When free isn't free enough...

[Roth Likonis]

"I can kinda see why they unnerve you..."

"Mammals shouldn't have more than six limbs." Replied Jax somberly. Unbeknownst to him, Val had exited the cockpit to check up on everyone - reaching a hand out, she dragged the tips of her fingers across Jax's neck. "FRELL! IT'S ON ME!" Came the high pitched scream, Jax whirling around and slapping a meaty hand onto his neck, bouncing into walls as he slapped at the non-existant rat.

"It was just Valana, Jax." Said Kaird, deadpan. "But it's nice to know that you're a better engineer than you are a warrior." Rolling his eyes, Kaird holstered his pistol - though not before slapping a fresh power pack into the weapon.

"I served in the Third Besaliskan Army!" Protested Jax, indignant.

"It shows." Said Val, still smirking. Shaking her head, she cocked her head to the side as a clang resonated through the entire ship. "And that would be the docking clamps. We're here, by the way."

"Alright. No more shenanigans." Said Kaird grimly, his mood turning uncharacteristically sour once more. Turning to a small crate to the side of the hallway, Kaird kicked the lid off the container to reveal power packs, a handful of grenades, a few pistols and knives, and a single beat up and rusted sniper blaster rifle. "Take what you need - I know I usually say to gear up in moderation...but we all depend on this job. We need to make a good impression, and be prepared if things go south."

Grunting in affirmation, Jax scooped up a handful of grenades, clipping them to his mechanics suit - Valana followed suit, taking a few knives and power packs, sequestering them away on her utility belt and in the nooks and crannies of her hodge-podge set of armor. Kaird, for his part, seemed to be content with the blaster on his hip, the conspicuous long-knife on his shin, and the durasteel knuckled gloves on his hands.

"Alright...no sudden moves, keep your hands off your weapons...you all know the drill. And Red?" Kaird pointedly looked at Mara then - something that would seem odd, perhaps, given that he hadn't looked the woman in the eye since they had first met. "Keep your head down, and don't mention that your brand new to us or the crew. Don't need people getting...jumpy." Breathing in, Kaird puffed up his cheeks before letting the air out, scratching his head idly as he wracked his brain for anything else that they could do to prepare. "...Any questions?"

[member="Kalyn Shif"]

 

[Lief]

______________________________________________________________​

​

Grizmallt, The Core Worlds // Aboard the Rusty Riot​

Preparing To Leave // With [member="Kaird Galfridian"]​

♫ // Left A Clouded Mind And A Heavy Heart​

But I Was Sure We Could See A New Start​

______________________________________________________________​

Kal could not keep the chuckle from escaping her pursed lips.

The sight of Jax dancing around like the ground was suddenly on fire, flailing his arms in order to slap his own shoulder, was quite unexpected, and at first it had honestly startled her. But seeing it... Just seeing it... She couldn't keep a straight face. In fact, she had no clue how Kaird had been able to remain so serious and decidedly somber throughout the spectacle.

She flashed a grin in Val's direction, already deciding that she liked the woman, just as the ship ground to a halt. How long they'd been in the air for she didn't know, likely not that long, yet all of the spider-rat excitement definitely had her yearning for a little fresh air. Something that was often hard to come by in her kind of life, one which was punctuated throughout by lonely trips through hyperspace where she was forced to suck in recycled air.

Things in the ship turned serious once more, as attentions turned back to the task at hand. A cache of weapons was revealed, top taken off the crate, and Kal eyed up its contents. While she was happy with her trusty blaster, and the blade she still had to fetch from the belly of the spider-rat, she did pick up a couple of extra power packs, stowing them upon her belt, as well as one single grenade. Who knew if or when she'd need that? It wasn't something she'd typically purchase for herself, she wasn't so much a fan of wasting her credits on one-time-use-items unless they happened to be food.

Kal would happily spend all the credits in the world on food. Mostly because she was perpetually hungry.

While Kaird spoke she took the two steps over to the spider-rat and yanked her blade free, wiping it off on the back of her knee before slipping it back into her boot. When the Captain looked directly at her she felt somewhat unnerved, though she managed to keep their gaze locked until the time came that he looked away.

"Got it, Captain," she informed him, making a motion that hinted at her zipping her mouth. While she was usually a talkative character, she could play quiet when necessary. Especially if their getting credits was contingent upon that fact.

 

[Roth Likonis]

"Got it, Captain."

His eyes lingered on the redhead, his gaze suddenly going distant - as if seeing through her. Blinking, he turned to regard Val. "That goes for you too, Val." Said Kaird, jabbing a finger in the Petrusian's direction. "Keep it to a minimum."

"...Me? What did I do?" Asked Val innocently.

"Well..." Began Jax, readjusting the repeating blaster on its sling around his shoulders.

"Stow it." Snapped Kaird. "let's get this over with."

The group made their way to the airlock then, Val looking sideways at Jax, who shrugged ever so slightly. No one could really figure out why Kaird was in such a bad mood. They quickly had other things to worry about. The airlock clunked open, and a gust of wind and sudden light had everyone shielding their eyes. Before them a long walkway extended out from the ship and into the side of a tall needle-like building. They were up in the clouds, the tops of other skyscrapers not even coming close to the height of the building they had docked with. Atmospheric generators and magnetic containment fields maintained oxygen and protected everyone from searing cold - meanwhile, ornamental railing seemed woefully inadequate against the mighty gusts of wind that blustered across the docking pylon, threatening to send anyone foolish enough to cross to plummet to their deaths.

"Please, watch your step!" Came the prim, proper, and unmistakably mechanical voice. It seemed Hazak Yael had sent a silver-plated 3-PO droid out to meet them. "We don't use our docking pylons very often - I must apologize for the lack of atmospheric shielding! So dreadful!"

"A redhead, an old enemy, and now a droid...it's everything I hate in this galaxy in a single place." Muttered Kaird under his breath, the words likely lost on the wind. "Take us to our meeting, droid."

The droid gave its best version of a bow, given its stiff mechanical joints, and turned and trundled off - not swaying in the slightest in the gusts, more than likely due to magnetic grip in its feet. Unsteadily, Kaird, Val, and Jax followed after it, keeping their heads down and watching their footing. More than once, a particularly strong gust blew the group to one side or the other, several times severely enough that Kaird held out his hand, should anyone need to grab it. "Oh me, oh my, how absolutely awful!" All the while, the droid fussed, every now and then pausing to look behind it at the group and their slow progress.

After nearly fifty meters of walkway, the path widened out and flowed into the building proper - a pair of automated durasteel doors grating open to admit the droid and entourage. Gasping for breath, reeling slightly from being battered, Kaird, Val, and Jax all leaned against the wall, regathering themselves, before taking in the interior of the building. All was tinted transparisteel and matte durasteel - glass and metal - with matte stone flooring. It was no frills, no nonsense, and felt very much the sterile and corporate abode that a man of power would construct. Lining the walls every so often, some kind of custom battle droid - a matte gray affair with an integrated blaster in its arm and a singleglowing photo-receptor - stood at attention, unresponsive to the newcomers, though undoubtedly watching their every move. They reminded Kaird, vaguely, of the ancient B2's used during the Clone Wars - if you gave them an overhaul, and made them more menacing. Accompanying them, making rounds in groups of four, were flesh and blood guards; wearing full black armor from head to toe, only the helmets were colored (red, blue, and green respectively) in matte tones, no doubt signifying rank. They were armed with a rifle, a pistol, a stun baton, and two grenades apiece.

"...We'd never make it out of here alive." Breathed Jax quietly to Kaird. "I could take maybe fifteen of them before biting it. You?"

"Twenty-five. Maybe thirty." Replied Kaird grimly, slowly straightening and dusting himself off. "Let's hope it won't come to that."

"Do you see the striations in the metal and glass? That's fiber-mesh reinforcement...this entire building is a military-grade fortress." Said Val, thinly.

"Oh, Mr. Yael takes great pride in his security measures!" Interjected the droid cheerfully. "He does supply armor, shielding, and weapons to the surrounding eight sectors after all!"

"I'm sure he makes a frelling mint, what with all the war going on." Replied Kaird blandly to the droid. Uncomfortably, he seemed to shift back and forth, evidently nervous in the presence of the machine. "Let's get a move on."

[member="Kalyn Shif"]

 

[Lief]

______________________________________________________________​

​

Grizmallt, The Core Worlds // Yael Tower​

Fighting The Wind // With [member="Kaird Galfridian"]​

♫ // Left A Clouded Mind And A Heavy Heart​

But I Was Sure We Could See A New Start​

______________________________________________________________​

Kal could tell, just from the way the others were reacting, that this was most definitely not their Captain's typical behaviour.

Perhaps being a little grumpy or uptight was in his nature, what did she know, but the fact of the matter was he was taking cranky to the next level, killing the mood before it could get very far, and she knew it wasn't just the job talking. He seemed to particularly dislike her, which she didn't fully understand. It wasn't as if they'd ever met before, she hadn't made the best first impression but it was far from the worst, yet the hate was palpable.

Why had he even allowed her to come along with them?

It boggled the mind.

With a soft sigh she checked herself over one last time to make sure she had anything, and then alongside the others she stepped to the airlock and breathed in a wave of ice cold air which pummeled them. It wasn't as cold as it could have been, but it still felt like a slap in the face. Tugging her flightsuit closed, and zipping it all the way up to hide the tank top beneath, she stepped down the ramp and planted her feet firmly on the ground in order to avoid being pushed in all directions.

Not a word was uttered by the girl as the droid greeted them. As promised she kept her mouth zipped, and when the time came to venture across the oh-so-skinny bridge she walked behind the rest of them. She was shielded from some of the wind, though she was still pushed this way and that in small doses.

Naturally, when the ground fattened out, she let out a sigh of relief and sucked in more of that sweet, sweet air.

The building itself was insane. Kal glanced around it with eyes so wide they might fall from her head. Even if she had a hundred thousand lifetimes she felt certain she'd never have enough to own a place like it. She didn't even mind the cold vibes it was putting out there, sterile, clean, sleek.

She heard as the two guys tried to figure out how many of the guards-and-droids they'd be able to take out should things come to a head, though she couldn't really join in. Not just because her mouth was on lockdown, but also because she'd never really analyzed her fighting methods before.

She winged that type of thing, and it hadn't steered her too wrong so far.

 

[Roth Likonis]

Without much ado, the group moved forward after the droid, twisting through the labyrinthine halls of the tower, until they came to a foreboding set of blast doors. With a polite knock from the protocol droid, the doors ground open - the meter thick metal securing untold horrors behind them. Until, finally, they revealed the meeting place on the other side.

"Oh, what fresh hell is this?" Breathed Kaird, taking in the foreign sight.

Crystalline chandeliers hung from the ceiling, tables with starched tablecloths and neatly folded napkins dotted the room, servants went to and fro carrying dishes and trays, serving a thousand different foods from a thousand different worlds. In the corner, a Bith music group played old wooden instruments in classic styles, giving quite an atmosphere of pomp and high society. At the tables - five tables to be precise, four of them occupied - what seem to be freighter captains and accompanying crew sat in different levels of comfort. Three humans with human crews seemed quite at ease, while a Duros captain with a Sullustan first mate and three Nikto crewmen seemed to try and take in all the sights and sounds, as if he was going to be ambushed at any moment. The fifth table, it seemed, was reserved for Kaird and company.

"Welcome, esteemed guests, to Hazak Securities. Please, enjoy your meeting!" Chimed the protocol droid to Kaird's right. "Feel free to keep your weapons - if we wanted you dead, you'd be dead already!" It added, a little too cheerily for Kaird's taste.

"Oh, I'm sure." Replied Kaird dryly, slowly pulling out a seat and sitting down at the empty table. Hesitantly, Jax and Val joined him, looking about nervously.

"Are...are we in danger? What is this?" Muttered Val nervously, looking around at the servants and other freighter crews.

"No danger. Not yet, anyway. Syndicates like to do this; they're classy and cultured up front, until you piss them off...then they're feeding you your own eyeballs and cutting your tongue out." Replied Kaird matter of factly, picking up a menu and glancing over the items. It was all classy stuff, with needless ingredients; what even was Goober fish foam? As a waiter drew near, Kaird snapped the menu shut, addressing the man - a reserved looking human - directly. "Nerf steak, rare, side of hubba chips, and a bottle of Spice Wine." Kaird raised his hand as the waiter opened his mouth to protest. "No...none of that. I don't want any of this fancy crap. I want steak, chips, and booze. Chop chop." The waiter arched his eyebrow, but otherwise gave a slight bow, turning to Jax, Val, and Mara.

"...I want Nerf burgers and hubba chips, in a bourban cream sauce. To go. I want it in your brownest paper bag." Said Jax after a long moment, a wide grin on his face.

"Cheapskate." Muttered Kaird.

"Quite." Muttered the waiter, mistakenly reading into the comment.

"Not that you twit. he's getting out of a bet he made. You better come back with burgers and steak or I'll have your head." Snapped Kaird to the waiter. Sniffing poshly, the waiter simply turned to Val and Mara, arching an eyebrow inquisitively.

"Are...are you insane? I'm not eating anything from here! They could be poisoning us. This entire thing is...is...crazy!" She picked up one of the four forks at her setting, and shook it at Kaird. "Four forks! That's crazy! What are they even for?!"

"From left to right; fish, dinner, salad...and dessert? Typically the dessert fork goes with the dessert spoon at the top of the setting. This may be some human variation, though." Replied Kaird matter of factly. "And if they wanted us dead...there are easier and more direct ways. Why don't you relax and eat?"

The tension, grumpiness, and irritability seemed to be gone from Kaird - replaced by a dry resignation. It was as if he had fought tooth and nail against coming here and being exposed to this type of criminal dealing - and now that he was here, he had simply accepted it. Val, for her part, seemed beside herself - her mouth hanging open at Kaird's suggestion that she relax.

"I...you..." Stuttered Val, grasping for words and finding none.

"Sounds like you've done this before, Cap." Said Jax, patting Val's head gently.

"I have, many times. I used to work for a Syndicate." Said Kaird, his eyes scanning the room as he waited for his food.

That seemd to jar Val and Jax, who both snapped their heads around to look at him. It was, after all, the first time he had ever spoken about his personal life. Seeing their looks, he just shrugged. "You're undoubtedly going to hear about it in our 'meeting,' so there's no use hiding it."

"What...what work did you do, exactly?" Asked Val hesitantly, not exactly knowing how hard to push for answers. She had several million of them, after all.

"The kind of work you don't talk about at dinner tables." Said Kaird, his voice becoming hard. "The kind of work that you have to drink afterwards, so you don't remember it."

The table was quiet at that, Val and Jax eyeing each other, contemplating what to ask next. The moment probably wouldn't last too much longer...the meeting would either start, or the mood would pass.

[member="Kalyn Shif"]

 

[Lief]

______________________________________________________________​

​

Grizmallt, The Core Worlds // Yael Tower​

Playing Mental Wars Over Food // With [member="Kaird Galfridian"]​

♫ // Left A Clouded Mind And A Heavy Heart​

But I Was Sure We Could See A New Start​

______________________________________________________________​

Kal grit her teeth as the view on the other side of the door was revealed to them.

Now it was her turn to become overly, unnecessarily tense. Her back stiffened, shoulders and jaw both locking, as she stared in abstract horror at the space around them.

Nope. Nope. Nope. This was not happening. She could feel the muscles in her neck tightening, threatening to cut off any and all supply of oxygen to her lungs, making her go slightly red in the face, her vision tunneled and a very distinct thudding could be heard in the back of her ears, and felt through her temples. Like the beat of a tribal drum.

Voices spoke around her yet they all seemed to draw into one long whine which in and of itself was disconcerting.

Of course the rest of the crew had already begun to move, and as if directed by some sort of puppet master the girl followed after them. She felt as though she was suspended over her body, watching on from afar as she found her seat and glanced over the menu. None of the words jumped off the page at her, not a single one, and though she was breathing again it was a very superficial action. She still felt as though she wasn't actually getting any air, and her cheeks remained red.

Chatter, more chatter, idle, with purpose, it didn't matter. She fought, hard, to get back into her body, to return to the present rather than lording over them like some spirit in the metaphysical realm. And when the time came for her to make her choice she still hadn't fully regained control, yet she regurgitated one of her usual orders all the same. No doubt much to the dismay of the waiter, who was already going off-script for the rest of the table.

"Just a stew, bantha, and green chooss," she informed him, though even her tone of voice seemed... disjointed.

She didn't want to eat whatever it was that was on offer, she knew that even in her disembodied state, yet she had said it all the same. In complete and utter auto-pilot mode. For all she knew this meant their end, she'd seen it happen before back with Luh, and she had hoped that would be the end of it. Still, her stomach cried out for sustenance, the girl burning through calories like nobody's business. She didn't know how much of a fight she could give against it.

With a heavy intake of air she zoomed back into her own head, seeing from her eyes rather than suspended overtop, yet when she looked once more around the room those rosy cheeks turned distinctly pale. There was no fear within her expression, in fact... There was nothing but generalized apathy as she pushed those memories down, deep down, and continued to subtly glower at the mess she'd gotten herself into.

No, this would not do at all.

 

[Roth Likonis]

Jax and Val were about to open their mouths, when Kaird furrowed his brow. "Hey...Red, you alright?" It could have been overlooked by a casual observer; but to Kaird's keen eyes, it was plain as day - the young woman was obviously distressed. Sweating and flushed, she was quickly turning pale, seemingly distant. Even now, she seemed to collapse into herself, and kinetic communication conveyed a confusing jumble of impressions; dismay, distress, hunger, aversion, denial, and forced apathy. "Stay with us, Red."

The waiter came then, setting down dishes, steak and burgers mainly, along with Red's meal - Kaird paid him no mind, and waved him away when he inquired if their table needed anything further. "Jax, switch with me." Muttered Kaird, switching with the multi-limbed alien, who mumbled under his breath grouchily. Kaird din't pay him any mind, instead sitting down next to Red, taking his steak and several of Jax's burgers along with him. That nagging feeling came again, that feeling of being linked by golden skin, and Kaird paid it a little more attention this time around. He could remember, once, a long time ago when he had been a young child - his father had come home, or rather, had been forced to come home while hiding from the law. Gone for nearly a year and a half, he hadn't said hello to his mother, nor to his son, instead he had stumbled towards the edibles preserver, ripped the door open, and started consuming every single piece of protein he could find. Raw meat, cooked meat, brotha and stock, you name it and his father had eaten it. It was only after his father had eaten that he had greeted his family, and had explained that he had been on the run for nearly a month straight, and hadn't eaten for nearly four days - the resulting mind-numbing hunger forcing him to nearly eat his own weight in protein.

Kaird had kept this in mind every day afterward, but, in the end, Kaird personally had inherited very, very few traits from his father, something the doctors had said was a minor miracle itself. He had a preference for meat, and his wounds healed a *little* faster, but besides this and a Firrerreon sense of independence, he had inherited very little else. This said, Red had slightly golden skin - in the right light anyway - and her vibrant red and copper hair could hide duo-tones...was she perhaps a hybrid like himself? Could she be feeling the species' famed hunger?

Taking his steak knife, he cut a piece of his steak and lifted to his lips, tasting it. After several seconds, long enough to know it was safe to eat, he shoved the steak in front of the woman. "The wind outside was fierce, for now, though, it's at our backs. May it stay at our backs." Said Kaird, seriously, paraphrasing an old Firrerreo proverb and common saying. "You look faint. Eat my steak, Mara, or you're off the crew." Kaird's use of the newcomer's actual name had Jax and Val looking at each other, raising an eyebrow, but Kaird didn't give them time to dwell on it. "And Jax?"

"...Yeah?" Answered Jax, raising the first of a pile of burgers up to his wide reptilian mouth.

"Get your hands off my burgers." Said Kaird, laughing - for the first time since the Cantina. "I thought we had a deal, big guy."

"I...I forgot to order for myself." Replied Jax, looking crestfallen.

"I'm just kidding - I think they made twelve of them just to spite us. You can have half, and we'll call it even. I get all the chips though." Said Kaird, scraping half of Jax's plate onto his own.

Jax happily complied, shoving a bowl of chips towards Kaird - who greedily stuffed as many as he could into his mouth. His boots coming to rest on the table with a thump, Kaird closed his eyes as he bit into the burger; the savory and fatty flavors washing over him like a wave. It had been far, far too long since they had had anything but ration packs. Far too long. "Oh...Gods...that's better than sex, right there." Said Kaird around a mouthful, spraying crumbs everywhere.

Jax snickered, shoving an entire burger into his large alien mouth. "You say that, but I don't think I've ever seen you pursue anyone, Cap."

Val seemed like she was going to protest, but clammed up at the possible mention of the Captain's intimate life. "I mean, not any females, at least." Offered Val, her eyes innocent.

"...Could you two be any more obvious?" Replied Kaird, taking in the pair's curious stares. "I don't kiss and tell, so don't get your hopes up."

"But you like women, right?" Needled Val persistently.

"Nope, I like Hutts in wigs, preferably with lipstick." Said Kaird deadpan, offering a wink at Jax and Red.

Jax snorted, downing another burger, while Val crossed her arms and rolled her eyes, muttering under her breath. The mood had lightened; with Kaird's anxiety and irritability dissipating, it seemed much of Val and Jax's worry had left as well.

[member="Kalyn Shif"]

 

[Lief]

At first it seemed as though she wasn't going to respond when the Captain addressed her and eventually sat down at her side, and truth be told she had not quite returned to a more coherent state of being by that point. Yet familiarity washed over her face when the paraphrased proverb was uttered, and without hesitation she turned her head toward him and furrowed her brows.

"What did you say?" she asked, voice no longer quite so deadpan as it had been when she was ordering her meal, "How do you know that? My mother--" She paused, holding on to that thought, and frowned in a thoughtful fashion. "I haven't heard that in a long time." So it might not have been the exact wording, but she knew it was along the same vein. Kal studied the man more deeply then, searching his face for answers, moments before his insistence that she eat his meal. She had half a mind to defy him, but the threat of losing out on the job, even if in her eyes it was already cursed, did its job and set that from her mind.

Her first bite was tentative, but after the flavours hit her tastebuds and the rest of her body realized it was time to chow down there was very little in the way of self-control remaining. She wolfed it down, partly like a wild animal yet she managed to keep it somewhat classy at the same time. Hasty, but not messy.

It seemed as though the spell which had washed over the crew had dissipated. With the Captain's mood lightened the other two were able to relax, and seeing that they were not quite so concerned as she was it also allowed Kal to let out the breath she'd been metaphorically holding and loosen up ever so slightly.

She still didn't like it though, not even when most of her hunger was satiated, and she'd moved on to her stew, apparently more than capable of eating both the meals despite the fact they were quite voluminous on their own. Maybe it was the high-class atmosphere, or the deceptive natures of most gathered, or simply the reminders of her place on the Wheel, of where she had come from, and the things she'd been forced to endure before finally catching a break on the Solar Monarch. Either way, that anxious state lingered in the back of her mind, though it was not quite so obvious as before.

"Thank you," she whispered to Kaird at her side, during a lull in conversation; truth be told the woman hadn't realized quite how hungry she'd allowed herself to become, no doubt worsened by the panicked state she'd just exuded. It was a vicious circle, one which she was often hard pressed to break on her own when it got so bad. She could only hope that her distress would wane just as her insatiable hunger had.

[member="Kaird Galfridian"]

 

[Roth Likonis]

"I haven't heard that in a long time."

"To be fair, I haven't said it in a long time." Offered Kaird, easily. He seemed much more at ease now - and Val and Jax laughed and joked at the table, relishing the break in their Captain's surly demeanor. Their food was eaten - the waiter bringing seconds (and thirds for Kaird) - before bringing out an array of exotic deserts.

"Thank you."

Kaird almost didn't hear the whispered thanks, and shrugged slightly in response. "You're on my ship; I'm responsible for your safety. That's all." He said nonchalantly. "Besides, aren't Scoundrels supposed to save beautiful women?"

"You're too lazy to be called a Scoundrel - and you don't womanize enough." Said Jax, shoveling a candied confection into his mouth.

"You've never called me beautiful, Cap." Muttered Val under her breath petulantly, casting a jealous look at Mara.

"I think you're beautiful Val." Said Jax, gruffly.

"That means a lot, coming from a lizard." Replied Val, icily.

Jax seemed a little crestfallen at that. "I'm an avian, actually."

It was at that moment that a bell sounded, and the lights dimmed - cutting off any further conversation. A holoprojector hummed from some hidden crevice, and the towering forms of their employers materialized into existence. There were two of them, humanoid by the look of it, not that one could tell due to their garb; one was seated in a plain chair, and the other stood to the side, arms crossed, obviously a guard or enforcer. The one sitting in the chair was clothed in a great many robes, tied off with a great many belts - so many, in fact, that one could not make out his species or defining features. This was furthered by the great many scarves that wound around the beings neck and head, a thin opaque slit being the only opening, presumably so the sentient could see. The seated sentient wore gloves and boots, not showing an inch of skin, but was otherwise adorned with rings, bangles, amulets and necklaces, and other manner of jewelry. Leaning forward, the being spread two humanoid arms and spoke, his voice - although male - heavily filtered through a vocoder, making it tinny and synthetic with a buzzing quality. "Greetings...greetings from I, Hazak Yael! You have come far and wide, weary travelers; eat, drink, and partake of the bounty that your gracious host provides!"

The smugglers, marauders, and mercenaries at the other tables cheered, raising their perspective glasses - and even Kaird raised his bottle of Savareen Brandy, inclining his head politely. But Kaird's face was a mask, his free hand resting idly on his pistol, his eyes glued to the figure standing next to Hazak. This sentient was humanoid, dressed head to toe in black - what looked to be a martial artist's Gi, armored in strategically placed matte black plastoid. On his arms and shins he wore black metal vambraces and greaves respectively, and on his back he wore an intimidating looking single edged sword. But it was the man's face, wrapped in a black scarf and covered by a smooth and expressionless white mask, that was most disturbing of all: clearly, the man was an assassin, and a very good one if he was standing by the side of Hazak yael.

Slowly, ever so slowly, that masked visage turned almost imperceptibly to regard Kaird, the masked figure's hand twitching, as if grasping for an invisible blade.

"Na haska! Iska manna hatchari!" Snapped Hazak, the words, while unknown to anyone present, very much angry. In response, the masked guard turned his head away from Kaird, and Hazak bowed low, arms spreading wide. "Yes...we are friends here, no? Hazak Yael went to great expense to make sure his first impression, his first interaction with the public, was a good one! Such is the importance of this job!" The words were directed at Kaird, and a few others turned to look at him quizzically.

Kaird, for his part, just raised his hands non-threateningly. "Hey...I'm here for work. That's my only interest here."

"Yes! Yes! Work! We are businessbeings...professionals! Your former...associate...shall not interfere! I FORBID IT!" Hazak practically screamed this, slashing an arm through the air, something clattering in the unseen background of the hologram. "We hire the best...only the best...! And the best must be given room to work...no?"

"Quite." Replied Kaird, curtly.

"Now...the job!" Hazak snapped his fingers, and the holoprojector displayed a galactic map - specifically the Perlemian trade route. "Three transport Captains - Galfridian, Yarrof, and Krrik - shall transport approximately three thousand one hundred and thirty three standard type four cargo containers across the Perlemian trade route. These three ships will be escorted by the gentlebeings at table four, a convoy escort force, in an assortment of fighters and militarized freighters. You will travel as a convoy rimward, till you come to Stenos; at Stenos, you will take a special smuggling route off the Perlemian, into the Stenos system. You will get further orders upon arrival. After Stenos, you will continue to use this route to pass through back lanes into the Sembla system, where you will deposit the rest of your cargo." As he spoke, the map animated, detailing the specified route. The secret route especially looked circuitous and dangerous - passing between nebula and other stellar anomalies. "There are only several rules. No questioning orders. No looking into the crates. No late deliveries. No killing Hazak Yael's associates. Complete the job under these conditions...and each transport craft will be given one million credits. Fail...and may your Gods have mercy upon you!" Hazak made an obscure religous gesture, and inclined his head, muttering prayers. Meanwhile, the crews looked at each other, muttering amongst themselves.

"A...a million!? You said it was a hundred thousand, Kaird!" Hissed Jax.

"What the karking frell are we transporting that they're paying so much!" Asked Val, beside herself.

"I think," Said Kaird, deadpan, "that the point of them paying so much, is so that we don't ask questions."

"I wish you luck, and good fortune! Your cargo will be loaded once you return to your ships!" With that, the hologram shut itself off, and chatter resumed at the individual tables.

[member="Kalyn Shif"]