Droids
09 Feb 2024Ryuko Ntsikana
Droids
Colonia Region
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The ambient floor lighting cast a soft glow across the deck as I raised up in my bed. Administrative work was never my forte, but it was not an unknown either. The thought of crawling back under my covers felt appealing. Today was going to be as exciting as cleaning out a cargo bay. Fly around, see the sights, check the markets, all while updating the spreadsheet to be sent back this evening to my benefactor in the bubble.
I sighed and resigned myself to the fact that I had to get up and at least clean myself up. The masquerade at the pirate's den was behind me for now, but there was no doubt I'd be seeing more of them. That's how the hierarchy I once served operated. Sooner or later, there would be an interdiction, a test to determine if I was a predator or prey.
I splashed some water on my face and changed into a comfortable Remlock flight suit onesie. Aby, the Achilles Corp PA912 personal assistant android assigned to me, was waiting for me in the ship's galley with a zero-g thermos of coffee.
As far as androids went, Aby was straightforward. During our passage to Colonia, I hadn't paid it much attention. However, an elderly traveler, en route to retire in the hinter regions aboard the same fleet carrier, had chuckled at the name. Aby was a variant of Abye, derived from old French "abier," meaning to waste or suffer. My benefactor had given it this name as a reminder of my situation.
Aby understood the name's meaning and the jest behind it but hadn't disclosed the information, as the question had never been asked. Although artificially sentient with its own distinct personality, Aby's rudimentary instructions were to carry out the current assignment it had been given, which was to ensure that everything necessary was provided for me to execute my instructions.
Aby handed me a list of places to visit for the day's journey and provided a current list of recently departed ships and their types from our current location. The statistical probability of being interdicted to test my resolve was considered high. However, what Aby didn't know yet was that I intended to visit the local navigation beacon in orbit around the system's primary star and collect a bounty or two on the way out. My focus was on making sure the wanted ships didn't belong to any of the major players in the system.
***
The day seemed endless as I jumped from one system to the next, scanning and cataloging, then repeating the process. By the time I landed at the civilian outpost of Annan Orbital in the Sollaro system, I felt like I had charted half of this side of the galaxy.
Aby sat in the right co-pilot’s seat, tabulating all the information I had gathered while I watched the outpost's automated fueling arm retract. Fifteen hundred credits to top off my ship’s fuel tanks was a modest sum compared to the nearly million in bounties I had collected.
They were nothing more than a couple of low-end smuggler’s transports and one of their escorts, but it was enough to consider the day a success.
“The information has been compiled and transmitted. It should arrive at its destination in the bubble within the hour.”
I stood up and stretched. “Anything else on our itinerary for today?”
“In relative time, no. As monetary gain is important, I do have recommendations to improve both your income and efficiency.”
My stomach growled at the same time my eyebrow raised.
***
I finished my plate of synthetic beef, studying the information on the data tablet that Aby slid across the table to me. I never saw myself as a tour guide for anyone unless it was them giving me the tour to relieve them of their cargo. All of my ship’s firepower, shielding, and armor would remain as they were, but several of the internal modules would be replaced by business passenger cabins, along with the purchase of attendant droids and other required amenities.
“There was nothing about this affair that I am comfortable with.”
Aby looked at me with those android eyes. “What was the reason for our benefactor giving me this name?”
I gritted my teeth, not liking the reminder that I was on a few hundred million credit leash, halfway across the galaxy.
“Look, it is simple. My skill is in collecting bounties and cargo. Occasionally, I collect a few teeth as well. Liquored-up businessmen are better when they are sending more cargo for me to claim, not me flying them around.”
Aby reached across and tapped the data tablet. “Yes, and in half a relative day's time, you could clear twenty million, all while scanning new systems and gaining the information our benefactor sent you here to collect. This is a win-win for everyone. If you gain your freedom and wish to pursue the path that brought you here to begin with, you will have all the information you need to fatten yourself before the slaughter.”
I stood up and went to my quarters before I did something that would invalidate my contract.
The silence of my quarters gave me time to think. Aside from invalidating my contract by dismantling the android, I reflected on what Aby had said and shown. In my past, I had raided several comfy liners, fat with rich and popper alike. They didn’t have the rich cargo of a proper trade ship, but their ransoms usually paid better. Not as well as the bounties I collected from those doing the same thing I once did.
Aby was right about one thing. If I kept doing the same thing that got me into this position, my future would not be bright. I doubt the scales of fate would rescue me a second time.