First Reply Hired Help

[Steavsi Austinoi]

Austinoi Ranch
Corellia

The old man was asleep. Typical. Steavsi rolled his eyes and knocked his finger against the doorframe loudly, and the old man snorted and awoke with a start, quickly sitting up. "Workin' hard as ever I see." Steavsi said, extreme amounts of sarcasm in his voice. "You know, you been awful lazy this week, what's wrong witchu?" Steavsi knew there was nothing wrong with him, but he just wanted to see what ridiculous excuse the old man would come up with this time. "I-It's my condition." The old man sputtered, the words seeming to fall out of his lips and drape onto the floor. "Oh yah? And what condition would that be?" Steavsi quickly answered, expecting no response from the old man, he was not good at lying, only thing he was good at was being lazy. "Lumbago! Pain in the lower back, my friend. If I overwork myself, my back'll split in two! Very serious, it is." The old man turned in his bed, facing the wall, almost like a child trying to make their problems go away by looking in a different direction. Steavsi sighed, and walked over to where the old man was laying. "That condition you got causes pain in the lower back, correct?" Steavsi asked. "Yep, that it does." The old man replied. "Here, lemme help you with that." Steavsi said plastering a fake smile across his face, as he brought his foot backwards and launched it at the old man's lower back, kicking him as hard as he could. "Git up!" Steavsi yelled as the old man cried out in pain and quickly jumped to his feet, as if the kick had made him 30 years younger. "You do what I ask, old man?" Steavsi inquired of the old man, anger still present in his voice. "Well er-let's see... I went into town... got a few drinks... met a really nice lady and I.... Oh shiet! I put up that help wanted poster! I did!" The old man yelled, happiness in his voice. "See, I'm a good worker! I chipped in!" The old man beamed, a large smile across his face. Steavsi felt guilty about kicking him now, he hadn't actually expected the old man to do what he asked. "Good... very good." Steavsi patted the old man on the shoulder, flashing a real, genuine smile at him for the first time in a while. Steavsi stepped out of the tiny shack, waving goodbye to the old man half-heartedly, and walked up to the main lodge, and sat down on the front porch, grabbing the slug-thrower leaning next to the chair, grabbing it and adjusting it. He wanted to be ready when the hired-merc got here, and wanted to be able to protect himself if the mercenary failed.

 

[Naten Harel]

After leaving his ship at the nearest so port, Naten traded a few credits for a decent looking swoop bike that would take him over to the ranch were he was suppose to meet his new client. The trip from the town to the ranch was fairly long as Naten was wasn't in too much of a hurry nor was he overly excited for the quest. Right now, the only thing on his mind was collecting a few credits more for some upgrades for his ship so he could fly a little father into the Wild Space and continue his exploration.

When the ranch finally came into the mercenary's view, he quickly parked his swoop bike near the lodge and walked towards the building before stopping right in front of it, looking straight at the rancher.

"Nice slug-thrower you get there." Naten said as he took of his helmet revealing his weathered face.

 

[Steavsi Austinoi]

Steavsi looked up from his slugthrower, observing the man that stood in front of him as he stopped wiping down the old gun, and spat on the ground. "Ah, you must be our resident mercenary. You see the ad?" Steavsi inquired.

 

[Naten Harel]

"Yeah," Naten simply replied as he took the freedom to look around his surroundings, seeing a decent size ranch that looked pretty well maintained before giving it an approving nod. If the ranch was in shambles and the client didn't have a legit reason for its state, then Naten minus well turn right back around and find another job; one that had bigger and better needs for his blaster.

He then turned his attention back at the man, "Steavsi was it?" Naten asked with a raised brow, hoping he matched the name to the right face.

 

[Steavsi Austinoi]

ooc: sorry for responding so late, personal stuff got in the way

"Yep. Wagon's all packed up, get on. I'll explain more details about the job on the way." Steavsi quickly said as he stood up, slinging the slug-thrower across his back. "Hold on just a sec. HEY OLD MAN!" Steavsi yelled as he walked down the steps. Out of the small shed stepped the old man, hunched over and half asleep by the looks of it. "Look after the ranch while we're gone." Steavsi said as he pulled himself into the seat of the bantha-drawn wagon, grunting with effort as he did. "Buh I-" The old man began to speak, when Steavsi cut him off. "No buts. You ain't weaseling your way out of this one, old man. Goodbye." Steavsi turned and put his hand up, and the old man waved back. "Yah." Steavsi pulled on the reins, and the bantha moved forward, lurching and groaning, much like the old wooden wheels of the wagon that the two men sat on, and they rode past the gate of the ranch.

 

[Naten Harel]

ooc: no problem man, I have to head out for work in like an hour or so anyways

Naten sat down in the wagon next to Steavsi and raised a brow at the old man the guy was talking to. "You sure you don't have anyone else to say your farewells to before we head out any farther?" Naten asked with a smirk as he leaned back into his seat. With the state and size of Seavsi's ranch, there had to be someone who was bound to inherit a place like this; some would even kill for it.

 

[Steavsi Austinoi]

"Nope. Old man's really the only 'family' I got. And he ain't even really family. He's an old friend of my father's did right by him somehow long ago. My parents asked me to let him stay on the ranch before they left. If he did some big favor for my dad, well it certainly don't show. Lazy as a rock he is." Steavsi chuckled as he pulled on the reins again. "Anyways, onto the job. We're gonna link up with a wagon train, up by those two mountains." Steavsi put both reins in one hand and pointed to two mountains far in the distance. "Wagon train's got plenty of security, so your job will be done once we get to the wagon train safely. Reason I need you is the convoy can't spare any extra security to supervise just one of the rancher's journey to the train. This valley, very dangerous as of late. Nasty gang of rustlers, name of Barimo's Boys. Armed to the teeth, uncompromising, organized and dangerous they are. This wagon's carrying some pretty valuable supplies, so they're probably going to come after us. Figured that some mercenary type would be good for the job."

 

[Naten Harel]

"You did the right thing, hiring extra protection and all. But why didn't you and your friends band-up and wipe these guys out?" The Mercenary asked since he knew that it was something Outer Rim folks would do before hiring someone; although thee main reason might be because of a lack of money.

 

[Steavsi Austinoi]

Music
"It ain't for a lack of credits, or trying. But every time we get together, and find some big bandit camp, they all scamper off and disappear into the brush. We can't pin them down." Steavsi said. "But somehow, they manage to gather a sizable force whenever they attack one of our operations. It's-"

"STOP THE WAGON!" Steavsi was cut off by a voice emanating from somewhere up the trail, as he pulled on the reins, bringing the wagon to a quick stop. The voice was coming from somewhere near a broken down wagon further down the road. A settler came running up to them, limping on a injured leg. "I-It's them rustlers sir! They-they hit my wagon and killed my bantha! Now I can't get back home! Please mister, you got to help me!" The man sputtered, blubbering. He was a young man, a terrified expression plastered across his face. "Alright boy, calm down. Get on, we'll- wait a minute. You smell that? Something ain't right..." Steavsi sniffed in the air, trying to identify the smell. The young man stepped back slowly, trying not to be noticed by the two men on the wagon. Steavsi's face turned pale with fear, as he realized what the smell was. Smoke. Dynamite fuse smoke. He strained his ears and sure enough, there was a distinct sound. The sound of crackling dynamite. "OH SHIT! IT'S A TRAP! GET OFF THE WAGON, QUICK!" Steavsi yelled as he quickly jumped to his feet, throwing the reins out of his hands and jumping off the wagon, but as he did, a loud sound rocked the air. Too late. Steavsi's vision became blurry and light filled his vision as the dynamite exploded, a blast of light seeming to emanate from the broken down wagon.

 

[Naten Harel]

Naten followed Steavsi Austinoi warning and jumped off the wagon; but instead jumping towards the ground, the mercenary jumped into the air and activated his repulsor pack which launched him further into the air, away from explosion. He then took out his DX-2 disruptor pistol, aiming it below and ready to blast whoever setted up the bomb as he waited for thw smoke to clear.

Little by little, Naten could see the dirt and smoke clearing, revealing a body on the ground who je suspected to be Steavsi Austinoi since there wasn't any signs of the enemy being prescent. He flew down towards the unconscious man and gave him a quick check to see he was still alive.
"Hey, are you still with me?" Naten asked as shook the rancher hard enough to wake him up but not hurt him.

 

[Steavsi Austinoi]

Steavsi opened his eyes, putting a hand in front of his face, trying to get the blinding sunlight out of his eyes. When his vision cleared, he saw the mercenary trying to shake him awake. Steavsi sputtered and coughed as he noticed one of his hands was covered in blood. He looked down, there was a sizable gash on his stomach. "Yah I'm... still alive. Surprised you didn't scamper off and leave me to die. Glad you didn't. We..." Steavsi coughed, putting his hand up to his mouth. "We need to get out of here... trap probably set by Barimo's Boys... gotta get outta' here fore' more of them show up." Steavsi soon realized that his plan would not be effective however, as he could make out several speeder bikes speeding towards the wreck of the wagon, the silhouettes quickly growing more visible, illuminated by the afternoon sun. "Too late. Looks like we're gonna have to defend ourselves..." Steavsi weakly raised a finger and pointed in the direction of the rapidly approaching speeders. Steavsi grabbed onto the top of the overturned wagon he was leaning against pulling himself up and standing shakily, taking off his coat slowly and putting it on his wound to act as a temporary bandage to stop the bleeding. He grabbed the old slugthrower slung across his back, and he loaded it. It was surprisingly still in working order after the explosion, Steavsi raised it in the direction of the speeders, they were now almost on top of them. Steavsi gritted his teeth, groaning in pain. "Guess it's time for you to earn yer pay, friend." Steavsi said.

 

[Naten Harel]

The mercenary glanced in the direction Steavsi Austinoi pointed before placing his helmet on and grabbing his DXR-6 disruptor rifle from it's holster on his back then aimed it straight at the ruffians and pulled the trigger. A loud blast was sounded from the rifle as a large red laser flew out mercenary's rifle, hitting one of the enemy's speeder and causing it to blowup in pieces along with it's passengers and pilot.

"Go," He told Steavsi Austinoi while briefly pointing his head towards the wagon - or at least what's left of it - before focusing on the other incoming bandits "I'll cover you from here, but I could use some if you're able to shoot."

 

[Harry the Shaper]

Suddenly, the asssilant’s weapon melted into a glob of molten liquid. Steavsi turned to face a Shaper of Kro Var.