Freelancer - The Void

Teleporters?  I wasn't aware that FL was that advanced in superscience.  Contra-gravity - yes - but teleporters?

"Thanks for the drink, Zeb, and for the springing of course, if I haven't already thanked you enough.  Would you care to spring off me?"  He rubbed his messy beard and muttered, "I'll need to take a shave."

Zeb laughed. "Well Teleporters are not something that most of Sirius would have or use. Though I could tell you a tale about a time when I got badly stuck in Omicron Gamma, the Nomads had all but beaten the hell out of me and the Outcasts were being none to friendly either. I got talking to some bloke that went by the call sign of  "Strail" and whilst I was consulting my grim future as another gang of Nomads decided I was fair game, I suddenly found my nav charts and stuff off the dial, a flash not unlike going through a gate, a massive head ache and dizziness, and lo and behold - I was orbiting Manhattan - not a scratch on the old Rhino. I messaged Strail and asked about the technology - he laughed and said that we were not ready for the widespread use of this and I would have to earn the right to use it - all very criptic. Only ever saw the guy once after.  He was a bit like the two in here earlier, polite, clean, rich and menacing. Hey the got rid of the Bounty Hunter's bodies for us so I am not about to complain.  If the Nomads have gotten hold of this technology, this will mean trouble and chaos.  No doubt a good turn of profit also."

"Anyway, lets get ya bathed and shaved. I'll get one of the girls to run you a hot bath, what with you straight out of Prison and all...."
Zeb winked at Falkon. "Relax and have some fun. It wont last forever ya know."  

Heh.  Are you intending to answer all my italicised OOC questions/comments with IC answers?

"I certainly intend to.  Tthanks Zeb - a bath and a woman could be just what I'm looking for."  He grinned and disappeared upstairs.

In a moment of relative calm, Zeb decided to bring these to his customers attention.  And those cats are real believe me, I still have the scars to prove it....Thats why there is a sign by the bar stating "Caveat Felis"..........!
Our location:

The Guard cats:

Our Doughnut Tester:


Cheers.....*(Pours another one and awaits the return of  Wolf - hopes that Gan isn't doing anything illegal to Pi....)*

It seemed as if everything was being shoved in my face.  Zeb had said something about going to an empath, so I figured he was going to the alleged empath.  I sat down, the world seeming to be spinning a little.  "what are you doing Slice?" I heard Zeb say.  "I dunno"  I tried to say.  But Zeb suddenly said "go to the empath like i asked"  oohhh, me i thought.  I walked out into the brightness of noon, the crowd lining the street to watch the Gran Prix near by.  At least i kinda know where the corner of Ford and Drail was I thought as i seemed to stumble my way there.  Things were starting to come to me, but slowly.  I reached what seemed to be a run down hut.  I read the sign next to the door that said "Empath".  I knocked on the door at the same time i heard the roar of a particular V-10 diesel engine.  Peugot? I thought it has to be.  I can never forget that beautiful sound.  Then the door opened and revealed the most beautiful woman i had ever seen.  

"Can i help you?"  she asked.  I was dumbstruck.  "uh.....  yeah" - I showed her the card-"  I'm gonna need some info."  "  Looks like you got a very serious problem and some bad luck here."  She looked at me for a while.  I guess good looks are a gift.  "uh...." she started " w-why dont you come inside.  I will tell you everything you need to know.  Come."  She sorta smiled as she turned to lead me inside.

"Walks into the bar"  Hey Zeb, I got that security stuff ya asked me ta pick up.  Here's the bill and the payment reciept.  Whats been happinin wit bidness lately?  I got tied up dodgin dem DTA and some Rogues on da way back.  Anyway, i got a load ta haul ta Manhattan............

Zeb nodded to Argh. "Someones decided to have a race day or somethin' down the road. We've been a bit worried about some ot the weird stuff going on, particularly with the return of the Shadows and the fragmentation of some Pirate clans, they seem to be poppin' up all over the place. I got Falkon working on a couple of things and SLicers gone to see if he can get to the bottom of the dreams he's been havin' - Madam Jade at the corner of Ford and  Drail is sorting him out now...."

"You seen the Wolf about lately mate? Looks like he is off on a jaunt again. Must have got a line on something profitable or he's been off hanging with them suits that was in earlier on. Had to chase a cat off one of the doughnut machines. Eddie the chef spilt some fish sticks and the beggers were everywhere.  Hughie and Louie the guard cats soon put paid to that..."

On that note, one of the Junker's pilots flee's the bar with said cats in hot pursuit....

Zeb gets to thinkin' he is spending way too much time at the bar.  "I need to get some space time." Throws the keys to Victoria.
"Hang on to this place till I get back - I need to go find the Wolf and get back to some basics - its the call of the wild...."

Zeb lit the cigar, stuck on his cap and grabbed the flight jacket from behind the bar. With a wink at L'il Beth he strolled out the door and over to the space port......

"Ahh.  I get it now!"  I finally realized the reason for the weird dreams, with the help of Madam Jade.  I dont know what would of happened if she didnt give me her number.  I seemed acomplished for solving part of a big mystery and getting a chance for a date.  "Sooo....  I'll call ya later?"I said as I was walking out the door  "Later" she replied.  I smiled and waved as she did the same.  It was dark at night and i needed to celebrate.  The cars were still running on the track.

As i walked through the doors, i realized Zeb had never given me the Diet Coke I asked for!
I went to the bar.  "Diet Coke Plz!"  Then there was a big explosion outside.  "Never mind that!!!  Just give it here!!"  Beth did as she was told.  The drink was gulped down in seconds.  "Now, to find out what the hecks happenin'!"  I started for the door, but then i remembered something.  "oh yeah.  Tell Zeb I'm phsycic!"  Outside, one of the cars looked as if it got launch off a carrier deck but then crashed straight into the ground .  The driver was safe, but the comotion caught other drivers off guard.  One of the cars spinned out of control and hit another car with a huge explosion.

Then my mind just changed completely.  It was as if I was flying.  I zoomed high above the track where i could see all of the chaos.  There was a missle streak crossing the pavement.  I flew above the trail until it stopped at a man with a rocket launcher.  I saw his thoughts and memories just flash at me.  He was a Bounty Hunter.  With that the vision took me to the driver who's car started the chaos.  His memories and thoughts flashed before me too.  He was an Order member, but one of the high ranking ones.  Then the vision took me off this planet, raced me by different planets and systems until i landed right on the floor of some office.  There was a man there.  He was looking at the footage of the wreckage as he started to laugh maniacilly.  Then the vision ended.

Ima gonna need some more of that Diet Coke!!

Hey Vickie, give me dat tool kit dat dey keeps under da bar will ya?  >Takes the tool kit from the bar tendor>  
 Now lets see wut we gots here.........  <Opens>  Hhhhhhhhmmmm..........  One security robot........  Scanners fer the doors.......  Monitor for the office...........  Hey Vickie, can ya help me set dis up somewherer?  <Carries>  Ok, this goes here and dis goes here.......  <sets>  Ok............  les see now.....  One camera fer ouside each door...........  2 each fer each side........  motion detectors.......  hhhhhhhhhmmmm........  <finishes>  Ok, now, lets see bout Mr. Robotix.........   <Assembles>  Ok, done deal.  becareful wit dat ting der cuz da robot haz both lethal and non lethal weapons installed....  Could easily blow out the entire side of the building next door, from in here.........  and the security stuff also has a mix a lethals and non lethals installed....  dey kin be set fe automatic or contoled frum dat system I set up in da office..........
 Now, din't Zeb say sumptin bout da cook?  How bout sum pizza and sum a dat esspresso?  And mebe a pitcher a sumptin wet but non alkie....  gotz ta fly again and get sum stuff da woof ordered........  Oh, and make a list a wut ya needs frum Kussari and Rhienland....  I'm goin out ta New Tokie laters an den gonna make a run ta New Berlin afore i swing dis way again.......  And don't worry bout da tab fer da installation...  Will settle wit Zeb when I catch up ta him.

Zeb entered the bar. There was a buzz and the tickle of static. An alarm sounded. Zeb froze. A metalic voice stated, "Please leave your weapons in the deposit box. This facility is given free of charge and for your own safety." Zeb looked down at his chest and noticed at least four small red dots. One of the Bouncers came forward..."Oh! Hello boss - your back!" - Zeb gingerly handed her the blaster and his backup projectile weapon. "This must be Arghs work then?"  The bouncer nodded and grinned as she placed the guns in a box and handed them to Viky.

"I'll put em in your room boss", she said with a sly wink. Zeb was feeling better already. What a trip. The office in Manhatttan had been busy. The Wolf had been out and about and the buzz had been a new alliance against the dreaded DTA. Zeb had been initialy reluctant as he remembered the times this had happened before and the chaos that it had caused. Not that the AoF had not prospered by it of course. This time it was begining to look just like all the rest. "I need a drink " and he gestured to Viky for the port. Taking this he went over and sat down by the fire. Time to do some thinking.  The match blazed and the cigar was lit.

He had been on his way through Alex when a bunch of the DTA turned up. "Excellent, I can test the water with this new alliance." The message got sent and there was a big silence on the comcast. Nothing. One of the allies even came back and asked who Zeb was.  Some alliance! It was going to turn into a slayfest for the DTA yet again and the Navy would retreat to their own boundaries leaving  a few others to try and reduce the impact on trade.  Confusion reigned even after the messages of support had been sent  - ESF VLF and HFU were all proving a bit reluctant to join forces. Such is the way with new alliances. Zeb was beggining to regret having thrown AoF into the mix at least at the financial level.  The fight with EU outside Demo had taught Zeb much thanks to the help from the BBD and the lone ESF pilot.  Zeb had ducked out as the Anubis was begining to burn and there was some expensive kit that Zeb had no wish to loose. Afterburners and the boost got him out of the scrap, a quick turn round in Alex and then back to the bar.

Zeb laughed. Stashed in the back of the Anubis had been three large crates of Olives and two crates of Rhienland beer with a crate of port that he had picked off the back of  a dodgy looking guy on Cordellia. "All that fighting for a crate of olives?" He grinned.  Back to some bar work for a bit - at least till he heard from "The Peregrine" and wherever Wolf had gotten too.
"Your bath is ready......" called Vicky. It was all the prompting he needed. A soak and a sleep. Some calls to make tomorrow.  HE hoped  the AoF would come out of this unscathed or at least more knowledgeable.................

{Walks into the bar}
 "Please deposit your weapons in..."  "Cancel"  "voice annalasys confirmed, canceled" .  {Walks over to Vickie>}
  "Hey Vickie, da boss back yet?"  
 "Yes, he got in a bit ago and is in his tub".  You going to fix the system for him too?"
 "Ya, I'll do it az soon az i gots a voice print ta match wit da Bio scan".  Can't do it wit out dat and if he tries ta come in wit hiz gunz wit out it, he'll get zapped".  "Da second time he tries it he gets fried".  "System iz set fer 1 freebe, and cooks ya da second offense".  "Should help cut down on da fights a bit cuz it can find even dem crystal and plastic based weapons.  Outa help a bit wit dem bounty hunters too, cuz don't recognize permits and such.  Gotta be set inta the system ta get in wit yer hardware".
{Walks back to Zebs room}
 "Hey Zeb, ya in der?  gotta get a voice print a ya".  <Zeb>  "A what?  Don't worry bout it, got it".
 <Goes into the office and sets up the voice print of Zeb and includes it on the Access listing as administrator and sets the allowed weapons at Inclusive so that Zeb doesn't have to leave his guns at the door>
 {Leaves the office}
 "Hey Vickie, tell Zeb all he gotta do when he comes in iz say cancell ta the system and it'll let him in wit hiz toyz and such.  He can also set it fer any one else if he wants.  He gots total access ta the system now dat I got dat voice print and he can allow or disallow any one else access ta the system except me.  If he tries ta shut me out it will crash da system az I'm senior administrater fer now.  Gotta wait fer Woof ta get back ta finish da set up den he kin do wut he wants.  But it gonna cost him extra if I gotta wait much longer fer Woof ta get back.  Got things ta be and placez ta do or sumptin like dat.  Right now i gots you and da bouncers all included in da system and gots it set so'z it won't fry da cook when he picks up a knife er sumptin like dat.  wouldn't wanna cancel dinner on account da cook got cooked......."
 {Orders his usual tripple shot esspresso and Pizza with whatever and starts reading a book while waiting for Zebulon to get finished with his whatevers}

Tequila, tequila, tequila and chilies or i will not be satisfied with this establishment and take my custom else where.

" One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Floor...." smiled Viki. Ok - Montezuma Gold, Fire Cactus, or the regular weapons grade engine cleaning stuff?  We also have green Chillies, red chillies, highland bonnet chillies and some Red Hot Chilli Peppers - *(hits the jukebox remote and "Music is my Aeroplane" comes on)*  Take your pick sir, and the first round is on the house.....

Zeb had just got out of the bath, dried off and was getting suited and booted. As he did, he read the instructions Argh left him for the security unit. "hmmm...this will help keep out the unwanted for a bit, and it beats having to put a Bounty Hunters Not Welcome sign on the door".....