Private Type A

[Delila Castillon]

Keen eyes had kept an eye on the skies, hands not leaving the turret controls just yet. Delila wasn't sure if someone had called in reinforcements or if the one vessel was it. She couldn't imagine too many in one area, perhaps a star system over. Which meant they had some time - perhaps stretch the legs and ask the settlers if they knew anything about the group.

Least they could do was possibly put out a warning to fellow spacers and anyone entering the area. Spacers should certainly be using caution in the old Sanctum regions but it was always good to be reminded how dangerous things could be.

“Not bad for a retiree!”

She rolled her eyes, listening to him over the intercomm. She reached up to reply back.

"Not bad for a saber swinger."

Jared Starchaser

 

[Jared Starchaser]

The nice thing is they worked well together. Jared felt that with the right bit of veteran status, anyone could really work well together with knowing a little about a ship and the roles. Or the team. What Jared knew was that he had his role, and she had hers. The history of combat between the two of them probably helped. And the fact that it was a simple task. Now if they were about to end up escorting people out of Hapes because of some bloody Sunday wedding? Well, that was a whole other thing.

But for now, he could accept their win and be ready. They were here to deliver supplies, but the last thing he wanted to do was bring pirates, and cultists least of all, to the settlements. He wasn’t sure just how well armed they were, and didn’t want to have to get Delila involved in some Rebellious Seven type shenanigans.

That old holoflick of the seven Republic marshalls helping that border town…

“Well, you know us, just have to be the hero. You feel ready to pick up the payloads, or you wanna fly and I run the crane?” He was moving the ship back to the first. “Think they came alone?” If they could do a drop off, they may have to fight again…

Delila Castillon

 

[Delila Castillon]

“Well, you know us, just have to be the hero. You feel ready to pick up the payloads, or you wanna fly and I run the crane?” He was moving the ship back to the first. “Think they came alone?”

Laughter escaped her. Not at the hero comment, she wasn't that easily amused, more of the offer to fly. She was not a pilot nor was it a skill she wanted to develop. Being a soldier most of her life the piloting had been done for her. That was someone's assigned role, why would she even dream to interfere? Now that she was on her own, technically she did fly. Just very poorly.

"Are you trying to conduct an insurance scam? Would be happy to assist on that front by flying then."

Question centered around the settlers and if they were followed by a cult. Quiet between them as she debated if they had been followed. If more were out there. To be fair, she hadn't been exclusively in this area long. Nomadic lifestyle and all.

"I think there are more in this sector, as if they followed us....unsure. We can ask the settlers once we land. Let's grab the dropped supplies and get them in the hands that asked. I'll stay on turret. Let's get moving before daylight escapes us."

Jared Starchaser

 

[Jared Starchaser]

So, either she thought he was extremely arrogant, which, to be honest, Jared had a bit of arrogance, he was decent with his saber, and a flight stick, and well, his father was Coren Starchaser, or she really didn’t like flying. This would just be shuttle flying, a bit of something he learned in his youthier years to do while doing something else. It made flying the cargo ships a bit easier, and helping with the smuggling life his father told him he had to learn.

“I mean, couldn’t hurt, not my ship, and it could get replaced pretty easily, I think.” It wouldn’t be the first time he did something like that, lose a ship, try to replace it, and hope he didn’t get caught.

“If they followed us, the settlement may be burned. Any comms from the turret? See if we can’t get a local patrol unit to add this world as their next stop?” The ship moved slowly as Jared followed the instructions that Hopper gave him. “Hate for them to have to pick up and leave again, but that is the trial of life out here.”

He loved it, but it wasn’t for everyone. As he got over the first zone, he nodded.

“Over the first payload now.”

Delila Castillon

 

[Delila Castillon]

"If the settlement is burned then I supposed we can talk to the corpses and gather information."

Dark humor and she was only partially joking. If things were burned down they would investigate enough to try to determine cause. Or she could investigate and determine cause while Jared Starchaser sat in the vessel. Either way. She couldn't imagine a settlement being defenseless but again, it would be no match for a cult. Or large-scale pirates.

"Noted"

Manning the crane, she used the screen to help guide to pick up the payload dropped in the jungle. A bit like playing a game many dive bars had really, only on a much grander scale. It required Starchaser to hold the vessel still while she focused on getting the claws just right around the payload. Silence as she focused on the screen, finally clamping down after a few minutes.

"Alright, payload recovered. Probably got some extra leaves with it now."

 

[Jared Starchaser]

Delila really had been through the ringer a few times, huh? It took Jared a good moment to recognize what she was saying as teasing and not the actual truth. He had seem weird karking poodoo around the galaxy in his years since the collapse of the Outer Rim Coalition. “I guess, I’ll let you lead those interrogations though.” He shot back, a small laugh at the end of the statement.

When she got the crane working, he was seeing it through the screen, the ship was in a good-enough spot. It wasn’t that he was being difficult, but they had to keep moving and if he adjusted the ship too much from his still-and-ready position? He’d mess up her whole retrieval.

Once it was on the ship, he flew over to the second and final crates, he moved the ship towards the village. Waiting for her to join him in the cockpit, he looked over. “So, think we make a stop, give them the heads up and make a jump out of here?” The Levants were solid people who were very handy in a fight, and running from them, should the odds outnumber them.

Was he just being picky and not wanting to sit still too long?

Delila Castillon

 

[Delila Castillon]

Making her way to the cockpit, she was still uneasy. It was going to be a feeling that stuck with her til she was back in the comfort of her own ship. Wasn't anything Jared Starchaser did, more so her own experiences and mishaps that had colored her viewpoint. Quietly she sunk into the seat, scanning out the viewport as she did so.

“So, think we make a stop, give them the heads up and make a jump out of here?”

A small nod of affirmation.

"I think so. If anyone is alive that is. I'm sure they already know. This can't be the first encounter or the first time they are learning about these cultists. Its my first time but to be fair, its the first time I've been out this way in a long time. Or done anything of the sort in a long, long time. Normally its basically glorified courier service....not the weirdest shipping situation I've been in though."

The redhead got to work on the sensors, stretching them out to get a blip on the settlement. She could make it out as they approached, if she squinted hard enough and focused.

"I don't see any columns of smoke - that's good."

 

[Jared Starchaser]

Her being uneasy was definitely something. Jared didn’t have the mindset that someone like Delila could be uneasy. The whole trip out here they discussed the battles they fought to various degrees, but never did he get the sensation she’d be easy to spook.

Looking at her, he shrugged. “I’m sure they’re still there, and probably listening to all forms of comms chatter. But to me, it just makes the best sense. A bit of a Levantine check, make sure they’re good, set them up with a way to contact us, or the local Patrol Unit.” As for her first time… “I’ve come across dark siders, a cult for the Bryn is just.. Thats a bit wild. I can almost see why, but I mean, its not the Moross, which had a message…”

And a wider function.

“Not the weirdest?” He looked over at her quizzically as he started to move the ship. They could see the approximate location of the settlement. “Nothing on the scanners either. Maybe just a drop off, and check in with the locals. You wanna do the talking, or have them listen to me?” The lightsaber did help in this type of circumstance.

Delila Castillon

 

[Delila Castillon]

"Ended up transporting a kid who was a Force experiment or something. Its a long story to tell now but rest assured he's hidden out here in the Tingel Arm with a small sect of Jedi. Or at least he was as of five or so years ago. That has been my weirdest transport ever."

Delila wondered if Adric was okay. She had wanted to visit him last year but Xin hadn't seem interested. Despite her belief that she had no maternal instincts, she just thought it prudent to check up on the kid. To let Adric know that he hadn't been forgotten and to check in to make sure he was progressing well. Now that she was on her own, perhaps it was something she could do in the very near future.

"I'll talk. No one wants to hear a Jedi lecture them about...anything."

---

The vessel landed and Delila made her way down the ramp, squinting in the sunlight. She should have brought her sunglasses along but didn't expect she was going to be going groundside. Boots crunched on the gravel landing pad put in place by the settlers. Head was on a swivel and she quickly spotted an older settler, clearly missing an eye.

Hand raised in a wave, calling out. No need to get shot.

"Hello!" A small pause. "We're the delivery crew. Ran into a few problems. Y'all used to this?"

"Off and on. Buncha crazies if you ask me. Name's Hektor." His hand outstretched and she took it in greeting to shake. "Delila. What brings you out this way?"

"Freedom mostly. Mining opportunities for some of us."

Jared Starchaser

 

[Jared Starchaser]

See? Sometimes asking what you were transporting got people into trouble. Jared liked to know what was in his ship, but there were so many times that he was transporting the wrong things, that he never truly followed his father as a smuggler. Coren didn’t transport living beings too often, but he was the type who took the jobs just for the glory and pushing his ship to its limits. Jared was more ‘can I sneak in to this place’ and the Crosscurrent demonstrated that. Sneaky, fast, and with the right bits of tech.

“I never had transport gigs like that. Did have to come to an old ORC world when they called. Apparently there was a cult abducting children. You think the Sith and their creations are the only monsters… Do I wish that was true."

Looking up at her from the seat, he shook his head. “Still not a Jedi.” Just carried the saber of one.

His saber, sure, but he wasn’t a Jedi.

***

He followed the redhead, keeping a little distance back, you know, to cover her six, clearly, he watched the settlement come into focus as his eyes adjusted to the light. He normally had some goggles that were not stylish, but definitely functional in keeping the sun from his eyes. Something that wouldn’t hurt here.

As he followed, the spacer-dressed-Mirialan did make sure his lightsaber was seen clearly, though more for the position as a Levant Sentry than a Jedi. They were here to help these people.

Hektor, huh? Jared nodded, taking that in as he looked around the settlement. “We were given some supplies to drop off here. Cult’s around your world, y’know?”

Delila Castillon

 

[Delila Castillon]

"We're well aware of the cult - got a militia that keeps 'em at bay. Any able bodied above sixteen." Hektor looked at them both, his good eye falling on the lightsaber briefly. The one eye that was still there flicked up to the Mirialan's face. "Can't count on help out there. Guess that's expected though, gotta take care of your own."

Delila turned a little, trying not to laugh at the third degree Hektor was attempting to give Jared Starchaser the third degree. All she could think was the old settler thought they were some kind of government officials. Sector Rangers. Some type of system patrol. Out in this type of place officials didn't exactly wear uniforms or badges.

"Tends to occur being on here on your own - don't think one can expect help in even the most populated part of the 'verse these days. Anything we need to avoid out here? How soon will the cult come back?"

As she was speaking, some younger members of the settlement came out and up towards the landing pad, coming to help unload the supplies.

"Hard to tell. It might take a bit to get the word out before they come pokin' around for their own. A day, perhaps? You two will be long gone before then."

Clearly Hektor did not want them around at all.

 

[Jared Starchaser]

Being on the very edge of the galaxy was something that Jared knew well, but what he wasn't expecting was that these folks were the type of fringer/settlers that knew how to keep themselves defended. Most of his credits were made by people coming to him to protect them from someone else. Or something else. It was not the best feeling, taking money for protection, but if he didn't do it, who would. "I mean, the Outback has the patrol units, but yeah, a lot of far flung worlds…" He could agree on that.

It was why Jorus and his father were making Path Engines to get people to these worlds.

"I mean, I'd sure as hell not want to be depending on the Alliance for help. Corellian heritage is being ready for anything and to defend yourself." And your team, of course. But that was a given.

On the Rim? It was anyone's game and you needed to work with the cards that you were dealt.

"Yeah, we'll be gone. But we got some things to drop off for you. Anywhere specific we can drop it before we get out of here?" Hektor didn't want them here after dark, and Jared knew better than to try to overstay any welcome.

Delila Castillon

 

[Delila Castillon]

Hektor motioned to the various youth, about from ages eight to fifteen, who had come to assist in moving the supplies. About ten in total, curiously looking at Delila and Jared Starchaser up and down. Spacers were a typical site, but chatter went through the kids about the lightsaber on the Mirialans side, hushed debates on its nature.

"Nope, got plenty of hands to distribute it out. Kids know what goes where, to what family and such. Just need to get it out of the vessel."

"Understood." Delila reached behind herself, pulling a pair of leather gloves out of her back pocket. Well worn and knicked, they had seem some use from her near decade in the hyperlanes playing courier. She understood the assignment - drop off and scram. Didn't offend her. Some were more chatty than others.

"You're free to come aboard kids. I'm not one of those ornery spacers - not yet anyway."

She motioned up the ramp as her gloves were put on, walking up with some of the more braver of the group of younglings. Some remained at the bottom next to their respulsar-carts, ready to stack.

Soon enough, cartons were being slid down the ramp, at least the uniform ones. Dells was aiming to get out by mid-afternoon. There was something about Hektor she didn't trust. Didn't make him evil or nefarious, but she wasn't going to press her luck.

 

[Jared Starchaser]

Maybe it was the Core-world upbringing in him, but seeing youths here to unload a ship? That was not what he expected. Jared and Kaia hardly ever had to do any manual labor they didn’t choose for themselves. Educated and taught to pilot, that was where their skills went. That and upsetting their father by not living in his shadow, or doing it their own way.

“Thats fair, I suppose.” He had seen it in his more recent years that children did pull their share, especially on settlement worlds.

What he didn’t suspect was Delila inviting the kids aboard in that motion. They were here to work, sure, but still, they were kids, and something about her struck Jared as not-the-mothering-type.

Part of what he found fascinating about her. Another person like him.

As the kids were unloading, Jared pushed a sentence that had no real meaning, but for him, and hopefully Dells, she’d understand it as Spacers’ Cant. And it had one message.

Something’s off about the Foreman.

Delila Castillon

 

[Delila Castillon]

Delila slid another case of dry case of pasta noodles across the floor towards one of the pre-teen kids as Jared Starchaser entered, delivering a message she surprisingly understood. Seven years in the hyperlanes did that to one. Spacers Cant, a weird dialect she had learned in spaceports from ancients who wanted to share knowledge. Each cantina, each refueling port she had picked up more and more of the odd little language.

Yet before she could answer, the pre-teen girl did instead, straightening back up with the case of pasta in her arms.

"He is not the Foreman. He is the Prophet. The Prophet knows all. Protects us. The Prophet will lead us into a new age of enlightenment."

Delila paused, looking at girl then Starchaser.

"Well, at least he bought the name brand pasta this month, eh? Come on, lets get this done before the Prophet gets upset we're talking. Hard work before play, right?"

The girl nodded solemnly. Delila had played right into her thought process on purpose. They were outnumbered. Tangling with this Prophet was unwise for both of them. At least until they knew more.