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SHIP (Big Beaver) DATA:_
OCCUPATONAL FUNCTION: Scavenging derelict ships and space stations.
CURRENT MISSION: Ongoing
LAST KNOWN LOCATION: Edge of the Obadiah System
CREW:
Klark Good/ Age: 43 / Height: 6'1"/ Weight: 203lbs/ Occupation: Mercenary
Olivia Baldwin/ Age: 18/ Height: 4'11"/ Weight: 89lbs/ Occupation: Marketer
Pygmy Gatts/Age: 20/ Height: 5'2"/ Weight: 102lbs/ Occupation: Engineer
STATUS: Missing crew. Emitting distress signal.
::BROADCAST SIGNAL TYPE:: AA5-M::
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Pygmy grimaced at Klark, who was staring at Olivia while she was reading. The crew had been on together for three months, and the entire time, Klark had been lusting for Olivia. Pygmy knew, but said nothing about it, trying to avoid further conflict. But she would cut off his hand if he so much as touched her.
Pygmy was at the counter of the ship's kitchen, while Klark and Olivia were in the sitting room. It was a small ship, but had enough cargo room to haul a lot of goods. Why Klark named it the "Big Beaver" was beyond Pygmy, and decided to not ask why.
"Remind me again why we're at the ass end of the solar system, Klark," Pygmy said, trying to get him away from Olivia.
"I told you," Klark said, getting up and sitting at the counter in front of Pygmy. "I got a tip from a guy who said that there was an abandoned station past Mo-4 that probably has goodies to grab. Said there was a good chance of there being Narc-Salts."
Pygmy hated shipping contraband items, but she couldn't deny that finding Narc-Salts would be a good thing. They were a dangerous and powerful drug. It was often referred to as "Super Cocaine," as it was five times as powerful. And it had a high price tag. Thanks to Olivia's marketing skills, the crew could get by for two years on a single shipment alone.
"How does he know that?" Pygmy inquired.
Klark smiled as he adjusted the settings on his V-Arm. It was a computer that was attached to someone's arm like a brace. It allowed the user to connect to the ship's mainframe without piloting it. You could issue diagnostics, receive system reports, and even give commands to the ship practically anywhere.
He answered her question. "He doesn't, but if a station is all the way out here, the people running it must have been hiding something from Galactic Protection."
"I guess so," Pygmy responded. "But there is a chance that nothing's out here, and I don't think that we can afford to refuel to get all the way back to Rust. This trip better be worth it."
Suddenly Klark's V-Arm started flashing blue. "We got something!" Klark yelled.
Olivia put down her book and rushed to the counter to investigate. "What is it? Something good?"
The V-Arm projected a holographic image of a large space station, roughly the size of a city relay. According the V-Arm, the station was called "Lotus." Pygmy recognized the architecture of the structure. It was typically used for pharmaceutical laboratories, but never on a scale such as this. "Looks like a science station of some sort," she explained.
"Jackpot," Klark said with enthusiasm. "It was probably owned by the Jackal Cartel! We may have Narc-Salts yet."
"I don't think it's the Cartel," Olivia interjected. "They prefer planetary operations, and they don't operate in this system as much. If I had to guess, I'd say that it belonged to Universal Genetics."
"Who cares?" Klark said. "That just means nobody will come after us if there is loot inside. Get ready. We're heading there now."
***
The ship approached the Lotus, floating derelict in the void of space. The crew looked at it through the observation window. It was clearly abandoned, as the exterior was worn by solar radiation and there was poor to no maintenance on minor damages. It turned out to be even bigger than expected. Pygmy guessed that it could potentially house a population of fifty thousand.
"If there are Narc-Salts in there," Olivia said. "We are going to be rich!"
Although everyone accepted that the station was empty, they still went through protocol. As the girls dressed in their scavenging gear, Klark tried to hail the station.
"Come in Lotus, this is the Big Beaver. Requesting permission to dock. Over." The only response he received was static.
"I repeat. Come in Lotus, this is the Big Beaver. Requesting permission to dock. Over." No response. "Alright girls! We're code blue. Let's make some money."
The ship entered the empty hangar, which had no anti-craft field active, so it flew in unhindered. After finding a suitable landing spot, the ship landed and activated the magnetic landing pads.
The ship's door opened and extended a ladder to the ground. The crew stepped into the hangar in their void suits, beginning their mission.
"A.G. and A.A. systems seem to be online," Pygmy said. "We don't need to magnetize our boots."
"Good," Klark replied. "I hate walking slow. Now let's find a way inside."
"Found one!" Olivia said, walking to a large door.
Pygmy looked around and noticed that there were other doors around the hangar as well. They had a lot to explore.
Pygmy and Klark met up with Olivia at the door. It was shut, and was reinforced excessively. Olivia went to the control panel and pushed the opening button, but nothing happened.