Discovery Gaming Community

(// writing: invited people only, reading: you are welcome but OORP only //)

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When Laura approached the Hawaii Luxury Liner and was asked for reservation, the codes that Trueno gave her worked perfectly and liner traffic control assigned her docking bay. In the clean and thoroughly designed hangar, she was welcomed by a butler and his subordinates who helped Laura getting her luggage. She felt quite inappropriately just after she docked and got out of her good old rented Hawk.

There were welcome drinks, complete with tiny umbrellas, and all what Laura has to do was to sit in a small caddy and be shuttled on her way. During the ride butler explained her which pastimes she could enjoy the next few days: spa, massage, pool, zero G golf, an assortment of mini-tours...even a "Meet the dangerous Corsairs and live to tell the story"...many bars with shows, music, cinemas, shopping... Whatever she wanted to name, it was there.

She took one of her best-looking clothes for this short trip, but when she looked around from the moving cart, she was dressed like a housemaid in comparison with what other women around wore. She also noticed that design is different in different areas. There was the "baroque luxury area", "natural - luxury-area", "futuristic technocrat-luxury area" and such. All people she passed by in the cart looked rich guessing by their clothing and there was almost as much service personnel available as guests.

After few minutes of the way from deck to deck, listening to explanations on how to best enjoy stay on Hawaii, Laura arrived at "her place", the "Sigma Sea Suite", a name very fitting as the butler explained, because the suite is on the outer shell of the ship and the hull is made transparent so there can be seen the beauty of the Sigma-19 system. But as a special, there is a second hull inside, filled with water and exotic fish, simulating that space is a giant aquarium. When butler opened the door, Laura made few steps in and lost her breath when saw interior.

The view was absolutely stunning and overwhelming. Of course the interior and furniture was top notch as well - polished exotic wood and soft cushions everywhere, cautiously colored to not steal attention from the view and the "walls". Laura covered her mouth and nose with palms, stunned as never before in her life. She heard that there are suits like this on luxury liners...but standing in it was more than thousand of photos.

"My god...this is a dream...this can´t be real," she whispered, still trying to catch her breath, standing just two or three meters from door and looking inside suit. She felt like in dream, just standing and looking inside for long minutes. When she was finally able to move and think again, she realized that butler left. She hoped that she was not looking stupidly so much...but who cares about butler...

Then Laura spent more than hour by discovering the suit.
"And you thought that all Corsairs are poor people... This must be incredibly expensive," she thought. And that bed. It was for sure the most comfortable bed she ever lied in. And with look at the fishes, she almost fell asleep.

Because she was so amazed by suite, Laura didn't notice Trueno´s message, so she found it almost two hours later when butler returned to explain her details about her guest-card. When he left again and she read it.


Bienvenidos Laura,
perdon me for not greeting you in person in the hangar, I am afraid I am in a hurry to switch from appointments with el doctore to meetings with business partners... I hope there was a bueno reception and that you like your suite.
To my shame, our meeting will have to wait till tonight’s gala dinner, one of the gentlemen will bring you there. Feel free to do whatever you do on normal vacation here, I heard it is spectacular... Again, perdon my absence.
I am looking forward to see you tonight, muchos saludos

Trueno

PS: If you need anything, just use your guest card, it is covered


Laura started to a little panic.
"Gala dinner? Oh no, hell no," she cursed when she realized what dress she brought here. It was not bad, but for common events. When she remembered what other women dressed JUST FOR WALK AROUND...
"What will they dress on a gala dinner?! I can´t imagine that," she thought. She had well-paid job, for transport pilot, and moreover lot of bonuses now due to her new position. But now she felt like a poor hotel room cleaner or something like that. She was looking at the guest card in her hand. That can be a solution.

"But my god, for one date... I can´t go and buy expensive dress just because I need it. And there will be really quite expensive. But I can´t go with my clothes. Damn, why it must be so complicated..." Laura told to herself. But then she got an idea.
"Those expensive shops with close have usually a few days back guarantee without need of explanation. I can buy a dress and then return it. It is not right, but lot of people are doing it and who cares. Heh, that´s it," she smiled and took her things, left suite and went to shopping area.

*****

It was other world. But there was not time to admire it. Lot of preparations had to be done... It was hard to find a dress with covered back but she finally made it and added pair of really nice shoes. Of course, there were not prices anywhere. Why, of course, usual visitors don´t count money in so low amount...for them.

"Will you pay by guest-card or credit-card?" asked woman at cash desk.
"Sirius credit-card. And by the way, how long is the returned guarantee?" Laura asked with innocent voice and started to pray hoping that there will be enough money on the card. Woman looked at her in surprised by this question.
"Three days, of course," she finally answered. Laura was pretty sure that every person in shop thought about her something ugly now. And she felt like ugly duckling on the ball outside of the shop. And when she checked the bill, nearly lose consciousness. That was her salary for around eight months...
"I can´t play this masquerade for long, this is higher league outside my limits," she thought.

But there was no time to waste so she returned to her suite.
"Dress and shoes are done, now the rest of me. But I really can´t do this myself," she thought and called hairstylist with professional make-up skills. When she arrived, the order was simple.
"Do your best, please, you have less than three hours," Laura just quickly said. But that woman was like magician. When she finished, Laura almost didn´t recognize herself.
"Wow, absolutely...wow," she just answered and gave that woman card to pay. Unfortunately when she left Laura recognized, that it was guest card, not her credit card. Damn! But there was no chance to fix this now, and the time of the gala dinner was almost there.

When "the hour" drew near, Laura´s butler politely knocked on her door and waited for her approval to enter. He bowed deeply when he saw her.
"It is time for your gala dinner, madam. If you are ready - please follow me."
He went back up, nodding in her direction.
"If you allow me madam, you look fabulous tonight."
Then he went back to the door, waiting by his cart.
When Laura joined him, he explained that there is a rare type of lobster from planet Junyo accompanied by an imported white wine from Gallia on the houses recommendation tonight. Which, as he explained, fits perfectly as there is the possibility to join in on a great ball soiree before switching to the dessert courses.

When she drove by, Laura noticed a bit of the liner´s setup. Apparently the "poor" accommodations were on the lower decks and on the interior of the ship just above the hangar, machine and crew deck. According to the signs everywhere, the "activities" part is to the rear of the ship while the restaurant and entertainment is in the middle of it on the upper decks. Laura came from the upper nose of the ship, and as she drove by, more "self drivers" and even pedestrians become much more common, service personnel seemed to be ubiquitous.

At one point, the small cart passed out of the liner, driving "in open space" surrounded by glass walls and stops in front of a restaurant called "Star Pool". It´s name was probably derived from being a completely translucent donut shaped plateau, with something like a "pit" in the middle covered by a glass dome. The decoration was mostly on the walls of the pit, huge mirrors were side by side with ceiling high curtains. The floor had a rough map of Sirian stars made of gold. On the "dining donut", small niches were set apart by curtains lined to the glass ceiling and light came from candles and the stars only. In between the niches, some regular tables were scattered here and there. From the outside the restaurant seemed full but not busy or hectic.

To Laura´s surprise, Trueno was awaiting her at the entrance, dressed in a classic black smoking and a black fly. He sure didn´t have any flashy accessories or stylings like many other men who entered the place, but it was elegant in a plain way. It was easy to spot that his right arm is in a cast under his smoking and he has some "typical" freshly sealed scars in his face, typical for the fast treatment of Cryer. He cheered up when he saw Laura´s cart arriving, walked by and took a polite bow.

"Buenas noches señorita, it is a honor that you picked up on my invitation. I hope it was not too much of a hassle to come here?" Trueno made a bit of an akwardish movement, not sure how to properly greet her. According to guessed body language, it went from hug to handshake to one armed hug to pat on the arm. The result seemed to be an invitation to hook in his arm.

Laura raised her left eyebrow when she saw Trueno, surprise appeared in her eyes. He looked damn good in that suit even just in that last message, but now standing next to him... She apparently melted inside in a second. For moment her eyes went down as she quickly checked herself a tried to calm down.

"Buenas noches, señor. I can...I can´t...I want to...I´m sorry, don´t know what to say, really," she said embarrassed.
"Trueno, it's ok to call me that way" he responded, still having his arm awkwardly "ready" to be hooked in. Then he stumbled. "Eerm...you look beautiful today!" - a small pause appeared - "not that I mean you didn't the last time!" He might blush a bit, then tried again the "hook your arm here movement".

Laura hooked his arm, looking all the way around while moving. But when she got closer to Trueno, she looked in his eyes.
"Thank you. I can´t believe we meet here. How...it happened?" she said, waiting where they will go together.
Trueno guided her inside the glass dome, into the "donut". The atmosphere was quiet in a warm way, there was soft music played by a small band and the waiters hushed by almost unseen.
"How did we end up here...sí, sí, that is a good question...and maybe a bit of a story as well....if you wish I can tell you a bit of it while eating, bueno?"

Laura might had the feel he is buying time here as Trueno steered to one of the veiled niches. In front of it on an "outside table" there were two men sitting and drinking, both insanely huge and muscular. There was something odd about these two, but it seemed Laura couldn´t make it out as she was more or less already inside the veiled-off table. As soon as the curtains closed, she saw that from the inside they are almost completely transparent, giving her a perfect view down onto the dance floor and up into the stars. The table was set up for two and obviously Trueno was already as a glass of water accompanied by a smaller one filled with a now known to Laura liquid resided here.

Trueno offered Laura a seat with the view on the dance floor and then took his seat as well. Laura sat and looked around stunned, then looked back at Trueno.
"Señ...eh, Trueno, I must...I have to apologize but I didn't know that you come from... such a high society. I´m not used to it, I´m still mainly just a pilot. I don´t know the rules here and I don´t want to embarrass you here in any way. Don´t get me wrong, you surprised me totally, I feel like in a dream, this is like visit of another space...but I feel somewhat helpless here and now," she said and looked at Trueno uncertainly.

Trueno smiled, maybe a bit with nostalgia.
"Well, believe me, this is not what I am used to either....it is more of a ...newer thing, sí?"
Obviously he tried to put the right words in the right direction, carefully avoiding any pit traps.
"Maybe we should try it this way...what do you know of the Corsairs? Oh!! And what do you want to drink, madre mio my manners!"
"Maybe a glass of wine. But to be honest, I feel strange, when I know how expensive is everything here. To be honest, I´m not sure if is appropriate letting you pay for me such a lot of money," she uncertainly said, waiting for answer about this topic before she will continue about the second one.

Obviously "one does not simply speak about money" would fit perfectly to Trueno´s word seeking expression.
"Well, you see that's what is a bit...complicated, sí? It might be that I have a bit of a...hmm... 'side business' here and there, which is entwined a bit with this Corsair thing...." Trueno said and then snapped with his finger, speaked up a bit.
"A glass of the Gallic white you recommended por favor!"
About thirty seconds later a waiter cautiously served the glass and disappeared as fast as he came.
Trueno took up his rum glass.
"Salud on an evening under the stars!"
"Salud on a travel to another world," Laura answered and raised her glass.

Trueno emptied his glass, finding new bravery in it.
"Well then, the Empire del Corsario, what do you know about mi hermanos y hermanas?" he said and after short thought break, he continued "and I don't mean the cannibal propaganda!" Trueno added while shaking his head and grinning.
"Well...I hope you will not take my opinion personally. First, speaking about my own experience, I know Corsairs are pirates which can be met in Bretonia but especially Omega-3 and Omega-7, sometimes in Rheinland or Sigmas. I know some of your hermanos from other side of ship gun barrels, demanding to choose between money donation for the Empire or destruction of the ship. This is what I experienced. Or are you interested also in opinion I made from mixture of rumors from bars all over Sirius and some general available information in house space?" Laura said .
"You keep a list of them?" Trueno replied surprised and unsure if he really wants to hear more piracy stories. "I am not sure if I like all the rumors our enemies spread around..."
"Uhm...well, truth is that I have one more source. When I lived on planet Gran Canaria, I met a few Corsairs there... From that time I know Corsairs don´t usually eat people," she smiled a little. "I never tried to make clear opinion about Corsairs, there was not a reason. It is not easy. I know that Crete is bad place to live. I know that people here often suffer from hunger. But...do you want me to continue?" Laura asked, observing Trueno´s reaction on what she already said.

And she found no smile back on the "eat people" remark, Trueno didn´t seem overly happy with what he heard, yet he seemed to have enough patience to listen first.
"Why are you asking?" Laura said noticing that something serious is in the air.
"Well, you see...there is a bit more to us than...acquiring goods within the houses. For example we do have a society and...we are quite strictly organized...the term is feudalism, sí?" Trueno gauged if that rings some bells
"You know...we are ruled by mighty familias and societies, do you know what I mean?"
"I heard something about mighty familias or clans, who rule or influence rule of your Empire, sí," Laura said cautiously. "I know that world of Corsairs is not world of democracy or anything like that, if you meant this," she added.

That brightened his face.
"Sí, no democracia, no no!"
Then he lifted something from around his neck. Trueno wore a chain under his shirt, complete with the crest he wore openly the last time around. He let it thump on the table.
"We might get over this quickly...it is...awkward. You know...I kind of have two familias...one...by true blood and relation and one by blood hhmmm...spilled...together, sí? This...other familia...is the mighty Benitez familia, sons and daughters to don Quixote, may he rest in peace, by adoption. And this is our signet...you might know it? Well...I don't think there is an...equivalent for this in the houses, sí? And...to put it bluntly...I earn my pesetos by working for my hermanos y hermanas of my second familia."

Trueno tried to see if this "told all already and cleared things up" or if he was to vague
"I think I heard name of the Benitez familia in the past. So you are tradesman of them? I feel you are trying to say something. What is it? I really don´t like the feeling that I´m missing the point," Laura said with a little annoyed voice.
"Exactly. A tradesman in service of the familia. I am sure you have heard of artifacts before? At least you are a proud owner of two pieces of my goods..." Then Trueno switched back to more careful words.
"Honestly speaking, these artifacts are the hype within the houses, we can barely salvage as many as we could sell...and as the Corsairs are the sole suppliers...we earn quite some pesetos. Aaaaand with earning for the familia...I earn my cut as well, which leads us back...to the entry question and the fact that this kind of lifestyle is neither what I am used to nor what I normally 'do'."

For safety he continued then.
"I mean it is not like I couldn't but...but..." he seemed quite serious, "this lifestyle what you see here would be quite disrespectful to the familia and the Empire. We are here as it is expected to be like that, do you understand?"
"Sí. But you can afford to live like this, or letting someone, for example your compañera, to live like this, right?" Laura asked but then shook with her head after she realized meaning of what she said.
"I said that just for curiosity, it was a joke, nothing more, I mean...no meaning at all, lets move to another topic. You said you are a tradesman, but your message from aboard the ship....what ship was it? And what happened? Are your injuries from that?" Laura shot questions apparently trying to let talk get away from first part of her speech.

Trueno gladly missed to hear further monetary questions and looked at Laura a bit sheepishly but also excusing and smiling while lifting his bruised arm.
"That? Well, I was visiting some amigos in Kusari for business...well, and you sure agree that bad things can happen to honest tradesmen who travel alone! Let's put it this way - I am not the one who can barter too much with pirates if those piratos are Outcasts...as a Corsario, the choices are to end up dead or worse enslaved...or fight your way out of it... Obviously I chose the last choice!"
He laughed then.
"Madre mio, I would have loved to see those putas faces when the transport extended its gun mounts...and when they noticed they won't cut it in two without heavier guns...aiaiaiai, they won't make the mistake again! But to be honest...we had some damage on board, some wounded, me included. So we finished the job, decided to pick up the next one and ended up here...and...well, here we are. The crew regenerating and me trying to get business done while getting fixed up after all."
Trueno nodded thoughtfully.
"I guess trading as a Corsair is a bit different than within the houses, sí?"
"Sí, definitely is. But I was asking because it could be heard calling for "soldatos" in that message. I´m not excellent in Corsair language, but I was little surprised that there were soldiers with you. And that alarm siren and red light...it looked more like a message from aboard of some warship which is under attack than trader ship..." Laura let the sentence without end, looking at Trueno´s face, waiting for answer while she finished her glass of wine.

Trueno seemed surprised but not really uneased by the question.
"Well...a soldato...is just that. A soldier and...sí, my personal transport is also safe enough to maneuver dangerous areas muy bueno. It is not a Imperator...but more than enough for those orangeheads. So sí, there is also security personnel and people to man gun turrets on board as well, sí sí"
He took a sip from his water
"Well, come to think of, flying a transport as a Corsair...is not really comparable to flying those huge trains you probably steer normally. Again, a regular trader is quite a bit safer out there than your average Corsario...so...it is only fair I can hold off some loco raiders..."
"Why do you think it is safer? In open space, if you have good scanners, you can see suspicious ship at long distance. In house space while traveling through trade lanes, you can be ambushed very easily. Some pirates even use cloaked ships and then uncloak just in front of you. And also, train is just a sitting duck, almost no chance to defend it," Laura said apparently defending her job.
"Well, that is all true. Still, as long as you have not made any special 'amigos', you are 'safe'. I mean...bueno, you might lose your cargo...then again, as long as you don't run in with an Outcast or some gringos who catch slaves for them...the worst that can happen is that you get kidnapped and ransomed...not much more..." Trueno explained and though about what he said then. "That doesn't mean those aren't bad things. But...there is worse and those things happen when you get caught as poor petito trader like myself!"

Then Laura heard a waiter asking through a hidden speaker.
"My apologies, but do you wish to start with the entree?"
Trueno looked questioningly at Laura.
"Oh, sí, I mean yes," Laura said confused by quick change of the topic.
That seemed enough to finish the order. Trueno whispered in
"I ordered the recommended menu, these dishes have the stupidest names so no honest hombre could possibly understand..."
he said and then gestured to her to go on.
"Okay, okay. But back to the topic. What you said is true. I just...well, some people think that train pilot in house space just sit in chair with cup of coffee and sometimes punch a button. Not mentioning jokes about woman pilots and parking. Some people deserved kick in... erm, sorry, I´m speaking like in some freeport bar," Laura stopped to be excited and calmed down.

Somewhere in between the waiter arrived.
"Carpacio of Seadevil in chocolat balsamico dressing served on a golden raddicio leave with pittsburgh cranberries," he said and put food on the table and left.
Laura looked surprised at the food.
"I´m sorry but at least half of the food...I even don´t know what it is," she looked apologetically at Trueno.
But when the dish arrived, Trueno tried to analyze what is served with his eyes searching way how to eat it "properly".
"Well, no capitano will have it easy keeping his crew in good spirits, I know that too very well... And your capitano compadres? From what Ï heard, the houses are a bit weird on señoras and doing so called men´s jobs, whatever that is."
Trueno sure didn't know what a men´s job is...but after thinking on that he figured the food out.
"I see...well, you can grab it on the leaflet here...should be safe to not spill the sauce..." he tried his idea on one of the leaflets and succeeded, grinning triumphantly.
"Another mystery solved! Try it!"

Laura smiled and tried it.
"Food including puzzle. Maybe this is reason why it is so expensive," she added.
"You sure won't grow a tall and strong Corsario with this! But I hope it is still bueno. I mean there is so much choice you have here and in the houses...how do you know what to eat?" Trueno said but then continued. "Probably I would try something else for each dish I could get if I were you. It seems it has advantages to be out of action for a bit for sure, at least I don't have to feel bad for staying here."
"I can´t eat everything what I want, soon there would be a big ugly fat ball in clothes instead of me. Sometimes I envy men that they can do it..." Laura said with smile and sipped from her second glass of wine. "So you don´t have some rest, or lets say holiday, often? How long are you planning to stay here, by the way?"
"To be honest, I am not on vacation...and never was. This stuff here is work. I mean I have to meet businessmen and associates, check my books while trying to get the doctore fix me up as soon as possible... No doubt, there are worse conference rooms or hospitals, but aside from the pleasantries of the accommodation... I guess there is no break for a servant of the familia..."
Laura wasn´t sure if he regrets this or accepts it.
"That´s a pity. I understand reasons but every person sometimes need some rest. Okay, maybe I´m not the right person to speak about this considering that my travel to Freeport to meet you was my first longer than two days holiday after almost three years, and this is second one. But still..."

After short moment of silence, Trueno changed the topic.
"Speaking about accommodation, was yours suitable? I didn't ask yet!"
Laura smiled and sipped a wine again.
"Suitable? Oh, true answer is not, it is not suitable for me because I´m quite sure that I don´t deserve something like this. Because it is...heaven. I never saw any room as beautiful like this one. First hour I was just sitting there and looking around. It is...I´m still searching for the right words. Experience I never had...and probably never will have again. I should probably thank you for what you prepared for me here. I hardly can forget this day and evening for the rest of my life."
Laura sipped wine again. It was damn good.

Trueno reddened, he knew he booked something with fish and view to the skies and the hotelier ensured him that this was -it-, yet when he booked he wasn't sure what was so alluring with being entombed underwater within the blackness of space... but it seemed the hombre had a better feeling for what is "good" and what not.
"Aaahm, well...I...I am glad it is bueno. Those hombres have it like with the food. All fancy names and stuff, how should one know what is bueno and what not? Anyways you are welcome. Especially if you spend those...vacation days...on being here. Oh and sí, I am staying till the end of the week, then I am bueno and ready to leave again. And if you have those vacation days...well. The tenders had an immense ammount of 'pasttimes' or whatever that he said were as fabulous as your suite..try them!"

At this moment, second course arrived.
"Gnocchetti alla sarda served on souffled Tetrazzini with a hint of pancetta," waiter said.
"Can I ask what wine I have?" Laura asked him.
The waiter nodded, slipped away in order to return with a bottle, showing the label to Laura and Trueno: A fine 804 AD Vintage, a fine cut of The New Parisienne winery of Balzac....the nutmeg and honey flavors mixed with that apple note is what makes it so savory.
"May I?" he gestured to open the bottle.
"Oh, I just wanted to ask what wine I have, it is so delicious..." Laura looked at waiter and then at Trueno, apparently not sure what to answer.
"Leave it here with a cooler, sí señor?" Trueno said and the wish was realized within the minute.
"Perdon, where were we?"
"I wanted to say that I can of course stay few days here, I never had a stay on OSC luxury liner. But I´m not sure if it is right to stay at your expense," Laura looked at Trueno questioningly and unsure.

He was openly perplexed
"But...but I invited you as a guest! I mean what do you mean? Erm...erm...the suite is booked...and I mean...no strings attached!
You are an invited guest! Stay if you want and I mean...you don't have to see me if you don't. I mean not that I wouldn't want to see you, but...but...do you question my honor?"
Laura quickly noticed her wrong move.
"I never had anything like this in my mind. Don´t get me wrong, maybe there is misunderstanding caused by our origin. In houses lot of people are offering you something because later they will want something, so you have to be careful. It is my mistake that I forgot that invitation like this from son of Crete means something else. Please forgive me. Of course I will stay. And...I will be glad when during that time we will see again," Laura said with apologetic tone and then finished her second glass of wine.
"Aha...ok, I am glad to hear that! I mean as weird and excessive this place is, it does have its merits if you look for them. And the costume charade here...oh well, you get used to what is expected, then it's bueno!"
From somewhere below the table Trueno fished up "his" bottle of rum, poured himself a glass, but then noticed his wrong order and rapidly grabs the wine bottle and pours Laura some.
"On a muy bueno recreation here!"
Laura raised a glass.
"On a few nice days in the middle of space, and new experience!"

Laura sipped and then looked down at the dance floor.
"Do you dance, Trueno?" she asked curiously.
Trueno looked down to the dance floor, scanning what is happening there...maybe counting steps the people do, making little "one, two...one, two" movements with his mouth.


"Well, if you mean the Sirian standard dances...I think I know my ways...took me a bit, though!" he said and sipped from his glass.
"How about you? Shall we risk it?"
"Ermm...you surprised me...and got me now. I hoped that you will say that you can´t what could probably save me from admitting that I really can´t. I just wanted to prevent any misunderstandings or disgrace if dancing idea came to your mind and you wanted to ask me for it," Laura explained apologetically. "I´m very sorry if I´m ruining your plans about this. I really wish I knew how to dance these beautiful high society dances here and now."

Trueno tried to cover his grin with his hand:
"Well, this Corsario had to learn it the hard way as well after being embarrassed just at a somewhat similar situation during business negotiations," he said and leaned in a bit
"But this Corsario learned to never get into battle unprepared again! And let me tell you a secret - half of those gloating gringos down there don't know how to do either... Maybe we should ease us a bit, loosen these bones a bit and then I can teach you how to swirl like those señoritas down there...at least I can try."
Trueno poured him another shot, not waiting for Laura, emptied it and refilled, maybe quick dousing any doubts.
"Or, if you feel brave we can wait some more and I can show you how the Corsairs dance on their fiestas...I have the certain feeling there is one going on just now..."

Laura chuckled to comment about gringos.
"Dancing during business negotiations? Sounds like interesting story. And maybe this should warn me, I didn't expect that something like this can happen. What a luck that I had only few business negotiations in my life. But wait, you want to learn me dancing? Or what do you mean? Because I really can´t dance anything what people dance on places like this one. To be honest, I´m even not too much familiar with walking in these shoes with heels, not talking about dancing. Or...never mind, what did you mean?"
"What I wanted to say is this: if someone like me can adapt to how one moves to this kind of musica, everyone who knows how to navigate by stars can navigate this dance floor too! And speaking about shoes..." he lifted his from below the table, showing Laura the soles, "look at this ingenious house inventions! Leather soles to make shoes more slippery! More, not less! Stupido, but obviously necessary with your kin, sí?"
Trueno laughed heartily at the wonders of the "civilized houses".
"Anyways, you can think about it. If nothing else, we have about three courses of hard to eat specialities ahead of us!"

"Three courses? Oh, I hope they will not be big. Food is really delicious, but I´m not used to having so much food. And yes, I will probably think about it. By the way have Corsairs some special dances on their own too?"
"There is enough food on this liner to feed a city for days, believe me! And sí, the Corsairs dance as well...but...different," Trueno searched for proper description. "First of all...you don't need shoes that risk breaking your neck while moving...actually it is muy beno to dance, well - barefoot. Also, while the Cretian Tango is danced in pairs it is always a group activity and has...hmmm...challenges included, sí? Basically you have to convince everyone that you have more fuego than the others...and if everybody does it...well, it's heated, fast and furious and not as...organized as this..." he pointed down onto the dancefloor.

Laura finished her third glass of wine.
"Those are boring, at least most of them. But dances without shoes and with fire and passion you say...okay, it seems that Corsair dances attract me much more. Maybe I will find somebody who will be willing to teach me piece of them," Laura said in a little provocative manner.
Trueno was a bit surprised to hear this, but pleased.
"If you really want to do this, we have to prepare a bit before you can take a look in the Corsair soul!"
He raised his shooter, emptied it and refilled. This time Laura´s glass first, then his again.
"So...I might have to warn you here, for fairness sake. Corsair fiesta with...with my crew...might be a bit less 'civilized', sí?"
Biting his lips he continued:
"And of course...it happens in our quarter...in like...err...we all share the same quarter and it is a bit...special."
He raised his glass, looking expectantly at Laura.

Laura tried to stop Trueno before he refilled her glass, but she was too slow.
"Eh, gracias, but I have to slow down with that wine. It is delicious but, I have to concentrate on walking in this shoes even when I´m sober, so I can´t drink much when I want to make the way back to my sea suite..."
But then she raised the glass.
"So, on Corsairs dances..."
"On Corsair dances!"
Trueno quickly drained his glass and refilled it, having tasted the Corsair spirit before Laura might guess on the "rush" in Truenos head, he sure looked quite awake, present and "alive".

"Did I understand good that you and your crew, you all stay here only in one quarter?" Laura asked after she sipped from her glass.
Trueno noticed that this may seem weird.
"Ah, sí, you heard right...but it is different than you might think! We are not here for first time...so we came to a certain...agreement with the capitano here, so we have a "special" suite that gives us a luxury we can't otherwise get," he said and quickly killed off another shot, waiting if Laura will press on.
"I´m interested in details. By the way, how much men is there with you...if it is not a secret," she asked curiously.
"Well...I have my boardin....ehm, my security personnel - ten proud soldatos, then there are four gunners, one technician, my navigator, my comm officer, five regular crewmen and my two right hands...so we are twenty four in total right now with the minimum onboard," Trueno said and paused for a moment.
Laura stayed apparently surprised about a number of men.
"Now as for details...promise you will not laugh!" he continued then.
"Okay, I will try," she said waiting to hear more.

Trueno hesitantly continued.
"You might have heard stories about Planet Crete, my home, sí? I mean...it is my home and I am proud of it as every other Corsair is, have no doubt. But...when you are there...you will notice it is a bit 'lacking' of the 'supporting life' part. Or put it the other way round - it is a rock, surrounded by an atmosphere that doesn't shield off radiation, has as much as no plant life apart from some tiny shrubs here or there and the only real 'animals' can be found in some dirty sandy ponds and are almost too small to make a paella from of them," he described and paused again.
"So, it is a bit...lacking, especially if you are a Corsario and you have access to the Neural Net and hear stories about how other planets look like...one might get a desire, a craving for the things you hear and see but will never be able to touch! Long historia short - we rented the 'Hunting arena' that this place has, and convinced the capitano to bring the goats, sheeps and cows from the petting zoo in and well...simulate a miniature planet for us. And...and...it's great!" Trueno said and got a dreamy eyes.

"Oh...uhm..." were the only sounds that Laura made, apparently not knowing what to say.
"So...so...you and your men live here...on a luxury liner...in hunting area. This is...erm...unusual. So for example when you were there, where you dressed this suit and came here...and after this...dinner...you will return there?" Laura scratched her head in unsure manner.
Trueno noticed Lauras surprise and tried to relativize his statement.
"Ah, you see, actually it is not a big area, the regular guests don't like to walk in order to hunt it is only some 100 meters long and maybe 30 broad! And it has a small lodge at the entrance where you can get a shower and store your regular clothing and whatnot...so it is a really great place where you can start a small campfire...with real wood! And it has grass and soil and a simulated sky..." Trueno looked as if that would clear everything up and makes perfect sense now
"Are you also hunting those animals there?" Laura asked after few moments of silence.

Now Trueno looked surprised
"No?! Madre mio...why should we! They are so furry - you can even sit on the cows and the goats drink mucho rum! And they are warm as well! While I know that we eat animals right now...I think I can't spoil that place by spilling blood there...in fact...the only time blood was spilled was when old one legged Pepe tried to show of some of his knife skills and stabbed his hand...but why should we hunt those animals?! I mean...are you a past-time hunter, Laura?"
"Oh...no...no, just that name confused me maybe. You know, 'Hunting arena'," Laura said ashamed.
"But you surprised me, because...twenty four is a lot of men for trading ship. I usually have from 3 to 5 crewmen on my train and that is all," she tried to take another topic, "it sounds like a big crew for big ship, which one is it?" asked then and finished eating of her course.

Talking about his ship surely suited to Trueno as well as about his accommodation.
"Well, it WAS a hunting area, now it is our suite! At least for the duration of our stay. And sí, twenty four men is mucho and the quarters are a bit...narrow and cozy as well. But we need so many crewmen simply because we do all the loading and unloading by ourselves and of course, as the ship is armed...you need someone to use those guns, too! And...who could say 'no' to security personnel after all, sí? Now...the ship I came with is the proud Naiades, goddess of fresh water, revitalizing hermanos with the goods she brings! It is the old ship of my familia by birth...flown by my padre when he was still active...and as I own it now I made it better than it ever was! A hull as thick as any battleship, engines as strong as they come and armed to the teeth, a true pride of Crete!"

Trueno was apparently very happy with his ship. He hurried to finish his dish while listening to Laura.
"Naiades, this is that pir...eh, Z-line transport?" she asked.
Trueno jokingly pretended as if she hurt his feelings hard.
"Z-Line? My padre wouldn't have touched these ships even with a long stick! It is a Raba of course, proud craftsmanship from Kusari actually, designed by Corsair engineers! There is no better ship to brave Sirius if you have to carry something along!"

Laura chuckled.
"Sorry for my ignorance. I saw these ships few times, they look really nice but I believe they are very useful as well, if you are using it. Must be a really good piece of craftsmanship. By the way, don´t you know if dessert is only the last one course? I have a craving for something sweet," she said and smiled.
"Let me recite: Caramelized Pennsylvanian Peca Nut mingled with Bretonian cranberry juice into a creamy parfait sprinkled with vanilla marshmallow droplet engulfed with Ile-de-France cocoa bean sauce. It sounds sweet at least, though I have no clue about the sauce...or did you have something different on your mind? I am sure we can find something onboard...though I am no expert for sweets...I delight in fruity desserts muy bueno," Trueno explained.

Then he refilled his shot and offered to pour Laura too.
"You should really retry the rum, maybe you had a bad start with it...but it is another glimpse in the Corsair soul after all!"
Bottle in hand, he awaited her reaction.
"That sounds really good for me. But rum...eh, gracias but no, I already had quite lot of wine so even a common rum would be problem for me. Don´t forget that I have to walk on these shoes back to my suite," Laura said and smiled jokingly at Trueno.
"I really think it is inappropriate to get drunk here and now. But thank for you offer, I really appreciate it," Laura said carefully trying to not hurt any Trueno´s feeling, waiting on what will happen now.

Trueno looked a bit confused and checked if he has the right bottle in his hand. Yes, it was the Maldava Rum one.
"But, but...exactly! Did you really tried it properly? You will feel as sober and clear as a cold morning on Crete!" he said and paused, rechecking the label again
"Well...ok...you kind of have to keep strong at the glass to keep it up but....as long as you just stop shortly before dropping into bed you are muy bueno safe!"
While pondering, he continued then.
"And if you are afraid of these shoes...you have your butler driving you as well, sí? And...I mean...if you want to see how a true fiesta is...you won't need those anyways...of course you don't have to join me, but..." Trueno said as he obviously didn't find enough bravery in his glasses yet.

He still waited if Laura rethinks her opinion about his rum.
"I´m sure that this is not last fiesta you have here, right? And to be honest...please don´t get me wrong Trueno...but I´m really not sure if I´m brave enough today to go to fiesta where maybe TWENTY FOUR Corsairs can be..." Laura said and touched Trueno´s hand with bottle gently with her warm hand, then closed it with the second one.
"Maybe another time?" she added with hope in her voice - hard to identify exact meaning of this - while she was looking directly into Trueno´s eyes, keeping face like real innocent angel. It was obvious that it can be hard to not melt for every man at this moment.

Trueno barely succeeded at not twitching when Laura touched his hand and he froze at her innocent eyes, thinking.
"Madre mio, what now? No rum, no fiesta, no hermanos...did I anything wrong? Maybe this 'dream suite' was too lowly for people of the houses? Or should I say I hunt those animals? Wouldn't that be a lie? Maybe she is bored with Corsair things here and there. Or maybe she is drunk already...though the last time she kept quite the pace! Where was the mistake? Then again, why doesn't she leave and has that look in her eyes? Corsario, you have no clue, you will have to take your chances!"
That was what he settled upon. Then he tried to carefully take the hand holding his with his cast-in hand, easing the bottle back down in the process, his hands might show a nervousness that is well hidden if she just looked at his face.
"Bueno, I didn't mean to push you...maybe it would be better for me as well to regain some strength before fending for honor at the fiesta...and after all, mi hermanos -do- celebrate almost daily right now."
Not really knowing how to continue, he bought some thinking time
"So, you wanted some dessert, sí?"

Laura smiled at Trueno.
"Sí, I´m really looking forward to it. By the way, speaking about your hermanos. Do they know where are you now, and with whom?" she asked curiously.
Trueno answers a little bit apologetically:
"Actually...no. I mean they know I am here...well, I didn't inform them what I am doing tonight. My two hermanos know as they are kind of here, but I rarely go anywhere without them. And they are not the talkative kind of hombres. But I mean I grew up with them so...it stays within the familia! Why do you ask?"
"Just for curiosity," Laura smiled. "And that two hermanos, they are...bodyguards or something like that? I hope you are not afraid...of me?" Laura said playfully and with provocative smile.

Trueno answered jokingly:
"Sí, I think you are a dragon out for my head, sí sí, that's why they are here!"
Then he shook his head and continued:
"The truth is - as so many things here, it is kind of expected that if you are a wealthy businessman of the houses, you take care of your security and show off your wealth. And I don't want to leave a bad impression here."
A bit more silent, he added:
"Then again, there are moments where having familia around are comes very useful, Corsairs aren't popular everywhere..."
This seemed to be a bit of a mood dropper, though it is not obvious if it is due to memories or the popularity issue.
"So sí, my elder siblings are here...and they do look out if anyone is on the lookout for me, too...I am afraid this Corsario comes with the whole package," he said and tried to gauge Laura´s reaction, if it is "new" to her that Trueno might be actually not very popular in most places.
"Well, honestly I was quite surprised that we met here. I couldn´t imagine that it can be safe for Corsair to be here, in GMG space, without any problems. I know that GMG don´t welcome Corsairs here with open arms, but if with anything, then with unlocked arms," Laura said carefully but still using playful pun.
Trueno obviously liked that remark.
"And it's the truth! It is not possible to be here and hissing the flag of the Empire...we have to be a bit more...subtle. As for the GMG...they for sure don't support my cause and I better don't gather too much attention here. For now, I am a weird Zoner for all what it is worth," he winked. "But, so far...I still breathe...so all is bueno!" he added and raised his glass. "Salud, may it stay this way!"
"To be honest there is a risk for me as well. If somebody from GMG will see me with you, and some people will be noticed about it, I can get into serious problems. So I think we share something during this stay. No need of getting much attention, especially together," Laura explained while taking glass in the hand.
"Salud. May no eyes see you and me," she raised the glass with smile.

Trueno got serious again
"I didn't see it from that point...you could simply claim to believe me a Zoner as well if asked? And of course...if someone is pressurizing you...ah well, there will be no problemas, sí? But now this is interesting Laura...we have been talking quite a bit about myself...and I don't want to be impolite...but I might get to know you better as well, sí? Respecting our privacy as agreed upon, after all," he changed the topic.
"I thought men like mysterious women," Laura said provocatively. It could be noticed that she is probably at least little drunk.
Trueno checked his options in his head. "Familia questions - no. Employer - no. Mystery? Pretty mucho!"
"Well, if mysterious means I have to never know what brings you out here, what you want to do in life, what brings muy bueno times to you, then it sure gets complicated. If the mystery is to guess if you can brave Corsair fuego at fiestas, then I can let things happen and wait, sí?"
"On questions what brought me here and what brought me good times, recent answer is...you, Trueno. But I think I understand what you mean, but you know...I´m quite close and shy person, especially about privacy. I need...to trust people to talk about this...and making this trust need some time, because I trusted wrong people in the past. And maybe...I´m also afraid that you will not like my answers and...we never meet again. But I understand your point. So, what do you want to ask?" Laura said and looked at Trueno with little fear in her eyes waiting on his question, and sipped nervously from her glass.

He took a bit to think on what Laura said, speaking calm and precise:
"Trust, now that is an important part of honor, and honor is earned not borrowed upfront, sí sí. Now, the question is..all those things of the past are what made us sitting here right now, be it a good or a bad path that lead here... What I want to say is this - as long as it is the past and truly the past, it won't haunt you. I mean obviously there are things that are better left alone as well, but things like who do you work for, where do you live are safe...or even safety increasing as well, sí? And knowing where you intend to walk in the future...well, that helps to see the path better,too!" he said carefully, assessing if he went too far, is on the limit or has "space left".
"Actually, my past haunted me in the past, you know. And still, we know each other only for a short time, we meet just for second time. I don´t want to loose everything because I will trust the wrong person. And trust needs time. Just, please, don´t push me... Okay, I´m talking again, I know. Sorry, I interrupted you. And I said you can ask. So...do it."
Laura again looked at Trueno with little fear in her eyes, waiting on his question, and sipped nervously from her glass.
"Bueno...how about hmm, where do you live, and who are you working with...those are el clássico questions after all - both to which you know my answer already, sí?"
"Sí...sí. As I said before, I live much on my ship, but when I´m not aboard, I live on a base in Okinawa. And who do I work for...is it enough to say that it is medium sized transport company which fly its ships under...ehm...IMG flag?" Laura said, very uncertainly saying "IMG" and looking at Trueno, apparently waiting what reaction will this have.

He was bad at hiding his feelings and takes a deep breath and downs his shot.
"Oh! I didn't see that one coming! And...uhmmm...which parts of Sirius do you normally work in?" he asked another question.
"You mean currently? I´m flying mostly Okinawa-Kusari routes these days. Planet Honshu, planet New Tokyo, planet Kyushu mainly. But this is what I was talking about, I assume you don´t like to hear this. I know that Corsairs and IMG have bad relations. But trust me, company I work for is independent company at all. It was when I started to work there, they flew ships under freelancer licenses. But then they wanted to buy and use trains, and later they bought barge, and for some strange reason smaller companies can´t have license for these ship classes, only big corporations can. So board decided to change company into affiliated member of IMG, so we can use their flying license for big ships, but they don´t have any authority in the company. And nothing personal Trueno, but it is not easy to have a job in houses in companies that don´t have bad relations with Corsairs. By the way, I don´t know diplomacy and history much...why are Corsairs fighting with IMG? Or GMG?" Laura stopped talking for a second, when she realized that she started to speak louder and aggressively in last part.
"I´m sorry. I even don´t know if I can talk about them to not insult you in some way," she said little desperately and finished her fourth glass of wine with somehow bad feeling.

Trueno opened his arms looking excusing.
"Laura, let's be honest. There are many good reasons why the Empire takes from the IMG and the GMG - the simplest reasons are...well, the GMG has the valuable H-Fuel and is near to our turf...and the IMG...let's say they need a bit more attention due to their...work," he said and tried to spot if she knows what he means.
"So...the only reason is that Corsairs are pir...pirating them? Erm...nothing personal," Laura said not sure if she can use word pirating.
"Well, as I said...there are many good and valid reasons...but these are two most obvious after all, sí?" he answered and paused for a moment.
"And sí, one might call that piracy... then again, the houses live in overflowing riches...it is a mere compensation, a drop on the desert sand so to say." Obviously, there was no guilt to be found in him.
"I´m not questioning this reason. Corsairs have hard living conditions and have to import almost all food what needs money, I know that. And to be honest, in my experience, most of Corsairs are the most kind pirates when it comes to this. Not like those mad Outcasts or independent pirates who are shouting 'pay five millions in ten second or you will die!' at you." Laura said, trying to make something like compliment.
"The Empire knows honor...and after all, there is a difference between a mortal enemy in combat or a harmless trader passing by. There is no sense in pushing the boundaries, and mi hermanos know this fully well," Trueno said and wrinkled his forehead.
"Say...you didn't first hand experience Corsair affection, did you?" he asked.
"What you mean?"
"Hmmm...were you ever boarded by Corsairs?" Trueno explained but he seemed to be bit evasive here.
"No, fortunately company has 'better pay than die policy' so I always paid that 'donation to Empire' and then I was allowed to go. I thought that Corsairs are not boarding trader ships which pay...or are they?"
"Well...actually...boarding is always done if the cargo is valuable...pesetos are much easier to come buy than rare and hard to find goods after all," Trueno said but then continued, "not that I ever heard of a Corsario who didn't like pesetos," he added and then shrugged, grinning a bit.

But Laura seemed to be shocked.
"But you can just ask pilot to release cargo containers, right? What...what is valuable cargo for Corsairs? And what happens with crew...what will you do with them?" she asked.
Now Trueno started to look surprised.
"Well, nada happens if that capitano is not superbly famous or rejected any kind of payment! But from time to time you just have to go in there and grab the stuff on your own..it is not like everyone freely drops cargo into space...I mean, they could hand out the bad pieces or whatnot!"
"Okay, okay. I just wanted to be sure that if captain will pay, or lets say will drop the cargo, ship and crew are safe, because that is what I thought."
"Sí, sí...well of course, ah...no need to dig in this direction sí?"
"I´m glad that I´m not famous, also," Laura added, "and sure, I even don´t know how we ended at this."
"Heh, I know...but I think you answered it somehow already!" Trueno smiled, trying to play over the fact that this might have turned ugly really quickly.
"At least I know a bit more...care for another glass?" he asked and lifted the bottle, waiting for Laura to reply.
"And now tell me, did you ever travel into the Omicrons?" he added.

Laura looked at the bottle and thought for a moment.
"Well...no, it is really delicious, but I think I had enough wine for today. And no, I have never been in Omicrons. I heard they are beautiful but you know...I believe that it is not very safe to fly there just for visit...especially for an alone lady."
"Ah well, as we are close to the Omicrons, then you should be carefull with that wine. For your own safety, sí," Trueno smiled and winked, "then again, there are times I think it is mucho mucho safer out here than somewhere else..." he added and pondered a bit. "Well, maybe you might want to fly out there and see the beauty of the Omicrons...and what drives everyone out of them as well! But for now, it seems we all have to maneuver the high society here, sí?" Trueno asked.
"I have to be carefull primarily because of my shoes," Laura smiled back. "And maybe I will have opportunity in the future to fly safely into Omicrons too see them and visit something here," she said and at this moment, waiter appeared at the table with dessert. "Finally," Laura smiled at Trueno.

Trueno was pleased that the waiter showed up in time to ease the situation an bit.
"Muy bueno and gracias señor!" he said and leaned in to Laura.
"I hope it is to your tastes, I am not into these kinds of sweets and have quite little clue of those. By the way, what is a señorita like yours favorite dish?"
Laura took a bit of dessert and closed her eyes showing satisfaction.
"God, it is so delicious. I don´t care what it is but it is like sweet heaven," she smiled. "And it is hard to answer this question after what I ate here today. Because at this moment, this is my favorite dish for sure," she chuckled. "I love sweets, unfortunately I have to keep some limits with them. But generally I like fishes. And mashed potatoes. Strange combination, I know. What a pity that basic food in Kusari is rice. What is your favorite food? Because I already know what is your favorite drink..." she winked at Trueno.
"I would have to say - any, if I wanted to be politically correct...truth is though, nada beats some juicy, cooled oranges to refresh you if you've been out on Cretes surface or in some machine room all day...fresh, sour, with water to wash away the dust already included...muy muy bueno! But honestly, these things are scarce on Crete. I mean there is no reason to buy a hand full of oranges if you can buy some sacks of flour or rice instead...one has to think of his hermanos after all! Sometimes I think that the average hombre and señora doesn't value what they have until it is lost, isn't that so?"
Trueno turned thoughtfully and Laura stopped eating for a moment, looking at him.
"This is deeply true, no doubt. You have to feel hunger to appreciate food. You have to be without job and poor to appreciate good job and have to be in prison to appreciate freedom. And so on..."
"Those are wise words, you sound like a Corsair philosopher! Salud!" Trueno nodded and did what he did best - took another shot
"So tell me, did you ever meet a pirate in space yourself?" he asked then.

Laura looked at her empty glass.
"I´m afraid I don´t have a drink to salud with you,"
"Oh. OH! What do you want to drink...I can only offer this rum here if you want no more wine, but I am sure our waiter will help me out here! So, what do you want?"
"It is rude to not join a salud. Maybe I will take last glass of wine. But you have to promise me that you will look after me until I get to my suite..." Laura said, looking with smile in Trueno´s eyes.
Trueno switched back to the wine bottle and poured Laura a glass.
"You have my word as a Corsair, no harm will come to you, be it from slippery shoes or otherwise! Salud!" he replied her smile in kind, of course
"I´m taking your word. Salud!" Laura raised her glass.
"And by the way, I´m really not a philosopher, you know, reading lot of books and study and all this stuff...well, I read a books, but technical manuals and flying regulations, but I think that this does not count. I just...my life was not a walking through the rose garden, that is all," she said and thought for a moment, "but about pirates, what you mean 'yourself'? Because I´m encountering them quite regularly on my routes, unfortunately."
"Is that the reason why you had no qualms about meeting a potential pirate for dinner? You got used to them?" Trueno smiled, "maybe I will have to take care of some of them then so we will keep a mysterious and dangerous air!"
"There is important difference in my opinion. Pirates are usually lazy bastard who don´t want to work and want easy money stolen from others. I knew I would meet a Corsair, but Corsairs pirate because there is no other choice to obtain supplies for basic needs like food," Laura started little more serious talk, "and also, there are pirates and pirates. Some of them are stupid and aggresive. Some of them are ok, until you are paying them. But some of them are really dangerous and scary. Did you ever encountered Rorry´s Renegades? I did and I really don´t want to experience it again. I was really afraid of my life, he was rude, aggresive and threatening."

Trueno´s eyes narrowed and he spit on the floor.
"That bendecho still lives? Madre mio, no mercy to his honorless and treacherous soul! Baaah! He and his ragtag band of wannabe pirates and murderers are almost extinct now, I thought the deed was done already!" Trueno grumbled. "Seems like there will be business to attend to, soon...when did you encounter them the last time...and where?"
"It is true that it was some months ago, I don´t know if they still exist. It was in New Berlin, they liked to ambush traders around Stuttgart - New Berlin jump gate in first or second of these systems. Fortunately I never flew routes through Rheinland much. I really don´t envy our other pilots who have to."
Trueno regained his calm.
"Ah, well then...if it was months ago...it might be taken care of already...I have neither seen or heard about these lowlifes for quite a while!"
"Me too. Good for every trader. Maybe finally somebody killed those bastards," Laura said while she finished her dessert.
"Salud on that!"
"Salud!" Laura raised her glass and then sipped.

Trueno emptied his glass in one pass and rum started to show some effect as his speech got much more "dynamic" and less calm.
"That is a good, to have things in common. Common grudges bring people together after all, sí?"
"True, Truen...erm, yes, you are right. It is so strange, that two so much opposite feelings can bring people together. Hate...and love. Isn´t it strange?" Laura said little thoughtfully.
"It is the same fuego that keeps warm or burns you...and after all, those you hate probably want to harm those you love...and one can not let that happen!" Trueno answered.

Trueno poured himself another shot
"On those who keep us warm then, salud!"
"Eh..salud," Laura raised her glass, and then finished this fifth one. Then she looked at it.
"Okay, we have to...or at least I have to stop drinking, really. I feel I have enough..." she looked at Trueno with a drunk look. "A lady in high society can´t be drunk, of course, and this is the highest society I ever visited," she added, trying to look seriously but still smiling.
Trueno snuffled.
"Sí, you are right. If we were the true up and high society we would be sniffing cardamine, thinking about ourselves as smart and undying...while being slaves to aliens in truth."
He circled his glass in his hands.
"Better stay with the simple things is what I suggest... At least the rum is honest to you," he smiled trying to bond over their "low" status.
"Now, what next? Do you want my dessert as well or shall we get that fancy main course?" Trueno asked.
"No, nothing more. I´m already so full. I can be glad that I´m not a ship because I would never take off being so overloaded how I feel now," Laura answered and laughed. "And sure, you are right. I don´t understand how people can take that cardamine shi...erm, junk, if they don´t have to start with it. Judging by my encountering with Outcast pirates that thing must dissolve their brain. So, yes, alcohol is an honest choice. Beer is fine, wine is good, rum is...okay, rum is good for men I believe," Laura chuckled. "By the way, what do Corsarian ladies drink instead of rum. Tequila?" she asked curiously while smiling.
"Tequila? I heard some of the Black sails favour it...but I never saw a Corsaria that had no taste for rum. Actually aside from different fashion...there is not much difference to us hombres! They get drunk, they fight, they trade, they raid...harmanas are hermanos!" Trueno said and laughed, "oh, and aside from dancing, they also favour comfortable shoes! I take it..at least from what I heard and saw...that Kusari has a bit of a...different approach, sí?"
"Don´t look at me, don´t forget I just look like Kusarian. They drink their sake what I know, and their strange beer. Simply put,they are not good at making drinks," Laura joked. "Oh and by the way, drinking tequila was fun when I lived on Gran Canaria. But also dangerous, it is hard to control this spirit, at least for me. I liked it with cinnamon and a slice of orange. But sometimes you are fine for long time and then in a moment later you are lying on the ground..." she smiled, probably having some memory in her head. "And speaking about comfortable shoes, I understand them. I believe that the person who invented heels was somebody who just wanted to let women suffer!" Laura added.
"Could have been a very small person as well! But sí, apart from making the tango look bueno...they have no use, especially not for spaceflights! Actually, how long have you been on Gran Canaria?"
"Uh, fourteen months I believe, or some time like that. And speaking about spaceflights, can Corsair women fly ships? Because I think I never met la pilota, at least a combat one."

Trueno looked honestly surprised
"You never met la pilota? What about Valeria Benitez, the hermana who never got a scratch in her ship? Or Adriana and Selena Benitez? Or Arcelia Chavez? Eva Nadal? Or the most deadly señorita of all, Baila Morena, may she rest in peace... These are just a handful I have flown with. And in my crew, which is residing here, we have Alicia Benitez which is stronger than my own hermanos, Murciela - young and talented gunner, Chereza with the sharp eyes, Angelina, Catalina...well it may not be half of my crew but a quarter?"
He thought on a bit.
"Sí, sí, many many señoritas doing their duties for the Empire. After all, everyone pulls his own weight if he can!"
Laura looked delighted.
"Impressive! It seems I somehow didn´t met them. But considering that except my stay on Gran Canaria, I never flew through southern Sirius much, so I didn´t have many chances to that," she said and took her empty glass with intention to sip, but then noticed that it is empty. "It seems I need to order something. But what I wanted to say is that I was also mistakenly informed about this. I was told that Corsairs prefer to keep their woman at home. But hearing this, that at least quarter of your crew are women, is nice surprise for me."
"Well, truth is...women carry our bebito Corsairs...and those see space soon enough...so there is no need for soon-to-be madres to enter space...but on the other hand, the Empire could never afford half of its population staying idle at their casa, waiting for their hombres. That is not...practical!" Trueno explained and then continued with nod to Laura´s glass. "What shall it be? I stil have some rum left!"
"No, no. No more alcohol or I will lose ability to walk," Laura chuckled. "Just a fresh water with cold slice of lemon. Damn, I really drank much, I meant cold water with fresh slice of lemon," she laughed.

Trueno laughed too.
"Bueno, water it is then!" he said and ordered via voice command what still worked - the waiters were as fast as ever and made sure to be as unnoticable as possible.
"Now let's compare - how many señoritas do you have in your employ on that train of yours?"
Laura raised her hands in surrendering gesture.
"Okay, you won, you got me there totally. I don´t have any señoritas in my regular crew," she smiled at Trueno.
"Keeping out the competition? You don't need that!" Trueno laughed heartily.
"It is better to be sure. Only by this attitude I can guarantee myself that I will be the most beatiful and most skilled woman onboard," she winked at Trueno amused. "By the way, aren´t there sometimes problems when there is so much women in your crew? Because, it is not secret that things are sometimes more difficult when women are involved," Laura asked and smiled.
"Hmmm, well...I think it doesn't matter who wants to rough you up because you took the last rum or such. And then...tucked into a spacesuit with a facemask...well, it is hard to discern who is who anyways if you don't know the masks. So far I had neither a mutiny or something, the ranking within the crew is settled out of duty...for example at our nice fiestas," Trueno shruged grinningly, "maybe I should ask my hermanas later how the infighting is going."
"Or more interesting would be what I will hear when just the women stay alone...also maybe revealing true about Trueno," Laura said amused and provocatively.

Trueno smiled at the provocation and gestured at the exit of the curtain.
"Go ahead, my invitation still stands, they are all there...just don't be surprised if they ask you how many bebitos you gave to the Empire already!"
"Okay...ehm, maybe later," Laura changed the talk, apparently feared that Trueno will take her idea seriously.
"I think I´m too tired today for this..." she smiled then at him, finishing her glass of water.
Not sure how to interpret this, Trueno went on
"Oh...well is it that late already? Or didn't you get any rest today? Well, the hermanas will be there next time as well for sure..." he said and gears grinding in his head were almost audible and he took a thinking break.
"It was amazing evening, Trueno, really. But I didn´t sleep much before I got there today, because I had some deliveries and then I had to arrange lot of things before I could take three days of holiday and left duties at base on other people," Laura said apologetically, "and I also drank really much of this delicious wine," she smiled.
Trueno bowed slightly, re-realizing that things might have not been so easy to arrange for Laura.
"My perdon Laura, how thoughtless of me...I was kind of looking forward to spend some time with you here again so I must have forgotten time and my manners. Now, if you want to leave, just tell so. I might be tempted to say nada to it, but my hermanos will stop me, sí?"
Laura smiled at Trueno.
"I was looking forward to see you again too. But space is not going to end tomorrow, right? As I said before, I will stay on Hawaii for more then one day when you offered me to be your guest. So...we can...meet again...if you...want," Laura said apparently more quietly in compare to time before but then continued to speak back cheerfully. "Do not take it personally, but now I´m really looking forward to that incredibly comfortable bed in my sea suite," she smiled at Trueno.
"Bueno, that is right...seems the greed of the Corsairs is no rumor then, sí? Well then, let me help you along sí?"

Trueno made a move to get out of his chair and over to Laura, waiting if she responds in movement. She did and let Trueno help her out of chair, then stood up in unsure movements by the table and leaned on another chair, not making a single move and waiting, looking at Trueno.
"Be quick now or she will fall!" was what jolted through Trueno´s head. He almost jumped over trying to support Laura, grabbing her arm probably a bit too fast and hard. But the jumping move didn't seem to go too well and when he realized he probably hurt Laura, his face squirmed in pain. But he quickly regained composture.
"Perdon! Perdon! I thought standing up brought a bit too much oxigen into your head! Perdon!" he said, gulped and then offered his arm properly.
Laura felt little pain when Trueno grabbed her arm, but due to her alcohol level she ignored it.
"Be careful, capitano. Now you are responsible that you will deliver this fragile load properly without even tiny a scratch. You gave your word for that...," she said provocatively and looked at Trueno. Then she took the offered arm but pinned to Trueno much more closely then when they came here. He was even able to fully smell her perfume with signs of roses, and feel warm of her body.
"Time to take off, capitano," Laura ordered then with chuckle.

Trueno was embarrassed and doublechecked that he left no marks. The "closeness" gave him sort of a honeycake grin while trying to sort his head if that is the original smell of house women or if his crew members just wash or used too much perfume. While he kept grinning, took a deep breath.
"Vamos then, I gave my word and I intend to keep it, we won't be pirated on our way!" he finally said and leaned in trying to "secretly" get a bit closer. Then stepped out of the separée through the veil. When this happened, Laura saw the two huge men immediately rise out of their seats. One walked in direction of the exit, the other waited until Laura and Trueno passed by and then followed.
What Laura realized was that both look like two heads taller and one shoulder broader variants of Trueno, with one half of skin covered in scars and the other in tatoos.
Trueno ignored them and they returned in kind. While they walked along without pitfalls, Trueno gathered up.
"Laura, tell me...that smell...is that...uhm...you?" he asked.
Laura wanted to say or ask something about those two bodyguards, but then Trueno´s weird question kicked her in the head. She tried to check herself trying to figure out what the hell is he talking about.
"Erm...what you mean? Is...there anything...wrong?" she asked then very unsure and with fear about answer.
Trueno wrinkled his forehead, looking dreamily and thoughtfully into the nowhere.
"I...I...am not sure...actually. But if it is wrong it is wrong in a muy bueno way!"
Not really noticing himself what he is actually doing as he still tried to figure it out, he leaned over to Laura, "discreetly" sniffing a bit here and there at her neck and shoulders. It took some seconds to figure it out.

Laura was very confused. Now she was happy being drunk, because she was sure that be in this situation sober, she will melt down and sink in the floor by embarrassment.
"It ...it is you!" Trueno said while he woke up from warm-near-rosy-land, shocked in awe, realizing he is inappropriately close to Lara. His mouth opened but words had to form themselves first. Laura blushed, looked at Trueno and stopped pinning so closely. Then looked at the floor.
"Erm...okay...gracias. Ehm...well...by the way...those two were that retinue? Or bodyguards?" she finally said, trying to quickly start speak about something else and looking at liner carts station not far from there, trying to suggest by moving that it is time to continue walking towards there.
Trueno quickly jolted back into position.
"Oh...er...OHH THOSE two...ahem...those are my hermanos by birth! They take care after their youngest hermano, sí? Had to...promise...madre y padre they would..." he explained while he continued to move on to the carts, trying to as discreetly as possible to resmell the perfume.

Then he helped Laura into the cart, waiting a bit if "bring me home safely" s finished or not yet.
"I noticed that they look very similar to you. How nice..." she smiled again. "Are we waiting on them? Or...you are not afraid to travel with me without them," she winked at Trueno.
Trueno found his smile again
"No worries, I don't think they are necessary today!" he said and looked over to his brothers. "Tazo, Medidor - ir a la fiesta por favor, sí? Andale."
They smiled a bit, nod to Trueno, made a "raise your hat gesture" to Laura, then shushed a waiting butler away from a cart and drove off.
"Now, perdon me...where were we? Ah, sí, sí, I wanted to prove I can actually fly some spacecraft, sí?" he slid into the driver´s seat and started on.

Those carts were surely not -that- fast, but Trueno tried to push it to the "full speed" limit. He twisted his head towards Laura:
"Actually Laura, I have no clue where your suite is. Can you guide me along?" he asked, but then a sudden squeal of an elderly lady in huge fur coats brought him back on looking ahead, cursing and barely evading the old lady.
"Madre mio señora, look where you walk, carajo!" he cursed.
"Wowow, capitano, Corsairs don´t have 'no flying under influence' regulation?" Laura said and laughed, "and don´t take turns too fast, I´m after huge dinner," she added with smile and then started to navigate him to the suite.
"Ha, I know some amigos who actually fly only under influence and are afraid of their titans otherwise!"
Trueno obviously had his fun racing around with the tiny cart. While he tried to slow down the turns, he still had to take them abrupt as "left", "right", and "straight" didn't change into a reaction all too fast.

A bit breathless but well entertained, he stopped in front of Laura´s suite, drifting from left and right in his seat, rum showing in the end.
He got out, straightened himself, opened the tiny door at Laura´s side and overgalantly took a bow and offered his arm again.
"Señorita, as a man of honor - as promised, safe arrival, no piracies, no roadkills, all bueno! We propably just braved the most dangerous part of the Sigmas!" Trueno summed up the travel.
Laura took his arm while laughing a lot.
"Gracias, señor. It was pleasure to use your transport services. But do not celebrate prematurely, maybe you will find fine for speeding in your message box soon," she said with smile and then made a few tiny steps to suite door. There she turned to Trueno, standing in front of him.
"Consider this cargo as delivered," added then and chuckled. "Well...so...as I said...it was amazing evening...but...time has come to...say goodbye...it seems?" she said and looked in Trueno´s eyes.

This was the moment he was afraid of...and he knew this was the dramatic part in the dating shows he watched on the neuralnet channels while he was onboard the Hawaii.
"Damn it! No matter how you put it, goodbyes are never good... And what does that mean - "it seems"? This is complicated, why I don't have any rum here to clear my head out!" Trueno thought while he followed her. Then he took Laura´s hands, holding them up a bit in between him and her.
"Bueno, as promised...a more...fitting evening for a señorita like you," Trueno said and paused for a moment, "and...and you really smell good, perdon me... No...no offense, sí?" he added and then returned Laura´s look, eyes clear and no longer cloudy.
"Gracias. I was just unsure what you talked about...and...erm...nevermind." she answered.
Then silence appeared around. Laura remained standing, looking in Trueno´s eyes. He was able to smell her perfume fully again and feel her warm hands in his.
"Enough rum or not enough rum? Madre mio, Trueno, you behave like the cowardly prey and not like the predator who takes what he wants!" he scolded himself and then got to his decision.

Hesitantly but firm enough in the end, Trueno tried to draw Laura nearer, tilting his head slightly to the side. The intention is very clear, in the last seconds Laura realized that Trueno used some kind of perfume too, but very sparingly and only a hint of ebony wood. There might be a hint of rum as well, for sure, and a hint of sweaty hands. It was one or two seconds, but took so long. Laura let Trueno´s head approach her. He could notice her quick breath. She gripped his right hand, but dropped the left one and placed it with open palm on his chest. She tilted her head to the side and just before Trueno kissed her, she closed her eyes. When he kissed her, she made slightly pressure on his chest by her hand, not forcing him to stop, but preventing him to get closer to her.

Trueno felt the adrenaline rush, brave Corsair braved the danger. He took it slow, if nothing else, then to ensure this is actually happening... Eyes closed as well, his kiss was soft and slow and seeking on her lips at first, clearly hesitantly as he felt that he is kept at distance, awaiting how Laura will react. Laura´s lips tasted sweet, hard to identify if due to the dessert at dinner, anything else, or was it just Trueno´s feel of them. He could notice her hot quick breath. She was not moving in any way, but her lips were actively returning Trueno´s kisses.
"Is that what One-legged Pepe calls Corsair heaven?" Trueno thought. He had little idea and didn't care much, continuing to kiss and play Laura´s lips, getting less hesitant and more passionate and demanding about it. His lips were dry and soft, asking for more. He pulled Laura closer with his hand...

And then, -it- happened. He forgot about her hand on his chest and drew her nearer with too much force. A moment later, Laura felt something is wrong because...chest should be "stiff" but her hand was denting into his. Trueno made a dry snorting sound, eyes ripped wide open in pain, and then he grasped for air and backed away.
"Hmmmpf...mmmpff...mierda...perdon...hmpf...Laura, perdon!" he said and pressed around his chest. Laura heard a silent but ugly noise of bones grinding, "perdon...that...that was not...not intended!" added then.

When Trueno regained his composure and breath, he looked shocked at Laura. She looked at him scared as well.
"What happened? Are you ok?" she asked with fear in her voice, "should I call doctor?"
He looked very embarrassed.
"Ah...ah...all bueno, I think...it is just...I am not fixed back up again, you remember? That ugly encounter... I...I think I should maybe get some rest now as well and get this back up tomorrow," he said and moved back to Laura, trying again to grasp her hands, making sure they are not in front of him. He stared down at the floor.
"Perdon again...I just didn't think properly," Trueno said, let her hands go and turned to leave with face down.
Laura looked at him confusedly.
"I don´t understand. What was...did I hurt you? I´m so sorry, I didn´t know that you are injured! Please forgive me, I didn´t wanted..." she said sadly and stopped for short moment, "...to spoil all again," continued then disconcerted.
"It is nada, just...hm...a very ugly feeling if you switch to it from a maravillosa one. I am really sorry, I didn't want to shock you here... I think I just need some rest, sí?"

Trueno had a look on his face as if he will start smacking his head very hard very soon.
"Please, don't think bad of me, sí? I should have warned you but then again...who would have kn...well...let me at least fulfill my promise to get you in there safely, sí?"
"Uhm...okay...okay," Laura answered shortly with sad voice.
"We will see each other tomorrow, sí? I have appointments only in the morning and maybe a short one in the evening. I...I...I don't know what to properly say..." Trueno burbled confusedly and bit his lips. "But...Laura, right now...that was...beautiful, sí?" he said and tried to help her along.

She walked inside the suite, then turned at Trueno at the door.
"Sí, it was...I´m so sorry Trueno...please forgive me," she apologized, looking sadly at him.
Trueno doesn't look happy about the situation either. Trying to safe it "a bit", he tried to hug Laura with his healthy arm and side, keeping the injured one away. She felt his hot and dry breath on her neck, then his lips pressing a kiss on it.
"Sleep well and don't think about it, sí?" he said and then left the embrace. Looking calmer again, Trueno nodded in her direction, tipping a bit left and right, ready to leave.
"Ok...okay. Buenas noches, Trueno," Laura said, touched him on healthy arm and then let him leave, closing the door then. Inside, she leaned with back against the wall and closed her eyes.
"Damn...have I so much bad luck, or I'm so much stupid that I screw it every time?" she thought, cursed and then went to the bathroom.

*****

The next day, at point 14:00 Trueno found his way back to Laura´s suite with a bunch of flowers in his hand. He wore a more relaxed suite, but looked a bit uncertain on how to proceed.

He tipped from one foot to the other, checked his newly fixed chest again as if it will bring him a somewhat bright plan. After about a minute more, he decided to finally knock on the door. But after that, nothing happened. Trueno circled around a bit, then found a doorbell with thought that these doors are maybe too well isolated to knock on them. But still seemed that nobody is coming to open. He rethought his plan. Going here straight after his appointment was possibly a bit too rash. He started wandering off by foot, rough direction of entertainment and shopping area, trying to take peeks at lovers and couples what they actually do. Obviously, shopping, eating, spa sessions and the ball were quite hip with the crowd. The "Meet the Corsairs trips" were marked as creepy, so not an option... Trueno got a better idea. A perfect idea!

Laura's PDA buzzed about fifteen minutes later and she opened the message.

---Incoming message---
Buenos días Laura!
I hope everything is bueno with you and you enjoyed your time today. I was wondering about if you want to meet this afternoon. Actually I could need your specific help and expertise. If you have no spa thingies planned!
Saludos cariñosos

Trueno
---End of the message---

After few minutes reply arrived.

---Incoming message---
Buenos días, Trueno, it would be nice to meet. When and where? And what kind of help you need?

Laura
---End of the message---

---Incoming message---
Hola Laura, that was quick! I am at the Hawaiian Plaza right now, I can wait beside the fountain for you if you have time righ now!
---End of the message---

After few minutes when nothing happened, a familiar voice suddenly sounded behind Trueno.
"Hola!" Laura said cheerfully.
Trueno jolted up turning in direction of the voice while getting a step away in the process.
"Damn, I´m slacking! How could anyone sneak up on me? Wouldn´t have happened with Tazo and Meditor around!" he thought.
As he realized it is really Laura, he was surprised again, seeing he didn't pick the flowers up from the fountain.
"Ah, it is you! Madre mio, I didn't see you coming! How are you?" he asked then.
It seemed that Laura went out in ordinary outfit especially in compare to yesterday evening. She looked similarly like on first date - with not much make-up and hair set just a little. She was also wearing nice, but common clothes - black and white t-shirt with covered back and jeans and high shoes.

She also held two small shopping bags in her hand.
"I came from other direction... I´m fine, relaxing here... How are you? Is it ok...I mean what I did...that injury of yours...you know," she said little afraid, looking unsure at Trueno.
"Oh...oh that!" he thumped his chest with his hand, "the doctores fixed me up quite fine. It still looks ugly, but is as solid as ever...miracles of medicine!"
Then he went back to the fountain, grabbed the flowers and presented them to Laura.
"I got you something to...to compensate for yesterday, sí?"
The flowers were a wild mix. Laura couldn´t shake the feeling that Trueno ignored suggestions from the florist and just picked what struck him fancy and bundled them together. Not a designed bouquet, more a mix of singular very colorful, elongated flowers, star like flowers, lions maw shaped flowered, tulip shaped flowers, differently colored roses here and there, no 'decorative green stuff'.
"Oh...you brought flowers...how nice...eh, gracias," Laura blushed a little, apparently surprised, but in pleasant way. Her afraid face changed with smile.
"I think you don´t have to compensate anything, it was my mistake. But gracias, they really look beautiful..." she looked for moment at flowers.

Trueno stayed silent when she was looking at the flowers, waiting if she will take them or not. She did and sniffed to them.
"They smell so pleasantly. Okay, you...got me," she smiled at Trueno.
"Uh sorry, what?" he asked.
"It was unexpected for me. You know, it is very long time when I got flowers last time... But...what now? Do you have any plan?" she changed the topic.
Trueno smiled like a honeycake, and held out his arm for her to hook in.
"Of course I do! I decided you will help me with your expertise!"

She hooked in his arm and Trueno could smell her perfume. New one, some discreet but with sweet sign.
"Oh, I really can?" she smiled, "and from what field this expertise should be?"
"Well, look at you. You look muy bueno today, you looked muy muy bueno yesterday and muy bueno the last time we met. Thus I declare you my consiliadora for shopping of womanly clothes!" he resumed and then announced: "We go shopping. For Crete!"
Laura blushed a little.
"Uh, gracias, gracias, I´m not sure about that...but if you think so... Well, which woman could refuse offer to go shopping clothes," she laughed and then asked: "For which woman this clothes will be? It is hard to choose just blindly..."
"Well...for Corsair women...who think they might want to try out the latest fashion. You know...with uncomfortable shoes...all that," he said and shrugged. "After all, I am here and I will fly back to Crete soon...so I might as well get some goods to answer the demand, sí? And...I thought if you could pick fitting pieces it might be...well, -better- as you are like...a señorita from the houses who knows how to dress!"
"Wow, I don´t know, it sounds like very responsible task. But...did I understand well that this is not such a gift for a specific woman or women, but more like...goods to trade at Crete?"
"Precisamente! And if you look at it you might guide the Corsair fashion for the next few months!" Trueno said and laughed at that, guiding Laura into one of the finest shops at the plaza. "Bueno...here we are...what do we need?"

Laura laughed too.
"Wow...Laura the fashion designer. Universe is going to an end, it seems," she winked at Trueno. "Well, it depends on how much of it you want. Jeans, skirts, t-shirts, shirts, coats...or also for example evening dresses? Or moreover...lingerie?" she looked questioningly at Trueno.
"Well...everything? I...am not an expert on these kind of shopping sprees...as I am...ahem...not an expert so I normally just ordered like 'get me so and so many crates of your finest stuff'...not caring much about what it actually was. And in the end, there were quite weird things in there that I never saw before... So I basically need you to pick everything what these shops have...that might spark the desire to buy in the señoritas or their señores on Crete who want to dress in the 'latest house fashion'," Trueno explained, but looked like not so sure what he is actually talking about.
"Does that make sense? Can you help me out?" he asked finally.
"I hope I can, despite I think you overestimate my good taste at clothes. But I think it still should be better than your "give me few crates of woman clothes", sí? Uhm, nothing personal..." Laura winked at Trueno. Then she started to choose several types of clothes. Some quite common but nice, some more luxury, and some...
"In my opinion, women in this clothes look like...'whores'...but there are some women who like it and want it, so I believe you will sell them good as well," she evaluated these type.

But Trueno looked a bit irritated.
"What do you mean...'whores'...I will have nada of that on my ship or on Crete! And I doubt anyone would buy such...sí?" he said. Then seemed not so absolutely sure of it in the end, but stayed resolute. He also put away the "common" and "every day" clothes.
"Hm...are you sure those are fancy enough? I mean, they kind of have to...you know...show luxury. Like on the neural net and such... I mean, nothing against the clothes themselves."
"Pff," Laura gasped and thought for a while. "Okay...you had to say you wanted luxury clothes. I didn´t know that clothes like I wear now for example are too much common for Corsair women..." she said little irritated too.
"Um...OOH! Oh, don't get me wrong," Trueno said when realized he might have misstepped by talking like he would to a salesman, "stop, stop, stop!" he got over to her and tried to take her arm. "Laura...don't get me wrong here...I mean, you look maravillosa right now and you have that..." he inhaled, "hmmmmm...I mean everything is bueno, it is just that we do produce regular clothes on Crete muy bueno...we just have no designers from New York, Tokyo, Berlin or London to appease the rich and famous, sí?"
"Bueno. But there is a problem, because some famous designers produce clothes which are very expensive but don´t look like they are. So you prefer clothes which must look expensive and let´s say...shiny? Then you should focus on evening dresses, because on them, luxury can be luxury shown best. And your rich and famous seňoritas can wear them on fiestas, I believe. What you think? I don´t have experience with that, you should know in what woman were interested when you last time brought clothes from houses. Hm?"
He looked a bit embarassed and "caught".
"Err...you see...I actually don't sell these myself. I just give them to the salesmen of the familia... I just looked at some crates that we had to relable and sell under the intended price as no one wanted them. I thought you might know what you would like to buy if you can go and buy everything and if you were in a neural net show, sí? I can't ask my crew as they would find this whole store ridiculous already...and I mean...it is like a bit of a costume party for me as well. So...let's have a costume party here and pretend that we were famous?"

Laura took her PDA from pocket, opened the screen and browsed for a while.
"You mean something like this for example?" she asked and showed Trueno the picture, "or this one?" she added and showed another.

..........

"These women are famous and this is what they wear in public," Laura explained and looked at Trueno, waiting for an opinion.
"The Corsario to the left doesn't seem to be impressed, but the gringo in the back sure is...hmmm, is that an artifact collier? Not bad I think...but I wouldn't want to run it for sure!" he said and then took a look at the second one.
"Are those real plants? I think real, living plants on clothes would be ripped out of our hands basically after landing...seems bueno to me! I knew you could help me out!" he smiled.
"Then we should go to another shop. It is focused on expensive dresses what famous people wear. Like this one also, with feather on the bottom part," Laura showed another picture.

Trueno laughed.
"Seems you inspected the liner already, lead the way then!" he said and offered her his arm again, trying to hold her a bit tigther to him this time.
"Well, I just saw this shop when I walked around, never been there. All those dresses are incredibly expensive, sometimes because only some famous person wore them," she explained and took Trueno´s arm. While they walked to the shop, Laura was browsing neural net so probably didn´t notice that Trueno is closer than before.
"By the way, to prevent any misunderstandings, how much...erm...naked body is acceptable in public on Crete? I mean, is naked back fine for example? So this dress is ok?" Laura showed another picture.

"I believe they have those with diamonds on it..." she added.
"Well...if you ask me...a señorita can wear everything she wants for those dress up parties or big fiestas as long as she and her padre or hermanos with her can get rid of all the suitors following. Who has the guts to wear this, probably has the fuego to slap sense back in them for sure!"
"I´m asking because in my opinion, some people wear dresses I would never take to public. Erm, like this for example..."

"This is really too much for me."
"I would dare to say...if a señorita wears this for a fiesta...she propably doesn't want to fend of the suitors but pick some to take home...it is a bit...err suggestive, sí? I mean again - if one is rich enough and has power enough to buy clothes instead of food for this price... But...hmm...I am not convinced this would be a topseller."
In that moment they arrived to the shop. Lot of dresses and suits around and by some of them, holoprojection showed that dress on some person.
"I agree, that is too much. But what you say about this one, fancy and attention attracting. Woman can be the queen of the fiesta in this I believe," Laura pointed to the dress and holoprojection at side.

"At least on fiesta in house..." she added.
Trueno looked a bit surprised, but didn't question Laura´s expertise and looked around the store, trying to see if he sees any of the dresses he has seen on Laura´s PDA or anything else that catches his eyes.
"Take a look if you find appropriate things, sí? There are...a lot...maybe we should ask the shopkeeper to help out? Oh, and of course if anything fancies yourself...pick it, sí? I mean...as a compensation for your invaluable service to the señoritas of the Empire, sí?" he bowed jokingly.
Laura laughed.
"You should check prices. That would be very expensive service actually. Wooow, look at these," Laura stopped in front of one of the dresses. "Just wow. I mean in this one, every woman will look like a...princess. I bet on it," Laura said and apparently stopped listening to Trueno, looking at this dress from all angles.

He tried to look at it as well. Laura maybe was right, but there was no holoprojection, so he couldn´t confirm that. And Laura was not giving him attention now. She kept the cloth in hand, saying nothing and still looking at the dress. Trueno was looking around to see if anyone is there to help him, but apparently the service was very "reluctant". He moved up to Laura, baffled by her excitement and tried to look over her shoulders as he was now curious.
"You found something muy bueno?"
Laura seemed like when she woke up from a dream.
"What? Oh, sí, sí, you really should take this one...to Crete."

While she was fascinated by this dress, young saleswoman appeared.
"Good day madam, good day to you sir. Can I help you? Do you wish to try this dress?" she asked politely.
"Ah, guten tag meine dame - yes you can help us! We are looking for a whole set of fine clothes, but it seems this on caught the eye of señ...er Frau Sweet! Maybe you can show her way to changing room? Vielen dank!" Trueno said. Apparently he was quite fluent in Rheinlandish. He looked at Laura with questioning face, still trying to see what gem she found. Then gestured her to follow the saleswoman
"Now I am curious!"

Laura looked surprised at Trueno when she heard him speaking Rheinlandish.
"Are you...I don´t think...ehm...I can´t take them..." she whispered to Trueno, looking at him.
That made him surprised and he looked like he didn't get anything.
"What do you mean, sure you can take it, just try!" he finally nodded supportively.
"Okay...okay...I will," Laura finally agreed and let saleswoman to take the dress, not touching it like it is some kind of artifact. Then they both disappeared in changing room. After few minutes Laura stepped out and immediately caught Trueno´s attention.

"Aren´t they beautiful?" she asked with fascinated voice.
Trueno´s jaw dropped. He could see lot of Laura´s body now, because in upper part dress was see-through at some parts. Also he had no proper idea how the dress would look worn and couldn't make out the details before, so he just hoped that staring in this context falls under "taking a critical look".
"Now, this...madr...err...bezaubernd! You look fabulous, as if they was made just for you!" he said and took another proper look. "Those stones, I hope they are real, ja?" asked the saleswoman then and she nodded.
Then he moved to Laura, tried to take one of her hands, raising it so she can twirl along her axis. She looked at him with so satisfied look. Looking in his eyes, she made him almost speechless. Then let him to take her hand and proudly started to slowly turning around. After few moments. Trueno for first time saw her naked back, at least most of it...and became surprised again with what he saw.

Upon showing her back to him, Trueno stiffened up shocked. Everything was fine - till now. His mind raced to all possible options and paths of action.
"Is she incautious? Doesn't she mind, does she think I´m stupid? Is she a threat? She could have killed me easily yesterday already, so she is either not out for my head or not in a hurry. What should I do? Causing a mess in here would cause fallout with OSC... Capturing and questioning? Getting rid of her discreetly? Did I give out any information I has to regain?" were the thoughts that came to his mind. While Laura finished her spin, Trueno knew already - violence wouldn't come easy. He liked her... So complicated... Time for business then, that kind he knew best.

Waiting a second to answer Laura´s question and finish his thoughts, Trueno nodded in admiration.
"This is beautiful, as if it was made for you... Aren´t you some star that I don't know of, right?" he said and then got nearer to her and hushes into her ear so the saleswoman can't hear:
"One artifact decorated tiara on your head and you could be lording every familia in this dress!"
Laura smiled at him, then made turn one more time, looking at herself at mirror.
"Gracias. But that is because of this dress. I said that every woman will look like a princess in it. But...well...time to change back to my clothes I think," she said with tiny sad tone.
But Trueno stopped her move back to changing room. He took her arm and drew her a bit nearer
"Is that so? There is a saying I heard somewhere that says - 'you can't turn bark and mudwater into cerveza and rice by putting it on a plate'... Corsair saying I think, ja? The same thing applies here, believe me!" he explained and then let her go, speaking again: "Take it if you want...otherwise, you run in danger of branding a fashion trend with it at a certain place!"

Laura stopped and looked at Trueno. She loved this dress like no other in her life what was probably noticeably. But she had strange feeling about taking so incredibly expensive gift.
"Erm...I don´t know," she said but remembered that refusing to be "Trueno´s guest" ended bad last time. "You...you gave me those flores already today, lot of them...aren´t they enough gifts for me, hm?" she looked questioningly at Trueno.
He smiled broadly.
"Ah, Laura, do you really count numbers to the last? If yes, then you should have noticed that this is no gift after all. You are my aide now, this is your paycheck that you defined yourself. And I expect your job to be executed perfectly as well, right?" he explained but the last part sounded much more jokingly then the rest.
Laura looked unsure, but then smiled.
"Okay...if this will be my salary...I will take it. You are very generous employer," she answered jokingly and went to changing room.

Few minutes later, she returned in her clothes.
"They even have delivery service here so they will deliver it to my suite, no need to take the dress with me now. Very useful. But, you want to continue shopping dresses...or you want shoes? Or you need to take a break? We are here for almost an hour and I know that men usually can´t stand shopping for long time," she winked at Trueno.
"It is no problem, I work after all and I will get paid for it as well... Then again, you could do it some other time duringour stay while I get stitched back together... I mean I can trust you, right?" he said.
"Yes, I can do it in that time. Well, I´m now hired as purchasing agent, right? You paid me so generously to not waste your expensive time for common purchasing of goods," Laura smiled, "And trust me, buying shoes is even more boring than this," she added.
Trueno smiled and then went over to the saleswoman and got the financial part done, promising to return with more business. Then returned and offered an arm to her.
"I think I know the perfect place to relax after 'shopping rampage'...how about the star-view-deck?"
She smiled and hooked in his arm.
"Gracias, one more time. This is still like a dream here," she said and leaned her head against Trueno´s shoulder slightly for short moment, "but I will never refuse to go to star-view deck. I was there for short time before and it is really amazing," she nodded enthusiastically, waiting when Trueno will take the lead out from shop.
He kept her close, obviously enjoying it and still tried to "secretly" figure out what Laura smells like today. Yet something was a bit different, he was tense as always, but no longer "anxiously" tense but.."different".

*****

The sun-deck lay at the top of the liner, directed to the front so guests could see where the ship is going to. In the deck itself was also a huge transparent dome and at the entrance, there was an open bar area with small tables. Towards the front, it got more "wide" and there were small "roofed wicker beach chairs". These were also movable like Hollywood swings and tilted upwards, made to guest 2-3 people comfortably and pretty much "safe" from views from everything but the stars or returning guests from the front who are nosy.

Trueno chose one to the far left, more or less in the front row.
"Now, this is the perfect spot to relax from a long workday, ja...errr...I mean sí..." he said and offered a hand to help Laura inside that "thing".
"If that was my long workday then I want to do this job forever," she laughed, used his help and went inside. Then looked at stars and Sigma suns.
"Wow, what a view," she said admiringly.
Trueno hopped in, next to Laura, joining her look into the wide Sigma´s beautiful deep blue nebulae, saturated with turquise lines like little waves, the stars shimmering like shells or jewelry on the ground of the see. It was as if they were in a submarine in the oceans of planet Junyo - bright lively, a fascinating accent to discover every minute.
"Ah, muy bueno... Now, do you want something to drink or a snack? Otherwise the waiter will come every minute," Trueno smiled.
"Oh, yes. Something tiny to eat would be good, just like sandwich or sushi or something like that. And drink? I don´t know. They make so good coctails here. But...I don´t want to give you impression that I´m drinking alcohol all the time, when I drank everytime we meet. So probably...ice tea?" she looked to Trueno waiting for "his opinion".
"Oh, take what you want, you are on vacation after all, sí? For me...I will satisfy my appetite for the evening and the meeting...my thirst probably as well as they don't have my rand of rum here sadly. So I will stick with coffeinated asteroid water...hmm...maybe some grapes as well, but nothing more for me. But feel free to order what you like!"

In a small, almost closed space of observation beach chair, Trueno could smell Laura´s perfume better. It seemed there was sign of...oranges or apricot...maybe peach? It was still hard to recognize, but it must be one of these. But just in that moment, waiter appeared and took Trueno´s order. Laura ordered salmon sandwich and ice tea. When waiter left, she looked at him.
"May I ask something? Is this what you do often? I mean go to the luxury liner, have a delicous dinners in high society, buying incredibly expensive clothes...ordering anything you want without thinking even for a second how much it will cost. To be honest...and don´t get me wrong please...when we first met, I thought you are just ordinary Corsair, -some- tradesman. Now I have feeling that you must be...I don´t know, if not head of some mighty familia, then at least the richest tradesman in south Omicrons," Laura said and looked unsure at Trueno, waiting for reaction.
"Hmmm...it is true that not every Corsair has the options I have. I have this thanks to my familia. When I buy clothes, I buy them with the pesetos of the familia and the familia will take its share first before is my turn to fill my private coffers. But as you sure know...artifacts are significantly more valuable than beautiful clothes, thus my share is bigger as well. It is as always within the familia - serve with honor and you will get honored. The problem with pesetos is something else...you can't eat them! You can have all the pesetos you want as a Corsair and you still can't buy you some luxurious food or clothes. Simply because no one shipped them to Crete! And also, serving the familia dignifies you... My personal living quarters on Crete are quite modest after all... This here...is something you have to get used to and learn first and still all this overboarding decadence, no matter how beautiful, may easily corrupt and weaken a Corsairling like me, sí? Does this answer your question?" he finally finished his speech and seemed bit hesistantly, nestling up a bit close to Laura.

Then waiter appeared with food and drink. When he left, Laura answered.
"Sure, artifacts are not a basic alloy, I know. Sorry, maybe I just look strange now. I just...I never had a lot of money in my life. There were years when I was very poor, last two years are quite good on the contrary...but still you seem like a billionaire for me. Maybe I´m wrong, sorry for that...but I can´t lose impression that you are somebody from Corsair high society and you will be sooner or later disapointed by fact how much...ordinary I am," Laura said and sipped her tea quietly.
Trueno looked thoughtfully.
"Hmm, as I said...pesetos are may be bueno in the houses...but as a Corsair...honor is what counts, because I will die like everyone else if my transport gets taken down, pesetos or not. It is my legacy that might one day hopefully remain in memory and not a forgotten soldato in the sands of Crete. Pesetos are a way to achieve things, but they don't make you special if you don't use them properly... About that other thing...I mean about you...let me ask you - when you think of a theoretical amador...what do you want and expect from him? I sure know why I am not looking for a Corsair señorita, but do you know what you are looking for?" he asked.
Laura looked down.
"Just somebody who will like me? Who will not lie to me and will not cheat on me? Who can accept who I am, with my present and past? It is not not easy with me in some things. And most of men can´t handle it. And I don´t blame them...well, not all of them."
"A wise and fair choice you have made, you sure should ask for these things," Trueno nodded and paused for quite a bit.

The "no one says anything but someone actually wants to" tension was rising.
"Do you know what I am looking for?" Trueno finally broke the silence and while Laura waited for a continuation, he slid with hand to his back and grabbed for something. Then he put it on the table in front of them. The thing that Laura saw lay here was...a gun. Slim, artifact adorned and engraved, what made an ugly stone-on-stone noise that broke the silence again.
"I am looking for a place where...there are no Corsairs...no houses...where my mind is at ease...and I don't have to fear I will have to use this within the second," Trueno said and turned head to face Laura. He looked very concentrated and absolutely emotionless, emphasizing the "use within the second" part.
"Do we have to talk about something, señorita?" he added and his eyes were icy as if they wanted to freeze Laura into a snowman. But his face does look a bit sad though.
Laura seemed scared by Trueno´s change.
"What do you mean?" she asked unsure.
"You...you are painted...with an ink that is is not inked lightly...only by blood...a dragon in the kusarian style...one that is not inked for fun by tattooists..." he explained and awaited her response.

She looked at him confused for a moment. Then understood and covered her face by hands for a moment.
"You mean my tattoo on the back. It is just...oh no, not this again..." she mumbled, half for herself. "Please, don´t tell me that also Corsairs can think bad things about me because of this tattoo. But it seems you do. You...you even pulled out a gun, because...Trueno, you want to kill me?!" she asked distressed, looking at Trueno with fear.
He looked unsatisfied with the answer.
"Laura, which hombre with bloodshed on his mind lays down his guns?" Trueno said and tried to grasp for her hand, "I need clarity. Those who bear these dragons...are not friends of the Corsairs," he added and awaited if her explanation will continue.
She didn´t let him to touch her.
"Oh...I even don´t know who are you talking about. I was accused so many times for this tattoo that I´m in the Blood Dragons or Hogosha or yakuza. I even don´t know which of them you mean," she said, now little angry, "I don´t work for any of them. But how can I prove it? I have just my word. And I doubt it is enough for you...or is it?"
"So you are telling me...you talked someone into getting you a Blood dragon tatoo?"
"Maybe it is similar to tattoos that Blood Dragons use, but I found this out many years after I got it. It is made by my best friend. She...was...very talented, I don´t know where she actually got idea for this dragon. It was gift to my seventeen birthday and I thought it is fun. We lived on planet Leeds in that time, we had little to no clue about Blood Dragons or any other unlawful groups in Kusari," Laura explained quietly, and one or two tears ran down on her cheek.

There was almost smoke in Trueno´s head as he thought rapidly.
"A gang tatoo by accident?! A freaking huge 'kill me now' sign on the back?! Do people from the houses really have that little problems otherwise?!" came to his mind. About a series of hundred awkward moments involving flashing that tatoo unknowingly race by... -that- was rough! His jaws dropped... He was sure that this will be an ugly story to hear.
"Holy madre mio y dios...mierda...you didn't know this?! You never watched 'Crime across Sirius' on the Discovery neural net channel? Dios...how did you find out?" he asked and also saw her tear, but had no clue yet what to do.
"No, we didn´t know. We lived in Bretonia for whole life in that moment, we were not much interested in Kusari, especially their criminals. And it is not like dragon that Blood Dragons use, it is just similar!" she defended herself. "Well, there were few incidents in bars but I thought they are just too drunk. I found it out fully when I was arrested and interrogated for few days by Kusari police on planet New Tokyo because of this tattoo," she described.

Trueno blinked even more at her seemingly extreme luck.
"Ah...ha... Did you...did you ever meet a Blood Dragon?"
"Personally probably not in times when I didn´t cover it by clothes, I assume. One or two times a had feeling that somebody is watching me on stations but nothing more happened. And after that incident with police I started to not show it in public in Kusari. So I met Blood Dragons only in ship when they pirated me, what doesn´t matter in this case. Oh...I even didn´t know that Corsairs are in war also with Blood Dragons," she shrugged.
Trueno got big eyes.
"Madre mio Laura...it matters mucho mucho!" he said and seemed truly shocked at the thought that she actually doesn't seem to care that much about it or probably doesn't even know she would get skinned alive for wearing the insignia.
"No matter what...uhm...por favor...promise me to never show it around in Kusari! You...you...don't know how much trouble you might get!" he expalined and tried to put his hand on her shoulder, pressing it to show he really means what he says, "believe me...you don't want that...especially you might never know who could be offended by your dragon...aiaiaiai...promise it, sí?"

Laura looked in Trueno´s eyes.
"Are you...offended?"
"Look at me! I am not looking offended...I don't know how to look at all," he answered and sought for words. "Well, first I thought they finally sent someone out for my head, but...I mean...I didn´t want to believe it...and now...now you told me this loco story and I am thinking what could happen if you run into a dragon...and I don't want this! Think of me what you want for drawing out a gun...I mean, it is a deeper look into me...and a warning for you to better look out for yourself! I mean, after all, not everybody...not everybody..." he stopped for a moment and then looked like he got a sudden realization, "...cares for you!" he added and looked perplexed at this realization.
Laura looked at him.
"But...do you see it? This is exactly what I told you. Things are not easy with me, just complicated. Don´t you think that you chose wrong woman?"
He shrugged, laughing a little in disbelieve.
"Look at me...at Corsario...it is not complicated as long as you know who is out for your head, sí? Then again...isn't it complicated when guns are out on a third...date? When I decided to seek outside of Crete for someone special for me...I knew there would be...issues...though honestly I thought it would be the exact other way around...it is destino that we met, and if it is just to keep the next Blood Dragon or whatever from Kusari off you while we are here!"
Trueno looked ashamed to the gun resting on the table, then faced Laura again, waiting for "judgement".
She leaned closer to him and then put her head on his shoulder.
"I just don´t want to disappoint you," she said, staying in position "on the edge of possible hug".
Trueno dragged her in for the hug, probably to comfort her as well as comfort himself. Because this was crazy...
"Am I getting too paranoid? What if instinct had won over head? Madre mio...I needed a break from fighting..." went through his mind before he spoke again.
"Come here, it's all bueno," he said then.
Laura let Trueno to hug her, leaned her head against his shoulder but now closer to his neck so he could feel her breath. Trueno enjoyed the moment...and tried to sort out his mind.

She put her palm on his chest, but quickly gave it out then.
"Sorry, don´t want to hurt you again..." she whispered to him.
But he lightly knocks at it with his free hand.
"It´s all bueno, just don´t try to twist the bandaged arm in the middle, sí? That will be bueno tomorrow..."
"Arm? I thought I hurt your chest?" she asked, still half whispering.
"Ah, sí...some ribs were broken on that last trip I took, but those Cryer doctores really know their craft...fused it together again like it was nada...just some strange scars remain for it. And they say if you do that operations too often, it might cause your system to crash...but...well, taking it slow here I guess - still ten times faster than on Crete!" he explained and thought for a moment.
"Don't care about that stuff, Laura...not the first time this Corsario got roughed up," he laughed, reflecting some memories.
"But it doesn´t sound good. So...don´t crash, please," she whispered, still not moving not even a little from her position in Trueno´s hug.

He could now fully feel her warm body, and smell her perfume. Some fresh one, basic was probably with orange flowers, but there was also some sweet sign of...hard to guess what exactly it was. He could also smell aroma of her hair, probably freshly washed just few hours ago. Trueno tried to sort out what nose-trickery Laura applied, the oranges clearly charmed him the most...though he tried hard to concentrate what that other smell was...was it some organic stuff? But there was another topic that came to his mind too.
"Ha! Well...not planning to crash anytime soon... Now...I don't want to unnerve you with this but...but do you have a gun with you? I mean like...when you return?"
"What? Why are you asking me this?"
He looked a bit surprised if this is not clear.
"I wouldn't like the thought of you running around...unprotected. I mean...there are quite some nutjobs everywhere...and...uhm..." he paused for a moment, "well, if you don't have one, take mine. It is muy bueno and easy to use, hide and draw...and it has a lucky charm for aim as well. I believe it could guide your hand as good as mine as well,"
Laura smiled at Trueno.
"Ah, this is your point... Wait, wait..." she started to search in her handbag, "well, I don´t have a gun here. Is it even allowed to have a gun on liner? Anyway, I usually have this because it is legal almost everywhere..." she said and pulled out a small electric taser gun.

"A taser? What do you do with it when it gets nasty?" Trueno said astonishedly and took it from Laura´s hands, inspecting it.
"How many shots does it have? What if you miss one? What if there are multiple assailants more than a meter away from you? This is...nada. You should have none of these bebito toys...just take mine... Oh and sí, don't wave with it in front of the security or service personnel here, they might find it...irritating, offensive or illegal..." he laughed, firming his hug a bit, "please, take it, it is just safer and as easy to handle like yours, sí?"
"Trueno, I know this is weak. I know how a proper gun looks like. But it is very unlikely I will get into heavy gunfight on my holiday on luxury liner. That is why I have this only. And my tactics will be hit' and run' anyway. Not 'shoot them all'... By the way, there are two probes, so you can miss one time," she defended her choice a little.
"Of course that on my train for example we have proper guns for case if somebody will try to board the ship. Not speaking about guns at the base for its defend. It is nice that you want to give me protection. But if I will want to have 'real' gun, I can have it. No need to give me your gun. By the way what will you use if somebody will ambush you just after I will go away with your gun?"
"Two shots? Madre mio...I know I couldn't defend myself with this thing! Two shots, little distance...again, take mine. It helps with aiming even for untrained. And it will down an oxen on any hit... It is unregistered and untraceable. What more could one want within the houses? We even sell them there!" he continued his persuasion.
"And me? I won't get attacked that easy. After all, there is a whole bunch of hermanos sitting in the belly of this ship... Just take it...it is a gift!"
He didn't seem to be too hot on continuing the issue, putting Laura´s taser on the table, shaking his head a bit, not seeing her logic of choice.

Laura looked at Trueno. She knew that having this gun would be really, really hard to explain if somebody will find it at her in GMG controlled space. But she didn´t want to extend this issue...and also didn´t want to offend Trueno by not taking his gift, gift like this one. She looked at gun and back at Trueno.
"Uhm...bueno. I will take it, if you insist on it. Muchas gracias!"
She took the gun in her hand, checked if the electric cell is properly plugged in, then unlocked and locked again safety lock. Apparently she knew how to handle weapons. Then she put it in her handbag.
"Perdon, this was quite the thing before...I think...I just need to calm down a bit now, sí?" he said and decided to change the topic as he tried to take a guess at the smell of her perfume and wanted to compare it to what she says.
"Tell me, what is that smell? I can get the oranges...so fruity and moist...but what is the other thing there?"
She looked at Trueno and smiled.
"You probably mean cinnamon which is in the perfume with orange flowers."
Trueno let out a breath of relief and tried to cuddle up to Laura.
"Cinnamon? I only heard of that one...never saw it for sure...the wonders there are..."
"Well, now you can at least smell it..." she said and leaned towards Trueno so she had her head and neck only few centimeters by side of his head, looking in his eye.

Trueno started to enjoy the quiet atmosphere under the blue nebulae, the fact that Laura is here...near...with him...looking beautiful...smelling like a delicate flower. He answered her eyes and looked like some weight got lifted from him. Then got really close the her face.
"Let's just try to not need these things here anymore," he said after few moments, refering to talk about guns and enemies, "and just enjoy the time we have left here...deal?" he asked and then closed his eyes, trying to kiss her. He was now gentle and careful, trying to see if there is a positive response.
"Deal..." she shortly whispered, let Trueno to kiss her and then kiss him back. Once, twice...then let on him if this will continue, staying with her lips almost on his.

Trueno greatly enjoyed this and let the wave of endorphin rushed in. This has been a long...long time basically dating back before he became elder that he was this close to a woman! He continued to kiss and caress her, taking his time to save this moment as if it won't come back anytime again. He grew more passionate and playful, kissing back and forth, trying to discover Laura´s lips centimeter by centimeter and held her even closer. She let him do his gradually more and more passionate kisses, returning them back and joined the play with lips. She stayed closely with her warm and sweet-smelling body. Only move she did was her hand which she put with the palm on Trueno´s cheek and fondle it, then touching with her fingers area on his cheek, ear and upper part of the neck tenderly.

There was some fuego in Trueno after all. He gently but firmly took Laura´s head into his hands, running his fingers through her hair and also "trapped" her in place, caressing her with deep and warm kisses demanding and lusting for her. She let him touch her head, still passionately kissing him, noticing his fingers in her hair. Trueno could feel her hot and quick breath. He drew Laura onto him so they stretched along the length of the beach chair, then rolled her over so she was pinned between the back of the chair and Trueno´s body.
"Thank god we are not in the last row..." was the last rational thought he had for now.
Laura lost orientation for a moment, then noticed position in which she appeared. While she didn´t stop kissing completely, she took the chance between kisses to speak.
"Eh...Trueno...we are...in public...you...know...hm?"
His mind clicked back to the reality, sitting himself up a bit.
"Wh...what?" he said but then realized what she ment and started to laugh. "Ah, dios mio, the clouds are watching us! If something is so bueno, it can't offend them, sí?" he said and gave her place to get up. Slowly, blood and oxygen started to go back where they belong.
"Hmpf...I probably should get ready for my meeting...coñazo...I don't want to!" he realized. The look in his face told that he means it, but he would still have to attend.

Laura smiled at Trueno, got up and sat next to him.
"Don´t underestimate clouds, they sometime have eyes..." she said jokingly. "So you have some business meeting tonight? Well, after all, isn´t business the main reason why you are here? And by the way, I should go make business as well. I have lot of dresses and shoes to choose for you," she smiled at him.
"Business, sí, sí...only business," he gave her a "suuuuuure, nothing else" look, "there is an hombre who wants to speak about some dealings...but it won't take long if you would ask me to guess. He is a gringo who gets his thrill from meeting 'dangerous' hombres like me, dealing around as if he were a kingpin or something...then gets paranoia when things get real...meh...pesetos don't know loco owners..." Trueno explained while he held Laura´s hand, looking a bit thoughtfully.
"What about you...do you have made plans for later the evening yet?" he added then.
Laura chuckled and leaned closer to him.
"Maybe he is not the only one here who gets thrill from meeting dangerous hombre like you," she whispered in his ear, then leaned back and winked at him.
"But me? No, I still don´t have any plans for this evening, I wanted to check what is happening on the liner. So I still don´t know. But I heard that there should be some music party or concert of some famous artist, but until I don´t know who is it, I don´t know if I´m interested."
"Ah, I see...I am never sure about artists from the houses...I could always offer to fetch you for a...more traditional fiesta if you are really out for thrills...but as long as you are around, I would probably even join the mockery of 'Meet the dangerous Corsairs' tours," he laughed and started to sort his dress, heavy heartedly getting ready to leave.
"No, no, I don´t want to torture you," she laughed too, "and moreover...why go to these tours when I can have my personal 'Meet the real Corsair tour'," added jokingly. "But probably time to leave now," she stood up from the beach chair.
"And speaking about that fiesta...do you mean Corsair fiesta of you and your crew?"
"Sí, the only real Corsair fiesta on board...no fake mustachios, no grunting demands to eat the guests, no sweetened rum...only the fuego of true children of Crete, eager for honor and glory!" Trueno described while he got up and helped Laura out of the chair. From what they could see, the star deck was pretty empty.
"Shall we? Must we?" he smiled at her and she returned it.
"Probably both. But about that fiesta...I don´t know...do you think it is good idea to bring me there? It can make you problems or unpleasant situation I think..."
"Your choice...we can simply agree that I get back at you when I am finished with señor 'Wannabe'. You don't have to decide right now, sí?" he explained.
"Probably this would be best, let me know and we will see."

When they started walking back to the exit of the deck, Trueno tried to hold hands with Laura. She let him and held it too.
"About the fiesta...do you really think mis hermanos y hermanas would shame me by being undisciplined? They will take a look at you then continue the fiesta of course...they are given little time to have some..."
"You should think about it before. Don´t forget that I´m woman which have very wrong dragon on her back, hm?"
"You have...but you also have a bit of a weird opinion here...do you really think my crew would harm a guest of their capitano? While I may not force to provoke it...they may see what they see and think what they want as I can't control it...but they trust me...and I trust them to behave without questioning," Trueno explained while they arrived at the exit. "Now...will you stay here or shall I get you back to your suite?"
She turned to him.
"I will stay, but gracias for offer. You should go to not be late," she said and looked in his eyes. "So...see you later?"
"Sí, see you later. I will call you ass soon as I can!"
He leaned to her to get a sweet goodbye kiss and he got it. Then hurried on his way. It seemed he miiiiight be a bit late. But before he disappeared, he turned once again, getting reassurance that Laura is actually really there and he is not loco. She was looking at him and now smiled and waved.

*****

At 21:31, message popped up on Laura´s PDA.

---Incoming message---
Buenas tardes Laura!
I hope you are still around and willing to see me...where are you? I am finished with the gringo here, all went bueno! I am looking forward to see you, señorita!

Trueno
---End of the message---

After few minutes reply arrived to him.

---Incoming message---
Hola Trueno!
Doesn´t matter where I am, but where I will be... ;-) What you propose?

Laura
---End of the message---

---Incoming message---
I have enough playing dress up doll, need to get rid of this suit or I will sell piracy insurances soon. I propose I drop by your suite in a handfull of minutes and we will have some fiesta, sí?
---End of the message---

---Incoming message---
Sí. See you there...
---End of the message---

*****

Trueno drove up to Laura´s suite, coming straight from the meeting with his customer. He was still dressed up in full smoking, only his bow tie was bit loosened already. He didn't take his guards with him, being sure they propably won't be needed. What he wasn't sure of was what it was about Laura and how things will turn out. Annoyingly, the Commandante gave notice to him to meet up with a high profile customer and actually escort him to Crete way before he wanted to return, cutting actually his time to get to know Laura and sort his head about her to quite short.
He was confused and being tipsy due to the fat man desire to drink in "Corsair style". That was actually not what Trueno wanted or needed right now. But thank god they stayed away from the good stuff or he would be forced to get hammered really soon.

But now! Laura! That sweet girl with the drowning good scent and the ominous tattoo. He knew somehow he already fell for her charm. The innocence of the houses, was that it? Was that one of the things he lusted from..."stealing" a woman from the houses? What was she thinking? That awkward moment he pulled a gun...good that he didn't threaten her. But then again, there are uglier sides she doesn't even know of. She might be too fragile? Or would she be disgusted?

But he had no more time to think as he was at her doorstep and knocked. But nothing happened. He waited for a bit, then tried ringing the doorbell. But still nothing. After about two minutes of waiting, he tried ring the bell again. But nobody came to open the door. Trueno got a bit irritated, thinking he may had set up the meeting somewhere else. Rechecked and then grabbed a small communication device to call his hermano if Laura didn´t arrive at their place instead. Suddenly, he heard quick approaching steps and she walked around the corner into the corridor to her suite. He looked at her and saw that she wears completely different clothes...again.

She smiled at Trueno, half enthusiastically, half apologetically.
"Hola again, I´m so sorry that I´m late, I was delayed by...well, it doesn´t matter. I hope you are not waiting too long," she said, pulled out her guestcard and opened the door.
Trueno was pleased to see her before other thoughts crossed his mind. Very well. And damn, Laura sure took care to look best..that would have been a much better business dinner if his customers would look like her!
"I think every second was worth the wait...you look muy bueno...again!" he said and when Laura brushed by to open the door, he was a bit baffled. He maybe expected a more...well...closer greeting, especially after the afternoon and him being tipsy now. He slid in the door behind her and when they were both in, he took her by her waist with his hands so her back was facing him, drew her nearer and planted a kiss on the spine between her shoulders.
"Señorita, don't run away so fast...let me check if you smell again as good as you look, sí?"

Laura stopped, just punched the control button and closed the door. Before he kissed her, Trueno noticed that clothes covers one side of her back from shoulder, so her tattoo is completely and well hidden under it. After he kissed her, she leaned by her back against Trueno´s chest slightly, and pulled her hands on Trueno´s, keeping them on her waist.
"Mmm, you are flattering me too much I think. But if you want to check something on me...mmm, you can..." she said and stood without any other move.
He was confused a little now.
"What does that mean? Am I too nosy? Went over the top? How? Or was this an invitation? To what?" he thought.
But while she leaned in on him, he slid his arms around so inverted-embraved her. What a glorious feeling!
"I will," he whispered then and started to run his cheek from her shoulder to the back of her neck behind ears, doing playfull "bite&kiss".
Laura apparently liked what he was doing. Trueno could smell perfume known to him - orange flowers and cinnamon.
"So...everything fine?" she whispered after few moments of his "smell checking" and then turned head over the shoulder towards his head. "Do you want to...check...something else?" added little provocatively.
"Hm...I am a Corsair...remember...we are greedy," he murmured while continues to caress Laura´s neck. His arms drew tighter, pinning her against him.
"What about you...el grande fiesta to show your dress or..." he didnt't finish his murmuring which didn´t sound as he would cry if there will be no fiesta. He turned her around instead, still keeping her close, looking deep in her eyes, and drifted by her face to plant another playfull kiss behind her ear, staying there for a moment awaiting her answer.
Laura took opportunity and started to whisper to Trueno´s ear while he was kissing her behind her ear.
"Greedy...I heard that. But I believe you wanted to check if nothing changed...not discover something...new...right?," she said, kissed Trueno on his cheek and then moved with lips towards his.
He knew subtle hints when he heard them, he was a diplomat after all...
"Just for security reasons...sí, we should check," he answered and took up the opportunity with her lips so near even if he was a bit nervous. Her smell, the warm and soft touch of her body, the close contact, the fast development...all that stirred Trueno up. He knew he is probably "lost" then and there...this is what One-legged Pepe was yip yapping of about the fuego of señoritas!

He started out kissing her hesitantly, then inquisitively and gradually he gave into it passion while embracing her. She took passive attitude at the beginning, but when Trueno added more passion, she started returning kisses actively. After few moments, she put her hands on Trueno´s head and started to running with her fingers into his hair and on the back of his neck. Her breath started to be hot and faster. Things surely got heated up and Trueno felt his inner fire flaring...demanding...yearning! Without letting go of her, he tumbled Laura around and against the wall next to them. Digging his hand deep into the hair at the back of her head, he gently enough draws her head back so he can reach and caress her throat while his other hand firmly held her hip. Laura leaned hand against the wall while second one was touching Trueno blindly in his hair because she closed her eyes. He enjoyed making out every moment, he felt as alive as he hasn't been for a long, long time, incomparable with the thrill or survival of battle, the adrenaline rush of the rum or whatever else... He knew that if he could, this would be the moment to devour here - if there wasn't the issue about "cannibalism" or "not discovering something new". Corsair heaven and hell, so close to each other!
"That security check, did we pass it already? Danger might lurk everywhere if we don't check thoroughly, sí?" Trueno murmured into Laura´s ear. He kept his pace trying to gauge if it was time to forget about "if´s" and "what´s" and let the fuego do what it does, knowing that if he will up the ante more, it would be tough to get back to the ground.
"So you want to start with..." Laura started to murmur as well, but...

...but the sound of the doorbell interrupted her in the middle of sentence.
In current situation and its thrilling atmosphere, it made and effect almost like a gunshot. Laura turned her head in the direction of the door. Trueno twitched as the bell rang too. He let off Laura, looking if she looks knowingly. He disliked unknown interruptions or visitors. The adrenaline thrill sadly ebbed back a bit...
"Do you expect guests?" he asked.
"Uhm, no..." she answered and started to check her dress.
Suddenly they heard a muffle voice from behind the door.
"Hey lass, it´s me again. You forgot something!"
Laura looked surprised but then sharp expression appeared in her face. She made a step to the door and opened them even without looking to the safety camera. Just after door opened, she started to speak with angry voice.
"You?! You again?! What are you doing here?! How did you get there?! You followed me?! I TOLD YOU TWICE, that I´m not interested in you!"

Trueno was surprised that she opened the door without checking...might be that he felt too paranoid or she does not guess what might lurk behind some doors...but he definitely would've checked that door first. When he heard that she raised her voice, things got interesting. He stepped out of the blind angle of the door, curious to see who might have sparked Laura´s anger...
"Every lass say this at start but..." the talk of the young man at the door interrupted when Trueno appeared and their eyes met. Trueno saw man, around 20-22 years old, with strange clothes, big platinum chain on the neck and big platinum rings with artifact and blood diamonds on the fingers. Also, signs in his eyes suggested that he is under the influence of cardamine now. Judging from accent, he probably come from Liberty. His look says the same.
Trueno mustered the young man, trying to see behind his demonstrative riches which "ethnicity" he might belong. As usual when meeting new people, he instinctively checked for signs of group membership. Boiling innerly for being interrupted what was obviously not Laura´s best friend, his face froze when he met boy´s gaze.
"Good evening, can I help you with something?"
"Ups...eerrrr...probably I chose wrong door it seems," he mumbled shortly.

But then Laura started to continue her angry speech.
"So it is not enough that you delayed me?! You are snooping on me?! But wait, my manners... So what was your name? David, I believe. So David, this is Trueno. Trueno, this is David. And now, David I will repeat myself but I´m not interested in you! But short explanation is apparently not enough for your stoned head! So in detail, first reason is that you are too young! Second reason is that I really don´t like people who are on cardamine! Third reason is that currently I´m not single! And fourth, most important reason is, that I really, really hate people who can come to me and start converstation with - let me quote you - 'hey, I´m David. You have nice ass, I want to sleep with you!' It is very insulting to me and disgusting. Now, I´m done with you and busy. I hope we will never meet again!!!" she said angry and then turned to Trueno.
"Trueno, I will be grateful if you send off this idiot in adequate distance from my suite. Do not hurt him...not too much," she said.
Trueno chuckled a bit, obviously enough for the other man to notice, but lot of thoughts came to his mind.
"Not single? I see!" he thought first. While clearly getting the why she said that he liked it nevertheless. "But now...how to send him off? Won't laughing in his face that he might get what he surely won't be enough to drive him off?
He was one of the honorless lot...too much Liberty, too much blood diamonds, too much of cardamine, too much of a direct conversation starter. Well then, let's fulfill Laura´s expectation so I at least won't shame her. But wait...does she mean I should actually hurt him? Decisions...decisions!"
"Junger Mann, you heard the Dame... Learn some manners AND leave her alone, right...'David'?" he said and moved up, stepping by Laura so he directly stands in the doorway in front of the Libertonian, making a slight "move there" gesture with his hand.

Young man apparently awaited punch from Trueno. When it didn´t come, he made few steps walking behind, then turned and start to run away. Trueno shook his head at the this sight, laugh-snorting a bit.
"Esta loco gringos these days...want to go out with the big cánidos and then not getting the leg up for a p...well, you know what I mean, sí?" he said and turned back to Laura. "So, it seems you are seeing other hombres as well? Problemas?"
Laura looked surprised at him.
"No, of course I´m not! Don´t...I hope you don´t think that I do. Oh...great..." she made few steps and sat in armchair, looking at Trueno. Expression of her face is half sad, half dissapointed.
Trueno looked questioningly.
"You really wanted me to teach the gringo manners in the hard way?"
Laura now looked confused.
"I don´t care about him, he´s typical Liberty golden kid idiot. Maybe he deserved a punch or two, but it doesn´t matter. What matters is that now it looks like I´m seeing other men. What is not true," she explained sadly.
"Ah, cheer up Laura, even Corsairs make a joke from time to time!" Trueno tried to give a disarming smile, "I hope he didn't follow you from home, sí?"
"What? Joke?" Laura seemed confused. "Then don´t do this to me again, I felt bad about it. I don´t make jokes about fidelity, it is very serious thing for me," she explained, but despite little serious tone, she was apparently pleased by Trueno´s words.
"I thought I hit your...feelings. Or honor. What I really don´t want. Hm?" she looked at Trueno questioningly.
"My honor?" he laughed and looked a bit sad at the same time, "don't worry about my honor, I will defend it myself, sí?" added and stepped around the armchair, puting his arms on her shoulders in a "massage position". Then leaned down to her.
"Look at it like this...isn't it honoring me, that you see me while having others chasing behind you?"
She smiled.
"If you take it this way, then sí, it is. But it is much less honoring me that men like that idiot are chasing me. I can be lucky that there is someone else who is...like you," she said and touched Trueno´s hands gently with her own. "But anyway, I will never go again to any electronic music club no matter what person will play here. I have enough of this."
"Now you made me curious...did you meet the señor here or did he followed you? And...he has as many pesetos as he tries to show?" Trueno asked while he was thinking in the back of his head...an irony if fate would be "accidentally" cruel to this one?
"And...how many more gringos will come knocking at this door?" he added jokingly and laughed a bit, "maybe you want to borrow one of mi hermanos? They scare of suitors from much longer distances then me!"
"I met him here in that club, but he told me...well, you heard what he told, unfortunately you heard it from me, sorry for that. I told him to get out but he tried it second time just after you messaged me. I don´t know how much money he has, despite I believe all that stuff he bought for money of his parents. But I don´t care. Money itself can´t make man attractive for me, sí? And I hope nobody else will come. They will fail anyway. And...uhm...I don´t want here tu hermanos if...I can have you with me, hm?"

Trueno was flattered, and his little plan took a even better shape. Very well...
"Bueno then, I will hone my scary skills for the future then, sí? At least they are ready now for the next one who comes knocking!" he said and then kneaded her shoulders a bit. "Are you ok, Laura?"
"Sí, sí, I am. It´s just...well, this situation was perfect example of my whole life, you know. Every time when things seems so marvelously and magnificently, suddenly everything go wrong in a minute. And now, with you...I feel...I think that I feel...well...last two days were so marvelously and magnificently...so now I´m starting to worry that something bad will happen. I just can hope that all bad ended for today when that idiot left."
Trueno tried to hug Laura, but finding no suitable method due to her sitting on an armchair, he spoke anyways:
"I see what you mean and as a Corsair, I know it all too well. Listen to some wisdom from the Omicrons: 'Eat while there is food and don't be afraid to starve, because a hungry hombre won't hunt well...' I mean...if something bad happens...it will, no matter if you were afraid of it upfront or not, sí?" he said while another attempt in finding a proper cuddly position failed. "We are on...hmm...'vacation' here, sí? So we should enjoy because we don't know when we come back to this place, sí?"
"Probably you are right," Laura said and stood up from the armchair, walked to Trueno, put head on his chest and leaned against him, making best position to let him hug her.
"I just feel like dancing on the bubble. I...in some moments I just want to stand with you, saying and doing nothing to prevent that I will say or do anything what will...ruin this," she said thoughtfully. "It sounds crazy, I know."

Trueno realized that Laura probably said more of the truth than she even realizes. There were 'issues', after all. Quite big ones...but other ones then she thinks about. Trueno didn't want to think about these issues - that as the reason why he even tried to date outside of the Empire!
He hugged her closely, trying to strenghten her resolve.
"Don't be afraid, sí? Only brave señoritas will find the hidden pirate treasure!" he said and stopped for a moment, "and...uhm...it's not like you are the only one who tries to evade the pitfalls, right?" added a bit more thoughtfully.
Laura joined the hugging as best as she could.
"Sí, everyone has his pitfalls. But some of my pitfalls are deep too much. I´m...I´m afraid that I´m still not strong enough to talk about them because I tried to forget them so many times. To bury them deep. But sooner or later, I will step on them because they cover too much long part of my life. Or you will step on them because you will want to know more about me and my past. And then...then you will maybe say you don´t want to be with a woman...like I am...anymore."
Trueno was confused.
"What does she want to tell me? Does she want me to ask? Or not to ask? Or ask but not now? Or is it a double subtle hint about my doings? Who understands what mystery she speaks about? This is as tough as bartering with a junker over the state of a ship you want to buy!
And what could she possibly have done? Murdered Corsarios? Her familia? Curiosity killed the cat...and actually I don't believe in her Theory..." he thought before he spoke.
"Eh, Laura...I really like you and so far you didn't try to cash in any bounty on my head...so whatever it is, it is bueno as you are what you are now, sí?"
"I really like you too, Trueno," she just whispered and continued in hugging.

They stayed together without saying anything for several minutes. Trueno enjoyed the moment...he was here, Laura was here...with her cuddling he felt like a proud conquistadore, her scent was making him dreamy, the warm soft skin like silk - this could go on forever.
"What are you doing tomorrow evening?" Laura carefully broke the silence after some time.
Trueno took a deep and heavy breath...damn, he had his head wrapped so much about Laura he forgot to tell her!
"Madre mio...I almost forgot...I...do have bad news in fact, my perdon..." he honestly looked saddened, "...I got a message from mi Commandante. new orders. Business dinner again, and the day after that...well...I am forced to leave..." Trueno explained and his eyes elongated the sentece to "I am forced to leave you here". "It wasn't my choice or wish..." added defensively.
Laura looked sad.
"Day after tomorrow? That´s...pity. I hoped we will spend more time together. But I understand that you can´t change this. I will leave same day then. It is nice here but I don´t want to be here...without you. And moreover, they messaged me from the work that it would be good if I will return sooner, new big supply deliveries are needed at the base," she said and thought for a moment. "But tomorrow...will be the dinner long? I hoped...just thought you could go with me to concert show that I want to see. But if you will be busy, I can go alone of course."
"A concierto? Which is it? To be honest I have little...hm...knowledge about any highly cultivated shows here...but I would accompany you of course!"
"It´s not any opera, of course," she smiled, "you probably don´t know her, but she is famous player on violin. But it is made as a holoprojection show, and despite she plays classic, old-fashioned violin mostly, she use electronic music with it. But most important is, she is fabulous. Wait, I will play you one example," Laura left the hug and plugged her PDA to the suite holoprojector, apparently excited. "By the way, holoprojector in this suite is awesome, you will see!"
"Lets see...okay, Shadows song is really nice example what she plays," she added and played it. Holoprojector created a young woman with violin in the hand, and also her shadow. Then music started to play and scene became live.

"I love her," Laura said when song ended, looking curiously at Trueno about his reaction.
"Hm..." he seemed to reflect on what he saw and heard. "That señorita sure has the moves for any fiesta contest, no doubt...but does she have el fuego as well?"
"What you mean?"
"Well...I mean...fuego?! The musica that heats your blood and drives you to press on...that makes you loud and passionate, sí? Fuego!"
"Well...in the houses we also appreaciate skills, so we just sit and see sometimes some skilled musician. Without dancing and so on. But it depends on personal choice...for example for me, her songs do that. It heats my blood and passion. Okay, sorry about that, I often forget that other people are not crazy into her as I am. I wish to play like her, you know," Laura explained.
"Mhhmm...that is not what I said. I complimented her skill...but I think she would calm my mind more then heat my blood..." Trueno said. "Hm, so you train el violín too?" added then.
"This will calm you? Then she probably don´t have enough fuego for Corsairs," Laura smiled. "And yes, I played violin for almost five years but that was many years ago. Then I had to stop and never returned to it later due to not enough time because of work. Also this classic violin is very expensive if you want quality one. Did you played on some instrument when you were young, by the way?"
"There is no time to practise on board of your train? One-legged Pepe always does it when we are out...that hombre knows everything I think," he laughed, then dived into his memories. "La música? For me? When I was a youngling, I had no pesetos and no time! We made the fiesta start like this..." Trueno grinned and started clapping a fast paced rhythm while making dance moves around Laura. Then it all ended in a big "Oooooléé!!" exclamation.
"It seems you don´t need any instrument when you have your hands," Laura laughed. "And no, I can´t practise onboard of my train when I´m the person who is flying it. And in last weeks, the less I´m in the cocpit. the more I´m in the office making paperwork, so no time for it. And I even don´t know if I still can play, it is really long time ago," she explained little thoughtfully.
"Hah, it is like flying a ship...you won't unlearn it if it´s in your fingers already! I think the next time we meet...you should take your violin with you, it would be an honor for me!" he said and looked back at the holoprojection. "Now about this concierto...when does it start? It is never too late to learn to appreciate something, new especially from the houses...who knows when I might need it? That is if you take me with you and bar estúpido questions, sí?" he said and sounded playfully.
"You don´t understand, I didn´t play for years. Last time I had violin in hands was when I was thirteen. So currently I don´t have it. I just sometimes listen violin music when I have mood for it. And moreover, that electric and plastic crap what you can usually buy, I hate it. But quality old-fashioned violin is quite expensive and hard to find. And last, I don´t want to scare you by sound of bad played violin. Trust me, it is awful," Laura smiled at Trueno. "But about that concert: I believe it starts in nine or ten in the evening. You think you can catch it? But I really don´t want to force you, it is not duty, really," she added, still smiling at him nicely.
"It will be ok, just keep a seat for me, just in case!" Trueno answered and paused for a moment, "oh and don't pre-warm it with a Libertonians, sí?" he laughed. "Maybe you should carry that gun I gave you more openly...might keep the reedy folks safely away from you!" explained then and looked challenging, somewhat implying he counts himself as greedy folk too.
"Hey, stop making fun of me, sí?" Laura said, pretending anger but still smiling, and hit Trueno with open palm lightly to the arm, "and I´m not any kind of cowboy to have the gun at my hip all the time. And moreover, I don´t think it is good to let your enemy know that you have a gun," she stood in front of Trueno and smiled at him, "I prefer moment of surprise and then hit and run tactic," she said with little provocative tone.

He looked at her in disbelief.
"So you are hiding it? Where? There?" he said and on "there" pounced to Laura and tried to hold her with hand, tapping down and shouting "there?" all over, obviously having a great time looking for guns that at least he is sure aren't there.
"No, no, stop it, no," Laura pretended attempt to defend but let Trueno continue with laugh. "It is really hard to hide that big weapon under this clothes, you know. Their purpose is to hide what should be hide, but not guns, sí?"
"Aaaaah...ha! Where is that hit and run tactic with the surprise hidden then?" he snatched her arm and raised it to "critically" check her armpit. Then ducked down a bit to see under her nose and catched another glimpse into her décolleté.
"Señorita, either your hiding technique is muy muy bueno...or you would make up a very bad hidden assailant, going defenceless," he said and sounded jokingly frustrated. But with that, he bear hugged her, lifting her off in the air, playfully placing fast kisses everywhere he could reach to show her her "defencelessness" while laughing joyfully.
"No no no, flying is allowed only in spaceships, put me doooown..." Laura yelled with laugh. "Put me down Trueno, por favor," she craved sweetly then.
Trueno laughed, then slowly put her back down.
"Hit and run...a true Corsair go straight!", he said and looked deep into Laura´s eyes, "let me show you how to attack in honor..." he closed his eyes and with Laura still being somewhat pinned, he gave her a deep and intense kiss. In the middle of it, he eased his grasp to not totally pinning her down.

Laura joined to Trueno´s deep and intense kiss, apparently enjoying it. But he stopped kissing her, staying close still, murmuring:
"Lección uno - attack first to gain the surprise!" he took her at her hips directing her backwards, "lección dos - with surprise...you can use the terrain to your advantage!" he suddenly tried to push Laura, unbalancing her to fall over and she landed very soft on her very comfortable bed, "lección tres - fight valiant and without fear...and there is no need to hit and run!" he jumped beside her, trying to catch up with her and continue kissing.
"This is unfair, I´m just innocent civilian pilot," Laura protested but then let Trueno to continue kissing.
"Lección cuatro - if you have the upper hand, play it!" Trueno drew her nearer to him and while he continued to kiss her and building up passion, he started to caress her hair and her back, getting demanding. Laura could feel his breathing getting heavier and one of his demanding hands sure wader off to caress her derrière.

She started to running with fingers into Trueno´s hair and caress back of his neck with second hand. Her breath was faster and faster. After he started to caress her derrière, she moaned lightly. Trueno´s intentions were obvious... He tried to slide her skirt up in order to cajole the naked skin beneath it. While his advances were not raw, Laura could feel that he was trying to keep himself in check, acting "polite", while it was obvious he is burning and would love to put things on the wilder side. His kisses wandered off, paying attention to her ears, neck and throat. They were warm and Laura might feel they are shaky in anxiousness of what may come - he wandered off deeper, checking her reaction as he started to reach her chest. When Trueno tried to slide her skirt up, she caught his hands with her and held them quite strongly to stop them moving or doing anything. But before Trueno could start thinking what does it mean, she continued to kissing him passionately and murmured.
"Maybe...it will be better...to disable your...arms...to make my chances...better...What...will you do...then?" she said between kisses. But while Trueno payed attention to her ears, neck and throat, she started to moan again. Trueno let her keep his hands in check but offered quite the resistance and keeped it up too. She found his lips again, started to kiss him passionately and added tongue.
"Who has...upper hand...now?...Who has...the decision now...hm?...it looks like...draw...to me," she half said, half moaned between wilder and wilder kisses.

That seemed to spurn Trueno´s ambition. Laura could feel how he literally flexed all of his muscles, bent to get the upper hand and retried to get Laura´s hands "out of the way" and pin them somewhere above her head. He was in full fire, breathing heavily, picking up Laura´s wildness and mixing it with his own, still trying to squeeze the dress somewhere in the middle. Laura "fought" with Trueno but she let him to pull her hands above her head, while she continued kissing in wild way.
"I don´t... want to be ...easy prey...sí? You have to...conquer me..." she said and bit Trueno to the lip. Lightly but very provocatively.
"Lección cinco - don't tempt a conquistadore!" Trueno murmured and while he kept Laura´s hands tied with one hand, the other sought a firm grip on her dress. Twisting his hand, he secured it and with a rash jolting move, ripped it from her shoulder to her waist.
"Lección seis - spoils of war are not shared with anyone!" he said and didn't let go of her hands, yet his kisses wandered around her body, his chin pushed aside the ruined dress where necessary, while his free hands continued the caressing. He was keeping up solid pressure despite not hurtingly but just below. Trueno emanated heat that Laura could feel all around her now as he moved fluidly, trying to show how he as conquistadore "dominates" her. She started to moan loudly, trying to move with her hands. Then she firmly clasped Trueno´s waist by her thighs. But he didn't give much chance to wriggle free, still tried to remove the ripped dress while keeping up the caressing and making out. A chance might open up as he started undoing his fly and getting out of his jacket, yet Trueno tried to keep "the situation" under his control.

When Laura´s hands finally were free again, she directly started to unbuttoning Trueno´s trousers quite quickly. He let her help with that, as it would be quite hard on his own, but then quickly tired to catch her again, "fighting" for dominance, which he seemed to find quite fun. Then he somehow managed to get rid of his pants and his shirt had to pay with all its buttons...but it went off. The heat of the skin on skin contact was immense and the last thing that was understandable from Trueno for this time around was:
"Lección siete - el fuego de Crete esta imborrable!"
Laura started to kiss Trueno on his chest wildly, undressing him from last piece of clothes.
"No more lessons, Trueno. Show me the spirit of the Crete...now!" she murmured with horny voice...

*****

When they finished with main part of pleasures that they both really so wanted, they also knew other´s body. Laura noticed that Trueno still has three quite red scars across his chest - very fresh, steming from getting glued together just the other day. But he also had lots and lots smallish scars all around his body, maybe from stitches or cuts that weren't treated that perfectly - the very old ones especially seemed treated a lot worse than newer ones. He also had some bigger, uglier ones which looked like stab or bullet entry points as well as "burnt off" marks akin to being kissed by beam weapons. All in all, what he lacked in tattoos or jewelry, he made up in scars. And now, he also had few scratches from her nails on his back and one or two bites more. But he found something new too - another Laura´s tattoo on her thigh and hip.

Laura didn´t move and tried to catch her breath. She was looking at Trueno but without saying anything. He looked back at her and his eyes fixating hers while he slowly and gently - barely touching her - caressed her body. He afterglowed so for quite some minutes, his "aggressiveness" completly gone.
"That...that was beautifull...madre mio...I probably won´t be able to let you leave here again...." he said, but despite he still had that "enjoyable afterglow", there was sadness in his voice and he tried to cuddle up to Laura. She let him do what he wanted and smiled.
"Sí, it was amazing. I just hope I didn´t say anything too coarse...I´m sometimes too excited..." she said little apologetically and start to caress Trueno´s body as well, "but you can stay tonight...if you want, sí?"
He smiled.
"I would love to...and I love it when you speak like a señorita as well...you sure have the fuego for it!"
"Actually you should stay. I don´t know how Corsair señoritas, but women from houses usually don´t like when men leave them just after sex, sí," Laura smiled too and kissed Trueno.
He laughed this time.
"Ha ha ha, and Corsarios from the Omicrons don't like it when señoritas kick them out afterwards so they can have their peace and don't have to share their breakfast..."
Laura was not sure if he means it but he surely had no qualms about staying, trying to maneuver both in a halfways comfortable sleeping position yet keeping his eyes open, watching the fishes swim around, getting lost in thoughts.
"Seems every world has its own rules," she said with smile, "do you mind if I will dim lights a little?"
"No problemo, this is your casa, sí?" he answered but hoped a tad bit that the space outside will give enough light to still be able to see the fishes swimming around. Laura touched control panel on the wall on the side of the bed and turned off main lights. Suite was now filled with blue light from the water around, and just few tiny lights on the perimeter of the suit. His attention then again belonged to Laura. He softly stroked her, seeing if she will fall asleep. But she didn´t seem sleepily.
"Do you know what I love on this suite? It is perfect in every detail. For example if you are thirsty in the bed, you don´t have leave it. Look," she said and opened small fridge hiden in the furniture on the side of the bed. "Do you want anything to drink too?"
"Ah, muy bueno...do they have some rum or water in there? This suite is really muy bueno!" Trueno said but actually sounded a bit sleepy. But he tried to cope.
"Water is here, rum probably not," she gave him small bottle of "fresh water from deep wells" what was on the label, while she opened her own and drank some of it. Then returned to Trueno, lied just next to him, put head on his chest and covered herself with white soft airy blanket from the bed.
"Yes, you are right, it is. Looking at these fishes is so relaxing. And it is so nice to drift off while looking on them," she said, looking at the fishes while caressed Trueno´s chest with her hand.
Driftig off seemed to be the right buzzword as this was what Trueno did - his eyes remained little open but Laura noticed his breathing going slower and steadier with every minute. She also noticed he has tiny nervous twitches. Also his grip around her remained somewhat firm.
"So...good night, hm?" she whispered to Trueno´s ear and kissed him on the cheek. "Or maybe better - buenas noches," added then and smiled.
But Trueno was fast asleep, smiling while going off to the dreamland.
"Heh, all men are same regardless from what part of space they are," Laura thought amusedly when she saw that Trueno is already sleeping. Then she started to drift off, looking at fishes, still enjoying Trueno´s presence.

*****

Later in the night, it showed up that Trueno is a very uneasy sleeper. He started dreaming bad dreams and at that, got sweaty, having a pained face and getting those twitches in a much more cramped fashion. After some time, Laura was awakened up by his moves. When she understood what is probably going on, touched his shoulder and started to speak, not quietly but not too loud, trying to wake him up gently.
"Trueno, hey, wake up..."
Without waking up propperly, he jolted to the side, away from her touch and crashed into small cabinet beside the bed. Then woke up in surprise instinctively jumped up and stayed standing like frozen, taking a second to realize where he is. When realized that he surely made an idiot out of himself, he crawled back into the bed.
"Ah...perdon Laura, I didn't want to wake you up, sí? All bueno with you? You look a bit surprised..." he said and tried to re-hug her and get back to sleep while Laura could feel that his heart is racing like mad in his chest.
"Sure, I´m ok, I was worried about you. You had some bad dreams or I don´t know, but you were shaking and looked like something hurt you. So I tried to wake you up and I´m little confused now. And your heart is beating like mad. Are you ok?" Laura asked confused.
Trueno looked a bit like "caught in the act", but quickly calmed himself and started to close his eyes.
"It's all bueno, no worries, sí?" he said shortly and trying to silence the matter cuddled up again.
"Sí, sí, it is bueno that you have nightmare while you sleep with me, sure," Laura said half offendedly, half ironically.
Despite he heard Laura´ words, he chose to ignore them as he was not up for late night discussions about bad dreams. Or discussions about any dreams and especially bad ones. He drifted off into a sleepy haze hoping to fill his subconscious with better thoughts to not embarass him again.
"Great, don´t speak with me anymore after we had sex, why you should?" Laura wanted to say but in the last moment she changed her mind and didn´t, only started to think. "So another "have sex and then say goodbye" man? Am I so stupid that this will happen again?" she though and started to have bad feeling about this whole "adventure". Drift off was now so complicated. It took several tens of minutes until she fell asleep again.

*****

But some time later, she noticed that he again started moving and trashing about, ending off some imaginary foe. But this time he woke up by himself though, eying carefully if Laura is awake or not. When he looked at her, he saw that despite she lie in sleeping position, she has open yes and is looking at him questioningly. He started to look ashamed, but didn't evade Laura´s gaze as he had been "caught" the second time already after all.
"Hmm...I sometimes...sleep...bad...my perdon," he said something finally and after wiggling around started to stare at the aquarium ceiling, "actually...all the time," he looked back at Laura, "but it seems like I gave you bad dreams as well?"
"My question would be why, but it seems you don´t want to talk about it. And no, I had not bad dreams tonight," she said with neutral tone, what men with good women knowledge could interpret as offended tone in this situation.
Trueno wiggled around some more in the bed, being uncomfortable.
"Listen to me...it is...difficult, sí? Not the kind of bedtime story difficult but...meh, life in the Omicrons is difficult. And...I mean perdon again for keeping you up, sí? I will just let you sleep...if you want?" he seemed honest in his approach and continued on for a bit, "well, it is not like...you know...it is just...I don't want to steal your relaxation here on your vacation, sí?" he tried to explain.
Laura sat on the bed, showing upper part of her naked body in the blue light from the aquarium around.
"Life is difficult everywhere, Trueno, I know something about that. I assume...okay, exactly speaking I HOPE that fact you woke up two times during night because of some nightmare, doesn´t have anything to do with fact that you are here and with me. If you don´t want to speak about it, okay, you probably have your reasons and I can live with that. Just...I have strange...maybe bad feeling about this situation. I lie here, you suffer because of something next to me, but I don´t know if or how can I help you because I don´t know why is it happening."

Trueno grasped for Laura´s hand.
"Now listen...if there would be a hypothetical Corsario out there...having a hard time finding some sleep...it would be undoubtedly muy bueno already for him to have a señorita around, sí? And of course, theoretically...that señorita would be no cause for bad dreams, quite the contrary, sí?"
"Sí, of course. But every señorita hope that her presence can help Corsario to have good sleep. If not, she feel bad that even she has not the power to change this and she will think instead of sleeping how to help him, hm?"
He laughed a bit.
"I see...so that theoretical señorita is quite demanding when it comes to a first sleepover?" Trueno said. He looked quite a bit more awake now, not unused to middle of the night wake ups.
"Now, that theoretical señorita would probably only have limited options - either finding some sleep on her own or trying to get everyone to sleep from exhaustion...no secrets are spilled too fast, sí?" he sounded playfully, enough to take up either option or a new one, but didn't seem to care too much about bad dreams.
"Sí, very demanding when she expect that Corsario will have...erm, good dreams after...nice time with her," Laura said half ironically. But then her concerned face returned. "It is serious problem if you can´t sleep properly. Is it every night like this? And for how long you sleep in this way?"
But Trueno didn´t look as if he is overly serious, staying more playfull. He got active and tried to roll ontop of Laura and catch her arms.
"Don't worry about me, sí? El Corsario is simply not used to waking somebody up, that is all...I know how to find sleep if it´s needed, sí? But I will simply enjoy every wake moment here and now and I won't need no sleep in the end! Who needs to dream if he has muy bueno memories after all..." he said and tried to give Laura a kiss on that comentary.
She let him but showed only little interest in it and prevented any longer continuation. Then looked at Trueno´s face with strange look as if evaluating him and probably thinking about something. He recognized that...well, at least one option seemed to be voted out. Yet he stayed atop of Laura, mustering her thoughtful face.
"What about this look? You can speak your mind freely, sí? I just wanted to give you the option of getting some sleep!"
"Speak freely...bueno. Trueno I really hate when somebody is ignoring me. You did that twice during this night. If you don´t want to answer my questions, if you don´t want to speak about some topic...bueno, but say it. Ignoring my questions means ignoring me. I don´t want to have feeling that you are interested only in...my body and you don´t care about the rest of me," she said with serious tone.

Trueno was taken aback. He didn´t answer faithfully? Or not at all. He knew this was insulting to him if nothing else. He wasn´t seeking her out for her body but for something else...doesn't she know? Didn´t he tell the obvious? Or was this just a rouse?
"Now...that was uncalled for! Ask your questions then...again...if they got lost on our way tonight...I always answered faithfully after all, sí?" he said to Laura. "Patience...you've waited too long for losing out too fast..." added in his mind to himself.
"I´m not saying you ever didn´t answer faithfully, I´m saying you ignored some of my questions tonight. And this...ah, Trueno, I don´t want to argue. It is merely warning based on my current feeling that I got from all this. Probably is wrong...then I´m sorry," she said and put palms on Trueno´s cheeks and looked in his eyes with unsure look.
He cupped the hand on his cheeks.
"Well then...again. My perdon for ignoring you...I might have had other priorites as well...well...everyone is different, sí? Ask away, as I won´t sleep so soon. We can fasten the time, sí?" he said and looked honest in his approach, yet somewhat afraid what questions might get washed up. "Ask, sí?" he repeated.

Laura gave a faint smile to Trueno and started to running into his hair with fingers.
"But I don´t want to force you to answer questions that you don´t want to answer at this moment. I know...personally that sometimes somebody don´t want to do that because is afraid what answer will cause...or don´t feel enough trust."
He now looked confused as only a man can when confronted with womanly logic.
"Wha... what? You mean you don't want any aswers? I mean I am thankful that you respect my...privacy...but ask...and when it comes to my darkest secrets, I will simply not answer, sí?" The "darkest secrets" part sounded much more playfully then the more serious rest of the statement. "Ask, or you will feel like buying an artifact without asking if it causes bad voodoo up front!" he added.
"Bueno then. No darkest secrets, I´m fine with that," she smiled at him. "So once again, about your bad dreams... You said you have them all the time. How long you sleep this way?"
Trueno let out a deep breath and Laura could feel he is calculating.
"Hmmm...hard to tell...one doesn't remember what happened during the night in the morning all the time, sí? But it has been a while...maybe...hmm...ten years? Twelve? La vida hasn't been as good as today for all the time, sí?"

Laura´s face look changed to surprised, then to concerned.
"Ten or twelve years?! Oh my... How can you live and think with this? I remember when I had...bad sleep and nightmares...lot of years ago. It was 'only' for few months but I was unable to do anything very soon. I nearly crashed with ship two times because I had micro-sleep in the cocpit. It all ended in hospital due to total exhaustion and then at the psychiatrist and with some drugs..." Laura said but then stopped for a moment, "...but...sorry, I´m speaking about myself. Back to you. My point is - isn´t it dangerous? You command a ship, right? You have to make business decisions... Isn´t it dangerous when you can not rest as your body need?"
"Why? I sleep when I sleep and I wake when I wake. Actually Cryer does sell a very good mixture of adrenaline and coffein pills for times when it goes rougher than usual. Not to forget the Cloud rum which easily sways my meetings to my favour. Then again...there is a good reason I command more often then piloting myself... Nada I can change anyways!" he shrugged a bit. "Well, I mean I didn't want to rob your sleep...normally I don´t have to...err...take people in my bed into sleeping considerations, sí?"
"I understand," Laura smiled and took a second of looking at Trueno´s eyes before she continued. "Is the event which cause your bad sleep and dreams considered as darkest secret?" she asked carefully but also little curiously.
"Darkest secret? What does that mean? I never did a shameful deed I would have to regret! My reputation as a son of Crete is unstained and undisputed!" Trueno answered, looking surprised and he obviously wanted to make sure this point gets across. Then he continued:
"Still, they say dreams are your mind coping with your memories and thoughts, sí? Think of it...from raw things like hunger, basic fear of aliens to everydays struggle for your life...might be that one collects some memories to learn and ponder!" he explained and looked honest in his answer, maybe pondering some events right now.
"I said that just because you said you will not answer about your darkest secrets. It is not connected with your reputation or honour in any way. And what you are saying is true. But usually when you lose your sleep and nightmares start to going after you, it is because some event which hurt you deeply. For example when you lost somebody important to you...or you experience something terrible...or...or...somebody...die because of you. I thought there was some event like this that caused it. So there wasn´t?"

Trueno looked trapped between keeping his mouth shut or saying things he doesn't really want to say. After few moments he started to speak slowly and carefully, trying to buy more thinking time while speaking.
"Errr...hurt deeply? I mean...my familia is alive...Tazo fathered his third bebito just a month ago...and the Benitez are doing muy bueno too. I mean we eat...we can pay all our medication..." he breathed out and raised his eyebrows, "...as I said, there were many things that can rob your sleep...but most of the time it is diffuse...or things stretched over periods of time, maybe it is that what you mean?" he said and stopped for a moment. "What I mean is...do you really want to listen to old scary stories from the Omicrons?" he tried a more playful tone, "As for those stories...One-legged Pepe might be your man...he tells them muy bueno!"
Laura looked directly in Trueno´s eyes.
"I can ask him maybe, but other day. But now I´m interested in the scary story of event that haunts Trueno for years. You still didn´t said there is not such event, right?"
He rolled on his back, staring at the fish above him.
"Look...Laura...there are many ugly things out there by 'house' standards...and there are many ugly things out there by 'Corsair' standards, sí? And I think I saw quite a good share already. But ones mind copes with them and puts them in a place where you don't have to go looking for them, even in your dreams. Yet, there are things even a Corsario is allowed to be scared of, sí? Maybe if you have a certain past...you might be scared of the future too? Maybe it is tomorrow what keeps me awake today? Think on it, sí?" he said and looked into Laura´s eyes, then stared back at the fish.
Laura looked at him uncertainly.
"Okay, it seems you know how to scare me with story even without using anything specific. I heard about some things that soldiers can do in a war. And I believe that there can be very ugly things about which I didn´t heard. But you are a tradesman, where tradesman, even Corsarian one, can see so ugly things by Corsair standards that they causes his bad sleep? If this was not one event, where you saw so many for Corsair ugly things? Or you have not been trader all your life?"
Trueno shook his head.
"It doesn't matter what you do in life as long as you have eyes in your head and a brain to 'see' what they see... While I wouldn't recommend it to you specifically...you can walk down the darker alleys of our cities...and while there were improvements, you might still see children chasing down cocroaches, bebitos getting fed with sand so they can at least feel what a 'full belly' is...hombres chewing out their shoes for that drop of taste it will grant. All that...combined with the radiation that makes our kin sick at an early age and eats away our elderlies who are to poor to pay for medication! If you look down in that abyss, evading it barely...you know one thing you don't want to lose too fast again..." he made a wide gesture, pointing at the room, "now look at this here - I heard in New Tokyo poor gringos complaining that the state doesn't pay them a piece of meat on top of their daily bowl of rice... Funny, isn't it? Or those guaches yesterday...if you noticed them...buying a huge dinner and only eating half to get some more? Gringos don't know what they have as they never had nada but always lived good. Too good if you ask me. So...when I dream...I see a bebito from Crete...smearing dirt into his mouth...crying...and then I see a gringo bebito...smearing cake around his mouth crying for candy...this is synonymous for many injustices my hermanos have to suffer. Do you get why this might cause me to stay awake?"

Laura looked at Trueno with serious face.
"I...I didn´t know that it is so bad. I thought I tasted in the past what hunger is, but apparently it was not real hunger. Oh... I don´t know what to say. Now I feel guiltily a bit for all that food we ate today. Oh...my," she catched her head with hands and looked above bed to the aquarium. "I...I think I understand now. What can a one like me do? Can I...send some food in some way for example? I can´t believe it...it is so so sad," Laura said apparently shaken.
"Don't think on it...it is a Corsair problema. While each crate of supplies helps...it won't feed an Empire, literal or otherwise. What the Empire needs is ways to supply itself...ways to get the place it deserves between the houses!" he claimed and got dreamy eyes, "...and thus...there are good dreams out there as well - cielo and infierno, sí?"
Laura moved closer and snuggled to Trueno, putting head on his shoulder and hand on his chest.
"I´m not sure if I can don´t think of it now. But...what does that two words mean?"
"Well...it means heaven and hell...and to reach one...you have to get rid of the other...and this is why I serve to the Empire," he embraced her and put a kiss on the back of her head. "Did that answer the question to the dark secrets?"
"I don´t know about dark secrets, but of course it answers question about bad dreams. But...there must be something how to solve this. What about Synth Foods, they can make lot of food for cheap price. Can´t this be a solution? Or something else!" Laura seemed to be thinking about solution.
"And how would Synth food explain this? Openly supporting the Empire is not a smart move for any company...this is why so little reaches Crete even if there are enough pesetos to buy it. Also...think about it...why would anyone in the houses want to share with us? They never did...and never will. If it were according to their wishes, we would rot on Crete and no one would share a single tear or a second thought for us..." Trueno said but then realized that these statements may come off a bit harsh, so he squeezed Laura a bit. "Perdon...I better should stop talking as if I was in a taverna with mi hermanos..."
"What about somebody from Kusari. Corsairs are even allowed to fly here, so there must be some relationship. And I heard a rumour that Samura is supporting the Empire in some way. Or not? How could Corsairs survive for that many centuries without somebody´s help?" Laura said, still apparently deeply thinking about the problem.
"Of course there are some honorable gringos out there and those that are interested in the artifact trade...yet no one has the cojones to stand by our side...the repercussions might be too great after all... Of course, Zoners help with food in exchange for our patience and protection...but they also know fully well how important it is for them to stay important, sí? It is about power and influence, as always...and about hombres willing to take it, sí?" he explained and shrugged a bit, "and this is why the Empire takes what is not given freely...closing the circle so to say... But enough politics, sí? I am still on vacation and recreation after all!" added jokingly.
"Sure. I´m just wondering that mankind will never change. It is same like hundreds and thousands years ago. Fight for resources, fight for food, fight for survive. Rule of the stronger. People who live in affluence still don´t care about people who don´t have anything to eat. It is sad," Laura said thoughtfully. "But you are right, we should change the topic or I will never be able to sleep again. Better ask you about something else...if I still can?" she added and smiled little again.

He laughed a bit.
"You can always try...if you don't sleep and don't like to watch fishes all night, I will at least try to answer in a non sleep robbing way, sí?"
"Fishes are nice to watch. But for first, I watched them in total several hours during my stay inluding some time in yesterday night. And for second, why do that when you are here. But rest assured that I chose non sleep robbing topic, or I hope so at least."
"So, from what do you have so many scars? You have lot of them...for tradesman. And some of them look very serious," Laura asked and touched the bigger and uglier ones which look like stab or bullet entry points.
Trueno looked which one is Laura touching.
"Ah, that one? That is actually quite a short story...if you want to hear it, that is...but it may contain violence, sí?"
"Sí, I somehow suppose that story about big scar may contain violence," Laura smiled.
"Bueno then. Well, this is a bit older one... When I was younger and a bit careless..." he took a breath pausing to look for a good start, "...well, back in the day...I was freshly accepted within the familia...and I ran a transport full of teacups, adorned with artifacts to Bretonia. A trip without events - and I was happy for that - mi hermanos were there then still helping with hauling and loading and whatnot. Anyways, we got rid of all those crates, meeting some middlemen at Trafalgar, and it came as always - in the middle of a crowded hangar we let one crate slip and it burst open. And guess what? All porcelaine felt to the ground and shattered. Now...this was a monetary loss, sí, sí, but to that came the shame as the gringos in that hangar found great joy in pointing out what little señoritas we are for shipping teacups. And...let's just say the blood of me and my crew was boiling a bit after that. But what we didn't know - these gringos were some lean mean Molly drunkards and the artifacts on the cups gave us away! Not knowing this, we finished our business and went to the bar to let some steam off - back in the day I only traveled with a small crew so we were more like five Corsarios on a pirate train, sí? So we got drunk to get our anger out...when suddenly some gringa came over and told me that her boss has some important business with the Corsairs and he invites me over. Young and stupido I didn't trust my stomach feeling but was eager to do some more business on behalf of the familia to lessen the shame with the lost trade. I followed her into some secluded sidechamber...and it came as it is - I stumbled into that very same horde of stinking drunken Mollies again - only this time, they were waiting for me! But guess what - their stupor saved me back in the day...one of them threw a huge knife at me, impaling my belly...I could do nada then let out a scream...and it felt like ages untill mi hermanos arrived. Summed up - I had to remove the knife myself to defend my hide. There was a bit of a shootout and we left within the hour to evade trouble with the Junkers," Trueno ended story telling and looked at Laura and his scar. "And that is how you get scars as a trader, sí?"
"Uh, I thought that these places like freeports or Junker bases are used for this kind of business, but I thought it is much safer and the crew keeps enemy parties away from fights. Apparently not always," Laura said. "But...what about these old burns from beam weapons? They seems to be made by huge gun..." she then asked again and touched another place on Trueno´s skin.

Trueno looked again which one she ment.
"Ahh...well...err," he reddened a bit, "are you sure you want to hear these old stories? Violence has a hang to find me after all, sí?"
"Maybe I want to be sure I met a brave man with no fear in fight...," Laura said provocatively. "Just these, I´m curious. Don´t be afraid, I will not ask on all of your scars one by one, that would be a topic for loooong time, apparently," added with smile.
"Ah, sí, sí...it is good to have a conversation starter everywhere..." he laughed and then scratched his head, looking as if he will start to excuse himself.
"Well...as I said...err...I was young back in the day..."
"We all were, Trueno," Laura interrupted him shortly and laughed.
"...my honor was scratched after that last encounter...so after getting stitched back in Omicron Gamma...well, I plotted to restore my lost honor, sí?"
"Sí, sí, I understand how important is this for Corsair," Laura nodded.
"Now...I got my other hermano and we put together a hit crew...got us some heavy eqipment, some good soldatos...and a fast Correo...and headed to Bretonia again, out for revenge. We found out that these gringos were gold haulers, so we hid near Dublin, laying in wait for a ship with the right callsign. And we were lucky! The gringos tried to run or evade...yet their train was too slow and heavy to evade us...so we rammed it and boarded it, sí - el clássico... And of course a fight broke out, only this time everyone was sober and armed and ready. Let's just say neither side cared much about destruction in the ship and I got scorched by a flame grenade that hit our advance post on their lower deck. But as you see, we succeeded and could leave with a hold full of gold...and honor!"
"Good for you. I just...'rammed it and boarded it, el clássico'..." Laura quoted Trueno, "it sounds almost as you are doing it at least once a week. Are you boarding ships often?" she asked with smile, probably meaning the question more as a joke.

He turned red and stammered now.
"El clássico...I mean like in...in the media! As everyone expects it...how it is done! I mean...this was a great moment to restore my honor back in the day!"
"Sure, I understand that and your reasons, especially when they were Mollies. But still, how often Corsair tradesman, I mean you, is boarding any another ship?" Laura asked the question again with more questioning look at Trueno.
"What exactly do you want to hear Laura? I mean...it is no secret and I told you that life in the Omicrons is rough...life as a Corsair is rough...and look at me here...I can't hide this fact...but what do you expect? What do you want to hear and what do you not want to hear?" Trueno said and looked a bit cornered and unsure what to say, his body being already the evidence that he had more then one or two runs in with someone where he actually got hurt.
"I just want to know more about you. What I want to hear is truth. I want to know everything what I asked about. Because if there is anything...I don´t know, too much terrible...what I should not know, then I more want to know it, because it may be important to know this for my decisions. I know you are Corsair, I knew it before we met for first time. I´m not judging you or the whole Empire simply by usual house point of view. Or at least I´m not judging you simply until you are mass murderer of innocent defenceless civilians. Which you are not, I believe. Right?"

Trueno looked a bit confused and tried to follow what Laura said.
"Too much terrible? Wha...what? Mass murderer? What did the neural net show you, madre mio?! I live my life, seeking to bring honor to the Empire! I want to realize my Corsair dream! Why should I randomly kill people? I mean...is it that? Or I don´t know... Sí, I have shed blood and will continue to do so, but...but not out of joy...madre mio!" he explained and obviously heated himself up during this, looking more saddened-angry than confused now.
"Trueno, I´m not saying anything like that. It was just an example. I simply want to know all what I'm asking, that was my point. And I´m asking because I´m convinced you are saying me truth all the time what I appreaciate. I trust your words, sí? But if you don´t want to answer any of my questions, for example like this one about boarding, just say it. We know each other still for short time, maybe you have reasons why not answer. I´m curious to know more about you but I´m not here to interrogate you. Hm?" Laura said and waited for Trueno´s answer.
"Listen...I am simply not sure why you want to hear these things...I mean, there is nada I did in my life to shame me...but sí, I can not tell you everything... I mean...can you tell me the shiping routes of your company for the next year? Probably not...it is the same for me. Also...believe me, despite I was taught how to fight, I do not revel in unnecessary violence, sí? It is just not my thing. So there is no mass murdering secret to glimpse, sí?"
"Sí, I believe you. And I will change the topic, okay? But I´m not sure if I can ask...can I ask you very personal question?" Laura said with serious face.
"Try it...as I said, I will try to answer as good as I can. I mean, don't get me wrong, I want to give you a chance to get to know me better, sí? It is simply not so easy to speak to a non Corsair...or better someone on the...other side of the fence about some things. This is new for me and...not easy," he explained.
"Sure, I understand. I just...when you were talking about times when you were young, the very personal question that appeared in my head was...how old are you?" Laura asked and smiled again. "If it is not secret of course. But it is hard to guess to be honest," she added.

The tension fell off as Trueno burst in laughter.
"Ahaha, madre mio!" he exclaimed and started to poke Laura in the side to tickle her, "madre mio...Laura...I was expecting something...dramatic! Dios mio! But I am 28, born in 791 A.S., so not...that old, sí? But old enough for a Corsario!" he continued to laugh at himself, still shaking his head a bit and tickling Laura.
"No...stop it...it tickles," she started to laugh and tried to evade. "Oh, I´m sorry that I disappointed you then, with my question. Well, 28? Eh...I´m surprised to be honest. I thought you are older. And in fact you are almost teenage Corsario, ha, ha," she said provocatively and poked Trueno back.
"Teenage?!" Trueno picked up the poke-fighting, "mi hermanos are two years older and already have a horde of bebitos of all ages! Old One-legged Pepe was 'old' already when he was two years younger than me now... And I am a man OFICCIALY! since twelve years now, sí?!" he laughed again and added: "Also, I am wise already, sí?"

He continued to tickle her.
"Don't tell me you want elderly señores who sit in their sunshine villa on planet Manhattan all day, hm? These can´t keep up with you, trust me!"
"Ohohoh, wise already? Pfff, every man is saying that, be it 15, 18, 22 or 28 years old. But no, no, I don´t want elderly señor. I just that my guess on our first date was apparently so wrong. But wait, what does it mean, that you are man 'OFFICIALLY' since twelve years now?" Laura asked while smiling, laughing and defending herself against Trueno´s tickling "attacks".
Trueno tried to throw Laura over to be able to "throne" on her, crossing his arms.
"Sí, OFFICIALLY - I have the certificate and the artifact to prove it that I am officially a man, by the wisdom of my elders and I´m no longer a bebito! Beat that!"
"Well well, you must show it to me someday then. I must check that if it is true. Because you know, it is really hard to believe that they gave it to you..." Laura said pretending serious face but with smile, arms prepared on her ribs in defending position against possible another tickle attacks.
"Is that a challenge? You think I am the oldest bebito from Crete? Let me prove it...here and now!" he raised his hands, waving them left and right ready to "strike"...and then all of a sudden exclamated "For Creeete!" tried to roll off one of her arms and pin it under his body while catching the other with his free hands. Then tried to add it to his "pin" so he could torment poor Laura with two free hands.
"I will stop whenever you say I am a true hombre! Arriba!" he said triumphantly.
"Okay, I surrender, it seems I´m under your rule, now. Have mercy for innocent girl," Laura smiled at Trueno, "maybe I will think about it. But how you want to convince me that you are true hombre, here and now?" she added provocatively.
Trueno looked as if he won't be able to keep up the "manly" facade for too long or will simply burst in laughter.
"By torturing you untill you admit it!" he continued to poke, trying to completly exhaust her. But not stopping this, he also tried to start kissing Laura again, while keeping her pinned as well.
"How dare you torture the defenceless woman. Please, please, stop it," Laura protested. But when Trueno started to kiss her, she returned kisses, slowly making them more passionate and speaking between them.
"You...will never...force me...You have to...convince me...by your...actions..." she said and then bit Trueno in the lip lightly.

Laura certainly hit a nerve to spark Trueno up, now he -wanted- to "win" and entered the powerplay. He started to try to exhaust her by continued tickling in between the kissing and the biting. As things heated up, he let her go only to chase her down again. He clearly didn't want to let her take any kind of control, and while he didn't push against her to a "hurting point", he certainly used as much force as necessary to stay "in charge".
"Trueno, please, stop torturing me with tickling, okay? Are you sure that man can convince woman that he is true hombre with tickling, or he has to do something else?" she protested again, waiting if Trueno will finally stop with it. Then she could see the fire in his eyes but she was not sure if it is passion or anger or both. He kept his pace, throwing or rolling her around in the huge bed just to catch her again and then "caressing" her with bitey kisses, but keeping her in place where he wanted. In one of the moments when Trueno was holding Laura in strong embrace and playing with her body, she whispered him to his ear.
"You proved you are man so far, now prove me you are true hombre," she said provocatively and bit Trueno lighty to the shoulder. Trueno moan-grunted a bit, then turned her around so they were facing each other. While planting his one hand firmly around her throat.
"Esta loca chica, desperta a la rabia y fuego?" he grinded out in between his teeth and then planted a firm, drowning kiss on her mouth. Then suddenly...

SMACK! It´s sound appeared in the room when Laura recieved a solid enough slap on her cheek. Not "beating one" but still a slap. After that Trueno stopped the kissing and opened his eyes to see Laura´s reaction. She looked at him very surprised in first moment, then caught "that hand" quickly and her face got little signs of anger.
"What the hell was that?!" she asked with angry voice.
Trueno realized instantly that this was not what Laura expected. He let her go, recoiling to a safe distance for her. He looked quite angry too, though.
"What was what...I mean...perdon, I didn't want...madre mio dios...mierda!" he said and looked away now angry and ashamed. Then rolled to the end of the bed where he sat up. "Mierda...this is not what I wanted..." added.
Laura rolled to other part of the bed, sat and covered with blanket quickly. Then she looked at him.
"Trueno, this is what you will do when a woman tell you in bed to prove that you are true hombre?" she asked sharply. "This is what Corsair mean by being true hombre? Beat a woman?!" added reproachfully.
He put his head into his hands.
"Does it matter? But sí...when asked to show dominace you, do so no matter if señor or señorita..." he answered and then stood up and started to looking for his stuff, "listen...my perdon, I should have known better...I wasn't looking for this either...it is not..." he continued speaking while started to dress up, now with pants and shoes and when looked to Laura, he seemed to be calm but still little shamed and angry, "this was not what I am looking for...I...it is...well, it is what I know and I don't want. My perdon, I shamed myself today," he finished his attempt to say what happened.
"No matter if it´s señor or señorita?! You are kidding me, right?!" she said loudly and sharply. "And what do you mean by 'this is not what you are looking for'? What are you talking about?!"
Trueno continued to search his stuff, finding a belt somewhere.
"What do you think is the reason I am here? I am looking for a señorita outside of the Empire? I have more then enough powerplay and power demonstrations in my life...do you think I look for these here? With you? In your bed? Nada...I don't! And sí...I know how to demonstrate dominace in and out of bed, and Cretian señoritas do exactly the same...but I have no taste for this in my private life. Now...I better get going," he said very calm, wearing an emotionless mask.
"Yes, you should," Laura answered with less angry, more neutral tone.
His face expresion didn't change much, but his head dropped. Not much caring about his stuff anymore, he faced Laura one last time.
"Perdon Laura, perdon..." he breathed with a heavy voice and quite silently. Then turned and walked to the door, through which he disappeared. The corridor was only slightly lit and as soon as Trueno´s silhouette was gone, the doors closed and Laura remained alone in now quiet suite.

She fell back to the bad, looked above and started to curse in her head but also thinking what the hell just happened and where was the mistake. Or better, where she did the mistake.
"Okay, this is madness. I have enough of this!" she finally mumbled to herself, jumped out of the bed and started packing of her things.

Trueno went to his crew grumpy. Not much later, he got brutally drunk and then joined the fighting competitions until he fell over dead sleeping.

*****

Trueno woke up around midday, still angry with himself. He took a bit of time to grumble and think what to do next. During that, the delivery of clothes that Laura chose yesterday in the shops arrived. He absent mindedly organized them to be loaded into his ship, suffering from hangover and regret. But he also remembered to organize visit of some of his hermanos for that Liberty golden boy that appeared yesterday at doors of Laura´s suite to send him a "message". Then left the hangar and headed straight to Laura´s suite again where arrived shortly before half past two in the afternoon. He looked "battered", wearing the same suit and pants from yesterday stained with some soil now and a small tear on the side. Other than that, he wore a lose and used shirt and a pilot jacket, obviously not made for wearing around the Hawaii. He also had some scratches and bruises here and there, despite nothing serious.

He knocked on the door. After around thirty seconds, they opened and Laura stood in the doorway, wearing blue housecoat with logo of Hawaii luxury liner. Trueno looked surprised in first moment as if he wasn't even sure the door would open or if Laura was still there.
"Oh...erm...buenos días...I...I...wanted to speak with you. Will you listen?" he stammered, looking at her uncertainly and battered, waiting how she will react.
"Hola...I´m glad you...came. Sure, come in," she said nervously with attempt to smile and went back in the suite, letting Trueno to enter. "I...I wanted to speak with you as well," she added quite quietly.
He followed her in, taking care to not enter her "personal zone".
"I...I wanted to formally apologize. I know...justifications are not making...things...undone...but no matter what..." he stopped for a moment, having desperate face and trying to emphasis the core of what he want to say, "I mean...we were speaking about...mass murdering psychopathic...Corsairs...and...and...well, no matter what, I don´t want you to believe that I am like this. It is a lame justification and sí, I should have known much better then to contest you...as it seems against both our wills. I am sorry!"

Laura looked at him unsure and stayed like this for few seconds.
"Apology accepted. Can you...hug me now, por favor?" she said quietly.
Trueno looked now unsure too, with this reaction. He looked in Laura´s eyes, trying to see if this is only an evil trick or not. But in the end, he went closer to her... But he somehow couldn't go full hug at first so he did the infamous "hover-hug" for a long seconds. Then he realized this is probably not what she ment or wanted and hugged her properly, leaning his head over her shoulders. Laura could notice that he smells like a mixture of wet soil, sweat and alcohol...well, as his look promised. She also felt he is nervous as he tried to "dry swallow" and his hands were twitchy-nervous. Trueno on the other hand could feel - after he made right hug, that Laura snuggled to him strongly. He smelt quite strongly her roses perfume, as she probably used him just before she opened the door. After few moments, she moved her head to his chest, letting him to embrace her completely.
"Perdon...perdon mi...it won't happen again," he repeated, resting his head on her shoulders.
"Eh...I´m sorry Trueno, I know it was in fact my fault..." she whispered.
He took a deep breath.
"Nada...and you know it. I did what I did...and I should have used my head instead of my hands..."
"Maybe. But I went too far than I should. It was...eh, I not usually behave like I was yesterday. I just didn´t want to...dissappoint you. So because I expected you will like it this way, I said what I said and behaved like I behaved."
Hungover gears grinding in Trueno´s head were almost audible.
"What? Er...you..." he stopped for a moment and now Laura could feel his stomach churn and twist, "...we...we both...like did what we...like thought? Like expected? And none like we...wantttttt...uaaargh..." he finally stopped his babbling with white face and obviously forcing his jaw to stay closed, looking in panic where the bathroom is hidden in the suite. Then he stormed in that direction...and barely reached the toilet. It couldn´t be more obvious that he quite overdid it last night.
"How romantic..." Laura thought ironically and just discreetly closed the door to the bathroom. Then sat in the chair at the big table in the main room and waited until Trueno came back.

It took about fifteen minutes until he returned from the bathroom. He was still quite pale, his head and the upper part of his torso was wet as he somehow tried to refresh himself. He moved through the suite, looking at Laura and got over to her. Half a metre away he stopped, with a sudden realization:
"I...errr..my perdon..." said and paused a bit, then went on, "...hmmm...I need a shower, right? And some...proper clothes...and...breakfast," summed up and stared down to the floor, realizing that this was about hundred percent not the best thing to need in such moments.
But Laura smiled at him a little.
"You seems you need it. You can use mine. Shower in this suite is great, it even has massage stream jets. Of course if you want. Clothes topic is worse, there is only another bathrobe, if you don´t want my clothes. But I recommend start with this..." she carefully hand over small box to Trueno. "Made by Cryer for quick recovery from too much drinks. Just put one fizzy pill in the glass of water," she commented it, waiting for Trueno´s reaction.
He nodded thankfully, opened the box, took two pills out, shrugged and then simply ate them. After that he tried to concentrate. Clothes. Smelly. Dirty. SMELLY! Ok...
"Ahm...did I leave my iNeuralNet communicator here? I...I didn't have it with me...this morning," Trueno asked and had in mind try to hug Laura again, already stretching his arms...but that let him to rethink this plan and lowered his arms again. "I will look for it...after the shower, sí?"
"It should be with rest of your things that you left here then..." Laura said and pointed to other side of the room, where all things were neatly arranged on small table, "but it will not run away during you shower..." she added with smile.
"Run away? No...no...but I better get out of these..." he nodded to her with a smile between his headache jolts. Then moved back to the batroom, peeled himself out of clothes and headed straight to the shower.

After around fifteen minutes, Trueno exited the shower, starting to look a tad fresher now and at least clean again. He found the second bathrobe and slipped in, then restarted his search for Laura and his stuff.
Laura chuckled and tried to control herself when he returned, but moment later failed and burst out laughing.
"Sorry Trueno, but Corsair in a bathrobe...I never thought I will see anything like that. This is almost stuff for blackmailing, if I will take your photo now," she smiled at him.
He didn't see that coming. Eyes wide he looked down on himself - yes, that was one fluffy bathrobe - and then back to Laura to see if she has anything even remotely looking like a camera.
"You have to be nice to me forever from now, or I will tell it to men and women of your crew," she continued teasing, now also pretending serious face.
"Uaauaaaaaa!!! Dios mio! I need clothes or I will be blackmailed into despair here! Give me that photo!"
"I didn´t take any, I´m not so cruel," she smiled at him.
"Pew...you got me here my dear!" he looked reliefed, more to the fact that there is joking than anything else.
"Bueno now...my restoration is...almost done - let me get my iNeuralNet so I can get me something to wear over here..." he moved to the pile of his stuff, rummaging through it until he found what he was looking for.
"Em...did you have breakfast already? Shall we order some? Or are you not hungry? We can go out for...well, probably for lunch, too?!"
"Food is already here..." Laura pointed to the big table where she was sitting.

Trueno had finally time and enough attention ability to notice what is on it. On distant part, there was half empty bottle of wine and also one empty small bottle from minibar with label "SCRA finest export vodka". On other part, there were metal boxes which are used for transporting ordered food to suites aboard the liner. As they were closed, it was hard to estimate if they are full or empty. On the last part where Laura was sitting, there was her PDA and few papers with some notes. PDA was connected to small portable holo projector so she had a "monitor screen" there.
"Ah...oh! You...you have been busy while I was in the shower? I didn't even hear the door ring!" he said and moved behind Laura´s seat in order to hug her. "Madre mio...we are loco...let's be loco with a full belly, sí?" added and tried to use his position to see what is on the "monitor" of her PDA. He saw some kind of list of smelter companies from planet New Tokyo which was showing how much basic alloy they have ready in stock. For currently one, "Mitsushima Smelter Company" which now had 85 000 cargo units in stock, there was opened message window with unfinished message:
"Greetings again, I would like to ask if is possible to transport all your stock of basic alloy (85 000 CU) to New Tokyo space elevator loading area in two days. Our company is interested to buy and load it all to our trains as soon as possible. The payment will be send as usually to your_"
Then Trueno also quickly checked top paper of her notes on the table. There was list with some numbers and calculations of hard to guess what, but one part was more understandable. There was some kind of list of commodities and names:
basic alloy - me
high-temp alloy - me/Sebastian
indumaterials - me/Sebastian
robotics - Danny
silver - Danny
supercons - Danny

But Laura obviously didn´t care much if he see over her shoulder what she does and continued talk about food.
"Heh, I´m not so caring how it looks like, I ordered that food for myself shortly before you came. In the list there was small, medium, large or extra large portion. I ordered large because I was quite hungry, but what arrived is enough food for two people at least. I can´t imagine how extra large portion must look like," she explained while enjoying the hug and also Trueno´s fresh, after shower smell.
"Oh...I didn´t notice it before. Well, I guess I will try to eat some, sí? If it is for...for two," Trueno opened his embrace and moved to the table, scanning what food is available there. He found in the boxes few slices of ham and cheese with bread, fresh vegetable salad, fresh fruit salad, really big steak and huge portion of grilled spiced potatoes. Amount of food was really enough for two men. But for start, he chose to stay with simple bread.
"Perdon to ask...but...you work? On vacation?" he asked then.
"Yes, I am, got message from base in the morning. I just need to order some load to ensure it will be ready when I will return to the base and then can be delivered quickly there. That is problem if you need to order huge amount of some commodity - you can´t stop at the orbit of planet and then order one hundred thousand cargo units of basic alloy," Laura answered, looking at Trueno´s scanning of the food. "Also, I didn´t sleep much so I wanted to kill some time in some useful way," she added little thoughtfully, scratching her head.
"Ah...ok...I see...seems like business doesn't let off both of us, sí? By the way, the clothes you picked were perfectamente! They came this morning. Gracias for that!"
"Sí, we have this in common. And gracias, I hope it will be hot stuff for trade," Laura smiled

Trueno scooped some more bread and some cheese, starting to nibble in small bites to not enrage his stomach
"So...do you want to talk about what happened yesterday? Or better leave it to rest?" he asked then.
Her smile faded away a little.
"I...I think we should..." she said, turned PDA to sleep mode and moved closer to food boxes and Trueno. He looked as if waiting for Laura to say something. A hint of uncertainty was in his eyes while he nibbled crust of his bread.
"Well, I don´t know how to start so... First thing - as I said, all what I done and said was...I did it because I thought you will like it this way as...as a Corsair. But it seems from what you said before you left that it was not good choice, right?" she said slowly and carefully while stirring the fruit salat with spoon but without eating it.
Switching to nibble his lips instead of bread, Trueno mumbled answer:
"Well...you see...it is not easy, sí? I mean...one does behave like...one is expected...and...as you know...err, you are the...well, the first guapa that is not a Corsair who I...shared the bed with, sí? So...ahem...let's put it like this - strength and dominance is a important part in a Corsairs life, extending into many things, sí? And my brain obviously failed at doing what would have been right in that situation...what I wanted...but...well, the lever was switched to a 'competition' and not to...what I actually wanted...sí? To state it properly...Laura, I...I am tired of pushing all day every day! I...was hoping to find something...well, where I don't have to! And...maybe it is naive...but sí...I was thinking a...hmm...a...delicate señorita from the houses...with a bit less experience in bulying, bloodshed and warfare...might put me at ease...sí?"

Laura looked at him, thinking for few seconds.
"I really understand. I will not do this again. I even didn´t really want to. As I said, it was just because I was afraid you will be dissapointed that things don´t have enough...fuego, as you say, with me," she said and started to stirr salad to opposite direction, still not eating it.
"Oh...OH! Oh..." he reacted and hopped over to Laura with his chair, putting a hand on her shoulder and then going on, "well...I mean...if you have no problema with it...can we be...'boring'? Like...you know...like lovers do behave in the houses and such? That would be really exciting!"
She smiled at him.
"You are first man who wants me to be 'boring'. I mean, I am deeply romantic person...so I love...well... 'boring' things like talking to each other...and dinners...and walks...and long kissings...and such..." Laura closed her eyes and touched Trueno´s forehead with her own.
This "impact" made Trueno twitch as his head was not ready for touching yet. But he tried to take it like a man though.
"It sounds perfectamente peacefull and non hectic...we should try that!"
"It should be very easy for me. But Trueno...one last thing..." Laura straightened up, opened eyes and looked in Trueno´s, talking with serious tone, "...just a...warning. Never ever again touch me in such a way like you did yesterday in the end. If you will ever repeat it, you will never see me again. Sí?!"

After taking a deep breath, Trueno drew Laura closer so he can lean a bit on her.
"Bueno. I promise! To be honest, I was halfway sure you wouldn't want to see me at all today... I...I was afraid," he said and then slowly returned to nibble on his bread.
"Well, in first moments after you left, I really wanted to get out of here immediately. But then I started to think about it more and...okay, usually there is no excuse for 'this' and I´m done with any man who can do it. But I feel...in this situation I feel that guilt that it happened is partially on my side as well and it whole was bad coincidence. So I decided to forget it, just for once."
"As I said...I did what I did, nada excuses or putting guilt on you, a Corsario is responsible for what he does or does not do. And I would never raise my hand in cold...ah...forget what I wanted to say. It doesn't matter. What matters is - I won't do it again, by my honor...and I hope that is good enough for you," he looked a bit uncertainly in Laura´s direction. "But now...tell me, how do we get excitingly boring?" he tried to finish return to "that event" and change topic.
"We can go to walk in the bathrobes for example..." Laura chuckled, "...but okay, something what will not hurt your reputation. So...in the evening, there is that concert of that violinist if you remember. About rest of the afternoon...I don´t know when is that meeting that you said you have. Anyway, I will finally eat something now," Laura said and cut off slice of steak and then put it in the mouth.
"Sí, I remember the concierto and I will try to get there in time, sí? My meeting is at eight in the evening and I need to be there a few minutes earlier so I can prepare properly. Except that - I am all yours, bueno? Maybe we need to stretch our legs a bit? To get the circulation back running? You might be a bit more experienced what...err...'nomal' folks do all day. But...hmm...other than that, I will have to order me some clothes to this suite, no matter what!" he looked again at his bathrobe.

Laura started to think while eating steak and potatoes.
"Well, we already went shopping...we were looking on star view board...we were on gala dinner..." she was summing it up loud while chewing. "I like swimming for example, and there is some waterworld and also some swimming pools, but it is little complicated when you are there with two dragons between all other people, especially now when I know how much groups of people think bad about it," Laura shrugged and continued thinking.
Trueno pondered this suggestion, his expression hinting that he might not be too sure about it.
"Swimming? Like in...water...swimming? Or like jaccuzy 'swimming'?" he tried to consider it, then realized that her problem lies elsewhere. "Dragons...hm...hm...ahem...well...security is easily providable while...while you are here. And...ah...well, Blood Dragons actually don't come here and 'other' Kusarians which could have a problema with 'dragons' might be very easy to convinced of your innocence as long as I am around. The other option is...well, simply try and see if there is a small swimming thingy for rent. It is your vacation...you...you should do what you want!"
"Well, then this can be option, if you want circulation back running. Of course it depends on if you...ehm...can swim," Laura asked while she was tasting spoon of vegetable salad.
Trying to look as innocent as possible, Trueno tried a bit of cheese.
"Of course, sí, sí! Very fine! Just let me call the service for a new suit and some swimwear, bueno?" he fumbled for his iNeuralNet. "Do you need some too? Or shall we look for them live?"
"No, I brought to Hawaii my own which I bought on planet Honshu earlier. I´m quite regularly there in last few months and there are some nice beaches and no dangerous animals like...sharks," Laura smiled.
"Regularly and no...sharks?! Ah, bueno. So what should we get? If I remember correctly, they have big swimming area with slides and a beach...some...waterfall thingies, jaccuzies...whatnot...so there is quite some choice for you!"

While Laura took time to think, Trueno made a call to the local suit vendor, placing an order on the exact same suit he already had, asking for it to be delivered, complete with new socks, underwear and shirt. After some convincing, the vendor also agreed on getting a fitting shorts for him as well.
"Bueno, clothes are on the way. Soon, I will be halfway presentable again!" he informed and while searching for some fruit around the breakfast, got his iNeuralNet phone out again, gesturing in Laura´s direction:
"I think we can start soon, I will just get mi hermanos to watch our...backs...bueno?"
He started the phone call, speaking in very rough and thickly accented spanglish, almost incomprehensibly. What Laura got from it was that there is a problem which is not resolved.
While Trueno was on phone, Laura turned off the portable holo projector and was shortly typing directly in the PDA. It was quite quickly so before Trueno finished the call, she started to choose clothes.
With his head shaking, he then ended the call again.
"Madre mio! Oh, perdon...everything will be fine, we are ready whenever you are plus whenever my pants arrive here!" Trueno explained and then glimpsing an orange, he eagerly peeled it, looking at Laura if the planning is acceptable.
"So you called your hermanos to watch...on my back, hm?" she asked mischievously but without stopping to choose clothes. "Any problem? You sounded like there is something bad," added then.
"Eh...you said you wanted to have no problemas with anyone...mi familia can guarantee that, sí? I don't suspect anything will happen...but as my life tells - better safe than sorry," he said and then rubbed back of his head. "Trouble? Ah...well, actually you don't want to know this kind of loco crap. You will probably see it sooner than later though."

After about five or ten minutes, the door rang. Trueno went to the door-camera to check, then let the page enter. He had a suit-sack in his arm and a small box. Trueno lay in the suit on the next best sofa and gave the errand-boy a scornful look for staring at his bathrobe. Then opened the little box and unfolded...a turquise/white/pink beach-short with a floral pattern. He desperately looked at Laura and his eyes formed a "is THIS what people wear?!" question. Laura again burst out laughing.
"Well, it is an option, of course," she said after few moments, still laughing.
"Out!" Trueno shouted and gestured to the errand-boy, not looking overly happy. "Dios mio...I will look like a Libertonian tourist...like an idioto in color!"
"You know, men usually use only monochromatic trunks...and...usually without flowers...but if you can swim in it, I don´t see a problem," Laura explained between chuckles.
"Ai ai ai..." Trueno still could not believe it and shook with his head while he got his suit out of the sack and started "properly" dressing. Laura could hear things like "Libertonian parrot" or "floating garden" mumbled by him here and there in between.
Just at the moment when Trueno finished buttoning his shirt and started to fumble to get the cuffs in place, the door rang again.
"Well, that was much quicker than I expected!" he commented it, yet still checked the door-camera. After that, Laura noticed that he made facepalm and took a deep breath.
"Puta madre, how did I deserve this?!" she heard his words before he opened the door again.

What was obvious after he opened the door was that the light from outside was almost blocked off and a huge shape entered inside the suite. Laura could hear a coarse, smoky voice:
"Hola hermano, what are you looking at, hm? You look bad, Truels."
Then Laura saw "her" - a woman at least two heads taller than Trueno himself and quite equally steroid pumped as his two brothers, dressed in a loose fitting cargo pants and a muscle shirt. She also wore excessive golden jewelry -everywhere-, and tattoos and scars almost form a pattern over the skin everywhere Laura could see. Her face looked rough and beaten, her hair was braided in cornrows. It could be easy to mistake her for a man in the thirties.
Big woman stepped inside the suite and just started to stare at the walls. But with this first impression, Laura almost didn't notice the tiny figure sneaking out behind "the giant". A little girl, skinny enough to be anorexic, carried the "swimming equipment" of both. She looked like a child around twelve, though her small frame and skeleton like appearance may lie. She had curious darting eyes though and the first thing she does upon spotting Trueno was bowing in front of him to greet:
"Buenos días mucho appreciades Señor Benitez, at your service."
Trueno nodded approvingly to the little girl what caused her to make a big wide smile. Then he turned to the woman.
"Alicia...dios mio - what the hell is she doing here?" he asked and "she" indicated to be the little girl.
Not really uneased by Trueno, "Alicia" responded jovially:
"Ah, hermano...your orders - our duty, sí? Don't be so stiff! You wanted ´manos without any excessive insignia or at least hidable one. Whom did you expect, hm? La chica fits perfectly..."
Trueno facepalmed again, then looked for Laura´s reaction.
She had surprised look but after few moments realized what is probably going on here.
"Erm...hola," she greeted unsure and waved by hand.
Trueno´s eyes tried to tell "I am sorry", then he spoke.
"Now...it seems it can't be 'helped' - let me introduce our...compañeros for this afternoon. This is Alicia Benitez, madre of three, first capitano of my...security team and wife of mi hermano Tazo," he said and after this formal introduction, Alicia took a small nod in Laura´s direction.
"Buenos, guapa!" she greeted Laura too.
After soundly breathing out, Trueno continued.
"And this...this is Catalina," he added and small girl made a big courtesy.
"Buenos días Señora, it is a pleasure to meet you!" girl said.
"Buenos días!" Laura said, but then hesitated for a moment, realizing that she can´t continue much in Corsair language and has to speak in general english again with her Bretonian accent, what made her nervous. "Nice to...meet you...I´m...Laura."
Trueno looked back at her.
"Well, with formalities cleared, we can get going after all, bueno?"
"Okay...I will just...dress up...and I will be ready...in a minute..." Laura answered still little unsure and started to move towards the bathroom with clothes in the hand, looking questioningly at Trueno.
He closed in to her, whispering in her ear:
"Perdon...those chicas...they will to their job even if it is only one soldato, sí? I...might have not selected crewmen upon swimsuit-presentability..." he said.
"You should warn me that...more of your crew will come," Laura whispered back, "but you already have your punishment, when you were seen firstly in bathrobe and then there will be those Libertonian tourist trunks..." Laura said with smile but still maliciously and went to the bathroom. From the back she could hear a silent squeaky voice of little Catalina:
"Look, look Ali...there...this one is big! Will we swim with those? Can I sit on one? And look, look...the full food table!"

After around five minutes, Laura returned from the bathroom in in t-shirt, trousers and jacket, holding small bag in her hand.

She went to the table, grabbed her PDA and put it in the bag.
"Okay, we probably...can go?" said with unsure voice.
"Perfectamente!" Trueno whooped and offered his arm to her to lead the way. That two Corsairs went ahead and climbed into one of the two small buggies - obviously THEY brought two of them.
"Don't worry, they will behave perfectly later on, you won't notice them..." Trueno whispered to Laura.
"Okay, if you say so. Just...I know you said that they trust you and you trust them and so on...but I still feel nervous speaking Bretonian in front of them, not to mention that they will see... my back in the swimming pool," she answered while taking his arm.
"Oh! No worries, they are perfectly instructed and know what to do and what not to do. Well, aside from Alicia having nada manners and both having no fluent Bretonian," Trueno smiled at her, "it is familia!" added as if this would explain everything.

They came out of the suite and Trueno took the driving seat of Laura´s and his buggy and they followed the other for some minutes.
"So...she is your...sister?" Laura asked after they started moving, still not completely understanding how the things are set.
Trueno laughed a bit.
"It is difficult. I mean...by your...standards, she is not, as we are not really related other than being the wife of my brother Tazo. But as we are both Benitez, she is in fact my 'sister'...mi hermana, as well. Bueno?"
"Sure, I understand Benitez 'family' concept, I meant original meaning of that word. So she is wife of your brother...okay. And what about Catalina? Perdon mi, but she looks like ten or twelve years old. What does she do?"
"Ah, just ignore her - she is the most recent addition, I picked her up in the streets of Europa just a month ago. Bloody young, but bueno reactions...and while she can't read, she is not estúpido. Trying to make a proper gunner out her maybe...but for now...cleaning and watching is all she does," he explained. "I would have prefered to have mi hermanos around me too - but they would draw hard to hide attention...heh, your tattoos are...nada in comparison," added, sounding as if he wants to excuse.
"Nothing personal Trueno, but Alicia is not very inconspicuous as well. But...how old is Catalina exactly?"
He looked like he honestly has no clue.
"To be honest...I never asked, she never told...I mean... she's just a street orchid, I simply needed another hand on board...and she more or less accidentally ended with us. Well, after I saw her doing some coin in a hat tricks and poaching some hombres, I simply asked her if she wants to eat every day...things went from there and she never did any harm."
"Sí, sí, okay then," Laura answered while they passed by signs which showed that the pool and spa area are not too far away. Then thought for a moment about her last words, but more to the language she used.
"To another topic - just came to my mind...when you said you are looking for change when you are out of Corsair life...like...with me... so do you want me to use my little knowledge of Corsarian language...or you will be more glad if will speak Bretonian only?"
Just after that they bend into the parking lot. Trueno shrugged.
"Honestly speaking - do it how you prefer it...it is cute to see how you pick it up, but you don't have to change the way to speak to please me, sí? I mean...shouldn't I try to get my Bretonian out of the closet? Or my Kusarian? Be however you are, I like it, sí?" he said and helped Laura out of the cart. Their "bodyguards" were already waiting here.

They all stood up in front of the entrance where was a big map, picturing the pool area. After the changing rooms, it opened up to an artificial beach, complete with a beach bar. As the pool developed, there was a pseudo rock-cliff area with some caves and waterfalls. On the other side it was very jagged to make up small canyons in order to probably make the area bigger than it actually was - to the deep side of the pool it came to the ship hull and at least on the pictures it looked like there is a glass wall, similar to the one in the sea suite.

After entering inside, at the reception they got beach and regular towels as well as their personal change and locker room. While Alicia just took a short bored peek in Trueno´s one before she moved to her own, Catalina seemed to take her job much more serious, darting into Laura´s room, jumping up and down while looking for possible "dangers". After a minute, she gestured to Laura to come in. She made no move at all to leave. After few moments when was obvious how really seriously Catalina wants to take her job, Laura spoke.
"Erm...if everything is okay, you should stand on guard outside, in front of door..." she said carefully.
"Nada! How could I know if you are ok in there?! What will the others say if I didn't do it right? Please, Señora!" Catalina answered.
Laura realized that this will not be so easy.
"But you can´t guard me properly inside. What if anybody will come in that time and...shoot us both through the door, hm? That is the reason why you should be outside. And you will know that I´m ok inside because I will speak with you all the time. Bueno?" Laura tried to be smart.
The girl looked confused - neither did she expect to be rebuffed nor had any proper idea of what to do now. Finally she did what kids do - her face reddened, eyes wet and voice became no loner so cheerfull.
"Thr...through...the door? Who? What did you do?" she asked and looked squeamishly at Laura as if now standing outside the door might be a problem now. Still she fumbled around untill she was out of her shirt and pants - she already wore quite regular kids bathing suit underneath. Then, after some rumaging through her stuff, she found a small neck-pocket and to Laura´s surprise put in it with shaky fingers a small, but obviously real lasergun. Pressing her lips together and trying to quench her wet eyes.
"I...I...I am ready...for protecting the door...Se...se...señora!" she whimpered but it seemed that she is a bit scared of going out now.
Laura in her thought punched with head to the door. Badly played apparently. She still went. But after entered, Catalina realized she will have to go out now and a tear somehow found its way out of her eyes. That shocked her even more - she literally jumped in the air trying to wipe everything away as quickly as possible, smearing more tears around. She wanted to get out of this situation and with shaking spiny arms tried to move past Laura, stopping to grab for her leg. Then she looked up to Laura, still shaking, with big wet eyes.
"P...plea...please...please don't tell el...el...Elder Tr...True..." she stammered but after last two "words", her widened and became almost as big as her head, all colour gone instantly.
"Ah...no...no no no...NO! I didn't say elder...no no...noooo!!!" she got more or less a crying breakdown and formed a little bony ball in front of Laura´s feet, trying to hold them so she can't move away. "No...don't tell I told...no no no no...I don't want to go...please!!! Señora...I do anything, just don't tell!!!" the small sobbing bundle continued to plead, very scared of being kicked out for "telling".
Laura tried to remember all advices about children that she had anywhere in the head as the situation seemed to be "critical".
"Shhhh, shhh," said and stroke Catalina on the hair, "bueno, don´t worry, I will not tell anything, bueno? So, let´s go in together, what will you say?"
Catalina was still shaking, but didn't refuse. She stayed on the floor and rolled to the side so the door were closable again. Then creeped into a corner, crying with her legs pulled to her chest, head hidden in between.
"Ma...ma...madre mio...please don't tell I...I...failed...*sniff*...I...I tried...to do it bueno...*sniff*...and now...I broke...the ruuuuuules...*sniff*...*sniff*..."

Laura closed the door and sat to the floor to have same eye level with Catalina, still trying to stroke her hair.
"Sweetheart, nothing happened, bueno? Can you keep secret?"
Catalina didn't seem to really get her point but answered:
"Anything...anything...I won´t tell! I never wanted to tell!!!" she looked as if she will hear very dangerous secrets in an instant...maybe it looked a bit as if she tried to close her ears.
"Don´t be afraid, sweetheart. What I wanted to tell you is that I can keep secret. So everything what we were talking about now, we can keep it as our secret and don´t tell it to anybody, including Trueno. What will you say to this?"
"You...you...won't tell? I don't have to go back?! I promise I won't tell!!!" little girl said and while she was still sniffing and shaking, she rapidly hugged Laura. "Gr...gr...gracias Señora!!!"
Laura hugged her too.
"It is okay, sweetheart, everything is our secret. And you can call me Laura if you want, sí? You can trust me, sí? Can I trust you?" she asked carefully.
Catalina eagerly nodded, wiping some tears in the effort.
"I prom...I promise I will keep secrets...I...I am a Corsair! I have...I have honor...maybe only little..." she looked sad after said last three words, "...I...I try to get more...but I promise! Sí...promise...Señorita Laura!"
"Bueno, so we are friends now. But...why you should have only little honour?"
Catalina got big questioning eyes.
"I...I am...little..." she said and looked down, a bit sad, and started reciting: "I have no familia to borrow me honor, I am not a señorita...I am a child, I earned no honor doing my duty," she explained and last parts made her sob again, yet she still continued: "But...but...the eld...aaaahh! I mean Señor Benitez said...that if I be bueno in my duties and live to be a señorita and pass the test...he will make me a hermana...a real hermana! And with familia...I...I...I will be...not hungry...and...and...somebody!"
"Listen to me carefully Catalina. Doesn´t matter how big or small are you. Because the size of your honour is in your heart," Laura said without realizing difference of honor from house point of view and Corsair one, and touched Catalina with palm on the chest. "Okay? Only your actions prove how big is your honour. Remember that. Anyway, can you tell me what test you have to pass?" she asked carefully and tried to take off her jacket.

Catalina looked like she doesn't believe a word about what Laura said about honor, but she sure knew about the test. She started to recite again and sounded as if this information is relative freshly given to her and she is obviously very proud of knowing it.
"To be a real Corsair and to gain honor one has to do the rite of passing - a superbig festival with thousands of children! I painted my Legionnaire there in order to scare away the Nomads and the stinking Outcasts. I have to fly scary so they can't see I have no guns. Also I have to scream and drink rum, they don't like that. Then I have to find an artifact in the Maldava cloud and I have to get it before my hull is eaten by radiation, beause radiation also eats the paint away. After I return I will become señorita and a full citizen, ready to gain true honor!" she said and her big eyes were telling that she doesn't know sure for hundred percent what all of that probably means. Yet she continued:
"And then...then...Señor Benitez said, there will be more testing to join the familia, but he didn't tell...he said...that I should just train to fly a scary Legionnaire!"
"So...you can fly a Legionnaire?" Laura asked and put down the t-shirt, keeping her back to other side so Catalina could not see it.
But little girl looked insecure now.
"N...no? They give you instructions while painting!" she answered and started to look closely at Laura while changing. "Señorita Laura! You look healthy - do you eat every day? Do you have many bebitos already? You have no scars...are you a good pirate?" Catalina asked, obviously impressed by look of Laura´s body.
Laura started to feel sadness about all of what she was hearing from this girl and life in Corsairs world.
"Sí, I eat...erm...almost every day. And I´m...I´m trader you know, I´m selling or buying things and earn money so I can buy food," Laura lied a little and also tried to avoid answer about children, knowing it will look strange that she currently doesn´t have any.
"A...a trader! But...but the others are never taken to liners!" Catalina looked confused. "The others found when they were in the Titans?"

Laura decided to change the topic. While changing her bra for upper part of her swimsuit, she continued to speak more quietly.
"Before, in front of door, you said you broke some rule or rules. What did you mean?"
"I am not allowed to be impolite to you. I must protect or shoot everyone who hurts you. I may not stare at your back. I may not annoy you with stupid talking. I may not talk about Señor Benitez. I must help wherever I can!" Catalina named them, but obviously was not glad of speaking about them.
"Interesting rules and it seems you are keeping them. They are made by señor Benitez - I mean, Trueno?"
"Alicia said I should do that...she also said if I do...I may go into the water, too! I think she is right- she never lies! But...but I think I talk too much...I don't want them to be angry with me, sí?"
"Sí, but you are not talking too much. I´m glad we can talk. I like talk," Laura said while putting down trousers. "Tell me, what life is like on a ship with señor Trueno and Alicia and others. Is it dangerous?"
Catalina shook her head.
"No...it is super! No one as ever robbed me or beaten me! I can sleep in a bunk there, too! And if I clean properly I am allowed to go visit stations with them. Stations are dangerous! A Junker wanted to buy me for some Maltese or something on one! He didn't look nice - Alicia smacked him!" she described and continued, but started to look unsure a bit. "Sometimes there is alerta roja, then I have to get into a turret with Carlos... He even let me shoot from time to time! And if we shoot big ships, everyone screams yala yala and everyone has to take care to not fall over when the ship pokes the other. And then all yell yala yala again and run into the other ship! But they never take me there, I have to stay in the turret. Then, when the soldatos return, everyone has to carry mucho stuff, sometimes we take passengers with us so they can visit Cadiz or Fes, though they don't like it. But I don't like them - I have to share my food with them and they are loud and don't let me sleep. Sometimes one of the soldatos gets hurt...there is a lot of cursing then...but One-legged Pepe says Señor Benitez sends them to the doctore instead of the Omega sawbones like others do...it sounds yucky. But most of the time no one gets hurt and everyone is happy and I can get some small things if I hit with shooting...I get a share!" little girl finished her description of what was obviously Corsair pirate ship.

Laura tried to pretend that she listen to Catalina like this is just common chit chat while changing clothes to swimsuit, but in fact, listened carefully to every word. She put towel around her hips to change bottom part of the swimsuit while she continued with talking in "speaking with children" tone.
"Wow, that sounds interesting. And who are those passangers that have to go with you to visit Cadiz or Fes? I mean if you recognized it by language for example. Maltese people...or some people from the houses?" Laura asked while changing.
Catalina bit her lips while thinking.
"Um...I think they are from the houses...because they always complain loud while they have nothing to complain about. And they are all healthy and wear funny clothes. Some of them say they are an important person and that they have money...but I think Señor Benitez said that this is why they came on board in the first place..." she said and paused, concentrating to get some more knowledge out of her head. "I have never seen a Maltese. But they are evil - they want to buy children! And they attacked us. That hurt. All the others say that when I see one, I should shoot him so he can't catch me," she continued and noded quickly to emphase that she knows what to do with a Maltese. "They said I will earn honor when I shoot one!" added, beaming proud, but then started to sound a bit more disappointed: "But...but I don't know if I want to meet one now or not..."
"Sí, you are right, Maltese are evil and want to buy children. Well, they want to buy all people who can´t defend themself. But it will be better if you will not meet them, they usually fight without honour and using filthy tricks. Speaking about fights...Have you ever were in the fight? And I saw you have gun, have you ever fired at anybody?"
Catalina´s disappointed face remained.
"No...no Señorita Laura...I haven't. They won't let me even if I try to train to shoot at targets. I am even good at it! Tazo said that I have a better rate than Señor Benitez, but he doesn't let me join anyways. They always say I should hide when they visit other ships...but like that...I will never be honorable..." she said and scratched her head. "Have you ever shot somebody?"

Laura froze for two seconds with feeling like she was shot in this moment. Then she continued with neutral voice.
"You mean if I had to shoot at anybody? Sí, few times, to defend myself. But listen me carefully Catalina," Laura calmed down again and returned to her previous tone, "they are right, ok? Of course you will be honorable one day, but don´t try to haste it. Gunfight is nothing nice and you can get shot. The...elders..." Laura used the word intentionally, "can decide when you are ready. Until they say, follow their advice and hide. Bueno?"
Catalina didn't seem to be overly happy with the prospect of having to wait longer, but Laura saw acceptance too.
"Hmmm...it will take sooo long. Why did you shoot somebody? Did you try to earn honor too?"
"I shot AT somebody because he wanted to hurt me. He was not Maltese but he was evil as well. I was defending myself to keep my honour. But enough talking about shooting, sí? Rather tell me...how señor Trueno behave to you and rest of the crew? Is he nice or rough?"
Catalina made broad smile.
"Hmmm...Señor Benitez is the best! Did I tell you he picked me up in Europa? He gives me rice. Every day! EVERY! And until I am allowed to have pesetos, I can even stay with his...like REAL familia! And they feed me too! I will be as tall as Alicia! And then...then they have to take me with them and make me a soldata! And then I can catch big fish, too! And I will get the most passengers! And I will collect the most food from greedy fat housepeople! I will have more honor than all of them combined!"
"So you will be...elder then?" Laura asked discreetly, "because elders have most honor, right?"
"Sí, I know it exactly, there are those with no honor like me, proper citizens, then the rich familias with the capitanos and soldatos, then there comes the elder of the familia and the elder of the Council!" Catalina nodded and seemed to be proud that knows this.
"It seems you know how the things works. Good for you. And by the way..." Laura changed her voice to even more quiet, "señor Trueno is elder of the familia or even elder of the Council?" she tried to ask question in "only by the way" manner.
Catalina looked a bit uneasy now.
"I have promised not to tell...oh and I told it already...can I tell you?" she gestured Laura to bow down a bit, getting on her toes to be taller. Then she whispered in her ear:
"Don't tell, sí...you...you promised! Señor is a family elder...and Tazo and Alicia say that he has to get older and has to fight more because it brings more honor...because...because...selling stuff for the Empire is not as good as fighting for the Empire, sí?" Catalina explained and returned back down to her feet.
"Sure I will not say anything," Laura whispered, "I trust you and you trust me, we are friends!" she said and stroked Catalina on the head, thinking that they are in the changing room quite for long time. "Now listen to me, if anybody will ask what we were talking about, you will say about Maltese and how much they are evil, about how important is honour for every person, and if you can swim. I will say the same. Do you remember that?"
Catalina nodded hesitantly.
"Hm...sí...sí! But...but I can't swim!"
"Then don´t go into the deep water sweetheart, sí?" Laura said with warning tone.
"Will...will you travel with us? Are you a passenger too? You don't seem to complain all the time!" Catalina then asked.
"No, I will not travel with you as I´m not a passanger. I had meeting there with señor Trueno to discuss some...issues."

That got the kid thinking.
"Do you want to buy the artifacts? Señor always likes to sell those. I think we should keep them and take the stuff instead...so we have double the stuff..."
"Well, we were talking about artifacts as well, señor Trueno even gave me some gifts with them. But selling them is important to have money, you know. But Catalina, I´m curious - how old are you? If I can ask, of course," Laura asked with some respect in the voice.
"So you are an artifact trader too?! You don't look like a Corsair to me!" she looked at Laura carefully and then tipped from her left to right foot and back. "I...I don't know how old I am...I am too young to be a señorita, so I have to eat to grow older and taller!"
"I´m not exactly artifact trader. As I said before, I am trader. And you noticed it bueno, I´m not a Corsair. Sometimes Corsairs trade with people from houses which are not Corsairs, did you hear about that?" Laura looked at Catalina. "And by the way, while you are with señor Trueno, where are your parents? And what they do?"
Girl started to look thoughtfully and sad, it takes a while before she answered.
"I don't know...I almost can't remember madre y padre...when I remember, I remember we made a long trip to a place I didn't know. We took the hoverbus and drove to Europa...I think at some point they cried...then they ran off...I tried to find them, but I was not good at hide and seek, I never found them. I heard that they were hungry like I was too and that I ate too much...but I never ever had a full belly so how could I eat too much?" she said confused and sad.
Laura clenched her hands into fists strongly, trying to keep her feelings under control.
"Don´t worry...señor Trueno will care about you," she whispered and leaned forward to hug Catalina. She could faintly feel that the child appreciated the gesture as she hesitantly leaned against Laura and she could hear a faint sniffing.
"Things will be better, I´m sure," Laura whispered while hugging. "Now...we should return to others, they are waiting for us. Can we go?" she said, trying to keep calm voice.
"Hm...hm..." Catalina mumbled and crawled back to her feet, steadying herself and checking if her gun is still there. Then she packed the big beach bag and stood next to the door.
"I...I am ready to...to protect you, Señorita Laura!"
"Bueno then, I feel safe. Let´s go," Laura said, trying to make smile and opened the door, looking around for Trueno and Alicia.

Outside the door, the corridor stretched a bit further and the walls turned into lava rock. At the end of it, there was a glass door as the main entrance. After Laura and Catalina entered through the door, the first thing they noticed was the warm, somewhat moist air. It smelt a bit salty and a bit fruity and was brightly through the back of the huge hall - there the glassy wall let the suns of Sigma 19 shine through for an original atmosphere. They entered on the "beach" with almost white very fine sand. From where the pool started, artificial cliffs from the same lava stone were erected, here and there can be seen a waterfall too. There was also a small bar, from which could be heard faint music playing. Between some palm like trees, Laura could spot some couches here and there. It seemed like the pool is not made for "masses", but is more designed to suggest one is more on his own than one actually is. At the bar Laura saw Trueno immediately due to his fine outstanding trunks - next to him was Alicia, wearing a very wide and almost see through silken beach dress above her swimsuit. A bit badly hidden, Laura also could spot a big gun like shape pressing through her panties. So far they both didn't see Laura nad Catalina coming.

Laura locked her bag and clothes to the metal box at the side wall of the bar, took the key on the elastic band and gave it on her hand. Then entered the bar and stopped right next to the Trueno and Alicia.
"So can we go to the water?" she asked Trueno. Her voice had strange tone in it, but Trueno didn´t notice that in this moment. After he heard her voice, turned around, smiling broadly, and took a quick glance up and down.

"Dios mio, it worth the waiting - you look beautiful, Laura!" he grinned. "I put my stuff there, there are not many people around here...do you want to drink something?" he gestured then to the bar and to one of the palm trees.
Laura leaned next to him.
"That is good. I...I want go to the water, I can drink later. Will you come with me?" she asked. When Trueno looked at her, he could notice her face is somehow frozen in compare with how she smiled before she went to the changing room.
"Sure!" he answered and offered her a hand. He actually looked quite restored in comparison to the morning. "Vamos a la playa!"
After they went a few metres, Laura could notice neither of the others follow.
"Is everything bueno? I hope little Cata behaved..." Trueno asked.
"Sí, she was nice. Will Alicia look after her? We are in waterworld and she told me that she can´t swim, so it can be dangerous here..." Laura asked with caring voice. Trueno still have feeling that something is wrong.
"Ah, no worries...I think she would be the first Corsario to actually drown...she is not stupido!" he said and wrinkled his forehead a bit, thinking for a second. "Nooow...I get it...she got you with those big eyes, sí? It is all bueno...I am actually very sure now that she is only here because she never saw a pool, sand or anything like that - nor will she too soon again. Bueno?"
Laura just nodded, quickly turned and start moving with very quick walk steps to the edge of the water in part where is possible to jump in. When they arrived there few moments later, she just jumped into the water with arrow jump and then started to swim towards small artificial cave in the cliffs under the waterfall.

Her strokes were quick almost like she is on some national competition and all the time she didn´t look back even a little to check if for example Trueno is following her. He gulped - that was fast...way too fast. Moreover, it has been QUITE a while since he ever swom anywhere. He just hoped the pool is not too deep. Slowly and using the "regular" slow entrance, Trueno moved in the water, trying to see where it is deep and where not. This took about a minute or three. But Laura swam into the deeper part of the water and then dissappeared through the waterfall into the cave. Seeing this, Trueno got an idea. He waded over to the cliff end in the water to be secure if things turn bad. There he started trying his first swim moves. His breastswimming was all messed up and he didn't quite get any rhythm so he had to mix in "doggie-paddles" to stay afloat. This also took time a bit, but he finally "bravely" followed Laura into the cave, arriving there a tad exhausted. After moving through the waterfall, Trueno could feel that water in the cave is not so deep so he can touch the bottom. He also noticed that only one person, which is without any doubt Laura turned with back to him, is here, sitting on some rock at the corner curled up and the sounds that were amplified by cave echo sounded like...probably like a cry.

After entering the cave and finding his footing again, he took some deep breaths, looking for orientation.

When he saw Laura curled up, he was put off a bit.
"What is that? A backflash from yesterday?" he thought and moved over to her, carefully touching her shoulder with his hands shaking her softly.
"Laura...Laura...dios mio...what is it?" asked carefully and waited for her reaction.
She turned her face from her palms to him, and despite her hair and skin were wet, two tiny streams of tears were obvious.
"I´m so sorry Trueno...I´m so sorry for this...but this...I don´t know if I can live with this..." she said quietly with little shaky voice.
But he still couldn't cope with the sudden emotional change.
"Wha...what?"
He got a bit more of a hold of himself, hopping out of the water to sit next to Laura on the stone, trying to lay an arm around her.
"Dios mio Laura, what happened? Is it...is it...yesterday?"
Laura snuggled to Trueno and let him to embrace her.
"Yesterday? What? Oh, not, not at all. I don´t how to say it...you probably will not understand it but...ah, Trueno, tell me this is not true, that this is just a very bad dream. I mean...Catalina...I know what you will say, life is difficult in Omicrons and Omegas, but for god sake, this little girl should not be on your ship and definitely should not carry a gun! She should be playing somewhere with other children of her age. She should have parents and home..." Laura said with very desperate face while tears were streaming down her cheeks.

Trueno slapped himself in his mind.
"You should have sent the girl straight back when she showed up. But too late... What did they talk about? What does Laura know?" were questions running in his head.
"Laura...por favor...easy...sí...relax.... What...I mean calm down first, sí? Look...look...she is doing just fine...I mean...dios...she had the choice between what she has now and what she had before...and trust me...she is mucho mucho better off now..." Trueno said and firmly hugged her.
"I know, Trueno, I know. But I feel so terrible. How can world work like this. I don´t understand it. Maybe for you it is nothing special, but I don´t know if I can live knowing that there are small little girls with laser guns living on Corsair space ships out there, and they are there because it is BETTER choice for othem because otherwise they will be dying from hunger. They are there because THIS is their better life, because THERE they can get food. How can I stop thinking about this, how can I eat my three meals per days knowing this?!" Laura summed up, less crying but still being very distraught.
Trueno took in a deep breath.
"Now...what do you mean by this - she does have a good place with mi hermanos! Her world will be open to achieve anything if she will play her cards right... I mean - two months earlier her mere existence was questionable from a day to day basis... Dios mio!!! Which horror stories did she tell you? I swear by my honor- she is treated very well, no matter what she said!" Trueno said, then searching for explanations. "Look at her...she is still young, maybe she doesn't know how lucky she is...but I did nada bad to her! My own padre treated me worse, yet I still honor him! And she does have proper food...maybe not house food...but who CAN afford that on a daily basis?!" he continued and it seemed that he took it a tad personal.
"Trueno stop, stop talking and listen to me. She didn´t say anything bad about you or living on your ship with your crew. ANY...SINGLE...WORD! She is taking it exactly how you are saying. As her chance to get honour, to get better life and at this moment as a chance to have food to eat. Okay?!" Laura stopped crying as she realized that she had to focus to stop any possible harm for Catalina. "What hurt me on this, is that this should not be happening, okay? Little girl of her age should be with parents or other children, playing somewhere, going to school, having food to eat. I know, this is point of view of person from houses...but you can´t say that it is not true. That is how things SHOULD be. I just could not imagine before that some little girls has to live like that. Because it should not be like this... Do you understand me? What I´m trying to say? Oh...I don´t know if I speak clearly, sorry for that," Laura looked questioningly at Trueno.

Trueno looked relieved at getting explained that he in fact was not denounced at mistreating anyone, but still discomposedly.
"Sí, comprende...it should not be this way, no doubts! Life is harsh and brutal...but sadly, it won't change anytime soon..." he said and now looked honestly saddened as well. "But Laura...there is not much that can be done...and as a Corsario, you get to a point where you have to accept that you might never be more than a water drop on the hot stone...especially when talking about our supply situation. See it this way - maybe I won't live to see the day when things will be better. But Cata might, sí?"
"As I said, I don´t know if I can accept this. It will take some time probably. Maybe it hurt me so much because...ahh...when I asked her about her parents and she told me they let she alone and ran off without a trace...when I saw her sad face...she so much reminded me ME in her age. When I was little girl like her and had food but without any love of parents..." Laura said thoughtfully and closed her eyes for a moment.
"It...it is a bad story she tells, sí - no honor in her famila...and it saddens me to hear...that...familia...wasn't bueno for you too. One has to learn and strife for betterment...to leave a better generación. But...well...I don't want to be rude Laura...and I don't want to hurt you by questioning you on your past...sí?...but if...if you want to talk..." Trueno tried a little to take advantage of the situation to find out more about Laura´s life.
She looked at him.
"This is something a little different, my parents died...well...eh...probably. But her parents left her somewhere without any help...if I understood it well. Do you know what really happened?" she asked.
"Well...I don't know much, it was an ugly story to be honest...no honor in those... But again, they probably tried to survive and saw no other way...ugly...as I said."
"So they left her at someone´s door who started to care about her? Or how it happened that she is now on your ship?"
"Ah...well...as I told you - I was in Europa, strolling around the market, looking for nada particular...and there she was, playing some card and knife tricks with bystanders...and I saw her pocket an item or two," he paused and looked as if he is not sure if he respects or dislikes it. "So I watched her a bit more...and her surroundings too. Thing is - street urchins are organized by some hombres who send them out in the streets to poach, sí? I don't know why I asked her to be honest...maybe it was just because I needed another hand, who knows..." he shrugged, "anyways, I went to her and let her to show me some of her 'tricks'. I wanted to see if she is smart enough to know whom to poach and whom better not," he laughed a bit. "Well, she tried, sí? But as I tried to evade her nimble fingers...I think she sensed the danger...and now she was in trouble...dios mio...what got me back interested in her was the fact that she scanned my back...and she knew mi hermanos were there... Haha, those eyes can go so wide!" Trueno gestured and
Laura smiled. She was hearing the story with interest, apparently calmed down a lot after previous cry. He tugged her to show it gets interesting.
"She knew she had to get out of there...and fast! But she didn't want to let go of what she thought she could still gain...she didn't give up. And suddenly...suddenly she wriggled a bit and was free...running with something in her hand! Now, guess what that chica stole?" Trueno looked at Laura inquiringly.
"What?" she asked curiously and with smile.
"That loco kid stole my orange I bought previously at the market! Not my wallet, not mi pistola, not my jewelry. My freaking orange. There was no question that I could let her get away with that, sí? So we chased her down some alleys...but that kid was wriggling so fast, you couldn't grasp her! But bad luck for her, mi hermanos are a tad faster than me, so we cornered her. And guess what she said?"
"What?"
"She said: 'Señor, we can share, sí?' And in that moment, I had to laugh...dios mio, that kid was fast and had cojones!"

Laura laughed at that.
"She is really sweetheart it seems. I think I can imagine her, standing there, looking at all of you with her big eyes and then saying that," she smiled.
Trueno nodded.
"The thing is - I said: 'Bueno, let's share!' So we four shared my sole orange. And I asked her...like bebito: 'Who are you?' And she was like: 'Señor, I am Catalina and I am hungry - you had pesetos for more, so I let you your chain!' In that moment I wasn't so sure if I should smack her or not...but she had a sharp eye and took what she needed. She was hungry and I bought food for my joy, sí?" Trueno explained and shrugged. "So...I asked if she would like to eat more, and she said sí. I said: 'Then come with me if nada holds you back'. Then it turned out that -someone- held her back and it was not her familia but her hustler! That loco piece of mierda honestly asked me to buy her while I simply wanted to inform him she goes with me now. Tsk, tsk, tsk... And that's how I ended up with one eager little aid," Trueno finished story telling and looked over to Laura to see how she liked it.
"So you took this girl that you never saw before with you to care about her? You...have responsibility for her?" Laura asked with surprised look.
"As I said, it was a weird day and I was a bit thoughtful...but relaxed. And she impressed me...so...why not? She may not be able to read...and she is still little weak to work properly...but it takes some time before those starved bodies gain strength, sí? I mean - she did try as soon as she realized I was not tricking her and there was still rice on the third day. The Nereides was never so clean before...so it is all bueno," he paused and exhaled a long breath, "and admittedly - but quiet about this, sí? - admittedly she is quite enjoyable to have her around. And hermanos accept and like her...so why not, sí? As long as she doesn't fail on her duties, she can stay - as I told her."

Laura snuggled to Trueno.
"Ahh, this is so sweet. I didn´t think that you could...eh, this is unexpected. So touching story. And maybe I know what you mean, she has some spirit in her which is hard to describe but I feel the same about her and I spent with her just few minutes in the changing room."
Trueno laughed.
"She has a Corsair spirit! Otherwise she would be dead by now...but you can't get a real Corsair dead that easy, sí?"
Laura kissed him shortly.
"Sí, I hope. But I still think she should not have a gun. What if she will hurt herself? Or someone else?"
Trueno now didn't look as if he agrees or even understands.
"What do you mean - 'she shouldn't have a gun'? I don't let my crew run around undefended...she has to learn it anyways...and to be honest - she knows how to handle it, sí? She is even rather quick with it as well!"
"I feel bad about this. Despite I somehow understand it," Laura said to Trueno with quite serious look. "I will worry about her. She can be in danger while travelling on your ship, she can be hurt while the ship would be under attack...like last time, when you were sending me message and in the end some fight started there and you were hurt," she looked at Trueno anxiously.
But he gets it even less now.
"Er...? She is here too becasue she got hurt a bit...but...that just happens! Danger is everywhere - better she knows how to get rid of it instead of having to pray that danger spares one...she has a chance here and she knows it. And I am sure she would prefer dying fighting with a full belly over slowly starving in the streets any day...she is Corsair! But no worries - if I can avoid it, I won't try to get any of my crew killed, sí? They all do their duty with honor, never to falter, so I do mine and care for those below me - as expected."
"Ah, I understand what you are saying. But...eh...no, forget it. My mistake that I´m still using some house way of thinking in Corsair world where very different rules and priorities are set," she said, smiled a little and stroke Trueno on the cheek. "So, where were we before?"

Trueno enjoyed the stroke and leaned against Laura´s hands.
"I think...I think you wanted to talk about something else, sí? Ermm...your...your familia, sí?" Trueno tried to return to topic which interested him.
"Really? When? Are you sure? Because...you know, as I said before, I don´t have any," Laura said little confused.
"Hm...but...Laura, everyone has familia. You...you were born somehow, even if you...my perdon...have more ancestors than living familia, sí? I mean, I don't want to push you, as promised - still, you were not born just yesterday...and to know someone bueno...that is not only appreciated in the houses..."
"Well, this is simple but also complicated. But of course you want to know it. That´s okay. Everyone at some point want to know why I don´t have any family, why my real name is not Laura, why I don´t know exactly when and where I was born...so probably time to tell all about that to you," she said and stroked Trueno again. "But that was probably not best way how to start, right? This must sound confusing and weird, sorry for that," she added, looking in Trueno´s eyes.
Trueno looked curiously enough - and questioningly.
"Well...sí, familia is a bit of a Corsairish thing to identify one with...although...eh...maybe I don't need to know who else got to this point with you..." he tried to smile but it didn't come off convincingly though, "...but...I want to know your name...dios mio!"