FURTHER INSIDE THE COMPOUND

Drono felt a prickle go up his neck as he stopped mid step. Slowly, he turned. He knew before he saw her, what was going to happen. A'Lotza was a tall, curvy, powerfully built asari. With eyes that would stop a cruiser and smile that never left her face. Her body was decked out in the typical outfit of a woman who was more home inside a ships internals then a club. Drono cursed. Two years ago, he would have melted at the sight of her. Things were different now. Much, much different. He shot his Bartarian bodyguard a quick look. [color=palegreen]"I'll be right back."[/color]

"Dr-" She began but he headed her off. Taking her by the elbow and leading her aside. Her face said it all. Anger, betrayal, annoyance, confusion. Luckily there were nobody else about. Drono felt like his world was spinning. This was not happening. Not now, not ever.

[color=palegreen]"Not here. Not now"[/color] He spoke silently and with a harshness to him that clearly took the Asari back. She pursed her lips and put a hand to her hips. Holding her torch usually meant for welding 20 inch plate under his chin. He was suddenly very aware of how dead he would be if she wanted to.

"Oh?" Her eyes narrowed. "Working a angle are you?" She said, lighting the pilot flame. He swallowed hard.

[color=palegreen]"Something like that."[/color] Drono shot back, backing away slightly.

"And what is in it for me?" She shot. Business like, but to angry to be calculating. She wasn't a hustler. She worked for chop shops but she never cared much for the scam and the con. She had been their designated mechanic back in the day, not someone he brought onto the jobs. 

[color=palegreen]"I... What?!"[/color] Drono exclaimed, eyed wide. He was caught of guard.

"You heard me. Two years and not a goddamn word Drono. You are lucky I don't just drag you out and let them do to you and your crew whatever they do posers. Although Yestin might object to that." Yestin's name made Drono sour instantly. Did she know? She didn't seem to. So that meant he kept his mouth shut. Made sense, you didn't want whoever Drono actually got along with to ruin your new future if you were Yestin.

[color=palegreen]"I was shot."[/color] He said softly, trying to calm her. 

"You've been shot before." She growled. Clearly he needed a silver tongue to get out of this.

[color=palegreen]"This time it was worse. Different."[/color] He said, his voice dropping. As did his eyes.

"Oh. And that is a excuse to let me fret. We may not be bumpin' uglies anymore. But you were my friend. I am your FRIEND. And friends don't disappear the second they strike big. First you, then Yestin. God dammnit!"

[color=palegreen]"Yeah about that. Friends are not all they are cut out to be."[/color] Drono stared at her. His voice was hollow. The look in his eyes matching the voice. But there was white hot anger burning deep in that hollow.

"...No." She stepped back. A sudden realization hitting her like a truck. "Yestin."

[color=palegreen]"Yeah. Yeah. That."[/color] His voice came back in a snarl. His entire body tense. [color=palegreen]"A slug right to the fucking spine."[/color] He stepped up to her now. Not letting her eyes go. Nobody cornered him, not even his friends.

"But. He always looked after you." She protested. He could see the heartbreak in her eyes. The desperate need for it to not be true. She had loved them both once. They had both failed her in various ways. But this. This was far worse. He figured he'd just tear the knife out so she could bleed and heal.

[color=palegreen]"Guess he got tired keeping my back clear. So he shot me in it. Dropped his vile little concoction in the wound. I cannot sleep on my back. I cannot go more then three months without taking industrial grade painkillers. That, is what friends get you. That is what trust GET YOU."[/color]

"Son of a bitch... He said you absconded with part of the haul.." She slumped back. Tears in her eyes. "He made it sound like you abandoned us both. Abandoned me." He knelt down to her level where she sat. Tilting his head.

[color=palegreen]"I did not abandon you. And I am getting him back."[/color] He said. Feeling a little shitty for slapping her down like that.

]"He is rich Drono. He got in with Salarian weapon makers. Really heavy shit." She bagan to argue. The despair thick in her voice. Clearly, she knew more then he did. But that gave him an idea and he cut her off.

[color=palegreen]"You still got an in?"[/color] A calm, calculating edge to his voice. A'lotza stared at him. Tilting her head in turn. She had seen him like this before. 

"...Yes?" She said, a bit hesistant. It was clear Drono was working some sort of angle in his head to get back at their old friend. ANd she wanted in. She was seething with anger. 

[color=palegreen]"Good. Remember. I didn't abandon you. And I won't abandon you. I am actually rolling with some legit crew now. You'd like 'em."[/color]  He said, easing her back from the pits of anger. He didn't need her angry. He needed her on his side, he needed her onboard. 

"...You totally got a new piece on the side." She shot back at hims suddenly. A cheeky, shit eating grin on her face. Drono stared for a solid minute. Mouth agape. Trying to to find the words.

[color=palegreen]"...What. How?"[/color] He finally asked, still gaping.

"You don't function properly without someone kicking your ass and distracting that adhd brain of yours." She said so matter of factly that Drono was seriusly reconsidering his entire past for a second.

[color=palegreen]"...I feel oddly exposed."[/color] He said, scratching his head. [color=palegreen]"Anything else you can tell."[/color]

"You are gonna scam someone big time." She said as he she crossed her arms. It made her.. bigger in a way. Drono coughed. 

[color=palegreen]"...Well that one don't count. You know who I am. When am I not working a scam or a hustle?"[/color] He said matter of factly, getting slowly up to his feet proper again.

"Your crew." She said as he reached out to offer her a hand up.

[color=palegreen]"Huh?"[/color] Drono was once more caught a little off guard. Honest people were so hard to wrap their head around. He had met hammers less blunt.

"They aren't a hustle right." She prodded him in the chest.

[color=palegreen]"... Well no." [/color]

"So who are you scamming?"

[color=palegreen]"I can't really tell you. But You should get out before it goes off."[/color]

"Ohhhhhh." She got up. "Well I did just fix my buggy. I should probably get going then." He was amused by her sudden urgency. He still got it. She was not only in, but she was taking his word as truth. Despite the fact he was a the biggest conartist she had ever met. That was one crisis taken care of.

[color=palegreen]"You still got the same Com-Handle?"[/color] He asked.

"Yeah. Call me when you are ready to get that Slimebag." She shot back. The venom in her voice made think of the jungle he was thankfully not trekking trough.

[color=palegreen]"Will do."[/color] He assured her.

"Or if you need help understanding the opposite sex." She smirked. He once more stood staring. Once he finally spoke it was far less dignified.

[color=palegreen]"....Uncalled for."[/color] He muttered.

"Not really no." She said with a laugh like a windturbine. 

[color=palegreen]"Fuck you. I was good."[/color] He mumbled.

"You can talk a iron rod into a knot. But faced with good honest interest? Your silver turns to lead." She smirked. "Its kinda cute." 

[color=palegreen]"You..."[/color] He began before he suddenly had an idea. [color=palegreen]"Before you... buggy out."[/color] The pun got a groan. "Could you part with your mechanics badge and clearence?" 

"Yeah? Oh. Shit. Your planning something real bad."

[color=palegreen]"Not me. My crew gives me a run for my money you know." [/color]

"...Matriach help me. A whole ship full of Drono-scale disasters." She said as she handed him her credentials. "That will get you into any hanger I've worked in. And the tools storage. Possibly some of the other places."

[color=palegreen]"Thanks Doll."[/color]

"..."

[color=palegreen]"No Doll. Got it."[/color]

"Good. Be seeing you. And [i]soon[/i] or I will find you." 

[color=palegreen]"Right."[/color] He watched her go. He idly weighed the passcard in his hand. Biting his lip he turned to head back.