[Zakera, Citadel] Out For Lunch

Daisy rose late, the sun burning her eyes. She grumbled and trudged into the kitchen and began coffee, perking up a bit at the smell of the bitter brew. The pilot padded over to the glass door and looked out over her little stretch of land,blinking a few times to adjust her eyes. A trio of fighters arced threw the sky, rolling over themselves
in spirals. Daisy sighed and filled a mug with her black brew. She gulped half the mug down. And wandered back into her room to dress. Shrugging into a pair of jeans and a shirt, she thanked the maker that her cybernetic arm was slim enough not to snag on the shirt. She shuddered, remembering how her first replacement would tear up her clothes. Dressed, Daisey headed into the kitchen and finished her mug of coffee, then another.

The pilot rinsed out her mug and headed out to her barn. She slid the doors back and the lighten shone on her baby, a Tressor and Hobbs ZX A-51 "Falcon" She smiled and stepped in, her hand trailing along the fighter jet as she walked passed it. Daisy climbed up into the cockpit and ran the preflight checks, then warmed up the thrusters.

With the high pitched whine of the engines, she nudged the craft out of its hanger and taxid across the lawn, then goosed the throttle and took off, headed straight up, bound for the citadel.

Albert arrived at the Citadel spaceport a little later then he had planned, traffic from the Presidium had been murder; luckily, he had less problem getting through the security lines, the power of diplomatic credentials to speed things up were near wondrous. So, he still made it within reasonable time, and could afford one last check of his clothes, first impressions count.

He had gone for casual, a simple light-grey jacket, black t-shirt and matching trousers. He was busy with his omnitool, as another ship arrived at the Citadel.

Daisy's sleek black craft drifted silently into the port and touched down. As she hit therelease on the cockpit, she scanned the crowds, looking for her date. The pilot brought up her omnitool and scanned the engines, manipulating the throttle to check the engine out puts. She sighed, there was still an inconsistancy in the converter. Looking over the crowd once more, Daisy sent a mail to her date

Hey, I just touched down, the black and white falcon.
-Daisy

Albert looked at his omnitool, entering a quick reply before heading towards the falcon.

I'll be there, just look for the 6'3" guy with a light-gray jacket, I'm hard to miss.

– Albert

He headed through the crowd, a quick show of his credentials allowed him past the security checkpoint, he was standing near the falcon, hands behind his back, waiting for Daisy to make her appearance.

Daisy's omnitool dinged quietly and she read the message, scanning the small crown of people in the port. She saw him, attractive, somewhat youthfull, and headed towards her from the security gate. The pilot ran her hands through her hair, straightening it out quickly, and checked her reflection in the mirror polish of her jet. She smiled and headed around the plain, almost bumping into Albert.

oh Hi.

"Good day," Albert smiled towards the woman before him, she was slightly older than he was but he didn't mind.

"Miss O'Kierney I presume. Welcome to the Citadel. Oh where are manners," he offered her his hand, "The name is Albert Lowell, also known as Diplomatic Immunity online, I hope you had a good trip."

Yeah, thats me. Daisy said, a slight blush coloring her cheeks as she shook the profered hand. The pilot waved her omnitool at her jetand the cockpit slid shut, a small beep sounding its anti theft system activating. Daisy turned to the diplomat and gave him a warm smile,

Well, the station is yours, lead on. the platinum haired pilot said, motioning towards the rest of the ward.

"Sure follow me," Albert said with a smile, before leading her past security and towards his aircar.



"I know you pilots types aren't impressed by aircars." He opened the door, "But I hope the Avigento will at least keep you awake until we get there."

Hmmm, well see. Daisy sat in the passenger seat and looked around the sleek car's lush interior. Secretly, she was impressed, not with the car, but that the diplomat could afford it. She didnt like cars, but she was no fool, she could tell this one was expensive. Albert got in and started the car, taking off. The pilot toyed with her hair and looked around, then turned to the driver.

So what did you have in mind for today?

"Well, first stop will be the Alpentraum, we can't get up to much mischief on an empty stomach." Albert said as he weaved through traffic, "afterwards we can see what catches our fancy, there's always something to do on the Citadel."

"So how long have you been a pilot?"

Daisy smiled, Albert drove like a good pilot and a great lover, hard and fast.
Well, I joined the Alliance at 18, tinkering and flying jets, but My dad taught me how to fly when I was about 12, so thats a good... 40 years?
Daisy's eyes drifted shut, the smile still gracing her lips as she relived good memories of her father.

Her eyes opened and she looked back at the diplomat, toying with her hair again, What about you, how long have you been "promoting friendship and good will"?

"That's an inspiring service record," Albert kept the car steady, the Avigento were (in)famous for three things, the style of its head-up-display, or lack of it, their philosophy was to remove all elements that were not required by common sense or law, keeping the remaining ones as unobtrusive as possible.

"I started a few months short of my 18th birthday, as a junior diplomatic trade representative, that's just diplomat lingo meaning I was an intern, it was more community service than me wanting to make a career out of it." He flashed a smile at the platinum haired woman besides him.

Second was the buttons and switches; in an age where haptic holograms were the norm the Avigento bucked the trend and used mechanical systems where they could, and it pulled it off expertly, it felt right to press against mechanical switches, hear the mechanical clicks and to feel the aircar through the controls.

"but I found that I really liked the job; travel, meeting new people, making deals, pay and retirement plan are more than decent and I get full medical. It also gives plenty opportunity to experience what the galaxy has to offer, and have some surprises and thrills. Hold on,"

Finally, and maybe most infamously of all was the inertial dampeners, or the seemingly lack of them in day-to-day use, this meant that the g-forces could be felt, which was exactly what they when he flipped a switch, pushing the car forward and downwards, doing a half spiral as they switched both levels and lanes. "so that has kept me busy for the last 18 odd years. Was your father with the Alliance?"

Daisy smiled and made a small, satisfied sound at the sudden drop.
No inertial dampers, fun!the pilot said in a suprised, low voice, laced with pleasure

He was a farmer, actually, my mom was the real pilot, she served in the 52nd airbourn, dropping marines into combat zones.

Daisy looked around the new level, trying to pick out landmarks

How bout you any family in the military?

"No, though my parents did work for them, orbital space-structures, he was an engineer, she an architect. We're almost there, just need to get to street level and find a spot to land." Unlike the previous hard bank, he kept the aircar in control as he smoothly got to lowest level, keeping his speed constant. The buildings became blurs as the car passed them, giving a feeling of speed.

"So where do you call home anyway? Or is your ship your home?" Albert asked just before finding a spot and effortlessly landing there.

Daisy smiled at the illusion of speed, reminded of a dive in her falcon. The car touched down and the doors hissed open quietly. She stepped out still smiling.

My Falcon? Oh no, I just have the fighter. I actually have a nice house back planet side, it looks over a wide field of wild grass. She straightened her jacket and pulled her hair back, out of her eyes and over her shoulders

How bout you, I assume you keep a place here on the Citadel? The pilot walked around the car and stood at Albert's side, waiting for him to lead the way.

"More than one," he closed the door and started to walk showing Daisy the way, "the real estate market had pretty much collapsed after the war. I seized the chance, both here and on Earth. I hope that doesn't strike you as being too opportunistic," he flashed a look at her, "I'm just someone who tries to grab the opportunities as they present themselves."

The streets were busy enough to make the place feel alive but not unpleasantly crowded.

"So any other passions? Other than flying that is?"

Passions other than flying? Motorcycles and fine wine. Daisy's stomach growled loudly and she rubbed it with an exaggerated grimace. what about you, what are your passions?

"Art, good food, interesting people, and I have to admit I'm both a bit of an adrenaline junkie and hedonist. I like feeling alive." The arrived before the building, from the outside it didn't look much different from the other buildings but once they entered the cold steel slabs where replaced with wood, and the neon lights gave way to a more subdued but warmer light.

It was a casual place, and they were immediately seated in one of many private booths.

"Do you visit the Citadel often, or do you stay planetside most of the time?"

"Hmmm, Il have to take him for a ride in the falcon then..." Daisy thought to herself as they walked into the resteraunt. It wasn't extravagant, but it felt... comfortable. They sat and a waitor said h would be by in a moment to take their drinks.

I've actually been jumping back and forth between earth and Ilium pretty often, visiting a girlfriend in Nos Astra.

The waiter appeared, asking for their drinks. Asari twist herb tea Daisy said, after thinking a moment.

"Whiskey," Albert added to the order.

"I should try and visit Illium again when I get a chance, it was such a nice place." the diplomat smiled for a second before snapping back. "You must have been glad with the relays reopening." The waiter brought their orders.

"What's the name of your ship? I've forgot to look when you arrived."