and equipment raised questions from the locals and almost caused a conflict, but the owner of the establishment quickly settled the matter. The reputation of the establishment was dear to him. In addition, he turned out to be more attentive than the Tandarian: "even if you look like a Bafadian, you are by no means a purebred." There was curiosity in his words, but I did not have the opportunity to satisfy it. Time was more precious to us and soon we left the establishment. Then our paths diverged, we hurried to check the asteroid as soon as possible and get away from here. Therefore, in order not to waste even more time, we split up. I went to reconnaissance in the mines, and Drake and Lina to the shuttle, to prepare equipment. I prudently handed the parcel to Lina, who would leave it in the on-board laboratory upon arrival.
Upon arrival at the place, an unpleasant encounter awaited me. A couple of thugs, from those who were pursuing the steel one with the law enforcement officers, whom we were lucky enough to encounter upon arrival, noticed a familiar silhouette that they could not ignore. Well, there was nowhere to go, besides, the cherished thing was no longer with me. They tried to threaten with a weapon, but were met with unhealthy fearlessness and icy calm, because the barrel in front of my face did not frighten me. Threats did not work and they simply scanned me for the presence of the sought-after item and, being annoyed by the negative result, they left me alone. My journey continued.
Having reached the passage to the mines and having provided the local guard at the checkpoint with the necessary documents, it suddenly turned out that the mine was not yet ready for our visit. Now I was annoyed, since the prospect of staying at the station for another day did not please me. There was no other choice, I had to go back.
Upon arrival at the landing pads, another unexpected surprise awaited us there - a guy jumped up to our company, turning to me, holding out a bouquet of flowers and a letter. This was an incomprehensible gesture for me, as well as for Lina, as it turned out later. Having thanked the courier, I stepped on board, puzzled, while Drake naturally began to pick on the courier and began to find out "who, where from and why" and was successful in this matter.
— What the hell is this???
— They said to give it to you personally.
Inscription on the envelope: "To the best mechanic"
"- Well, hello baby, what have you decided about our relationship? I'm all impatient. I'm waiting for an answer, like a nightingale in summer. Call me ;)
Oh yeah. A bouquet of roses, if you're interested, then this is a gift in honor of our acquaintance. I hope you like it."
After reading the letter, everything became clear and curious, namely that what was written did not look like the creation of some program, I became curious to find out the nature of this complex machine and so, I went to meet him. I began to study the package and contacted this "robot". We agreed on a meeting that was to take place in a bar undercover, I was required to have a suitable image for the script he had prepared, in order to play out a scene to divert prying eyes and suspicions, so... Having transformed my cloak into an appropriate look and thrown a long cape over it, I went to an establishment called "Pearl", where our meeting was to take place.
Next - 1.2 Date - Sirius
I'd be glad to hear your opinion in the comments! Thank you!
"Nisa'Tar, I have something for you that might interest you.
There is one place, I checked it, you will have something to look at, and perhaps you will find something interesting there. It is in the mines at Sirius station.
Everything is ready for your visit, I will attach all the necessary documents to the message, use them, and work in the mines has been suspended. Do not look for me at the station, I am heading further.
P.S. hurry, work in the mines has been suspended for a couple of days.
Dreydan"
This message came today, just when we finished the last expedition. As part of a small group, I, Drake and Lina, set out on the Kolibris to the designated place, having provided ourselves with all the necessary equipment in advance: tasers with ammunition, portable communicators, a multi-tool and a portable shield generator. There is no such thing as too much safety.
This was the first outing in a very long time, I had already forgotten what it was like to step into such a social place and felt like a naive, xarth, tourist.
Upon arrival, we could look around, but Drake suggested looking for our local contacts, which we did, leaving the spaceship at the landing strip. However, an awkward incident awaited us from the threshold - some unfamiliar robotic personality, running away from local guards and a gang of thugs, rudely attacked our company. Fortunately, no one was hurt, they did not pay attention to us and we continued on our way.
At that time we did not yet know that with this collision we had become participants in an extremely suspicious and complicated case...
Despite the lack of a contact, I managed to catch one familiar face among the traders in the terminal lists. This was one of my old contacts. He turned out to be a prominent local bigwig, had settled in well on the trading levels, had built himself a decent reputation, and also shared territory with the local mafia. Few people come to him and no one dares to disturb him without warning or his personal invitation, while all doors were thrown open for him, so... making our way up the street, we caught many different looks from everyone we met, and behind our backs there was a whisper of gossip. Conspiracy could be forgotten, rumors spread quickly in such places, but they can be used for one's own purposes.
The meeting place turned out to be a prominent and wealthy establishment, an antique shop. The owner of the establishment was no less an interesting person, to match his goods - he was the rark Ceatus, a collector, whom everyone here knew under another name - Maximus.
Ceatus was not in the mood to receive guests, but his mood quickly changed when he learned who his visitor was, who had so brazenly and without regard for anything burst into his house.
— I said GET OUT! - someone barked, heavily walking around the numerous display cases in a fairly spacious room.
The doors creaked shut behind the visitors. Their eyes immediately fell on all the wealth of the collection, various objects, decorations, artifacts, figurines, dishes, various devices, weapons, and even a small living corner with miniature vegetation and no less miniature creatures, mostly chitinous.
— And what if I say that an old friend has arrived and a very rare buyer, to match your equally rare things? Maximus. Or should I call you Ceatus? - with these words, Sai took off her helmet, disconnected it from the atmosphere supply tubes and put it on the shelf near the high carved table, next to a very similar one, and almost the same, older, but carefully maintained, like everything in this place. A tall, hunchbacked and armored figure came out of its labyrinth, stopped near the table and gave the visitors a surprised look with all its eyes.
— Only if he himself replenishes my collection with something special. - he finished the words of the vargod, looking at the black thorn under his feet (Drake). His voice sounded unusually soft, as for such a heavy creature, and was completely different from the one that was heard behind the door.
We quickly found a common language and there, I found a package thrown into my pocket. Probably it is from that robotic muzzle. He told us about the local hierarchy, about the games and intrigues that unfold on the lower levels of the station, about curious guests and hinted at what we had unwittingly gotten ourselves into. We could have talked much longer, but a small incident occurred, which is why we had to leave the rare establishment soon.
At the exit, a not very pleasant surprise awaited us - again this mug, who, having damaged my drone, contacted me on a closed channel. The bot offers a deal, he intends to shoot two birds with one stone, find out what we have for a beautiful stone and give it "into the right hands". Naturally for a reward. The conversation turns out to be quite tense:
"- Well, hello." - a calm voice of the robot was heard, who continued to stand near the library, trying to stay in the shadows - "Behave naturally, don't twitch. I see you found my present, right? Forgive me, but I had no other choice. Otherwise, I would have been torn apart by primates, or even put behind bars or handed over for scrap metal. Listen. I have a proposal for you... I saw your ship, your equipment. I bet you probably have excellent scanners that can check this beautiful thing. How about you scan the object, then tell me all the information you were able to find out, and after that, I will take the thing from you and hand it over to the right hands. Naturally, all this is not for free. We divide the fee I receive in half, and we work in pairs. You do not tell anything to your comrades. Because I'm being watched, and if they suspect that you're connected to me, you'll have a lot of trouble..."
"- Hm. So you're letting me study the thing, and then you'll take it and the information about it and sell it? You want to get double the profit. You know, I can just board a ship and fly away, so far away that you won't find me in your entire existence. And you should also understand the possible risk, because if the "stone" turns out to be from the local ruins, you won't get it."
"- Oh. So you're also a girl."- the tone of his voice became a little playful and self-confident, and then he quietly laughed at the stranger's words
"- Baby," - he began conciliatorily - "I can actually put a spoke in the wheel, too, by simply handing you over to those who kept this thing. Believe me, they'll sweep everything away here just to get it. So what's the point of setting us up? It's better to make money from it."
He looked at the lizard that came forward, then smoothly returned his attention to his interlocutor.
"- It seems you didn't hear me. I was saying that you and I are working together, and you will get your share for the work done. Exactly half. 50%. Do you understand?... It is important to determine what kind of thing this is, and then we will decide what to do with it. Sell it, or get rid of it, if it suddenly turns out that the game is not worth the candle..."
"- First, unlike you, I do not exist. Second, if you want cooperation, then you will have to come up with a different reward. Third, keep in your electronic brains the option that in front of you is an excellent mechanic, who will not cost anything to hack you and give your head to Tsea.., ahem, Maximus."
"- And you are stubborn," - he praised her, lowering the bag with fish - "ohh ... Maybe you're not even on the register of ships arriving at the station? Don't be stupid."
But her further words made the bot come to the conclusion that he had been delayed at this station, and the prospect of leaving it began to take shape. And it also seemed that this stranger knew something about the big guy Maximus. Girlfriend?
"- So. 50% is a very good deal. Usually, adventurers who barely know each other don't offer each other such amounts, and this is already a plus in my favor, I am generous and appreciate other people's work. Further, if you don't have enough money, then I can become your mercenary, security guard, spy for three months, and for free. And since you have a large ship, very little will be required of you. A separate cabin for me, and a place for my fighter. You know, it is bad at long-distance flights, but on the other hand, I can always protect you if someone attacks in space."
And then he sighs dreamily.
"- Ah, did anyone really desire me, even if only in parts?" -a cheerful hoarse laugh interrupts his words, but seeing that the trio is about to leave, the steel one looks towards the street where the fruit selling area was.
"- What do you say to this arrangement?"
"- Keep the money for yourself, if you insist, then I will think of something else for you." -she finished, and then squeezed the drone in her hand. There was a crunch of metal mechanism and lenses, a flash of torn contacts.
— What a shame, it burned up! - she suddenly blurted out in an annoyed voice, took the valuable core out of the drone and threw away the remaining unremarkable metal fragments. And with them that strange little thing with the words "I'll think about it" scrawled on it.
I'm not interested in credits and the bot remains unanswered. Almost unanswered. I left him a tip that I'd think about it.
(Test page of the comic strip for this story fragment - https://www.furaffinity.net/view/53767630/ )
We went further and before continuing our journey we stopped at one of the restaurants to have some refreshments. There I was mistaken for a representative of the Bafadian species, a young civilization that had not yet reached the stars and, of course, my appearance and equipment raised questions from the locals and almost caused a conflict, but the owner of the establishment quickly settled the matter. The reputation of the establishment was dear to him. In addition, he turned out to be more attentive than the Tandarian: "even if you look like a Bafadian, you are by no means a purebred." There was curiosity in his words, but I did not have the opportunity to satisfy it. Time was more precious to us and soon we left the establishment. Then our paths diverged, we hurried to check the asteroid as soon as possible and get away from here. Therefore, in order not to waste even more time, we split up. I went to reconnaissance in the mines, and Drake and Lina to the shuttle, to prepare equipment. I prudently handed the parcel to Lina, who would leave it in the on-board laboratory upon arrival.
Upon arrival at the place, an unpleasant encounter awaited me. A couple of thugs, from those who were pursuing the steel one with the law enforcement officers, whom we were lucky enough to encounter upon arrival, noticed a familiar silhouette that they could not ignore. Well, there was nowhere to go, besides, the cherished thing was no longer with me. They tried to threaten with a weapon, but were met with unhealthy fearlessness and icy calm, because the barrel in front of my face did not frighten me. Threats did not work and they simply scanned me for the presence of the sought-after item and, being annoyed by the negative result, they left me alone. My journey continued.
Having reached the passage to the mines and having provided the local guard at the checkpoint with the necessary documents, it suddenly turned out that the mine was not yet ready for our visit. Now I was annoyed, since the prospect of staying at the station for another day did not please me. There was no other choice, I had to go back.
Upon arrival at the landing pads, another unexpected surprise awaited us there - a guy jumped up to our company, turning to me, holding out a bouquet of flowers and a letter. This was an incomprehensible gesture for me, as well as for Lina, as it turned out later. Having thanked the courier, I stepped on board, puzzled, while Drake naturally began to pick on the courier and began to find out "who, where from and why" and was successful in this matter.
— What the hell is this???
— They said to give it to you personally.
Inscription on the envelope: "To the best mechanic"
"- Well, hello baby, what have you decided about our relationship? I'm all impatient. I'm waiting for an answer, like a nightingale in summer. Call me ;)
Oh yeah. A bouquet of roses, if you're interested, then this is a gift in honor of our acquaintance. I hope you like it."
After reading the letter, everything became clear and curious, namely that what was written did not look like the creation of some program, I became curious to find out the nature of this complex machine and so, I went to meet him. I began to study the package and contacted this "robot". We agreed on a meeting that was to take place in a bar undercover, I was required to have a suitable image for the script he had prepared, in order to play out a scene to divert prying eyes and suspicions, so... Having transformed my cloak into an appropriate look and thrown a long cape over it, I went to an establishment called "Pearl", where our meeting was to take place.
Next - 1.2 Date - Sirius
I'd be glad to hear your opinion in the comments! Thank you!
Please consider supporting me on Patreon, there are bonuses for subscribers!
I am grateful for any support, it allows me to create!
my links
Patreon • Discord server • Bsky Category Story / Fantasy
Species Alien (Other)
Size 1614 x 2283px
File Size 434.2 kB
It seemed to me that the logbook format would be more suitable, the story is really very long, it has more than 10 chapters, but it seems to be only a third or a quarter of the whole story, I guess I'll have to think carefully about what to leave and what to remove.
Haha, the first impression the bot made was very dubious x)
Haha, the first impression the bot made was very dubious x)
Comments