Log:Family Lab

Family Lab

OOC Date: August 4, 2019
Location: Dulled Claw, Nar Shaddaa
Participants: Atrel Katah, Meep, Sumi Kora

Sumi Kora was becoming a regular for the Dulled Claw. The atmosphere and name were nice, but it was the emphasis on privacy that mattered most to the Mandalorian. She enjoyed hers, and being away from people meant she could put her mind to rest and not be so god damned paranoid all the time. Sumi had a particular table she always sat at, and it was rare to find anyone else who had it. This table was situated out of view, with a single window that provided a vantage of the neon city lights and traffic lanes of the smuggler's moon. She often drank until her vision blurred, happy to hone in on the pretty lights and not have a care in the world. Tonight was the beginning of one of those nights.

Several times Atrel has seen Sumi on occasion on her way to the Parmac landing pads from the clinic in the same district. There is a chance the woman is within and so in rare form Atrel enters the Cantina. Instant wrinkling of nose and narrowing of her eyes occurs as she steps in and then slowly begins to circumvent the room.

The heat signatures that play out in her vision allow her some leeway others do not have. It takes a little bit to find Sumi but once she does the Doctor slowly approaches. "Sumi," she says to the other, giving her plenty of room but comes to stand within eyesight. "May I join you?"

Meep shuffles into the Cantina. The little furry rodent blinks a bit, peering around, chittering softly to himself. Weaving his way through the sea of legs, the little Meep scooches closer and closer to Sumi.... someone's popular!

Sumi was in a jumpsuit akin to those worn by the maintenance crews who weren't droids. It was a dull grey with a logo that had long faded out; likely a company that was around a 100 cycles ago. The suit was zipped till about her collar. If she was armed, it was not immediately discerned. Her hair had grown longer since Atrel had seen her last, and it hung over the left side of her face, concealing the scars carved there and leaving only her right eye to look up to see who it was. "Doctor Katah, a rare pleasure." She gestures to the seat across from her. "Would you like a drink?" Sumi had a pitcher of ale and an extra glass; though it isn't clear who the glass is for.

Sumi does not notice Meep as of yet.

Atrel takes the seat offered, slowly lowering into it with an ease as she sighs and settles back. Her hand lifts to forestall any drinks that may come her way. "No, but thank you," she remarks. To the discerning eye something might be different about the Arkanian. "I am fine. But you," she peers across the distance and though Sumi may not have noticed Meep, she has. Those eyes discern the heat and movement, her white pupilless gaze turning upon the small creature with something akin to passing interest. It is hard to tell exactly what the woman is looking at.

Meep shuffles over towards the group. He sort of peers up at Atrel, then Sumi, gauging the distance up to the tabletop. But, seems like the Teek is quite happy to remain on the floor, taking a seat next to Sumi's foot, reaching into a pocket for a little piece of fruit. Taking out his snack, he begins munching... just listening quietly.

Sumi sets the pitcher back down after refilling her own glass. The glass is chilled, cold, and wet with condensation. Sumi detected a slight difference in the Doctor, but she didn't voice it. Stating the obvious around an Arkanian was a quick way to make an enemy, and Atrel Katah was one you wanted to stay off that list. Sumi reaches up to sweep her own hair back, revealing the other side of her face. "Normally places like these are beneath you. What brings you in here? Me?" Sumi detects something warm near her right foot and she glances down to see Meep. She's half a mind to cast the critter down the hall by the scruff of its neck, but she's had a few drinks already and doesn't seem to care at this point. She even makes a gesture, waving dismissively

It is obvious that Atrel is observing, her chin dipping just a bit as she regards the creature before her head ticks back up. "Yes." It is simply said and to the point as the Arkanian dances her fingers along the table to dust off what she likely sees as dust and detritous. "I want you to look into something for me. I will pay you. I have not had the ability to do so, but I figure you might have a better hand at it than I. That is if you would be willing? It is a basica retrieval of information from my brother's lab. He has been deceased for ...several months."

Pause.

"What is that thing?"

Meep takes little bites of his fruit, using those big buckteeth to gnash up his snack. "Om nom nom nom nom..." he says, chewing with his mouth full. He finishes his fruit, wiping his mouth with the back of one arm before letting out a little burp, settling back, trying to use Sumi's leg as a sort of backrest.

"I presume this lab is back in Novania? Or somewhere else?" Sumi picks the glass up again and takes a large drink from it. Atrel's question has her set it down though. Another glance is paid to the rodent using her leg as a backrest and she looks up. "It's a Teek. I saw a whole colony of them on the Sanctuary Moon during the Civil War. Most of them are scavengers, tinkerers, or pests. They make good theives too, spies even. It's rare to see one on the Smuggler's Moon, but, there you go." Sumi gestures. "I'm sure he's harmless."

The Teek is given a long look - or an apparent one as no one can truly tell where the Arkanian is looking. Atrel briefly frowns before that impassive expression wins out once more. Idly her hand comes to rest on her stomach and she lets out a long breath as she considers. "Since when do spies and thieves equate to being harmless. Expect the unexpected," she intones. Whatever cute there might be that Meep exudes is lost on that heat sensitive vision. Just a blob of colors to show where his vitals are.

"I believe he was last on Chandrila. Made a name for himself..locally at least in a good way. I am interested in his work."

Meep droops a bit, chin lowering to rest on his chest. Evidently the Teek has decided this is a perfect spot to nap. He's under a table, more or less.. and there are much larger folk above him that seem to be watching over him.... perfect nap time! His eyes close, arms at his side.. just doubled over like a little tub, snoring.

Sumi thought to pull out her GLIE-44 and do violence upon the critter to put Atrel's mind at ease, but the Dulled Claw demanded that no violence come upon any patron; Teeks were sentient even if they didn't seem it. So, no blaster was pulled, and Meep was left to slumber below. "Do you suspect it is under guard? Or should I be prepared for trouble? Hazards tend to run a little extra, partly because I'm tired of being shot." It was a deadpan delivery of a joke, Sumi's style.

"I will get you the specifics but everything should be ...cooled off by now," Atrel intones. The little ball of hot running energy is what draws her focus again and she lets out a soft sound. Perhaps discomfort. She rolls her shoulders back and then lifts her chin so that she does not focus on the ball of fuzz just catching her eye from the corner where she can see Meep.

"I will pay you handsomely. I think I may come with but I am not overly skilled in trouble as some of those I know are."

"Knowing you. You're probably wanting to move on this quickly then?" Sumi finishes her drink, and reaches for the pitcher to refill it again. "I can have a ship ready when you say, and we'll leave together. If it's sooner rather than later, let me finish this drink and we can go get your things before heading out."

"I need at least a day, not at this moment. I need to sort through a few things and double check something that was sent to me. I want to be sure we are completely prepared. If you are okay with it, I would like to bring two others. Rial and D4 have been ..well close enough as a confidante can get. Zian is much to busy and perhaps the more the better but if you think the two of us will be enough should we find trouble. Then I of course will follow as you are the expert."

Atrel eyes the drink that keeps being refilled. "I am not your guardian but perhaps you should slow down a little? Alcohol dehydrates the body and if you dislike being shot I am not sure why you put yourself through that."

Sumi says something in Mando'a, which comes across subtle and threatening, but that's just the nature of the language. The translation was something akin to, 'You prepare in your way, and I will in mine,' which was in reference to the drink. She lifts the glass again and half smiles. "It was a joke, Doctor. I will be ready at the drop of a hat, and if you think more should attend; Bring them. Numbers is always a good contingency for survival; /your/ parents taught me that." She finally drinks again.

There is a tick that settles to her jaw, one that is followed by tension as she exhales slowly. "Yes, my parents. They were very smart and measured," she intones and dips her chin. Slowly she pushes herelf up from her chair across from Sumi. "Then I will let you drink. I will be in touch but I should put everything in order and be in contact. I need to pinpoin the exact location of his lab." There is barely a hint of a smile, but still a hint before she remarks. "Take care of yourself, Sumi." Likely referring to more than just her excessive drinking.

The Arkanian steps away from the chair and removes her hand from her stomach to take her leave of the Claw, looking somewhat relieved to get going.

Sumi's gaze rises with the Doctor, but she remains quiet as she makes her departure. A peculiar detail Sumi had not noticed until now settles into her mind, but she doesn't mention it. Atrel may have considered that an obvious detail, and she wouldn't have made the gesture if she didn't want Sumi to see it. She was never absent minded like that. In response, Sumi nods, and quietly returns to her drink. Her dark gaze trains on the window and view of the night scape of the Smuggler's Moon.