@Damaske
Landing Array Six
The Kuvexian rubs his side where he'd been hit and frowns deeply at Jenna. "
Oh yeah, they'll love you in there, I'm sure. The Baroness is hiring every desperate expendable in a run down ship that's obviously their last shot." The devil-man made a motion as if he was about to elbow again and the Kuvexian took a step sideways and snorted wetly in annoyance. "
Oi, enough of that I was being nice. You're buying lunch, for that."
"
I thought I had, for a moment," the big red one replied to Lenna, looking at their ship again before shrugging. "
Must've been a while ago, a long way from here, I suppose." He clapped his broad, clawed hand on his smaller blue friend's shoulder. "
Sometimes he forgets it's part of the job to direct new talent to the hiring queue, pay it no mind. Just head out through customs to the taxi station, they'll know how to get you there. Just remember though, it is part of the job. If someone's nice here, they're getting paid to be, no exceptions. Got it?"
"
Oi, get off."
Landing Array Transportation Terminal
The hoversled taxis available for hire to Lenna and Nikicon are nowhere near as luxurious, or well-maintained, as the one that the ruling corporation had sent for the Yamataian delegation. One pulled up nearly toppling sideways as it J-turned into the parking space, and crewed, quite unfortunately, by
at least a half-dozen Rixxikor. "
EYYY, BUNNY LADY AND FRIEND, YO." The mantis-like creature, who served a good reminder of the close relationship between mantids and roaches, leaned over the gunwale of the sled and stretched its neck down until Lenna and Nikkicor were reflected, distorted, in its massive compound eyes. "
YOU NEED RIDE, RIGHT? THIS SLED THE BEST MANE, THE BEST, RIGHT?"
"
YEAH MANE THE BEST!"
"
YEAH IT IS!"
"
YEAH BABY YEAH BABY"
The obnoxious, humanoid insects chittered and giggled and sprayed their foul-smelling discharge everywhere as they laughed. It was a good thing the sled is open-topped, as being stuck inside the confines of a small vehicle with the odorous creatures would be a trying ordeal. It appeared the heater mostly worked, which is more than could be said for some of the other rattle-traps pulling up to the station. The volumetric flames flickered and glitched, but the heat output seemed steady. Maybe even a little too hot, as it could be felt from the ground. The sled chugged and vibrated and shooked a bit, but nothing seemed to be falling off of it. "
NEW IN TOWN, NONAPUS RIGHT? GETINGETINGETIN!"
@SirSkully (Also
@Whisper)
The Laughing Nonapus
Despite being referred to as a "Tavern" in the Trade translations referring to it, the Laughing Nonapus was not a small place, though it was not particularly busy or full at this time of the short, cold, UX-3 III day. It was dim, dark even, designed for the eyes of cave-dweller Kuvexians first, and others later. It seemed more like a nightclub, it was so dark, and only where Kuvexians sat in alcoves, doing business or reveling with their mates, was it lit well enough for details. The rest of the Nonapus was a morass of shadows and movement. Through this sparse forest of silhouettes, the guards, whose gold armor shone in the darkness as it reflected every last bit of light cast on it, led Remy back to her meeting place with the prime mover of Sood Zadra.
As the Baroness Soon Bardoon was reviewing volumetric "paperwork" she was snacking on the calamari-like delight that gave the restaurant-bar-lounge its name. She drew them delicately from a small bowl of broth with the tips of two fingers and popped the bite sized creatures, filleted whole and nearly raw except for soaking in the liquid, directly into her open mouth with relish. One of her attendants bent low and whispered to her, making the Baroness look up just before the guards brought the Belmont to her.
Almost instantly, that guard was struck by one of the delectable mollusks, making a splattering sound and getting the liquid all over the armor. It flopped down his body armor to the floor, like a sticky wall crawling child's toy.
"
I pay you to keep me safe, not slow me down. What took so long? She was pre-cleared! I swear I will have your mates liquidated if you ever screw this up again, do you hear me?" The baroness took a deep breath, put on a business-smile, and stood, her tone shifting from screeching anger to charmingly wheedling when she next spoke. "
You must be Miss Belmont," she performed a Yamataian-style bow, "
Volumetrics do you no justice my dear, no justice at all. You're simply ravishing. Glowing in the darkness like the finest phosphorescent moss." She crossed over to Remy, walking around the desk-table in her alcove. "
Now, I hear you have something to show me. No sense in having a little fun before talking about the money. That is the fun part, right?"