The Hunt

[Guest]

Manabus Perspective

Newark Station

28th March 818 A.S

Manabu smiled softly as he listened to the bawdy man spilled his life story at him. He man was Kareem Emir, a ships navigator, navigator of the ship Clear Sky.

Ima telling ya that was the best time of my life!

Kareem burped, choking back bile.

I wouldve got into her knickers as well. But that god awful boyfriend if ers beat me to the punch. Literally. Shame really.

Manabu chuckled dishonestly.

I bet you couldve had him. Let me guess. Was he one of those overly muscular guys, all brains, no brawn?
Exactly right my friend!

Ah well. You win some you lose some. But please continue.

Yeah, thats true.

Kareem swiftly took several mouthfuls of ale.

The next day, when I woke up, I found out her boyfriend was actually one of those Molly lot! I had five of em knocking on my door!

How did you get out of that?

I climbed out of the window.

He laughed briefly.

Of course I was on the tenth level at the time, so it wasnt the smartest thing to do. I managed to climbed down the gutter. But hell I was scared crapless. I thought for sure Id either drop and fall or one of them would shoot at me from the window.

Obviously neither of those happened. You got away none the worse.

True. Sorta. I broke my ankle when I jumped off a bit too soon. Oh man, you shouldve seen me hobble the mile to the space port. It was there I got transport to Liberty. I spent a couple of weeks nursing my broken ankle in hospital once I got there. After I got out of hospital I went looking for a job. I ran right into my buddy Sora there. Hes a weird man. He acts all superior, but hes a decent enough guy once you get over it. Oh! Ive run outta ale Not that this ale is that good, but you know, may as well drink some. Just let me go grab another pint.

Kareem stood up unsteadily, drifting from side to side as he walked towards the bar. As soon as he turned his back on Manabu, Manabus smiled instantly reverted to his normal passive face. The man was irritating him to no end. But it would be worth it in the end. The man had supposedly been shouting all over the show about a recent job gone sour. A young Kusarian woman had supposedly fired him. The Kusarian woman, Manabu had decided, sounded and looked a lot like his target Yoko.

The man arrived back at the table holding two pints in his hands. He slammed them down on the table, ale spilled over the table.

Oh god! Sorry about that mate!

Manabu waved it off.

Its fine. A simple mistake. I dont have the stomach to drink ale tonight, though thank you for the pint.
What? I didnt get you one. These are both for me!

The mans slurred words grated Manabus ears.

I see Anyway, continue you on.

Sitting down, Kareem continued the tale.

Well you see, we ended up on Trafalgar a month or so back. Some Junkers needed some hauling done. The boss hadnt picked up any other jobs, so we took that little job if you want to call it that. We spent a couple of days doing it, before we were offered a place in the actual group. Now, Sora didnt like the fact that hed be classed as a Junker, but it would give us a nice turnover. So he accepted.

I cant say I blame you. Its hard to find decent pay, what with the wars. Who hired you?

Yes, its true. Its true. But nothing can be done about it. The girl that hired us, she was a Kusarian, like yourself. She was quite pretty Id say, you know, small, petite, long flowing black hair and big brown eyes. Not too quick though. She always seemed slow on the uptake. But boy, dont get Sora started on that when you ask him about a job.

Why?

Well the argument that caused all this crap, came from her uneducated views as Sora would call it. Im not exactly a student of politics, but from what Sora was saying about it, Suzume got everything wrong about the Bretonian/Kusarian war. She blamed it all on Kusari. Obviously Sora disagreed. He caught Suzume lying a few times as well.

Oh? Lying, why would she do that?

Well I say caught he didnt have any proof that she lying. But shed keep on tripping herself up, you know? First she was born on Honshu, and then she wasnt. First she didnt know her father, then her father was an evil man that tried to kill her mother.

Manabu swiftly looked at his watch.

Oh. Its 11 oclock. Id be best heading to bed. Ive got quite a ton of work to do tomorrow. Where did you say I could find Sora?

What? Ah, hes down a few floors. Hired himself one of those executive suites to stay in. Guess he thought hed spend what money he has quickly.

Thanks. Ill see you around, infact Ill see you on the Sky if Sorall hire me.

Before Kareem could reply, Manabu was gone.