Kris and Paeon make their way up the narrow docking corridor with a degree of swagger needed in such a place.
As they enter Curney's ship via the bulkhead door they are indeed met with a welcome committee...
Awaiting you are a trio of Casbah Hostesses who stand viewing you both with appraising eyes...
Curney employs "hostesses" of sentient races who are as much in-house security as they are entertainment. These young women are trained in the arts of combat and performance.
Flanking the femme fatales is a bulky figure bedecked in gold and brandishing a Tactical X-Gen Gun who hails you in a booming voice;
"Welcome to King Curney's! Be it business or pleasure... you best be comin' in peace or ya'll gonna leave in pieces... We got an understandin'?"
You recognise the hulking human as Solid Gold - Curney's chief of security and overseer of the gambling halls. Not a man to be trifled with.
So what is the go forward? Noah asks. Gear up as best we can and then what? I wouldn't mind checking out that rock...
"Wait until the others are back from their..." He rumbles a vesk word. "If they come back."
As Noah suggests investigating Drift Rock, Chiskisk's antennae shake back and forth negatively;
{Alas at present the Rock is quarantined by Station Security. With the ongoing dispute on who owns the rights to the ship and asteroid, the Society could not sanction your sortie. Once the legality is settled we may be petitioned to investigate, but at present the Acreon and Drift Rock remain out of bounds to all...}
The Councillor taps their smart_desk and nods to themselves;
{Given the knowledge you gleaned that Astral Extractions wanted to send a message to both the Hardscrabble Collective and our own Society with the murder of Duravor, we shall, of course, press security to allow us to conduct any investigative mission on the stricken vessel. Be warned my friends, the cogs can turn slowly here, and with a Pact World conglomerate stymieing our overtures slower still...}
Noah nods, seeming to absorb more of the setting he was so recently born in. I see. How might we assist to loosen things up a bit?
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Paeon holds up both hands,
{Woah now, we aren't looking for a scrap. Just came to see about a sale with the King, business today.}
Looking to Kris, Paeon turns back to their welcoming party.
{Had we known we were to be greeted by a group whose looks rival the Lashunta we would have dressed a little nicer.}
Ed nods, Chiskisk said she's working on it, Noahtwo. Meanwhile... Ed hunches down looking conspiratorial. We've got time. Maybe we can case Stellar Resources and see what we can find out.
Chiskisk's mandibles clack in tune with a chuckle;
{We are neither he, nor she... but host. Though in Ed's defence it is not bring-larva-to-work-day. Regardless an investigation of Stellar Resources would be a prudent. Anything to add weight to a potential action citing Astral Extractions.}
The shirren gestures to the Inventory Screen on their data_desk;
{Please make any required transactions before you leave.}
The big man lowers his weapon and flashes a grin;
"Haha. Good. Here business is our pleasure, an' pleasure is our business."
He waves you follow him as the hostesses circle you both with almost predatory interest.
As the big man thumps up the corridor he talks;
"If its business then you'll want the King himself. I see you're both packing... No problem with that as long as you don't get trigger happy with staff or other guests. We have an understanding?"
Paeon nods and eyes the hostesses as they maneuver around them,
{Understood, just looking to sell and be on our way.}
Retsiji takes some of the loot and orders an industrial backpack for himself. "I can carry two heavies at once. Doesn't leave room for much else, though."
Koro's head isn't really into the meeting with Chiskisk, her mind filled with thoughts of her friend's final moments as his life spilled from his neck...all at the behest of Stellar....no Astral Extractions!
Such thoughts led her back to memories of her Da, and any dealings he had with that corp....
You vaguely recall Sovereign Chrysalis involving some negotiations with Stellar Resources - occasionally for mundane contractors, but more particularly pertaining to them supplying strike-breakers (or "dispute nullifiers" as your Da termed them).
Ed hums a few bars of the old StarBardz song about rolling in the credits as he registers earned seizures and arranges transfers to his companions' accounts. He turns back to the others, So anyone know where Stellar Resources is located?
Let me check that. Noah gets to work on his data pad, taking 20 for a 28.
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mentioned if it gleans us anything beneficial in the coming negotiations
Kris winks at the big guy "Always business before pleasure, oh minister of defense. However should I tire of sparring against Paeon here I may need to enlist some of your hostesses talents."
Ed's check corroborates what you had previously discovered - that Stellar Extractions have an office in the Ring sector of the station.
Chiskisk asks curiously;
{Do you wish us to book you a robo-taxi? The address is a short hop, but you could just go via the conveyer walkways...}
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"Conveyors are fine. What's the plan when we get there?"
Solid Gold smiles broadly at Kris with a nod;
"Sharp. Like that. You 2 seem on the level-level. Got a nose for those that ain't."
He pauses at a heavy door gilded with tawdry "KK" motifs.
The big man leans toward the door and breaths upon a sensor;
"Breathprint. King's latest security toy..."
The doors grind open into a cacophony of tunes, lo-lighting, gyrating bodies and narcotic fumes...
Approaching you through the neon smoke is a stout dwarf wearing silken attire and bedecked in gold. In his hand is an impossibly large cigar, upon his head is an impossibly small hat;
Moving effortlessly at his shoulder stands an armoured woman of possibly Tian descent;
The woman can only be Liu-Zh00 the fabled android bodyguard of King Curney. She is a living weapon who is honour bound to the decadent dwarf.
The dwarf smiles wickedly at you both, then beckons you forth with a pudgy bejewelled hand;
"Velcome to zhe Casbah. I am King here. Buziness is my pleasure. Pleasure is my buziness... Put guns avay Solid, zhees are friends..."
He eyes you both with a leer;
"Neophytes here, to Casbah, but not to the life I zhink? So my little blackhearts I hear you bring zhe King a proposal yes? Shall I guess or vill you tell mmm?"
Paeon follows the guards through the room and greets the King with a smile,
{A proposal perhaps not. Although we do have a chip to play on the table here at the Casbah.}
Paeon smiles at Curney,
{After all this is all about pleasure then isn't it. I had thought to make you a simple offer, but the idea of you guessing seems more up to the standards of the Casbah.}
The stellar mote orbits Paeon as he gives a brief pause,
{I would offer you a game then King Curney. I'll recite you a poem, and in turn you guess our currency. Should you fail, we will take 200% of the value.}
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Curney flashes a gold toothed smile, then beckons you both sit at a nearby table.
"200%... Ho-ho! Quite the mark up. Let us drink. I vill play your game, but be warned Paeon Tel'domah I alvays play to vin... and if I do the terms vill be in my favour..."
He chuckles to himself as several of the Hostesses arrive with decanters of spirits and small golden goblets as he sits down. His armoured shadow remains at his shoulder watching you both intently.
"Please sit. You too Kris-7. Do not sit on ceremony... Ve are all friends yes?."
"Greetings to Kurney King of the Casbah, a nod of her head, and lady Lu-Zy, specialist extraordinaire at making grown men cry. a look of respect given to the bodyguard, The king protects his kingdom well, <tsk> <tsk> if only all were so capable."
Kris says it all with a smile, and is making no attempt to mock King Kurney in his own 'palace'. Taking her place at the table she accepts a golden goblet if offered however doesn't drink until the king has; and then only a sip. This was time for business, not time to be thinking sideways.
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Paeon sits and accepts the Kings hospitality.
{To play with a loaded deck seems quite unfavorable for me but then again life is full of inequalities.}
Paeon gestures to the android bodyguard,
{A life of servitude can't be the autonomy one expected and here we are. Tell me what you wager Curney.}
{strange, I would have taken you as one who understood a life debt. We don't always walk the path we choose, sometimes honor chooses for us."}
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Within 30 minutes you collectively arrive at the office blok of Stellar Resources. On the face of it security would appear to be lo-profile, though you are all aware that once inside the premises vid surveillance will be enacted.
The building itself is a large blok housing a plethora of companies offering a multitude of services or operational specifics.
Outside you confirm that one Haraldd Bendriss, designate Lead Project Broker is located upon the 2nd Floor of the building. His direct comms patch is on open access from the Stellar Resources online site...
The vesk glares balefully at the office directory. I'd like to just haul him out and beat on him for a while. Probably get us in some kind of trouble, though. Then he shakes his head. "Find out what you can from out here. Then we'll take him out. His teeth won't be worth keeping, though."
I might be able to find out more by hacking in. Noah offers. Shall I try?
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Cover me for a sec. Noah jacks in but hits a firewall almost immediately.
Its a no go. Too much security.
As Curney settles into his chair, Liu-Zh00 continues to watch you both with an inscrutable expression.
The King jabs a thumb towards the android warrior with a leering smile;
"Ho-ho! You not get much from zhat vun girl... My Liu is excels at 2 things... silenze and the separating headz from nekz. Sometimez in tandem!!"
The scurrilous dwarf leans forward, flashing his golden capped teeth;
"So Paeon... Let me hear zhis poem of yours. Zhen I guess I guess!?"
He chuckles to himself as a number of patrons and hangers on within earshot follow suit.
Noah's deft attempt at hacking the system comes up short, however he does not trigger any security protocols.
You managed to get a clear look at the firewalls and a nasty feedback counter virus (that was not invoked). If the group's data_pad was infected it would be corrupted and data contained within would be likely compromised.
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In fact. Noah continues I noted a nasty feedback counter virus that could corrupt and even compromise any computer it attacked. I good thing I mostly know what I am doing.
Retsiji grunts. "Let's watch to see who comes and goes, and when we find a likely target leaving we'll follow them and beat them up until they talk."
Beat them up? Noah questions. But they might be innocent...
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The vesk shrugs. "Chance I'm willing to take."
Bendriss isn't innocent... Ed mentally mutters as he hunkers down to watch.
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Paeon takes a sip of the drink as the listens to Curney speak. He nods his head at the King's request.
He lowers his gaze to Curney and speaks for the first time in what seems ages, Paeon's low harmonious voice begins.
"Dark is the night that hides the stars
the Moons,
borrowed light once subdued our fears
Light now failing, and showing the truth
the minds vision seeping through
Warmth now fades, and tremors we find
accompany our wandering mind
Light returns to dilate our eyes
fleeting only, a trick of the mind
Continue you will
now chasing that light
one breath at a time
You've been caught by the true night"
Exercising patience, you all loiter in the plaza court at a decent distance whilst keeping an eye on the comings and goings of the Stellar Resources building.
After some 30 minutes you do a collective double take as your target Haraldd Bendriss walks from the building, apparently engaged in an animated comms conversation...
As you watch the man halts, gesticulating as his voice rises;
Even at a distance, Bendriss' raised voice carries and you catch his exasperated tone as well as the following snippets: "This is ridiculous!"; "Meeting who?" and "I don't have time of this nonsensical al fresco confabulation!"
As Paeon speaks a low hush descends across those immediately around the audience between King and visitors.
Curney listens intently, then eyes the big lashunta with a puzzled expression;
"Qvite the konundrum you present Paeon Tel'domah... Most challenging..."
His brow furrows in thought and he takes thoughtful puff of his stogie, then nods to himself.
"I haf it. You are a klever vun, but you speak of space itself yes? Hah! Space! The answer is space!"
Ed's antennae strain forward and he bounces slightly in excitement at the sight of Bendriss. He's going to meet someone and he doesn't seem happy about it. Let's follow him.
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The vesk strains to pick out what the man is saying, but can't. "I'll take your word for it. Let's go."
As you discuss tailing the project broker, he continues his discussion and gesticulations at a distance but does not move further than to pace back and forth.
While he talks, the suit keeps pausing as if to look for someone.
As Bendriss scans the plaza's denizens you catch/read him saying;
"My new security detail? Team of 4? Big vesk... okay..."
She just shrugs her shoulders non-the-wiser...
Ed impatiently waves a segmented hand for Retsiji to be quiet and he leans forward with antennae erect. Sounds like he's being assigned some guards? Said there's a team of 4 coming and one is a big vesk like you. Maybe we should grab him now.