Act 04: I need an adult

[Captain Larraq]

Mesen'loras Campaign
Act 04: I need an adult

Today, like most others, Skek'zus Quall was working from home. His four legs strolled through his modest apartment as he waited for his recaff to finish. He worked at a local university. He taught anatomy of intergalactic species. He tinkered with genetics on the side, but had yet to make any real headway in that area. He was as competent as any other, but it was a competitive market on Brath Qella.

His recaff ready, Skek'zus reared up on his hind legs and poured himself a mug. He would have to hold it in one of his hands while walking on only three legs back to his desk. A small pad on the floor served in lue of a chair. As a quadruped species, Qella had little capacity to make use of a great many of the creature comforts found in much of the galaxy. But their culture had developed their own alternatives to these amenities.

 

[Captain Larraq]

He was preparing a lecture on the universally common features found in aquatic species as opposed to terrestrial species throughout the galaxy. These features had developed on countless worlds and independently of one another. They had developed because they were the best features for aquatic survival and the genetic code for these features were nearly identical in many species. It was through genetic similarities such as these that genetic engineering was possible. Scientists across the galaxy could study individual species, compare where genetic coding was similar and divergent, and record the different physical effects caused by one string of code or another.

 

[Captain Larraq]

It was a fairly basic course by Qellan standards, but it was an important one. Skek'zus was getting lost in his own work on the matter when a knock on his door eventually pulled him from it. He hated getting visitors. He also hated getting disrupted from his work. Muttering to himself as he did so, Skek'zus got up from his mat and walked to the door. His four limbs trotting softly on the floor as he went. <I swear. If it's another intern asking about quantum-genetic sequencing again...> Skek'zus thought to himself as he approached the door.

To his surprise though, what greeted him when he opened the door was not an intern. Nor was it a student. A bipedal creature stood at his doorstep. Human if he was not mistaken. Mandalorian, judging by the smell of it. Filthy, feral creatures. They had carved out a sizable chunk of neighboring space for themselves and defended it with an appalling amount of violence. Perhaps a flaw in their genetic code?

 

[Captain Larraq]

“Hello Mr Quall.” The creature said. He really was unfond of bipedals. Their behaviors and mannerisms were a constant curiosity and contradiction. “My name is Rygel Larraq.” The creature continued speaking. It held out its hand to him. A moment passed where Skek'zus simply stared at the appendage before remembering about the bipedal custom of grasping forelimbs as a greeting. Something about... formally showing good intentions and a lack of weaponry. A curious custom, judging by the saber and pistols that adorned the creature's belt. For politeness sake, Skek'zus lifted his left forelimb and shook the human's hand.

It was awkward.

 

[Captain Larraq]

“What can I do for you, Mrs Larraq.” Skek'zus said to the Mandalorian, still struggling to grasp the reason for the creature's visit. Skek'zus was hardly familiar with bipedal sentients, he typically focused on the creatures of the galaxy that could be legally studied and tampered with. In fact, he could not recall the last time he had had a one on one encounter with such a creature. Since his people typically kept to themselves as far as greater galactic politics was concerned.

“Its... I'm male. It's 'Mr. Larraq.'” the bipedal said, correcting his previous blunder at gender identification.

“My apologies.” Skek'zus said. “What can I do for you Mr. Larraq?” He repeated. He was a busy Qellan and had a great deal of work to get back to.

 

[Captain Larraq]

“Well.” The Larraq began. “I have a business opportunity to discuss with you. A job opportunity if you'd be so inclined.” It continued speaking. Skek'zus was unimpressed with the creature so far. And he already had a job. While it might not be as prestigious as a position within one of the many genetics companies that dominated Brath Qella, the position of professor at a major university was nothing to vomit at.

“I have a job.” Skek'zus said simply. “And I like it. I'm sorry, but I'll have to ask you to leave now.” He explained to the Mandalorian. His forelimb was already reaching out to close the door on the repulsive creature when it made a new argument on its own behalf.

 

[Captain Larraq]

“Which is why I'm willing to pay you ten times as much.” The Mandalorian said. “I think you'll actually be quite interested in what I have to offer.” The creature proclaimed. A bold accusation. The credits were quite appealing, but his people had a famous distrust of outsiders that he was not immune from. This Larraq creature was not the first to attempt to bribe one of his own to divulge their biotechnology secrets.

“I am not interested in your credits.” Skek'zus said, lying. He was actually quite interested in credits. He simply did not want to have to leave his planet to get them. That, and he truly did enjoy his job. “I will allow you a brief explanation though. What is it you think I would be interested in?”

 

[Captain Larraq]

“Fair enough. I'll get right to the point then.” The male Mandalorian began. “I have access to an entire archive of data on Charon biotechnology. I have a research facility full of scientists working around the clock to understand and implement it. But I need a specialist to oversee their work and lead the project. I need you, Mr Quall. With your expertise, I think we can engineer a living spaceship. A true, living creature capable of traveling the void. Not just Coral and parasites, but a whole living creature.”

Skek'zus was floored. He had heard rumors of the Charon and their technology, but he had thought them just myths. Moreover, he was shocked at the ambition of the Mandalorian. It had been ages since the Qellan or the Charon people had created bio-ships. The Yuuzhan Vong were currently dominating the market on genetic engineering to that scale, but the young Mandalorian had a point. Their ships were simply coral and parasites. To take a species and mold it into a space-capable living ship... It was an engineering dream.

 

[Captain Larraq]

“I think you are a very ambitious Mandalorian.” Skek'zus said to the Larraq. “But I doubt very much that you are capable of what you speak. Who are you to make such claims?” He asked the bipedal as his skin shifted color to display his emotional state. He was in turmoil. He wanted very much for this opportunity to be true, but he suspected this human of lying.

“I own Mandal Hypernautics.” The Larraq said flatly, his voice speaking as if the name should mean something to Skek'zus.

“And?” Skek'zus said equally as flat. The name meant nothing to him.

 

[Captain Larraq]

The Mandalorian blinked a few times. It appeared startled. Then it appeared slightly sad. “Mandal Hypernautics is one of the primary vehicle and starship manufacturers in the Mandalorian Territories.” Mr Larraq said somewhat quietly. Skek'zus must have hurt his feelings by not knowing this. Bipedials were strange.

“This still does not prove your claims, Mr Larraq.” Skek'zus said to the sad bipedal. Perhaps he needed a... what did they call it... a hug? Perhaps this bipedal needed a hug. No matter. Skek'zus had no intention of hugging a Mandalorian.

 

[Captain Larraq]

The Mandalorian reached one of its odd forelimbs behind its back and pulled out a datapad. It held the screen in front of it and pointed it at Skek'zus. On the screen a number of odd images scrolled one by one. “Take a look for yourself.” Mr Larraq said simply enough.

Skek'zus took the datapad from the Mandalorian and looked at the images. He did not recognize the spaceships in the images, but that was hardly surprising. What was surprising was that he did not recognize any of the species he was seeing. Tapping the screen, Skek'zus pulled up a document that appeared to summarize the data collected by the Mandalorian. A genetic sequence here and there, a few rough translations, nothing to be particularly impressed by. The work done by the Larraq creature and his people was... unimpressive to say the least. But they clearly had something promising that they were making shoddy use of.

 

[Captain Larraq]

The potential existed for Skek'zus to do great thing if he could get access to the Charon data. “Ok, Mr. Larraq.” He said at last. “I will accept your job offer. On one condition.”

“And that would be?” Asked the Larraq bipedal.

“I get full credit and unrestricted access to all relevant technology.” Skek'zus demanded. The Mandalorians would be unable to complete this project without him and he wanted to make sure they remembered as much when success found its way to them.

“Agreed.” the Mandalorian said with a smile.