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“On?” “What’s your name?” “Aston.” “Well, Aston, what is it you do for a living?” “I asked you first.” “That you did.” Silence fell over us until I realized she wasn’t going to spill more information before I did. I took a drink. “Haul cargo.” “For yourself or for others?” I smirked. “That depends.” She chuckled. “And if I wanted to buy some cargo?” “Then I’d say I’m pleased to make your acquaintance.” She lifted her glass and drank it dry. “I prefer special cargo, something that makes it worth my while in resale.” “You’d probably prefer no evidence of the transaction, either.” “Of course.” It was hard to picture this attractive vixen as a black market dealer, but I’d had enough experience to know anything was possible. I was also glad to find a potential outlet for cargo I planned to unload. I hadn’t expected an opportunity to present itself when I landed here. “I might have something of interest to you.” “I’m listening.” “I stumbled across a cargo container of Delurux B.” Angelika shook her head. “Not much call for pharmaceuticals.” “Are you serious? A drug that can prevent radiation poisoning and you don’t think there’s a market for it?” “Not really, no.” “You ever heard of Rosin?” “They have the galaxy’s largest unharvested platinum fields.” I moved my glass. “Because the planet emits so much radiation, extraction is too costly.” She smirked. “I see you’ve done some homework.” “Delurux B might not be as profitable as outlawed weapons, but still valuable.” I always thought it odd more value was placed on devices which kill than life itself. “And where did you get it?” “You don’t want to know.” I frowned. Scavenging was a touchy business, which bordered on thievery depending on the system I was in. I never stole from anyone, the way I saw it. If someone abandoned their cargo before I came across it, it became fair game. “How much are you asking?” This was where I always hated the scavenging business. At least with scheduled cargo, pay was set before I even took the job. There wasn’t this annoying negotiation to go through. “Ten thousand.” She laughed. “For one container?” I shrugged as the waiter returned with two more refills. He sat Angelika’s in front of her and then tried the same on me, but I waved him off. I didn’t plan to stick around much longer. He walked off. “Major medical facilities are the only ones authorized to even purchase it from the drug companies.” She scowled, but as a black market dealer, she knew she’d lose out if she didn’t snag this shipment. “Seven.” “Ten is as low as I’ll go.” I’d already figured out a happy medium where everyone could make adequate profit. She weighed it over. “I have to see the merchandise first.” Angelika
uncrossed and crossed her legs for my benefit, which was a useless
move on her part. I didn’t mix business and pleasure. |