Sollus Malfoe
The thing with the tube changed direction and started heading his way, but he kept his pace and didn't so much as look in its green-skinned direction. He knew full well he was an Earthist, but tried not to let it show when he was off-planet. It wasn't that he wanted to judge the other species that shared the galaxy – it wasn't their fault they were disgusting.
He felt himself relax as one of his crewmen struck up a conversation with the tubed alien. Working on his criticisms of those he had to do business with was at the top of his priority list, and he'd get right to it – as soon as he could start reliably making ends meet and paying all the men who worked for him on a regular basis. That was the whole point of his trip to Banal V; a “reputable” job had become available, and from a source he both knew and was fairly confident wouldn't murder him when his back was turned.
Five minutes more of pushing through the throng and he arrived at the heavily-guarded door of Fandral Oppenmer, a self-made man who'd made most of what he'd earned by taking it from other people and then calling it his own. Sure, his moniker might not be accurate, but once a man had enough wealth, he could call himself whatever he wanted, and those around could either get in line or get out. Sollus hoped someday to have that kind of money – he had no particular label in mind, except maybe for “safe”.
He laughed softly to himself. That was a pipe-dream if he ever heard one.
“What?” The guard at the door grunted, leveling a blaster at Sollus and his three crewmen. “You here for a reason?”
The city guards didn't take well to fights on their territory, and Sollus didn't like guns being pointed at him, but he was willing to bet that Fandral was paying enough in “taxes” that he could do whatever he damn well pleased.
“Yeah,” he said shortly, keeping his hands above his waist, “tell your boss Sollus Malfoe is here to see him. He'll know what its about. Oh, and while you're at it, how about you get me a drink, sweetheart? I'm parched.” The last was a risk, but Fandral had been insistent that Sollus come as quickly as possible to Banal, so he was betting whatever the crimelord wanted was important, and that he'd given his guards instructions not to “accidentally” kill or maim Sollus or anyone he brought with him.
The guard grunted and stepped to the side, tapping in a quick keycode on the door. He did a good job hiding the keypad from view, but apparently Fandral had forgotten just how sensitive the ears of some species were. A look over his shoulder yielded a quick nod from Remmy, his second, and told him that the blue-skinned Yrian had easily picked up on the code. Good. At least he could get back in and see Fandral if things went sideways or the man refused to pay.
“Inside,” the guard said shortly. “Down the hall, third door on the left. Go anywhere else and I get to kill you.”
Sollus nodded and threw the man a cheery smile. “Try it.”
With that, moved forward quickly, shouldering past the guard and into Fandral's house. The place was garishly decorated, but that was no surprise given the larger man's aesthetic – or lack thereof. The theme of the hallway appeared to be “I'm richer than you”, and was accomplished by piling gold on every available surface until it gleamed. Sollus was not impressed.
He found Fandral just where the guard said he would be, through the third door and spread out on a lounger, being fed alien fruit by a pleasure-nymph. They were expensive, but imprinted with the desires of their masters, and from what he had heard around spaceports, well worth the cost if one could afford it.
“Sollus!” Fandral bellowed, waving away the nymph. “Took you bloody look enough to get here. I was starting to get worried you wouldn't make it.”
“I'm here, Fandral,” he said tightly, not bothering to exchange pleasantries, “let's get on with it. What do you have for me?”
“Right to the point!” The fat man stood, swaying slightly on too-small feet. “I like that! Here's the deal, Sollus – I need something from Tyr VII, and you're going to get it for me. You do, and I'll give you triple what I normally pay.”
Sollus grunted. Great deal, but Tyr VII was a world of tube-breathers like the one he'd seen outside, and they didn't exactly take kindly to outsiders.
“And how's that going to work, exactly?” He gestured to his face, then at the men behind him. “We won't exactly fit in.”
“Shii!” Fandral screamed, and a curtain to his left parted to reveal a stunning woman, completely hairless, and with only the lightest bit of clothing to cover her body. Stunning, if it weren't for the thin tube running from her nose to a small canister at her hip.
“Sollus, meet Shii.” The crimelord pointed. “Shii, this is the scoundrel I was telling you about. Take a few minutes and get to know each other, then you're leaving for Tyr. It'll be up to you two to decide how to explain to her people that she took an off-worlder husband.” Fandral smiled. “Good luck!”
- D
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