“You must be really desperate,” the Kaa hissed.
“That’s none of your concern, my friend,” Sato said, then pocketed the chits.
“Pretty brave of you, wandering into a place like this with a pocket full of credits,” the elSha added.
“You think so?” Rick asked.
The elSha turned and saw Rick’s intensely glowing blue eyes staring directly at him. The reptilian might be part of a hardened group of counterfeiters; however, he still took an unconscious step back.
“You don’t want to anger my friend,” Sato said with a disarming smile.
“What in entropy is that thing?” Rick heard the Kaa whisper to its GenSha companion.
“Too small for one of their cursed CASPers. Too small by far. Some kind of bot. Reminds me of images of the old Peacekeeper bots I saw once.”
With his integral GalNet node, Rick looked up Peacekeepers. He’d thought the GenSha meant to say Peacemaker. Everyone in the galaxy knew what a Peacemaker was, and why you didn’t want to get in their way. No, there was an entry for an entity known as Peacekeeper as well. What he saw somewhat resembled a Goka, the alien race many compared to terrestrial cockroaches. Only cockroaches didn’t carry guns and sharp pointy things hidden in their carapaces. Nor did the earthly insects have laser resistant shells, thank God.
That was where the resemblance ended, though. The Peacekeeper was clearly a robot, lacking any visible limbs on its bug-shaped torso. It did have multiple laser emitters and apparently tiny built-in ducted fans for flight. The entry in the GalNet was educational as well.
“Peacekeeper—disambiguation (not referring to Peacemaker)—refers to the autonomous AI-controlled law enforcement bots created and manufactured by the Dusman. In coordination with Raknar, they were used to maintain order on their servitor worlds. They were powered by internal micro-fusion batteries, capable of self-repair and independent operation for years at a time. Often deployed from orbit in drop-pods to quell civil unrest, the Peacekeepers were brutally efficient and tended to employ force indiscriminately, though it is commonly believed they were programmed for specific levels of force and somehow controllable from distant worlds. Billions were in use at the height of the First Republic. No functional units are known to exist, though some are on display at various museums or in private collections.”
That does sound a little like me, Rick mused dryly. I’d like to see one someday. Had Sato taken elements from the Peacekeepers when working on his new body? Rick could see how the GenSha could draw some comparisons. At the same time, he realized the big furry alien could likely see right through Rick’s cloak. The alien either had an enhancement to his vision or could naturally see in a spectrum that allowed him to see Rick’s metallic details. He checked the GalNet again. Nope, no indication the GenSha could see much outside the visible light range, nearly identical to Humans.
“Wait over there,” the elSha said to Sato, gesturing at one of the empty tables. The Kaa and GenSha opened a large toolkit and began working. As Rick followed Sato over to the table, he could see with 360-degree vision that the Pushtal followed the pair without appearing to do so. Sato sat in one of the two seats that looked nominally adaptive for Humans. Rick sat in the other, which let out an ominous groan of protest.
<Mr. Sato, sir?> Rick sent via his pinplants. Most pinplants had the ability to wirelessly communicate between users.
Sato turned to Rick and appeared to be about to say something, then shook his head before replying the same way, <Yes?>
<We should leave.>
<What? Why? We’re going to get what we need; no problem.>
<Sir, with all due respect, you’ve been concentrating on making a deal, not your surroundings.>
<Well, it’s an illegal operation. What did you expect?>
<Not a group of three Pushtal watching us like catnip-filled toys or a back room full of armed mercs.> Sato’s eyes got wider, and he turned toward the back room. <Don’t look, please.> The older man’s head jerked back, making it obvious he’d seen something. Rick sighed. At the same time, half the beings in the back room got up and left.
He watched with his improved sensors, dedicating most of his attention to the back room as well as the perimeter of the burned-out merc pit. He was keyed and ready to go, half convinced all those who’d just left would rush in through the front door while the rest came in the back. But nothing happened.
<What should we do?> Sato asked, uncertain now.
Rick observed for another half minute before replying, <Well, nobody using the operation here is an immediate threat. The Pushtal are a threat, but also not immediate. I guess, since we’re here, you should see if they can deliver. Can you check their work?>
Sato mentally chuckled. <I could make the Yacks myself if I was back in my lab. The fact is, it would cost me more than the two million to get the equipment. As long as they can produce a passable forgery, we can get something better down the road, especially where we’re going.>
<Which is where?>
Sato got a pensive look on his face. <I’m not sure yet.>
Then how do you know you can make better forgeries later? Not for the first time, Rick wondered if maybe he should quietly leave Sato to his own devices. The immediate feelings of guilt at such a thought embarrassed him. He’d still be a lab rat to an
