Episode 103, A Pirates Honor
16 Sep 2024Ryuko Ntsikana
Episode 103, A Pirates Honor
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Both capital ships made the jumps in perfect synchronization, gliding through the vast expanse of space like silent titans. Ryuko, Tara, Meredith, and Ashlyn found themselves aboard Tzafrir’s carrier, the soft hum of the ship’s engines barely noticeable against the backdrop of anticipation. The journey to the Veil East Nebula had been long, but the final destination promised something extraordinary.
As they approached the nebula, the swirling colors became more vivid—red, black, and grey gas formations dancing together in a cosmic ballet. The hues were as awe-inspiring as they were unsettling, moving with a slow, ominous grace that felt almost alive. The nebula loomed ahead, a living tapestry of stars and gas clouds, its beauty only masking the untold dangers that lay within.
Both capital ships moved in formation, their enormous frames cutting through the outer bands of the nebula like ancient beasts awakening from a slumber. The gases curled around them, swirling and twisting as if alive, caressing the hulls of the ships with a ghostly touch. It appeared like creatures wading through primordial waters, their massive silhouettes swallowed by the nebula's ethereal fog.
From the observation deck, Ashlyn pressed her face against the thick glass, her wide eyes drinking in the surreal beauty of the nebula. “Dad, look at that!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder.
Meredith stood beside her, silent. The gas clouds shifted and coiled like serpents, and something about it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up. “Yeah,” he muttered, his voice distant. “It’s... something.”
Tara and Ryuko stood near the viewport, their expressions unreadable. Tara’s synthetic eyes adjusted to the changing light, her processors cataloging every detail. Ryuko, however, was more focused, his gaze penetrating the swirling mists, as though searching for something beyond the colors. His mind, already burdened by the uncertainties ahead, felt a deep connection to this place.
Tzafrir, standing a few feet away from the others, observed the nebula with a different intensity. There was an ancient weight to his stare, as if this wasn’t his first time here, as if he had navigated through these clouds before. His demeanor was calm, but his thoughts churned beneath the surface.
"Beautiful, isn’t it?" he said, his voice breaking the silence. "But don’t let the beauty fool you. The Veil East Nebula has a way of swallowing those who aren't careful."
Ryuko turned slightly toward him, his expression serious. "You’ve been here before."
Tzafrir nodded, his eyes never leaving the viewport. "Once. A long time ago." He paused, his gaze hardening. "It’s not a place you want to linger in."
As the ships pushed deeper into the nebula, the gas formations grew thicker, their colors darkening to blood-red and charcoal-black. Lightning crackled silently in the distance, illuminating the gas clouds in brief flashes. The scene outside the ship was otherworldly, a landscape of shifting shadows and rolling colors that seemed to stretch on forever.
Meredith, still standing next to his daughter, stole a glance at Ryuko. There was a tension in the air, a feeling that this journey wasn’t just another exploratory run. Something was coming, something that the nebula was hiding in its swirling depths.
Ashlyn pressed closer to the glass, her breath fogging up the surface. "It’s like... we’re not alone out here."
Meredith’s stomach tightened at her words, but he kept his face neutral. "We’re always being watched," he replied softly, his eyes flicking to Ryuko, whose focus hadn’t shifted from the view beyond. "By something."
The nebula’s gases swirled tighter around the ships, and the visibility outside the viewport began to fade as the capital ships adjusted their rotational alignments. The once awe-inspiring, swirling hues of red, black, and grey slowly disappeared, leaving only the faintest glimpse of the stars beyond. Ashlyn sighed in disappointment as the view diminished, her youthful excitement waning as the cosmic light show faded from sight.
Ryuko caught Tzafrir’s eye just as an attendant android approached the enigmatic benefactor, leaning close to whisper something. Tzafrir listened carefully, his expression unreadable, but Ryuko noticed a subtle shift in his posture—a signal that something had changed. Tara, always perceptive, caught the glance that Tzafrir flashed at them, a silent command to follow him as he turned on his heel, trailing behind the android toward the exit.
Ryuko gestured to Tara, signaling for her to come with him. Together, they followed Tzafrir out of the observation dome, leaving the brilliant nebula behind.
"Developments in our mutual area of interest have changed," Tzafrir said quietly as they walked. His tone was calm, but there was an undercurrent of urgency beneath the measured words. "The outsider faction, which was content to let the status quo remain, has had a change of heart. They've attacked. I'll be changing course from here."
Ryuko exchanged a glance with Tara, her expression mirroring his own understanding. She didn’t know every detail of the tangled web Ryuko was caught in, but she knew enough to recognize the gravity of the situation. Whatever internal conflict had been plaguing him was now manifesting in the decisions before him.
"I need a safe place for Meredith and Ashlyn," Ryuko said, his voice steady but edged with concern.
Tzafrir didn’t hesitate. He lifted his arm, activating the digital assistant embedded in his forearm. A holographic image appeared in the air, displaying the details of a planetary system. "This is the Ededleen system, planet A4," Tzafrir explained. "As you can see, it’s quite pleasant once you’ve had a moment to acclimate. I have a ranch there, and several smaller business ventures. Meredith and Ashlyn will be well taken care of. They can live freely, and if they so desire, they can apply for Imperial citizenship or start anew—on their terms."
Tara, her usually calm demeanor now tinged with unease, furrowed her brow as she looked from Ryuko to Tzafrir. "I’ve remained silent as he’s wrestled with whatever's been troubling him," she said, her voice firm but not accusatory. "But if they need a safe place, away from a capable capital ship no less, I need to know what we’re getting into. And why."
Tzafrir motioned for them to follow, guiding them out of the corridor. It wasn’t a conversation to have out in the open. They walked in silence until they reached Tzafrir’s bridge wing office. The room was plush, a testament to Tzafrir’s wealth and influence, with leather-bound chairs and real wood furnishings.
He gestured for Ryuko and Tara to take a seat as an attendant android moved swiftly to bring refreshments. Tzafrir leaned back in his chair, his fingers tapping idly against the armrest. "She asked you a question," Tzafrir said, his tone neutral. "So the floor is yours."
Tara’s gaze shifted sharply to Tzafrir, narrowing her eyes. "You know my true nature," she said, her voice cutting through the tension in the room. "Your attempt to pass the guilt onto my companion is transparent. Statistically, the probability of you holding more responsibility here is near one hundred percent."
Tzafrir chuckled softly, though there was no malice in his response. "You're right, Tara. But your question was directed to Ryuko, not me."
Ryuko smirked, appreciating Tzafrir’s deflection even as he prepared to answer. He turned to Tara, his expression softening slightly.
"You already know the broad strokes," Ryuko began, his voice steady but weighted with the gravity of what he was about to explain. "I’ve told you how the group I was with split when the Black Omega faction rose to prominence after the Pegasi Pirate War. Some of us didn’t want to join their ranks. We wanted out." He paused, eyes flicking briefly to Tzafrir, then back to Tara. "The ones who stayed loyal to Omega hunted us—relentlessly. All the way to Kadu Mist."
Tara tilted her head slightly, her version of a curious expression, though it didn’t quite hide the concern in her eyes. "I recall your mentor—an old man who wanted to retire. They hunted him down, killed him, and you... you hunted them in turn." She turned her gaze to Tzafrir. “Your record I have. You were an Imperial naval officer and liaison to various factions and mercenary groups, including the Black Omega. Wouldn’t that association place you two at the opposite ends of the issue?”
Tzafrir smiled, though there was no humor in his expression. He leaned forward, his fingers steepled. "Gary Winkler, one of Black Omega’s ranking members, was an asset during the Pegasi War. The enemy of my enemy, you understand. After the war, his faction consolidated power. They had their own agenda. But," he paused, his eyes locking onto Ryuko’s, "there’s honor among thieves, Tara. The ones who turned on Ryuko’s group? They were disavowed, left to rot. And in this world, betraying your own—that’s a crime worse than anything else."
Tara’s processors whirred as she pieced it together, her mechanical precision faltering momentarily under the weight of the story. "So this isn’t a personal vendetta," she said slowly. "It’s a repayment of debt. The dishonorable ones were removed. You took care of the one who killed your mentor, and that’s what brought you in front of the Imperial Courts."
Ryuko’s jaw tightened as he nodded. "Exactly."
Tara’s head tilted to the side, her eyes narrowing as they focused on Tzafrir. "Is that why you knew of Ryuko? Why you came to his aid during the trial?"
Tzafrir’s smile softened, the edges of his demeanor warming as he leaned back in his chair. "You’re perceptive. Yes, I knew about Ryuko long before that trial. He wasn’t just another pirate looking to make a name for himself. He’s someone who understands the value of loyalty, of honor. And in my line of work, that’s more valuable than credits."
Tara processed this new information, her systems whirring as she considered the implications. "So, you saw Ryuko as... an investment?"
Tzafrir nodded, his smile widening. "A very good investment. One I’ve never regretted. I’m not a pirate, Tara. I’m a businessman. But I understand the rules of the world we operate in. And I know potential when I see it. Ryuko has it in spades." He glanced at Ryuko, nodding in quiet approval. "And I was not wrong in this."
Tara shifted her gaze to the wall behind them, her neurological matrix processing the flood of information and calculating the variables associated with the path ahead. Every scenario spun with precision in her mind, the probability of success versus the inherent risks to her human companion growing clearer by the second.
“What you are considering,” Tara said, her voice steady but edged with concern, “could push you directly into the stereotype of what people believe a pirate is. You would be marked—a wanted man with notoriety. Every bounty hunter, every opportunist, would come looking for you. This places you in a situation that my subroutines cannot allow.”
Ryuko leaned back slightly, smiling with quiet confidence. "You think I’m innocent in all this? Or that the Galaxy runs on some code of honor that doesn’t have a price? Who here is truly innocent, Tara? You know as well as I do that the bounty hunters are former pirates themselves. That’s how this game works. Hell, I am one myself… I’m just playing my part.”
“Of sorts,” Tzafrir cut in, his tone carrying its own weight of pragmatism, a matching grin tugging at his lips. “You’re a businessman, Ryuko. And sometimes, being a businessman means accepting the cost of doing business.”
Tara’s head tilted forward slightly as she analyzed their words, eyes narrowing. "So, you’ve made your decision, then," she said, her tone colder now, more precise. "At what point will you consider the debt to be repaid? When is the price enough?”
Ryuko’s smile softened, the tension between them palpable, but not threatening. He met Tara’s gaze head-on, his voice measured. “The debt gets paid when I say it’s paid. Not before. And not until everyone who deserves it knows why.”
Tzafrir glanced between them, his arms folding across his chest as he nodded approvingly. "You’re smart, Tara. You know this isn’t about repaying a single debt—it’s about survival. Control. In this world, the balance always shifts. The question isn’t when the debt is repaid, but when you decide you’ve taken control of it.” He paused, his tone growing more serious. "The game never ends, Tara. It just changes."
Tara’s processors hummed as she absorbed the gravity of their words, her analytical precision wrestling with the complexities of human intent. "Then you are both prepared for the consequences?"
Ryuko nodded, his resolve unwavering. “I’ve always been ready, Tara. You know that.”
Tzafrir raised his glass, nodding toward Tara with a sly smile. "Consider it the price of admission, my dear."