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"Greetings Vilkot! The names Wolfwood and yes, I would love to live deliciously! The misses sent me out to scrounge up some supplies for the long journey home. I'll just be in need of some basic supplies."
Jax leans over the counter with a paper note cupped under the palm of his hand, just visible enough for the shop keep to notice. Written on the note is an inquiry for the most exquisite liquors available and the possibility of a particular brand, Ol' Bese Black Label Vintage pre gap, if available. Also on the note is to have the items thrown into a sealed case marked for basic supplies to ward off suspicion. Stuck to the note also is a cred stick with a hefty sum loaded on it.
Jax looks over his shoulder for a quick second then turns back to Vilkot. "Nothing too fancy." Jax winks.
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Vilkot has a number of fine vintages available, although his selection is piecemeal and inconsistent. Still, Jax is able to assemble a decent collection of liquors for 400 credits.
"Thanks for your patronage! We appreciate the business of all of our Pre-Dead customers. I hope your lungs continue to function in the expected manner."
Mr. Wolfwood, may I have a word? I have not been acting quite like myself lately. I dont deal with loss well. You see I lost my parents in a horrible fashion quite suddenly a couple years ago. I grew rather close to my crew and poured myself into my work as a result, then I lost them too.
I regret the way I have treated you in the aftermath of that. So from here on out I'm going to take a different tactic in our interactions. I would appreciate it of you would feel at ease to be yourself around me. It was quite gracious of you, and the rest of the crew to take me in and I want to step with the best foot forward from here on out.
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Taking a break from rummaging through the crate, Jax turns around to hear Lupo out. After he finished talking Jax let's out a laugh.
Ha ha ha! Dont be so hard on yourself Lupo. I get on everyone's nerves from time to time. All that matters in the end is that we find a solution to our squabble so to move on with the task at hand.
Speaking of loss, me and you are not so different in that regard. I've seen several crew in the past fall from their injuries and seen many friends come and go. Over time I've learnt to just laugh it off so dont take it the wrong way when I laugh about something that maybe shouldn't be laughed about. I am truly sorry about the fate of your former crew and also sorry about your resent loss of parents. I never really knew mine. Was too young at the time.
But before this turns into a sob story, let's save that topic for another time and get to you joining our little crew of misfits!
Jax turns around and grabs a few bottles of the vintage liquor he had acquired earlier and a few glasses from the dining area.
It's time we make this official! Jax announces over the comms for everyone to make there way to the cargo hold.
Thank you.
Rag accepts a drink if offered and will take out his datapad and begin taking notes.
Well now is as good a time as any to brainstorm our strategy and goals for this adventure. Though no plan survives contact with the enemy, its best to at least have an outline of what we want to do. We could find ourselves outnumbered and outgunned in short order.
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Once everyone has entered the cargo hold, Jax grabs a bottle of the strongest stuff from the crate (Veskarium Ale) and pours a glass for everyone.
So, I just wanted to formally welcome Lupo to the group and say a few words. And if anyone else would like to please feel free to.
Jax takes a breath...
In our short time as starfinders, we've encountered quite a bit of trouble and excitement more than we could've expected. We've helped out countless individuals and put down many others. Of recent, we've now a new member to our crew and a fine addition he will make I'm sure. In time I hope that we can fill the void that was caused by the loss of his last crew by becoming his new one.
So a toast!
To turning struggle into success
To those we've lost
To those we've gained
To the heat of battle
To glory pride and fame
To friendship
To family
To the crew and a stiff brew
To land and sea
To all of you, and to me.
Talek trudges in nursing a cup of coffee. i appreciate the offer, but i have had quite enough alcohol recently. Talek raises his cup of coffee at the toast.
Tiktik accepts the glass with a forced smile, then as Jax turns away, he goes to sniff at the liquid, and quickly recoils, stifling a gag.
Ugh, no more booze. Five minutes of sillyness, followed by an hour of puking, and a day of intense sensitivity to bright lights and loud noises! Still, gotta be friendly. These guys haven't tried to ditch you yet! he told himself.
He climbs up on the crate and raises his glass for the toast, but tries to pour his glass into Talek's when the others are distracted. Ironically he is too focused on his scheme to catch Talek mentioning that he's drinking coffee.
There we go. I owed him for those drinks I stole the other night.
talek takes a sip of his coffee, spits it out and walks back to the galley to get a fresh cup.
Tiktik's eyes go wide, and he cringes a little as Talek storms off. Then once the android is out of ear shot, he shakes his head and says "Well that was rude." he says while proudly holding up his empty glass for all to see.
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Jax suddenly realizes how fast Tiktik finished his glass.
Wow buddy! I'm not even finished with my glass and you've already slammed yours! What a champ! Here, have another!
Before Tiktik can interject, his glass was already half full before the bottle ran dry.
Whoops! That's the last of the Ale. What else do I have here? Kykor Jarate... now that sounds like a vintage drink!
After Talex spits out his coffee and turns to refill his cup, Hey Talek, if that stuff is that bad, you should add a shot of this! Jax points to the Kykor Jarate brew.
Pushing his tiny form from the confines of the hydrobody, L wraps his tentacles around a small shot glass.
"Indeed, we can be a... rambunctious lot. This journey we have started, it seemed so simple at first, and now, we're gearing up to fight a space cult and a militia while trying to stop anyone from getting their hands on what sounds to be like a doomsday weapon. Not exactly where I saw myself heading 6 months ago. And I wouldn't have it any other way. So, welcome Rags. And welcome to all the other friends we meet along the way."
L sips the alcohol and slides back within the comfort of his watery form.
A look of sheer panic comes across Tiktik's face.
Crap! Ok, umm, the big guy, I'm sure he's thirsty.
He tries again to offload his booze, this time into Bepo's cup.
Bepo looks around with his drink held up.
I am really glad I met all of you. Just a handful of months ago I was shy and wouldn't even talk without using telepathy because people made fun of my speech. I'm glad to have friends......no a family like this that we have each other's backs, fight over dumb stuff and laugh and joke with. Also welcome to this merry band of misfits. Love you guys!
Bepo will take his glass and down it.
Bepo was being 100% genuine.
After Bepo's speech, Tiktik runs over to him and wraps his arms around the bear's massive furry leg, and squeezed with all the might he could muster.
"I love you guys so much! You're the best friends a guy could ever ask for!" he blubbered.
After several minutes of sobbing happy tears, he straightened up, wiped a disturbing amount of snot from his face, and grinned broadly, "Alright, let's go track down a doomsday cult! To the ministry office!"
Sounds like great idea Overclock. Let's go see what we can find out.
Rags smiles as he witnesses the genuine camaraderie between his new ship mates.
Right! So what do we know about this Minister? Friend, foe, or somewhere in between?
"Chiskisk gave us a contact person to reach out to, a bureaucrat-slash-historian that works in the Ministry office, named Waneda Trux. She handles the reports on the Corpse Fleet I guess. Oh, and she supposedly has heard that the fleets are gathering resources. So hopefully she'll have a lead for us on where to go next."
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Jax notices that B-bop is rather quiet, more so than usual and walks over to him.
Hey B-bop. What gives? Jax nudges his shoulder.
Oh wait! I know what'll get ya! Jax turns around to the crate grabbing a bottle. While I was rummaging through the bottles, I noticed this one that had strange writing on it and once I looked it up, it appears to be a liquor some skittermander invented. It's called Happy Hour Every Hour. It looks similar to the stuff you drink normally.
Jax hands B-bop the bottle.
Plus, I did owe you one for your doctorates degree. Jax says with a big wink.
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A wide, two-story building of black and rust-dappled gray stands out from the other dilapidated structures on this densely packed block. A holographic banner above the sliding double entryway displays the words “Ministry ofEternal Vigilance” in Common and Eoxian. A smaller sign
on the front doors declares that the office is open for at least 12 hours every Pact Standard day, even if the stench from the nearby necrograft factory and the building’s lack of windows and architectural accouterments are less than inviting.
The lobby of the building contains rows of rusty and lopsided hoverchairs. A boxy dispensing machine near the entrance dispenses numbered tokens for the hordes of petitioners whoever constructed this building expected. At present there is only one person in the chairs, a shabby-looking human man sitting playing a game on a datapad.
Behind a desk at the far end of the room is an undead woman working methodically on a computer terminal.
A holographic sign blinks into existence when you enter, reading WELCOME TO THE MINISTRY OF ETERNAL VIGILANCE. A chibi skeleton wearing a cowboy hat peeks above the sign before striding out and waving, speaking in a squeeky prospector drawl.
"Well, howdy, folks. I'm Boney! Welcome to the Ministry of Eternal Vigilance! If you're here to report a sightin' of the Corpse Fleet, please take a token from yonder dispensin' machine and we'll sure get to you just as soon as we can, shuckamuck! If there's something I can be helpin' ya with, just go ahead and ask, but remember, I'm not a real AI, so's I can't help ya with much!"
A much different, leaden and robotic voice speaks rapidly. "IF THIS COMPUTER AID IS UNSATISFYING SAY 'COMPUTER CHANGE ASPECT' AND ANOTHER WILL BE PRESENTED. THE MINISTRY OF ETERNAL VIGILANCE MEANS NO DISRESPECT TO THE PEOPLE OF AKITON. THE MINISTRY OF ETERNAL VIGILANCE IS DEDICATED TO UPHOLDING ALL RELEVANT TREATIES AND PACTS WITH THE PACT COUNCIL."
Hmmm... Howdy Boney. We are expected. Starfinders, here to see Waneda Tru. Would you be so kind as to let her know we are here?
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Tiktik's eyes light up, and he begins bouncing up and down, cycling through a routine of tugging at Bepo's sleeve, pointing at Boney, retreating behind the giant bear's leg, covering his mouth and squeaking a bit.
Eventually he forms actual words, "Oh my gods, are you Boney from The Wild Frontier Holovid Hour? I looooved that show! I would race home from every heist to catch the show every afternoon. Oooh, can we sing the theme song?"
He immediately begins singing terribly off key,
Saddle up, little cowboys,
Saddle up with your friend.
Cowboy Boney is riding,
With his hat in his hand!
Get your vac-suit a-sealed up,
And your phazer on stun.
Cowboy Boney's a-leading,
By his wits and his gun!
Though his laughter's a rattle,
And his belt's slippin' down,
Cowboy Boney's the fastest,
Slinger in old Akitown!
He then continued in a fast monotone,
ThismessagebroughttoyoubyStar-Oidsbreakfastcereal. Star-Oidsispartofacompletebreakfastwhenverylittleisconsumedandallcaloric, vitamin,andmineralneedsaremetthroughother,more"food-like"means. AnysimilaritiesBoneyshareswithanyonelivingordeadiscoincidental. Boney'scowboyingskillshavenotbeenevaluatedbyexperts. Allrightsreserved, Star-Oids."
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"Oh, sorry! You're probably more familiar with the theme to the later seasons." Tiktik said, trying (with intermittent success) to slow down his speech and enunciate while adding sound effects and pantomiming the action:
Get on up, little Cowboys
Take your lassos and hats
Rope that old coffee table
Rope the dog, rope the cat!
Then we'll practice a-ridin'
On your mom's rockin' chair
With your spurred feet a-janglin'
Throw your hat in the air!
"Yip-dee-aye" little cowboys
From the moons to ast'roids
Then sit down to a hearty
Bowl of new Star-yyyyyy-oiiiiddddsss!
Star-oidsarenowclassifiedasatype3non-ediblefoodbyproduct
andcannolongerbesaidtobepartofahealthybreakfast. Contactyourmedicalproviderorpoisoncontrolhotlineifyouexperienceanyofthefoll owing: drymouth,prolongedhallucinations,feelingsofdespair,non-standardlimbproducti on,falsepregnancy,organfailure,ordamagetoeye-stalks,tentaclesormucusmembran esthatdoesnotresolve.
”Boney, no!” he exclaimed. Slowly it dawned on him what had happened, and he tore into an obscenity-laden temper tantrum, ”Gods damned, cheap a$$, lazy programmers and their bait-and-switch—“
Tiktik was still not quite over not getting to talk to the goth queen.
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Jax looks over to the undead woman behind the desk and makes his way over to her. Well hello there liddle lady...
Jax pauses and coughs to clear his throat, with a touch of embarrassment on his face.
Ahem... Sorry about that. That projection is rather infectious. We were hoping you could help us out. Is the Minister in today? Jax says with a grin.
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"She is. A singing rat, a bear, a cat that flirts with a dead woman...you must be Starfinders. Fine." She types something into the terminal and gives you her attention.
"I am Waneda Trux, the Minster of Eternal Vigilance. The bug sent you, huh? You know the stuff people report to me is mostly garbage, right? Petty, stupid complaints about the neighbors or outright lies about rivals and enemies, and none of ’em have nothing to do with the Corpse Fleet.
“Still, once in a thousand moons, we actually get a legitimate lead or two. When that happens, I forward the reports to the government, who passes them on to the authorities and the Pact Council and all the Pact Worlds, or so I’m told. This time, I’m giving ’em to you too. You want to use ’em to go after the Corpse Fleet, be my guest. Literally, since I was instructed to set aside a room upstairs for you. It’s yours for as long as you’re here, as an office and as a bedroom, since you lot still need sleep, I guess. But don’t rush your business on my behalf; I just love strangers—especially living ones I can’t eat—staying in my office, particularly when my boss is pretty much forcing me to play host.” Waneda smiles disagreeably, revealing sharp, scraggly teeth and a long, curling tongue.
The pouting ysoki, just grumbled and shrugged.
”So, umm, ya know your virtual attendant, Boney? Could I program some more depth to his speech algorithms? I’m licensed with Visual Asimov++. No charge or anything, just livin’ by the Cowboy Code,” he says with a tip of his nonexistent hat.
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Looking to Tiktik, listening to what he had said, Jax shakes his head just a little bit with a smirk and thinks to himself, "I'm going to have to get him a pair of fancy boots to go with that imaginary hat one of these days... and a hat. A really big one."
Jax looks back to Wandea and leans onto the desk. "You know, for a dead woman, you've got quite a lively attitude and personality I must say. I like that about you Miss. Trux. Sorta makes me sad I'm one of the living," Jax says with a wink.
Jax straightens back up from her desk and continues. "We appreciate any amenities provided, and will try to conduct our research as hastily as possible and not linger too long." Jax then procures a smile on his face. "I wouldnt want to abuse your 'gracious' hospitality after all." Jax says ever so sarcastically, but in a funny way, not a mean way.
Rags pauses just long enough after Jax's uncomfortable and futile attempts to flirt with someone who would rather eat him, than speak with him before asking, What are these 'legitimate' leads you mentioned? He takes out his datapad and begins taking notes.
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"What? Fine, whatever. Just don't break anything." she makes a shooing gesture at Tiktik.
Rags doesn't think she is sympathetic to the Corpse Fleet necessarily, but there does seem to be a certain jaded attitude toward the nature of her work.
"“I’ve got two reports that came in during the last week,” Waneda explains. “They’re the only ones with any merit at all recently, to be honest with you. The authorities might get to investigating ’em soon, but I’m willing to bet your business is more urgent.”
She transmits the reports to your devices.
“You should probably look into both of these as soon as you can. The flesh brewer works at Fleshworn Fabrications. He said to ask for him at the factory’s back gates, which are right across the street from the ministry. That delightful stench you smell is from the flesh vats in the factory yard. I suppose you don’t like it much but it just makes me hungry. The retired trooper lives down the way. She’s retired, so she should be available whenever—what else is she going to do? If there’s anything else, I guess you can ask me.”
Retirement... with an eternal life? How exactly does that work? Is the pension any good? Having lead a military career, one might find retirement for eternity boring and be given to flights of fancy, or maybe a desire for some excitement in their lives.
L looks over the documents and messages his fellow starfinders.
<This first one here. The flesh brewer fellow. That seems odd that a vat was stolen and an insignia was left behind. It feels too convenient to have just happened, but it still may be worth at least taking a look and asking him. The other, that one is a bit more worrisome. Do we want to try and cover more ground and each take one of these assignments? And what of the other documents? Do we want to leave someone behind to try and dig through those as well?>
<I would prefer staying together as we are investigating corpse fleet activity, but time is of the essence and i imagine we can allocate resources fairly evenly to be effective on multiple fronts.>
<I am good with whatever everyone decides. It would be fast to split up and cover more ground.>
<We can split up. If we are to investigate two potential crime scenes, we should try to fairly represent all skill sets in the two separate groups so as not to miss any clues. I'm more mystically inclined, but am fairly good with social interactions.>
<I have noticed you tend to sniff the air a lot Rags. With the comments about how the flesh vat facility has such a strong odor, would you be alright going in there? I can help you to reduce that problem if it were to be overwhelming... but it may impact your normal ability to check the air.>
<Your concern is appreciated L, but I wouldn't want to dull my senses any.>
<Understandable. Well then, shall we excuse ourselves and see what we can dig up? If nothing else, we can return here and dig through those documents and perhaps pick out something Waneda may have dismissed.>
Turning to the Minister
In Eoxian "Thank you for these documents, we'll get started on these right now, and likely return after to follow up on the other data you had set aside for us. We appreciate your cooperation."