Ask T is for Tatooine

[Tevan Dolm]

"Well kid, now it’s the hard part. We have to go make sure we get paid. Luckily for you I know where and who the guy that had set this bounty up is. He’s back on Tatooine. In fact he’s in Mos Eisley. It’s time to pay him a visit.” "Oh right, okay."

The pair of them trekked back the way they came through dozens of roots and branches (with Tevan tripping over again on the way), they eventually saw the ship and the two droids that were waiting for them. Tevan smiled as he saw BD-3 hopping up and down as Laren approached. Cute little guy. The both entered and Tevan dumped his sniper rifle and blaster on the desk in the sleeping quarters. He picked up the bag of Black Melons he bought and reached in to pick one up, however two of them had somehow split open and one of the was rotting. Tevan sighed and throw the bag out of the ship as the ramp was still down. Such a waste of coin. Luckily it didn't really matter for Tevan now that he would get some credits for this bounty. He should probably thank Laren with a drink or something once they got back to Mos Eisley.

Laren was already in his seat when Tevan took his place in the copilot seat. He felt something brush his side and looked down to see BD-3 looking at him. Tevan picked BD-3 up and placed him in his lap. "Happy now?" Tevan smiled at BD-3 and looked at Laren awaiting whatever was next.

@Scoobert

 

[Laren Vano]

As Laren sat in his seat he noticed BD-3. Unsure of why, yet not going to question it. He prepped the ship for take off. And finally lifting, then leaving the atmosphere and pulling into hyperdrive.

After that he set on autopilot as he leaned back in his seat. A job well done today. Hopefully the kid had learned something today. Not much to it, bounty hunting. Just a lot of killing. Pretty much all anyone needs from a bounty hunter, just target get dead soon.

“I’m taking half, you will get half, understand?”

Only a fair deal, as how Laren killed the target, and one of the guards in the camp. Plus the transport. There many fees that Laren could place on this, but he figured he’d be nice. Not very often that he is.

The Mando had been ready to go back home after all this. Hopefully he won’t need to teach the kid much more. Seeing as how he’s been on a hunt now. This was what it was all for. The head of Sorgo in a burlap sack that is worth 40,000 credits.

@EviFoxx

 

[Tevan Dolm]

Soon they were in the air and Tevan watched Laren lift the ship out of the atmosphere and into hyperdrive. Flying is something Tevan will have to get used too. He doesn't really like it that much but it gets you from point a to point b fairly quickly. Suddenly Laren looked at Tevan “I’m taking half, you will get half, understand?” "Sure, that's fine...thank you."

Soon he'd be back on Tatooine and under the scorching sun, he'll remember to go back to the cave and grab the land speeder he forgot to return. Tevan starts to plan out what he's going to get with his new amount of credits. Tevan has never had much money in his life. A new helmet would be nice. It was warm in the ship, and soon enough Tevan fell asleep once again.

@Scoobert

 

[Laren Vano]

After being in the ship for what felt like forever, even though it wasn’t even close, the ship pulled out of hyperdrive and entered Tatooine’s atmosphere again. Laren began preparing for a landing as The Unforced got closer to the ground. He eventually parked it in Mos Eisley and kicked the kid’s leg, just soft enough it didn’t hurt but woke him up.

Laren had made it to the exit of the ship and started down the ramp. Ah yes, back in the shit hole of a town. The city of thugs, drunks, and thieves all in one. Luckily for Laren he had made his reputation here, and was well enough known to the locals.

“Alright kid, the one we speak to isn’t far, just in the building there.”

He pointed to a cantina. It was smaller though. Looked local. The Mando began to walk to the entrance and knocked on the door as he was told to do. A small sliding peep hole opened to reveal eyes.

“Code armor boy!”

“The Hutt, whole Hutt, and nothing but the Hutt.”

The door opened and Laren began inside hopefully the kid was following his lead. It was better that Laren did the talking but the Mando had better ideas. This was going to be the last of the training. Hopefully the kid is good with words.

“Ah Berman! How’s it been?”

“Vano!” It was exclaimed in a bit of a deeper tone. And followed by, “Ah you know, guy dead here, guy dead there. The usual! Who’s this kid behind ya?”

Berman was a human male. He had a short beard, and black hair. He looked rough but that’s just an outside appearance. Laren has seen what the man can do and it was quite impressive. Let’s hope the kid can talk through this.

“Alright kid tell em why we’re here.”

Laren tossed the burlap sack back to him and motioned his hand to imply for the kid to sit down. It’s implied to introduce himself as well, but Berman would remind him if he forgot to do so.

@EviFoxx

 

[Tevan Dolm]

Tevan felt a gentle nudge on his leg and he woke up to see that they had arrived in the landing port of Mos Eisley. He took BD-3 of his lap and got up and stretched. He took off his helmet for a moment to rub his eyes. Putting his helmet back on he followed Laren out of the ship and into Mos Eisley.

“Alright kid, the one we speak to isn’t far, just in the building there.” Laren pointed at the small cantina that they were walking up too. "Oh the cantina, I've never been inside it"

When the reached the door to the Cantina, Laren knocked on the door. A few seconds went by and the peep hole in the door slid open and a rough voice said something along the lines of wanting a code. "The Hutt, whole Hutt, and nothing but the Hutt.” The door quickly opened once Laren had said whatever that phrase was. Tevan took a mental note to remember that for the future. He followed Laren inside.

“Ah Berman! How’s it been?”

“Vano!” Berman yelled back “Ah you know, guy dead here, guy dead there. The usual! Who’s this kid behind ya?”

Laren gestured for Tevan to sit, so he did.

“Alright kid tell em why we’re here.”

"Tevan Dolm, we're here to pick up the bounty for Sorgo Tikeema." Laren threw the burlap sack that contained Sorgo's head onto the table. Tevan's anxiety was rising but he hoped this would be over quickly.

@Scoobert

 

[Laren Vano]

Berman had looked at the sack and then back to Laren. The Mando could tell that he was asking if it was what he thought it was. And of course Laren answered as silent as he did with a slow nod of his helmet.

Then Berman turned to face Tevan and spoke,

“Alright kid. Tell ya what. Show me what’s in the sack and I’ll confirm if you actually got the bounty.”

The man sat back and waited for the kid to pull out the head of the dead Sorgo. Laren was also waiting, he had plans to drink after this. Bounties were an everyday thing for himself so it hadn’t bothered him in the slightest. This was simply a test for the kid. If he can pull it out and look at and hold it then he passes. If not then Berman doesn’t do business with him ever again.

Then Laren spoke after Berman,

“It’s alright kid, go ahead and pull it out.”

@EviFoxx

 

[Tevan Dolm]

Tevan watched as Laren nodded at Berman. Berman then looked at Tevan.

“Alright kid. Tell ya what. Show me what’s in the sack and I’ll confirm if you actually got the bounty.”

Tevan looked at Laren "Really?"

“It’s alright kid, go ahead and pull it out.”

With a small sigh, Tevan reached for the burlap sack and grabbed a fistful of Sorgo's hair and pulled the head out of the bag. He gave the head a twirl in front of Berman.

"I can put the head on a pole if you want?"

This was probably some sort of last test that Laren had planned. It was fine though despite being a little annoying. Tevan isn't really phased by dead bodies and guts that much.

@Scoobert

 

[Laren Vano]

Laren was slightly impressed. Not enough to get a reaction. He kinda just sat back as the two did their talking. Until he noticed Berman have a guard bring a pole. Now it gets interesting.

“Yea, I think I will have you put it on a pole. Here, use this one. Stick it on there and set it out side for others to see what dumb thugs get when they mess with my animals!”

Berman handed the pole off and Laren stood arms crossed ready to see how the kid plays out. Quite an interesting request if he may say so, but then again he’s done far worse. Took the lungs of a living man and brought them out of his body from tearing open his back. I guess you could say, ‘don’t fuck with Laren’ or something along those lines.

“Yea kid. Get at it.”

Laren had a guard bring him drink. This was definitely the way. The Mando looked to Berman and nodded as he was doing well to test the kids allegiance to the bounty.

@EviFoxx

 

[Tevan Dolm]

Both Laren and Berman looked at each other for a second and then Berman gestured of his guard to bring him a pole.

“Yea, I think I will have you put it on a pole. Here, use this one. Stick it on there and set it out side for others to see what dumb thugs get when they mess with my animals!”

Tevan laughed slightly.

“Yea kid. Get at it.”

"Not you as well? Bloody hell, fine. Any particular way you want it on the pole Berman? All the way through the other side or just on the tip?"

In his head, Tevan's laughing his ass off. He kinda assumed these two were a little bit mad. Tevan guessed that both of them have been through a lot so this is just a game to them at this point. Fair play to them.

@Scoobert

 

[Laren Vano]

“Kid.. surprise me.” Berman smiled slightly. Surely the kid was growing in him.

Laren appreciated the lighthearted reaction to the request. If he was gonna make in this world he’d need it. Can’t take too much serious, yet not enough. This was a good moment for the kid to learn how messed up the world really was. Only the strong survive. As seen from the trip to Khashyyk. Laren wouldn’t be much of a mentor if the journey was sunshine and rainbows.

“Hurry up kid, I need a drink. You’re buyin.”

Laren shook hands with Berman as he accepted the credits. The prize was sent to his account for bounties. Laren’s bank had encrypted the account to allow safety from hackers. Not to mention Laren would just hunt them down.

The Mando would leave the establishment as he met the kid outside. Seeing the way the head was displayed was quite satisfying. Laren patted Tevan on the back and simply told him,

“Alright kid I have your cut ready for ya. You got a bank account? Or should I have it transferred as hard copy currency?”

The Mando had stood awaiting the answer from the mentee.

@EviFoxx

 

[Tevan Dolm]

“Kid.. surprise me.” Tevan noticed the slight smile in Berman.

“Hurry up kid, I need a drink. You’re buyin.” Tevan turned around to face Laren "Alright, alright you cheeky ass" Tevan jammed the pole as hard as he could into Sorgo's empty skull and it went right through the other side. "There's even enough room for a flag if you want to put one on it." Tevan smiled and handed the guard the pole with Sorgo's head on it.

He shook hands with Berman and followed Laren outside. “Alright kid I have your cut ready for ya. You got a bank account? Or should I have it transferred as hard copy currency?” "Laren...I've been living in a god damn cave for three years, do you really think I would have a bank account?" Tevan shakes his head "Hard copy currency, thanks."

@Scoobert

 

[Laren Vano]

Kid has fire. Laren appreciated that. Maybe he’ll turn out to be a good hunter after all. The answer was given by the mentee and Laren would abide.

“Alright kid no need to be get too big for your britches.”

The Mando began heading to the bank. It was small. He left the kid outside. After a few minutes he walked back out he tossed a rather large bag at the feet of Tevan. It was full of 30,000 credits. Laren figured the kid needed it more.

“Get you a good place to stay. Or just get a ship and live in it. It’s easier to live that way. Trust me I know.”

The Mando waved a hand for the mentee to follow as he walked to his favorite Cantina, The IronHorse. A quality establishment filled with high class thugs and bounty hunters of all sorts. In reality it was a run down building but in Laren’s eyes it was quite a place.

@EviFoxx

 

[Tevan Dolm]

“Alright kid no need to be get too big for your britches.” Hey... you asked!" Laren started walking away towards another building, Tevan assumed it was a bank of some kind because a few minutes later Laren dumped a large bag of credits at his feet.

“Get you a good place to stay. Or just get a ship and live in it. It’s easier to live that way. Trust me I know.” "Thank...you" Tevan stammered out a reply "I mean I would get a ship but I don't even know how to fly one, let alone where to get a small one" Laren gestured for Tevan to follow so he picked up his bag of credits and followed. Luckily he had another pouch on him so he divided a small amount of credits into the other pouch and held onto the large bag for his life. They seemed to be at another Cantina by the name of The IronHorse. Tevan's never heard of this one, then again he isn't one for drinking.

"Wait here for a few minutes quickly, I'm going to go open a bank account. Probably not a good idea to carry these around" Tevan holds up the large bag of credits and heads off towards the same building Laren went into earlier.

A few minutes later Tevan came out of the bank and a slightly bigger pouch was attached to his belt. 4,000 credits. The thought of that alone was enough to overwhelm Tevan. The fact that he has money now is almost unbelievable, and if it wasn't for Laren, Tevan would still be in that cave he called a home. "Okay, sorry. Ready when you are." Tevan gestured for Laren to continue.

@Scoobert

 

[Laren Vano]

“Well here we are. The IronHorse! What a place. Grimgar!! Two please! On him.”

Laren pointed at Tevan as he walked to the bar. He sat on the stool and took of his helm. Revealing his face, showing his blue eyes and blonde hair to the kid.

“That can’t show my face stuff.. load of bantha shit. I just don’t like eating front of people. Although it is a traditional thing for Mandalorians to do.. hide their face. The way I feel, if you can’t show your face to those you trust.. you live a cowardly life.”

Laren drank from the cup handed to him by the bartender. He sat in silence for just a moment before looking at Tevan and continuing,

“Mandalorians are not cowards though. Not in the slightest. Some are far more superior than I. I can only hope to become as skilled as they are. I seek to lead, but I’m afraid that I won’t be strong enough to claim that title of Mandalore.”

Laren realized he’s just talking what seems as nonsense to the mentee he had for the day. All these words surely meant nothing to him but it felt good to vent for a moment.

“Kid, ignore what I said. I’ll teach ya to fly. Give me a call on the comms link. Oh.. right. A kinda surprise I had for ya. BD-3 wanted to give ya a gift. So I had him install a comms link system in your helm. Go ahead and hit that new button on the right side and you’ll be able to speak to people you set a link with. Fancy tech huh?”

Laren smiled as he took another drink and went back to looking at his visor on his own helm. A long day. A job well done. Easy 10,000 credits. Laren would chalk today up to a successful day.

@EviFoxx

 

[Tevan Dolm]

“Well here we are. The IronHorse! What a place. Grimgar!! Two please! On him.”

Tevan sighs and sits on a stool next to Laren, surprisingly Laren took off his helmet.

“That can’t show my face stuff.. load of bantha shit. I just don’t like eating front of people. Although it is a traditional thing for Mandalorians to do.. hide their face. The way I feel, if you can’t show your face to those you trust.. you live a cowardly life.”

Laren paused and took a sip from his drink before continuing

“Mandalorians are not cowards though. Not in the slightest. Some are far more superior than I. I can only hope to become as skilled as they are. I seek to lead, but I’m afraid that I won’t be strong enough to claim that title of Mandalore.”

Tevan has always enjoyed listening to people more than talking to them, so he let Laren continue.

“Kid, ignore what I said. I’ll teach ya to fly. Give me a call on the comms link. Oh.. right. A kinda surprise I had for ya. BD-3 wanted to give ya a gift. So I had him install a comms link system in your helm. Go ahead and hit that new button on the right side and you’ll be able to speak to people you set a link with. Fancy tech huh?”

"Oh right, thank you. I appreciate it." Tevan sighs a little "Why is it always the cute ones that don't want to be serviced" He winks at Laren and downs his drink. "You really don't have to teach me, you've done a lot for me already. Besides I doubt I can even afford a proper ship yet. But when I can, and if I actually buy one, I'll give you a ping" Tevan smiles at Laren and pays Grimgar for both the drinks.

@Scoobert

 

[Laren Vano]

Laren hadn’t a response to the service comment. Nor did he really want one. All he wanted was to let the kid enjoy his drink and then head out to do other things.

“It’s not a problem kid. Go ahead and get something nice. You earned it.”

The up and before he left he stopped next to his newfound friend and let out a slight comment.

“If you ever need me. You know how to get ahold of me. And uh, if you look in that back corner is a man who loves servicing. He’ll pay you well. Nice talking kid.”

Laren put his helmet back on and then rubbed his hand on the kids head like a big brother would. Then he was off. Out the cantina and onto The Unforced. Eventually out of atmosphere. Laren made a friend out of the mentee. He’ll remember where to find the kid. Should he ever need the assistance.

@EviFoxx

 

[Tevan Dolm]

“It’s not a problem kid. Go ahead and get something nice. You earned it.” Tevan realised that Laren wasn't phased at all by the comment this time round and Tevan smirked a little.

After a short moment Laren got up and then stopped as he passed by Tevan “If you ever need me. You know how to get ahold of me. And uh, if you look in that back corner is a man who loves servicing. He’ll pay you well. Nice talking kid.” Tevan felt Laren's hand rub his head and Tevan smiled. It was nice, and he appreciated the gesture. He looked behind him and watched as Laren put his helmet back on and leave. Tevan ordered and paid for another drink, he downed it in one shot. He got up and proceeded to leave the Cantina. He looked at the man Laren mentioned and thought about draining him dry, but passed it off. He can't be bothered tonight.

He exited the Cantina and looked up to see The Unforced leave the atmosphere, it was only then Tevan realized he left his sniper rifle on board. "God damn it." Tevan sighed, luckily he still had his blaster equipped, that would do for now. Laren could probably make use of it somehow, it didn't matter. Tevan probably had enough now to buy him a decent sniper rifle anyway.

He walked through the streets of Mos Eisley, the sun had set now and Tevan found himself outside of a hotel. 4 nights for the price of 3! was written on a signpost outside the building. Tevan wondered in and paid for 4 nights. The receptionist escorted him to his room, it was nice and big. Surprisingly it had a shower in the bathroom, and Tevan realized he could probably do with using one. After that he had ordered some room service as he was starving, it wasn't much. Just some meat covered in some kind of sauce. It tasted fine and satisfied his stomach more or less. He should probably go house hunting the next few days. Whatever. Tevan thought that could wait until the morning, he passed out as soon as his head hit the pillow on the bed. At least he's got a friend now though. That was nice.

~~END~~​