Simon Black

[SimonBlack]

Part 7: The Hidden Meaning
-Hallways of Sheffield station, Manchester system-


A man covered in Independent Miners Guild gown walked along empty corridor on Sheffield. It was an odd sight for an eye of another, but it seems that there was no one watching as the man continued to pace down the hall. He suddenly stopped by the door to a bar and leaned towards the wall, seeming as he would have been here for quite a while and only the wall could keep him standing for so long. The corridor was empty and silent, but you could hear all kind of screams and shouts at the other side of this door, where the bar was stationed. It wasnt even a minute before the door opened from the other side and a young persons figure appeared in front of the man with casual IMG clothes. He was obviously waiting for the meeting, as he spoke up to the Bounty Hunter without raising his head:

So, Sabine, you have found him after all.

That means we are even, Chuck. The debt has been paid. A sweet voice of a young woman addressed to the strange looking man.

I do believe you kept him save during the time of my absence. Where is he now? The man replied.

Babysitting is not hard, hun. He is right behind the door, I left him alone on the table The Bounty Hunter said and looked away, walking down the corridor. The door opened again as the woman was pacing and the man faded away in the crowd of the bar.

Simon was sitting calmly around his table, waiting for his friend to come back. It was a rather quiet morning, but only in sense of noise and sound pollution. Simon wouldnt walk without a blaster in this area of the station anymore. He would learn from his mistakes.

Instead of the friend another man in the already mentioned IMG gear walked towards Simon and sit in front of him. Simon was about to reach for his for his Buckshot, when he realized that the man in front of him was the same that had given the blaster to him in the first place. Pancamo removed his hood and Simon recognized the guest as he was shocked yet again by the strange presence of his associate.

Pancamo? Wheres Sabine? And what are you doing here in these IMG clothes?

I am afraid there is no time to talk now, at least not here. I am most glad to see you, but we have to leave as soon as possible, Ill explain everything in space


-Manchester system, New London jump gate, outer space-


Pancamo was in flight deck of his Manta, counting time before departure to New London system, when Simon caught up.

You sure am in a hurry, Chuck Simon addressed in name, hoping for a honest answer Well, what is the matter? Is there some other bounty on its way?

No, it is not the credits this time, this time it is personal. It is about Python. Do you remember when he left to the Omegas after some big fish? I have always feared this. No signal was received since Python and his wings entered Wikes Ice Field in Omega 3 system.

So my new accidental acquaintance was no accidental after all?

Pancamo continued, ignoring the sarcastic remark completely. This was serious.

I have tried to lurk around in Cambridge system and I think I have finally grabbed a straw. Ive met a Bounty Hunter, who used to be Corsair before he bailed out recently, on Cardiff station. He supplied me with some information. I think an ambush was planned by Hessians on Python purposely. They have used their leader, who is a rather mysterious one, as a bait to lure Python out. What worries me, though is that I can not think of any reason why would Hessians want Python dead so badly. Pancamo engaged system jump sequence and continued The Bounty Hunter that I met directed me to a Zoner that usually cooperates with Corsairs on Freeport 1. This is even more worrisome. It seems that, someone purposely leaked information about ambush. Whoever did this, he wanted the Zoner and Corsairs to know about it.

Why would Hessians want Corsairs to know about their plans?

I do not know Pancamo paused, he was not sure about many things himself Lets us continue to Cambridge, we have friends waiting for us there.

The system jump was completed.

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Character background summaries:
Red Hessians Major Matthias Schwarz
Golden Chrysanthemums Chusa Fumiko Shimazu