Starfinder: A Cosmic Birthday
Chapter 1: Bondless
Location: Triaxus - Skyfire Mandate - Trevalax Aerie. Kuthona 28th, 323 AG:
Reddek hadn't felt like this since some of his youngest years. When he was near the human equivilent of ten years of age he had pushed a larger dragonkin boy to the ground whom he had been told had done some bullying by another youth and damaged their comm unit. Thinking it was a righteous thing he'd done, he was surprised when he'd been called to the principal's office to be chastised for the deed. He must have looked contrite enough that his family wasn't notified.
After some time sitting and thinking about it, he realized that he didn't feel quite the same as back then. As a young dragonkin he'd been filled with terror at the thought of going home to a family that would, in his wild imaginings, scream and yell at him and then throw him out to the wild of the Caldera to swim in its sulfur lake for such a transgression. Now he instead had a feeling of self-pity and personal disappointment. He knew why he was being called, and it filled him with gloom. He would be cut off from the future he wanted to pursue, possibly left aimless, wandering without goal. The thought did not fill him with a childish terror, but an adult's mournful dread.
``Reddek? The Armsmaster will see you now.'' An attendant said from the office doorway. The lashunta made room for the larger dragonkin to enter the doorway. Reddek was a good nine feet tall. It was a smaller height for dragonkin, but made him almost three and a half feet taller than the lashunta attendant. His wings were sharply tugged against his back as he passed through the doorway, while digitigrade feet moved him past the threshold, and a thick long tail was kept in check to keep from battering anything as he passed through.
``Excuse me.'' He said in passing, his voice warm, low, but not hiding his gloomy mood.
The office itself was large in scope, helping to support beings like him who were greater in size than the Pact average. A ring of windows formed a semi-circle about the desk and chairs which sat at the far end. A passing snowfall had piled up mounds of white on the ledges outside the windows, and a few flakes still yet fell lazily outside in a light breeze. Winter was in its third century, and likely to last another two.
``Initiate! Come in, please.''
The Armsmaster was an old human man with wrinkled and scarred dark skin contrasted by a nearly white beard and full head of white hair. Next to him was a familiar figure and Reddek winced despite his preparations to see his older brother Rachix.
The bonded pair of Armsmaster and Armskeeper stood up from their respective seats at the desk. ``Don't look so glum. This is not a chastisement. Please, sit.'' The elder human said with a warm smile.
The words did little to encourage Reddek, and seeing this, Rachix moved around the desk and embraced his younger brother, patting his back between his wings, ``Easy brother. We can help.''
Reddek tried to keep his composure. He was thankful for his brother's compassion, but at the same time was almost brought to tears with a feeling of failure that clutched at him.
Rachix moved to sit with his bonded partner, and Reddek followed suit in the seat across from him. He stared to the right where an empty seat, reserved for the other of a bonded pair, sat as a monument to his shortcomings.
``I will be blunt first.'' The human began, ``Your bondings have been swift, and...temporary. In the space of minutes you create a bond, and it lasts for a time, a day, and then it passes. It has left those who have tried to bond with you...'' The Armsmaster trailed off as he tried to find a nice way to put it.
``Feeling cheated.'' Reddek stated, knowing how some of them had felt. He had bonded with them after all. Like himself, they were young, filled with hopes and dreams of a life of adventure and service with someone that would fully understand them all the way down to their soul. Most had understood, or been mildly perturbed. One had been rather vocal about the issue, an elf who'd been his last effort. In part Reddek felt less upset about that failed bonding.
``Or confused.'' Rachix interjected, trying not to speak of the worst of moments as though it were the entirety. ``There are other dragonkin with the Mercurial Bond, Reddek. It's not something to be ashamed of.''
``But it is disqualifying for the Skyfire Legion.'' The younger dragonkin pointed out. ``The bonding has always been a symbol of the Legion.'' The red scaled dragonkin drew out his Skyfire Sword. The hilt was all it was composed of. He'd asked for that specifically, which lightened its weight because of the lack of internal parts.
As a Solarion he needed nothing else, for his connection to the stellar energies of the universe helped him manifest a blade of pure solar energy. This came through his stellar mote, a common feature of a Solarion. Right now that mote, usually floating about his shoulder, was hidden for now by his subconscious, as though that too were a point of shame for the dragonkin.
Rachix felt the intent coming from his younger brother, and spoke before Reddek could place the hilt on the desk as some kind of symbol of resignation, ``I do not want to get your hopes up, brother, but there have been those who have found a way to mend the Mercurial Bond into something more permanent. But you're not going to find that here.''
The human next to Rachix nodded in agreement and reached for a control on his desk. ``You should see this.''
The holoprojector on the desk lit up, and an image formed stretched over of the desk of a reclining cosmic dragon. The blue scaled creature, who's actual size would have been enough to fill the room to bursting, might have found their miniaturized holography somewhat insulting, but would have never shown it. Trevelaxian was far to generous and good-natured to let such things bother him. The dragon would often assumed a human or ryphorian form when speaking on most matters, reserving his draconic one for serious situations, or addresses to the entire Aerie.
``Initiate Reddek.''
The words snapped Reddek out of his mournful attitude. Even his solar mote sparked to life over his shoulder. The dragon had spoken to him directly, even if in message. Hope and terror clashed in him as a lump rose in his throat.
``I have had the tale of your condition brought to my attention. I have been told of how it weighs upon your heart and soul. My magics sought out your soul and felt it true. I cannot give you solace, nor mending. But I can offer you a path. I have instructed the Armsmaster to find you passage to Absalom station, and there, a course I have divined in a place called Little Akiton. There shall your journey begin. Your brother will have the details.''
The Armsmaster slid a credit stick across the desk, which was artfully crafted. It was made of silver with gold contacts and was studded with sapphire and emerald, ``From my hoard I grant you a modest gift. Go, and with my blessing, your families love, and the hope of all the legion of my Aerie.''
The image faded out as the message concluded. Reddek was in turmoil, fighting the tears that did well up into his eyes. He grasped the credit stick and squeezed it, knowing what a gift it was to get any bit of a dragon's hoard given willingly.
``Don't think you're rich.'' Rachix said with a chuckle, always annoyingly finding a way to make light of an intense or serious situation. ``It's only a few hundred credits.''
``And don't worry about spending it on the trip itself. We have that covered.'' The Armsmaster added. The human then sat up more fully. ``Reddek. You're not going to find answers in the legion, and staying on Triaxus would only make things worse. Out there,'' He gestured up towards the ceiling, the sky, the stars beyond, ``Is where those answers are.''
Reddek didn't know what words would mark proper gratitude and wouldn't sound like an outburst that would deprive him of dignity before the Armsmaster of Trevelax Aerie. With a struggle, he blinked the wetness from the corners of his eyes, and said, ``Thank you. I...I will try to find...I WILL find that answer.'' A thought occurred to him that he suddenly felt very unmoored and he forgot which way he was going, like he'd been put into a desert and spun around while blindfolded. ``Where am I going?''
Location: Absalom Station - Jatembe Park - Plenara Ambassadorial Wing. Abadius 12th, 324 AG:
``Excuse me?!''
``Okay,'' Wist thought, ``That was hardly the most diplomatic way to approach this.''
She justified it more and more as she was certain that what she'd just heard, or felt, that came out of this pencil pushing, spreadsheet humping little bureaucrat had called for no less!
The contemplative on the other side of the desk shifted their limbs in their perpetual elevation. The floating brain, with spindly torso, arms, and legs that dangled beneath it like vestigial afterthoughts to the alien's biology, didn't have an easily discernible face to gauge the emotions of. Like the limbs, it had become all but vestigial, save a couple of glimmering points that seemed to be eyes. No matter the lack of perceptible expression, Wist was pretty sure she'd put the fear of Grandmother Rat into him for a moment.
``You are being pulled from the negotiations, ambassador.'' The creature broadcast to her telepathically, ``And uh...you're being...''
``I'm being fired! You can say it...think it, Brossfeld's Method 2:42!'' The ysoki slapped a paw down on the desk. ``And your superiors haven't the gall to tell this to my face?''
``AbadarCorp uh...sends its regrets but.'' The contemplative moved a spindly arm to push forward a credstick, likely severance pay, ``They're seeking another mediator.''
Wist touched a paw to her white furred head. Of course they'd be tight lipped about it. She'd have to go on wondering what she did wrong, or worse, whose toes she had stepped on, and how long their grudge might hold. She reminded herself she didn't have to take it out on the lackey they'd thrown between her and who she really needed to yell at.
``But why?'' Wist now asked in a modestly calmer voice than before.
``I'm afraid that's uh...information I was not given.''
The ysoki's shoulders now slumped. Yep, she'd have to go on guessing who she ended up pissing off. It was probably that bonehead, Gevelarsk Nor.
A strong voice behind Wist reminded her she was not alone in this. It could be gentle, calm and reserved if it wished, but roared with such bravado and unflappable determination in the current moment that it made the floating brain hover backwards a foot in retreat.
``If AbadarCorp even THINKS to do this to Captain Wist, then they shall lose my services as well!''
Standing behind her, a tower of armor and stability, was Vaniboso. From armored warfare to heavy weapons, the great reptilian vesk was a formidable figure. He had previously born the rank of lieutenant in the pahtra resistance on Pulonis. Wist could remember the first week of their meeting, when he'd felt uncomfortable taking orders from Ambassador Wist or Starfinder Wist or just Wist, and so had come to call her Captain Wist as she commanded an exploratory vessel at the time.
A fully armed and armored Vesk soldier, with experience in the Veskarium and Pahtra rebellion, could be overkill as a bodyguard. Wist was pretty sure the mugger that had jumped them in the Spike last month was not some azlanti assassin and she hoped that poor Lashunta would be out of the hospital soon.
``Wha-?! You can't! Your contract.'' The contemplative protested to the sudden outburst and irregularity.
``Is terminated!'' The vesk said loudly and proudly. He thumped a gauntleted hand down on the desk, causing writing styluses and tablets to clatter from the effort, ``I forfeit my severence pay.'' In deference, he turned towards Wist and gave a quick salute, ``Orders, Captain?''
The unshakable loyalty of the vesk was bringing a smile to Wist's white muzzle. Nothing else could have made this moment emotionally turn around for her so quickly. She ignored the contemplative now, letting the floating brain stew on the impropriety of the moment and hopped down from the booster stool next to the desk. She signaled for Vaniboso to follow her, ``We're going to take this severance pay of mine, buy a couple drinks to our poor fortune, and then find new work if we're sober enough.''
The vesk's sometimes stony face was full of sharp teeth and smiles. ``Agreed!''
``I know a place. Has some of the flavors of home, much better community, and no roving bandits.'' Together, former ambassador and former soldier strode together down the paths of Jatembe Park on the way to a public transit station.
Places around the governmental areas of The Eye, such as the Plenara, were always a little busy, no matter the time of day, making even Wist and Vaniboso blend into the crowd of beings going to and fro between the varieties of governmental structures in the light of the mid morning sun. This was an artificial sun of course, projected by the glass dome of the sky that mimicked what was believed to be the sky of Golarion. It was currently a vibrant blue with a handful of ``clouds'' seen scattered about. These cloud mimicries also formed when moisture gathered in enough density to cause rainfall.
With the Eye being a construct over a mile in height, it easily formed its own atmospheric effects and sometimes had rain. These atmospheric events were encouraged and discouraged by a series of technomagical devices along the spires of high-rise buildings and the superstructure of the Eye's dome itself, causing rain to fall or absorbing local moisture. The rainfall was a boon to the great grassy meadows and forests of Jatembe Park, made of real trees and tended by Xenodruids and members of other conservation groups seeking to save what was left of Lost Golarion.
Wist, for a time enjoying the view of the sky, was distracted by her vesk companion as she felt the heavy footfalls of his armored frame. Sometimes, when the young reptile was focused or determined, she had to jog just to keep up. Other times he was more aware of her limited ability to stride at his pace and attempted a slower gait.
Right now, those youthful reptilian features, gray-green in color, but lacked the adornment of more vibrant coloration. Despite being fired, he seemed mostly jovial, and Wist had a bad feeling she might have to ruin his day for his own good.
``Vani, what are you doing here?''
The vesk looked down with some confusion, then behind himself, then under a boot as if he'd stepped in something, or on someone, ``I don't get it, captain.''
Wist gave a shake of her head and patted Vani's arm before he continued looking around for something immediately physical for an answer. ``I mean what are you doing here with me when you're young and capable. Playing bodyguard to an ambassador, and an ex one at that, isn't very exciting you know.''
Vaniboso snorted in a way that seemed to be a chuckle. ``Captain, you're hardly old, and I have all the excitement I want right now.''
Wist had to pick up her own speed with twice the effort to keep up with Vani as the vesk began to move more quickly. Her intuition told her more than the words of the vesk had provided. He was still feeling guilty about the loss of her ship, and likely still felt a debt from the initial rescue of the soldier from Pulonis which had ended up with said ship destroyed. She was stuck with him, and had the benefit of companionship and unshakable loyalty. But guilt also gripped her. A deep feeling that she was holding him back still clung to her.
``Promise me you're not going to let a shipless ex-Starfinder hold you back, Lieutenant.'' She used his rank only when she needed him to take her most seriously. It seemed to help return his focus. ``You've got your whole life ahead of you.''
Vaniboso grew quite tight lipped and tense from the words, and Wist wondered if she might have pushed just a bit too much. Not waiting for his response she then made a gesture ahead. ``Later! First drinks. I may need you to walk me home.'' She tried a smile in her common way of saying a difficult discussion was tabled until later. ``Come on. You're going to love Little Akiton.''
Location: Absalom Station - Little Akiton - Sunny-6's Diner:
``The heroes raced from the scene, the Sunrise Maiden struggling against the forces of the gravity waves emitted by the demiplane attempting to trap the Stellar Degenerator back within its clutches. Just as it seemed that the hero's ship would be pulled into it with the ships of the Corpse Fleet, the Empire of Bones collided with the superweapon.''
Seen by all, except the storyteller, the floating images of starships, superweapons and planar portals floated in the air. The eyes of children of a dozen species gazed up at the images with rapt attention, caught in the storyteller's words and magically summoned visual aid. The storyteller's white furred paws made elaborate gestures, signing the words he spoke with as much enthusiasm as his voice gave to bringing the story to life. The illusory images were at nowhere near the quality of a computer generated image or hardlight projection, but none of the children seemed to mind, as the storyteller's voice drew them in towards rapt attention.
``For a moment, nothing happened. Then... BAM! Whooosh!'' The storyteller spread out his paws and raised his voice. ``The ultranought deformed, with red and black energy spewing from its crumpling form! The Stellar Degenerator CRACKED from the impact. The demiplane's portal became unstable due to the great energies flowing forth from the dying superweapon. It snapped closed, splitting the terror in two! It's fore half hung in space mere moments before erupting in a supermassive ball of plasma. Free from the pull of abnormal gravity, the Sunrise Maiden raced ahead of the expanding ball of fire speeding towards it!''
Gasps from the children brought a smile to the storyteller's black lips. He manipulated the magic of the illusion, bringing the expanding ball of light close to the speeding Sunrise Maiden. ``Knowing they had only one chance, they risked shutting down the engines as the explosion grew closer and closer and closer.'' The speaker had ceased signing as he had to focus the motions of his paws in maintaining and shaping the magical illusions. ``One minute ticked away with agonizing slowness. And then...just before the ship was engulfed...it LEAPT into the Drift!''
Cheers erupted from the children, several hopping up and down as the climax of the story came to a close. One of the storyteller's ears flicked as he heard a light panel clicking nearby. It was a sign that someone else was far more ready than the children for story time to end.
``And they all lived happily ever after.'' Came a slightly nasal adult voice who's intonations showed they wanted the kids to leave the diner.
One of the children, a young vesk, complained. ``Uncle Julz, that's not fair! What about the rest of the story?''
``Another time, Zaza. You've got to let us adults get more stories to tell. That's how the world works. We make all these cool stories happen so we can tell you about them later. Now get going. Joia's outside and it's time to get homework done.''
The storyteller rested his paws upon his stomach as he leaned back, the illusory spell fading from sight. ``Go on children. I'll have more stories to tell later.'' He waited for the children's sounds to diminish to a point where he was sure that while he could still hear them, they could not hear him. As the storyteller's voice became more casual, so to did his signing. ``You're too impatient, Julzakama. You must let them wind down and enjoy the aftermath of the climax of a tale. They'll remain too wound up otherwise for homework.''
The vesk snorted in response. ``Who's the uncle here, Kehdo?''
Kehdo made a wide gesture around him. ``We're all looking out for them in our own way.''
Julzakama paced back and forth across the black and white tiled floor of the diner, claws clicking on the smooth surface as he did so, while maintaining his conversation with the canid alien, ``Lookin' out for them also means makin' the money to feed them, clothe them, give them a chance better than wasting away in Little Akiton.''
Kehdo bristled, ``It's their home. OUR home.'' For him the idea of a home being unworthy because of its hardships felt like an insult. It was a particularly sticky point for any vlaka who revered their homeworld of Lajok and its dying star Sota. After a gentle inhale and exhale, the vlaka found his restraint and he could understand the feeling a parent might have. They might want a better life for their child as they saw their own life as worse off. ``Prosperity isn't always money or a clean neighborhood. Life here can be rough, Julz, but they can find greater joy, contentment, friendship and family here than any life in the Eye.''
Julzakama started to put up a hand to make a gesture towards the vlaka, then cursed himself for forgetting in the heat of the moment that Kehdo was completely blind. He decided to point the acusitive finger anyway for his own sake. ``Don't start. I've been hearing enough of that from Geekona.'' The vesk returned to his pacing, then huffed and sat at one of the diner's bar stools near the booth Kehdo was seated at.
Kehdo rested his paws on the diner table, ``I'm sorry. You're bothered and worked up. Is it because no one's shown up for your job?''
The vesk made an offhand gesture, ``Except for you that is. And no offense, but I wouldn't send a sighted, hearing super-vlaka on this mission alone.''
Kehdo gestured towards himself with a pair of thumbs, not bothering to sign. ``Offense only marginally taken. I AM a super vlaka.''
A synthetic voice trilled as metal feet crossed the tiled floor on the way to the moody vesk. ``Spirits up, Julzakama.'' Sunny-6, the owner of the diner, approached with a warm cup of sweet chapka, setting the mug on the diner's counter in front of him, ``Should they walk in that door, you'll need to look confident and commanding, ready to sell the opportunity the job presents.''
Julzakama took a moment to study at the android and their bright, cat-like eyes set in a metal humanoid face. Sunny 6's gunmetal exterior was devoid of any synthetic hair or ears and only bore the resemblance of a nose. Their most defining feature was their wide almost always smiling mouth. It was at least a better face than the annoying artificial sun that the android paid Station Control to play their advertisement four times a day.
``All right. All right.'' The vesk surrendered to the pestering from the other two residents of Little Akiton and without argument took the freely offered drink. ``All this charity is making me...'' The vesk trailed off as he felt a rumbling at his stomach, then placed a hand over his white shirt at his gut, ``Hungry.''
``I can fix that.'' Sunny-6 made their way back behind the counter to begin studying their own menu to determine how best to lift the vesk's spirits and fill his stomach.
A thought came to the relaxing vlaka's mind. Kehdo leaned on the table he was sitting at. ``What about Geekona? He's always interested in an excursion for his vlog or infovids.''
The blind canine-like alien could hear the shaking of Julzakama's head, ``Nope. I tried but he said he was off on another `Ghost Tour'. Someone's going to catch him at that scam someday.''
Sunny-6 scoffed as they slid a small pastry into an oven, then began dicing a vegetable with remarkable android dexterity and alacrity, ``Do you really want him taking tourists through the ACTUAL Ghost Levels?''
Before Julzakama could answer the rhetorical question with a snide retort, the diner's door electrically chimed as it slid open. In walked an ysoki and another younger vesk. His eyes lit up as he noticed the vesk seemed well armed and armored and the ysoki had a laser pistol clipped at her hip.
Sunny-6 was quicker than Julzakama to offer a greeting, ``Welcome! Please, come in, sit down and have a look at the menu at your leisure!''
``Thank you, no.'' The ysoki female smiled, ``I was actually looking for Sebbit's, but their place was boarded up.''
Sunny-6 could sound so cheerful while also apologetic. ``Oh! Sebbit moved two weeks ago. They got a spot in the Puddles of all places. I think it's because they merged with their partners.''
Wist huffed. ``Puddles. Damn. No one knew mixing like that barathu.'' She considered the walk and transportation costs to get to the puddles, a location clear on the other side of the five mile long station, and decided to boost herself up to one of the silver rimmed black bar stools instead.
The young vesk looked up at the menu, ``I don't suppose we can order a drink here?''
Sunny-6 chuckled, ``Not the kind you might be looking for. But I've got something to bring back a smile all the same. What brought you to wanting a drink anyway?''
``We were fired.'' The young armored vesk said plainly.
The white furred ysoki looked about ready to chastise the blunt answer, but waved a paw in the air in exasperation instead, ``That's the short of it.''
``Well it's not a hard drink, but the first one each of you get are on the house.''
Julzakama had only a quarter of a mind ready to chastise Sunny-6's excessive charity. The other three quarters were intently focused on the revelations of two possibly capable candidates ready for a new job! He got up from his seat and approached the pair with a grin and sharp rows of teeth showing, ``You don't have to be out of a job for long.''
The younger vesk was about to seat himself at the counter but halted and moved to interpose himself between Wist and this other, older vesk.
``It's okay, Lieutenant, I want to hear him out.'' The white furred ysoki said firmly, putting a paw on Vaniboso's gauntlet and urging him to move aside.
Julzakama could hardly contain his giddy glee. Former or currently serving, a soldier would make all the difference for the muscle of this job. His prayers were answered! He'd just have to find out who he would have to make them to in hindsight. Abadar? Maybe Desna. Maybe both, just to be sure.
``Julzakama.'' The vesk indicated himself before he gestured first to the vlaka in the booth, then the android. ``Kehdo and Sunny-6. Kehdo's already on the job but it's going to need more. I've budgeted for four and the two of you look like you can handle it.''
``I'm Wist, and this is Lieutenant Vaniboso.'' The ysoki's dark eyes took a firm gaze up towards the vesk, making her seem taller than her short stature would indicate. ``And we need to know what the job is, and what you're offering.'' Wist answered sharply, ``Those are important details.''
Julzakama's grin partially faded. This ysoki had wits and was clearly used to more than a few job offers being skimpy on the details, perhaps to hide nefarious ends. He shook his head fervently to emphasize the job's legitimacy, ``It's not super complicated, or illegal. I'm not going ot ask you to move a package from A to B and not look inside. Promise.'' He reached for his personal comm unit in his tracksuit and set it down on the counter top. A tap on its surface brought up a large floating hardlight display of a freighter. A few taps later and a deed came into view.
Wist's eyes darted over the signatures and minor details, all looking legitimate from her cursory scan. ``A salvaged freighter?''
``Contents uncertain. But I've got the salvage rights. It's from the Azlanti Star Empire. You know, big eyebrows, bigger egos?''
Vaniboso snorted a laugh. Drawing a grin from the older vesk and twitching ears and a quiet chuckle from the vlaka. He cleared his throat in embarrassment.
Wist only smiled and kept her eyes on Julzakama, ``I'm familiar. I'm also familiar with this kind of work. You want us to go on board, catalog the findings and most importantly get rid of anything that might have come on board and infested it.'' Wist reached up and pointed to a couple of the details on the hardlight display of the deed. Three caution notations were filled in and the ysoki read them aloud, ``Uncertain cargo. Incomplete flight plan data. Indeterminate life form scans.'' She scoffed, ``You could have an Alloid on there, or a clutch of Akata cocoons.''
``Pharasma's Bones.'' Julzakama breathed, impressed with the ysoki's experience, and a little worried he wouldn't be able to afford her. ``So, I'd be screwed if I did try to make this a con.'' Julzakama rubbed the horns on his chin in thought. He'd perhaps occasionally hired some work for less than legal efforts, and had been light on details to try to glean a few more credits from the effort. This job could stay on the up and up, and he really didn't have the luxury of being unscrupulous with this Wist. He said plainly, ``I can afford four hundred credits a head for whoever takes the job. And I'm not putting that out as a starting point for negotiations. The freigther's my best bet to get a lof of credits incoming.''
Wist gave a small tilt of her head, then brushed a paw past one ear as though in mimicry of a human adjusting their hair, and smiled as she agreed, ``Reasonable.''
Eager, Julzakama reached a hand out to seal the deal, but Wist held hers in reserve. The vesk tried to keep a smile but his words came out through half clenched teeth, ``But?''
``But, I want one item from the ship's interior.''
Julzakama retracted a few fingers on the offered hand, a look of uncertainty crossing his face, ``Which item?''
The ysoki shrugged her shoulders, ``I don't know! That's the fun of it. It might be a treasure, it might be a piece of junk, but I'd like to take away my own little part of the discovery.''
Details were starting to click into place for the vesk pawnbroker, ``You're a Starfinder, aren't you?''
It was now Wist's turn to smile brightly with her incisors showing quite prominently, kept very white in effort to match the brightness of her alabaster fur.
``Captain Wist is a former - nghh!'' Despite having his midsection armored, Wist's elbow discovered a portion of Vaniboso's more malleable plates to jab into with a bony elbow, swiftly silencing him. Wist was getting a feeling she might want more work from this vesk, or access to his contacts, and any details that might jeopordize that didn't need to be given just yet.
The older vesk seemed to take it well, and held out his hand again, ``Former, current, whatever. It's the experience that matters! All right, four hundred credits a head, and one item from the ship, for all of you to argue over. Not each!''
``A deal.'' She shook his hand firmly, and then looked to the drink just served to her, fizzing and bubbly and topped with a sweet cream. She took a sip of it with a smile, delighted with the way it tickled her throat on the way down.
Desperate to regain his composure, Vaniboso asked a mission aligned question, ``If Mr. Kehdo is our third member, who is our fourth?''
Julzakama knew he'd have to find a third or fourth god to thank now. They, or the universe itself, gave it's unique timing once more to answer that question. A large being walked in through the sliding doors, ducking their form to fit inside, and kept their posture low to avoid hitting their head on the ceiling and light fixtures, while their wings and tail stayed tight to their red scaled body.
``Excuse me. I came here for the job offer from Julzakama. I was told he was here. I am Reddek.''
