Back in the Pryden system on Space Station Arges, the characters and Tegan meet German Reade who gives them a quick debrief before they all meet with Nolan Malik. “Just let me do the talking”, he says, and gives a sideways glance towards Tegan.
Inside Malik’s office they find him seated at an immaculate desk on a slightly raised platform. Standing to his right is a dangerous looking woman who looks coldly at the party as they enter and seems to regard Tegan with particular contempt. A large, scarred, man in battle dress is standing on Malik’s left. Unlike the woman, he pays no real attention to the party at all, mostly looking bored and distracted as though he’d rather be somewhere else – drinking or fighting most likely. In addition to these, two armed Arges security guards flank the characters, Tegan, and Reade.
Malik gives a long look at Tegan without saying anything, then turns his attention to Reade.
“Well,” he says, “looks like you’ve found what we were looking for.”
Reade nods and says nothing.
“I trust you’ll file a report with the relevant details.” Malik continues.
“Of course,” Reade says. Malik then turns his attention to Tegan, barely noticing the rest of the party.
“I think you have a debt that needs settling,” he says to Tegan. “100 Million at last count.”
“You know I don’t have that kind of money,” she replies, “and you know I don’t have any way of getting it without the “Moon.”
“This is about precedent,” Malik says, “the money is secondary.”
“Money is never secondary with Helios,” says Tegan, “also you know what happened on that last job was a total…”
“What happened on that last job was that you lost some very valuable cargo,” he interrupts sharply, “and the company would like its money back.”
The trace of a derisive smile can be seen on the face of the woman to Malik’s right, the man on his left remains more-or-less disinterested.
“Ok, so what then,” Tegan says, “you’re gonna kill me here, in front of everybody to make a point?”, then turns to coldly meet the smiling woman’s gaze, visibly turning her derision into anger.
Malik says nothing.
“Look,” Tegan continues, “I know where we stand, and you don’t owe me any favors. But, you know that last job was a fluke and I can get the money back for you, I just need the Moon.”
“As I said,” Malik replies, “the Moon was sold.” “And even if it wasn’t, who would crew for you with that kind of debt hanging over your head? You can’t pay them, and mercenaries generally want a share of the profits.”
Tegan is silent for a few seconds, “These guys will be the crew,” she says glancing back at the characters who seem a bit surprised. “They’re your men after all, and they can keep tabs. You trusted them to bring me back here, didn’t you?”
Malik, for what seems like the first time, acknowledges the characters presence in the room, then looks at Reade, then turns back to Tegan, “and you’ve discussed this with them?”
“Of course!”, Tegan says, “they’ve completely agreed.”
Malik looks again at the characters who can tell he’s not really buying Tegan’s story. Nevertheless, he looks back at Tegan and says: “The Moon was sold to a collector on Pryden, Galen Tronstadt, about six months ago. Its likely still on the surface somewhere. I won’t help you get it, but I’m willing to take care of any issues that might arise with the authorities. Reade, pay these men what we owe them and ask them again if this is something they really want to sign up for. This is the last chance Tegan.”
The angry woman looks disappointed as the characters, Tegan and Reade leave Malik’s office. “That went well.” Tegan says. “Nobody died, now we just have to go get the Moon.” Reade pays the characters the money they are owed, and the characters agree – for real this time – to crew on Tegan’s ship, once they get it. When asked, Reade says the two people in the room were Malik’s “special” assistants, Keva Veillon (the woman), and Eric Raschke. With that the characters grab their belongings and grab a shuttle to the planet’s surface.
After checking into a hotel and stashing their stuff, the characters head down to a local lounge that Tegan is familiar with. Slipping a few credits to the bouncer, they’re allowed in and being to mingle with patrons and, hopefully, get a lead on the location of the Pioneer Moon. Eventually Fred discovers that a card game is being played in the back room. After bribing the bartender with enough credits they are allowed into the game where, amongst the other players, they find Zayne Solari. Solari, was the agent for the Proteon-Arburg medical company who, previously on Arges, offered them more money than Henna Calder for the Ambustio Cerritum vaccine. Solari and the party members exchange a few terse words, when eventually the bar proprietor Hoyt Kennet comes to greet the new players.
The characters quickly get down to business interrogating Kennet who reveals that the ship is being kept by Tronstadt in a warehouse in the city’s industrial district. With that they head back to the hotel, collect their things, and go to liberate Tegan’s ship.
I do come here, often, thanks.