[b][u][i][h1][center]Galactic Bazaar[/center][/h1][/i][/u][/b] [center](A Collaboration post with [@The Man Emperor])[/center] "[b][color=red]Sheesh, as dirty and crowded as we left it...Out of all the places we could go to spend cash, why the hell would it be back here?[/color][/b]" Alan asked as he and Maria walked through the main street of the Bazaar, his hands behind his back as he stared at the surrounding environment, bored and unimpressed. "[b][color=violet]...It is a merchant's melting pot, varied in qualities and prices.[/color][/b]" Maria simply said, staring outward as if through the crowds and into space. She was as doll-like and lifeless as ever it seems. "[b][color=red]And a paradise for thieves and con-men. I don't think I ever liked large marketplaces like this; it's too loud and so annoyingly crowded, and it just....well, it brings up some bad memories, let's put it that way. ...Why are you even dragging me here? I thought you put your money in some secret account or some shit.[/color][/b]" Alan asked; as loud and talkative as ever it seems. "[color=violet][b]To help get away from the crowds and noise. You claim to grow up in places like this. Perhaps you know things about this environment that I do not. A roof is suitable.[/b][/color]" "[color=red][b]Can't you just fly up there?[/b][/color]" "[color=violet][b]Negative. It would bring unneeded attention.[/b][/color]" She said as they headed towards Klein's location unwittingly. [hr] Klein, having been unaware that Maria and Alan were heading right towards his location, was still wandering around, a glazed doughnut in his hand. He took tentative bites every now and then, salivating at the sweet glaze as he did so. It has been a long time since he had a moment of peace, even if it was in the middle of a massive, crowded space station. "Scary ass bastard." Klein thought, memories of being accosted by Squad 0 flashing through his mind. "Can't tell anyone to do anything without threatening them. Hmph. I'll get back on you one day, when this job is done. What job is it even?! They just told me to go in and... ugh." A mere moment later, he saw Alan and Maria, and they were headed right towards him, their eyes clearly seeing him right now. Did they recognize him? Or...? "Oh, by God. Too soon." Discreetly, he started to walked away. He had long legs and a fast pace; it won't take long for him to disappear. It was now or never... [hr] Indeed they did notice him, and indeed they did recognize him, it didn't take long for them to recognize a 'friend' that hasn't been seen for a long time. Especially so when they were last seen doing something memorable...like deserting them right before the Battle of Proxima. Sure nothing actually happened after that battle and the Rau've turned out nicer than expected, but they certainly did not know that at the time. Klein may as well have left all of his allies to death that day, had the Rau've been as merciless as believed. Maria said and did nothing, simply staring at Klein with those dead eyes of hers. "[color=violet][b]Oh... hello.[/b][/color]" She simply said, unperturbed and calm as if everything was normal. "[b][color=red]...Klein?[/color][/b]" Alan simply said, wincing his eyes so as to ensure he wasn't making a mistake. He then noticed that Klein was about ready to book it out of there, and so he ran after him. "[b][color=red]OH No you don't, get back here![/color][/b]" Alan said as he chased after Klein. Maria simply stood there, looking up towards the sky and proceeding to check if any rooftops were accessible. [hr] Klein quickened his pace, trying very hard not to break into a full run in order not to draw any attention to himself amongst the crowd. He would, however, bump right unto a particularly opulent Gill, whose great girth knocked him back a little. Grinning nervously, he briskly walked past the Gill, only to trip on a Kanarusian Feldraken's tail, who looked upon him with a face of death. "I'm so sorry." Klein blurted out, trying to get up, but Alan would soon catch him right then and there... [hr] Alan was having just as much trouble getting through the crowds, a major reason he hated crowded places like this in the first place. In his case however, it seemed someone else bumped into him, he could feel a human handprint right on his back and pushing him forward. "[b][color=red]Hey, what the fuck, man!?[/color][/b]" "[b][color=blue]Sorry matey, in a hurry![/color][/b]" This fucker didn't even turn to face him as he said that. All Alan could see of him was tail of a red coat consumed in the crowded mass and some weird ass hat. "[i][color=red]Who the hell...? Whatever, head in the game, A. Head in the fucking game.[/color][/i]" Alan thought. Fortunately for him, this was about the time his target tripped on a Kanarusian tail and as soon as Alan caught eyes with Klein again, he took the chance and bolted towards him like a missile, not giving a fuck who he himself pushes out his way. "[b][color=red]Every step you take away from me's a punch to your cowardly face, asshat, I'd suggest stopping while it's still just one.[/color][/b]" [hr] "Fine, fine." Klein stood up from his fall, using his cane to support himself. He looked forward, his other hand twitching just a little itty bit. "Sorry, have we met before? I don't remember." [I]Yes we have.[/I] [hr] [i]The Audacity...[/i] Without warning, as if in response to the question, Alan gets close and goes in for a quick sucker punch to Klein's left cheek. ...He [i]did[/i] say Klein was at one, after all. [hr] "Ow..." Klein fell backwards unto the floor, much to the surprise of surrounding onlookers. "What... Oh, it's you. I remember now. Alan... was it? You're still mad at me for deserting, huh?" [hr] In response Alan grabbed hold of him and dragged him away, looking at the Onlookers. "[b][color=red]Dine-and-Dasher. Been sent to bring him back to [i]pay back his dues.[/i] ...Nothing to see here, go about your lives.[/color][/b]" He said, as he and Klein head towards a back alley, the others seeming to believe what he said about him. When the two were alone, he pushed him towards a wall. "[b][color=red]Don't go treating it like a minor inconvenience. Friends [i]died[/i] in that battle, and we were in a position where we'd be next. Luckily for you, things didn't go out as we expected it to. So that punch is for abandoning us like you did. Far as I'm concerned, you've paid your debt now and only reason why I'm not going to flat-out [i]kill[/i] you is because those Aliens weren't as bloodthirsty as we were told. I don't know what kind of coincidence brought you here, but at least you had to have grown some balls to show your face to us again either way.[/color][/b]" He said to him. [hr] "I know..." Klein replied simply, looking down on Alan because he was just way taller. "I abandoned my friends because I was afraid, a coward, as you said. I didn't want to have any more part in the war, so I fled right before the battle." Sighing, Klein softly continued. "You don't have to forgive me. Just let me fight again, with you. Maybe that can suffice as atonement for abandoning you all. Who else is there?" [hr] Alan gave a sigh. On the one hand, Klein's only real vice he's seen is that cowardice of his. Throughout the time that he's seen him, Klein has been a lot of things to Alan and a liar isn't one of them. On the other hand, he didn't think Crowley or his posse of ladies were murderous psychopaths and boy, did they prove him wrong. "[b][color=red]...Okay...I'll take you to them. It's best we meet up with them together as opposed to me simply explaining it to you. All you need to know right now is that Maria is still with us...and Tarak...[i]and Nero.[/i] So you might want to brace yourself before we get there, cause I've been reunited with most of them for a short time myself, so I honestly don't know how any of them will react to you coming back. Ashton's literally the only one I'm picturing will be completely forgiving.[/color][/b]" He said, loosening his hold on Klein and looking out towards the main street before then getting close again. "[b][color=red]One more thing, just so we're crystal clear...? Since you weren't at the battle of Proxima, you probably have no idea...But we got betrayed before. You know Squad 0? ...Those bitches - Crowley especially included - butchered the Squad Leaders...Most of 'em. Our crew has the only ones left alive. Moreover, this rebel situation is important, nay, vital to them. So if you do something to fuck us up, like leave us for dead, or something even worse... it'll really [i]burn[/i] me up! ...Are we clear?[/color][/b]" Alan then said, while he tried to be calm, the very moment he said "burn" his free hand erupted into white flames, and kept burning like a torch. [hr] "What...?" Klein looked keenly surprised, not because he was pretending really hard not to know about the betrayal of Squad 0, but he really didn't know that they had slaughtered the squad leaders. When they intercepted him, they weren't exactly sharing any details. All he knew that their boy leader went from a sweet kid to a mad psychopath that threatened him and his family back in Cerespont. "They killed the squad leaders..." Grunting, Klein fixed his gaze back at Alan. "Crystal clear it is, then. I won't leave you, not again. The guilt of one time is bad enough." [hr] Alan stared into his eyes, and while he couldn't completely put his faith in him, the answer he gave was good enough for him. He gave a few nods and finally lets Klein go. His hand still on fire. "[b][color=red]Ok, Our first step should probably be to get back to Maria. Kind of left her alone there when I was chasing you.[/color][/b]" He said, having Klein follow him back down the road, people seeming to stare now at the fact that his hand was on fire, but no smoke from it. [hr] "You're keeping that on?" Klein whispered, concerned that Alan was exposing himself with his magic. "Ugh, nevermind." He kept on walking, simply following Alan. Now, what's next... [hr] "[color=red][b]Hmm...? Oh this? It's a little hard to turn it off sometimes, and I'd rather not wait on it and keep her alone. Let them think I'm a circus freak or something, and give it a minute, it'll go out eventually.[/b][/color]" He said as he walked. He couldn't afford to worry about himself at the moment, and it's not like he really gave a shit about how people viewed him anyways. [hr] "Huh..." Klein nodded. He hoped that the people in there would find it in them to trust him again, or at least tolerate him. He needs it to happen. There is no other way.