Part 1. The Jumper.

A Bone Harbors were in chaos. They always were but in a last few decades rumors of something big happening in Metropolis space filled the bars and streets of the stations with unease and unclear expectations. Some said new waves of colonization were to begin soon, finally approved by the Council. Or that there would be huge cleanup in the Outer Reaches, or even absurd things like that a war is coming with Weavers, race mysterious and strange even by the human means. Normal people who came from the Metrospace were calm and surprised to find such a stir in this outreach of supposedly sane territory.

It was a border between civilized and uncivilized space, the famous Bone Harbors – a huge conglomerate of vessels stripped bare of their original purpose and welded tight into a set of grotesque space stations, hugging each other with metal arms in eternal embrace. It was a sight to behold – all sorts of shapes with strange protrusions of sensory towers, made from all sorts of alloys and materials, floating in the emptiness like a space monster with hundreds of small mouths and a huge hole of Main Terminal in its largest single part which was probably some sort of a mothership many years ago. Gravity anchors were spread on taut wires, each more than hundred of meters in diameter, keeping Harbors steady while dozens of ships came in and out and phased away. There were no stationary gate here, only a set of buoys keeping space around them clear of obstacles and stray matter. Anybody could come and was welcomed, that is of course if he has something to pay with.

The only law here was the Sculls security corps, stationed in the Spine, keeping a close eye both inside and outside of the stations. They’ve had all kinds of things to prevent any harm to the Harbors and the guests – military-grade golems, chimera squads, techno-wizards and interceptor drones and many more. There were even rumors about distortion cannon somewhere in the Harbors, scrapped off from some ghost of a Navy ship and kept as a secret somewhere deep. Perhaps it was a truth but in fact unlikely. Everybody knew what Metropolitan agents were abundant here, even though they disappeared often just to be replaced with new ones, and if they’ve found something like that existed or a probability of its existence is high enough, then the Navy would intervene and exterminate them very quickly despite all the money flows from Harbors and corruption in the Council. But everybody also knew what ghost ships were not just rumors, and what you should not mess with Bones security unless you’re insane or want a quick and maybe even painless death.

Inside it was even more chaotic then outside. There was in fact an order here, highly complex and unseen, hidden from passerby’s view. Everything here was about The Trade. If you wanted to buy or sell or exchange – none of the xenos took human money anyway – the Harbors were a place. Even though it was not the only place like that, in fact hundreds of them existed, and there were much more civilized and organized trade terminals in the Guilds territory, the Harbors were famous. Partly because there weren’t a definition of illegal goods here. Everything was legal unless you’ve crossed few really simple rules.

JJ sat in a Hell’s Kitchen, one of the upper-level bars with real barmaids, not some cheap constructs and drank whatever they’ve brought him in a total silence. It was a classy place, always half-empty and it wasn’t cheap but Rupert, the barman and proprietor of the Kitchen was his long-time pal and owed him. Usually he enjoyed randomness of drinks chosen by autoselector. Today, however, they’ve always brought him bitter stuff, four goddamn times in a row.

JJ looked at the barmaids’ bottom as she went back to the bar, her tail and hips swaying, elegant and seductive. She had horns and hooves too, and a claws quite sharp, just like a real demoness. She was almost naked. JJ was sure he knew the name of mythological creatures with same appearance, but could not remember. He waited, sipped his drink and looked at the cold flames around him, rocky floor and walls, streams of molten rock and the fire pits that spat out hot magma. Everything was modeled by a talented illusionist, perhaps some local prodigy – there were a lot around here in the Bones.

A huge demon walked up to him wearing a wicked smile. That was Rupert himself but unlike the girls he was human, wearing a holographic image made by the same person who did interiors of the bar.
‘Hi Jerry.’ roared Rupert with a thunderous voice.
JJ sighed. ‘Can’t you turn this thing off?’ he said. ‘It really pisses me every time and yet you keep forgetting.’
‘Sorry J’, said Rupert much quieter. He had a splendid bass himself. ‘I’ve gotta keep it up for the customers, you know.’
‘Yeah. Like there’s still someone left here who doesn’t know this stuff’s not for real.’
‘Not the locals, man. It’s for the guests. Anyway, what brings you? I thought you’re gonna leave.’
‘I will. Just have to do some stuff here, make some preparations. Is the… Him here today? As usual?’
‘No, not today pal. He’s not here. And by the way you don’t have anything stolen with you of course? Not that I really care what you do, but having my place blasted by Sculls is not what I’d really like to see.’
‘I don’t think they will’ said JJ. ‘There’s nothing material and nobody could trace nothing. It’s absolutely secure.’
‘Nothing is absolute, friend’ said Rupert. He sounded somewhat tired but Jeremy couldn’t see his real expression behind the holographic mask. ‘You’ve heard what they’ve done there at the Council? Damn purists won again, looks like they’ve managed to ally with those techno freaks.’
‘What’s your concern? You’re pure.’ asked Jeremy.
‘They’ve changed the laws again. Banned everyone who has index higher than 10. Now my girls cannot return home, can’t see the places they belong to, graves of their parents...’ said Rupert. ‘They’ve changed the damn laws. Said it’s necessary to keep the populace clean, some bullshit about us losing our humanity. It’s them who lost it. I know you’ve laid low and haven’t heard the news for some time. You can use the terminal if you want, for free of course.’
‘Wait, but that means there’ll be immigration.’ said Jeremy.
‘Yes, it’s already starting. It’s like they’re in some sort of a rush. Hauling those who wish to the borders. Preparing some for colonization of aquatic worlds, but not that many want to live underwater. First they offered them free morph. Oh, what a nice proposal – good wages, insurance, huge loans. Then they’ve made them work almost as a slaves down there and now then they don’t allow people to return to their homes? What the hell they’re thinking?’
‘Dunno’, said Jeremy, ‘But I feel that there must be a purpose behind it, maybe something’s going on there, have you thought of that? Besides now there’s more chances they’ll spend their wages here instead of central worlds.’
‘Well, yeah. But if it was me to judge, they’re just crazy!’ nodded Rupert. ’Anyway you know you’re always welcome here, so…  Let me know if you’ll need something before you depart. I might have … connections.’

Rupert crossed his huge fiery arms, pieces of illusory fire dropped to the floor and disappeared after a while. Jeremy enjoyed the quality of the disguise.

‘Sure. Well, since he’s not here, I’ll have to hang around for some time, maybe I’ll have a quick trip to the Markets. Make me know when he’ll be back, will ya?’
‘Yeah. Take care, jumper. Be safe.’

JJ turned table protection off, he was prepared but as usual lots of sounds rushed from everywhere in an instant and shocked him slightly. He had a last drink, listening to the roaring flames, cutlery and conversations of those who hadn’t used privacy devices, then left the bar. His major contact should be here but it wasn’t. Things were always risky and there were other contacts and people he could sell the stuff to, but that wasn’t a good sign. Of course there might be dozens of reasons why he’s not here today but… Jeremy checked his outfit and made sure magnetic holster was all right. He hadn’t anything implanted in him to aid his shooting, nor he has any biomorphic changes but at least his weapon is ready and in the Bones you should always be ready or you could end up in a very unpleasant way. And then he went to the Markets.