The [i]Bessy Girl[/i] exited hyperspace seconds after the [i]Ranger[/i] flying down towards Zaron a few thousand kilometers behind the larger freighter. Jean kept his distance not wanting to startle his quarry. It’d been an easy trip, the [i]Ranger[/i] while not advertising its presence didn’t seem interested in hiding from possible pursuers making Jean’s job all the easier. And while the planet Zaron was an odd choice for the freighter to stop, Jean doggedly stuck to his task, sipping whiskey at the control panel of his corvette while breaking the planet’s atmosphere.

	The [i]Ranger[/i] took a sharp dive just before it reached the city coming to rest at a small out-of-the-way spaceport. Jean passed overhead jerking on the controls to perform a slight roll hovering upside down just long enough to confirm his suspects had exited their spacecraft. Righting the [i]Bessy Girl[/i] Jean made a straight course for the nearby city. His ship was clearly marked as a law vessel, and a small joint like that would probably have the honor amidst thieves to warn the [i]Ranger’s[/i] crew in time. He’d have to arrive inconspicuously on hoof.

	The air traffic grew absurdly thick over the city and it took the better part of twenty minutes for Jean to find an open lot, land, secure his corvette and saddle up Leeroy. After shoving enough kredit tabs into the meter drone to keep [i]Bessy Girl[/i] from being impounded for a full day Jean rode hard for the smaller spaceport outside the city, making sure to tuck his badge away under his vest.

	The ride didn’t take nearly as long as Jean expected, Leeroy made excellent time even rushing through the close nit trees, the sure footed spugghoss darting like a fox between the plants. The two crested a small rise, passing a number of grounded ships before Jean dismounted by the diner. The gritty assemblage of galactic creatures there didn’t give the sheriff a second look, he fit in well without his badge. Just another ruffian stopping for a drink or a quick bite of chow. Jean left Leeroy to graze, trusting the spugghoss to stick around before stalking inside, his spurs clinking with every step. Locating the alien who appeared to work there Jean ambled up, tipping his hat politely.

	[color=0072bc]“Howdy partner, I’m reckoning you own this fine establishment.”

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	[color=a36209]“You’d be reckonin’ wrong stranger, though I do work here. Welcome to Angie’s, how can I help you?” [/color]The alien, who looked to have wooden skin and antlers inconspicuously shoved a poster into his pocket. [color=a36209]“We serve breakfast till five so you got thirty three seconds if you’re looking to get our famous boiled Frupple legs.”[/color]

	[color=0072bc]“Naw, I ain’t lookin’ for a meal hoss.” [/color]Jean leaned against the wooden counter, lowering his voice ever so slightly. [color=0072bc]“I’m actually lookin’ for a ship, well, the ship’s owner more realistically. I’ve got important business with them I think she touched down in these parts not too long ago.”

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	[color=a36209]“She…?” [/color]The alien’s wooden eyebrows rose ever so slightly.

	[color=0072bc]“Yeah, she as in the ship. Ya know how these things are.”

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	[color=a36209]“Oh aye, yeah, yeah.”[/color] The alien pulled a dirty rag off its antlers and began to wipe the counter top, his movements methodic and slow. [color=a36209]“So which ship are we talkin’ here?”

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	Jean smiled, confident now. He pretended to think, stroking his chin. [color=0072bc]“The [i]Ranger[/i] I believe it was. A big freighter ship, the kind traders use. Ringing any bells hoss?”
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	[color=a36209]“I know just the one.” [/color]The alien assured rehanging the rag on his antlers. For just a moment Jean caught a rather suspicious smirk on the alien’s face, but it was gone again in the next second. [color=a36209]“I don’t know where her captain is, off in the city somewhere. But I’d be happy to introduce you to her first mate. Foller me.”

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	The two ambled out of the diner, engaging in a little small talk. Jean walked at an easy pace in no rush, careful to not appear overly interested. Several times the alien who introduced himself as Valen attempted to pry into Jean’s “business” but was constantly frustrated by the sheriff’s dismissive manner. Together they rounded the port and the docked freighter came into sight, along with a number of its crew.

 	[color=a36209]“There she lies, a nice ship don’t you think.” [/color]Valen announced as they approached. [color=a36209]“Captained by Urma Looper, one of the better ‘traders’ in the galaxy.” [/color]Here Valen let the name resonate, looking for any reaction from Jean.

	[color=0072bc]“Ain’t that right?” [/color]Jean said, not falling for the trap. [color=0072bc]“Ain’t that a famous name for something, yeah, she did that godawful music track, th’ Goobic Roar. Back on the Sol System. My lady friend at the time had to drag me kickin’ and screamin’ to that fiesta desastre.”

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	[color=a36209]“No the Captain of this ship, isn’t musically gifted…. I don’t think.”
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	[color=0072bc]“I wouldn’t know hoss. Maybe they share a name. If that’s actually who captains this ship.”

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	[color=a36209]“You don’t know the name of the person you’re doing business with?”
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	[color=0072bc]“They’re the mysterious type.” [/color]Jean explained, clapping the wooden skinned alien on the shoulder. [color=0072bc]“Gotta be careful these days ya know. She’s no fool that gal. It was like wrangling a rattler just trying to pin down a single planet with her, let alone something as specific as a space port.”[/color]

	[color=a36209]“Ha, you can say that again stranger. Ursa likes to keep things down tight.”[/color] Valen chuckled, before waving down a large black man with a goatee and metal dreadlocks. [color=a36209]“Hoy Mac, I got someone whose been looking for you.”[/color] The man in question stood a full head higher than Jean, and the roughrider would’ve sworn the very ground rumbled with each of his pounding footsteps. Not to be intimidated Jean shoved his fingers into his gun belt and stood his ground, eyeing the proposed first mate up and down.

	[color=0072bc]“Howdy there, I hear you’ve got the Cap’n of this fine freighter’s ear if not else. You must be Mac.” [/color]Jean reached up and touched the tip of his hat with one finger.[color=0072bc] “Th’ name’s Jean. And I’m looking to have a nice chat with your captain, Ursa, I think it was…”[/color] Behind Jean, Valen groaned aloud having realized his mistake to late. Jean smiled holding out his hand to shake.[color=0072bc] “Now that is a famous name.”
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