A Pirate's Tale: The Only Solution Is Retribution Read Online Free PDF Page B

another.”
    “And you are the one to make them pay for their crimes?”
    “Sometimes.  Most of the time, I’m forced to ignore them.”
    “Why?”
    “Look no further than your own company.  I believe more than two hundred Round Table Guards were just killed and someone in your company was behind it.  But if Romanov Industries was shut down, what impact would that have on the economy of Romania?”
    “It would devastate the economy there and on more than a hundred other planets that manufacture our products.  Romanov Industries pretty much owns Romania.  More than eighty percent of the population works for it in one capacity or another.”
    “That has to be figured in to anything to bring criminals to justice.”
    “But the Government could just have the perpetrators brought to justice.”
    “There are high priced lawyers that will make that process take longer than the perpetrator might live.  If the perpetrator is powerful enough, he will never be connected to the crimes being committed; he will insulate himself and it will be the underlings that are ultimately punished.”
    “So you’re just a modern day vigilante?”
    “No, vigilantes operate outside the system.  If they’re caught, they face the punishment for their crimes.  I operate within the system.”
    “Why are there only ten of you allowed in the galaxy at any one time?’
    “Actually, the most I’ve ever heard of being operational are six.  More than ten would be too large a risk to take.”
    “What?”
    Leo sighed, “Finding someone capable of handling the responsibility along with the requisite talents is not easily done.  Most are found when they’re arrested for breaking the law in a rather dramatic fashion.”
    “Is that how you were found?”
    Leo smiled, “Sort of.  However, that is not something I’m going to discuss.”
    “You mentioned talents.  What do you mean by that?”
    “Most Purple Cards Holders pay to be physically modified to some extent and can do things most other humans or aliens can’t.”  He suddenly stood up and looked to the north, “There is a drone moving our way and we need to get out of the open.”  Leo took her hand and pulled her up from the bench and quickly ran to the restaurant behind them.  He paused inside the front door as he pushed Ana behind him and looked up.  Ana looked over his shoulder and saw a drone come flying quickly down the middle of the street about a hundred feet above it.  It made no sound as it passed.
    “How did you know that was coming?”
    Leo looked at her with a smile, “Talent.”  He stepped outside and looked around. He turned south and Ana hustled to stay with him.  They arrived at a train station and Leo pulled her in the transport and paid the fare with tokens.  She looked at him with raised eyebrows and he shrugged, “Hey, it’s the best buy in transportation.  Tokens are half the price of normal fares.”  They rode the train for an hour and then transferred to another train going back the way they came.  “What are you doing?” Ana asked.
    “The drone saw something and there were a number of agents moving into the area of town we were in.”  Ana’s fear was obvious and Leo shook his head, “I don’t think it saw us directly but it did see something of interest.  The area should be clear by now.”
    “Are we just going to run around town?”
    “No, we’ll be leaving within a few hours.  Just relax and try to see if you can come up with anyone that might want you dead.”
    Ana sat back on the seat and sighed.  She tried to think of who it might be but came up empty.  She glanced at Leo and saw he was asleep.  Who was this man?
    • • •
    They arrived back at the station and Leo’s eyes opened immediately.  He took her hand and led her out into the street.  Ana looked at the restaurant where they had briefly hidden and saw a large group of Proctors gathered at the entrance.  Leo pulled her arm and she stumbled after him.