…bzzt…bzzt…bzzt…
Claire’s eyes flickered open at
the sound of the incessant alarm. Soft
lavender light clicked on, illuminating the inside of her pod. True, it wasn’t a standard color, but she figured
she could manage with a few extravagances here and there. She didn’t have a question on who this
transmission was from-only one person had her personal Voice Com channels. With a thought, she brought her Comms online
and the line crackled to life.
“Hello Claire, how are you? It has been quite a while since we last
spoke.”
The voice on the other end had a
somewhat folksy sound to it, but it came through strong, educated and more than
a little self-assured. The
VidLink was blocked at the source of transmission-she had never seen his face
actually-though she smirked slightly as she saw the point of origin on the
message - Yulai IX – CONCORD Bureau. Her
Patron had a sense of humor, it seemed.
“Sir, are you sure that CONCORD,
and the Yulai Station of all places, is the best place for you? I’d have thought that they’d have a price on
your head for all of the ships you’ve blown up recently.” Claire asked,
casually amused.
The answer came without even a
momentary delay. “CONCORD has no issue
with me. A quite transparent and easily understood organization,
really. Kill a few non-Capsuleer pirates
for them once in awhile, and they are quite content to let you do whatever it is you
want to. Either that, or just grease the
right palms… You are getting
me off track. I assume that you wish to
know why I contacted you after all of these months?”
“Yes, Sir.” That was an understatement. Her Patron had paid for her training as well
as the initiation into her Home Planets' Capsuleer Program. He had even given her several hundred million
ISK, and he had asked for only one thing.
He had told her that someday he might need her services, and if he did,
she was expected to appear. That was
years ago. She had only been inducted as
a Capsuleer fairly recently and had been expecting him to contact her every day
since. What came next, however,
surprised her.
“As you have probably realized by
now considering the focus of the training I arranged for you, I thought I would
need the services of a fellow Capsuleer as a complimentary scanner for me. I no longer need that service, or at least, I
do not need it at present. I have in
fact had the Contract you signed with me in regards to this matter invalidated.” He stated this calmly, essentially without
emotion. To him it must have been
nothing more than a business decision, but to Claire, this was her LIFE. Still, he wasn’t done yet. “I do however have a suggestion. A former associate of mine-a former Pirate,
actually-has started a new Corporation in New Eden. It is part of the EvE-Scout Alliance. It is called ‘Signal Cartel’. I think it would be a good fit for you. I have noticed the business ventures that you have been involved with, and as this is a non-combat, peaceful exploration outfit, I believe it will be a good
fit for you. Regardless, have fun with your new life
as a Capsuleer. I am sure our paths will
cross again, though hopefully not at the end of one of my guns. When they do cross next, by all means, call me Argos.” With a soft click, and without even waiting
for a response, he closed the channel.
For a few moments, Claire was
unable to even formulate a rational thought.
Finally after what seemed like forever but must have been only seconds,
she focused on what she had in front of her now.
She suddenly had so many choices,
and honestly she wasn’t keen on taking the option that had been mentioned, this
‘Signal Cartel’ place, simply because of who had mentioned it to her! Still, she’d be a fool to dismiss it out of
hand. With a thought, she keyed up the
information on Signal Cartel. Mynxee was
there, just like she had been told. An
odd play for a Pirate, former or otherwise.
Besides, why would a current Pirate, and a Stay Frosty at that,
recommend this place to her? Claire was
instantly suspicious. Was there some
other agenda at play here? She was about
to close down the viewer when another name caught her attention: Katia Sae, the
famous explorer, had joined Signal Cartel.
Katia gave this place instant
credibility in her Explorer’s heart. If
she had signed up, maybe this wasn’t such a bad place for her after all. Claire’s eyes flitted over the information,
her mind soaking in what they offered, what they were about. Exploring for the sake of exploring. Finding the treasures of New Eden. Cashing in when the opportunity arose, sure,
but sometimes? Sometimes, just floating
out there alone in the emptiness of space, basking in the wonders of the
Universe. Without even realizing it, she
had made her decision. Launching her
probes, she began to scan for a WormHole Entrance into Thera. Signal Cartel awaited, and all the possibilities
that she could dream of were hers to claim.
The sky was full of stars, and she was intent on seeing what she could
make of them all.
