Cyberlink Cove

Chapter 1

*FIFTEEN YEARS LATER*

CYBERLINK COVE (SKYHOOK ISLE)-2077

 

Letting herself into the rickety bar after a long day of thieving and plundering a jewelry warehouse, Mina took in the bustling atmosphere. This was the pirate headquarters, an old, wooden bar that had been owned by the Gualterios for generations. It was fittingly named “Smugglers Tavern”. Francesca Gualterio was the current owner.

 

“Francie!” Mina shouted, struggling to be heard over the boisterous crowd.

 

Francie noticed Mina, and gestured towards the back. Francie was a tall, imposing woman with light honey skin, unreadable hazel eyes, and thick, curly brown hair streaked with the sun that fell midway down her back. She was leanly muscular and stand-offish, though she had an air of quiet respect surrounding her. Mina, on the other hand, was more of a peach color with warm chestnut eyes and plentiful, ink-black ringlets that ended right around her shoulder blades. Mina looked fragile, with birdlike bones and a petite structure. She was a chirpy individual, loquacious and always smiling.

 

Mina followed Francie to the kitchen in the back. “What’d you get?” Francie asked her in a hushed tone.

 

“I found some really clever paste jewelry. It had me fooled for a second, so I’m sure it’ll probably fool a ton of the tourists.”

 

Francie nodded with a small smile. “Where’s Jared?” Mina asked.

 

“He went to Reef’s Head for a new shipment. Oh, by the way, that Thomas guy came over today. He offered one thousand credits for the newest batch.”

 

Mina sucked in a breath. Her husband, Jared Wistmore-to put it simply-was a drug dealer, specifically an illegal marijuana dealer. The only reason Mina didn’t dispute his choice in career was the fact they used the illicit drug business to fund pirate operations.

 

Daniel Thomas was a well-known government agent, but for some reason, he was one of the best customers Jared Wistmore had. Mina couldn’t fathom why. Her husband had been doing business with Thomas for years now, and they hadn’t been ratted out yet. Still, Mina had her misgivings.

 

“Francie, do you have any idea why Thomas keeps coming back?” Mina asked her friend.

 

Francie shrugged. “Beats me. I don’t trust him at all, but hey-we’re getting money off him. The irony of it all is hilarious. That fucker is feeding his salary right into our pockets.” she smirked slightly.

 

Mina had to chuckle at that. “Well, I still dunno if this is the best idea. I’ll talk to Jared later, I guess.”

 

“You go on. The others are downstairs. Something’s up with the place on Reef, you’d better go check it out. I’m going out front," she said. With that, Francie turned around and returned to the bar area.

 

The basement of the bar was where all the action happened. This was the unofficial meeting place of the pirates scattered throughout Cyberlink Cove. A few out-dated computers sat in one corner, two refrigerators in another, and crates full of marijuana and alcohol in a third one. Finally, a few cots were pushed into the fourth corner. In the middle of the dimly lit room stood an old mahogany table was so covered with scorch marks, scratches, and stains from unknown substances that it was almost unrecognizable. Around it were a few beat-up wooden chairs.