"Who would want that?  It was only an interview that didn't go too far.  Anyway, do we need to go and get the shpere b efore we go?"

Bartja just shrugs.  "Who else knows we're here and what other interesting matters have we stirred up since we've been here?  Maybe we should take a much closer look at that recording - maybe compare it to other recordings to see if there are any obvious digital alterations in that interview or other weirdness.

Having our room ransacked but no valuables taken rates highly on my scale of weirdness."

"It means they were looking for something and didn't find it. Whether it was something they wanted to steal or something they wished to confront us about is a question I do not wish to answer."

At that moment, there is a knock at the door to the room where you are at.  You hear a voice say, "Maid service.  Would you like turn down service this evening?"

Bartja signals for the others to "get ready", then opens the door.

"Please, do come in!  We were just wondering if there was a service such as that here.  Do you mind if I ask you a quick question?

Are there any times during the day that maid service or the bellhops are not in the building?"

It occurs to Bartja that whomever ransacked this room had a key and was not unobserved by someone.  Walking through the walls was not entirely out of the question, but it was more likely that they bribed someone, they were someone from the Hotel, or they were known by the staff and were let into the room to search.  This could be figured out if it were pursued...

When the door is opened, you see a Vrusk maid standing there.  Upon seeing the destruction of the room and the furniture, she mutters a surprised and shocked response in some local dialect that is not understandable even to your Vrusk companions.

She ignores the question.  "You must pay for damage," she says in Pan-Galactic.  "You destroy rooms.  What are you, rock stars?  This is not acceptable in Gozzorf.  I must tell management right away."  She backs up, almost fearful of you, and into the hallway.  Then she answers the question from Bartja.  "We are always just a phone call away," she says, as if reciting a mantra or jingle, "but we don't clean up mess like this.  You must speak with manager on duty about paying for this."

Bartja moves to follow the maid, now very interested in speaking with Management himself.  "Yeah, someone's going to pay for this - but in the end it isn't going to be us!"

She says, "He's coming."  The maid has apparently already called on her wireless communication system.

A few moments later, the Vrusk manager approaches.  "How can I be of---" He breaks off when he sees the destroyed furniture.  "What in the name of Kraatar's moon happened here?" he exclaims, stepping into the room and looking around.

"Someone broke into our room or was 'let' into our room while we weren't here.  THAT sir, is what's going on here," Desiraye says as the manager inquires.

Bartja nods in agreement with Desi and puffs back the Rage building inside him. "So if you don't mind, we'd like to review your F&$* security tapes to see just who the....just who was let into our room today."  He wasn't proud of his language slip, but he was angry and didn't care if it showed right now.

While waiting for a reply from the manager, Desiraye emakes sure that her weapon(s) are visible but, her hands are no where near them!

The manager steps into the room, responding without looking at you.  "We pride ourselves in respecting the privacy of our guests.  We do not keep security cameras."  He is looking at the damage, appraising it.  "It appears to be about 2000 credits of damage."  Then he looks at the door.  "There is no sign of forced entry."

Finally, he looks at you.  "As I see it, there are two options.  Either you can pay for the damage, file a report with the police, and continue staying here.  Or you can leave this establishment immediately, and we will file a report with the police and our insurance."

He sees Kri'lik and Krllsk, your two Vrusk companions, and says in a more measured tone, "Even if this damage was not caused by you, your presence has attracted attention that will cost us serious credits.  If you will not pay for whatever damage is caused by those who have an...interest...in you, then I'm afraid you just can't stay.  My insurance premiums will skyrocket if I have to report this."

Calmer now, Bartja considers the managers predicament and mulls it over.  "It wouldn't hurt moving on if we can shake whoever has such a keen interest in us, and I suppose it would keep you out of hot water with your insurance.

Suppose you arrange another establishment for us and pay for our first nights stay and we'll help you cover these damages once we're satisfied.  Otherwise, we'll find our own way and you can duke it out with your insurance."

Besides, they had a lab to break into and time was wasting...

S'Krllk raises his head slightly, and says quietly to the manager, "I'm sure we can arrange to pay for the damages, but I must implore you. I'm very much a non-person, anyone that has an interest in me could have an interest for only one reason. It's a reason we share. You should look into this, and ask your staff if they saw anything. Not for me to know, but for you to be wary of whoever's interested."

The manager looks at Desiraye's sidearm, here's S'Krllk's statement, and says, "Just please pay the 2000 credits and we can all keep this quiet.  I assume you don't have a credit card since there's not one on file.  If you don't have the cash, I can talk to the owner about a substitute form of payment."

Bartja looks at his companions knowingly and says in a lower tone of voice, _{"not a bad idea right there.  I'm sure the Owner will have some form of work we can do for him that would be best kept quiet.  Something compatible with our profession perhaps?"}

Speaking to the Manager directly, he adds "Make it happen.  Get us the owner and we'll speak to him about this disgraceful treatment we've had in his establishment and see just what sort of agreement we can reach to make it all happy.

But for the moment, we have a temporary job to go to, but we'll be back tomorrow to settle this with the owners.  Sound fair enough?"

He says, "I better get the owner in here now. I think he's down in the bar."

OOC: You're not leaving for the lab until the next morning anyway.

The owner is Ymen.  He comes up to see what is going on.  You recall that after you saved Rezz's life, she referred you to Ymen and this hotel.  He has been very kind to you so far and offered you discounted rooms.

Ymen surveys the damage.  "Because you are friends with Rezz and saved her life, I am keen to help you.  But as 'owner,' I am really only part owner and control belongs to the trade house Yrrti'K, which controls all such establishments here in Fioust."

He excuses the hotel manager and says to you in confidence, "If you can pay me just 300 credits, I will report this as vandalism caused by the riots and hope that it blows over.  The increased premiums for the next six months will be about 300 credits.  Otherwise, I have to report this to the trade house, and they will cause us both no end of troubles as they investigate.  They will probably contact the local RIK forces and have you placed under temporary arrest -- or at least the non-Vrusk -- until another perpetrator is located."

In reply to GM Heath (msg # 87):

"We'll also be happy to give you a written statement to back up your claim if you think it will help," Desiraye offers with a satisfied smile.

S'Krllk mutters, under his breath, "trade house, let's just paint a new sign on the door and let the rival trade house clean up the damage"

Quite honestly, Bartja was surprised to recall who the owner of this fine establishment was and feelings of guilt washed over him.  Inwardly agreeing with S'Krllk, he outwardly reaches out to Ymen.

"That sounds more than fare to me.  Anyway trouble can be avoided with Trade Houses is the best way to go, especially if RIK might get involved.  Quite frankly, I suspect RIK is the perpetrator anyway, so in the scenario you paint, we would not see daylight for a very long time.

So, let's make this all just go away but figure out how we can keep it from happening again, shall we?"

Ymen accepts that and seems relieved.

(Please deduct 300 credits from someone, or split the difference.)

Ymen leaves, and you overhear him telling the hotel manager that he will take care of this problem and report the vandalism.

OOC: It is now nighttime, and you can rest or do something else until tomorrow morning when you will use your newly acquired IDs and go to the lab.

Krilik hands over the credits and thanks the Vrusk for his understanding and generosity.

Bartja finishes organizing his gear then gets some sleep. The lab job was going to be plenty stressful and he wanted to be fresh and sharp when it got intense.

Desiraye will follow suit like Bartja is doing.

OOC: Sorry for any delays.  Computer and RL problems going on.