Pilot for Hire

[Nolan Kodd]

— Come on, tin can, you aren't even trying! — Nolan clearly sounded frustrated.

— Twee-dooooooo-zoop! — the mushroom-like astromech replied in a somewhat apathetic manner.

— Alright, go on then. — the pilot sighed, relaxing in his seat. The droid complied, disconnected the interface arm from the ship's computer, and clanked as it went on its droidy business.

If it weren't for the MR series' notoriously sluggish and phlegmatic behavior, Nolan would swear that his astromech was intentionally annoying him. How else could a droid keep losing a game after game of Pazaak, despite having access to the computer that the game was being played on? Nolan would've used this sort of advantage, but the droid didn't seem to know it was possible... or care to do it.

The young man stood up and walked out of the cockpit towards the main section of his freighter, the Trailblazer. The relatively small compartment served as the ship's "lounge", albeit it only had just enough space to accommodate the 6 people (crew and passengers) that the ship was supposed to carry. To top it off, this compartment doubled as a repair workshop, which Nolan has been living off for the last couple of weeks. That's why various spare parts were lying around, cluttering up the already less-than-spacious room.

However, orders became increasingly scarce, and Nolan had spent the last couple of days aboard the freighter, trying to find something to occupy himself with. The tin can didn't want or couldn't play Pazaak, so one of the ways was off the list. Having nothing else to do, Nolan rummaged through the scattered parts and tools, eventually finding what he was looking for: a spanner, an arc tool, and welding goggles. The ship had been giving some strange noises the last time it was used, so it was as good time as any to investigate.

With the repair equipment collected, and a trusty blaster pistol in the holster on his hip (it wouldn't be wise to leave the ship on Nar Shaddaa without a weapon), Nolan headed for the ladder that'd lead him to the airlock at the top part of the ship. Having climbed up and made himself comfortable on "the roof", he put on the goggles and started removing the protective coverage around one of the power conduits.

The position on the roof allowed Nolan to both attend to the ship and keep an eye out for any potential visitors (such as clients who'd come over to his repair shop or looking for a pilot). Assuming anyone came to the hangar looking for him, Nolan would have to get back into the ship and lower the ramp, but it was better than leaving the front door open for anyone.

 

[Alask Vrein]

Nar Shaddaa still was the same old trashy moon that it had always been.

The atmosphere was still a toxic mix of chemicals, the rain was acidic, and worst of all the place was ran by Hutts. After what had happened on Lessu, Alask had a pure hatred of the cartel and those who worked for them. His hatred however was aimed at one person, Nem'ro the Hutt. The bastard who had taken over Ryloth.

When Alask got the chance, he'd slow roast that fat slug and all the people in his palace.

But unfortunately, Alask had come to Nar Shaddaa for different reasons other than wishing to kill a few Cartel members. The boy had ventured back to the smuggler's moon for a good reason: to acquire a few spare ship or droid parts so he could teach Jexz how to repair things. He figured it would be a good skill for the boy to learn if he was going to be a smuggler, and what better place to get them then on Nar Shaddaa?

Mostly because most parts you got from Nar Shaddaa were already broken, so at least they could start at the bottom with repairing.

But sometimes you hit the jackpot and got something that worked, and so Alask made his way through the neon lit streets of Nar Shaddaa in search of a repair shop. Thankfully, there seemed to be makeshift one up the road in some sort of hangar. The place seemed sketchy, but if they tried anything Alask would be quick to fire at them with his blaster pistol. Over the years he'd begun to improve, and his military father only helped improve his aim.

So as the boy stepped into the rather large hangar, he would look around and see a freighter with a rather odd looking human laying on the roof. Alask had his doubts this was a repair shop, but hey, who was he to judge?

"Hello there!" The Rutian grinned as he called out to the human, "Heard you have a repair shop of sorts! I was wondering if perhaps you'd be willing to sell me any parts you don't use."

 

[Nolan Kodd]

The "rather odd-looking human" turned off the arc welder, stood up, and lifted the welding goggles up to his forehead in order to study his guest for a moment. The Twi'lek seemed approximately of the same age as Nolan himself, and didn't look too dangerous... or at least not like a thug. Appearances, however, could be deceiving.

On making his conclusion, the mechanic nodded and replied in a confident, business-like, if not just a little relaxed manner: "Uh-huh, I've got some spare parts I could sell. Come on in." With that, he turned his face to the side, yelling to someone inside the ship: "Hey, tin can, lower the ramp, will ya? We have a customer." After that he turned to the Twi'lek again, replying calmly: "I'll meet you inside." Now that it was settled, he walked towards the upper hatch, disappearing from sight.

Shortly afterwards the ramp of the Fathier-class freighter would lower with a slight metallic hum, inviting the Twi'lek to enter. Inside he would find an arching corridor, lit just enough not to stumble upon anything. The only thing he could stumble upon, however, was a weatherbeaten T-12 speeder bike, standing in the small cargo compartment right next to the ramp. Some of the parts of the speeder bike were on the floor nearby, so apparently it was inoperable.

"Over here," the mechanic would shout from inside the ship, assuming his guest had entered, but having no way to know it. If the Twi'lek were to follow the voice (the doors to other compartments were sealed anyway), he'd end up in the circular "lounge" where various spare parts were scattered on most of the elevated surfaces.

The holo-table in the middle of the room had some smaller weapon and droid parts; the hard bench-like sofas by the walls had limbs and limb parts for astromech and protocol droids. By the sides of those sofas there would be small cabinets half the height of an average human; on top of those cabinets there were small ship internal components, such as hyperdrive parts.

Finally, there was a dedicated workbench with quite a few tools. On the workbench there were powercells and circuitry mostly, along with a couple of astromech manipulator arms, and, surprisingly, a stun baton. Above the table, like the icing of the cake, an old blaster rifle without a power cell was hanging.

The owner of the shop would be standing in the middle of the room with an inviting gesture. "I take it you aren't after anything specific? Look around, see if there's anything you need in here."

 

[Alask Vrein]

Alask listened to the human greet him with a confident tone, telling the Rutian to meet him inside. The man would make his way over to the small ramp descending down from the freighter. Once it reached the floor, Alask would carefully take a few steps inside of the freighter, noticing a beaten up T-12 speeder sitting there, looking like it hadn't seen the light of day in so many years.

Alask's lekku moved slightly towards the sound of a loud shout telling him where to go. The Twi'lek followed the sound of the voice, arriving within a large lounge full of scrap parts all over the place. There was everything here; weapon parts, droid parts, hyperdrive parts, and all sorts of other goodies.

It was quite the collection.

The owner of the place was quick to tell Alask he was free to look around and see anything he needed, but with so much junk, looking around would be hard. So Alask decided to see if he could shorten his search.

"Now this is quite the collection, man." Alask spoke as he walked over and picked up a droid arm, "You got any simple stuff for repairs and such? Trying to teach a kid how to repair some stuff and I don't wanna throw all the heavy stuff at him yet. Gotta ease him into it, y'know?"

Alask smiled as he put the droid arm down, making his way around the place and noticing the workbench with a stun baton of all things on it. At least Alask knew now that this guy was probably pretty protective of his stuff, a good trait in Alask's eyes.

"So you run this shop all by yourself, huh?"

@Catbert

 

[Nolan Kodd]

The mechanic simply nodded as he listened to the Rutian's request. "Showing a kid the ropes, huh? Yeah, been in the kid's shoes, I'll figure something out." the man replied calmly, letting the Twi'lek walk around for the time being. In the meantime he went for the droid arm that the Rutian had checked earlier. That's when the question about the proprietor reached him. Those questions are always the trickiest ones to answer, especially here on Nar Shaddaa. "Someone's running business on his own? Easy pickings for a gang", as Nolan's mentor Shiri Vrei used to say.

Eventually Nolan settled for a half-truth, not telling all the details, but not lying at all either: "Nah, it's a... friend's joint. Although I've been the one doing most of the work lately." He picked up the protocol droid arm and thought for a bit, then went over to the holo-table in the middle of the room to grab an old 4C pistol, similar to his own. "I think I got something for you!" he called the Rutian as he walked towards the workbench.

At the workbench, he'd take one of the power packs and connect it to the droid's arm. The arm started moving as the now-powered-up mechanism in the elbow tried to fold and unfold it: a standard diagnostics procedure. But before the arm could fold fully, something jammed, and it unfolded again, a red diode indicating that something went wrong.

"It folds — it works; it doesn't fold — it doesn't work," the mechanic explained. "Obviously, right now it doesn't work, not fully anyway. I think it has something to do with the servos, or something got bent inside and is jamming the mechanisms." The man looked at the Twi'lek as he put the arm on the workbench. "Could be a good start for someone, not to mention that you'll be able to attach the arm to a droid or use it to hold a bottle for you," Nolan smirked for the first time, before turning his attention to the pistol.

"Now this is something slightly more complicated," he removed the firearm frame, showing that the weapon was missing a few crucial components. "It's completely safe to tinker with now, and if you hunt down some more spare parts, you'll get it working. I never got around to fixing it, but I bet that on Nar Shaddaa that's the most exciting type of repairs to start with. And the spare parts are easy to find. Or you could just disassemble it to show how it works." He put the blaster, that in its current state was nothing more than a toy with complex inner workings, on the workbench as well. "So, what do you think?" he asked, looking at the customer and waiting for his decision.

@TenthCodex

 

[Alask Vrein]

Alask was happy that the man at least was willing to help him out with getting something easy for Jexz to work on. When the man began to talk about how it was a friend's joint, Alask couldn't but wonder why this friend had decided to set up ship in a freighter? But Alask wasn't going to ask that, mostly because he was now interested in the human wandering over towards the workbench.

With vigilant eyes, Alask would carefully watch as the human connected one of the power packs to the droids arm, causing the elbow to try and fold. It was a simple idea, if done correctly the arm folds, if done incorrectly it doesn't. Just the thing he would need to teach Jexz how repairing stuff worked.

"Shit man, why didn't I think of that?" Alask grinned as he examined the arm on the workbench, "Droids are a specialty of mine. Used to work in a repair shop as a kid! Most of it was just to help pay off the medical debts and stuff from the doctors trying to fix my face. Didn't know that placing a bunch of bandages on a kid's face and hoping that he made it through would cost you a hell of a lot of credits."

The Rutian would put the arm down and let the human speak again as he showed Alask a 4C Blaster Pistol that seemed to be missing quite a few components. The man was suggesting either scavenging spare parts for the weapon or disassembling it to show Jexz how it worked. Alask was probably going to go with the former, seeing that Jexz really had no way of defending himself, and helping to repair his own weapon would probably make him a really happy kid.

"Now this is pretty interesting!" Alask looked at both the droid arm and the pistol, "I guess you could say I'm interested in what you have to offer? Got a pretty good mind for business and repair, y'know that? Hell, I think I know a lot of friends who could use a guy like you, Daesha probably could."

The Rutian would speak a bit more firm with his last sentence, before he locked eyes with the human.

"Now how much for this pistol and the arm?'

@Catbert

 

[Nolan Kodd]

Having listened to the Twi'lek's story about working at the repair shop as a kid, the mechanic nodded. It was an all-too-familiar tale, but the Rutian mentioned "fixing his face", so there had to be some story behind it. However, right now business came first, so Nolan simply replied to that with a nod: "Yeah, I can relate."

The customer's reaction to the second offer also pleased the mechanic. Could it be a jackpot? The last couple of days had been pretty stale, and now business seemed to be taking off. However, only a slight smile gave away that Nolan was pleased. "Let's see, a fully-functional blaster pistol is usually around 100 credits. You can have this old 4C at 70 creds. Buying spare parts might save you a dozen of credits in the end, so you'll end up getting a discounted blaster. Not to mention the educational value."

The man then picked up the droid arm. "I'd say this one goes at 100 credits. It needs repairs, but those are simple enough. That'd make it 170 credits in total." Nolan put the arm back on the workbench, stroking it briefly. The Rutian's comment on friends who could use his services didn't elude his attention.

Daesha was a name that sounded oddly familiar, but Nolan didn't know why or where he could hear it. Unlike his mentor Shiri, he hasn't been tracking the news as much, mostly staying in her shadow... until the shadow was suddenly gone. Still, it sounded like a business opportunity. "Friends, huh?" he met his customer's gaze with his own.

"As it happens, I wouldn't mind getting some word-of-mouth promotion and more business opportunities," he paused, looking around the room for a moment, and, for some reason, at the rifle hanging on the wall. "Be it on Nar Shaddaa or elsewhere," he tilted his head as he finished the phrase, with a faint smirk: "So, if you offer any of that, I'll return the favor."

With that, he removed his hand from the droid arm, looking at the Rutian and awaiting what he had to say.

@TenthCodex

 

[Alask Vrein]

The man had heard what Alask had said, and his reaction was just what the Rutian wanted. He had gotten the man's interest, and perhaps another way to gain this man's trust. And thankfully it seemed that the man was fine with getting other business opportunities off world.

"Well, I know a group of sorts that really sort of appreciate guys like you, and its a nice stable income. Like a guild of sorts, and one that prides itself in having members of all sorts of backgrounds."

Alask would continue take in a small breath as he leaned up against the wall.

"As soon as they hear of you and see you at work, I think they'd be pretty interested in you! And best thing about is that you can still work for your friend while you do deals with them. Just as long as you're not working with the cartel, but from it seems, I don't think you're one to work for the slugs, am I right?"

The Twi'lek would let out a small chuckle as he crossed his arms.

"And about this ship? Our guild prides itself in being mobile, so you don't have to worry about having to settle down in one place for too long if you're that type. The main base itself is back on Ord Mantell, and we've got a few hangars for guys like you so that you're ships don't end up stolen!" Alask would let out a sincere smile towards the man, "We look out for own, scoundrel's honor."

@Catbert

 

[Nolan Kodd]

Things seemed to be working out indeed. With Shiri gone, Nolan was slowly running out of money, needed to pay for the hangar, and "a Hutt always gets his cut", as life and Shiri had taught him. The Rutian's offer almost sounded too good to be true. Nolan nodded slightly as the Twi'lek continued to describe the organization he was working with.

"Color me curious," the mechanic replied. It was time to open the cards, some of them at least: "I have no reservations against working with anyone, but a Hutt-run gang would be at the bottom of my list." He looked at the rifle again, as if thinking back to something.

With a barely noticeable nod, Nolan seemed to have made up his mind. "Do let your friends know about me and tell them I wouldn't mind meeting them. Here or on neutral ground somewhere." He then pushed the blaster and the droid's arm towards the client: "As an incentive, I'll make the order 150 credits, not 170. Just a tiny token of appreciation. Deal?" he asked with a businessman's smirk, his hands on the items he was about to sell.

@TenthCodex

 

[Alask Vrein]

Alask smiled as he watched the man think about the offer, his response showing that the man was interested in whatever Alask was proposing. That was good, because Alask knew that the Guild would be needing some more members, especially ones with repairing skills. The boy would have to contact his boss Daesha soon, tell him all about this guy so that she could arrange a meeting.

He'd let her take this one.

Making his way towards the bench, Alask would listen to the man state the new price, 150 credits. A nice 20 credits taken off.

"Pleasure doing business with you, sir." Alask grinned as he pulled out a credit chip containing the desired amount, "If you're ever on Ord Mantell, feel free to give me a call."

Alask would smile as he grabbed the arm and blaster. The Rutian would place the blaster into his jacket pocket, and he would carry the arm out with him. The smuggler would shoot the man a farewell wave as he made his way towards the ship's exit, stepping back out into the hangar.

"Hope Jexz appreciates the stuff..." Alask muttered to himself as he made his way out of the hangar and back towards the streets.

He still had a boy to get back to, and he didn't want to keep the kid waiting.

/EXIT THREAD

@Catbert

 

[Nolan Kodd]

"Likewise," the man accepeted the credit chip and nodded at the mention of Ord Mantell. Nolan hadn't considered going there until the planet was mentioned, but it was an option. After all, not much was holding him on Nar Shaddaa anyomre.

Only after the Twi'lek had left, Nolan realized that he and his guest hadn't even said their names to each other. He chuckled at the thought of trying to contact someone he didn't know by name on a planet he had never been on. Not to mention that it would mean that whatever organization the Twi'lek had been working with (if it actually existed) would probably only know the location of the hangar, and not much else.

"Tin can, the guest is gone, raise the ramp again," the mechanic commanded, but this time in a more friendly manner, still amused with the situation. As the droid did what was ordered and approached his owner, Nolan uncharacteristically patted it on the dome. "Don't worry, Tick, we'll make it through. Go and try playing Pazaak a little, I'll finish the repairs."

Letting the astromech carry on, Nolan returned to "the roof" to continue where he had left off: fixing the ship and waiting for potential customers or employers. Maybe he'd go seek them out himself, but it wouldn't be today.

 

[Leviticus]

Leviticus never thought he would find himself back on Nar Shaddaa, but he always did. Flashing advertisements, desperate hookers and unconscious drunkards on every street corner. Spice dealers and undercover cops lurked in the suspiciously large number of alleyways. Speeders blared and screeched above, some hissing just above the heads of passing bystanders, who all remained unfazed like it was only another pitch perfect afternoon. The only time the Sith Lord ever came down this far was either for clandestine meetings or for clandestine jobs. Today, it was the latter.

Sure, he was among the Council in the Sith Empire. If Levi wanted something, all he needed to do was wave a hand and it would be given to him. Some of the finest men or women of the Empire would be dispatched to get what he wanted within the day, no matter the cost. But he didn’t want to send someone out to do his bidding. As much as he relished in sitting around in his chambers on Korriban, he had grown tired of it. The nightmares he continued to suffer through had yet to disappear, and when his mind wandered, it was always there to torment him. That was why decided to take on such a small operation on his own. To connect back when he wasn’t one of the most powerful men in the galaxy.

All he wanted was to find a ship and an adventure. He wasn’t looking for a heap of munitions to blow something up or spare parts to an updated frigate for the Empire. Truly, simply, Levi wanted a chance to get away. Maybe in the process he could find himself a new blaster or set of armor, maybe not. Although there was one thing he wasn’t looking for: a friend. He had enough dogs clawing at his feet already. Having just another wouldn’t do. Levi just needed a goddamned breather. Nothing more and nothing less.

His eyes set upon a repair shop, along with a young man settled on the roof of a ship. An employee, the owner, or maybe a smuggler. The Sith wasn’t one for conversation, but he didn’t exactly know where to go in search of satisfying his bizarre desire. As a young Twi’lek exited from the shop with a baster and a random arm, Levi stepped inside. Of course, he was made every effort to appear as nothing more than another wayward traveler. Casual clothes, muddled hair, an unshaven look. As distinguished as he was among the Empire, it would be hard to realize who he really was.

“Hey, man.” He approached the edge of the ship, barely glancing up to catch the young man’s eye. And as he always did, he went straight to the point. Blunt and stoic and indifferent as ever. “I’m looking for an adventure. Got any lying around?” The question was ridiculous, if not beyond comical, but every word that fell limp from his mouth was chock-full of the truth. Levi was completely serious. But in case the man had nothing to say or offer, he added, “If not, just point me to the nearest cantina. I’m sure I’ll find some junkie to lend me a hand.”

@Catbert

 

[Nolan Kodd]

The Sith Lord entered the hangar just as Nolan was kneeling to pick up the tools he had left on "the roof". The young man intended to continue with the repairs of the ship, but the arrival of another potential customer changed that. Nolan forgot about the tools for a moment and went over towards the edge of the ship, standing just far enough not to fall if he slipped up. With his current attire he looked more like a smuggler than anything else, but the ambience of Nar Shaddaa could give that look to just about anyone who wore something remotely intimidating.

Levi's disguise worked perfectly, although it wouldn't have been needed in Nolan's case. Having spent most of his latest years in space or aboard the ship, running from conflicts and authorities rather than getting involved, the young man wouldn't be able to tell a Sith from a Jedi, and a Jedi from a Senator. Until his guest started speaking, Nolan felt less than intimidated, if it weren't for just a slight shade of a thought nibbling at his mind for some reason. Nolan was quick to dismiss it as simple precautiousness: the least intimidating could turn out to be the most dangerous, especially in the Outer Rim.

To Nolan's surprise, the shade persisted, becoming a full-fledged thought as the man started speaking: something felt off. Was it due to the unnatural discrepancy between the stranger's serious tone and the ridiculous question he had just asked? Or could it be the air of experience around the guest, mixed with his somewhat rugged and not too intimidating look? Yes, that had to be it. Finally satisfied with his conclusion, Nolan shook his head slightly, as if shooing away a fly. The thought obliged and flew off.

This whole exercise occurred only in Nolan's head, invisible to an untrained eye, but not at all hidden from someone with more keen senses. An ordinary outside observer would just see the young man shake his head slightly, before replying with a barely noticeable smirk: "Adventures are a rare and perishable commodity. If I had them right now, I wouldn't be here." Nolan would've been more dismissive, if it hadn't been for what his instincts had told him earlier, and the guest's seriousness.

On hearing the remark about cantinas and junkies, Nolan just shugged. Alcohol was tolerable in his book, but something more serious would just dumb down the senses and reflexes. The other adventures a cantina could offer were random fights. Nolan had had a share of those, they were a good exercise, but hardly productive in most regards. Right now he'd only go for a cantina to find acquaintances, and, hopefully, some well-paying contract for a pilot or a smuggler; a thought he had been considering for a couple of days.

Now that the owner of the ship was gone, so was her network of business contacts. It was his Twi'lek mentor Shiri Vrei who did most of the business: Nolan was just a sidekick learning the ropes. It had been like that for at least a dozen of years since he had last seen his parents. The sudden ability to go wherever or do whatever fell on the young man like a heap of snow from a roof in winter. That was the true reason why Nolan was still aground on Nar Shaddaa: he simply had no clue where to go yet, or how to profit from it.

Of course, the stranger didn't have to know any of this, and Nolan maintained the appearance of a confident smuggler (a habit he had picked up from Shiri) as he replied to the second comment: "The nearest cantina is further down the road, outside of the hangar and to the left. But if you're looking for the good stuff, the best adventures are out there." With that, the man half-turned and pointed with his left hand in the direction opposite to the exit: to the wide opening of the hangar through which the ship would fly out; to the ever-dark skyline of Nar Shaddaa and the space beyond it. Turning to the stranger again, Nolan looked at him, unsure how he'd react.

@Deviant

 

[Leviticus]

The twitch of his head, the tone of his voice. Levi sensed suspicion and skepticism, but it was unfounded. The young man knew nothing, and he couldn’t know who was really laid out before him. Looks could be deceiving. Although the same applied to the stranger as much as it did the Sith Lord. What Levi saw was a grease monkey, amending a heap of junk in hopes it lasted another week, month, year.

But as the young man stepped up and spoke, his perception changed. He was more relaxed, assured, smooth with every word that slithered out between his teeth. His confidence was staggering, as much as his wit, and Levi knew he was not speaking to some ordinary mechanic. What he was picking up was a pilot. Maybe even a smuggler.

“I beg to differ.” A small smirk lined his lips, pleasantly surprised by the stranger’s amusing response. “A limited mindset offers limited adventures. If you want something, you go out and earn it. That’s how I see it. And that’s how I’m seeing it right now.” And he was. The Sith did not get to where he was by wallowing at the bottom, complaining about how too many cards were stacked against him or how little cards sat in his deck. Neither did he stick with the cards he was dealt with. He stopped staring through the looking glass of this game of life, swept it off the table and made his own. Now, life plays his game. Everyone he knows, he meets, play by his rules. At least, for the most part.

At the stranger’s continued response, Levi finally listened. His eyes followed out the hangar. One second, he considered leaving the man to his devices. Maybe he could drink himself into another stupor, start making out with an unfamiliar woman on the dance floor before fighting her jealous ex-boyfriend and knocking his teeth in. Or out, depending on how he was feeling. Then he would be pulled into an upstairs bedroom, enjoy another night of half-hearted passions and sloppy kisses, and wake up with no credits, no cuddles and a sick hangover.

His gaze wandered out to the city skyline and the blank void above. Maybe he could rent out a ship, sail across the stars. Crash land on a nameless planet, stumble into a nameless village, befriend or butcher said nameless village. Did that count as an adventure? He wouldn’t know. Because in the end, he always turned up alone.

Levi shrugged, returning his attention back to the young man aboard the ship. Something inside him was telling him to stay. The Force? Ridiculous. Impatience? Probably. Laziness? Surely. Ultimately, the Sith seemed intent on the opportunity presented before him in that very moment. “Or maybe the best adventures are right here.” He glanced down the ship before him. If he could count it as one. He kicked the side of the hull with a light thud. “This hunk of junk— you can fly it, right? Else you wouldn’t be working on it, I mean.” He gestured between the freighter and the horizon.

“If you’re looking for an adventure, and it’s just out there, why don’t you go get one?” He scoffed. “It can’t be that hard.” Of course, he was oblivious to the fact that it really was.

He was a Sith Lord, after all.

@Catbert

 

[Nolan Kodd]

The stranger was dead on in his replies, puncturing at all the right places through the defensive shell that was Nolan's showoff demeanor, and getting at the root of the problem. The comment about a limited mindset was an obvious touche, at least the young man took it as such. But he didn't show it, only smirked slightly. If life on Nar Shaddaa had taught him anything, it was that you should never show your weakness to anyone. Otherwise it could be easily exploited. You'd be deceived, extorted, robbed, sold to slavery, and murdered. Not necessarily in that order.

Nolan also knew he couldn't keep on staying on Nar Shaddaa forever. Not with his Fathier light freighter and the opportunities if offered. With his mentor gone, the young man was the sole proprietor of the ship and would have to play his cards eventually, and not every enterprising adventurer had this good of a starting hand. If Nolan couldn't use it, he'd be deservedly trampled down. That's the way the galaxy worked, or that's how the young man perceived the galaxy.

The Rutian Twi'lek who had visited him earlier promised to mention Nolan to his acquaintances. If not, there was no lack of people who wanted to get off world or to get something shipped somewhere. The galaxy was vast, and a lot of places remained unexplored. Survey a system, run across a habitable world if you're lucky, bring the data (or even goods from the locals!) to the mainland, and you could earn both credits and fame.

Nolan wasn't entirely opposed to the adventures that involved blasters or stun batons either: the opportunities to put his practice to good use rarely presented themselves, and the young man didn't do anything to get more of that (a wise choice, if you think of it). In the worst case, there was always the Hutt Cartel: it never ran out of jobs for smugglers or haulers.

While Nolan quickly considered his options (it didn't take him longer than a few moments), the stranger gave another comment that was spot on. Nolan couldn't but agree, smirking: "In a way, the best adventures you deserve are always right here, where you are." The stranger seemed like a streetwise type, and Nolan had to keep up, even if it meant sharing a curious philosophical observation that he had just made. It also sounded like a good reply to the previous comment about the limited mindset.

As the stranger mentioned "the hunk of junk" and asked about Nolan's piloting abilities, the young man simply nodded: "You got that right." Nolan's first thought was to get defensive about his ship and his skills, but there was no need to say anything more or anything less. Trying to prove oneself to someone was a sign of insecurity just as much as an unfounded bravado, even more so.

The stranger's scoffing question about going to find adventure was another dead-on touche. What could Nolan reply to that? "The ship isn't mine alone, my mentor's been missing for weeks, and I'm just deciding where to go?" That'd be just pathetic, yet another sign of weakness. Not to mention that telling less was always preferable to telling more.

A good defense in that case was just stating some obvious fact, which Nolan did, a confident smirk still on his lips: "I haven't got one yet because I'm fixing the ship. Shouldn't be too long now." For a moment he wanted to add: "Once I'm done with that, I'll get something lined up and get off-world", but there was no need. After all, it's better to come across as someone who always has something lined up, right?

@Deviant

 

[Leviticus]

“Oh?” Levi answered, a slender smirk tugged at his lips. Even to his surprise, he was enjoying this conversation. He was not aggravating to the point where the Sith would have considered splitting his head open. He was neither dim-witted or simple-minded to the point of making him sick or bored. It was rare the Sith got to engage in talks like these. Because the stranger didn’t see him as one of the feared heralds of the Empire, but an aimless customer and vagabond looking for, as he put it: “an adventure.” This man looked like he knew what he was doing, what he needed to do and how to do it. Maybe what Levi was looking for was already right in front of him.

“You come across as someone who already has something lined up, then.” The same smirk widened. Hand outstretched, he brushed his fingers against the side of his ship now, circling around the hull. The stranger had mentioned he was without any adventures, but his excuse about repairing his ship implied he had his fair share. Maybe more. “I won’t push any longer, but if or once you do fix your little ship, I’d be happy to offer my services. I’m not much a pilot—“ False modesty. “—but I’m sure we can work something out. A favor for a favor?” He stepped away from the vessel, done toying around. While he did savor the talk, he didn’t want to start aggravating the stranger either.

If he didn’t want him aboard, so be it. It was time to move on anyway.

Levi turned his back and waltzed to the hangar exit. If the stranger really was looking to find another helping hand on whatever adventure he might have in store, then he would stop the man right then and there. But if he couldn’t come to a conclusion just yet, Levi would always be around. “I won’t be far.” He added during his walk out. “You’ll know where to find me.” He winked back, an obvious clue that he was heading straight to the cantina the young man recommended. Deep down, he hoped the stranger would finally decide to welcome in him. If not, then no matter. There were far more fish in the sea. Or in the case of Nar Shaddaa, more trash to pick up in this foul cesspool.

@Catbert

 

[Nolan Kodd]

Nolan had played his cards right, or so it would seem. At least the facade of a daringly calculating (if not dashing) smuggler was maintained. Two successful conversations in such a short timespan? Maybe luck was turning to Nolan after all. But there was more: unbeknownst to the Sith, his previous reply about narrow-mindedness had spurred the young man into action. After all, a freighter (even as unimpressive as Nolan's) was potentially a small fortune — it just depended on what Nolan would do with it.

Getting an ordinary shipping contract was a matter of an hour on Nar Shaddaa. Nolan had even heard that someone was looking for a quick cargo delivery to Ryloth, and the Trailblazer was faster than many freighters out there. It would be a perfect starting job; nothing outstanding, but credits were credits. He had to start somewhere if he'd try to move up in the spacer foodchain: a better ship, a bigger crew, better contracts, more dangerous routes. If Nolan were to take a more risky approach, he could even step up his game: life had provided him with a couple of scores to settle. If the young man could benefit while doing it, even better. But all of that would require help.

The stranger was basically offering his aid on a silver platter. Even for a simple flight from Nar Shaddaa to Ryloth, Nolan needed a gunner: his MR-73 astromech couldn't fill this role for technical reasons and was needed as a co-pilot to calculate hyperspace jumps anyway. Before they returned to Nar Shaddaa, Nolan had been a gunner two thirds of the time, and his Twi'lek mentor Shiri Vrei was usually piloting. With her gone, the young man would take the pilot's seat, but there'd be nobody to fend off stray pirates. That's why the stranger could become a real asset.

As the man turned his back, intent on leaving, Nolan knew he had to act. Earlier he hadn't ask the Rutian Twi'lek for the contact details of his friends: an almost missed business opportunity. Nolan wasn't intent on making the same mistake twice. Was it risky? Sure; the stranger could turn out to be a thug, out to steal a ship. Was the risk worth it? Yes; anyone could stab you in the back; if you couldn't take your chances, you'd end up sitting in the corner and trembling from every sound. A healthy balance of risk and cautiousness was required.

"Hey," he called out to the stranger in a calm, yet confident manner. "I think we can work something out." He thought about what a stranger meant by a favor for a favor, but decided to save it for last. Hiring a crew member was a serious business, so the money-related aspects always took priority. "As it happens, I could use a gunner for a few trips. The person I normally fly with isn't available for now. I'd skip the negotiations and give you 30% cut from the jobs, unless you have something else in mind," Nolan gave the stranger an option to elaborate on what he had meant by a favor, just in case.

The conditions Nolan offered were fair, and the wage was respectably above average. Normally, if a ship only had 2 people as a crew, the hired one could reasonably hope for any sum up to 50% of the profits; the lowest bar wasn't set. As a result, the rates from 5% to 20% were normal; 25% was slightly above average, and anything higher would require some long negotiations (or a really selfless employer). Still, people would try and push for higher wages, and who was Nolan to blame them for it? Shiri was giving Nolan 40%, but they were basically like siblings at that point.

If the stranger were to agree to 30%, Nolan would at least know that he was reasonable and wasn't out there to milk him dry. "The first job isn't anything grand, and definitely not the sort of adventure you seek: just a cargo haul to Ryloth. However, I'll need someone to man the turret and watch my back," Nolan shrugged. "It'll also be a good chance to see how we work together." The young man tilted his head with a grin, as a plan had just formed in his head. Letting the stranger in on the idea was too ealry, but Nolan also had to pique his interest: "After that we'd be back to Nar Shaddaa for something way more interesting. That's when the credits from the haul will come in handy."

Assuming the stranger wouldn't be opposed ot the idea, Nolan would continue: "I'll need 30 minutes to fix the ship and 1 hour to get the cargo loaded. In the meantime you can hit the cantina or get settled in, your choice."

@Deviant

 

[Leviticus]

Levi counted down from five in his head. Back turned and pace brisk, he was on a path straight out from the hangar, but the man expected the stranger to make his decision then and there. Although as he came closer to the exit, he found himself counting down slower, his expectations thwarted. One point five, one point four— “Hey.” —zero. The second the stranger beckoned him, he made a suave turn around and leaned against the side of the hangar opening. Arms crossed, he smirked. He knew it. Turned out the young man had an adventure in mind after all, and with a need for a part-time crew. In the end, it looked like Levi turned up to the right place at the right time.

“Getting straight to the point, I see. I respect that.” He paused for a second to think. “I’ll take 25% and we’ll call it a deal.” The man gave a smug grin as if he had just lifted the pay rather than dropped it. Either he was dumb or drunk or bizarre, but the stranger was sure to take it anyway. “Consider it a first-time discount.” A lame excuse. His pockets were stuffed with enough credits as it was, and Levi saw no reason to suck the kid dry. But playing it off, he winked a second time. “But alright. Doesn’t sound like the adventure I was looking for, but I won’t complain.” Then again, he just did. “Something’s bound to happen.” Especially when Levi caught that head tilt and slender grin, he knew there was more to this mission than what meets the eye. Or what came after.

At the stranger’s own excuse about repairing the ship, he simply shrugged. “Not a problem. I think I’ll just settle in. Get cozy. Take a nap. And you can just take your time.” He respectfully nodded, sauntered back into the hangar and circled around the ship once more. Before he did anything just yet, however, he glanced up to the stranger and finally asked. “You know, I don’t think I ever caught your name, er…” His words trailed off, expecting the young man to fill in the blanks for him. The least he could do, given they were about to spend an unsurprisingly long journey to Ryloth together. Might as well get introductions out of the way now.

@Catbert

 

[Nolan Kodd]

The stranger's "counter-offer" caught Nolan by surprise. The feeling of something being slightly off returned again, but there was no going back now. Not to mention that Shiri had always taught Nolan to keep an old proverb in mind: "Take a gift, dodge a blow." It could be understood in multiple ways, but Nolan decided to use the most precautios interpretation: a gift was there, and a blow could follow. He'd just have to be careful. Of course, the young man didn't show that on the outside (if only just a little) and simply replied: "Deal."

Since the stranger intended to board the ship, the young man nodded and turned back to the hatch for a moment: "Hey, tin can, lower the ramp again!" With a skirr, the ramp would start lowering again in a few moments, as the pilot turned to the stranger. "Nolan, he replied casually with a nod. "Nolan Kodd." He expected the stranger to return the favor and introduce himself too, as evident by the look he gave him.

With the ramp down, Nolan would say: "I'll meet you aboard once I'm done with the repairs." Letting a stranger in like that was risky, but there wasn't much that someone could carry away from the ship unnoticed and hamper Nolan's business too much. The ship parts were too big, and most of the other equipment scattered around was too cheap. Not to mention that Nolan would see anyone leaving the ship, and the door to the cockpit was sealed for now. The stranger could now expore the available compartments of the ship, but he'd find them in the same state as other guest before him.

The only difference was the MR-series astromech droid that was clanking around inspecting the ship. It'd stop to briefly scan the guest with its optical receptor, but apart from that it'd carry on, unless addressed. In the meantime Nolan would get busy finishing the repairs: his schedule had just gotten a lot busier.

@Deviant

 

[Leviticus]

“Nolan Kodd.” He allowed the name to run off his tongue. “Neat.” A quick, careless answer. Not that Levi had seriously ever heard of him, and he figured that once their adventure was over, it would be the last time they ever saw one another. Not that the Sith was already plotting to kill the young man, seize his ship and take whatever profit they gained along the way. While he could do it, what good did killing a single smuggler and taking an aimless freighter do? Unnecessary. Better he simply hitch along this adventure Nolan so kindly provided, relish in the brief freedom that came with it, and return back to his duties in the Empire.

Regardless, Levi needed a name too. Of course, he couldn’t give Nolan the one he had always had: Leviticus, an obvious hint toward his distant connections. If the young man couldn’t recognize his face, there was no telling if he could recognize his name. So, obviously, the Sith was quick to figure something out. “You can call me Levi…” He answered, unoriginal as always, although he still had to piece together a surname. To his left, he noticed a flashing advertisement for Kola soda. To his right, outside the hangar, a shop sign rang: “Bellum Taan Bazaar.” All perfect names for him to steal. With a cough, the man finally responded. “Yeah, it’s just Levi.” How original indeed.

Smacking himself across the head, internally, he nodded at Nolan’s response and moved for the ship. Inside, it wasn’t long before he came face to face with a mushroom-shaped astromech droid. Expecting nothing, he was surprised when the droid scanned him, and he could have sworn he heard it say something nihilistic under its seemingly incomprehensible beeps. Before it could clunker on elsewhere, Levi decided to make friends early on. He had to do something while waiting for Nolan to finish his repairs, after all. There was no reason not to make do with the droid. So, with a greeting smirk, he said, “Hey, tin can. You look like you know a thing or two about Pazaak.”

Levi spotted a small holographic table in the heart of the ship. “Care to play?”