Private Follow Me

[Judah Dashiell]

Judah shrugged at the mention of reading the hunter better than Acier Moonbound .An age thing he suspected, plus being chased down a time or two taught one a few tells. Especially since Acier mentioned the hunter was all about the thrill and preferred not to give up. A lot of brawn but not a lot of brain. He was used to more intelligent hunters. Most who went after the wealthy were much more subtle.

"Least I can do, I promised didn't I?"

The old salvager didn't like to go back on what he promised. If they got out alive he had promised towing the kid out. Word was going to be kept. Salvage ships weren't the fastest but it was going to get the job done. In return he would take Acier wherever he wanted the vessel towed to. In the meantime, they were going to hop on a public transport and get out.

"I guess...or I am supposing...if he isn't coming after us now he's injured and its only a matter of time. Next time I'll be more prepared." Judah paused, looking the kid over. "You want a security detail? I feel responsible."

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Kassido

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic | Cybernetic Arm

Ace didn't answer immediately. His attention stayed on the lift doors as they shuddered, Tic shifting on his shoulder with a soft whirr, photoreceptor sweeping once before dimming again. The little droid's weight was steadying in a way Ace didn't quite have words for.

At Judah's offer, Ace finally glanced over. The thought was there: appreciation, responsibility, even a flicker of guilt, but it didn't linger.

"I appreciate the thought." He said quietly.

Tic chirped once, almost approving.

"But I'm good." Ace added, tone practical rather than stubborn. "I've been making it on my own pretty fine. Besides, Dro's light work."

Ace was obviously kidding, but he'd survived two encounters with the Zabrak already. Once he was back to form, re-establishing his connection to the Force, fully integrated his prosthetic, he'd be able to contend with Dro again.

The lift began to slow. The hum changed pitch. Ace adjusted his stance automatically, shoulders squaring as if expecting trouble even now. Tic tapped his shoulder, projecting a brief flicker of the platform layout before cutting it again. Ace nodded to it, then looked back to Judah.

"Almost home free."

The lift chimed and Ace rolled his neck once, settling himself, and gave Tic a light tap in thanks as the doors began to part. The doors slid open onto the quieter landing platform, the hum of traffic replaced by distant engines and the muted clatter of ground crews at work. It wasn't empty, but it was orderly.

Ace stepped off first by habit, eyes sweeping the pad, Tic staying low and quiet on his shoulder. No sudden movement. For the first time since the diner, nothing immediately felt like it was about to explode.

He eased a breath out through his nose, tension draining just enough to matter.

"We're clear." Ace murmured, more observation than promise.

He drifted aside, letting Judah work his comm and the situation unfold, staying alert but no longer coiled to spring... it seemed the worst of it was behind them, at least until the next move.

"What'd you do to make someone send a guy like Dro out for you anyway?"

Judah Dashiell​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

Light work? Judah smiled slightly. He had nearly forgotten what it was like to be a young man with such bravado. He had a healthy dose of it back in his youth while in the navy, but reality had hit hard. The salvager hoped for Acier Moonbound 's sake that the younger was merely trying to brush the situation off so he wasn't worrying.

The turbolift stopped and they emerged out onto the platform. Cargo crates, various workers and droids, sparks from equipment. All sounds of an orderly industrial platform going along an average day. One he was used to. It would be very easy in an environment such as this to spot something unusual.

"Clear for now."

His shoulders relaxed a little as his gaze looked over the platform. He nodded his head slightly to the right, indicating Ace should follow him. Head dipped to his datapad then back up, double checking the loading bays. Theirs was a bit of a ways down, the one his company had contracted to keep clear to perform their necessary work. It was where they would meet up with a salvage ship. His Noghiri bodyguard was injured, but still on edge. Judah had already indicated they would need medical on board.

"When you own a corporation and have a certain sum of credits, you tend to be a target. Not exactly the first time I've encountered something like this but this has been the most intensive encounter since...well, since I was a young man in the navy."

Gaze flicked to the other for a moment.

"What did you do to piss him off?"

 

[Acier Moonbound]

Location: Kassido

Equipment:
Field Gear | Lightsaber | Tic | Cybernetic Arm

Ace took the platform in with a quick, practiced sweep as they stepped out. Everything was orderly and predictable. The kind of place where danger didn't announce itself, it just simply didn't belong.

Judah's explanation landed as they walked, and Ace listened without interrupting. A corporation. Credits. Targets. That made a frustrating amount of sense. Not greed so much as gravity, the bigger you were, the more people got pulled into your orbit, good and bad alike.

Ace glanced at Ovruk out of the corner of his eye, injured but alert, then back across the platform. When Judah asked the question, Ace let out a quiet breath, almost a huff.

"Me?" He said, tone dry. "Had a bounty on my head almost a year back. Nothing glamorous. He came for me on Botajef." His mouth twitched faintly.

He kept walking, eyes forward. "Embarrassed him when I slipped him, then again later when I was… in better shape. He tried to kill me the second time instead of capturing me. Held him off. He got away."

Ace glanced sideways at Judah then, not quite smiling. "Turns out hurting his pride did more damage than hurting his body."

They were closing in on the designated bay now, the salvage ship's silhouette just beginning to come into view through the clutter.

"So..." Ace added quietly, scanning the shadows between crates, "Now we're both on his list. Difference is, you're valuable." His gaze flicked back to the platform, alert. "And I'm just annoying enough to make him reckless."

He adjusted his stance, settling back into motion.

"Alright, old man. Let's get you aboard before he decides to try his luck a third time."

Judah Dashiell ​

 

[Judah Dashiell]

"Ah, makes me question what you did to get a bounty. Beyond be annoying."

Judah chuckled low, not expecting an answer. Salvage ship was coming in slowly to the bay. It was a hulking, massive vessel, not built for speed or quick maneuverability. Yet it would get the job done and be able to tow out Acier Moonbound 's vessel without causing a scene. He waited patiently as Scrapping By fit into the dock and extended its ramp.

"Come on kid, let's go collect your ship so I can get our of your hair."

EXIT POST