"Why do you bother yourself with this petty human, Oltan?" said Kelk-Yan, a friend of Oltan's, leaning against the wall near where the human female's apartment resided.
"What? I'm surprised, Kelk. Usually you jump at the chance to pummel humans into the ground," Oltan replied, taking a drag of another cigarette. Kelk-Yan shrugged as he turned his gaze back to the apartment's door.
"If anything you should've just taken the rarm. I haven't had that stuff in years."
"You think I'm a walking fucking bank? She already charged me a stupid amount for vallex. That stuff should be damn cheap, it's Omega!" snapped Oltan, the smoke drifting out of his slits for nostrils furiously.
"You've got an expensive habit, my friend," Kelk-Yan chuckled. His eyes still hadn't moved from the doors.
"Yeah, well, my source of income was…"
"Terminated, yeah I know," said Kelk-Yan.
Oltan's long source of income happened to be a mercenary who was killed by a rival gang only the other week. Oltan chucked his cigarette away.
"Watch it, dickhead," snapped an asari who walked by with a turian. The cigarette butt had nearly singed the fabric of her pants.
"I hate these aliens," muttered Oltan.
"This human female you're so willing to get revenge on has just exited her apartment," informed Kelk-Yan.
"I need that rarm," said Oltan, walking quickly towards an average-sized female, carrying a large duffel bag. Oltan pulled out a sidearm that Kelk-Yan hadn't previously noticed and held it up right towards her forehead. Her eyes registered surprised, but she didn't put her hands up. Perhaps this human was no ordinary citizen – after all why would she be on Omega? No one came here to raise a family and put up their white picket fences. She cocked her head at Oltan questioningly.
"And what happens if I've sold it already?" she said, her tone quite innocent.
Unlike a lot of humans, she held her gaze very firmly on the first set of Oltan's eyes. He aggressively pushed the barrel of the pistol further towards her, making her flinch only a centimetre.
"I'm not going to just stand here and give it to you, you cocksucker," she said through gritted teeth. Oltan nearly baulked at her ferocity. Kelk-Yan knew this was going to become rather ugly soon. Oltan as a warning, shot the gun off to her right.
"Second one I might just accidentally hit your kneecap," he said. She laughed at him.
"You got your vallex, Oltan, why so desperate for rarm? Or is it because you're salty over me kicking your ass?"
"That's it, I warned you," he suddenly shouted, going to point the pistol at her knee, but Kelk-Yan pounced forward, grabbing Oltan's arm.
"What the hell are you doing!?" Oltan yelled in response as he backed off away from the human.
"Let's make a deal," said Kelk-Yan quickly. "I see you're a human not to be trifled with." The human raised her eyebrows, folding her arms in response. Oltan was breathing heavily beside him.
"Tell me what you want, human. Looks like you're going somewhere far? Off-station?" Kelk-Yan said. He always had the gift of the gab, something he'd always admired himself for. He wouldn't be surprised if she was looking for a ride elsewhere, anywhere was better than this hellhole, especially for humans.
"What makes you think I'm inclined to tell you?" she replied.
"I know a free ride. Bunch of mercs, but a couple of them are human," began Kelk-Yan. Oltan inwardly groaned: why was he helping this bitch?
"I'm not at ease with humans any more than a vorcha," she retorted. Oltan snorted at her in response - his sentiments exactly. Kelk-Yan pulled his lipless mouth into something that resembled a smile.
"Keep saying things like that and maybe we'll come to like you," he said. "If you find use enough vallex to dust us into the next solar system, I can find a way to get you on that ship." The human female seemed to consider him for a small moment, letting the duffel bag drop from her hand that had previously been hoisted onto her shoulder.
"What's this merc group?" she asked, her eyes narrowing.
"Blue Suns," replied Kelk-Yan.
"Never heard of them," she said.
"And you won't have to ever again when they've dropped you off," said Kelk-Yan.
"Destination?" she tried.
"Illium, but they can make an exception for you," said Kelk-Yan. "They are good friends of mine."
"Would they really want to waste their time dropping me off somewhere? Illium isn't exactly in immediate relay-jumping distance." Kelk-Yan had to give her credit for all these cautious questions, but he was more than done talking with her.
"Why don't you meet them at Afterlife in a couple of hours, with us and find out," he said, smiling again. "Perhaps you can impress enough to convince them."
"What act like I'm another one of the fucking stripper gang?"
Kelk-Yan merely looked at her in puzzlement. Oltan stepped in this time.
"He means don't insult them like you're insulting us," he snapped. "And think about ditching your poor taste in clothing." She was quiet in thought for a few minutes.
"How much do you want? Of the vallex and rarm?" she finally asked.
"You didn't hear me, whatever your name is?" said Kelk-Yan, his tone less than friendly now. "Enough to dust us into another system." She considered that for a little while before nodding, fury etched on her white face, and turned away.
They watched her until she disappeared.