Bargains II

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A large structure takes shape its walls, steel bleeding of rust, its roof curved and ribbed, it's paneled atop by glass offering light to come in and lit the hangar inside; boisterous and crowded noises of machines and people can be heard echoing from inside. To the side of the yard were the workers taking breaks from their shift and smoking their pipettes. unaware they are stalked by two would-be thieves.

"We can't be cooking ourselves in the sun all day, we have to talk to them, Kaja,"

                      "And we can't show them our faces, inquiring how to steal their ship and where the entrance is..."

"Listen, if all goes south, We still have the small one from before,"

                      "You underestimate the tower, that small vessel won't be able to handle wind currents at that height..." Kaja says as he eyes the workers in his periphery.

"Stay here," Lyra stood up and crossed the street and headed to the workers. She took out from her bag three bottles of deleen and held them up in front of them "Hey! I'm selling drinks, you guys look like you could use some." Lyra offers.

                     "How much for a del then?" asked a bald man, sweat visible in his entirety.

"Uhm... one lit?" she says forcefully doubt clings to her.

                     "What? Piss off kindly miss we're not rich folks to pay ye' nonsense." Said the bald worker as he retreats back to the front of the yard, his mates in tow disappointed by the false promise of a cool drink. The last worker stood up from his comfort, ready to get back to work only for Lyra to cut his steps "What do you want you overpricing piss?" asked the worker whilst wiping off his sweat and replacing it with grease.

"You can have them for free! I'll even give you five lits if you answer my questions," Lyra offered, handing him the drinks.

The man took and opened one, a fizzling noise rose as he waited for it to cool. He drank it; the faintly sweet taste tickles his tongue and its rising chill relaxes him, his barren throat now quenched, he sat once more.

"Do you know how to fly a ship?" asked Lyra looking to her side trying to catch a glimpse of Kaja still seated where she had left him.

                      "Aye I do, been taught it since I were young by my father. what's it to you?"

"We need to get to the very top of this tall tower you see... Gumul?" Lyra sat beside him, a smile straining her face. She took 5 lits from her pockets and held them in her hand. "If you fly us there I'll pay you fifty lits,"

                       "And what will we be flying with?"

"We got a ship not far from here," Lyra hands out the coins to him "We'll meet you here again and tell you when, its Lyra by the way and that guy there is Kaja," Lyra points the only man across, Kaja quickly averted his gaze and dodged her accusing hands, he does not succeed.

                       "Ah treasure seekers? That tower is empty like my pockets, A few of my mates raided it not long ago, but aye I'll ferry you..."

The worker nodded, put his gloves back on and stood up "M'name's Rosh, a third hand machinist, ask for me, til then I'll wait and you best come back with coin." Lyra nods as she retreats back to Kaja, the worker disappearing in a turn.

"I heard all of it... Last thing now is the ship. Either we steal the one inside or risk everything with a small one." Kaja's words greet Lyra as soon as she nears him.

                       "That went well didn't it," Lyra opened a bottle of del and handed it over to Kaja and another one for herself.

"Almost too well..." He inspects every crevasse of the yard, the dust and sand giving him a hard time. Kaja found small ventilation to the side and of decent size enough to accommodate would-be trespassers and the metal grate thin enough for him to remove by force.

"There..." He points for Lyra to see. "We can enter through there,in the cover of night. I'll turn and you cling to me. We get in and board the ship. A question you didn't ask is if the ship is skyworthy and how to get in it?"

"That's something that's going to make him suspicious of us... we'll have to ask someone else or figure it out somehow..." Lyra suggests.

They both take a sip of their deleens, formulating a plan as they do so.



The winds grow strong and the sands coarser. 

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