Chapter 63: Pirate base

Adam was at one end of a corridor and it was messy.

Trash lay across the floor mixed in with random components that looked like they belonged to devices Adam had no idea about.

[Celebrityhunter69 (Earth): I guess pirates don't clean up their trash.]

[Superhearofangirl (Earth): Maybe they should get them a momma pirate to teach them how to be civilized.]

[Handsome3horns (Vinox 2): When have you ever heard of a civilized pirate?]

[Superhearofangirl (Earth): Fair point.]

Adam proceeded down the corridor while avoiding the piles of trash until he reached the door at the other end and passed through after opening it.

On the other side was some sort of chaotic market. It was a large room that had all sorts of different types of stores cramped closely together inside while randomly dressed pirates roamed around looking at the different stores.

There were the normal food and drink stores you saw at most markets, along with clothing, accessories and other essential stores.

Then there were the not so normal weapons stores, armour stores, equipment stores, ship upgrade stores that sold weapons, shields and any other type of ship upgrade both legal and illegal. Caged animal stores that had a variety of animals Adam had never seen before along with several stores that seemed to be selling people.

These people were scantily dressed and had strange collars around their necks that gave off a red glow.

[Gunlovergirl (Earth): Fuck are they openly selling people as slaves?]

[Prestigious3horns (Vinox 2): Unfortunately it would appear so.]

[Celebrityhunter69 (Earth): This is awful.]

[Justiceistruth: (Earth): What are those collars around their necks?]

[Beinglittleisnotadisadvantage (Strathorp 7): Slave collars, they work by proximity. If the slave moves too far away from a designated location they receive an electric shock that increases in intensity the further away they move until it renders them unconscious. Also the one selling the slaves most likely has a remote control that can deliver the electric shock whenever they wish, worst of all they have a kill switch. If they use that the slave collar suddenly tightens around the slaves neck until their head comes off.]

[Superhearofangirl (Earth): …]

[Noobkiller9000 (Earth): Fuck.]

[Whostolemyduck (Earth): Is that even legal?]

[DeverinianLordMalacoss (Deverinian 9): Depends where you are. The universal senate often holds votes regarding universal slavery with many trying to get it banned, the issue is that many of the younger and weaker planets and races make a lot of money from slavery and thus do not want it banned so the motion never gets passed. So while the majority of the older and more powerful races look down on and have banned slavery in their territories it does still exist.]

[Tessisdabest (Imperial Down): The Terran imperial family outlawed slavery many decades ago, it's appalling to see it happening in Terran space.]

[Prestigious3horns (Vinox 2): It's not surprising pirates will always operate a slave business since it's so profitable, the only way to stop them is to wipe out all the pirates which I'm afraid will never happen.]

Adam strolled through the chaotic market place while occasionally looking at one or two products that piqued his interest though he didn't buy anything.

Eventually he reached one edge of the large room and found a large bar set up against the wall with many pirates happily drinking and laughing inside.

Noticing an access panel on the wall at the edge of the bar Adam proceeded inside and sat himself down on the very end stall.

"Haven't seen you before, what's ya poison?" The bartender said as he approached Adam.

"I just docked and am in need of some repairs after a run in with TISF." Adam said before adding, "Just give me whatever's popular here."

"The TISF? How can that be? The Imperial Down just left the galaxy to return to Terrana 5." The bartender asked suspiciously as a few nearby patrons listened in on their conversation.

"Don't I know it, if they didn't suddenly have to jump into FTL for some reason I would be dead. I'm lucky to be alive." 

"When did this happen friend?" The bartender asked as he poured Adam a drink and placed it before him.

"About a week ago, not far from here. I was in the middle of a battle with some of the Imperial Downs fighters after they discovered me transporting some shall we say questionable merchandise. My shields were down, my comms were offline and they had already knocked out my FTL drive along with most of my weapons. I tell you I thought I was almost dead when all of a sudden the fighters turned around and returned to the Imperial Down before it jumped into FTL heading for the edge of Terran space." 

"Must have been when they received the distress call about Diva Lorelie being attacked." The bartender replied.

"What?" Adam asked in fake amazement as he was about to take a swig of his drink.

"No surprise you haven't heard if your comm system was offline and couldn't pick up the news networks. Some client hired the boss to try to kidnap Diva Lorelie and so the boss sent out three ships. Unfortunately they never returned and Diva Lorelie is now being transported back to Terrana five aboard the Imperial Down." The bartender explained.

"Fuck, who would want pirates to kidnap Diva Lorelie? I mean I get that she is stunning with a great body but who would trust us to not damage the merchandise and return a fine piece of meat like that?" Adam asked in fake surprise.

[OfficialLorelie (Imperial Down): While I appreciate the comment about being stunning with a great body, I'm not sure how I feel about being compared to a 'fine piece of meat.' Hehehe 🤭]

[1000yearsofdeath (Earth): Oh shit the streamers in trouble. Someone's sleeping on the sofa tonight. Kekeke]

[Beczontop (Imperial Down): Careful 1000yearsofdeath. What you're implying is that the streamer is dating Lorelie, if her billions of fans find out then you might really die 1000 times. 😏]

[1000yearsofdeath (Earth): …]

[OfficialLorelie (Imperial Down): 🤭]

"Only the boss knows that, but apparently they were willing to pay handsomely for it, however since the job failed and we can no longer touch her the employer is trying to get their money back." The bartender replied.

"Heh, good luck with that." Adam scoffed.

"I know right, speaking of money you better have the credits so pay up, and no I don't accept credit." The bartender said pointing to a small circular patch within the bar top that was in front of every stool.

Adam frowned before waving his hand over the circular patch causing it to ding and go green for a moment.

While Adam was wearing his anti-gravity armour his unibands connection functions operated through the armour of his hand.

"That's a nice set of armour you got there." The bartender said after raising an eyebrow and turning to serve the other customers.

[[Connecting to base network.]]

[[Connection established, hacking network.]]

"I guess I didn't need the access point." Adam mumbled as he took a sip of his drink which tasted like crap though he forced himself to swallow it before placing it back on the bar top and not touching it again.

[[Hacking complete.]]

[[Access to all files and security feeds established, downloading now.]]

[Noobkiller9000 (Earth): WTF, I thought that AI or whatever was only good at hacking Earth's technology because of how basic it is?]

[Prestigious3horns (Vinox 2): I also thought the same.]

[Beinglittleisnotadisadvantage (Strathorp 7): The pirates network probably has crap security software, I mean they are pirates after all.]

[Prestigious3horns (Vinox 2): Makes sense.]

[[Download complete, Objectives two and three complete.]]

Adam got up from the bar and walked out as the bartender shot him a look before returning to his other customers.

"Why only objectives two and three?" Adam mumbled as he merged back into the crowd of pirates traversing the market section.

[[Security footage of the pirate boss's office shows a console that does not appear to be connected to the main base network, I surmise that the information about who the pirates informer is and the client that hired them to kidnap Diva Lorelie is on that console.]]

"It seems that the boss at least is not completely stupid to leave all the confidential stuff on a network with crap security." 

"Which way to the boss's office?"

[[Uploading optimal route to your HUD minimap.]]

Adam's HUD minimap enlarged slightly as it showed the most optimal route which he started to follow as he moved through the crowd of pirates.

As he approached one corner of the large room Adam saw a door with a pair of guards standing in front of it. He needed to go through that door in order to access the stairs that led to the highest floor where the boss's room was.

"I'm going to need an alternate route." Adam mumbled.

[Handsome3horns (Vinox 2): Coward.]

[Superior4horns (Vinox 3): You idiot he's on a stealth op. The idea is not to get caught.]

[Handsome3horns (Vinox 2): Nothing wrong with a straight up fight.]

[Superhearofangirl (Earth): There is when the lives of innocent captives that are being raped and sold as slaves are on the line you stupid bastard.]

[1000yearsofdeath (Earth): Ouch burn. Kekeke.]

[Superior4horns (Vinox 3): You tell him girl.]