Star Risk - 01 Star Risk, Ltd Read Online Free PDF

are a gentlebeing as always," Jasmine returned, coming out of his arms. "M'chel, this is Grok. You do not have to use his full name, not ever."
    "Especially since the Basic version of my name is not that close to being correct," the monster said.
    "Delighted," M'chel said, very grateful that the Marines had sent her on more than a few missions to alien cultures, so she was used to nonhumanoids.
    "I got your message," Grok said to Jasmine, "and am only too delighted to offer my assistance."
    "You're not a client," M'chel said.
    "I detect disappointment," Grok said. "No. I am no more than an ex-service person, currently looking for a bit of excitement."
    "Grok was in the Alliance Army for about eight years," Jasmine explained. "He is a specialist in communications, Siglnt, surveillance, and other specialties. He left the service because� you tell them."
    "I suppose I should be ashamed of my tastes," Grok rumbled. "But every now and then I like a good dustup, as I think you call it.
    "My own worlds generally prefer the calm of philosophy, although I maintain philosophy without action is like, forgive me, masturbation without a climax."
    "You don't offend," M'chel said, grinning. "If I were educated, I might agree with you."
    "I met Grok when he was hired as a contract agent for Cerberus," Jasmine said. "The experience was not a good one for him."
    "You speak in understatement. Cerberus not only is a very slow-paying employer, but if matters become serious, as they did in my particular case, they're quite willing to disavow their employees.
    "I might do that myself, being a professional. But I would not lie to my agents in the beginning and tell them I am behind them one hundred percent."
    "Cerberus is always behind their agents," Jasmine said. "Far, far behind, or else ready to give them a push."
    "Now, Jasmine. Learn to put bitterness behind you," Grok said. "Revenge is a dish best eaten cold."
    "Sorry."
    "At the moment," Riss said, "we unfortunately don't have any open assignments."
    "So I was advised. But Jasmine also told me that you might be open to investors."
    "Oh?" M'chel was very casual, considering how little money a soldier would be likely to save. "The company head, Mr. von Baldur, is out at the moment, and you'd have to discuss the matter with him.
    "But I'm a partner as well. Might I inquire as to the amount you might be interested in investing?"
    "Perhaps� half a million credits."
    Again, M'chel swore at her inability to keep a deadpan face.
    "That's a considerable amount," she managed.
    "I am aware of that," Grok said. "And I also expect I should offer an explanation.
    "In addition to my other skills, I consider myself good at what you humans call a game of chance.
    "Quite good, indeed," he said thoughtfully.
    "Half a million," Riss said, in a bit of a daze.
    "Just so," Grok said.
    "I think Mr. Baldur would be very, very interested in you joining us," M'chel said.
    Grok made a noise that Riss took as approval and happiness. Or something like those feelings.
    "Now are our immediate financial woes out of the way?" Jasmine said, grinning.
    "I should think so."
    "Now," King said briskly, "all we need is a job."
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    FIVE � ^ � The man eased open the door stenciled: TRANSKOOTENAY MINING. AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY. He propped the door open, and eased an antigravity ore carrier, about the size of a wheelbarrow, through.
    The ore processing plant was almost wholly automated. The few people Transkootenay needed to run it worked only a "day" shift, since not enough ore was coming in to the asteroid outstation to warrant an around-the-clock crew.
    There was no ore on the belt, but the machinery hummed in quiet readiness.
    The man floated the carrier to the loading bay, and dumped the carrier's cargo, a single boulder, in.
    He muttered at all the extra work he'd gone to, camouflaging the charges inside the boulder, acquiring a genuine mining