Jeremiah

The Sleeping Tonacc was like any other spaceport bar; filthy, noisy, and filled with beings of every race and class. The building sat half a klick from the only organized landing pad on the backwater planet of Tanomir, and this fact made it a popular setting for meetings and cargo exchanges. A being could hear the music from the Tonacc the moment they landed and popped open their hatches; and they were inevitably drawn down the block to the buildings repli-wood exterior. Through the bat-wing doors was a smokey den with neon lighting around the ceiling perimeter that pulsed with the bass of the music. A dozen species ordered drinks from a bar stocked with exotic liquors from worlds with names a human could not pronounce. Here were merchants selling every vice a being could want; sex, drugs, and even murder were all up for sale. Far in the back of this den of vice and villainy, where even the light from Tanomirs' gigantic blue sun could not reach, sat Captain Martin Sands.

In his late thirties and with more than two decades of hard living behind him, Sands had been in places like this more times than he could count. He kept a large caliber mag-pistol strapped in a holster on his right hip and as he waited he flicked the safety catch on and off. His contact was late and Captain Sands didn't like to be kept waiting. He wore a battered synth-hide jacket and he would occasionaly touch his breast pocket where he kept a vial of star dust, debating on whether or not to take a hit. In a place like this no one would care about him sniffing dust, but he was concerned that flashing the 400 cred vial would make him a prime target for any down on their luck spacer. He was drinking whiskey straight and waiting on a human named Wu who needed some "sensitive" cargo shipped offworld. Sands was about to comm him when he saw the man walk through the door.

Wu blinked as he stepped into the dark room and glanced around. Sands didn't want to draw attention to himself by waving so he just watched until Wu spotted him and headed his way. Although they had known each other for years Sands was always struck by how large Wu was. Even in a galaxy that produced beings of all shapes and sizes Wu was a giant and beings were quick to make a path as he strode toward Sands. He'd barely slid into the booth before Sands spoke.

"You're late"

"Hey nice to see you too." said Wu

"I'm not on this shithole planet for a vacation. You said you had something for me?"

"All business huh? Haven't seen your old pal Wu in almost two years, ain't ya gonna ask how I've been?"

"No"

"C'mon, aren't you just a little bit curious?"

Sands took a sip of his whiskey before replying.

"No"

"Oh, well anyway you're not gonna believe what I've been up to..."

Sands almost smiled. He'd known Wu long enough to understand that resistance was a waste of time, and if he talked too much so what? Truth was he liked Wu and so he would let him talk, and Sands had to admit the man did have a flair for storytelling. Sands turned his attention back to the conversation.

"So there I was back in my room with this fine Murathi chick with six of the biggest **** you've ever seen in your life. Now understand that we were plastered by this time and I if happened to notice that three of those **** were hanging out back in the bar and neglected to mention it, well, what of it? So anyway I've got two fistfulls and I'm wishin for a few more hands-"

Wu was interrupted by a burst of laughter from Sands.

"Okay, ****, I came here for a job remember?"

"Sure. You done playin all stony faced?"asked Wu.

"Maybe, so long as you didn't drag me out here for a six-tittied Murathi, I could'a got those thirty light-years back."

Wu laughed "Well, that's not the only thing I brought you out here for."