The Royal Flush

** BEGIN RECORDING **

Personal log, John Doe

Date 82.11.4059

Hador System

"So much has happened these last couple of days, so much has changed. I always thought Eldren would live forever; he'd retire, and I'd take over the business. I guess the business and the ship are both mine, now.

We tracked that bastard Borthal to a watering hole on Hador II, a shithole world in a shithole system. I'd seen the pictures and the vids, but that was the first time I'd seen a Crol in person. The lizard-head was wanted for just about anything you could name - ****, ****, ****, extortion, tresspassing, destruction of property, smuggling, piracy, and one moving violation. There have been times when I've questioned the jobs that Eldren took, but this time it was going to be a pleasure bringing that bastard in.

Everything was executed perfectly; nothing should have went wrong, except that Borthal didn't drop when the first stun bolt hit him, or the next half dozen. I finally dropped him after switching my weapon off stun, but not before he got up to poor Eldren and skewered him on that Crol blade of his.

I'm sorry, Eldren. The payout was just like you said. You could have retired after this one. At least we got him. I'll take care of the ship, I promise. I'll keep her in one piece."

** END RECORDING **

You lean back in your chair and close your eyes as you rub your temples. You're in your quarters, and the glow of the monitor is the only light in here. You take a moment to reflect on your life thus far.

After your last tour with the Commonwealth Marines, you weren't sure what you were going to do with your life until you ran into Eldren Lantel, the notorious bounty hunter. He saw potential in you, and took you under his wing as his apprentice. He taught you all the tricks of the trade, and then some. You had begun making a name for yourself, too. Of course, everything has changed, now. Eldren, your mentor and friend, is dead, killed during what was to be his last hunt.

The money in his account was all left to some woman you've heard plenty about, but never met, on Leptis Prime. His ship - the Royal Flush, a Class A Armored Transport - is yours, as well as everything on board. It's mostly weapons and random pieces of equipment Eldren has collected over the years, but there's also a military-grade Neurosuit that the Militia had better not find out that you have. Fortunately, Eldren legally named you as the inheritor of his ship, so your ownership of his former property extends beyond frontier law.

Most importantly, though, are the two clones aboard the ship.

There's Kalis - an attractive female human clone with long, blonde hair (usually tied up in a bun), blue eyes, and an athletic figure with a fair complexion. She stands six feet tall with nice handful-sized B cup breasts and a tight, firm ass that you've often fantasized about. She's a Combat Clone, which is highly illegal within the Commonwealth. You would have loved to have brought her with you on that last hunt, but Eldren wanted a fighter to stay and watch the ship on such a dangerous world. Even though she is a clone with limited emotional allowances, you're certain that Eldren's **** has hit her pretty hard. You know that Eldren had sex with Kalis regularly, which was forbidden to you although you were allowed to grope and fondle. Now, she belongs to you.

There's also Vel - absolutely stunning, and more human than any clone you've seen. Also a human female, Vel has short, black hair, brown eyes, and slightly tanned skin. She stands a little under five and a half feet tall - her body is toned, yet soft. She has lovely C cup breasts and the tightest pussy you've ever felt, both of which you've enjoyed many times. Vel is an Operations Clone adept in most ship functions with a secondary programming in pleasure. She is your "personal assistant" - Eldren's gift to you.

You are currently docked at the starport on Hador II, as dangerous and lawless a world as any in the Outlands. With the payout from that last bounty and your existing savings, you have enough money to live comfortably for a while, although retirement is still beyond your reach.

Stepping out of your quarters and into the brightly-lit corridor, you look around as you stretch your arms.