((Collab post between Letter Bee and Gentlemanvaultboy))

"Rudolf Pendrick?" asked a smooth, jovial voice, "Is that you?! Why, I haven't seen you since your company gave me the 'Sarlacc' Baskerville some years ago!" The 'Sarlacc' Baskerville was named after a beast featured in one of the seminal works of Old Earth Culture, a squid-like monster that burrowed within the earth, grabbing living beings with its tentacled maw and, after ingestion, digesting them slowly in order to cause the maximum amount of suffering. Mr. Hut - for that was who the voice was, was evidently still pleased with the creature.

"I guess you're here about Tops, yes? That traitor thinks he can hide his operations from me, but I know better..." the station's master trailed off.

"Mr. Hut," Rudolf replied gleefully. He had expected to perhaps get his secretary or some kind of call screening. Not only that, the man already knew he was here and what he was here for. "You're information network is just as extensive as the rumors suggest. It's spooky. Yes, you're absolutely right. I got information suggesting that Mr. Tops was connected to a... well I suppose you could call them an organization. A loose one. [i]Hobbyists[/i]." He nearly spat the word, like it was some repulsive bit of grime he wouldn't allow in his mouth for a moment longer than necessary. "Bad apples that cut and modify on whims, no respect for the creature before or after, no regard given to its health, giving all of my work a bad name! You can imagine my surprise when I heard that this terrible man was after you, so I thought I'd see whether I could offer my help."

"Your help would be most welcome," Mr. Hut replied, "I've already hired bounty hunters," okay, [i]one[/i] bounty hunter, but Rudolf didn't need to know that, "after Mr. Tops, but I need someone to go after the 'Unauthorized Baskervilles' he's making. You see, Benjamin Tops is dealing with the Sphinx in exchange for material and military support for a coup in Vegas Station, but is planning to throw the Sphinx out once he'd gotten their help. And thus, he's created, in the labyrinths inside the station's 'shell', an army of 'Rancors' - gigantic, roughly humanoid beasts with tough hides that can endure the Sphinx's favored Railguns. With these, he plans to become a Sector-wide power himself."

At the mention of the man creating his own no doubt hack-job lowest bidder Baskervilles Rudolf felt a stirring of personal indignence at the man that hadn't been there before.

"However, these Rancors' VI Handlers are not...advanced enough to adequately guide the creatures' unique, cunning, brains, and so Benjamin Tops has commissioned a 'Platinum VI Chip' from an unknown source, in order to more perfectly coordinate his creations." Mr. Hut said with loathing. "Find that chip and the army, and destroy them...then I will commission another one for my own use."

"If at all possible, sir..." he began awkwardly, trying to think of a way to phrase this. "I would prefer the creatures alive and this chip of his sounds quite interesting." Remmy was always saying that it was all well and good to do PR work like this, but Rudolf could imagine the mans face if he brought something they could profit off of from this expedition. Besides which, if this chip was as advanced as Mr. Hut implied it could potentially improve Baskerville survivability in the filed, which was always a plus. "Pardon me for bragging, but there isn't a Baskerville alive that I can't rehabilitate. It's a personal hobby of mine. We'd still be able to get you an army of these creatures, but I can't help but feel that given living specimens we'd be able to significantly improve both combat ability and temperament."

"Even better!" Mr. Hut spoke as though it was part of his plan all along. "Anyway, I'm in a meeting with the heir of the Guild of Free and Fair Trade right now; want to join us? He's the one who's providing bounty hunters against Tops."

"I would be delighted." Rudolf replied, wondering what he had been worrying about. The man had bought from them, he was an animal lover. There's no way he would have objected. Though hearing that the future head of the guild was out here was interesting. Wasn't Baskerville Security in the Guild? Didn't that make them his future boss? Rudolf didn't really pay attention to things like that. "Where would we be meeting?"

"My place in the Station's 'Core'; actually the 'bottom' of the larger structure's 'cylinder'," spoke Mr. Hut. "And I must say, you've sweetened a recent bargain we made..."

"That's nice to know. Thank you sir." Rudolf said as he began walking. Beside him GG got up from his position blocking the thoroughfare and began to tromp after him. The street they'd been standing on was packed, but aside from a few brave and curious souls who'd come up to take pictures of the giant Baskerville as they passed everyone had kept their distance from the two. Now that they were moving the circle of empty space that had formed around them seemed to move with they as people parted way to let them through. Rudolf paid this phenomena no mind, instead taking a quick look at his PDA before bringing it back to his ear. "How is Sarlacc, by the way? I know his scheduled checkup isn't for another two and a half weeks, but I could take care of that so long as I'm here."

"Oh, he's doing well; and yes, I'll need your help preparing him for Benjamin..." Mr. Hut trailed off sinisterly.

[i]He'll get sick if you feed him that.[/i] Rudolf though to himself, but what he said was "I'll enjoy seeing him again. See you soon, Mr. Hut." With that he flipped off his PDA and put it back in his pocket. "I wonder if he remembers me?" He asked dreamily to himself.