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[Nepleslia Prime] One Hell of a Coincidence

MoonMan

MoonMan

Inactive Member
Floating contently in Nepleslia Primes orbit, the eternally busy Davis Station diligently continued it course around the infant world. What with all of the trafficking happening between the Core Worlds and the Colonial Expanse, Prime and Davis Station received a lot of incoming and outgoing ships, whether ferrying passengers destined for the new colonies or resources from the mining operations on the distant asteroid fields.

Whatever the reason, the increasing coming and going meant one thing; plenty of business for those with the stomach. Davis Station was absolutely packed with civilian marketplaces, ritzy living accommodations, suspicious alley corner-stores and star-faring transport agencies aplenty. Citizens, military on leaves and traveling civilians alike, wandering the busy station walkways as they pursued their own agendas in this epicenter of Nepleslian society.

In one particular corner of the station squatted one of thousands of seedy pubs, completely inconspicuous from the rest. In this fine establishment, Swonger Stills, a few dedicated patrons sipped watered-down beers or stale shots of liquor, speaking to half-listening ears about life or lack thereof.
 
Clack Clack...

A two mechanical eyes focused on a glass of fizzing yellow liquid. Fingers of metal reached out for the class and gripped the glass.


zzzzzzShnkzzz...

Went the hand's metal arm, in bad need of a tune up. The hand moved the glass to its owners mouth.

sssip...

"Bleh..." went Kokuten Gaiasis Chiaki the 5th as he rubbed his tounge to his teeth. The beer was bitter and so were the rough weeks that had come up before his recent arrival to the Davis station. His failed relationship with Mireille, his rough time on Abjection, and then transfers to other starting colony planets.

The Medic looked around Swonger Stills and the other patrons. He grabbed his blue garrison hat and slid it off his head.

Clack...

The Medic closed his eyes, and tried to flush the memories, and Mire's beautiful face out of his mind...
 
"...But the Predictor Program shows otherwise. You are going to award a distinction to this student, what other supporting documents other than your testimony do you have?"

"I conducted a live simulation with the other Trainers, the entire operation plan is unusual yes, but it can accomplish the mission objectives based on the question parameters. I have attached my fellow Trainer's testimonies together with the SAVTECH report of the simulation in the postcript." Fian Vel Steyr responded into his Datapad while thumbing down the game of Antimatter Minesweeper that the call disrupted.

"I'll let this one pass. Please follow the school's standard procedures next time, Master Chief." The Head of Department closed the feed, ending the conversation in the middle of Market Street.

The young Vel Steyr put the back of his hand to his forehead, it wasn't a good start to his weekend. He didnt really have to do that live simulation if the school had switched to a better Predictor, in fact Fian had one from a different software developer installed on his Pad that first informed him of the plausibility of his Student's plan. Nepleslia's proudest institution is also not immune to the cronyism and corruption common on the streets it seems.

Well, at least with the reforms we have more open minded people joining the military. Also, that new IPG should be taking care of our graft problem. Hmmp, but arent they a bit shadowy themselves? Is that going to hurt the army's integrity? Are we trading one problem for another? What if... The black haired Nepleslian allowed his train of thought to Traverse the galaxy before a rough pedestrian walked past and bumped him back into reality at Davis Station.

Fian spun a little from the impact and found himself facing down a less crowded alley. Allright, fine, I'll go down here. have it your way! He stumbled through the doors of a pub. Oh man, I havent had a drink in years since the Alliance. Who knows? I could just be too drunk to answer the HoD the next time that bastard calls.

As he walked up to the bar however, his ears twitched (If they were still there anyway) from the mechanical noises one of the patrons was making. He paused in midstep and his eyes widened. Hey, is that...? Confirming that it is, Fian smirked and silently gilded over to the rear of his former squadmate before hitting Kokuten's back lightly with the bottom of his fist. "YOO!"
 
Kokuten was rather tranquil in his closed-eye state, his mind was slowly cleared and he began to become at peace. Though, that peace was interrupted abruptly when a certain Vel Steyr tapped his back and then let loose a surprising whoop. Normally if this was from any ordinary person, he'd turn around and ask the person what was needed of him. However, Kokuten recognized the voice of this person, and almost turned around in shock.

"Fian!" Kokuten said before even fully turning, he looked up at the boyish Master Chief and almost lost his breath. He couldn't believe that an guy from the Alliance would just pop up out of no where, and of all the places! The Medic stood, and then clapped a hand on Fian's shoulder.

"How have you been, I haven't seen you in ages!" said Kokuten.
 
"Ahh, man! I went to Military School, now I teach in it!" Fian put his hands on his waist and sighed. "Missed out on all the fun, man. But look at you." He pointed to the new uniform and various new scars and dents on the Medic's body. "You definitely have some exciting stories to tell." He raised his finger and found it pointing at Kokuten's drink on the bartop. "And maybe some not so happy stories..."

Fian took a seat near the melancholic Chiaki and was quiet for a while. Did... Did someone bite it? Oh god, I wasn't there. I wasn't there when Rico bit it either, maybe I could have prevented it, how am I going to show my face again? The Vel Steyr bit his toungue. We all got reassigned, maybe it was someone else working with Koku that I dont know about? "Uhh... So... Did you lose somebody?"
 
Kokuten's eyes drifted off in the distance as Fian made his last statement. The Petty Officer grumbled a little and then sighed. He turned and then smiled at Fian, "Love is a rather fickle thing, my friend, and a bit on the unfair side. My heart was broken over duty, and that recent break still hangs on my mind today."

The doctor took a swift swig of beer, and haffed a moment.

"So, I'm just going to drown it away until a ship picks me up and drags me along again."
 
"Oh, love. Right." Fian exhaled in relief. He then thought about the many complications and pitfalls of having a miltary relationship, which was one of the reasons he didnt chase after Soreta. "Maybe you should take a break, Koku. You cant go back to work looking like that! Look at you!"

The Vel Steyr paused and twiddled his thumbs. "I'm not as hard as nails as you guys but everyone has a limit, I took that postion at the school to give myself time to think, and now that I have, I really do feel much better."

"Comon, if you really want to get on the next ship, then at least take a walk with me and get some air. I really want to hear every single detail." Well I suppose letting it out helps, but to solve a love problem we are going to need THAT guy...
 
"Or..." A familiar voice interrupted the two, emanating from one of the bar stools on the opposite end of the sparsely-populated pub. A smooth little smirk, confident and untroubled, greeted them both as the patron took another drink from his glass. "...you could stay here, and tell it to someone who actually knows a thing or two 'bout the subject."

Rico Sanroma grinned widely at them both, running a hand through his hair as he chortled to himself. "Ain't that right, baby?"
 
"Rico!" Kokuten cried almost not believing who had just revealed them self. The Petty Officer stood, and almost tripped as he got up. He walked over and clapped a hand on Rico's shoulder, he looked back over at Fian and pointed at Rico as if he was confirming the man's identity.

"I can't believe it! The both of you, here of all places! Rico, how have you been doing?!" Kokuten asked with renewed warmth, seeing two of his old friends really picked his day upward.
 
"Doin' fine, baby, mighty fine," Rico laughed, returning a light jab into Kokuten's ribs with his elbow. "Couldn' believe my ears, hearin' you two talk about yer lil' problems an' all. It must'a be, what, a few months since I last saw yer sorry hide? And this kid!" Rico shot a finger at Fian. "I never thought I'd see this son of a bitch again!"
 
Fian quickly stayed his hand just before Rico turned around to point. A macro second longer and the Cassanova would have been socked. Not that he hated Rico, it was much more complicated than that. On the surface it appears that he was furious that he didnt immediately greet them as opposed to listening into the conversation first, however, the deeper second one was...

Don't you ever move out of my sight again! The Vel Steyr blushed uncomfortably before clenching his fist. "Who are you calling son of a bitch you...!" He couldnt come up with a suitable retort while holding back emotions.
 
"Whoa whoa baby," Rico backed up a bit and held up his hands, playfully. He chuckled and put them back down on the bar in front of him, giving Fian a light tap with his knuckles.

"So what you two been up to, eh?" Rico asked, taking another swig of his sub-par drink. "I need somethin' to take my mind off this shit beer."
 
"I've traveled almost all over New Nepleslia!" Kokuten said enthusiastically. "I've been to just about every newly recorded planet, and I've seen so much!"

"Fortuna, Gold Harbor, oh ho, the Ion Storms are almost terrifyingly beautiful!" Kokuten explained, tacking two of his fingers with his other fingers to count off two planets.

"The infinite forests of Prilisa IV..." Kokuten tacked a third finger.

"The extremely cold and ironically warm enviroment of Haven..." He tacked a fourth finger.

"The endless amount of fish on Pryedein..." Tack, went a thumb.

"The booms and bams of Area 52..." He raised a finger on the other hand.

"The rather chilly world of Purgatory..." Up went another finger on the other hand.

"I made a few trips back and forth to Nepleslia Prime..." Up went a third finger on the other hand.

"And finally, my last trip was to Abjection, whic-..." Kokuten stopped for a moment, and then looked around, a bit of nervousness flooding his face. "Actually, I prefer not to describe Abjection..."
 
"I uhh..." Fian stammered. He wasn't very proud that he missed out on all the fighting and traveling and being classroom bound. "I haven't been to anywhere actually. Sounds exciting though, Koku."

He then pressed a finger on Rico's shoulder. "And you?"
 
"Same ol' same ol'", Rico said, rolling his head around his shoulders with a sigh. "Kennewes is still a mess, new assignment's been nothin' but clean-up sorties an' civilian escorts. All the other squads are seein' heat, but my boys an' I haven't seen jack shit," Rico replied, sounding surprisingly disappointed. He perked up, however, and gave both of his comrades a slick smile.

"Hooo baby, but lemme tell ya, one of the pros of havin' a bit ship? More room for more fine lookin' ladies. Reserve squad is chock-fulla 'em, and they ain't too hard on the eyes outta those armorsuits, know what I'm sayin'? Fian knows what I'm talkin' 'bout, Mister Hot-Shot Officer school graduate, eh?" Rico chided, jabbing an elbow in into Fian's chest as he did so.
 
"How did yo-oof!" Fian recoiled a bit from the hit, both mentally and physically. He hasn't been keeping tabs on his former shipmates but they definitely have been keeping tabs on him. He rubbed the area where he was elbowed while recovering, in class and on the field he had been the one dishing out the damage with little or no opposition but yet now in this bar among friends, he felt like he is on the receiving end of a few things.

"Oh what now?" He mumbled, noting that the 'How ya doin?' stage of the conversation was over. He didn't know what Rico was talking about, but he wasn't in the mood to ask either.
 
Kokuten waited for the two of the other Alliance Boys to make a response. He looked at both of them and then cut in.

"So, you guys doing anything here? Because I'm actually waiting for someone, here." Kokuten chimed.
 
Rico shook his head, waving at the bartender for another round. "Not me baby, just waitin' for the shuttle to arrive to ship me back to service. But what's this, now? Kokuten's waitin' for someone?" Sanroma smiled lightly, tossing a wayward glance at the medic. "Wouldn' happen to be a ladyfriend a' yours, now would it?"
 
"Well, not exactly, she is a friend. Hell, you know her." Kokuten shrugged, and then placed his hands in his pockets.

"I mean, don't you remember Suku?"
 
"...oh" Rico murmured after a few moments, turning his head away for a second to hide the look of shock washed over his face. He quickly shook it off, however, idly scratching his neck as he turned back to face the two Nepleslians. Rico inwardly consoled himself, quickly convinced that it couldn't be as bad as it sounded. Perhaps Kokuten's mystery friend was a completely different woman, and he was bringing up Suku's name out of pure curiosity. Sure. Everyone gets curious.

"Suku...hmm...name does ring a lil' bell. Why?"
 
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