Muddy Waters

[Castor Chumeda Volante]

Just like Sullust, today Castor was going to try and convince a manufacturer that he was good for the credits because he was going to be asking for an order of some upgraded hyperdrives and XXX sublight boosters - neither were inexpensive on their own but both of them?

And with more than one?

Well that was probably just a recipe for a large bill. But Castor did not have the credits to pay said large bill - yet.

It was the "yet" part that was going to be what he was arguing today. He was going to need to convince the manufacturer's given representative that payment would be expected on completion, not before the order was actually placed.

Which would be fun.

Arriving on his improved shuttle was fairly easy - he was able to cut through Imperial territory without anyone batting an eye because of his ship and it's IFF Spoofer. Though he had hardly needed to actually use the Spoofer considering his shuttle was still the standard issue for sith throughout the galaxy so it was a commonly seen ship.

He announced his presence to the receptionist and began the wait - to see who showed up first. His Alliance back up or the representative.

@Killa Ree

(OOC - Still need a DM)

 

[Nikka Toren]

Just like at Anoat, proving her worth beyond strength was something she always looked forward to. She loved the challenge of diplomacy... though, perhaps in this case, it was more smoothing feathers and ascertaining cargo. Cargo she desperately needed. When the request was given, how could she refuse? She had been itching to branch off in her own way for months now, and here was the opportunity on a golden platter.

Granted, this tech was a hefty piece of cred. But as Tippy, her companion pilot droid, cheerily chirped their approach, she tilted her face towards Contruum, and frowned slightly. Sure enough, the Alpherys was barely given a blink when she entered the atmosphere and Tippy executed a neat little landing, but that wasn't the cause of her frown. Her ship was so common, having it stopped would only be a test of protocol and to ensure she was smuggling nothing. But... being embedded in Imperial space did not ease the cool sensation between her shoulder blades.

Stretching truths was one thing... but outright lying was one thing that would probably have to be done. She carefully stashed away the baton and other implements into the folds of her cloak-like light brown duster jacket; she had even dressed some, with long brown hair tightly tied back into a severe bun and the tailored pilot's suit smoothed over with a hand. Even her old bandage-looking veil had been exchanged for a nicer one; still a bandage, but tanned, suited for her face as the vendor had claimed. It even covered some of the scars.

Tippy chirruped at her to move quickly; perhaps they were late, but she only shrugged once. She was merely back-up, support if things got ugly. On more than one occasion, her silver tongue had gotten her out of trouble. Once again, the duster was tweaked, and though blind, her appearance was given the once-over by slender tanned hands gloved completely.

She instructed Tippy to stay behind, met by an indignant flurry of chirps and binary slang that was abruptly cut off by her swift exit.

Now, if her gut feeling was right...

Ah, there he was. Unfamiliar, certainly, but the Force was strong with this one. She did not yet see the representative, she allowed herself a quick, genial introduction in her birdlike voice in Basic, then tilted her head sideways at Castor, a slight smile thrown his way.

"Thank you for your patience. I hope I am not late." Careful words, oh so careful words. Even a 'blind' mechanic had her moments.

@Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

“All right.” The receptionist and secretary interjected between the pair before either of them could jump to introductions, pleasantries or smalltalk. “He is ready for you.” The young woman gestured the two rebels toward the closed room beside her. With the click of a switch, the double doors opened to reveal a dingy and sterile room. Nothing lavish, nothing worth seeing. No chandelier, no mahogany conference table, no cushioned seats. Only a computer mainframe that acted as a desk and two empty metal containers perched in front of it. Behind the desk stood a tall, white-eyed, broad-shouldered droid. It glanced from the database it was connected toward the pair.

“So, are you going to come in and waste my time? Or are you going to stand out there and keep flirting? Well, at least then you’d save me the trouble of another worthless appointment.” The droid immediately turned its eye back down, twisting his arm into the computer mainframe as if searching through a few hundred files and reports. Surely, the rebels may have imagined they would be meeting with a human diplomat. They were wrong. Maniclus, the previous executive officer over the Contruum shipyards, was gone. After the Mandalorians struck a deal with him, they found him resistant to the changes they sought to bring. So, as Wyatt Kebiin-Solus so said during their last meeting, Maniclus choked on his drink. And died.

A replacement was in order, and in an ironic turn of events, the responsibility turned to the droid who had served under the man. Having worked closely with him, or at least understood enough to lead the shipyards, the droid took the reigns. Not without a few tweaks to its programming. With a personality far more three-dimensional than an ordinary human and a wit sharper than the blade of a Mandalorian, the droid, also known as L8-TR or “Later,” was more loyal to the Dominion than any other cause. Of course, given its loyalties were never edited or reset before the Mandalorians forged an alliance with the rebel movement, Castor and Nikka would be hard-pressed to find it willing enough to sell them anything outside its usual production line.

Anticipating the pair to enter the room, Later scoffed. “Well, introduce yourselves and get to the point already. You should know this meeting is on a timer. Three minutes, to be exact.” @Nefieslab @Killa Ree

 

[Castor Chumeda Volante]

Nikka was a bit different to what he expected but then, he wasn't entirely sure what he expected. She was not baseline human but she wasn't xeno enough for his ingrained instincts to flare up at all. Her voice was a little bit... different for his liking but he wasn't about to turn her away or be rude to her. Just kind of caught him flat-footed there for a moment it had to be said. He smiled a little bit in greeting to her.

"I think you're right on time."

Considering the secretary was ready to rush them right on in? He would say that they were precisely on time. Or perhaps a little bit late... he really hoped that they weren't late but there wasn't much to be done about it. Entering the office, Castor was pleased to see that it was rather lacking in any extras or frills. The fact that the representative was a rather rude droid?

Well that presented something of a challenge.

Three minutes?

No time to waste being fancy then.

"We want to purchase a batch of upgraded hyperdrives and XXX-Sublight Boosters from your company." he started, getting right to the meat of the matter, "Fitting will be handled by ourselves so it is nothing but a simple order of goods your company is more than capable of producing."

Mostly simple.

They didn't have the credits yet but hey - mostly simple.

@Killa Ree
@Deviant

 

[Nikka Toren]

She grinned at the male's tone, and was about to respond, when they were curtly rushed to see the shipyard master. Strange... usually such a place, especially such a well-organized hangar, had time for which clients could sit back, and, if in view, give a good ogle at the shipyard's neat organization and clearly well-maintained business. Not that she could, her senses were not built to see as her companion did. But if her Sight was anything to go by, he was as in tune if not more so to the Force as she.

When she stepped through the translucent doorway and went into the stark office, at first she was surprised. The Spartan surroundings were forgotten, however, the moment her attention was arrested by the flat-toned voice of a droid. Was that...?

Her Force Vision was enveloped with intricate blue circuitry, the nodes and switches within clicking nearly in sync as a bright yellow with the database it connected to. A very, very visible delighted grin stretched on her mouth; this was one sophisticated being! Her excitement grew further when she heard it state the meeting time limit; now it all made sense! Oh, she itched for Tippy to be here now... they could both gush over intricacies later. Advanced tech that she itched to get close to... and to be upgraded as shipyard master no less.

"I'm sure there have been many useless meetings. Especially when they don't properly address such elegant management. And your mechanical manipulations! I've never seen such fine work! How many upgrades have you done? These can wait, but oh, it's a pleasure to meet you!" Her voice flurried, chin tilted up slightly as giving a pretense to hear better. There was no false flattery ringing in her voice there; she had been in enough shipyards to last several lifetimes. But the wide grin remained. It was clear she was thrilled to pieces to see Later... in fact, she was downright delighted. Fangirling was the closest it could be. If she had eyes, they would be sparkling in excitement. "Nikka, sir. And you are?"

If the droid accessed the database, such information on her would be standard, with a specialized field in droid mechanics, more directly linked to humanoids than to the rolling astromech units that trundled through the galaxy.

She listened to Castor, head tilting slightly and nodding. Later would request upfront payment... so something else had to be put on the line. "If accommodated, and going by your company policy-" which she suddenly recalled. All shipyards had policy of payment, regardless... some, later than others, "we are in fact allowed five minutes according to protocol to discuss production precaution, company policy, and all extenuating circumstances that extend to warranties and parts replacement. Though yes. Upgraded hyperdrives and XXX Sublight Boosters." Her tone was as crisp and direct as though she were talking to a living, breathing being. She talked to Later as a representative worthy of real respect, and all in less than thirty seconds. Calm, confident and cool, as a matter of fact her voice lost its' birdlike tonality for that of coolheadedness. Later's autonomy would prove useful here. Its' processor was no doubt researching this very fact. But... she grinned. "However, three minutes will suffice. And we have two left." All said in under a minute. Her hands clasped before her, waiting. Did they think she was insane? Probably. But what did she know, she was simply support.

@Nefieslab
@Deviant

 

[The Storyteller]

Straightforward and to the point. Later liked the strange man, although he found it hard to believe he and the girl he was with came purely with the intent to purchase a few ship upgrades. With these meat bags, there was always a catch. With the Mandalorians, what was meant to be a purchase turned into a deal, then a deal into an alliance, and an alliance into murder. Which led to the droid’s promotion, so he was not complaining. The matter of the fact was, the two bleached organics had something else stirring. A quick purchase like that did not require a personal meeting with the company representative. And retrofitting the upgrades on their own? That was an immediate red flag.

Later said nothing. Instead, he allowed the blind hag to speak, wasting another precious minute with grotesque pleasantries and repeating essentially everything her partner already said. Once she was finished, the droid tilted its head toward the man. “Oh, finally. Is she done talking?” He glanced to the woman and mocked. “Are you done talking?” Without waiting for an answer, Later scoffed. “My face may be unable to move, but for reference, I am scowling.” With one wiry, metal finger, the droid traced a frown along his voice modulator. He was rude and abrasive but he didn’t care. The cannon fodder in front of him would still want to buy from him regardless. So, he pointed a finger at the girl and continued.

“You may know company policy, but you do not know me. And I do not care.” The droid huffed, even though it had no real lungs or breath. “Anyway—” Later angled its attention back to the more reasonable hunk of flesh. “—if you want to purchase those upgrades, then purchase away. I imagine you have the credits, do you not?” He looked at the two up and down. Neither of them seemed to be lugging a crate of cash behind them. No prized valuables, no fine jewelry, no tears to quench his dry soul. “If you do not have the payment required, then this meeting is over.” The droid spat without a hint of care or remorse. What did the dumb couple expect? A handout? This was no charity.

@Nefieslab @NikkaToren

 

[Castor Chumeda Volante]

... well it seemed that Castor had learned two very important things so far during this meeting. The first was that the droid was a rather abrupt machine and that he would have to make sure he didn't take offence. The second thing he learned was that his ally, Nikka, was very much a talker. There was nothing wrong with being a talker most of the time but it seemed that their host was one of those type of people who really did not like talkers.

An abrasive droids who didn't like it when people talked a lot - who would have guessed, right?

"My apologies - she is an excitable person." he apologized on behalf of his ally before swiftly pushing onward, not wanting to delay with talk of his scowling, "It won't be an issue I'm sure."

He was certain that Nikka probably felt more than a little bit chastised so far and he really didn't want to make her feel bad about her natural enthusiasm but... well, the audience they were pitching to really didn't seem to like the idea of speaking with such an person. Poor Nikka... Castor was going to have to apologize after this meeting he could just tell and he was already dreading it. Emotions and such weren't his forte by any stretch of the imagination.

"We will place the order now." he confirmed, looking at the droid unblinkingly as he added, "And we will pay 20% upfront - the rest we will pay upon completion of the order."

Castor knew that companies did this kind of ordering sometimes but he hoped that this droid wasn't going to throw them out on their ear for this. Nikka had received the same information pack as he had - they could go as high as 40% upfront, with an extra 20% on top with the credits they were expecting to receive from their hunting.

@Killa Ree
@Deviant

 

[Nikka Toren]

She knew she ought to feel the least bit chastised to be talked down to by a droid, but in actuality... she was still delighted. A heuristic processor of high caliber... she mused, and though she made a show of nodding once, to act acknowledging in the face of a dressing-down, and even managed a slight expression of being chastised, Later had no idea what he may have started. New ideas and mental construction ideas began flickering through her mind. There was no sense of hurt whatsoever... but curiosity. A need to understand how she could possibly design a droid with similar capacity to sentience, and the droid was very much a sentient! It was something near and dear to her heart; they were more than working units, but given a sense of self and identity despite most being produced and mass-distributed.

She knew Later also didn't like her. Too bad. Most beings didn't like others that were full of enthusiasm and delight. But she couldn't help it; she was caught off guard. Instead, she merely stood tall, and perked a brow at Castor's apology. She would refuse to apologize for her excitement, it had just been so long since she met a being even remotely like Later. So instead, she laced her fingers before her and waited patiently, for the time being content to be support.

Nonetheless, she couldn't wait for this meeting to be over. A minute and a half seemed too long for her ideas to be entered into the datapad. Instead of shifting around, she stood perfectly still, suddenly silent and listening intently. They both had no idea... she could be so, so much worse. She made a mental note to straighten things out with Castor as soon as they were done, if he would try to assuage hurt feelings.

Internally, the Miraluka was practically bouncing with excitement.

The Force sometimes worked in mysterious ways.

@Deviant
@Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

Later perked up. If he had eyebrows, they would have risen with surprise. Against original belief, it seemed the two strangers had the payment needed after all. Or so it believed. Not even a second later, the man revealed they had only twenty percent, and could only pay the rest once the order was produced and ready for use. The droid could not believe what it was hearing. Was his listening module malfunctioning or were these two humans seriously as dumb as they looked? Later thought he had made it very clear that without payment, full that was, that the meeting was over.

“Do I look like a junk droid to you?” Later stepped away from its controls, hand retracting out of the terminal, as it approached the man. Well over seven feet tall, the droid towered above the male meat bag. Even if he tried to size the robotic representative up, he would only end up looking like an even bigger idiot. Again, Later asked, “Do I?” His steely, lifeless eyes drilled right into Castor’s skull. Even if it could not visually express its distaste for the human, the awkward silence and tension said as much. No way was the droid representative going to sully its programming by accepting such a ridiculous deal. Not after just meeting the aimless male and female.

Later turned away. “I must be some hot garbage if you seriously believe I will take you up on such a pitiful offer. Producing you ship upgrades for free? Ludicrous.” The droid scoffed, but it came out more like agitated static. “There is no guarantee you will return with the other eighty percent of the earnings. In fact, there is a ninety-eight point nine percent chance you are lying and have come only to cheat your way into an easy buy. But I am not so easy.” The droid swiveled around and raised a single metal finger toward Castor. “I will sooner believe the Jedi still exist rather than accept such ridiculous terms.” An exaggeration, or so the droid thought.

@Nefieslab @NikkaToren

 

[Castor Chumeda Volante]

At least Nikka didn't seem to be offended by anything he had said in the end.

The droid on the other hand? It seemed that he had managed to offend the droid. It moved around from it's controls and got right up in his face. Castor did his best not to blink as he stared the droid back down. He wasn't stupid enough to think that there would be a good response to answering that rhetorical question. Instead he just stared the droid down and instead focused on what it said next - something that he could argue against.

"Producing the ship upgrades for 20% of the final price. You produce these upgrades in your factories regardless so we're not asking for a custom order." he shook his head, "If we don't come back you can just reintroduce the produced items back into your regular stock and sell them at full price - keeping the amount we lay down now as a deposit. Even if we don't come back, you sell them to someone else and you make 120% of the credits than if I had just bought them outright right now."

He reached into his jacket and handed over the information on the bounty listings that they were going to be collecting in the near future to pay for the rest of the amount. The prices for each were clearly displayed.

"We will pay you more than what these things are worth. Bounty hunting is a sure thing when you have Mandalorians assisting you. Even more so..." he paused before slowly pulling out his lightsaber and igniting it's white blade straight up, holding it at attention in a non-threatening way, "When the others are Jedi. The Jedi have returned to the Galaxy and they are not alone. This will bring more Mandalorian, more rebel and more Jedi business to your company. And the risk to you is that you make 120% of the value of the goods selling to someone else if I don't come back with the full amount. The benefit to you is that if I do come back? You'll have made 150% - because I will ensure a further 30% over the full amount is paid upon completion."

He was playing a bit harder with the negotiation here but that was all he could offer. If Nikka could add something more then more power to her but Castor had given as much as he could at this stage.

@Killa Ree
@Deviant

 

[Nikka Toren]

She took a deep breath in... then a deep breath out. The droid's disbelief in the Jedi was understandable... and yet somehow just slightly insulting. And yet... there was a bargaining chip in her favor. The Alpherys... but perhaps it wasn't quite as necessary as she'd foreseen. She'd expected less directness, but perhaps in the face of such a surly droid, it may have been necessary. When it towered over Castor, she drew herself all the taller, admiring the spark of electricity running blue through such a tall being. The smile vanished entirely, leaving her lips in a grim cast.

She couldn't do a stare down, but she did one better; her shoulders squared slightly, hands on her hips in a slow movement. What should have been most alarming was the simple fact that she wasn't talking. That there was absolutely no expression on her lips... equally, no aggressive stance. She was waiting, watching, and listening, despite not having eyes.

There was a faint sigh from her when his lightsaber blazed to life. Surely Later was being sarcastic... but she was never too certain the way some processors could be programmed that way. She would not change a thing, of course, having such a being as an ally would be a huge boon for sure and certainty.

"As a further certainty to decrease your percentage of unlikeliness of pay, I offer my own personal ship as insurance of payment." Her voice had lost its' chirpy, swift tone. This one was flat, emotionless, and nearly cold. A complete 180 to the woman of delighted inquiry before, it was further enhanced by her hand flicking one panel of the duster aside, revealing her own currently off lightsaber hilt. "Provided we have a deal, of course. However, the droid on board, 286, will be coming with me. Upon completion of payment, I will request it back."

Confidence, surety. If they paid it off, she would have a ship again. If not... oh well then. It was not the worst of blows to get, but it would certainly be a blow. Then again... this entirely decided on whether or not this droid was to be so obstinate that it would deny both offers laid on the table. And if so, would Castor continue to sweeten the deal to their maximum percentage of pay? She would have to wait and see.

@Deviant @Nefieslab

 

[The Storyteller]

The masculine meat bag had a point. The shipyards of Contruum manufactured the upgrades and pieces constantly, aiming to fulfill other orders and harvesting a profit. With clients who failed to pick up the upgrades they purchased, often due to a premature… demise …the upgrades would simply be stored away or passed along. It wasn’t like the two rebels were asking for anything custom. However, buying a large order often demanded an immediate payment, especially if they wanted to do so legally and privately. At the same time, the company was no longer in the Empire’s sphere of influence. Many variables were in play, leaving the droid uncertain on what to do. Instead, he listened, intrigued.

That intrigue reached its peak when the blonde buffoon whipped out a lightsaber. Later immediately perked up, its wiry fingers twitching, ready to alert security of a Sith presence. The Empire was not welcome on this world. Only Mandalore. But to its shock, the blade emerged white. Not red, not orange, not yellow. A pure, brilliant pallor of light. The droid leaned forward, eyes wandering up and down the fine lightsaber, examining and analyzing the weapon. Almost as if he aimed to mimic the blade in a future product, impossible as it seemed. “What a curious thing.” Later murmured and continued to listen, carefully now. The thought of more profit, more business, was likewise alluring.

Another thirty percent raise if he returned too? Unbelievable. The negotiations had taken a strange turn, and while they began out of the droid’s favor, now it ended with the scales tipped well into it. Later could not believe what he heard. Then, the visually and mentally disabled girl offered her ship as an insurance payment? The sacks of flesh seemed to be a lot more honorable, and confident in their abilities, than the droid anticipated. They were dead set on leaving the negotiations with their upgrades in production. And with everything Later had been told... how could he possibly deny it?

Feigning a long pause if he was considering it, the droid shrugged. “Fine. But the droid stays.” A smug grin tugged Later’s face. Well, one would have it even had the features for it. While keeping the droid would have been unnecessary, the droid longed for some competent company, even if for a day or two. In addition, Later didn’t want the rebels to leave thinking the droid was so easy to cave in. Because he wasn’t. “Do we have a deal, or no?” Extending its metallic hand between the human couple, it waited for one or either of them to accept. Unless, of course, the girl was so attached to her personal droid that she would rather fail the negotiations than be without it for the duration of her bounty hunting.

@Killa Ree @Nefieslab

 

[Nikka Toren]

She was utterly calm. Inwards and outwards. Her expression betrayed no surprise, no anger, nor disappointment. She seemed almost to have expected it. Later wanted assurances? Fine. But Tippy... her heart ached slightly. Plans would be delayed for upgrades, it seemed, and he would be disappointed to be left behind from all the fun. "Let me ask him," she spoke quietly, flicking on her comm.

Her voice was swift, soft, and the tinny beeps, chirps, and less than enthusiastic assent was given. He could see the wisdom of being collateral... but he didn't like it, and expressed as much when the comm link was shut off. "So long as when payment promised is given in full, you are the temporary owner. But when we return... I anticipate the return of my ship, and of my droid. He prefers to go by Tippy."

Her head tilted slightly at Castor, but her emotions and her expressions were kept deliberately neutral, calm and disconnected. She knew he would probably be wondering what in the hell she was thinking, and what she would be feeling. Well, she wouldn't even give either of them the satisfaction of the ache she felt at leaving Tippy behind. This had better pan out, she thought wryly at Castor's direction, not intended as a direct message, but a wry mental comment. Or you'll owe me... big time.

"Deal."

Her voice was quick, crisp, and cool as she reached up, hand meeting metal. Her chin lifted up, meeting the droid's gaze squarely with her profile, almost as if... she could see him, directly down to the components of which he was built on. "No upgrades, wipes, or alterations though. He's a good and loyal companion." After a firm shake, she released, then turned to Castor. "Any questions?" She asked of them both. If nothing else was to be said, she would wait until Cas or Later finished, and then leave with Cas, head held high. She would not give Later the satisfaction of seeing how she missed her seeing-eyes companion already.

@Nefieslab @Deviant

 

[Castor Chumeda Volante]

Castor was happy that everything seemed to be going his way in terms of the negotiation - he had given the droid everything he could have possibly wanted as an assurance and as a bonus for letting them get this done. The droid was able to look at all of the variables and he could come to no conclusion save the one that Castor wanted. The problem came right at the very end when the droid their were negotiated asked for Nikka's droid as further collateral.

He had no control over the droid.

He had no control over Nikka either.

There was no way that he could agree to such a deal - only Nikka and her companion could agree to that. So he turned to her and watched as she thought about it. He could feel in the Force that she was suppressing her emotional response and he could respect that. In the end there was nothing that he could do and Nikka eventually gave her permission for the droid to go ahead and become further assurance for the droid they were bartering against.

He would shake the droid's hand as well if it was offered after Nikka had done the same.

Trust me - it'll work.

Castor nodded to Later.

"We will make good on our end of the deal and I trust you to do the same." he declared with a small smile before nodding his head, extinguishing his lightsaber and stowing it, "Good day."

He left with Nikka, standing close by her side. She was blind and although she could see with the Force, he wanted to be close enough in case she needed to lean on him. It was a tense moment. There should probably be a joke to lighten the mood...

"So... be my co-pilot on the way out of here?"

@Killa Ree
@Deviant

 

[Nikka Toren]

She followed out after him. The moment they were within the hangar bay, and well out of any sight of the shipmaster, she slowly released every guard she had meticulously put up. Sadness. There was a deep well of it; as she tilted her head to where the Alpherys was landed, it grew. She couldn't help it; this was her life in there. Her seeing-eyes companion was in there. Her encrypted plans were in there... everything. She had the clothes on her back, and she would get it all back, but it still didn't ease the sting of it any less.

But beneath all that, she did have hope. And was calm, very calm. This was her doing; the droid might not have agreed to such a steep price otherwise, and she would come back and give Tippy and the Alpherys the best upgrades they deserved. She felt Castor standing close to her, but she did not glance back at her ship, or her droid. She wouldn't set her Vision on them again until she came back to claim them both... and give full payment.

She snorted, and nudged him playfully. "Sure, you're on. How much of insurance have you got on your ship, again?" she asked innocently, raising a brow.

The sadness eased, and hope returned. Oh yes... she would be back, very soon.

OOC: Exit Thread