Once again, this chapter will be posted in two parts.
Oh, and here are some pronunciations:
Ceer: s-eer
Lira: Lee-ra
Zorrac: Zorr-ack
I think all the other pronunciations are obvious. ^_^
So, here it is. Enjoy!
Chapter 3
“So when is this debate we are going to see?” Kwest asked.
“Well, actually it’s tomorrow morning. Tomorrow night we are meeting with our friends,” Lira explained.
Kwest and Lira flew through the crowded skylanes on Galeon. Looking around, they witnessed all the overwhelming security.
“So what are your plans for the rest of the day?” Kwest asked.
“I thought we could just look around and survey the current situation,” Lira suggested.
“Well isn’t that a pretty picture: the presidents of a drive yards and tools company snooping around the capital city,” Kwest rhetorically expressed.
“I didn’t know that we were going to get here this early. Besides, got any better ideas?” Lira asked Kwest.
“Actually, I do, and it’s kind of combined with yours.”
~--~
“How much farther? It’s getting pretty dark, Kwest,” Lira asked nervously.
“Not that much.”
Kwest and Lira glided through the mysterious alleys of Galeon’s underworld.
“Does this speeder have brighter head lights?” Kwest inquired.
“Yeah. Just flip that switch,” Lira replied pointing to a green switch by her partner’s hand. Kwest flipped the switch.
“Wow! Those are some bright head lights! Aren’t we going to get noticed now?”
Lira smiled and cocked her head. “You said we were almost there.”
“Yes, because we’re here,” Kwest said, slowing the speeder and stopping it in front a lonely, dark shack, made of nothing but dull, old durasteel sheets and barely held together by the decaying mesh tape.
“This place?” questioned Lira.
“Yup. Eol has been my friend for a long time. She helped me go undercover for a bounty hunting job,” Kwest explained.
“What exactly does she do?”
“She’s a slicer.” Kwest jumped out of the speeder and walked into the shack.
Lira followed him, shrugging.
“Who’s there?” a female voice, coming from the corner, asked.
“Hah! The only person who knows who you are, Eol,” Kwest replied.
An alien emerged from the shadows. Eol was a young Sorm, from the planet of the same name. She looked to be around thirty, while Sorms can usually live up to age 150. A humanoid with entire black eyes, Eol was able to see in the dark. That explains the darkness, Lira thought.
Eol bared her fangs and sharp teeth, a Sorm equivalent of a smile, which made her look vicious, but generally Sorms were peaceful creatures. Eol’s black hair was tied up in a ponytail.
“Well, if it isn’t Kwest Omarrin!” Eol said, walking over to Kwest and putting her clawed hands on her hips.
“Yeah, long time no see. How are you doing?” Kwest asked.
“I’m fine. Still working undercover and keepin’ low,” Eol stated. “How are you?”
“Doin’ good.”
“Everything with the Drive Yards doing okay?” Eol asked curiously.
“Yup…Wait! How do you know about that? I haven’t seen you in eight years!” Kwest exclaimed.
“Relax. You sent me a message two or three years ago, remember?” Eol remarked.
“Oh yeah.” Kwest flushed.
Eol nodded her head towards Lira. “Who’s she?”
“Oh. Eol, this is Lira Thell-Ellis. Lira, this is Eol Lissik. Lira and I are partners. We created Zatship Drive Yards together,” Kwest introduced.
Eol nodded to Lira.
“Nice to meet you, Eol,” Lira said.
“Do you guys want anything to eat?” Eol blurted after a long silence.
~--~
“Aren’t you afraid the Dark Empire’s gonna find you?” Kwest asked Eol over some Sormish Cakes.
“No, not really. I have many identities I could go under,” Eol replied, taking another Sormish Cake from the middle of the table.
“What have you been doing lately anyway?” urged Kwest.
“Doing a few slicing jobs here and there. Also, I’m doing some work for people who want to escape the clutches of the Dark Empire,” Eol explained. “Why?”
“Do you think you could help an old friend?”
“Yeah, Sure. What do you want?”
Kwest leaned across the table, and, even though no one was within one hundred meters of them, whispered, “New identities. In case we might need them.”
“Really? What would some founders of a ship building company do with new ID docs?” Eol asked, half knowing the answer.
“Come on, Eol, you know how it is with the Dark Empire,” Kwest said, pushing his hand out innocently.
Lira smiled. Kwest always makes the most interesting friendships.
“What are you up to, Kwest? I would think that the Dark Empire has asked you to design them something by now.” Eol finished off her cake, gulped, and leaned back in her chair.
Kwest closed his eyes and let out a breath. “They did,” Kwest responded, opening his eyes, “We turned them down.”
“Oh, Mr. Tough Guy and his girlfriend are scared,” Eol teased, giving out a short laugh.
Lira gave her a glare. Eol immediately stopped laughing.
“Eol, please, the Empire is a real threat,” Kwest affirmed.
“I know. I know. Just trying to be funny in the midst of turmoil, ya know,” Eol said, getting out of her chair and slipping over to her computer.
She flipped a switch and the entire wall came to life. “One big computer screen!” Kwest breathed.
“Not just that. These smaller screens on the side-they are connected to surveillance cameras I installed around this area and the Senate,” Eol explained, with pride.
“Wow!”
“So.” Eol started flipping through her files.
Lira and Kwest watched the gargantuan computer screen, as faces and names popped up, and disappeared in an instant.
“Ah, I found one for you, Kwest,” Eol proclaimed. “And Lira…I found one for you, too.”
I kind of got a bit carried away there.
