Location: A Refuge in Akari City

In many other places, on many other planets, this would be an 'alien refuge', specifically a place for non-humans to avoid persecution.  Here, however, it's simply a refuge.  This sector, and particularly this planet, value their neutrality very highly.  As a result there's no preference given here of one species over another.  Humans and non-humans are equally welcome.

Having said that the simple fact is that with the Empire raging the majority of the people here have fled from Empire-controlled space, are non-human and have a distinct issue with Humanity.  This is not necessarily a safe place.

The refuge is in the Western District, an industrial complex that forms a fair portion of Akari City.  Towering buildings cast almost-perpetual shade and the streets have a rough look compared to much of the rest of the city - though not, of course, compares to the Claws.  It's doubtful that any of the tour airspeeders go to this part of the city.  Small hubs of entertainment trades form the 'pressure valve' for the city's hardest workers and most of the district is dedicated to seemingly endless factories and warehouses.

Stuck between an electronics manufacturer and a cosmetics factory, the refuge is situated in a formally abandoned warehouse, fixed up and renovated for the countless bunk beds and few kitchens that support this desperate population.  Even from the outside it looks like a ramshackle hotel of the cheapest kind, primarily tacked together with donations and volunteer work.

Such is actually the case.  Even a brief look on the net indicates the place as sponsored by a few smaller corporations but exists primarily as a charity that relies on fundraisers and generosity.  The building is unguarded but a security camera is visible above the front door.

Mika takes a look around.  "I think you should probably take the lead, Humans don't seem so common around here.  Oh, and hold on to this for me.". She hands over the stun baton.

Flash took the baton and slipped it under his coat next to his own baton.  He'd left his hold-out blaster with Arin but he hoped he wouldn't need it.  He walked forward and knocked on the door.

"What exactly do you want me to say?  I still only have a basic idea of why we're here."

Mika shrugs.  "I don't know if you noticed, but this is an alien zone and since the Bothan thinks I'm some sort of Imperial, having a non-human friend at my side.  Show I'm not an alien-hater.  Smooth things over and try to keep things low-key like I promised Vyn.  And if it goes to hell, you're the best one to have at my side."  She gives Flash a wry grin.

"Should have brought Vyn with you." Flash grumbled.  "I'm no diplomat."

He banged on the door even more loudly.  He knew it had only been a few seconds since he last knocked but he didn't care.  He was feeling stupid.

Mika grinds her teeth.  "Yeah, you try dragging him away from his party.  Besides, iit was his party that led to my getting boosted and he's the one who seems to think I'm the one who needs to apologize for getting angry when people busted into my room."

"No, he wants you to apologise for drawing a weapon and threatening people with it." Flash corrected.  "Don't play the innocent victim with me.  You didn't deserve to be robbed but don't pretend you're fautless in how you handled crowd control."

Flash was in no mood to be diplomatic.  Sheila was getting shirty with him and now Mika was playing the victim.  He was getting tired of it.  He wanted a drink.

The irony didn't escape him that the person he was working the most smoothly with tonight was Arin.  Perhaps there was hope for the man after all.
This message was last updated by the GM at 02:03, Mon 21 Oct 2013.

"Yes, all right, all right!" comes a voice from behind the door.  "You'd think there was a war goin' on.  Bombs droppin'?  No?  You can bleedin' well wait while I get th'door open, then."

There's a series of grunts and the dull 'thunk' of a stuck metal door unsticking.  An old lady, a Bothan with greying fur, yanks the door open and stares up at the pair, puffing.  She looks like she's run to the door from a fair way away.  Peering up at the pair of them she rubs one of her hands which, it seems, has been bruised at some point.

"You ain't refugees," she states bluntly.  "Not scruffy enough.  What d'you want?"

Mika sighs, but doesn't dispute Flash's point.  After all, what was the point?

As the elderly Bothan woman comes out, obviously annoyed, Mika puts the best face forward she can manager.  "Greetings, my name is Kimy Stell.  This is my friend, Forim.  I was given this address by a friend, looking for a Bothan who was at our hotel earlier this evening.  I'm afraid I've misplaced something and it was suggested to me by a mutual acquaintance that this woman might be able to help me out."

Old she might be but the elderly Bothan is still clearly plenty sharp.  She looks Mika up and down a couple of times and then says, "You reckon someone's nicked something off you, eh?  No need t'fancy it up, people nick things sometimes.  Who're you looking for, exactly, little dear?"  The way she says 'little dear' doesn't sound particularly like an endearment.  It sounds more like sheer habit.  She'd probably call a rancor 'little dear'.