Open Tatooine Country Skylanes

[Sakas Zareen]

Sometimes Rangers came from outside the FWA and that was fine.

Sometimes Rangers came from the Outer Rim and that was fine too.

Sometimes Rangers came from Tatooine and that was a pain in Sakas' arse.

Honestly it wasn't because Tatooine was so hot and lack of any humidity that it made her headtails shrink and try and hide themselves. No, it wasn't either of those incredibly terrible things that made it a pain in her arse. It was more the fact that it was the backend of nowhere and no one around knew how to act like they weren't sand-hicks or whatever.

Half of the locals were obnoxiously criminal and the other half were so focused on their subsistence farming of moisture (seriously?) that they basically didn't look for anything else in the Galaxy. She wouldn't be surprised if half of the farmers thought that the Empire hadn't fallen - and it would only be half because the other half likely didn't even know the Republic had fallen.

She was probably being uncharitable but she was standing around what passed for a spaceport, growing increasingly frustrated with the local she paid for the berth her ship now rested in.

"And you told me that you knew where the Ranger recruit was..." she explained for what felt like the millionth time, "So do you mind telling me where they are?"

The droid stared up at her before speaking in Huttesse.

"For the LAST TIME... Basic. Please! My blasters for Basic!"

@Nommie

 

[Rhax ra]

It was strange to be hired on as a Ranger after gaining attention due to her willingly cooperating with humans by aiding in tracking down people or as a guide getting a person from one settlement to another. Yet the strangest part was to be hired then left behind as though what she was told is a joke.

Well if the Ranger saw it as a joke it was an insult to Rhax'ra. She didn't agree to be made a fool of. On top of that she has children to provide for. Yes she has set up temporary accommodations for them until Rhax'ra has set up somewhere to live permanently on Tatooine or elsewhere. Which ever happens.

But as of right now. She is wondering the streets of some town just outside the spaceport looking for someone who is a ranger or the particular one that hired her so she can throttle him about for making her feel like a fool.

She stopped, tilting her head to the side as she watched an humanoid woman trying to speak to a droid that clearly only knew how to speak Huttese. Well unluckily, Rhax'ra has no way to cross the language barrier. But she could tell by the woman's body language that she is frustrated and so guessed she is looking for someone.

The Tusken waved her right hand to try to gain Sakas's attention then saying in sign language, "You looking for someone?".

@Nefieslab

 

[Sakas Zareen]

Sakas was about five seconds away from slapping the droid until it either learned Basic or she managed to smash it's entire head unit off. Catching sight of movement off to the side, she took it as an excuse to stop trying to talk to the droid and instead start talking to a local so she could actually get somewhere.

Naturally it was less 'talk to a local' and more 'TRY' and talk to a local because the local in question was a Tusken who was trying to use sign language.

Which Sakas did not know.

She stared at the Tusken for a moment before kind of just nodding slightly.

"So um... do you understand Basic?" she raised both hands in a warning gesture, "I know you guys have your own language and customs and they're super cool but I just can't really um... use sign language..."

Technically she could swear in sign language and she could do a few hand-signals from the Rangers that were based on sign language but not much else? She looked down at her hands before roughly, hesitantly, signing out some hand-signals she knew kind of overlapped.

"I go... seek and extract... VIP..."

@Nommie

 

[Rhax ra]

Rhax’ra made a hand gesture to try to say that she had some understanding when it came to basic. It wasn't enough to say she can speak basic though.

However the droid that was annoying Sakas a second ago started speaking to Rhax’ra. In Huttese of course, which the Tusken was able to understand far better, well more like three words out of five. It was having a bit of a nag as you would say about Rhax’ra cutting into the conversation it was having with the woman.

Rhax’ra made a hand gesture at the droid yelling in Tusken, "Be quiet!" but the droid clearly was on a roll with speaking.

There was only one way to fix that.

Taking her Gaderffii Stick in her hands the Tusken bashed the droid with the stick a couple times. When the droid crumbled to the ground with sparks flying out of its joints an idea came to mind. Tearing off the droid's plating Rhax’ra fished out the communication parts. A little bit of adjusting and it was ready for use.

Bringing one part to where her mouth will be she spoke in Tusken but the translator should convert to Basic, "Can you understand me now?" If Sakas can't understand what the Tusken is saying she will adjust the settings again.

@Nefieslab

 

[Sakas Zareen]

Well.

It wasn’t actually her neighborhood and it wasn’t her jurisdiction so when the Tusken started whacking the annoying droid with their stick, she just kind of stared at them. Honestly, what else was she supposed to do? None of the locals passing them by seemed to give a single, solitary, kark about the fate of the droid or that the Tusken was the one beating the simulated life out of it.

And now the Tusken was breaking it open and messing around with it’s inside like a Jawa!

…

Shrak that was racist as hell wasn’t it? Oh Force she was mortified but so very happy she had only thought it and not said it aloud. When the voice spoke in Basic, with a Huttese accent, Sakas almost jumped and pulled her pistol.

But she didn’t because she was a professional; which meant she only jumped a little bit and her hand went to her holster but she didn’t actually draw. She just stared at the Tusken, who she was only just now realizing was a woman.

“Um… yeah.” She nodded slightly, “It’s got a Huttese accent but yeah that’s Basic.”

Communication at last!

“I’m a Sector Ranger and I’m looking for a new recruit from around here by the name of…” she checked her datapad for a second, “Rhax’ra? Yeah Rhax’ra. Heard of them?”

@Nommie

 

[Rhax ra]

Beating the droid until it was possibly nothing more useful than spare parts may be a shock to someone not from Tatooine. But it may be more common to happen than one would think since spare parts can bring in a struggling family some money.

No one really keeps track on droids anyways. Unless they acrually belonged to someone important. This droid has no markings indicating it belonged to anyone. Perhaps someone turned it loose because of it being an annoyance or wanted to see who will tear it apart first.

Maybe illegal in some sectors. But here. Not really.

The Tusken had no idea if this idea of hers would work. But to her relief it did as the woman indicated that it did. Rhax'ra heard her name being said and new that the woman was asking for her. Pointing a thumb at her chest she told Sakas, "I am the Tusken named Rhax'ra you are looking for. Pleasure to meet you."

Will the woman standing before her believe what she is being told. Or will she wave her off? There aren't exactly many Tuskens who will willingly wonder through a busy settlement full of what Tuskens label as Outsiders. That is unless the Ranger was expecting the name to belong to a male Tusken.

Then Rhax'ra will have to figure out how to prove that she is the Tusken that had been recruited. Better get that brain to work incase that is the situation that will follow.

@Nefieslab

 

[Sakas Zareen]

She was the Tusken she was looking for?

She was looking for a Tusken? Okay that was… different.

Sakas wasn’t really sure why there hadn’t been anything about this in the briefing because it did seem like a big deal. As much as she didn’t have a problem serving with other races in the Rangers (it was a mark of pride to her that the Rangers were so unquestioningly inclusive) it was still something she felt should have been included. Looking over some of the rare missions Rangers undertook on the planet, Tuskens seemed to be wary allies at best and, at worst, territorial enemies.

It wasn’t anything against Rhax’ra but it was something that probably should have been in the briefing to make sure they were both safe! Sakas wasn’t the type to shoot first but she equally wasn’t sure if anyone else would have stayed their hand when a Tusken started bashing a droid to death in front of them.

“… okay then.”

She didn’t really question that Rhax’ra was the one she was here to meet because it didn’t make any sense for the Tusken to lie. There wasn’t any benefit to her to lie about wanting to be a Ranger but, for her own curiosity, she still asked.

“Why do you want to be a Sector Ranger then Rhax’ra?” she asked, honestly curious, “I don’t know much of your culture but I know it’s pretty… local. Are you sure you’d be comfortable travelling the Galaxy?”

The idea of Rhax’ra on, say, Corellia was both amusing and mildly alarming.

@Nommie

 

[Rhax ra]

Why does she want to be a Ranger? That was something Rhax'ra had to think about when she was originally approached. But then it wasn't a hard answer to come to. She only had to think back to the sandstorm many years ago that caused her to become separated from her Tribe. Of course the Tusken couldn't speak of it to anyone. Not even her mate. But then again negative occurances that Outsiders were involved in buried that memory.

Even though the female Tusken knew what she wanted to say she found it difficult to speak. Perhaps it was because she is in the middle of a busy street where everyone will hear her or it is the fact that she is acknowledging she is willing to commit an ultimate sin. One where every Tusken may seek her out to kill her if she ever came back to Tatooine.

Her hand holding the device she is using to communicate began to shake a little. But stopped as Rhax'ra took a deep nreath to calm herself, "To answer that question completely I must speak of an event in my past. I had long forgotten it for a time due to occurances. Especially after my husband was killed." She paused for a second, "When I was a child a sandstorm separated me from my tribe. During my wondering to find shelter I came across Outsiders in the same predicament as me. We worked together to find adequate shelter until the sandstorm stopped. I broke a Tusken Law back then. I became tainted. On the pain of death or banishment I couldn't speak of it. Not even to those closest to me. Due to extreme hardships I chose that me and my children were to leave the Tribe to find a better way to live. My children were starving and falling ill often." She paused again, going quiet as a group of people walked past the two of them. When they were long gone she continued, "During our travel we came across a small Outsider settlement. That was when I remembered what took place during the sandstorm and thought why not try establishing a peaceful existence among them. It took a while to gain their trust and another duration of time to be counted as members of the Outsiders settlement. But my children were thriving. They had food to eat, children to play with. Because of taking the time to convince and show that small settlement that we can peacefully live among them."

The Tusken Raider chuckled when she realized that while she is beginning to blabber. She better give her answer before Sakas thinks the female Tusken is wasting precious time, "I guess I am hoping that by becoming a Ranger that I can show my people as well as Outsiders on and off planet that it is possible to establish a productive peace among each other. If that kind of change can happen then perhaps life here won't be as hard.." The Tuskens swallowed nervously, "I am afraid of leaving Tatooine.. it is the ultimate sin a Tusken can make. But if it is the step needed.. it is one I am willing to take." She glanced around at her surroundings. Somewhat expecting another Tusken or two to attack her.

@Nefieslab

 

[Sakas Zareen]

Sakas wasn’t used to missions like this, where she was expected to play nice with the ‘target’ beyond what was needed to get the person to incriminate themselves. She was used to being a bit more of a blunt instrument so this was new to her, the whole thing of being nice to someone to get them to see her point of view. There were Rangers she knew who had taken hostage negotiation tactical lessons and there were Rangers who employed strategic violence to resolve such cases.

She was firmly in that second group.

But she could talk to people about something she was passionate about and she was beyond passionate about her job - so she got Rhax'ra talking about why she wanted to be a Ranger. The answer was both slightly surprising and not surprising at the same time. Surprising because it involved a tusken actually staying with Outsiders on purpose and not surprising because it came from a deeply personal place. Sakas didn't know the 'origin stories' of every Ranger she worked with but the really dedicated ones? Well they came from an emotional place, not like the ones who joined for coldly logical reasons.

Rhax'ra wasn't joining up because it got her more credits or because it would look good on their CV when they applied to become a senator or something. She could respect that a lot more. Sakas smirked a little bit as she looked around at the parts of Tatooine that she could see. Part of her wanted to comment on the place honestly but...

"I could see it being a big step." she agreed, "Not many places are going to feel like home after Tatooine."

The heat was beginning to cause her head tails to wiggle about so she took a drink of water from her canteen before pouring some on her head tails to cool them down.

"So where do you want to go first? Any worlds you've heard about?"

@Nommie

 

[Rhax ra]

Listening to Sakas the Tusken Raider had no idea how well she will take leaving. It is a deadly decision. If she ever came back other Tuskens may kill her for leaving. Breaking away from her tribe is probably a forgivable offense but to do something as blasphemous as leaving and living the life of an Outsider is beyond forgivable in Tusken law and religion. Rhax'ra may as well label herself as a dead Tusken.

But perhaps other Tuskens will see that some changes aren't always bad and forgive her.

Watching as the humanoid alien poured water on herself the Tusken reached for her own water canteen, hokding it out for Sakas to take if needed. Rhax'ra figured that the other person is of a species that doesn't tolerate heat well, "I don't know. The Outsiders I spent time around didn't talk much about other planets though a farmer who used to be a trader talked every now and then about a planet called Coru... Coruscant. Where would you recommend visiting?" Rhax'ra asked wondering where the woman would suggest visiting. It is safe to say the Tusken is naive about just how many planets are out there.

@Nefieslab

 

[Sakas Zareen]

Honestly, the heat was beginning to make her brain itch. It wasn’t heat-stroke like humans and other species would experience but, rather, her senses going wild. Her head-tail were a sensory organ all that her species used to detect things that other species could not. Radiation, toxins, sound and heat were the main things she could feel through them, though she could also technically see without her eyes if she chose to as well.

With the constant, oppressive, heat of Tatooine it was akin to a human hearing a low whining sound constantly – it was background ‘noise’ and it was irritating but it was something she could ignore if she had to. But the water did help relieve it so she enjoyed using some of the water from her canteen to cool them down.

It didn’t actually stop her from sensing the heat through her head-tails but it made it slightly less ‘noisy’ to continue with the same analogy as before. She waved off Rhax’ra’s offer of the extra water with a grin.

“No thanks.” She hummed a little bit as she looked at Rhax’ra, “Take this the right way? But you’d lose your gourd if you went to Coruscant straight away.”

Going from middle of nowhere deserts of Tatooine to the cityscape of Coruscant? He didn’t think she fully understood just how different they would be from each other. Though she was temporarily at a loss as to alternatives so she started thinking aloud.

“Coruscant… how to explain it… alright, imagine every person you’ve ever met on Tatooine.” She grimaced, “Now imagine that every one of them lives within the Mos Eilsey spaceport. Not the city; just the spaceport. THAT is what the majority of Coruscant is like; dirty, crowded and no sun in sight for all the buildings. Maybe try somewhere less strange first like… hmm… Naboo? Chandrilla?”

She was picking places that had respectably sized cities but that were also known for being green and full of life and water. Sakas couldn’t wait to see the Tusken’s reaction to all the greenery the rest of the Galaxy had to offer.

@Nommie

 

[Rhax ra]

Nodding as Sakas asked her not to take what she was about to say the wrong way the Tusken placed the water canteen back on its strap on her belt. Rhax'ra kept her gaze on the woman as she explained to Rhax'ra why it isn't a good idea for the Tusken Raider to go to Coruscant. Well she had no idea that the planet is that crowded. The farmer never described the planet to her. She looked at all the people that are now walking along the streets that she could see and found it difficult to imagine all the population of Tatooine here in Mos Eisley spaceport.

When the Ranger started describing to the Tusken what Coruscant is like. The less she wanted to visit this planet. And with the population being beyond what she is used to it wouldn't be wise for Rhax’ra to go to that planet as her first visit. She may make such a big mistake that her reputation and that of her people damaged more than it already is, "No. You are right. Coruscant shouldn't be the first fir me to visit. With how you described it.. I am not ready for such a place yet. It will be too much for me." she will say in agreement, "I thank you for your honesty."

Naboo? Chandrilla? How many planets are there!? Well let's make a decision between those two. Rhax’ra said to herself as she pondered over which of the two to visit. There has to be a good reason for Sakas to tell her those two planets first. She hasn't heard either planet mentioned to her. She will have to take a leap in the dark with this one, "Let's go to Chandrilla. The name is beautiful." Rhax’ra told Sakas, "When do you want to leave?" She asked. The Tusken is already ready to go since she has all her belongings packed into the bag she is carrying around alobg with her weapons. There is no need to go seeking out her children either since she has them at a settlement they will be safe at. So all that Rhax’ra had to do is turn the droid parts in her hands into a translation device of sorts during the flight.

@Nefieslab

 

[Sakas Zareen]

Sakas couldn't see where Rhax'ra was looking but she could imagine it; she was probably trying to look around and truly understand just how many people Sakas was talking about. To put a number on it wouldn't mean anything - people, in Sakas' experience, didn't really understand numbers. Sure, people understood that a million people was a lot or people and that a billion was even more. But it was only something they knew in the most abstract of ways.

No one personally knew millions of people and few had ever been able to see enough people at once to have an idea as to the scale that the simple numbers hid. She shrugged a little bit and wave Rhax'ra off with a hand.

"Don't worry about it Rhax, I'm honest to a fault." she explained with a bark of a laugh, "You'll be sick of it like everyone else before too long don't worry - they say I'm blunt."

She was blunt.

She had also punched the last person to call her blunt in the dick but that was probably just proving the point people tried to make about her. Whatever, she was playing it nice with Rhax'ra so they could all just go jog. Sakas nodded with a grin.

"Alright then, Chandrilla it is!" she agreed brightly, patting Rhax'ra on the back jovially, "You ever been on a starship before?"

@Nommie