Price Tag

Nimitz’s Guide was nothing more than a pair of pulsing lights to any law abiding eyes. Nimitz’s Guide was known to be hub for shady characters, and the shadily acquired goods. The station's bar was a center point for all activities whether business, or pleasure. Most of the bar was dimly light, enforcing the idea of people hidden in the shadows. Among the gambling, drunks, and common merchants two men sat at a table near the outer corner of the bar. This particular table was a dark red color just the same as the rest, but this one had the best view of the main docking ring, making it a favorite of the two. As usual the table was also occupied by a few glasses, only two still held liquid.

The conversation was already flowing back and forth between the two residents. “So what is this ‘easy’ job, got to it?” The question and its joking tone was re-enforced by the man’s one cheeked smile.

“A simple pick up and drop off…” The second man stopped as his companion started to laugh.

“I could not help myself. Too many times I have heard those words. A few time I missed them, leading me to take the job. Only thing that those ‘easy jobs’ have in common … is the fact that they play a fourth of what they should!” A genuine smile had made its way to his face. “Well it is unfair that I did not hear you out. What is the mission?”

“Well you are right in one area, there is a bit of a catch.”

“I thought so…” He paused, waiting for the other man to resume.

“You will need this man on your team.” He reached between his belt and coat retrieving a picture of a young man. “His name is Aaron.”

“You want him to be among the team going?” He was very to the point with his tone. He rubbed his unshaven chin as he thought of who his partner was talking of. "Who is he, and why do you want him to come with us?"

The second man took hold of his glass and looked through it as he spoke. “You will need his talent and intel.” He sat his glass down. “I would not give you a useless man.”

Both men were laughing now. "Do not play coy with me old friend. We have seen many a new faces join us only to leave us with an empty seat on the return home. I have a good crew, brains and brawn."

“Again, I would not give you a useless man.”

“As requested, he will be part of the team. Still, you have not shared with me the mission and to what a waits my team?” The unshaven man's voice was light in mood.

“Now for that second thing you were talking about, money. If it is money your worried about, that will not be a problem. Here have another drink." He waved signaling the waitress to carry over another round of drinks. "This should help to end your worries.”

"You still have yet to tell me a single detail of the mission." The unshaven man's voice was showing some signs of his irritation.

"Very well, you want all the business out of the way. I can deal with that, here." The man sat down his drink reached into his jacket and paused. "This mission is not your normal venture, but I need a crew that I can trust to do it." He pulled out a slim data board and placed it in front of the unshaven man. "It is a simple run and pickup mission."

"Nothing that you have to hire out is ever 'simple' or easy, so you can lay off that speech." The unshaven man had picked up the data board and tapped the screen. It was on a low light setting, so not to attract attention. "What exactly am I looking at, here?"

"That is a space station, well an old listen post to be exact. However that station is the storage spot for a piece of equipment that has a nice price tag attached to it." He smiled and picked up his drink once again.

"What is this 'equipment' you want picked up?" His thought and questions were interrupted by the ordered drinks.

"Here you go sirs." The waitress placed two drinks on the table in front of the men. The waitress was nothing out of the ordinary. She was of better than average looks and worn the standard red and black waitress outfit of the bar. "Can I get you anything else?" The tone of her words said much more than their face value. Space station waitresses were often known to 'accompany' deep space pilots and other men that spent a large amount of their time out in space for a night. However both men's minds were on business, maybe later after the details had been shared there would be time for a little relaxation.

"We are good... for now." The unshaven man took hold of his drink and smiled. "A toast to heavy price tags and fat percentages."