Private Corrupted Data

[Aren D'Shade]

After her most recent adventure, Aren didn't think she would be travelling again for a while. Keeping her feet firmly upon the ground for now, she walked the familiar streets of Denon and made her way to her favorite watering hole. It was called the Eternal Engine and fit the ecumenopolis well. The cantina thrived on the world that birthed it, and Aren was comfortable here.

Seeing some acquaintances, she waved at them as she approached the bar. They were occupied with their games and conversations, she didn't disturb them, and took a seat at the bar as she waited for her drink. When it arrived, she picked a different place to sit and took her drink there to nurse it.

Leafing through her datapad, she found some interesting stories and followed a few of the links to learn more. Eventually, the buzz of the cantina grew, and the woman looked up to see what was going on. She looked up just in time to find a Mandalorian sitting down with her. Not that she minded the company or anything.

"Do you want a drink? On me."

Korra Kast

 

[Korra Kast]

Korra Kast stepped into the cantina like she belonged there—which, judging by the way a few heads turned and then quickly turned away, she just might. Her armor was glinted under the lights of the cantina, like a beacon to the patrons telling them what she was. The visor of her helmet swept across the Eternal Engine, not lingering on anyone for too long. She ignored the stares like they were background noise.

Her boots thudded softly against the floor as she made her way to the back, bypassing the bar entirely, and straight to the table where Aren sat. Korra didn't speak at first—just slid into the seat across from her like she'd been expected. The buzz around them dipped for half a beat before people went back to pretending they weren't watching.

When the Mandalorian finally did speak, her voice came through the vocoder low and steady. Calm, but not cold. "As long as you're buying." Korra reached up and slid her helmet off, her long red hair flowing free. She waived down a server and gave her drink order.

Aren D'Shade

 

[Aren D'Shade]

At her motion, a service droid came over to take the order from Korra. It rolled away once it had been placed, and Aren put away the datapad she had been reading. Any of the stories she had been following could wait, and they would still be there.

"Aren D'Shade."

Pointing to herself, she wondered if she should extend her hand to shake. Deciding it was the polite thing to do, she held it out to shake.

"What can I do for you?"

Leaning forward, she sipped her drink and was curious as to why a Mandalorian was sitting across from her.

Korra Kast

 

[Korra Kast]

Korra reached across the table and clasped Aren's hand in a firm, no-nonsense shake. She held the shake just a second longer than necessary—an old habit from sizing people up—then released it and leaned back slightly, the tension in her posture easing by a degree.

"Korra Kast," she replied simply. "Been tracking you down for a little while now, which is how I knew you like to visit here."

The words weren't threatening, just direct. Honest.

"I also know you are quite skilled as a slicer. That's what you can do for me."

Aren D'Shade

 

[Aren D'Shade]

Her shake was firm, and her hands were soft. If Korra were sizing her up, that would be noticed. Her fingernails might be a bit dirty, but that would be the only sign that Aren worked with her hands. Digital and computer work didn't usually make callused hands, but a solid handshake was a good sign.

Noting what the redhead said about tracking her, Aren almost felt threatened. If she had a price on her head, she didn't know it, but she also thought a bounty hunter would have already captured her. Any nerves she might have had rising were quickly soothed, but she knew she'd have to be more careful in the future.

The last bit was something that did interest Aren. The drink arrived for Korra, and Aren lifted hers to take another draw from it.

"Can you give me any additional information? Is it a case, a datapad, or a computer? What will I be working with?"

Korra Kast

 

[Korra Kast]

Korra nodded once, appreciating the measured response. She'd seen all kinds—people who ran the moment you mentioned tracking, and others who tried to bluff through their panic. Aren did neither. That was a good sign.

When the drink arrived, she grabbed it, but didn't drink from it right away. "Its some kind of data I need retrieved off something." She was vague in her answer, which was clear on one thing. Too many ears. Even on Denon, loose words in cantinas had a way of ending up in the wrong inbox.

"You'll get details when we're somewhere more secure." Korra threw back the drink, downing the liquid in one go, and setting the cup down on the table. "You in?"

Aren D'Shade

 

[Aren D'Shade]

"I understand."

Lifting her drink to finish it with Korra, she nodded. While she wasn't about to take this stranger to her home, Aren knew of several safe places where they could talk privately. Once she was entirely confident that Korra didn't have any ulterior motives, she might then invite her to her flat. That was where many of her tools were. Of course, she had some in her bag, but they were the more common kind. The kind that could be bought in almost any corner store.

Setting her glass down calmly, Aren stood up with a nod and flipped a credit chit to the barkeeper.

"Follow me and I'll take us to a place that's secure from observation and eavesdropping. You are welcome to check it yourself if you wish."

Leading the way out, if Korra followed, she took a path down a level and into what looked like a former drug haven. It had been cleaned up and was a rather quaint hideout.

Korra Kast

 

[Korra Kast]

Korra rose smoothly when Aren did, picking up her drink only to toss back a final sip. She left the empty glass behind and followed without hesitation, neither rushed nor wary—just aware. Every step measured, every movement quiet. A hunter's gait, but not predatory.

She said nothing as they exited the cantina, letting the hum of Denon swallow them up.

Down a level, through a few nondescript turns, and into the dim corridors of the underlevels, Korra noted the subtle shift in air and sound. This wasn't a place people passed through casually. When Aren led them into what looked like an old den long since abandoned by its former tenants, Korra's head tilted slightly—not in suspicion, but curiosity.

Once they were inside, she took a moment. Scanned the corners. Checked the ceilings. Her HUD flicked through a series of passive sweeps, looking for anything active—listening, watching, pinging. Finding nothing, she gave a curt nod of approval.

"This'll do. What I need you to slice into is a restricted droid's memory core. With as mush encryption that's on there, it has to be incredibly sensitive information or something else."

Aren D'Shade

 

[Aren D'Shade]

Walking over to a table, Aren set her bag down and gave Korra the time she needed to survey the den. Taking a seat, she waited until the other woman was satisfied with the location and leaned back on the couch. When she discovered this hideout, she ensured it was cleaned up and refurbished. However, to keep it discreet, she replaced the furniture with items that were similar to what it had held before.

She took a small device out of her bag and laid it on the table. Flipping it on, it provided an additional edge to secrecy. It jammed any tech that might be in the area from picking up on them at all. Aren did this entirely in accordance with her code of ethics and honor.

Leaning forward slightly as Korra spoke, it indicated she was listening with all of her attention and focus. Slicing into droids wasn't usually too difficult. Military droids were a step up, normally, and facilities were even more complex. Not impossible, though, and nodded slightly.

"Where is it located?"

If she had to travel off Denon, that expense would be included in the price.

Korra Kast

 

[Korra Kast]

Korra didn't hesitate. "On my ship. It hasn't left my hold since I grabbed it." A pause, then a flicker of something wry in her tone. "Didn't want to bring it into a cantina. Figured you'd appreciate that."

She straightened up again, one gloved hand still holding on to her helmet.

"If you're in, I'll take you there tonight. You can get a look, decide if the job's worth your time—and if you want to talk price, we do it then. Fair?"

Aren D'Shade

 

[Aren D'Shade]

There was no pause in her answer, and Aren caught that. Korra wasn't dishonest or trying to lead her into a trap. Agreeing with a point of her finger, the woman stood up and nodded.

"You're on. I'll check out the head and see if it's something I can work with. If I agree, it would likely be best to work in my space. I do have room for guests to stay so that you can keep an eye on me."

Holding out a hand to shake, even if they hadn't struck a bargain yet, she figured it was appropriate.

Korra Kast

 

[Korra Kast]

Korra looked down at the extended hand for half a second before clasping it with a slight uptick at the corner of her mouth. Not quite a smile, but something close. "Deal. For now."

"And I appreciate the offer. You working in your element makes this easier for both of us. I'll keep close, but I'm not looking to breathe down your neck unless you give me a reason to."

Her tone was calm. No threat—just a professional understanding. Korra glanced toward the door. "Come on, then."

She led the way out into the streets of Denon, slipping effortlessly back into the flow of shadow and neon. Despite the armor and presence, she didn't walk like someone trying to draw attention. She walked like someone who didn't worry about what would happen if she did. Korra lead her towards the docking pad where she landed her ship.

Aren D'Shade

 

[Aren D'Shade]

After the handshake, Aren nodded and replaced her bag on her shoulder. Even if she didn't use it this trip, that bag was a part of her life as much as the armor Korra wore. She was pleased the Mandalorian agreed she should work in her element. She was also happy to have a guest for a while.

Finishing the shake, she turned the lights off and closed the den down once again. Setting its alarm, she fell into step with Korra. Both women moved with a different kind of confidence, and nobody dared to bother them.

There was silence between them, but that was fine with Aren. It was nice to have the company, though, and she looked forward to working with Korra.

Korra Kast

 

[Korra Kast]

Korra walked in quiet stride beside Aren, the sound of their boots in sync on the duracrete. The silence was easy—comfortable even. She appreciated that about Aren. No need to fill the air with useless talk when there was purpose ahead.

As they reached the edge of the landing pad, the silhouette of Korra's Kom'rk-class fighter loomed like a bird of prey at rest. It stood sleek and imposing in the soft light of the rising moon.

Korra angled her head toward it. "There she is." she said, breaking the silence at last. She keyed a code into her vambrace, and the loading ramp hissed down with a smooth whirr. Cool interior lighting spilled out, washing over the durasteel.

She led the way up the ramp, heading to a storage compartment behind the cockpit. A few crates, tools, and pieces of scavenged tech were neatly stacked—except one durasteel case that sat apart, reinforced and sealed tight.

Korra crouched, pressing a sequence into the case. It clicked open with a mechanical snap, revealing the battered droid head resting within. "Initial thoughts?"

Aren D'Shade

 

[Aren D'Shade]

Aren was used to the solitude of her floor, and her only companions were her droids. Even though they usually took care of themselves, only EL interacted with her much. It seemed her silence didn't bother Korra, and they finished their walk without incident.

Looking away when the code was punched in, she didn't need to see what it was. Tilting her up with a quick motion, she looked at the ship in front of them.

"What's her name?"

Following Korra aboard, she noticed the items neatly stacked but didn't ask about them. They weren't the reason they were there. Once the case was opened, she bent over and picked up the head. It appeared to be from before their time, but not by much. Probably some kind of wardroid, so the military thought was most likely accurate.

Turning it around in her hands, she flipped a small compartment open on the back and checked the powercore. Setting it back into the case, she stood up and brushed off her hands.

"It's probably from about a hundred years ago, and it is military grade. My guess is a wardroid, but some of these guys were used in medbays and on the bridges of starships. Whatever information is on there, I will be able to withdraw and translate for you. Its powercore is busted, but I have some at home."

After some calculation, if this turned out to be an easy job, the starting price could be lower. She wouldn't know for sure until she powered up the head.

"I won't be able to tell you an exact price, but it starts at 1000 and goes higher if I need to put in more work."

Glancing at the open case, she expected it to go up, but she wasn't going to try to cheat Korra out of her hard-earned credits.

Korra Kast

 

[Korra Kast]

Korra gave a short nod as she listened, arms crossed lightly over her chest. She didn't seem surprised by the assessment since she knew Aren knows her stuff. Its why she came to her in the first place.

"Hm," she muttered. Her eyes flicked to the droid head as Aren placed it back. She didn't move toward it, just watched with that same unreadable stillness she carried like armor.

"I'm not in a rush," she said after a moment. "Take your time, do it right. I'd rather have it clean than cheap. And I trust you not to overcharge me. If it's more, it's more. Just let me know before it jumps past five."

There was a faint smirk then, like a sliver of sun on an overcast day.

"I'll carry the head back to your place so you can get started."

Aren D'Shade

 

[Aren D'Shade]

"Understood and no problem."

Prices rarely went that high, and unless there were additional complications with the head, Aren didn't expect it would be there. Nodding at Korra when she said to do it right, she quirked a small smile.

"I don't not do things right."

At one point, that might have been an issue, but she hadn't followed that path and stayed the course her brother had set for her. Far from being a Jedi, she wasn't a Sith either. She landed somewhere in between and was happy there. Allies and allegiances weren't important to her, and she worked for anybody.

Glancing at the case, she motioned to it with another nod.

"I'm ready when you are. Do you need anything from the store?"

Korra Kast

 

[Korra Kast]

Korra set the droid head back into the case and closed it up. She watched Aren for a moment, that same small smirk still lingering at the corner of her mouth. At the question, she shook her head. "I'm good. Got everything I need on me." Her gaze flicked to the entrance of the den and then back to Aren.

"If you need to grab anything before we get started, I can wait at your place. No sense in me standing around in a shop like I'm looking for fresh produce." Her tone was dry, edged with humor, but her posture was relaxed—comfortable, like someone who trusted the hands the job was in. She tilted her head slightly. "Or if you're set, we can head back now. Your call."

Aren D'Shade

 

[Aren D'Shade]

She laughed at her produce comment and shook her head.

"No, I'm good. If I find I need anything, I can either send my droid to get it or take a break and get it myself. Ready?"

Considering Korra had already said she was, Aren shouldn't have asked. Some habits are hard to break, and she was being polite. At the moment, she was a guest on the ship. Soon enough, Korra would be her guest and would be in for a treat. In her opinion, her home was the best and she wouldn't have it any other way.

Korra Kast

 

[Korra Kast]

Korra gave a single nod, pushing off the console and hefting the case with one hand.

"Ready," she confirmed simply, tone steady. She didn't comment on the repeat question—she understood habits, and she respected manners when they weren't hollow.

As they descended the ramp, she glanced sideways at Aren, catching the flicker of satisfaction in her expression. Whatever this woman had waiting back at her place, it clearly meant something to her. That kind of confidence didn't come from ego—it came from knowing your ground was solid.

Korra liked that. "I'm looking forward to seeing your setup," she said as they walked. "You carry yourself like someone who doesn't settle. That usually makes for a good workshop."

Aren D'Shade