"And here we are; the clusterfuck that is the Jaguar system." Yang stated as they got out of the warp. The system was a ternary system, and its three stars were in a clear war against each other as they furiously exchanged heated plasma between each other. "Do we really expect to find a livable planet here?"
"Use proper language while on the bridge, Lt. Xiao Long." Glynda ordered as she was the commanding officer at the moment, and demanded a more strict protocol than Jaune.
"Sorry, Commander, we are still trying to fix my sister up." Ruby answered from the gunner seat in an apologetic tone before glaring at her sister, and Yang just showed her tongue to the redhead Marine.
"Commander… we are being hailed." Blake said from the comm. station, as always ignoring the antics of her teammates. Glynda sighed and talked with the Faunus girl.
"Very well, pass them through."
"WELCOME TO THE CLUB! THE NUMBER ONE SPOT IN THE GALAXY FOR DRINKING, DANCING, GAMBLING, BUSINESS NOT ALLOWED ANYWHERE ELSE!
If you are a newcomer, here are… THE RULES!
We only accept Dust as payment. Your Dust will be changed into club chips when you arrive and traded back to Dust when you leave
We don't care who started it, if you start a fight, we will finish it and you will be banned!
We take 10% of every transaction! And believe us, we will know!
Information dealing is exclusivity of the owner, Jun'ee'or. You can only sell it to him bad buy from him. Try to break this rule and we break your legs or equivalent appendages!
Come and have fun!"
The transmission came with images of semi-naked aliens and what was probably some type of music, and the picture and coordinates for a space station. Glynda was just too shocked by that to say something, as was Ruby and Blake. Nora giggled at the way they were greeted, while Penny was trying to understand what happened. Only one person seemed ecstatic over all that.
"I am so going there!" Yang exclaimed from her seat, already making plans for a night out. "I would even use one of my dresses if SOMEONE didn't forbid them on board."
"You aren't going there, Lieutenant!" Glynda ordered, and Yang pouted.
…
"Seriously?" Glynda should've expected that, but she didn't. Jaune actually wanted to send Yang to The Club.
"The guy sells information, and we could just buy it with some Dust. We are blindly going to systems that aren't the same as our initial analysis shows. I want to buy updated star charts if possible. It would save us time and headaches over stumbling upon hostile species." Jaune justified as they were in the docking bay.
"And why we are sending Lt. Xiao Long of all people? Worse, with Officers Wukong and Vasilias?" She stared down at the two smiling boys.
"Come on, commander, I have being stuck in this ship since we departed!" Sun begged.
"You need someone who knows how to behave in a… club with questionable reputation. That is us." Yang answered and Glynda groaned.
"And I am sending Blake with them to make sure someone with a good head over the shoulder will avoid any unwanted problems AND keep them under control." Jaune finished, and Glynda just accepted that he had a point. "Now, Yang, you are leading this little excursion. I just want the info, so go, find this Jun'ee'or, buy a star chart, the most complete they sell, and come back. No eating alien food, especially no drinking alien beverages, and no flirting."
"Come on, that is not funny! I want to dance a little, get in a few fights…" Jaune pushed a suitcase filled with Dust crystals on her.
"Enter, buy the charts, and come back." He repeated, and she pouted to him. "Do this and I will make you a Strawberry Sunrise with the umbrella thing when you come back."
"I love you." She whispered and winked, making Jaune blush. "OK team! Tonight we party!"
…
A club made to receive different species was actually not that different from any other club, unless you take account the fact it didn't had an artificial atmosphere and the gravity was only 75% the standard in the Nagato, probably to better accommodate the many visitors the place had. Several different types of aliens were there, all of them wearing some type of space suit, again because of the lack of air. Yang was grinning like a maniac over the exciting mood the place had. Sun was also all smiles, while Neptune was a bit more worried. Blake kept her indifferent attitude, just hoping to finish the mission as fast as possible.
The place was crowded, and divided in five different sectors with the walls covered in bright panels inside as outside. On the middle was the casino, with several games being played, none they could identify or play. On one side was a bar, were drunk aliens talked or were splattered around unconscious while waiter-drones passed around delivering colorful glasses to the patrons. The other side was the dance floor, where a DJ messed with a complex panel to create the electronic rhythm. On the back were two secluded places with several indicators on the doors that made nothing for them.
"Do you want to trade your Dust for club chips?" A robotic voice asked, and they turned to a waiter-drone.
"Sure, pal. How much this gets me?" Yang said as she opened the suitcase. The drone scanned the crystals.
"They are worth a hundred thousand club chips, usually refereed as CCs. This is quite a lot; do you intend to play at the casino?" The drone asked, and Yang shook her head.
"Not today, I am interested in buying information."
"Ah, that will be with Jun'ee'or. I will inform him of your interest…" The drone apparently expected some identification.
"Yang."
"Yang. Want to trade your Dust now?"
"Yep." With that the drone collected the crystals and put a series of plastic chips in a weir oblong form in the case.
"Each of those is worth 500 CCs. Do you need smaller values?"
"No, thanks."
"Excellent. Please wait at the bar as Jun'ee'or will come to talk to you. Have a good day." With that, the drone left. Yang gave each of her friends ten of the plastic chips.
"OK, I will wait at the bar. Blake, make sure to find all escape points if we need to go back to the bullhead. Sun, Neptune, go explore a little. Use the radio if you need help."
"Yang, I don't think scattering around is a good idea…" Blake warned, remember she was probably the only one who didn't wanted to be there.
"Blakey, Blakey, Blakey… We are gathering info here, and the better way is to scatter. Too many scary people with power armors and guns will make people stop talking. Besides, this place doesn't look too bad." A fight broke as soon as she finished talking, with many yelling, punching and people being thrown around. "Now, you all be careful, I will wait for this Jun'ee'or. Once I have the star charts, I will call you all."
And with a gesture of her hand they scattered. Blake decided to find a place where she could observe the club without being noticed and found a secluded space in the dance floor, between two columns. Sun and Neptune entered in one of the secluded areas, just to move out of it as quickly while slapping each other shoulders and enter in the second area. Yang laughed a little and decided to sit on the bar to wait for Jun'ee'or.
The bar was probably the most familiar ambient in that place, and she sat on a stool with both hands arms spread on the counter, while looking at the people walking around. She felt weird being in the middle of so many different creatures and no one paid any attention to each other or her. She wondered if one day she would be like that, but for now everything seemed so different.
"Hello, can I serve you something?" A drone by the counter asked Yang. She wondered how people would drink anything there but noticed that most people there used a straw that connected directly to their helmets.
"I doubt you would know what a Strawberry Sunrise is, would you?" She asked anyway.
"I have no such beverage registered in my data bank."
"I will just wait for Jun'ee'or then."
"Oh, I see. Call me if you need something. All the drones can be accessed by calling AL."
"AL?" Yang surprised at the simple name.
"Yes. AL. Now excuse me." The drone moved away and Yang could only think of how Penny would react. But now she just relaxed and watched as another fight broke in the bar. She really missed that kind of thing.
…
"Are we really sure we will see hot alien chicks here?" Neptune whispered to Sun as another weird creature danced in the platform, while many of the patrons threw CCs at it.
"Come on, we all know sooner or later we will found some green or blue colored chick with maybe weird ears that will otherwise be as hot as Yang. Except the alien chicks will want to bang with us instead of the captain." Sun explained again, as another weird creature took the stage.
"How he even do it? How do he don't even notice it?"
"I don't… heeeeyyyy." Sun pointed to a corner, where what looked like a girl, judging by the curves on her tight space suit her helmet was also transparent and they saw a cute smile as she waved towards them. "I hope she have a friend for you."
"Who said she is waving at you pal. She was waving at my winning smile." Neptune said as he waved back.
"You are wearing a helmet, dumbass, she can't see our faces!"
"She will be seeing mine if we found a room with air." He answered and got up, soon followed by Sun.
"Should we even be doing this?" Sun questioned as he followed Neptune.
"Have I ever disappointed you, my friend?"
"You mean just on this trip or should I count the time back at the colonies?" Sun asked, but the duo followed the petite alien girl towards the back of the room, mesmerized as she shook her hips in her pink and brown space suit.
…
Blake loved her helmet. No one could stare at her face, the ability to look at everyone else's and using the second screen to read a book. Of course, she still kept an eye for anything unusual at the dance floor, but apparently everything was like any normal club… except for the different species dancing. She couldn't help but wonder why those aliens could coexist there like that while the Faunus and Humans still had to come to terms with each other despite being so much more closely related.
She was taken from her thoughts when she saw a familiar alien type.
It was the same type of the pirates they found previously, so she closed her book and kept a discreet eye on the alien. Soon another alien joined the first one, and she noticed their space suits followed the colors and patterns of the pirates. The two seemed to discuss something and walked to the back of the club. Blake cloaked and followed them, making sure to not stumble in any of the patrons.
She followed than to the back of the space station, where she saw a type of transport not dissimilar to the bullheads. And to her surprise she saw Sun and Neptune kneeled down in front of a group of the pirates, with the alien girl that defeated Pyrrha sitting on a box with her weird weapon over her shoulder.
A trap? Or they are here by coincidence? And how those two idiots get caught? Better warn Yang.
But Blake fell down unconscious as she felt electricity ran over her armor and body. The image of the girl near the pirates shattered like glass, and she stood behind the Faunus girl, smiling with her weapon on her shoulder. The pirates came and took her close to her friends when Roman appeared from the shadows.
"Now, we just need to get one last."
…
"Jun'ee'or will see you now." AL stated and motioned to be followed. Yang got up and walked with the drone through a door that opened in a rather spacious and luxurious office. Sating on the other side was the tall and muscular Jun'ee'or, and he looked mostly human except for the visible grey rocky skin from his transparent helmet, pit black eyes and the fact his head was covered in short black spikes. He stared at Yang and signalized for the drone to leave.
"So, what you want to buy?" he asked directly to business, offering a chair that Yang took.
"Start charts. The most complete I can get."
"Just that? You can get some of them in places with a better reputation than my club." He answered with a question, but his voice didn't sound that interested.
"True, but I want one who will also tell me the dark secrets of the people living there. I don't want to go to a planet where people sell my organs as sexual stimulants." Yang answered using her street wisdom to play the game.
"That I can provide. A complete chart of the galaxy will cost you… 100k." Jun'ee'or took a few seconds to announce the price, and Yang smirked. Of course he knew how much money she had at the moment. She had no frame of reference for the price of those maps, but she could see someone trying to cheat on her from miles away.
"Those charts aren't worth 50k." She decided to try her look and test to see how he would react. If the price was still high he would accept it sooner than later.
"Are you kidding me? Standard charts can cost that, but my maps will give you info of stuff no one wants to be put on them. Since you are my first client, I will give a discount. 80k." She knew he was being serious with the tone of his voice. But if he was hard to negotiate with, so was she.
"60k."
"No deal, goldie. Take it at 80k or leave."
"Very well, I am leaving." Yang was about to get up when he signalized her to stop.
"75k, and that is because I like you. I will even add the guide for clubs like mine around the galaxy for free." Yang smirked under the helmet and opened the suitcase, and gave him the CCs equivalent. He counted and gave her a small black tablet with a map of the explored galaxy.
"How recent is this data?" She asked, and he laughed.
"As recent as possible. It is compiled with in formation of the more than forty space traveling species of the sector. What are you searching for? Dust? Natural resources? Maybe a planet to colonize?" She didn't change her posture or voice tone; she just put the tablet on her pocket.
"You really like your questions." She said teasingly.
"I sell answers; you don't get them without some questioning." He explained, and Yang chuckled.
"If this data is good, I might visit you again soon."
"See you soon then, goldie."
Yang was glad she was wearing a helmet so he couldn't see her smiling. With her mission accomplished it was time to return to the Nagato. She was a bit said she didn't have fun, but at least the mission was ending without a hitch. All she needed to do now was to call the team and leave the place. She contacted the team via radio, but a voice she hasn't heard before came in.
"Oh, hello there. You must be Lt. Yang Xiao Long. Admiral Roman Torchwick. You might have heard about me before. Let's go direct to the point, shall we? I have your friends, so no contacting your spaceship. You will meet me at the docks where we will discuss how you will retrieve your friends. That is all."
Yang's visor glowed red as she stomped her way towards the docks, with murder intent so clear that even the aliens around moved out of her way. She soon left the club and walked the platform where several transport ships, and even some bigger ones, were docked. She saw one of the pirates waving at her and followed. Behind a few of the ships she saw Blake, Neptune and Sun being held at gun point, and standing in front of them with a cane the self-proclaimed pirate admiral.
"Ah, good, you came. Check her for weapons." One of the pirates started to grope the armor in search of weapons.
"Hey, careful with the goods, pal." She said in an angry voice, keeping her eyes on her friends, their weapons being held by one of the pirates behind them.
"She is unarmed, captain." The pirate answered, making Roman groan.
"It is ADMIRAL. A captain command a ship, I command a fleet! Now, back to business, goldie. See, last time we met your friends cost me a ship, and I am not pleased. I want a new one, and you guys have one that is quite a good ship. So, you are giving it to me."
"Har har. You are delusional." Yang answered as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
"Oh, I am not, because you will help me. See, you will go back to your ship in your transport, but instead of your friends here, you will get my friends back. So once inside, they will take the ship, unless you want me to blow up your friends head. Actually, I might just do it right now." Roman approached Blake and pointed his cane to her head, and the cane changed into a rifle.
"OK, OK! I will do it as long as my friends are unharmed." She asked and Roman smirked as he lowered his cane/gun.
"Glad I can negotiate with you." Roman signalized another of his men to move by Yang's side. "Let's get going… What are you waiting…"
The two pirates were under of the vicious grip of Yang's gauntlets. It was true that she didn't carry any visible weapon. She didn't need to. Her Hunter had especially strong servomotors, which fit her CQC style of combat very well. The helmets the pirates were wearing started to crack under the pressure she was exerting.
"Let's trade, Admiral. My friends for yours." Yang made her point clear by raising them from the ground as her fingers kept cracking their helmets. Roman stared in surprise... Then laughed, to the blonde dismay.
"Silly one. Do you really think I care about them? My associates know very well that we don't negotiate."
"You guys need a better boss. Also, sorry for this, but I am giving you back to him."
With that she simple threw the two pirates with all her strength against the other pirates. The combination of lower gravity, no atmosphere and her own enhanced strength made them fly ballistic, giving no time to the pirates to react as they fell down over the sudden impact. Using the chance, the three hostages got back their weapons while Yang jumped on Roman, the only one still standing up, just to be blocked when the mysterious alien girl used her weird weapon/shield to block the punch.
"Great, now we have to capture all of them again. Neo, take care of goldie, I will entertain the others." Roman said as he started firing his cane/gun against Blake and the others.
Yang finally understood why Pyrrha was so frustrated after fighting that small girl. She was incredible good in dodging, blocking and countering. It was a very frustrating fight as she couldn't connect her punches and kicks, while being hit occasionally by the smirking alien, another thing that was pissing the blonde girl.
Meanwhile, Blake was surprised that Roman was holding his own against the three of them attacking at the same time. He used his cane to block Sun's attack with his staff-gun, and fired an explosive round tossing the Faunus boy against one of the docked transports. Neptune tried to use his rifle in trident form to pin the pirate down, but the skill he had with the cane allowed a counter and several hits on the blue boy's sides. Blake used her grapple hook to capture the cane and started to pull it, but Roman showed surprisingly strength as he fought back. Neptune and Sun used the chance to attack him at the same time, sending him against a passing drone.
Yang started firing her canons with each punch, but the damned little alien was not only dodging, it was also blocking the powerful shots like they were nothing. The red glow in her visor grew brighter as she took a bold punch, but Neo used the opportunity to fire the gun hidden in the tip of her weapon, stunning the blonde for a second. More than enough to give the small girl the chance to swipe Yang's feet, making her fall on her back. Yang tried to shoot, but Neo deflected the shoot that hit one of the many colorful panels around the club. The alien girl was about to fire against the Marine's helmet when she blocked a missile and jumped backwards.
"ENOUGH!" Jun'ee'or approached the group while carrying a rocket launcher in his shoulders, accompanied by two security drones with mean looking guns aimed at everyone. "You are destroying MY property."
The two groups move away from each other while keeping their weapons pointed at each other. Yang got up and evaluated the situation. They were in disadvantage if the club owner decided to side with the pirates. The two robots and that rocket launcher didn't looked like he was just trying to scare them.
"I don't care why you were fighting; I want you all out of my club AFTER paying for the damage." Jun'ee'or ordered, and considering their chances, Yang calmed down and threw the rest of their CCs at him. "That will be enough, now get into the transport and get out."
Yang gave a sign to the team and they slowly and wary of the group left. Roman kept an eye on them, while Neo just sat with her legs crossed in the top of a crate. Jun'ee'or put his weapon down and approached the pirate.
"Now, I know exactly how you can pay your part, Admiral." He said the last part full of sarcasm, making Roman sigh.
…
"And that is what happened." Yang explained back at the Nagato. "Sorry, skipper. It was my fault for not sticking together."
"It is." He answered, making her cringe a bit. "But you achieved success in your mission, and probably will save us months we would otherwise spend exploring systems that wouldn't be able to support our people. We will review this mission after you all rested. Especially how the Petty Officers were lured with this…" One of the screens in the docking bay showed the onboard cameras on Sun and Neptune's helmets as they followed Neo, with a 'weird' focus on her moving hips. The two boys smiled awkwardly towards everyone else.
"I will make sure to talk with them about this, Captain." Glynda said as she focused on the two boys. They squirmed uncomfortably under her gaze.
"Very well. Velvet, get Ren and Petty officer Vasilias after he is released, and analyze this star charts. We are going to the next system immediately, but I want to have our charts updated with this info as soon as possible." He gave the bunny girl the data pad, and she nodded and walked away. "That is all, you are all dismissed."
Jaune walked away, and Yang removed her armor and returned to her quarters, still angry with both her performance in that mission and how easily that alien girl beat her. She now understood why Pyrrha was so frustrated over that defeat. It was one thing to be beaten in an equal fight, but to be so overwhelmed was maddening. As soon as she entered the quarters, she saw the redhead girl preparing for her shift.
"Oh, hello again, Yang, glad to see you back."
"I want to defeat that tri-colored midget. I am training with you from now on." Yang simple stated, and after Pyrrha took a few seconds to understand what she was talking about, the redhead smirked back at her.
…
Jun'ee'or had being in the information trading business for a long while, and he knew the value of keeping his curiosity in check. Not all information was worth knowing, not all information was worth selling to certain people. But he disliked unknown variables, and the aliens that just left his club were one of those.
He never saw their species before or a weird ship like theirs. All the reports he was able to get from them was just that they stumbled upon the warring Cavirn and Overtan, and that they sunk some of their ships. Knowing the two races, Jun'ee'or knew the two armies were at fault somehow. But it still impressed him that the Nagato was able to escape from several enemy vessels.
So he let Roman go with what the pirate thought was a cheap solution: information about that ship and its crewmembers. He knew the ship was a military ship, but different from the pirate he believed that wasn't a war vessel, but an explorer. He knew they were from outside the Known Sector as they didn't used standard communication protocols, what made spying on their radio incredible hard.
Jun'ee'or got himself thinking for a long while. He usually would let those aliens to their own devices, but his guts told him to keep an eye on them. So he warned all the clubs and brokers he was associated with to keep an eye on them.
If for nothing else, he knew Roman would pay a good price for that info. The pirate still wanted his revenge.
But Jun'ee'or also felt in his old bones that ship would shake the galaxy somehow.