--Space Pirates-- IC

[Rpkitten]

"D-d-do you still have the artifact, Nima? I'd b-b-be very interested in examining it. Or e-e-even some pictures. I-I-It seems like we've b-b-both stumbled upon the s-s-same thing. H-h-have you heard th-th-the th-th-theory th-th-that th-th-The Alliance wasn't the firsts technologically ad-ad-advanced empire? I think if w-w-we pool our resources w-w-we could perhaps p-p-prove this theory."

"I barely escaped with my life," Nima answered as they strode down the ship's boarding ramp. "Didn't have much time to swipe trinkets. Once the plasma bolts started flying, I had bigger concerns."

The felinoid tugged her robes about her and adjusted the hood to accommodate the pointed tufts of her ears. "How do the locals feel about non-humans here?"

"I plan t-t-to take Nima to diner to discuss and ex-ex-exchange ideas. If you'll s-s-so indulge me?"

"Certainly." Nima had no business of her own to attended to and this dead floating rock was hardly the pace for sightseeing, so she had nothing more important on her agenda. "Although I shudder to think what passes for cuisine here..."

 

[Stalzyn]

"Three years." she replied him.
Mart picked up the glass again still locking eyes with Celestial. A man slumped down at the far corner but Mart pretended not to notice it. He waved for a recruit on the opposite table to come.
"Tell me Miss Rey, with your experience in the last three years, if the life of a general and a recruit was on the line, and you're in a postion to save only one. Who'll you save?"

 

[Othermoose]

"That's unfortunate, b-b-but understandable." Darwin said with a small frown. "No doubt the m-m-machine you found is l-l-locked up in some Alliance warehouse b-b-by now." Darwin said as he and Nima looked around for a place to eat.

"In my experience w-w-with pirates, t-t-they seem to accept a-a-anyone as long as s-s-said person has enough cr-cr-credits. Although, I h-h-haven't had much experience w-w-with pirates." Darwin said with a slight smile as he and Nima walked into a small diner. They sat at a table and looked over the small menus provided. "N-n-not much felinoid c-c-cuisine here." Darwin said looking over the menu. "Do you l-l-like human food? I've met s-s-some felinoids who d-d-do and some who don't." Darwin said.

 

[Sean Renaud]

Brandon Phobos was seated damn near dead center in the diner. Not at the table, rather on it with his feet on a chair. In one hand he was holding a giant stainless steel cup filled to the brim with some sort of alcoholic beverage. Long brown hair hung down concealing his right eye, actually it concealed most of the right side of his face.

"Dollface, bring me some more of whatever that last plate was." He shouted at one of the uniformed women who acknowledged him and walked off. A few people were watching him but he didn't seem to mind. His attention briefly turned from his drink to a pair of new comers but neither of them looked like they were about to start anything and his attention returned.

A beep brought his attention down to a tiny display on his arm. "An updated blacklist? With only a single ship? Someone dun goofed." Brandon looked at it for a moment longer. There weren't any details. No bounty, no crew, no crimes. Maybe it was a goof? Brandon made a few strokes on the mechanical arm and then returned his attention to the only thing of any importance in the room.

His drink.

 

[SlySparrow0003]

Celestial still locked stares, but dreaded what was to come, as she saw the recruit walk over, he asked the question. She knew Mart, and she knew that he knew what she did to his drink. She knew how he was going to make a point, but she wouldn't give up just yet. And contained to lock stares, but her gaze was more fear the flame and she could feel it.

 

[Rpkitten]

"Tell me Miss Rey, with your experience in the last three years, if the life of a general and a recruit was on the line, and you're in a postion to save only one. Who'll you save?"

Cassie thought this was damned peculiar -- from the way he locked eyes with the woman to the drunk recruit collapsing in the corner. And now this pop quiz.

"With no other information available, I'd save the general."

"N-n-not much felinoid c-c-cuisine here. Do you l-l-like human food? I've met s-s-some felinoids who d-d-do and some who don't."

"You spend as many years living in alien space as I have, you begin to forget what home tastes like," Nima commented while looking over the limited options. "But among human foods, I find most of your fish palatable. As well as your ramen soup and cherry fruits... although I've been told combining the two is frowned upon."

 

[Stalzyn]

"I think you just saved my life Lt Cassie." Mart said with a weak smile as he handed the glass to the recruit.
"Welcome aboard the Hades Recruit Jacquire."
The Recruit collected it happily, "Thank you. Sir." he then gulped it down.
Before the soldier even slumped down Mart was already on his feet and moving towards the booth. His gaze on Celestial didn't waver a bit even as the soldier choked.
"I don't know the fool that gave you this leverage, but be rest assured that i won't be so generous. Next time you want to kill me though, try to keep your emotions out of the way. Something both you and your friend has refused to learn." he told her then turned to Cassie. "Take her to the interrogatory room. We've a lot of catching up to do." with that he made for the door, having ended the interview with his new handy-man (woman)

 

[SlySparrow0003]

Celestial uselessly struggled, and now she sat in a chair slumping. Her hands cuffed, and her head looked down. Allison at least knew how to hide her emotion. Her dry tears were stained on her face. Just then the door opened, she had been in there for a few hours. And she made no move to look who it was.

 

[Othermoose]

"Not frowned upon, s-s-so much as o-o-odd." Darwin said looking over his own menu. "But f-f-feel free to order a-a-as much and a-a-anything you want. Th-th-this meal is o-o-on me." Darwin said typing his order into the small screen on the wall next to the table. He choose a simple burger and fries, something even a pirate diner would have trouble ruining.

"S-s-so tell me. You said y-y-you've studied? What was it... Xeno-archeology, c-c-correct? And if th-th-that's the case, then y-y-you would have graduated f-f-from The Tremont-Duxler University o-o-of Historical Science, y-y-yes?" Darwin asked wondering if Nima really had graduated from the prestigious institution.

 

[Stalzyn]

OOC: Mart looks just like my avatar pic. Only with space energy suits and deep red hair. Lol.
***
On entering the small cell that Celestial was placed Mart immediately noticed the dry tears on the woman's cheek. "Pathetically weak." he muttered under his breath.
She didn't bring her head up to look at him as he neared her.
"Lt Cassie here, will be running a voice detection pattern on you as we um..get to catch up with each other. I know i have always taught you not to withold informations from your superiors but i don't know if like with your emotions, you have forsaken those teachings."
He smirked as she finally looked up at him. Placing his hand behind his back in the old fashion soldier manner, Mart asked.
"How many have you killed so far?"

 

[SlySparrow0003]

Celestial remained quiet. She wouldn't tell him anything. Any hope that he had somewhat changed had gone. "Your just a pet. That's all, a soldier has emotion, a soldier is a human being. Soldiers don't just follow orders they consider if it right or not because that's what heros do. Heros are what soldiers are. And you blindly do what the Alliance says. Frjor would be ashamed of you." She spoke emotionless Frjor was his old mentor, but had been murdered by Allison. "Did. You. Kill. Allison." Her voice colder.

 

[Rpkitten]

"S-s-so tell me. You said y-y-you've studied? What was it... Xeno-archeology, c-c-correct? And if th-th-that's the case, then y-y-you would have graduated f-f-from The Tremont-Duxler University o-o-of Historical Science, y-y-yes?"

Nima shook her head. "I've visited, but did not attend as a student. They have an impressive collection of Earth-born extra-solar artifacts there," she commented then thumbed her order into the wall-mounted pad -- just a simple bowl of vegetable soup and some tea. "My education is courtesy of the S'umani Tektanuka Praxuriate," she said with her tongue dipping properly into an alien accent.

"But enough about me," the felinoid woman sat back in her seat, hands casually folded in her lap. "What about you? Self-taught, I'm guessing?"

 

[Stalzyn]

Mart wasn't a man that allowed what he felt touch his stern face. He smiled dryly and with voice not quavering he spoke. "I am not here to answer your question Celestial. You know me, you know what i'm capable of. If you still play stubborn, i'll kill you. I'll ask one more time, how many have you murdered?"

 

[SlySparrow0003]

"THEN DO IT YOU BASTARD!!! YOU STUPID PET! YOU WOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH IT! WAKE UP LIKE THE REST OF US! I BET YOU TRIED TO KILL ALLISON! AFTER EVERYTHING ALL THREE OF US WENT THROUGH YOU TURN YOUR BACK!" Celestial screamed in rage. She had stood up from her chair and her face was contorted with anger. She had never done that before. She knew Allison would, but her? She had never yelled at anyone. She had never even yelled. The dry smile he had blown her top. "I-I-I killed 38" She said calmly and sorrowfully. She looked down now, not daring to meet his eyes after her blowoff. She stared at the table, and a knot of fear grew in her stomach.

 

[Othermoose]

"S-s-so tell me. You said y-y-you've studied? What was it... Xeno-archeology, c-c-correct? And if th-th-that's the case, then y-y-you would have graduated f-f-from The Tremont-Duxler University o-o-of Historical Science, y-y-yes?"

Nima shook her head. "I've visited, but did not attend as a student. They have an impressive collection of Earth-born extra-solar artifacts there," she commented then thumbed her order into the wall-mounted pad -- just a simple bowl of vegetable soup and some tea. "My education is courtesy of the S'umani Tektanuka Praxuriate," she said with her tongue dipping properly into an alien accent.

"But enough about me," the felinoid woman sat back in her seat, hands casually folded in her lap. "What about you? Self-taught, I'm guessing?"

"Wow. T-t-that is an impressive institute. M-m-my friend went there. H-h-he majored i-i-in xeno-linguistics I b-b-believe." Darwin said. "But no. I wasn't self-taught. A-a-at least not totally. M-m-my mother and f-f-father home schooled m-m-me until I was t-t-ten. Then I went t-t-to 'Titan University' and earned m-m-my first t-t-two PhDs. I went on to 'The Academy of Applied Sciences' on Mars f-f-for the next three, and I-I-I got my last PhD in physics fr-fr-from 'The Talbot Institute' on Earth's m-m-moon. I took m-m-my knowledge I gained from my f-f-father and my engineering d-d-degree and put added other knowledge I h-h-had obtained or invented t-t-to build 'The Outsider' and discover p-p-proof that hyper-space t-t-travel had been perfected l-l-long before The Alliance ex-ex-existed. In th-th-that way I c-c-could be considered self-taught, b-b-but for the most part m-m-my knowledge comes f-f-from skilled minds b-b-before me." Darwin said as a waiter droid brought the food over to their table.

Darwin took a sip of his nexlur ale before speaking again. "S-s-so how long were you d-d-digging on Enceladus b-b-before you f-f-found the artifact?" Darwin asked. "A-a-and was it m-m-made out of a m-m-material similar t-t-to this?" Darwin asked handing Nima a data pad with the information for an undiscovered metal element.

 

[Stalzyn]

Mart was slightly taken aback by her sudden outburst. The smile on his face grew even more on seeing the wetness in her eyes.
She sat back down, apparently surprised herself that she was capable of rage.
"3-38" Celestial revealed.
Click, click, click Mart clicked his tongue. "Too poor." he told wearing that dry smile and wiggling a finger at Celestial.
"You're soft Celestial, was then, is now." Mart remembered how his mentor had put him incharge of training the seven fingers of death. One of the fingers being Allison became too strong headed and sturbbon. The order was given out, but her fiance, another of the finger of death who was incharge of the assassination aborted the mission at the last hour. You were once one of the finger of death, the dark imprenetrable unit created to do all covet operations, infiltrations and assassinations in the galaxy. you never excelled in any of the asigned programs, always allowing what the humans called conscience and emotions to get in the way." he paused and walked

 

[Stalzyn]

The door. "Because you killed thirty eight men, Celestial you have thirty eight days to draw breath. In your next life if there really is one as human religions belief, do try to kill more of your enemies." Mart said, his voice cold, his back still facing her.
"Lieutenant." he turned gaze to Cassie. I want you bring up Allison's Char. Run a check up on how suit. It was designed by us, so use central coding passwords. I believe she might have changed her suit's code. I want it cracked and her location spotted. Then get me on the line with Booze." Booze was one of the seven fingers of death that was trained by Alliance. He passed the program and became a full soldier of the empire.
"Once that's complete, i'll like a vanilla flavored drink in my room." Mart said that last part with a sly smile plastered on his face.

 

[SlySparrow0003]

She was alive. Celestial was relived Allison was alive and she knew she only had 38 days before they killed her. Hearing Marts comment on a vanilla flavored shake, she smirked through the wetness in her eye. "It means he wants a naked man in his room." She said bluntly. And smirking.

 

[Rpkitten]

"S-s-so how long were you d-d-digging on Enceladus b-b-before you f-f-found the artifact?"

"Titan, not Enceladus," Nima corrected politely and assumed this was just another of his odd little tests. "A few weeks. Took a while to find enough evidence of a previous civilization to convince the Academy to commit a proper team. And shortly after that is when everything fell apart."

"So why don't you tell me about your ship," the felinoid prompted in an attempt generate conversation. "I'm no engineer, but she doesn't look stock to me..."

"Lieutenant. I want you bring up Allison's chart. Run a check up on her suit. It was designed by us, so it uses central coding passwords, but I believe she might have changed her suit's code. I want it cracked and her location spotted. Then get me on the line with Booze."

"Aye, sir," Cassie replied dutifully and pulled Allison's record up on her terminal.

"Once that's complete, i'll like a vanilla flavored drink in my room."

"Of course, sir," the young lieutenant nodded her head as he departed and dug inter her work.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~​

90 minutes later the door to the general's quarters chime the lieutenant's arrival.

"Here you go, sir," Cassie says as she enters with a dining tray held in one hand and a datapad tucked under arm. "I've pulled everything we have and passed the particulars along to E-Sec and Intel for their assistance." She handed the pad to Mart. "And French Vanilla Coffee. Will you be taking it here or at your desk?"

 

[Sean Renaud]

Brandon's drink was again empty and this time he was a little less amused by the situation. His gaze danced from one person to the next but nobody seemed to line up with any of the bounties that he was aware of. Most unfortunate, he would have liked to have made some easy money here tonight, or gotten into a decent brawl but both of them seemed beneath him.

There were really only three people that were even partiularly worthy of his attention. A felinoid of some breed speaking to a man. Brandon couldn't hear much of their conversation but what few words did carry over were all of scholarly interests. The kind that meant for the moment they were probably best not trifled with. Nobody comes to a bar to talk about ancient civilizations on distant moons for fucks sake People like that were always pretty.

Trouble.

Pretty much trouble.

Pushing that aside his attention turned to another woman, this one sitting alone. He couldn't quite make out what she was doing but it wasn't important. People sitting alone here were also worth paying attention too. "Hey, hot stuff." He shouted to the nearest waitress. "Bring the little thing in the corner something top shelf."

A few moments later the blue haired girl set a drink in front of Allison. "It's from the gentleman who doesn't know you sit on chairs and at tables." She said pointing toward Brandon who was doing his absolute damnedest to pretend that he was now preoccupied with something on his mechanical arm.

His absolute damnedest right now wasn't very convincing. It was pitiful. Abysmal.

 

[SlySparrow0003]

Allison took of her helmet and raised a eyebrow. Her face resembling more of a intimidating, sexy look. She looked from the girl to the guy. Who was obviously trying to look like he was trying to do something on his arm, or in other words preoccupy himself. She nodded to the waitress. And stood up. After reading his files he seemed in good shape, could be useful. She walked over and sat down, crossing her legs and sitting in the table. She looked at him. "What do you want?" She said in a serious, intimidating tone.

 

[Sean Renaud]

Brandon took his time. Not too long since he wasn't interested in upsetting her before looking up. "Does a man need an excuse to buy a lady a drink?" He asked looking her over. "If so then I apologize, you looked like you were a little lonely over there in the corner all by yourself and this isn't the kind of place where someone should be alone. You never can be too safe with all these weirdos hanging around." He smirked and grabbed his drink taking a sip. "Brandon Phobos. And I apologize I'm all out of cheesy pick up lines. The only one entering my mind involves a heavenly body entering my orbit, drawn in my by gravitational personality."

 

[Othermoose]

"She's n-n-not. I built a-a-almost everything from s-s-scratch. I spent a-a-almost two y-y-years in my f-f-father's workshop building h-h-her. I barely slept or ate, b-b-but I think my time w-w-was worth it. I hate t-t-to think how long it would've taken if m-m-my father's workshop wasn't available t-t-to me. Definitely m-m-more than two years. The engines were t-t-the hardest p-p-part. I utilized a p-p-pair of Kalamonedezuim Crystals in the f-f-fuel converters. It's a very r-r-rare technique, if d-d-done improperly it will cause a-a-a nuclear explosion, b-b-but when properly installed those c-c-crystals triple engine speed at a tenth of the fuel u-u-used. In th-th-theory I could follow Pluto's o-o-orbit around The Sun w-w-without having to refuel, b-b-but I've never attempted t-t-to do something like that. But if n-n-needed I'm sure she could g-g-get us through almost any d-d-dangerous situation." Darwin said with pride in his voice.

"But, I'd imagine t-t-that you're more interested in the inside of the sh-sh-ship. The living a-a-area of the ship h-h-has a s-s-small lounge, a k-k-kitchen, two guest cabin's, and my own cabin. The rest of t-t-the ship is devoted to more im-im-important ends. I have a large all p-p-purpose lab, an armory workshop combination, a sm-sm-small med-bay, and a variety of other a-a-areas built into my ship. It's a-a-almost as well equipped a-a-as an a-a-average Alliance cruiser, but with b-b-better space management. The Alliance likes t-t-to build b-b-bigger instead of b-b-better." Darwin joked. "But unless Allison finds a-a-anyone else to join us, y-y-you will have your own quarter. D-d-do felinoids require a-a-any special l-l-living arrangements? I'm a-a-afraid that my s-s-ship was built with human n-n-needs in mind. But if n-n-needed I'm sure I could build or b-b-buy anything e-e-else you'd require." Darwin said.

 

[Stalzyn]

Mart was undressing when Cassie walked in. He was just done with his secdond button when she started speaking. Removing the jacket and placing it neatly in a wardrobe, Mart answered. "Here will do."
He still haven't looked her way, he bent and started working on removing his boot.
"You're a very enticing woman Cassie." He began in a calm voice. "And i'm sure you will like to travel up the ranks. Be a major someday. Commandeer your own ship. Right?"
After she answered Mart asked again. "And i'm sure you'll do anything to gain my favor, 'cos i can terminate your career with just a call."

 

[Rpkitten]

Nima smiled and listened politely as Darwin walked her through the finer points of his custom starship.

"D-d-do felinoids require a-a-any special l-l-living arrangements? I'm a-a-afraid that my s-s-ship was built with human n-n-needs in mind."

"Nothing in particular," she smiled and sipped her tea. "We're surprisingly compatible species in terms of diet and atmospheric needs. I do find you humans prefer higher gravity and temperatures though."

She paused, glanced across the room and mentally tried to find her bearings. "Perhaps I'm a little out of the loop, but what again is our goal for making port here?"

"You're a very enticing woman Cassie. And i'm sure you will like to travel up the ranks. Be a major someday. Commandeer your own ship. Right?"

"Perhaps," Cassie answered while setting down the tray and pouring the general a cup of coffee. "Although commandeer is perhaps too strong a term," she grinned and passed him the cup.

"And i'm sure you'll do anything to gain my favor, 'cos i can terminate your career with just a call."

"That sounds vaguely of a threat, sir," Cassie said and straightened her posture professionally. "Have I given you any reason to make such a call?"