Akira jumps up and grabs his coat. "Let's go.. Dusty Comet you said?? First round is on me!!"

Buzz flags down a passing waitress and begs a piece of fruit for the crybaby and tells him, "You heard the man," giving General the fruit.

The monkey stares at Buzz for a moment, then eats the fruit.

Lightfoot pulls himself to his feet. "Second round is on me."

Alan ,in a suddenly somber mood, follows the troop out of the restaurant and down the street , watching those who might be watching us. Hi ho, hi ho......Buzz is bringing up the rear with Alan...two more sets of eyes for a strange group in a strange town can't hurt.

The party heads out, turning left, heading toward Kiosko Street About a block and a half down, one of you spots a storefront with the sign "Offworld Bargains! High Technology At Affordable Prices!"

The Schmooze says aloud to himself "Well see about that" and turns into the Pawn shop. He calls over his shoulder "Joining you in a moment kids" as he steps through the door.

Buzz says to the General while going down the street, (not *quite sure if he understands or not), "All this about keys to the kindom. You hear anything while we're out, let me know where, OK?"

Genuinely pleased that there are some bargains to be had, Lightfoot follows The Schmooze into the store.

Genuinely pleased that there are two less for the opening round, 'Kira heads for the bar. (He'll buy then a round when they catch up)

Lightfoot: "This is wonderful...a store offering bargains just for offworlders...and great prices on high-tech stuff. I think I like this planet."

Alan pulls up as the two go into the store and watches the rest press on. He moves over to the brick facing on the shop and watches anyone and everyone who might be interested in doings of his shipmates.

The rest of the way to the 'Dusty Comet' is uneventful. The streets are a bit crowded to your eyes, mostly people going to and fro, a typical day here it seems. The Gralyns ignore most of the people, but tend to eyeball some of the cute girls. It's warm outside, over 23 degrees Celsius, and some of those cute girls are wearing next to nothing to your eyes. Some of those girls flirt back with the Gralyns.

You all duck down the alley and enter the 'Dusty Comet'. The place is about half full, maybe 30 beings inside it, including a couple Droyne. The bartender is human, female, a bit stocky, looks to be maybe mid-thirties. There are half a dozen Aslan in the corner, dressed in the same sort of short jacket that A'Rolr wears, drinking quietly and talking in Trokh. A large being stands at a table by himself. It looks like a 4 armed centaur with a rhino horn on its face, wearing a breathing mask, and it's drinking through a straw in the mask. The rest of the clientele is human, wearing various dress, both civilian and military.

'Kira strides up to the bar, " A round of whatevers popular for me and my mates, if you will."

The woman nods, does a quick count. "Eight Karlsons, coming up. 18 reals, cheena."

'Kira pays the 18 and takes the tray back to the table. "Drink up mates, for tomorrow is a good day to die!

Buzz gets a curious look on his face, "I'll be with you guys in a few," he heds to the bar, orders an ale, and heads to the table where the big creature with the horn is sitting.

Buzz

The creature seems to sense you, looks at you, and whispers, "May I help you, human?"

"Notin paticular, friend," Buzz answers, "Just seeing a Virushi is a rarity. Just on a port call off a trader, looking for anything intersting....and thought you looked like either you want to be left alone, or there's nobody here worth talking to. So, if I annoy you, I'll shove off, if not, the name's Buzz."

The Virushi whispers, "Intriguing meeting you, human Buzz. I Khorsh am. Merchant spacer, ship 'Lotus Unfolding', inbound, cargo sold, cargo seeked. Where from your ship it is hailed?"

Buzz takes a seat at an angle he can watch both his group and the Aslans in the corner, thinking both a group of Navy types AND a group of Aslans hardly go unknoticed. If something stupid were to occur involoving A'Rlor, his help against a group of either would be short and useless unless coming from behind.

"I'm the pilot for the Freighter Wanderfall, 10 days out of Hihlas," Buzz answers, "Most of the crew is new, so I'm just keeping a curious eye on them and taking notes while I go, but 'course, you know how hard humans are to judge sometimes."

He puts his arm to a chair and General runs down to sit, "This is General. He's a little strange," giving a quick glance to both his group and the one in the corner, "But sometimes he seems to understand what I say better than some of my shipmates. Still trying to figure out exactly how smart he is."

The Virushi makes a noise that sounds like a strangled gerbil and waves an upper truehand at you. "From Grendal three months standard ago height I. Know you Grendal where is?"

The gerbil sound gets Buzz's attention for a second, "I should. I'm from Grendal. Strange things were going on last time I was there. Apparently everything's back to normal?"

The Virushi makes that gerbil strangling noise again. "To I one such, all strange is."

Buxx watches the spectacle that the schmooz puts on and shakes his head. He grins at the Virushi, "All present and accounted for." He takes a drink from his glass, "Anyway, I was on Grendal till this crew got put together. Strange situaton with the old bunch. Lot of gung ho military types. Other than that, it was good to see home again. Lot of folks don't get that chance these days."

He turns back and glances past the Virushi to see (so far) no warfare has broken out in the Aslan corner."So what did you think of Grendal?"

"Grendal very nice was. Lots of air to breathe. Not like Gralyn; need compressor to breathe. Makes air taste like machine instead of sea air." The Virushi makes the gerbil strangling noise again. "And am half deaf here. Almost I need vacc suit." More gerbil strangling noises. "Have heard the one group, stuck on island it was. Strange island, something didn't work right. Thrusters? Contragrav?"

"Gravs. Area of effect about 10 klicks from and island in," Buzz spits out, "Controls started getting mushy on the way in, and you died on the island and had to be towed out past the range of affect to restart. Took the idiots days to get that one....wouldn't listen to me at all."

Buzz grins, "That was my OLD crew, same ship. The crew and the survivors they rescued all went collectivly stupid at the same time. I ended up 'on leave pending....' for belting one survivor pointing a gun and refusing to be rescued. Always wondered what the deal was, but they were a little too dangerously ignorant for my taste. Never heard about anybody finding out the cause, and didn't care," he takes another dirnk, "Of course, you know how dangerouis military types can be if they take themselves TOO seriously." He looks around at the new bunch, "Hopefully my situation has improved since then. Jury's still out on a couple."

The Virushi makes the gerbil-strangling noise again. "Crew mine, humans are. Good fellahs, though underfoot oftimes are. Feisty primates, vrey territorial, not this understanding of. Virushi not needing territory, merely space."

A'Rolr

A'Rolr growled softly as he watched the party split up and decided that Kira would need the most looking after. Noting the store the rest enter he hurried to catch up with the Crew.

As the enter the "Comet" the first thing he noticed was the familiar sent of Aslan. He quickly scanned the crowd and found a half dozen of his kind seated and talking in Trokh. He watches as Kira walks to the bar and orders up drinks for the group.

A'Rolr sniffs the air seeking any familiar scents in the bar and nods politely at the small group of Aslan at the table. Catching Kira's perplexed look at his change, the huge Cat places a hand on his shoulder. "It appears to be correct." he hadds as he turns to the other Aslan recognizing their badges as "Yehtuialr Aloifia." The name meaning 'Ascendant Splendor.' He moves to their table, careful to keep an eye on Kira at the bar and speaks in Trokh. "I am A'Rolr. Honored Warrior of the Tehleikhoi. May your lands many!"

"Uretaye, Oiaih, Yahta of the Uiktawa. May your lands prosper and your sons return full from the hunt. We of course have heard of the Tehleikhoi of the Iyhlua," says one of the Fteirle. "All of Aeitle Sakh knows of those. Where are your brothers, noble A'Rolr?"

A'Rolr seemed to falter a moment be fore answering. This was the one time when the steel facade he normally carried faded. "I am awkhtau. My time with the Tehleikhoi has ended and I now serve as eayerkiyei' aboard the 'Wanderfall'" answered, A'Rolr, maybe a little too quickly. What he said was not a lie and was within the rites of Si'khiraokhaor. He only had to claim his "landless" status and not his dishonor. But even that loophole left a sour taste in the proud Aslan's mouth.

The huge Aslan waited for the others respond.

Uretaye nods solemly. "We have heard of the destruction of one ealriya of the Tehleikhoi at the hands of Solomani 'pirates'. It is said that the Iyhlua are blaming the ealriya itself for its 'failure'. Any who understand Si'khiraokhaor know instead it was the fault of the planners. Any who survived such an ordeal would be honored warriors would the owners merely admit their error. You are young to be retired. You were perhaps the victim of Iyhlua scapegoating?"

"A Leader makes choices for his fellow warriors." stated A'Rolr, flatly. "Only I survived that battle and the souls of my men even now stand at yaeatyeao." "My new huhia is competent, even though they are...tahiwihtektau." The last comment brought a slight chuckle from the assembled Aslan. "But, enough of the past. What is the news of this area?"

Uretaye says, "The humans had a little war which they didn't let us in on. You of course have heard of the 'Carter Technum'?" You have, by the way. It's a small human state directly to Rimward of you about 6 or 7 parsecs. Call it 3 weeks away for Wanderfall, 2 jumps & a week between. They were fighting over a planet called Himalaya with a planet called Soloman. "The news came in four days ago that the Carters bombarded the Solomans with nuclear weapons. Terrible waste of land." He finishes his drink and waves at the waitress for more.

"I must return to my companions, before trouble visits. I thank you for your information." A'Rolr stands and executes a formal hand gesture. "May your Pride ever walk the Si'khiraokhaor."

"Good hunting. May your sons find land."

A'Rolr turns and moves back to behind Kira and takes up strategic spot the right and rear of him crossing his arms and scowling.

The 'Tavern Crew'

A barmaid comes over and serves up the ales, and the Gralyns start drinking up. Hadjii says, "Looks like your friend (A'Rolr) has found some buddies."

The Schmooze and Lightfoot head in the direction of the happening bar and hook back up with the group. As we enter the bar (if we get that far, ), Lightfoot will scope the place out. I believe Buzz is at a table with the Centuar, A'Rolr is with his new friends, and the rest of our party at another table in the room? Any good-looking women in the place?

It's quiet, mostly. The holoset in the corner is showing the Gralyn national sport, arena football. The sound's down low, so it's a bit hard to make out who's playing (as if you'd know them anyways), or what the score is. Four men at one table are watching it intently, discussing the finer points of the game between themselves as they watch it.

Koporan turns around when he sees Lightfoot brighten up. The Schmooze stands and waits for the ladies to enter and says "Good evening ladies and welcome to the Dusty Comet. Tonight is your lucky night as I just lost a bet with my friend, Lightfoot here and am oblidged to buy all the drinks for the next two individuals who enter the bar. Which happens to be you two. So may I be your guide to an empty booth and serve you the first round?"

The two women look at you, smile, and say "No thanks. We're meeting someone here," and promptly slide past you to go to the Gralyn's table. Two of Hadjii's friends get up and start talking to them in Erde, complete with hugs and high calorie kisses.

"Sorry man, I blew it. Need to learn the local customs a bit better I guess. Back on me own world...boy oh boy..." Koporan heads towards a seat and continues to scope out the women hoping to figure out what went wrong.

Lightfoot shrugs. "Paid women tend to be less trouble, require less effort."

Akira

Kira will introduce him self to the girls and ask.. "Pardon me, but would you happen to have any friends that would like to share an evening with me and my mates? We're 98% harmless you know"

The brunette chuckles. "And how many of your mates are there, Akira?"

'Kira smiles, "Only five, plus an Aslan." He looks over to A'Rolr. "But I don't think he'll be needing "company""

The brunette chuckles and goes to make a fone call.

Buzz pulls out some cash and waves it at Lighfoot as he glances his direction, "You're late. Grab yourself a round and set the gang up."

"Huh? Isn't it my turn to buy?" Lightfoot is genuinely confused. He stands there, waiting...

Buzz puts his moeny back, "Aye Aye, Chief! I'll get the next one, and keep an eye on the door for the next set of skirts....just an ale for me, bud, ok?" He turns back to the Virushi.

Koporan pretends to look interested in his new HUD purchase. He looks at the manual and tries to understand the new technology. After a while you notice he has a perturbed look on his face. You guess it must have been his rebuff by the women at the door. It seems he is not used to getting rejected.

After a while, he has quite a back-log of drinks infront of him. He doesnt seem to mind or notice if they get parceled out to the others. He does take his turn for buying but hasnt the heart to really join in. He does, however, glance up at any new arrivals and checks them out before returning to his reading.

When the feeling of newness passes from the current drinking house, the Schmooze will make his rounds to the table and make the suggestion to move on.

Now illuminated, Lightfoot will summon the barmaid. Assuming that she comes his way, he will order an ale for Buzz, and another drink of what everyone is currently drinking, with "everyone" including the Virushi, the Graylans, and the Aslans (and of course his own party). As she walks away he calls her back and orders an ale for himself.

"Excuse me a sec," Buzz says, walkig over to lightfoot, "Uh, bud.....I see the waitress getting the Virushi a drink," he throws a thumb in her direction while she begins to fil a STEIN with straight booze. He pulls out his money again, "You sure you want to pick up this round on your own?"

Lightfoot: "You talked me into it, Buzz...we might as well pool our resources. Hell, I forgot how much I brought with me, I was in such a hurry to leave the ship. So is your drinking partner a friendly sort?"

"Friendly enough, but Virushi usually are," Buzz looks back, "They don't like rigid military types, though for the most part, which is why I like them. Wouldn't recommend keeping up with one on drinks, though...don't think I've ever seen one actually get drunk."

Lightfoot is happy. He will buy for everyone is his group, the Gralyns of course, their girlfriends, A'Rol's friends, and the Virushi. He will tip the barmaid and the waitress each 6 Reals (in addition to the 42 Reals that the bill comes to.) He will lean against the bar, sipping the same brew the Gralyns are drinking, and ponder the consequences of certain quickly-chosen words, such as "I'll buy the second round." But then he will remind himself that it's only money, he has a pension and currently has a paying job, and he retired from the Scouts to try something different. And this is indeed different. He takes another sip of ale.

The girls show up just before A'Rolr comes back. They're duly impressed. And following the girls in comes Tornquist, who orders a beer and hangs at the bar a bit.

'Kira collects a couple comm codes from the girls, and even Buzz gets a code number. All told, it's a fun night, and the Gralyns graciously offer to get you back to the Zone before the tram stops running. It's about 2650 by the time you get back to the ship; Go-Go's rent-a-cops check IDs against a list, then let you board.

Alan finishes his beer and follows the crew back to the ship. Once he is satisfied that everyone is accounted for he'll stop at the bottom of the gangplank and smoke a cigarette. Watching the dirtside security with a critical eye , he'll take a turn around the ship before heading inside.

Once back, and hopefully a little soused, Lightfoot will stumble to his bunk and crash.

Upon reclining, Lightfoot will reflect on the enjoyable time he had, the beers he quaffed, the enjoyment he had getting to know his shipmates a little better. A bit of disappointment that no one at the Dusty Comet took a good-natured swing at him.

To lull his brain to sleep, he will think of the pretty waitress at the restaurant. He will imagine that she comes to him, clothes torn and heart pounding, into his arms, and she will say "Oh Lightfoot, pirates have killed my husband and now they are after me. Please protect me. I will reward you with what charms I possess..."

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....

It's now 2715. Dawn is at 0740 at this latitude, almost 9 hours away.

Koporan will head back to the ship and skim the info on the 'Keys' and also ask Go-go what she thinks about his new HUD acquisition. Go-Go ran you out to the full 200 reals you budgetted for it. The full texts of 'Keys To The Kingdom' and the historicals for Reavers' Deep are in your workstation. He works setting up the skim program until the coffee doesnt work anymore.

Kira checks in with Go go then and see if she has any last minuite orders/"suggestions" for him then sleep the sleep of the damned... Go-Go's asleep, but there is a light on *all* your terminals when you get in to check them up. Message on the terminal says "Borsalla, be ready at 0830. The rest of you, Lena will have your assignments at 0900. We've got a spaceworthiness inspection to pass, so let's get it together." 'Kira groans about the early wakeup and falls straight to sleep..

Alan enters the ship and sits down at the table with Koporan. "What are you working on there?" He asks, more or less, conversationally as he pulls several cigarette butts from his breast pocket and field strips them before soaking them in water and discarding them.

"Hey Alan...just looking over some notes that I had downloaded about that 'Mysterious' Keys to the Kingdom story. How about yourself, that seems kind of odd, what you are doing." Log|PrevNext|Back to Game Page