<Kalos> Your co-worker was much like yourself, Eryn,
<Kalos> in that they also turned to a life of crime and piracy and smuggling after the space station incident.
<Kalos> Unlike you however, they managed to not lose everything and be stuck on some shithole.
<Eryn> tfw the slut is my successful than me
<Eryn> *more
* IDK-72 is a humanoid robot, with a rigid, light grey exterior. Lacking any body hair, their smooth face is capable of expressions, although the current one appears to be "active disinterest". They are wearing a black and blue jacket, with tight, black cargo pants.
<Kalos> It's just an audio call, "Hey Eryn, I heard from someone you're stuck on some shithole right?"
* Eryn sighs, "That is about the long and short of it."
<Eryn> "You got something for me?"
<Kalos> "Well, I could help you for our good old times together," she actually resented you to some degree. "But, I think instead I'll be putting you to work and providing you with the absolute minimum of help. There's a junker without a power core and some other stuff lying in a scrap heap there. You just gotta do some less than honest activities for me and I'll get you an old core to fit into that thing,"
* Don is of human origin. He looks to be from the eastern side of Mars, based on his squinty eyes and skin color. His hair has been all buzzed off, and you usually see him in a business suit when leaving for work. He wears a bodysuit with assault boots and sports a pistol when shit gets real.
<Kalos> "Bring some buddies who want to climb out of the darkness along with you, I'm sure they'll be glad to be part of your crew."
<Eryn> "How very charitable of you." She says in a deadpan tone. "I've got some people in mind, just tell me what you need."
<Kalos> "I actually have a shopping list here, one second let me get it-"
<Kalos> a second later. "Alright, I got it. You're good on killing people right? Cause I need some of that."
<IDK-72> "Hey is that a job?" They say, expectantly. "Is it? Is it?"
<Eryn> Eryn looks to IDK, "It would appear so." She turns to the phone, "I wouldn't put that on my resume but...yeah, I'm not all that bad at it."
<Kalos> She's waiting on a response from you, eryn
<Kalos> "Excellent. Take the file."
<Kalos> you get a file being sent to you from her,
<Kalos> shoppinglist.btextf
<Kalos> its like, very tiny. it must only have like 5 lines of stuff on it.
<Don> Future compression ftw
<IDK-72> "Alright, but is it 'actual money' or 'lunch money'? How soon can we get paid?"
* Eryn opens up the text file, "There a deadline on any of this?"
<Kalos> 1.) kill the governor, avali: businessman Jumin Thresto
<Kalos> 2.) kill a mob boss, Voskori: Mariumki Doshta
<Kalos> 3.) kill starport worker, Avali: Lusus Lakaita
<Kalos> 4.) don't get caught, and collect your prize once I find out the jobs are done."
<Kalos> she speaks "How's... a month? Circumstances can change after that sort of time, you know."
<Eryn> "I think item 4 rather goes without saying."
<Eryn> She looks at the list, re-reading it several times before saying, "You sure you don't want anything else? Maybe I can off the pope while I'm at it."
<Kalos> "No, that's all. I just need results."
* Eryn motions for IDK, gesturing towards the laundry list of assassination requests.
<Kalos> oh, just remmbered her name
<Kalos> Naara
* IDK-72 leans over to take a look at the list. "Huh... alright. Well that definitely should pay better than lunch money."
<Eryn> "Fine. I'll get back to you after I've completed your errands."
<Eryn> She presses the 'end call' button then looks to her stalwart robotic companion, "What do you think?"
<IDK-72> "We are getting paid for this right?"
<Eryn> "We're getting paid in parts to fix up our scrap heap so we can get the fuck off this rock."
<IDK-72> "Okay but we also get money?"
<Kalos> there was no money mentioned.
<Eryn> She shakes her head, "No. I'm thinking we can pad our bank accounts along the way though."
<Kalos> (actually another retcon for eryn: coffin opening guy is not dead)
<Kalos> (he's still a big damn hero. THe dancing backwards with stun-rods still happened)
<IDK-72> "Padding? Well maybe you can sleep on it then. We better be getting more than circuits and wires"
<Don> Retcon: The Game™
<Eryn> "Look. You've been out on those streets just like I have. Unless you want to sling tempo on the corner for chump change, this is as good a chance as we have at getting the fuck out of here."
<Eryn> The core is what we need to make the ship functioning, right?
<Don> I don't think we've even seen the ship, she just said there's a ship that just needs a core. So I guess we take her word for it.
* IDK-72 glares for a moment. "Alright fine, can we at least get off the streets. That first one is a bit of a doozy, so maybe do that one later? Also, we can just check 4 off since if that's a problem we just won't be doing the other 3."
<Kalos> and yea
<Kalos> once the core is in the ship
<Eryn> "I'm thinking we start at 3 and work our way up from there."
<Kalos> it will work. but I guess you don't know that in this version of the plot
<Kalos> yet
<Don> SPOILERS!
<Eryn> "Knocking off a starport worker should be fairly easy."
* Eryn shoots Don a text, "You ready to put in some work?"
* Don "I'm sleeping, what do you want? I've got work tomorrow... I hope this isn't another drunk text."
<Eryn> ....Does don work at the starport by chance :o
<Don> I answer phones.
<Don> Although it's up to Kalos if I answer phones at the starport.
<Kalos> Nah
<Kalos> He answers phones at a delivery place
<Kalos> one that didn't afford to pay for a good enough non-volitional AI
<Kalos> you can have AI answer most phonecalls in setting
<Kalos> the caller has to be monumentally dumb for it to request help
<Eryn> "Look. I've got a business opportunity here...and I need some extra hands."
<Eryn> While I text him, I wanna lookup if the starport is hiring
* Don "Is it a pyramid scheme? I got caught up in one of those before. Very hard to get out of."
<Kalos> the starport is not hiring. 40% unemployment at work
<Eryn> "It isn't- Look. An opportunity to get a ship has recently fallen into my lap...We just need to do some shit to get it in up and running."
* Don sighs "Some shit...?"
<Eryn> "Yeah! It'll be fun!"
* Don "Please, tell me it doesn't involve illegal stuff."
* Eryn says to IDK while she is texting, "Hey can you look up the starport guy?"
<IDK-72> "Oh, yeah. Right." he says, before doing a search.
* Eryn texts to Don, "You'll be doing totally above board stuff."
<Eryn> "Promise."
<Kalos> research skill is?
* Don "Listen, I can't go back to jail. If it requires doing bad things to bad people, I'm in. However, I can't in my right mind do anything bad to someone who doesn't deserve it."
<Eryn> "Like I said. We're not doing bad things. You remember I told you I used to be a cop right? An old friend recently hired me as a PI to help investigate an old case."
<Eryn> "Things might get dicey, I won't lie but we're perfectly legal."
<Eryn> "It's kinda secret though, so don't tell anyone."
<Don> "I actually don't remember that. Though, I suppose my days are already running together. It is relatively easy for me to slip some things. The legality of it doesn't matter as long as we're not punishing good natured people. I'd rather sit in poverty than do wrong in the eyes of the Lord."
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<Eryn> "Well, obviously we won't be killing a bunch of innocent people, don. What do you take me for? Some type of sociopath?"
<Don> "I have in the past, though I was taught to look for the good in all people. I guess I'm in..."
<Eryn> "Good. now get your ass out of bed and get over here."
* Don groans as he slumps out of bed and gets his combat gear on before heading over to Eryn's apartment to knock on the door.
<Kalos> don shoves the gun up his ass
<Kalos> and puts on his armored nikes
<Eryn> Before answering the door, she whispers to IDK "Right so...you remember Don right...He thinks we're doing PI shit, so play along."
<Don> Motherfucker, who you tryin' to play a fool?! THIS IS RETCONNED UNIVERSE!
<Don> Let's promise never to speak of that again.
<Eryn> kek
<Don> I put it in my side-holster like a normal person.
<Eryn> >Not anal carrying
<Eryn> Do you even /k/?
<Eryn> Having said that, Eryn goes to the door and greets her good buddy Don.
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<Kalos> DOn
<Don1> Uh
<Don1> It put me in my own room
<Kalos> you see your good buddy eryn and her robro IDK-72
* Don1 is now known as Don_
* Don_ "So what are the specifics? Who are we investigating?"
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<Eryn> "First up, we're looking into a starport working who might be involved in a smuggling ring."
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<Eryn> *starport worker
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<Eryn> "I'm thinking we're going to need to put a tail on him, y'know? Establish their schedule and such."
<Don> "Sounds good. What do you want me to do?"
* Eryn looks to IDK, "You look him up?"
<IDK-72> "I did. I didn't find a lot of stuff though. It looks like he's just some nerd who's works as a baggage loader. A multi-colored Avali."
<Eryn> "Got a picture?"
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<Kalos> ..field?
* Field is now known as Pelor
<Pelor> I run irc on one of my track timing laptops
<Eryn> "I'm thinking we might have don roll down to the port and try to observe him."
<Pelor> which is named field 5
<Pelor> so one of the defauly names for it is field
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<Don> "I think I can pull that off."
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<Eryn> "You find out what specifically he does at the port?"
<Eryn> "Might help in actually trying him down."
<Eryn> *tracking
<Eryn> "I mean, starport is kinda a big place."
<IDK-72> "Yeah, hang on." they say before sending an image file of the person in question.
<Don> "Wait so what did this person do exactly?" he says, as he studies the picture.
<Kalos> he's a rather tall (for an avali) red, white, and blue feathered avali male, but otherwise unremarkable.
<Kalos> from the image.
<Don> 'MERICA
<Eryn> "Like I said, Don. According to a CI, he is involved a local smuggling ring."
<Don> "Well are there no specifics of his involvement?"
<Kalos> I sent IDK his job
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<Kalos> I could just say it but He may be hiding it for reasons?
<IDK-72> "Well he's a baggage loader, so it's most likely that he's actually loading something in packages, but we shouldn't rule anything out just yet."
<Don> "Alright, we're planning to take him in. Right?"
* Eryn nods, "We may have to bring him in for interrogation later."
<Eryn> "But for now, we just need you to watch him."
<Don> "Alright, I'm ready for this."
* Received a CTCP PING 3453567486 from Kalos
<Eryn> "REmember." She approaches Don, placing her hands on his shoulders. "It is very important that you don't approach him, or talk to him."
<Eryn> "Just watch him. Follow him home and find out where he lives. Nothing else."
* Don looks confused. "Why's that? Wouldn't it be better if I build his trust, maybe become his friend?"
<IDK-72> "That might take awhile, and he's not likely to tell anyone about a side deal unless it's necessary.
<Don> "I suppose that's true. I'm not very good at socializing to begin with, especially with hidden intentions."
* Eryn steps back, rubbing her chin pensively while mulling it over. "...Mmhmm, maybe later Don. I like how you're thinking. We'll make a detective of you yet!"
* Don smirks.
* Don puts out his fist and a thumb pierces the upward air.
<Don> "When should I leave?"
* Eryn gives don an awkward smile and gives don a thumbs up of her own.
<Don> :D
<Eryn> "How about...right now?"
<Don> "Alright."
<Kalos> RIght now I'll say its like
<Kalos> 10 in the morning?
* Don goes back to his apartment, strips out of his combat gear and leaves his pistol in his bottom drawer.
* Don gets dressed in his business suit.
* Don texts Eryn "Can we keep in contact while I'm watching, or would they intercept our communications?"
<Eryn> "Try to keep casual chit-chat to a minimum. I won't be needing check ins either..just find out where he lives."
* Don sighs "Understood."
* Don heads to the starport.
<Kalos> Don you go and walk to the starport- you guys aren't very far away from it at all actually
<Kalos> what do you bring with you, exactly?
<Don> Do I have a vehicle?
<Kalos> just your suit?
<Kalos> no.
<Don> A bike?
<Kalos> you can have a bike.
<Don> Alright. Niggas always have a bike.
<Don> I bring my bike and my suit.
<Eryn> nigga stole my bike
<Kalos> you show up- where do you go? arrivals? departures?
<Don> I sit at arrivals.
<Kalos> where do you leave your bike? lock it to some rack?
<Don> Yeah, I think.
<Don> Yep.
<Kalos> Alright. You go sit on a bench on the air conditioned interior. It's not a beautiful starport, it's rather plain actually
<Kalos> There's hardly anyone in here
<Kalos> In fact, its straight up empty right now.
<Don> Alright, well I just chill and watch for that american avali.
<Kalos> well death
<Kalos> this guy is employed
<Don> Yeah.
<Don> I know.
<Kalos> he gets bags and puts them into ships
<Don> I meant I'm waiting for him to leave work.
<Kalos> Oh. O-okay then
<Kalos> meanwhile
<Kalos> Eryn, IDK-72
<Kalos> what are you two doing
<Eryn> I want to look into the mob boss.
<IDK-72> Yeah, we should find out as much as possible.
<Kalos> whats ur research/computer operations (both) at?
<Eryn> Can I just
<Eryn> hit da streets?
<Eryn> Use dat streetwise
<Kalos> sure.
<Kalos> skill is at?
<Eryn> 15
<Kalos> you manage to find like
<Kalos> one of his servants. whom not only seems to know everything about him but is willing to share.
<Kalos> this guy does everything for him. kinda like a butler. he's off work right now and is eating fast food at a stand
<Kalos> some other guy pointed you to him.
<Kalos> "What do you want to know?" he's a short near-human race, a bit shorter than an austferian. "What do you want to know?"
<Kalos> fuck, dobuletyped
<Eryn> "I'm looking for work with your boss...but I was wondering what exactly his outfit is into before I actually commit to anything."
<Kalos> "You see," he bites into his bread-wrap "He- we do everything, but money is hard to come by so not the big stuff like stock manipulation,"
<Kalos> "We sell drugs, smuggle in merchandise, produce drugs and counterfits, fixing matches, other gambling..."
<Kalos> "You know, regular stuff, bro,"
<Kalos> everyone on this world calls eachother bro, but its complete bullshit
<Eryn> Another reason
<Eryn> to get the fuck out of here
<IDK-72> What is this? Space-Jersey?
<Eryn> pls
<Don> Bro.....bro...
<Eryn> "you know where your boss normally hangs out, bro? I think I could be of service."
<Kalos> "This is his favorite schwarma place actually. Best on the world- come hang out some time, we'll drink together- what can you do?"
<Kalos> "Bro."
* Don plays a visual novel on his brain computer.
<Eryn> "I used to run product, once upon a time ago...until some pirates shut me down. Trying to get back on my feet."
<Eryn> "I'm also not bad with a piece."
<Kalos> (meaning?)
<Don> ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
<Eryn> Slang for gun
<IDK-72> North American informal term for a pistol,It's been a common term for about 4-500 years.
<Kalos> he nods for a second. "We'll see, Ill go see about it later, can I get your contact information?"
<Don> 4 years to 500 years? That's a pretty big jump imo.
* Eryn forwards the man some contact info, "Here. bro."
<IDK-72> 400-500 years. It's first mentioned in the 1580's.
<Don> Haha, I'm just joking. :)
<Kalos> he takes it
<Kalos> "ALright, probably wont meet him though, this first time,"
<Kalos> "It'l be another guy who does this recruitment stuff."
<Eryn> She nods. "Everyone has to start somewhere."
<Eryn> I guess I'll give jontron props for these props
* Don cringes for some random reason in the starport.
<Eryn> wrong window, kek
<Eryn> What are we doing tho'
<Eryn> Whats uh
<Eryn> don doing
<Kalos> what's IDK-72 doing actually
<Eryn> Chilling in the cut
<Don> Still watching for the American Avali while playing a visual novel.
<Eryn> smoking on shwag
<Kalos> does don have common sense
<Kalos> the advantage
<IDK-72> Not on his sheet.
<Kalos> nope.
<Kalos> don how long will you be waiting
<Kalos> a starport never closes and you don't know this guy's hours.
<Kalos> eventually a passenger ship comes by
<Kalos> and there's a while wave of people coming through and people coming to pick them up
<Kalos> before its empty again
<IDK-72> Anyway, Right now? IDK-72 is probably being petulant and deciding what stuff to break. Or he's drawing up plans.
<IDK-72> Actually yeah
<Don> Just... until 11pm
* IDK-72 is currently still at Eryn's apartment, considering which item they're going to knock over when she gets back. However they are settling for making mental notes and deciding how to proceed on their list.
<Kalos> don waits for 21 hours then
<Kalos> meanwhile Eryn and IDK-72
<Kalos> there hasn't been any word from don
<IDK-72> Is Eryn back at her apartment?
<Eryn> "I hope he didn't forget how doors work again, she says to IDK while lounging in her apartment.
<Kalos> yep.
<Kalos> Perhaps one of you should check on the fledgling detective
<Eryn> She finally decides to text to don, "Hey...It's been almost a day now...You find anything out?"
* Don "Nope, this guy literally never leaves. I've been watching the exit since I got here."
<Eryn> "...Which exit?"
<Kalos> and when I said 21 hours
<Kalos> i actually meant 13
<Kalos> dumb at math
<Kalos> 10 AM till 11 PM
<Eryn> "You're not just sitting in the terminal, right?"
<IDK-72> "You really should send him a video about doors. Isn't there something about doors? Like that one for 'over, under, and through'?"
<Don> Wait
* Don "No. I'm looking towards the exit."
<Kalos> employees don't leave through arrivals, no.
<Eryn> "The main exit?"
<Kalos> that's for people arriving and waiting for taxis and friends to pick them up
* Don "The exit exit."
<Eryn> "I mean, there is likely a seperate entrance employees use."
* Don "Yeah, but I should've spotted him by now, right?"
<Eryn> "You never answered my question. Which exit are you looking at?"
<Eryn> "Also, did you check employee parking?"
* Don gets up and turns text message program on Do Not Disturb.
<Eryn> KEK
* Don walks around to try and find the employee exit.
<Kalos> .g
<MillieLaptop> Kalos: GURPS: 11
<Kalos> you find the employee parking lot without too much trouble
<Kalos> it's partially underground, just past the section for non-employees
<Don> I look around for the exit of the parking lot.
<Kalos> As in where your drive out from?
<Don> Correct.
<Kalos> There's both a driveway and a hole in the roof/ceiling to fly out if your car can fly.
<Kalos> (most can)
<Don> Can my bike fly?
<Eryn> lol, what kind of bike do you have?
<Eryn> a contragrav bike
<Eryn> with pedals
<Don> I don't even know.
<Don> I stole it.
<Eryn> Kelso, does such a thing even exist in this setting?
<Kalos> no, your bike can't fly
<Don> Fuck
<Kalos> and yea, there are totally flying bikes
<Don> Alright, I'm just gonna sit next to the driveway.
<Don> On my bike.
<Kalos> but at that points its basically a motorcycle
<Don> Looking through everyone's windows.
<Kalos> how long you gonna stay up
<Kalos> and going through all those cars
<Don> 15 hours.
<Kalos> After 2 hours, a security car comes rolling by. the windows roll down. "Ay bro, what are you doing?"
<Kalos> says a banana-yellow austferian out of the shotgun seat window
<Don> "Waiting for my friend to get off work, unfortunately."
<Kalos> "Whose your friend? It seems like you've been waiting for a long time bro,"
<Don> "You can say that again. He literally just said he'd be off in a few hours. Vague as shit."
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<Kalos> they're in uniform, not armor. they seem to be checking to see if you're a vagrant or a drunk
<Don> Yeah, I figured.
<Kalos> he looks at his buddy driver, some short otter-like species sized like an avali. "I think he went home without you man, don't know how to say this bro."
<Don> "He said to meet here though, he said he works here."
<Kalos> "Tell him to tell you when he comes out- It's a bit creepy to have some martian or anyone else look into their windows as they drive out."
<Don> "I suppose you're right. My apologies."
<Kalos> "So yea. move a bit if you don't mind, bro."
* Don nods, but still stands there.
* Don acts like he's texting.
<Kalos> THey move their flying car a bit to a semi-acceptable parking space, and just wait there.
* Don goes back into the starport.
<Don> Do I know that guy's name?
<Kalos> back to arrivals?
<Kalos> and yea.
<Don> What is it?
<Kalos> Lusus Lakaita
<Eryn> Yes. You have his name and photo
* Don goes up to the nearest staff member I can find. "Hey, do you know Lusus?"
<Kalos> "Oh, yea, he works mid-day - you're a good 12 hours late." says some reptile-like alien.
* Don "Ah, damn. Thanks."
<Kalos> "Why do you need him?"
* Don "We met on Grindr."
<Kalos> you get a perplexed expression. "What's that?"
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* Don "It's like Tindr but for homosexuals."
<Don> Tinder nor Tindr*
<Don> not*
<Don> ye
<Kalos> "I didn't know he was gay.." theres a pause. "Well, alright, but then wouldn't you have gotten his direct contact info?"
<Don> "He actually said he was hiding it from people. I'm terrible at keeping it a secret and wanted to meet. Would you happen to know his house? It might be romantic to wake him up."
<Kalos> The reptile-person squints. "No, I don't." you're ringing up the bullshit-meter.
<Kalos> "YOu know, he's probably not interested in you, if he's not giving you his information."
<Kalos> "Or he wants to avoid you,"
* Don "Why are all these people saying mean things to me today? I'm in love... and everyone is trying to be mean to me."
<Kalos> "Because you're being really creepy about this person we know, probably?"
* Don "He said he loved me this morning, and also told me where he works. I'm pretty sure if anyone knows about his personal life, it's me. You didn't even know he was gay!"
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<Kalos> "Yet I have his contact information, and you don't?!"
<Eryn> tfw Don doesn't know he is the side bitch
<Kalos> that may well be a female you're talking to, you're realizing.
<Don> "I'll have it by tomorrow, unless you interfere and say bad things about me. I bet you 300 credits!"
<Kalos> "I think I have some responsibility at this point, I don't think he would be interested in someone like you. If he is, and he loved you, it wouldn't be any problem for him to know a little more,"
<Kalos> her eyes wander a bit- she's texting.
<Don> "It's because I'm martian, isn't it?"
<Kalos> "Oh hell no, You're not pulling that shit on me- do you know what I even am?"
<Kalos> no. you don't
<Don> "Yes, I do. You're a girl."
<Don> "I look past the race of people, because I'm not racist like you!"
<Kalos> "whatever, Lusus can make his own damn decisions."
<Kalos> "Now get out of my face before I call security on you."
* Don snorts. "Whatever, bye."
<Kalos> so then
* Don walks away, gets on my bike and blows this joint.
<Kalos> don returns home
<Kalos> and probably reports his findings to his buddies?
<Don> "Hey, I figured out he works mid-day."
<Don> "That's all though, so I'll check back tomorrow."
<Eryn> "It's a start, atleast."
<Don> "Yeah."
<Don> "Well, good night."