Ask Are you ya daddy's son?

[Ceris Odrosess]

With a few hours left to spare before she clocked out for the day, Ceris was thoroughly scrolling through databases on her computer. She has made a few, but high-quality connections so far. However she was looking for something more, combat oriented. While being good acquaintances with Senator Vaisra had its perks, he certainly wasn't helpful for anything outside of business. Ceris looked through mercenary listings, bounty hunter programs, criminal records, freelancer hirings, and eventually the Sector Ranger database.

She scrolled through some names, clicking on a few here and there and reading their portfolios. There wasn't anybody that jumped out to her, except a Shistavsen named Narr Noft. He had a pretty good track record, a bit of an older ranger but seemed to get work done efficiently. Ceris laughed when reading out the name of his deputy, "Callo eh? The kid must be a huge fan or something to name himself after a criminal" she said to herself. Noft was apparently patrolling Takodana for many years, but it he was finally moving onto other locations. Ceris assumed the man had a personal connection to the planet, but couldn't find anything else about it.

After a few calls and many favors, Ceris was able to arrange a meeting to meet Noft. "Jakku!?" she yelled, after reading where they would meet up at. "Fuck that desert planet.." The ranger was patrolling most of the western reaches, so he probably made a stop on Jakku. Ceris begrudgingly prepared to go to Jakku to meet the ranger; she hoped he wouldn't be a waste of her time.

"I can't believe it is even more dry than I could imagine" Ceris muttered to herself while walking through the sandy trading outpost. Small grains of sand got in her shoes, and it was just enough to be noticeable. It was extremely bothering, but Ceris thanked the force that there was no sand in her crotch region yet. She stood outside of what was suppose to be a cantina, but it looked more like a shack made out of sheet metal and torn up cloth. The place was pretty empty upon entering, and there didn't seem to be a Shistavenen in sight. Just an old Abednedo bartender, and two human junkyard scrappers getting drinks. Ceris took a seat at an empty table nearby and waited for the ranger to show up. She cursed as there was small grains of sand on the table that she had to wipe off.

@Eccles

 

[Jon Callo]

Their speeder came to a halt not far from the collection of tents where Narr jumped out of the driver's seat and started shaking off the sand from his furr with quick violent motions. He hated desert worlds, Jon knew, for exactly that reason. Sand got everywhere and with furr it was nearly impossible to get it all out. "Fill the canteenss with water," the Shistavanen ranger told his young deputy and followed up with a low pensive growl as he turned and looked at the thin dehydrated rodian, "join me in the sshade oness you're done."

Glad with the reprieve, Jon grabbed the canteens from the back of their speeder and rushed over to the well where he tossed a credit chip to the greedy fat weequay that claimed he 'owned the rights to the well' and thus everyone camping there had to pay him for water. That was the way of things on Jakku and no Sector Ranger was dumb enough to try and change that. Couldn't be done.

Meanwhile Narr Noft entered the cantina and quickly sniffed out the only clean person inside. "Not often a Republic Captain callss me," the veteran ranger grinned as he sat down in front of her, "Need me to find a desserter in the dessert?" That's what Narr's best bet had been, anyway. It's been ages since he visited a Core world or attended a seminar on the Lighthouse, but when it came to putting ones nose down and tracking outlaws he fancied himself one of the best rangers in the galaxy. Well, this part at least. Okay maybe the sector.. definitely the sector.

@Altaria

 

[Ceris Odrosess]

The dry atmosphere of Jakku was hard to get used to compared to the moist trashy air of Coruscant. Ceris turned her head to face the barkeep "Ay keep" she said, trying to sound like she wasn't a complete outcast. "One Black Spire Brew." The Abednedo man gave her a confused look. Ceris hung her head and sighed, picking it back up to order something else "Just get me a shot of Jet Juice and a glass of water." She turned her head back and looked observed the old paintings on the wall "Man I'm kriffing tired..." she muttered.

When the Shistavanen came in, Ceris knew she had her guy. There couldn't be too many of them walking around Jakku. She chuckled at the ranger's question "I like to track down my own desserters if possible. Captain Odrosess, it's nice to meet you Ranger Noft." The bartender came by and placed the two drinks Ceris ordered on the table. She handed him the credits, and quickly took the shot. For a relatively cheap drink, it was damn good. She slammed the shot glass back down on the table and let out a refreshing "Ah..."

"Now then," she continued, leaning forward in her seat. "To discuss what I came here for. I'll make it short and to the point. I'm looking to put together a little team, and I've been scouting some honest, reliable, and efficient people to be a part of it. You would still be doing what you normally do, if you choose to do so, it's mainly a group of people I can rely on to help now and then."

Ceris leaned back in her chair, placed her right hand over her heart, and pointed at the ranger with her left "Simply put, looking for people to scratch my back. Of course, I would return the favor." She smiled upon saying she would return the favor. Everyone wanted and desired something, and it usually was not hard for her to help them. "That's the plan for now atleast. As my career progresses, I plan on turning this little team into a combat group under my command. The pay would be much better than what you get as a Ranger, and you're name will be better known."

"So what about it Ranger Noft? You interested in this little, promotion?" Ceris placed her elbows on the table and rested her head on her hands.

@Eccles

 

[Jon Callo]

Narr Noft was silent for a moment until a low growl-like noise escaped him. "No," his red eyes looked at the Republic Captain with a little less than indifference. "Combat team that payss more and getss you fame?" he shook his head and made a start to get back up to his feet. "Should have assked me to track a desserter, Captain Odrossesss." He was halfway up his feet when he noticed Jon was standing nearby and he paused. It didn't take it to be spoken between the two of them. More credits was nice, Jon knew Narr's family didn't have much, but the old ranger didn't want the risk of making another Callo famous. Not knowing what secret they both kept and the kind of men that would be coming after the rodian teenager.

Jon had often wondered the same. Would the Zaa Fenn Crime Family want to recruit him? The son of a legendary outlaw, their former leader. Or would his life be a threat to their rule? A new crimelord of syndicate boss might not want the blood relative of his predecessor alive to one day lay claim to a position of power he perceived as his right. Jon wanted nothing to do with the Five Syndicates. He thought he had found his calling already. Wandering the Outer Rim with Narr Noft until he was old enough to be a ranger in his own right and hunt outlaws by himself. To make up for his father's wrongs.

The peacemaker at his side felt heavy, but he couldn't let Narr refuse a better pay just for his sake. "What kind of work?" the young rodian stepped forward and into the Republic Captain's view, prompting the Shistavanen to sit down with a defeated sigh. "What kind of pay?"

@Altaria

 

[Ceris Odrosess]

Ceris let out a sigh as the Shistavanen got up. She was hoping things would go the other way, but figured this would probably be the outcome. A lot of older people dislike changing professions, no matter what it is. Ceris was about to get up as well until she spotted the young Rodian standing nearby. She took notice of the peacemaker at his side, "Wow the kid must really be a huge fan of Preef.." she thought, not putting two and two together yet.

"Haha!" Ceris laughed "I like your spirit sweetheart." Taking a quick sip from her glass of water, she continued "You guys will get to keep doing what you usually do for awhile: your ranger work that is. However my plans are to eventually create a Special Ops team. Essentially a group of individuals I can entrust to carry out certain missions," she paused with a smile "for the New Republic of course. The missions could range from infiltration, rescue, search and destroy, investigations, and just simple escorting. You'll make enough money to move your families into the highest level of Coruscant, or wherever else you fancy yourselves to live."

The missions weren't going to be for the New Republic entirely, but the two Rangers didn't need to know that yet. Ceris had much bigger plans with the group, but couldn't put it together at her current rank. She'd have to wait until Fleet Admiral Kasal was out of her way in order to move up.

"So far Ranger Noft here is the first one I've come to recruit, but I have a few other names I'm interested in contacting. I've heard of another boy who has taken up Callo as his last name. He must be a big fan as well." Ceris leaned back in her chair "So waddya say kid? You as good with that peacemaker as the Preef?" She placed her hands on top of her head to rest them, and looked directly into the young Rodian's eyes. She was eager to hear the young man's answer.

@Eccles

 

[Jon Callo]

Another Callo?, another FAN? Jon looked at Narr, but the older Shistavanen merely growled with dissatisfaction. "Only idiotss idiolisse criminalss," he said, waving the entire comment about multiple Callo's away. "Bessidess, never been on Rodia? It'ss a clan name, must be hundredss of rodianss named Callo." Did he lay it on too thick? Maybe, but if this Republic captain didn't have extensive knowledge of a world far outside her jurisdiction then it was a safe bet.. at least, Jon thought so after he considered his boss' ploy.

"For those kind of credits," Jon smiled at the Captain, "I can sure try." Kriff. being able to live on Coruscant's upper levels required almost corporation-level credits. Neither Narr nor him would be able to afford that on a ranger salary.. not in a thousand years.

Narr knew it, too, but maybe that's why it made him so sceptical. "Lotta creditss for ssomething sso ssimilar to our day jobss."

@Altaria

 

[Ceris Odrosess]

"Hmm.." Ceris scratched her chin, still leaning back in her chair. "Wasn't aware it was a clan name, but one would assume they would have all changed their names long ago to avoid being grouped together with the Callo." Her eyes glanced over at Jon for just a moment "I guess not."

Pleased that the young Rodian was down to join, Ceris hoped she could get the old Shistavanen ranger to come along as well. There wasn't much info on Jon, so it would be unfortunate if he was useless. She put a hand up at Noft's skepticism "The credits won't come yet, not until the team is officially created. Once it is, you'll technically be a part of the New Republic Service. There will be some paperwork you'll have to go through but it shouldn't take long. Most of the pay will come directly from my pocket."

Ceris took another sip from her glass but jolted at the sound of a blaster firing outside. Some water spilled on her uniform, but she wasn't focused on it. The bartender and the two junkyard scrappers were quiet and still. "Hey I worked for this" The voice of the Weequay Jon payed earlier was heard. Ceris got up and made her way to the entrance of the shack, but merely peering out. A group of bandits with speeder bikes were harassing the man, one of them holding what seemed to be a bag full of credits. Ceris stepped out of the way and looked toward the two rangers "Think this is something within your area of expertise no?"

@Eccles