The first thing Tra did was take a short nap. He found it was difficult to get comfortable in his own bed, though, and eventually got up to go shower. Somewhere between the bedroom and the tub proper, he had changed his mind. He may not have been able to sleep, but at least he could try to relax. He stalked out to retrieve his own handcomp, then returned, running water. As an afterthought, he dug through his medicine cabinet, taking out a small tablet and tossing it into the water.
Within a few seconds, the water started to foam with bubbles. He sighed, sinking down into the bath. He stayed there for a while, reading over any information he could find that might help them. He found himself drawn to every bit of information on mystical weapons that he could find. Once in a while, he would be distracted by bubbles that the handcomp accidentally brushed up against. For a moment, he found himself watching a shiny, iridescent bubble water down the screen. It was lovely, but like most things of beauty, it didn't last, bursting into a shower of soap.
Finally, he departed the bath, dressed, and went to work. He had a few contacts he needed to reach.
***
The screen at the comm center in Tra's room wiggled and squirmed with lines as multiple reroutes interfered with the signal.
"Please, I'm just trying to reach Tailor Merriwether. She will take my call, please just go get her," Tra said in exasperation to the recalcitrant receptionist.
"Look, I told you, Tailor ain't takin' calls. She's got a lot better things to do than talk to old boyfriends, pretty boy."
Tra snorted and shook his head. "This isn't about the past, Brody, and you know it. I need Tailor's help. I'm willing to pay." There was a long silence on the other side of the comm relay.
"Wait here, 'Shanda. I'll get 'er," was the eventual response.
The screen blanked and Tra sighed. The connection had been lost or Brody'd hung up or the encryption had cycled. Either way, he couldn't risk walking away and missing the return call. Finally, the device beeped once, then trilled three times. Tra hurriedly swiped a decrypter card over a scanner on the station. The screen lit up, revealing a woman with thick, spiraling blond curls and bright green eyes.
"Tra'eve Deleshanda." She had an air of cockiness and a ready smirk. Tra blinked and almost did a doubletake. When he'd last talked to the rebel girl, she'd been afraid of her own shadow.
"Tailor. It's been a long time. How are you?"
"Cut the crap, Tra. Brody said something about money and you needing me."
Tra ran his hand over his face before speaking. "Now, Tailor, please. I do have money, I do need a favor."
"And what sorta favor is that, Tra? You know, I have my own life now. I'm a major in the Kirsashi rebellion. So unless you have a really good reason why I should abandon my post to do a priest a favor-"
"Twenty thousand credits and an Empyrean Sapphire, Tailor. The amount isn't up for negotiation. I believe that should be enough to buy one of those ships you have rusting out in your base."
"You know damn well that I keep those ships in top condition. You also know that they're for the rebellion. Why should I sell one to you?"
"Because I also know that the amount I quoted will get you at least three Starblazer Mark IIIs from Kismet Corp's more generous divisions. You think I've forgotten how this game works?" His voice slipped from business, going softer. "Tailor, I wouldn't bother you for this, but this is a mission that could help both of us in the long run."
Tailor was quiet for a few minutes, then she turned to whisper to someone offscreen before returning. "An Empyrean Sapphire. How big?"
"Fifteen carats."
"By heat's death, Tra, where'd you get a rock like that?"
"Long story. But if you bring me a ship, it's yours."
"... I'll have your ship there in two days. But I'm bringing it personally. Captain Ryan and I have some business to talk, anyway, so may as well do it in person."
***
The rest of his time without Almeria was spent preparing, buying supplies and virtually emptying the money he had stashed on this particular base. Being a priest and living simply had definite advantages, one being that you spent next to nothing and all your pirate swag and earned coin went directly into savings. He'd have to go to their sister base to retrieve the rest of his credits and other odds and ends, but this was more important than a minor inconvenience, and his room wasn't so expensive that he couldn't pay for it for the next few months up front. Finally, he was ready, and more than that, he found himself eagerly awaiting Almeria's return.