Kah’ri sat at the Horizon’s helm. The blue glow of the hyperspace tunnel that filled the cockpit accompanied the low hum of the starships engines and the periodic beeps of the numerous controls around him. Though normally this was Kah’ri’s favorite environment, his arms were folded and his eyes shifted rapidly under his eyelids. His mind filled with visions, abstract images of death and power, and a cold permeated his body more than the usual chill of starships.
His eyes rolled back down in his skull as a steady beeping from the console pulled his attention back to piloting. Checking a monitor, Kah’ri pressed a medium button and the ships intercom played a tone.
“Coming up on Jehda. Find a seat or it’ll find you.”
Coming out of hyperspace, Kah’ri grasped the controls and began the landing process. As they descended on the planet, Kah’ri noticed another ship had landed in a clearing not too far from where he was headed.
“Buddy, get me information on that ship. Who does it belong to?”
Kah’ri brought the ship about, flaring the engines as it gently touched the planet’s surface.
TuQ sat in the pilots seat of his U-Wing, The Krayt Dragon’s Breath, running through the ship’s shutdown procedure. Jedha was called the smuggler’s moon for a reason and he wasn’t going to take any chances with having his ship raided. He grabbed his hat from its resting place and exited the ship.
As he stepped onto the rocky surface of the moon, he noted a transport ship touching down nearby. With his hand on the butt of his holstered blaster, he cautiously approached, curious to see who had decided to invade his landing zone. He didn’t want to draw his DL-44 just yet, but he also didn’t want to be caught off guard. The shuttle’s loading ramp hissed as it lowered to the ground to reveal its owner.
In the past, the Sith Equite used to enjoy disembarking his ship with a dramatic flair, though since a recent comment on the ship’s un-intimidating appearance the pleasure had become a source of weariness on his pride. In spite of this, Kah’ri walked off the loading ramp with as much verbosity as was as in his possession. BD-12, because of its small appendages, ran toward the opposite ship to catch up with its master. After reuniting and exchanging a few beeps, the Firrerreo frowned.
“Plagueis? What the blazes are they doing here?”
Kah’ri paused to look back at the ship awaiting another figure before continuing. After a moment of this, he pressed a button on his wrist and raised it to his mouth, “ <@304428601342689284> !”
TuQ looked up suspiciously at the Firrerreo, the piercing green eyes of the newcomer locking with his own as he closed the distance between them.
“Peek, whatcha got?” TuQ whispered. A trill of beeps came back through his comm link. “Palatinea, eh?”
The Kel Dor relaxed his hand a touch but kept it ready to grab his blaster from its place on his hip. Their two clans weren’t exactly enemies, but when it came to members of the Brotherhood, even those of your own clan, it didn’t hurt to maintain a certain level of suspicion and caution.
“What brings a member of Scholae Palatinea to this little slice of a half destroyed moon?” the di Plagia inquired while sizing up the Sith. Could he take him in a fight if things took a turn here?
“That’s no more your business than your presence here is ours,” The Sith said very matter of fact, bowing slightly and addressing the Kel Dor by title. Kah’ri remembered the top dogs of each clan from his time in the Summit. Though he had never met TuQ’uan Varick in person, he knew of his reputation as a pirate - something Kah’ri might have use for.
“As a businessman, however, I understand the value of a mutually beneficial arrangement. I will tell you our objective but not for free: What have you to offer in exchange?”
“Well, you seem to have me at a disadvantage, but we can fix that later. As for what I have to offer?” He patted his pockets and then shrugged. “I didn’t bring a lot to barter with. I wasn’t exactly expecting to run into anyone.”
TuQ raised his hand to his chin and paused for a moment, pretending to think hard about what he was about to say next.
“How about this, I can offer you my services. Help you with whatever it is that brings you to this illustrious…rock. Trust me, I can be handy to have around.”
“Agreeable, but there will be contingencies. First, as is within our purview, any and all artifacts belong to the Galactic Empire (Of course, we have no interest in wealth, so any other loot is yours for the taking). Second, because of the perilous nature of this ‘illustrious rock’ as you put it, it is in the best interest of us all to maintain this alliance. Should either party default on this agreement, the defaulted party must forfeit their life for the sake of the mission. Agreement to this ensures that your actions are your own and that conflict between clans is out of the question.”
TuQ was a little taken aback, was this guy serious?
“Are you some type of lawyer or something? Never mind, don’t worry about that right now. Your terms seem acceptable. Do you have a contract written up? Want me to sign in ink, blood, a hearty handshake? Mister….” He leaned forward expectantly, waiting to learn his new business partner’s name.
“Ah yes, how rude of me. Kah'ri Marru. Former Quaestor of House Acclivis Draco under the reign of Emperor Thran Occasus and now your expedition partner. Oh and verbal is fine. BD-12 has the whole thing on record.” Kah'ri wore a sly grin as he reached over his shoulder to pat the droid on the head.
“Well then Kah’ri, since we seem to find ourselves in a legally binding verbal contract, care to fill me in on what the job is and how your newly found and probably overqualified partner can help you?”
“Overqualified?” Kah'ri’s face bore his surprise openly before setting his gaze towards the stony ruins before them. “My friend, what do you know of a Vergence?…”