Sunny day

Eti has never liked being on sight. She always felt content to observe others by herself being invisible. She turned on the cloaking and tried to stay in the shade or on the rooftops, so she went unnoticed without any problems. Saltmarsh was a small city, at least compared to the metropolises of Atrax and Akiton, but it was densely built and crowded. After all, it was the only significant trade hub on the planet. This made it easier to hide without hindering her obtaining the information she had come here for.

Their ship landed a few kilometers outside the city, near a salt lake, allowing everyone to take a hot shower. Bina took the Crusher, so unfortunately Eti had to go to Saltmarsh on her own feet. It took some effort, but she was used to long hikes in the heat of the desert sun during all those years on Akiton…. Okay, these years have not been so many after all. Contrary to her appearance, she was born two thousand two hundred and nine days ago ... She always remembered how long ago it was. She did not want to count her age in years, after all, she was an absolutely perfect, amazing and unique being. Physically she was over eighteen, and mentally ... Well, she was very old ... Too old

She shook her head to chase away the thoughts crowding in her head. She looked at the city. When the planet and its capital bore the same name, it did not guarantee anything good. Saltmarsh was full of tightly packed buildings. The older ones were made of colonization prefabricated elements, and the newer ones were made of red and black bricks from local clay. The center had a sewage system, but the rest probably had to rely on portable recycling systems or an ordinary septic tank. The city had one fusion power plant to provide power to the residents, but the few vehicles that passed it were powered by alcohol-powered engines powered by a solar cell. The inhabitants had to be motorized, because the areas on the planet covered with salt deserts and marshes were really large.

She stepped onto the flat roof of the two-story building and looked around wondering where she should go. She didn't know the city, but she hoped so little was happening here that if something unusual happened here, she would probably hear about it. But she was a stranger, and for many reasons chose to remain unnoticed.

- Maybe I'll look at the port first - she said to herself. She saw a bird-rat flying by. She frowned. He annoyed her ...

Two Shirens stood in front of the port building sipping sweet caffeinated drinks.

- Well, three ships in one day. I'm telling you Triktrak. This promises a big change - he drank half a can until his antennae stretched.

- Apparently four, one more damaged. Something can really be on th thin, Shrakat- said the other Shiren and opened the can - But so what? One ship is damaged anyway, and this pirate captain ... Or maybe he wants to set up a hideout here, 'said Triktrak.

- There, in the Ravaged Zone, there are more places to hide from Anti. He drank the rest of the can and hiccupped with his windpip.

- But you remember the white demons? No matter how scary a pirate she is, she will not be able to cope with what may be lurking there. - said Triktrak. Shrakat flapped his antennae.

- I remember there was one here a few years ago. He was wandering around a bunch of skitermanders, and I'm telling you, he didn't look particularly threatening. Grag was hosting them then. He can be nice if she wants to, but when he smells blood, you'll hit the head with a hammer - he shook his head.

- And only one Grag is like? And do you remember this Veska from the mountains? You know wha ... - he continued, even without noticing the figure flitting over them.

Randaz straightened, feeling the stiffness in his back. Half a day's work behind him, another half left. But he wasn't complaining for that. Service in the artillery regiment at the front in the war with the swarm was much worse. He wasn't actually a deserter. He simply got into the wrong transport. But he was content, although he may have lost his honor, or at least a part of it, he nevertheless kept his life and health, including the mental one. Nobody on this planet asked about anything and did not interfere with anything. Just his back. Suddenly he felt watched. He was being watched. He tried to look around, but then heard a voice from behind him.

- Hey reptile. I'm aiming a sniper rifle in your back right now, but if you answer a few of my questions I'll let you go safe and sound, maybe even with all your limbs.

Randaz sighed, it was bad luck he should have expected. Gods don't like cowards and deserters.

- Say what you want. - he said resignedly.

- Cheer up . It's a sunny day today, so if you don't try any tricks, I won't really hurt you. Just tell me what ships have recently landed on the planet.

The voice was muffled by some kind of mask, but he could recognize the voice of a young female mammal.

- There weren't many of them, one ship came for flies, but it brought some strange visitors. - One is such a big dandy that he drags a huge mirror behind him. Weird, but no one in their right mind comes here unless they have to. Apparently other damaged ship landed in the desert, but no one knows exactly who it belonged to. There is, of course, the Merciless that belongs to Captain Moonshadow. I see connections there, but what can I know about pirates?

- Moonshadow, you know what she might be looking for here - asked the person pointing at his back.

- I have no idea, but everyone says she's done to much to anger Twins, and Anti won't let her go until she stands in chains in front of the eternal throne." Though others say he is looking for some great treasure in the Ravaged Zone. Who can tell what the truth is. You will never know truth about pirates ... And apart from her, another ship has landed here ... It has a terribly stupid name ... Something with a sword

Suddenly he felt a missile of hot plasma flew past his cheek. He almost burned him. "My goddamn tongue"

- Deadly sword of burning fury is a very nice name for a very beautiful ship. Do you know how long it took before we agreed? Three days! And we had a fight four times. So don't offend him here. Or you'll get hit.

He sighed deeply. "What kind of madman is handing out hot-headed kids weapons and ships? And did these kids have to end up on a planet where he was trying to live a quiet life ... On the other hand, who normal would come to Saltmarsh? "

- I am asking forgiveness for offending your wonderful and beautiful ship. Forgive me, miss. - he said with a resigned voice - You still have any questions, miss.

- Is Moonshadow on the planet? And if so, where? She asked, jumping to the ground. She walked past and stood in front of him. By Veska standards, it was tiny. She picked up her goggles and he saw a pair of golden cat eyes with blue spots staring at him. "Damn Pahtras"

- She would rather not introduce herself to an ordinary foreman like me. I would look for someone from its crew in the port canteen or in Red Water. Some relative of the miss is running her.

She stabbed him in the chest with the finger of a strange metal prosthesis.

- I am not litle girl and there is no other creature like me in the entire galaxy, for I am absolutely perfect, amazing and unique

He felt a slight tingling sensation every time she stabbed his chest. And she did it on every syllable. Then she jumped into the shadows and disappeared down a side street.

„Its time to move out" Randez thought.

-I'm telling you, this whole trip is a stupid idea - Gydwa said to Keart. They were standing behind the harbor canteen, hidden in the shadows. Halfdrowl spat out some red root.

- If the information we got on that ship is true, and we have no reason to say otherwise, we will finally get rich. Treasures of an ancient civilization and the wealth of a fallen empire. As ordinary pirates, we would never have had such a chance - the boatswain explained to large Veska ...

- We are pirates, not freedom fighters fighting to overthrow the Star Empire? - Said Gydwa sarcastically. Kaert waved his hand and bit down another piece of red root.

- We may have been fairly unusual pirates , but you have to admit that under Captain Moonshadow we never felt bad or lacked anything. Unless you're still jealous of Tonado becoming first mate. - The half drow said, grinning.

Veska gurgled loudly from deep in her throat.

- I will not let this ball of hair thow me of from the position I have waited for so long - she looked at the halfdrow - As if I wanted to be able to squeeze him so tightly in my hands until his head explodes. She clenched the imaginary skittermander.

- It's a temporary job anyway. When Reh'zar returns, he will retake his postion. So don't fight for something that will never belong to you anyway - he said, and shook his head disapprovingly.

The second officer looked at him seriously.

- Everyone has as much as they can get - she said slowly with clear undertones ..

Keart eyed her sidelong, clearly unhappy with the direction the conversation was taking.

- You know, this is almost under incitement to rebellion.- I will pretend this one time that I didn't hear it. He said slowly reaching for the ice gun at his belt.

- Don't overdo it, I just express my dissatisfaction. We are pirates and we can say whatever we like. And if in fact there are such treasures that he tells us about, I will be the first to beg forgiveness for my lack of faith - Veska bowed excessively

Keart grimaced but said nothing, just spat a bit of a root.

- They say the Captain is looking for someone here. Someone from where she comes from. The boatswain said. Gydwa snarled

- And to which we're going. I hope that it will not turn out that at the end of the road her husband or her wife and a group of kids are waiting for her.

This time Kaert laughed sincerely.

- You imagine our captain having even one kid. What else? That she is a princess or a queen? Don't be petty .. One thing I'm absolutely sure is that no one misses her, because surely someone would be looking for her ... - said half-drow. Veska, however, did not seem convinced

- The Ravaged Zone is hard to get to, so it's even harder to get out of there. The locals probably don't even know about the existence of Vescarium, let alone the Pact Worlds or Azlanti. I don't know who we'll find here, but it's probably some random miner or trader who is only more intelligent than Tonada.

- And apparently they have a miner here, I think Shiren, who went to the zone a year ago to earn to pay off alimony or something. He got scared of something there, but I have no idea what. He has fired the crew and sits and drinks. - Kaert said thoughtfully.

-It's Shiren. They can get scared by a fly trap or a pissed off skittermander. - Gydwa laughed wickedly.

- You have an awful lot of prejudice against other species - said Kaert. Veska wanted to say something, but they heard a broken screech. Several black feathers fell beside them.

- Apparently upset some cat. - Said the halfdrow.

The Red Water bar was definitely not a den. Rather, he was one of the places where an ordinary passer-by would be afraid to look, although he would most likely be safe there. The key word was most likely. There were never fights here, because the regulars, when they threw themselves into the fight, they kill. They were professionals, former space pirates, war veterans and travelers. Shirkas, as an asteroid miner, was classified rather in the lower regions of the local hierachy,but he was still our guy. He had earned a some reputation on his foray into the Ravaged Zone, though the more mischievous say it was all just the result of his thoughtlessness. It was not true, at least not entirely. The truth was, he was just desperate. His wife and their host demanded the payment of alimony, and he had no intention of ending up behind bars for such stupidity. Or worse, let his ship be scrapped. What could be more terrible for him there? He knew the answer ...

- And then I had got the transmission! There was a unchitinous woman. Her lips and eyes were smiling, but then I saw what was growing out of her head. It was a purple brain-eating octopus. I saw inside her, behind a smile, an immensity of suffering ... This creature devoured her mind, piece by piece, in tiny portions. And I turned out to be such a coward that I didn't react, I just ran away. To this day I see it as soon as I fall asleep. If I found more courage in my heart - he shook his head, and the two young shirens who were watching him without much enthusiasm stood up, thanking him for the story. Well, he was never good at telling a story, and after a year this one had already become somewhat boring He sighed and drank a drink of fermented juice, then went behind the bar to get rid of the excess fluid in his body. He stood in the shadows, and was getting ready to take off his dungarees, but then a figure hissed out of the shadows. He felt a strong blow to his chest, and she grabbed his antenae.

- Hey bug. Answer my questions succinctly, or else I will tear that antennae out and poke your brain out through your windpipe! - unchitinous female said. Two golden cat eyes with blue doth stared at him warningly. A metal hand held his wrist

- Ask, I will answer just don't touch the middle arms. - he pleaded.

- Okay, how you can aford drinking for the last year if your trip was going to be so bad. - She said. Her eyes smiled grimly.

- I don't know what you're talking about. - he said, trying to avoid her eyes. She twisted his antenae.

- I told you not to lie. She growled.

- Okay, okay, just don't hurt me. I'm a simple Shiren, I'm just unlucky. You see, a few years ago some weird guy flew over there with a bunch of Skittermander and some robot. He returned from Vesk III a few weeks ago and was looking for a way back. I told Grag, the local hustler, about everything, and he took him in. I mean, he's trapped and now wants to auction him off. He give me a share - he said - n a pleading voice. The girl jumped away from him and said.

- Don't tell anyone what we talked about, because you know, brains and antenaes - she threatened him with a knife that slipped from the sleeve of her left hand. Then she disappeared in the shadow of one of the buildings. Shirkas was glad that she didn't press where the money came from, otherwise he would have to tell about a drow woman with a cane ending in the symbol of bat wings…

Eti was walking pleased. She got the lead, alone, without resorting to violence and intimidation. She just spoke politely to a few people and they were answer her.

- Itel do you hear me? I have a lead! I got it myself! - She exclaimed, passing in front of the bar from which the solarium unexpectedly came out. She seemed ashamed that Eti had met her here

- It's great ... - she said hesitantly, but Eti took her hand and said

- It was actually predictable given my absolutely perfect diplomatic skills. - She pouted her chest proudly.

It was two thousand two hundred and ninth day of her life. Sunny day