The Lucky Penny

[Zapp]

Sydney didn't hear the guy at first. She just kept sipping at her drink. Then he spoke up, repeating his first message. That got her attention. Cousin? she thought, considering her family tree. Her father, who had died when the transport had been blown up, had had two brothers and a sister. One of the brothers had been a minor Elder, built up by owning lots of Artifact-rich land, which he exported on his brother's transport. The other brother was a drunk who spent most of his time on Tripoli, boozing it up. She wasn't sure if any of them were still alive, or if either had married, but hey, it's possible.

"Juan, eh?" she said, looking at him as if weighing him. Come to think of it, he did look familiar... in a certain light.

Thinking a second, she motions for the bartender to bring a couple more drinks, then asked Juan, "So, what's happening?"

---