Smugglers, Rock and Roll and the rise of the PLF

[oZoneRanger]

**Edited first post to fit Lore...I had a small misunderstanding with the NPC's**



Domingo Luc strolled into the bar on Bethlehem station and took a look around. "Nothing new around here" he thought to himself. He made his way to the bar and sat down next to a Blonde in a flight suit. She had a row of shot glasses in front of her.

Luc looked over at her "Bit early isnt it?" and followed that with a nod to the barkeep " Two more of what she is havin"

"Its just for show....guys like drunk girls more than sober ones" She said.

They said nothing for the minute or so it took the Bartender to bring the drinks. He sat staring across the bar at a reflection in a larger mirror of a room full of merchants, pilots and traders. Luc analyzed and watched, looked them all over. Trying to make out who the mark was.

As the drinks where showing up the blonde twisted back around to the bar grabbed her glass. As she put the glass up to her lips she said. " The skinny one ...Hes is an independent Yorkie...came looking for some synth...His Rhino is in slot 354 on the lower cargo bay..He has a load of engine components and 2 crates of small arms...Ive seen the manifest from a friend we have in common."

"Can you keep him occupied for an hour?" Luc asked wondering if an hour was enough time to unload and repack a rhino with storage crates filled with space rock. The guns would come in handy..and the engine components he could always pawn off to the junkers.

" Yea..but leave me some credits...I may have to buy HIM the drinks to keep him interested."

He smirked. Not many men could resist her. He knew that was not the case. She must need the extra credits.l
" ya ..fine....we can do that..." he said.

They both downed their drinks and the blond walked off. Luc turned around to the Bartender.
"here" throwing a small pile of credits on the bar..."this is for anything she may need and this for you." He pulled out three boxes off Pharmaceuticals from his jacket pocket and dropped them discreetly behind the bar. The Bartender nodded.

"....hey have you seen that guy named Lancaster around lately?" asked Luc

The Bartender just nodded a slow "No" as he pretended like he was whipping up a spill and and made the boxes of Pharma disappear into his bar apron pocket. His niece was almost out and this would get her through the month.

"No ? ...ok..yea..see him...tell him i stopped by."

Off in the distance " Well HI there Handsome....You wanna buy my a drink". The blond started to go to work on the Mark.

Domingo smiled. How could all these guys fall for this? and then he thought about it...He had fallen for it as well, or almost fallen for it as the case would be. He made is way back out of the bar and headed to the cargo docks. He needed to work fast.

[Erasmas]

The air is smoky and clouded as always in the Bethlehem bar, as customers from all the system flock to the watering hole to share their stories and gossips. A group of Junkers are making a hell of a noise, celebrating some good deal they made in the Border Worlds. In a corner, a lone man is waiting his ship to be repaired; his elegant dress and general aura of disdain paint a big "corporate" sign on his forehead, and he barely smirks as the waitress almost spills his drink while serving him.
On the stage, a band of teenagers is playing a rock piece, their enthusiasm making up for the lack of finesse; they all are a bit weird looking: The guitar and vocals is a black girl with silver-dyed hair, the batterist is a guy on wheelchair that moves the battery pedals with a string attached to his head, but perhaps the strangest one is the bassist girl: even in the dim lights of the bar, she's wearing heavily shaded glasses that completely cover her eyes.

When the music ends, the young musicians pack up their instruments in a corner, then scatter around the bar, steaming off the tension of the exibition with dance, alcohol and other "activities". The girl with shades straps the bass on her back (the head of the instrument curiously looks like a sword hilt), then heads for the bar counter and sits on a stool.

Gea: Don't you dare saying the words "Liberty ale", right? Or the word "Liberty" at all, since you're at it. Give me an Eire Hammer... wait, make it double.

She stretches, making a cracking noise with her spine, then looks around.

---

[oZoneRanger]

When Domingo walked in he was quite taken back. It had been awhile since he had seen the mood in the bar "festive" if that's what you could call it. It wasn't his thing. He had more pressing issues to worry about. It had been a while since he had pulled a cargo switch. They were always risky, and lately he was working alone.

He walked up to the Bar. "Domingo.." said the bartender as a greeting.

"Hey..." He reached into his pocket and handed over 3 more boxes of pharma. They were the last he had, and he had spent his last credits on them. He turned back around and looked at the room. Musicians were the last thing he had expected to see. "Whats this all about?"

"Had to do something...been few people around as of late ya know...Drink?"

"Na...I'm good...don't worry about it." he didn't mention he was skint."...heard anything from Lancaster?"

"Yea...hes laying low.." said the bartender grabbing a glass and filling it with ice. "Don't know if that meant he was locked up or if he is on the lame...either way...he ain't around."

Domingo scanned the room and his eyes came to rest on a fat juicy mark. " That the guy with the BWT?"
Bartender nodded an affirmation but said nothing. "Yea, Nav map glitch, he was heading to Philly station and ended up here. take him another 4 hours before its fixed."

If he was going to pull it off, he would need some interference.. "Seen the Blonde lately?". He had not seen his favorite partner in crime in many months. She had just up and vanished. But that was normal.

"Shes not really Blonde, Domingo, you know that.." The bartender pouring a tall triple into the glass half filled with ice. " but I have heard a tidbit... New dockhand that transferred from Ontario... was talking about a bar fight he had seen, mentioned a 'Pearl Handled black Stilleto' sound familiar to ya?" Finishing the sentence at the same time he finished pouring the triple. " Here, on the house" he said pushing the drink forward.

Domingo looked at the Bartender. " I can't pay for it, I can't drink it..."

The bartender was about to interrupt with a " your credits are no good here"...., but a voice from behind Domingo, beat him to it...

[Erasmas]

Gea: Whoever you are, I can't stand seeing anyone turning down the good stuff! *she grins at him from her stool, then galnces at the bartender* His poison is on me. I have to start spending your pay after all. *turns to Domingo again* Enjoy it, as long as there's still some around. Soon, we might all be forced to suck on Texas piss.

The girl shrugs and downs her drink in three big gulps, then adjusted the strap of her bass. Looking around a bit, her eyes stop on the unfortunate corporate trader, still waiting to hear from repairs.

Gea: Heh... that's one sure "incident" waiting to happen. *makes a predatory smile, then, as if suddenly remembering to be in public, moves her look away from the trader and faces Domingo again* Oh by the way, my name is Gea. Did you enjoy our show?

---

[oZoneRanger]

Domingo looked her over. She had an odd aura about her. Her comment about the trader got him thinking. These days you couldn't be to careful about who you did business with.

"Sorry, didn't catch it...not my type of thing anyway..." Domingo took the glass in hand, since it was now paid for.

"Thanks for the drink." Killed a triple shot in one swallow.

"Don't take this wrong way lady, but around here first names are for relatives...and..you are cute and all..but I got some work to do."

He put the glass back down on the bar, turned and left her standing there. He moved into a better position to spec out his latest mark, and found a place in the corner with a sofa and table in front, and sat down.

[Erasmas]

Gea: *raises an eyebrow looking at the man as he walks away* Well, no more free drinks for you! Pfeh... "first names are for relatives"... *mocks his tone* Well I only have a first name, how should I introduce myself? *Gea mutters, then turns back to the bartender* Who the hell is that guy? Liberty is already taking all our breathing space, if that attitude starts spreading, we might end up finishing the job for them! Gah... gimme another one.

---

[oZoneRanger]

The bartender chuckled. "Domingo there.." He said leaning in towards her and speaking in a voice under the level of noise of the crowd.

"He's one of the best around here Miss. Never been known to leave a partner down and out, type a brother that if he can't do anything to help ya, he will at least take a share in what ever misery you are going through"

His tone is friendly in a bartender type of way, off the cuff, speaking in generalities as if it was something he would say about anyone.

He continued to wipe down the bar. "For example, I got a friend ..and he has got this niece.."

He reaches for two fresh glasses. "..and that niece of his.." His manner is sarcastic, serious and at the same time comedic and then in a split second the tension in his eyebrows tightens, his eyes get glazed over with severity. He sets one glass down with a solid knock.

"..she really... REeeeally likes him ... and 'I' .."
He does the same with the second glass, but instead of a knock its a sharp low thump, raising the eyebrows of those with in a meter, but not drawing unwanted attention, making sure he was driving the point home.

"... I just don't like disappointing my friends niece see..."

He starts starts a really sloppy pour from one glass to the other and back, making both very sticky, a true sign off disrespect, usually only aimed at the passing Yorker that floated through, and never at a "Penny", as many of the local homegrown in system had started to refer to themselves.

"I won't have ya thinking bad about him.."

He set the bottle down with sufficient drama to put an exclamation point to the scene.

"Now lass..." Now jovial and paternal. " take this, and head over to that Trader there and give Domingo a hand."

He pulls one box of the pharma up just enough for her to see it, and stashes back it under bar, and turns around as if nothing was ever said between them.

[Erasmas]

Gea: *looks at the glass, then at the box, then at the bartender... then her mouth opens* Oh, is that so... ah well, why not. It'll be good for a laugh.

Gea readjusts the strap of the bass on her shoulder, takes the two glasses and heads for the table where ther poor corporate was trying in vain to avoid drawing attention.
She puts the two glasses on the table, placing the "right" one in front of him, and adjusting her glasses she raises a big smile and starts talking in an exagerately excited tone.

Gea: HEY! IT'S REALLY YOU! I can't believe my luck! I saw you from there and I just HAD to come here and offer you a drink! I am SOOOO much your biggest fan! *grabs his hand as he is still trying to figure out what the hell is happening, and while shaking it she carries on* I can't believe I'm talking with the biggest producer of the month! I am so excited! Oh I wish me and my friends could work for you, we have sooo many great ideas, wanna hear one?
Trader: But... I'm sorry miss, I, uh, work for Age-
Gea: AGEIRA! Of course, what else? It's perfect! We have sooo many ideas for advertisement jingles! *sits on the chair next to him, getting as close as possible without actually jumping on his lap, then turns her head to call for the rest of the band* Hey Leo! Paula! Over here! It's THAT man! *then stops her glance on Domingo* Oh hey Dom, you're here. A guy asked about you earlier, down at the hangars. *grins, then turns back to the overwhelmed trader, stopping another faint attempt of protest* I called the other guys, you'll see, we're PERFECT for that job!

The poor man, shaking his head, tries to raise from his chair, but at that precise moment Leo's wheelchair blocks his seat from a side, while the silver haired Paula puts a hand on his shoulder and emits an overly girlish squeal with the full power of her lungs.

Paula: OHMYGOSH IT'S HIM! This is TOTALLY the best day onf my life! I can't believe we could have the chance to work with...
Gea: Ageira, yeah! Can you believe it?
Leo: Hell yeah! We rock! *starts making a hell of a noise with his battery sticks on the table*
Trader: Listen, guys... I- I'm trying to tell you...
Gea: Yeah we know, of course! You'll have to hear what we're made of before you can say anything! We can show you something right away!

At this point, the poor man is to the brink of mental collapse, and takes a big gulp from the glass in front of him in an attempt to recollect himself. To no avail, because the malefic trio continues stunning and interrupting him with void talk until he finally collapses from exaustion and pharma-induced sleep.

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