29a. The Inside Joke

[Renekin Skywalker]

Kalissa

Crowley's shipped docked at the Inside Joke, the home and office of Baron Dioxin, a kingpin of the off-Earth underground... The black market.

"Do not give this man a hard time," Crowley said. "He has a long reach, and can easily help you disappear."

[sasqaricious]

Kalissa herself takes stock of the place where they went and notes exactly what badger...I mean Crowley says. "I will not give the man a hard time at all. If he can help ease the family issues then it would work best for all." She says with her Irish accent.

[Renekin Skywalker]

From 14. The Inside Joke

The Inside Joke got its name from its current owner. However, as anyone in the used ship business can tell you, a name is just paint.

Baron Dioxin’s Self-Sustaining (SS) ship is as old as the colonies of Mars. Originally, the ship was one of a number of super-freighters used to ship over the many materials and large vehicles needed to build the first colony domes. The freighters (of which there were about a dozen) were based on a bi-hulled principle, where two large cargo pods were attached to a central tower.

Once those missions were completed, the ship (then designated Mars Industries F-A-25, or, “Fat 2 5”) and its brethren were quickly taken up as cargo super-haulers, or, in the case of The Inside Joke converted into SS ships.

The Inside Joke, itself, bore little resemblance - except in shape - to its utilitarian past. It was said that a full quarter each of the 500-meter long cargo pods included power plants, engines, recycling and a number of redundant systems. There were ample, large rooms for staff, and plenty of barracks space for Dioxin's security. (Dioxin ran his business out of the ship.) There was a hydroponics garden large enough to feed the small army and staff that lived in and ran the ship.

And, as [Crowley's ship] worked its way around the cargo pods, they could see half of the topmost port deck was taken up as a park, and seemed to even have grazing livestock.

Kalissa soon heard the interlocking of the two ships' airlocks.

"Well, there we are," her uncle said, as he got up and made the short walk to the airlock. Crowley's shuttle was a much smaller affair, easily dwarfed by The Inside Joke. The airlock, conveniently, was directly behind the small bridge/cockpit.

[sasqaricious]

Kalissa taking heed of what her uncle had said just nods and smiles at him as she followed him to the airlock. She does note that in a way it is funny that the airlock is behind the bridge but until she gets a look won't determine if that is bad or not.

[Renekin Skywalker]

It made perfect sense for a person-sized airlock on a small craft (like a Sesna in outer space) to be close to the cockpit.

In any event, a large intimidating man stood at the other side of the door. He held out his hand.

Crowley nodded, and disarmed, putting a pistol and a knife in the man's hand. He nodded at Kalissa to do the same. Even if it was a pocket knife.

"Weapons, please," The guard said to Kalissa, holding out his other hand.

[sasqaricious]

(OOC - OK my visual is off then, but all good!)

Kalissa on entry actually came with no weapons not being one to carry them, especially while she is with her Uncle. "I actually have none save for my Swiss Army Knife which I can hand over easily enough!" She says as she hands it over.

[Renekin Skywalker]

The guard took the pocket knife with dignity. He placed the weapons in a locker and closed the door. He gave Crowley a ticket with the locker number.

"This way," he said, leading them down a corridor.

By the looks of things, it was a corridor meant for business guests. It was clean and orderly, with a few paintings on the otherwise sparse, well-maintained walls. Under their feet was a dense, simple carpet, rather than deck plating.

At the end of the corridor, a door slid open, revealing the quintessential opposite of the spartan corridor. The room was well-appointed, resembling a Victorian gentleman's office. The walls were lined with shelves of books. Old-fashioned rifles (in this case, P-90s and AKs) and swords decorated the walls near the ceilings, and a solid wooden desk, flanked by some wooden cushioned chairs sat near the middle.

"Do come in," Said Baron Dioxin, from the desk. "Thank-you Jeffrey, that will be all."

The guard - Jeffrey - bowed and left. The door slid closed.

[sasqaricious]

It was at this point Kalissa sees some merit in why she was asked to dress up more the a pauper or in something that she would feel leaps and bounds more comfortable in. As such following her uncle she enters into the office and stays still until bade to do so otherwise.

[Renekin Skywalker]

Dioxin made no bones that he was assessing Kalissa (as one would appraise an engine, or a supposedly rare book) as he walked over to his trope-ishly requisite table of expensive-looking crystal bottles, and poured a tumbler of something for himself.

"Care for a drink?" he asked.

"No, thank-you," Crowley declined politely.

[sasqaricious]

Kalissa was almost shocked when Uncle Crowley said not but decides to let it go. "No thank-you." She says just in case he was indicating her too but almost thought about it based off of the fact that being assessed was one thing she was not sure on as she could not tell if it was for what the people wanted before or determining what her skill is now. But that said she does take a risk, "Unless you have a cola?"

[Renekin Skywalker]

Dioxin let out a chuckle.

"Of course," he said. He pushed a button on his desk. "One cola, please."

He looked up.

"Now, to business," he said. "Have a seat."

He himself sat down.

"I will start with some context," he said, without waiting. "Freedom Station is the setting of a potential Franz Ferdinand moment [OOC: The Turkish archeduke, whose assassination set off the First World War. Because everyone in the future knows this, you see.]. Some friends of mine have been targetted as the actors in an assassination. You will be sent to Freedom as a plan B. Your job will be to assist them in their... mobility around the station, and to ensure their names are cleared. Questions?"

[sasqaricious]

Kalissa did have questions...so many questions running through her head. One being she is a mechanic now...why send her on this but then she realizes that this was probably the only way for her to be free. "No sir. I do not think I have any questions of importance." She says being as polite as possible before actually coming up with one, "Actually sir I have one as I am not one hundred percent sure what you mean by mobility?"

[Renekin Skywalker]

"That they can move unfettered," Dioxin explained.

A door opened, and a small tumbler of fizzy brown came in. The maid carrying it placed it in from of Kalissa. With a nod, she was gone.

"Unfettered, but certainly in no way that would imply their guilt," Dioxin said. "Their visible innocence matters. I expect you will walk the fine line needed."

[sasqaricious]

Smiling when her cola arrive she saves it for now seeing it is in a seemingly portable container until the discussion was done. "I understand and will do my best to act in this regards for you." She states while still a bit confused but accepting that this is what needs to be done and how much work her Uncle went into for this.

[Renekin Skywalker]

(OOC: A tumbler is a short glass, often used for drinks that need to breath, such as whiskey.)

"Very well," Dioxin said, waiting for the cola beverage to be drunk. Or at least tasted.

Crowley looked over at Kalissa. "We will need to leave quickly."