Fiction:Agent Nu's Andromedan City Break

Welcome To The Merchant's Moon
Customs Issues=

Agent Nu arrived in one of the major spaceports of, a bustling hive of incoming and outgoing traffic for one of the most cosmopolitan planets among the mid-core worlds of the. As was expected for such a busy location, Nu had to pass though the customs department in order to be cleared for entering the selenopolis.

After Agent Nu's vessel landed inside a hanger, several signs directed him towards the moon's customs checking service. Arriving at a scanning unit, a sign instructed him to place any externally held items onto a tray to be sent though an attached scanning unit. Nu, grumbling to himself, relinquished his pistol, and then a blade which was sheathed to a scabbard attached to the back of his armour.

Customs officer - Is that everything? Nu - ''Yep. Unfortunately.'' Customs officer - Pass though the scanner.

Truthfully, Nu was still hiding a weapon. It was a small dagger of sorts that was hidden within a compartment in his armour. He stepped through the scanner, humming to himself in some dissonant tune but he passed though the alarms went off and a customs officer took out a small device to further scan him. Nu was clearly frustrated at this predicament.

Nu - ''Oh, come on. I'm made of metal.'' Customs officer - Any concealed compartments in that body of yours sir? Nu - No. Customs officer - Do you have a military or contractor's permit that validates your ownership of these weapons?

Nu's face contorted. His brow raised, before he leaned his shoulder over and pointed at the insignia of the Kicathian Remnant's Agency at them. The customs officer looked at Nu with slight annoyance, but gave a slight nod.

Customs officer - ''Hm. By the way were you aware of a dagger-like implement stored inside your armour?''

He sighed in defeat, swiping his hand over his armour, which deconstructed itself to release the dagger. He grabbed it in his hand and handed it over to the officer, who handed it to a partner to be checked after accepting it. Nu waited impatiently as all this was happening.

Nu - I forget you Draconis have advanced tech sometimes. Customs officer - Well this is one of the busiest economic hubs in the galaxy sir, we have to be careful. Nu - ''Yeah, yeah. Speed up the process.'' Second Customs officer - ''Digital credentials check out, he's legitimate. Everything checks out, You're free to go.'' Nu - Oh goodie. Customs Officer - Enjoy your stay on Araveene sir.''

Nu walked out of the scanner, his helmet restructuring itself around his head. He groaned in acknowledgement to the guards, but mostly ignored their words.

The arrivals department was busy with a variety of aliens of all shapes and sizes, speaking many languages. Outside the spaceport's entrance, Nu was greeted by an immense skyline of glass buildings trimmed with polished brass and silver that towered hundreds of metres above. Above all that, looming like a gigantic head in the sky was the gas giant that Araveene orbited, dominating the sky above. The streets were busy with both people and skycars. The district that Nu had arrived in was heavily adorned with holographic signs, projector screens and voice adverts. Quite clearly a commercial hub. The various projectors advertised all sorts of products, locations, services and the like. Gathering his bearings. Taxi!= Nu walked out to the edge of the spaceport, wondering where he could find some kind of vehicle. Attention was drawing near to him as he was, to say the least, a strange individual. As he walked he noticed three options that were available in close vicinity; skycar rentals, a taxi stand and a nearby maglev terminal. Those that looked at Nu gazed with mixes of curiosity, uneasement and wariness due to the fact that he was both large for a Kicath and fully adorned in high-grade armour. Nu was unsure of what he was doing, but he started waving his arms around randomly in hope of attracting a taxi.

After spending several minutes several minutes flailing his arms, which caused even more people to keep their distance, a taxi-dedicated skycar flew close to him and opened its back door. Nu looked at the open cab and for a moment was confused as to what was going on.

Nu - ...You're not here to kill me, are you? Taxi Driver - I don't have a death-wish so no, I'm not. Nu - ''Oh. Taxi. Right.''

Nu leaped inside the taxi, almost bashing himself out of the opposite door before halting himself, shaking the cab as the vehicle adjusted its suspension mechanisms to accommodate his weight. The jerking moetion of the car startled the driver for a moment and he pressed a buttom to close the rear door after he settled back down.

Taxi Driver - Most people use their phones rather than their arms to call a taxi. Nu - ''Yeah. Never been here before.'' Taxi Driver - ''I can tell. So what are you after?'' Nu - Well...where can I get a nice drink? Taxi Driver - "Draconis" nice or "everyone else" nice? Nu - ''Well aren't we stuck up? Draconis nice.'' Taxi Driver - ''Uhh I meant no offence. But whatever, I know of a club that offers what you're asking.'' Nu - Sounds good to me.

Nu stretched his legs out on the back seats, almost casually so, as he was browsing displays within the visor of his helmet. The taxi driver shifted his skycar into gear and joined the aerial highways that criss-crossed the city, slowing down a few times to join lanes above them and towards the more sunlit upper city.

Taxi Driver - ''Excuse me for asking but...you some kind of black ops guy? Mercenary?'' Nu - ''Both. You never heard of an Agent before?'' Taxi Driver - You mean the Royal Intelligence Agency or something else? Nu - Dál-nyuramadálnarya [Dal'nyur above]...Kicathian Agent? Taxi Driver - ''Okay okay. I'm sorry. We've been hearing less and less of them ever since the Kicath Empire decided to break off from the Andromedan Light.'' Nu - ''Well, that's their fault. Kithworto doesn't want us going around in Kicath Empire territory. Says it's suicide. Taxi Driver - ''Can't say I fault him. The whole region's been dark for years.'' Nu - Suppose word got out about that team that went into Andromeda? Taxi Driver - ''You mean that group that acted like they could order the Light about? I've never met the guy but I wouldn't be stupid enough myself to anger Highlord Breek like that.'' Nu - ''Trust me. Light covered that all up. Media cover up.'' Taxi Driver - All I heard was that a bunch of aliens were summoned to the Seat of Light and inadvertently pushed some of Highlord Breek's buttons. Nu - ''Tyraz? Doesn't like Kithworto. At all. Guy has problems. That, and a bunch of demons showed up and caused a few problems.''

The driver snickered and shook his head from the mention of "demons". Up ahead was a venue with a front façade decorated in white stone, dozens of expansive skycars were landed and parked on a nearby ledge that was built as a dedicated parking lot.

Taxi Driver - ''Demons. Yeah, right.'' Nu - ''Well, you weren't there for it. I died, came back to life. Met a few techno-gods...uh...killed a few...uh. Either way.'' Taxi Driver - ''Sounds like a fun night for the right sorts of people. Anyway here you go. The Alabaster Lounge.'' Nu - ''Good. ...What's alabaster?'' Taxi Driver - Its a kind of ornamental rock. Nu - ''Hah. Rocks.'' Taxi Driver - ''I hear the club gets its name because a good amount of the stuff was used to decorate the place, and the VIP lounge? Pure. Decorative. Alabaster.''

Nu stepped out of the taxi, looking at the entrance of the lounge while paying minimal attention to the driver's story.

The Alabaster Lounge
High End Club=

The entrance to the lounge was via a pair of ornate golden doors surrounded by marble etched with dancing patterns inlaid with gold. At the front door was a Drallivian who acted as a doorman. Nu looked up at the front face and, far from being amazed, grunted with a sense of frustration.

Nu - Do they always pay attention to detail?

The Drallivian looked over to Nu and stepped up to him as he approached the club doors. Nu waltzed up to the doorman as the latter approached him, looking down to him casually.

Doorman - Name. Nu - Eh? Doorman - Are you heading inside? Nu - Yeah, probably. Doorman - Then I will need a name and details. Nu - ''Name's Nu. Agent Nu.''

The doorman nodded and checked a tablet device he was holding.

Doorman - ''Nu...Nu...Here we-- Oh. Hmm.'' Nu - ''Lemme guess. Psychotic murdering Kicath with an immense criminal record.'' Doorman - Three out of five. Nu - ''Wow. The other two?'' Doorman - Says nothing about you being psychotic. Nu - Well that's a start. Doorman - And...while it does not call you a serial murderer, I suppose your record speaks for itself. Nu - ''Let's not call it serial murdering. More like multiple aggravated assaults.'' Doorman - Well your record in Andromeda is minimal so I suppose I can let you pass, but security will be watching. Nu - Well, at least I'm a celebrity. Doorman - And with that you imply...? Nu - War hero. Doorman - ''This lounge attracts a few veterens. Head inside.'' Nu - 'Bout time.

The doorman stood aside, allowing Nu to walk past him and into the lounge.

Entering the Alabaster Lounge, Nu's ears were met with harmonic classical music along with a decorated interior of red, orange and white, with alabaster statues of Draconis in the foyer. As with everything else typical of the Draconis, the lounge itself was clearly designed to be opulent and show off the self-opinion of its designers and patrons. All of it seemed rather strange to Nu - Kicath were not fond of overtly colourful design, nor was the music like anything the Kicath had ever made in their culture. However, he clenched his jaw and walked in, perhaps a little too casually for a place like this. The lounge was populated by mostly Draconis, Drallivians and a few other races. All of them were dressed to indicate they were of reasonably high status. When Nu walked in, some of them looked at him suspiciously as if he had just randomly stumbled into their perfect world from right off the street.

In one of the rooms next to the foyer was a large room with tables, booth seating and a bar counter. Nu took straight to the bar, fully aware that the aristocratic minority took interest in his appearance. A Ryketian was tending to the counter as Nu approached, delicately wiping a wine glass when she saw Nu approach. She became slightly disturbed after taking but a brief glympse of him.

Nu - ''...What? You never seen a Kicath before?'' Ryketian - ''No no it's just...forgive me. I forget sometimes that not everyone enjoys strangers seeing beyond their faces. Nu - What's that supposed to mean? Ryketian - I am...a telepath, good sir. Nu - ''Oh really? Usually Kicath are immune to telepaths. What can you see then?'' Ryketian - ''Violence, blood and...guns. Plenty of guns.'' Nu - ''Sounds about right. What drinks do you have here?'' Ryketian - A wide variety of Draconis and Terratrix wines, although a few of the patrons are open to the odd Divinarium drink. Nu - ...Radeon have drinks? Ryketian - A few, but not very strong apparently. Nu - ''Hm. Not like I can get drunk anyway. Gimme some.'' Ryketian - You favour taste over strength, I take it? Nu - ''Not really. I can't get drunk is all.''

The Ryketian nodded and knelt behind the counter, removing from it a bottle that did appear like something crafted by Imperions. She poured the liquid out into a crystal glass and passed it over to Nu. He took a sip of the drink, made sounds with his mouth, sloshing the drink back and forth in his mouth before putting the glass back down.

Nu - Tastes like Andromeda. Ryketian - ''An odd expression. Do you mind me asking who is your patron?'' Nu - Patron? Ryketian - Most who come in here are either nobles or affiliate themselves with one of the Grand Houses. Nu - ''If you're referring to Kicath houses, well. None. Agents are without family names.'' Ryketian - I'm not. Nu - So what are you on about then? Ryketian - Vontarion, Corus, Vex, Valocanus, Draconid Grand Houses. Nu - ''Ultanos, if anything, I guess. Don't ask me how. My boss knows mister Paragavatus himself.'' Highborn Issues=

Nu looked at the cup, somewhat curiously.

Ryketian - Having a connection to the paragavatus is a very certain way to get in here. Nu - ''Suppose so. Either that or House Aknatazán. If the name still means anything around here.'' Ryketian - ''Given their connection to House Ultanos. It does.'' Nu - ''...So. Those áttharujakasat [high-borns] over there. What are they looking at?'' Ryketian - ''Those what, sorry? If you refer to those staring at you...I'd say its the armour.'' Nu - 'Scuse me one moment.

The Ryketian nodded and Nu took himself from the bar, holding the crystal cup. His helmet shaped away from his head, him smiling almost unnervingly at the high-borns he was approaching. The group he approached were a trio of Draconis talking calmly and quietly in one of the booth seats, speaking High Dracid they talked over exotic food and expensive wine. As Nu approached he stood with a smug grin across his features.

Nu - Hello, áttharujakasatai [high-borns].

Nu's comment disturbed their talks. One by one, they turned their heads and frowned at him.

Ellenus Varos - ''Do you mind, alien? I am conducting business.'' Nu - ''Uh, yes. I do mind.''

Nu sat down with them, fearlessly picking food from the table. These actions were much to the chagrin of

Nu - You were looking at my armour. Marissa Varos - Armed mercenaries do not usually visit the lounge. Nu - ''Mercenary? Wow. That's just an insult.'' Ellenus - And what else would you be, walking around paradise dressed as if you were prepared to hot-drop onto some distant battlefield? Nu - Tagárai [An Agent], perhaps? Marissa - Tagárai...as in the Kicathian Remnant's "secret" police force? Nu - ''Yes. Agent Commander Nu, at your service, ma'am.''

Nu giggled immaturely as he mocked the Draconis way of speaking with this phrase.

Galus Vex - Did you interrupt this discussion to simply mock us? Nu - Actually I was wondering why you were giving me a rather disdainful look as I walked through those doors. Ellenus - And now you have your answer so please, we are conducting important business and do not appreciate nosy aliens. Nu - Nosy? Marissa - What my nephew meant to say was that you now know why we were staring, so can you please leave us? Nu - ''I dunno. I feel like I deserve an apology. I detected oxytocin, vasopressin and corticotropin-releasing hormone levels rise slightly, which I thought was quite rude.''

Ellenus grumbled with disgust under his breath. Despite an uncertainty on what the chemicals Nu mentioned were for, he had deduced that Nu had somehow measured chemical changes in his and his companions' bodies, something that could only really be done with the aid of mechanical devices. Being a conservative sort of Draconis, this thought of sitting iwth a cyborg disgusted Ellenus as he muttered "damnable cyborgs", to which Nu sharply turned to him.

Nu - I heard that, you know. Ellenus - ''Then good for you. Perhaps to clear the air you can explain to us why you are comfortable with walking around a lounge such as this wearing a fully-working battlesuit. And not something more civil, such as what adorns our bodies.'' Nu - Trouble follows me. Ellenus - So you are paranoid. Marissa - Ellenus enough, you are not helping.'' Nu - ''Paranoid? No. Psychotic, apathetic, with a complete disregard for life and tendency to commit trouble wherever he follows? Yes.'' Ellenus - So you wear that armour because you have trouble controlling yourself? Nu - ''I don't have trouble controlling myself. People have trouble controlling me.'' Ellenus - Perhaps you should leave this booth before we consider contacting security. Nu - I think security has already been contacted, has it not? Ellenus - We have been patient, but that is wearing thin when you sit here, interrupt our discussion and eat our dinner! Nu - Don't raise your voice to me.

Nu took an entire plate from the table, eating the food as he scolded Ellenus.

Ellenus - You have interrupted a very crucial meeting. Nu - ''Trust me. If it is not to do with the fact that the Dominion have expanded their territories into the millions beyond Andromeda, then it is not crucial.''

Galus stood up from the booth and snorted. He had kept quiet for the most part, passively sitting down and glaring at Nu as his companions tried their best to comvince him to leave.

Galus - ''Merissa, Ellenus, as much as I enjoyed our conversation prior to "this", I do not appreciate having my time wasted. Good day.'' Nu - Whoa, where are you going?

Galus picked up his wine glass and took a sip.

Galus - If the discussion we had before you arrived will not progress, I see no point in staying. Merissa - Wait, Galus the Kicath was just about to leave. Nu - ''Was I? ...No. Don't think I was.'' Galus - ''Then good day and blessings upon House Varos. We are done here.''

Galus took another sip and turned around, walking away and leaving the three. Ellenus glared at Nu and was now fuming, tightly clenching his fists under the table.

Nu - Not gonna say goodbye to me, then? Rude.'' Ellenus - You have no idea what you just did. Nu - Pretty sure I did. Ellenus - We were moments away from a corporate merger and you stole it right from under us, blundering over here as if our passive looks towards you were the centrepoint of what mattered in this room.

Nu looked at the cup next to Ellenus, seeing it was still half full. He totally ignored the comment, and asked him;

Nu - You gonna finish that drink?

Ellenus twisted his face in a moment of utter confusion

Ellenus - Excuse me? Nu - I said are you gonna finish that drink?

Ellenus clamboured onto the table table and spread out his wings, thrusting a fist towards Nu's torso. While he was hoping to at least knock Nu back, the fist merely stopped on Nu's armour, as the Kicath just looked at the noble with either confusion or disappointment. Despite the momentum Ellenus had put behind him, Nu had reacted as a solid concrete wall would have, making not even the slightest movement.

Nu - ''I wanted a drink. Not a fist.'' Ellenus - Get out of my sight! Nu - ''Right, right. Fine.''

Ellenus managed to regain his footing after stumbling, surprised by how easily Nu's armour stopped his punch. He stopped back, rubbing his knuckles. Nu stood up, grabbing Ellenus' drink, and then turned to the Draconis.

Nu - ''Oh. And don't hit me again. I'll kill you next time.''

Nu took the full content of the drink, before walking away from the Draconis.

Ellenus - You do that and you will be staring down a battlefleet before you realise half of what is happening!

Nu turned back, almost jovially.

Nu - ''Listen, bud. I've died twice. I've had a Xhodocto in my head and now, because of it, I haven't found a way to be killed. If you're gonna make a threat, make sure you know who you're talking to.''

Nu put the drink down on the table, before turning to the Draconis. Both of them looked at Nu as if he was something unnatural, something that they did not want

Nu - ''"Merissa, Ellenus, as much as I enjoyed our converstion prior to "this", I do not appreciate having my time wasted. Good day." Heheh.'' Ellenus - ''No one is beyond death. Kicath.'' Nu - ''Oh, I dunno about that. You're making me want to test that statement out.''

Nu walked away from the booth, towards the doors of the club. Along the way, he casually stole drinks and food from the tables of other patrons. Elennus sat back down and huffed as he watched the Kicath walk out, watching as several patrons were clearly displeased at how he stole from others' tables. As Nu left the club the doorman approached him.