Disadvantaged Advantages
12 May 2024Ryuko Ntsikana
Disadvantaged Advantages
Colonia Region
_____________________________
Ryuko looked at his data tablet again, with the message from Zaria on it. He passed it to Tara while comparing what she had written with the day's earnings: 10 tons of gold, 8 mineral extractors, and 22 rebel transmission containers, plus two captives at 30,000 each, and a million and a quarter from a single bounty. Overall, not a bad payday, if he were acting individually, but he wasn’t. With a crew, he would divide that according to their position, which was standard practice since the ancient age of sail.
As the commander, he would receive a double share, totaling 1 million. Tara, his acting quartermaster, would receive 1.5 shares, at 550,000. Each of the trainees would receive a single share of 150,000. Out of his share would come the repairs, refueling, rearmament, and refitting of any expendables. Fortunately, for the moment, those were free, while he was training his employer’s future guard dogs.
Tara read aloud what Zaria had written. “While we are not responsible for the weekly carrier's operational expenses, we should operate, and teach those under us to operate, as if we were.”
A little impatient for a hunter, wanting her pirates sooner rather than later.
“They are not even plebs yet. Think she would want them trained before asking for profit,” Tara commented, tossing the data tablet onto the table. "She does realize there is no quick way through this?”
“There was for you.”
Tara smiled, tapping the side of her head. “Not everyone can be so well-designed.”
“I appreciate what they are wanting to do, I really do. Zaria herself could handle a lot of what needs to be done on her own, but she won’t be able to stay out there, and they have others in the region they have been more cryptic about, which has me worried.”
‘Perhaps they want a check and balance against the same,’ a voice said inside of Tara, who paused to consider the idea.
“What if it is those she is worried about?”
Ryuko leaned back in his seat, thinking about the concept. ‘From what little we have learned, there are already those who were saved and sent far away to start a new life. There is likely a few inside that mix who were not too unlike myself, possibly some that are better… and worse.’
“Possible, but if that is so, the only killer in their number is Scyles.”
‘Your companion is cute, but he is still thinking like a bounty hunter and a pirate. The unseen particle is often more efficient than a cannon.’
“Training them to think and act like one is not the same as being one. Scyles is more akin, but neither you nor I would let his kind near us. The pretty one, Lianna, or the sheepish Jabir, possess no such cues.”
The corners of Ryuko’s lip curled into a cheeky smirk, as he thought back to his time as a pirate.
“Get a hold of Aby, then get the crew back on board. I need to warm up the battle droids I bought back in Colonia. She wants a result, I think we can manage that.”
Whether coincidence or premonition, the data tablet on the table vibrated, as Tara reached back out for it, pulling it to herself again.
“Guess her ears started itching when we mentioned her name. She sent out a mass message for all of us to meet her in hangar 12.”
Ryuko sighed as he stood up, stretching out his arm, signaling for Tara to lead the way. She gave him a pat on the shoulder, smiling. “Don’t worry, it can only get worse from here.”
Smart ass.
Taking the tram across the length of the large ship wasn’t necessary as the medium bay was situated next to the one his Krait Mk II was resting in, as Ryuko opted to walk the cavernous distance, wondering what the newest of ever-changing agendas would be. Not that the dodgy directive of the last communique was so far-fetched. At some point, they would have to learn to turn a credit, but being this new, in a less than ideal manner for the way of life they were supposed to be learning, would drag it out uncomfortably passed what was realistic. By this time, in the real world craft, there should have already been a paltry bounty and a few tussles with the locals.
Ryuko paused as he entered the new hangar. He had seen a few passing videos of the latest and greatest from the shipyards but didn’t expect to see a Python Mark II so soon. The factory paint was barely baked by the local star.
“Pretty, but it doesn’t make your kids the profit and I don’t have time for show and tell.”
Tara bumped him with her elbow as she walked past. “Does it have the overcharged drive in it?” her voice echoed around the expansive hangar.
“Far more than that,” Zaria’s voice echoed back.
Ryuko looked down the keel of the ship and across its plane form. “Hefty beam and sturdy ridging. How does her hull handle the added stress?”
“No touch-ups required, or micro irregularities and she holds her new nanopolymer paint well too,” Zaria mentioned as she motioned towards the entrance stairway running up the front landing gear.
Tara walked up to enter the ship as Ryuko paused to look at Zaria with a bit of annoyance, before entering the ship.
The corridor was a deep subdued gray, seemingly absorbing the lighting around it. Ryuko took his glove off, placing his bare palm against the bulkhead. “carbon graphene fiber. Nice touch, but that will cost you extra for something you don’t need outside of a dedicated warship.”
“One of the only things she was designed for,” Zaria mentioned, her eyes looking down the dim corridor before turning to look sideways at Ryuko. “Of course, she would make an excellent short-range explorer too, if you want to make some fast credits for something else.”
“Dropping hints must be a hunter specialty.” Ryuko snipped, removing his hand from the bulkhead and putting his glove back on. “How about getting straight to the point?”
“Don’t play coy… doesn’t suit you,” Zaria snipped back, motioning for them to follow her as she made her way to the bridge. “You already know the point,” she quipped, her magnetic boots clicking on the deck,” and we didn’t bring you back here to see the sights.”
“I know exactly where we are,” Ryuko fired back as they entered a darker more military version of a Python Mk I’s bridge.
Tara dropped into the copilot’s seat, activating its displays, to begin studying the ship’s specifications as Zaria and Ryuko stared at each other for a moment.
“You didn’t miss a step. This one is all dressed up and ready to crash someone’s party,” Tara whistled.
Cocking her head to one side, Zaria pointed at the pilot’s seat, “Sit your ass down and get comfortable. All of your gear and your crew should be on board shortly. I will get them briefed.”
Ryuko smirked, climbing into the seat. The controls were the same as his Python, though he knew the performance was different. He looked over his shoulder at Zaria, who was starting to exit the bridge. “Any particular place you want us to go?”
“Call it a family reunion moment. Go say hello.”
Tara flashed Ryuko a quizzical look, which he ignored while bringing up all of the ship’s systems.