"Ah, there you are," said Katya as she entered the bar, where I was nursing a soda, rather than one of the more robust drinks. She, without prompting, sat down at the table I was at, and pulled out a sheet from her pocket.
"I'm afraid I have a meeting to get to soon, so I'll make this quick. We have another friend in Republic Space who wishes to join us here in the Free Worlds," as she spoke, she unfolded the paper to reveal a photo, with a name on it, as well as a map to a system near the core.
"Mr. Ijs?" I asked, curious about the name, and she nods.
"He prefers Mr. Eyes. I...well, his work is rather unusual, but I can assure you, this one isn't so confusing as the last. We just need someone to get him before he moves on again, as he's a bit flighty. Your ships, despite their number, can move faster than anything we have, so I'll ask you to go there and get him," she explained, and I take the paper to go over the details.
"He's going to come willingly?" I ask, and Katya again nods.
"Absolutely. We've already contacted him, it's just been a matter of getting to him. He's not well liked by some of the corporate heads in the Syndicate. They're skirting the edges of the law, but so long as you can get there before he has to move, he'll come," she say, and this tame I nod, putting the sheet into my pocket, and rising, downing my drink and then tossing a chit on the table.
"I'll be back with your friend soon," I tell her simply, and then walk away, returning to my own ship, and the launching. It took us less than a week to make it to Foundry, the world on which Mr. Eyes was staying. Landing was easy enough, and I did the same as before, sending out a signal that was supposed to tell my passenger his ride had arrived, before walking down to the bay so I could go outside. The very instant the ramp was down, a man wearing a large, conspicuous….everything really, trench coat, sunglasses, and even hauling a huge metal briefcase, came charging up the ramp, diving in, while looking behind him.
"Close, it quickly," he shouted, and STAR did just that, while I offered the man a hand up.
"I'm Sage, Admiral of the fleet, and Captain of this ship," I told him, and the man nodded.
"Ijs Springboard," he said, slowing taking off the coat and glasses, tossing them aside like they were on fire, while grabbing the case and holding it close.
"Councilor Reynolds told me you would get here quickly, but I must admit, that was still a surprise," he said, and at that I started a bit.
"Wait, Councilor? Katya's a member of the Free World's leadership?" I asked, and the man actually laughed.
"You mean you didn't recognize her? That woman served two full terms in the Republic Senate, representing the entire Dust Belt. Defender of the small, the powerless, and the disenfranchised. Made her almost as unpopular as myself amongst the halls of power, and that's pretty difficult, given what I do," he explained, as I began to lead him towards the quarters we'd selected for him. STAR's androids offered to take his suitcase, but the man kept a tight grip on the thing, while allowing them to take the coat and glasses.
"And what is it that you do?" I asked him.
"Vigilante Nuclear Power Plant Inspector," he said, presenting me with a business card that said exactly that, while he smiled at me in a warm, but somehow mocking way. Stunned for a moment, I looked at the card, and then back at him.
"Uh...what?" I say, and this gets the man to laughing, pausing as he holds himself against the wall, before he catches his breath.
"Sorry, I do love doing that. I mean I'm a nuclear physicist. I go from world to world inspecting power grids. If I find a flaw, like a leaky reactor or a bad disposal dump, I call in the Atomic Energy Safety Commission to make things right. Needless to say, the Syndicate, who's always cutting corners, really can't stand it when I pay a visit," he explains, and then motions for his card back.
"Only keep it around for the look on people's faces," he tells me, slipping it back into his pocket, and giving me a moment to collect my thoughts, before we continue on.
"So, why is someone of your skills off to the Free Worlds?" I asked, as we finally get to his cabin, and he sets his case down on the bed, before taking a seat.
"Isn't it obvious? I'm going to be inspecting the blast sites of the attacks, and not only prove the Free Worlds didn't do them, but then help find the ne'er do wells that did. With them in hand, it should be easy to get the Republic to back off, and give the Free Worlds breathing room," he explained, and once again, I nodded.
"So, you don't believe they were behind the attacks?" I stated, both in question and as a fact of the matter.
"Do you? I doubt it, if you did, you wouldn't have agreed to come get me. But regardless, I've looked into it. The attacks, so close to the declaration of independence, has only hurt the Free Worlds cause. Better, I've known Katerina and the rest of those leading the Free Worlds for a while. They were good, honest people, whenever I needed a hand with taking on corruption. It wouldn't make sense for them to be involved in something like that," he answered.
"Alright then, what's our first step?" I said, deciding quickly this was something I could help with, and maybe get some info to help my own case.
"We go to Geminus. I'll explain more once we get there, but I need to see the attack site itself, and after that, I can tell you how we'll proceed," he told me, and I made for the door, only for him to catch my hand as I turned.
"I should warn you, I seem to have attracted the wrong sort of attention lately. Specifically I seem to attract pirates, quite a few of them. I don't know who, but I bet someone put a price on my head," he explained, and this time it was my turn to laugh.
"Not a problem, Mr. Eyes. You sit tight, and my fleet and I will get you where you need to be," I tell him, before walking back out and making my way to the bridge.