[OOC: Here’s where we start in the timeline for this episode: Just after Ian’s maniacal laughter and comments about Dex’s false story dies down but before he tells Dex he’ll follow him to Mos Taike…]

When Ian is looking off in the opposite direction, Cal glances over at Dex to get his attention. Cal discreetly nods in Ian’s direction, then rolls his eyes, showing Dex that he doesn’t believe a word that Ian has been saying. Dex is quite pleased that his fabricated story has gone over so well and has convinced this man so easily that what he said was the truth. Then again, he’s always had the gift, he thinks to himself.

Deciding to test his luck a little and push a little harder, Dex offers up one of the adult holos. “Say, don't take me for the wrong type of person here...I don't normally deal in this kind of thing, but these recently fell in my lap, so to speak. You see, I have come into possesion of some holocards that may take your mind off of your beautiful Treese. If you’re interested in a pair of beautiful Twi’Lek women, I would gladly give you a good price on it. That is, if your interested in that sort of thing."

Eyeing the holo card that Dex has produced from his pocket beneath his poncho, Cal listens to Dex’s proposition with growing anger. “What kind of man do you think I am? And what kind of man are you? Preying on a man’s loneliness and heartache! You should be ashamed!” He then lowers his voice, looking around out of the corners of his eyes. “Give you 40 credits for one.”

Dex, knowing that he has poor Cal in the palm of his hand now more than ever raises an eyebrow as if to ask, “Can’t you do a little better than that?”

Seeing Dex’s expression, Call whispers harshly, “All right, 50 credits, but that’s it.”

Dex knows it’s a decent deal. The price is not the best he could get given enough time and a market, but with their need for money and in light of the chubby man’s hospitality, it’s more than fair. In fact, Dex has a momentary pang of guilt for squeezing the chap, but then laughs at his own weakness, showing a wry smile at the thought.

Cal takes the smile as an indication that they have a deal so runs into his office and comes back out with a pen-sized credit stick. Dex holds out a copy of “Secrets of Twi’light” for Cal and takes the credit stick with a smug nod. As Dex checks the credit readout to make sure he’s not getting swindled, Cal pockets the holo card, his eyes glancing around nervously. All is well as the stick reads 50 Imperial credits; the deal is done.

Now that the business has been transacted, Dex feels like it’s time to head to Mos Taike. He again thanks Cal for the water and map and motions to the now sulky Ian that it’s time to go. Ian has slipped into a funk, seeing Tatooine in it’s natural state for the first time now that it matches his mood.

Ears, sensing the change in his friend’s disposition, is doing her best to cheer him up. She’s taken to attempting standing front-flips in front of Ian. Making sure that Ian is watching, she leaps up and tucks in head first, trying to get a full rotation while in the air, but can’t quite make it all the way around. She ends up smacking the ground with the flat of her back, raising a cloud of dust and knocking some of the air out of her lungs in the process. It’s all in good fun though, designed to amuse as it were. She wheezes and laughs at her own folly, watching Ian for any sign of a smile.

Ian cracks the smallest of smiles for his energetic companion and holds out his hand as he stands up to follow Dex. Ears grabs his hand and the three of them, Dex, Ian, and Ears, start walking toward the gate, ready to make the trek to Mos Taike.

Suddenly Ian turns around "Although, I will shoot that bastard Joko out of spite for hurting you...phantasm or not."

Dex can practically see the light bulb pop on over Cal’s head with Ian’s words. “You will?” asks Cal. “Really?”

Ian nods an affirmative.

“You know what? I’m going to call Coozer right now and tell him not to charge you fellas for docking and to fix whatever he can on your ship. On me. I’ll pay for everything. You see, Coozer and I have an understanding…”

“There is one condition though; you keep your word about that Rodian Razorslime. Agreed?” Almost as an afterthought, he adds, “You can have this too since I won’t need it,“ and pulls his blaster out from his sash. He then waits expectantly.

[OOC: Mal, you said in your reply that you were going to radio Jarren. I’m going to assume that you have NOT done so yet since your plans might have changed at this point. If you want to radio him, please include it in the next reply instead.]