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Curiosity would hold her, though the last eleven months had taught her about overt displays of her curiosity and the value of not standing out. While it was her first time in the Hole, "Skesis" was supposed to be a more hardened mercenary and on-off pirate of sorts. She needed to appear as if this was par for course.
It didn't take a genius to figure out that actual wares and product would not be risked to be displayed on site, be it commodities, weapons, information, or anything else of true value. And that would be where the local "language" would come into play. Something she wasn't familiar with yet, but she was smart enough to know it. So for now, observation, casual browsing, and maybe an eye out for anything that might in fact be useful to her personally. The more she appeared part of this underworld, the easier getting what she wanted would be.
As Samus moved through the crowded cavern, the masses shifting as if following tides and currents of their own as new ships and crews arrived whilst old ones left, a key observation would be made readily apparent to her. Just as she was taking the time to watch and observe the denizens in the Hole the reverse would also hold true, with many of the vendors and pedestrians taking note of the young woman much as the other spacers at the dining area had. And, much like those people, the vast majority would merely take note of Samus' presence and then proceed to ignore the young woman as her business was none of theirs'. Unlike before, however, that would no longer hold true for all of them. A small few, while making no attempt to explicitly monitor her actions, would show a subdued interest in the huntress' seeming lack of direction - as much as she was attempting to remain under the radar the fact that Samus seemed to be more inclined to watch others was in turn generating similar interest among those perceptive enough to notice.
And, after a few minutes one would take more direct action, the massive individual's shoulder seemingly colliding with the smaller human by accident - should Samus turn to answer the complete lack of apology or simply to look at the offender, however, a leonine countenance laced with gray would be found staring back before tilting his head in a clear indication to follow.
A larger figure pushed against her, eliciting a muffled 'cluck' sound from the young woman as she turned slightly to see who, or what, had collided with her and not acknowledged it.
As it would be, Samus noted as she looked them over, the figure was tall, broad, and a Kilrathi. She'd met a few since jumping into her work as a bounty hunter and mercenary near the beginning of the year, but they were far and few in Federation territory. Most, to her knowledge, tended to stick to the area further in spinward of the Sol Sector that was still considered Kilrathi space. To see one this far into Federation territory, trailward up the Spur...
And they were looking at her with an indication to follow. Caution as she slowly tilted her head in an acknowledging fashion as she took steps to follow. All the while, she calculated how fast she could potentially hit the activation sigil on her breastplate. Well within fifty miles, let alone the 100 mile range of her ship for recalling her armor. If things went a bit crazy, no one would suspect she had a way to call her armor to her, let alone dismiss it and appear like nothing had happened.
Sergeant Xim would be proud to know she had learned the art of "don't get caught".
If there was any reaction from the Kilrathi towards Samus' initial shock at what he was it didn't show. For the most part the feline creature's expression would be utterly inscrutable as the huntress processed what was happening and the less than subtle nonverbal invitation, although most races would likely interpret it as a stern stoicism. As Samus responded in a favorable fashion and began moving as if to follow, however, the Kilrathi would silently turn and start making his way through the crowd, his bulk creating a clear wake for the woman to follow unimpeded as all but the largest pedestrians - mostly the occasional Jiralhanae - moved to give him a clear berth. During that time a brief, cursory observation would tell Samus a number of things. First and foremost, he was not part of the Hole's local security, largely clad in heavy work fabrics and furs intended to guard against the planet's cold.
What would stand out, however, would be a singular piece of hardware holstered under his right arm - the neon and holographic lighting of the communal area casting sharp reflections off the steely blue metal surface of an older model plasma pistol. Illegal within most areas of Federation space bar a handful of exceptional circumstances, that one weapon would both open the door to a myriad of questions even as it potentially answered a few regarding the nature of Samus' newfound guide. Despite the weapon's power, however, it obeyed the Hole's restriction on handheld sidearms.... and more importantly the massive hulk of fur and muscle would show zero inclination to use or even hide it, even if Samus herself took less than subtle note of the gun.
"As one hunter to another, you may not want to try so hard to fit in. That stands out more than anything else you think you might do." The form suddenly said, voice low enough not to be heard over many of the other voices around them.
She went slightly tense, though it was likely instinct more than proper reaction as the Kilrathi bounty hunter, based on his own words, was more giving her sound advice. But why was he here, and how had he pegged her as another hunter?
Was he here for Ramsey as well?
"Appreciate the advice," Samus replied in earnest as she let her impromptu companion lead the way through the crowd. She was still wary of him; another hunter was a possible ally, but they were also possible competition. She had to weigh the pros and cons of accepting further help from this Kilrathi hunter. Few of their kind ever entered mercenary work, even three centuries after their origin world was cracked open like an egg to end their war with Sol. "Here for finding specific work, or just laying low like most of everyone?" If someone else did manage to hear, they would hopefully not be clued in to her actual implications. On the flipside, hopefully her companion would pick up her meaning. Just as well though, that she still kept her attentions at high alert.
While the Kilrathi made no outward sign of turning back to look at Samus as she spoke, the hunter's ears would swivel back somewhat at the sound of her voice before answering her question.
"The former. Something you'll realize soon enough, the Hole is a good place to find work but you take care of it elsewhere. Doesn't matter the profession. You've probably noticed it yourself but none of those conducting their business here have their wares on hand." He started, continuing to keep his eyes forward as he made his way through the crowd and towards the very tunnels that Samus herself had exited - notably, a location where there would be far fewer people, the very mass of bodies he had been leading Samus through beginning to thin as they moved towards the edge of the cavern.
"And that's rather the point. The Hole might be a good place to find work but it's not one that anyone stays of their own volition, certainly not without reason. They conduct their business and then leave. Those who don't but have managed to land anyways either aren't aware of what they're doing or don't belong, and that list is a short enough one that anyone paying attention can make educated guesses." The Kilrathi continued, falling silent again as they approached one of the Hole's guards and offering only the slightest of nods to the man as he did so, receiving one in kind. A few meters further on into the tunnels and away from the communal area where they were likely to be overheard and the feline would finally glance over his shoulder at Samus before speaking again, although his pace would not slow or waver.
"So? Who or what are you looking for that's brought you to this forsaken rock?"
A long shot, but she was ready for someone trying to one up her if it happened. He might have an idea of who she was looking for, but paranoia was also something that kept people alive in this business. "Really more or less my first time out here." A shrug as she tried to be visibly relaxed, but her nerves were lit as it was. "I usually stick closer to the main stretch between Sol Sector and Al'kya, but I was asked to keep an eye out for someone as a favor, and heard he was spotted out this way. Seemed like an excuse to branch out while letting a few things back there cool off."
Samus paused as she considered just how much to spin her own job here into something convincing. It was the truth thus far, but just enough withheld that her part in this was more vague. "He got a mark put on his head, but he's got people who want to bring him home before the wrong sorts get to him first."
As Samus spoke the feline said nothing, simply regarding the relatively small woman with an appraising gaze. The first bit was something he'd already more or less guessed. New hunters were a dime a dozen, and the nature of the work favored a pyramidal arrangement to the work force. It wasn't meant for everyone, and between those who ducked out early upon realizing as such and those who died early because they were too stupid or incompetent to figure that out in time the number of rookie hunters vastly outnumbered the experienced ones... and those in and of themselves were just the middle of the pyramid, with the bona fide legends countable on maybe two hands. Assuming you had the standard four to five digits most species in the Spur did, anyways.
The mention of a "favor" did cause him to audibly sigh and scratch at the back of his mane with one massive hand, though. Another inference to be taken from that - either someone was using Samus with the promise of returning that favor later if she hadn't already asked for something first, or she was surprisingly well connected for her apparent age. The last spoken words implied the latter, but...
"If they really are a friend and your goal is to help them get back home safely I fail to understand why you feel the need to sneak around. Word gets around quickly enough here once you start openly asking and if that is the case they have nothing to fear from you and no reason to run. Hunters aren't allowed to operate here anyways so even if he assumes as much he has no reason to run." The Kilrathi said, watching Samus to see how she reacted to that particular bit of logic.
Careful. That's how she needed to be here. Listen and watch everything attentively. And right now, she was honing in on what the Kilrathi had said. If she was looking for him, with no ill will, just asking the right questions should suffice. And as the point was made again that bounty hunters were not permitted by local rules to operate openly in the Hole, it meant Ramsey had no reason to run.
Unless someone else who was gunning for the Federation bounty and not the compensation she had been offered by certain individuals back in ConFleet decided that they needn't follow local rules. She couldn't be the only one looking for Ramsey.
"It's more concern regarding anyone who might be trying to claim the mark on him as opposed to bringing him back to Sol Sector safe and sound." Mostly true. "Not everyone who runs the Spur feels they need to respect the local laws, and I might, but I'd also rather not tip off someone far less inclined to do so."
Because there were some stupid as hell hunters out there, was the unspoken continuation of that conversation. "But considering how much this place likely has certain agreements with the larger Federation and would prefer not to have a place task force swarm the place, being more direct in searching might be faster." A shrug as she looked idly at her wristcom. "Like you said, he's got no reason to run while he's here."
It was a matter of asking the right people in just the right way, though.
.... right. That old, familiar ally. She didn't trust him, that much was clear - and her hesitation to answer his own questions was understandable. Between that and the half truth that the Kilrathi hunter saw straight through he knew that she was skeptical of his offers for help, and rightly so. While Samus' reasons for hunting her mark were her own and quite possibly in the man or woman's best interests chances were that she wasn't the only one chasing that bounty. That, or someone else had one out on the same mark for different reasons - if you were enough of a liability or skilled enough to draw that kind of attention in the first place chances were you'd made more than just one person unhappy over the course of your career. But that, frankly, wasn't his concern. The Kilrathi hunter been entirely genuine in his offers for help simply for the fact that he was old, and he'd seen more than enough young fools rush off to their deaths because they simply weren't careful enough or believed they knew better. Most of his kind didn't live to see beyond 80 years of age, and with nearly fifty of his own sunk into this profession it seemed a small kindness to pass that knowledge and experience on where and when he could.
She was listening, yes, but if she wanted to remain suspicious that was her problem, not his. The comment regarding the Federation Police, however, broke his composure just long enough to let a single roaring laugh fill the corridor, stopping several bystanders dozens of meters down the tunnel in their tracks.
"A raid? Here? Oh, they would not get far. The Federation knows this, and that is why they pay us." The Kilrathi said, mirth in his voice as he turned and started to make his way down the tunnel past Samus and back towards the communal area.
"Make whatever choices you will. Just remember that our job is almost never black and white."
She bit her lip. Intuition was kicking in right now. While she was right to be wary, he had been seemingly earnest. And to be fair, while there was still an attitude of resentment from many of the Kilrathi clans, to her knowledge, over Kilrah since three centuries ago, not many of those who were bitter were willing to work in the Federation.
And he had been giving some sound advice...
A sigh as she tapped at her wristcom and brought up a projection of her target. "His name is Marin Ramsey. He's ex-special forces, Kromus War veteran who went freelance after the war, and was apparently really good at what he did. Someone in the Federation put a bounty on his head recently after he popped up after being off the grid since about thirteen years ago, dead or alive." She paused, eyes shifting a bit to keep a watch out. "I was asked by someone high up in Confleet to bring him back alive to Sol for both his safety, and Fleet security."
It was a bit of a calculated risk. But right now, she was on the clock against anyone looking to claim that GFP mark, and the sooner she found Rasmey and loaded him into her ship for the few hours trip back to Sol and got him to FleetCom, the better for her...and him.
Despite having every intention of simply walking away and returning to his own ship for some rest and recuperation, the Kilrathi found his ears swiveling back towards the human behind him as she audibly sighed and started to speak again. That alone wasn't enough to make him hesitate, however - no, it was the name she spoke that made the feline look back over his shoulder and what he saw that made the hunter stop in his tracks. Stock still, the face hovering over the girl's wristcom was one that the Kilrathi had seen time to time in the Hole, and he knew the sort that the man ran with. They were a relatively small group, really no more than a mercenary band and as they were not predating upon ships within Federation space they hadn't been the Hunter's problem. That did not mean, however, that the Kilrathi had not kept an ear out for stories and rumors, and the information that the young woman would go on to convey would explain a lot although none of it truthfully shocked him to hear.
No, what shocked him was the fact that a fresh hunter thought themselves capable of tracking such prey. It was a job that he himself would not have taken on without some hefty guarantees, and even then he would've reserved the right to abandon it if his quarry caught wind of the hunt. The Kilrathi supposed that it was a different sort of game if she was approaching the man as a friend, but even then...
"... that someone in the Federation must be powerful if they think themselves able to hire a hunter capable of finding and killing him, much less capturing. And you best hope your 'friend' in the Confederation doesn't want you dead." The hunter said slowly, turning to face Samus again albeit with a clearly visible sense of hesitation. More than that there were gears turning in the feline's head, although exactly what he was thinking about could only be hinted at by a clear sense of internal conflict as he thought. After several seconds of silence and internal debate the hunter would finally look up from the hologram to make eye contact with the smaller human.
"... yes. I can tell you where he is. But I'm not certain I will. I've no desire to send another hunter to an early grave. If you find him and if he refuses to follow you as a friend, what will your course of action be? Will you walk away?"
Yes, now this was sounding like what she expected surrounding a Kromus War veteran. Especially one who had most of his combat record classified and wasn't a surviving ÆSIR. "Considering the person who asked me considering me like his granddaughter, I would think he wants me to stay alive. But he thought I might have some particular luck in convincing Ramsey to come home. As for the mark on him?"
A pause. She knew it was officially GFP, but the amount offered...there was someone else behind that, had to be. "I haven't found who really put it on him. But that's not who I'm representing as it is, and that's not where I'm being paid. The guy has someone who wants him dragged in to Daiban using the GFP to post the mark. That alone has me worried what they want him for."
But he posed a good question. She had taken on the best of Kromus on Zebes, but that had been a very specific set of circumstances. And she had been incredibly lucky. Here, she was far more needing to use what she learned on Zebes and be far more cautious. The wrong word could be the difference between a peaceful recovery, and a horrific shoot-out.
Could she walk away if she couldn't bring him home safely?
"I want to think I can convince him. But I'm not stupid. I've been through hell once already."
It was an interesting thing, how much she could say and have none of it assuage his worries, the Kilrathi thought. They were well past the point of deception and half truths which implied everything she'd said had been in earnest, but... there were none that the hunter would have willingly sent after such a mark and considered friends, much less his own blood and kin. And what she'd said concerning the Federation Police was hardly surprising. It was all but common knowledge that while there were a fair number within the organization who truly believed they were helping their fellow citizens... like the Federation itself the GFP were riddled with corruption, be it corporate interest or simply those willing to play dirty if it meant getting ahead. Breaking rules, even putting colleagues or civilians in positions to be harmed or killed so long as it furthered their personal interests and they could do it without being caught. Based on what had been said, though, this was likely the former. And as the girl said that in and of itself was concerning in and of itself.
What corporation or private entity was both capable of putting forth such a bounty through the GFP, and why were they interested in a veteran of the Kromus War?
And once again, the words spoken by the younger hunter did little to allay the Kilrathi's own fears and concerns. Trouble was coming, and the sooner he was either in his ship of away from the Hole entirely the better.
"...... hanger 12-40. And he won't be alone, he's been traveling with a mercenary outfit for the last few months. Do not turn it into a fight. If he won't leave with you peacefully, walk away. I won't be responsible for the death of another hunter if I can avoid it."
A nod of thanks. She hadn't had the chance to meet a Kilrathi before, but this first one at least had gone well. "I wouldn't wanna be here either if my intuition is right, but I can't live in my parents' shadows forever."
A hand proffered in thanks to the older Kilrathi hunter for his help, and provided it was accepted, she would head off in obvious gratitude. Not in a full run, but fast enough that she could beat anyone else possibly here for Ramsey. She had a plan in her head. A thought that had occured while the grizzled old kil had warned her. Ramsey needed to know she wasn't her for his head. And considering his history, it was ironic the truth might be her best tool in this situation.
Especially ironic given that she had just stated she didn't want her parents and their legacies being a shadow over anything she could be.
Hanger 12-40, the old Kilrathi had told her. She slowed as she approached, making sure that her paralyzer was primed and ready to be drawn if need be, just to be safe. It wasn't so much for Ramsey, or so she was telling herself. It was for any idiots that were going to try and claim him for the bounty mark. That, and, if it indeed got really bad, the surprise kept tucked in the back of her little gunship that, once she called out, was going to start a whole lot of trouble on its own.
12-40. She waited for it to be clear, trying not to move too sudden, but not trying too hard to not stand out. This had to be done just right...if she was lucky enough.