Chapter 44: Arms Deal [Requesting monthly tickets, recommendation votes, and follow-up reads]

43. Arms Deal

Tatooine, in a stretch of Gobi desert on the northwestern outskirts of Mos Eisley.

"I've pretty much figured it out." Yuri Orlov skillfully fiddled with the Type 21 assault rifle in his hands. His sunglasses reflected the fierce sunlight of the Tatooine desert, and a cigarette hung from his mouth. "That group of Bosa people in the bar is with Broderick 'Rock.' Yesterday, he was looking everywhere to buy big guns, but no one would sell to him."

"That's right, he's definitely being ostracized by the locals here." Vitaly Orlov was also wearing sunglasses, holding a bottle of green refreshing beverage. "Aren't you worried that after you sell the weapons to him, his enemies will come looking for you too?"

"If his enemies come looking for me, I'll just take the opportunity to chat with them about the price of this M-427 general-purpose machine gun." Yuri took a drag of his cigarette and kicked the T-850 behind him, which was holding a 12.7mm caliber machine gun that was remarkably compact and lightweight.

"I don't think they'll be talking to you about that," Vitaly said, shaking his head.

"Vitaly, Vitaly... that's your problem." Yuri waved his cigarette between two fingers. "Have you ever seen anyone sell weapons to only one side? Sure, they exist, but those people are already in hell. If you only sell to one side, the other side has plenty of reason to kill you. But if you sell to both... hehe..."

"Then both sides have plenty of reason to kill you," Vitaly shot back.

Yuri Orlov's hand jerked, and the cigarette fell onto his pants. He scrambled to shake it off, but a small hole was still burned into his pant leg.

"Fuck you, Vitaly! Now bring that man over to me! Immediately, right now!" Yuri cursed, stepped forward, snatched the drink from Vitaly's hand, and took a large gulp.

"Me? Alone? To find that Bosa?" Vitaly was stunned. "Do you know how long it took me to accept the setting that these weirdos are actually 'people'? And now you want me to go negotiate business alone with those guys who look like upright poodle-lions? Give me a T-850!"

"Are you joking? You're going to take a combat robot to negotiate business? Who would talk to you like that? Listen, just like we used to do, we cooperate—you bring the man, I sell the big guns. For every ten guns, I'll throw in a box of ammo, a ten percent discount for regular customers, and I might even treat him to a drink of this glowing blue stuff. That's it."

"Don't even think about it! Fuck you, Yuri! You're pushing me into a fire pit!"

Yuri sighed, walked over, put his arm around Vitaly's shoulder, and shoved the remaining drink back into his hand. "Listen to me, Vitaly. We boarded this mothership because we wanted a new life, and the Administrator gave us that chance. And now, listen—a war sweeping across the entire galaxy! How many people are in this damn galaxy? Even if only one percent of them are equipped with our weapons, imagine the result! You'll find that everything before this was all fucking bullshit!"

"I know what you mean, but..."

"If we don't move forward, we'll never know the outcome, wouldn't you say, my brother? Brother in arms..."

"Brother in arms..." Vitaly lightly punched Yuri's shoulder. "Fine, fine, I'll go try. But you have to come save me at any moment!"

"No problem."

Vitaly drained the drink in his hand and mustered his courage to walk toward the chaotic shantytown. That group of Bosa people were drinking under a dilapidated tent, cursing loudly in the Bosa language. Everyone around them kept their distance, terrified of catching bad luck and being targeted by these desperate outlaws.

Vitaly approached cautiously, pretending to be harmless, rubbing his hands together as he spoke in clumsy Galactic Standard: "Um, guns! Big guns! I have them!"

"Get the hell away from me, you useless pink monkey! One second later and I'll twist your head off and shove it up Bansa's ass!" a Bosa man with a scarred face snarled.

Vitaly felt like crying, but he steeled himself and continued: "I have guns. Besides me, you can't buy them anywhere else!"

"Are you fucking mocking me?" The scarred leader drew a gleaming scimitar with a *shing* and approached Vitaly. Although the Bosa were shorter than humans, this group clearly lived by the blade, and their aura was terrifying.

Vitaly backed away step by step, continuing, "I'm a gun seller. If you kill me, those guns will... shoot you!"

"Do you really have guns?" the scarred man stared at Vitaly.

"Guns! Lots of guns! As long as you have the money."

"Where?"

"In the outskirts, not far. Follow me."

The scarred man grabbed Vitaly by the collar, pressed the sharp scimitar against his waist, and growled, "Lead the way!"

Behind a rock in the Gobi desert on the outskirts of Mos Eisley, Yuri Orlov watched through binoculars as Vitaly was led toward them by the Bosa men at sword-point. He muttered to himself, "Good job, brother. You! Stay by my side! You, and you, take the sniper rifles and ambush from the flanks!"

Three T-850s nodded and immediately complied.

...

As the group of Bosa men escorted Vitaly over, they saw Yuri Orlov, dressed in a suit and wearing sunglasses, sitting on more than a dozen ammunition crates, with a row of Type 21 assault rifles laid out beside him. A T-850 stood behind him.

"Looks like business has come to the door, haha. Welcome, welcome. My name is Yuri Orlov, just an ordinary merchant." Yuri didn't even stand up; he laughed with his cigarette dangling from his mouth, spreading his arms wide. He didn't spare a single glance at Vitaly.

"These are your guns?" the scarred Bosa man shoved Vitaly.

"That's right. I heard you wanted guns, and it just so happens I have a batch. If you can afford the price, then we can talk." Yuri Orlov tossed away his cigarette butt. "Get that insignificant fellow out of here; let's have a proper talk."

The scarred man yanked Vitaly in front of him, lightly running the scimitar along his body. "So you're saying this guy is just an insignificant minor character? You won't mind if I kill him, then?"

Yuri smiled slightly. "Of course I mind. He delivered my message and took my money; if he dies because of it, it would be very bad luck for me. Since I am a merchant, I naturally wouldn't want you to die after making a deal with me, right? So, if you kill him, I'll feel like there's no point in doing this business."

"Then how about I kill you too?" The scarred man pointed the scimitar at Yuri.

[Easter Egg Chapter Image 1: The Bosa]

[Easter Egg Chapter Image 2: Yuri and his brother]

(End of Chapter)