“(Nykyrian spun about at the sound, his blaster leveling at the body in the doorway.)Whoa. Friend! (He tapped his chest twice.) Really good guy. ‘Member me? (Syn)”

“(As she entered the main room, Syn turned around in his chair and almost fell out of it as he scanned her body. He cleared his throat and cut an appreciative look to Nykyrian.)Dayum…woman be hot. (Syn)”

“Not to mention, we’re using you for bait. (Syn)Are you that drunk? (Nykyrian)What? I wasn’t supposed to tell her that? (Syn)I’m bait? (Kiara)No, you’re not bait. Ignore the alcoholic whose view of reality is distorted by his brain-damaged hallucinations. (Nykyrian)”

“Was there much damage done to your ship? (Nykyrian)No, not really. Just enough to seriously piss me off and ruin my suckass day. (Syn)”

“(He took a drink of the juice and cursed.)What is this shit? Poison? (Syn)You can’t live on alcohol. (Nykyrian)Wanna bet? (Syn)Wanna die? Drink it and quit bitching. (Nykyrian)You know, you’re a little hairy to be my mother. (Syn)”

“I want blood! Two of Aksel’s dogs cornered me near Tondara. They shot me. Those bastards actually shot a hole in my stabilizer the size of Mirala…Aren’t you going to say something? (Syn)Were you hurt? (Nykyrian)No. (Syn)Then why are you having a fit? (Nykyrian)I don’t know, it just felt right. You see why I don’t like being sober? I overreact like an old woman. (He opened his flask, then slammed it down on Nykyrian’s desk.) Figures the damned thing would be empty. (Syn)”

“No, it was the brutal loss of his family that haunted him and for that Nykyrian couldn’t fault him at all. Syn had been put through a meat grinder by life. The fact that man could still get up and make it through a day without blowing his brains out amazed him.’ (Nykyrian)”