As the Coruscating Fire completed its docking sequence upon Freeport 1, Solanus undid his seat restraints. The trip had gone smoothly, for the most part. The Taus were becoming more and more unnavigable due to, according to some rumors, three or even four-way fights breaking out with increasing frequency, so he decided to take the safer route through the Liberty and the Independent Systems instead. On his way from Shikoku to Kepler, however, his ship had been ambushed by a gunboat and several fighters. While fighters weren't much of a threat to the heavy shielding installed on the ship, a gunboat was another matter entirely, and he had been forced to expend the entire reserve of shield batteries trying to keep the shields up long enough to make the jump.
After checking to make sure everything was locked down, and instructing the Freeport personnel to resupply the ship with necessities and additional shield batteries, Solanus stepped into the tavern, and looked around intently, trying to catch the attention of the person who had called him to this place. He was in his 20s, of average height, but looked as if he could be 18 or 19. Normally, he would have ignored such odd messages, especially ones that asked him to head to locations that were far outside of his normal trade routes, but this one seemed different somehow.
His actions, or rather, lack thereof, drew the attention of a robot, which promptly walked up to him and asked if he needed any assistance.
"Yes. I'm looking for someone." he replied, not quite sure who or what exactly he was looking for.
"Sir, would you happen to be Solanus Kalenda?" it asked.
Rather surprised at the fact that the robot seemed to know his name, he replied, with some hesitation, "Yes... I am. Is there something wrong?"
"Sir, please follow me."
Curious. Very curious. He thought, as he followed the robot to a table near the window. There, he saw an older man, already seated at the table. "So, I assume you're the one who sent that message?" he asked, somewhat cautiously.
