Private Contractual Capers

[Bohatei Chorva]

//Current Participants: C Clone trooper 10 and Verin Oldo
//Current Location: Mos Espa, Tatooine

Even in the shelter, the heat of this thrice-forsaken planet burned.

Bohatei sits back in his chair, the extensively used sofa finding yet another patron leaning in the worn down cushions of the seat as a datapad sits in tired and tanned hands. One finger occasionally sliding up the display on the device's slightly smudged screen before returning into a lean as the young man's chin is once again supported by the limb. Emerald eyes gaze over the words and numbers on the screen, mentally counting each and every product he had brought to this world.

It was your standard delivery job. Take the components to a reseller, get a cut of the profits. Of course, this meant he had to stick around until the credits started rolling in. Normally he would be happy to kick back in his ship and spend time looking for a new contract on the Holonet, but not here.

And it wasn't just because the signals out here were shady at best and splicer-filled at worst.

Well, actually it was. Bohatei needed to meet new contracts face to face. Thankfully, there were not many people who were willing to hire someone who just took legitimate goods and services. And the ones who did, on the other hand...

He would need the credits from this job first to afford the fuel.

Clink!

The sound of a glass being set on his table brings Bohatei out of his mind and datapad, curious eyes glancing up to a barkeep who looked down at Bohatei for a moment. They locked gazes for a couple seconds, before the stranger broke the silence.

"Your drink. You didn't come and grab it. You look like hell though, so I can't blame ya'. Don't expect that kindness again, aye?"

A soft chortle leaves the Zabrak's lips. "Ah, right. Sorry." He exhales in response, eliciting an uninterested nod from the man who was already walking away. His hands clasp the cup for a few seconds, enjoying the cool condensation before raising the drink to his lips and taking a few gulps. He sets it down shortly after.

Bohatei lifts the Datapad back up shortly after, an idle hand resting around the glass that had seen many uses before his own as he continues to kill time reading shipping manifests. Shouldn't be too long for the delivery to come through, now.

 

[Clone trooper 10]

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[Bohatei Chorva]

Bohatei's eyes flicked between the lines of text that periodically flashed across the screen, tapping the notification and opening the message he had received. A smirk crosses the dry lips of a Zarbrak as he received his payment. With the parts received and the money rolling in, he was given his cut of the profits. It was a good thing that moisture collector components sold so quickly.

The pricing however... Well, that was for the merchants and their lack of empathy to handle. Gods know that he couldn't do it.

Raising his glass to his lips, Bohatei took another few gulps of the cool water to try and beat the heat. His sleeves had since been rolled up, and the vest discarded and added to the sash around his waist. His belt more closely resembled a mass of cloth at this point, from the sash and now the shirt added to it.

Seafoam eyes flick up as a stranger enters the bar, bee-lining it to his table without as much as a greeting before asking for his help. Setting the glass down on the table, Bohatei took a breath in then out before he spoke up again.

"Not even gonna give a 'hello' before gettin' into the thick of it, then?" He commented, his tone giving off a more lighthearted confidence that clearly meant to give an easily-brushed advice rather than being genuinely upset at not being greeted first. "Alliance space? Must be a way 'n a half from home. Lemme check somethin'."

Bohatei leaned back in the chair, lifting up his datapad so that the stranger was in the peripherals of his vision, the dirtied slate that made up his device sharing his gaze with the woman as he browsed through his listings.

"Got a couple jobs in that way. Suppose I could do with a pitstop.." Bohatei mused softly to himself, an idle finger tracing around the edge of his glass before lightly patting the table.

"Alright, tell ya' what. You help me load up the cargo, and I'll consider it a gesture of good will and we can get goin' straight away." The Zabrak offers, sitting up from the chair and rolling his shoulders. "And while we're at it-"

A calloused hand is offered to shake.

"Bohatei. What's yours?"

Tag that was totally not missed: C Clone trooper 10 and Verin Oldo

 

[Clone trooper 10]

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[Bohatei Chorva]

He clasps the woman's hands with a firm shake, letting go after and picking his datapad back up. The device's screen lit up again, as he sent out a message that he was busy typing as she had approached. A simple agreement to take the parts where they need to go, and a request for location. Looking back as he awaited a reply, his lips curled into a smile.

"It ain't nothin'. Many hands make light work, and this heat'd kill me if I had to push all the crates around myself." Bohatei replied with a soft laugh, taking a the glass from his table and finishing the rest. The Zabrak briefly moves to the main counter, setting the glass down alongside a duo of yellow chips to pay for the drink.

With a nod to the Barkeep, the payment was taken and the two were able to leave.

Which fortunately enough, gave enough time for a reply to be given by their new employer. Plucking the rectangle from his pocket and gazing over the message, a brief series of taps sends another reply on it's way.

"Alrighty." Bohatei exhales. "We've got the job. Guy's gonna meet us at the port. Best get a move on, meet the fella there."

An idle hand brushes along his belt for a moment, pushing some fabric aside and slipping his datapad into his pocket with a light pat. Putting the length of violet cloth back into place, an olive green cap was taken from the table and affixed on his head before making his way towards the door.

Now on the road, Bohatei begins leading the way towards the Spaceport where his vessel and newfound work would soon be waiting. Clearing his throat, the Zabrak tried to start up some conversation.

"So tell me, Maya. You ever done cargo work before?" He inquired curiously.


(( C Clone trooper 10 and Verin Oldo ))

 

[Clone trooper 10]

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[Bohatei Chorva]

A soft laugh escapes Bohatei as she remarks about her distaste for the desert planet as he walks along the roads. "You 'n me both. Thought one of my hearts stopped carryin' the last load off!" He adds with a smirk, his hands finding themselves resting against the sash around his waist as they walked. An idle thumb rested against the cloth.

Something to keep himself busy as they walked. He wasn't sure why, but he felt a pressure on his shoulders. Something he internally justified by now needing to carry someone to a new place. It was different, strange. Unlike the usual cargo of components and parts.

This was a person. Real flesh and blood.

He inhales dry and sandy air, and exhales concerns to be pushed deep within his mind to be forgotten.

With the setting sun on the horizon, the air grew cooler. Crossing his arms briefly, he pulled down the pair of cerulean sleeves he wore back down to cover his arms once more against the dissipating heat. Frankly, Bohatei didn't get this place. The days were as hot as could be, but the nights were a freezing cold. It confused and frustrated the Zabrak.

Thankfully, another question kept his mind occupied. A gaze is turned toward Maya as she inquired about his profession. His response was a series of soft chuckles, looking back with a smile.

"Ya' think there's a difference? Smugglers and cargo techs are one in the same. One just carries something more exciting than vehicle parts or moisture farmin' equipment." The young man replied. "But if you're that concerned, I deal in legitimate goods and businesses. So long as you ain't got a bounty on that head of yours, we'll be fine."

"Just leave the talkin' to me, alright? As far as the others can be concerned, you're my new co-pilot. We can work out the deets later."

 

[Clone trooper 10]

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[Bohatei Chorva]

Her scowl is met with a curious blonde eyebrow, it perked up as his eyes looked toward the frustrated expression as if confused. Bohatei wasn't sure what to make of this stranger and their reaction to his line of work. He knew that smugglers were frequently seen as scoundrels, but he had made no such expressions and yet she looked back with frustration.

"C'mon now, it ain't like I'm some stealin' and robbin' scoundrel." The young Zabrak replied to her wordless expression, breathing in the cool night air as they drew closer to the port. Weaving his way through the crowds, he would continue leading on until they entered one of the bays.

The large freighter was just how he left it. The exterior patched with a few sections with metal plates that didn't match the main body of the ship with the words 'Contact V' stamped onto the left side. There was barely any light reflecting off of the exterior under the night sky, the vehicle clearly having seen plenty of work.

"There she is." Bohatei hummed, walking over to the rear of the vessel which had been facing them. Reaching up and pulling a lever, the entry ramp came down with a hiss to open up the vessel.

"Wait here a sec', I'll bring down the trolleys."

At Maya's inquiry, Bohatei turned back and nodded. "Yeah. Y'know, employers 'n such. All the others are long gone now, I was the last one in the company. Inherited most of the work left by the other boys." The young man explained, a brief exhale following his words as he stepped into the vessel. Entering the main hall of the ship, his hand reached up and pressed down a button by the door as the interior and exterior lit up, caution lights flashing on the left side of the vessel.

A couple minutes after, the cargo lift came down slowly as Bohatei stood on the edge, a pair of cargo trolleys by his side. While one was hovering and ready to go, the second was on it's side and dim. The young Zabrak was fiddling with the interior, having popped open the underside and was fiddling around with the interior.

"Good thing those other fellas seem to be takin' their time..." He murmured to himself, poking around circuits and sections that had clearly not been used for some time.

 

[Clone trooper 10]

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[Bohatei Chorva]

Bohatei listened at first, until the uttered the phrase that stopped his thoughts then and there.

'Captain'.

He begins laughing at the title, throwing his head back and cackling joyously as if the woman had told a hilarious joke. After a few moments of laughter, he shook his head and looked back. "Nah, don't call me that!" He snickered. "Just Bohatei'll do. And yeah, I'll be with you in a jiffy." The Zabrak replied, lifting a leg and giving the functional loader a kick.

It slid along the sandy ground, coming to a halt just infront of her. With his empty hand, Bohatei gestured to a small pile of crates that had been dropped off moments prior to their own arrival.

"Guess the guy mustn't be the type for talkin'. Anyhows, we've got our orders. Get these shield components 'n such to Alliance space, drop 'em off at the location then we can find where you need to go." Bohatei hummed.

He pauses for a moment, seafoam eyes staring at the inner components for a moment. With pursed lips, his own mind drifted for a moment. Back to the crew he previously had. The lively bunch of lads who sang and kept eachother company in the long nights and days between planets, ensuring everything arrived on time like a well-oiled machine.

Bohatei misses his crew, as much as he won't admit it.

No sense in thinking about what was.

With a click and a whir, the Zabrak re-aligned the grav-lifts to the rest of the board. With sufficient power, the loader hummed to life as he hoisted it upright. With a idle brush of the controls, he adjusted the device to his height.

Once complete, Bohatei would begin moving over to the cargo as well, a few moments after Maya had started.

 

[Clone trooper 10]

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[Bohatei Chorva]

Bohatei moves between a slowly disappearing pile of crates and the cargo lift for his vessel with a consistent familiarity one could only achieve from several years of doing the same thing again and again. An idle hum escapes the Zabrak's throat as he worked, carrying a lighthearted tone that followed his movements as he worked.

Every now and again, he would raise one of the two vessel's cargo lifts, lowering the other for Maya to load the components onto while Bohatei moved the parts from the lift around the cargo bay and secured everything in place.

Time passes, and soon enough the last of the crates were being lifted onto the cargo lift for the last time under the lights attached to the ship's hull, the gentle buzz of the electrical lamps only faintly audible under the shuffle of sand and the loader's electronic hums. Bohatei descends from the loading ramp, carrying a bottle in both hands.

"Hey, May'!" The Zabrak greets, having been inside securing the various parts and crates into place. "Catch!"

The container of tea was tossed to her, an underarm throw sending the container barreling through the air toward her. He cracked open his own, and raised it toward his new companion.

"To a good day's work!"

 

[Clone trooper 10]

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[Bohatei Chorva]

Bohatei smirks as Maya caught the drink with next to no effort. "Nice catch!" He cheers, taking a swig from his flask. Standing on the boarding ramp, he leans on one of the hydraulics and looked around briefly. Maybe he should have said to a good night's work...

Ah well.

Leaning for a moment, the Zabrak nodded at her request. "Well, cargo's packed. Unless you got somewhere to be, I'm gonna get the ship warmed up." He replied, standing himself up once again and entering the vessel proper. Once she had followed, Maya would find herself in the main hall of the ship. A loungeport is set up just infront of the ramp, a large structure behind it with a number of ports.

Turning right around on entry, Bohatei would make his way into the cockpit that would be easily followed judging by the sound of hissing doors leading him into the controls of the ship.

Setting himself down in the front left seat, the young Zabrak began fiddling with the controls. Lights, dials and screens flicker to life as he works, starting up the reactor and switching the power back to the reactor afterward. Another series of switches caused a slow hum to come to life as the engines did, letting set of four engines come to life and warm up.

Bohatei moves over to the navicomputer, beginning the inputs for their destination. Ord Mirit.

While everything warms up and the course is charted, the young Zabrak leaned back into his chair and watches the stars, taking an idle sip from his drink while waiting for his new co-pilot.

 

[Clone trooper 10]

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[Bohatei Chorva]

Bohatei set the small screen aside, the various lines of text flicking away as the computer started calculating the route he needed to take through the various Hyperlanes to make it all the way to Ord Mirit. Moving over to a center console, he lifted up a pair of levers to let the fuel mix start flowing once the ship's engines were warmed up.

The Zabrak looks back to Maya, softly laughing as she asked about sitting down. "Of course ya' can. Been a while since I've had good company, and it's gonna be a while. Siddown, get comfy." He replies, a series of lights changing one by one. Each red light turned into a green color, indicating that everything was ready to go.

With the flick of another switch, the doors of the vessel all closed up and sealed themselves. A display between them showing the inner walls of the ship flashed twice, a grid pattern that was previously filling the ship changed to a solid grey for each of the rooms.

"Environs are sealed.. Engines are runnin' warm.." Bohatei hummed to himself as the seats shifted a little bit, the vessel taking to the air. He pointed the nose of the ship upward as the ship began moving, slowly gaining velocity and aiming toward the sky.

Might as well get off planet while waiting for the route to calculate.

"Don't think I ever really asked, but what brought you all the ways out here?" He inquired curiously, occasionally glimpsing to the other screen as starcharts were scanned and calculated. "If you don't mind me askin'."

 

[Clone trooper 10]

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[Bohatei Chorva]

Looking down to his console, Bohatei watches as a the Altimeter keeps climbing upward. He maintains the orientation of the vessel, angling it skyward enough to keep them on a steady climb without disturbing the duo that much. The city below seems to become naught but a pattern of lights, not unlike the one above that became more pronounced with every meter passed.

With the stars overhead, the Zabrak would lean back a little as the Contact V broke free from the planet, a small light blinking in the centre console seperating the two as the atmosphere became thinner and thinner. He presses a button underneath the bulb, the flashing orange turning green for a few seconds as the rest of the life support systems came online.

Soon enough, the Altimeter would switch off as they broke free from the planets hold.

Turning his head to face Maya as she made her decision, he listened intently as he lowered the throttle on the ship to give the navi-computer time to run it's calculation. That component wasn't exactly up to date, and needed time to make the required calls.

His expression furrows slightly, softening as she paused.

"Can't say I'm too familiar with the religion, but it's always rough to lose a teacher like that. From what I've heard, you Jedi folk get real bonded to your teachers." The Zabrak sighed softly. "I'm sorry for your loss."

His lips pursed briefly as he thought to himself for a moment. Bohatei didn't know any Force users, that much was certain. And what were the chances of him being one anyway? It's rare for them to go as far under the radar as he should have, considering his frequent trips to planets inhabited by other Force users.

So he swallows those thoughts and speaks up again.

"No wonder you need to get back there. Those guys ain't nothin' but trouble."

 

[Clone trooper 10]

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