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Roderick was so pissed he didn't know where he was any more.
And, given the circumstances, that was probably a good thing.

Roderick had never been much of a heavy drinker, the exception being shortly after he had been exposed to death all around him. Today had been one of those days. One week ago, though it might as well have been a matter of hours, Roderick had been the last survivor in a long and bloody battle aboard a spaceship, the name of which escaped him at this time. A good many aquaintances of his, whom he had met for the first time when he first undertook this unnaturally long assignment as a mercenary, had been lost in the senseless bloodshed and carnage, and he was feeling very bad about it, a lot worse than usual.
This is what always happens when I make friends in a job like mine... he thought, almost ready to pass out as he sat alone in a bar aboard what he could only assume was some sort of ship somewhere in space.
But what was worse was the fact that the whole thing had been so pointless and meaningless. A petty squabble over land between two pirate factions, and he had been either stupid or desperate enough to get involved in this short but very messy war. Roderick remembered bleakly that he used to have standards: he once only took jobs that involved fighting and killing if he thought that it was for an honourable cause.
And now look at me. Now I'm just another viscious thug without morals or ethics. He downed another shot of a strange tasting blue-coloured liqueur, and then collapsed in a confused and drunken haze onto the cold hard steel floor, hoping never to wake up into his miserable existence again.

Unfortunately, this was not the case.

Nox looked up at the Scorpion. right now she was hanging down from the clamps of one of Granidas larger dry-docks. currently dock crew was fitting a new turret. with four F-classes installed it would be a formidable upgrade to his ship. there was only one problem between him and some great profits. a crew, he realy needed more crew. at least three maybe four or five.

he put his hands to his mouth "I'm goin to get us some crew!" he yelled to Kriss, trying to overcome the noise caused by the working dock crew. he saw Kriss turn around, he put up his thumb and smiled, revealing a set of white shiny teeth. Nox nodded and turned away, setting course to the nearest pub.

after a few-minute walk though the chaotic corridors he arrived at the pub. it was called The White Inn. he took a seat at the bar and waited for White, the barman. the guy was a hybrid. as so many on Granidas in White's case that just ment he had an extra set of arms and a white skinn. but his face and body were human. Nox ordered a glass of rum.

suddenly a guy sitting a few paces away from him dropped to the floor. at first Nox didn't react, it was quite normal that some drunk guy passed out, soon waking up. but when this guy didn't Nox became a bit worried. not verry hasty Nox walked over to the guy and begun to check his head and back for any blood. soon he concluded the guy had just passed out from drinking. he would probably wake up sooner or later. Nox rearanged his limbs a little. making the guy lay a little more comfortible. he turned to the barman and gave him some money. "this is to buy that guy a big cup o'coffee when he wakes up. i guess he'll be needin it." he said. meanwhile picking up his glass and taking a seat on the nearest stool.......

"the White Inn, at Granidas." Nox answered the man. the guy acctualy seemed worse of awake than knocked out. it looked worse than a normal hangover. like he had been death-drinking instead of just drinking to much. "here, take a seat." he said while he draged another stool closer. he did not leave his stool but used his foot to push it gently in the direction of the other man....

Walking around in the ship to find a bar until Zeek came upon a place called The White Inn. He walked in with a hoodie over his head covering everything except the nose lips and chin. He walked over to the bar where two guy were having a drink. One seemed like he was bleeding from the back of his head. It wasn't that bad looking though. He looked aware of it. He took a seat near them.

"A glass of warm milk please." raising his arm half way to the bartender.
"Haven't had that order for a while. What brings a weird being like you to these parks?" Bartender looking for a conversation.
"Business. Looking for some people to terrorize the Terrans."
Bartender laughed as Zeek took a sip of his drink.
"You'll find plenty of those around here."

When he finished his drink he took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth. He checked his pocket but could not find a lighter.
"Heh so you don't have a lighter. I just hope you have money for that drink you just had." Bartender getting awfully close to Zeek's face.
Zeek gave a small smirk, "who said I didn't have a lighter?" Zeek pulled his hand back and his cloak went back as well. Three small balls fell behind him under his cloak making a quite, but heavy noise. They rolled back and they began to explode. Before anyone knew it the whole place was on fire. Zeek rose out of the fire slowly untouched and unharmed. He jumped over the bar and ducked down to avoid the explosions. Thanks to his thermorezin clothing the fire didn't harm him at all.

He took his cigarette from his mouth and put it to the fire to light it. He looked to his right and noticed two guys that were still alive.
Impressive. Didn't expect anyone to come out of that explosion he thought.
He puffed out a small amount of smoke, "Nice lighter don't you guys think?" smiling at them.

Of all the times to sober up, it just has to be now, doesn't it?

"S**t!" Roderick exclaimed, before realising the danger was over. "What the hell just happened?" he asked to anyone currently listening, or able to listen.

Maybe he still wasn't completely sober after all...

A few minutes after the blast goes off, a flickering image of none other than Arthur Bravia himself appears in the doorway of the now burning White Inn. Four droids come rushing in, passing right through the hologram, and begin extinguishing the fires. The conversation between the survivors is abruptly interrupted...

"That was quite an explosion."

He looks around, surveying the damage. He raises an appreciative eyebrow, as if impressed.

"However, such explosions are not acceptable on my station. It is very fortunate for you... Zeek...

The gaze of the hologram shifts to Zeek exclusively, remaining locked on him.

"...that our good friend bartender bob's inn was going to be scrapped, or I might be ordering an on-the-spot execution. See to it that in the future, your thievery on this station does not result in structural damage, or regardless of the circumstances, you will not be so lucky again. Do we have terms my friend?"

He flashes a flawless smile as the droids, having put out the fires, pass right through him on their way out.

Nox kept his face emotionless during the hologram incedent. since it took quite long for i to show up it probably wasn't a security program, but realy Arthur Bravia. so he beter not attract any attention. without moving his head he shifted his look to the bar-guy, who seemed to have some dificulty keeping his face normal.

after the hologram disapeared Nox waited for a few seconds, to make sure the sensors that had been used to make the hologram correctly interact with it's surroundings were turned off then he turned towards the bomb-guy.
"you'd beter keep quiet for a while. here, this might help." he said while he picked a small ring from one of the courpses hands, and gave it to him.

it was made of a dark, near black metal it had a small red orb on it, made of cristal on the other side was a small flat button, only recognisable by it's collour which was slightly lighter than the rest of the ring.

this was a quite ordinary lighter, used by people all around the Sun. one would push the button, which was located on the inside of the hand with his thumb. this would make the orb heat up, allowing one to light one's cigarete on it.
of course it could also be used to pull of nasty phranks.