"This is a very bad idea." Stark muttered. Kellen had just landed The Chaser in Mos Eisley, and they were now walking towards the nearest bar. "Well, it's not exactly the center of the universe." Kellen shrugged.
"Well, if there's a bright center to the universe, we're on the planet that it's farthest from." Stark grumbled and crossed his arms. "Where are we going?" Kellen looked around. "Let's see. We're in Docking Bay 35, don't forget that."
"Right." Stark said. "The Star Chamber Bar." Kellen said. "The owners sold the place. They're going to build a hotel and casino there or something. This entire planet is still in development. Most locals are farmers."
"Aren't you supposed to stay with the ship?" Stark asked. Kellen laughed. "You're too young to go into a bar yourself. Besides, the ship is locked up tight. I called in a favor from a friend to watch it for us."
"You have friends?" Stark mocked surprise. Kellen lightly punched him. "Hey! Just relax and act natural, Stark. We're not doing anything illegal. Just finding people interested in joining a crew." Stark mumbled something Kellen didn't hear, and that was the end of their conversation. They walked up and down the streets until they found the bar.
It was underground, as most bars were on this dry, arid planet. When they stepped in, no one paid them any attention. Kellen shot Stark the 'go sit down' look. Stark nodded and went to a far corner table, moving out of the way. While covert was what they did, Stark figured he must look incredibly dumb.
Kellen walked up to counter where he got the attention of the bartender, a young human looking lady with curly red hair. Stark couldn't tell what they were they talking about, but Kellen knew a lot of people all across the galaxy. When he was young he did a lot of free freelance, and now he had about a million favors he could cash in.
Stark found himself picking at the bandages on his left arm, and then at the burn scabs underneath. He winced, but he kept picking at it. It was more of a habit then purposeful. Their last job had been a nasty one, bringing a very rich client across the Outer rim. They were paid very well, but Stark had paid enough in blaster fire. Unlike Kellen, he wasn't left handed, which meant no guard to protect him from plasma fire on his left arm.
Kellen was now laughing with girl, a pleasant smile on his face. Her eyebrows were raised, head tilted, interested in the conversation. Stark kept scratching at the itchy wound as he kept an eye around the bar.
Suddenly, someone slid in the seat next to him. It was a Togruta, the first one Stark had ever seen so far out in the Outer Rim. Her skin was a light purple, and her eyes a glazed blue. "You shouldn't pick." She said, pointing to Stark's arm. Stark looked down at absent-mindedly at his arm. The formerly dull white was now bright red, and his fingernails had crimson underneath them.
"It's fine- um, who are you?' The Togruta pursed her lips together. "No it's not, let me see it. I'm a doctor." Without asking permission, she grabbed his arm. "Wait, what are you- who are you?!"
She had busied herself by opening a black bag and pulling out some things, and looked up at his protests. "I am a doctor. My name is Zarina Jix. My friends call me Zar. Let me see." Despite her appearance, she was much stronger then she looked, and Stark decided it was best not to make a scene.
She extended his arm, putting it down on a cloth she had placed over the table. She then unwrapped the bandages and clicked her tongue in disapproval. "It's infected."
"What?" Stark looked down and groaned mentally. She was right. The red, inflamed flesh was very much infected. He watched as she pulled a well-known salve for treating infections on Shili, the home world to Togrutas. She brushed it gently on the long burn, then wrapped it back up expertly and pinned the bandages into place. "Change them twice a day. Keep it clean." She instructed as she piled everything back into the black bag before swinging it over her shoulders.
"What do I owe you?" Stark asked, praying it wasn't too much. Kellen was right, they were low on credits. Zarina smiled, showing her sharp canine teeth. "Nothing. Consider it a favor." For the first time, Stark noticed what she was wearing. Her dark blue sleeveless shirt looked wrinkled and dirty, and het brown pants looks as though they had been cut quickly in an emergency, exposing her calves. She looked very tired, and had no shoes on. Even her montrails looked a little droopy.
"What's a doctor doing all the way out here?" Stark asked her. Zarina sighed a little. "Oh, it's quite a story. I was joined a nonprofit relief effort at the beginning of the war. I wanted to help everyone." She laughed, almost bitterly. "But the non-profit only helped the Republic sympathizers and people, instead of anyone who needed help. So I quit and hopped on the first transport and it landed me out here. I'm kind of stuck." She considered this for a moment. "Should have thought that through a little more."
She's an airhead! Stark thought quietly to himself. "Hey, you know, my friends and I are looking for some people interested in doing a job. We're heading to Florrum to get some people off the planet safely. Are you interested?" He offered, despite himself. She seemed nice, and what was the harm in bringing along a doctor? They didn't have a medical droid on the ship.
She regarded him carefully. "Are your friends also as young as you are?" she asked him. Stark actually laughed. "No. It's one person, and he's an old man." He nodded in Kellen's direction.
"He doesn't look that old." Zarina questioned. "He is, trust me. Don't mention his age because it bothers him. We have a ship and a plan. All we need are people to help. You'll get paid well."
Zarina played with the end of one of her head-tails (which the actual name of them Stark had forgotten). "Alright. Welcome me aboard."
Stark grinned. "Excellent." The duo turned their attention to back to bar, where Kellen was now talking to another girl. She looked human, with long blonde hair and grey eyes. She was nodding and tilting her head. Kellen looked pleasant. When he finished talking, the girl nodded and smiled. The bartender came back with a brown bag and gave it to the girl. The girl hopped over the bar and then gave the red-haired bartender a hug before leaving walking towards the table with Kellen. When they reached the table, Stark scooted over to make room, ending up between Zarina and Kellen.
"Who is this?" Kellen asked Stark. Stark looked at the blonde girl and then back at Kellen. "You first."
"Okay then. This is Maree. She's Lorrdian and agreed to join. She doesn't talk much." Maree did a little head/nod bow. "Welcome aboard." Stark said. He pointed to Zarina. "This is Zarina Jix. Her friends call her Zar. She's a doctor." Kellen extended his hand. "Well then, welcome aboard." Zarina took his hand and shook it. "A pleasure."
"All mine." Kellen smiled. "Okay, I think four people is enough-!" He pushed Stark's head down onto the table as a plasma beam flew directly where his head was. "Ow!" Stark exclaimed, sitting up and pressing on his forehead. Zarina had her kit out. "Let me see." Kellen was on his feet, as was most of the bar.
"What's your problem, asshole!?" Someone shouted. It came from a man holding a pistol, pointing it at a teenager, who was also tense, yet smiling. "Nothing, nothing." The kid said. "No need to fire a- oh, who am I kidding?" He whipped out two guns of his own and began to fire at the man, who fired back. There was a flash of blonde hair as the teenager ducked behind a counter.
That's when all hell broke loose. "Aw, dang it." Kellen exclaimed. "Maree!" The girl was on her feet as they both went their own ways into the divulging mob in the bar. Zarina shined a light into Stark's eyes. "What are you doing, we have to-,"
"No. Stay still." Zarina said firmly. Stark sighed. "Fine."
In the crowd, Maree slid over the counter top next to the boy, who smiled at her. "Hey."
She nodded, but gave him a glare.
"What can I say? He fired first."
Maree rolled her eyes.
"You remind of someone I used to know." The kid commented. "I'm Shane." Maree held up her bronze bracelet for Shane to read.
"Maree? Nice name. You don't talk much do you?"
Maree shook her head. Shane shrugged. "You seem nice. Any chance you have a ride out of here?"
A glass above them exploded in blaster fire. Maree turned around and stood up and pulled out her own pistol and fired it a few times before ducking down. She looked at Shane and nodded.
"Sweet. Can I get a ride?"
"If you're in it for the money."
The pair looked to the left, where the red-haired bartender was ducked., the cause of the voice.
"She's on a mercenary ship. You need a job you join the crew. You need a ride you pay them."
Shane cocked his head. "Huh, guess I'm on board then! I need some credits anyways. Cool deal. Get into a bar fight and walk out with a job. I'll stick with you then." He winked at Maree.
"About that, hotshot. I need payment for all of this." The bartender said. "I just sold this place, I need it good condition."
"I'll be sure to pay for it. Here." He handed her a few credits. "Consider that downpayment."
"How can I trust you?" the bartender said.
"What's your name?"
"Stara."
"Okay Stara, Maree trusts me right?" he looked at Maree, who sighed and nodded. "And you trust Maree?"
"Well, yeah. She's my sister."
"There! By default, you trust me. You have my word."
"Oh, fine. Just get of here, Maree! Take your insane friend with you."
Across the bar, Kellen ran into another man. Literally.
The impact had them both go down onto the floor. "Hey!" exclaimed the person who was tackled. "Sorry!" Kellen said. He kicked down a table as a shield from the flying plasma. The guy had pure white hair and very pale skin, almost grey. Kellen looked him up and down once.
"Any chance you need a job?"
"What?" the man asked, confused by Kellen's question. Kellen twirled his pistol in his hand. "We're looking for some people interested in joining a crew. We're heading to Florrum to get some hostages off the planet. We'll get paid very well and splitting it. Interested?"
"Now is not really the time for this, don't you think?"
"I have a ship that can get us off this planet before the authorities arrive. How old are you?"
"17."
"Perfect. You in?"
"Solaris Tem." The guy extended his hand.
"Kellen Dume." Kellen took it and shook his hand.
"My crew is in here somewhere. We're going to the rendezvous at Docking Bay 35. Meet us there if you can't keep up."
Solaris's eyes twinkled. "I can keep up."
"Excellent! Let's move!"
The duo stood up and ran towards the exit. "Duck!" Solaris yelled. Kellen did so as he threw what looked like a dagger into a man's shoulder, making him drop his gun. Kellen pulled it out of the man's shoulder and tossed it back to Solaris.
"That was cool." Kellen said.
"I pride myself on that." Solaris replied. They passed the table with Stark and Zarina. "Dock 35!" Kellen called. Stark and Zarina were on their feet and behind Kellen and Solaris. Maree and the kid who started the whole thing, Shane, came out of nowhere.
"Docking Bay 35!" Kellen called to them. They all emerged from the bar at the same time and separated. Maree and Shane got spilt up as soon as they left the bar, though. Shane went left and Maree went right.
Maree was now utterly lost.
Great.
She wandered around a bit and moved out of the way as the police cars began their way down the dusty street. Even though she had moved here three months ago, she still had problems finding the streets.
She was so distracted trying to find the right street, she walked into somebody. Or maybe, something. She stretched her neck look up at the person, who was at least seven feet tall.
He looked like a wall of muscle. He was obviously Herglic, as he was absolutely huge. He looked alike a small whale, dark blue with a white belly. He smiled.
"Hello. Are you lost?"
Something about his body language and voice made her trust him almost at once. She nodded, still looking up at his massiveness.
"You didn't have anything to do with that bar fight, did you?" Maree shrugged. "Maybe." She was at once startled. It's not like she couldn't talk, she just didn't like to. The sound of her own voice shocked her. She hadn't heard it in quite a while.
"I'm Aldo. You need some help?" she nodded again. "Maree. I'm looking for Docking Bay 35. I just signed on a crew and we got separated."
He smiled widely, looking more scary then friendly due to his huge size. "Well, let's not get separated." He scooped her up with his massive arms and placed her on his large shoulder. He turned left down a large street. Maree would have gone right towards the smaller one, but his size did seem to be an issue.
"You're very tiny for your age. How old are you?" Aldo asked Maree, though she was about to ask him the same question.
"19. What about you, Aldo?"
"Oh, I'm an old man compared to you. I'm 38." Aldo replied. Maree smiled a little. "You're not that old, Aldo. To your credit, you like much younger." Aldo laughed. "That's nice of you, Maree." Maree smiled, and they fell into comfortable silence as Aldo trudged on. Maree figured it must incredibly strange, the two of them.
She couldn't help herself as she leant over a little bit to the right, looking down at the ground which seemed now very far away. She noticed a white tattoo, standing out on his dark blue skin. Great, now she had to ask.
"Um, Aldo?' she asked. He glanced over at her. "What's up?"
"What's that insignia on your arm?"
Aldo looked at the spot she was referring to on his right arm, as most people did when you mentioned something about them.
"Oh, that's new. It's the Republic insignia. You didn't recognize it?" Aldo asked her.
Maree shook her head, and then realized he couldn't see her that well so she spoke. "No. I've grown up here my whole life. It's a crime world. The only law that matters is Jabba's."
"Jabba?" Aldo asked almost in disbelief. "As in Jabba the Hutt?"
Aldo turned down another corner. They were now near the docks, but too far away from Docking Bay 35.
"Yeah. It comes with the job. My sister and I just sold our bar to a friend of theirs. Lady Ver- something. She's going to build something huge around it. My sister wanted enough money to get us off the planet. Maybe go to the Republic capital. It seems like the only safe place to avoid the war."
Aldo considered this for a minute. "If you're trying to avoid the war, why did you just sign on a crew?" he asked her curiously.
"Oh, well the guy who owns the ship is a family friend. He offered my older sister the spot first, but she had to take care of the details with the buyer. She suggested me and I signed on. We're short just a little bit. We need some savings to live while we both look for jobs. He offered to give us transportation once we have enough money. He's a nice guy."
"He sounds like it." Aldo commented, thinking about this family friend. It got quiet again, and then Maree finally spoke after a few minutes.
"Aldo, would you like come with us?"
"Hm?" Aldo said, having been distracted by the ships they were passing. They all seemed too small for him.
"We're going to be rescuing hostages from pirates in Florrum and returning them to the Republic. We could use the manpower. You'll get a split of the pay, of course." Maree offered.
"Really?" Aldo asked, almost in disbelief. A chance to do a job for the Republic. Maybe if they do a good job they could get contracted by them?
"Yeah. We're just about to leave now." Maree said.
The wheels were turning in Aldo's head. "Is your ship big enough to fit me?" he asked warily, his size having stopping him in past.
"Some parts are small, but I'm sure you'll be able to. It's certainly not a cruiser, though." Maree insisted.
Aldo thought about it for a little longer. He had been looking for work.
"Okay." He agreed. "Yay!" Maree cheered. They were now closer to Docking Bay 35. They weren't too far away from the ship. If Maree squinted, she could make out two figures, a shorter boy and a taller man.
"That's them." Maree said, confirming it to Aldo. The sirens got louder and closer. "Someone must have died for the Republic police to show up here." Aldo commented, moving faster than he was before, turning it into a light jog.
"Maybe I guess- wait people die in bar fights all the time here. Why would the Republic show up here? Unless-." Maree was cut off by a huge galactic cruiser flew above them. She bent over Aldo a little bit, getting a good look at his face from her perch.
"The Separatists were involved. When there's a cruiser, there's a Jedi. We should probably pick up the pace." Aldo was now moving much faster than before.
"It's the Republic, so it's fine right?" he asked.
"Um, no. They'll hold everyone here until they get what they want. We all really need to get out of here before more hostages are killed." Maree said. "I speak from experience. One time a Jedi was killed out here. We were stuck for weeks."
"Okay, moving faster." They were now very close. Kellen, the taller man, waved his hand at Maree and then ran back into the ship. It started to power up. The shorter guy, Stark, waited by the opening for them. Aldo and Maree finally reached the ship!
Aldo gently placed Maree off his shoulder. Maree glanced from Stark, who was looking up, and Aldo, looking down.
"I'm Stark." Stark said, a bit overwhelmed bu Aldo's size.
"Aldo. Your friend invited me to join you guys. That okay?"
"Um, yeah. That's fine." Stark said a little quietly. "Welcome aboard." He had a huge purple and blue mark in the middle of his forehead. Maree walked aboard the ship and Aldo and finally Stark went after her. They traveled down the narrow path until they reached the large 'command center' as Kellen called it, but it was more a big room with couches and a transmitter in the center.
Aldo counted the people sitting and standing in various places. If he counted the pilot, Stark, Maree, and himself, it was a grand total of seven, a large number that was sure to rise later.
There was a collective gasp and the ship jerked into the air.
"Sorry!" Someone called from the cockpit. "There's a large amount of ships leaving at the same time. Stark, set hyperspace coordinates!" Stark, Aldo presumed, dashed out the room into the cockpit. Maree, who seemed familiar with the ship, also joined him.
Stark suddenly popped his head in. "We have four seats up here, so we have an extra when we jump. Um, Aldo, big guy, you won't fit."
"That's alright." Aldo said.
"I'll go." said a pale kid with white hair. He walked past Stark, who then looked at the three remaining passengers, Aldo the whale guy, Zarina, and Shane.
"Um, find something to strap into. There's seat belts on the couch for you two." He pointed to Zarina and Shane, who were both already seated on the couch.
"Aldo, uh, just hold onto something I guess. I'll make you an attachment later but we don't really have time for-,"
"Stark!"
"Coming!" he shouted back, turning his head. He faced the trio. "Um, sorry. I'm just gonna go now." He turned and disappeared behind a door of what Aldo assumed was the cockpit.
The one female left behind, once she had put the black strap over her lap and secured it, looked up at the two males and smiled, showing off some very sharp teeth.
"I'm Zarina. It's a pleasure to be working with you both."
The teenager with the messy blonde hair was fiddling with his black strap. "Same here." He said, without looking up. "I'm Shane. And uh, yeah. That bar fight was kind of my fault. It was accident though. I was just- oh."
There was a large snapping noise, like something metal breaking.
"Uh-oh."
Aldo looked over at Shane's belt. "Did you just?" he asked.
"It was already like that." Shane said quietly.
"What was that!?" came a voice from the cockpit. It was Stark.
"Nothing!" All three in back called to the cockpit.
"We're jumping to hyperspace in five! Four! Three! Two!" Stark yelled.
Aldo sighed, then grabbed Shane and lifted his hand up, easily touching the ceiling and grabbing onto a pipe that looked like it distributed water throughout the ship. Very important, and it would be bad if it was broken.
"One!"
The entire ship was jolted suddenly, and the straps strained on everyone not facing the front of the ship, that being Zarina. Aldo and Shane were also thrown back, but Aldo managed to hold onto the pipe hard enough not to go flying and light enough not to break it.
Suddenly it stopped, and Zarina, Aldo, and Shane were all thrown backwards. It got really quiet, and the three breathed a sigh of relief.
Stark emerged from the cockpit and held onto the frame for support. He looked a little sick. "Everyone okay?"
Aldo let go of Shane, who straightened up and brushed off his shirt professionally and with ease. "Was there ever any doubt?'
"Yes."
"Hey!" Shane protested. Zarina laughed and undid the strap. "You might need more than one strap for next time, though."
"What do you mean?" Stark asked warily. Zarina was cut off by Kellen walking into the room
"Well then. We're going to reach Florrum soon. We're still in hyperspace but it shouldn't be too long. Welcome aboard the Chaser. I do hope you enjoyed the ride."
"Let's just say it was a little bumpy for my taste." Shane muttered.
The pale kid with the white hair walked in, making their number six. "So, what's the plan?" he asked, to no one in particular.
Kellen crossed his arms. "We should start with introductions. I'll trade places with Maree so she can sit in. Stark will debrief you and I'll make sure we don't crash."
"Sounds good." Shane said, nodding in approval. Kellen walked back into the cockpit and only a few moments later Maree came out and sat down on the rounded couch that surrounded the transmitter.
Stark went to the front part of the transmitter, which looked into the open room and turned it on, providing a virtual, 3D map of Florrum.
"Let's all take a seat I suppose. I'm Stark." He offered. Zarina spoke next. "Zarina." She raised her land, like it was classroom.
"Solaris." said the pale kid with the white hair. "Shane." Shane winked at Maree, who rolled her eyes. "That's Maree. She doesn't talk much."
Aldo looked over at Maree in surprise, considering the conversation they had on the way to the docking bay. "Um, Aldo." He stuttered out, a little distracted by trying to figure out why Maree would talk to him and not anyone else on the ship.
"And Kellen is preventing us from dying right now." Stark concluded. "Let's get started then." Stark pointed to a part near the north of the 3D planet. "The hostages are being held here, by Hondo Ohnaka, a Weequay pirate and captain of the Ohnaka Gang. The planet is well known for a dry climate. Unfortunately for us, the surface of the planet is a mixture of deserts, canyons and areas with many sulfuric geysers. Sulfuric as in the deadly kind."
"Then how do we avoid the geysers?" Shane asked.
"Skalders. They're native to the planet and have thick hides that protect them from the acid coming out of the geysers. We can ride near them and where they move, we move." '
"Ohnaka's pirates flourish. They use the war and lack of Republic intervention to deal by spice. They want almost a million credits worth of it for three hostages. They make money by receiving ransoms through kidnapping and extortion." Stark said.
"Our best bet would to get in and out, as quickly as possible, then." Aldo commented from behind Stark, who nodded. "Exactly. There are seven of us to do this job. Kellen and I are going to stay on the ship. Kellen will be our getaway and I'll managed communications from here. I'll also intercept any transmissions to prevent your discovery."
"You're not coming with us?" Zarina asked in disbelief.
"Uh, no. I don't exactly like pirates. These specific ones, well, uh, we don't exactly have the best past. They have orders to kill me on sight." Stark said awkwardly, rubbing his shoulder and looking almost embarrassed.
"Okay then." Zarina nodded and crossed her legs, her bare feet still pointing downwards towards the floor.
"We'll split into two groups. We have five people, so it's going to be two and three. Two people will be our distraction and the other three will rescue the hostages." Stark said. He pushed another button on the machine and it zoomed in, displaying a large 3D model of the pirate base. Stark pointed towards the front of the base, where speed cycles and pirates were, frozen in time from the picture being taken.
"It's a hub for fights and drinking. We'll need people who don't get into fights easily. Shane, it rules you out. No offense."
"None taken." Shane shrugged. "I like being on recon anyways."
"I could go?' Zarina offered. Stark shook his head. "We need you to be on scene. Knowing these pirates they're bound be hurt. You're the only doctor here on the crew and we need your efforts directed towards the hostages. I think Solaris should be on recon too."
Solaris, who hadn't said a word in quite a while, raised an eyebrow. "Why?"
"You've developed quite a reputation for yourself. You'll be fine." Solaris gruffly nodded. "Fine." Aldo looked at Maree and then back at Stark. "That leaves me and Maree."
Stark nodded. "Yes. You too seemed to get along pretty well back there. You could be her body guard or something. That means she'll need to get a little dressed up- wait no. You'll be asking for a bounty hunter to track down the man who killed your very rich father. Your brother is being held captive and you have a lot of money, but only if they find the killer. Aldo will be your personal bodyguard." He looked at Maree who nodded.
Aldo frowned. "That makes sense I suppose. We just keep them distracted until you guys are out of there?"
"The three of them will signal me when they're safe. You guys finish the deal quickly and get out of there. We'll take off and Kellen will contact the Republic that we have the hostages. Just don't get caught, or we're all in for a world of trouble." Maree and Aldo both nodded.
"Shane and Solaris, you guys need to protect Zarina as best you can so she can get to the hostages. I don't doubt your abilities, Zarina." He stopped Zarina from saying something about how she didn't need protection. She reluctantly closed her mouth and pouted a little.
"It's just very important you remain unharmed so we can help these people. Are we all clear?" Stark asked. The group of five nodded. Suddenly, the door between the cockpit and living area opened. Kellen stuck his head in.
"Strap in, everyone. We're above to exit hyperspace."
Okay! Good chapter, Rachel. *high fives self* If your crew character didn't show up (I know who you are) don't worry. This is just for this job, and in the next chapter or two they'll show up. I think five per chapter is my limit. So what did you think? You like the way I wrote the characters? Hate it?
I'm still accepting guest characters, but not crew. Guest can join the crew for a job or fire them. They don't have the rules, and they can be Jedi, force sensitive and active members of the Republic Senate. If you've submitted a crew member, feel free to send in a guest as well, since I'm so short on them.
Questions I like my reviewers to answer:
What do you think will happen once they reach Florrum?
Why to the pirates hate Stark?
Will Maree ever talk to anyone besides Aldo?
Why is Shane so adorable? *smushes his face*
Will Solaris ever get a proper speaking part? (We'll see!)
Forgive my grammar in this. I'm short on time and I want to get it out before my laptop dies. I don't have spellcheck on this thing. I'll fix it later, but just ignore the bad parts, kay?
Tell me what you guys think, and I'll see you in the next chapter. I might not update soon, since it's going to be New Years. If I don't see you guys, have a good one!
Peace and Mist,
Rlb190