Open Tatooine Unfamiliar World With Unfamiliar Hatred (Of Sand)

[Jamie Daughtler]

It seemed that the journey had come to a halt, if only temporarily. The ship that a certain feline had snuck onto had to make an emergency landing due to a rupture within the fuel compartment. It was severe enough that the whole ship would have to be grounded. Thankfully, all of the crew on board would at least be getting setback pay, but since Civilian passengers weren't authorized it would seem that said mentioned feline was up shit creek.

Thankfully there was enough fuel left to land safely in a port and not simply out in the desert, which meant that at the very least one was in civilization. That still didn't mean that someone as unprepared as this feline, whom of which will be called Jamie from now on, was having an easy time. The scorching heat was unmatched to anything they had ever felt before and the sand, oh the sand, simply got everywhere. Walking around barefoot was near painful with how hot the sand got at times. Thankfully, being in a settlement meant that one could stand in the shade, but that meant that Jamie looked like a buffoon going from shade spot to shade spot.

For now, the out-of-place feline found themselves standing in the shade of a sandstone wall with no windows. They looked out the street before them, some stalls set in front of businesses. People came to and fro, most of which not exactly looking the richest in the world.

They leaned against the wall, the primitive slug-thrower slung over their back lightly clattering against the wall, but not hard enough to damage the mechanism on it. They store out like a sore thumb (for who walked around in such vivid clothes and a sword on their hip?), but that was something they really couldn't help. Maybe sticking out like such would bring help or maybe it would bring danger. They simply did not know and all they could do was hope that an opportunity came up.

 

[Captain Ahab]

They were certainly an odd sight for the town. Of course, they were an odd sight wherever they went. A trio of b1 battle droids, each one highly painted over with bright colors, under the watchful command of a large super tactical droid from the clone wars with two buzz droids on his shoulders like pet kawakian apes? Even in places like Tatooine, they were an odd sight.

And yet, here they were. This port city, the smallest of Tatooine, held a certain treasure that most did not know about. According to Captain Ahab's sources, one crime syndicates had hidden a base of credits, vehicles and weaponry, and, more importantly, spice. Such products, when handed back to the Colicoid Nest, would sell nicely and help the captain's long term plans.

People noticed the squad of droids marching down the street and stared in wonder. Ahab ignored them until he came to one of the open shops, attended to by an elderly squib. Stopping before the stall, Ahab studied the interor of the fruit stall. He then looked down on the female for a few moments before speaking.

"Ye shall tell me where thy benefactors be hiding their stash" Ahab stated.

The squib had a confused look. Had Ahab been an organic, he would've been used to it. His particular venacular was an uncommon one.

"I don't understa-"

Ahab didn't wait. His large body reached across the counter and grabbed the Squib by the collar and pulled him forward. The Squib began to shriek and flail in the air, but to no avail. Others began to look on in fear, but the B1's gestered with their blaster rifles for people to stay out of their business.

"Thy words better be of thy benefactor's stash, less ye face ol Poggle-tongue"

At these words, Ahab produced his peacemaker pistol and held it up under the elderly squib's neck.

@Suspicious Deer

 

[Jamie Daughtler]

Of all the things that Jamie could do, getting involved in other people's criminal business was probably not the best idea when they didn't even know their left from right on this planet. Still, despite that "common sense" that they had, their ears couldn't help but perk up at the commotion going on at a stall. Their arms would cross, not used to the idea of droids carrying blasters, but it seemed that said droids were much more intelligent than what they were used to.

As the droid picked the man up, they scurried back behind the wall, and the rifle slung on their back was subsequently unslung. Their hands trembled a little bit as they held it at a high ready, peering back around the wall. It was here that they took notice of the droid pointing the pistol at the man. Their heart pounded and it was hard to concentrate on anything but said droids. With trembling fingers, they cocked back the hammer on the rifle and aimed it.

It took them a moment to get ahold of their breathing and they could only hope that they weren't noticed up until that point. They would eventually get themselves in a much calmer state, that same state bringing doubts into their mind on what they were doing, but they had already committed to cocking the rifle so they might as well help if possible! So, with a steady trigger finger, they rested on the trigger. Wherever their shot went (as the player doesn't want to just dome your main feller, lol) was up to said victim of being shot, but at the very least they'd hit something.

After said shot, a large cloud of smoke emanated from where the feline had been. The feline was not there for they were hauling ass!

 

[Captain Ahab]

"I don't understand... benefactors? Stash?" The squib squeaked under Ahab's grip.

Ahab shook the Squib slightly and explained. "Thy shop be too rich for such a wee place like this. Though did not realize ye the only one to have geniune fire rubies on her necklace?"

The squib's eyes widened further in fear, realizing her greed for actual jewelry had made her out.

One of the buzz droid's on Ahab's shoulder made a commotion of buzzings and whirrings. The B1's looked over in confusion. Ahab stopped and turned slightly to look at it to ask what was wrong.

That turn saved Ahab's life. The buzz droid had noticed the sniper. Moving ever so slightly, the shot narrowly missed Ahab's head. Sadly, that placed the buzz droid on Ahab's opposing shoulder directly into the line of fire.

"Alas! Me poor rat, fallen in the line of duty!" Ahab lamented as the B1's flurried where the feline had been with a blaster shots. In his shock, Ahab dropped the squib and bent down to pick up the fallen buzz droid, its body cindering on the ground. The Squib raced into her shop, screeching the entire way about how they were made out.

"Fear not, ye shall be repaired ye noble pet. GreenHorn! BlueBlood!"

The B1's stopped firing. Two of them, painted in bright green and blue respectively, turned to face their captain.

"Hunt down that scoundrel, and fetch me its hide. Take the remaining rat with ye. RedRum, to me!"

All the droids nodded and broke off. Greenhorn and BlueBlood took off down the street where the feline had last been and attempted to retrace its steps. The remaining 'rat' on Ahab's shoulder that had warned of the sniper jumped off and began to scamper across the sand and up the buildings.

"Hey! Rat!" GreenHorn yelled. "Get up on the buildings! Give us a bird eye!"

The rat buzzed in acknowledgement and began to climb the tallest building it could find. Meanwhile, Blueblood and GreenHorn kept close and

Ahab and the red and brown coated 'RedRum', the droid who clearly had dealt with the most battles of the group, knocked over a table and entered the shop building. RedRum opened fire a few times as he began to shout.

"Running will not do you any good you cretin! Surrender, and your life may be spared"

Ahab chuckled, as he turned over a couple of other tables, hoping to find a hidden latch or a entry code. His crew were fine, if basic. Maybe he could purchase new chassis and have their brains downloaded directly into them after this, keeping their lovely personalities.

@Suspicious Deer

 

[Jamie Daughtler]

The shot had not been what the feline had hoped for. Things could have gone quite badly in hindsight with a "bystander" so close to the point of impact, but hindsight was not a luxury that the feline had at the time of the fired shot. At the very least, said squib had been (momentarily, at least) spared from essentially being executed. Now the feline had a whole new problem on their hand and, even if they were fast, it would not aid them too much if they had no idea where to go. Maybe randomly running about would help, but unless they could get a better view of things then it would be nothing more than endlessly running through alleyways. So, maybe it would be a wise idea to get a better vantage.

Holding the rifle in their offhand, holding it as if it were a basket handle, they hopped over a small wall and ducked down behind it. Their behind was firmly planted in the dirt and they were soon all dusty. They'd go from sitting down to laying down while bringing the rifle up closer to them. Reaching for their pouch, they pulled off the powder horn and instinctively poured the correct amount of grains into the barrel. Putting the powder horn down on the ground, they then moved to reach into their satchel. Out came a circular patch and a round ball, which was then shoved into the muzzle of the gun with their thumb. Pulling the ramrod out from under the rifle, they moved to shove the patch and ball down the barrel before returning the ramrod to the rifle. From there, they picked up the powder horn and maneuvered the rifle so that they could charge the powder pan. The rifle was now ready to go, so they would return the powder horn to their satchel, and they'd peer back over the wall.

"Alrighty..", they said to themselves in a hushed whisper.

Seeing as it was clear, they scanned around before seeing a pathway up to the top. Before making their move, they psyched themselves up, and soon they pushed themselves out of the dirt. Up onto a stall they climbed before hopping onto an outcropping of rock on a wall, and nearly eating shit in the process, but clambering up the side of the building and finding themselves on the roof. From there, they hauled ass!

 

[Captain Ahab]

GreenHorn and BlueBlood were struggling to find the sniper. Whoever it was, they were moving like their life depended on it.

"Its a pity we don't have one of those droidikas..." GreenHorn mentioned as he peered down an alleyway. A startled jawa threw its hands up and dashed away, screaming at the sight of a blaster pointed at its face.

"Nah, those things aren't good for hunting. Better to have a commando"

"But wouldn't that put us under its command?"

"Nonsense! I'm sure the captain prefers seniority over quality."

"That explains how you are above me..."

"Yep! Wait...hey!"

Before the two could argue further, a clattering and chittering of noises came from one of the roofs. The Buzz droid had spotted the prey, and was alerting its comrades towards it. Without care, it began to crawl and leap after the feline up the wall, making as much noise as possible.

"We got you now syndicate sniper!" GreenHorn declared.

"Ya! Eat blaster shots!"

The two aimed their rifles at the moving feline and fired twice each, not even bothering to take cover.

Meanwhile, Ahab and RedRum continued to trash the shop looking for the squib. Ahab was beginning to calculate that the Squib had some sort of backdoor when RedRum pointed out a console on the far back wall.

"Excellent. Open it and let us gain access to thy..."

Ahab stopped. Metal grinding occurred as the wall had began to separate on its own, revealing a trio of squibs, each heavily armed. Behind them, Ahab spotted what looked like humanoids tied and gagged, slaves to be transported later.

"Ah Scrap..." Ahab stated.

The Squib's opened fire. The two droids narrowly took cover behind some overturned furniture. If Ahab had the rest of his crew, this would've been much easier. For now, he was on his own.

"Surrender now, and ye may live to see ye younglings!" Ahab shouted, to no avail.

@Suspicious Deer