Last Updated 01 Sep 1999.
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created and maintained by Virtual Insanity. |
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Chapter 4
by Jason Bise
NJ sat at the bar, downing his fifth shot of "Maniaca" with indifference. The clock on the wall read 3:17 am, a bit past closing time for bars around here but the Ifshnit bartender didnt seem to mind his prescence after the "gift" NJ had slipped to him. Placing the emptied shot glass down with it's four cousins, NJ turned and faced the empty barroom floor. Another Ifshnit, probably female this time but you could never really tell with all the hair, swept persistently at the littered floor. He glanced over and watched the other five members of his team, four occupying themselves with a game of cards, the fifth was plugging away at the newest "Gravball" hologame.
A gust of wind introduced a lone figure to the scene, it was Serian and he was late again!
"You know Serian," NJ said cooly over the uproar a crooked hand of cards had created, "I normally dont let people make me wait on a routine basis."
"Calm down Scarr, that act doesnt impress me." Serian retorted while moving to the bar and ordering a drink.
"Ok, Im sorry. Heaven forbid I get under your skin while youre in a bad mood. Youd probably shoot me for that!" The comment managed to draw a shallow grin from Serian, one that was quickly lost in a long draw of beer.
"Anyway, you called us for a reason. Whats the gig?" NJ regretted the question as soo as he asked it as the look on Serian was pure dread.
"An old scrapper junket off the rim came across a derelict." He exclaimed tiredly.
"So, whats that got to do with us?" NJ interrupted. Serian shot him a cold glance before continuing,
"This is no joke friend, the derelict's name was...well, it was the damn Gri' Nashu!" The name didnt register at all with NJ, but one of his teammates, Baelin the Yazirian, launched himself from the card game and approached Serian,
"What did you say Serian? The Gri' Nashu has been found?!!" he commanded gruffly. Serian could only nod his head before downing the rest of his drink and ordering another.
"Do you know what this means?!!" Baelin continued, seething and near rage at the new discovery.
"What, you mean like the greatest discovery and worst catastrophe of all times!!! Yes, I know full well what this means." Serian countered, rather bravely considering the Yazirians anger NJ thought.
NJ went to ask Serian what this whole fiasco was about but Serian cut him off.
"Look Scarr, I hate sending you in there like this but we need the best. Ive already got a recce bird heading out there at max speed. Ive read the comm logs on this and the damn junket pilot has already made three calls...he's gotta be shut down before this gets any worse." The last comment seemed to drain the life out of Serian. He ended the conversation with a brown folder and proceeded out the door to the waiting skimmer outside.
Scarr gathered the rest of his men and headed out the door. Piling into the old skimmer, Serian punched the throttles and soon they were off to the space dock. During the trip, NJ read through the dossier. The more he read, the less he liked.
This was going to get ugly.
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