Crossfire
- Traveling is about getting to know not only the beautiful places that are shown on postcards, but also the less pleasant ones. - Rosie said in sign language. - And I guess Saltmarsh is definitely one of those places.
- Saltmarsh isn't even fit for the backwaters of the universe. It's not even nasty. It just exists and collects dust. - Dilayla said with contempt clearly audible in her voice.
- Well, at least it's original. - Rosie said with a friendly smile.
Dilayla shook her head in disbelief.
- Are you always like this? Do you always try to see the better side of everything and everyone?
The deaf girl spread her hands.
- Why not? If you do that, then others will try to treat you as you treat them, it's quite simple. - She said and smiled widely. Dilayla looked at her, unsure of what to say.
- The world doesn't work that way. I mean, some people will probably react the way you say, but many have no conscience. They'll only hurt you because they'll have the opportunity. Not even because they gain something from it, but because your suffering will make them happy. And you are much easier to hurt than others.
Rosie made a indignant face.
- I can take care of myself! I can fight. I'm really good at this.
Dilayla looked at her companion. The intern was clad in good, if fairly standard, armor, a gift from one of her tutors at the university. She also had a backpack, datapad, and other standard equipment necessary for traveling to remote and wild regions of the galaxy. But she was a petite girl, even without the power armor she was a head taller than she was, and she had no weapons.
- If you say so. - murmured the mercenary. They were in one of the worst districts of Saltmarsh, though she supposed the difference between the worst and best districts in a place like this was purely arbitrary. Everywhere, most of the inhabitants were armed, and law enforcement was practically non-existent ... But on the other hand, it was difficult to talk about real crime, because most of the inhabitants here were armed, and law enforcement was practically non-existent. Everyone did their own justice here, there wasn't even a customary law to tidy things up a bit. "In a land of lawlessness, everyone is righteous," she recalled an old saying from her hometown. Throughout this trip, she thought more and more about Minitar, she wasn't sure if it was because of the Order's participation in this project, or maybe because of the strange premonitions that the had tormented her hardened heart of mercenary. "We lived so close to this place. Will I find there the truth that has been denied me?
In fact, she didn't like places like Saltmarsh. She may have been a mercenary, but unlike many of her profession, she had a moral code or something. In the company of Rechza and Arkan, she could play the Dog of War who cares about nothing, but she was a devoted follower of the Inheritor and tried to choose such assignments that allowed her to keep a reasonably clear conscience. Besides, she really didn't want to be in a place where she could end up with a knife in her back because someone was having a bad day.
Passers-by kept out of her way, probably because she was in possession of one of the few power armors on the planet. She didn't wear a helmet, so she could scowl at anyone who got too close. Rosie, on the other hand, was looking at everything and everyone with awe, as if she were on a trip. More and more often Dilayla wondered if the one who had sent her on such a dangerous journey wasn't an idiot detached from reality, or just wanted to get rid of her, although it was hard to imagine why anyone would want to get rid of such a carefree creature. "Unless someone is going to get their hands on a secret inheritance or a hidden trust fund that the girl didn't know about." It even made some sense, after all, the girl had these mysterious patrons, who knows who they really were. There was one more thing about the girl.
- Rosie, why don't you fix your hearing with implants? Or a tissue transplant? - she asked her companion. Rosie looked at her and shrugged.
- In my case, it wouldn't work anyway. - She unwound her snow-white hair and pointed to her ear. The pinna was attached to the body and the ear canal was overgrown with tissue.
- I don't have anything inside my ear. Even my brain is deprived of this piece to hearing. I guess my whole family and my ancestors didn't hear either. - said the girl - And besides, it's good. I'm hapy I can do a everything. I guess I was trained in the old days to do…a lot of things. I'm not sure who did it or why, but it doesn't really matter anymore. - she shrugged. Dilayla sighed.
- It matters a lot because it will determine how much care I have to make sure no one kills you. - she said slowly. Rosie gave her a hurt look.
- If my clumsiness annoys you so much, why did you bring me with you?! The vouce from gloves screamed.
- Because I don't want to leave you with that mean ratiess.- The mercenary muttered in a gloomy voice.
- I don't need your pity or anyone else's. - Rosie huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. There was silence, but it didn't last long as they were approaching the Red Water bar. It was a real haven for mercenaries and adventurers who wanted to rest between their quests. Dilayla had been to such places often, though she was not particularly fond of them. She liked a decent pub or an upper-class brothel where she could relax, but at least it wasn't a murder house where everyone was waiting to slit your throat. A place like Saltmarsh did not produce warriors neither the toughest nor the cunning, but those who became masters of survival. Such a poor and completely forgotten planet could give little to those who made a living from solving all sorts of problems, because the inhabitants learned to solve them themselves. "But it's also a place where it's easy to hide and find peace." Dilayla thought, looking at the bartender and probably the owner of this enterprise, the mighty Pahtra, with a scarred face. He looked quite menacing, though not to veterans like her. A burn mark on her arm caught her attention. She swore silently under her breath.
- Rosie, don't tell anyone about the hundred-damned Lord Admiral. - she said quietly.
- About who? – asked the confused girl, in the opinion of the mercenary definitely too loud.
- Just don't say anything about our journey. Better yet, pretend you are… Just turn off those glasses and gloves. whispered the half-elf. Rosie made a strange sound that was supposed to be a growl, but realized she didn't really know what kind of noise a girl could make. It was… a strange thought.
As soon as they entered, most of the regulars of this establishment looked at her. She looked really professional, and she took pride in the fact that she looked neater than the scumbags present. Most had weapons, quite good ones in a few cases, but no armor. However, they were professionals who rather wanted to relax in each other's company, so the heavily armed mercenary in power armor, contrary to appearances, completely did not fit here and disrupted the existing order. She raised her hand in a conciliatory gesture.
- Queue for everyone! she called with a fake smile, but the free drink meant that no one cared about her intentions anymore. She went to the bar to pay with the Lord Admiral's money, and several of the regulars snorted at the sight of Rosie.
- Why are they staring at me? And then they poit to you? - she asked the mercenary, carefully looking around. Dilayla smiled sarcastically.
- You are a young girl accompanying an older one who seem to be a successful mercenary.
The intern widened her eyes.
- They think I'm…- She started to blush.
- "Sleeping bag friend", though that's the politest word for such persons. Don't worry, you're not my type. - said the half-elf.
- Your type? asked the deaf girl very carefully.
- I'm over forty, have a risky but profitable profession and prefer girls. I've relationship with a lot of women, but none of them lasted long. But I won't hit on you, so don't worry. - Dilayla said and ordered a water and juice for Rosie and a beer for herself, then walked over to it
- Hello sir...- She raised an eyebrow questioningly.
-Zagsos. the bartender replied grimly, staring at her with his golden eyes.
- Well, Mr. Zagsos, I'm going straight to the point. Does anyone here have a ship for sale? - she asked smiling slightly.
- What do you need a ship for? - the Catman asked, wiping glass.
- I won't make a secret of it. Armed people like me appear on this planet cursed by Devils and Daemons for only one purpose, and the fact that I am looking for a ship is an additional hint - she yawned a bit bored with such a pointless exchange of sentences.
- Some say that no one comes back from there. - Zagsos said after a moment's thought.
„That's interesting" thought Dilayla. "I'm getting valuable information."
- So some people are coming back? - she asked, clearly interested.
- Look at that one over there. - He pointed to Shiren sitting at the table, staring glumly into the distance. - It's Shirkas. He is a miner extracting valuable resources from asteroids. A few months ago he fell into huge debts and went deep into the Ravaged Zone. When he arrived from there, he brought with him a lot of money and "Scary" stories.
- Ah, that's interesting... But why does he want to sell the ship then? - Dilayla said suspiciously.
- Because the money he brought was like that…. - He showed her the coin. It was red with a symbol of golden wings on the obverse and the words "United we will cast out shadows". She had never seen such a coin. Hard money was relatively unused in the galaxy, but as a mercenary she had to use it in the frontiner regions where there was a greater demand for people dabbling in her profession. She also learned to recognize the value of coins, and she didn't like it very much.
- They're not worth much. - she said with disgust.
- Yes, and they say he exchanged the entire contents of the hold on a one-for-one basis.- Zagsos said contemptuously. - And when he came back, he acted like he had made the deal of a lifetime. Well, for a miner, he didn't show off his knowledge of metallurgy. He came back with more debts than he originally had.
She shrugged.
- I know ways to cheat someone on the value of coins. And I'm just an ordinary hired gun. - she said, and paid Pahtra fifty credits. Then she walked over to Shiren. He was quite large for a representative of this species, but had rather elongated limbs and not very thick joints, which indicated physical weakness. A fairly common ailment among beings who spend a lot of time in open space.
Shirkas spread his antennae with concern when he saw her.
- What do you want from me? - he asked very carefully. As she smiled, the miner cringed. His antennae were now clinging to his head. She noticed that one of them had a scratched chitin. Apparently he got into a fight, although he was not predisposed to it.
- We want to buy your ship, we give you... a hundred thousand credits - she said, wondering if she would bargain.
- Hundred thousand! You can take it now! - he cried. She was a bit surprised that it went so quickly.
- My comrades have to agree first, and then we have to see if it's not some kind of junk. - she said carefully. "If he wants to sell me a wreck, I'll crush his stupid Shiren head."
- Of course. Noble Endeavor is a wonderful ship. A bit crude inside, but can handle almost anything. - Insectoid said with fiery enthusiasm.
- We'll be there in the afternoon. But first, I'd like to ask you something else... Where did you get these coins from? The ones no one wanted to accept from you. - she asked, placing the combat glove on the table. Shiren lowered his head.
- You see, when we left the zone, we come out the Drift, because earlier I wanted to check whether it would be worth organizing a base on one planet, and then ... A ship arrived, so from outside the drift. White and weird and we were ordered to let someone on board. So I let them in, as they said, and... the Drow arrived, a woman, I think. She looked like a mystic or a priestess, and she questioned me about various things, but first she bought all my goods. Everything and for double the value, or so I thought. She showed me a coin that looked fine.
„An old trick" thought Dilayla, then asked.
- What about that scary thing you met there?
Shiren shivered and drank a glass of the sweet stuff his race liked so much.
- Because we flew far, into the middle of the Zone... And that's where I came out of the Drift. We've already collected our cargo... But I was curious what's next, but when we got there... I picked up the signal. He was hard to pick up, but as soon as I caught him, it blew our transmitter. But for two seconds I saw her. It must have been the female of one of you. She had something on her head that looked like your uh... hair, but it was moving. - He asked for a new glass, which he immediately emptied.- It waved at me as if mockingly promising me peace. The woman was smiling, but I know she was screaming in her heart. I know it! - He finished another glass and called out. – That lady will pid.
She smiled at Shiren, though in her heart she wanted to punch him in his mouth.
- Funny... Listen to me, bug. If your ship turns out to be suitable for us, we'll buy it, but if you try to cheat me, I'll gouge out your brains with your own antennae.
Shirkas looked at her for a moment.
- Do you know that I was threatened in this way today? - Shiren said, not too scared.
- Only I'm not joking. - She said without stopping smiling.
- She didn't look like she was joking either. - Shirkas said quietly.
She asked for directions to where they would meet and then got up and walked over to Rosie, who was drawing something on the table.
- Alright young one, let's go. - said the mercenary, ordering the intern to get up, glanced at the table and saw that the girl was drawing some ridiculous stars.
When they left, Rosie asked her.
- Did you manage to arrange everything?
- Even more than I wanted. - said Dilayla, tapping her pocket where she had put the coin she had taken from Zagzos.
- . What was your point of me not talking about anything?..- The intern looked at the half-elf questioningly.
Dilayla turned around and made sure they were far enough away from the bar that no one could hear them, especially a certain Pahtra.
- He belongs, or rather belonged to the Shadows of Tarak.- Many years ago, a civil war broke out on Tarak. On one side was the "Loyalist Alliance" linked to the Pact Worlds, to which belonged, or rather, it was led by the Lord Admiral. Second side was, the Glorious Rebellion supported by Veskarium. - Dilayla said in a hushed voice.
- But the Vesks are… They like dictatorships and stuff. So why did they support the rebellion? - Rosie asked, a bit confused.
- Veskovs are diverse, just like any race. And that was the issue of the rivalry between Veskarium and the Pact Worlds. Those were the times of the Cold War. In any case, the Shadows of Tarak were an elite special task force. For some they were heroes, for others terrorists. I'm not one who can say who was right… – she spoke thoughtfully, but Rosie cut her off.
- But usually it's probably that one side is, you know... the good one... the one that defends itself. - The deaf girl was clearly confused. Dilayla laughed.
- Sometimes it does. But not in the case of a civil war, especially when it was a proxy war. The Rebellion won, but terrible things have happened, and the Shadows were banished from the planet along with their leader Igzar, an extremely nasty Pahtra who had sworn to hunt down the Lord Admiral... They became mercenaries and worked for various clients for many years, but never abandoned their mission. Igzar supposedly died a few years ago, but the Shadows still stick together, so I don't think it would be a good idea that they know who we work for. she told the deaf girl. Rosie thought for a moment.
- So where exactly are we going now? - she asked finally, clearly subdued.
- We've got some time, so I'm going to the junkyard. Firstly, I'll be able to buy some equipment there, although I doubt there's anything of real value there, and secondly, we need to exchange credits for hard currency. - said the mercenary. She was also going to buy any kind of weapon for her companion to at least look like one that could defend herself
- But why? - Rosie asked in surprise.
- Because Abbadar Corp's influence doesn't extend there, even if they have any electronic equipment there.' And we know that at least one group uses coins. - Dilayla said, smiling friendly to make the deaf girl feel a little better. This conversation must have saddebnedher. Rosie seemed very sensitive. Sooner or later she would have to lose her innocence and faith in others, but it didn't have to be because of Dilayla.
The area was a bit desolate, full of half-finished buildings and half-empty warehouses where those damn flies were probably stored. Dilayla didn't like places like that either. They were too stimulating her natural mercenary instinct, which she had developed over the years of fighting in wars not her own. "There is no better place in the whole city to set up an ambush. No one will come to help, if hears the sounds of fighting, no one will be interested." She snorted at her own thoughts to push them away, but she still felt an irritating tingle of uneasiness down the back of her neck. Rosie touched her shoulder and was about to turn around, but then she saw someone in the road. Three young people, a dragonkin and two girls, and a strange three-legged droid with a spherical, motley body. Two were armed, and the third had Solarian markings on his arms. But they wouldn't draw a mercenary's attention, they didn't look like they were about to attack someone. But one of them was with them. The White Demon… It's rather motley at the moment… He was dressed in a strange shirt, probablymade by Skitermander's, and dyed his hair in rainbow colors, but he was still one of them. "Where did he come from? Are they planning a new invasion? And does it matter?." - she thought, and then Rosie shouted at her.
- Dilayla, they're following us!
- I see! she said, and the laser canon moved from her back to her shoulder. She fired, but the White Demon dodged, and the solarian summoned the moonblade as well.
- Thanks Rosie! - she said, and then felt a powerful slap to the back. She looked over her shoulder and saw the great Vesk with a heavy hammer. She snarled and swung the combat gauntlet, but then Rosie hit Vesk in the ribs and shoulder. She heard the crunch of breaking bones. The girl's hands glowed.
Eti decided that this whole mision to rescue Wormdak was completely, and absolutely pointless. Only did they free clone this nasty robot with this strange scar. Why were they involved? They just lost lots of charges. She even had to recharge her's better hand. "Does itel understand how much batteries cost? And then Bina resents them, quite rightly so!" She thought as she jumped from roof to roof. The only good thing about all this completely senseless fuss was that the threat of stormy days was gone. Now she wasn't so full of delight of herself. She felt… not much, except perhaps annoyance. She stood on the edge of the roof and unrolled her hood, taking off her goggles and mask. Someone was walking down the street. Two people. The first was a person in power armor, large and relentlessly noisy, and the second was much smaller and moved with grace. She looked that way and saw a blonde-haired half-elf in power armor and a white-haired girl. But she heard something else. In the distance, several other people were approaching the two. Three of them belonged to some large creatures that were very clumsy in stealth, making more noise than a woman in power armor. But there was someone else, a true professional. She only heard him because he slipped on a brick without mortar. She looked in that direction and saw a piece of green armor. The figure, however, immediately hid behind a half-collapsed wall. She couldn't get a better look at it without giving away her location. She wondered for a moment what was going on here, but decided to let Itel know, she always has some brilliant plan.
"Itel, to that armored chick..." She didn't finish as the armored chick just opened fire on... Wormdak? "Who would want to shoot Wormdak? He's just a clone. It's a waste of charges" she thought, and saw that the figures hiding earlier turned out to be three Veskas dressed in local nomad costumes. One of them hit the woman in the back with a heavy rail hammer, but the white-haired girl hit Vesk, breaking his arm and ribs. Her hands began to glow. The helmet covered the half-elf's head, but Eti was aiming at her shoulder rifle anyway. She wasn't sure who they were fighting whom, so she decided to neutralize the one that attacked Wormdak first, the real threat was the one hiding. She fired and hit the rifle, perfect as always. She got up and wanted to change the shooting position, but the white-haired girl saw her and ran towards her and jumped on the roof. She stared at her with her mouth open, then whistled in surprise. "This might be interesting."
Rosie was never quite sure of her training. She could do things, but she had no idea how. She simply knew them ... Sometimes she unexpectedly discovered abilities that she would never suspect herself of having. It was the same now. She knew she could fight, and she knew how to fight amazingly well, eventually getting into a few fights back on Absalom when several people tried to accost a deaf girl. She sent her opponents to the hospital once, which freaked her out a bit. But deep down, she was glad to be able to defend herself. So when she saw someone shooting at Dilayla, she ran to where the shot came from, and she just knew she could jump in there, even though it was a good four meters above the road. Once on the roof, she faced the shooter and stared in surprise. She thought she was going to run into some thug or something. She saw… she wasn't sure herself. The cat's ears and tail were typical of a Pahtras, but the face was human. Golden eyes with many blue flecks stared at her with a mixture of surprise and astonishment. Then the glasses showed that she had whistled to her. Various people whistled for her when they thought she couldn't hear them, though probably in a different context. Probably… She lunged at the shooter and hit her with her fist, but she dodged and swung her left hand, with the knife attached to it. She jumped back, but then the assailant slapped her face with a strange metal hand, completely different from Dilayla's prosthetics. She felt a sharp pain in her face and spit up, but she punched her opponent in the stomach with all her strength, but she stepped on her foot, and Rosie "screamed" in pain, though the strange whistling sound was hardly a scream, or so the others told her. So she hit the strange Pachtra with her fist in the face, until the other one spat blood from the nose. They jumped away from each other and stared at each other for three heartbeats, but then shooter motioned for her to drop to the ground. She took a risk and did as instructed. Above their heads someone fired a magnetic rifle burst. They got up at the same time and saw the Aeon guardsman. which was hidden behind the corner. Pahtrowata grabbed her pistol and fired twice, and Rosie ran towards him, but the guardsman ran away, and she didn't want to chase him with a potential opponent behind her. She spun around, fists poised for a fight, but the shooter raised her gun.
- Calm down, Sparkle Fingers. Things seem to have calmed down down there, so I guess there's no point in us fighting too.
Still with her fists clenched, she glanced at the road below and saw that Dilayla and Pahtra-like friends had stopped fighting, so she jumped down onto the road. Her former opponent ran down the wall.
- Do you guys know who you're walking with? Who is he? - Dilayla asked sharply.
- It's Wormdak, Wormdak only. It was a shame to waste ammo on someone like that. - said the shooter. She was now donning her goggle hood and Akiton's dust mask. A strange white alien with colored hair spoke up
- I am Wrongdak, actually Wrong Hordak. And I know what this woman means. I was one of the White Demons, albeit briefly. My brothers have raided and ravaged planets. They have destroyed countless civilizations in the name of Horde Prime… But he is no more. - he smiled sadly. - He was annihilated and is no more. - Relief flashed across Wrongdak's face. - I am sorry for what has been done to your people!
Rosie noticed from the corner of her eye that the green-haired elf, the red-haired human girl and the Dragonkin exchanged knowing glances. Her would-be opponent snorted softly. A strange spherical android painted in dappled colors covered the white-skinned alien.
- Well, a soldier is there to kill, even if he ordered it himself. - Dilayla said with a crooked smile. Wrongdak cowered sadly, and Rosie felt sorry for him.
- Listen kids, what are you going to do? I'm guessing you didn't take him in because he was wandering around the street. A weird bunch like you guys are looking for something... on Saltmarsh. Let's say we'll help you find it as compensation. - Dilayla said.
The elf hesitated for a moment, but Dragonkin spoke up.
- I'm Alatar, and these are Itel, Lilka and Eti. We are looking for a certain observatory... - he said pointing to his companions. Three Vesk opponents lay on the ground, two were wounded, but one appeared to be dead. Rosie tried not to look in his direction. Vesk, whom she had beaten, coughed.
- If you help me dress my wounds, I'll tell you where it is. An hour away from the city, on a small hill. - he said. Dilayla raised an eyebrow. Eti hugged Itel tightly. Rosie felt a pang of sadness for a moment.