"Enough."
Xing said. "No more questions. You
know enough to go out and do well and I have a meeting with Jin halfway across
the galaxy. If you really need to know 'why', then go out and find the answer
yourself."
Kamla was usually
Xing's favorite sibling but they'd been spending almost every waking moment
together for well over a month. Xing had intended for Kamla's training as a new
Capsuleer to mirror his own two weeks of training at the hands of their
brother, Jin. But, he had not anticipated his sister's insatiable desire to
learn everything.
"I was
wondering how long you'd let me push you around." Kamla said with a smile.
"Consider it payback for that 'lesson' you gave me on immortality."
Just as Jin had
forced Xing to experience the destruction of his ship and pod, Xing had forced
Kamla to experience the same. Her reaction, though, had been a bit different
than Xing's. For Kamla, the first time waking up in a fresh clone had been more
of an eye-opening realization of possibilities and less of a lesson in
immortality. She'd immediately made the connection that waking up in a clone
isn't just for emergencies. She realized it can be used for instant travel as
well through assigning her clone to a different medical facility then
self-destructing in her pod.
Xing sighed. "I
should have known. Kam, I'm starting to wonder why Jin didn't refer you to be a
Capsuleer before the rest of the family."
"That's
easy," she said. "He wanted a head start."
Xing laughed but
there was some truth to that. The alPatars were a competitive brood and Kamla
was indisputably the smartest of the bunch.
"I was going to
have you stay here and work on your dogfighting skills but now I think you should
come with me when I meet with Jin. We'll be making plans for the family and I
think your insights could be useful." Xing said.
"Interesting. I
wonder what Jin has in mind." Kamla mused.
"I think he
wants the family to start working toward a common goal now that most of us have
some experience under our belts and some ISK in our wallets." Xing
explained.
"It's about time the alPatars are known outside a few Gallentean systems," Kamla
replied. "Where are we meeting?"
"We'll be flying to Badivefi—no 'pod-jumping' this time.
We need to assemble our resources."
"Badivefi!? Jin
sure didn't try to find a place that was central, did he? Let's say we make
these 30 jumps more interesting and place a wager on who gets there
first?"
"Ha! Not a
chance, Kam. I'll be bringing my retriever so you'd be hard pressed to find a
slower ship."
"Fine, I'll
make sure we don't start without you." Kamla said as she started toward
her hangar.
"What ship will
you be bringing?"
"And ruin the
surprise? I don't think so!" Kamla said with a grin.
As Kamla left Xing started to draw
up the cargo list for the trip ahead. Flexibility was the key as he wasn't
really sure what Jin had in mind.
"Takara, can
you come here please?" Xing said into the coms unit.
There'd been
different ideas thrown around but they had never really settled on what sort of venture the
alPatars should pursue.
I might as well bring asteroid and ice mining
equipment. I'll pack a couple flights of drones as well but I expect I can get
replacements wherever we end up…
"'Hi, Xing. You
called?" Takara asked as she entered Xing's Captain's quarters.
"Yes. I'll be
leaving for Badivefi shortly. Now that Kamla is up to speed I'll be leaving
Clellinon entirely and moving my personal headquarters out to Amarr. I'd like
you to head up operations there."
Takara had started
as Xing's Chief Engineer during his first days as a Capsuleer. Since then,
she'd shown an aptitude for management that far exceeded her formidable
engineering abilities. Takara had even suggested some plays in the local markets
that turned out to be quite successful.
Takara smiled.
"That would be wonderful, sir. Do you have any specific requests once I'm
in Amarr?"
"Use your best
judgment. I've already set up a contract with Red Frog Freight to move all of
our assets. As you've told me multiple times, the markets in Amarr offer quite
a bit more opportunity than these here in Clellinon. I'd like you to start investing
the ISK we have. Try to keep half our ISK liquid so we can react to emergencies
but otherwise use your best judgment."
Takara's face lit up
and Xing could tell she was already losing herself in the possibilities.
"One last
thing; Amita will also be in Badivefi for our meeting but I expect she'll
immediately head back to Jita whatever we decide. Work with her whenever you
can. I expect that having an ally in another major trade system will be
advantageous for the both of you."
"Of course.
Anything else?"
"That's
everything. It may be a while before I see you again but I trust you
completely. If there's anything you need from me, just ask."
They embraced for a
moment before Takara left for the Station Warehouses. The realization suddenly struck Xing that Takara was the
first person outside of the family that had gained his trust. Well, most of his
trust—he wasn't a fool.
Before his final
departure he double checked the security for Entertainment 7wenty—a holding
corporation he'd set up before Takara was given access to his personal
financials. It was easy to give her free reign over his personal assets and ISK
when the majority of both were inaccessible to her. He felt a bit guilty for
the deception but all trust was earned and this test was an opportunity for
Takara to prove herself.
Xing made a final
sweep of his quarters before heading to his ship. But instead of entering his pod, he pinged
Kamla on coms, "Kamla; one million ISK if you're still up for a
wager."
"Are you
serious?" She asked.
"Yes, and no
self-destructing your pod just to jump the distance." Xing said.
"What are you
up to? Are you taking a different ship?" Kamla asked warily.
"I'm still
bringing the retriever. Are you in?"
After a moment
Kamla replied, "I'm in."
Xing was sure she
suspected some sort of trick but she couldn't pass up the opportunity. He
chuckled as he contacted Red Frog Freight to move his retriever as well. Once
the contract was set up he contacted the stations Medical Officer.
"Sir? What can
we do for you?"
"I'd like to
jump to a clone I have installed in Badivefi." Xing said.
"Of course,
sir. Let me just verify that everything is ready on their end."
Xing smiled as he
imagined the look on his sister's face as she realized what he'd done.
"Everything
looks to be in order, sir. We can execute the transfer to your Badivefi jump
clone on your mark."
Xing glanced around
the quarters he'd be leaving behind one last time.
"Mark."