Ask Treasure Planet

[Indy Sati]

"I got off his land," she replied with a faint grimace. "But only after I dropped my weapons and promised him a good bit of credits. Some Imp artifacts aren't worth losing life. Old Jedi ones, though..." she stared ahead, frowning. "Ones that go back thousands of years... that's what makes the past real. What makes all our mistakes real, and all the things that happened. Knowing history is knowing what to avoid a repeat of."

She glanced over again at his saying he'd been shot at before, nodding once in understanding. Perhaps he was readying to be on the move; she would have to be ready as well, to disarm their attacker as peaceably as possible. She wasn't sure who or what their assailant was, but they were a good shot to tag Roland this far out. Hopefully, she could do one better.

She took in a deep breath, squaring her shoulders. Now was time for her own little waiting game.

@Darasuum

 

[Roland Rook]

He listened and was going to colorfully say he wasn't going to just 'get off' these smuggler's planet. But Indy seemed to cement her resolve in moving forward. "Well if you actually want to take out a sniper and not die, listen up. Their shots are close together. I might not even be able to take another direct shot like I did earlier. My droid, he's going to get close and get an eye on our shooter so we'll at least have that. When a sharpshooter stops firing that means they are usually waiting or moving. Seeing as there's not much for them to move to I think he's just conserving ammo."

Roland tried picturing the open ground that had been between them and the formation of rocks. There wasn't much in the way of cover and back towards the ship was the same thing. They were still likely to get shot in the back. "I'll get my droid to distract him for a bit. When I give the signal, run as fast as you can towards the rocks." He was probably going to get to them first with his jetboots but still it was nearly shy of twenty seconds before he would reach the rock formation. That was a lot of time to get shot.

"I'll get close and possibly break off. But keep running regardless" Once he got within thirty meters if he got a good shot on their sniper he might take it. As if on queue the seeker droid finally arrived and began floating towards the rock formation. A bit of binary would come through the commlink in a few minutes. "B1 battle droid with a long blaster" He repeated the information for the Pantoran jedi to understand.

"Alright Grem, distract him for as long as you can." The Ranger's helmet looked towards Indy, his body posture changing so he could be ready to immediatly take off if he started hearing more blaster fire. "Go!" he said and shot up from cover and over the open ground. A blaster shot followed but this time it wasn't towards either the Jedi or the Mandalorian but was likely that battle droid trying to silence his seeker droid permanently. There was little he could do now as the armor plated ranger was rocketing towards the enemy's location.

@Killa Ree

 

[Indy Sati]

So much for tagging from a distance with the rifle. Shrugging it back over her shoulders, she blinked when he said it was a B1 Battle Droid. "That's odd. Using an antique like that should be illegal," she stated, squinting again. At hearing his comment she nodded again, bracing herself in preparation to sprint.

If he didn't distract the droid, she could very well end up another body for the desert. Just in case, the M3 was set to EMP. If she could get close enough on foot, she could do a heavy dose of damage. She just had to trust Roland not to miss as well. Soon as he said go she scrambled up, nearly stumbling on the soft sand catching around her boots.

She began sprinting at first, the heat scorching in her lungs with every gusty exhale. She could see the glimmer of the blaster from the droid as they seemed engaged with the seeker, and the distinct sound of blaster fire richocheted through the air. Truth be told though, she was envious of the Ranger having jetboots.

Wonder what kind of arms dealer she'd have to get in touch with to have something as handy as that on hand. But there was no time to dwell on that thought, but sprint ahead, and hope they could take out the droid before she'd be in better target range.

@Darasuum

 

[Roland Rook]

Indy's observation wasn't missed by the Ranger. But it didn't really merit a response. It was obvious that the droid's owner was already doing illegal activity and out here it wasn't like you were going to likely get hauled in on account of having an unlicensed combat droid. But then again, Roland could only be in so many places. It just so happened that it was this B1's unlucky day.

The Mandalorian didn't look back. His attention was focused solely on what was ahead. Both his hands were clenched. The air whipped past him as he flew over the ground. Having pulled off his fair share of risky manuevers he kept the Pantoran in mind and pulled out the lightsaber. Gripping it tightly he extended the tip to max distance and angled it down and behind him. The blade cut a track through the sand but also kicked up sand and dust in the flying mandalorian's wake. That would also give Indy a bit of a make-shift smoke screen. Droids were simple minded and even an organic would prioritize the targets they could see. Right now that was just the Ranger and his droid.

Roland stopped creating the cloud of dust when he got close to fifty meters away though. Once Indy got to that point she would probably be in range with her own weapons. Now relatively close he could clearly see outline of the skeletal battle droid with the long barreled rifle. The tip pointed towards the sky and nearby the seeker droid making evasive maneuvers. But the sniper must have realized the danger the Mandalorian posed and brought the weapon to bear. Roland changed trajectory so he was no longer moving directly towards the droid. It was just enough because the shot went wide.

Another dozen meters gained. The mandalorian drew his westar-55 heavy blaster. Adjusting his direction one more time Roland resumed flying directly towards the droid. But the recoil from the previous shot had the weapon's tip raised and the few meters must make using the scope difficult since the bolt missed. Roland fired one shot. It struck the long blaster, hitting it with less damage since it was still beyond optimum range. But in the next moment the droid may as well have taken the first pistol bolt to the head because it didn't fire off a third sniper round. Roland fired another bolt towards the droid. This one hit the droid with its full strength, no longer beyond the ideal thirty meter range of the well crafted weapon. A dying high pitched almost comical drone came from the droid as it fell into a glorified heap of scrap.

The jetboots on the Mandalorian's feet brought him to a slowed descent at the mouth of a tunnel. The droid had been hiding inside the entrance which had been hidden in the shade of the rocks. It was a pretty good hiding spot and secret entrance, Roland had to admit. But he didn't lower the blaster or the purified blade just yet. He waited for the Jedi to catch up in case there were more enemies among the rocks. If those in the tunnels heard the blaster shots they might be coming to at least check it out. While he waited he checked in the Grim back at the ships. Still no movement near the ships, good.

@Killa Ree

 

[Indy Sati]

She had to admit, watching him duck and weave like that sparked just a hint of jealousy. While he could just hotboot his way over the sand, she had to wheeze her way through all these dunes. Mind, he was ducking fire and giving her cover, but still, not for the first time was she grateful that she had him along for the ride. She came up over the last small dune just a little while after he himself had landed and waited for her.

Oh, so she was right. There was a cave! Thank the Force for that, or it would have been awkward to go all this way just to see a bunch of rocks. But she could not see anything through the darkness; he had mentioned tremors from before, and though it was a common concern, somehow the ground felt different here. Though the air was cooler, it still had the weight of heat still clinging to it. She couldn't even imagine how hot it could be in his armor, no less.

But then, she felt it. A small presence, slow, hesitant. She peered closer...

And the well-polished barrel of a long blaster much like the downed droid's own poked out from the shadows. She couldn't quite make out the race at first, the sifting gloom a harsh counterpoint to the sun. But she could finally make out their species. Horns sprouted out from a clean, bald head, sharp eyes and a small, wiry frame hefting it with a tense jaw.

The older Zabrak looked at the downed droid, then pointed the gun towards Roland, and as her eyes adjusted to the darkness she could see he wore a visible scowl, glancing between his downed guard and the two newcomers.

"What d'ya want? We're not expectin' company." Just in case, Indy held her hand close to her hip. She'd hate to use her stun or her lightsaber if necessary, but perhaps they could talk their way in and get some information.

@Darasuum

 

[Roland Rook]

Roland kept an eye on the darkness of the cave and moved back around to the outside. He waited for Indy to catch up and held the entrance in case any more battle droids or other hostiles arrived. Instead of droids though came the leveled length of another blaster.

"I wasn't expecting to get shot at by a battle droid. Lower your blaster for me please." His own blaster was still pointed in the Zabrak's direction. The surly man looked between the Pantoran and the Mandalorian. "Who're you? Bounty hunters?" It was obvious where the man got that impression. "Sector Rangers. I'll ask you again. Lower your blaster" The zabrak looked at Roland again.

"Why should I?" The Ranger had seen the rebelious type. The kind of person that just stubbornly pushed back for no other reason than to fight. "Cuz then I'd have to shoot you." The trigger of his blaster waited calmly. It was up to the man to decide if the blaster was worth his life.

@Killa Ree

 

[Indy Sati]

The guy would shoot, and only to annoy a Ranger. She sighed internally at him calling them both Rangers to a clearly pissed-off guy that was probably underworld, holding a blaster and obviously not afraid to use it. The best thing to dissuade a possible firefight-- with her in the middle of it--, would be to offer money on the table.

"We're here for some of your listed goods," she spoke up, holstering her own blaster for the time being. He bristled at the possible insinuation, fingers tightening on the grip. "We don't sell anythin' illegal or nothin', so you can't--"

"We're not here to arrest you," she stated calmly, showing her palms and flicking a side glance to Roland. "We're just here to check out your wares. Please... lower your blaster," she asked gently, and for a moment, he seemed to consider doing the opposite. Staring at Roland, then the considerately unarmed Indy... he sighed, lowering the blaster, then stepped up to kick at the downed droid's lower limbs. "Darned thing was all short-circuited anyhow," he mumbled, glancing between the two of them. "Hell, ya coulda tagged ahead of time, I'd have brought my stuff to ya to look at. But I guess the missus forgot to leave a tag number... she don't like visitors."

He shrugged, then walked further back into the gloom.

"Well come on, best hurry it up. She ain't here for the time being, out looking for more stuff. An' you're lucky too, she woulda just shot ya on sight. 'Specially for that armor of yours," he nodded to Roland, shuffling off.

Guess it was underground it was. But... Indy felt a shiver of reluctance to go into someplace dim, dark and probably claustro. Giving a sideways glance to her companion, she cocked a brow as though to say, I guess it's worth a try, before stepping in herself, hand still close to the foe-sweeper.

It couldn't hurt to be a little prepared for the unknown.

@Darasuum

 

[Roland Rook]

The old zabrak seemed a little closer to senile than anything else. Roland relaxed a little bit after he lowered the rifle fully. Part of him wondered if was going to arrest this man or not. If he drew again on the Mandalorian, he wouldn't hesitate to respond in kind. "Well she should consider herself lucky then I suppose."

Walking forward, letting the man lead, he would switch his visor mod again so he could see in the darkness. He wasn't sure if Pantorans had good eyesight or not. Maybe her jedi abilities allowed her to walk in the dark some way. But he purposefully didn't have a source of light on himself. He wasn't about to let his guard down. Before he forgot, Roland sent a command to the seeker drone to monitor the entrance and send a signal to him or at least update the surveillance droid still back at their ships. At least that way there would be a record. If anybody came into the tunnel behind them he wanted them to know.

Further down he switched his jetboots to combat mode as well. The tunnels were not ideal for full flight. Otherwise he held in his hand his blaster. The Ranger wasn't about to holster it anytime soon or at least until the man stepped away from the blaster.

@Killa Ree

 

[Indy Sati]

At first, it was very dark, and for a few heart-stopping moments the Jedi was completely blind, listening to the shuffling of the Zabrak and feeling along the ground with her feet. But the further in they went, the more her vision began to adjust dim shapes in the gloom.

A faint, ambient light filtered from dim sticks above, tucked in random small alcoves. Enough to reveal carts, a cargo transport lift, and the bare makings of a homestead carved into rock. He slung his long blaster away over one shoulder, shuffling in. "We trade from an old ruin," he stated dryly, opening one small box to reveal something.

An old hilt, the top broken. The crystal once within had long since removed... but when Indy reached for it, she could feel it.

A Jedi once touched this. Or at least someone not tinged with the Dark Side. She held the rusted piece delicately; it felt as though it would break apart at the slightest hard touch. Even the emitter button had been removed.

"Where?" she asked quietly, gazing up at him.

He opened his mouth as though to speak... and then a voice came from behind.

"Don't you tell them another word."

@Darasuum

 

[Roland Rook]

Roland was a little more at ease with the man not showing any obvious signs of ill will. As long as they had a mutual understanding, the elder seemed to not care about the threat of the two new arrivals or believed they wouldn't harm him. All the same Roland felt like he wasn't going to draw on them, yet.

While the Ranger didn't focus on the stranger, he did still retain his guard. The foregin environment had him looking at corners and shadows, waiting to reveal something as his alternate vision modes cycled. Looking to the side, he checked with his peripheral vision that Indy was staying with them. She stumbled at first and he slowed to make sure she would adjust. The Knight needed no assistance from him.

Eventually they came to an area with more illumination. Still Roland kept his low light vision in place since there was more darkness than light. The rough voice of the stranger made it sound like he and his wife had resorted to pilfering ancient ruins. The hooded helmet of the mandalorian turned to look at Indyana. Her singular and simple question made Roland's eyes stay on her a bit longer. It was only a fourth voice that made him wipe to face the source of the voice. But he waited to see who it was before raising his weapon again. It couldn't be helped that the hand incased in Mandalorian armor still clenched. He hadn't noticed the arrival or presence of someone else, and neither had Indy.

@Killa Ree

 

[Indy Sati]

She had been so focused on the hilt, that another presence had gone unnoticed. But at the Zabrak stiffening, she knew it wasn't good news.

And she wasn't disappointed.

The long point of an EE-3 carbine was pointed towards Roland, her eyes glittering in the low light. An older human woman, with long stringy black hair and sharp grey eyes stared between the two newcomers, and like her partner she wasn't precisely the fountain of youth. "I said no visitors, Tav," she snarled, hands tightening.

By the looks of it, she didn't even know how to use it properly.

And she was nervous. Her jaw was clenched. And from the corner of her eye, she saw Tav subtly shuffling back, reaching over.

If there weren't any sudden moves, perhaps they could prevent a firefight. But the tension simmering in the air was thick enough to cut with a vibroknife.

@Darasuum

Spoiler: Dice

Perhaps they can avoid violence?

 

[Roland Rook]

Roland's back was turned, otherwise he would have seen the woman approach with his low light vision. The new voice made him slowly straighten. The whine of a charged blaster was all too familiar. He didn't know if it was aimed at him or Indy but either way it wasn't good.

His DC-17 was on the small of his back while his Westar was on his right hip. Neither were reachable unless he wanted to risk getting shot in the back. While Roland trusted in his armor, he preferred to avoid damaging it if possible. It still hurt to get shot.

The Mandalorian threw himself forward while rolling to face the woman Tav had spoken of. The cloak whipping by to reveal an outstretched right arm. Roland triggered his repulsor towards the carbine armed scavenger, utilizing it's point rather than aim benefit. It would throw the Mandalorian back down some of the tunnel they had originally come. His left hand already scrabbling to steady himself and mitigate the disorienting recoil of the armor mounted weapon.

At least this way the 'missus' wouldn't have a weapon drawn on him or the Indy. Already his vision was looking to settle on Tav. It would be a moment before the woman recovered but he was not close enough to her to get caught in the repulsor blast. That had been the second time someone had drawn a weapon on him today. Roland wasn't keen on allowing a third.

@Killa Ree

 

[Indy Sati]

Tav had already begun drawing up his own long blaster when Indy reacted. Just as the woman yelped, the carbine forced out of her hands, she pointed her own blaster at him, features grim. "Please don't make me shoot," she replied, and he hissed out a breath, slowly lowering and dropping his own weapon.

The woman had been pushed by the repulsor blast, slammed into the wall. When the Mandalorian recovered so did she, wheezing at the force of the blast. "Don't tell 'em anythin'," she snarled, in between hard breaths. But he paused, looking between Roland and Indy, indecision flickering in his eyes.

She could see him cave when he sighed, and so did the woman apparently, whose face twisted in an angry, disgusted scowl.

"Tell us where the dig site is, and we'll let you be," she prompted gently, lowering her blaster.

He nodded once, then showed his hands, pulling out a datapad carefully. "Beyond this ridge here," he pointed to a yellow line on the map, "there's a set of ruins. Some sort'er temple or something, pretty dangerous place. Seen some stuff there that looked useful, we just found some old things there. But be careful; dust storms and desert can be tricky. Jus' don't tell no one," he grumbled, avoiding the woman's eyes.

"An' don't come back."

That was... far easier than Indy had expected.

@Darasuum

Spoiler: Dice

Success! He caves.

 

[Roland Rook]

Roland was glad to see Indy had his back or at least the smarts to not allow Tav to draw a weapon on either of them. After a moment both of the scavengers were without weapons. The Knight lowered her blaster but Roland kept his blaster at his side while approaching each of them in turn.

First Roland picked up the blaster she had lost amidst the repulsor throw. The same followed for Tav. "Hey don't take that." He didn't want to lose his blaster it seemed but Roland slowly walked up to the man so they were just a foot apart. The taller man looked down at the other behind his emotionless visor. "If I do come back...you better not be here." The hooded helmet turned to look at the woman who had been giving Tav the orders. Chances were, she was the brains of the operation.

Taking a step back, Roland would turn and follow Indy. He ejected the blaster cartridges and held onto them. The blasters he would drop on the ground after leaving. The scavengers would find the weapons eventually but at least this way they wouldn't have a chance of using them against either of them.

@Killa Ree end thread?