EVE Fiction

Yolane entered the room and backed to the wall, shocked. Tedeya had driven the attacker into a corner, and taking advantage of their superior speed it seemed only a matter of seconds until she won the battle. Unlike to her the attacker was moving almost in slow motion. Yolane startled. Nearly! Only almost! She knew from the competitions Tedeya had won, that the final phase lasted only a few seconds until the opponent was on the ground. Here far more time had passed, almost an eternity. Tedeya seemed not to notice that she never hit properly or full. She was sure to have her opponent under control. Now he stumbled against the wall, and Tedeya attacked to kill him.
But the blow went into empty space. Like a shadow the attacker was suddenly behind her. Yolane did not see the blow, the movement was too fast. Tedeya collapsed like a pocket knife and did not move.
Yolane knew only one person who was that fast. But he was dead for years! The stranger drew back Tedeyas head to break her neck.
'JORET! NO!'
The man winced and paused in the movement. Surprise showed on his face.
'Yolane? What are you doing here, and -'
He looked at the woman lying on the ground. A shudder went through his body.
'Tedeya?'
He let go of her head. Clunk! Yolane leaned against the wall and slid to the ground. She blacked out.
'Yes,' she breathed.
Then she lost consciousness.

The four prisoners were in the recreation room of the Curse. Ryek had gently but firmly asked them to leave their ship through the connected locks, and complimented them here, at gunpoint.
He had asked them to make themselves comfortable as good as possible under the under the circumstances, and to leave some coffee for him. Then he had made his way to the bridge of his ship.
'And now?' asked Derek.
'I don‘t know. After all, he has not killed us.'
Tedeya rubbed her aching neck.
'What has he told you, by the way?'
'CONCORD is in search of the artifact for what we are being blackmailed. And as it looks, CONCORD is in the choice of means to acquire it not less squeamish than the puppeteers,' Romar announced its consideration.
'And if we cooperate?' asked Tedeya.
'Is there then Vitoc for Yolane for lifetime?'
Yolane gave her daughter a hard look.
'Sorry mom, but I'm working in zombie mode at the moment. Life for all for co-operation? Or a shot in the neck at the handover, as it will be with the other ones?'
'I do not know. CONCORD knows the same as the puppeteers. That we have the thing. None of them knows where it is. Until now Ryek has not tried to squeeze this information from us. So there are differences.'
Derek agreed to this.
'I see it like this: If CONCORD does not get the thing, they will make us disappear, to prevent that someone else gets it. The puppeteers will allow us to stay alive long enough until they have what they want. What is not clear to me is how far do these two parties know from each other. My fear is more than it is good for us. If we stay too long in one place, then probably both sides will come. We can not run away. Our imprisonment has made it clear. '
'You are ahead of me there,' Romar said.
'I firstly want to know what is going on here at all. And about what is played.'
'Good point,' confirmed Tedeya.
Yolane had chosen.
'So, we will tell Ryek our story, to the extent it is now past. And then hopefully learn from him what this is all about. Have you ever thought what the whole event had cost until now? In ISK, but also politically?'
'More than I have in my account,' Derek joked.

Ryek entered.
'I‘m pleased that you have found time for me.'
His eyes seemed to pierce them all.
'I just spoke with Mr. Smith of CONCORD. To make it short: We have a problem, and this problem are we. We all.'
The others looked at him confused.
'To solve this problem, we'll start now as you expect it. Then we come to the part that you do not expect. Hopefully. And then we'll see.'
He took a breath.
'I've already asked each of you shortly. I now tell your story, as far I understood it, and if I reproduce something wrong, then you correct me.'
He pointed with his right hand to a sitting area.
'Make yourself comfortable. Any questions?'
'Why that?'
'Tedeya, correct? I'm trying to save our lives, even if it appears not so to you at the moment.'
He went to the coffee machine, but had a look on Tedeya. When everyone had seated, he came back with the drink and sat in the armchair across from them.
'So. It began with Yolane getting a crystal a few years ago, with which she could not do much. After her Amarr liaison got pretty wrong, she might had dealt in less detail with it. Yes, I heard of your installations. Why CONCORD did not yet withdraw you from the market for that, only the gods know. '
Yolane grinned.
'Yolane had to save her life, getting a source for Vitoc. Then she got connected with Derek.'
Derek blushed, but replied Ryeks view.
'I am aware that Yolane has identified other qualities in you. And that‘s why she did not want that you obtain permanently Vitoc for her illegally.'
'Aye.'
'Yolane gave Derek the crystal, knowing that so he has as always her presence with him. Personally I think that Vitoc is more harmless.'
He winked at Derek visible to all.
'Hm.'
'Ok. Shortly after you had made your relationship more neutral, people broke into Yolanes house, looking for the crystal. They did not find it, but took the Vitoc she had.'
Yolane nodded.
The Sinq Vitoc market is collapsed since then. Do you have even an idea of ​​how much ISK you must have to do that?'
'I can imagine that this is quite expensive,' said Derek.
'Yes, according to Scope Magazine about ten billion ISK. Per week.'
'Wow!'
Romar was impressed.
'And all for a red nondescript crystal. Well. After a week Yolanes stock is depleted, she falls into a coma and is taken to the Med Center from Tedeya and Romar. The Amarr play deaf, as the lawsuit is still running against them, and Derek obtains a stasis storage for her. For a month. A month in which the market continues to be flat for Vitoc. Derek, who has given you the Vitoc? '
'The puppeteers. Who else?'
'WHAT?'
'What do you think, Yolane? They had monitored me. I was not able to contact my sources, nowhere in New Eden!'
Derek swallowed.
'Yes. And then they made their offer. Acquire the crystal, and we provide a Vitoc-free clone for Yolane. They say that they can filter the Vitoc out of your modified DNA.'
'What does not work.'
Now the attention was towards Tedeya.
'No. Doesn‘t work. Not with known technology. The Vitoc dependence is far too deep. The known antidotes slow the death by Vitoc for good, they do not heal. At least that is the information I have received. Yolane is not compatible to any known antidote. '
She looked at her mother regretfully.
'Sorry, but if no one of the puppeteers had really developed something which is, from our view, far in the future, you will always need Vitoc.'
'I almost thought it,' Yolane said resignedly.
'This is the point at which we find ourselves now,' Ryek took up the thread again.
'Let's say, the puppeteers, as you call them, have found a way.'
'Yes?'
'Then they would still never make it available to you, Derek. Whatever they have agreed with you.'
Derek lowered his head and stared at the floor.

He asked Nama in.
'May I introduce my passenger. Nama -.'
Romar was on his feet. His blow hit Nama full in the face and knocked her down.
'Murderers! Slaveholder! Your own empire is no longer big enough? And now you enslave the ones who had not fallen victim the thousands of years ago!'
His voice broke. He wanted to pounce on her again, just to notice a moment later that Ryek had his blaster pointed at him. Romars eyes burned, and he almost had attacked Ryek, despite the obvious inferiority.
Nama groaned painfully and stood up. Her left side of her face was bright red.
'Well, now it's enough. See how you save your ****** universe on your own, then! Don't you count on me any more!'
She threw her head back, turned around and left the room.
Ryek threw the blaster at the opposite wall. The gun fell apart into its parts. Then he looked at Romar, and Romar had the feeling of having done something wrong. Something that would cost him his life outright.
Ryek lowered his eyes and shrugged his shoulders resignedly.
'Romar -'
'No.'
He grabbed Romar at the shoulders and looked at him.
'Explain it to Nama.'
'What?'
'What you have done. And why. And don't come up with the Minmatar **** about slavery.'
Romar growled angrily, and the others looked blankly at Ryek.
'Nama is the key. And she is alone. So damn alone as you can not imagine it. She must understand why you have just done that, and accept it. Otherwise, the mission has failed. Explain it to her. Excuse yourself. '
'No.'
'We will all die if you do not do it.'
'Will you kill us?'
'No. The people who have entrusted me. Or the people who blackmailed you. Do not be so naive!' Ryek snarled.
'Derek, Yolane -'
Derek nodded.
'We will talk about the details, Ryek. I think we will come to an agreement. Romar!'
'Yes.'
Reluctantly.
'Talk to her. Find a way to work together. We have enemies who terribly do not care about if we are Caldari, Minmatar, Gallente or Amarr. We are only pawns on the chessboard. And we must change that. Very quickly.'
Romar nodded, though not entirely convinced.
'Do it for your mother,' Derek got one better.
Romar laughed. Yolane chimed.
'This is probably the oldest slogan of the universe.'
Ryek grinned broadly at him.
'Yes. And it still works. Doesn't it?'
Yolane nodded. Her mouth put an inaudible 'Please'.
'Yes, well, you've convinced me that this was just wrong,' Romar retreated reluctantly.
He turned to the exit.
'And where do I find her?'
Ryek gave him the information, and accompanied him to walk.
'Be open to her, Romar. Nice, if you need to. And a good tip from someone who knows her for a while: Do not play Poker with her, she sees through every bluff.'
'Every?'
'Every. This is her talent. Among other things. Nama is our ticket to get out of here alive, and a very attractive too.'
'I had not noticed.'
'Yes, I know it's more the athletic women what the Minmatar like.'
He dodged the blow and caught Romars hand.
'Romar. It's important. We have no other choice.'

The Covert Ops Frigate and the Curse lay side by side on a hidden position in the Beke system. The repair drones of the Curse were set to work to temporarily restore the armor of the Helios, after the structure had been repaired with standard tools so far that there was atmosphere throughout the ship.
Ryek sat alone in the command center and reported on the results of the action to Mr. Smith .
'This fits very well with my findings. The family had saved Yolane, and now they are in Amarr space, to an unknown destination. That which they were led to was a trap. Have you any idea where the Crystal is?'
'No. Nobody told me, and I'm not sure if everybody of them knows.'
'Nevertheless. They will deliver the crystal to save Yolane. What will not happen.'
Ryek gritted his teeth.
'They are quite easy to cope with other people's lives.'
'Do you think so? From my standpoint, I try to use this lives in a way they have the maximum benefit for the Empire. A life that goes down to save billions to me is a good quota. And I don't take out myself from this calculations. '
'Good to know. I will definitely come back to it.'
'Ryek, it looks like we need to let the people travel further to track down those behind.'
'This means that the whole action was in vain?'
'No. Quite the opposite. My information is that is one of the heads of the blackmailers is a Caldari, who here makes good business in Amarr space with cloning technology. He buys material here, to be delivered to Citadel, means Caldari space direction, but somewhere along the way we lose track . We believe in a facility near Jita. '
'Who wants to Jita? You have to order place cards there.'
'Exactly. The biggest pile of ISK in Empire. But we know almost nothing. Only that a Caldari, called Jeo Chan, in Genesis buys legally rough quantities parts of clone fabrication materials in order to disappear in Caldari space. If it is a Caldari clone corp , then they do what they do so secret that we have not yet found out. They need the crystal, and they need Nama too. '
Ryek felt the pain in his chest.
'Meaning?'
'Our opponents have done the next move. Jeo had, as intended by us, become aware of Nama. Her ability, her fate, and her resentment at Concord, who had gotten her into this mess.'
'I thought you've trained her?'
'According to her vita as restitution. Who else had taken her?'
'You always recruit your agents that way?'
'No. Alternatively Nama had had a fatal accident on the mission, which had made her unbearable for the Amarr Empire. As I said: One life for many. But she had cooperated voluntarily.'
'You had just forgotten to tell her what the consequences were for her?'
'Yes. Let's talk about her next job. Jeo Chan will contact her soon. Nama will join him and fly him into the lion's den. Alone.'
'And CONCORD observes them.'
'No.'
'What?'
'Ryek, you understood correctly. We will not watch them. Furthermore, we will stop all attempts that someone other pursues track of her. Nama must find herself a way to contact us as soon as they are in Caldari space at their destination. '
It sent shivers down Ryeks spine.
'Mr. Smith. We are both some days in that business. What is your estimate about Namas chance to come out unscathed?'
Mr. Smith cleared his throat.
'As far as we know, Nama has unique abilities. Perhaps there is in the Amarr Empire a handful of people who can do the same. But from them nothing is known. Without these skills it will not be possible to fully exploit the potential of the crystal. This is Namas life insurance. '
'Suppose, just theoretically, at one point Nama refuses to cooperate with Jeo?'
'We assume that for the execution of her function emotional stability is a mandarory condition. To achieve that without the cooperation of the stakeholders will be very, very difficult. Mathematically, we've got a chance to get her out before she dies.'
'Although you do not know where she is?'
'Each plan has a weak spot. Here it is, if Nama fails to contact us. Ryek?'
'Yes?'
'I will convey the necessary information. You will inform and instruct Nama, and ensure that she performs her job undisturbed.'
'Mr. Smith?'
'Yes, Ryek?'
'How well have you prepared Nama for that?'
'I do not understand.'
'You understand.'
'All right. I'm assuming that this mission, overall, will be successful, because I must not imagine the alternative. I'm assuming that none of you will survive this mission unscathed. Or unchanged. Whether any of you is dying, I do not know. We have prepared Nama as well as we could. We both know that there is a significant difference between theory and practice. Enough for you as answer? '
Ryek took a deep breath.
'Does it well for the moment. As I see no alternative too, we make it so. Do you have a Plan B?'
'I'm working on it. And I'll try to be so close to you as I can without compromising my mission.'

'So fast?'
Nama calmed down and activated the communicator. The screen remained dark.
'Jeo here. You've got my message?'
Friendliness was something she probably should better not expect here. She gave her voice a neutral tone.
'Yes, I did. Reads quite confused, but the offer itself is of course very interesting. You in earnest offer me me an education at a respected private scholar, and I must only hold hands for it?'
'You got it.'
'Jeo, I'm not stupid. Otherwise you would have not contacted me. And for a slave trader you act very awkward.'
She heard that Jeo inhaled sharply.
'I've killed people for less.'
'Nice to hear.'
'Nama, I am sending you some information now, if you want it. If you say no now, we forget the matter. If you say yes, you're assuming or you're history. Our offer is unique, what is because your special talents are very rare. But we can do it differently. '
'I do not want to seem ungrateful, but I would like to know a little more before I trust you with my life.'
'It's about your area of ​​study, cloning technology. An achievement that will make us rich and famous. So rich and famous that you can expect a full rehabilitation. Or something better. The job which you accepted in Heorah indeed hardly corresponds with your needs. Data typist for the Amarr Trading Company. Something short sold, isn't it? '
Jeo laughed evilly. Nama was fighting back tears.
'Yes,' she whispered. 'Indeed.'
'That's your only chance to achieve what you want. But it is not for free. We give a lot and take everything.'
She gulped.
'Agreed, Jeo. I am currently on the way to Nasreri.'
'Very well. We'll meet in Heorah, Kaala Space Station. Tomorrow 18:00 station time on the hangar deck.'
'Tomorrow? How shall I manage that?'
'Your problem. The offer expires tomorrow. If you do not manage to get to my ship, then you can forget it. Needless to say, what you can then forget even more.'
'You're pretty hard on it, Caldari.'
'We always are. The weak are elsewhere, for example under our feet. Your choice?'
Nama went through her list of options. It was very short.
'I agree. It will work somehow. How do I find you?'
'I will find you.'
The Caldari ended the conversation.

Nama rested her face in her hands, and remembered Ryeks words. She was in need for a beautiful memory. The best one violent. And some information.
'Then I'll have actually to hit on Tedeya.'
She went through a list of notorious establishments in Beke.
'She will like it. To see how holy the Amarr are when God is not looking.'
She grinned.
'And at all. True love is only for women.'

There was a knock at Tedeyas cabin door.
'Yes?'
She looked up in surprise.
'You? What do you want from me?'
Nama remained undecided in the doorway.
'I do not know exactly. Talk on a couple of things. Learning something. Giving something. Who knows?'
'Come on.'
Nama entered the room and closed the door behind her.
'The puppeteers have contacted me. And made an offer I can not refuse, you know the drill.'
'****. Ryek knows that you will go to the enemy?'
'Yes. He sent me on behalf of Mr. Smith.'
'You know on what you get involved? In this event there are no consolation prizes.'
'Ryek had formulated it similarly .'
'Ha!'
She bared her teeth.
'Still bent, because he has snapped you?'
Nama leered. And a moment later slammed against the wall.
'Ouch!'
She came slowly to breath.
'Why want all here actually to beat me?'
'Must be your attractiveness.'
Tedeya made a quick step toward her and pushed her against the wall again. She grinned at Nama superior.
'Maybe you're standing it?'
'That you do not do again, Gallente-*****.'
With a wild scream plunged Tedeya on Nama. Her movement was hardly recognizable with the naked eye. Nama did not even attempt to dodge.
In the middle of the movement Tedeya came to a halt as if she had run against a wall. She tensed and went to the ground where she lay panting.
Nama knelt beside her and examined her.
'Let me go!' Tedeya hissed, but managed not to reach for her.
'Nothing broken,' Nama stated determined objectively.
'You can get up.'

The next morning Nama was gone. Besides her personal documents she had taken nothing with her.
The others met in the lounge of the Curse.
'Yes,' admitted Ryek. 'I knew it. But I did not expect that it happened so quickly. Mr. Smith has commanded Nama into this operation.'
'Do we know who picks her up or where she goes?' Yolane asked.
'Not exactly. Mr. Smith spoke of a Caldari expert in cloning technology.'
Tedeya jumped up, with a horrified face.
'No! Say it is not true, Ryek!'
Ryek looked at Tedeya in surprise.
'Why? Nama is to infiltrate the puppeteers and create a position of trust there. That's the usual dirty game.'
'Ryek! Mr.Smith has made a dreadful mistake!'
'How so?'
'The expert is not a Caldari, but an Amarr!'
'How can you be sure?'
'The data from the Med Center in Pozirblant. Sebard Veen, whereabouts Azedi, Imperial Academy. That's the one who had prevented Yolanes shutdown.'
'So what? Amarr, Caldari, whatever.'
'I've done some research. Sebard is a highly respected member of the Academy, but his methods are very controversial. He has conducted various experiments on people without their consent.'
'That is not uncommon in the Amarr Empire,' said Ryek, now alarmed.
'He called his last series 'reduction to the essentials'. It was about how much of a person still has to be left so that it can fulfill its intended function consciously. Even the Amarr found that he went too far here. I do not think that Sebard is looking for employees in the classical sense. I think once they have Nama, Yolane and the crystal, they will disappear until they are ready with what they have planned. And I think that even CONCORD will not be able not find them then before it's too late.'
'We have to stop Nama! ' Romar shouted.
'No chance! She's gone, and CONCORD and the puppeteers will ensure that no one can approach her until she has reached Azedi.'
'But we can not just give her up!'
Ryek changed the direction of his thoughts.
'Derek. How are you left with the puppeteers?'
'The last instruction was to jump to Beke. That you're in the game they do not know yet. That we had been attacked they know already.'
'Derek, if you contact them the next time then set them under pressure. No more excuses. They have to name the destination where they can supposedly make a clone for Yolane. I'm sure it's Azedi. Pro forma you can get your ship repaired right here, to buy some time. Does anyone know the stations in the system? '
'Yes, I do. Nama and I yesterday had taken a free evening.'
'Without us?' Romar looked offended.
'I probably underestimated somebody,' said Ryek with a view to Tedeya. She did not flinch.
'Yes, you have. And if you want to know: It was a really great night. There were a lot of guys, some of them are still in the local Med station. We'll have hardly missed you.'
Romar shot a nasty look after her.
'Oh? Jealous?'
'No, I -'
He was red in the face.
'I know. Even so, we must not give up her. Ryek?'
'Aye. Thank you, Ted, and -.'
He hesitated.
'Oh, forget it!'
She looked at him startled.
'Are you okay?'
'No. Of course not. I'm talking to Mr. Smith and I will wake him from his dreams. Depending on what comes out of these discussions, we will have two options.'
'Which?'
'The following, Romar. First option:We get Nama out there, and CONCORD supports it and will do the rest'
They all nodded.
'Second Option: We make sure that all persons disappear who may know where the crystal could be.'
Yolane looked intently at Ryek .
'What do you mean?'
'We are looking for a beautiful sun and I will fly us into it. The material which has already been used to come into the possession of the crystal makes me fear and worry. Here worlds were set in motion. And it may come that therefore worlds will be destroyed. Do we want that? '

'To sum it up, Mr. Smith. You play chess with an unknown enemy, and you both move the same pieces. Suffering and death of the figures are irrelevant, in order to achieve the higher goal.'
'So you can see it.'
'If I would argue now that you are a coward like your opponent, would you disagree with that?'
'Yes, I would.'
'Because you and your opponents are irreplaceable players, or think you are?'
'Yes.'
'You're crazy. Even more than I am.'
'Extraordinary situations require extreme measures.'
'But you have made a mistake, Mr. Smith. A serious mistake. You have brought one of the most important figures in a position where it will be beaten.'
'Who do you think about?'
'Nama.'
'Why do you think that?'
'She is the only one with an ability that is not replaceable, as I see it. She has now arrived on the opposite side. So far it has been planned by you.'
'Yeah.'
'And the others want to be number one in clone market, with the help of the artefact. All they need is the artifact, which is technically able to save feelings and emotions far better than current technology, and a person with the widest possible interface towards it. With known technology then a life form can be simulated, which today is not existing. This virtual life form would have properties that are assumed for the builders of the artifact. And would, with some probability, even from other artifacts, if any, shall I continue to talk Mr. Smith?'
'Mr. Smith?'
'Mr. Smith, you can not now hold the blaster to your head and pull the trigger, that would be unproductive.'
'And what was my mistake, in your opinion?'
'The head of the others is not a Caldari, but an Amarr. Sebard Veen. Have you heard from him?'
On the other side a short groan was heard.
'Tell me that's not right!'
'I say: Bad luck! Your white queen is on the way to the black king without coverage, to close him up. CONCORD must act, dammit!'
'How do you think that will work? When I say this in that bugged shop there, I'm dead. And all you others too! The factions will battle CONCORD with red tape until doomsday!'
'Confirm Azedi as target?'
Mr. Smith hesitated.
'Yes.'
'Listen to me carefully, Mr. Smith. I will leave for there to betray you.'
'That is hardly enough. You are only the pawn in the game.'
'Derek and his team will be asked to come to Azedi, soon and fast. If all this is not enough, then nothing goes. So you have all in one place, for a very short time. And that's a chance to get us out there, Mr. Smith. Either you or together with CONCORD. Think up something.'
'Will be hard. I can not guarantee that all will survive.'
'Do your best, it will serve. And now we come to my reward.'
'What reward?'
'I want a number of certified clones for free, and no one asks questions.'
'You are not in the position to set conditions.'
'I am. You know it and I know it too. If I can not get out here now then it should at least be worthwhile for me. Twenty clones. Premium quality. Not marked.'
'You are crazy.'
'This you can read in my file already. Tell me something new. I am now waiting for five minutes. Then I'll make a nice trip with my team, in which we all will unfortunately lose our lives.'
He broke the connection.
After four minutes, he re-activated the communicator.
'Five, maximum.'
'It was nice to do business with you. I'll See you in the next world.'
'Damn! Wait!'
'What? The connection is bad. Can you repeat?'
'Twelve! Twelve! My last word! And so we are partners. Or fellow sufferers.'
Ryek grinned joyless.
'I agree. I'll contact my Corp to act as trustee. I expect the delivery in the next hour.'
'WHAT?'
'In the next hour. A ship at the place I call will receive the raw material.'
Mr. Smith resigned.
'Ok. You've won.'
'Fine. And now as we are a partners, you can tell me the complete dirty story.'

***

'We must act!'
'Take it easy. Why do we have to act?'
'The agent will be captured in Azedi, which is in an absolute certainty. The extortioners will reveal the fact that we know their location.'
'How could this happen?'
'Concurrence of unfortunate circumstances, one could call it. They have banded together to save their lives. Somehow understandable.'
'And therefore the agent sacrifices hmself?'
'After all, he is a Capsuleer. He has a chance of rebirth.'
'In theory. Very theoretical.'
'This discussion is pointless. In a few days our opponents are in possession of what they need. The artifact. And the catalyst.'
'This is bad. Very bad.'
'If they have left the Azedi system, we will have a hard time finding them again.'
'The jump gates are guarded.'
'Be reasonable, we are not infallible. With enough money you can buy almost anything.'
'Good point.'
'How can we intervene without destroying the political structures and triggering a global war?'
'What happens if we do not intervene? The war is a possibility. The other is a fact.'
'Looks as if there's no alternative.'
'Yes. We are currently running in the wrong direction. But if we do not stay at the top, then we will be overrun.'
'The arguments are logical. Agreed.'
'Agreed.'
'Agreed, with reservations.'
'I agree.'
'Agreed.'
'Then it's decided. Alert the emergency forces, Mr. Smith.You take the lead.'
'Aye.'

***

Ryek reached the Imperial Academy in Azedi in the evening. He docked in the base station, and reported on like any other regular passengers. The transport system brought him to the station area, where Sebard worked, and nearby there was sufficient accommodation for patients and their families.
Ryeks plan was simple, its failure almost certain, and appreciated.
He made contact with Mr. Smith.
"Ryek, what you are doing is suicidal. You will not find out anything, nor can you harm one of the masterminds. Within CONCORD it takes days to weeks, until the committees decide to occupy a station."
"We do not have so much time, and you know it."
"I could stop Derek."
"Then we lose Nama. I trust in you that you can think of something to get us out here."
"You have great confidence in my abilities."
"More or less. I will summarize once again:
It was in impossible for CONCORD in Pashanai to block all jump gates. The Amarr were against it. That Derek escape to Beke was foreseen, but not that CONCORD had locked the door then."
"That's right. We were just one step ahead."
"Yes. In Pamah the others had grabbed Derek, I bet."
"Yes, that was close."
"And you did not know that Sebard Veen is in the game. So far, you have believed in a Caldari conspiracy."
"Yes. A serious error caused by misinformation."
"Now you know the players, and you do not want to intervene?"
"Ryek, the Amarr are part of CONCORD, and they will not agree!"
"Mr. Smith, I go in now because Derek is coming tomorrow morning, and if you have no plan by then how to get us out, then you can write off all of us!"
"Ryek, have you any idea what happens when all factions except the Amarr occupy an Amarr station? This is a reason for war!"
"Your problem. It is your only option. If you do not come: With a little luck we may even take some of the other side down before we die. And even if you have not said it to me, I believe more and more that the Amarr will leave CONCORD as soon as they came into possession of the artifact. "
"You intentionally endanger my mission, I can only achieve something if I put everything open."
"And what do you want to do about it? Take me prisoner? Kill me? I will tell them everything I know, and I will be caught."
"Of course you will!"
"Then have a look at your watch and begin to move."
Ryek ended the conversation. There was not much to prepare. After nightfall in the station, he gained access to the Med Center and followed his data to the clone research area. Contrary to his expectations the area was not excessively secured. Enough for critical patients, but unobtrusively. A point for us, he thought by himself, as he stored the security guard in a store room and took his uniform. They don't expect an attack. So they think that their actions have remained undetected until now. Before he went, he transferred his activities and location to Derek and Mr. Smith.
When he opened the storage room to leave, he saw three weapons directed at him.

Nama entered the room with Jeo. Sebard was present, and Ryek, tied up on an operating table.
"Hello you two. After you had your fun, it is time to do some work," said Sebard.
"Here we have an uninvited guest, and I'd like to know what he knows. Perhaps our new staff member is more effectively than traditional Amarrian methods."
Nama looked around between the three men like an animal that is trapped and looking for a way out. Then she did something unexpected. She slammed her elbow into Jeo's ribs. Not hard enough to knock him around, but enough to excite his attention and let him feel her wrath.
Sebard looked at Jeo in surprise, then at Nama. She had said still nothing, but looked accusingly at Jeo.
Sebard nodded.
"Jeo, so she will hardly be of use for us."
The person addressed nodded reluctantly. Then he took a pen injector from his shirt pocket and pushed it Nama into the carotid artery.
"What a shame. It was so beautiful that you've never contradicted."
After a while, Nama coughed .
"You do not know what you missed, darling," she croaked hoarsely and looked promising at Jeo.
"What do you actually believe what I am? A machine that you can turn on and off on demand? And that I'm ready to use immediately after such a treatment?"
She cleared her throat again.
"Who is he, and what will you hear from him?"
"We still do not know exactly," Sebard evaded the question. "Ask him! Show your worth!"
Nama cleared his throat again.
"Thy name!"
"Ryek Darkener," said Ryek, caught off guard.
"It does not work as it should still."
Nama made a disappointed impression.
Sebard grabbed the laser scalpel and pointed it at Ryek.
"Are you sure, Nama?"
"If you want one hundred percent, ask me again in three days."
"What percentage now? I make sure that Ryek makes available the delta."
Nama closed her eyes and remained in this position for several seconds. Then she opened them again.
"Ryek, who has sent you?"
"CONCORD."
Nama winced. Jeo and Sebard remained quiet.
"They know nothing. Next," said Sebard.
"But -"
"Next!"
"Your Order!"
"Determining whether all the targets are here. Reporting. If possible -," He hesitated, "kill."
"Now I'm worried. Really!" Sebard sneered.
"They do not know who they're dealing with. They know nothing!"
He turned directly to Ryek.
"Once you're turned out, how do you think it goes on?"
"If I'm not reporting in twenty-four hours, CONCORD will intervene. You're done."
Jeo became restless.
"We gotta get outta here!"

Nama left the bed where she had lain with Jeo, and went naked as she was into the adjacent room. She took her communicator and established contact with Derek.
"Yes?"
"Nama here. You're on the road?"
She spoke with a normal voice.
"Yes, we are. What can we expect?"
"Death. But that ye have known before. There is nothing here for you. You must get us out here."
She felt Derek's frustration and anger over the light-years. From the corner of her eye she saw Jeo standing in the doorway. She turned her back to him.
"This means that the puppeteers have lied to us?"
"No, Derek. They have not. It is actually possible to make a clean clone of Yolane. And much more. Much more."
She sighed.
"You all have no idea what is at stake here."
"And you know it now?" asked Derek.
"Traitor!"
Jeo was in the room, naked, his blaster in his hand. Nama put the communicator to the side.
"I?"
Her question was asked with such innocence that Jeo hesitated.
"Yes. You. But it will help you nothing. We will get from you what we need, even without your support."
Nama spread her arms and walked slowly toward Jeo.
"So you want me to sacrifice for the wet dream of a megalomaniac Amarr? Jeo, at the top is only room for one, and that's not you."
She hugged him, her eyes cast down. Jeos hand with the gun was between them at chest height. He embraced her with his other hand.
"Yes, I will be very difficult for me without your company."
Nama hugged him closer, and her right hand was now on his weapon hand.
"Frankly, I'm glad it's over," she whispered with a sugary sweet voice.
Jeo froze and looked into her eyes. They were cold as space.
"What -"
His voice trailed off.
Nama led Jeos hand gently up and laid her head against his chest.
"Fly safe, Jeo."
She arched her index finger around his.
The shot tore Jeos head off and distributed it over the whole place. Nama dropped the torso and turned back to the communicator.
"Derek?"
"Nama! What's going on?"
"Do not ask. Remain on track. If you have reached the system, stay hidden and wait for my call. I'll let you in, and then we must improvise."
"What about Ryek?"
"Does not look good. I do not know if we get him out alive here."
"Nama: Why should I believe that you're still on our side?"
Nama laughed.
"It does not matter Derek! You come here because you need me, either way. If I tell you on, it makes no difference to you. So set your ass in motion, got it?"
At the other end she heard Derek breathe heavily.
"Aye, Nama."
"When you're here?"
"In about two hours."
"Wonderful. Then I can shower and set my hair."
"I do not understand."
"Red. Too much red.I will come back to you."
She ended the conversation and went into the bedroom. There she threw the communicator and the blaster on the bed and disappeared into the shower lying next to.

Like many large companies, the Imperial Academy has a private licensed approach area, which is operated independently from publicly available spaceport. Here small ships can dock, up to cruiser class, and the passengers do not have to take up to one hundred kilometers way in order to achieve their destination.
The approach control was staffed around the clock, so that guests and patients did not have to wait.
Shift Leader Werdan Bertag looked up surprised from his desk, when the door opened and a young Amarr women appeared in the entrance. In addition to the operating crew only Sebard and Jeo had access rights, and the door was secured by an alarm. The woman stood in the door, looked around and seemed unsure what to do next. Werdans hand stopped above the panic button when their eyes met.
"I need your help," she said, and Werdan got up to help. Of whatever kind the support had to be, he would do everything possible to hear a 'thank you'.
Nama entered, closed the door and bolted it from inside. Then she turned to Werdan.
"What arrivals and departures are planned in the near future?"
"That's confidential," Werdan had to say, but he did not.
"An arrival in about an hour. Guests of Sebard. He will pick them up personally. "
That could not have been all! She surely wanted to know more. You must want to know more! Werdans hopes were not deceived.
"Is it hard to control the dock?"
The two operators looked up from her work.
"Let me not disturb you. Carry on. "
Namas gentle voice brooked no contradiction. There was nothing more important than immediately continuing work.
"No, actually, the computer could do it by its own," said Werdan.
He went right to the console and looked over the operators shoulder.
"Here, this is the traffic, with the ship IDs. The ship, which has radio contact with us is emphasized. Since our resources are limited because of the very air safety, you need only enter the ship and touch the 'docking' sensor field. Finished. The rest is the central approach control, once the ship has confirmed the approach protocol. "
"And how do I contact?"
Werdan showed to the left console.
"Tap code, open channel."
She smiled at him very promising. Werdan had the feeling of having done his job very well. Surely there was a reward.
Nama looked around. Left it went into a recreation room, which had no further access.
"What's your name?"
"Werdan Bertag."
Nama took two steps backward.
"Werdan, please be so kind and make a break with your colleagues. Go into the next room, lay on the ground and behave yourselves quiet until you are relieved. "
How? What? A veil fell from Werdans consciousness. He wanted to rush to his console, but remained in the neck, as he saw the blaster pointing to him. The other awoke from their trance.
"I count to three."
Namas voice showed the desired effect. At "two" the operators were in the next room and the door had drawn.
"Very nice."
She fired at the door. A fist-sized hole was at head height, and from the other side were horrified screams.
"I hope you know how to lay."

"The crystal will probably give sufficient security. And for that security, many people would sell their soul."
"Yes Romar. The puppeteers have already done."
"This brings us back to the topic. We are here going in as storm troops, cut out Nama and Ryek and then disappear, without having the puppeteers and CONCORD on our heels."
"Derek, this is exactly the plan. Gather all what has value for them, then hole up somewhere and then negotiate. And if there is nothing to negotiate, dying together."
"Are you with me?"
Derek reached out his hand. Three others met with their hands.
"A group of amateurs against the rest of the world, we must be crazy!"
"Of course we are. We are a few minutes ahead of them when it all works," said Tedeya.
"Then let's go, I hope I find at least one knife for everyone."

The Helios stealth frigate came out on top of the Imperial Academy station, two kilometers away from the docking ramp of the University. The automatic reached for the ship and the tractor beam moved it in. The dock area was manageable, and shone in soft gold.
"I wonder how much of this is real," Romar said in a low voice
"It should be red from the blood of slaves."
The automatic set the frigate gently down inside a box, on girders hat emerged from the bottom, according to the type of ship. A luxury compared to the usual holding fields. The lock at the bottom of the vessel opened, and a ramp went downwards. Before it touched the ground, three people ran down towards the access gate.
Dereks communicator activated.
"Here Nama. Behind the gate you will find a rescue vehicle. I have unlocked it for you. You pick me up first. Hurry!"
"Roger."
"Why you're only three?"
"Romar is on board. He has a special task."
"Aye."
"You come through the side portal for emergencies. From there, ten floors up."
"We have your position on the pad."

The door mechanism beeped. Nama turned around thoughts quick and pointed her blaster at the door. Her shot destroyed the lock control. From outside came a furious outcry. Sebard!
"How long do you think you can keep here for?" he asked.
"How long do you think you are able to survive here?" Nama asked back.
"CONCORD is on the way, and they will certainly have some questions for you."
"Forget CONCORD! This system belongs to me! Just as the whole sector! The Amarr will throw out CONCORD when they come too close to the truth! Surrender yourself, as long as there is time, and spare you an unpleasant death!"
"Death? You lie, Sebard! Without me the whole thing will not run be running at all! Jeo was expendable, I'm not!"
The voice on the other side of the door became factual.
"Nama, you overestimate your position. What I need does not require that you are there in one piece. And what I need I'm going to get now."
Steps went away from the door. A minute later a hissing sound was heard, which went on to a noise. The door was vibrating, and in the command center it soon became warm. The door stained from the dull gray of ships metal to red, light red and then white.
"Forget it Sebard" whispered Nama. She put the blaster on broad dispersion and put it to her head.
From outside shots and screams were heard.
"Nama, all right? We had some difficulties to come here."
"Are you alone?"
"At the moment, yes."
"Shoot the door, quickly!"
Nama threw herself into cover behind the desk.
The door burst and burning shrapnel devastated the area. Simultaneously with the fire alarm the fire extinguishing system of the control room activated , and soaked Nama in seconds to the skin. She pulled herself up and stumbled blindly through the half open door. A moment later she ran past the startled rescuers.
"Follow me!"
She stormed around the bend and shot, more on principle than from knowledge. The three security men she had rushed went down, seriously injured.
"Take their weapons, move on!"
She heard a "****!" behind her.
"Derek! The help is at hand for them, not for us!"
Derek swallowed down an answer, and they continued to run, behind Nama.
They got into the vehicle. Even before the doors were closed again, it accelerated to maximum speed ...