Private An Unusual Delivery

[Joren Vale]

Eshan
​

"What do you think is in this box?"

Both Joren and R7 looked at the sealed box and wondered for a long moment. The job had been strange from the start. A Queen hiring smugglers for a delivery, sending someone to meet them in shadows, and paying in untraceable credits. It made no sense for someone of her status to hire a smuggler for genuinely important deliveries, yet this one felt like it was. The container bore no markings, no royal seal, no identifying features whatsoever that linked it to its origins or destination. It was just a simple box made of metal.

The mystery gnawed at Joren's professional instincts. Smugglers survived by knowing what they carried and how to keep it from others, yet this client demanded absolute privacy.

"What if it's dangerous? Or something that'll have us running across the Galaxy again?" Joren ran a hand through his hair and sighed, "Remember what happened with the Hutt cargo?" R7's domed head swiveled to him slowly, its optical sensor glowing with mischief. The astromech then chirped out its plan. How to breach the seal, examine the contents, and how to replace it with a smuggler's counterfeit that would pass even a fairly thorough inspection. Joren sighed, the sound barely audible while his fingers traced the outline of the box.

He really shouldn't...

"...kark it," he muttered in defeat, though a grin still tugged at his lips, "Grab a cut-" Before he could finish his sentence, R7 produced a circular saw from within its body and excitedly wobbled. With no effort at all, he sliced through the seal, opened the box and-

"What?" Joren asked as he stared at his delivery. He blinked several times, uncertain if he could believe his own eyes, "What are these?" he asked out loud while producing the latest Lady Velvet release from inside the container. R7 chirped in confusion, its domed head tilting in Joren's direction. He chirped something clever but Joren wasn't listening. "Son of a bantha," Joren laughed, running a hand through his hair again. "All that secrecy for spicy novels? The Queen's a fan, I guess." He shook his head, a grin spreading across his face.

A grin that faltered quickly when he realized they were about to reach Eshan.

Quinn Varanin ​

 

[Quinn Varanin]

//: Joren Vale //:
//: Attire //:

The delivery was expedited, but it still took too long. Quinn found herself pacing around the throne room in anticipation of the newest release of her favorite author. She had a full collection, almost all first editions of Lady Velvet's works. There were even some that were near manuscript copies.

All of them were stories that Quinn herself wanted to be in, to escape and be someone else.

Outside, the palace would welcome the incoming shuttle that had the Queen's delivery. The order was large, since she was ordering not only the new one but also the entire collection to add to her Eshan library. Quinn had kept the rest of them on Jutrand, safe in her room when she stayed there.

Another set had been ordered a few weeks prior and delivered to her home on Theed, Naboo.

Joren and his droid would be escorted with the cargo to the throne room, where the woman waited. She had his money, along with some extra things, for bringing the books in on such short notice. The large doors would open to an ornate room filled with Eshan Silver and blue banners echoing the reigning house of the planet. Quinn would stop pacing as she looked at the man and his delivery, smiling widely.

"Impressive timing, I heard you were fast, but didn't realize this fast." She moved quickly with a grace that was known to Echani. Her eyes focused on the cargo, but she stopped looking down at the damaged tape and tilted her head.

"Did you open it?" Her eyes flickered towards the man, then to his companion.

"Why did you open it?"

Her face flushed as she realized that if he had opened it, he would have found out exactly what the cargo was. Quinn paused, waiting for his answer and hoping that the truth wasn't what she assumed it to be.