Last Chance: Myn and Lara - pt. 8


He showered and towelled off, and had just pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms to get ready for bed. His towel was still slung around his neck, catching stray drops from his damp hair, when his door alert sounded. Instantly suspicious, Myn slid his blaster free of its holster and checked the charge, before stepping over to the door. Standing a little to the side, he asked who it was.

“It’s Orine.” Myn was very surprised to hear a female voice answer him, low and sultry. “We met at the Crater?” the woman continued, as though to jog his memory.

“I recall,” Myn answered as he triggered the door mechanism. “How did you get in to the building?” He stood blocking the access to his room, one dark brow raised in a direct questioning look.

The woman simpered up at him. “This isn’t the first time I’ve ‘worked’ for CorSec,” she said slyly, “Can I come in?”

He thought about it, but he didn't really have a good reason to leave a lady standing around in a public hallway. Myn gave a brusque nod and stepped out of the way to let her in, reaching for his holster to sheathe his blaster. It took him a few seconds to recall the woman’s full name. “Was there something you wanted, Miss Vaylla?”

She gave a coy smile and let her eyes wander over his body, making Myn acutely aware that he was not exactly dressed for polite company. “You could say that,” she replied, slipping out of her grey cloak. Something about the plainness of the garment jogged Myn’s memory, but he couldn’t devote the concentration to finding out what at the moment. He gestured for his visitor to go on.

“I couldn’t help but notice that you got stood up,” Orine said at last.

Myn shook his head. “My friend is off-world at present. She’ll be back in a day or two.” He deliberately shortened the estimate of Kirney’s return, in hopes to discourage the woman.

“Ah. Well, I am sure I could provide you with some... distraction, while you wait?” She let a hand trail down her face and catch at her lips in a very sensuous gesture.

Myn shook his dark head. “No, I don’t think so, Miss Vaylla. I was pretty clear in the tapcafe, and I haven’t changed my mind, so...” He took her arm above the elbow and escorted her gently but firmly to the door.

“Alright, look, CorSec, I’m just doing what I have to to get by, just like Rij and your precious Kirney Slane, just like everyone else, okay.” She jerked her arm out of his grasp. “You don’t have to get all uptight on me.”

Myn froze when she mentioned Kirney’s name. He thought back to the time he’d spent in the Crater, in her company, and he couldn’t recall mentioning Kirney’s name in her hearing. “Hold it,” he said firmly, uncosciously imitating another of Corran’s authoritative voice tones, “How did you know I was waiting for Kirney Slane?”

The frown melted away from the woman’s face. “I asked Rij,” she said with facile smile. “Why? What’s she done?” It seemed less genuine curiosity and more of a morbid gossip-mongering attitude, putting Myn on edge again.

“Nothing that I know of,” he replied. “Honestly, she’s an old friend, and I just want to reconnect.”

Orine gave him an intense appraisal, her round face cocked a little to the side as she weighed his words. At length she shrugged. “Alright, fine. I can take a hint.” She slung her cape back over her pale shoulders and stepped over to his door. “Well, if there is anything I can do, just let me know.”

Myn nodded gravely, and then his face grew serious, as he recalled something that he wanted to investigate. As one of the likely victims of the police extortion, perhaps Orine could help him in his initial searchings. “Actually, there’s a couple of things...”

Orine listened while he detailed some of the things he wanted to know, but gestured him to silence when she caught the gist of his requests. “Not here, CorSec, you do not want to be talking about that here.”

Realising she had a good point, there was a very likely possibility that the visiting officer’s quarters were monitored, Myn nodded. He might want to be more circumspect in investigating the recurrent mentions of coercion from the local Security branches. “Somewhere else, then? Over breakfast, maybe?”

Orine gave him a coy look and agreed. “Sure. I’ll meet you at Thom’s Place, at say, eight?”

Once he’d gotten the address of the restaurant, Myn opened the door for his unexpected guest. As long as she wasn’t trying to climb into his bed, she wasn’t too bad of a companion. And that’s not something I should ever say in the hearing of Wes or the guys, Myn smiled to himself.

Catching his lighter expression, Orine leaned over to whisper, “So, is this a date?”

Myn gave her a mock scowl. “It’s an appointment,” he clarified, and then let the door slide shut between them.

He re-hung his blaster in easy reach of the bed before lowering himself down to get what sleep he could.

~*~


part 9

Back to main page