Music to my fins. (pine)

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Case closed!

The words of the police chef had spoken to Aldric the last time he had seen him. Aldric had just put a man behind bars and was told it would be on the Holo Net News. Not that he really cared for the attention But the pay he had received from the job was good.

He sat in his arm chair and looked out his window at the passing speeders and was playing his flute a slower toon that rang with a classical Alderanian beat. He stopped to take a breath and leaned over to grab his hot cocoa that had cooled to a drinkable temperature.

After he had ordered some science gear and books for himself he had still had some money left over and was now thinking about treating himself to some sort of meal.

Money so rare to my trade and now i have some and can't think about what to do with it?!

He had gotten into a habit of talking to himself and inanimate objects, he never really noticed it himself but others had and it seemed to annoy them beyond compare.

The idea then hit him like a rock,
A cantina!...Food? yes...Drink? obviously.
He needed to get out, of the apartment, until this morning he had been slightly sick, and the Crime he had solved just now was the first time he had actually left the house in almost a week.

With his location picked he had gotten up and pulled his trench coat on and grabbed his bag and slung it over his shoulder leaving for the nearest Cantina.

---

He Entered the bar that immediately smelt of bar smoke and cigars, He walked up to the Bar itself and began his order in his deep voice and like he always did spoke quickly,
Nerf steak and a Alderanian Ale.
The barkeep tilted his head to Aldric with one ear forward and an eye brow raised in a gesture of question.
To Aldric it was obvious that the ear tilt was because he was party deaf in the left ear.
Aldric had forgotten how he normally spoke fast so slowing himself down he turned to the barkeep again and spoke again.
Nerf steak and an Alderanian Ale.

"Ahh got ya coming right up sir.''

He then turned on the stool to look out over the crowd.

[Space Core]

The day had been long. Meetings with fellow politicians all through the morning, lunch with some business associates and a metric ton of paperwork all supposedly urgent to ruin his afternoon. Half of the latter had been a waste of his time, the other half had been a pain to deal with. But now he was free to waste the following few hours as he wished, and he knew exactly what he wanted to do.

------------------------------------------------

The bar was busy, that was good. An empty one would have yielded very few potentially interesting patrons. He remained still for a couple seconds in the doorway, leaning on his cane and examining the crowd. There was the usual collection of gutless businessmen and boring civilians, a completely and utterly uninteresting bunch. Beluga had nothing against them, they were certainly very interesting people in their own way, but none of them looked like they had anything interesting to tell.

Except one individual. A man who looked to be in his early thirties at the bar. His coat was one the Herglic had often seen worn by smugglers, those usually had a lot of pockets and hid weapons quite well. However while the coat was indicative of a criminal occupation, the man wearing it didn't look anything like a smuggler. Whatever the case may be, he seemed interesting enough.

A few limping strides later he was next to the trench coat wearing human.

"I'll have a glass of whiskey," the Herglic said in reply to the barman's unspoken question. "But not that swill you serve your usual customers. Bring me a glass of that Whyren Reserve you keep stashed away. It's bad luck to keep good whiskey untouched," he added before the barman could protest. As the man shifted over to get the drink Beluga pulled two stools together and sat, before turning to his neighbour. "You know I wasn't even sure he still had that," he told the human, chuckling all the while.

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Aldric was in the middle of his meal now when he started looking at the bar table that made a half curve around against the wall.

There was four others at the bar on stools, a Trandoshin, one Humans, a Duro, and a tall aquadic race he hadn't heard of. The Human seemed to have a bit of a bone to pick with Aldric dispite Aldric just being in his chair, this hinted something to Aldric that he didn't pick up on yet.

What is this ones problem? did i put one of his friends behind bars? He thought silently as he turned to the brute sized Man,
"Hey small fry, you mind i need that seat, i would hate you to leave with you face reconstructed." The smile was one of a Evil man that was shot down to Aldric.


Man at stool number one: Fish can't tell much about him.
Man on stool number two is myself.
Man on stool number three: Younger sharp dressed pale and had the money to actually but the drugs.
He ran through the Facts quickly in his head and one of the two was in the market for spice.

You won't be making any trouble. Aldric said slowly after a pause.
"If it'll get you outta my seat i will..."
Let me stop you there, It wasn't a 'I don't think you wont be making any trouble' It was a 'I know you won't be making any trouble.'
The man let a sharp laugh out before he could stop himself,
"And why not small fry?"
Aldric rolled his eyes before standing and actually having to look down on the man by a couple inches.

Why not? Because I'm not going to let you deal drugs to the person behind you.

With that the younger man clenched up a bit,
So the young boy is trying to buy the drugs that's fine, He got funny looks from the boy and bar keep and the drug dealer, it seamed though that all the on lookers had already kept up and knew what was going on, The barkeep who was worried about his bar getting torn up decided to hit a silent alarm under the counter, Aldric noticed the slight muscle movement and rolled his eyes at the drug dealer, put out his hand palm up; Give me the drugs and I'll personally testify to you getting help for you two's addiction when you go to coart.

With that the drug dealer pulled a blaster and aimed it at Aldric,
"Or how 'bout i don't and i try and get outa' here?"

Because then an extra charge would be added to the list for you and because when you leave you'll walk into the cops because the barkeep already called them.

With that a Police officer walked in to finish the job.

[Space Core]

Beluga's reaction at the altercation had initially been of absolute and complete disregard. He had been planning on speaking to the man in the stool next to him, speaking to strangers was one of his main hobbies. he had felt maybe just a little aggravated, he had been about to engage the young human in conversation when the large one had unceremoniously butted in. However that changed to slight tension as things took a turn for the worse. After the first threat he had shifted his right hand from his glass to his cane, ready to give the uncouth human a good whack on the head if he decided to take things further. And that had then changed to amusement as the trench coat wearing fellow had talked the thug apart. As the police officer walked in the Herglic was chuckling to himself, lighting his pipe. This young human was definitely interesting.

"That was rather brave of you. Most would have left their seat to avoid the confrontation," Beluga told the human mildly as the law enforcers left the building. "My name's beluga, Beluga Orcta. I am a trader of sorts," the cetacean biped added in afterthought, extending a hand in greeting.

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Aldric tossed the bag of drugs to the police officer as he took the dealer and to possible buyer in for questioning.

Then the fish he had noted a moment ago spoke up behind him,
"That was rather brave of you. Most would have left their seat to avoid the confrontation,"
"My name's beluga, Beluga Orcta. I am a trader of sorts,"

Aldric seated himself on the stool again and spun to face the Aquatic, It was one of the first times Aldric ever had to look up at a person in his life,
The pleasures mine, Beluga.
Exactly what is it you trade in if i might ask?
He moved his plate closer to him and took his first bite of the burger and his first drink of the ale, when he noticed the band lighten the mood with another song, one of an artist he was familiar with, a song he often played with his flute, he was tempted to take his flute out and go up to the stage and start playing, but he could tell how that could be rude.

Another thing that kept him at his seat was the fact he couldn't read the race that sat in front of him, though he had already put together several facts. The creature was obviously not native to Coruscant and came from another water world, or at least a world with water, the next thing is that it was uncommon to see else Aldric would have at least read about them, that or he was just reading in the wrong places. So the Whale like creature must have a job that would require travel, so a trader did fit that description.

For some reason though Aldric didn't see it.

[Space Core]

"Mainly medical supplies and foodstuff. Nothing illegal I assure you," the Herglic replied lightly. He took another drag from his pipe, exhaling the smoke out of the corner of his mouth. As he spoke he noticed the band had broken into new song, and a slight longing passed in the human's eyes. "Alas it has been many years since I last had an opportunity to travel myself. I have certain duties on Coruscant which are too important to shirk," he added, not without a trace of regret colouring his tone. "But enough about me, my life is rather uninteresting. Yours seems far more adequate as material for a riveting tale of mystery and intrigue," Beluga took a sip of whiskey before continuing. "I couldn't help but notice that this particular scene seemed to be banal to you, and I am somewhat forced to assume one of two things. Either you are a criminal of sorts and are so used to being tracked by the police that any of their intimidation techniques are lost on you. Or you have worked with the police in the past. In either case you must be full of interesting anecdotes."

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

"I couldn't help but notice that this particular scene seemed to be banal to you, and I am somewhat forced to assume one of two things. Either you are a criminal of sorts and are so used to being tracked by the police that any of their intimidation techniques are lost on you. Or you have worked with the police in the past. In either case you must be full of interesting anecdotes."

Very good deduction, I work along side the police you are correct, I'm a free lance Detective for hire.
He took a sit of the Alderanian Ale, and another bite of his Bantha Burger.

If you don't mind me asking, I'm not familiar with your race where are you from?
He asked calmly to see if he could get any more information on the person sitting beside him.

[Space Core]

Beluga raised an eyebrow at the question. His species was uncommon, that much was true, but he always felt a strange pang of frustration whenever he was asked that. He clicked his tongue off the side of his mouth, before answering:

"I am a Herglic, our homeworld is Giju, in the outer rim," he explained. "I'm afraid to say our world is well past its prime though. There was a time when my people were great merchants, we possessed a powerful trade empire, the vestiges of which can still be found on certain planets," he added with a slight nostalgic edge to his voice. "But that was a long time ago," he finished with a sigh and a sip of his drink. "So, a freelance detective hmm? I didn't know the police hired those. Surely it'd be more advantageous for you to join the force?"

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

"I am a Herglic, our homeworld is Giju, in the outer rim, I'm afraid to say our world is well past its prime though. There was a time when my people were great merchants, we possessed a powerful trade empire, the vestiges of which can still be found on certain planets,"

Aldric nodded, he wasn't sure but he thought the 'Herglic' named Beluga Orcta had given off a slight bit of anger, not completely toward Aldric but at his question. Aldric made a mental note of the Herglic race and the planet Giju so he could do research on them, and also about the question so as not to ask it again.

I see... he said before taking another drink,
Trying to change the subject Beluga asked, "So, a freelance detective hmm? I didn't know the police hired those. Surely it'd be more advantageous for you to join the force?"
If i cared about them perhaps, but i do what i do to stop crime, not to wear a badge. Also parts of my past convinced me that they aren't as honest as they make themselves out to sound sometimes. Not trying to pain cops as evil and cruel, but we could use more honest ones.
He said as he pulled out his journal writing down the name of the Herglic, Giju, named Beluga Orcta, on a page occupied with drawings that Aldric had made of other races, that area of the journal was several pages thick, with names and sketches of all kinds of races, he would leave a sketch of Beluga, for later when he had nothing else to do.

When he was done he slid the leather book back into his bag waiting to answer the next question to come as there was most likely going to be at least one more.

But he noted another thing, this Herglic must have spent a very long time with Humans and in the core if he spoke Basic as well as he did. That may be the origin of Aldric's next question.

[Space Core]

"A noble sentiment if ever I saw one. But you are treating the symptoms, not the cause," the Herglic replied calmly, blowing out another puff of smoke. "Ah but what am I talking about. These are far too serious matters to speak over at a bar," he added more lightly. "That diary of yours, I seem to have seen some notes on various species in there. Have you had the opportunity to travel much? Or have you been confined to the shiny cities of Coruscant since birth?"

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

"That diary of yours, I seem to have seen some notes on various species in there. Have you had the opportunity to travel much? Or have you been confined to the shiny cities of Coruscant since birth?"

Aldric was noticing a very wise and perceptive being, one that was interested in Aldric's past, which was fine to Aldric, this was for once a person that so far didn't think Aldric was a complete twit; Aldric wouldn't brush that off, but instead would answer this question and then ask another.

I was born on Alderaan, then moved here for the better work, the races in the book are those I've studied about or met and made observations on. My turn to ask a question, I've come to the conclusion that you've spent a very good amount of time in the core, you speak basic quite well, so how long have you been in the core?

Aldric had begun speaking fast again so he could get to the point of what he was trying to say, not to be rude but it was a habit he had picked up.

One that hadn't surfaced for several minutes until just now.

[Space Core]

"A question asked, a question answered. Seems like a fair trade," Beluga said, amused at the human's response. "But your question is hard to answer. I have been travelling most of my life, mostly between Thyferra and the core worlds. As such any figure I give as to how long I've spent in the Republic Core would be a gross estimate and hardly worth your time. What I can tell you for certain is that I've spent the last seven years on Coruscant," the Herglic took a long pull from his pipe before continuing. "As for my proficiency in basic, well on Giju most children are taught to read and write it along with our own language, Herglese. You see my people have a tendency to become traders, blame it on our ancestors if you must. And a trader who is unable to speak basic will find that to be a significant problem. Now I do believe it is my turn to ask," he took another drag of his pipe. "Hmmm, Alderaan," he muttered to himself. "I don't think I've ever been there. Hear quite a lot about it though. Is it as beautiful as people claim?"

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

Aldric was satisfied with the answer that Beluga gave to his question, he pulled out the journal again and wrote down that fact on the page he now had designated for the Herglic race.
I may have to keep this out if I'm going to keep taking notes like this. He joked, which was rare for Aldric.

"Now I do believe it is my turn to ask, Hmmm, Alderaan, I don't think I've ever been there. Hear quite a lot about it though. Is it as beautiful as people claim?"

Aldric finished making his notes and then shut the page to give his full attention to Beluga,
Quite...It isn't as peaceful as some might have you believe, but far more so then any other of the Galaxy's worlds.
The area I grew up in doesn't quite give justice to the rest of the world, it was more of a small town mostly separate from the rest of the world, but if you ever decide to visit there, then the city Aldera would be the place to go, the entire city is carved into the walls of a canyon. Remarkable. He was almost musing to the world he left, part of him asked if he left to support himself or to hide from his mothers death and murderer, but that couldn't be true he had put that man behind bars and he had been given the gas chamber for it. Aldric had made sure of that.

But now his mind didn't go into depth on those thoughts, in stead he was trying to collect as much information about this persons as he could.

He still wasn't one hundred present convinced that Beluga was a trader, the name, he thought he had heard it before, though if he did he wouldn't know where the only please he could think would be the news perhaps but he didn't often pay attention to that. But being as he didn't known of the race before he doubted it would be common, perhaps this one had done something worthy of news reports before. He also made a mental note to pay a little more attention to the news.

Your name, i think i may have heard it before, have you done something that would have been on the news before? Or are you perhaps a popular Trader?

[Space Core]

"Quite...It isn't as peaceful as some might have you believe, but far more so then any other of the Galaxy's worlds.
The area I grew up in doesn't quite give justice to the rest of the world, it was more of a small town mostly separate from the rest of the world, but if you ever decide to visit there, then the city Aldera would be the place to go, the entire city is carved into the walls of a canyon. Remarkable."

"That does sound nice. Perhaps I'll go once my duties here are finally over," the Herglic mused, more to himself than anything.

"Your name, i think i may have heard it before, have you done something that would have been on the news before? Or are you perhaps a popular Trader?"

While Aldric was speaking Beluga prepared what he liked to call a 'smoke shot'. He took a drag of his pipe and blew the smoke into his glass, then proceeded to suck in the smoke before drinking the whiskey and finally exhaling the smoke through his blowhole, just as the feelance detective finished his question. The booming noise had caused a few patrons to jump out of their seats in fright, causing the Herglic to chuckle silently, before finally answering the question.

"Well I would not be surprised if my name happened to be on the news or some other holo projection. I am a relatively famous trader. Trading in bacta during these times of tension with the Sith Empire tends to make one well loved. Additionally I have dabbled in humanitarian causes to try to help my people. Add that to the fact that I have plenty of enemies who spread libel regarding both me and all my enterprises and you have yourself an excellent topic for any news programme to cover," Beluga answered with a broad smile. All he had said was true, but he had conveniently forgotten to mention he just happened to be a Senator for his homeworld. It was a fact he preferred to keep quiet. People had a tendency to be too reserved around him if they knew of his current occupation. Something whcih bothered him quite a lot.

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

"Well I would not be surprised if my name happened to be on the news or some other holo projection. I am a relatively famous trader. Trading in bacta during these times of tension with the Sith Empire tends to make one well loved. Additionally I have dabbled in humanitarian causes to try to help my people. Add that to the fact that I have plenty of enemies who spread libel regarding both me and all my enterprises and you have yourself an excellent topic for any news program to cover,"

Aldric had taken a drink at the exact moment of surprise that came to him, Right as Beluga said that he was a trader of Bacta, The rare blue healing agent that worked far better then Koltol.
His response was only to choke on his drink and spit it back into his cup,
You de...deal...In Bacta... He said each pause met with a cough, He had gotten better by this point and began started talking again,
Is there a way I could get some samples? I know it's the Republic who need it most, by i happen to experiment in my spare time.

He was still not completely convened that Beluga was a trader but for the moment he needed wanted to get information on Bacta, if he could get only a few samples he could run several experiments on it and the things he could learn about it might make a change to his other experiments, but on the down side he would most likely need to dish out some money, for both the Bacta and the Equipment to use it. His Apartment was going to get very cramped soon.

Did that count as my question on this turn?

[Space Core]

Beluga was looking at the human with an amused smile curving his lips, a cavernous chuckle rumbling deep into his his chest.

"That did count as your question. But you have to realise that this isn't my bacta. I have an agreement with some friends on Thyferra, an agreement which has been rather profitable to both them and myself over the years," he explained. "The point is I can't simply give it away for free. You'd have to buy your samples. But it can definitely be done, . You would have to tell me

[Space Core]

"That did count as your question," Beluga said, looking at the human with an amused smile curving his lips, a cavernous chuckle rumbling deep into his his chest. "But you have to realise that this isn't my bacta. I have an agreement with some friends on Thyferra, an agreement which has been rather profitable to both them and myself over the years," he explained, his tone growing considerably more serious. "The point is I can't simply give it away for free. As a matter of fact I'm not sure I even get to decide who gets the stuff. You see while I own my company, I do not technically work in it any longer and I possess no true executive powers at the moment. You could say I am taking a sabbatical of sorts. Furthermore you do have to realise I can't go around distributing bacta to whatever stranger asks for it, bacta trade is restricted and only certain people and organisations are allowed to purchase it for anything more than transportation within Republic space" the Herglic replied. "I am sorry," he added sincerely, "but it is quite simply impossible. Unless you're willing to pay the market price for bacta which has gone up dramatically in recent years. You know what, I feel bad now. Have a free consolation question."

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

"You have to realise that this isn't my bacta. I have an agreement with some friends on Thyferra, an agreement which has been rather profitable to both them and myself over the years,The point is I can't simply give it away for free. As a matter of fact I'm not sure I even get to decide who gets the stuff. You see while I own my company, I do not technically work in it any longer and I possess no true executive powers at the moment. You could say I am taking a sabbatical of sorts. Furthermore you do have to realise I can't go around distributing bacta to whatever stranger asks for it, bacta trade is restricted and only certain people and organizations are allowed to purchase it for anything more than transportation within Republic space, I am sorry, but it is quite simply impossible. Unless you're willing to pay the market price for bacta which has gone up dramatically in recent years. You know what, I feel bad now. Have a free consolation question."

Aldric completely understood, and even though Aldric didn't get the Bacta he did get more information about Beluga, Aldric would have already known who he was if he had been human, but Beluga wasn't and it wasn't a race that Aldric could read, so he had to do things the hard way collecting as much information as possible, In the end it would be a way for him to test his skills.

That is something I understand quite well. I had to work a case dealing with that business type before.

Aldric had to think about the next question for a second,
A free question?... he mused to himself more then to Beluga. Aldric had to go through what he knew before he could ask what he didn't, with what he had he knew he did some amount of trading of some sort, spent 7 years on Coruscant, and the fact that Beluga decided to even talk with Aldric told him something, he wanted some type of excitement, something to give a bit of flavor to his life, other wise why ask about Aldric as much as he did yet trade his own information? The fact that he was willing to share what he had proved Aldric's suspicions and that the Herglic was Simi Honest, Aldric could be sure how much without knowing the races facial cues and the like. Still he had learned quite a bit.
Why talk to me? I'm more exiting then everyone else? Wanted to hear a good tale?

Aldric smiled a smile knowing that one of the three options he had given would have been the correct answer, however he would still gain something by the answer.

[Space Core]

"Do you also want to know where our relationship is going? Whether we should move in? Buy a pet perhaps?" the Herglic asked jokingly. "In all seriousness though," he continued after a short silence, "the reasons are simple enough. Look around you," Beluga suggested, pausing to let Aldric take a look at the crowd. "Tell me what sort of people you see."

[Adobi-Wan Kenobi]

"Do you also want to know where our relationship is going? Whether we should move in? Buy a pet perhaps?"
The Herglic said with what Aldric could safely count as a joking tone, Aldric's only response was the raising of an Eye brow.

He took another note of the humorous tone that Herglic's had while Beluga was speaking again,
"In all seriousness though...
the reasons are simple enough. Look around you, Tell me what sort of people you see?"

Aldric finished with the note and then gave his own smile that had a Sly look to it. He slowly turned around on his stool, and began taking in everyone in the canteen.

Sense you asked... He said before letting himself look out at the crowd taking a few seconds to let each one register and make small deductions about each one.

Looking to the first man, and began speaking fast, something he did when making deductions.
Human, Wearing female under garb, hair slicked given me the eye twice, Gay with metal problems.

Then at a woman,
She isn't even a she...

Then to a Duro male,
He's a regular Patron, he is well known by the staff.

Then to another real Female this time,
She is a gambler slash drunk, she's over confident in both her looks and her skills, Also she cheats, someone just hugged her and placed a stacked deck on her, that she's now using in the game.

The bartender looked up with a sigh before telling the bruiser to remove her from the game.

Aldric, smiled confident in his choices and then looked back at Beluga, But I do believe you meant that they are all boreing.