Private Getting Your Hands Dirty | Jakku

[Zel Sharratt]

Jakku
Tags: Tibera Jessen

Clan Claiborne, The Rat's Nest, Junk Saber​

"It's easy to glorify the art of gathering history, but sometimes one needs to get their hands dirty in the pursuit of knowledge."

Zel sat atop a sand dune of great size, looking over the ruins of a star destroyer from a goon 900 or so years ago. It was the target of his latest archaeological ambitions. It was also, like many old ruins, swarming with criminals that decided to make it their home. Without the jurisdiction of the Galactic Alliance to keep the vultures at bay, their various illegal operations became housed in this very place. The Mandalorian scribe spoke into his recording device, clutched in his hand. He of course had to document the process of recovering the site.

"It seems a gang of scavengers has moved into the ancient star destroyer," he observed, making sure the camera mounted on his helmet got a good look at them. "Their supplies look newer, stolen perhaps? Raiders are not uncommon in these parts. This is, of course, not an isolated incident for archaeological ruins. When you don't have the talent to build a place of your own, and many who turn to this sort of crime are rather talentless, an abandoned structure makes a great temporary base. For one like myself seeking knowledge, the only way to make progress is to settle things in the ways of my ancestors. While I could probably take them, given the caliber of my armor and training of my creed, I foresee such an effort being quite the slog. So I've found a mercenary and provided them with payment to speed up the process. Just so that I have full documentation of the previous raider presence in this space, the operation will be documented in full from my perspective. End log."

As he put away his recording device, he made note of a loose patrol structure. Rather disorganized, but that wasn't a shock. Most of them were set up under a tarp, and a few guarded the entrance into the Star Destroyer. Given the stacks of empty crates, it seemed that they had just gotten a supply of something and were taking inventory. Maybe consolidating to make room for more on the way.

It hardly mattered to Zel either way.

"Right then," he exhaled behind his helmet. "Miss Jessen, was it? I'm not particularly pressed in the manner we slice this pie, so you can consider this one a sweep to clean the premises. If this place is to be safe enough to study, I imagine the lot of the ruffians should be removed."

Simple enough.

 

[Tibera Jessen]

Tag: Zel Sharratt

Tibera felt like she was being broiled alive in her armor, the heat of Jakku was not to be underestimated. Still, she wanted to remain buttoned up in case trouble started, so helmet and armor were something she had to keep on. Nothing like being vacuum sealed in a desert. The burly merc listened as the surprisingly intellectual Mando spoke into his recorder, feeling better if she didn't get picked up as background noise.

"If you're willing to give over the lion's share, then you'll get a clean space to work. I'll make sure this place is spotless for ya. Well, might have to do some sweeping when I'm done..." Tibera then produced her handcannon, the weapon making a high pitched whine that emphasized her point.

Using a disruptor was a bit overkill for raiders, but it would send a message if any of them survived the fight. Scaring off future freeloaders could only be a good thing for the two. It would most likely mean that any leaving would be doing so permanently, one way or the other.

Tibera slid down the dune, coming to a stop on the sands below. She'd be taking point to make first contact with the raiders, not that the aquatic-themed Mandalorian was really in need of a point woman. As stated previously, he could probably do all this on his own, she was just here as an extra hand. Still, TIbera would rather risk her bacon than let Zel get shot.

It seemed like he had something to live for, something more than money and pleasure. No reason for that flame to get snuffed out by a stray shot. It was grim to think about, but it was also true. Tibera didn't really have a greater purpose, not yet at least.

"Say, before we get into the chit, tell me. What makes you wanna do all this anyway? Archeology I mean? Ain't we got droids for this kinda thing?"

 

[Zel Sharratt]

Jakku
Tags: Tibera Jessen

Clan Claiborne, The Rat's Nest, Junk Saber​

"If you're willing to give over the lion's share, then you'll get a clean space to work. I'll make sure this place is spotless for ya. Well, might have to do some sweeping when I'm done..."

"It's of no concern," Zel insisted. "I only have interest in records and such things. Any scrap or good in the possession of these ruffians is fair game. That seems reasonable to me."

There was a casualty about the scholar, even as he prepared for battle. You could almost see the smile in his voice, hidden by the veil of his helm. When they slid down the sand dune to approach the camp, the mercenary asked him why he was not sending droids to do archaeological work. He didn't laugh, or scold her. The Mandalorian only answered in a composed, friendly sort of way.

"Droids have many uses," he agreed. "But they lack the gentle hand of an academic. What purpose do they have beyond directive? They have no reason in understanding the ancestors of those with agency of the flesh rather than the binary. Organic beings are intertwined with their history. You could say that all of this is a cultural observance, a ritual that's been performed for thousands of years by many before hand. The far simpler answer to that question is that I like it and think it's neat. Both are good, I think."

In one hand, Zel had drawn his pistol. A bizarre thing made for duels, one which fired off a high-powered plasma bolt aimed to put a man down quickly. It sported a far more alien appearance, however, which greatly obscured that purpose. In his other he procured the lightsaber replica that he had made out of scrap, not yet activating the blade.

A good twelve or so men lie ahead of them, more likely within the structure.

"Well, since you've been so kind to take point," the Mandalorian continued, taking note of her instinct to be out front, "I believe it is only fair that you get the first shot, Ma'am."

He was nothing if not courteous.

 

[Tibera Jessen]

Tibera couldn't help but exhale sharply through her nose, finding humor in the man's thoughts. He was doing all of this for something he thought was "neat"? Well, far be it from her to stop him! Actually, it did sound as closest thing to fun that mercenary work got. She lined up a shot on one of the raiders, and a bolt of blue light flashed through the air.

In one moment he was there, and in the next he was a pile of dust and clothes. Some of the raiders were awestruck by what they saw, it was like the hand of some angry deity had just made the bandit vanish. Then, the battle commenced, with red bolts of plasma filling the air. There was little cover, and Tibera had to sprint around, firing wildly into the mob.

She was behind a large box, shooting back when able. Suddenly, the box exploded from a stray blaster shot, the blast penetrating Tibera's armor. Her knee was damaged, sending her to the ground. Things like this had happened before, but never this severely. Her body was a mess of scars, but this one would sting the worst.

In short, she'd gotten careless, and now she was paying for it.

"Blast me to bits! Feth that hurts!!"

Her blood now stained the sand, but she couldn't stop now. She had to keep fighting. Tibera reached into a leg pouch, producing an injector to jab into her leg. A shot of bacta and stims mixed together. It charged her up, letting her stand up on her weak knee and ignore the pain. At least now she could fight.

Whatever was going to happen with Zel, she wasn't going to let him down just because her luck ran out. No job left undone, that was her way.

Zel Sharratt

 

[Zel Sharratt]

Jakku
Tags: Tibera Jessen

Clan Claiborne, The Rat's Nest, Junk Saber​

Zel wasn't particularly worried about diving for cover. He wove through the blaster fire with an awkward grace, making sure to use his beskar vambraces and Junk Saber to block anything that got a little too close for comfort. The Mandalorian actually got himself into a bit of a groove, all until there was a ring out of exclamatory from the mercenary. He was quick to move to cover her, looking back with a helm that betrayed no emotion. His tone, though, you could say was professionally concerned.

"Are you alright, Miss Jessen?" he inquired. "You appear-"

He was cut off by a blaster bolt tinking off of his helmet. Zel stopped everything he was doing and turned to the raider that shot him, quickly firing his blaster. The pistol whistled violently as a volatile projectile sent the poor soul flying back into the wall. Of course, the blaster bolt killed him before the impact did. Then, like nothing had happened, he turned back to his hired companion.

"You appear to be losing some blood," the Blubreen observed. "I can offer a bacta patch to seal it up for the time being. I always carry spares."

While he waited for her to answer, he moved himself a little more into cover and occasionally leaned out to take a few shots, all of which resulted in some form of violent flying of dead raiders.