Welcome to the Outback

[Leo Vandermolen]

Kal'shebbal was fairly unappealing. The wide open plains and rolling hills held lush farms and livestock, nothing really auspicious to boast about. Or interesting for that matter. Nonetheless, Leo had found his way to the trading hub of the Kathol sector, sitting in a bar, waiting for somebody… somebody he’d never met before… somebody who could offer Leo a lucrative opportunity.

Leo took a seat on the stool at the bar and observed the occupants of this quaint place, pushing back the bar-tenders offer for a drink, drinks could wait for now. Nobody really caught his attention, drinking, laughing and the occasional uproar were nothing new for these people, people who would go about their daily lives, day after day, ignorant to the goings on in the rest of the galaxy. Ignorance is bliss, Leo thought to himself. These people will never do anything extraordinary in their lives, nothing to truly marvel at. Death will come as a welcomed friend to them as they grow old, reflecting on their lives and all their regrets, their missed opportunities. Hopefully today Leo could capitalize on an opportunity that would prove most beneficial in the long-run. Leo decided to take the bar-tenders offer on a drink up and leaned forward, the outcomes of this meeting dancing in his mind.

[member="Bryce Bantam"]

 

[John Shepherd]

Walking in looking around at the bar, full, sighs looking for an open seat he realized everyone was sitting with someone else or in a group, except one. Looking at the man he realized the that the man didn't seem to be drinking much with his first drink only just started, possibly waiting for someone, or an opportunity. Knowing better then to waste someone like that, a man who looked like he could potentially help what the Outback was looking for he decided to walk up to the man and sit down leaning back in the chair looking at the man studying him as he sat down, sitting there. Scratching his beard a little.

"Mind if I sit here? Good, You look like your lonely, only man alone here, looking for a business "partner" or just a normal "partner," because I know some girls that would love a man like you, I can go get one of them, I nice tall brunette with red hair and nice legs, oh she's feisty, or you just want to be alone? But why would you if you came to a bar. Maybe your looking for someone like me to sit down. Please, enlighten me Friend."

 

[Bryce Bantam]

It had been a hard day, which was pretty normal for the outback. Bryce was relaxing in a corner booth with a young Zeltron agent who was helping to "ease" his mind. In fact, he had gotten so wrapped up on the pheromone flirtations he had forgotten why he was there till he heard a familiar thick accent coming from the table next to him. Shepard looked to be trying to find a drinking buddy and was chatting up a man Bryce soon realized was the one he had agreed to meet up with.

"Kark, I'll be right back Layla," Bryce said has he pulled his face from her ample bosom.

Walking over Bryce was still a little love drunk as he headed over and greeted the two.

"Feth where are my karking manners. Shepard this is Mr. Vandermolen. He is here about some work, special work if you get my meaning. Give him the basics and we can talk payment later. Till then you have two it out while I go back to my red woman over there, need anything just whistle, oh and the drinks are on me tonight."

[member="John Shepherd"] | [member="Leo Vandermolen"]

 

[Leo Vandermolen]

"I'm not interested in women, friend." Leo said, his fingers tapping out a rhythmic pattern across the bar. "I was waiting for someone by the name of [member="Bryce Bantam"]. I take it he couldn't get here?" A hint of annoyance briefly flashed upon Leo's face, but he didn't let it bother him too much, Bryce was most likely off attending to important business, being one of the heads of the Outback and all. "You want a drink?" Leo asked, a passing notion, not entirely interested in small talk, it wasn't his forte. As he asked, a tan, well-built man stalked over from the corner or the bar, "Ah, you must be Bryce." Leo stated.

[member="John Shepherd"]

 

[John Shepherd]

[member="Leo Vandermolen"]

"Ah Bryce this is the chump? Not much of a chump in real life, you made him seem like your everyday hire, he has a lot of potential. SO my friend, what exactly do you have planned for your work in the outback. Smuggling, mercing, gun running, resources? Enlighten me, I'd like to know what you have to offer us."

Before saying this he leaned forward on the bar getting serious, his eyes narrowing his muscles flexing, he always was serious when it came to the outback, it was a place they let him call home and he wouldn't let anyone just walk in without some use. His arms now on the table folded as he leans a little in. He raises his eyebrow slightly as if to question this man. He didn't think that the man wanted anything else but to use his skills for some money but he couldn't tell by looking.

 

[Leo Vandermolen]

Leo could tell what John was thinking. He seemed like a man passionate about his career, somebody who truly cared about this operation, watching it grow into fruition. Leo thought carefully about his next words before he spoke, "Freelance. I'll take most jobs if they pay well enough and if they help the Outback in the long-term then it benefits us both. If you're unsure if I'm up to the challenge, I'm sure Bryce did a little research on me before agreeing to this meet, so ask him." Leo said, taking another sip of his whiskey. "So... we come to an agreement?"

[member="John Shepherd"] [member="Bryce Bantam"]

 

[John Shepherd]

Looking at the man he narrowed his eyes as the man looked over at Bryce. This was just John, and him, he stared down the man flexing a little. "Eyes front boy, what he did before this meeting is irrelevant, it's just me talking to you, this is serious and I want you to be serious and be a man, look me in the eyes and don't do anything else, I'm talking to you, your talking to me, that's all you need to know for now. Got me? Good, now moving on. Freelance how? Freelance is a generic term, I want examples, specific jobs that you can perform and weather you can do them or not is not up to you or anyone's research it's up to us. We have particular jobs that require the best of the best, you have to show us that if you want your cut, give 110% with us and we'll make your effort worth wild, understand? We don't need any regulars, no front liners, just men who know what they can do and where they reach their limit, how hard we can push you."

On most days John was your average smuggler, calm cool, witty, but when it came to The Outback, it was the only time you ever saw John as serious as he was then, talking about the group, other then one occasion but he didn't like to talk about that. John thought about what potentially he could do for The Outback, and how the man would respond to his onslaught of questions and rules and expectations. But, he knew that if he didn't root out the tough men from the weaklings then they would be crushed under the men they were fighting against.

[member="Leo Vandermolen"]

 

[Leo Vandermolen]

"Then let me prove it." Leo's eyes narrowed in on the man's features, the scar running down his left eye, mot likely the cause of the gray discoloration. He had been blinded in that eye, Leo didn't really care how, he just kept tabs on the weaknesses and strengths of the people he met, friend or foe. Leo wasn't sure which this man would become. "Give me your toughest job and let me show you how proficient I really am, kark, I'll even do this one for free." The usually smirk he made began creeping across his lips but Leo quickly stopped himself, this was not a time for cockiness, he had to show these people what he was made of. "What do you say?"

[member="John Shepherd"] [member="Bryce Bantam"]

 

[John Shepherd]

At this the man let out a deep chuckle ringing through out the bar bringing eyes his way as he looked at the man. Oh what a perfect thought that came to his head it made him laugh, he knew what he had to make this man do, he knew what would show him how hard this really is, this life isn't easy, and this job wasn't any better. "Tough? You want tough? Mr. Tough guy, need to prove yourself? Fine I'll permit you to prove yourself, I need people to join a group for a mission soon for the Outback, you've just signed yourself up. I'll give you more of the details when it gets more concrete. Got it? Or do you have any questions." He looked at the man while saying this returning to his serious state leaning on the table hands folded and staring him dead in the eyes, he had gone through a lot, and he needed to prove a lot as well, he understood that this man could help the Outback, but I want him to try when he does it, do his best, push him to the very end, whether it was voluntary or for money. The Outback was made up of dedicated people, and he only wanted dedicated people to be in there, where work was productive and there was always work to be done.

[Read [member="Bryce Bantam"] post about the Dom in the OOC section]

[member="Leo Vandermolen"]

 

[Leo Vandermolen]

"That's all the info I needed, I can handle myself." Leo realised that Bryce hadn't said much through this conversation, most likely wanting to see how his partner would interact with potential help.. his partner... Leo realised that he hadn't gotten his name, "I never introduced myself, the names Leo, Leo Vandermolen. I guess we'll be in contact soon." The conversation had been going on for sometime now and the darkness was setting in, the howls of nocturnal animals echoed throughout the area as they came out to play. The light drinkers began clearing out of the bar, leaving only the rable-rousers and the trio as they discussed their business, looks like Leo was about to get his first assignment.

[member="John Shepherd"] [member="Bryce Bantam"]

 

[John Shepherd]

Shepherd looked at him as he finally told him his name, "Leo" Didn't sound like a full proper name, but what could he do? He looked at the man once more, top to bottom. "The names Shepherd, John Shepherd. Get used to seeing me around, I do a lot around the faction and expect to see you working you fair share as well. Do what you have to, make yourself at home and get cozy enough to wait for some info, it might be within the next few days, or even longer, so don't get impatient, we don't like that either." He gave a sly smile as he looked back at the man, the missions that they had been planning for a while now was perfect for this man to show of his skills, he would work along side him. John knew he might of come off as distrustful or that he might have not liked the man, but that wasn't the case at all, he seemed capable and willing to get paid for a cause like this, he just wanted to push him like he did everyone else that he worked with, if they weren't giving it their all then they weren't doing enough for The Outback.

[member="Leo Vandermolen"]

 

[Leo Vandermolen]

Leo stood up from his stool, giving a curt nod to his new acquaintances before turning and walking off, out of the bar. Leo basked in the darkness, feeling at home more in this environment than anywhere else. The chatter of the bar occupants slowly faded away until Leo was greeted with nothing but silence, his old friend. Leo calmly strolled along the dark streets, the transport ship wasn't coming until early tomorrow so Leo had all night to enjoy himself, he could rest later. Breaking into a sprint, Leo scaled the wall of a low building, graciously moving him body in tune with the night. Leo reached the top without breaking a sweat and sat down upon the ledge, looking out at the never-ending abyss of darkness. He stopped holding back that smirk as he examined the populace of this niche little town, How much can I steal tonight he thought to himself. This was the beginning of an interesting relationship...


Thread Closed.