Deep Six Chapter 4

[Ed Man]

Back to Argon
Chapter 4 Deep Six

Gabe quickly discovered that the cleaner was good at what he did but a strange person even for a egg head.
He also sold weapons and personal equipment. He looked at the scanner Gabe had on his side and started telling Gabe. “It’s a really good scanner one of the best.” He replied as he handed Gabe the one he had checked out saying. “This one is good but not as good as that one. I fixed a problem inside I put in a new part it works good now is that why you got the new scanner you could have fixed it you know.”
Gabe was watching the cleaners every move now with both eyes and said. “Thanks what about the pistols?”
The man took of into the back and came out with the pistols. “The blaster had a bad part it will work better now. The other pistol it fires solids good for when they turn on security grid. A plaster will stop working then solid round pistol will work till you run out of ammo.” The cleaner looked at Gabe with a strange smile and started up again. “I have a better solid round pistol one of the best. I’ll trade you for a little extra here fill it. It’s a lot better do you want to shoot it I have a target range in back. Fire both pistols you’ll see the difference come with me.”

Gabe cautiously followed the man into the back. Their was a firing range and a security officer practicing with his plaster. Gabe felt a little better after seeing the officer as he stepped up to the booth and picked up the pistol he had cleaned and fired it. Then he picked up the pistol the cleaner was trying to sell him and fired it. It was a lot smoother firing and felt better in your hand and the stats were better plus it held more rounds. Gabe fired the large blaster and it was just that a large blaster. “How much for what you done and how much if I want to trade?”
The cleaner started off with the repair price then the trade price then the you need ammo and power cells price. Gabe liked the pistol and it would fit into his holster so he traded and got the ammo and extra power cells and a pistol box to keep them in.

Gabe returned to the RT to put up his new toys and seen Simon had had the weapons fire marks fixed and had put the ships name on it. Gabe was standing looking at the name. The R and T were spread out a little and in a lot smaller letters the rest of the name was spelled out.
[Simon] “Do you like it?”
[Gabe] “It look great how much for the lettering?”
[Simon] “It was free a friend did it for me as a going away gift and if you get it burned off with weapons fire it can be put back on at any decent repair shop the design is filed on your computer. Gabe I suggest you do one more thing to the ship and it will be perfect.”
[Gabe] “What?” [Simon] “Get a better AI that thing is dreadful! I know it’s a Teladi top of the line AI but you’re not a Teladi let me introduce you to a man you’ll be glad you met when he’s done. All he does is build and work on AI‘s.”
[Gabe] “Is he like that cleaner guy?” Simon laughed. “No he’s normal if you call the rest of us normal. Besides I see the cleaner sold you some extras better but them up we got a little more time before the drones are here anyway. Pop sent a message asking me to pick up two crewmen if I knew any good help so I called two men I trust. They’re going to meet us here in a hour. The nurse is at the Station and Pop and her are moving onto the freighter so we can leave as soon as when we get back.”

Simon took Gabe to a shop where a man took Gabe by the arm. “Let me show you my baby set here and lessen while she explains what she can do compared to your AI and it’s a secure unit if you ship gets zapped the AI will stay safe I’ll explain how I do that.”
Gabe lessened as the AI explained it’s capabilities over the Teladi AI and it did sound better than the dull AI he had it had faster and better control with more options. Then the AI specialist explained how he could protect the AI from a power serge or ion disrupter. Now came the price and with the trade in of his AI he wanted 4000 credits. Gabe knew that if a ion disrupter hit his ship it was going to damage his AI or destroy it completely. “How long will it take?” Gabe asked.
“One hour that’s all.” The Man replied.
Simon checked on the delivery time on the drones and showed Gabe they had a hour.
“Do it then.” Gabe replied as the two headed back to the docks to wait on the drones and two crewmen to show up while they watched the workers install the AI.
Gabe set looking at the ship still finding it hard to believe it was his. A week ago he was trying to talk Pop into taking a few longer missions so he could get some flying time in. Since then he had faced down a Pirate attack and helped the Split out and captured two ships and was alive to tell about it.
Gabe looked over when he heard two men talking to Simon saying they were ready.
[Simon] “This is Mike and Tim. And this is Gabe my cousin and this is his ship but you’ll both be working on a Vulture Super freighter for my uncle everyone calls him Pop. [The men were done installing the AI and were leaving the RT as Simon seen the drones were coming up on a cart.] Get your things stored onboard and help get these drones loaded then we can leave.”
Gabe showed the two onboard and stored their things. While they helped load the drones the AI man run through a few pointers with Gabe to get him ready to go.

Gabe used the auto pilot and was liking the AI better already as it responded back like a person. The jump back to The Vault meant they had to stop on the way somewhere and restock on energy cells. The three Drones and a extra crate took up a little more space than expected and some energy cells were sold off at the dock. The computer found some stations and Gabe picked one out and ordered the jump. The jump was smooth as the RT exited the Gate and pulled up the price on the energy cells. No bargains here the price was high. “Computer dock and buy enough to jump to The Vault then leave and make the jump to The Vault and dock at the Trading Station.”
“Understood Sir proceeding to station.”
Gabe had a big smile on his face at the reply as the ship raced of to the station docked and bought the energy cells exited the station and jumped to The Vault and headed for the station and docked. The whole trip was smooth and strait as a line with no moving around to line up.

Gabe went to the Vulture to see Pop and seen he had moved his plaque with the Ten Commandments onboard the Vulture over the hatch to the cockpit. Gabe knew when he seen that Pop had made the Vulture his new home. “Hay Pop I see you moved in.”
[Pop] “I emptied the Disco out your things are in here you can keep them in here if you want it’s your cabin or put them it your ship it‘s all up to you. Simon is going to fly the Disco for now till we get a larger crew and Cherrit gets back. Did you have a safe flight?”
Simon looked at Gabe shaking his head no so Pop wouldn’t see him. “I had a good trip. I lost track of time trying out my ship. Where’s the nurse the Teladi was going to send.”
[Pop] “She’s in her cabin sleeping. She’s a physical therapist and nurses aid that‘s studying to be a ships doctor. She’s nice and I like her so far so be nice to her she doesn’t work for us the Teladi have hired her to help me get back to normal. Boys I want to get out of here so load up and lets go. Gabe scout ahead and find us some deals so we can trade on the way back but no backtracking I want to be heading to Argon Space the whole trip.”

Gabe found energy cells at 7 credit’s a unit in the next sector and filled his cargo bay up and hailed Pop as so as he cleared the Gate. The Vulture cargo bay was full of energy cells now to find a place to sell then at a high price was the next order of business as Gabe headed for the next sector. Gabe cleared the Gate and opened the trading extension a station was setting empty and willing to pay 20 credit’s a piece for energy cells. Everyone was excited to see such a deal in sectors so close to each other a real opportunity to make a big profit. The Vulture flew over to the Station and Pop hailed them to dock.
“Docking not allowed reputation to low.”
Pop pulled up his status and it had dropped. He had stayed away so long the Split had reduced his reputation back down and he couldn’t dock. Pop hailed Gabe. “Gabe I can’t dock lets just move on to Teladi Space and sell the load.”
Gabe responded quick without thinking. “Hold on Pop I’ll transport over I can get us permission.”
Gabe transported over and Pop let him make the call expecting the same reply but when Gabe explained who he was and transmitted his code over they got. “Permission granted.”
Simon watched over the controls as the auto pilot took them in. Pop turned and asked Gabe. “Please explain to me how you got docking permission and I want the truth.”
Gabe planned on telling Pop about the pirates and helping sector security but not till after they got back and Pop had improved a little. Gabe set down and explained what had happened while the energy cells were being unloaded. After Gabe was finished Pop just looked at him then he got up and gave Gabe A hug. “Gabe don’t take any more chances if something happened to you it would kill me. When we get to Argon space you run all you trips by me and you stay close till after you turn 18. Do you understand?”
Gabe held his head down. “Yes Pop I understand stay close and stay safe. But I did well Pop.”
[Pop] “Yes I know and that’s part of the problem. You were lucky the next time could be your last! How many times do you think the Pirates flying the ships you captured attacked someone and got away before they run into you? Don’t push your luck Gabe you only have one life.”

Gabe transported back to the RT when they reached open space. Two months waiting till he was 18 wasn’t that bad besides he could search the core sectors while Pop traded in the Vulture. He pulled ahead and set course for Teladi Space to look for a deal to sell on the way back.
After scouting ahead two sectors the massive cargo hole in the Vulture came in hand the smaller stations could be cleared as the ship loaded up on sunrise flowers and ore then on to the next sector to sell the flowers and pick up some sun oil to sell to a factory along with the ore.
Gabe was able to find a crate near the Gate with a pair of missiles inside. Then on to Boron Space and the hunt for the next load. The stations were at a normal or above normal price but most needed energy cells and Pop knew the Boron had power plants in the next sector so off Gabe went while Pop eased the Vulture in that direction. Gabe returned and as expected they had cells at a good buy so Pop headed out to buy the energy cells. Gabe wanted to check around the gates for dropped freight while they were gone. And after giving Pop his word not to leave the sector and run to the trading station at any sign of trouble Pop agreed to meet him back at the trading station where they were going to dock for the night.

Gabe knew how much time he had so he had the computer make out a search pattern to cover all three Gates. The West Gate turned up empty but the South Gate had two crates out of scanner range with a pair of missiles in each crate. Gabe moved on to the East Gate and started the search. The scanner showed a TP hid in behind a asteroid so Gabe continued the search and found nothing so he decided to see what the TP was doing setting idle hiding behind the asteroid.

Gabe closed and scanned the area for Pirates or mines or anything unusual but nothing showed and the Toucan was without a Pilot and clean.
[Gabe] “Computer can you access the logs of the Toucan and see where the Pilot is and how long it’s been here?”
[Computer] “The TP has been here for over 32 hours the Pilot is dead. According to the scanner logs the Teladi Pilot spacewalked over to a low output beacon hid in a small cave and as he entered the cave a small blast went off killing him.”
Gabe looked at the Toucan and smiled knowing he had just stumbled onto the find of a lifetime. “Computer claim the TP and sent it to the Trading Station.”
Gabe took up a escort position behind the TP as it made it’s way to the Station. Gabe seen the Disco on his HUD heading right for him.
It was Simon. “Gabe Pop sent me to look for you the sector logs showed your last know position in this area are you alright?”
[Gabe] “I more than alright look at your HUD and the Toucan.”
[Simon] “Gabe if you capped that TP Pop is going to kill you himself.”
[Gabe] “I found it hiding behind a asteroid idle without a Pilot.” Gabe explained to Simon what had happened to the Pilot as he flew around the TP looking it over.
[Simon] “There’s not a mark on the ship Gabe and the logs tell the story. I guess the Boron will want to get the dead Teladi out of the asteroid. I’ll follow her in for you. You better go tell Sector Security and Pop before he blows a gasket.”
Gabe made a bee line for the Trading Station and called Pop and tried to explain about finding the TP and he had to stop at the Security Office to make a report. Put when Gabe got off the RT and headed for the Sector Security Office Pop was already waiting outside the office with questions of his own. “Gabe are you alright and was their any fighting?”
Gabe could tell Pop was worried. “No Pop the ship was just setting dead in space hid behind a asteroid. The Pilot had went to a cave on the surface to get something in a cave and got blown up according to the ships logs. I claimed it and Simon is escorting it back in.”
Pop gave Gabe a hug as he follow him into the office while Gabe filed a report and started the paper work on registering the TP. The Clerk would have to check the logs on both ships to confirm the story so the whole group went to the docking bay to wait on the TP to dock. A security team from the station was sent to the asteroid to recover the Teladi or what was left of him and see what had happened on the asteroid.

The TP docked and a security team went onboard and a hour later they came off after checking the whole ship over and copying the logs and records. The ship was clean and everything checked out as the Officer told Gabe as he got off the TP. “We are finished here you can look over the ship when your ready. Please remain docked until the final report is finished.”
Pop asked. “How long will that take?”
[Officer] “As soon as the detectives return but no more that 24 hours.”
Pop and the rest of the crew were all waiting to look inside the TP and then get some rest. They were already exhausted but excited about Gabe getting a new ship.
Pop stopped Gabe and pulled him off to the side. “Gabe I’m not one to be ungrateful but I’m leery about finding a perfectly good ship abandon in space if the pilot was killed someone did it and this ship may lead them to you making more trouble for you than it’s worth.”
[Gabe] “What do you suggest I do with it then?”
[Pop] “Lets look her over and see what happened to the Pilot when you get the final report. The Pilot may have blown himself up accidentally then you got nothing to worry about but if it was murder well that’s a different story lets just wait and see.”
The controls and pilot quarters were set up for a Teladi and would have to be changed but the rest of the ship was nice. Gabe locked the ship up and went with Pop to get some rest onboard the Vulture and wait on the final report.
Pop was setting at the table eating breakfast when Gabe walked into the galley. “Set down Gabe I got a copy of the final report and it’s not much help. They ruled the death of the Pilot was caused by a small bomb blast they’re uncertain if it was a accident or intentional. The Teladi was retrieving a hidden stash of space weed from the cave when he got blown up.
This can work out for you Gabe.” “How Pop?” Gabe replied knowing Pop had already decided what he wanted to do.
[Pop] “It’s up to you which way you want to go Gabe.” Gabe thought this is different as he set up to pay close attention. “Gabe you can sell the ship and swap the shields and equipment over to a freighter you buy with the funds or let Snake buy or run the TP for you for 45% of the profits and he’ll take responsibility for the ship and it’s upkeep and safety.” Pop showed Gabe the reply from the message he set to Snake.
[Gabe] “What if I want to keep the TP and use it myself?”
[Pop] “Then you’ll need to hire a pilot and crew. Set up a route for it to run and buy insurance. It’s not cheep to run a TP Gabe but it is your choice so take your time and think about it.”
Gabe got up and fixed himself breakfast and set down and read the rest of the message from Snake. The more Gabe looked at the partnership Snake was offering the better it looked. Snake already had a corporate license with the Teladi and insurance the TP could be added to plus all the connections to keep the ship busy.
“Pop I think the best think to do is let Snake take the TP and run it for me I’ll send him a message.”
Pop breathed a sigh of relief saying. “I think you made the right choice Gabe. I checked the prices on energy cells in sector and their on the rise and climbing we’ll be undocking soon to sell the load and move on how do you want to handle the TP and getting it to Snake?”
[Gabe] “I still have a cargo hole full of energy cells. I’ll jump back to The Vault and work out the deal with Snake pick up a Pilot and jump back.”

Pop watched Gabe on the HUD as he jumped away while they set course to the factory paying the best price. Gabe was already onboard the Equipment Dock before Pop had docked the big Vulture. Gabe sold Snake the missiles he had picked up and signed a contract with Snake while Pop waited on the Disco to return with the prices from the next sectors power plants and stations.
Snake sent a pair of Pilots with Gabe to pick up the TP so Gabe set course for the next sector to buy energy cells for the jump and as before the power plants were at rock bottom prices. So Gabe loaded up and jumped back to try and catch Pop with a empty cargo hole so he could take atvantage of the jump drive and load up on the cheep energy cells.
Pop was easing the ship out of the shipping lanes to wait on Gabe to get back after Simon returned to tell the next sector had no deals of any kind. So when Gabe cleared the Gate and told Pop about the deal Pop asked Simon and Gabe to wait on him at the Trading Station then jumped away after a load of cheep energy cells.