"Are you sure he's probably in Greenville, Ti?" Rillitan was talking to Tiana from the corridor of their ship, IND Old Daisy, as he geared up to go. The hatch to the cockpit was open. The smallish Martian woman curled up cozily on the Captain's chair was poking at the console in front of it. She acted as though they were on vacation, rather than an actual hunt.
"Yeah, I’m sure." The response was easy and confident, not even a slight hint of doubt present, "His most recent medical records are from last night, actually. Looks like he had a bit of a fall, bruised a rib. Poor fellow."
That got a chuckle from the Timonae, as well as a lazy drawl in response, "Bet he was feelin' a lil' overconfident, girl, had a bit too much to drink in celebration." There was a moment of silence before Tia tendered a response, "Yeah... Probably thought he was home free, gettin' off TK."
"Also..." There was a pause as she brought something up on the screen, a finger jabbed towards it, "Look." Rillitan obliged, coming in from the corridor to look over her shoulder. It was a transaction statement, which read as follows:
- 3rd August 3007 TRANSRWORKS SVCS IPN – NL 3000 Credits
- 4th August 3007 ARBS SVCS IPN – NL 245.50 Credits
- 5th August 3007 DFTAV SVCS IPN - NL 39.45 Credits
- 6th August 3007 DFTAV SVCS IPN – NL 51.05 Credits
- 7th August 3007 DFTAV SVCS IPN – NL 47 Credits
- 8th August 3007 DFTAV SVCS IPN – NL 53.45 Credits
"The area code is New Luna." She explained, looking back over her shoulder to the Timonae, "Looks like he really doesn't know how manage money. Either way, the last one is from yesterday. I just ain't really sure what DFTAV is."
The Timonae gave a shrug in response, not terribly concerned, "We can check around the taverns, the man was known to hang about the one on TK. It's a good starting point."
Reld, Preston. Aged 35, Ungstiri. A semi-prominent businessman fallen to ruin through illicit gambling and drinking habits, he had turned to Tomin Kora gangsters to keep his failing business afloat. A foolish mistake in a string of far too many. Never intending to pay his debt, he had promptly secured his way off-planet to revel in what he believed was cleverness. Little did he know that a bounty had been put out on him, and accepted.
"You ready, Ti?"
"Yeah, I'm ready."
Flak Jacket, Black shirt, Black pants, black boots, a standard outfit for the Timonae no matter what they were doing and while they were on a hunt. Tia however, dressed casually in jeans, a red tank and heeled shoes. The Martian was the complete opposite to Rillitan as far as clothes were concerned, and quite a few things otherwise, "You know the plan?" He sounded a bit worried, if nothing else.
Reassurance came in the form a of a smile and a light kiss, pressed to the back of his hand, since she couldn't actually reach his cheek, "I've got it, let's go." It was time to get to work.
After having been to the Blue Angel on Deepcrest Island, and the Smiling Skull at Jasper Point, Rill and Tia were making their way back towards Greenville on the ferry, "Do you want to go to the Dead Fis--" Tia gave pause, her upper lip curling slightly, "Bloody hell. DFTAV must be Dead Fish Tavern." She shook her head lightly, giving a sigh as she looked up to the Timonae, then out over the water, "In any case, lets go there next. I don't think Preston's the kind of guy who'd like the places on St. Benedict or Porto Cristallo."
"Orite." Rillitan replied easily, giving Ti a light pat to her shoulder before he leaned forward to rest his arms, and weight on the rail, "If he doesn't come in after a while, we can go check the other places, just to be sure."
The Dead Fish tavern was usually a busy place, and today was no exception. Named for the giant Washington Fish hung behind the bar, the place certainly had an interesting atmosphere, and nautically inspired decor. It was a bit scruffy around the edges, but no one seemed to care. They were there for a good time, bottom line. The local band playing this afternoon was nothing spectacular, but the crowd seemed be enjoying it none-the-less.
In position already, Tia sat casually at the bar sipping a juice and watching the people go by while Rillitan, at a table some distance away, was doing the same. It was their last stop and luckily, it wasn't long before their prey made his way into the tavern and right for the bar. So far so good.
"Vodka, on the rocks." Preston evidently hadn't learned from his little tumble the night before and was eager to get a headstart before the afternoon wore into evening. With a tab started, the Ungstiri man was getting right down to business slugging back that first drink like it was water. The 'thunk' of glass on wood was enough to prompt Liam, the bartender on staff today, to top up Preston's glass, and it wasn't long before the Ungstiri began to get tipsy.
The hunt had truly begun.
Rillitan was up first, glass empty and needing another drink. A slow, easy going rise put the Timonae on his feet while long strides carried him to the bar beside Preston, "Having a good time, mate?" Directed towards the Ungstiri man, the low drawl was a bit gruff and not exactly friendly, but the words were.
There was a bit of a pause from Preston as the words filtered through his semi-drunken haze, then, "A-yup." Was his reply, a bit slurred? Not terribly so. He needed more to drink. And more he would have. Rillitan signalled to Liam to top up the glass languishing before the Ungstiri man. It was enough to prompt him to drink further: No alcoholic was going to turn down free drinks.
Four or five glasses later, Preston was starting to sway, a sign that it was Tia's turn to take the lead. Two or three stools stood between her and the Ungstiri, making it a simple thing for her to just 'appear' beside the man as though she'd come to the bar to refresh her drink. She did so, and midst waiting on her refill, turned to Preston and offered a small, demure smile.
There is only one logical course of action open to a drunk man when a pretty lady sits beside him, "Hey there, pretty girl." he slurred. His stinking breath made Tia cringe slightly as he leaned in. "Don't need t'be shy with me... da?" Fortunately, he mistook her revulsion for shyness, he probably thought he was being charming. Definately not.
Ti, smiling faintly, gave a slow nod to the man, then, threw a brief glance to Rillitan, which, Preston was thankfully too inebriated to notice, "Ah, yeah... I guess not."
"Drink?"
Liam, finished with another customer had come to check on Tia. Another juice was the Martian girl's request, and one that drew a small dissapointed, "C'mon -", from Preston. "How about a real drink, on me for a pretty girl like you."
The offer was accepted, with some small reluctance that, once again, was construed as nothing more than shyness. Vodka was added to her previous order, and the drink, paid for by Preston, was soon placed in front of Tiana.
Sipping very slowly at the vodka/orange combo, Tia convincingly pretended to enjoy the Ungstiri man's company as he continued to get more and more drunk. At long last, a glance to Rillitan indicated it was time, and the Timonae stood, dropping money on the bar as he left.
"Would you mind walking me home? It's late." The night was now creeping into the early hours of the morning. Ti offered her hand as she stood, prompting Preston to take her hand in his. She offered a smile at this, "Thank you, I'll lead the way." They wove through the sparse crowd that lingered, and on out the door.
A ten minute or so walk brought Tia and a stumbling, swaying Preston to the landing pad, "Y'live on a ship?" The man slurred, bleary eyes looking to the Martian woman, "You a trade merchant or sumpin'?"
"Transport." Tia lied; well, it wasn't exactly a lie, but close enough, "People hire me to take them from point A to point B." She tightened her grip on his hand slightly, pulling him along with her up the ramp of the Daisy and to her airlock. A shy smile followed for the benefit of the drunk man, "Would you like to come in?" It was a line he'd been waiting for, an exuberant nod given with the eagerness of a schoolboy.
With a few pokes at the outside keypad, the airlock slid open, and Tia pulled the expectant Ungstiri within. However, what Preston expected, wasn't what Preston got. Waiting just inside was one Rillitan Ryoleli, lurking in the shadows of the darkened corridor. As soon as the airlock slid shut, Tia released her grip and got out of the way. The Ungstiri went down easily, if a bit harshly, his impact with the floor enough to knock him into unconciousness. It made handcuffing him all the easier though.
The package had been secured, and now it was time for delivery.