Private Ripperdocs of Taris

[Alora Vizsla]

Taris. A nice enough planet. Plenty of cargo hauls to and from it given all the damage the suffered because of the spooky-scary stuff, but not a lot of Alora's type. Maybe if it were still on the Galactic Alliance's side of the border? No, they'd still not be blockading the planet or something. Only intruding on the Imperials got the crazy insane payouts. So, this wasn't a big haul. More a leisure check on the local market and the pirate scene.

The Gambit was parked in a designated landing area with the parking beacon set. He'd be downloading some of the latest cybernetic research papers and prowling for hints of secret underworld researchers. Alora could always count on him to find something to occupy himself; not that he couldn't reach her any time he wanted to talk or make sure she hadn't gotten into trouble.

Her helmet had been left behind, but Alora didn't go anywhere without her twin disruptor pistols at her hips. There was nothing more certain to end a fight before it started than showing she didn't shoot to kill -- she shot to erase something's very existence. No corpse, no crime. In theory.

The medical tents had been active as hell in the wake of the undead outbreak on Taris too. Probably meant a lot of people could use some good cybernetics. Alora would keep an eye out for someone in particular need or suffering from substandard gear because that's all they had on hand at the time. Her illicit activities were to subsidize good gear for people in need. She was totally a Robin Hood -- whoever the kark that was -- if you ignored the fact it was a great excuse to play with cutting-edge goods.

Toward that end, Alora drifted into one clinic in particular to chat up the local staff. Maybe get a peek at their records or hear a "sob story" the staff just couldn't forget -- stuff like that.

Zee Caromed​

 

[Zee Caromed]

It felt like every time he came home, Zee had to make the rounds and then make them again. Nevermind visiting all the requisite members of the Clan who wanted to check in on him, the busybodies who wanted to keep tabs on the Clan leader's younger and more lucid child, and the fun part - his actual friends - Zee made the effort to pay back some of what he owed his hometown. The Talinn district was an endless pit of need, and the Caromed clan had been pouring bandages and antibiotics into that pit for centuries. He'd cut his teeth as a nurse in the hospitals, studied at dozens of little clinics, and had eventually made his way up into the Life-Bearers.

He put his hours in whenever he could. Taris had graduated over the years from a half-polluted shivhole broken up by the occasional wasteland to a fully polluted disaster with both generational scars and fresh wounds. Tending the needs of the populace wasn't just the right thing to do, it was fully necessary, good work. And it also exposed him to the most fascinating edge-case injuries and absurdly advanced cyberware that could be found outside of the inner core. He had no idea where these tweakers came in with half this junk. Of course, more often than not they came in with some greyware combat nonsense that'd likely kill them from autoimmune issues long before they managed to kill themselves with it.

Watching the clinic of a clanmate, Zee had just finished up installing a complicated little module in the jaw of a Klatoonian who was currently still sleeping across the operating table of the little one-chair clinic. The door buzzed to let him know somebody had come in, so Zee gave a call of 'Be right out!' as he finished washing up.

Dressed in a skirt and a crop top bearing the Clan Caromed symbol, a green coarseweave Life-Bearer sash around his waist, Zee stepped out from cover. He notably keeping his hand near the blaster on his hip. You never knew on Taris. "Hey! Welcome to Mersey Jike's Half-Top One-Stop Chop-Chop Shop & Clinic." The svelte human greeted cheerfully. "My chair's busy for the next hour or so, if you're in a hurry. What can I help ya with?"

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[Alora Vizsla]

Alora stared when Zee Caromed stepped out. Blinked at 'Mersey Jike's Half-Top', canted her head at 'One-Stop Chop-Chop', and squinted by the time he got to 'Shop & Clinic.' "Chop-Chop Shop? Little extra chop while you shop, huh?" Definitely one of the most interesting store welcomings she'd ever gotten.

With a quick shake of her head, Alora smiled. "Name's Alora, and I was just in the area. I'm a traveling doctor, and heard Taris was in need. I've been trying to find clinics here in need of an extra pair of hands, or someone in need of affordable and quality cybernetics." Her brows lifted over her honey-brown eyes with the unsaid question.

Zee Caromed​

 

[Zee Caromed]

Zee grinned like a cat that'd seen the canary step out of the cage of her own accord. "The little extra chop while you shop is what keeps us atop the slop." He purred playfully, standing upright with a hand on his hip in a frame-perfect sales pose. "Whether you need a pre-op junk crop or a trim for your mop-top, we've got you covered - full stop."

With that bit of fun had, Zee leaned on the reception counter and grinned at the only potentially-paying customer to come in all evening aside from the guy passed out in the back. "Nice to meet ya, Alora. I'm Zee - Nurse Zee this weekend. I DON'T actually have the power to hire people, but I can put a word in with Mersey if you like. Pass along your resume or whathavya." He promised cheerfully. "He'll be out all weekend with a gunshot wound. He didn't specify if he was treating or suffering. That said..."

"I'd be happy to have a look at whatever you have on offer." The first bite at some sweet offworld tech sounded like a perfect opportunity to Zee - and if he didn't like what he bought, he could just pass it along to Mersey as an expense the same way he'd treated all those people earlier he didn't necessarily want to tell Mersey about. "I might not have a budget to hire rad-lookin' you, but I DO have a discretionary fund for hot chit that walks in off the street." Zee promised. "What kinda cyber we talkin'?"

Alora Vizsla
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[Alora Vizsla]

Alora narrowed her eyes and tilted her head. Then she gave it a shake a gave Zee a smile. "That's just crazy enough to work." It was really rare to meet someone nuts enough for that line, but good thing for the man Alora liked crazy.

"Oh," she chuckled, "I'm not looking for work. My day job keeps me on the move." Though she wasn't sure how reassuring it was to hear the manager was treating a gunshot wound that may or may not be their own. Not that it mattered. They weren't there and it wasn't her business. "Just looking for people in need of quality parts. And I don't mean back-alley desperation either." No euphemisms here about whether her goods were genuinely good.

A discretionary fund, huh? Well, Alora usually took in people, but if Zee was interested in examining the merch, it wouldn't hurt for company. "The latest in augs from Denon, Coruscant, and any other tech-cent you can think of. I've laid eyes -- and hands -- on gear locked away in fortresses tighter than a Hutt's grasp on money and power. It isn't what I have that's important, it's what you want. Best thing is I got the skills to know they're all genuine pieces. Even got a lab back on the ship to install them for those in need."

"Cutting edge gear isn't cheap, you're thinking, and you aren't wrong. But, you tell me where they're going and how they're being used, and we can work out a deal even a Toydarian could love."

Zee Caromed​

 

[Zee Caromed]

Hmm.

Caromed usually took their aug needs in-house, but Zee was well aware that there were some needs that the Clan might not address. The sort of things that his somewhat hidebound and traditional mother might consider a waste of resources and time. Such a person would usually go to ground for their needs rather than risk their name in gossiping mouths. Such a practice always had a chance of going poorly.

Zee gave the woman a thoughtful look. He then stood upright and put a pair of smart-looking glasses on, to better manage the librarian gaze. "If you've got an open mind and good facilities, I might have a couple of names I could point your way?" He suggested. "I don't have a lot of friends in need of combat bits, but the fun stuff? Cosmetic and the like?" Zee trailed off, twirling his hand in a vague sort of gesture. "If I knew they were going to a good place, I'd be happy to give referrals."

Leaning on the counter again, Zee grinned eagerly. "Best way to know what you're about is to partake. So, what've you got for me?" The svelte receptionist asked. "It's been awhile since I've been under the knife, I've been considering a new toy. I've got the cred for it. Gimme somethin' fun."

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[Alora Vizsla]

Alora blinked and considered Zee Caromed for a moment. "Normally I only do commissions for those in need," cybernetically inclined woman explained. "But, if it'll help convince I'm not a nut job? Alright!" At least they weren't asking for like cutting edge miltech. The latest in fashion was bad enough, but when you started talking combat roles the price went right out the atmosphere.

"You okay leaving, uh," Alora peeked at the back, "them here, or should I bring something back and us your place? Mine's a bit large to fit inside the building." Not that Gambit couldn't, but it'd cause one heck of a scene -- not to mention all the damage.

"As for..." A contemplative gaze slid down Zee's form. "Why don't you tell me a little about yourself, Zee? I'm all for fun, but tastes are different, and I don't do frivilous or seasonal wear, if you know what I mean." Going through gear like it was tissue paper was bad enough; a planet's worth for the sort of quality she dropped on people. She was no fly-by-night outfit. Well, aside from the literal relocation by the next day, but that wasn't from a lack of service!

Zee Caromed​

 

[Zee Caromed]

Zee pursed his lips in complaint, considering the woman thoughtfully. So far, she'd mostly established what she DIDN'T have. Nothing cheap, nothing bad or low-quality, nothing silly. While he wasn't expecting her to produce a catalog of what she had available, it did make it hard to recommend what people to her. She might have spinal replacements for wounded veterans, she might have genital augmentations for thrillseekers, she might have cranial supercomputers for aspiring murderborgs.

Zee twisted at the waist to wave a droid out of the back room, throwing an old armorweave bag over his shoulder. The white-and-green helmet of his beskar'gam hung from the strap, declaring his affiliation as clearly as his clan tags - how many Mandalorians of his family tended to interpret the Resol'nare's command to be armored at all times. "Jaysev, hit Borski with some yowttabed in about an hour to get him moving, if he's still out." He instructed. "He wanted an eighteen hundred wake-up call for his thing tonight." The medical droid - which appeared to be a heavily modified natal specialist - raised a scoop-like hand in acknowledgement and gave a soft chime. "When he's out, lock up and you're free for the night. If there's a 'mergency, call Mersey."

"We can hit up your place, I love seeing how a technician works." Bouncing out from behind the counter, Zee offered Alora Vizsla a broad smile. "Hi! I'm Zalke - Zee for short. Trauma nurse, mostly, though I've got a lot of clinic hours." He explained, motioning towards the door. He paused only long enough to slide a hoverboard over his shoulder and unfold an umbrella. "I've got a little side-hustle making accessibility devices. My interests include dancing - which I'm awful at - and martial arts - which I'm worse at. Most animals make me nervous." Zee added. "I bleach my hair white. Those are most of the facts about me."

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[Alora Vizsla]

Alora leaned a bit to the side to peer at the helmet, but didn't say anything as Zee called back to Jaysev.

"Great!" Return to Gam? Well the lab was always ready for guests.

At Zee's direction, Alora turned to move toward the door as he grabbed his board. "Oh, wow. Ice breakers already? Guess we could do something for agility if your dancing needs help," so maybe they'd found a cyber-aug that would benefit him after all. "I mean we could do those whole 'I know Kung Fu' thing, but I don't usually recommend brain-dumps. They're kind of risky, and don't always take."

"I'm a cyberdoc when I'm not busy running blockades or breaking through security perimeters. You'd be surprised how many people are locked out of reach from otherwise well-meaning people. I've decked Gam out in all kinds of cool tech to slip in where we aren't wanted." Alora led the way back to where she'd parked. "But when I'm not geeking out, I like rock climbing, orbital drops, competition shooting, and hot chocolate. What am I not good at? Uh, respecting local statutes and social taboos."

She looked over at Zee with a grin. "When we get to the ship, I'll have to show you my helmet." Not that her armor itself was terribly traditional either, but a nearly flatline for a visor was blatantly in violating of code.

"So, trauma nurse, huh? By choice or necessity?"

Zee Caromed​

 

[Zee Caromed]

Zee's grin when Alora Vizsla came in had been professional. His smile when they'd struck up conversation was friendly. Now, though? Straight up excited. "I gotta say, I think we're gonna be fast friends." The svelte Mando promised. "I never met a tradition above question, a fence I didn't hate, or a cop who didn't need to get tossed into either a woodchipper or a septic tank." He promised. "And if you're the sorta person who feels strong things about getting people the access and tech they need across whatever pretend borders governments like to pretend matter, we absolutely GOTTA talk shop."

"Second on the brain-dumps." Zee added sagely, popping an umbrella as they left the clinic. "My sister basically got taught how to be people from that kinda junk, and her whole brain got scrungled. And she allegedly got the good stuff."

"So, trauma nurse, huh? By choice or necessity?"

"Choice." Zee replied honestly. "Thought it didn't feel like much of one at the time. My Clan runs a bunch of little hospitals and clinics around here, has for generations. I was always gonna learn some of it, but learning how to save lives felt more important than anything else I could be doing. I've been with the life-bearers ever since." He explained. "How about you? How'd you get into the wetware business?"

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[Alora Vizsla]

Alora nodded, and then looked over at Zee with raised brows. "Whoa. That's twisted. Is she... alright now?" Just how many times had Zee's sister screwed with her head? Gam always went on about how dangerous it was; and if anyone knew anything about the subject it was Gam. At least in Alora's estimation.

Then Zee explained it was kind-of choice, which she could understand. Circumstances kind of led to it, but he could always quit if it wasn't something he actually liked on some level. Liked didn't mean enjoyed either. Sometimes you were just good at something and that was the end of it.

"Uh," Alora looked away for a moment with a shrug, "it's a long story." She sighed after a second before her honey-brown eyes turned back to Zee. "Short version is I had a lot of work done on me by a reclusive master in the art, and just kind of learned it from him afterward. He wasn't exactly living in a mecha of ship parts so it took time to repair the ship even when I could walk." A smile crept back onto her lips.

"After that, it was just something I was good at. Why not offer my services? Lots of people out there in need, and this stuff isn't cheap. So I took to odd jobs so I could lower those costs and play with the latest gadgets. Everyone wins!" Alora shrugged. "Well, everyone except the people whose security I bypass to get things in or out of secure areas; but whatever."

It wouldn't be long until the modified VT-88 corvette came into view. Its black tips jutted forward.

Zee Caromed​