Three of a Kind

[Veroe]

((Closed for myself and JonathonBair))​

IC: Callista Kailokainos (AKA: C.K.) and Princess Aurora Isobel Mariko Martina Winchester Fairmont

Ashford was a moderately prosperous colony on the Midway warp point chain just two dozen or more warp jumps from Old Earth. It was the endpoint of one of the oldest and widely developed warp point chains in the Solarian Empire.

It was also one of the major battlegrounds of the war versus the only alien space-faring species humanity has ever encountered, the Sokurne Dominion more than three hundred years ago. It was only two warp points away from the star system called Warner and the Sokurne's hunting ground systems.

Despite the historic value to its reputation it had fallen back to something close to obscurity again. It was primarily an agricultural colony providing Psuedo-wheat and other genetically altered crops on a mass scale, but it still served as a vital trading post for the Midway chain if not the entire frontier region through its third warp point to the system of Kai Epsilon 136E and its plethora of connecting warp points. Which was why the trading post in orbit over Ashford, Turner station, was bustling with ships and people and traders coming and going-mostly going. No one outside of rednecked farmers wanted to stay in this system for very long.

Turner station was at least seventy years old and looked it. While it still functioned fairly well as the first day it went into commission Callista could see the decades of wear and tear and improvised repairs dotted throughout its corridors and shops.

The Last Chance had just gotten back from salvaging the debris field from the naval battle that had happened there a few days ago. It had taken them twenty-one hours from that to arrive at Turner station. The space station that served as Ashford's spaceport and commercial hub. The Salvager ships they had slipped in Kai had exited the warp point as the Last Chance began its docking sequence.

Needless to say C.K. was a bit on edge as she and their "passenger" left the docking bay into the docking ring's crowded main thoroughfare. To the blonde royal she just smiled, "Well here you are, Princess, I'll take you to the Imperial Navy security office and we can go our separate ways from there."

The princess in question limped beside her slowing her down as they negotiated through the crowds. The Automed on the Last Chance had been able to knit the cracked skull and broken ribs yesterday, but she was very much still on the mend from the injuries she'd sustained during her ordeal in the battle of Kai. "I can't thank you enough for rescuing me. When I reach home my father shall certainly reward you for helping me."

"You sure you don't know why your escort flotilla was ambushed by a fleet of Imperial warships from the same Navy," C.K. asked pulling her out of the path of an oncoming autotaxi rolling down the commerce promenade.

"No," She shook her head gawking in wide eyed shock as they passed the Red Tulip whorehouse-poor kid-this place wasn't the worst out there but it was a far cry from the sheltered and civilized environs she must've known back on Old Earth, "They didn't say...I have to tell my father or one of my brothers what has happened.

Unfortunately the naval office was down on the other end of the promenade and she spotted a few of Lupo's thugs coming down from that direction. Spotting a restaurant she pulled the Princess over and sat them at a table already occupied before they spotted her. Lupo's goon squad was headed straight for where she had docked the Last Chance.

Shit! Getting past them to reach her ship was going to be rather dicey.

The guy who was eating his lunch looked up at the two beautiful strangers that had joined him. C.K. smiled at him in her best winning smile-which was not really ever been that much of a winner for her considering how many people were after her to repay some debt they said she owed them.

"Hi," She said to him, "Sorry to barge in on you like this. Mind if we join you?"

 

[JonathanBair]

Jonthan Gordenson (Jon for short) is a 38 year old space baby. He was just taking a brake from replacing most of his ships lines for fluid and power in his little fighter converted fighter, and had lot more to do. Jon was about to rip into the folks for bugging him till he saw they where both females. Jon smiles and stands up a bit and says " Why please do join me, I would love the company."

Jon gets allot of ribbing and flack from the pilots and ground crew. His fighter should be a sleek killing machine, but he pulled the arrow point beak off the front of the cockpit and made it flush with the engine compartment. He also pulled a old bomber cockpit out from a scrapped ship and replaced that so he has a pivoting gun with a 360 by 180 firing area. Its like turning a indy car into a family car.

Jon watches the two lady's take a seat and ask " Did you two want to eat with me, or just take a rest here? Do you have a ship or did you come in on a transport?"

Jon can only wonder what the story is behind the two ladys. The one who asked about joining him, looks like she fits in. The other lady looks way out of place and like she seen better days from how she moves showing a bit shes hurting.

 

[JonathanBair]

As Jon eats, he can't help but to wonder about there story. The lady who had asked if they can join him has the look of a pilot or cargo runner. He coudn't really see her that well as a body guard, tho he could be wrong.

Jon was glad to be ready to get home in the outer asteroid belt of the Kai. His parents had bought it when they first got into the system. They had worked allot on clearing sections of it for shipping, and made there own asteroid around there house/docking port. They viewed them self's as hobby minors. When it was mid growing season on the planets in the system there work load dropped to basically nothing, so they started to college some of the asteroids to sell the nickel and iron from mostly the "space dust" and human sized asteroids. As they cleared the area near shipping lanes, they sorted then then mixed the space dust with water to freeze it in another part of the belt out of the way where they would call home. Making there home from the dust that was highly packed into ice sheets and melted into other ice sheets. That was 90 years ago, and few around now would know Jon's home wasn't there before and is handmade. The only thing that would give it away really was the lack of heavy metals. Tho the balling up the dust from mining was semi common so they got to be scattered around the belt.

Jon had taken a shipment of iron from the belt and just sold that to scrap dealer, so he could get some parts for his fighter/cargo ship that needed some maintenance from doing the more high risk jobs like smuggling, or bribe transport jobs as that what he did most. Jon didn't stand out, just looked like the average person. Just under 2 meters tall brown hair that was kept short just to cover the fingers. The kind of person that could be just another face in the crowd.

 

[Veroe]

IC: Callista Kailokainos and Aurora Fairmont

Unfortunately the naval office was down on the other end of the promenade and she spotted a few of Lupo's thugs coming down from that direction. Spotting a restaurant she pulled the Princess over and sat them at a table already occupied before they spotted her. Lupo's goon squad was headed straight for where she had docked the Last Chance.

Shit! Getting past them to reach her ship was going to be rather dicey.

The guy who was eating his lunch looked up at the two beautiful strangers that had joined him. C.K. smiled at him in her best winning smile-which was not really ever been that much of a winner for her considering how many people were after her to repay some debt they said she owed them.

"Hi," She said to him, "Sorry to barge in on you like this. Mind if we join you?"

"Did you two want to eat with me," He said with a grin and nod to his plate of food, "Or just take a rest here?"

Aurora looked between the stranger and C.K. confused about what was going on.

C.K. Looked down the promenade to the couple of Lupo's goons. They'd stopped and was looking through the milling crowd passing them by for them. She ducked back down hiding her face with a menu. To the guy she said, "We'll eat with you buddy...what's good here?"

"Do you have a ship or did you come in on a transport?" He asked her as C.K. realized she'd had the menu upside down and turned it over to actually read it.

"I have a ship," She told him and with a shrug, "And she's just a passenger."

Aurora looked at her with a frown, "I thought we were heading to the naval office, C.K.?" To Jon she said in her best most diplomatic voice she'd learned from her father and brothers, "We are very sorry to intrude upon you like this, sir. My name is Aurora Fair-Ouch!"

She was cut off when C.K. coughed and kicked her in the shin to stop her from blurting out her name to this veritable stranger.

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon smiles and nods at hearing C.K has a ship and Aurora is a passenger. Jon is not sure what to make of them, but is friendly.

With hearing the name that clearly got cut off. Jon said in a friendly/playful tone while looking at Aurora " Nice to meet you Aurora Fair-Ouch. I am Jonathan Gordenson but I go by Jon." Jon looks over to C.K and says "They make a ok sandwich. I often get the Meat Lovers. They also got some good whisky here, but it is strong."

Jon can't help but to wonder why Aurora want's to go to the navel office, she sure don't look like shes in the military. He ponders if she has a company that works with them selling parts or something like that.

Jon smiles and says "I do high risk cargo runs." Jon dose notice C.K watching some of loop's gang. A few second's later he looks at C.K and says in a friendly tone "Might want to relax or loop's crew will spot you. Do you owe him money or something?"

Jon knew you could only trust Loop as far as you can throw him. Dealing with him is a high risk black market job mostly.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/ Date: 1:16PM; Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Turner Station spaceport: Commerce Promenade, Sully's Bar and Grill. 38,987.05 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Callista Kailokainos (C.K.), and Aurora Fairmont

"I have a ship," She told him and with a shrug, "And she's just a passenger."

Aurora looked at her with a frown, "I thought we were heading to the naval office, C.K.?" To Jon she said in her best most diplomatic voice she'd learned from her father and brothers, "We are very sorry to intrude upon you like this, sir. My name is Aurora Fair-Ouch!"

She was cut off when C.K. coughed and kicked her in the shin to stop her from blurting out her name to this veritable stranger.

"She's just some hopelessly naïve rube from the middle of nowhere I picked up," She supplied for the Princess. It wasn't a lie in the strictest sense of the word, but it just ommitted the more dangerous depths underneath the truth she was not telling this guy.

Aurora reached down and rubbed her smarting shin glaring at C.K. "As I was saying...thank you for allowing us to sit with you. May I ask your name?"

"Nice to meet you Aurora Fair-Ouch. I am Jonathan Gordenson but I go by Jon." He replied with an amused smile on his face.

"Pleased to meet you too, Mr. Gordensen-I mean...Jon," She responded with an equally amused smile. This was more like it for Aurora. This-this polite conversation of diplomacy and negotiation and social niceties-this was the world she belonged in not the nightmare one she'd found herself in the last few days. This was the world she had grown up to operate within.

To C.K. Jon turned his deep eyes onto her and said, "They make a okay sandwich. I often get the Meat Lovers. They also got some good whisky here, but it is strong."

She nodded in turn giving a flirty perk of an eyebrow as C.K. replied, "Then I'll defintely be getting the meat lovers with some of that whiskey to chase it down with."

Aurora eyed C.K. then Jon before pressing, "So what is your business here, Jon?"

"I do high risk cargo runs." He asserted.

Aurora cocked her head asking, "Do you mean like dropping food and medical supplies for people trapped in war zones out here on the frontier?"

C.K. was looking past them as Lupo's men had been joined with three more and were looking through the crowd for her. It wouldn't be long before they reached this restaurant and saw her.

"No, princess, he means smuggling." She said response to Aurora's question, "Either running guns, drugs, slaves, or any number of items prohibited under Imperial laws."

"Guns? Drugs? Slaves? But that would be illegal and immoral," Aurora gasped glancing back to Jon, "Is it true?"

Jon noticed C.K looking at the approach of Lupo's men down towards them in the promenade asked her, "Might want to relax or loop's crew will spot you."

Aurora looked about, "Who's Loop?"

"Lupo Desantis. The head of the Salvager's guild out here." She informed her.

"Do you owe him money or something," Jon asked.

"He says I do," C.K. answered bitterly, "Just because I work salvage in this sector without paying his stupid little bullshit club for the privilege."

Of course that was the core of the disagreement, but not the whole of it. In order for Lupo's bullshit guild to scam smalltimers like her into joining and paying them for the privilege of doing business in this sector they had exclusive deals with almost all the buyers out here. Most of them wouldn't even answer her calls to come look at what she found out there unless she showed them her membership paper to Lupo's bullshit guild first.

Papers which in her case were entirely counterfeit. She wasn't going to give him one fucking dime of her money. Lupo was just the latest mother fucker in a suit in a long line of them throughout her entire life trying to rip her off of her hard-earned money with some bullshit system purposely rigged against her.

She'd grown up in a universe that was a casino where the house always won.

Not this time. Not any more.

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon chuckled as C.K was partly right about his cargo. Jon smiles and says Aurora, I more transfer things like gems, bribes and stuff like that. I could hold a two maybe three in my hold, but they would basically be laying on top of each other. I have did a trip or two with guns my hold.

Jon looks at both of them and says " If you want to eat we can hang here, otherwise I think Aurora here may like to see my ship. It will also get you both away from Lupo's crew. Maybe some time I can see your ship there C.K. It's always nice to know a scrap dealer that is not with that bunch of thugs I am working on bulking up a cargo shuttle to handle larger loads like medication and stuff like that, but for now with my fighters cargo hold I gotta stick to high price goods."

If your wanting to get to the navel office, about a week from now I got a job to do where I will be going to Admiral Yoshie ship. I can drop you off there, if you don't mind hanging with me for a week, and you wont be in my hold the full time *chuckles*

Jon watches there faces to try and read the reaction that he has ties with the government like a admiral. Jon also hopes that it may lead them to trust him a bit more. Jon knows a its coming up to Yoshie's birthday and Jon has some of the admiral's favorite whisky waiting to be delivered to the ship. Along with a few other orders from the head supply officer on his ship. Jon is counting on seeing Aurora more shocked as she seams to be from some palace to fair-tale planet. Jon is getting the feel she had a real sheltered life, and don't know what it is like for the "normal folks". Now K.C he can see he is cut more from the same cloth as he is. Jon is sure she knows the difference from the letter and the spirit of the law. Jon can't wait to see Aurora's face when he starts to load a bunch of whiskey and brandy's into his hold... This makes Jon wonder how he would get the load and both of them to the ship. The hold will be full of cargo so they cant lay in there... Jon know's there is room for a passenger will need some work to make the rear seat area of the cockpit a comfortable area for a human to sit. Right now that seat is sectioned off for a human looking droid, that is often used in government or big business for translation and stuff like that.

He cant help but to wonder how will they respond to yes he is a smuggler, but also is known to work for the local government. Be is space port supply officer or a ship supply officer. He also wonders how they will react to hearing in a week he is going to make a run to one of the local fleet command and control ships. Will they be in a rush to get off the station not thinking he where he lives is where they would be staying for a week. How would K.C react as he is sure she wont just turn the woman over to him and say " have a good trip".

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/ Date: 1:22PM; Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Turner Station spaceport: Commerce Promenade, Sully's Bar and Grill. 38,987.05 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Callista Kailokainos (C.K.), and Aurora Fairmont

"He says I do," C.K. answered bitterly, "Just because I work salvage in this sector without paying his stupid little bullshit club for the privilege."

"If you want to eat we can hang here, otherwise I think Aurora here may like to see my ship. It will also get you both away from Lupo's crew." Jon suggested with a smile to them both, "Maybe some time I can see your ship there C.K. It's always nice to know a scrap dealer that is not with that bunch of thugs."

"Wish there were more with balls like me who'd tell Lupo to eat shit instead of joining his little guild and putting up with it," C.K. said glancing over to Lupo's goons casting about in frustration looking for her in the middle of the walkway outside. "The Last Chance, my ship, is old and slow, but good at recovering and hauling salvaged parts of ships out there."

He nodded, "I am working on bulking up a cargo shuttle to handle larger loads like medication and stuff like that, but for now with my fighter's cargo hold I gotta stick to high price goods."

"Hmmph," C.K. snorted derisively, "You smuggler types always trying to modify the most ridiculous ships for more cargo space. Like a fighter has any business hauling freight around."

"Food sounds good and all and it's nice to meet Jon," Aurora told them, "But isn't getting to the naval office a bit more important right now."

"If your wanting to get to the naval office, about a week from now I got a job to do where I will be going to Admiral Yoshi's ship." He said with a wry chuckle, "I can drop you off there, if you don't mind hanging with me for a week, and you wont be in my hold the full time."

"No way in hell," C.K. was shaking her head like that was unthinkable. Aurora on the other hand looked as if she was considering it before announcing regally, "Thank you Mr. Gordensen, but I'm afraid I cannot wait another week. I must get to Imperial authority as soon as possible."

Just then a starcomm news broadcast from tachyon buoy at the warp point cut in over the local sports game on the HD screens on the walls around the restaurant cut in with a priority alert signal.

"This is breaking news from Interstellar Newsdesk all the way from the Capital on Old Earth.

Yesterday a terrorist attack occurred from a kinetic strike initiated from a ship in orbit. Where Geneva once stood is a smoking crater. Authorities estimate the death toll to be in the millions including the majority of members of parliament...

...as well as...the Emperor himself and the Empress and Crown Prince Jean-Paul and Prince Enrique also...

[SOB]

…This is a terrible tragic day for the Empire...

…The only survivor of the event among the royal family is Princess Aurora. Who was just returned from a school trip among the fringe colonies aboard an Imperial fleet escort. She is currently heading recovery operations with members of several houses of the nobility.

…Unfortunately that support for her is not unanimous. Several other houses are unifying in opposition demanding the Princess be genetically tested to verify her identity.

…Fighting has not broken out but all indications are that the fleet is divided in half between the two factions...If the issue of the princess' authenticity is not resolved open warfare over her succession is likely...

...A media blackout is being enforced over all of this with no indication of it being lifted...several of my colleagues are being arrested without charges...I've condemned my career and probably my freedom in broadcasting this report out to the colonies who would have remained completely ignorant of any of this...

…Oh god...They're at the door now...

…This is Maria Morimoto-Rojas of ISN...signing off...
​

Aurora found herself rising up to her feet her mouth open in as the words hit her like a power hammer to her gut. "Daddy...momma...Jean-Paul...little Enrique..." Tears were welling up in her eyes as the heartache and grief threatened to break through the royal veneer of confident assuredness that things would turn out as she wished she'd learned to project all of her life from her father.

 

[JonathanBair]

A good chunk of the folks had watched the news report. Some ignored it with there conversations.

After Aurora's outburst most eyes is on her. Jon looks around and see's all the attention drawn to her and he says "Well, if you wanted to get to the office with no one noticing you. She just blew that. I see Lupin's guys is even looking at her, so you might want to get a move on where ever your going. Sounds like things are going to heat up, and I want to get out of here before this place turns into a powder keg." *Jon taps his communicator on his writs saying " Taya double check the power and fluid readings, we will be getting under way soon." Jon looks over at C.K and says Taya is my droid as he starts to stand. He gestures them to fallow him to a near by docking by ring where his ship is. Then he says with questioning look " Your welcome to try and get to the office or your ship. That is your call, but I am heading to mine.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/ Date: 1:25PM; Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Turner Station spaceport: Commerce Promenade, Sully's Bar and Grill. 38,987.05 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Callista Kailokainos (C.K.), and Aurora Fairmont

Aurora found herself rising up to her feet her mouth open in as the words hit her like a power hammer to her gut. "Daddy...momma...Jean-Paul...little Enrique..." Tears were welling up in her eyes as the heartache and grief threatened to break through the royal veneer of confident assuredness that things would turn out as she wished she'd learned to project all of her life from her father.

C.K. looked around seeing everyone in the restaurant looking up at Aurora. A couple of them had amused faces, others annoyed, worse some had thoughtful faces on as if they were trying to place where they had seen her before. Even worse than that though was she looked out to the promenade and saw Lupo's goons notice the princess standing up and more importantly drawing their attention to her sitting next to her.

"Shit," She replied reaching out to grab Aurora's arm and pulling her back to her seat. "Sit down."

"Well, if you wanted to get to the office with no one noticing you. She just blew that." Jon said noticing the same thing, "I see Lupo's guys are even looking at her, so you might want to get a move on where ever your going."

She risked another glance out onto the promenade. She saw Lupo's two goons joined by two more and were heading their way. "Shit!" She repeated before turning to pull Aurora back up onto her feet. "We gotta go, princess."

Aurora just looked at her with tear-streaked eyes too wounded in her shock to say or do anything to her in response.

"Sounds like things are going to heat up, and I want to get out of here before this place turns into a powder keg." Jon said rising up and contacting his droid to warm up his fighter's systems gesturing for the two of them. "Your welcome to try and get to the office or your ship. That is your call, but I am heading to mine."

C.K. gestured to Aurora, "Take her. Get her to the navy office. Make sure she's okay. Lupo wants me, not her." To her she said, "I'll give these assholes the slip and meet you there, princess."

Aurora looked at her blinking still trying to process what had been leveled on top of her. "No...no more people dying for me."

"They're not going to kill me," She said turning to the restaurant's exit, "They want something worse making me pay what an asshole thinks I owe him."

To Jon Aurora pulled his arm, "You have to help her."

C.K. rushed to the exit hoping to slip out and disappear in the pedestrians before Lupo's men could reach her. She didn't make it. Just as she left they converged on her. Grabbing her arms, "Lupo wants a word with you."

He raised the commlink and a tiny hologram of guildmaster Lupo Desantis looked back at her, "You've been doing business with forged guild documents. Not smart, Kailokainos, not smart."

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon stands up and lightly grabs Aurora by the arm. Jon says " First lets get you out of here, come to my ship. Guys like Lupo want C.K alive as she is worth something that way. Dead she is more trouble for them. Pleas let me get you out of here and to some place safe, then I can come back for her. I promise. Even if I gotta pay her debt" Jon guides Aurora to his ship

When they walk into the hear by docking bay wing they walk to the second pad in. The fighter has parts of what was a long range fighter with the wings locked in a X formation. The top two engines are clearly from a long range fighter bomber so is its cockpit with a rotating duel laser cannon just behind the cockpit. The lower two engines are at the base of the body frame where they belong. On the end of the wings each wing tip has a duel laser cannon, one is a heavy cannon and the other is a light faster firing cannon. The frame of the main body should be thick at the engine and cockpit area but has been re-worked into a boxy body with a rounded nose. On the side of the boxed out nose area is a large double door hatch. One pulls up and the other one lowers.

Jon opens the top one and says "Aurora please get in. I need you out of sight till we get to my home, and then I will come back for C.K." Aurora is a bit slow but Jon reminds her "more time we dink around here, the more time it takes for me to get back here and harder for me to help her. If you care at all, you would get your butt in there." Jon calls up to Taya who is sitting in the back seat facing the rear of the ship and he says " Taya pressurize the hold and turn on the O2 system." Jon then looks to Aurora seeing if she will get in or if he needs to put her in.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/ Date: 1:31.16 PM; Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Turner Station spaceport: Commerce Promenade, 38,987.05 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Aurora Fairmont

Jon had led her back into the docking ring section of Turner Station. Not where C.K. had docked her slow but sturdy salvage ship she'd recovered Aurora's lifepod in. This was another section with smaller docking bays for shuttles and fighters. The bay he brought her into contained an old surplus Imperial Navy Starhawk fighter heavily modified an remodeled.

"What about C.K." Aurora said unsure about climbing into a virtual stranger's fighter at his mercy.

Jon reassured her, "Aurora please get in. I need you out of sight till we get to my home, and then I will come back for C.K."

"So you're going to help her." She asked gingerly climbing up to the cockpit. "Maybe I should wait here for you to come back with her?"

"If you care at all, you would get your butt in there." Came his reply.

Aurora looked at him. She recognized in his eyes the same integrity and stubborn nobility she had seen in her ever loyal bodygaurds. Eyes like Lt. Commander Kasuke Oleg Hamilton Jr. who had sacrificed himself shoving her into the lifepod knowing the cruiser they were on was being blown apart and he would not have time to reach his own pod before it went down. He'd looked into her eyes before hitting the button launching her pod. The last thing she remembered was her int the pod waiting-hoping-to see Kasuke's pod. Then the cruiser's reactors blew and all became blackness. The next thing she remembered was waking up when C.K. had pulled her pod on board her salvage vessel.

"Very well, Jon," She nodded, "I will do as you wish, but you must promise me you will return with C.K. alive and well...both of you. I will not lose any one else."

----------------------X

IC: Callista Kailokainos

C.K. rushed to the exit hoping to slip out and disappear in the pedestrians before Lupo's men could reach her. She didn't make it. Just as she left they converged on her. Grabbing her arms, "Lupo wants a word with you."

He raised the commlink and a tiny hologram of guildmaster Lupo Desantis looked back at her, "You've been doing business with forged guild documents. Not smart, Kailokainos, not smart."

Lupo was only a hologram a few inches tall she knew he was a big man with a hard bitten face and deep set eyes more like a hammer. His hands were large and had knuckles that spoke of a lot of experience he'd had through his time of using them to punch people's faces in on his way up to guild boss. He wore a very fine suit and well kept hair and beard making him very respectable and civil looking, but with all people in suits the difference between them and the guy in the alley that would mug you was only that suit and haircut. One robbed you blind with a knife in hand the other used an entire system and bureaucracy designed to get them the same thing the guy in the alley with the knife wanted from you.

Even with all that C.K. sneered at him, "Go to hell. I'm not giving you a fucking dime of my money."

"Then good luck selling salvage in this sector," Lupo shot back, "You've been blacklisted. No one will buy what you find now."

C.K. Glared daggers at him. "Fuck you."

Lupo rubbed a temple shaking his head. "I don't understand why you're being so difficult about this. Just join the guild and pay your dues, a few fines for forging the documents, and you'll be good with us like everyone else."

C.K. hands bunched into fists thinking back at how many thugs in suits and rules have pushed her around in her life. She gritted her teeth and snarled. "And let you rob me every month. No way in hell. So fuck you in your fucking face, Lupo."

"I wish you were not so unreasonable, Kailokainos," The hologram of Lupo shook his head and gestured to his goons, "You don't give me a lot of options here. I can't have you working independently outside the guild. It'll give the other members ideas. So, Boys...do it."

C.K. glanced at the thugs. At their boss's command they grabbed her shoulder and began herding her into a darkened corner of the promenade. "Get your fucking hands off me."

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon was feeling the pressure starting to boil. His window to get Aurora was slipping, so he hated to be so short with her. It was that before he scooped her up and carried her to his ship. As much as he was tempted to leave her, but for what ever reason C.K is trying to protect her and its now his job. Jon was just about to make a grab out for Aurora when he heard the words that was a miracle to him"Very well, Jon," she said with a nod. That put a big smile on his face as it was clear that Aurora just made him a very happy man...Her next thing that she said made him sigh "I will do as you wish, but you must promise me you will return with C.K. alive and well...both of you. I will not lose any one else.". Jon said "goons like Lupo want cash. A dead body don't bring in cash unless your really in deep trouble. I don't see by pasing his underground rule of salvage being to the point of getting her killed, raped maybe. Sold as a slave maybe, but not death. Tho she may rather want death over the other options if I take to long to get back to her. So really sooner I get you in my hold, and to my place. Sooner I can get back here and track her down, but more longer it takes me to get back here the more risk it is for C.K. I don't see her as the kind of woman that would just let a guy have his way with her, or group of men. I can see her acting out and that could get her in deep shit. So longer it takes the more stuff can go wrong for her... " Jon hopes the fear of something bad happening makes Aurora move quicker to his ship, or he will have to use force as time is ticking.

Jon sighs and says "fine it it makes you move any faster I can just hide you in my hold and I can give orders to my droid to take off if anyone comes to my ship. That mean's you will have to stay in there for a unknown amount of time. Could be a hour or so. What ever way you want me to do it. Its your call just get a move on. Tho us flying out of here is the safest and best move. C.K knows how to handle the goons. "

Jon would much rather fly out of here and take Aurora to his home where he knows she will be safe, but wanted to give her the option to lay in the hold and wait.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/ Date: 1:41.08 PM; Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Turner Station spaceport: Commerce Promenade, 38,987.05 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

"Very well, Jon," She nodded, "I will do as you wish, but you must promise me you will return with C.K. alive and well...both of you. I will not lose any one else."

"Goons like Lupo want cash. Jon told her, "A dead body doesn't bring in cash unless you're really in deep trouble. I don't see bypassing his underground rule of salvage being to the point of getting her killed, raped maybe. Sold as a slave maybe, but not death."

With each possibility of what they could be doing to C.K. Aurora made a small gasp. "Slavery? Rape? Killing people? How does this happen in our Empire? Why doesn't the authorities arrest this man?"

Jon went on as if he hadn't heard her questions, "Though she may rather want death over the other options if I take too long to get back to her. So really sooner I get you in my hold, and to my place. Sooner I can get back here and track her down, but more longer it takes me to get back here the more risk it is for C.K. I don't see her as the kind of woman that would just let a guy have his way with her, or group of men. I can see her acting out and that could get her in deep shit. So longer it takes the more stuff can go wrong for her... "

She shook her head and announced as if it was already decided. "I appreciate your concern for my safety, but I'm not going anywhere without her, Jon."

To that Jon gave a much suffering sigh and said, "fine it it makes you move any faster I can just hide you in my hold and I can give orders to my droid to take off if anyone comes to my ship."

Aurora looked into the cramped cargo hold of Jon's heavily modified fighter, "I am not looking forward to it, but that sounds to me like a sound precaution."

"That mean's you will have to stay in there for a unknown amount of time. Could be a hour or so." Jon explained, "What ever way you want me to do it. Its your call just get a move on. Though us flying out of here is the safest and best move. C.K knows how to handle the goons."

"I do not doubt that she doesn't," Aurora said gingerly crawling into his fighter's cargo hold. She eventually was all the way inside and laid down on the hold's hard durasteel floor. She looked up to Jon as he was closing the hatch announcing as if issuing an order to him, "Go rescue her Jon. I will not have her be accosted in any way."

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon is glad to have Aurora safely in the hold. Jon gets in his cock pit to open a small window in the floor of his foot area. Jon says as he smiles and looking down "This will give you some light and I think you can talk to Taya from down in there. I am going to find C.K now." With that he moved off locking his cockpit hatch.

Jon has no idea what to do as he walks away from his ship. Jon feels good knowing Aurora is safe anyways. Taya can fly the ship and also activate the home base hidden space doors from the ship if the worst case happens and they leave Jon behind. Jon makes his way to the one place he knows that would know where C.K is. In to Lupo's club. Jon is only willing to work with Lupo to get C.k free...

In the club some of the security goons don't want to let him in as he has a bad history with the gang. Jon says "Sure turn me away and see what will happen when Lupo hears you have turn away someone willing to pay for C.k, I bet he will turn you into pet food for costing him big money." With that Jon is told to wait in a corner dark both that is hidden from the main club area.... Jon is leaning back with this feet up on the table and his hands folded over his head as he waits. Jon got him self comfortable as he has no idea how long the wait will be, or if Lupo will even meet with him.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/ Date: 2:18.23 PM; Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Turner Station spaceport: Commerce Promenade, 38,987.05 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Callista Kailokainos (C.K.)

Being an associate of the local crime syndicate in this sector Lupo owned a import/export warehouse on level 17-D. It also served as the unofficial clubhouse for Lupo's Salvager's guild. The four thugs who only seemed to have been hired for their muscle mass and complete lack of humor dragged her inside.

Lupo was there waiting for her. "Kailokainos, this would've been easier if you'd been reasonable."

"Fuck you," She roared, "I won't give you a god-damned dime of my money, you fucking son of a-"

"But you will," He walked up to her as she glared at him with hate-filled eyes. Then he reached for herr and she pulled and twisted but inevitable he pulled her autowallet from her pocket and inserted a datachip into it the preloaded programming easily hacking its way inside. She fought them of course kicking, screaming, cursing....but the goons were too many and too big and she was all alone in the world like always.

"There we go," He announced as she was being pressed into the solid flooring of Lupo's club the four gorrillas, "You now have joined the guild and all dues are set to automatically be paid every week. According to this you got a metric ton of unpaid bills hounding you. Probably a good thing I made sure I got mine before the others come to collect from you."

Her money. C.K. gritted her teeth on the verge of flying into a murderous rage or an ugly session of tears. She had worked so fucking hard to gather every dime and protect it from all the debt collectors trying to keep her down in the gutter...again.

C.K. had grown up on the colony of Galloway. There due to a pandemic and a rather heartless megacorp that cured them of said pandemic every colonist there had been born into massive medical debt in perpetuity like her. Her great grandparents had been the ones to survive the virus but her great great grandchildren would be the last to pay the bill for that cure as well as all the other debts that just piled on top of them on Galloway. After generations of debt the colony's economy was in the toilet bowl with everything in some way owned or ran by the megacorp and those rat bastards made sure everyone's debts only grew and never shrank.

Everything, every accomplishment she ever made in life was a constant uphill climb fending off hordes of debt collectors seeking their slice of her hard-earned money...now Lupo had taken it.

"Boss," Someone called from behind her somewhere, "There's someone outside says he will pay what Kailokainos owes you."

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon waits in the clubhouse room area for word from Lupo about C.K's debt. Jon has no idea how much it is. Jon is left wondering what is happening to C.K, as he can only hope her spunk isn't getting her into trouble.


(going to have to re-write my last post to fit the story line)

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/ Date: 2:22.31 PM; Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Turner Station spaceport: Salvager's Guildhall, Level 17-D, 38,987.05 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Lupo Desantis

From the storage area Lupo entered the Guildhall's reception room. There he saw Jon sitting there. He heard of the man before of course. The syndicate he worked with often employed this man for smuggling high value small pieces of cargo around this system and the sector in general, though Lupo had never actually met the man. He knew he was well regarded and had favors to call upon from some very big players in both above and under what would be considered the law here in this sector.

He sat across the man and said, "You say you want to pay for Kailokainos's debt?"

"What's she to you," He asked, "I mean sure, take off those baggy coveralls and she can be a real looker, but she is a total ungrateful bitch at the same time."

"And take a good look through the files on her autowallet," He said laying C.K.'s hacked electronic wallet on the table between them, "There's pages and pages of people she owes money to. Apparently she's made a lifelong pursuit avoiding paying whatever she owes. You pay for her and you'll never see a dime of that money again."

"Then there's the people she owes to," He said taking the autowallet back, "black marketeers, Syndicate suppliers, Loan sharks...and even worse is the mountain she owes IOCorp of Galloway colony....Fuck, she'll never make enough to pay them off what she owes them."

"So," He surmised to Jon, "That leaves us with the big question, why do you even care about a loser like her?"

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon was glad Lupo showed up, Jon was starting to wonder if he was to late or was going to get blown off. Jon watched with intrest to make sure Lupo wouldn't try any funny stuff. Tho he was sure Lupo wouldn't, but with rift-raf like him. You can never be to careful. Lupo asked "You say you want to pay for Kailokainos's debt?" Jon just nodded while saying "yep". Lupo asked"What's she to you," Jon just shrugged as Lupo says "I mean sure, take off those baggy coveralls and she can be a real looker, but she is a total ungrateful bitch at the same time."Jon smiles and says "You know me... I sell in goods, I think I know of a buyer who knows maybe I will keep her for my self as a pet with spunk to brake. Not sure what I will do with her." Jon shrugs trying to act indifferent.

Lupo saying "And take a good look through the files on her autowallet," He said laying C.K.'s hacked electronic wallet on the table between them, "There's pages and pages of people she owes money to. Apparently she's made a lifelong pursuit avoiding paying whatever she owes. You pay for her and you'll never see a dime of that money again."

"Then there's the people she owes to," He said taking the autowallet back, "black marketeers, Syndicate suppliers, Loan sharks...and even worse is the mountain she owes IOCorp of Galloway colony....Fuck, she'll never make enough to pay them off what she owes them."

"So," He surmised to Jon, "That leaves us with the big question, why do you even care about a loser like her?" Jon smiles and says " What I do with the goods I buy, if for me personal or to be resold. that is my affair. If I end up keeping her for my self, well then that's for me to do with my property as I see fit. If I end up selling her. Well like you said there is a list of folks who would want to get there hands on her. Maybe I will do a auction one day. For now I may have some fun trying to brake her. Maybe make her my bed plaything. With the right carrot. " Jon shrugs "So what is it going to cost me to get her? I will want to inspect the goods make sure I am not buying damaged goods."

Jon smirks as he knows he is totally BS'ing Lupo, but then again as Jon said its not Lupo's worry what Jon dose with her once he buys her freedom.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/ Date: 2:30.44 PM; Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Turner Station spaceport: Salvager's Guildhall, Level 17-D, 38,987.05 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Lupo Desantis

"So," He surmised to Jon, "That leaves us with the big question, why do you even care about a loser like her?"

"What I do with the goods I buy, if for me personal or to be resold. that is my affair." Jon replied with a small tight smile hiding his true feelings, "If I end up keeping her for my self, well then that's for me to do with my property as I see fit. If I end up selling her. Well like you said there is a list of folks who would want to get their hands on her."

"And most would pay a reward for aid in locating her," Lupo put in with the thought that had been occurring to him as well, "Kailikainos certainly has a way of making enemies."

"Maybe I will do an auction one day," Jon said causing Lupo to snort in amusement at the callous humor, " For now I may have some fun trying to break her. Maybe make her my bed plaything with the right carrot?"

"Sounds like you're a man with a plan," Lupo nodded.

"So what is it going to cost me to get her," Jon asked with a shrug of his shoulders.

Lupo considered for a long moment. Technically he was already getting what he wanted from Kailokainos so he could just tell Jon to pound sand here, but on the other hand there was the small matter of Kailokainos attitude problem. She'd in no way stand for Lupo taking what she owed him from her. And she was a total pain his arse to deal with. Jon here was offering to take her off Lupo's hands.

After a moment he took her autowallet and wrote a number into it and handed it to Jon. "I'd be fine if I were to get this amount for her."

Jon took the autowallet and looked at the number he'd set and suggested, "I will want to inspect the goods make sure I am not buying damaged goods."

"Of course," Lupo nodded, "So do we have a deal?"

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon nodded, and says "First I see her, then I will pay. Please lead the way." Jon can only hope C.K is not getting her self into trouble.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/ Date: 2:41.08 PM; Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Turner Station spaceport: Salvager's Guildhall, Level 17-D, 38,987.05 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Callista Kailokainos (C.K.)

C.K. sat surrounded by Lupo's thugs shaken to the core by the shambles her life had become with just a few pushes of some buttons. Every penny she made in life she had had to guard jealously from the hands reaching in to take it from her. That was the way the universe worked. That was the way it worked after all. Those with the power and the money-so much they didn't know what to do with it all-kept the little people like her under the heel taking whatever they earned. They didn't even need thugs like Lupo needed they rigged the rules she had to play by to keep her poor and desperate.

"Fuck this," She snarled shooting up and launching herself at the thugs again, "Tell Lupo to go fuck himself!"

A few minutes passed as they tussled once again which ended with her pinned against the wall by two of the thugs swearing uselessly but colorfully at them, though she had gotten quite a good amount of hits on them. She especially liked the moment she'd kicked out and connected with the third one's testicles. That one was bent over her chair still moaning from the pain.

"This whore don't know when she's beat," Said one of the gaurds to the other one, "We should tie her up."

"Too much trouble and she won't learn to play along either," The other said licking at the split and bleeding lip from when C.K. had punched him in the face earlier, "We should just throw her out an airlock and be done with her."

Just then the door on the wall beside them slid open and in walked in Lupo followed by Jon, the poor dumb fuck she'd sat down with at the promenade earlier that day.

"Son of a bitch," She roared at Lupo, "Gimme my autowallet and cancel the guild payments right now."

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon says to Lupo "If I am to pay, I would want the auto payments be removed from her account as it will be mine now." Jon walks over to C.K and says " Stand still, I want to see you to make sure you haven't been hurt, before I pay for you."

Jon hopes C.K will work with him. Tho no one knows it, but Jon is going to pay anyways. Only to keep her safe from the next person who might come along. Jon wants her as a equal, as to the next person most likely want her as a slave.

 

[Veroe]

System: Ashford
Time/ Date: 2:42.51 PM; Octo 26, 412 A.E.
Location: Turner Station spaceport: Salvager's Guildhall, Level 17-D, 38,987.05 KM from Kai Epsilon 136E warp point termini

IC: Callista Kailokainos (C.K.)

"Son of a bitch," She roared at Lupo, "Gimme my autowallet and cancel the guild payments right now."

"And you'll just go back to salvaging shit out there outside of the guild and trying to sell it to my buyers," Lupo snorted, "If that were the case you'd be easy to blacklist but if all my other members start getting your idea of whether or not they need my guild....I can't allow that...so no way in hell, Kailokainos."


Jon turned to look at theh man saying, "If I am to pay, I would want the auto payments be removed from her account as it will be mine now."

"That will raise the pricetag considerably," Lupo told him as he stepped over to the two thugs still holding against the storage room's wall.

"Stand still," He said to her, "I want to see you to make sure you haven't been hurt, before I pay for you."

"Pay for me...why would you do that...," C.K. asked and shook her head, "I'm touched really, but listen, you're cute as hell and all, but there's a whole lot cheaper whores down in the brothels on level 15-E for you to get your cock wet with. You don't need to bother trying to be knight in shining armor here."

Through it all Jon was able to see that she'd been a little roughed up by the thugs. She sported a couple bruises, a split lip, and a bit of a sprained wrist from when one of these thugs had wrenched her arm behind her back in an effort to subdue her. Hell given her penchant for rather aggressive sexual interactions and if she had the money to spend on one she'd have paid for that sort of treatment from one of those same cheap whores down on level 15-E herself.

"I can take care of my own problems," She told him, "Always have."

 

[JonathanBair]

Jon asks Lupo "How much more?"

After he finds out the price Jon agrees and sends the funds and says "Done. Now cancel the auto payments, and I would like to take her out with me. So I can get my up-coming load."