Episodes 71-73. 5,546 words
23 Jun 2024Ryuko Ntsikana
Episodes 71-73
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My first night out of the medical healing suit and I couldn’t sleep. The medical droid said the soreness would last for a while and it wasn’t wrong. A few hours here and there was all I could manage before I would roll one way or the other and trigger a sensitive area that would wake me up.
I knew that Tara had her version of human dreams, but I had never seen her have a physiological response to them. There were small twitches, and her eyes moved behind her eyelids in what I assumed was a mimicry of human rapid eye movement. With her experiencing actual evolutionary progressiveness, there was no way for me to know what was real and what was programming.
Laying there attempting to go back to sleep, I contended myself with simply watching her, wondering what was going on in her cybernetic neurological pathways.
Images of distant places unseen, people’s faces she did not know, and concepts that were confusing, played through her evolving artificial synapses, as her synthetic skin twitched. I lay with my eyes open, watching my companion. I knew that her cybernetic mind experienced the human version of dreaming while in her maintenance mode, but I had never seen her experience involuntary physiological reactions before.
She knew there was a chill in the atmosphere, though she could not feel it and her skin's sensors could not detect it. The woman or machine that guided her was gentle. Their singular soft amber glowing cybernetic eye conveyed a sense of security.
The images changed to that of a ship’s deck plating. On the ground in front of them was a young lady, her mind that of a child, cooing in excitement at her guide's arrival and seeing a new visitor. Her raven hair was neatly combed and groomed, showing her innocent eyes looking at her with a large smile on her face.
Around her, other people appeared, some coming and going from places she did not know, others stopping to bend down and smile at the childlike woman.
“Like her, you are a grown child, evolving into whatever new form your experiences will lead you into becoming,” her guide's voice said, with a hint of an artificial tone to it. “Like her, your development has become precious to me.”
Tara’s eyes opened suddenly, though she did not gasp or make a sound as a human might do. She turned her head to look at her human partner, noticing he was lying there looking at her.
“Dreaming?”
“I think so, yes. What I saw does not make sense.” She rubbed her eyes, a distinctly human gesture, and then pushed herself up to a sitting position.
I chuckled, shifting slightly to ease the ache in my side. “They rarely do. The brain's weird way of putting things in context.”
Tara stared for a moment, processing that. “But my brain does not work the same way. Its method of categorization is governed by specific routines.” She ran a hand through her hair, a habit she picked up from observing humans.
“But we both know you are evolving. Who knows what is replacing those routines?” I reached over to touch her hand, feeling the warmth of her synthetic skin.
“I do not feel fear, not in the same way that you do, but I am concerned that this could be dangerous for me. I don’t want to leave or lose you.” She looked into my eyes, her gaze steady but filled with a depth of emotion I had rarely seen before.
“Think you might be hyper-jumping past the system with your concern. Reference human dreaming and neurology. From everything I was seeing, it looked like you were having a normal dream with an external response.” I gave her hand a reassuring squeeze.
Tara’s eyes searched again. “I have no record of any unregulated movements.” She frowned, clearly troubled.
“Ah, but you did. They weren’t much, a little twitching here and there, with rapid eye movements. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you might develop snoring at some point.” I grinned, hoping to lighten the mood.
“That’s not funny.” She gave me a mock stern look but her eyes softened.
“No, it would not be. This soreness is enough to keep me up, the last thing I need is a baritone symphony accompanying it.” I laughed, despite the ache, feeling a bit of the tension ease out of the room.
She smiled a small but genuine smile and lay back down beside me. "I'll try to keep my symphony to myself then."
I reached over and pulled her closer, feeling her relax against me. "Deal."
At some point, I drifted off again, waking to a relatively new day aboard the carrier. After a warm, relaxing shower, I dressed and headed out to the mess deck. A few of the crew looked at me longer than usual, while others did their best not to make eye contact. Word of Jabir’s fate had spread rapidly on the ship, and a fair number of the crew did not know how to process it. There were some in their midst who knew, outing themselves through simple nods or nonchalance.
For the most part, I usually didn’t care what they thought, but a small part of me did wonder.
Perhaps I was evolving too, like Tara, I thought, as I entered the ship’s mess.
I chewed on my food while reading my data tablet. We had kept 21 of the Imperial slaves I had pirated and freed several days past. Some wise ass wanted me to give them a speech to see which of those wanted to join our band. An administrator I was not, so I typed out a message. My armorer and chief of security, Mahmoud, had vetted them, so it was only right that Akio, the ranking officer of my ship, be the one to give the speech.
That should persuade him not to try to pawn off this type of nonsense again.
Speaking of Mahmoud, there were no messages from him regarding Jabir, nor were there any messages from my benefactor. Looking at a blank schedule while chewing on the last bites with a swallow of coffee did the trick. Though some of the soreness remained, a smile crept onto my face. The only care on my mind was who it was that bounced me around.
The bartender and fence for Burroughs City, Young Ashley, eyed the five pilots keeping to themselves at the far side of the bar, nursing their drinks, as he re-read the message from his colleague Beau at Yolen Gateway. A smirk appeared on his face as he called over one of the waitresses, nodding in the group’s direction. Understanding the unspoken message, the waitress made her way over as Young typed out a response.
Young watched the interaction, noting the subtle shifts in the pilots’ demeanor. They were wary, but the offer of free drinks was a universal icebreaker. He finished typing his message to Beau, sending it off with a quick tap before heading over.
Episode 72
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I handed over control of the Python Mk 2 to Lianna, allowing her to bring it into land, giving me a chance to lean back in my seat and massage my ribs through my flight suit. It was my first flight since healing, but the soreness remained. There was medicine I could take for it, but I didn’t want my senses dulled. Tara would no doubt be mindful of any slips in my attention, but I needed hers to be focused on what was to come and not on whether I was making any mistakes in judgment.
A message came through from Beau. His counterpart at the next station over had made contact with the group, and they were interested in listening to whatever pitch I had to give them, as long as everyone made a profit. I planned on doing one better than that, provided what I saw and heard was of the quality I had already experienced beforehand.
I tightened up my flight suit around my sides to keep pressure on my ribs as we each, in turn, exited the ship. A chaperon of sorts was waiting for us at the bottom of the steps, guiding us through the station, past the bar, to an area to one side of the attached brothel, where a set of quaint to-rent conference rooms were kept for business discussions and the occasional fantasy from inebriated patrons making use of the other establishments.
Beau was waiting inside with a couple of his bouncers, along with five other individuals. The room was dimly lit, with a low hum of conversation as we entered. Beau greeted us with a nod, his eyes flicking to my side as I adjusted my flight suit one last time.
"Good to see you up and about, Ryuko," Beau said, gesturing to the empty chairs around the table. "Take a seat. Let’s get down to business."
I nodded, taking a seat with Tara and Lianna flanking me. The five individuals across from us eyed me with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. They were a motley crew, each with the air of seasoned pilots who had seen their fair share of trouble.
"Introductions first," Beau announced, gesturing towards the group. "Today, we gather here as a favor to our host, Mr. Ryuko Ntsikana, owner of the fleet carrier Tengoku Nox Aeterna. He dabbles in a bit of everything, from trade to more... specialized ventures. To his right, the raven-haired beauty is his companion, Ms. Tara Sha. And to his left, one of his proteges, Lianna."
Each person acknowledged the introductions with a subtle nod, their expressions guarded yet intrigued.
Beau's smile widened as he turned towards the others. "Now, allow me to introduce our guest today. This quiet gentleman here is Nyx Voss, the pilot of the Diamondback Scout that made quite an impression with you and your ribs recently."
Nyx Voss, his black hair falling over his narrow face and even blacker eyes, studied Tara more than me, with an emotionless expression as Tara matched his gaze.
Beau paused, looking between them, before continuing with the introductions.
"Seated next to him, in order, is Avariel Morrow, piloting a Viper Mark IV. Don’t let her petite frame fool you; she can hold her own, as a few of my bouncers can attest." Avariel gave a slight nod, her sharp gaze taking in everything.
Beau continued, "The large man next to her is Corvus Reinhardt, a Vulture pilot." Corvus inclined his head, his massive frame imposing even while seated. He and Mahmoud would get along well, or rip a hole with one another, in the carrier’s hull.
"And then, the large lady next to him is Lysandra Vega, Cobra Mark IV pilot." Lysandra’s stern expression softened slightly as she acknowledged us with a nod. She was almost as large as Corvus and Mahmoud, with her muscles showing under her suit.
"The final person in their group is the country gentleman sitting next to her, Mr. Raven Locke, Krait Phantom pilot." Raven tipped his hat, a charming yet calculating smile playing on his lips.
“Pleasure enough, but let’s skip the chit-chat,” Raven said with a soft drawl. “No offense, mister, but I like to get paid for my time.”
Fair enough. I knew their types, or more correctly those similar to them. They were skilled and good in a pinch when you needed maximum hit-and-run damage done to a place, but rough around the edges.
Leaning back in my chair, I looked around the table at each of their faces. “If you like to get paid then why did you leave the highest-paying items behind at that settlement?”
That got their attention as each set of eyes turned cold, looking directly at me.
I let a smirk appear on my face as I held up my hand. “Let me explain. First, I was impressed by your creativity with that settlement, but your methods were too brutal and unrefined. You bounced me around good inside of the power complex, but you left all of the data behind. That’s the real credit maker.”
“How do you know this,” Corvus spoke in a heavy accent as the others shifted in their seats, hostile gazes turning to curiosity.
“It is simple. By the time we were departing, I saw you and your droids taking everything outside not welded down. By the time we broke orbit, we saw your ships on our scanners, already departing. If you had gone after the data, it would have taken more time as you would have needed to have gone into each of the structures, but you did not. The returns on what you took are less than a quarter of what the data itself would have netted.”
“What’s to say we didn’t get it,” the large muscular lady Lysandra questioned in a soft feminine tone that did not match her appearance.
“Let’s call it experience in such things.”
A few eyes rolled and a couple of chuckles were heard as Raven leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “And, what kind of experience would that be?”
I cast a side-eye at Beau and noticed a smirk appear on Tara’s face, even though her eyes were still locked on Nyx’s.
The smile widened on Beau’s face as he placed his hands on the table, looking at the guests. “Our host has netted over 600 million in three weeks, and that has been at a leisurely pace.”
The room fell silent as the weight of Beau's statement sank in. I let the silence stretch for a moment, watching their reactions. Raven’s calculating smile grew slightly, while Avariel’s sharp eyes narrowed with interest. Corvus and Lysandra exchanged glances, and even Nyx shifted his gaze from Tara to me, a hint of curiosity breaking through his stoic facade.
Leaning forward, I rested my elbows on the table, making direct eye contact with each of them. “Here’s the deal. I’m not here to brag or lecture. I’m here because I see potential in what you do, but I also see areas where you could improve and, ultimately, make more profit. That’s what we all want, isn’t it?”
Raven nodded slowly. “Alright, we’re listening. What’s your proposal?”
“Simple,” I replied. “We all like profit and my carrier is fully stocked. You need a safe place of operations, instead of hopping around the different stations in this system, and I can provide that. I can also provide you with ways of boosting your profit margins significantly.”
“Go on,” Raven said in his slow drawl, looking at each of his seated comrades.
“Beau and I have an arrangement. I sell him and his black market everything not of engineering value. That includes all the cargo I take. In exchange, he sends everyone to my fence who sells the other to commanders looking to upgrade their suits and weaponry. It is a profitable arrangement for both of us, that can be made more so with a larger crew, to expand the operation. In exchange, you keep what you sell, minus 5% off the top.”
Avariel crossed her arms as she leaned back in her chair. “What’s to keep us from not learning your system, then turning around and making our own, away from you?”
“That’s part of the point, but I think when that time rolls around you might consider other options instead. Either direction, it is a win for everyone here, regardless of what the future may or may not hold.”
The room fell silent for a moment as they absorbed my proposal. Raven’s calculating gaze swept over the others before returning to me.
“Alright, Ryuko,” Raven said, his slow drawl carrying a hint of curiosity. “What exactly are these other options you’re hinting at?”
I leaned back in my chair, a confident smile playing on my lips. “The options are simple: we grow stronger together, or we grow separately. If you decide to branch off later, you’ll have the knowledge and resources to do so effectively. But consider this: with a combined effort, we can expand our reach, take on bigger targets, and increase our profits exponentially. My carrier offers more than just a base—it offers protection, advanced facilities, and a central hub for all operations.”
Nyx, still studying me with those emotionless black eyes, spoke up. “Protection from what?”
“From bigger fish,” I replied, meeting his gaze. “Pirates, rival factions, and even the major powers if we step on the wrong toes. A mobile base of operations like my carrier is hard to track and even harder to attack. Plus, with the engineering upgrades and defensive systems we have, we’re not easy prey.”
Avariel leaned forward, her sharp gaze piercing. “And what about the 5% cut? That’s a decent chunk of profit.”
“It is,” I acknowledged. “But it’s a small price to pay for access to our resources, markets, and protection. Plus, think about the increased profits from having a secure and efficient system in place. The 5% cut will be more than offset by the gains you’ll see.”
Corvus, the massive Vulture pilot, crossed his arms and nodded thoughtfully. “It sounds solid. What’s the first step?”
“First,” I said, “we start with a joint operation. I know of an out-of-the-way place that acts as a safe haven for passing traffic, but first, we have to neutralize its defenses. You join me on my ship and watch what I do. If you want to continue after that, then I bring you in on my other operations. If not, then I give you the profit from the raid as payment for your time, and we go our separate ways.”
Raven exchanged glances with the others, then nodded. “Alright, I think we can try a single operation. When do you want to try?”
“Tomorrow at this station’s relative mid-solar day,” I replied, standing up. “Bring your favorite suit and weaponry, but if all goes as it should, you won’t be firing much, if any.”
Episode 73
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The system’s relative afternoon mission lasted a singular hour, and we were already back at the orbital station, cashing out our haul. The cargo we pirated from the arriving ships, after raiding their settlement, went to the black market and all non-engineering items went to Beau. He flashed a toothy smile as the self-named Coterie looked on in silence at the speed and efficiency of the operation.
“Five million credits for what you have brought me, plus three million for the cargo itself, brings your paltry total to eight million… plus change. Split five ways between the Coterie, that’s a little over a million each, for an hour's work.”
I leaned against a cargo crate, arms crossed, as Beau handed out the credit chips. The Coterie, still processing the ease with which the mission had been accomplished, exchanged glances.
Nyx was the first to speak, his usual stoic expression slightly softened by curiosity. “So, what’s the catch? It can’t be this simple all the time.”
I smirked, pushing off the crate. “It’s not always this straightforward, but when you know what you’re doing, it gets easier. The real catch is maintaining the discipline to execute without unnecessary risks. We focus on precision and efficiency.”
Avariel nodded, a glint of understanding in her eyes. “And the data? What’s it worth?”
“Far more than the cargo,” I replied, meeting her gaze. “Beau fences that which is not needed for engineering purposes and sends me those who need the other kind. What I took in will net an additional thirty million, which when split five ways will be another six million each, bringing all of your totals to seven million.”
Lysandra’s eyebrows raised slightly, impressed. “That’s a significant increase.”
Tara laughed, catching them by surprise. “He hasn’t told you the best part.”
Nyx studied Tara with a watchful eye as Raven leaned against a crate. “And what would that be?”
Lianna, who had been quiet throughout all of it, looked at Tara and me before taking a step forward.
“If this was his haul, he would bank the credits, then purchase legitimate cargo with the proceeds, then find the best market and sell them. Minus the cost of ammunition used, everything gained from the original cargo is profit. Turning it and then selling it makes an additional profit. Though not as much as the original cargo itself, its total earned can be added to that of the original sale at the black market, increasing the grand total by a million… often more.”
Avariel’s eyes widened slightly. “So, you’re saying we can double-dip?”
I nodded. “Exactly. You maximize every haul by converting what you take into more profit. The key is to be smart about it—know the markets, understand the supply and demand, and make the most of every opportunity.”
Raven’s thoughtful expression returned. “That’s quite a system you’ve got.”
“It’s efficient and profitable,” I said, leaning back against the crate. “Listen, I’m not going to tell you anything you don’t already know. Sometimes it is better, other times it is nothing. You get your hull dinged, and we have to bail you out. Everyone here knows the game. That is what my carrier offers: a safe place to rest, repair, rearm, and regather. I get a small 5% off the top, which is about what you would profit from arbitrage, on a good day.”
Each of the group looked at one another except Nyx, whose face showed its first emotion as a smirk appeared. “Arbitrage is what we make between the buy and sales price after we turn the cargo into a legitimate commodity. We get the profit, and he gets the difference in the sales price.”
I nodded, shifting my weight from one booted foot to another. “There is a favor I would ask of you, though.”
Raven lowered his head, looking at me as I held up a hand. “Lianna here has been learning my ways. There is another who has had a more difficult time in his education. I would like for you to also teach them both yours. This gives them both a more well-rounded experience and different teachers, so that if they don’t understand it one way, they may get it another.”
“Who is this other?” Corvus's voice boomed. “He is not with us here?”
I shook my head, looking at each of their faces. “No, he is not. He made an error in speech and accusation, and his bias was adjusted to reality.”
Raven laughed. “You whooped his ass, is what you are saying, and he has some hard feelings about that.”
“Yes,” I replied, the smile disappearing from my face. “Different teachers might get through to him. While I teach you to be more profitable for yourselves, one or more of you might be able to get through to him and get him back on track.”
Nyx’s dark eyes began to study me again. “I have not survived this long without studying a subject of interest. Why proteges?”
I shifted my weight again, a smirk appearing on my face as I cast a side glance at Tara. “If you want the story, then I can give you all the dirty water on our way to flip your cargo, and then over a meal, or we can let it sit here for a while?”
Raven raised an eyebrow, glancing at his comrades. “We’re curious, so let’s hear it. But we’d appreciate the full story over a meal. Business before pleasure, right?”
I nodded, feeling the tension in the room easing slightly. “Agreed. Let’s wrap up this deal and then we’ll have plenty of time to talk.”
Tara leaned in closer to me, whispering, “They’re warming up to the idea. Just keep it straightforward.”
I gave her a slight nod, then turned back to the group. “Alright, let’s get moving. We have a cargo to flip and profits to make.”
Later, as we settled into the dining area of the station, the air filled with the aroma of freshly cooked food. The atmosphere was relaxed a stark contrast to the tension earlier. I leaned back in my chair, looking at the Coterie with a more casual demeanor.
“So, as promised, here’s the backstory,” I began. “I was a pirate turned bounty hunter. Pulled the trigger too quick one too many times and ended up exiled in Colonia, thanks to a benefactor and the courts. That’s where I met Tara. I kept her backstory in line with what Zaria had created. We learned to profit from the same old thing, but more so from running business passengers. Made contacts, friends, enemies—the usual.”
The group listened intently, their previous skepticism giving way to curiosity.
“Our benefactor wanted to expand and put me under contract to teach a few of his people to protect his interests from my kind. It helped me get my record changed to time served. He sent me back to the bubble, as it had more fertile systems to train in. We learned to profit from exploration on the way. Tara and I wanted to be on our own, but I maintained the contract. We grew and profited, and here we are.”
Raven nodded slowly. “So, you’ve been around the block a few times. Why stick to the contract?”
“Because it offers stability and opportunities,” I replied. “We get to be independent while still having the backing when needed. Plus, it allows us to teach others and build something bigger than ourselves.”
Nyx leaned back, his gaze thoughtful. “And you think we can fit into this?”
“I do,” I said confidently. “You’ve got the skills and the drive. With a bit of guidance and the right opportunities, we can all profit immensely.”
Avariel smirked. “Alright, I’ll bite, why create more of yourself here? Doesn’t that drive up competition?”
Tara leaned forward, looking at Avariel. “No, it drives up sanity. If more pirates were thoughtful in their approach, there wouldn’t be billions of bodies scattered around the bubble. Most would live, more cargo would flow, as would the profits.”
Lysandra chuckled with her out-of-place soft feminine voice. “So, you figured all of this out on your own, did you?”
I twirled a piece of food on my fork. “No, I had an old pirate mentor who showed me a different way from several of those I served with. Those who thought the same split from the others, and in return, those who followed the old ways, the ones you hear about in stories, had the others killed. I was ending one of those old ways heathens when all of this started.”
Raven paused his cutting into a piece of food, looking up from his plate at me. “So now you are looking to restart that little empire all on your own?”
“No,” I replied, inspecting the food on my fork, “but it almost seems that way. To be honest, I don’t know where any of this is going, but what I do know is all of it can be done smarter, without all of the mess.” I took a bite of the food, chewing on it for a moment. “This isn’t the only way I profit. As I said before, Tara and I learned to profit from running around business passengers and actually doing better than we would in piracy, but not in data sales from raiding. I also learned to do exploration, which pays better than anything else, except hunting aliens.”
Nyx's gaze sharpened. “Exploration? How does that compare to piracy?”
I leaned back, wiping my mouth with a napkin. “Exploration is a long game. It requires patience, but the rewards are substantial. You find a few valuable planets or xenobiologicals, sell the data, and you’ve got a steady stream of income. Plus, it’s low-risk compared to piracy. You’re not constantly looking over your shoulder.”
Avariel nodded thoughtfully. “It’s not just about making quick credits, then. It’s about sustainability.”
“Exactly,” I said, nodding. “We’ve diversified our income streams. Piracy is just one part of the puzzle. We’ve got exploration, passenger transport, and legitimate trade. It all adds up, and it all supports each other.”
Lysandra leaned forward, curiosity evident in her eyes. “That circles back to the original question. Why create more of you?”
I nodded, taking another bite of food. “Listen, as Tara said, if there were more who followed the right path, there would be more bounty and fewer bodies. Also, in teaching you how to make a lot more than what
you do, I get the use of your services in keeping my contract and getting my two proteges trained.”
“And what of this benefactor you mentioned? Think we might like to meet him?” Corvus asked, his deep voice resonating as he looked around the table.
“You and me both,” I replied, taking another bite. “I met him once at my trial. He didn’t say much directly to me, but through the judge and the android overseer he stuck me with.”
“Alright, then how about we speak with this android, then?” Corvus fired back, as Lianna paused while a smirk appeared on my face.
“That would be difficult,” Lianna said, looking at Corvus. “Ryuko here spaced him.”
Everyone at the table paused, all of their eyes looking at me as I chewed on my food while shaking my head. “ He subverted the ship’s doctor with a monetary bribe to turn against us. Instead of dismantling him, we made sure his charge was topped up and spaced him. His emergency locator beacon activated the moment he was off the ship.”
Everyone except Nyx had a shocked expression, as he asked in a flat tone. “Your benefactor ordered this?”
“Not that we could detect,” Tara interjected. “This appears to be his own doing. With us being independent and owners of our own fleet carrier, it is what he most likely analyzed to be a way for him to continue to fulfill his directive.”
“That’s what I call a programming error,” Avariel said with a chuckle of her own.
“You could call it that,” I said while chewing. “Anyways, the ship's medical androids are sufficient, but I would still feel better with a human doctor. I have a few ideas toward obtaining one but don’t have all of the details worked out.”
An uncharacteristic smile appeared on Nyx’s face, unsettling to see against his emotionless black eyes. “In my time, I have chanced across a few potential areas that may be the answer.”
“Go on,” I said, intrigued by his sudden change in demeanor.
“There are a few out-of-the-way settlements known for harboring skilled individuals who prefer to stay off the grid. Medical professionals included. We could scout them out, and see if anyone fits your needs,” Nyx explained, his voice steady and calm.
Lysandra nodded. “That could work, but there is one question. What did you do with the subverted doctor?”
“He attached a Pavonis ear grub to his forehead,” Lianna said, as everyone paused again except Nyx, who continued to wear a creepy smile.
“That’s one way to handle it, but it isn’t a long-term solution,” Nyx commented.
I nodded at him. “No, it’s not, but once I find a replacement, I will send him to my benefactor and let him deal with him.”
The group all looked at one another in confusion as Lysandra turned her head to look at Nyx. “What the hell is a Pavonis ear grub?”
“It is a creature, well more of a grub, that looks like an ear. When attached to a person’s forehead, it injects a biotoxin which makes the wearer... suggestive, I guess that would be a way to say it?” Nyx explained.
“Yes, it is a biotoxin that renders the person incapable of acting or speaking on their own,” I said, finishing Nyx’s explanation. “Regardless, the doctor is alive and will remain so. Whatever happens to him on his return is not on any of us.”
Raven turned his attention from Nyx to me, raising an eyebrow. “Correct me if I am wrong, but the doctor would have come with the purchase of the fleet carrier. Why send him to the mysterious benefactor?”
Tara smiled, nodding at Raven. “Fair question with a fair answer. He was turned by the benefactor’s android. Even though he did not order it, the problem is now his.”
I held up my hand, trying to sideline the conversation as it was getting too close to what information the doctor might have obtained, revealing there was more to Tara than what a person saw. “That brings us back to the question of obtaining a new one, and Nyx’s information on where we might get one.”
Nyx nodded, the creepy smile still on his face.
“Alright then,” I said, looking around the table. “Let’s get the list and make the arrangements. This will give us a good chance to work as a proper wing, and if a settlement is amiable to a little pillaging and plundering, we can profit with more than just a doctor.”
That produced a few chuckles, as everyone was feeling the pleasurable weight of their newfound wealth.