A little off the top

[LoAmi 0]

<< This log takes place slightly before the last sim >>

 

He was a tall man, but he didn't look particularly tall because of the proportions of his height to his girth. He wasn't a native of New Atlantis. Few knew from where he originated; to most everyone, all that was important was that he was there. To everyone, he was known as "The Barber." Most people didn't know his real name. Sometimes, even he forgot his real name. His moniker was indeed related to his profession, but he had never cut a hair in his life. On the other hand, if you run a business in Western City, he'll probably shave a bit off the top.

 

The Barber began his day like many other days. Ironically, today, he was visiting a barber shop. He walked in, followed closely behind by three large men. Both the lax laws and the facts on the ground made the Constables too weak to do much of anything against him. As long as he stayed out of fishing, the Wardens, who held the real power, would leave him to do as he wished.

 

Today, however, was different from other days. Rumors had spread of a massive poaching operation that had the audacity to come into Atlantian space in plain view with a large ship. The poachers usually operated in the shadows. The ship was taken down by the Wardens in an operation not seen since the strike on a serpent processing plant five years earlier, and, even then, they only got one conviction of the poor szlub who didn't have time to ditch his unlicensed serpent remains into the airlock before he was caught red-handed. The Barber didn't know much about the new poachers, but he knew that they must be filthy rich. With money being power, these new poachers - if they survived their encounter with the Wardens - could become a threat to his operations. Or, they could become his allies. Or, at least, be kept away from his rivals. There was plenty of risk involved, but the opportunity for reward was knocking.

 

That was why, today, the shakedown of the hair cutting shop for nonpayment of protection dues was only secondary in the Barber's mind. And, when the lost-looking people found themselves practically in front of his eyes, it called for his personal intervention. The Barber's three men were left with the unfortunate barber, and the Barber walked out to evaluate the strangers.