Scum of the Galaxy: Chapter 4
Title: Scum of the Galaxy
Author: rhin_ariel
Rating: T for this chapter, R overall
Pairings: Sheppard/Weir, Lorne/Weir UST (it makes sense, trust me)
It was mid morning before the first new arrival at the bar. Most visitors preferred to arrive at night when fewer people were likely to notice dangerous criminals strolling through town. However, there were some who tried to arrive during the day. These people were not usually customers coming to visit the girls; they came offering jobs to anyone who wanted them.
The first arrival was an old friend of Sheppard’s, known only as Lorne. He was a fighter, and a damn good one at that. He was the leader of a group of mercenaries who offered their services to the highest bidders. He was well known amongst the criminal world as an intelligent and fiercely loyal man. There were rumours he had murdered a whole village in revenge for one of the men of the village killing one of his mercenaries. It wasn’t entirely true, he’d only killed the man responsible, but it did him good to have the reputation. It put his prices almost through the roof.
He arrived at the bar alone and settled down in one of the seats to wait. Most of the girls were busy cleaning, so didn’t really notice the visitor, and those he did didn’t recognise him. Carson, who would have recognised him instantly, was busy dealing with a medical emergency. Or at least, he was dealing with one of the girls who’d cut herself with a pair of scissors while doing some sewing. It wasn’t until Elizabeth walked in to get herself a drink that the visitor was finally recognised.
“Good morning Lorne.”
“Actually, I think you’ll find it’s good afternoon Ms Weir.”
She walked across to the table he was sat at and sat down on the arm of the chair opposite.
“What brings you to our fine bar after all this time?”
“Well, for a start, a drink.”
“Of course, what will you have?”
“Something with a high alcohol content, I haven’t had a decent drink in a while.”
Hurrying over to the bar, she poured out two glasses of something behind the bar. It was clear liquid and she knew it contained plenty of alcohol.
Setting one glass down on the table in front of Lorne, she took a seat opposite and smiled.
“So, why are you here?”
“Am I now allowed to visit the best bar in galaxy, run by the most beautiful woman?”
“It depends. If you are here looking for work, then I’m afraid to say there’s no one here offering. If you’ve come here for the girls, then you’re too early. If you’ve just come here for the drink, then that seems like a waste of time.”
“Maybe I’ve come to visit you and make good on that vow.”
When Lorne had first joined the mercenary group, they had brought him to the bar to celebrate. From the moment he’d laid eyes on Elizabeth, he’d found himself entranced by her grace and beauty. He was fairly sure most people felt the same, but he didn’t care. She’d seen him watching and gone over to talk to him. She’d learnt a lot from the slightly tipsy man, about who he was, what he’d joined, she even learnt about his next job. And then Lorne had made a vow to her. One day he would become powerful and rich, and when he did, he was going to come back to the bar for her.
“Well, you’re certainly rich and powerful now.”
She crossed her legs over with a smirk. She’d been kneeling down to clean, so she’d hooked her long skirt up a little. Now that she was sat, it was up at her knees, and when she crossed her legs it rose a little higher. It was something like that she could use to turn men to putty in her hands. Unfortunately, Lorne had a stronger mind than that.
“Anyone would think you were trying to seduce me.”
“I thought that was my job, especially if you truly intend to make good on that vow.”
Lorne leaned forwards, resting his arms on the table. Elizabeth did the same, but she brought her arms up and rested her chin on her hands.
“I am curious, how much is your valuable time?”
“How much are you willing to spend?”
“Elizabeth,” came a voice from across the bar, “are you flirting with my friend?”
She turned in her chair and looked across at John who was stood in one of the doorways.
“Now why would I do that?”
John merely narrowed his eyes with a slight smile. Walking across, he grinned at Lorne.
“Good to see you again.”
“Good to see you too.”
As John reached the table, Lorne stood up and they shook hands. To Elizabeth, it looked as though they were each trying to test their strength by crushing the others hand.
“I’ll leave you two to business.”
Standing, she leaned across and kissed John lightly on the cheek. She smiled across at Lorne sweetly, before heading towards the main entrance to the bar.
“I think she gets more beautiful every time I see her,” began Lorne as he watched her leave.
“You can say that again. So, what brings you here, or are you really here for her?”
“Well, I actually came because I heard you were back. I have a job for you.”
----------
At the main entrance, Elizabeth could hear Ronon talking with someone. Elizabeth was in the coatroom checking the coats that were there and making sure everything was tidy. When the door opened, she was surprised by who she saw.
“Sora?”
The young woman smiled softly.
“Good afternoon Ms Weir, it is an honour to see you again.”
Sora was a friend of Teyla’s, a young woman of many talents. She was known as ‘The Trickster’, a master of disguise. She was also a well-trained warrior, with deadly accuracy. She had been hired as an assassin, a bounty hunter, and a mercenary before now. She could do everyone’s jobs, and she could do them well.
“Good afternoon Sora, you haven’t been here in a while.”
“I know. I heard that Teyla was here, and I wish to see her.”
“Of course, come on in.”
She walked back into the bar with Sora just behind her. The two men at the table fell silent as they entered, and as they walked past. The pair headed into one of the doorway that led to the girls’ rooms and entered Elizabeth’s quarters. Teyla was stretching out in the wide space of Elizabeth’s study.
“Sorry to disturb you Teyla,” Elizabeth said, “but you have a visitor.”
Teyla looked up and smiled.
“Sora! I have not seen you in a long time.”
“It has been too long my friend.”
Getting up from the floor, Teyla walked across and hugged Sora.
“I’ll leave you two talk, just shout if you need anything.”
Elizabeth shut the door behind her, but it didn’t shut out her voice.
“Alright it’s time for lunch, I suggest you eat your meals in your quarters as we have visitors in the bar. And Carson, why the hell aren’t you managing the bar?”
Teyla let out a slight laugh and sat down on the sofa.
“Did you see who was in the bar Sora?”
“Yes, although I am not one to gossip.”
She sat down next to Teyla and smiled at her.
“It was Sheppard and Lorne, although they went very quiet when we entered.”
“They are probably discussing a job.”
“It is funny you should say that, as that is exactly why I wanted to see you. I have a job offer for you, a well paid one at that.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it is being provided by Kolya, a simple kill. However, he will only give the name of the target to the assassin, so you would have to meet him.”
Kolya was a gang boss, and a powerful one at that. No one dared cross him, at least if they wanted to live. He relied on secrecy, with spies on every world. His jobs were carried out by assassins, silent but deadly. To be hired by him was considered to be an honour, as he only hired the best. In the whole galaxy, he only had one rival.
----------
Sheppard and Lorne had not been talking about business; they had been talking about Ford, and about any alleged sightings recently. They waited until they heard Elizabeth shouting in the corridor before talking about business. Secrecy was a prerequisite in this world.
“I’ve got a job for you.”
“I hoped you would. Like I said, I haven’t worked in a year, I could use some cash.”
“This one will be very well paid, it’s for Caldwell. He has a target for you to collect all lined up, but he’ll only tell the bounty hunter he’s employing, so you will have to meet him.”
Caldwell was a gang boss, and powerful one at that. No one dared cross him, at least if they wanted to live. He relied on brute force, with armed heavies on every world. His jobs were carried out by mercenaries, accurate and deadly. To be hired by him was considered to be an honour, as he only hired the best. In the whole galaxy, he only had one rival.
----------
Caldwell and Kolya both wanted control. They wanted control of the galaxy, of the criminal world, but most of all, they wanted control of The Red Den. But Caldwell had one more thing he wanted, something he’d been searching a long time for. And Caldwell knew that if he got it, he would have control of The Red Den, the criminal underworld and the whole galaxy. One little thing would give him everything he needed to destroy Kolya and become the most powerful gang boss ever. However, it wasn’t really a thing he wanted.
It was a person.
Author: rhin_ariel
Rating: T for this chapter, R overall
Pairings: Sheppard/Weir, Lorne/Weir UST (it makes sense, trust me)
It was mid morning before the first new arrival at the bar. Most visitors preferred to arrive at night when fewer people were likely to notice dangerous criminals strolling through town. However, there were some who tried to arrive during the day. These people were not usually customers coming to visit the girls; they came offering jobs to anyone who wanted them.
The first arrival was an old friend of Sheppard’s, known only as Lorne. He was a fighter, and a damn good one at that. He was the leader of a group of mercenaries who offered their services to the highest bidders. He was well known amongst the criminal world as an intelligent and fiercely loyal man. There were rumours he had murdered a whole village in revenge for one of the men of the village killing one of his mercenaries. It wasn’t entirely true, he’d only killed the man responsible, but it did him good to have the reputation. It put his prices almost through the roof.
He arrived at the bar alone and settled down in one of the seats to wait. Most of the girls were busy cleaning, so didn’t really notice the visitor, and those he did didn’t recognise him. Carson, who would have recognised him instantly, was busy dealing with a medical emergency. Or at least, he was dealing with one of the girls who’d cut herself with a pair of scissors while doing some sewing. It wasn’t until Elizabeth walked in to get herself a drink that the visitor was finally recognised.
“Good morning Lorne.”
“Actually, I think you’ll find it’s good afternoon Ms Weir.”
She walked across to the table he was sat at and sat down on the arm of the chair opposite.
“What brings you to our fine bar after all this time?”
“Well, for a start, a drink.”
“Of course, what will you have?”
“Something with a high alcohol content, I haven’t had a decent drink in a while.”
Hurrying over to the bar, she poured out two glasses of something behind the bar. It was clear liquid and she knew it contained plenty of alcohol.
Setting one glass down on the table in front of Lorne, she took a seat opposite and smiled.
“So, why are you here?”
“Am I now allowed to visit the best bar in galaxy, run by the most beautiful woman?”
“It depends. If you are here looking for work, then I’m afraid to say there’s no one here offering. If you’ve come here for the girls, then you’re too early. If you’ve just come here for the drink, then that seems like a waste of time.”
“Maybe I’ve come to visit you and make good on that vow.”
When Lorne had first joined the mercenary group, they had brought him to the bar to celebrate. From the moment he’d laid eyes on Elizabeth, he’d found himself entranced by her grace and beauty. He was fairly sure most people felt the same, but he didn’t care. She’d seen him watching and gone over to talk to him. She’d learnt a lot from the slightly tipsy man, about who he was, what he’d joined, she even learnt about his next job. And then Lorne had made a vow to her. One day he would become powerful and rich, and when he did, he was going to come back to the bar for her.
“Well, you’re certainly rich and powerful now.”
She crossed her legs over with a smirk. She’d been kneeling down to clean, so she’d hooked her long skirt up a little. Now that she was sat, it was up at her knees, and when she crossed her legs it rose a little higher. It was something like that she could use to turn men to putty in her hands. Unfortunately, Lorne had a stronger mind than that.
“Anyone would think you were trying to seduce me.”
“I thought that was my job, especially if you truly intend to make good on that vow.”
Lorne leaned forwards, resting his arms on the table. Elizabeth did the same, but she brought her arms up and rested her chin on her hands.
“I am curious, how much is your valuable time?”
“How much are you willing to spend?”
“Elizabeth,” came a voice from across the bar, “are you flirting with my friend?”
She turned in her chair and looked across at John who was stood in one of the doorways.
“Now why would I do that?”
John merely narrowed his eyes with a slight smile. Walking across, he grinned at Lorne.
“Good to see you again.”
“Good to see you too.”
As John reached the table, Lorne stood up and they shook hands. To Elizabeth, it looked as though they were each trying to test their strength by crushing the others hand.
“I’ll leave you two to business.”
Standing, she leaned across and kissed John lightly on the cheek. She smiled across at Lorne sweetly, before heading towards the main entrance to the bar.
“I think she gets more beautiful every time I see her,” began Lorne as he watched her leave.
“You can say that again. So, what brings you here, or are you really here for her?”
“Well, I actually came because I heard you were back. I have a job for you.”
----------
At the main entrance, Elizabeth could hear Ronon talking with someone. Elizabeth was in the coatroom checking the coats that were there and making sure everything was tidy. When the door opened, she was surprised by who she saw.
“Sora?”
The young woman smiled softly.
“Good afternoon Ms Weir, it is an honour to see you again.”
Sora was a friend of Teyla’s, a young woman of many talents. She was known as ‘The Trickster’, a master of disguise. She was also a well-trained warrior, with deadly accuracy. She had been hired as an assassin, a bounty hunter, and a mercenary before now. She could do everyone’s jobs, and she could do them well.
“Good afternoon Sora, you haven’t been here in a while.”
“I know. I heard that Teyla was here, and I wish to see her.”
“Of course, come on in.”
She walked back into the bar with Sora just behind her. The two men at the table fell silent as they entered, and as they walked past. The pair headed into one of the doorway that led to the girls’ rooms and entered Elizabeth’s quarters. Teyla was stretching out in the wide space of Elizabeth’s study.
“Sorry to disturb you Teyla,” Elizabeth said, “but you have a visitor.”
Teyla looked up and smiled.
“Sora! I have not seen you in a long time.”
“It has been too long my friend.”
Getting up from the floor, Teyla walked across and hugged Sora.
“I’ll leave you two talk, just shout if you need anything.”
Elizabeth shut the door behind her, but it didn’t shut out her voice.
“Alright it’s time for lunch, I suggest you eat your meals in your quarters as we have visitors in the bar. And Carson, why the hell aren’t you managing the bar?”
Teyla let out a slight laugh and sat down on the sofa.
“Did you see who was in the bar Sora?”
“Yes, although I am not one to gossip.”
She sat down next to Teyla and smiled at her.
“It was Sheppard and Lorne, although they went very quiet when we entered.”
“They are probably discussing a job.”
“It is funny you should say that, as that is exactly why I wanted to see you. I have a job offer for you, a well paid one at that.”
“Really?”
“Yes, it is being provided by Kolya, a simple kill. However, he will only give the name of the target to the assassin, so you would have to meet him.”
Kolya was a gang boss, and a powerful one at that. No one dared cross him, at least if they wanted to live. He relied on secrecy, with spies on every world. His jobs were carried out by assassins, silent but deadly. To be hired by him was considered to be an honour, as he only hired the best. In the whole galaxy, he only had one rival.
----------
Sheppard and Lorne had not been talking about business; they had been talking about Ford, and about any alleged sightings recently. They waited until they heard Elizabeth shouting in the corridor before talking about business. Secrecy was a prerequisite in this world.
“I’ve got a job for you.”
“I hoped you would. Like I said, I haven’t worked in a year, I could use some cash.”
“This one will be very well paid, it’s for Caldwell. He has a target for you to collect all lined up, but he’ll only tell the bounty hunter he’s employing, so you will have to meet him.”
Caldwell was a gang boss, and powerful one at that. No one dared cross him, at least if they wanted to live. He relied on brute force, with armed heavies on every world. His jobs were carried out by mercenaries, accurate and deadly. To be hired by him was considered to be an honour, as he only hired the best. In the whole galaxy, he only had one rival.
----------
Caldwell and Kolya both wanted control. They wanted control of the galaxy, of the criminal world, but most of all, they wanted control of The Red Den. But Caldwell had one more thing he wanted, something he’d been searching a long time for. And Caldwell knew that if he got it, he would have control of The Red Den, the criminal underworld and the whole galaxy. One little thing would give him everything he needed to destroy Kolya and become the most powerful gang boss ever. However, it wasn’t really a thing he wanted.
It was a person.