Siggy was in the back, washing dishes. The morning had been exceptionally busy at the Cafe. Seems like the local Zoners were akin to his "own" Zaftigers across the Rift in that regard. They did love their morning coffee. And the coffee on "this" Canaria was exceptional.. grown and roasted right up the hill at Veranda Incognita. And the price was right. The owner had come down with a 20 Kilo sack of freshly roasted beans, and given it to Siggy. He had just requested that anyone from "TAZ" be given endless refills. Such a deal!
The man who had been surreptiously glancing at his "Help wanted" sign had not returned. Siggy had been almost certain that the man was on the lam from somewhere, and might decide to hide in his joint for awhile; but alas, no one had applied to work at the Cafe yet...
As Siggy was adding hot water and soap for the next load, he heard a familiar noise.. The clicking of bootheels. Not just any bootheels, but the familiar, rounded bootheels of someone he thought he'd never see again. Someone over six feet tall, with an incipient cowboy lilt to his speech, and a dry wit that could make a fencepost break up in paroxysms of laughter.. Siggy waited.
As the sound of those bootheels entered the kitchen, Siggy turned his head and offerred a warm smile to his old Zaftiger friend. The man smiled back, and without a word took a scullery apron off the rack, and gently moved Siggy aside from the deepsinks.
"You've got customers out front, Sig. I'll take over here. Oh, and call me "Slim". Apparently Sector Registry already has a "Tex" on the books. Some Junker lad."
Siggy smiled at his old friend and fellow Zaftiger again as he removed his wet scullery apron for a dry chef's model. "Slim" it is then. Good to see you, Amigo. You can bunk at my place up the street for now."
Siggy moved out front to greet his customers.
*(We are officially open.. we've got staff.. some.. we've got a menu that doesn't suck.. and we've got the finest damn coffee in the Sector. Your loss if you don't drop by. The Mgt.)*