Taking a look around...

Posted on Sun Oct 18th, 2020 @ 2:15am by Sage Hud Ubar & Spacer Talon Kolani & Lucian Azari

Mission: Episode 1 - All Roads Lead to Nowhere
Location: Port Nowhere

The sound of the engine was soothing as Lucian sat in lotus pose in the centre of a swirling turquoise stream of energy. His eyes were closed as he reached out into the cascade, silvery particles washed over his hands and filtered through his fingers. He tried, as he did every day, to reach out into the swirling vortex of the potentium, searching for his brother. And as it was, since the day he was taken, he was nowhere to be found. Whether by the doing of some powerful potentium user, or the clutches of death, Lorak wasn't able to be found through the stream of energy that connected them with all other living beings.

The compartment shook as the sound of the engine powered down. Lucian opened his eyes, his mind returning to the present. He took a deep breath, uncurling his legs as he put his mind to rest. His brother was out there, he could feel it inside of him. And nothing the potentium revealed would dissuade him from that notion. He grabbed his jacket and walked out of the compartment he was staying in, looking for one of the crew.

As he wandered around the inside of the transport he'd purchased passage on, he eventually found his way to the cockpit, knocking on the door.

Talon turned around as he pressed the door access button to see the passenger they had carried all the way to Port Nowhere, a Lucian Azari as he remembered as per the transport agreement they had agreed.

"Mr. Azari, I hope you found the trip a comfortable one, We've just landed at Port Nowhere....still an interesting name for a port if you ask me..." He said, before securing several controls. "I take it that you found your quarters comfortable?"

Whilst he made a habit of not peaking into other people business, Talon also liked to make sure that his passengers were comfortable during their trips on board.

“Everything is quite comfortable, thank you,” Lucian said. “I just noticed we stopped and I was curious about what was going on. I thought we were still a few days from our destination.”

Talon flicked a few switches on the console and checked their position. "That's right, we've slightly over-estimated the fuel consumption during a previous journey and we're looking to fuel up," he explained. "its nothing to worry about, I assure you."

Talon moved over to the far wall panel to check some more readouts. "We'll soon be on our way again and speedily making our way to getting you to Dantooine," Talon confirmed.

He hated to pry about his passengers, Talon was also a little curious as Mr. Azari's reason for going to Dantooine, not that he was too worried, Talon had already been paid and was doing his job as always.

Lucian nodded, "Thank you," he said. "I'm in no rush, though." He climbed farther into the cockpit, looking out the windows to the port beyond. "And interesting place."

"Port Nowhere, well it has an interesting name, that's for certain," Talon agreed. "Its formerly a space vessel that's been turned into a port, one of the older larger space vessels that's just too big and too much to maintain as a ship I suppose, but it has its highs and lows..."

It wasn't often that Talon stopped off here, but he knew of it from previous journeys out in the Rancor. "If you want to take a look around, I promise you, we won't be leaving until you're back on board. You paid to hire us and we're at your disposal."

Lucian raised an eyebrow at the thought. "Could be nice to look around, maybe grab a drink. But I don't like drinking alone. Care to join me?"

Talon checked d a few more dials and readouts as he could see that fuelling was going well. "Heh, why not... Alema isn't much of a drinker anyway, she prefers the safe stuff. She'll be happy making sure that the Rancor is stocked and filed up ready for part two of our trip," he said, agreeing and making his way up from the pilot's seat in the cockpit.

"After you, Mr. Azari," he said.

Lucian walked out of the cockpit, heading towards the walkway that led onto Port Nowhere. "So it seems you're more familiar to this place than I am. Know of any good places?"

Talon looked around after they made it down the ramp and tried to get his bearings, with it having been a while since he was last there. Once he recognised where he was, he pointed out a local watering hole.

"The Misty Mynok, always a pleasant place for a drink whilst here," he said before heading off at a pace. Knowing that the Mynok was a fairly safe place he decided that would be a good place to start with.

"Hey, don't go getting the passengers or yourself drunk now, whilst some of us are working here!" Alema shouted and Talon waived off her comment with his hand in a dismissive gesture.

"No, dear!" he shouted back as they rounded the corner and made their way up the ramp towards the entrance. Talon knew that the Rancor was in safe hands whilst she was around and also knew that she wouldn't go leaving without them either. A Paid contract is a paid contract, even in these days. "she always worries," he said quietly so as not for her to hear.

Heading inside, Talon gestured Azari to a table and took a seat. As the waiter droid came over, she looked at both of them. "Can I take your order please?" she asked politely.

"I'll have a Corellian Ale, how about you?" Talon asked Azari.

Lucian considered for a moment, before nodding. "Same please," he said to the droid. As the mechanical person walked off, Lucian looked back at Talon. "So we haven't really had a lot of time to talk since our journey began two days ago. What do you like to do, other than carting around random people?"

Talon smiled. "When I'm not carting people around, which I do enjoy... I like to tinker with a speeder that I'm constructing from some plans that were left to me by my Grandfather," he explained. "We spent a lot of time together when I was young and he left them to me in his will. Its a work in progress, but when it's built, I have a few ideas about where I can test it."

"Otherwise I'm not averse to enjoying myself where I can. Like any pilot, I love a good challenge, although most of the time that's evading patrol cruisers and finding new routes in and out of systems. Hell, I almost sound like an explorer too."

As the waiter droid brought the drinks over, Talon thanked it before taking a small sip of his drink. "And what about you? what qualifies as fun for you?" Talon asked.

Lucian gave a small smile for a moment, before it quickly faded. He looked at the beverage before taking a drink. "I wouldn't say fun is in the cards for me, right now," he said.

Talon noticed a decided change in the look on Mr. Azari's face and wondered if he had hit a nerve in asking about his passenger. This was often one of the reasons why Alema told him in the beginning about not asking too many questions, however, it had seemed only polite to return the favour.

"I apologise if I've asked something too much or too personal," he said. "I thought it only polite to ask as you did about me. We can always head back to the ship if you like?" He wondered now why Mr. Azari had requested a ship like the Rancor for such personal transport needs but once more he could hear Alema in his head, telling off for being too nosy.

The man shook his head. "No, I'm alright," he replied, looking up at Talon. "I've been searching for someone for a long time now," he said. "Sadly, I've run out of leads." He picked up the drink and tossed it back quickly.

A Kel Dor walked up, took an empty seat from an adjacent table, and seated himself as though he was part of the group. He said nothing. At first, his attention had been on Talon, but his head turned to stare intently at Lucian, his face unreadable behind his rebreather and goggles.

Lucian looked at the strange person, "Can we help you?" he asked, trying to be nice about the intrusion.

His unflinching stare at Lucian was rife with Force energies. "I do not know you," he said at length. "Perhaps we shall remedy that in due time." Turning to Talon, though, he said, "I had hoped I would not be in need of your services and your ship, Talon Kolani, but events have taken an unfortunate turn. Needless to say, I shall make it worth your while."

Talon took a slow sip as the stranger sat at the table, eyeing him carefully. When he called Talon by name and spoke of his knowledge of his ship, that got Talon's interest. Especially as he hadn't seen this stranger before he pulled up a chair to their table.

"So, how do you know of me, my ship and that you can make...whatever it is you want, worth my while?" Talon asked. Knowing that Alema was refuelling the ship, he also knew it wouldn't take long to get her to fire up the Rancor for a fast getaway.

"Unfortunately, the Rancor is already in the middle of a job," Lucian said, giving the new man a smile.

"The Rancor is in dock, refuelling, and is available for the brief jaunt for which I require it," Hud countered. "Fortunately the job does not require you to leave the system. Easy credits. If you wish to know more, then follow me."

The Kel Dor stood up and headed toward the door.

Lucian looked at Talon, rolled his eyes and stood, following the man.

Talon was still curious as to how this guy knew so much about him and his ship and his passengers, however seeing that Azari had gotten up to go and follow him, Talon grabbed his drink and followed along, taking a seat at a new table that seemed to be occupied by others that the gentleman had acquired.