Snippet #2671189

Alexander didn't seem particularly upset at being teamed up with her again, which was the best news Ren had gotten all day. The only thing that could make it better was escaping... which the split up might facilitate if she managed to distract Alexander for a few minutes. A few phone calls to her former contacts...

'Conrad also knows I'm here...' Ren thought, gritting her teeth in frustration. Being alone for any amount of time now might mean getting jumped and black bagged, waking up in an old abandoned house out on the boonies of the colony with a pistol aimed right at the bridge of your nose. Freedom wouldn't mean shit if she was dead. Not to mention, aside from Klaus, she actually liked the crew she was with. She just hated being on a fucking leash.

"I'm going sightseeing for a little while. Try not to get into anymore trouble. Oh, and keep your curtains open. More private quarters attract more unneeded attention in this side of town."

Ren's eyes darted back to the window, frowning at the Captain's statement. Ren had a solution for that problem... not staying cooped up in the room with a view.

"When they come back, hopefully it's not with guns and knives and bloodthirsty expressions... and I really need that drink now at this point," Alexander chimed in, which brought a smile to Ren's lips.

"Bar across the street, if you don't mind the occasional civil disagreement and enthusiastic problem solving," Ren offered, her grin turning into a sly smirk as her posture relaxed, "Never did get that drink before Proud. We can put it on Klaus' tab. Or you can sit around while I drink for the both of us. I'm flexible."

She had, admittedly, not known Alexander for very long in any sense of the word, but the pilot seemed a bit more lost in thought now than back at the hangar. shot or two might help him loosen back up. Albion wasn't the best of places to have a stick up your ass, unless you intended to beat people to death with it.

"Besides, you said you'd never been here, right? I can show you around a few places if there's an itch you haven't been able to scratch on board the ship. Mid-day, so most of the spirited citizens are sleeping off hangovers. Some shit I'd like to grab up town if we're stuck here for three days too."

-=-

The commander had chosen Petya's idea. It was the highest level of praise he'd received since leaving the academy, which left the raw recruit practically walking on air as the meeting went on. The commander didn't seem particularly pleased about the situation as a whole, and Rivaille seemed to have even more issue, but there was no doubt she would speak once the briefing was finished.

"If there are no more questions about this plan, then I will be meeting you all at Hangar 2. Prepare everything you need to carry out the mission."

Petya saluted, and filed out with the men as soon as the order was given. Petya assumed that they would interfere with negotiations posed as rogues, as the dense rogue population on the colony made true Transcendents generally unwelcome, for fear that they might take back what was rightfully theirs. He would require civilian attire to be readied in the event that he was chosen for the interference team, but would not change unless instructed to. It would be poor form to assume the Commander's will.

He also hadn't heard from Ellis since he received his orders from her. He wondered if she might want him to report in about the briefing...

He reached for his comm unit, but hesitated before dropping his hands at his side again. Ellis, if she was what Petya believed, was a professional. She would seek him out for a report when she required so. Until then, Petya would do all he could to acquire information as wll as ensure the Commander's mission was nothing less than a success.