Albregado y Sombrero

[Jsc]

An AR Starport

It was a warm afternoon and the welcome bells and chimes of the market heralded a moist misty breeze. Karen was busy touching everything and feeling quiet carefree today. Never before had she witnessed a modern starport keep it's old fashioned brick and stone construction. It had a warm rustic glow that she relished even as the market vendors set up stalls for the weary travelers. The prices were ridiculous but that was exactly what you can expect for a tourist destination. She liked this planet already.

Karen had just 'retired' from the Republic Navy following the debacle at Galactic Center. She needed time away from the wars to clear her head and spend more time with Grant. The Navy was good for her conscience but it left little time for people or pleasantries. A balance she had only once found before on Tython. No. Today was about getting that long awaited vacation away from duty. And so she had traveled past Corellia, around Naboo, and finally settled upon something new. The home of Baron von Irony Pants. AKA Ever-Colonel Kerrigan's sidekick. HK-36's very own, Albregado Rae.

She put a colorful sombrero hat upon her head and playfully smiled. Oh yes indeed. A nice rainbow shawl and that would do pert nicely. It was tourist power time. ...Now where did they keep the pizza?

[member="HK-36"]

 

[HK-36]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

While Karen was messing around with the traditional Gados Somb'rae'ro in the planet's spaceport,

HK was in the Industrial District he has helped raise with his formation of Guild of Hammers, specifically the Graphite Fletching Facilities. Echani Graphite is a tough material, as tough as the Mandalorian Iron, and it can be made out of any old carbon products, but the problem with it is, it needs special process, called Graphite Fletching, to be created, and then it can only be made in cylindrical form, such as the shafts of Phrik-tipped spears HK has designed for his soldiers, or as barrels which could safely hold ammunition for his troops.

Anyway, there was clanging and clinking noises heard outside of the facility, the sounds of workers and machines inside manufacturing the Graphite products. And, of course, as with everything under HK's regime, there was also heard a song.
The writer plays an intro melody on a piano.

Inside the facilities machines whirred as coal, simple stone, and wood were brought in, chipped and smelted, refined into pure carbon, which in turn was made into Graphene. Hammers clung on anvils as they struck hot metal, Gados, Human, and Herglic workers groaned as they spun the cycled Graphene into Graphite Shafts.
"Born of heat and carbon hair, and ancient lore combining."
One Gados in a protective apron and gloves begun as using a machine he twisted the long thin strands into a straight thinner cylindrical shaft of Graphite
"This blackened force, both foul and fair, has a graphite heart worth mining."
The black shaft of Echani Graphite dropped into a cart with others, ready for further production.

Meanwhile, HK watched the process, walking along a catwalk above the production floor with two of his Greycloak guards trailing behind him, large Pikes of Rae were in their hands, using them both as a symbol and staves at the moment, they weren't expecting to use them much on Abregado-Rae, there weren't many people on the planet who wanted the droid dead.

"So pierce a Sith's heart, cold and clear, strike for love,"
In another section of the factory workers answered, on special anvils they were sharpening the spear-heads made from phrik and attaching them to Graphite shafts. Installing the super-heated tough but light metal on the black shafts with good and true strikes of their pneumatic hammers before ensuring they were properly sharpened.
"And strike for fear, see the beauty, sharp and sheer."

"Cycle carbonate around!"
Workers from the Graphite portion answered,
"And fletch the Graphite Heart!"

"Hup!"
One of them gathered the ready shafts, making sure they were secured in the cart,
"Ho!"
They pushed the cart, engaging its repulsorlifts to move the shafts towards the phrik smithy area of the facility.
"Watch your step!"
They warned those scurrying about the facility, working,

"Let it go!"
Another worker called out as another cart of shafts started to make its way through the facility,
"Hup! Ho!"
The workers did their thing, creating strong graphite shafts,
"Watch your step! Let it go!"
Their work continued,

"Beautiful!"
The phrik worker called out as he rose the prepared phrik spear-head towards a light of a nearby light to inspect it and its design in the light
"Powerful!"
Another said, taking the black graphite shaft and putting the phrik spear-head on it, putting it on the anvil he prepared to hammer in the two pieces together,
"Dangerous!"
Yet another just finished hammering, he took the black spear with silver phrik point in his hands, testing its weight and length,
"Hot-hot-hot-hot!"
A Gados worker in protective gear juggled a piece of phrik that came out of the forge, rough shape of the spear-head already seen as he played hot-potatoe with it before putting it on the mechanical anvil.

"Graphite has a magic we can control."
The workers sang out as another batch of Spears of Rae was being prepared, its telescopic forms being placed together, electronic systems and ejecting mechanisms installed.
"Stronger than one! Stronger than ten! Stronger than a Herglic man!"
"Harruump!"
They continued singing, large figures of Herglics in protective gear seen among the workers, their population had a presence on the planet since the regime of the Galactic Imperium.

"Born of heat and carbon hair, and ancient lore combining. This blackened force, both foul and fair, has a graphite heart worth mining!"
The workers continued their labor-song, the humming of machines accompanying their tune,
"So pierce a Sith's heart, cold and clear,"
"Stabbed through the heart, and HK's to blame, he gives Smiths a bad name!"
One of the Gados workers sang out before being promptly smacked on the back of his head by one of his companions
"Strike for love, and strike for fear!"
The spears were loaded onto the carts going to the Barracks of Iron Company, where they'll be handed out to HK's troops and planetary militia.
"There's beauty and there's danger here, cycle carbonate around!"

Finally, one of the workers noticed HK watching them from the catwalk above, he gestured to some of the workers around, word was quickly passed,
"Beware his Iron heart."

The droid watched them silently, it seemed some of them had a bit of a grudge against his dominating methods of keeping the planet under his watch, and the warring he has lately done in helping factions against the Sith. Well, it's not like he was going to stay in the office much longer, the Legislative Body was well under way, soon enough Abregado will be able to choose their own Observer, and their own laws.
And the droid will retort in the best way he could.

A song number.

HK stepped to the rail of the catwalk, spreading his arms as he started,
"Let it g-"
"Sir!"
A Gados voice interrupted HK.

The droid slowly lowered his arms, looking to the side at the foreman,
"Yes?"
The Gados nodded simply, stepping forward, handing HK a datapad,
"Workers here has started a petition few months ago, and it went around the larger settlements of the planet."
The droid nodded slightly, looking over the large electronic list of names and signatures,
"Sir.. We want to abolish the requirement for musical numbers in workplace.. As well as the required musical numbers during national holidays."
The droid slowly looked from the datapad to the Gados
"Very well, if the people will it-"
He looked back to the datapad, taking the stylus,
"On the surface of Abregado-Rae, no more shall songs in workplace or during national holidays be a requirement."
And so he signed the datapad and the workers called out in triumph,

"Hear that, lads? We don't have to do these bloody songs anymore!"
"Huzzah!"
"Haaaarump!"

Little did droid knew, that day would be immortalize on Abregado-Rae in multiple paintings.
As well as become a national holiday celebrated with a musical number.

 

[Jsc]

Karen checked into her hotel in the capital later that evening. Dressed in a jolly old fashion she smiled and enjoyed every bit of the welcome service. A Navy Captain is used to being called sir or ma'am, but this was a much more relaxed type of service. This was room service. Ahhh.

Karen had money and didn't mind spending it on the nicest room available. It was a large flat with high ceilings and view-shifting glass on every side. There were even chocolates on the pillow. Perfection. Though, she was quite sure that the bed would be impossible to sleep on. Military members tend to grow accustomed to sleeping on beds made of rock. No doubt this plush cushion would prove the clamoring opposite.

She checked her schedule for the morrow and decided it was best to see what The Musician was up to these days. Naturally she picked up the phone and called his Secretary. A secretary who had her very own, secretary. Indeed. It took Karen quite awhile to get anybody on the phone who wasn't a secretary to some other secretary. She wasn't sure how HK ran this planet, but he sure liked to keep it specific. I mean, just what was a Secretary of Foreign Acoustics supposed to do anyway? And why did Karen have to sign up for Band Camp before she could be transferred again?

Such a strange planet...

Eventually she made an appointment to meet with HK tomorrow. Surprisingly, she was not given a location but rather told that HK would find her at his own leisure and probably by a Halo Jump from outer space. (I assume that last part was supposed to be a joke.) ...Anyway. Karen nodded with mild amusement and left her hotel's address with the Secretary of Capital Arrangements. And then she left it again with the Secretary of Double Checking Excellence and, of course, yet again with the Secretary of Thrice Checked Professionalism Maximus. Each time they closed with, And God save the Queen.

Karen hung up and shook her head. Apparently this entire planet's administration had become saturated with HK's sense of humor. Sadly, not every federal employee had the charisma or the timing, of the Glorious Leader. Good grief...

[member="HK-36"]

 

[HK-36]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

Micromanagement was everything, and organics, in the regard similar to machines, worked faster and better if you have given them less tasks to worry about, performing lower quantity of duties at increased quality. Besides, it created jobs for all the maverick bureaucrats on the surface of Abregado-Rae.
Besides, if anything important would come up the droid can always just fill out the forms, sent orders, and address things quickly and wireless inside his programming. Therefore, while Karen was still dealing with the redundant offices of assistants and secretaries, HK was already informed and scheduled time for the meeting from his day.

So, that night, when Karen was given time to settle in in her hotel room, a grey shape skittered up the wall of the building silently, grey cloak clinging off of his shoulders, he clung to the surface with his magnetic claws and talons. He stopped for a second, his grey cloak shifting its colors as the camouflage systems activated, hiding him from sight, at least to those he were not looking directly up below of him or down from above him, or watching him from the sides, as he could not wrap himself in the cloak completely during climbing.

Anyhoo, HK would stop by the balcony of Karen's room, waiting below its surface until the Blue-Haired woman went to sleep, it may have taken a while, as the military woman would have trouble falling asleep on the too soft of a bed, as Jay mentioned in his post, but droid was patient, and Karen would be tired at one point and presumable manage to fall asleep at least for few minutes.
It was then that the droid pulled himself up and onto the balcony, the light of his photoreceptors, although usually dull red, did not shine this time, HK turned it off for stealth purposes. He crossed the threshold silently, his sounds dampened by his systems, stepping into Karen's room.

Once she would wake up, she would find the Droid Observer of Abregado-Rae laying on the bed next to her, his metal arms crossed at his waist, large metal claws sticking out from his feet that dangled off of the bed.
"Hello, Karen, I missed you. How have you been?"
He would ask simply, laying next to her.

 

[Jsc]

"Oh MY GOD!"

Blue arose in a wild chicken-dance of a terrible huff and unleashed a breakneck Force Wave to snap a Star Destroyer in two. The shock moved heaven and earth, tipping the bed, bursting the lights, split the dressers, chipped a mirror, and sent poor Roberts careening into the far wall of her own failure to hold back enough power to root herself. The sound was at least mildly impressive, to say the least.

Thud! Her back smashed against the wall as she then sailed into a frumpy 'thwap' on the floor. Bra, panties, and a flustered night gown did little cover up her pure social terror. She had destroyed the room, cracked the windows, and bowed the ceiling like a breakfast bowl. Oh my. All because HK had decided that this was a good way to say hello. Oh dear. Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

On a higher note. Karen's blushing cheeks, rapid breath, and disheveled hair aside... Few men had ever had that effect on a woman. Not even Grant Pherson had caused her to completely destroy a bedroom before. +Steam Achievement Unlocked. "Good Morning Sunshine".

Karen remained a speechless, bambie-eyed lump on the floor. Abiding.

[member="HK-36"]

 

[HK-36]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

Being in Kerrigan's company, and facing her in a duel at least once, the droid knew what it was like to have a telekinetic shockwave thrown at him, plus he kinda expected it when he was going into this situation.
"Oh MY GOD!"
There was a split second for HK to take action, thankfully his claws were already extended, the biggest step to take was to get his feet on the ground, the dangling digits had a short distance to the floor.

His feet and claws hit the floor with a SMACK, claws digging into the surface, curling up to dig in his talons as well, density projector engaging.

But there wasn't much time for all of them, he only got to bent in half as his claws dug in and the shock-wave hit him, anchored in the floor his form slid back grudgingly across the room from bed towards the balcony window, his claws digging trenches in the floor, the droid pushed back to the cracked windows and balcony. Thankfully, he left the door to it open so when his form was pushed onto the balcony he did not break the window. Less destruction, yay!

Finally he broke the momentum, stopping just before the edge, his arms wiggled and waved, as if flapping wings, to catch his balance, his form slightly tipping back over the edge. He caught his balance finally, straightening up, his cloak still fluttering madly, his tough armor dented in few places, sparking from time to time.

"I have strong emotions upon seeing you that I want to project all around as well."
The droid quipped, taking steps back towards Karen, offering out his metal hand to pull her up,
"I will cover the damages of our encounter in this bedroom, do not worry."

 

[Jsc]

She stared at the floor for a moment then back up at him. She'd blown a few mental fuses, that was for sure.

"...Hello HK."

She frowned and remained sitting. Frumpled as she was. This was not how she enjoyed her mornings. Thank goodness he was only a droid and not a male'ing. Even a space elf would have had half the thought to finish the job and pulverize him right about now.

"I hope that tin can-of-a-head you have between your shoulders can make good coffee, Mr Romance. Hmph. I do esteem never to destroy a hotel room without it, ya know?"

She took his hand and stood up. Brushing her hair from her eyes and frowning. First at him and then at the room.

"Well. Since I've just pulled a Kerrigan and nearly brought down the roof on top of us? ...Ahem. Yes. You wouldn't happen to know a perfectly good place to have a decent breakfast would you? Hm."

Karen straightened herself up and did her best Admiral impression. Even adorned with such little modesty as she now possessed about herself.

"Because I think I just tore all the legs off our dining table over there. ...Ahem. Yes. Well? ...Indeed? And I appreciate your offer. Pointedly. Thank you."

She might have been a little embarrassed. Kinda.

[member="HK-36"]

 

[HK-36]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

HK would pull Karen up from the ground, looking into her eyes with his red dull photoreceptors, their glow was back now that he didn't need to be stealthy,
"And here I thought you organics tended to share a meal first before wrecking up a bedroom?"
He would look back at the destruction slightly, claw marks and all,
"I apologize if I made you sore, I do not do these things often."
He quipped, pointing out the trenches in the floor,
"Talk about claw-marks."
He just kept rubbing things in.

Finally the droid looked back to Karen,
"But I do know where we can get something for you to eat, and I do have an idea of how I could make this up to you."
HK slightly tilted his head,
"Ever guest-starred in a holo-vision show, Karen?"

 

[Jsc]

She made to scowl but then realized it just wasn't the right impression to make whilst standing in your undies. So she sighed instead,

"No. I've never been on a holo-show? Why. Are you about to tell me there are cameras in the room now too?"

She frowned and looked for her lightsaber. If he so much as even joked that there were cameras... So help me God, I will disassemble his head from his shoulder and fuse it to his shiny metal ass.

"Don't even... Nevermind. Ahem... Now? Let me get dressed appropriately and we can talk about going to breakfast. Oh! And speak another word about this mornings events to anyone? And I'll have you thrown into a furnace and melted down into a Mandalorians crotch plate."

She pursed her lips and stood up even straighter.

"Indeed. Thank you Governer. If you'll excuse me. Hmph!"

She turned on her heels like a good little officer and strutted into the bathroom, and slammed the door. It fell off it's hinges, perfectly.

[member="HK-36"]

 

[HK-36]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

HK shook his head,
"No, that would be just creepy,"
He folded his arms at his chest,
"I had appointment in the cinematic district to guest-star in a new holovision show about criminal investigation on Abregado-Rae, CID:Abregado-Rae, I can get you an appearance, maybe a victim."
HK paused, as he watched Karen strut away, his photoreceptors following her steps,
"Or a criminal."
He quipped

"Up to you."
HK added, watching Karen slam the door, which would promptly fall off of its hinges, the droid just raised his hand to Karen, giving her a little finger-wiggle wave.

 

[Jsc]

She decided to hell with it and just gave the droid her back. She'd shower, pamper, and change with, or without, a door made of black cherry. Hmph. So be it destiny.

Karen called from the bathroom with a strong echo. Her voice was still as annoyed as a Jawa riding coach,

"No thank you dear! I've very much had enough of your surprises for one day. I think I'm a few years beyond my acting career already, anyways."

The shower started with a squeak. Thank heavens. At least she hadn't broken everything.

"If you would see yourself out Governor I'd be happy to meet you in the lobby in ten, maybe fifteen minutes. I'm sure you and the Manager have money matters to discuss yes. I do appreciate it, really."

She wasn't sure which was louder. The water drops or the sarcasm. But she certainly knew which she was laying on thicker. ...That's a rhetorical statement btw. No need to visualize. Stawp. Don't...

Karen quickly manifested the water into a thick fog and continued. Dirty writers. Hrumph hrumph something hrumph.

[member="HK-36"]

 

[HK-36]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

"Oh, come on!"
The droid called back after Karen, watching her get into a shower,
"You will get a chance to shoot or stab at me and have that aired around the Galaxy."
He offered, trying to persuade her with promise of getting back on HK.

And with plenty of visualizing, HK nodded at her request to meet him in the lobby,
"Alright, but if you will need someone to wash your back, let me know."
And with more visualizing, HK left the room, closing the door behind himself he went on his way to wait for Karen in the lobby of the hotel.

 

[Jsc]

Twenty minutes later, tardiness emphasized, Karen walked out of the bathroom and kicked the door aside. She was feeling much better now and had even managed to brew some Kona Caf while she pampered. It was still too hot though and she retreated to clothing herself first. One thing at a time.

___

Presenting herself in the lobby came quickly now. She wore a golden Tetan gown over strappy elven boots and a large purse to conceal her lightsaber. It was a good day to be a woman. She approached the Iron Knight like a transformation. The disheveled officer was gone and replaced with a beautiful painting of a Greek Goddess. Money could buy everything these days. Including Zeltron beauty products that worked faster than the Force itself. A fact every Republic woman knew very well.

"Good morning HK-36. I trust everything is in order for our breakfast today? Sans television show. ...Do we have a car?"

She was putting her best foot forward. ...It's a human saying. Naturally.

[member="HK-36"]

 

[HK-36]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

"Well you clean up nicely."
HK said, turning his head to look in Karen's direction as she said "Good morning."
The droid was standing by the customer service counter, explaining the damages in Karen's room and that he would be covering it from his own pocket. He scanned over Karen quickly in her current glory,
"You remind me of a Jedi Master I once knew during the Old Republic, she was strong and beautiful as well."
The droid Observer would offer his hand to lead Karen to the exit of the hotel,

"We use Repulsorlift Skiff Gondolas on Abregado, actually, most of the vehicular traffic is handled through rivers and canals of the cities, leaving the streets and alleys clearer for pedestrians. But yes, everything is prepared and waiting for you, Karen."
Outside the hotel a repulsorlift craft would be already seen, a cover stretched above it to protect them from the sun, a droid pilot was at the back, controlling the engines of the craft as well as carrying a pole for a more aquatic mode of transportation.

 

[Jsc]

"Excellent."

She shuffled her pursed and beamed a happy smile. Lending out her arm for her host to take.

"Lead on Governor. I am on vacation. Hehe."

Finally. No more Star Destroyer to command, no more Admirals to appease, no more politics to dodge, and not a single Sith Invasion in sight. Ahh. And she finally had a good setting to wear these shoes too. Exceptional.

[member="HK-36"]

 

[HK-36]

[member="Karen Roberts"]
"To breakfast then, my Lady, excelsior."
The droid quipped, taking Karen's arm as he saw her out the door, helping her first get aboard the floating gondola craft that waited outside already.

With a gesture to the Gados pilot of the craft, who stood behind them, HK guided Karen to one of the benches the craft had, letting her sit down as it took off of the ground, floating away towards one of the nearby water canals, as with a splash it landed and the pilot took out a long stick to push the gondola along.

"StarCoffee or herbal tea brew?"
HK asked Karen as he took out a basket from beneath his bench, revealing a couple of thermos inside along with food.
Delicious, delicious food.

 

[Jsc]

"StarCoffee would be wonderful, thank you."

She smiled and enjoyed the unique mode of transportation. It wasn't everyday water was involved so terrestrially. She enjoyed it pleasantly.

"I should thank you for making time to see me. I understand your duties are many and glorious these days. From aspiring director and producer, all the way to watchman of this planet. Few have the discipline to balance it so delicately. I wonder? How does the galaxies most well-dressed droid do it, hm? Hehe."

It was small talk but there was little small about it. It was no secret that HK was old and powerful in many diverse ways. Though Karen was prideful enough to view many of these tales as simply idle fancies. Perhaps there were simply many HK's and that was his secret to accomplishing so much? Oh my.

[member="HK-36"]

 

[HK-36]

[member="Karen Roberts"]

"There you go."
HK poured Karen a cup of StarCaf from one of the thermos, passing it to her. They were moving by the streets of Capital City at leaisurely pace, it was still considerably an early morning, not a lot of traffic was seen, a Spacer here and there, going away from or towards the Spaceport that was the heart of the city, street vendors were starting to open up their stands, yawning as they sorted their goods on the display. A patrol of the Iron Knights could be seen, carrying a crate of goods for an older Gados trader, their weapons slung on their back.
"And I want to thank you for gracing me with your mane of hair as well."
The droid quipped to Karen as he looked at the passing streets from the gondola,
"Well multitasking paperwork in my head and not needing to sleep helps a lot, I can handle all of the bureaucratic business on the go. And it does not get as busy here as it looks, things are pretty slow, no attacks, just trade and spacers."
He nodded slightly, looking back to Karen,
"It is not like I am an Exarch, that jobs must suck, I take pity on any poor bastard who gets stuck with it, I would never agree to it."
The next day HK would be declared by Lord Protector the Exarch of Abregado-Rae