#Miner'sRespite – April 10, 2015

Renala is sitting at a booth not far from the bar, which she has since she spoke to Victoria. She is reading something on her omni-tool, but does occasionally glance over at the exit.

Mendez stomps into the Respite with a chest over his shoulder, holding it in place with one arm. He's dressed in a long-sleeved gray shirt and black pants with boots. He slows his pace once he enters and glances around the room. He doesn't spot Renala until he's already most of the way across the Respite, but as soon as he does, he stomps over towards her. "There you are, princess."

Renala looks up at him, wincing a bit as the chest hits the ground. "Not a problem," she says. "I've gotten used to sitting around down here all day, anyway." She disables her omni-tool.

Mendez slides into the booth across from Renala and scoots further in. "Count yourself lucky that you weren't with the rest of us. It was a slaughterhouse." he grunts, "Anyway... You said they've got you covering Leah's shifts for now?"

Renala nods. "I asked Jason where I was needed and he mentioned it," she says. "I can't imagine the agency can afford idle mercs right now since it sounded like they went all in on that dumb idea of theirs."

Renala enables her omni-tool and starts writing it down. "I'm not familiar with these day-names," she says, "but I'll look that up later. So, did I get this right? Wed...nesday, friday and whatever is in-between at Hnipinn; Sat...urday and Sunday at the dam?"

Mendez gives a nod. "That's right. Since you're just going to be filling in, I'll pick up the Wednesday shift, though. So that leaves you with four shifts. Me and Jattic will split the remaining ten between us. Did Jason discuss how long this arrangement would last?"

Renala thinks for a moment, but shakes her head. "No, he didn't say anything about that," she says, "and I doubt he'd even mention any of it had I not asked for an assignment. If I'm to guess, though, it'll be until Leah's fit to do it herself."

Mendez sighs and shakes his head. "She's in a bad way. If I were you, I'd settle in for the long haul. May be worth mentioning to Wolfe. With everything going on, I don't think he's even had a chance to really put much thought into any of this. Maybe give him a few days to work through everything that's happened first..."

Renala nods understandingly. "I needed a long vacation after the mission to Ogafau, so I won't judge any of you for wanting to take it easy," she says. "Anyway, is there anything I need to do before showing up to work?"

Renala nods. "I always have something to do on the side," she chuckles. "My tech doesn't improve itself. That would be illegal."

Mendez nods. "I'm gonna pick up Leah's keys after I'm done dropping this off with Wolfe..." he kicks the chest with the toe of his boot, "I'll meet you over at Hnipinn tomorrow and go over the basics with you. Can give you the keys then."

Mendez begins to slide out of the booth. "Alright... I should get this up to Wolfe, then." he says, "If you have any questions or anything between now and tomorrow, just shoot me a message." He begins the proccess of hoisting the chest back onto his shoulder.

Renala leans back in her seat. "I'll see you there," she says before turning her attention to her omni-tool again.

Mendez gives a nod once he has the chest up on his shoulder again and proceeds towards the stairs.

Steve as if on a timer, enters the Respite no more than a couple of minutes after Mendez disappears up the stairs. He's not wearing his hardsuit, instead he has a black t-shirt and a pair of black cargo pants. a Predator pistol is in a holster on his right thigh. Whistling a tune that's stuck in his head, he makes his way straight towards Renala, having spotted her the moment he walked

Renala smiles slightly when she notices Steve. "It's good to see you back in one piece, Steve," she says. "How are you doing?"

Steve looks down at his chest before smiling at Renala. "I'm alive. That's somethin'." he says with a shrug as he settles back into his seat, "No thanks to the rest of those idiots. Ya know they're gonna end up gettin' us killed, right?"

Renala raises a brow. "You mean the managment?" she says. "Yeah, I told them both how I felt about this mission, and they didn't like hearing it."

Renala glances at the starway. "He's still upstairs unless I missed him leaving," she says. "The last few of ours I've met haven't been too eager to talk. Did the same shit happen there like on Ogafau?"

Steve gives a nod. "I don't know the specifics. Don't care to know, to be honest. I was busy with 'B Team' securing the cultist's compound. Whatever Jason's team got into must've been pretty heavy, though. By the time we rendezvoused with them, they had lost one of the new recruits and Vaden. The Chief was gone. Wolfe and Monroe were both missing an arm each. The kid...." he pauses

Renala raises her brows. "Fuck," she says.

Steve gives a shrug. "This agency started off fucked. 'Luck' ain't a skill you can depend on. I'm not saying they're not talented... They just don't have the right mindset to be in this line of work. Eventually luck runs out. A paycheck is fine and all, but I'd like to stay alive long enough to spend it, too." he sighs, "Which is why I need to talk to you about something..."

Steve looks a little uncomfortable and makes a quick glance around the bar. "Look-..." he begins, leaning his forearms on the table, "...You know my guy Cross. My contact out in Adrasteia? Well... he ain't exactly subtle about his interest in Freedom Falls. Between you and me, I've done him a few favors. It's the way he operates, you know? He helps me out with my... needs... and in

Renala frowns, and goes quiet for a few seconds. "You mean to say," she begins in a lowered voice almost down to a whisper, "that he might be trying to take this town by force?"

Steve folds his hands on top of the table and nods slowly. "It's definitely a possibility. The man practically has an army of his own. Now, it may not go down that way. He's a reasonable guy, and if you ask me, Freedom Falls would be better off in his hands anyway. I can't be the only one to feel that way, so maybe it'll happen without an issue. But he's also been asking an awful lot

Renala looks thoughtful for a moment, then raises her brows in realization. "Fuck.... You want to guess what kind of person I met five... or maybe it was it six days ago?"

Steve furrows his brow as he waits for Renala to explain herself, "What are you talkin' about?"

Steve chuckles for a few moments and reaches up to rub at his chin. "You gotta be fuckin' kidding me. Those jackasses are already lurkin' around here? They seem to have a raging hard-on for anything Cross does. Must have someone on the inside or somethin' if they're here already." He sighs and shakes his head, "I mean... I'm not lookin' to put myself in a crossfire here. I'd prefer

Renala chuckles and leans back. "Jason might have listened to me once which got you a job," she says, "but I think things have soured between us. Maybe T'Rea can see farther ahead and know a losing battle when she sees one. He said she'll be helping him with the day-to-day stuff."

Steve goes quiet for a moment, seemingly thinking it over before finally nodding. "Probably worth it to start working whatever leverage we can manage. I just can't have this backfiring in my face. If they caught wind of my involvement with Cross, things could get ugly for me, whether or not it's deserved." he sighs. He leans back in his seat and tosses his hands up, "I mean... What

Renala sighs. "The worst thing is that I wouldn't be surprised," she says, still keeping her voice lowered. "Also, I just remembered this T'Rea friend of his was all over the news after guarding a big-shot vid star in Adrasteia. So going to her could go both ways."

Steve sighs once more. "Well I'm not looking to die for someone else's beliefs. I guess for now, we just keep our ears to the ground. Let's see how reasonable T'Rea is and, if things do go down, then we just need to do our damndest to make sure everyone knows this ain't a fight worth having. If they ain't willin' to listen, then I'm washin' my hands of 'em. I can always find a job

Steve gives a nod. "Absolutely. Last thing we need is those zealots pickin' up traction. That's a surefire way of startin' a war. We don't need Freedom Falls to be the next Adrasteia."

Renala thinks for a moment. "The crazy kid with the mech," she says, not whispering anymore, "and Matrirach Cheerful. I would have been done for hadn't Aylena's krogan buddy shown up to kick ass."

Steve gives a loud chuckle. "Blows my mind how many people we come across without a lick of common sense. Sounds like it'll make for an interestin' few days of catchin' up."

Renala nods. "You too, Steve," she says with a small smile. "I'll see you around."

Steve grabs the edge of the table and pulls himself back up to his feet with a grunt. "You sure will." he says before trotting off towards the back.