Last Chance: Myn and Lara - pt. 6


Further research at the data terminals in his CorSec quarters led Myn to the comm listing for Slane Shipping. He tapped in the code, almost breathless with anticipation. It was an effort of will to control his reaction to seeing that almost-familiar face on the screen. The transformation into Kirney Slane had roughened some of her fine-featured delicacy, and it took him a minute to actually process the words she was saying.

"...you can leave a message on this line, or with Rij at The Crater. We'll be back on sixth day, and ready to take another haul on first day next week, after rest and refuelling. Thanks for calling on Slane Shipping!" There was a tone, and Myn switched the comm off almost by reflex. It was probably for the best, as he had no idea what he wanted to say to her.

Probably better to try and speak directly to her, he thought, as he returned to the data terminal to look up the place she had mentioned.

~*~

The interior of The Crater was dim and a little smoky, but quiet in the slow heat of a Corellian afternoon. Myn slid his shades off his eyes and surveyed the denizens in an unconscious imitation of Corran Horn, seeking someone who might conceivably be the recommended Rij. When in doubt, ask the puller.

"Is there a problem, Officer?" the barkeep asked as Myn tucked his shades into his shirt's front pocket, and strode over to the bar.

"Not really, no," Myn replied after a tiny pause. "I'm actually looking for a friend."

"We don't see much in the way of enforcement, Officer," the barkeep said cautiously, "there's no need. We're a good clean establishment..."He'd been polishing the same space on the counter since he'd come in, Myn realised. Some part of his brain marked that as an item of interest, but the matter of leaving a message for Kirney was more pressing.

"I'm off duty," Myn said firmly, "Actually on a furlough," he finished. "Vacation," he corrected, seeing the puller's confused expression. "Sorry, I served in the military for too long."

"Really?" asked the puller, "What branch?"

"Planetary defense," Myn responded instantly, recalling the lesson about telling the truth whenever possible, "General ground forces," he added easily.

The man seemed satisfied with that answer, and gestured to him to take a seat. Myn swung a leg over the somewhat worn cushion of the nearest stool.

"Well, if you’re on vacation, you can have a drink!" the barkeep pulled a cool glass of lomin from one of his taps and set it on the scarred bartop in front of Myn. "On the house, of course," he gave Myn a significant look before turning to polish more of the bar.

"Uh, thanks?" Myn pulled the glass towards him. "Listen, do you know a person by the name of Rij?"

He froze, and then turned towards Myn. "Yeah, I'm Rij. I thought you said you were looking for a friend..."

"I am. I commed her business this afternoon, and the recording said I could leave a message with 'Rij at The Crater'." A slight motion of his hand indicated the barkeep and the establishment around them. "So..."

Rij seemed to consider for a few moments, his eyes moving back and forth across the counter top as though he were reading something in his memory. Suddenly his face brightened. "Kirney!" he declared. "Man, she hasn't been in here in almost half a month now."

Myn masked his sudden disappointment behind his habitually severe expression. "So I can't leave a message with you?"

"Oh sure you can, but I can't guarantee she'll get it."

"You don't have a HoloNet account for her?" Myn asked with a degree of surprise evident in his voice.

"It's not like in CorSec, Officer Jidone," he said, reading the small patch on Myn's left breast pocket. "Slane Shipping and The Crater... most of us here on the edge of things: we're kind of marginal businesses, you know. We struggle daily to make it. HoloNet access comes too dear."

Myn nodded in understanding. "I think I'll just have a look around Coronet while I wait for her, then," he said casually and took up his glass to take a sip of the ale. The lomin was of a decent quality, which considering the proprietor's last statement struck him as odd. "Well, for a marginal establishment, you serve good ale."

"You like that, hey?" Rij grinned, proud as only a parent could be. "That's my recipe, there."

Myn showed his appreciation by draining his glass. "It's very smooth."

"Another?"

"No, thank you," Myn said. "I had better not."

Rij raised an eyebrow. "Listen, even if you're on holiday, Officer Jidone, you can drink as much as you want. I wouldn't really want to see my place enforced." There was very real concern on his face.

"I don't *want* anymore, Rij, thanks," Myn repeated slowly and firmly. "Is that the practice here in Coronet City?" he asked, "You give Security free drinks and they help you keep things calm?"

Rij gave a short, bitter bark of laughter. "I 'share' profits and product, and they don't drop a criminal brawler in my cantina!" he explained brutally. "Kirney probably slips them some cut, too, to prevent any 'difficulties' with her license or whatever. Where the heck do you patrol?" he asked incredulously. "This is the way things are!"

Myn's slightly confused expression faded and his eyes hardened as he realised what the barkeep was telling him. Local CorSec runs a protection racket in the poorer districts. He felt the injustice of it spur him towards anger. I wonder what Corran would say about that?

"I'm stationed on Centrepoint," he said slowly and clearly, keeping his voice emotionless.

"That explains it, then. Little place like that under the direct supervision of the Security Commissioner..." Rij commented thoughtfully as he took back the now-empty glass. "Guess you boys have to toe that line, hey?"

"If the local precinct is violating the charter-"

"I should report it, I know," Rij said wryly, "But to who, hey? Triad's got their hands full with this new Diktat, driving for power like they haven't in years. The old government's a walking dead man, and the scavengers are circling." He gave an eloquent lift of the shoulders that read This is the way it is. You deal.

There was nothing Myn could say, but he made a silent vow to investigate the whole situation further.

~*~


part 7

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