“Commander, your missions is simple. You are to take the Dragoon to the planet Xepher II. The capital city there is well known for a certain brothel run by the criminal known as Vesperia. We believe she has captured and enslaved the crew of the survey ship Phantom and is keeping them in a facility beneath said brothel We want you to go on a reconnaissance mission. You will enter the brothel going by your own name as a simple customer, A distraction will be provided When they are distracted you are to discover the entrance to the facility, find and download the blueprints, and bring back any intelligence on defense systems. If possible also find the location where the crew is being processed! Admiral out.”
Xui had been on the bridge of the Dominance when the orders came in on the deep space relays. The mission wasn't too outlandish though she'd never attempted anything like it before. She was quite a ways away from the Xepher system still and there were no ships around for at least a light year. She stood and gave the bridge to her second in command before heading down to the bar for a drink and to her room silently.

---48 hours later---
The Dragoon had docked with no problem on Xepher right outside the capital city. Xui had spent about an hour just wandering (and buying a few souvenirs of course) enjoying the sights. She wore a pair of black denim shorts, long blood red stockings that reached her mid thigh, black leather boots, a blood red t-shirt and a black & white vest as well as what looked like fingerless opera gloves. Beyond that she wore a plasma rifle at her back, twin holstered pistols and a pair of blades attached at thigh holisters; none of the equipment looked new nor was it marked with any identifying symbols, they looked like they'd been custom made and well used since then. She looked for all purposes like a wandering pirate, dangerous as she was gorgeous.
She'd stopped at a bar first, she ordered a hydrochloric cocktail for herself to enjoy.
“you hear? Vespi's in town, maybe we should visit her place? She might be puttin' on a show!”
“No kidding?! Oh fuck yeah! I'd kill to see that serpent chick! Her shows are a fuckin legend!”

Xui over heard two patrons talking to each other. She guzzled her drink (leaving a gaping hole in the floor and not her acid proof clothing) when the tender asked for her to pay she pulled a pistol to his forehead and just smirked; she was playing a role after all, and Xepher II wasn't exactly known for being the most lawful planet in the universe.
Leaving without paying shortly after the patrons she stalked them to the brothel. It was a surprisingly lavish looking establishment from the outside but, then even a planet lacking in law enforcement did try to look nice from time to time as much of the capital proved. She stepped inside after paying the cover, she was sure her weapons would be disabled while in the 'front' of this establishment.
Inside she found herself looking at a crowd gathered around a large stage of some sort. Though there were no signs of a show just yet. Xui's eyes wandered the room looking for anything that would help her later on.

Xepher II was one of Vespira's first footholds to establishing her growing business empire. The lack of any serious law enforcement gave her freedom to do any of her dealings no matter how shady or unethical they may be. Paying off the right sets of eyes to look the other way provided further revenue to the chaotic planet. The constant draw of all matters of race and species to her high class brothels and clubs ensured a steady growth of economy and income. This allowed such a lawless place to continue to grow and draw new immigrants. With more establishments opening throughout the major cities, jobs were available and the danger of the planet ensured that openings will constantly pop up.

The rumors were true that the Gorgonian was on the planet. With her wealth and class, the serpent woman had no worries about the usual dangers of crime and murder that occur in the dark alley ways of the cities. It was more the other gangs and minor crimelords had to worry as the last thing anyone wanted was to become a target of Vespira's wrath. With no local law enforcement, it was either there are no rules or the strong make the rules. Vespira having the most wealth and influence, she had much say in what operations can and cannot happen around her territory and few ever question it and are heard from again. So the snake woman's visit was more than just checking on her various establishments but also to ensure no one was invading her domain. Just like a cruel business corporation, the alien woman loved having control of monopolies and this case she held a monopoly over crime in her territory.

There was a line going outside the brothel as the rumor of Vespira's arrival attracted the eyes of many. But the line was hardly much of an issue as there were numerous brothels and clubs spread throughout the planet and most of the high class establishments were far outside the wealth of majority of the population. The line moved quickly as new seats became open and some wannabe patrons lacked the funds to meet the cover charge.

There were means to disable electronic weapons in the brothel but due to the wide range of weapons including firearms and more primitive weapons, searches were mandatory for visitors. While the city itself provided no means of protection for its population, Vespira held a certain standard for her businesses to ensure they do not become a battleground for the local factions and gangs. Xui would find herself stopped and her weapons stripped from her. Only those who pay the small fortune of a VIP would be able to continue with what weapons they carried. So carrying a weapon was not a means of protection in the brothel but more of a symbol of class above the common rabble.

Curently, there were no shows but there were numerous strippers and dancers on the stage to provide means of entertainment and eye candy for the audience. A variety of races including various ethnicities of human women swaying their hips enticingly and revealing their luscious forms for all to see. The outfits depended on the style of the dancer but all women had an electronic wristband that was used to scan cards and credsticks for on the spot transactions. The sound of blissful moans and the smell of sex was already heavy in the air with women rising and falling on the meaty cocks of various alien monsters who were already paying for their extra good time. They would scan their credits in and press a key or two on the wristpad if they wanted anything extra such as injecting the women with various drugs to make them last longer or heal faster for their own entertainment. Of course such things would be illegal in controlled space but here on Xepher II, the ADD had no jurisdiction and no laws exist here to be broken.

Looking around enough, one could see doors leading to deeper areas of the brothel. Some perhaps lead to guard rooms and other security rooms while others could lead to living areas for the slaves. The building was multistory and there was no doubt private rooms for more renown patrons. Beyond that though, it was unknown if there was any sort of undergound area that housed ADD prisoners or not.

The disarming took a little while; they took the pistols and rifle, they took the blades and then they'd taken off her gloves before making the mistake of trying to remove the ruby 'gloves' beneath.
“Ack! Ya fuckin Idiots stop tryin ta rip off mah scales ya fuckin' Twits!”
After a little while they gave back her fingerless gloves before apologizing to the chimera before them. Xui didn't seem very bothered by being disarmed, she was just as comfortable without them if not more so. She huffed finally to them when they let her actually go further into the room with a bit of a glare for show.

Xui knew the time, she had a bit of a wait until her distraction came up; it was a rare thing that she was early for a mission, she wasn't entirely sure how to handle this at first. She walked calmly through the brothel for now. She stopped near a human Asian woman; she had to be no older than twenty three, more than likely a recent graduate of Shokushu Vespira had acquired just out of her training. Xui had never actually seen a human slave before, in fact most of her missions had been detainment or elimination missions against high profile pirates and smugglers. The woman didn't quite 'look' tormented but, she certainly didn't look happy.

The next thing Xui knew she felt someone grab her wrist and run a card over it.
“Huh? Where the fuck's your wrist-band!? I wanna see what's under those sho... GAK?!”
she lost it for half a moment grabbing him by the throat for half a second before letting go without leaving a mark.
“Ah ain't onea tha whores... ahm here ta enjoy tha view just like you. Now if ya wanna live fer more than five minutes after walkin' outta this place yer gonna get yer ass up, take yer card, transfer a thousand Cred ta mah account and say yer sorry.”
He laughed a bit.
“Oh yeah? And what the fuck are you going to do about it girlie?!”
and then she sneezed, it was a fake sneeze but sounded and looked so realistic. She let the acid build up before hand, the places the faint mist landed burnt like hell, he couldn't see after it hit his eyes.
“What the fuck?”
“Security! This man needs a medic! I'm sorreh ah didn't mean ta sneeze, sometime's it's a lil bit acidic, ah usually cover it in time!”
the security personnel got there in time to catch the appology and the other patrons had been either too busy to notice what had happened and the man... was going into shock; the humanoid alien had been weaker than most physically otherwise he'd have been injured, but at least conscious. Security dragged him out to wait for a medic... if one would ever come on this planet. Xui loved acting, it was the only part of her training that hadn't been traditional.

Xui pretended to wipe her nose as she took the seat the lone traveling lech had been in. she pondered where; she could enter when the distraction began. There was of course the ventilation system but... given her weight she doubted that would be a good idea. She leaned back in her seat opening her wings and letting them hang loose behind her for the time being; she kept her eyes and ears open; watching the staff move through the doors, listening to their conversations; seeing if any of them might offer clues of where they were keeping the agents; if they were keeping them here at all
better not have been wrong about this...

Not all people were familiar with every rare species in the galaxy so mistakes happen. Seeing that the scales were in fact part of the agents body, they let her in. The guards were no intimidated at all by the woman's foolish act to be tough. It was actually rather risky as high class clubs and brothels can simply kick a patron out simply for not liking them. It was best to remain on the good sides of the bouncers and guards of the area, not threaten or insult them.

The slaves of Vespira's establishments were fully trained which usually meant thoroughly broken and possibly brainwashed. Each woman in the brothel were not only doing their job but eager to do it and earn as much money as possible for her owner. The only slaves that would not look happy would be ones that were recently 'acquired' and Vespira would not dare put untrained slaves in her higher class establishments. She had a reputation to maintain afterall.

Being female and a unique species certainly drew the eyes of patrons and guards alike which could make blending in a bit more difficult. Xui did not seem to care about that fact as she drew even more attention to herself by picking a fight with one of the patrons who mistakenly thought she was another slave. The cries of pain from the acid put more eyes on the agent who was supposed to be infiltrating this establishment for recon. Guards were already making calls to warn them about this unique woman's acidic breath and other patrons were now giving her a wide birth to avoid another 'sneeze'. The guards said nothing to Xui though and allowed her to sit and enjoy a drink.

Of course such a danger would have been booted out the door as scaring off customers hurts business. But one of the calls made was to the owner who ordered that she be left alone for now. Vespira was watching a security monitor and already considering what she could do with such a rare specimen. The Gorgonian had no idea that this woman was an agent seeking to infiltrate her business in search for lost ADD agents.

Things gradually returned to normal in the brothel as the little shows continued on. What few people sat nearby the alien woman were those who just recently arrived and had yet to know about the danger of being around this one. Guards were keeping their eyes on her after such an outburst and because Vespira ordered them to. The snakewoman was curious to learn more about this species that entered her establishment and what potential and use they had for her. But for now, it was time for Vespira to take the stage.

Lights dimmed until only the dull glow of a few small lights bordering the stage were all that could be seen. A voluptuous silhouette swayed seductively onto the stage. There was no announcement as there was no need. Those who came here knew exactly who was now showing as everyone fell silent. The serpentwoman took center stage, her body swaying like a snake charming its prey. Spotlights turned on, all focused on the glistening goddess that everyone wanted to see. Vespira was dressed in little more than jewelry. Her large breasts were bare and glistening with her many prismatic scales. The lights were designed to take full advantage of the Gorgonian's hypnotic dance, enchanting the audience as they grow relaxed and more and more aroused. Music played that matched the slow methodic sway of the woman's hips as she slithered from side to side of the stage.

Xui heard calls being made about her after she'd taken her seat; she had picked the persona of a dangerous no nonsense pirate, and given the fact no one in this galaxy outside of those she'd killed and the ADD themselves had ever seen anything like her before gave her some room for social error (or so she thought anyway). She also wasn't quite used to “regular” drinks. Her usual had a Ph hovering between 1 and 0. she swirled it a bit as the asian human drifted back behind a curtain. She noticed the crowd refilling around her. Sure she was standing out a bit, but she preferred it like that to be honest.

She finally took a sip from the drink, it wasn't bad, it still was a little acidic if not to her usual liking. She heard nothing about a facility below the building; it was starting to bother her. Had the report been wrong about which brothel the facility was supposed to be under? Had the crew maybe been immediately sold off? These thoughts ran through her head as the lights began to dim, the loud room had more or less gone entirely silent. The silhouette drifting on the stage looked familiar enough to Xui, she'd read what info the ADD had about Vespira... though there hadn't been very much to begin with.

Xui watched the patrons practically begin to drool as they watched the serpentine woman slither across the stage. Xui herself stole only a glance now and then. Keeping Xui's attention was difficult as was arousing the woman. She crossed her legs as she watched and waited for a distraction, one that would never come; she didn't know the agent that was to cause the distraction had been attacked and captured in a different solar system quite a ways away.

She took another sip of her drink before tapping it down on the table with a subtle huff
she is pretty, Ah'll give 'er that much ah guess
she thought as her eyes drifted over Vespira again before moving to the staff that was still watching her. They didn't move anywhere suspicious, they didn't say anything suspicious. It was infuriating to the somewhat impatient chimera. She then turned her eyes back to the other patrons that were watching the serpentine beauty, their eyes and motions almost followed every slither and every sway of the woman's hips.
Why can't ah do that?! ahm part reptile too! And ahm part slimegirl! Ah should be able ta do that too! That just ain't fair!”
she was feeling jealous? Why? She couldn't understand it herself but, she was a competitive woman down to her very DNA. she shifted in her seat again before closing her eyes for half a second to let the jealousy fade away before finally she'd turn her eyes back to the room proper to let the woman dance...
where the fuck is that distraction? she's startin' ta get pretty late... ah'll haveta improvise soon if she doesn't show up soon damn it!

There were no hooting, hollering, or howling coming from the crowd despite the beautiful naked woman dancing before them. Everyone was quiet as the music played. Colorful flashes of light reflected off of Vespira's radiant form, the sway of her body caused these hypnotic colors to flicker directly into the eyes of her audience. Her slaves would continue pleasing the patrons, their bodies growing more relaxed and aroused the more they watched the show. Soon few noticed that their card was being swiped multiple times over the women's wristbands to milk more credits from their customers.

As she danced, the Gorgonian took in her audience. There were some new faces but the only one that truly mattered was the winged woman sitting alone. The scales and claws gave her prey a more beastial and feral appearance. Vespira wanted nothing more to tame this beauty and put her on display beside her other rare finds. The other staff in the establishment were wearing special sunglasses to avoid being enthralled as well though that did not stop them from admiring their boss's voluptuous form. It was apparent that no information about a secret facility or captured prisoners would be talked about in public. It was simply bad luck that her distraction had a run in with trouble in a different system.

The rest of the lights would start to turn back on as Vespira finished her erotic dance. The music returned to something more upbeat while other slaves returned to stage to put on their own shows. The serpent woman stretched a bit and slowly slithered off stage and headed for the bar that the draconic woman was sitting at. "Hmm... I have not sseen your kind here before," she hissed softly, "Welcome to my esstablishment. I do hope you enjoyed the show and your sstay here." Her lower half coiled up, giving her a means to sit without a chair as she gazed at the unique specimen before her.

She didn't really notice the Gorgonian woman's gaze on her, she only really looked at her through the corner of her eye now and then, the stubborn chimera not the easiest creature in the universe to hypnotize, if only because she was willful. If anything this woman's eyes were watching how easily the audience was giving over their ill gotten credits to this erotic dancing serpentine woman. She did notice the employees wearing glasses and enjoying her dance as well, she wondered why they were wearing the glasses for a moment.

Then the lights slowly began to turn back on, the music shifted and Vespira drifted off the stage as other dancers returned to their performances however they would. Xui turned her eyes back to her unusual drink (which by other standards would be normal. When She heard a gentle hiss in someone's voice she turned her gaze to her side.

“Well, good reason yeh've neva seen mah kind before here. Ahm not from around here, ahm not from around anehwhere. One of a kind escaped experiment and right now a pirate.”
she offered closing her eyes and smirking a bit to Vespira, she sounded confident enough, she loved acting, had she not been owned by the ADD she'd have loved to be an actress. Her mind ran over ways she could use get the information she needed right from the source but, nothing came to mind right away except perhaps mentioning slaves bluntly and she wouldn't do that in the woman's brothel, it wasn't the right place for it.
“Ahm lovin' tha place so far, real nice, well stocked fer tha most part though wish yeh had some acids behind tha bar, and woulda liked ta keep tha dull blade they took at tha door, like ta keep tha nice memory of tha scientist that had the gall ta create meh near by.”

Well the woman answered her question. Her tone was rather crude and it was perhaps possible that this creature was uneducated and simply learned as she went. The tone was a bit of a turn off but that was a matter that could be easily remedied when the time comes. "The gall to create you?" Vespira hissed, "How childish. If you were not created, you would have never come here to enjoy yoursself in my esstablishment. Perhaps if you become a regular, I may consider adding more acidic beverages to the bar. As for your blade, you can always pay the VIP rates and carry your weapon with you."

"Since you are new to Xepher II," she continued before giving a polite bow, "I am Vespira and this is my establishment. Few know much about my species and I have been referred to as a Gorgonian or Medusian. It is rare for such a rare creature to come walking through my door, created or otherwise. Perhaps I can interested in one of our private rooms. There we can talk further about our rare breeds. Unless you are satisfied with nursing your drink here at the bar and enjoy the sights of my lovely women." Vespira would make an offer but otherwise would not pressure the female pirate. She merely wished to set a sort of kinship between their rare kinds. It was unknown how a woman with such a blunt attitude will take such an offer though.

Xui shrugged slightly when Vespira said she was being childish. She would easily have agreed; but it had seemed the right thing to say for a heartless, cut-throat pirate to say.
“Well ah guess yer right. Still takes a whole lotta balls ta play God don't it? Goin' against nature an' all that makin' somethin' that just shouldn' be.”
It hurt a little bit for her to be saying these things because she dearly loved her 'father' Liam; she couldn't even imagine accidentally giving him a paper-cut let alone killing the man.
“So what's tha VIP rate? Ah can pay aneh amount realleh. Ah've picked more than enough transports clean, ahm sure ah coulda afforded it if tha bouncers mentioned it.”

Vesperia's introduction was well received bringing a slightly more friendly smile to her face than the impish smirk that had been there before. She offered a hand to the other reptilian looking woman. Her tone drifted slightly from the tougher cruder tone to a much more sociable tone reminiscent of an earthly southern lady.
“Ahm Xui Ta, sorreh 'bout tha rough an' tumble sorta tone and attitude, but yeh neva know when someone bein' kind is gonna try ta take a knife ta yer throat. Now about yer offer fer a private room, ah think that would be real nice, and probably a lil bit better fer yer business right now. Mah lil sneeze before did make a few people a lil bit on edge, ah am dreadfully sorreh bout that by tha way.”

"It would take more than a common sspace pirate's gains to afford a year long VIP passs," she answered, accepting the offered hand politely, "And if you are that concern about being unnatural, removing your existence is always a possibility. Until then, you have no room to complain about your own creator allowing you to speak your ignorant thoughts." Of course there was no such thing as a one time only VIP pass. If there were, it would mean anyone who pinched their pennies can potentially enter for a day with their weapons and wreck havoc in her club. Then again, it takes more than just money as background checks would also be required.

Vespira would have to see to silencing that voice of hers when she is finally tamed. She was familiar with southern twang but this is something beyond that. But, if the woman truly did not have two brain cells in that head of hers, taking her should be a relatively simple task. "Perhaps you should not have come here if you have a cold," Vespira added, "And I am inviting you to another room to avoid such an incident a second time. Please, come this way." The serpentwoman turned and led to one of the side doors that were guarded by an armed alien. A long carpeted hallway was well lit under several lights. Along each side were closed doors and the faint sounds of moans could be heard behind some of them. It was most likely some of those VIPs having some fun with their preferred slave.

The brighter area meant more light reflecting off Vespira's prismatic scales. Her hips swayed enticingly from side to side, sending a hypnotic flicker of light into Xui's eyes. The Gorgonian continued down the hall, letting her hypnotic sway do a bit of work on the woman's will and psyche before finally stopping at one of the last rooms in the hall. She unlocked the door and opened it before letting Xui go first with her following. The room was relatively small, made up of a comfortable couch and a small table with wine and glasses already prepared. "Please, have a sseat, Xui Ta. I am certain you have many quesstions for me, yess?" Vespira coiled her body up onto the couch, enjoying the soft cushions as she gazed upon the other alien woman.

“Ahm not exactly a common space pirate. Ah've got a lot more Credits than yeh might expect”
She didn't respond when Vespira had offered her reply to her portrayal of the pirate version of herself; mostly because she agreed entirely but, she didn't want to say that. Her private funds could of course easily afford a century worth of VIP passes; the ADD as a curtosy had allowed her to keep most of the credits from the accounts of slavers she had 'eliminated' since she'd become an agent, one of the many little rewards she was offered as one of their projects. O they could of course take them away at a moment's notice, but she didn't know that.

“Ah don't have a cold, just a lil bitta irritant in tha air is all.”
she replied as she began to follow the serpentine woman through a doorway down a long carpeted hall. Her eyes drifted passed the doors as she heard moans coming out of them, she could have sworn one of the voices was one she'd heard before and that bothered her though not noticably; outwardly Xui was showing signs of amusement. The ruse was working well enough thus far anyway.

Though as she turned to gaze at the other side of the hall her eyes passed the shimmer of prismatic scales, she felt a little odd for just a moment before shaking it off. It was definitely a strange feeling but, that was all she noticed for the time being. When they stopped at the end of the hall and she was offered a seat Xui kindly took the offer sitting as one might expect a lax, slightly uneducated pirate to sit --sitting too proper would have ruinned the image she was going for after all.
“Yeah guess ah do have a few questions, but where ta start; ah guess we can start wit' how you were able ta get all those people outside durin yer performance ta give up so many cred so quick.”

As she never heard of this woman, there was no reason to believe the woman's claim that she has a vast amount of riches. It did not matter in the end as she led the alien woman to a private room. Once both were seated, Xui Ta began asking her questions. Her first question was certainly unexpected and that was not a mark in the woman's favor. This woman was apparently either not watching her dance or was not as dumb as she looked. Not only that but this pirate noticed how much the other patrons were paying. It was a bit too much of a coincidence for this one to be an airhead and yet keep up with so much in a dimly lit room.

"Hmm? My esstablishment merely provides the sservice, it matters little to me why they keep coming back for more," she hissed, "Why should a pirate like you care about how otherss sspend their creditss?" Vespira would gaze directly into the woman's eyes now. It was her intention to soften her prey up here anyway but now she had more reasons to follow her desire. Her eyes seemed to pierce through everything, staring deeper into Xui Ta until she got the submission she wished for. With this ones supposed desire to be a VIP, she had all night to get to know this crude female pirate.