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Drex Furlow's Stockyard, Starship and Equipment Emporium - FA Trevor Rastyn
Chapter I
Inside the Question
Trevor walked down the corridors of the WarHammer, reading his weekly reports. An uprising in the Sluis Van system. An attack by pirates at a shipyard inside the Core systems. A rash of thefts ranging from Republic supplies to highly advanced communications equipment. Status about a top seceret Emperor's Hammer project, and word of a possible raid on it. Supposedly, two different informants had reported of several factions taking interest in the EH's new transprotation technology. A revolutionary new lightspeed drive that was twenty times more efficient than that used currently, and appearantly these factions were planning to hijack the first convoy of the new systems using stolen starships. Another report of an attack on the shipyard. 'Smilin' Drex Fulow's Stockyard'. Trevor looked at the name a second time, and noticed he had never heard of it before. Shrugging it off, Trevor continued down the hall. Somehow Trevor's brain started thinking in overdrive about the possible raids and the shipyard. Upon arriving in his office, and still fresh in his mind, Trevor started up his network console and entered a query to the shipyard. Taking a sip of his drink he unbuttoned the neck of his tunic and sat back in his seat. The shipyard query produced a direct link to the shipyard. All the information he was looking for was presented before him. A picture of the platform was impressive. Six platforms at alternating levels, upper and lower, surrounded the center hull. A virtual tour showed a large showroom on the upper level. Well lit, with lots of space the upper deck displayed both new and used starships. From personal craft, to heavy duty work horses, the showroom also gave way to a panoramic view of the stars beyond with large windows circling the room. Below the showroom were numerous shops and workbays for repairs and upgrades of every nature.
"Nice shop..." Trevor said quietly. Continueing on he looked at information about the station from its finacial institues used for sales, the staff of the service department, and security measures for the entire business. As Trevor sat forward he sat his drink on the desk and accessed the full reports from the break ins. The reports were startelling. The stockyard had been breached from several different angles. If there was a connection, Trevor was sure he had stumbled upon it. Paging Vice Admiral Kirell Figaro, he waited to give his senior officer his summary.
"General Rastyn," Figaro said as he returned a salute from his Executive Officer. "So what's going on?" Kirell asked.
"I dunno.." Trevor said as he brought up the holo of the attempted break in's. "Look at this." Figaro looked closely at the combined locations.
"Okay?" He asked.
"Okay..." Trevor said as he stood from his seat and presented Figaro with a datapad. "Look at this report dated..." Trevor looked again to make sure. "Three days ago. A regular informant told the Security Office on Aurora about a possile attack on Project Light." Figaro nodded. "Okay, now... twelve hours later, Drex Furlow's alarm system goes off. I mean the whole nine yards." Trevor points at one location on the holo. "Then again at ninteen hundered, thrity hours...." Trevor moved his finger to another position. "And again, at o'one fourty five the next day." Trevor said pointing at yet another location.
"Alright... you lost me already." Figaro said as he sat back.
"Whoever it is breaking in, the're checking things out." Trevor said as he sat on his desk, faceing Figaro. "If someone is planning to hit that stockyard and steal some freighters, they want the fastest way in, and the fastest way out. They want to know reaction times, they want to see what kind of resistance they'll meet." Kirell listened to Trevor. "If they can pull it off..." Trevor turned off the holoprojector. "By the time the paperwork is processed they'll have stolen ships, the upper hand, and the new hyperdrives." Figaro looked carefully at Trevor.
"The only way they'll pull that off is with someone on the inside." Trevor looked to the side, lost in thought. "What's on your mind?" Figaro asked.
"Get me on that platform." Trevor demaned.
"No... you have a job to do." Kirell replied.
"Yeah, to protect the Empire and it's ventures." Trevor realized he was getting overexcited and calmed down. "If I'm right, they'll have someone inside that yard and are getting ready to intercept Project Light." Trevor reached for the data pad from his senior officer. Upon recieving it, he scrolled down a number of pages. "...and we have six days." Figaro shook his head.
"It's not gonna happen, Trev." He stated.
"Then I request my vacation time." Trevor said with a smile. Figaro squinted and looked at Trevor.
"What vacation time?" He asked.
"I dunno... but I haven't had a leave pass in eight months, and I know you can make one happen." Figaro sighed and looked back at Trevor, who winked at him. "If I'm right..." Trevor started, as the two continued to debate over who would owe what over the outcome of the next few days events. Four hours later, Trevor was changed into civilian clothes and boarding a transport en route to Drex Furlow's Stockyard, Starship and Equipment Emporium.
Chapter II
Applications
The transport exited hyperspace and the station sat ahead of it. The traffic surrounding it was moderate. Tugs pulling ships into bays, others glistening with showroom shine flew about the massive station. Trevor watched from the doorway into the cockpit and heard the commlink open.
"Welcome to Drex Furlow's Stockyard, this is Drex Furlow speaking, how can I help you today?" The smooth voice said.
"Transport Theta requesting permission to land." The pilot replied.
"Sure thing! Will this be for sales or serivce today?" Drex asked, again with the slick touch of a salesman.
"Uhh..." The pilots stutterd. "Neither." Silence filled the air. Trevor wondered what the other end was thinking.
"Alrighty, you come on in to bay six, and I'll have someone meet you there..." The voice trailed off briefly. "On second thought, I'll meet you there myself!" Trevor smirked as he stepped back into the cabin and looked at himself in the reflection of a porthole. He had not shaved so his beard was showing some scruff, and Trevor had pulled out a pair of dusty coveralls. Looking as if he had just come from working in a shop he noticed the transport pass the forcefield and enter the bay. The ship touched down and Trevor watched the airlock open and the ramp extend. Walking down to the hangar, he could see two individuals approaching. A tall human male, about six feet tall, black hair combed back with a glossy look, and a dress shirt that looked to be about ten years out of style. With him a Frozian, a dark skinned being with double elbows, and a very thick moustache. "Hey there!! I'm Drex Furlow, how are ya this fine day?" Drex asked as he reached out to shake hands.
"Great thanks.." Trevor answered taking grasp of Drex's outstretched hand and greeting him.
"Who might you be, and what can I do for you today?"
"My name is Slade D'tone, and I'm wondering if you have any work for a lisenced technician." Trevor said plesantly. Drex looked at his assistant and then back at Trevor with an eyebrow raised.
"You're looking for a job?" Drex said gleefully. "And here I thought you were coming to make a warranty claim!" Drex burst out into laughter, Trevor smiled also. "Well... We've got a few good techs right now. They keep busy, and money in my accont." Drex leaned towards Trevor, and put a hand to the side of his mouth. "But I'll tell, ya... the Sullstian isn't too great. Don't get me wrong, he know's his stuff, but he's not the most personable guy on the station." Trevor nodded. "I'll make you a deal..."
"Aren't I supposed to make you a deal?" Trevor cut in, and again, Drex doubled over laughing hysterically.
"Ahhh..." Drex paused and collected his breath. "You seem like a good guy Slate.."
"Slade." Trevor corrected Drex
"Oh... sorry." Drex said putting his hand on Trevor's shoulder. "I see so many people in a day, I'm terrible with names. Tell ya what." Trevor looked Drex in the eye. "I'll let you work for a day or so, and if I like what I see, I'll hire you." Trevor reached his hand forward as Drex had, and shook on thier agreement.
Chapter III
The First Test
Trevor began meeting the staff of Drex's business within minutes of starting his first job. A woman named Sully from Corellia. She was a lot hand, helping out with tasks like cleaning and some minor financial duties for the sales department. Mosri Gibs was a human male. In his fifties, he was tall and heavy set, but his size was decieving. With a grey beard and a belly that made him as big around as he was tall, Mosri was very kind and gentle. As well as very knowledgable of Starships. Mosri had taken on an apprentice to the trade. A young Verpine not much younger than Trevor named Tyril. Tyril was a typical Verpine, enthusiastic and energetic, but also very curious and imaginative. With as little contact with alien races as Trevor had, he was having problems understanding Tyril's basic language.
"And last week, I put together a custom gauge cluster for some ones shuttle. He was so paranoid about his systems he was ready to pay almost fifty nine thousand credits for it." Trevor nodded as he listend to the sounds of Tyril in his head again and made sense of what he said. "I've got a couple of Dekks in the back I'm trying to tune for some guy. He seems to think they can be set up to perform better than the factory." Mosri walked over and tapped Tryil on the shoulder.
"You quit bothering Slade, he's got work to do.." Tyril twiched his right antenna and waved to Trevor before leaving. "Yeah... he's a good kid, but he's a motor mouth." Mosri said as he looked over Trevor's shoulder. "Holy smokes... you've got that thing running again?" He asked in astonishment.
"Yeah... the're alot like the onboard tracking systems of a TIE fighter." Mosri focused on Trevor intently. "What?" He asked innocently.
"What were you doing working on TIEs, boy?" Trevor turned his whole body around and quickly thought of a lie.
"Oh... I've seen one or two uglies in my travels." Mosri turned his head away briefly, as if he did not belive Trevor.
"Uglies, eh?" Mosri asked, as Trevor felt a rush of adrenalline. "And I thought you were gonna tell me you were a loyal Imperial, or something." Mosri said with a grin before giving Trevor a pat on the shoulder and leaving. Trevor took a deep breath and reminded himself that he was not in Empire freindly territory, again. Days passed by, and still Trevor had no leads to his therory. After the shop closed, the day before the first shipment of Project Light was to be sent, Trevor met with some of the staff in the lounge at the very top deck of the station. The jukebox in the corner playing Jizz music, the bar freshly stocked with beverages, and a Dejarik table in the center. Drex's assistant was playing a match with Mosri. Trevor could see Tyril talking away with one of the salesmen, and Drex himself was sitting at a table with Sully. Thier conversation looked to be quite intimate. Trevor walked over to the bar and looked at the drink selection.
"Help yourself, but you take anything of mine, and I'll set you straight, got me?" Someone asked.
"Huh?" Trevor said looking over at one of the salesmen.
"Ur'ran Blyne, sales associate." He said as he too reached forward to shake hands. Again, Trevor acknowledged the jesture and introduced himself.
"Slade D'tone, I've just started here."
"Yeah... I saw you in the shop earlier." Ur'ran said quickly before turning back to Tyril. Trevor bit his tounge and said nothing as he reached for a beer. Taking the bottle and putting the cap in the waste chute, he headed towards the jukebox and found a couple songs he liked. Putting a coin in the machine he qued up an up tempo song called, 'Fire in the Asteroid Belt'. From across the bar he heard someone calling something then realized who was calling who.
"Slade?" Drex called cautiously, before Trevor covered his mistake.
"Sorry Drex... I didn't hear you over the music." Drex smiled and shrugged it off.
"Don't worry about it... come here, pull up a chair." He said as he turned a seat for Trevor. "Did you get a chance to meet Sully?" Drex asked.
"Yeah, I did." Trevor said as he nodded before sitting down.
"Heya Slade." Sully said cheerfully. The three sat at the table and talked for an hour or so. The conversation was lively and spanned from personal habits at the dinner table to how one should properly fold thier laundry. The entire time Trevor was detecting a 'flame' between Drex and Sully. Although something about Sully began to show that unsettled Trevor. He mannerisims towards Drex sometimes seemed condecending. As if she was only using him for something. What that was was none of Trevor's business, nor did he really care.
"Oh you be quiet... you don't know what you're talking about." Sully snapped at Drex, who just smiled that bright, sly grin of his.
"So Slade... how did you wind up here looking for work?" Drex asked. Trevor took a sip of his drink and quickly looked over his shoulder to see Mosri and Drex's assistant looking at him.
"Well..." Trevor started. His forged history had been rehearsed from the time he recieved the word to proceed from Figaro. "I apprenticed on Obora-skai, spent a little time in a shop on Commenor, worked for a week on Courscant during Palpatines riegn..." Trevor looked at his bottle to hide his eyes. "that was alright. My last job before coming here was with an outfit in the far Outer Rim. The hours and conditions sucked, but the money was good." Trevor looked up, trying not to make eye contact with anyone, but he found himslef looking back at Drex's assistant, who was still watching Trevor.
"Hey.. you gotta go where the money is. Isn't that right, Sul?" He asked as he nudged Sully with his elbow.
"Oh, and we all know about you and money..." She replied with a smirk. Trevor finished his drink and said good nite. He was not overly tired, but he was going to be up earlier than he would have been back aboard the WarHammer. As he made his way to his quarters he looked at the polished finish of the lift, the mirror reflection of the deck plates, and the brightness of the corridors. Trevor settled in to his bunk and fell asleep quickly. He was awoken in the night by someone yelling and pain surging all over his body. He endured about a minute of the beating before a shock to his head knocked him out.
Chapter IV
Questions, questions, questions
Still unconsious, the staff of Drex Furlow's waited for Trevor to awaken.
"Are you sure this was a good idea? I mean, why couldn't we have just asked him politely? He may have a perfectly good explan..."
"Tyril..." Mosri said, cutting Tryil off. "Be quiet." Tryil's anntennas flickered and he looked back to his datapad and the schematics for a new valve assembely. Drex and his assistant stood at the back of the room, quietly talking, while Ur'ran paced back and forth infront of Trevor.
"I say we just throw him in the gabage chute and dump him out in space. He's just a wandering Technician... no one will notice if he ends up out in a vacuum." Sully looked up at Ur'ran.
"No one will do anything of the sort." Mosri said. "He may have lied to us, but we'll at least hear the man out." Trevor rolled his head slightly.
"He's coming out of it!" Sully said as she took a cloth and washed Trevor's face. Trevor groaned as she touched his left eye. She quietly made a relaxing noise to calm Trevor's nerves. "It's okay... you're alright." She cooed.
"We're wasting our time... he's a lier and probably a crook. Let's get him outta here now!" Ur'ran repeated as Drex and his assistant moved closer.
"Is he conscious Sully?" Drex asked.
"Yeah... but he's still kinda groggy." She answered. Trevor lifted his head by his own strength and opened his one eye.
"... the hell?" He asked. "I can't see out my left eye."
"Not a big surprise there.." Ur'ran mummbled.
"It's swollen shut, but it will heal." Sully informed Trevor.
"Why am I tied up?" He asked.
"Well, why don't you tell us who you are... and maybe we'll think about releasing you." Drex said, his sly salesman voice now turned to a sly negotiator. Not much of a difference in Trevor's mind.
"Slade D'to..."
"Oh give it up!!" Ur'ran exploded. "We did a backgroud check on you after you went to bed... we know your a lier. There is no record anywhere of a Slade D'tone, on not one of the systems you claimed to have worked at!! Don't think you can pull a fast one on us, Mister... We'll set you straight, and they'll never find a body!!" Drex turned around to see his assistant had moved next to Ur'ran and was making him calm down.
"You do anything of the sort, and you'll all wind up in prison or dead." The entire room stopped and looked at Trevor. "I am General Trevor Rastyn, of the Emperor's Hammer."
"Oh, by the Force!! He's an Imp!!" Ur'ran bellowed. Drex's assistant led Ur'ran out of the room.
"I'm not here to spy on your business." Trevor said in a slow, deep voice, as he was still dazed from recent events. Sully stood up from her seat.
"Then why are you here?" Drex asked.
"It doesn't matter why he's here... we're all in serious trouble now..." Sully said.
"No one is in trouble, so long as I find out what I came to find out." Trevor stated.
"Which is?" Drex asked again. Trevor motioned with his eyes at the people in the room.
"Everyone out..." The room looked around at one another. "Now!" Drex said. As the people left, Drex's assistant reentered the room. Trevor was about to begin when he noticed the Frozian still in the room. Drex also looked back to see his assistant and looked back to Trevor. "He will stay.. Is everyone gone?" The Frozian nodded in agreement.
"Most of them have gone to the lounge." He answered.
"No... this envolves you and I, Drex." Trevor stated.
"Very well then..." The Frozian said, before Drex stood up and stepped aside. "General Rastyn, this is my business, and I will know how it is involved with your operation." Trevor looked at Drex, or who he knew as Drex Furlow.
"So you're not..." He said still looking at the human. In return the man shook his head in denial. Trevor looked back at the Frozian.
"I.." The Frozian emphasized. "am Drex Furlow." Trevor took a deep breath. "Now, why are you here?"
"A top seceret EH project is nearing completion, and we belive that someone will attempt to hijack the first shipment convoy." The human looked at Trevor again.
"And what does that have to do with us?" The real Drex Furlow asked. Trevor looked back to Drex, his face black and blue.
"The break in's last week? Do you have any idea as to who or why someone was breaking in?" Trevor asked.
"No ideas to either... but they wouldn't get far with my stock anyway. As soon as someone clears twenty thousand kilometers of this station, the onboard systems are deactivated. I have each ship out fitted with that system to prevent such a thing." Drex stated, and Trevor rememberd the communications theft.
"That's it!!" Trevor said. Drex and the human looked at each other. His brain still sluggish, Trevor pieced together the attempt at the hijacking. "It makes perfect sense."
"What does?" Drex's companion asked. Trevor looked up in confusion, unknowing of how to address the man. "Oh!! My name is Odok... Odok Blas." Trevor nodded in greeting.
"Again, last week... a shipment of transponders and encoder, decoders was stolen from a holding dock on Balmorra. The're gonna mimic your signal to use your ships. You're being set up." Trevor infromed Drex and Odok.
"Odok, help me untie the General." Drex said. "When is this first shipment of yours supposed to go out?"
"Tonite." Trevor said as he sat forward in his seat.
"Any idea of who may be doing this?"
"I don't know... I'd say the Republic." Trevor said as he felt the binders release from his wrists. "That can't be. The Republic is the ruling body of the Galaxy now... that's not their style." Drex said as Trevor stood up.
"Not if they were going through a middle man." Odok perked up at Trevor's words.
"What is it?" Drex asked. Suddenly Trevor reached forward and pushed Odok to the ground. Just before blaster shots rang out in the air. The orange shots flew across the room as Trevor, Drex and Odok dove for cover behind a heavy wooden table.
Chapter V
Enter the Circus
The three held behind the table, waiting for something to move to thier advantage.
"Did you plan on this happening?" Drex asked. Trevor scowled and looked at Drex. "Did either of you see who it was?" Odok shook his head.
"No... I had my back turned." The two looked at Trevor.
"It's Sully..." He said as he peeked around the corner of the table, and ducked back as it was splintered by laser fire. Odok looked at Trevor in shock.
"Don't fool around buddy... who is it?" Trevor looked back at Odok.
"It's Sully." Trevor repeated. The three did not move.
"You're not going to ruin our plans, you Imperial scumbag!!" Sully yelled into the room.
"Sully!?" Drex yelled back.
"What is it Drex?" Sully asked.
"You're fired!!" Sully cocked her head to the side and released another volley at the table.
"Nice touch..." Trevor said.
"General?" Trevor looked at Drex. "This is my business, I hope you'll stay true about no harm coming to it or my staff." Trevor reached forward and watched the double elbowed arm of the Frozian extened towards him.
"I give you my word." Trevor said as he shook hands. "Sully... D'you realize you're never going to see freedom again?"
"What makes you so sure? I only have to hold you here, and after we have what we need from Drex's supply, we'll blow this station into the next dimension!" The woman yelled. From behind the table, the three men heard a squak, like someone being taken by surprise. Again peeking from behind the corner of the table, Trevor could not see Sully at the door. Standing cautiously he found two pair of feet from the edge of the doorframe. He moved to investigate, and paused breifly at the sound of a blaster shot. Once he crossed the long room, he found Ur'ran on the floor, on his side, clutching his abdomen. Trevor rolled him over and could see the damage from a point blank range blaster shot. Trevor looked in Ur'ran's eyes for any sign of life.
"Ur'ran? Can you hear me?" Ur'ran blinked and opened his mouth. Slowly he tried to pronounce a word.
"Im.. perial..." He managed to say with his final breath. Trevor moved his hand across Ur'ran's face and closed his eyes. The three jumped as the alarms sounded.
"Someone's here..." Odok stated.
"Where would be the fastest point of entry for someone to heist the showroom from?" Drex pointed and the three moved down the corridor. Moments later, after a quick detour to Trevor's quarters, Drex, Odok, and Trevor stood in the upper control room and office of the showroom. The small circular room could see all points of the showroom below. The three waited and just as expected disappearing from view of one of the showroom windows to the docking ports below, a medium sized transport docked. Moments later, from a mantianence hatch in the floor, dozens of people stormed into the showroom.
"Right on time." Trevor said as he extended the blades of his weapon.
"Where'd you get that?" Odok asked. A little bit more resereved now than the day before.
"From Emperor Palpatine...." Trevor said as he looked at Odok. "I was a Guard once. Many years ago."
"You don't say..." Odok said as he cautiously watched Trevor cross the room. Silently Trevor moved down the sprial staircase and entered the showroom. His boots were soft soled, and made virtually no sound. Watching the last person step out of the maintenance hatch, Trevor quickly slid past the closest person and ducked into the entryway. Double backing to the transport he climbed through the airlock and entered the cabin.
"Who's there?" The pilot said as he moved back into the hold not looking up, but rather at the small electonic device on one of the seats. " J'rad... d'you forget your transpon..." The person paused as he found a glistening blade perched behind the unit. Looking up he found Trevor watching him before hearing the sound of Trevor's blade slicing the air, then his face. The man squealed like a farm animal before Trevor put his blade into the pilots back, sliencing him. Returning to the showroom, Trevor found the theives adjusting thier transponders to mimic Drex's signal.
"Set them to niney seven hundered megahertz, that should get them as close as possible." Sully said. Looking up and across the room she looked at the ships filling the showroom.
"What is it Sul?" A person asked.
"I dunno... it sounded like someone falling." She said as she took one last look then focused back at her transponder.
Chapter VI
Tread Lightly
The band of theives were moments away from depressurizing the showroom and opening the main showroom door. The frieghters were all going through thier pre launch cycle and most of the pilots had their electonics tuned to Drex's security signal. Trevor climbed back into the office and found Drex and Odok waiting.
"Now what?" Odok asked.
"They can't get away with my ships... and we're cornerd up here. They'll have to come up here to open the bay doors." Drex said. Trevor looked quickly at the showroom below.
"Depressurize the showroom now." He said. Drex looked at Trevor and smiled underneath his moustache. Entering his command codes, he sealed off the office and syphoned the air from the showroom. Not entirely, but enough to make the thieves light headed and pass out. Within minutes they were all unconsious and laying on the ground. The three placed oxygen masks on thier faces and left the office.
"Odok, go get everyone else... we'll need everyone to tie these fools up." Odok nodded and turned off in the opposite direction. Trevor blinked his one eye and could feel his left eye still not move. The swelling did not feel as if it was going down. Trevor still had his weapon with him, its blade retracted, but still with him. Drex and Trevor walked around the showroom and counted thirty seven people laying about. Just as many people as Drex had ships in the showroom.
"They were going to clean me right out...." Trevor heard Drex say from behind. Looking around he heard a something solid hit the deck. As he turned around Trevor found Sully also with an oxygen mask, and a blaster pointed at him.
"You're not getting away with this Imp." She said as Trevor motioned to the side, and she steadied her aim at Trevor.
"I won't let you steal from the Emperor's Hammer." Trevor stated.
"Oh you won't? Well how do you plan to stop me when you dead!?" She said as she fired. Almost knowing what she was leading to, Trevor had his blades ready, and was moving towards the landing gear of a YT-2400 frieghter. "Run all you want Imperial!! You're weapon won't do you any good unless it has eyes of it's own!" Sully yelled as Trevor used the landing gear of other ships to hide his escape. Keeping low to the ground and as fast as he could, he moved from strut to strut and made a circle around Sully who was slowly moving in on the landing gear leg that Trevor first hid behind. Trevor never lost track of Sully as he circled her, like a predator hunting its prey. Sully talked outloud, presumeably to Trevor as she advanced on the strut. Trevor wiped a bead of sweat from his eye, and nearly yelped as he applied too much pressure to his black eye. Sully stopped and waited.
"Okay General.... time to earn your glory.." She said as she jumped around the landing gear to find nothing. "What!?" She screamed. "Where are you!?!" Sully yelled in frustration. As she stomped about in rage, Trevor made his move. Running towards her at full stride, he raised his weapon. Sully heard the sound of Trevor's feet, but misjudged how fast he was moving. When Sully turned around to take aim, she found Trevor's blade coming down across her chest. She dropped her weapon and fell to the ground. The wound was so clean it did not start to bleed until sometime after she fell into unconsiousness and died. Trevor watched for any sign of life, and once he was certain of her death, he moved to help Drex back to his feet.
Chapter VII
Draw ones own Conclusion
Drex opened his eyes and sat up. Finding Trevor at his side.
"Wha?" He said as he looked around.
"Sully got you from behind... Sorry you missed the show." Drex stood up and could see the pool of blood forming around Sully's lifeless body. Odok and the remainder entered the showroom with twine, rope and anything else they could use to bind the would-be thieves. Odok walked over and found Drex and Trevor looking at the body of Sully. Odok closed his eyes and said nothing. Drex reached over and put an arm across Odok's shoulders in support.
"I'm sorry." Drex said quietly. Odok took a deep breath and nodded in thanks. "She seemed to be a very nice young woman..." Odok looked at his friend next to him.
"Ahhh... she seemed like it, but she was a bitch!" Odok exclaimed. The two burst out laughing, Trevor smiled before he left the showroom. Trevor left most of what he brought with him behind, except for what he was still wearing and his weapon. He stood in on of the work bays and waited for his shuttle to arrive. He had made the communique to the WarHammer immediatly after arriving in his quarters, and the WarHammer stayed within minutes of the Stockyard. Drex and Odok walked towards Trevor.
"General." Drex said, Trevor turning around with a smile. "I want to thank you for your help. I never expected to recieve aide from an Imperial Officer." Trevor smirked.
"No worries. Keep in mind this was for the security of the Emperor's Hammer." Drex nodded in agreement.
"Well then, congratulations to us both." He said and once more, shook hands with Trevor. Trevor could see the shuttle approaching the forcefield of the bay.
"Looks like my lift is here." Trevor said as he reached across and shook hands with Odok.
"Sorry 'bout what happened..." Odok said as he pointed at his eye, in appology to Trevor's injury.
"Forget it... shit happens." Trevor said with a smile, and now being able to see out both eyes. Trevor waved once more to the remaining staff of Drex Furlow's Stockyard, Starship and Equipment Emporium.
"General... one last thing." Drex said as he followed Trevor, handing him an envelope. "You did work here for three full days. I figure I owe you this much." Trevor looked at the credit voucher within, and smiled.
"Drex..." Trevor said as he handed it back to Drex.
"No.. I insist." Trevor jestured back at the shuttle.
"I can't accpet this, the EH won't allow it.... but do me a favor." Drex nodded. "Write me up a credit, I'll keep you in mind for the future." Trevor said as Drex took the envelope back. The two shook hands, one last time, and Trevor boarded his shuttle. Mosri, Tyril, Odok, and Drex all waved as Trevor's shuttle lifted off and left the bay. Business would continue as usual for Drex, Trevor would see to it personally.
Credits
I would like to thank "Smilin'" Drex Furlow for the addition of his ideas to help make this short story a huge success!! His input and creativity was priceless to the theme and characters within this piece of fiction.
Thanks alot, Drex!!
If you would like to learn more about "'Smilin' Drex Furlow's Stockyard, Starship and Equipment Emporium" visit him at... http://drexfurlow.users2.50megs.com/index.html
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