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Rokai nodded as he looked away from the communicator. “Alright,” he finally said as he looked at the communicator again. “I’m sending my location. It’s a big port, but I’m sure you’ll have no problem finding me when you land.” Rokai disconnected the communicator, though he left it on and tucked away in its spot in the ship. He loaded up with more weapons than he could ever possibly use in one firefight and cloaked his ship. He left it and walked toward the inhabited part of the port. He reached the more reliable spots and acknowledged an acquaintance or two as he walked past. Once he reached the seedier parts of the port, he really put on the airs, puffing his chest out, painted a thoroughly disgusted expression on his face, and strutted like he was himself Sire of Cruestace, come to collect a debt.

When he reached the door of the drinkery Gaishon had said Ba Re’s band was in, he nearly tore the door off its hinges before he stepped through and came to a standstill.

Everybody in the place turned to look at him. Some knew who he was, others didn’t. But it was clear to all that they really shouldn’t fuck with him.

“You’re back. Welcome,” the barkeep said.

Rokai remained standing where he was. He glared at the barkeep, then slowly allowed his gaze to take in the features of every single person in the drinkery.

“Who else is here?” he finally demanded.

“No one. You see them, they’re here,” the barkeep answered.

Rokai smirked sardonically, and shook his head. “You see, that just can’t be right. Because I happen to know for a fact thatsomeone I know is here, and that can only mean one thing. You’re lying to me. And I hate nothing more than being lied to.” Rokai ended the last sentence by pointing his blaster at the barkeep with his right hand, and another blaster with his left hand in the general direction of everyone else in the drinkery.

One male tried to raise both his hands and ease out of the drinkery.

“Did I tell any one of you worthless bastards that you could go?!” he demanded, firing his blaster at the floor, just an inch away from the male who thought to leave.

“I don’t want any part of this. I don’t know anybody that’s here and don’t care to!” he shouted.

“Sit your ass down before I remove it! Nobody is leaving here until I know for sure that none of you fuckers know anything I don’t.”

The man eased back to his seat, but kept his hands in the air.

“Now, just to be clear, I’d love nothing more than the opportunity to kill a couple of you fuckers. The messier the better. I’m really tired of having to come back to this fucking place. Yes, I do look familiar. You want to know why? Because I’ve been here twice already. And both times every fucking body in here told me that the person I’m searching for wasn’t here. Well, fuck me! I find out — when I’m clear across the fucking universe, mind you — that you lied. You fucking lied. So,” Rokai shrugged and feigned a joyful smile, “I’m back. And this time, somebody will tell me the truth, or I’ll kill every fucking body. Sounds good? Sounds like a deal to me. Who’s first?!”

At his explanation, everyone’s hands went up and more than half started rambling denials.

He tried to make sense of anything they were saying, but because they were all speaking at once, it was impossible. “Shut up! My gods, you people are irritating. Just shut the fuck up!”

One of the males sitting to his far left drew his own weapon, intent on killing Rokai, but Rokai saw him. He didn’t even seem to move, but fired the blaster he held in his left hand. The male fell to the floor dead, as everyone screamed and shouted.

“Shut up, shut up, shut up!” Rokai bellowed. The entire place went quiet. He glanced at the male’s body lying on the floor, then grinned happily at everyone else. “You know what makes that a phenomenal shot? I’m right handed. Right handed and I still have perfect aim with my left. Okay, let’s see who dies next.”

“Just tell us what you want instead of killing us all!” a large, clearly not-to-be-fooled-with female at the opposite end of the bar said.

“I want a new credit band. It’s black. And unlike some of the newer models out there, it buckles. And it’s connected to a Cruestaci warrior’s account. And I want it. Now. I want it now.”

Everyone started looking back and forth at one another. The only person who didn’t was the barkeep. “Come on. Give it up. I know it’s here.”

“We don’t have it! If anyone of us had it, we’d have given it to you so we could leave!” the female said.

Rokai looked her directly in the eyes. “Where is the female called Mirilla?”

To her credit the female appeared to actually try to assign the name to anyone she’d ever met, but eventually shook her head. “I don’t know anyone by that name.”

“Who does? Because she’s here, and the Cruestaci credit band is here. I want them both. I’m selfish like that. I want the money. I want the female.”

“Is the female Cruestaci?” the larger female asked.

Rokai focused on her again. “She is! Isn’t it amazing that you just happen to know that?”

“Yeah, isn’t it?” she asked, glaring at the barkeep.

“Seems to me, that only one person didn’t look around the room when I said I wanted a black, Cruestaci, credit band. And that would be you!” Rokai said, pointing his blaster directly between the eyes of the barkeep.

“Eienir if you know where this male’s band is, tell him!” the female insisted.

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