Chapter 33

　　The cold, metallic interior of the Exosuit enclosed him in darkness once again. Within its steel embrace came the terror, the primal fear from deep within that frothed in deranged madness as it scratched at his mind.

　　His instincts roared at him to escape this cage that sought to imprison him. Every fibre of his being urged him to resist incarceration.

　　Kal took deep, calming breaths in an attempt to slow his racing heart. But it did little to soothe his mind. In both realities, he felt trapped. Distantly, he was aware of his body in the VR Terminal, bathed in the faint light of the display screen.

　　Closing his eyes, he tried to reason with himself, to soothe his impulse to break his cage and lash out at everything around him. He would not give in to fear. He would not allow anything to influence his rationality.

　　The Exosuit activated with agonizing slowness to Kal, although it was only a few seconds in truth. The darkness brightened, and his eyes adjusted to the false view the suit`s sensors provided him. Still clasped within the safety of the Armour Stand`s restraints, he took deep, steady breaths until he adjusted to his new environment.

　　The Exosuit was taller than his regular body, reaching over eight feet. He could feel everything against its metallic surface as if it were his actual skin, but it was in a strange, abstract way that was difficult to describe.

　　It was as if he were numb, aware that something was pressing against his flesh, but it lacked sensitivity. For example, he could infer that the room around him was cold, but not to what extent. It was more of an abstract perception of its existence.

　　Kal hung from those restraints for nearly an hour, waiting until his instincts stopped rebelling and his mind calmed. He was no longer in stasis, and nothing would imprison him again. He recited it like a mantra, every repetition convincing himself of its truth.

　　With a hiss, the mechanical hands that gripped the suit`s shoulders loosened, freeing him. Like a newborn baby, he wobbled on his feet while trying to balance in the alien Exosuit. In moments, it was falling forward.

　　Kal tried to step forward, readjusting his position to remain upright, but there was a significant delay between his thought to move and the suit`s action. He was nearly face down on the ground when his leg finally moved forward, striking the concrete floor moments before he toppled onto it.

　　Frustrated, he tried again, consciously moving his arms underneath his torso to push himself upright. Similarly, the delay required nearly a full second between his thought and the action. He would need to work within the lag` until he learned to adapt to the new equipment.

　　The Neural Link controlled all the motors and systems in the Exosuit, and it was impossible to bypass. Kal would need to adjust to it.

　　For the rest of the morning, Kal tried to stand and walk. It wasn`t until noon, with his stomach growling with hunger, that he remained upright and could pace around the small, virtual storage area.

　　He had lost track of the number of times he fell or stumbled, the pressure of the Link building behind his eyes until it became unbearable. Turning off the VR Terminal, Kal wearily stumbled out of the Pod, seeking his lunchtime meal and a long afternoon nap.

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　　Erika Pearson felt the force of the Starship`s jump thrust her firmly into her seat for a moment before easing again. The unscheduled` stop would be recorded as a mathematical calculation error in the ship`s logs, a rare but not unheard of occurrence.If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.

　　In reality, she was travelling to one of Aesir Corporation`s off the books` assets to discuss her needs. Every large corporation and business maintained one of these private military organizations for things they needed to do but didn`t want to be associated with.

　　Assassinations, sabotaging their rivals, waylaying goods or resources they required, nothing was off limits.

　　The group she was visiting was one she had used several times. Their headquarters were located orbiting a brown dwarf star well outside regular Imperial space. The system`s only remarkable feature was that it was utterly unremarkable. No one had business travelling to this section of deep space, making it the perfect hiding place.

　　The vision of the Emperor was vast but not all-seeing. Even pirates like these were outside his reach if they couldn`t be found.

　　Erika looked out the window of her private quarters of the Starship, seeing a large, dodecahedron-shaped spaceport floating through the darkness of space, lit by the dim light of the failed star it orbited. Twisting slowly, it generated artificial gravity for hundreds of thousands of inhabitants.

　　Dozens of Starships were docked with the spaceport, each lacking the symbols and names that would readily identify them. Hundreds of other patrol ships glided around the spaceport, providing security.

　　Erika recognized them all as Aesir Corporation manufactured vessels, the loot` they seized from shipments meant to fall into their hands as payment. It was another way of distancing themselves from their illegal activities.

　　Leaving her quarters, she made the short journey to the dock. She felt a vibration from the Starship as it moored with the Starport. The shift from artificial gravity generated by the Engine to the centrifugal force of the Starport was momentarily jarring, forcing her to grip a convenient handle until she was safely through the connection.

　　The Starport was a bustling hub of illegal trade and home to the families of Jack`s Corsairs. Tens of thousands of men and women worked here, providing their services to Aesir Corporation exclusively.

　　Pirates had plundered and robbed traders and settlements for personal gain as long as humans explored the seas of Old Terra or the stars of the galaxy. Smugglers slipped between the cracks of the Imperial Watch, bringing illicit goods to paying customers.

　　As technology advanced, so did their tactics. The Engine could travel instantly to anywhere in the Galaxy, making trade routes` obsolete. But where there was an opportunity, people were willing to seize it.

　　They found a straightforward way to plunder trade Starships. Hack into the Ship`s systems via the Imperial Net and find the coordinates of their jump routes. A true master hacker could even implant their own coordinates into the ship, having their target jump directly to them in an excellent, remote location.

　　Erika was assaulted by the sights and smells of the masses around her. It was like a miniature version of the Empire itself. A thousand different cultures, all living together for a common goal and under the auspicious rule of a single person.

　　She was here to meet Lying Jack, the leader of the Corsairs. They had a history of working together over the years, and while she was wary of him, she knew that with the right incentive, he would do what she wanted. Aesir was their lifeline, but a rabid dog on a leash could still turn on its handler.

　　Taking an elevator and flanked by two of her trusted guards in Aesir Exosuits wielding the corporation`s finest Lasrifles, she arrived at the Corsair`s leader, situated in an office so opulently furnished that it was offensive to the sense.

　　Gold lined every surface of the walls, where it was visible behind artwork extolling the glories of Lying Jack.

　　Although they had only interacted a few times, she had heard all the stories depicted before.

　　Jack said he had fought a dragon-like creature on one world or another with nothing but a sharpened stick. His love interests allegedly spread across the galaxy, sending him gifts and statues dedicated to his handsomeness.

　　The biggest claim, and the one that earned him the moniker Lying` Jack, was that he was a direct descendant of the first Emperor, the Grand Unifier of the Empire. As such, he thought of himself beyond Imperial law since, in his words, I am the Empire.`

　　The man himself was tall, handsome and somewhat charming, although he left her feeling as if she had bathed in oil after their meetings. He was a slimy snake oil salesman` that the old Terran novels described. He was also a complete sociopath, liable to stab you in the back if you weren`t careful.

　　He was perfect for Aesir Corporation`s needs.

　　"My lovely Erika!" Lying Jack called out, spreading his arms wide at seeing her walking from the elevator. He was wearing a type of uniform, black fabric heavily embroidered in gold stitching and weighed down by gaudy medals he had gotten from somewhere. The man even wore a cape in brilliant gold like some Medieval Terran noble!

　　Erika took a deep breath, preparing herself for the coming discussion.