D'mitri walked out of the elevator into the social sector and gringed. He hated this are of the ship as it was full of nothing but criminals half the time. Shoplifters, con artists, alcoholics, frauds, and the occasional mugger. But as it was his job to capture these criminals, he found himself down here a lot. This particular visit had him looking for a bartender named Marons Inhold, who is said to have an amazing knack for eaves-dropping. As he approached the pub, he allowed his mind to stretch out and read the surface thoughts of the nearby citizens. It wasnt till he arrived at the bar that he pulled his mind back to avoid the intoxicating thoughts of the drunks.

Marons was currently pouring out a glass of something thin and bordering on ether, pushing it towards the almost inebriated customers slowly with his large red hands. The "wings" on his back twitched slightly, a tiny smile crossing his face as he noticed D'mitri walk in; not that he recognised D'mitri straight away, but he always welcomed a new face on slow days.

Before D'mitri had made it halfway across the bar he was already speaking into Marons' mind. "Hello Marons Inhold, I am Chief Security Officer D'mitri. I have heard that you are the one to go to for information."

Marons merely shrugged at this, indicating a chair in front of him for D'mitri to sit in. He wondered if thinking back would work for discussion, or if D'mitri expected him to talk.

"That would do just fine, but sometimes its easier if the person just tells me." D'mitri said in responce to Marons' thoughts. He pointed the palm of his hand at the indicated chair and it slid outwards enough for him to sit down.

"I do not like to converse in front of my customers, but I'm sure you are here for more than just a drink..." Marons responded into D'mitri's mind "And considering you're chief of police..."

"So are you going to give the information freely?" D'mitri asked, "Or are we going to have to make a show of it?"

"Freely, of course... So long as you make it seem like you're here for something more than information. Since you can't drink..." Marons left the sentence hanging "You want information, you've got to make it seem like I'm not a snitch so I can keep giving it."

"Well its your lucky day then." D'mitri said as a paper and a pen rise out of his uniform's pockets and laid neatly upon the bar counter. "This is a form for payment of damages sustained. Its usually used for when a place gets damaged in the apprehension of a criminal. In this instanse you are going to write the info I need on it."

"Who are you after? And you know I meant buy a drink for other people... tightass" there was a disadvantage in looking into people's minds, and Marons didn't mind abusing this. He took the pen and paper and shook his head slightly... he might as well actually get some compensation as well, the bar had had a few tables and chairs smashed recently...

"There was a break in at a very rich individuals dwelling, there were several high value items and heirlooms taken that they would like back." D'mitri explained. "Only two cameras were able to get a look at the thief, and one eye witness. None of them got a clear look at him, but from the information we have gathered we have it narrowed down to a few suspects. What I need to know from you is if you have heard anything about some very pricey items being fenced around lately?"

"Sounds like a new guy, someone who's after really expensive things because he doesn't know how easily they're traced. I'd suggest it was all fraud but I guess you can see through that..." Marons began to scribble on the piece of paper, not words, but pictures; he couldn't read and barely wrote, he had no eyes. The drawing was minute in detail, a chair, with an "X2" symbol next to it, a table, and a drawing of a person's face, complete with a set of horns rimming the skull "I cannot account for skin colour, but his accent was Japanese, possibly one of the North Discous that immigrated there. Why on this ship... I don't know."

D'mitri looked at the picture and cursed to himself. "That doesnt look like any of the suspects we have in mind. Is he the one talking about doing it or just hearing it?"

"He's a small time crook, purses and pickpocketing mostly" Maron said, moving the pencil down from the last drawing and starting to sketch out another "He recently got into quite a bit of money, thought he might be connected. This guy" it was a male Vidian, the same species as his second in command, but he had a scar across his right nostril "big time dealer, from a few of the higher ups I've had in here apparently he can get you anything you want, even if it's someone else's."

"Any idea where I can locate either one?" D'mitri asked "The sooner I pin them down the sooner I can get the items back to the rightful owners."

"All I over hear are plans, statements, boasts, I don't know where they live. All I can give you are hints" Marons said, feeling rather like he was doing the detective work for the police now.

"I will have my people keep an eye out for these two and bring them in for questioning." D'mitri said as he took the paper from Marons' hands. He hadnt seen any of these men before and the fact that one of them was a Vidian worried him. "We will have to check through the Registered Riders System to see if we can find them. Thats only if they actually registered."

A moment before D'mitri snatched the paper Marons scrawled a few numbers onto the base, something rather a bit larger than the sum for two chairs and a table. "Two weeks in and this place becomes an information hot spot, just make sure some people on your force drink here. It'll cut down on people trying to skip out on the tabs."

Standing up from the seat, D'mitri straightened out his uniform. "Thank you for your cooperation. You have helped to keep the people of this ship safe." He then looked down at the paper and noticed the numbers. "I will get this straight to requisitions and have them send the funds over."

"As if I had a choice. This is going to be a long trip, I can tell" Marons replied back, still never opening his mouth and speaking. He didn't like to speak in front of the people in his bar.

D'mitri turned and left the bar heading towards the elevator. Reaching out with his mind again he scanned nearby thoughts, keeping an ear out for any info or someone thinking about commiting a crime. As he approached the elevators he saw the two scientists that were at the meet-and-greet. "Ladies." he said with a nod.

The elevator opened and the two lab rats, Taylor and Teva, stepped out. Slipping her hands in her pockets, Taylor glanced around at the large signs that hung and hovered from the ceiling. "I think I'm going to get a bite to eat at Greg's Tavern. I'll catch up with you in the lab later." Taylor turned to head down the walkway before D'mitri stopped her. "Oh- good evening." She really hoped he didn't want to start a conversation.

Taylor got her wish as D'mitri kept on walking into the elevator. He turned around and faced the girls. "Be safe...the criminals know when im not around." then the doors closed and took him away to the Facility Quarters.

Taylor rolled her eyes, making sure Teva saw it before taking leave again. She soon became lost in the crowd before turning into a bar. With her hands in her pockets, she headed in and sat herself on a lonesome barstool. Taylor ordered a drink before she slipped out of her labcoat, folding it on the stool to her left.

Marons could almost smell the earth coming from these two the moment they stepped into the bar, pouring them a drink and dropping it in front of them. They were from down below, he knew it.

"Thanks." Taylor said plainly, taking a drink. She glanced to a small menu on a clip of the bar. Snatching it, she started to read through the choices. "Could I just get a regular cheeseburger?"

Marons nodded slightly and leant over to the space behind the bar, he knocked on the small panel at the back, which slid open to reveal a rather rudimentary kitchen. He scribbled on a piece of paper hanging on the wall, Taylor could see the detailed image of a cheese burger, so detailed in fact you could make out the cheese. He handed it to the hand that protruded from the hatch and leant back to Taylor, nodding slightly while still not talking.

Taylor noticed all of this but said nothing as she took another sip of her drink. Perhaps he was mute? She wasn't sure. Thinking about what her captain was urging, she figure maybe it best to attempt a conversation, "So- how's business?"

Marons looked around at the almost empty car, at least he made a show of doing it. He had no eyes after all. Finally he just shrugged his shoulders, his wing like ears twitching on his back as he tried to gesticulate with his hands slightly thatit was being slow.

Not really knowing the bartender, Taylor muttered a simple, "Ah." after glancing around. She figured maybe this guy didn't want to chat with someone like her...not that she cared at all. Lazily, she picked up a toothpick and poked at the ice in her drink, sending them down to the bottom. With her other arm, she rested an elbow on the bar and leaned on her chin on her hand.

Dresden wandered into the bar whistling an idle tune with his hands in his pockets. Not the best of first impressions--after all, he'd sent his navigator off to cry herself to sleep (but really, he argued, who doesn't know Alpha Centauri?); he got the feeling a few drinks would cheer his spirits enough to get through tonight's class. He saw Taylor sitting at the bar and sat a stool away from her. "Fat Tire, please," he asked Marons.

Marons nodded again and leant down, pulling out a bottle of Fat Tire, just glad that he knows some of the more obscure Belgian beers. He popped the bottle lid open with his thick red fingers, ran it there for a moment just to double check it WAS fat tire, then handed it to Dresdan.

Dresden took the beer from Marons. "Thanks," he said, and took a swig.

Taylor kept her face straight but glanced over with her eyes at Dresden. Was he one of the men at the meeting? Taylor took one more glance. Yes, he definitely was. She couldn't remember what his name was, but she remembered that he was the pilot who introduced himself immediately before she did. Bringing her eyes back to her drink, she went on poking down the ice with a toothpick, pretending not to notice Dresden. As she waited for her meal, she took another sip of her mix drink.

Dresden took another sip before turning slightly to Taylor. "You're Taylor, right? One of the bioengineers," he tested his memory.

"This isn't staged by the Captain, is it?" Taylor asked as she finally turned to face Dresden. "It's because I walked out as soon as he released us, right? It's just that the forced social 'get-to-know-you' thing is always awkward and frankly, it was stuffy in there." she admitted.

"Nah, I'm off duty," Dresden half-grinned. "I just wanted t'make sure I got yer name right. Cn'I buy you a drink?" He asked amiably, not intending to make a date out of it.

Taylor's eyebrows raised, at least she would get a free drink out of this. "Sure, thanks." she said before wincing at him. "Sorry but what was your name again? I remember you saying you were the ship's pilot, right?"

"Dresden, Dresden Vasquez," he said, putting forward a friendly hand to shake. "Whatever the lady likes," He said to Marons.

Taylor grabbed her glass and gulped the rest of the drink and set it back down, signaling she wanted the same drink once more. There was an awkward pause before Taylor forced herself to try and strike up a conversation, "So I assume you are stationed on the main deck. How's that?"

"It suits me right down to the ground," Dresden said, pleased. "Landing this gig has been a bit of a godsend. Although, I have my doubts about the navigation crew. Somethin' tells me I'll be relyin' rather more heavily on the nav computers," He sighed, and took a swig. "You know where Alpha Centauri is, don't you?"

Taylor tilted her head, "A little? I could probably tell you the general area and what's around it but I definitely can't precisely point it out on a map. My field generally deals with more looking down then looking up."

"Yeah! See?" Dresden gestured. "Even you know, and you're a bioengineer for Jove's sake. The navigator they assigned didn't even know that much." He shrugged in frustration and took another swig. "Anyway, is just frustrating, is all." He leaned on the bar and frowned slightly. "You got any interns runnin' amok below decks?"

"None that have given me any trouble." Taylor explained, "Just don't run us into an asteroid or something, alright?" She wasn't too pleased to hear about their navigator. At least this guy's opinion of her. "Oh yea-" she recalled, "-Now I have to deal with some bubbly, half wit, astro-physicist. I dread the day she actually comes down to the labs." Taylor of course didn't realize that it was one in the same person.

Marons listened in on their conversation, pouring Taylor another drink and trying to hide the frown as he reached over to the gate in the back of the bar. He slid it open and picked up her burger from the edge, lying it gently in front of Taylor; it was thick, juicy, and she'd probably recognise the wheat they'd used to make the buns.

"Thanks." Taylor said, readying herself by squirting a fair amount of ketchup on an open area of the plate. "Errr...you don't mind if I eat, do you?"

Dresden laughed. "Not at all, go right ahead," He nodded. "Actually, asteroid fields are some of my fav'rite places, but not in a clunker like this. Maybe if we stop by a ringed planet I'll take one'a th'shuttles for a spin."

"For a spin? On purpose?" Taylor asked. "I can see that making one sick to their stomach." She explained, not liking the thought. "No thanks. I like my feet on the ground." she said with a grin before taking a bite of her meal. After swallowing, she said, "Now a break through in protein bonding to fruit bearing plants....THAT is fun." she said honestly.

Dresden smiled widely at that. "Ah, not me. I've always been a bit of an adrenaline junkie," He confessed. "It takes a kind of fella to find aerobatics exhilirating." He took a swig. "Ah, I took a few courses in basic bioengineering but I could never wrap my head around it. Fascinating stuff to be sure, but way over my head," He grinned.

"Guess the Captain had something right...about getting to know people. Didn't think I could ever hold a conversation with a 'uniform' like yourself." Taylor explained, taking a sip of the drink Dresden had so thoughtfully purchased for her.

Dresden smirked. "Yeh, well, people can surprise you. Under this uniform is an academic," He said. "Maybe not as Ivory Tower, but..." He shrugged. "I've been double-majoring in aeronautics and literature at Bower."

"Bower? Really? THE University of Bower?" Taylor gave him her full attention. "That's were I went too." She paused, "That's so strange. I've never met another graduate out on the field before." Taylor smirked and took another bite in her sandwich. To think- she was having a nice conversation with the ship's pilot. Although...it did help that she had two mix drinks in her system. 

"Well, still an undergrad," Dresden confessed. "I was going to graduate in two years but the galaxy imploded before I could get that little scroll." He shrugged. "I've been studying independently since, though. Luckily, I've got the files for the courses I need to graduate all backed up in datacubes." He leaned on the bar with one elbow. "I was friends with some bio majors--that major is strenuous as all hell. I barely ever saw them. What year did you graduate?" He paused, "If you don't mind my asking," he grinned.

Marons was listening intently, even though he'd move down the bar slightly and was pouring a large black coffee for someone who'd a little too much and needed to head home. He didn't really understand why they clung to these pieces of paper so much, he'd dropped out of uni to run his own place and that was going fine. He scratched across his chest absentmindedly, his fingers toying across the marks there; of course he'd had some help dropping out.

"Been out for 13 years now."Taylor said, not even having to pause for the math. "You must have gotten really lucky to land a job piloting this thing." Taylor went back to eating her burger until it was gone completely. It was clear that she wasn't the most ladylike after she leaned back and let out a loud belch. With a quick motion, Taylor grabbed her glass and took a long gulp of her drink until it was gone completely. She wiped her mouth on the cuff of her sleeve before asking, "So who's piloting now?" 

"Well, I'd done commercial flights for a while, and a brief stint a'military service before that," Dresden said. "But even that my file was considered was completely unexpected." He finished his own drink. "If the Cap'n inn't orderin' th'nav computer to fly directly, it should be on autopilot. There's noth'n 'round for days; we're in standby until we have a heading." He drummed his six fingers on the side of the empty glass idly.

"That must be pretty boring for you then." It was in this moment that Taylor noticed the six fingers. She tried not to stare, but she couldn't peel her eyes away. Figuring it best to ask casually, she took a last drink and set the glass down. "So your uhh..." she gestured with her head to his hand, "Not human then?"

"Oh, you mean this?" Dresden wiggled his fingers. "Nah, s'just a birth defect. I'm not Terran, certainly--I was born on Io--but I am most certainly human," he grinned. "Lo--if you cut me, do I not bleed?"

"Well aren't you a clever one." Taylor said sarcastically before his words fully registered, "Io? Ok...THAT is weird. I'm from Europa. Out of all the moons and planets in the Milky Way...we were neighbors and happen to work on the same ship." She smirked and shook her head, Taylor hasn't seen anyone from the orbitals of Jupiter since she was in college.

Marons raised an eyebrow at this, maybe she was clueless about it... Some of Jupiter's moons didn't get on exactly, specially with Io and the mines there. Still they didn't seem the kind to start a fight, but the differences between Io and Europa... well this would be something interesting to observe none the less.

"Small galaxy, huh? Europa's a gorgeous planet. Whereabouts are you from?" Dresden asked, trying not to let it color his perception of her. She seemed perfectly nice, after all; maybe she was playing dumb, or maybe she just didn't know. 

"Sector 81, quadrant xx." Taylor explained. "Oh so you've been to Europa? I always thought the people of Io liked everything sweaty and dirty... To be honest, I'm a little surprised you can stand it on a clean ship like this."

"Taylor, the only reason anyone lives on Io is because they can't afford to live anywhere else," Dresden explained. "Political refugees, criminals, anyone who's looked awry at someone in power gets sent there. You see these?" He touched one of the metal bands around his neck. "These are gas converters provided to me by the ever gracious Hera Mining. I finished paying for them and my kinetic enhancements my freshman year at Bower because I was earning ten times the wage of a Hera miner flying shuttles part-time. The company owns 85% of Io real estate. They set the rent so high that the only way to pay it with anything to spare is to work double shifts every night. It's not a lifestyle choice."

"Well yea. We can't have criminals and dirty miners walking around Europa tainting the place. People like that have to live somewhere, right? Jeez- they should be thankful we are giving them jobs." Taylor said casually. She had lived in high society all of her life. Even though her job dealt with soil, everything was completely sterilized. Her views of Io were told to her by other ignorant, rich Europans. The only views that the Europans saw of Io were staged, making out that Io was full of dirt-happy folk who loved working. And of course, they were paid for it.

"So you think that someone who participated in a political protest should be induced into slavery," Dresden said, "on a poverty-ridden planet rife with disease and radioactivity to work in mines with augments that are twelve years behind modern bioenhancements."

Taylor sat up on her stood, "A protest? Listen-I didn't intend to start an argument." she clarified, hearing the tension in Dresden's voice. "I was merely pointing out we were neighbors."

"So we are," Dresden said. "Another drink for the lady," He told Marons. "And a shot of Jack Daniels for me."

"My tab this time and give me a shot too." Taylor said to the bartender. It was clear that the two had different views about their home planets and each others. Perhaps it was best to avoid that conversation all together. "So you said it would be a few days until there would be a possible stop?"

"We're about four or five days from the nearest planet-orbited star," Dresden said. "If the scanners prove none of the celestial bodies capable of life, the next star is about a month away."

"Greeaat." Taylor said, rolling her eyes. "Don't get me wrong, this place has just about everything...but I never have any free time to work on my protein bonding or personal experiments." She figured that she would word it in a way that Dreden would understand, "We have to constantly monitor production and regulate waste. Not to mention O2 distribution." She gestured to her empty plate in front of her, "Do you have any idea what it takes to make enough wheat to produce a mere loaf of bread for each family of this entire rig?! AND each family goes through a loaf of bread per week!" Taylor rubbed her temples, already stressed about it. "At least I won't get a visit from that insane astro-physicist for at least 5 days."

"Thank Jove f'r small favors," Dresden grinned. "Is it really that delicate a process? Don't you just pop in the seeds, water them with Supergro and instathresh the results?"

"If it was, I would be out of a job." Taylor said, pushing her cleaned plate to the other side of the counter so it could be taken away. "We can't just wait for the fruits and veggies to grow because of it's demand to the large mass of people on this ship. Not only this, but we have to maintain the plant's original ecosystems. We are currently working on producing a serum that allows for larger fruit, faster growth and less waste. This isn't a simple process because of the effects they give to both the plant and the consumer. A single slip up could result in a massive outbreak of the stomach flu or worse." she paused, feeling like she was rambling in a different language to him, "I take it you've never been down for a tour of the greenhouses?" Taylor knew that he was unable to get there alone. Each door was sealed and only specific people were allowed access.

"I never really had a reason to," Dresden said. "What about carbonthread- or algae-based foods?" He'd read articles about space-based crops, but obviously he didn't know any more about this than she did. He'd always had a professional curiosity about it but never had the time to really investigate; besides, it was much more fun to learn from someone as enthusiastic about the science as she was.

"In short, carbonthread leads to faster rotting while algae just gives everything a bad taste...not to mention color. The algae also weakens the outer layers of fruits and veggies, often leaving a wet mess wherever they are placed. We try to keep the food as close to 'real' food as we can...even though the seeds are synthetic. No one can tell." Taylor explained, confident in her field.

"Ah," Dresden nodded. "I see. So even with genetic engineering at the point it is, decent food still needs as much time to develop," he attempted to summarize, positing it to her for agreement or correction.

"Precisely. I mean, it's more natural too." Taylor gestured, tracing a finger around the rim of her old glass. 

"Crazy." Dresden grinned. "We must have enough packaged goods from port to last for a while. Do you really need to produce so much all the time?" He asked honestly.

Taylor gave him a straight face and plainly said, "Yes. Even more then that."

"Fair enough," Dresden assented, shrugging his shoulders. "So what is the goal of your protein experiment?"

"It's pretty much making the perfect organic specimen." Taylor lifted a hand and started to count. "More fruit, less waste, more O2 production, faster ripening, more filling, delicious, healthy and packed with a daily amount of vitamins and proteins. It would be like...the super fruit."

"Well, don't limit yourself," Dresden laughed. "Let no one say you are not ambitious." Had he a new drink at this point he would toast to her craaazy experiment.

Taylor chuckled with him, glad that he started talking with her in the first place. This was nice. "I try. Well maybe I can give you a tour of the greenhouses so you can really see how big they are." One couldn't imagine it until they actually saw how incredibly massive the area below deck was. 

"Would you?" Dresden asked, his grin getting bigger. "I'd love t'see the operation you have down there."

Another few soft clinks and the drinks were on the table, Maron wondered just how this couple managed to balance this right. He'd been lost in the woman's speech, but he commended the man for not losing his temper at her. Perhaps he'd met many clueless people in his years on Europa.

"Of course. I'm glad a 'uniform' like yourself is interested. It's flattering, really." Taylor wrapped her fingers around her shot glass, "Heck- it's nice to make a new friend no matter what their status. Sorry for being a bit closed minded about your 'type'." 

Dresden grinned. "Here's to broken walls and new friends," He said, lifting his glass in a toast.

Taylor smiled and lifted her glass as well, tapping the rim against his. "Cheers." Taking her drink back, she placed it to her lips and cocked her head back, taking the shot quickly. Hitting the glass against the bar, she made a twisted face from the taste and exhaled roughly.

Dresden downed the shot and hit the glass on the bar, grinning. "Let's see this lab of yours, then, eh?"

"Oh- right now?" Taylor looked at him, "I didn't think you would be so excited." She looked at her lab coat and leaned over. Pulling out her ID card, Taylor placed it on the bar for the tender to scan so her drinks and meal could be properly charged. She slipped down from her stool and swayed a little, the alcoholic finally making an effect. Taylor grabbed her white lab coat and slipped it on, closing it properly. “Alright, let’s get going. Guess I’ll meet back up with Teva later then.”

Marons nodded slightly at the pair as they left, glad he had not needed to remind Taylor of the need to pay. His face seemed to turn towards Dresden, even though he had no eyes his hearing was honed in at the man. It was a disturbing feeling to have someone hear at you.

Dresden put down his ID card as well, sliding it at Marons so he would stop hearing at him. Honestly, some people were just too much. What, was he going to leave without paying?

"Thanks." Taylor said, taking her card back, slipping it into her pocket. Buttoning her jacket, she walked towards the door before waiting for Dresden.

Marons nodded at the pair of them again, letting his concentration slip to other people in the room. He'd had people skip out on tabs before, cockier pilots than Dresdan and more honoured scientists than Taylor. At least possibly... he wasn't sure entirely, but he had had a ton of people trying it.

When Dresden was finished, Taylor opened the door and exited the bar wih him. She looked around and said, "If Teva sees me walking out of a bar with a man, I won't hear the end of it."

Dresden grinned. "Oh, izzat so?" He said. "Well don' worry, I won' get fresh with ya," he promised, enjoying the old phrase.

Taylor rolled her eyes, "Yea, Ha-ha." she mocked, seeing the coast was clear. "Come on then." She walked out onto the streets and into one of the elevators. When Dresden was inside with her, she pressed a button, bringing them to the Below Decks.