The World Assembly Strangers' Bar

[Wrapper]

Dressler combs her hair thoughtfully again, accomplishing little more than a mess in the process. "If we consider that Lupinski is something of an expert on forgeries, that speaks pretty well to the quality of the evidence. Ar-, er, Kay, told me he was trying to blackmail her, then backed off when admitted to giving up her papers. Why do that if your blackmail is any good?"

AHUME: So, a bluff then. As far as Tollana, all indications are they were wiped out by the Eurondans, not by any tainted aid.

(Ari knocks on Herby's window.)

Arya? We need to talk.

[The Doomed Planet of Tollana]

(Ari knocks on Herby's window.)

Arya? We need to talk.

Just a minute! (quietly) "We need to talk." Helen, does Gerald talk to you like that? Like you're a petulant teenager in need of a lecture?

[The Imperial Frost Federation]

President Kensei was chatting with Albert who stood behind him when the device on his right wrist activated showing a hologram of Admiral Cardinal who saluted and said "Sir, the Fleet's arrived at the World Assembly Headquarters. We're just waiting for final landing instructions for the Advent Redeemer while the Serpents are stationed in orbit."

Kensei: "Excellent work Admiral, I'm sure the Wrapperian Delegation, Kay Haces and the involved parties will be happy to hear of the safe arrival of the Tollan survivors. I'll dispatch Commander Valkyrie and Sir Helsing over to you so that they can guide you and the Tollans who wish to speak with Kay Haces, and the Wrapperian Delegation to the Stranger's bar."

"Aye sir, I'll see Sir Helsing and Ilya in bay 12 then, over and out." replied the admiral as the hologram dimmed and faded away.

Looking over at Ilya the President then motioned for her to join him as he said, "Commander Valkyrie, please guide me over to World Assembly Hangar Bay 12 and escort our guests." Ilya nods as she shifts her gaze from the President to Wad Ahume and Agent Dressler and says, "If you'll excuse me for just a few minutes, Agent Dressler, and Wad Ahume, but the Fleet carrying the Tollans have arrived." Promptly standing up and exiting the bar swiftly as she, the foreign minister and the remaining 2 IFMP guards headed to hangar bay 12 leaving only the president and Albert in the Bar.

[Wallenburg]

(Ari knocks on Herby's window.)

Arya? We need to talk.

Just a minute! (quietly) "We need to talk." Helen, does Gerald talk to you like that? Like you're a petulant teenager in need of a lecture?

"I didn't hear anything condescending in his voice, Arya. And yes, Gerald does talk like Ari just did."

[The Doomed Planet of Tollana]

Just a minute! (quietly) "We need to talk." Helen, does Gerald talk to you like that? Like you're a petulant teenager in need of a lecture?

"I didn't hear anything condescending in his voice, Arya. And yes, Gerald does talk like Ari just did."

It's not condescension, it's more like disappointment. Want to stick around? I have nothing to hide anymore, hopefully you realize that. Front seat, Ari!

[Wallenburg]

"I didn't hear anything condescending in his voice, Arya. And yes, Gerald does talk like Ari just did."

It's not condescension, it's more like disappointment. Want to stick around? I have nothing to hide anymore, hopefully you realize that. Front seat, Ari!

She shrugs. "I'll stay here unless Ari demonstrates a desire for privacy. Sound good?"

[Wrapper]

(Ari enters the front seat -- looking forward out the front windshield, watching the Frost contingent exit the bar -- and closes the door. He speaks without looking toward the back seat, still watching what's going on in the bar, apparently oblivious to Helen's presence.)

Arya, the Tollans are overhead, they'll be here shortly, so I'll make this quick. Dressler mentioned a, umm, a tidy sum of money that you're sitting on, from the Tinfect arms shipment. I just want to know, just between me and you, what your int-- (he looks back and sees the dim outline of two figures in the dark) --oh. Erm. I'm sorry, I didn't... Umm.

[Wallenburg]

I just want to know, just between me and you, what your int-- (he looks back and sees the dim outline of two figures in the dark) --oh. Erm. I'm sorry, I didn't... Umm.

"Oh, um...hello Ari. So this is a personal conversation? I can step out of the car, if you would like that."

[The Doomed Planet of Tollana]

Ari, Helen knows I have nothing to hide anymore, we can speak freely in front of her. As a matter of fact, I'd already alluded to this payment, so she should hear this too.

Here's how it worked. Each time the Tollans paid for the CDSP missiles, they put the money in an account in my alias, Kay Haces. I kept a very small percentage of it, to cover expenses, and the rest would be withdrawn by Donnaugh and one other officer, whom I don't know, and then distributed to the others from there. And, yes, the thought had crossed my mind awhile back that the second officer could be Bell, but both Dressler and I doubt that's the case.

Anyway, when Narim made his deal directly with Markhov, he made the usual deposit into the account. Except, Tinfect had refused payment, and we'd lost communications with Tollana so I could not reverse the payment. Now, Donnaugh and his cronies had no idea it was there. They were expecting no more payments, because they couldn't get their hands on any more missiles; Dressler thinks that's because that's when the smuggling ring was discovered. So, my original intentions were, hide the money for now, and if Donnaugh found out about it, I could use it as leverage. To what end, I hadn't decided, maybe to expedite another shipment, or to find out what Bell's role was, anything, I hadn't really sorted it out yet when everything went to hell.

It's out of my hands now; I gave Dressler the account information and access to it. She thinks we may be able to use it as bait to ensnare Donnaugh and his cronies, with the understanding that if it doesn't work out, the money goes back to the Tollans, since Markhov has made it plain that Tinfect wants no part of any payment.

Now, please tell me, you didn't think I was keeping that money, did you?

[Wallenburg]

Now, please tell me, you didn't think I was keeping that money, did you?

"No, of course not." Helen notices one of her staff enter the bar, look around, motion to Gerald to follow him, and leave. "And I do hope Dressler learns something about Donnaugh through that account."

My lord, she really trusts me, doesn't she?

Unless she's playing you still.

Oh, shut up.

[Wrapper]

Now, please tell me, you didn't think I was keeping that money, did you?

"No, of course not." Helen notices one of her staff enter the bar, look around, motion to Gerald to follow him, and leave. "And I do hope Dressler learns something about Donnaugh through that account."

(Of course not? Really? How is it Helen, of all people, trusts her more than I do right now?)

Arya, what I thought doesn't matter. What matters is what your intentions are now, and you've made them clear. I'm sorry if I doubted you, but you have to admit, after the last few weeks.... Look, we'll talk about this another time, but Monte will be here shortly, and more Tollans are coming as well through the Stargate; The Nox have evacuated about a dozen outposts in their area. You should, umm, you should... you should really take a quick shower. Just sayin'. Because between you and Agent Dressler....

[Elke and Elba]

Ambassador Norrland walks into the bar, after moving the equipment to the other side of the road, where the Embassy occupied seven floors of the building alongside other Elkean firms and Elkean interest. It was much easier to get a tenancy, thank goodness, and a lot more favourable in terms of views versus being next to a... toilet or a morgue for old, frail, dead ambassadors.

Upon seeing the Wads, she asked how they were doing, and hoped she'd get a cordial response. She looks around, and didn't see Furretium, nor the ambassadors who thought she was telephatic. Bell was no where to be seen as well.

Weird, she thought. She had only been gone for a while. Or was it for a while? She had no idea. Furnishing the different arms of the Foreign Ministry opposite the road without help was a pain yet a relaxing thing compared to the gloomy humdrum mood of the World Assembly complex. Yet the Bar brought familiar feelings back to her. She just wished everyone she met was here. Like Ambassador Sia Hedeishi of Hakio. Or the guy from Rotwood. Or Epikoe and the faeries of Eireann Fae. Yet they were all not here, even Bell wasn't. The Wads seemed like the only living ambassador present left from... last year.

[Wrapper]

(Ahume nods to the Frost contingent as they leave, then nods to Alethea as she enters. The device on his wrist buzzes, signaling the activation of the Stargate. He punches a code into the device as he hurriedly exits the bar.)

---

(Ari watches as Arya quickly leaves Herby.)

Oh, Miss Trevanyika? Before you go. Can you and I speak frankly for a moment?

[Wallenburg]

(Ari watches as Arya quickly leaves Herby.)

Oh, Miss Trevanyika? Before you go. Can you and I speak frankly for a moment?

Helen's eyebrow raises slightly, but she nods and stays. "What would you like to speak about, Wad Alaz?"

[Ferret Civilization]

Furettium slipped back into the bar after slipping out to refresh himself after all the interesting events had taken place and made sure everything was okay with his stuff back at his little office thing. Finding most the other people were gone, probably off finishing up getting the Tollans here and such or whatever other long list of problems the other ambassadors faced. He saw Norrland and went over to say hi.

[Wrapper]

Helen's eyebrow raises slightly, but she nods and stays. "What would you like to speak about, Wad Alaz?"

I just wanted to say... Thank you, for helping her, for saving her life, when I couldn't. You could have turned your back on her, after she put you through emotional hell, but you didn't. You're what they call a "class act", Miss Travanyika, and that's a very good thing. Wad Ahume agrees; perhaps you've noticed he doesn't stammer or mumble when he talks to you anymore? That means he trusts you. And there are a lot of people here he doesn't trust. And... I trust you too. Which is why we need to talk about what happens next with Arya -- or I should say, with Kay, we should get used to referring to her as Kay, not Arya or even Kay Haces, she's made it plain she wants to be called Kay in front of the Tollan.

[Wallenburg]

Helen's eyebrow raises slightly, but she nods and stays. "What would you like to speak about, Wad Alaz?"

I just wanted to say... Thank you, for helping her, for saving her life, when I couldn't. You could have turned your back on her, after she put you through emotional hell, but you didn't. You're what they call a "class act", Miss Travanyika, and that's a very good thing. Wad Ahume agrees; perhaps you've noticed he doesn't stammer or mumble when he talks to you anymore? That means he trusts you. And there are a lot of people here he doesn't trust. And... I trust you too. Which is why we need to talk about what happens next with Arya -- or I should say, with Kay, we should get used to referring to her as Kay, not Arya or even Kay Haces, she's made it plain she wants to be called Kay in front of the Tollan.

The Tollan? wonders Trevanyika. That could be the father. Never mind that, Helen, say something!

"Why, thank you for the compliment, good Wad. I'm glad you find me trustworthy. And I'll try to call her Kay from now on. So...what is your foremost concern about her?"

[Wrapper]

The Tollan? wonders Trevanyika. That could be the father. Never mind that, Helen, say something!

"Why, thank you for the compliment, good Wad. I'm glad you find me trustworthy. And I'll try to call her Kay from now on. So...what is your foremost concern about her?"

(OOC: The Tollan is the proper terminology when referring to the Tollan people as a race in Stargate lore. I've been using Tollan and Tollans interchangeably.)

She's going to need your help again. Arya doesn't know it yet, but the Nox have found a suitable planet for the Tollan, only a few light years from the Nox homeworld. They will propose to escort the remaining Tollan from Nox to the new planet, in exchange for pretty much nothing. Should the Tollan accept, it will mean sending the refugees to Nox via the Stargate in our office -- oh. Erm. I don't know if you know about the, erm, the portal we use to travel here? It's pretty much an open secret by now.

[Wallenburg]

(OOC: The Tollan is the proper terminology when referring to the Tollan people as a race in Stargate lore. I've been using Tollan and Tollans interchangeably.)

OOC: Fascinating.

She's going to need your help again. Arya doesn't know it yet, but the Nox have found a suitable planet for the Tollan, only a few light years from the Nox homeworld. They will propose to escort the remaining Tollan from Nox to the new planet, in exchange for pretty much nothing. Should the Tollan accept, it will mean sending the refugees to Nox via the Stargate in our office -- oh. Erm. I don't know if you know about the, erm, the portal we use to travel here? It's pretty much an open secret by now.

"Yes, it seems to operate generally as the Nether portal works in our office, just more efficiently and safely." Helen shivers a bit. "Anyhow, I think I am beginning to see the problem. As the ambassador for Wrapper, you would be obligated to arrest her as she tries to go to Nox, since she would have to enter your office. Am I correct?"

[Wrapper]

"Yes, it seems to operate generally as the Nether portal works in our office, just more efficiently and safely." Helen shivers a bit. "Anyhow, I think I am beginning to see the problem. As the ambassador for Wrapper, you would be obligated to arrest her as she tries to go to Nox, since she would have to enter your office. Am I correct?"

Exactly. So. Between you and Arya, and the couple hundred Tollans who will be here... in their robes... which all look alike... I'm sure you and Arya can figure out a way to get her to the Nox homeworld without Arya using our Stargate. If you understand what I mean.

[Wallenburg]

Exactly. So. Between you and Arya, and the couple hundred Tollans who will be here... in their robes... which all look alike... I'm sure you and Arya can figure out a way to get her to the Nox homeworld without Arya using our Stargate. If you understand what I mean.

"Well, my people certainly do not have the technological capacity to transport her indepen--ah, I see what you mean, Ari. Yes, I think my office can work something out. Something clandestine."

[Wrapper]

Exactly. So. Between you and Arya, and the couple hundred Tollans who will be here... in their robes... which all look alike... I'm sure you and Arya can figure out a way to get her to the Nox homeworld without Arya using our Stargate. If you understand what I mean.

"Well, my people certainly do not have the technological capacity to transport her indepen--ah, I see what you mean, Ari. Yes, I think my office can work something out. Something clandestine."

Ah, don't say anything more, I don't need to know how you figure it out. So, nothing to hide anymore, Arya says. So she's told you the truth about the baby's father then?

[Wallenburg]

"I think she may have been about to tell me, but now she has left. I don't believe her earlier story about the father, though. It is simply fantastical!"

[Wrapper]

"I think she may have been about to tell me, but now she has left. I don't believe her earlier story about the father, though. It is simply fantastical!"

Yes, well, none of us who knew Benjamin well enough believed that earlier story either.

[Wallenburg]

Yes, well, none of us who knew Benjamin well enough believed that earlier story either.

"Wait, what? Oh, no, I didn't mean that. I believed that for a moment, simply because I couldn't believe she would risk toying with me about Bell like that. When I said 'her earlier story', I meant her assertion that the child has no father, alive or dead."