4: New Jobs

Aboard the Emberhawk

Emberhawk, Cargohold 4000.03.28 011:13 UniTi

"I'm telling you Captain, I know what I saw," Dax continues - the two men being the only beings in the cargohold, Zev had dismissed everyone but Dax stayed behind for this conversation.

"So you're telling me that I missed and Dravik not only produced two Beam Laser Pistols but ALSO shot them so perfectly that they only left a single wound on this sand ripper? I'm sorry Dax, but I just don't buy it, our lovable little Cephy couldn't even hold his rifle right!"

"I'm telling you Captain, I know what I saw!" Dax was many things, but eloquent wasn't one of them, "He whipped out two pistols and gunned that sand ripper down like a practiced killer. Plus, you ever notice how he was always close to you? He only showed his true colors when you were in danger!"

"Oh, so now he's my guardian angel?" Zev scoffs.

Dax throws up his hands, frustrated, "Why won't you believe me Cap?? We just went into battle together!"

"I don't know what to believe right now Dax, it's not that I don't believe YOU it's just... I can't believe IT."

A soft knock on the cargo hatch signals Isa's arrival and the two men give each other a glance that says, "We'll talk later."

"Come in, come in," Zev says after lowering the hatch. Isa has two security-looking types with her, one buff and gruff man and a much shorter, athletic woman, both dressed in armored suits.

"Thank the stars!" Isa exclaims as she rushes to the laser, "No one else knows you have this?"

"Depends who's askin'," both Zev and Dax's hands surreptitiously move toward their sidearms.

"Oh," Isa chuckles nervously as her security guards also reach for weapons, "No, no, heavens no it's not like that. Here, I have your credits," she hands over a credit stick that reads all the right numbers.

"Much obliged, miss Lisa," Zev thanks.

"Isa. Valona said you called her Roger as well? Are our names hard for you to remember?"

Zev sighs. "Look, I'm sorry Ms. Isa, sure let's go with that. Hard to remember. I'll try and remember better," Zev didn't want to get into a long discussion on idioms and names. He made a mental note to practice their names tonight for a better showing tomorrow. He was hoping to stay a while...

"That's alright Mr. Zev, excuse me Captain." Isa replies, then waves her detail to secure the laser. When they hesitate she waves them off again, "Come now, if the good Captain here wished us harm I believe it would've happened outside the ship - secure that laser while I finish speaking with the Captain."

"Yes ma'am," the woman responds as the man brings up a hover-cart to place the laser on.

"Now, Captain, the Governor was impressed with your crew's work. Hard to find capable hands that know how to keep things quiet," she begins.

"Thank you Ms. Isa."

"The Governor has another job in mind for you, when you have the time? The Orange Sea Mining Company has hired a group of those Rage Lizards out in the badlands. They're trying to restrict access to a secret facility - we need you to secure a key bridge to ensure the people's continued access to that road... can we count on your help?" she asks.

Zev scratches his head, "I don't know miss--"

"It pays 6 credits and we'll provide access to our leading healthcare bots, time is of the essence and as you know from this mission - we mean business."

"You should've lead with that," Zev quips.

"We'll take it!" Dax shouts then looks about nervously, knowing he's spoken out of turn, "I mean, uh, we should take it, sir."

"As Dax said," Zev continues, "We'll take it. When do we leave?"

"Our intel suggests the Lizards plan to move on the bridge in two days time, but if you're looking to make a few more credits... I have something I need doing - should be a simple job..." she leaves the hook dangling in the air.

"Okay... so you want us to do this job in two day's time then? What is this other job?"

"Well, you see..." she looks down and shifts uncomfortably, "I need a problem dealt with, and you've all done a fine job here so..."

"What kind of problem?" Zev asks

"Not a what type of problem, a who type of problem Captain. This man, I need you to take him out," she shows a holo of the man and shifts around once more, fidgeting.

"You're asking me to kill a man? It happens in our line of work but it isn't exactly my style."

"Listen, Zev, Captain, I'll pay you six credits personally and another two on top if you stop asking questions. We have an Isolationist Uprising brewing and eliminating these fellows will quash it. I can't have an uprising, the people can't either. You'd be doing the planet a service and... I- we'll let's leave it at that," she gains confidence as she speaks, she truly believes what she says.

"We should take it Captain, leave the killing to me if yer gonna get squeamish," Dax says, half joking.

"Fine. That's a lot of credits, get us the coordinates but I have a request of my own if we're doing this - three cycles ago the station at Quintara IV was attacked. I... lost people. I need to know who was behind it."

Isa sets her jaw, "You take care of this for me and keep it quiet, and I'll find out for you."

"You've got a deal, and we're going to try and bring this fellow in alive." Zev offers a slightly-better Elari greeting / farewell than the one he attempted with Governor Salaza.

"Deal. And thank you again for the Mining Laser, clean work," she compliments as she exits the vessel and rejoins her security detail in their armored skimmer.

Zev has a bad taste in his mouth as he shuts the cargobay and turns to speak with Dax, who has made himself scarce.

"Just another day in the life of a renegade captain," he thinks to himself, then searches the net to catch up on the local Unity activity.