A Pirates life for me:Episode II (IC)

[rengadeirishman]

It had been an eventful few months. Ren had made the best score of his life with that job he did with his sister, and was currently sitting pretty on Torpogos with a week's shore leave for all crewers and more money then he had ever seen. He decided to splurge, and was getting major work done to the Vengeance. He was getting the engines overhauled, with some very expensive work designed to increase top speed, acceleration, and maneuverability. He was getting new armor plating, increased shielding, and turbocharging his guns.

It was also getting washed and the entire interior scrubbed clean.

"Not many bites tonight, eh One-eye?" He said to the old warrior next to him,

"So it seems, but we may yet be surprised."

As usual, there was a ksya pinning a duty roster to the table, next to a stack of glasses and a bottle of eiriadan whiskey, waiting to see what the night would turn up.

 

[cats]

Genifur

IC: I took a shot eiriadan whiskey. It didn't take much to put me under the stuff was so potent, I even generated a second liver and I still couldn't hold the drink. Being first mate as it turns out involves social drinking for appearances and what not. Since the soult are far from built to handle alchole I've actually considered getting a cybernetic liver to install into my skeleton and filter my food and drinks threw it. Thus far however my skeleton was function only.

"I think I am about done for now Cap...N"

 

[Jedi_Khan]

Harvey sat a few tables away from the two Jahads who had a piece of paper stuck to the table, waiting for someone to come sign it. Along with the two Jahad, there was a woman who appeared human, but to Harvey’s sensors, definitely was not, for she had a metal skeletal structure surrounded by organic flesh. Cyborgs like Harvey have a metal skeleton, but they don’t have organic flesh, so therefore the woman was not a cyborg. Harvey had been searching his data banks for past fifteen minutes trying to find something similar to the woman, but couldn’t. He had found the info of the Jahad race, which is how he knew the race of the other two.

Harvey abandoned the search for the woman’s racial identification when she walked away, a little tipsy after only one or two tricks. Instead, Harvey set about finding information on the two Jahads. While he didn’t know their names, he did know which ship they had come off of, the Sabre-class destroyer that was sitting in the docks getting an overhaul known as Ogdru’s Vengeance. So, Harvey started his search of several databanks, including those of the PGC and the Empire, for the specifications of the ship. It only took about a minute before he had the results he wanted. Apparently, the ship and her crew were wanted by both the PGC and the Empire on charges of piracy, with both parties offering sizable rewards for information that leads to the capture and/or destruction of the vessel.

While Harvey was reviewing the information he had found, he noticed a trio of rough, dirty looking, half-drunk Zaterrans over at the next table eyeing the big ballistic suitcase that was sitting on the floor next to him. Harvey was hoping the large Zaterrans wouldn’t get any ideas, but he had a feeling they would; it wasn’t all that difficult to believe that there was valuable stuff inside the high security suitcase.

Almost as if on cue, the Zaterrans stood up after empting their drinks and moved to surround Harvey, one in front, and one on either side. The Zaterrans towered over Harvey, with every intent of intimidating the small man. Most people would have been intimidated, but Harvey wasn’t; he just sat there, ignoring the half-drunk brutes.

“Hey, scrawny,” slurred the Zaterran in front of Harvey, obviously the leader. “What ya got in that case? Something important? Something valuable?”

Harvey continued to ignore the man, keeping his eyes on the table in front of him. The Zaterran then reached out and yanked Harvey’s chin upwards, forcing him to look at the Zaterran’s ugly face.

“Look at me when I’m talking to you!” the Zaterran somehow managed to snarl along with a slur. “What have ya got in that case?”

“Nothing that you will every see,” replied Harvey.

“Oh, is that so? Well, then how about openin’ that case and lettin’ us have a look-see,” said the leader.

“No.”

“No? Maybe you don’t understand what’s going on here, so I’ll make it clear,” said the Zaterran. “You’re going to open that case now, or we’ll beat the code outta ya and open ourselves.”

“Beat the code out of me?” laughed Harvey, pushing the Zaterran’s hand away from him. “You probably couldn’t take a child’s lunch money even if your life depended on it.”

That did it; the Zaterran was mad now. He punched at Harvey’s head, but Harvey easily ducked and then sprang up into the man’s chest, sending him crashing back into the table they had come from. The other two moved in to attack, but before either could do so, Harvey had turned and placed a solid punch right in the stomach of the closest Zaterran, dropping him to his knees, gasping for air. The second Zaterran, too drunk to immediately note that his body had been dropped, landed a hook punch to Harvey’s temple. Harvey’s head tilted only a little from the force of the blow, but there was an audible sound as the Zaterran’s knuckles shattered on impact.

As the Zaterran was holding his hand and cursing loudly from the pain, Harvey spun around and landed a back fist to the creature’s side, the distinct sound of ribs popping just barely covered by the outrush of air from the Zaterran’s lungs. He too dropped. By this time, the leader had gotten back up and proceeded to charge Harvey in a rage. Harvey merely bent over at the waist and got the charging Zaterran off guard, flipping the much larger creature over onto Harvey’s table, breaking it.

The leader got back up, just a little stunned, and launched a punch at Harvey as soon as he was standing again. Harvey simply caught the punch in his hand, and squeezed it in such a way that the Zaterran couldn’t pull back.

“You must not understand the situation here,” mocked Harvey. “So let me explain it to you. You are going to take your buddies here and get, leaving me alone, or you’ll end up with a body cast. Understand?”

The Zaterran glared and snarled, but didn’t respond, so Harvey squeezed harder, causing some loud pops and a stream of pained curses from the Zaterran as several bones in his hand were broken.

“Understand?” repeated Harvey.

The Zaterran grit his teeth and nodded. Harvey let go, and picking up his case and a smaller one next to it, moved to a new table, still within view of the two Jahads, as the Zaterrans collected themselves and left.

 

[Wolfsister]

Larinya lounged on the table next to her captain and second in command. She didn't touch any of her drink, preferring to have a level head instead. She looked over at Gen and smirked, the poor woman couldn't handle her drink, but then again, Larinya wasn't drinking because of that same problem. So perhaps she shouldn't be smirking?

The felinoid shook her head and growled softly to herself. She was getting bored. Months worth of fighting and fleeing had her on edge and her adrenalin seemed to always be switched 'on'. But now the Vengeance was moored and they had need of new crew. Too many had died and the new refitted model of the ship needed a few extra hands to help her along.

Her eye was drawn towards a man, an incident and then her eye ridges drew up. She tapped Ren on the shoulder and nodded in the stranger's direction. Someone like that could do well on the Vengeance. Then again... they could do very badly too.

 

[rengadeirishman]

"Good eye, Madam Striker." Ren said, "Oi! boyo! walk this way!" Ren called to the lad.

 

[Kalika84]

Esconced in one of the darker corners of the tavern Xirena sat with her back to the wall so she could see the whole room infront of her. The meagre excuse for a meal sat infront of her, consumed long before, the remnants stone cold and congealing in its own fat. Making a note to herself to not waste her hard stolen money in future Xirena continued observing the room.

Kicking back in her chair she rested her booted feet on the worn table infront of her and watched the commotion across the room. Shifting her eyes slightly she noticed the group at another table watch intently then call one of the skirmishers over. Interesting.

The fire from the lamp light caught and flashed in her golden eyes as she watched the group that appeared to be recruiting. Cocking her head to one side to listen, she tuned out all the background noise until she centred on the voice she wanted to hear..."Good eye, Madam Striker." Ren said, "Oi! boyo! walk this way!" Ren called to the lad.

So...the felinoid was 'Madam Striker." unsure of the others names she sat back and contemplated the best action of approach...or not to approach as the case may be.

Shrugging her shoulders she stood up adjusted her black breeches and retucked her red shirt in. Snagging her long black coat from the chair back she put it on, made sure all her blades were in place then slung her rifle across her back and pulled her long plait over her shoulder where it slithered down to her weapon belt it was so long, so it wouldn't interfere if she needed her rifle quickly.

Sauntering towards the recruiting table she ensured she wasnt walking too fast so that the fighter would get to the table before her, thereby giving her more time to observe.

 

[Wolfsister]

Larinya was in good form tonight, her sharp senses picking up the human that walked towards the table, appearing so non-chalant and obviously not wanting to attract too much attention. Her slitted eyes narrowed as she took some time to check this individual out. For once she decided to ignore Ren's calling her 'madam'. Despite hating the formal title, the captain seemed to take pleasure in seeing her squirm. She carefully wiped off the unwelcoming scowl on her features. They needed to show a united front here -- but in private, she would be having another 'talk' with the captain, soon.

The woman was lithe, not too muscular but well toned. It was clear she was used to some heavy lifting, or hard work, whatever that work entailed. Larinya didn't swing her head around to stare, however, her surveilence was as covert as possible. She paid little attention to whatever would happen between the cyborg and the captain. She did keep one ear cocked on them, just incase something interesting did happen though.

Continuing her assessment of the woman walking - correction, sauntering - towards them, Larinya's nostrils flared and she realised that she wasn't looking at a human at all. Her fingers flexed in her lap as her senses roamed and her mind found the race she was looking for.

Pantheon.

She resisted the urge to arch her back and hackles. What did it matter if there was another cat on board... or interested as the fact may be. She resisted another urge to shake her head, she really did have to stop talking to herself and reacting bodily to whatever she happened to be discussing.

She didn't tap the captain on the shoulder this time. He would probably have already noticed her anyway. Sitting back, adopting a non-chalant position of her own, this time she let her face move as she turned to stare directly into the golden eyes of the woman slowly approaching. A light curve of a smile graced her feline features.

 

[cats]

Genifur

IC: I watched the captain approach the brown haired men at the table, I fallowed suit. There were three of the brown haired men... no wait one the others have more of a hallucinatory hair color or maybe I miss counted. I decided it was best to tell the captain that this guy looked like a decent recruit. "Cap'n I loved this guuu... woah..." the ground shfited suddenly right under my feet.

"And hes got his thing paxed..." I pointed at the case and laid down on the table since the ground was bouncing like butt of a rhino.

 

[Kalika84]

Xirena watched as the felinoid turned to face her directly a small smile curving across her face. Hmm, this was not necessarily a good thing. Tilting her head slightly she watched the woman and could almost see her mind racing.

Sighing Xirena mentally slapped her own forehead. Of course the feline would realise what she was...she would pick it up in her scent. Oh well. There went the element of surprise. Hooking a empty chair as passed she spun it on a leg and kicked it over to the felinoids' side of the table.

"So. I hear your hiring for a crew on the new ship docked at the pier? I don't suppose you have any openings left? I have some very good talents I think a crew...like your's might be interested in."

This was said as Xirena picked the felines pocket and held up a shiny gold coin that had been in there. This was pretty impressive as feline's have very finely tuned senses and would almost always notice their pocket being picked. Xirena smiled a friendly smile and cocked an eyebrow at the feline as she handed the coin back over.

"No harm intended. I'm Xirena by the way, thief, recon scout and assassin extraordinaire. I also think you know about another thing I can do that needn't be mentioned too loudly now don't you?"

 

[Wolfsister]

Larinya wasn't too surprised when the other woman dropped her pretense and just came up and sat in front of her. Inexplicably, her smile grew wider.

Xirena was quick - Larinya found that out the hard way as she quietly accepted back the coin. She had to admit that the other woman was good. Almost too good. Her grin easily returned.

"I hope you realise, stranger, that we are usually a hunted crew. Your background doesn't concern any of us, but once you're with us, you're with us." Her voice was quiet, so as not to carry to far. She knew the other feline could hear her just as well. "I won't breathe a word if you agree to work under me. I'm the Sergeant at Arms," she waved her hand in a dismissive gesture, "A glorified chief raider..." she grinned again, her sharp fangs showing against her black fur.

"You could be a good scout... you're quick." She settled back against her chair and considered the other woman, "But ultimately, its up to the captain," she nodded over at the impressive figure of Ren sitting beside her. There was a glitter in her eyes as she added faintly, "I'll be disappointed if you don't get on..."

 

[Kalika84]

Xirena liked this feline. She really really did. Playing with the bottom of her plait she smiled back.

"Im already hunted. So it won't be any different now will it? If you Captain will have me I am very interested. Sergeant at Arms....mmmm raiding? Lets see, sneak attacks, - check - thievery? By the sounds of the crew - check - violence -check -, Really it sounds perfect...So I'm quite happy to work under you...ma'am." The ma'am was spoken with a slight sarcastic note but not an insulting one.

Xirena cast her eyes over the form of the Captain and decided he didn't seem too bad...he smelled okay she thought with a chuckle. Leaning towards the feline she tilted her head in his direction.

"How long have you worked for your Captain? Is he a good Captain?"

 

[Wolfsister]

"Im already hunted. So it won't be any different now will it? If you Captain will have me I am very interested. Sergeant at Arms....mmmm raiding? Lets see, sneak attacks, - check - thievery? By the sounds of the crew - check - violence -check -, Really it sounds perfect...So I'm quite happy to work under you...ma'am."

Larinya hissed, though halfheartedly, she was already warming up to what was hopefully the newest additon to the crew of the Vengeance. "Don't call me that, ever. Just call me Striker - or Mistress," there was an unmistakable glint in her feline eyes as she said the last and the grin that was plastered on her face matched it.

"How long have you worked for your Captain? Is he a good Captain?"

Then she was serious again, "As far as Captains go, he's alright. He pays us well - looks after us. We have a home on board the Vengeance and others like us." She nodded her head towards One Eye, "He's the one you want to watch. He has the ability to crawl under your skin," she failed to mention that he did that by being nice. Xirena would find that out herself.

She didn't bother to answer the time question, it was a moot point to her. She had allied herself with Ren and that was that.

"So, just what can you do and I do mean specifics," She was more than sure that Ren would accept Xirena, but she still had to get to know the woman. All of her strengths and especially her weaknesses.

 

[Kalika84]

Xirena chuckled. "Certainly Striker. I Think its a bit early for Mistress dont you?" A good natured grin spread across her face and she joked with the Sergeant at Arms.

"So, just what can you do and I do mean specifics,"

Keeping her voice low Xirena replied, "Well, as far as physical feats go, I can run faster and jump higher than a human in this form and as a cat I think you would probably be the only one that could match me. I slipped undetected in the Chancellor's palace and looted his belongings out from under his nose, while he was in residence I might add. I am a thief and sneak like no other. The other side bennie of being the best sneak and having no aversion to killing is I am one of the best assassin's around. Did you ever hear about the Military coup that nearly happened here? It was broadcast everywhere...anyway it was led by one man that no one could get to...many did try of course but..." shrugging Xirena continued, "Did you not think it strange that all of a sudden the man disappeared?" With a self satisfied, fairly blood thirsty grin Xirena smiled at Striker.

"So, specific enough? What about the other crew what can they do? Oh and fyi, dont put me in the kitchen, seriously. I can't cook. We'd all die of starvation."

 

[Wolfsister]

Larinya rolled her eyes, "Believe me, you'd be better than our current cook," then she leaned forward and whispered in dramatic tone, "But don't tell him that!" She made no mention of what Xirena had just said, it was better said in actions. Her silence on the matter assured the other feline she was impressed.

"We are all varied, you will find. Each suited to one job or another. Some, several jobs. You'll also find that we're the best of the best, apparently," she grinned at that, "I'm all for believing it too." She purred slightly, the grin warping the sound into something similar to laughter. She was liking this conversation and it was the first time in a while she had enjoyed herself when not taking another's life.

"You sound as blood thirsty as I am," she smiled and nodded, acknowledging the woman, "Forgive me if I reserve further judgement until I see you in action, though." She was still cautious - even if she was sure Xirena was good enough for the job.

"Have a drink - " she took the coin that Xirena had poached earlier and flipped it onto the table, " - on me."

 

[Kalika84]

Xirena held two fingers up in the air and smirked as a droid came bustling over with a simple yet never old classic, two fingers of scotch on the rocks. Flipping him the coin she watched as he hightailed it back to the bar to deliver drinks to the rest of the howling patrons.

Smiling at Strikers slightly confused look as to how they knew what she wanted she murmured, "I come here fairly often. They have learnt to remember what I like. Saves me time....and hassle. I also don't like waiting at the bar so..." with a shrug she continued..."They come to me. The arrangement suits both sides. This will hold me over til your Captain decides whether or not I am Vengeance material." And with that she took a long sip of her scotch and smiled at Striker.

 

[rengadeirishman]

As the odd lad had opted not to approach him, Ren merely shrugged and looked to she who did.

"Captain Rengakus Sejisilic Navarone'naya'gall," he said to the attractive female. "This loquacious old man is One-eye. Whats your name lassie?" Captain Ren asked, the lights of the bar reflecting off the upgraded bionic arm he'd had attached. It had greater strength, a variety of sensors, an updated wristcomp that included a dermal scanner that could determine an individual's species and vital signs with a touch, feeding the information directly into his new bionic eye. It could also deploy a wicked curved blade from both sides for a surprise attack.

He held his hand out to the new arrival, seeing if she would take it.

 

[Kalika84]

Taking a sip of her whiskey during the Captains introductions, Xirena tilted her head in greeting at One-Eye as the ca[tain indicated him and then dropped her gaze to his bionic arm as he held it out for her to shake.

With a slight eyebrow raise and a faint smirk Xirena put her glass down and took the Captains metal hand. "Greetings Captain...Hopefully I can just call you Captain or possibly Captain Ren as a fear the rest may be a bit of a mouthful for me."Her smile widened after she had said this, giving his hand one last shake she released it.

"I am Xirena and your lovely Sergeant at Arms has been keeping me occupied with what Im guessing is a preliminary interview to avoid your time being wasted I am sure." She grinned fleetingly again. Glancing at his hand she said "Thats a new model I bet...does it have some cool gizmos? I have....appropriated some attachments along the way through my course of work not easy to move those things you know....a very specific clientel for that stuff." With a smile she tipped her drink in salute and drained the glass.

"So, what does a girl have to do to join a crew around here?"

 

[cats]

Genifur

IC: I stumbled toward Xirena "That is a good question I've often asked myself." I took a step backward by mistake and found myself looking at the ground. "Our crew may not have to many more girls then normal but..." I considered asking if my but was to big, but something stopped me, perhaps that second liver. "But..." I tried to remember for a second what I was talking about, then two hints came to me, both were sets of breasts. First Xirena's and then Larinya's.

"But... of the people and faces I remember the girls always seem to be first. Like they have more personality or something. Kind of like the bulk of the ships crew is all controlled by a group of people that write their actions in masse while only a few most of which our chicks like you and I are controlled by an individual writer. Kind of like..." I shook my head a bit. "I need to quit drinking. Damn it captain my new liver isn't helping why did you ask me to come in this bar!"

 

[rengadeirishman]

"Captain Ren will be fine lassie, most simply call me Ren Navarone, If you want to join make your mark and have a shot. Genifur, you might want to have a seat lassie." the dermal scanner picked up the new girls race, Pantheras, and Ren merely smiled. "Whaddya reckon One-eye? should we let the new girl join up?"

 

[Wolfsister]

Larinya watched the interview closely. She had already indicated her approval and also suggested a place for the woman to stay, all she had to do now was leave it in the captain's hands. She was sure he'd make the right decision. After all, she herself had practically strolled onto the ship and announced she was part of the crew. He had accepted her almost instantly - she could only say he was a great judge of character.

She sipped her own drink quietly, the only drink she had had that night and swung some of her attention back to the man who (hopefully) was approaching a little more cautiously. Flicking her gaze over at him, she wondered just what was with this guy - he certainly was impressive. At first glance, anyway.

Not being able to hold her tongue, Larinya said quietly to Ren, "She would make a great addition to my team."

 

[rengadeirishman]

"Aye i believe she would." Ren said to Larinya. "Very well lassie, Larinya likes ya, so you're welcome aboard my ship. We'll be seeing alot of each other, I like to lead the boarding parties myself."

 

[Wolfsister]

Larinya rolled her eyes, her inner relief masked by her humorous tone as she leaned in to dramatically whisper at Xirena, "He likes to get in my way, he means..." she rolled her eyes again and giggled slightly, grinning.

Then she leaned back, "As the good captain said, welcome aboard," her light tone vanished and became business like, "I have rules. You will follow them. I will not tolerate anything less than loyalty from you. Do something I don't like, and I'll dock your pay. Do something I really don't like and I'll throw you out of an airlock."

Then, abruptly she smiled, the twinkle back in her eye as she relaxed back against the chair and had a long, leisurely sip of her drink, "So, just how often do you come here?" It was now time for small talk again.

 

[rengadeirishman]

"She means it too, lass. When i annoy her i keep my cabin locked." Ren said with a chuckle.

 

[Kalika84]

Xirena tried really hard not to laugh but her eyes danced with merriment. "Glad to be aboard Captain, Striker."

At the new tone coming from Striker, Xirena lifted a brow. That was quick. But then again....feline. Shrugging her shoulders lightly she said to the Captain but mostly to Striker, "Ill be loyal do not worry about that. And I will even follow orders...to a point. May I reserve the right to speak up if I think it might be something morally abhorrent?" Smiling she tapped her glass on the table in a sprightly rhythm.

"Captain...I believe locking her out may only make her madder." Xirena really liked this crew so far. This should be a great adventure!

"How often do I come here? Well, four to five times a week....orginally I worked here until the owner of this fine establishment decided that me breaking the nose of every drunken mauling bastard for touching me without my permission was bad business. I told him I would be very displeased to lose my job because of lecherous men...and women for that matter. He offered me premium service anytime I cam ein if i would please stop working for him." With a grin and a chuckle Xirena tipped her hand in a salute to the owner who was watching her every move.

 

[rengadeirishman]

"We don't go in much for the morally abhorrent. Honour amongst thieves and all that." Ren said taking a sip of his ale. "I grow tired of waiting for this odd lad, if he does not come over soon, i shall merely move on."