Shifting Views

Posted on 03 Feb 2024 @ 9:19pm by Aiden Dhow
Edited on on 06 Feb 2024 @ 8:24pm

Mission: M4 - Falling Out
Location: Kalara City
Timeline: MD:04 Evening
1055 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

Previous:

In the end, the proprietor settled for an equivalent of seventy-five a night and Oly transferred the credits for him to exchange with the stranger offering confirmation that the amount matched the expectation. When the proprietor slipped inside his shop, the man turned to Oly with a smile. “My name is Cyrus, by the way. I’m part of the Itoninan Colony, but I have business I conduct here in town. Do you work with the Federation News Service?”

Oly was shaking his head even as he reached for one of the bogus data-chips he’d prepared for the trip down. “Private sector, though I do have a few contacts in the service.” Because, of course he did … just not for journalistic purposes. “Bast Larsen.”

Cyrus observed the chip before slipping it into his pocket. “Pleasure to meet you, Bast. Look me up if you’d like a look at the colony as well. I’ll leave you to finalize things with Faruz, here.” With a wave farewell, he took his leave. Oly watched him go before allowing the proprietor to show him to his lodgings. It was an unexpected boon, all things considered, and he couldn’t help but wonder what ancestor had been looking out for him.


Continued:

Dark eyes watched the stranger descend into the rental before Cyrus turned to head on his way. He pulled out the chip to observe again, rolling it over in his fingers. Something about Mr. Larsen struck him as less than intentional, but then again it could just be that he was skeptical of the journalistic sort. As he turned to walk away, he caught sight of a figure watching the establishment from across the street, gaze intent for all his posture was anything but. Cyrus nodded wordlessly, continuing on his way.

Makrin didn’t respond to the nod, seemingly ignoring the dark skinned man in his singular focus on the shop and it’s departing proprietor. He had received word that Van Der Laar would be arriving, but had nearly missed tracking the man as he moved from the transport vessel into town. Not that he would accept the fact the man was skilled at his work; no one was as good as he at the craft, and all Van Der Laar had under his belt were failed missions.

This will be the last failure, he mused, standing aright and stretching his back. He would not corner the man just yet. Makrin had still to locate his target; he knew Sawyl was on the planet, but did not know what form he was taking at this time to hide. His contact had suggested that Van Der Laar had a lead, so the best course of action would be to track his adversary, letting the fool lead him to the target, and then resolve the matter once and for all.

===

Shirin frowned into the glaring light of the lowering sun. She had been waiting for over an hour for Cyrus to arrive to the meeting point. For a time, she’d allowed herself to be distracted by Aidan and the young man’s attempts at teaching her how to use the camera. She’d even snapped a few pictures, but lost interest as the reality that she would not see the results of her efforts in any instantaneous form. No matter, she could keep watch while he entertained himself with their surroundings.

Eventually, she saw the familiar figure making its way over to their transport shuttle. “Did Acaelo hold you up with his tales again?”

Cyrus grimaced. “He tried, I think he believes if he distracts enough with his tales that people will not notice when he pushes the price higher than they intended to pay. No, I was actually caught up by Faruz. It seems he has a new lodger - an off-world journalist.” He handed over the chip to Shirin, his gaze shifting over to where Aidan was standing silhouetted by the lengthening shadows. “I don’t think he’s a threat, but he gave me an odd sense. That, and there’s been another newcomer in the town who seems overly interested in non-locals.”

The words were odd, not surprising considering her friend, but when Shirin noted the focus of Cyrus’s attention, she frowned. “You think they know something about Dhow?”

”I’m not sure, but I’m also not willing to take any foolish chances. I did invite this journalist to visit the colony; if anything, it will give us a chance to observe him on our own grounds, see the measure of the man. But I think it might be best if Aidan limit his visits into town for the time being.”

”He won’t like that. Do you think it would be safer for him to be back on the station?”

Cyrus shook his head. “He is a Civilian, and likely under the radar of Security’s pervue. His uncle is not here as a member of Obsidian Command, but directly with the Colony itself. He is safer in the Bajada.”

As if he sensed them talking about him, Aidan made his way over to the couple. “Are we headed back now?”

”Aye,” Cyrus wrapped an arm around the broad shoulders, guiding Aidan towards the shuttle. “I was just telling Shirin that Kalara City has taken on some rather interesting newcomers. Shifty sorts, I don’t like them for the most part. There is one I might consider giving a tour, but I wanted to know how you felt about having another outsider inside the colony.”

Aidan grimaced. “It’s not exactly up to me, is it?”

”You’re as much a member as any of us. The refugees will settle down soon enough; they barely trust us, and who can blame them? You are not the only one who would feel infringed upon with a stranger in their midst - and he is a journalist to boot. Still, it might do well to have more definitive reports of what we are doing out and about. It will help the Federation realize the value of the project, and might even lower some of the reserves the locals have against the colony.” He patted Aidan’s shoulder. “Think on it. In the meantime, it is high time we returned.”