The sky was actually cloudy, a tell-tale sign that the weather was turning, which seasonably, was appropriate. After the war several people, Aurelis included had come back severely injured. As as much as the woman would gripe at Jon putting her on light duty…she never felt good sitting still, the reality though, was that she needed it. He’d practically forced her down into a wheelie chair, and spun her around before disappearing with the red head glaring at him as he whistled when he walked away.
She was in the open air hangar, sitting in said wheelie chair at a table while reviewing datapads. Her deep red curls pulled back in a braid out of her face. She looked up as a woman with cropped black hair pulled up another chair, on wheels, and sat on it backwards,“ Having fun yet?” “Shut it Aryn…” Aurelis grumbled, her Imperial accent coming out strong while she signed off on a requisition. The black haired woman, Aryn, chuckled, quite used to this. “What are you even doing here…” “ARX ordered some manufacturing tools and for whatever reason their being shipped here.” “Good then you can pay the tax.” Aurelis quipped, deadpan. Aryn pressed a hand to her chest,“ You wound me.” Aurelis rolled her eyes. A staff member approached and handed Aure a manifest on a tablet,“ Got a passenger ship coming in soon, most have applied for citizenship.” Aurelis nodded, taking the tablet, and rising from her seat. “ Shoo Aryn, I have work to do.”
Aurelis stood at 5'10", and while in light duty was wearing simple clothes, a cream lightly woven top and black pants tucked into combat boots. The signet of the Aedile’s post pinned to her shirt near her collar. Everything on New Tythas was sleek, blues, silvers and golds that blend smoothly against the shimmering surface of the planet’s vast ocean. What was unseen though, was the expansive system that lay underneath the water, tunnels, domes and buildings that made up the rest of the Capital.
Aurelis looked at the manifest of passengers, counting up those who had already applied for citizenship and those who hadn’t, walking with purpose towards the landing pad the ship was assigned to, awaiting the arrivals.
The ship touched down, and Reltud was the first off, pushing himself to the front. He grimaced as he stepped off the ship.
“SE-2, remind me never to fly again. Disgusting. Cram us in like sardines, and cut off any moisture to boot.” SE-2 responded with a series of chirps and trills, though it was unclear if it was acknowledgement or agreement. “So. We need credits. Or, I suppose I do, since you don’t, you know, do much. Yet. Keyword? Yet. Let’s see…. droid repair? Nah, too common. I suppose I don’t really Need an apartment. Maybe a fish tank?”
“Good thing this entire planet is essentially a fish tank.” came Aurelis’ voice as he stepped off the ramp,“ Though I doubt the droid would survive.” “ Name? Have you applied for citizenship? Or passing through?” she asked as she looked….down at the Nautolan who only came up to her nose.
Reltud sighed. “Lady? I just came from a planet where ‘the only thing you need to know about the outside world is that it sucks’. No. No I haven’t applied for citizenship yet. And SE-2 will be… fine. Probably. Mostly. Maybe.”
SE-2 lets out a series of resigned chirps, already beginning to realize this is it’s lot now.
“Hey! I bought you, I can unbuy you!” Under his breath, Reltud muttered “Ungrateful piece of scrap. Not worth the parts you’re made of.”
Aurelis raised an eyebrow at this interaction,“ Based on what I heard, you’re in search of a job, so you’ll need citizenship to ensure that you are paid appropriately.” She flipped through the manifest again, idly ticking boxes as people passed by,“ By process of elimination you must be Reltud Silversun.” she stated rather than asked. She reached behind her to a stand and picked up a tablet, holding it out to the nautolan. “ Fill this out as best you can, take elevator 3 to the 3rd lower level, second door on your left you can turn that in. They’ll get your papers squared away and provide you with information on resources on housing and jobs.” she passed tablets to a number of others who she’d identified as not having citizenship and had stopped to listen to her.
“If you have any questions, you may ask.”
“Yes, I have one,” he said, with almost believable sincerity. “Was it the tentacles or the eyes that gave away I was the only nautolan on the ship?” Reltud sighed and took the datapad. “There. There. There, that’s a trick question, aaaaaaaaannnnnd… there.”
She looked him over and turned her manifest around. Those with citizenship had pictures next to their entries, those without, didn’t have species listed, but did have their boarding location. “ Maybe it was the naming convention and not your actual species.”
“So….. the name, and the fact that I came from Glee Anslem….. meaning I’m a nautolan…… you know what? This is a waste of time,” Reltud says already bored.
He looked at SE-2. “You get one, one scratch on you, and I’m putting a restraining bolt on you.” He looked around. “Okay, I need to get this form filed, so I can, you know, work. And eat. And maybe live somewhere that doesn’t look so disgustingly hopeful.”
“If you think this place looks hopeful, level 4, take the tram to stop 3.” she added deadpan. “ If I’m done wasting your time, you can step aside.”
Reltud pinched the bridge of his nose, and started to walk away. “Beauracrats,” he muttered under his breath.
“Wrong.” she said absently passing another tablet to another person.
“It’s okay, I forgive you!” Reltud called over his shoulder, still walking. “Most people are!”
Aurelis rolled her eyes and answered someone else’s question.
Down the elevator, when Reltud stepped out the view outside a window to his right, was clearly underwater, as a starfish was stuck to the glass, and a couple fish lazily swam by. The tablet asked some simple questions, name, age, species, birthplace and skills. There were a couple people ahead of him in the office she’d directed him to, but things seemed to run smoothly and quickly. They processed a number of forms here, not just citizenship. It was maybe 20 minutes before Reltud was called forward.
Reltud sighed and stepped forward presenting the form.
Reltud Silversun Thirty Nautolan “Obviously,” he muttered. Glee Anselm Droids, ships, electronics, anything with a spark
The man at the desk processed his paperwork efficiently. Reltud was provided a data pad with his citizenship ID, a map of New Tythas and a list of job openings, including a few in the hangar he’d just come from, some private businesses, the Jedi enclave and even some on board New Tythas registered ships via something of a planetary guard corp.
Reltud looked through them. “Boring, rote, routine, that’s a scam, I’m not working for the jedi, again… For the love of…. is there nothing that’s not simple fixes a toddler could do?” he complained as he walked, nearly walking into walls, and several people, as he did so.
Reltud would suddenly find a hand on his shoulder and was guided to sit down on a bench,“ You’re going to hurt yourself or someone else.”
“If you’re looking to skate by on life, go down to Haven’s for their opening. When you’re ready for a challenge, come find me.” Aurelis said, straightening her posture. Over her shoulder was a battle-duffel bag with the name of an armorer emblazoned on the fabric, in her other hand, a smaller bag, likely a lunch box of some sort.
Reltud sighs. “Honestly, I know I’m short but like. Big robot guy. I’m just going to have him walk in front of me. Also, aren’t you… I don’t know, an…. immigration officer? Dock Manager? Sorry, but fixing a leaky coolant line doesn’t exactly sound like much of a ‘challenge’,” he said, airquoting challenge.
The answering smile, was somewhat cold,“ Appearances can be deceiving, I’m on light duty for the next two weeks and filling in for someone else while they are on leave.”
“ Besides, a toddler could fix leaking coolant, sounds right up your alley.” she quipped with dry sarcasm.
“Lovely,” Reltud muttered, already scrolling his datapad. “A short joke. Well, when you have someone whose insults are, you know, clever, you know where to find me. Or a paying job, I guess.
“You were the one who mentioned toddlers first.” she pointed out.
Reltud sighs. “Context does matter. So. You have a job offer you said? I’m listening.” He doesn’t look up from his datapad, turned slightly away, though it is currently scrolling through droid parts that are far, far, far above what he could afford currently. He seems to be creating a ‘wishlist’ of sorts.
“We’re in need of someone who knows their way around combat ready ships. Who can work their way into security systems, and isn’t a coward afraid of some combat.” she said.
Reltud sighed.
“Well, I certainly know my way around a security system or ten. And… well, I’m not a fighter, but I know enough not to be a liability.”
“ That’s enough for me for the moment to know you’ll do. Looks like you’ll be joining me on an operation soon then.”
“Yup. Just send me a message,” Reltud said, not looking up from his datapad