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The usuals are in the Motherlode today. Iseul sits at a table by herself, conversing with her guard of the day, a grouchy looking human who looks like he's seen better days. She drinks a beer and keeps a lazy eye on the crowd around her.
Sharai Dravik wanders in herself, ignoring her babysitter. Seeing Izzy at the table she heads over, "Can I join you?"
Mert hops along beside Sharai, looking very much like a puppy dog as he hops up to the table, bouncing slightly on his feet. "Hi!"
Iseul just inclines her head. The guard nods to Izzy once and then moves off to a more appropriate distance to watch over them.
Sharai Dravik flops into a chair and waves over a server for a cider and orders a root beer for Mert, "Anything new happen?"
Mert bounces happily as he waits for his root beer. "Oh boy, that's good stuff!"
"Not really," Izzy replies. "Just been sitting here and waiting to see when they're going to pass judgment on us."
Sharai Dravik grins at Mert then sobers, "Yeah, I am rather interested in finding out about that myself." Sharai and Izzy are sitting at a table, Mert is bouncing excitedly as he waits for his root beer.
"Oh boy!" Mert says as his root beer glass is delivered, and he takes it up and begins to slurp it loudly.
Iseul rubs at her forehead as she eyes Mert, but doesn't say anything, just drinks her beer and keeps an eye on everything around her.
Sharai Dravik takes her cider and watches Mert with a smile though she does keep an eye on what is going on around her as she seems to have her attention on the bouncing slurper
Melania is indeed a regular in the Motherlode, so much so that there's always a specific stool she likes to sit on if she can grab it. But not tonight. Tonight she looks about for those particular rifters and cops. And like always, it's not hard to find them. Poingant strides carry her forward, her face a mask of neutrality. She doesn't waste any time, looking at the guard stationed. "I've given orders for what to do with them, as per the Majordomo. Go." Presumably not having to repeat herself, she now focuses on those at the table.
Mert spots Melania approaching, and nuzzles close to Sharai. "What are you gonna do?" he asks.
"Do we get to see tomorrow?" Izzy asks Lani, lifting a brow in question. She doesn't even look in Sharai or Mert's direction.
Sharai Dravik casually moves to be able to give Mert cover if needed and pats him on his back as she takes another drink of her cider, "Whatever I have to Mert."
"You people could have made this a lot easier on yourselves. And the way you've acted has pressed the Majordomo's good will to it's limit. Even given options to leave, and while I might at one point respect that, it's still stupid." She jerks her head for the door. "Up. All of you. Let's get this over with. And let's try to not make this anymore painful than it has to be." She doesn't reach for the rifle that's slung behind her back. An annoyed look goes at Sharia. "Detective will you tell her quit with that martyrdom and bravado? I'm not in the mood for it." Then her hand touches the small earpeice. "Dax, make things ready. We'll be there shortly."
Mert looks incredibly scared now. "What are they gonna do? I don't wanna die!"
"Mert," Iseul snaps. "Your howling isn't going to help anything. Keep your trap shut." She glances aside to Sharai, and then over to Melania. She asks again, "Are we going to see tomorrow?" She rises, but doesn't take a step forward yet.
Sharai Dravik stays quiet but pubs Mert's shoulders to try and comfort him, still staying near to provide cover and taking her cue from Izzy as to whether to move or not.
Mert cowers at the snap, but goes quiet, big wet tears streaming down his face.
Finally, as if this was some kind of joke and the Martian just wanted to see the reactions, there's this odd smile that doesn't exactly seem to fit on Lani's face. Like she's not used to smiling. "You get to see tomorrow. To prove that you aren't going to be put on a shuttle which will magically blow up in mid-flight, I'll be taking you to Earth myself. You stay missing long enough and the Vanguard will start poking around. And since none of have anything of value, nevermind not being worth getting a Vanguard ship in the system, you're being made to leave. Count your blessings, this could have gone a drastically different way. Now, c'mon."
Iseul studies Melania's face, looking for facial tics or other body language cues that might speak to a falsehood. After a few moments, she nods in Sharai's direction. "She's telling the truth," she says and turns to walk toward the exit.
Sharai Dravik nods and relaxes, "Alright then, lets move." she sets down the cider and gets ready to move along
Mert timidly hops along after them, still keeping an eye on Melania.
"Good, I didn't really feel like blugeoning someone and then throwing them in my hold." Melania replies, waiting for all to leave before following herself. Looks like she doesn't intend on firing that rifle afterall.
Cockpit - <IND Equinox>
Windowless and cramped, this tight compartment provides a pair of in-line acceleration couches only for a diminuitive pilot and communications officer. Data from outside the craft is relayed to the cockpit occupants via a holographic heads-up display, providing both a view from the ship and supplemental graphic navigation, trajectory and tactical information overlays. The acceleration couches are mounted upon gyroscopic devices which allow them to twist and rotate with the ship during acceleration and maneuvering.
Melania is quiet, watching Dax land the ship, feeling the thud of the landing struts hit the surface of the ground. "There. You're on Earth, all safe and sound." She turns on her seat, giving Dax an approving pat on the shoulder. "Next time, if there is a next time, I'd suggest you be careful who you trust. Abernanthy was going to have all of you killed."
"We thank you for whatever part you may have had in staying his hand," Iseul replies, rising to her feet after the landing. "Or at least not encouraging him to kill us." She looks over her shoulder to Sharai. "We need to lay low. We'll head toward the Industrial district. We should be able to avoid running into anyone we know there."
Sharai Dravik nods in agreement, "A good idea." she says quietly and moves to follow.
Daxabi leans back in the pilot's seat, mildy disgruntled at the surrounding 'strangers'. When Lani speaks, she blinks and looks over her shoulder, and cannot help but roll her eyes as the coppers move to leave.
"And so you should. Because I'm pretty certain it's what I and Kaxina said that determined that you be allowed be leave. I'm not saying that to get any kind debt or 'you owe me one', it's just the truth of the matter." Melania says stoically. "You're going to be hunted now, most likely. You were in a different universe, people are going to want to ask questions and the procedure they're going to follow may or may not be pleasent ones. I'm going to say this, because once upon a time, I was exactly where you're standing now. Don't go back. I have no idea what Consortium officals are going to do, but I have assume Volstov still has men in the system, possibly even a few in San Angeles awaiting your return. You have instincts, Detective, I suggest you start using them than being blinded by procedure. You'll live a lot longer. Remember what you've seen up to this point, because odds are things are going to keep changing." A glance at Sharai, then focuses on Iseul. "'Nothing is true, everything is permitted.'"
Iseul stands in grim silence for a moment before she nods to Melania. "I appreciate the warning," she says quietly. "We don't plan on reporting in. Not yet. Especially not with the Minervans in tow." She hesitates for a moment and then turns to face the Martian woman full on. "You understand what we've gone through better than most people. We can't trust our contacts to not report us, and the only advantage we have is that people think we're dead. Thank you for everything you've done so far." She extends a hand. "We're more alike than I would have initially believed possible."
Sharai Dravik sighs and says very softly, "Actions and consequences," before turning and nodding to Melania and saying in a louder voice, "Thank you for what you have done to help, I appreciate it as well, and if you could give Kaxina my thanks too, I would appreciate it."
Daxabi only watches on in awed silence, finally swiveling her chair around to watch as the trio make parting words. All of this sounds heavy. She mulls over Melania's words for a moment, then sighs and offers up a casual salute to the cops.
"The sad part is the Fringe wanted your furry friend for most likely the exact same reasons the Consortium does. One is not worse than other, just different methods. It's a game to them, and sometimes, we all have our roles to play in the game by the powers that be." Melania replies. "Don't let the pomp and ceremony fool, they're just as ruthless as any other faction in the Orion Arm. Now it's a race to who gets the rift first. And don't mistake what I've done for as compassion. If Abernanthy told me to kill every sinle one of you, I would've done it. I wouldn't want to, because it'd be pointless, but I know who I've thrown my lot in with. I'm glad it didn't have to come to that." Beat. "We all have our reasons for doing what we do. Some can be justified, some can't. It's being able to sleep at night in the end is sometimes all that matters." There's mild hesitation before she indeed take Iseul's hand. "I hope next time we're not on opposing sides. We perhaps are. I go so far to say I didn't like you mainly because you remind me far too much of myself in a different life." Breaking away, she nods at the hatch. "You should get going before Vanguard figures out what ship this is. But before you go.." she reaches into a fold of her jacket, giving her a card. "Should you ever need something done discreetly, if I can, I will try to assist. You never know when you might need a freelance sniper." If that's way of extending respect and posbbily vauge friendship, there it is. The Martian is never one to say such things.
Iseul pockets the card and nods. "I am glad it did not come to killing us, but I respect that you would have looked us in the eye as you did it." She hesitates, considers and then just gestures Sharai toward the exit. "I am certain that we will cross paths again." And then she walks out the door.
Sharai Dravik gives a small wave to the other two and shoots a grin Dax's way, "Oh and Jax, nice digs. Good to see you again." before turning to follow Izzy.
Melania turns back to the Timonae in the pilot's console, after watching the hatch shut behind them. A small sigh. "Take us back, Dax." she says, sitting down next to her.
Daxabi folds her arms, and though her eyes wander back to the console and its various screens, she's listening closely. Her expression remains hard, but her heart sinks, just a proverbial centimeter. Nothing but pawns, when it all comes down to it. It becomes clear that she's not too pleased at the hand shaking. A little too friendly for her. And then Sharai addresses her. She just drags a palm over her face. "It's /Dax/. Good luck."