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The group stepped off the landshuttle, the yells of Victorians echoing off the port. Felines, Vouivre, Sarkaz, and more darted back and forth, paying them no mind as they strolled forward. A lot of them showing obvious signs of infection.
“Are you sure this is gonna work?” Lyudmila glanced around the port. There were so many Victorians for a Columbian port… and the one they’d spoken to when they’d requested entry before had seemed pretty hostile.
“It’s fine, I promise you,” Rita led the way, flashing them a confident smile. “Just let me lead. I’ve done this before.” Lyudmilla sighed, falling back to stick with Amiya and Kal’tsit, glancing nervously at the doctor.
“It’s alright. I’m sure she-”
“Hey!” an angry-looking feline was storming over to them, engineering equipment lining his belt as he scowled. “Who authorised you to-?” when his eyes fell on their leader, however, he immediately stopped.
“Sk-Skamandros?”
“Afternoon, Feist,” Rita smiled at him, walking over and extending a hand. “It has been a while, hasn’t it? Still going strong as Head Port Engineer?”
“Y-yeah. I,” Feist shook Rita’s hand, confusion still etched on his face. “But what are doing here with these lot? Freek said nothing about you coming today.”
“Ah, well…”
“...he doesn’t know.”
“Yeah,” Rita scratched the back of her head sheepishly - judging by Feist’s sigh, this wasn't anything new. “I’m here with Rhodes Island. They wanted to negotiate the possibility of supplying the Rookery with oripathy medication, and seeing as I know the people here pretty well…”
“Yeah, yeah,” Feist waved away her implication, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Well, I can’t give you permission to port - but I can let Freek know you lot have arrived, at least. He can decide what happens then.” Feist walked off, pulling out a radio from his belt. As they waited, Rita turned back to the group.
“See? I told you it would be alright.”
“Don’t celebrate just yet,” Kal’tsit was quick to interject. “We haven't gotten far just yet. Who knows if this “Freek” will be willing to negotiate.”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry. He will be.”
It was barely a couple of minutes waiting until an interesting duo walked in, immediately spotting the group and making their way over. A tall Vouivre woman was the immediately obvious one, dressed in military attire and a pair of sunglasses, and she seemed to wear a permanent scowl. The Feline next to her, however, was just as interesting - stout and around Rita’s height, if slightly taller, dressed in seemingly standard technical wear alongside his glasses. What stood out, however, was when he waved - a metal hand and seemingly a whole metal arm. Rita clearly recognised him, pacing over and leaving the group to hastily follow her as she pulled him into a bear hug.
“Freek! Oh, it’s been too long.”
…this was the head of all of this?”
“Sk-Skamandros!” Freek chuckled, hugging her back and eventually being released. “You should’ve said you were coming! I would’ve prepared something!”
Rita chuckled. “Apologies, this was somewhat impromptu,” she nodded to the group, who had since caught up. “These are representatives of Rhodes Island, the company I’m working with.”
“Oh! Pharmaceutical, right?” Freek extended his hand, shaking each of theirs in turn. Now closer, they could clearly see the faded burn scars etching across from the same side of his face as the metal arm. And metal leg, apparently.. Kal’tsit nodded at his comment.
“Yes, we were hoping to negotiate a contract-”
“Oh, that crap can wait. You lot like seafood?”
“Y-yes, but-”
“Great! I know an amazing pub, The Three Horsemen, great seafood.”
“Oh! Is Paul still managing it?”
“Pssh, please! He won’t let go of that place until Terra itself makes him.”
Rita and Freek quickly began to fall into their own conversation as they began to walk, leaving the rest of the group thoroughly confused at apparently now being third-wheels in this “business trip”.
“You might want to get used to this. Every time she visits, you barely see him for days if it's not at a pub or restaurant,” The Vouivre finally spoke up as she extended a hand, having fallen back to walk with the group. “Frieda, head of security for Cant Defensive Solutions.”
“Uh, Kal’tsit. CEO at Rhodes Island,” Kal’tsit shook her hand, sighing. “We’d hoped to start negotiations as soon as possible if I’m honest - at the least to allow for our landship to come to port here.”
Frieda hummed, thinking for a moment before nodding to Feist. “Authorise their entry. I doubt Freek will have much time to object.” Feist nodded, quickly falling further back as he pulled out his radio again. The group could overhear from the duo up ahead, Rita mentioning something about “overdue maintenance”.
“We can leave negotiating the infection medication for later. Those two will most likely split off at some point, and we can at least negotiate a small purchase for now to deal with the most at-risk cases.” Glancing around, Lyudmila wondered just how “small” this purchase would exactly be.
“Oh, and should any of your operators wish to explore the Rookery, let me know. I happen to know plenty of restaurants to suit any taste they might have.”