Free Galaxies RP, Play Thread

{Be aware that you may go several posts before any real action starts. Just treat it as though your character has no idea anything out of the ordinary is happening. This will be your opportunity to show me everything I need to know about your characters - take advantage of it.

If your character isn't mentioned in this opening post, simply post him or her doing whatever he or she might be doing. Be detailed, and involved. Enjoy!}

---

Derrin Karth sipped his drink calmly, calmly surveying the other patrons at Club Zon. In his line of work, it was always good to know who was around him - and how well they were armed. Most nobody seemed to be paying him any mind - that was probably a good thing. Everyone was chattering quietly, enjoying a drink or waiting for the show to start. Then he spotted a shifty-eyed Glecchan who seemed particularly interested in him. Derrin tried not to pay any notice to the froglike creature - or at least, to look like he wasn't. But then he observed the distinctive scar over his observer's left eye.

Gerbus? Derrin's heartbeat increased just a little. There was no mistaking the bounty hunter. And Gerbus certainly seemed to have taken an interest in him . . .

---

"Five minutes, everyone."

Caden Romeo nodded, and slipped his arms through the sleeves of the dark, flowing cloak. He was already a star on Bellatrix II, but this was the singing magician's first show at Port Besclyne. He'd opted to hit one of the smaller clubs before trying to attract a crowd to one of the theaters; unfortunately, his leading lady had contracted some manner of Stekian measles, and was going to be unable to perform for a number of months.

But that wasn't so unfortunate, after all - it had allowed him the opportunity to meet Donna Prima, an extremely talented Bellarian who had either volunteered, or been volunteered - he wasn't sure which - to fill the role, at least temporarily.

If Caden wasn't such an agreeable person, Donna may have been a little irritated; tonight was supposed to be one of her solo nights. But the young performer was charismatic, friendly, modest - he even had a somewhat self-deprecating side that was sort of endearing. He wasn't entirely human - though the only thing to differentiate him was his pointed ears.

The magician walked over to Donna after getting into his robe. She noticed, with a little satisfaction, that he was showing a little nervousness; he ran a thin hand through his slightly wavy, light brown hair as he said, "Donna - again, thank you so much for filling in for Chant'ii. I - well, I know it's not your usual show, and I don't mean for you to play second fiddle--"

"Romeo - we had to replace the mirror - this one's a little more wobbly," the stage manager bellowed.

"Alright, I'll be careful." Caden returned his sky-blue eyes to Donna. "Anyway - I just wanted to say that you'll be wonderful - and thanks, again."

---

The sunlight streamed through Samara Vlyder-Jyksyn's window. So warm, so lovely . . .

So bright.

Which probably meant that she was late for breakfast. Wonderful.

---

"Many of them have been traced to Port Besclyne, my lord."

"Not surprising. The others?"

The aide fidgeted. "Various corners of the galaxies. We--" He swallowed hard. "We haven't located them all, sir."

"That's alright." There was no anger in the voice - simply cool control. "We'll start at Besclyne. Then the others we know. The rest . . . we will find them. Yes . . . yes, I will find them . . ."

"We're almost to Norte Estrella," Jim told the three escaping slaves, all of different species, sharing the Freedom Fighter with him. He could their faces light as they knew they approached the slavery-free Free Galaxian planet.
Suddenly, a light and beep started sounding and lighting as the radar picked up a ship. Jim looked on his screen and recognized the design, it was a slave catcher.

"In the back, there's a hatch," Jim dictated, trying to keep calm. "All of you get in it."

Jim had dealt with slave-catchers before but the punishment for slaves who escaped as well as those that assist them caused him to feel nervous everytime. He kept a constant speed, as the slave catching ship had already seen him and there was no way the Freedom Fighter could outrun it in this part of space.

"You're here earlier than usual. You must be in serious needs of credits to risk a meeting at this hour."

Kareena smiled as she taunted the Stekian who was seated on the other side of her desk.

"Enough of the small talk, Kareena. Do you have any prospects or not?"

Prodeek was indeed running low on credits. Though for most sentients in the galaxy, the amount he had was more than they would make in a few years of work. But Prodeek's work was nothing if not profitable and he was used to having much more of a financial cushion than he currently had.

"Since your last visit, security's been a bit tighter. It seems one of those poor unfortunates you abducted was not as unknown as you thought. He had some family with a little sway in the area. They've been pressuring Governor Eims to do something about it."

Kareena could see Prodeek's lip twitch in anger and anxiety.

"But lucky for you, they see it as a simple disappearance of a down and out misfortunate. But I should say it's your skill that is more involved than luck. But either way, they didn't put too much time into the investigation but they did decide to expand the security a bit. Of course the Governor publicly declared that a full investigation was underway. You know... he's not that much different than us. He's not above bending the truth in order to save a credit or two."

Kareena's smile did little to make Prodeek feel better. Even though he wasn't under suspicion, added security could hamper his ability to acquire new slaves.

"Yeah... he's a real philanthropist. Do you have any prospects or not?"

Cayden, Kareena's formidable bodyguard, growled slightly as he heard Prodeek's rather harsh tone towards Kareena with his last impatience-filled question.

"Easy, Cayden... we're all friends here. Mr. Gamoranio is simply anxious to fill his retirement coffers. I do have several prospects for you. And they'll be well worth your time if you can avoid security."

Prodeek leaned forward in his chair.

"Security hasn't stopped me yet. What do ya got?"

Kareena smiled as she slid the datapad towards Prodeek. His chubby hand picked it up and he smiled at the thought of making some extra credits on the 'dregs' of the galaxy.

"Nice work, Kareena. This is more than a little helpful. As always, I'll transfer your finder's fee once I get my pay."

He stood and bowed slightly.

"It's been a pleasure as always my lady."

Kareena remained in her seat.

"Indeed, Mr. Gamoranio. And I do hope you can avoid any problems in the casino. How much was it you lost last time?"

Prodeek gritted his teeth as he remembered the horrible gambling spree he had went on the last time he was at 'Kareena's Place'.

"That's enough of that, Kareena. I'll be going out the back way. You'll get no unearned credits from me today."

He could hear her laugh as he left her office and made his way to the back exit. Outside, he met with his two most trusted handlers.

"Here. There's several prospects for you two. You know the drill. But be extra cautious this time. They've beefed up security since last time."

Corin and Durkag nodded.

"I'm going to Club Zon. Gotta have that alibi just in case. Get in touch when you're done."

Prodeek then left his handlers to their work. He had full trust in them. They were almost too good. Which is why he kept them well paid to ensure their continued loyalty to him and him alone.

The streets of Port Besclyne were busy as he walked to the Club. He didn't really enjoy the shows but it did provide a solid alibi for him. Though thanks to his discretion, he had not had to use it yet. He arrived to find that the club was busier than usual. Must be some new entertainers there. Didn't matter to him. The more witnesses the better.

Once inside, he saw the bounty hunter Gerbus almost immediately. He had hired him a few times. He wasn't the best, but he was efficient enough. And it saved him credits. Not certain if the Glecchan was hunting, Prodeek decided not to bother him. He took a seat at a table near the front. He ordered Stekian Rum. It was a disgusting drink that only his species seemed to have a taste for. But Port Besclyne was one of the few places in the galaxy that kept a supply of the nauseous brew.

He leaned back in his seat as he sipped the drink and relished in what his species considered a delicacy.

OOC: RD - is Jim running a false ID beacon on his ship, or would it show up as The Freedom Fighter, property of Rev. Jim Fargo?

IC: "Well, well - Mr. Gamoranio - it's been a while."

Prodeek had no difficulty recognizing the burly human-cyborg that sat down across from him as Zen Gundar, a retired gun-for-hire of the highest caliber. Their paths had crossed several times before - sometimes as cohorts, sometimes as competitors. Zen had retired a few years back, after taking a nasty leg wound.

"What brings ye to Port Besclyne, Mr. Gamoranio?" he asked, fixing the red focus of his mechanical eye on Prodeek.

Meanwhile, Derrin was getting concerned about Gerbus. Two or three times now, the Glecchan had made a move as if planning on moving to his table, but had stopped himself. Biting his tongue and holding his breath, Derrin waited for the hunter to make the first move . . .

This post has been edited by Dragonwynd on Apr 7 2007, 08:20 PM

The Freedom Fighter- Purchased from a smuggler for a good price at Port Besclyne, the ship is registered as owned by the Cooperation of Interplanetary Traders (CIT), an underground smuggler's organization.

OOC: Understood. Thanks.

IC: A few moments after the ship appeared in his aft sensors, Jim's communicator crackled to life with a hail.

"Freedom Fighter, this is the Ploghda Spatial Patrol Force patrol vessel Locutor Tau. Please power down your engines and prepare for boarding and inspection."

Jim pushed a button causing a floor to slide over the door to the hatch, completely hiding it from view. He then activated his communicator,
Locutor Tau, this is the Freedom Fighter. May I ask why I am being boarded?

He started slightly slowing down in order to avoid further suspicion but did not stop.

"Anyhow," the striped Fellian continued his lengthy and supposedly hilarious story, flapping his hand about to emphasize a point that didn't exist "I tell him, I tell this guy with the--" The beautiful Tillek woman he was talking to stood up and left the chair nearest to him, a disgusted expression on her face.

"Hey, where'd ya go?" he called after her, but it was in vain. He turned to the female Fellian on his other side who gave him a pitying look and shook her head as if disappointed.

"Look what did," she told him, "scared off another one. Hey!" she called to the bartender of Club Zon, "Some more of... this stuff for my friend here." The 'stuff' she was referring to was the cheap wine both she and her friend savored, but she was drunk just enough to not remember its name.

"I'm not too good at this, am I?" Yegger asked Shibba, his lifelong friend and partner in a wide variety of illegal activites.

"Not after that much wine you aren't," she replied and drank most of the wine that was just served to Yegger.

"Hey!" he exclaimed and snatched the glass from her hand.

"Oh, shut up and stop whining," Shibba told him and ordered herself another glass. She was halfway through it when something - or rather, someone - caught her eye. Abruptly putting the glass down, she pointed to a Stekian who had just entered the club. "Look," she told Yegger.

As he turned around, he immediately knew he'd seen the Stekian before, though in his current state, he had not the slightest idea when or where. "He seems familiar," he said, just as uneasy as his friend...

This post has been edited by Chfutzin on Apr 7 2007, 11:06 PM

Prodeek finished the sip of rum and wiped his mouth before smiling.

"You know me, Zen. I just love the shows they put on here. Top-notch all the way."

He smirked before taking another sip.

"So did you ever get a hold of the guy that messed up your leg?"

Donna was only doing this because the Zons asked her to. She's grateful to them, so she does whatever she can for them. That must be the reason she gave up her solo -big money making solo - night to some magician. This was just terrific.

Donna looked up as Caden approached and listened to him stammer out yet another round of thanks. "You can stop thanking me now," replied Donna's alto, "I'm doing this for the Zons not you. I'll go out there and smile and whatever else I need to because they asked me to." Donna stood up, ready to go out to the stage, "I'll see you out there."

Donna left Caden in the dressing room and headed for the stage. She changed her mind last second and headed out to the bar. Donna ordered a light drink. She figured she'd need it to get through her 'new act.'

As Shibba looked away for a moment, she immediately spotted the Bellarian who sat near the bar, ordering herself a light drink.

"Hey," she said and nudged Yegger, trying to get his attention. When didn't look, she snapped her fingers in front of his face. "Hey!" Only then did he turn his attention to her.

"Isn't that Donna Prima?" she asked him, though she well knew it was.

"Who?" Yegger asked with perplexity, unfocused and slow from the alcohol.

"Donna Prima? The singer?"

"Donna-- oh! Yeah, yeah it is," he said, finally getting it, "I thought she only performed here." They both unconsciously stared at her for a moment in silence before Yegger spoke up again. "Wanna bet I can get a date with her?"

"What?" Shibba exclaimed, nearly spilling the drink she was now sipping. "You're joking, right? Why don't you just approach her with a sign reading 'I'm a drunken loser'."

"A hundred credits?" Yegger persisted, holding out his hand.

Shibba chuckled before shaking his hand. "Pfft, fine. Easy money."

"Deal," Yegger concluded before standing up and almost falling back to his chair. "Woah, gotta watch my step," he said as he did his best not to stagger to the seat next to the singer.

"Hey, barman," he called out, "I'll have..." he looked around for a moment as the bartender got to him, before focusing on Donna's drink. "...That."

Shibba rolled her eyes and finished her drink, watching the miserable sight that was about to unfold.

"It's standard procedure for random contraband searches in Ploghda Space, as is our right. Assuming your ship isn't carrying anything illegal, we'll be on our way. May I have the name of your captain?"

"Supposing I had," Zen said, a dangerous glint in his organic eye, "I wouldn't tell you where someone might overhear . . . there are certain forms of violence that are best not described in public. At any rate - I'm headed off-world. A friend of mine says there may be some trouble headed in - and soon. Not sure what type, but I figure it's best to be scarce, until things blow over." The cyborg got to his feet, and Prodeek could notice a definite limp. "Enjoy the show, Mr. Gamoranio."

Caden sighed as Donna walked off. It's always more fun performing with someone who actually likes you. Maybe I should go back to sawing people in half . . .

He laughed, and shook his head. She had every right to be bitter; but she could sing, and she was smart - both of which made her a perfect leading lady. And, yes, she had earned her solo nights that he had come in and stolen.

Well, she could thank the Zons for that, too . . .

---

"Evening, Derrin. Fancy bumping into you here."

Derrin's hand rested easily on the blaster at his side. "Small universe, eh, Gerbus?"

The froggish alien looked uncomfortably around. "Um - mind if I have a seat?" Derrin shook his head, hand still on his blaster, and eyes on the other's. Gerbus sat down, and leaned forward. "What did you do?"

Derrin blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Someone's posted a bounty on you. Major bounty. The kind only crimelords and royalty can afford - and only then, if they're really mad."

Derrin frowned. This didn't make any sense; he hadn't made anyone particularly angry recently . . . at least, nobody that powerful. "I don't know," he said. "I'm sure you'll find out when you turn me in, hmm?" As unnoticeably as he could, he flipped the blaster from stun to kill.

Gerbus' left eye darted towards Derrin's hand. "Don't be stupid, Derrin. I came to warn you, not to catch you. You're a good smuggler - and something smells fishy about this bounty. To tell the truth, I'd be worried for myself if I cashed it in; the bounty's offered through a go-between - nobody knows who's really behind it. I don't like that, and I don't like that they aren't offering a reason."

"You're a wonderful human being," Derrin muttered, keeping his hand on his blaster.

"I'm serious. Watch your back. There's a rumor that--"

At that moment, the lights in the club went out, with one spotlight remaining fixed on a mirror set at center stage. Derrin tensed up, but Gerbus made no hostile move; instead, he turned his big, glassy eyes to the stage. Derrin made sure he could watch the hunter and the stage at the same time; this Caden Romeo was supposed to be pretty good . . .

As the sound system began playing an ethereal melody, an equally otherworldly tenor began to sing a Tillek Dreamsong. As the audience watched, they could see the reflection of a handsome human male, dressed in a black cloak, with wavy tan hair and sparkling blue eyes, growing clearer in the mirror. It seemed that he was the one that was singing . . .

After being cued, by the falling of the lights, to get backstage, Donna could almost proceed without thinking; after Caden appeared onstage, she would join in the duet, and then 'magically' appear beside him at a set point in the music, behind the mirror . . .

The audience gave a collective gasp as the reflection in the mirror suddenly stepped out of the mirror, held his hands aloft, and cut off the invisible orchestra at the climax of the song. Those who didn't have their hands on their blasters broke into polite applause as he bowed slightly, wearing a small smile.

As the applause faded, he began singing again, quietly - Donna's cue to join the song . . .

---

"There." The club's lights were out - the show had begun. "Mark: Zero."

"Acknowledged. Incursion in twenty . . . nineteen . . . eighteen . . ."

OOC: Sorry, Chfutzin, to interrupt; you posted while I was typing.

This post has been edited by Dragonwynd on Apr 8 2007, 12:17 AM

OOC: We'll see if we can do a time warp thingy, if not, I'll delete.

Samara rolled over onto her side as she sleep beneath her white satin sheets. The sun was bright..." She gasped as she quickly sat up, her eyes opening wide. "Oh no..." she slowly muttered before jumping out of her bed and quickly pulling out a dress from her wardrobe.


Shortly after waking, Samara rushed into the dining hall, immediately greeted by the King's and Queen's annoyed faces. "I'm sorry I'm late. A princess can't rush when mastering the perfection of making herself presentable," she apologised.

"So how long would it have taken you to master it?" the King asked, noticing she appeared to be less that presentable. "Sit, woman. Eat your breakfast," he abruptly ordered her. "What did I do to deserve half a lady?" he muttered.

Samara smirked as she heard her father's comment. Luckily for her only the family members were present, meaning her parents weren't as compelled to serve a harsh punishment. Lord, how I can't wait to get away from this hole, she thought.

I am the captain and my name is Jim.

Jim cut the engines, checked that his 6-shooter was in reach if needed, and waited in the darkness of space.