Back into the Fray : PT 1
12 Aug 2024Oni
Sitting in the lobby of Brooks Orbital watching listening to the Galnet play while looking over some prototypes for a new ship called the Type 8 someone comes and sits down right next to me. Thinking nothing of it, I keep looking over this prototype in the magazines and shaking my head realizing that it's going to come right out of my pocket as soon as it's available to the public. Being a sucker for Lakon Spaceways manufacturers I mumble to myself and sigh "Yea...this is going to cost me a pretty penny but I should have enough to splurge a little on myself." Smirking as I speak before really noticing the person next to me, they sit there silently for a moment with their hands grasping one another tightly. Shifting my eyes higher I look up towards their face as their looking straight ahead with a bead of sweat starting to form."You know these types of things are much easier in a spot where there aren't many people around if you're that nervous about it." It was easy to see when a customer wanted to request my services but didn't know how to go about it.
Tensing up a bit they keep their gaze forward "Yes, let's go somewhere private please."
I give them a simple nod and turn off my music player and shove it in my pocket as we push to our feet and begin walking out of the lobby. With their fist clenched I could tell it was either two things. Either they were setting me up to get captured or it was just their first time asking for well..work that others wouldn't want to take. Regardless I've been out of a job for a while and just relaxing for the most part I couldn't help but be curious. Moving upstairs to a less populated area we rest up a railing as I face outwards over the lobby looking down and they keep their back on the railing facing the opposite way.
"So I assume you've got some work for me?" Slightly I look in their direction as they seem a bit shocked at how straightforward I was about it.
"Don't you want to know who I am or what I'm asking you to do?"
"If I'm being honest, I'm guessing you're going to tell me all that information if I accept anyways so I figured I'd just get to the chase."
"Oh..fair point, well it's a request that I can't really post because it isn't well.." They lean over and whisper to me. "It's illegal."
I pretend to gasp a bit just for giggle while looking at them "Well let's see what you've got then?"
Shocked at how easy the job they would look around for a moment as I sighed "If you keep this up you're going to draw attention to us, just be uh normal I guess. Pretend that it's perfectly legal and nothing could possibly happen to us." I give a reassuring nod trying to ease their nerves but I can't really tell if it's working or not as they sigh a bit and take a deep breath to relax.
"Yes, anyways.." They reach for a tablet and hand it to me. "It's yours to keep and when you're done just give me a ring by pressing this button right here to-" I cut them off before they can go any further.
"This isn't my first rodeo but if anything I'm curious on how you knew to reach out to me, it couldn't have been a lucky guess because of that death grip you had on your hands earlier." Their eyes widen a bit as I question them and without any hesitation they step away and quickly make their way back downstairs to vanish into the crowd.
Shrugging at the abruptness I power on the tablet and start scrolling through the jobs listed and the details. Even I'm shocked by the load I just picked up, easily expecting one or two jobs. Instead it was seven jobs all consisting of mega ships. Sighing to myself I look at the details and shake my head.
"What have I gotten myself into." Powering down the tablet I smirk and make my way towards the elevator to get back to my ship.."This job isn't going to do itself."
-R