Golden Link Casino

[Brina Thalin]

((So sorry I left you hanging Chris!))

 

Brina smiled back over the empty plates. "I actually learned how to make it a long time ago when I was living on Coruscant. I had many jobs back then, including some not as...wholesome," she said, choosing her words carefully as Mellanie was present. "But one of the jobs was a cook's assistant. It was a terrible job, but the cook took me under her wing. She was Corellian, and she said this recipie had been passed down in her family for generations."

 

When Zara excused herself to take a message, Brina recruited the girls to help her clean up. "By the time your mom is back, we'll be done and ready for dessert." Mellanie needed more convincing, but soon all three of them were cleaning dishes in the kitchen.

 

Of course, with all the high-spirited Wartide blood in her, Kalyani made the job much more fun by constantly teasing her little sister. The Devanus in Mellanie made her retort with a jet of water from the sink, and Brina contributed to the jesting by using the wet towel she held as a whip. Of course, the Nargal blood in both girls wouldn't stand for that, and everyone ended up with a few harmless but stinging marks from other towels.

 

Finally, Brina called a halt. "Alright girls, that's enough. Your mom is probably wondering what we're up to in here, and that chocolate cake won't eat itself."

 

They trooped back into the dining room with the cake and clean plates, but Zara wasn't back yet, so they chatted aimicably while they waited for her to finish her business.

[Idarah]

Idarah watched silently as her new master held back tears, trying as she could to remain stronger, it seemed, than her creator...

 

After what seemed like an eternity, the Cyborg's perimeter sensors indicated that Zara's eyes were trained on her. It seemed like the Link head's gaze had been diverted even as she watched, no doubt indicating some internal thinking or worry, but the proprietor's limpid grey orbs were now delicately trained on Idarah's blue ampules.

 

"How long has he got now?" She asked furtively.

 

Idarah took a moment to shift her wrist to her eyes and then showed Zara what looked to be a bare patch of arm. Then, a small little piece of metal shifted back to reveal a timer, a clock and a stop watch. The timer had been set already for a certain, albeit rather obvious, function. "It looks like he has 3 hours left," Idarah said with a long sigh leaking through her projected vocal amplification device.

 

"He is also walking down the corridor adjacent to this one right now." Idarah said with barely any feeling in her voice. She was a living and feeling being even if her feelings were only vague illusions sometimes.

 

_________________________________________________

 

 

Idejjen had lost her. "Damnit!" He said to himself for the fifth time in an hour of trying to find the flying silver Twi'lek woman. "How hard could one creation be to find?" Idejjen said in no particular amusement of his own abject thoughts.

 

Hmmmm... Maybe she'll turn up later? The monster speculated to himself. Or? Or maybe Zara knows! She'd be at Brina's right? Idejjen was grasping at straws... I remember someone informing me of her itinerary tonight. Maybe she would know... felt Idejjen as one part of his body began to feel numb not only to the touch, but as to its function as well.

 

It was a part above his right leg and, due to the cybernetics, he could keep moving, but other parts of his body began to suffer the same thing and his rapid cadence, shrunk to a slow, but balanced walk.

[Guest]

The sight of the Golden Link Casino put Catharis to ease. It wasn't seedy at all, but looked quite glamorous. For that, she was quite happy, it was never fun working for shifty clients. She brought The Relentless Hunter closer to the Golden Link.

 

”œInteresting... , this is the Golden Link? It looks much more spectacular than even the commercials stated. No holograph could do this thing justice...”

[Zara Nargal]

"Three hours??" Zara's voice rose an octave as shock overtook her once more, her eyes on the timer that was ticking down the precious time. Her hand came up to rest over her heart. This was not good news. She was about to ask where he was when Idarah mentioned that he was in the adjacent corridor. She lowered her arm and turned it slightly to access her wrist unit, bringing up the security cameras to see which direction Idejjen was taking. "It seems like he is heading this way. Lets go meet him," She turned towards the door then looked back at the twi'lek construct. "Did Ida indicate what symptoms he would show? Or will he suddenly..." Zara couldn't say the words though from her tone Idarah would know what she had meant to say.

 

She opened the door to the apartment and began in the direction of where Idejjen was coming from though she paused outside Brina's door. She would have to inform Brina of what was happening to Idejjen as well. Another thought came to her and she turned towards Idarah once more, "Was there any special requests Ida might have mentioned for the funeral..?"

 

 

-------

The Link employee looked up at the Cathar with a smile as she asked about the 'master' of the establishment. "You would mean Ms Nargal and Ms Thalin, they are the joint owners." The young woman answered. "By the way, my name is Jadin."

 

With another smile she stated, "You wish to work for the Link..." as she spoke she reached under the desk to bring out a datapad, which she slid across the desk to her. "If you would care to fill in this application, I will let them know that you are interested in working for them." Jadin had noticed the Cathar approaching and caught the distaste of the crowds, "If you would like you can fill in the application up in the gardens and then hand it in to either the information desk up on the garden level or to me here."

 

 

 

 

-------

(OOC: That's ok Hallie, not a problem )

[Guest]

Catharis smiled pleasantly at the employee that had identified herself as Jadin. As Jadin slid the datapad across the table, Catharis picked it up and slid it into her armor's belt. She smiled once more at Jadin and spoke slowly, trying to keep her accent from impeding her speech.

 

”œThank you very much Jadin, your suggestion is much appreciated. I would love to go to the gardens, my species has a natural fear of crowds. Thanks, I look forward to working for your organization.”

[Zara Nargal]

As the Cathar left for the gardens, Jadin put in a call to both Zara's and Brina's secretaries, telling them that Catharis was interested in working for them and was currently filling out the datacard application. The secretaries in turn sent both women the message.

 

--

When Catharis returned with the datapad, Jadin quickly read the information. Finishing reading it she looked up at the Cathar once more, "Link Employees are entitled to a room on the station. I can book you into a temporary room until your application has been processed, then if you are successful - and I can't see how you wouldn't be - then we can set you up with a more permanent room." She waited for her reply as some preferred to stay in their ships.

 

 

(ooc: In turn I apologise. Things have been hectic here also. One of us will 'arrange' the interview next post... )

[Delta73]

The men were tired, and frankly so was Delta. Slaughtering hundreds took a toll upon one's enthusiasm. That is unless one is a psychopath. And Delta was definitely not one of those. He was simply a well trained soldier, that worked for an illicit criminal organization”¦nothing special!

 

But”¦even well trained soldiers become tired of battle and death. Delta had heard that this was a good place to come and relax”¦hopefully the Golden Link was a friend of Black Sun. The men dressed down and left their weapons behind. Delta left his weapons behind but kept his armour. There would be no threat here”¦but if there was then Delta wanted to at least be defended from it.

 

The Corvette Marie, docked alongside the great casino. And the crew basically emptied. They had been given a shore leave to do as they pleased. Save a poor officer that thought it would be funny to fill one of the ship's bathrooms with packing material. As well as fill the toilets with semi-permanent dura-crete. Well he would stay on the ship...filling up his shore leave with cleaning his mess.

 

Delta filed out with the crew...he needed a drink. AS did many of his fellow agents. It would be a profitable day for the Golden Link...

[The Chameleon]

Robert had ditched his Imperial fatigues and ride. The man had a new personal ship and clothes. He walked into the casino looking like a new man. He ran his fingers through his hair. Even though he was undercover he didn't like having longer hair. He stopped at the head of a stair case, orienting himself. There were dozens of pazzak tables, a lengthy bar. Too many different games to name aloud, He didn't even bother.

 

He reached into his new Correlian Suit, made from the finest silks. He fondled the pound of credits in his pocket. He was here to find a deal. Robert was sure if he searched every one in this place, which would take a millennial amount of time...half of them would be arrested. No matter, he had to put it out of his head.

 

He took the steps down to the gambling floor. Shifting uneasily he walked by several Twi'leks dancing, droid serving drinks, and the montly crew. There was a empty table just down the way. He made his way over and saw that two high-rollers were in an intense dual.

 

Unbuttoning his jacket, Robert sat down, placed down a 500 credit chip and started to play on the new hand.

 

His eyes shifted to examine everyone around him, they were looking for a certain one person. A cyborg he had heard...but he never put much stock in that stuff. This was just a man, a very strange man.

[Brina Thalin]

Chocolate cake and a holofilm later, and Zara hadn't returned. Brina had assumed business had called her partner away, so she focused on enjoying spending time with the two girls. Kalyani was almost a grown woman, and even Melanie seemed like she was growing up overnight. It made Brina a bit wistful; she had never had children, and some part of her wished that had been different. When she caught herself thinking that, she chuckled. You must be getting old, she told herself. When you were younger you would never have wanted kids.

 

"Alright girls," she announced at the end of the holo, "time for bed." She walked the girls back to their apartment, and seeing that Zara wasn't present, helped them get ready for bed and settled down. She kissed them goodnight, then, leaving their tutor in charge, headed back to her own apartments. She cleaned up, then checked the messages that seemed to be accumulating at her desk.

 

The first was from her secretary, informing her that there was a new applicant, a Mandalorian looking for bounty hunting work. Brina pursed her lips. She couldn't think of anything in particular for the bounty hunter to do at the moment, but it beared talking over with Zara. Perhaps Idejjen needed help with station security? She shook her head and filed the message for later.

 

The other message was a standard one that she recieved every evening with the names and information on new patrons. She noticed an upswing in business, and wondered if it was the result of the rumors of war she was hearing from over Coruscant.

 

Her business complete, she returned to the living room and plopped down on the couch. Pouring herself a glass of wine, she sighed. It had been a rather long day.

[Idarah]

Idarah shook her head lightly.

 

"Ida left some money for it, but all she said was that she wanted you and I to be there for Idejjen when he died... She didn't know exactly how he would die, but from her indications I guess... He'd eventually... Fall apart." Idarah tried to grimace with her eyes. "He's right outside the door by the way..." Idarah said, her light ampules hanging low to the ground in all the expression she needed to show her heavy emotions. Having no mouth put the cyborg at an emotional disadvantage, but everything she needed could be expressed through extraneous body language and the ampules of blue light that burned brightly under thick glass coverings upon her metallic face.

 

"Should I let him in?"

 

________________________________________________________

 

Idejjen hobbled as best he could as his limbs started growing number and number. He could walk, but his right leg was now completely numb to him and his left arm wasn't feeling too good either. The construct was moments from the door of Brina's apartment though, when the concern of his limbs washed away. Idejjen could feel Zara near by, but something about his fading constitution muffled the sensation by some degree, prying only small images of an apartment from the open air and letting Idejjen know that Zara had holed herself up in another apartment... Why?

 

Not thinking to wait for an explanation though, the construct grumbled and tried really hard to will himself into following the sensation of Zara that tugged at his slowly beating heart.

 

It was mostly a futile effort in the first guises of his futile attempts, but as Zara's presence warmed him, he swore to find and protect her. He came to a door that had been recently used and knocked silently...

[Delta73]

Delta sighed, he was done drinking, he knew when he was beginning to near the edge of becoming tipsy. So he simply put his 5th Ale down on the counter and decided to play some of the exquisite gambling games this casino was famed for. He could afford to blow a few hundred credits anyway. It wasn't like he had any children to take care of.

 

It was then that he saw one of the men sitting at the gambling parlours. He wasn't suspicious....he just looked military. Someone that Delta could befriend. Because after all, what was the highest one could strive for? Money? No, it was friendship and respect. You could get money easily, it was the close friendships and respect that took a long time to build.

 

This man was perhaps military indeed. Though his hair was long and his clothes expensive....perhaps he had done some prior service....his back was far to straight to be a regular man.

 

Delta found a seat near him and picked up a hand of cards. His armour dulled by the coloured lights...

[The Chameleon]

Robert ran his fingers through his hair and took another card. A 20. He stayed. The gentleman to the left of him went ahead and took a hit and busted. Robert won the hand. His credits just doubled in a split second. Then he noticed a man in armor sit down at the table, taking the older mans seat.

 

People in armor made Robert itchy. He wasn't armed, and there were a lot of civilians around. But then again, maybe this person wasn't looking for trouble...just to gamble.

 

"Howdy there. Hope you like to roll high here." Robert said, kinda wondering who or what this armored being was.

 

He threw in a few more credits and was dealt another hand, and the armored man picked up some cards. Robert scratched his beard and smiled, a new challenge...

[Zara Nargal]

((OOC: Sorry for taking so long, things in RL got absolutely crazy again If it isn't one thing, it's another...))

 

--

Ally and Kaz, good friends and two of the waitresses in this section of the casino, picked up their drinks trays and datapads as they both started on their respective shift, giving each other a wave as they headed towards their tables on opposite ends of the room.

 

Ally's rounds took her to the tables on the left side of the floor, the first she stopped at was where Delta was, politely asking "Would anyone like refreshments?" Kaz stopped at the table that Robert sat at, also asking the same question Ally had. At both tables, the girls flicked on the holographic menu's so that the patrons could see what was on offer from the Casino's restaurant and bar.

 

---

 

As Idarah answered her about what Ida had said, Zara nodded her head, "Yes, I would like to be there for him." She glanced at her chrono and noticed that more time had passed than she realised. She hoped that Brina and the girls would forgive her for not returning for desert.

 

"Should I let him in?"

 

It was mostly a futile effort in the first guises of his futile attempts, but as Zara's presence warmed him, he swore to find and protect her. He came to a door that had been recently used and knocked silently...

 

Even as Idarah spoke she could feel Idejjen's approach. "Yes, let him in, please" Zara's voice was soft, shock still evident in her bearing. While she waited for the cyborg to open the door for the construct, with her internal comm she sent a message to Brina, informing her of what she had learned regarding Idejjen's imminent death, also apologizing for not returning for desert. Having also received the message regarding the new applicant, Zara asked Brina if she could interview the Cathar and test her in security duties. Zara also mentioned the room in which she currently was in case Brina wished to join her.

 

As the door opened and the construct entered the room, Zara rushed forward to assist him both physically and through the Force to the first chair she could drag over through the Force. "Please sit Idejjen. Make yourself comfortable." Her eyes met with the cyborg's as she spoke. "Call for medical please Idarah."

 

The change in her friend and security officer shocked her further and made the revelation hone true. As much as she didn't want to believe it, Idejjen was dying and there was nothing she could do to prevent it, all she could do was to make him as comfortable as possible and be with him. She fought to keep herself from breaking down. At this time she needed to be strong for him. Once medical arrived with the hoverbed, they would move Idejjen to one of the private rooms in the medical center.

[Delta73]

"Yeah I high roll mate, I hope you do too." Delta winked, he felt naked without his helmet, but it was against regulation to play a card game with a helmet on.

 

Delta was delt a crappy hand, and he sighed. He folded and looked back to the military man next to him. "So you look like you've seen a few wars, what brings you to the Golden Link?....I am actually here for a moral boost before I bring my men to war.....perhaps you are here for the same reasons....dead men have little use for credits." At this Delta pulled a few hundred credit chips out of his belt.

 

This next hand would be good. He would have some fun with the credits, because he didn't believe he would live to see the next month of year. War was hell.

 

He gestured for one of the waitresses, and looked over to Robert. "Do you want a drink? I myself am getting an ale. Not like I need one, but it is good for conversation. No worries I'll pay."

[The Chameleon]

Robert smiled and put down some credits as the new hand was dealt.

 

"I've scene a few years of service." He paused, trying to make up a story. "I quit a few years back. First time I've been in this place before. Lookin to get some freelance action here soon..." He listened to the proposition about the drink.

 

"Sure, a drink sounds good. But I doubt it will improve your chances." Robert chuckled.

 

"What line of work you in?" He took a few cards and his last round was dealt a 19. Close to the projected 21, but he did not want to risk going over the limit.

[Delta73]

Delta picked up his hand, it was a 12....not too bad. So he held on. Though he was never good at this blasted game.

 

"Where did you serve friend?" Delta betted it was the alliance, no Imperial veteran would retire into luxury. Oh well, now it was his turn to answer the questions. "I serve Black Sun....honourably.....in fact if you are truly looking for some freelance action, I would recommend coming with me...it is very well paying."

 

Delta laughed and took a sip of his ale. It wouldn't improve his chances at all...but it made it more fun.

[The Chameleon]

Robert laid down his 19 and won the pot. He smiled and continued conversation with the man across the table.

 

"I served as a Captain in the Imperial Marines. My uncle died and left me a company on a core world. Thats how I can afford these clothes." Robert knew he was eying his clothing.

 

A waitress came up to Robert and gave him a glass of Correllian Brandy. The two looked each over and smiled. Another time lovely.. He thought. He was in the zone.

 

"Black Sun eh? Not too bad. Thanks for the offer, but I just want to go off on my own. Maybe on down the line." Robert paused. "But..maybe you can help me out here. I'm looking for some new toys so I will be prepared. You got anything for sale?"

 

Robert threw down a 100 credit chip and waited for the next hand.

[Idarah]

"Yes Ma'am," Idarah said swiftly as her blue eyelets streamed powerfully for a moment. The blue hue was intercepted by several gradations of green and purple and finally back to the familiar blue.

 

"They have been informed and are on their way..."

 

Idarah took a small course toward the construct that lay bare on the armchair he'd fallen into and although her brain was actively struggling to avoid scanning the man for life signs, her medical diagnostics were of a higher mechanical priority and overrode her organic pleas. Ida had said that the organic part of her would prove useful and that the mechanical portion of her would not only prove useful but keep the organic parts alive. It seemed that the mechanical parts could override even the strongest emotional chiding.

 

The construct didn't look good. The clock was ticking down and Idejjen only had 2 hours and 30 minutes left. His arms and legs were already starting to lose feeling and if he hadn't already, the construct would begin to feel a lose in blood pressure and heart rate in the form of a deep cold sensation spreading through his body...

 

Idarah gasped as the medical team arrived and Idejjen's heart skipped a beat, trying to keep the over-sized construct functioning. I didn't even get to know him...

 

Idarah watched with a somber glare and although she did her best to stay straight, the cyborg felt a tear flowing down her cheek. It was an odd sensation, the feeling of water against metal, but the salty tear was illogical in its manifestation. Or... Had Ida installed tear ducts?

Idarah cried a little more, but tried to keep her cool, literally, and frosted the small tears that drifted down her metallic cheeks.

 

__________________________________________________

 

 

Idejjen stumbled to the comfortable armchair across the room as the two ladies helped him stabilize his movements. His breathing was labored now, his eyes fading and his entire right side was numb. He almost couldn't feel the Corellian plush cushions beneath him, but something about Zara's presence brought feeling back to certain regions of his body, as if slightly slowing the inevitable. Systems were still failing and Idejjen could feel his heartbeat slowing a small twitch, but their destruction was delayed slightly by some benevolent presence.

 

Idejjen cast a glance at Ida who'd just paged the medical room and saw a tear streaming down her cheek... A tear? How could... How could....

 

Idejjen's thoughts were harder to make now. He had to concentrate to think, he had to regain stability to concentrate and he had to have control of his systems to regain stability, but nothing was working and he was losing time...

 

"Zara.... Thank you... " Idejjen said gasping under his breath and trying to grab gently for Zara's hand with the only arm he had control over.

[Delta73]

Delta sighed and put down his cards and picked up the rest of his credits....it wasn't good to loose too much money....and anyway it would be good to save at least a little money for if he had children...Delta almost laughed at that notion, why would he want kids? So he could go and leave them when he got himself killed on a mission to a fareaway moon. No he wouldn't do that to them.

 

Delta motioned to the ex-imperial

 

"Follow me then, if you want toys....I caution you however, I cannot give you Black Sun made equipment....but I have some of my own that is just as good...if you will sir, follow me to my ship."

 

Delta walked towards the door thinking of what this man could need...

 

((Sorry Finals weeks are building up.....uhg))

[The Chameleon]

"Sure." Robert said, he checked his cards and collected his chips.

 

The Imperial smiled and walked behind this man. He fondled his chips in his hand.He smiled he knew EXACTLY what he needed for his mission.

 

He handed a 100 chip to the dealer and then followed the Black Sun agent. \

 

"I'll take a look at what yah got."

 

((OOC:I figured. No worries.))

[Zara Nargal]

Even knowing that Idejjen only had a short time to live, it still shocked her greatly to see him in this state. It was obvious that his time was limited and Zara struggled to keep her tears at bay. She needed to be strong. As the large construct struggled to speak, Zara knelt by his side, taking his hand, ”œShhh Idejjen. I'm here. Don't try to talk.”

[Idarah]

The droid watched in silent reverence as the construct was lowered to the bed and his ears stopped working. Idarah was running constant diagnostics on her HUD display so before Idejjen could even hit the stretcher; her mind was already a flutter at how fast his body was failing. Idarah sighed slowly, air filling up her metallic lungs even when their function was only ancillary to her survival. She only wished there was something she could do for him as he rested on his back, awaiting his imminent dash of mortality. However, as her thoughts strayed toward him, she only half noticed that the stretcher was moving. Her diagnostics and musings were truncating her processing speed, but she caught up within a few seconds and pushed her hover boots into a higher gear to keep up with the crowd.

 

Idarah was already on Zara's heels as their eyes met. She could tell from her expression that the Link proprietor was rightfully mournful, but that didn't help her own emotions as she once again felt water fall down her reflective metallic cheek.

 

"He'll be comfortable”¦ You're doing everything you can, and although I haven't really known you or him for more than a day, thank you for your kindness". A sweet voice said through an internal comm communication to Zara's unit as they moved. The voice was one of three primary voices that Idarah used, but she really only chose particular voices for particular occasions.

 

Idarah was of interest to find that a small crowd of security officers had formed at the front of the medical office for some reason. They each looked at Idejjen in turn and looked as if their youngest son had been shot before their eyes. These men obviously loved their commanding officer even in his gruesome form. It was an admirable sight to see, but the men admitted their presence would be obtuse within the operating room, so they contended to remain outside.

 

_________________________________________________________

 

Everything was silent. Idejjen saw blurs of people rushing and he could only vaguely see Zara now as she touched him with her warm hands. Was she warm or was he warm? It didn't matter”¦

 

Idejjen could see Idarah trailing aside them and could vaguely make out a sparkling jewel floating down her cheek, but without enough clarity to call it a tear he assumed it was a hallucination and tried to relax his head on the pillow until his men came in view.

 

Each one was mostly featureless to him, but the few features he could see were warm enough to thaw his cooling heart for a few more minutes”¦

 

However”¦ he felt no pain; well”¦ No real stabbing or crazy articulate pain-like trauma. There were major sensations of discomfort as his systems gradually shut down, but after a while”¦ Everything was sort”¦ of”¦ numb”¦

[Delta73]

Delta walked towards his ship, the Marie, a Corvette. Large, with an expanded cargo bay. They entered the ship and where saluted by Lt. Hawkeye, Delta smiled at her. She was nice, with good blonde hair, though she was not the typical blonde, sharp as a Hawk. Delta grinned at his own pun. His Helmet hid the motion however. He still appeared Stoic as ever.

 

They made their way to the Cargo Bay, and Delta remembered where he had stowed his cargo within the vast bay. He pulled off his helmet and pressed his eye against the scanner on the wall, which scanned his blue eye and opened a large crate a distance away.

 

It has been a very long time since this crate has been opened, hopefully the dust hasn't settled too long.

 

Delta walked into the dark crate and emerged with Katarn Class III armour in his hands. It was specially made to his specifications, and had been redesigned by Delta himself. He had two extra pairs, one males and one females.

 

"Here take a look at this, there are two there....perhaps you have a wife or girlfriend as well....."

[The Chameleon]

Robert followed the Black Sun agent to his corvette. The amount of weapons and equipment they had was impressive. Nothing a Imperial Police would love to tear apart and charge them with this. But then the man reached down to a crate and pulled out a suit.

 

Perfect! Robert thought...

 

"We'll my friend, If the male is for sale, I will buy it off you. Name your price. Or if money isn't your thing, I can always owe you a favor...I have friends in high places." Robert smiled. This man would more than likely need help one day. Either back-up or getting out of jail. Robert knew he would have time to repay this.

[Delta73]

Delta looked over to the other man, he would have to get a tad bit of information first. There was nothing like getting stabbed in the back over a bit of armour. This man would not survive Black Sun's wrath.

 

"Tell me first....your purpose......then I will let you have both pairs."

 

Delta doubted the man would tell him. But it wouldn't look good if the armour that Delta had designed showed up in a robbery or a mall shooting....

 

((OMG my posting sucks today sorry lad....))

[The Chameleon]

This man wanted to know what his purpose for the armor was. Nosy, but OK. He leaned in close to the man's ear.

 

"The Mandolorians destroyed something I love. I am going to join them to fight them within."

 

He drew back and hoped it would be a good enough excuse, as this armor was close to mando armor. In ways. He smiled, nervously.

 

If he really wants to give me both, maybe Raven will need the female suit one day... He thought to himself. Once This is done... He cursed. and looked up at the Black Sun agent.

 

((its ok, not much can really go on with this story line.))

[Delta73]

Delta put his hand on the man's shoulder, and looked into his eyes. He was no mind reader....but he appeared to be telling the truth.

 

"A good idea, destroy them a little extra for me. Here take both of 'em, you'll just owe me a favour some time down the line."

 

Delta Laughed and put the equipment into one of the armoured boxes.

 

"Here you go, take care.....and if you ever need a job, Black Sun would love to have you."

 

Delta had designed the armour himself...they even had Black Sun patches....hopefully the bloke would remove them before he went and shot up Concord Dawn....

[The Chameleon]

Robert shook the man's hand. He nodded in appreciation.

 

"Their world will be glass, by the time I am done. Mark my words. And I will pay you back. So long." Robert smiled and left. He left for his ship with a crate holding his prize.

 

Fitting it into his R-22 Interceptor was a challenge, so he stripped it out of his suit and put on the armor. It was a nice fit, modifications could be done to better his ideas. But this will do until he got 'em back in the shops.

 

Everything was fitted in now, he took off. He smiled. Time for revenge.

[Zara Nargal]

Idejjen's end was rapidly approaching and there was nothing that Zara could do but stand beside his bed and hold his hand. It was hard to keep control of her emotions, hard not to just break down as her good friend was dying. And Idejjen had become a good friend to her, not just an employee. Her mind traveled back to happier times she had spent with him. A tear slipped through her control as she recalled the time the construct had "hugged" her in his rancor form. All of his different shifts... Zara had known him in every one of them.

 

"He'll be comfortable”¦ You're doing everything you can, and although I haven't really known you or him for more than a day, thank you for your kindness". A sweet voice said through an internal comm communication to Zara's unit as they moved. The voice was one of three primary voices that Idarah used, but she really only chose particular voices for particular occasions.

 

Zara looked up from Idejjen to catch Idarah's eyes. She nodded slowly, acknowledging the message she had received through the comm chip embedded within her brain. I wish I could do more for him... I considered him part of the family... She blinked away a couple more tears, her hand coming up to brush them from her cheeks.

 

A set of hands rested on her shoulders, Zara looking up to meet her daughters grey eyes, so much like her own. "Is he really dying Mum?" Zara placed her free hand upon Kalyani's, squeezing gently, "Yes he is sweetheart." She let her hand fall to encircle around her eldest daughter. Kalyani was trying not to cry. "Mel's in bed Mum. Sharna is with her."

 

Zara was glad that the girls tutor/babysitter had kept her youngest back in the apartment. She didn't want her having the memory of seeing someone die. She didn't want that for Kalyani either though the choice would be hers, "You don't have to stay here Kali. He'll know you were thinking of him." Kalyani shook her head, "I want to stay Mum. Can I?" Her voice a broken whisper as she asked if she could. Zara squeezed her daughters shoulders to comfort her, "Alright." Kali threw both of her arms around her mother, tears pricking her eyes.

 

Looking across at Idarah Zara asked, "How long has he got now?"

 

 

 

(ooc: sorry it's taken so long, RL is still throwing curveballs)

[Brina Thalin]

For some reason, she couldn't sleep. Brina had retired an hour ago, but had lain tossing and turning. Finally, she gave up trying. Throwing an old jumpsuit on, she headed down to the hanger. The Mynock's power couplings had been sticking, and she figured she might as well be fixing them if she couldn't sleep.

 

An hour later, she was covered in grease and coolant, but the couplings were replaced and she was feeling tired. She reached for her comlink, but realized that she had left it in her room. She shrugged. She was sure Zara wouldn't be trying to reach her at this time of night, and anything business related could wait until morning.

 

She reached up and lifted herself out of the engine housing. As she did so, she gasped as pain ripped across her abdomen. She managed to pull herself onto the decking. She lay there, curled in a ball as the pain ravaged her. But as painful as it was, the majority of the pain came from fear. She knew this pain too well. The doctor said it was gone! I'm not supposed to be in pain anymore!

 

She was terrified. Her disease couldn't, just couldn't be coming back. She had been in remission for so long...

 

The pain finally lessened, and she lay there, panting for breath and coughing. Still shaking, she forced herself to get up. Holding her side, she made it to the lift and punched in the deck for the medical bay. She leaned back against the wall as the turbolift sped away, gritting her teeth to fight back the pain.

 

When the doors opened, she stumbled into the med bay. The MD droids were there in a flash. "It's..." she gasped, "It's the old pain again...Where's Dr. Ran?"

 

The droids immediately ordered her into one of the hospital beds. Dr. Ran was summoned, and the med droids began running tests.

 

Brina could do nothing but lie there, pain racking her body, her mind full of terror that the disease that had taken away nearly a year of her life was back...