Roka listened patiently to Captain Vikargo's instructions , noting with interest the wave of disgust that came rolling off of the good doctor at the notion of being paired with Roka. The Balosar had to chuckle at the thought as he mindlessly recited the chant Vikargo had set before them. Was it racism? Class divide? The Death Sticks? Probably the Death Sticks, Roka mused. He finished the chant with the rest of the crew, noting that the Doc had left already. Roka stood and popped the small vial between his teeth, gingerly holding it in place as he headed for the door back to the hanger bay. Roka smiled as his senses picked up on a familiar aura, the stowaway kid from earlier. Maybe he could prove useful.

Zal' stepped out into the empty-looking hallway and leaned against a bulkhead. He could feel the boy close by, though hiding pretty well. Curious about what was going on, probably. [color=92278f]"I know you're there, kid."[/color] He said, taking the vial out of his teeth and picking at the seal. [color=92278f]"Bast, right? You wanted off that crapshoot of a station, I don't begrudge you that."[/color] He said, glancing in the direction he knew the boy was hiding and giving him a smile. [color=92278f]"But out here, especially with spacers and scavs, you gotta earn your keep. 'Bout ten minutes from now we'll be in the Alderaan graveyard. Crawling with Imps, choked with asteroids. I could use a gunner.Someone to watch my back. You learn a skill, maybe the captain won't drop you off on some backwater moon. Think about it."[/color] He said, tipping his head back and draining the viscous liquid into his mouth. Roka winced and tucked the empty vial away, shaking his head. 

[color=92278f]"One more thing: Never do Death Sticks."[/color]

A few minutes later, Roka had made it to the hanger bay, and onto his ship. His first stop was his cabin, where he strapped on his shoulder holster; smiling at the familiar bite of the leather. Next up, his belt holsters, all decked out with his blasters. He put his vest on and grinned into his mirror, noting the fuzziness at the edge of his vision. He was trying something different with the Sticks, just trying to take the edge off his senses, not go over the edge. Maybe this dose was slightly too much... No matter, it was done now. Roka's head had cleared, no longer could he feel the cold hand of despair clutching at his heart. Heading back into the hanger proper, Roka pasted a smile onto his face when he saw the doctor. [color=92278f]"Ah, there you are!"[/color] He called, noting that he couldn't feel the aura coming from the other man anymore either. [color=92278f]"It'll be nice to have some company around here, usually it's just me and the Holos!"[/color] He said with a chuckle, thinking back to Vikargo's remark about his ship. Quite funny actually, even if it were meant as a dig. [color=92278f]"Ready to come aboard, friend?"[/color]

[@frapet][@Almosegosum]