Chapter 5: Kharmic Good

"I'd leave it alone," Stevey replied after a few minutes had passed without a word, a trailing chain of haze drifted along his cheek, dissipating in the air. He put his fingers to his lips and puffed out once or twice like he'd been smoking. Jack only sat back, drifting in and out his own thoughts. Tendrils of haze wafted around his neck as he breathed slowly out through his nose. By now, they could only see the faint image of their faces unless one of them leaned forward. Small clouds hung around a few other tables as well.

"Maybe, I will," Jack replied. "That blasted crystal seems to be nothing but trouble." He mulled it over in his head some more. "Hmm, you think you could look at the records for me anyway?"

"Yeah, sure. What do you need to know?"

"A method of extraction. My blaster couldn't phase it in the slightest. Maybe a different power crystal is needed to slice it."

"Probably so, but don't get your hopes up. The archives hardly have info regarding mining methodology aside from a few excerpts here and there. It's mostly historical text."

"Yeah, I know. But another look could reveal something we've missed before," Jack said, hopeful. He shifted forward in his seat, leaning his elbows on the table.

"There's just got to be…," Jack started to say when a bustle of commotion thrummed into the bar from the outside. Both of them turned their heads to see the goings-on. Several natives had stumbled in, and some appeared to be already under a heavy stupor. But Jack soon realized the signs of heat exhaustion in them. Today's Sun Surge had gotten to them despite the shaded awnings they usually frequent. Jack flagged down the barkeep.

"Get them a bucket of ice chips and several damp towels, please. I'll cover the tab." He said, shoving three Barizen chips into the man's hand.

"Yes, sir. Right away, sir." The barkeep rushed off to get the items. Stevey and Jack rushed over to help seat the last three who were having a hard time standing. "Prop their feet up, Stevey. And open the tops of their shirts. They'll cool faster that way once the towels get placed."

"Yeah, right." Stevey made the adjustments on his side of the tables to everyone. A serving girl came out the back right away with a bucket of ice chips and placed it on the table just as Jack finished his side. He grabbed several chips, putting a couple in the mouths of the gentlemen.

"Suck on these slowly. The towels are coming, guys." Jack consoled the group. Stevey had prepped his side with ice as well when the barkeep arrived with the dampened towels—one for each man.

Fifteen minutes later, the gentlemen had eased off from their overheated bodies. The towels had done the job of cooling them down right away. Jack sat next to an older native, talking in their tongue.

"Oe de ni laet?"

"Datta," the old man replied. "Mo datta, Yac-te." Stevey understood this phrase. He wasn't as well versed in the language as Jack but knew enough to understand a few terms here and there. Datta meant better. Yac-te was Jack's name, followed by their honorific for good man. The old man rattled off several more words toward Jack. Stevey tried to follow the conversation, but the dialect was too strong to make out much of what the elderly gentleman and Jack had said. Jack smiled at the gentleman, then toward Stevey. Jack shook the man's hand, placing in it two Barizen chips as they released.

"Do ne ya." Jack spoke and rose to meet Stevey as he walked over.

"What were you two talking about?" Stevey asked as he neared Jack.

"The answer to our earlier dilemma, my friend."

"Seriously!" Stevey got a bit excited.

"Oh yeah," Jack beamed, happier than he'd been since yesterday morning when he'd gone out to harvest crystals. That Void crystal would soon be his.

"Stevey, we've got some work to do. If you can procure me another ride for tomorrow, I'll cut you in for my next haul of Barizen and Nethicite crystals. Here's the cost for the Lizard, plus a little extra for yourself for the trouble." He handed Stevey eight Feron chips.

"You got it, buddy," Stevey responded, walking away delighted in his small fortune. Feron chips weren't his usual rate, but Jack had always taken good care of him. And this time, he'd done him a super solid. Two Feron chips. That was two weeks worth of pay for all his services.