"Yeah, anything I say could be aimed at- Yeah." She shakes her head. "I don't mind being investigated for this, is what I'm saying, but if you don't have an obvious place to start that's valid."

"I guess I could just conjure your personal correspondence but I don't really like doing that."

"I think the usual way is hiring a PI, checking for employment history, criminal history, possible loyalties to inconvenient people or organizations, and then only increasing trust and access level slowly."

"Well, you already know enough to be mightily inconvenient and I think I can pay better than whoever else you're working for."

"Yes. I think the plausible deniability of receiving a much, much better offer from Atriama will cover my departure. I definitely would like you to hire security services though. I don't want to die if someone gets bright ideas."

"Absolutely. Does this universe have any cool personal defense doodads you might like while that's getting sorted out?"

"For personal defense it's mostly escort, support, augmentations. And bullet resistant casual wear. And armored cars. Augs... I already have a biomonitor but there is much more you can add. They take weeks to implant safely though. There are a few smaller but reputable outfits around, mercenary wise. I will do my research and have a pick when you start making money?"

"Thanks. And now I guess I have to figure out how to break into the market."

"Fuel. Go to one of the larger distributors and offer them a tanker full, twelve thousand gallons of fuel ethanol, at a no-questions-please price of ten thousand dollars."

"Oh, that's better than I got for the junk, good thought."

Nod, nod. "Random junk, they have to sort through. Fuel, there are oneshot chem analyzers. Bulk copper wire might be good too. Huge rolls of fiber optic, building materials... All of it less head-scratching and more saleable than mixed junk. There's a lot of stuff the city will buy, but relatively little of it in job lots."

Nod nod. "I left my junk truck lying around to be gutted and stolen but I don't know that I can reasonably do this with a tanker..."

"Hire a driver and buy garage space somewhere? Take over a trash warehouse and put in all new locks and electrics yourself? This is starting to require boots on the ground, though. I'm much more of a corporate face than a ground level commerce one- Me dressed like this with a goon with a gun by my side will make most interference think twice."

"What goes wrong if I go find some goon-looking folks who like being paid in gold?"

"They don't trust you because you're not local. They prefer cash, food, booze, drugs, or gas to gold. They report some of what you're up to to someone else, probably one of the gangs. Someone thinks you're a new gang and decides to resort to violence about that. They steal the stuff you're trying to sell. Someone has debts or violence following them."

"Is there a standard solution for any of this or does it just come with the territory?"

"It kind of comes with a territory. I've never really lived in the outer city, but I work with clients who do sometimes, and that's what I hear. You can work with local fixers to resolve some of this- As long as the money keeps flowing, they don't want to end a good payday."

"Okay. So if I wander in a dubious neighborhood and find somebody whose vibe I like and they agree to work for me in exchange for ramen or whatever, we're in business?"

"Someone whose vibe other people seem to like, too. And we're talking stacks of beer crates and fridge-fuls of food, but that doesn't sound like a bad approach."

"Cool. I will pencil that in to my schedule."

"It's nearing an hour. I can keep going if you want, but it'd be a good break point now. To sum up: Atriama Corp exists and you have the bank info. Don't sell drugs or weapons. We'll handle taxes. You have my contact info and I yours. I'll be looking into space law, I'm confident you're going to be able to pay those billable hours, and stay here for at least another day or so, until you have money in the bank, then be working as a legal and general consultant for you. I need to do some office politics for best results of my leaving anyway. Fuel is the standout product idea. No spikes. Can I have, mm, a Sinzil paraline series heavy coat, neck protector, gloves, pants, and boots? They're bullet-resistant clothes that don't look like armor, very expensive normally. Or is that not specific enough?"

"Should be enough, do they come in colors or anything?"

"I think there's a few variations. Different shades of grey and black, please."

Tasteful monochrome.

They're pretty snappy. Somewhat different style than the power suit she's currently wearing. She looks them over, tugs at one bit to see how it stretches (it mostly doesn't), and smiles. "These will do fine. I should probably stop accumulating stuff to take home for now. Best of luck out there."