Whilst Galder realizes that Jena will now trace him through Persis, he does not seem to care as much as he should. I can handle these maroons... Galder thinks to himself.
Galder tries to make his hair look tidy as Jena walks by, but instead turns to see that she is trying to get it on with Rianna.
"Well then..." Galder says, getting the other's attention. "Sit back and enjoy?"
There is a knock at the door. Jena returns to her desk, where a light is flashing green. She presses a button and the door opens.
"What the hell do you want, Mika?" she asks.
The man who enters is relatively diminutive, with a swarthy complexion.
"Business," he says. "Who the hell are these people?"
"Visitors from the rim out in the southwest quadrant," she says.
"What, out on a day trip, are they? We're a tourist attraction now? And what is THAT?"
"As you know full well, it's a Lightsabre. Apparently they have killed some guy who was giving us trouble."
"A JEDI?"
"No no... he was a dark sider, or something."
"Hardly better!" He looks at you guys. "Details! Quick!"
"I'm handling this, Mika."
"I'm the one who has to shore up Republican relations, Jena. How the hell was this going on and we weren't informed?"
She shrugs.
"It's a big Galaxy."
"Yeah," he says. "and the Bureau is a large organisation, and if this person was killed in Republican space, it means they were looking for him, and they'll find a trail leading to us."
"He was called Persis. We can sort the details."
"Persis... I'm sure I've heard that name before."
"Not going to hear it again, are you?"
"Anyway, what do these yahoos want? To show off?"
"There is a diplomatic incident they want me to sort with some criminal elements."
Mika looks at you with a certain amount of contempt.
"We're not here to nursemaid the cells. If they've messed up, they can sort it or perish. If it reflects on all of us, just blame them! That is the way of things."
"Criminal relations are MY area, Mika. And they have made an effort with the gift..."
He snorts.
"Maybe I'll mention to Dad that shiny objects get in the way of your judgment."
"Did you actually have anything to say, Mika, or were you just going to huff and puff?"
"Koran's dead. Dad is going to want to know why."
"Local trouble. He was warned."
"His operation was worth billions."
"I'll sort it out."
"How? There's not going to be enough left of you to cover a rat after Dad finishes with you."
"We'll see what he has to say."
"Damn right we will."
"Especially after I find out how much HE likes shiny objects..." she says, waving the sabre in Mika's face. His eyes narrow.
"I'm going to tear your throat out one day, Jena..."
"Get in line. Like all men, you'll fail. You're just too predictable. That will be all, Mika."
He turns to leave. He stops as he draws level with you.
"You lot. Get out of here. You cause any trouble- I'll kill you. Don't expect the magpie here to bail you out. And rest assured, I am getting to the bottom of this Persis business..."
He leaves.
"He's right," says Jena, "you should get back down below now. I'll pass your respects onto my father."
Of course, the only person not emotionally distracted- except perhaps by irritation- at this point is Rianna, and so it is she who senses how purely teasy Jena is being. She made the comment to Mika (who also seemed to be no fool) about men because she knew that would piss him off, and she was just as calculating with what she just did with you.
Twisty mind on that one...
(I've actually met Thurl Ravenscroft... ✅ )
"I think we should first find out where they keep this thing," Galder says as soon as they move away from the guards. "Maybe I could be a little shit as usually and say that I don't believe that Shiva actually stole the damned thing while at one of the bars in here. Maybe someone will go, 'You bastard, it's right over there!' or something...or, I'll get shot."