Blockade Runner by Jamie Mcfarlane

Author:Jamie Mcfarlane [McFarlane, Jamie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fickle Dragon Publishing
Published: 2016-12-31T05:00:00+00:00

BATTLESHIP GRAY

"This will work." Nick pulled a red painted box from a stacked pile of assorted Abasi electronics. "We should get extras though. It's likely we'll ruin a few of them."

We were using a subroutine Nick's AI constructed to search the myriad of junk electronics strewn haphazardly across shelves, stacked on each other, and lying all over the floor. After two hours, I wondered if we'd ever find what we needed. The differences between human and Felio technology were considerable.

"Mangusi, how much for this?" Roby asked, pointing to the red device.

The dark green-skinned Pogona looked more alien than had Jala and Koosha. His jaw protruded significantly and the loose skin beneath it hung in great folds.

"Very rare," Mangusi replied. "They were salvaged from a military installation at great expense."

"They're probably paper printers," Roby grumbled under his breath. "It's always drama with these guys."

"A hundred credits for the five we're looking at," Roby said louder, so Mangusi could hear him.

"Ten thousand credits," Mangusi replied. "Each."

"That's crazy," Roby answered. "These things are everywhere."

I typed a message to Tabby who stood next to me, asking her to hand me five platinum fingers, each worth six hundred Confederation credits.

"You will not find them," Mangusi replied. "These units were used by Abasi military in the manufacture of ammunition. They are very rare."

Tabby slipped me the platinum and I approached Mangusi. He had a peculiar smell, like something had stuck in the great folds of his chin and was decaying.

"We are not interested in spending the day shopping and I would leave with five of them," I said. I held up three of the platinum fingers. "It is plain to me that these items have been here for a long time. You aren’t likely to get such a generous offer again, especially in hard currency."

Mangusi's bright blue eyes looked greedily at the platinum fingers I held.

"Twenty grams each. Ninety-nine point ninety-eight percent pure. Easy to transport and universally accepted."

He reached for them and I pulled my hand back. "Not so quickly, Mangusi. Do we have a deal?"

Mangusi's tongue flicked forward, tasting the air, like a primal reaction to the presentation of the platinum. "Your offer is intriguing," he hissed. "But it is not enough."

"Would you make us browse other purveyors of salvage today? Our time has value, but your initial offer was insulting. My pride also has value," I answered. "Would you see my platinum leave with me or find a common ground?"

"Eight of your platinum delicacies," Mangusi replied. He was asking for the equivalent of thirty-six hundred Mars credits. "With understanding they are as pure as you represent."

"They are pure," I answered. "I will give you a single finger each for five devices once you have delivered them to our carriage in good shape. And only after they’ve been loaded. We leave Azima in an hour."

"Each of these fingers is of the same volume and quality as what you have shown?"

"Let me be clear, Mangusi. One hundred grams of pure platinum for five of your worthless office machines," I said.

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