The ion storm was not really helping her in tracking the Moth that had avoided Mephstopholes, and the occasional scrap with a bot was only so satisfying. She lazily twisted the Rev C and avoided the neutron guns on the TyCorps before slicing the bot in two with a series of well-placed shots. She kept on scouting for the moth, it was reported to be a TGFT pilot and thus a very tasty target. An Orne came towards her and she just boosted away not deeming the armoured brute as worthy of her attention. Damn, only twenty minutes to go of her combat patrol and not any real chance to find this nice juicy trader. She boosted for the exit point, maybe she could ambush him at the Sedina/Latos wormhole. Her radio crackled:
"Azumi, desperate here. I need to get these medicals to Remley. I'll pay you good if you can help me. Almost anything, please."
"Define anything trader."
She could hear the strain in Fluffy's voice as he replied, no doubt due to trying to avoid the assault bot that was attempting to hammer its way through his armour and into his vitals. He would have to be truly desperate to beg like this.
"Money, a service. Please help me get this cargo away from the hive."
She smiled, this had potential.
"Sure trader, I'll come to you. Send your position and I'll kill the bots until you are away."
A position came on her recognised radar picture, only 1800 metres a way. She boosted hard and found the assault bot that had hammered the armour on Fluffy's moth. She fired a stream of protons through the bot and destroyed it. The other bot kept its focus on the Behemoth and that was its undoing. A set of well-placed bursts reduced it to so much scrap. She moved up close to the moth to provide the protection he needed. Another bot came hurtling through the storm and Azumi intercepted it halfway, twisting her ship in a slow spiral pattern that she knew nearly always defeated the tracking system on the hive bots, while pouring protons at the bot. Another bot exploded and Azumi returned to the side of the moth. They flew in formation until they were 600 metres away from the exit when Azumi's radio crackled again.
"I must say, you pirates do have some honour after all. For the people of Remley, I thank you. Now, how much do you want?"
Azumi smiled, she had an idea and just maybe this Fluffy was crazy enough to do it.
"I don't want money. I want a favour instead. Meet me in Latos Mining in four hours. Dress nice."
She could almost hear the hesitation on Fluffy's part. The exit point came closer, now only 50 metres away. She considered killing him if he jumped out without answering and readied her targeting grid.
"Ehm, sure. Later"
With that he jumped out and so did she, him to Remley Orbital and her to Latos mining to fix a couple of things.
###
Gramps was in a very good mood and walked down the corridor whistling an old tune to himself. It was slightly off-key but he could recognise it and that was his main goal. He turned down towards the offices of LL&S and walked straight in. The young attractive woman in the office ignored him completely while filing her nails and chattering away like a machine to someone unseen; Gramps suspected a two-way vidphone. He stayed still and waited, nothing could bring him out of the current good mood and the message he was here to deliver was worth any amount of waiting. The woman finished her nails and started to apply nail polish, methodically painting each nail and admire the result before deeming it was time to look up. Her voice changed from a normal voice to a high pitched nasal caricature of a female voice as she spoke, making Gramps smile even more.
"Welcome to Lector, Lecter and Shar, what can I do for you?"
"I need to see the lawyer that is handling the Melody Lockhill case. I have some information I think he needs."
The woman looked at Gramps with about as much loathing as if he was a condemned child molester before pushing two buttons on her screen. She pointed to a door to the left of her desk.
"Through there, Mr. Lector is waiting for you."
Gramps smiled at her as he walked past and towards the impressive looking door. He knocked and opened it, nodded to the lawyer inside and walked inside.
"Ole Gramps from the TGFT I assume?"
"Indeed Sir, and I am talking to Mr. Lector surely?"
The lawyer nodded and indicated a large comfortably looking chair in front of the desk.
"So, you have something for me?"
"Indeed I do Sir."
Gramps found the papers he had guarded since receiving them this afternoon and pushed them forward onto the table in front of him.
"The papers contain the withdrawal of the claim set forth by Ms. Lockhill herself. It seems that she would rather have the man than his money. I trust that the papers are in complete order and that the next step from you will be a formal withdrawal from the legal system here and in the Valent faction. Failure to do so by no later than tomorrow will result in a lawsuit from TGFT on the behalf of councillor Waldoze to ensure this."
Gramps smiled wide and leaned forward.
"I must say it has been a pleasure to deal with you trash. I expect that I won't have to hear from you again apart from the documents describing that you have withdrawn the case. Good day to you."
Without offering his hand Gramps got up and walked out of the office, head held high and in the best of spirits.
