October 2, 2552 CE
Onyx Central Asteroid Belt, Onyx System, Sapphire Sector, Unorganized Autonomous Territories of the Alliance of Liberated Systems, Attican Traverse of the River Galaxy, about 225 parsecs from Imperial front lines…
Kino let a nervous smile come over her face as the Hermes exited hyperspace, and converted on the Onyx System's Central Asteroid Belt.
On one hand, Kino was looking forward to returning to her apartment to rest up and trade her loot in for Citadel Credits.
On the other hand, she knew there would be… unpleasant company waiting for her. Ah, the costs and benefits of operating out of a base like this.
For now, Kino would put up with the downsides of Onyx's politics as long as the place served as some form of safe harbor for the Hermes to get repairs and restock supplies.
Of course, that meant she had to deal with the agents of Onyx's de facto ruler, Privateer Boss Makoto Niijima, the so-called "Queen of Onyx". Notably, the Onyx Enforcers- the closest thing Onyx had to a police and military- and which answered directly to Boss Niijima.
As the Onyx Enforcers were the closest thing that passed for some kind of law enforcement in the Onyx System, and Kino had to admit they did keep a certain level of law and order, preventing the unsavory elements that inhabited the system from going too far.
However, they were also very much the personal enforcers of Onyx's de facto ruler, Boss Makoto Niijima, sometimes dubbed the "Queen of Onyx", and worked to bribe and coerce talented people into either joining the Enforcers or any number of privateer outfits that worked under Niijima.
Of course, Kino, being very much the lone wolf type, had absolutely no interest in joining any such group. Sure, the idea of free rent, free fuel, no docking fees and recieving necessities free of charge had a certain appeal, but Kino shirked at the idea of giving Niijima a cut of each profit. Furthermore, she enjoyed the life of a freelancer, and would chafe badly if stuck at the beck-and-call of the Queen.
Unfortunately, her rather notable successes in raiding Imperial forces the past few months had attracted Niijima's attention, and the Queen desired adding the gem that was Kino to her collection, so to speak.
As a result, Kino found herself being frequently harassed by the Enforcers or other privateer goons of Niijima on a constant basis, in person when she was in Onyx, and by telecommunication when she was traveling.
To be fair, they had been reasonably light-handed- especially since everyone knew that threatening Kino in any way was a really bad idea- and never gave Kino a reason for violent confrontation. It was just wheedling, soliciting, sending advertisements, making offers, but it really got on Kino's nerves at times.
Kino flew the Hermes close to the asteroid Ebaq-9, where her favorite repair shops were located, and maneuvered her ship into the hangar docks.
From the bridge of the Hermes, Kino could see several people standing in the hangar's control room. She winced as she saw Onyx Enforcer Lieutenant Hanch walk out and head to the base of the Hermes exit ramp. No doubt she heard of her arrival directly from space traffic control.
Kino sighed exasperatedly- just how persistent were they?
She took a deep breath and strolled down the ramp as nonchalantly as she could, but mentally, she was steeling herself for any manner of confrontation- even a violent one if it came down to that.
"Wow, it's been awhile, Kino!" The red-haired Enforcer greeted in her usual faux-cheerful manner. "Did you have a bountiful hunt?"
"What do you want, Hanch?" Kino groaned. "Your 'friends' from the Dandelions were here last week to try and strong-arm me into joining them."
"Ah, is that so…" Hanch dropped her façade, looking Kino with colder eyes. "Perhaps we can negotiate terms more to your liking?"
"I've told you, I'm not going to join the Enforcers or any organized privateer outfits." Kino sighed. But then she thought of a counter. "So… why did you choose to serve the Enforcers yourself? You seem like a capable soldier- I'd think you would make a great privateer yourself."
"Thank you for the compliments, Kino, but contrary to popular misconception, Enforcers actually go on all kinds of missions for the Boss and for the Alliance," Hanch huffed. "We don't spend all our time in Onyx. Everything from intelligence gathering to raiding the enemy, striking strategic targets, and rescue missions. The Onyx Rescue Fleet includes a lot of Enforcers in its ranks, after all."
"Interesting," Kino nodded, surprised herself to have wheedled a little information out of the Enforcer. "But you haven't told me why you signed up."
"Miss Niijima… is my savior…" Lieutenant Hanch stated softly, sighing as she tailed Kino to the fuel pay station.
"Hmpf?" Kino raised an eyebrow ever so slightly as she swiped a card to transfer electronic credits to pay for her fuel. As a precaution, Kino tended to prefer keeping her money as hard currency and disliked having too much electronic credits in her account, preferring to use them up first when possible.
"You know, Kino, I was born on a Terminus world, Erseke. I… used to be so beloved when I was a kid… but when I was five, it all came down. There was… an accident… in the river. I was crippled, my mind broken. Not only that, I ended up getting a chronic infection at the poor excuse of a public hospital they had on the colony. My own parents, who didn't want to foot the bill for treatment… abandoned me instead.
I was left to languish in an over-capacity orphanage for over a decade… until Niijima came for me. She came to my orphanage and saved me, paid for me to actually receive the medical treatment I needed. There she was, a girl about my age, an orphan too, but already head of an influential privateer force and a philanthropist. I admired her so much, and vowed I'd do all I could to serve her. That's how I came to serve the Enforcers."
"Well, I knew she runs an orphanage, hospitals, and schools in Onyx," Kino offered, trying to be diplomatic. "I didn't realize she had been helping orphanages in other systems."
"She has," Lieutenant Hanch continued enthusiastically. "All over Alliance space and the Terminus Systems- hospitals and schools too. She's also opened libraries, community centers, nursing homes, soup kitchens here in Onyx- all using the profits of privateering and administering Onyx."
"That is impressive," Kino conceded. "I heard she came from a prominent family too. It's unusual to see someone like that in this line of work."
"You even know that?" Hanch chuckled. "Yes, her father was a prominent Alliance judge on one of the United Nations worlds in the Alliance's Outer Colonies- before his untimely death, and her older sister is a public prosecutor being considered as a candidate to become a judge. She was studying to be a law enforcement officer.
But then she found out the truth behind her father's death- how he'd been investigating a cabal of corrupt United Nations officials and legislators, who then hired a hitman to off him when he refused to be bribed or dissuaded by threats.
What's more, she discovered her own sister had uncovered this, but chose to cut a deal with those very officials in order to further her own career advancement.
Disillusioned and enraged with the Alliance justice and political system, Miss Niijima sought the life of a privateer, to fight more on her own terms, especially for those living beyond the Alliance's reach.
It's a messy, dangerous business in the chaos of the galactic underworld. But Boss Niijima is the light in the darkness, bringing order and justice where she goes. She gives a chance to people, like me, who would've been lost in the darkness or lost their way. That is why she's a saviour."
Kino sighed exasperatedly. "That... is quite the interesting story, Lieutenant. I don't dispute Boss Niijima's deeds... However, I've always just been there for myself and Hermes. I've never been a particularly good person, I don't work well in a group, and I don't take to orders well. I follow my own schedule, so I won't be at the beck-and-call of anyone."
"Such indiscipline..." Hanch sighed. "But you do good work at that. How about a different job- escorting a lone person? You'd be paid well, and they won't be much of a hassle-"
"No, sorry Lieutenant, Hermes, the droids, and I are a crew. We're not about to take on one of your lackeys to boss me around."
"Actually, it's an Alliance employee, and you just have to ferry her around," Hanch corrected. "She's no privateer or any sort of ship crew, so she won't be bossy in any such regard."
"I don't see why you're so insistent on-"
"Kino..." Hanch lowered her voice noticeably, a slight menacing edge to it. "Starting next month, your rent is expected to increase by 25%, fuel and food prices are expected to rise as well."
Kino's eyes narrowed, and she replied coldly. "That's really low of you... resorting to extortion?"
"It can be made free if you cooperate. You won't even have to pay a share of your profits to the Boss anymore. All you have to do is help out a little ol' detective-"
"She's an Alliance detective?" Kino exclaimed. "Are you trying to get me arrested?"
"She's a detective investigating Imperial infiltration of the galactic underworld. We both know how important that is nowadays," Hanch explained. "The Alliance is so desperate now, it couldn't care less about the legal particulars so long as you continue to deliver results. And privateering law allows for quite a lot of grey area anyway."
Kino sighed again in exasperation. "If it's- or she- is really that instrumental, you wouldn't be trying to get rid of her by pushing her onto me..."
"She's just a kid detective, and really nice too. Would you at least get to know her a few days before you decide? I've already arranged for her to stay at an apartment close to yours."
Kino sighed in defeat. "Fine, fine. So when do I get to meet her?"
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On Asteroid Onyx-5 in Onyx Central Asteroid Belt, Onyx System, Sapphire Sector, Unorganized Autonomous Territories of the Alliance of Liberated Systems, Attican Traverse of the River Galaxy…
BRRING!
The comlink on Makoto Niijima's desk rang abruptly. Niijima sighed and put down the documents she was reading and answered it.
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"Niijima-sama!" Lieutenant Hanch exclaimed. "We have success! Kino agreed to be the Detective's partner."
"And what's your analysis of Kino's agreement? Was she sincere? Will she really keep up her side of the bargain?"
"I believe so, my lady," Hanch nodded. "Kino seems to be the trustworthy type. She just doesn't take orders well and likes to travel about. Very much a lone wolf, but honest."
"Well, let's hope for Samidare's sake that this wolf has some honor."
"Do you think the wolf cub can be tamed, my lady?" Hanch asked, smirking.
"If we haven't so far, what makes you think some foolish novice Alliance detective can?" Makoto snorted derisively. "At the least, it takes the annoying detective off our hands, at least. That said, the rapid spread of Imperial agents, their suspected proxies and fronts- across the galactic underworld- no, indeed across the entire galactic economy is alarming. That'll be all for now."
"Understood, ma'am. Hanch out."
Makoto paused and breathed deeply for a few minutes.
Then she searched through her contacts list and dialed a certain number.
"Captain Andorssi? It's Niijima. I need to ask a favor…"