Fandom Of Mercenaries and Fanatics: A Star Wars Story

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A Project Brought to you by Pagemaster and Saix

Chapter One: The Offer​

 

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Dantoonie, Dantoo Town

Val Harik, that wasn't his real name of course, walked briskly down the boarding ramp and into the fresh air that smelled of recently fallen rain; thankfully the humidity had fallen as well and he did not begin sweating at once. Unremarkable even by human standards, Val was one of the ten of millions of humans with blonde hair over six feet tall. Not that it mattered, height could be adjusted, hair colour could be changed, even eye colour could be doctored with the right amount of money. Even his beard, just reaching his chest, could be a fake and only the most observant customs officer might notice.

Dantoonie boasted exactly three settlements, one long abandoned Rebel base, and a smattering of nomadic near human Dantari who wandered up and down the lush coastline where it met undulating azure seas. Most travellers who arrived from off world came for one of two things, hunting or to get away from the rest of the galaxy. Some however, very few at that, like Val came looking for something else.

He took a deep breath and smiled around at his surroundings; this was the type of place he would have liked to bring his wife and kids, settle down, start up a farm, and spend his days in tranquil toil for himself. It was a nice dream, one that had been cruelly crushed when the Empire destroyed his home world of Alderaan. Val had been away on Coruscant when the planet was vaporized, there was quite literally no other way to put it, as a wine merchant when he got the news. There had been no need to quit his job, his employer simply didn't exist anymore.

In his anger he had attacked a pair of storm troopers after more than a few of his own bottles of wine. They had subdued him easily and thankfully taken him for some sort of common drunk, tossing him into a "tank" for a couple days. The scare served to keep him away from intoxication as he wandered Coruscant trying to determine what to do next. Like so many in his place, vengeance became a motivating factor but it seemed impossible.

But then something incredible had happened, the Rebels blew up the First Death Star. The holos showed it all as a small collection of dedicated individuals, bound only by a desire to be free, destroyed the greatest weapon the galaxy had ever seen. A week later he made contact with an old friend who had once quietly asked him to smuggle information during a delivery run. That was the beginning of something far more than he could have ever imagined.

Val had thrown himself wholly into the Rebel cause and was disappointed he had no skill for space craft, but he did have charisma to spare and a burning hatred for the Empire that brought pause to some of the more moderate Rebels. As the war progressed he was dispatched to Endor as a trooper under Leia Organa. The destruction of the Second Death Star, only four years after the first, left him with a lasting impression of Imperial power. There was no end in sight as warlords rose everywhere and chaos engulfed the galaxy.

Fast forward another four years and Val had become perhaps the first among equals when it came infiltration and sabotage. The former wine seller turned Rebel had developed a gift for slipping into places he shouldn't be and then blowing them up. His feelings toward the Empire never dimmed and tales of his exploits earned him the whispered title of "fanatic". Some said he had become as bad as those he fought, but for Val the Imperial forces were not human anymore, they were a plague to be eradicated.

That was why he was here, on Dantoonie. The mission he had been given, one of an ever increasingly dangerous sort, called for destruction of a major enemy installation. The New Republic had neither the equipment, personnel, nor funding to carry out major operations in every corner of the galaxy and had been turning to individuals like Val, giving them a task and funding, and asking no questions when the job was completed. Normally, Val would have sought out some of his old cronies to give him a hand, but they were scattered across the star systems on other missions and so here he was, looking for a hired gun to help him should things go sideways, and who better to hire than a Mandalorian?

It had taken him some time to track one down with the skills he needed. He didn't need a hot headed gun slinger who liked blasting rockets everywhere. Nor did he need one who was so famous that they were instantly recognizable. No, he needed someone who knew the value of discretion and when not to pull the trigger. In the end that had been easier than he thought when Senator Organa had provided him a tip from Republic intelligence about a Mandalorian on Dantoonie who was between jobs.

He'd hoped on the first shuttle off Coruscant and made good time, arriving just as the planets day cycle was breaking. Now as he stood in the sun, drinking in the fresh air, he knew that he could begin his search. He had Imps to kill and that thought made him smile even more broadly.

 

[Saix]

Dantooine, Dantoo Town
Cina Eldar​

Cina started her morning as she usually did from the comfort of her Kom’rk-class fighter which she had landed about an hour’s ride out from the major city Dantoo Town by landspeeder. This Mandalorian made fighter/transport hybrid was her home and held more sentimental value than she could ever put into words. It had not only carried her safely throughout more conflicts than she cared to remember, but also managed to get her and as many people that she could fit into it’s hull off of Mandalore during the Purge. For a people who where on the verge of extinction, this ship was priceless.

The mandalorian woman kept the vessel well stocked and even converted some of the sleeping quarters into small greenhouses that allowed her to have some fresh produce outside of the the typical assortment of foods that could be stockpiled for an extended period of time. The Kom’rk was able to hold at least two months worth of food supplies for all two dozen intended occupants but given that Cina often found herself to be the only passenger, these supplies could keep her fed up to two years.

She emerged from the captain’s quarters dressed in a loose fitting black jumpsuit with a fully opened zipper that showed the skin colored breast band that she wore and thick wooly socks that kept her feet warm against the cold metal floors of the Kom’rk as she made her way to the galley for some much desired caffeine. Her thick black hair hung in loose waves with ends that swayed gently across the middle of her back as she walked and her mind catalogued all of her tasks for the day. She would need to head into town to transfer credits from her personal accounts through what would otherwise be a complicated series of dummy accounts until it reached its intended recipients and stop by the market for extra supplies. A typical day for when she was between jobs and had the luxury of picking her next venture on her own terms.

It was about midday by the time Cina made her way into the Dantoo Town markets fully docked in her white and blue beskar armor complete with a jet pack, dual pistol holsters, vambraces, and her distinct helmet with a heads up display. Her wavy hair was no where to be seen as she had braided her locks tightly to her head so that it could fit snuggly within her helmet. To most passerby’s she was simply ‘a mandalorian’ with the helmet that looked like an animal’s face but to the educated few, they would recognize her for the Nite Owl member that she was. When those few were clients, they typically paid very well for her services. As she browsed the stalls and spoke with various merchants none dared to offer their goods at exorbitant prices and often gave proposals she was willing to pay with little to no haggling even when she knew they were aiming to still make a small profit from her. She had come through this market often enough for them to understand that if they were fair with her, she would be fair in return. The last place she visited was more of a warehouse and a place she spent a lot of time in whenever she was planet side as it was the best spot find various quality plants and seedlings. It was managed by a small Togruta family consisting of a husband, wife, and a daughter just barely 10 years of age. It was the youngling who greeted the mandalorian by name.

“Cina! Cina! We just got in a shipment of fruit seeds and some young adults. Do you think you would be interested in seeing them??” the young togruta exclaimed, barely able to contain her excitement from as she fearlessly grasped onto Cina’s gloved hands to guide her deeper into the building.

“That depends on the kind of fruits you have Ryala. Unfortunately I don’t have the space for anything that grows into a tree…” Cina replied, her feminine voice projecting through the helmet’s speakers as she answered the little girl’s question.

 

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Dantooine, Dantoo Town
Val Harik
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There was the odd time when things just sort of came together and Val was very pleased that today was one of those days. It had taken him quite some time to even confirm that a Mandalorian existed on Dantooine - not surprising given their famously reclusive ways - but the folk here, as in many small towns, were wary of strangers, especially friendly ones. In the end it was good cold hard cash credits that cracked the case and a hunter on his way out of town had happily told the charismatic stranger where to Find "the Mandalorian" for 100 Imperial credits and a promise from Val that he would not tell the Mandalorian who had confirmed they were in town.

Finding her actually become surprisingly easy after that. There weren't that many spacecraft on Dantooine and all he had to do was chat up a few of the old timers at the local watering hole who were only to happy to have fresh meat for their tiresome tales. A few drinks in, a couple of hardy guffaws at terrible stories, and Val knew roughly where the Mandalorian was parking their ship. He had only just paid for the tab, thanked the old fellas for their help, and stepped out into the midday sun when the warrior herself, in full fig nonetheless, strolled right on by as if she was headed to the market without a care in the world.

More to his surprise, she actually was headed to the market. He noted the polite courtesy with which they treated the locals and awe with which they regarded them in return. That was good, decent people were always so much easier to hire than would be hero gunslinging pricks. He was somewhat surprised to see they were a Nite Owl. That kind tended to go one of two ways - and stick together - either the served Bo-Katan, or whatever remnant of the Empire paid them well. This was where he would have to be careful. Any Nite Owl friendly, or even loyal to the Empire could simply not be trusted.

He continued his quiet observations without leaving the entrance to the tavern as he smoked a totally harmless cigarette cooked up by New Republic intelligence. It looked real, smelled as awful as the real thing, but was just an act. No cancer for this mother son. He thought as he tapped some ash onto the ground at his feet. He had no doubt the Mandalorian had their helmet up and running, but as long as he didn't do anything rash, they might not notice him right away. He had no doubt his presence as an outsider would quickly be brought to their attention so there was little point in stalling. He stubbed out his smoke and began to walk toward the blue and grey armoured shape, making no effort to be appear sneaky or suspicious, he really had no interest in taking a blaster bolt to the chest.

“Cina! Cina! We just got in a shipment of fruit seeds and some young adults. Do you think you would be interested in seeing them??” A young Togruta minding a nearby stall eagerly called out to the Mandalorian and Val cocked his head slightly. Tight pants with an ass you could bounce a credit off, check. A possible curve along the hip line, check. Armour made it difficult at the best of times, but he was not fairly certain the Mandalorian was female and not just a male with a slight build; if it was still a male, Val was about to be very sexually confused. The voice that came smoothly from within the helmet was unmistakably female and he felt the corner of his mouth quirk up slightly.

It seemed rude to interrupt so he waited for the little Togruta female, who looked slightly crestfallen at finding out Cina couldn't grow trees on a spacecraft, hurried back to ask her mother if they might have something else for her friend. Val, keeping his hand well clear of the blaster at his hip, sidled up to Cina and offered a polite greeting. As the faceless helmet swung toward him he could see his reflection in the black visor and was quite thrilled with how his blonde hair, normally rather flat, had gone wavy in the humid climate.

"If you've got a moment when you're done with your friend, I'd like to discuss a job with you. Say the tavern when you're ready?" He gave her a broad grin and turned back the way he had come. A minute or two later he was back at a table by himself near the bar. Beggars couldn't be choosers, the place only have six tables anyway. He called for a drink and settled in to wait.

 

[Saix]

Dantooine, Dantoon Town
Cina Eldar​

Cina was patiently waiting for Ryala to return from questioning her mother when an unfamiliar voice fell upon her ears. She turned to face the stranger, her hands falling within drawing distance of her pistols if needed as she gave the blonde haired man a quick look over. He stood in as much of a passive stance as he could muster and made more effort to keep his hands away from his weapons than towards them, an obvious sign that he would rather avoid conflict with the mandalorian than earn her ire. Whether intentionally done or a result of fear, Cina considered it a smart move on his part as she would rather not cause harm to the togruta family or their business.

She had never seen this stranger before and even being a frequent occupant of the small town where a new visitor would stick out like a sore thumb, she was still away from the planet for long enough periods of time to miss anyone who decided to call the docile farming orientated outer-rim planet their home. However, she almost strictly took on jobs through the undervine, especially when on a more remote planet like Dantooine where there weren’t any guilds or brotherhoods for her to network with - so who was this man that went so far out of his way to find her on this unassuming planet of rolling grasslands and forests?

“If you’ve got a moment when you’re done with your friend, I’d like to discuss a job with you. Say the tavern when you’re ready?” he spoke confidently through a boyish grin that had spread across his bearded face before turning to leave to likely wait for her at the only tavern in Dantoo Town. The man was easy on the eyes which only further confirmed to Cina that he was likely bringing her trouble. With him gone, she turned her attention back to Ryala and her mother who were still staring at the doorway where the man had disappeared through until they decided to join her, the togruta child now just emerging from behind her mother’s skirts. It was the mother, Senell, who spoke to her this time.

“He’s new.” she said simply.

“Yes he is.”

“I just hope he doesn’t bring you any trouble even though I am more than confident that you could handle your own just fine. You’re just our favorite customer is all…” Senell was always one to speak her mind and it was one of many qualities Cina liked best from the woman. She couldn’t help but chuckle at the woman’s apprehension and rested a friendly hand on her shoulder briefly before changing the subject.

“I appreciate your concern. Now, did you have something that I could actually take with me?” Cina asked.

Senell clapped her slender peach colored hands as she was reminded of their original purpose and proclaimed, “Oh! Do you think you could manage fruits that grow on a bush or vine rather than a tree? You could keep the pot smaller to help restrict the growth for the bush and the vine you can shape it’s growth to your desire, just like those small bonsai we sold you a few month back. We have bink berries, muja, king berries, and honey fruit to name a few options if you’d be interested.”

Cina thought for a moment as a vine could be a relatively easy plant to manage but a bush would be a larger commitment. She quickly decided it was worth the credits to try and worst case scenario the plant would serve as fertilizer for the rest of her smaller producing plants. “I’ll take on honey fruit vine and one muja bush to try out. If you’ll leave them for me here, I’ll pick them up later with my landspeeder.”

“No problem, did you want to pay the 320 credits now or when you come pick them up?” the togruta woman asked as she had always been a quick mathematician.

“Now.” Cina replied simply, pulling out her purse from one of her belt pouches to place the credits in the Senell’s now outstretched hand. She’d rather have the debt paid in case she needed to grab the plants and leave. Returning the purse to it’s home, Cina started to leave the warehouse, raising her right hand to wave to the family that was now behind her before stepping into the late afternoon sun.

The Cantankerous Kath was only a short walk from the plant shop and seemed to have just started to pick up business from the locals who decided they needed a drink with some warm food after a hard day’s work. Finding her mark wasn’t that difficult as she not only could easily remember his face but he conveniently sat alone at one of the farther tables towards the back with a half full mug of locally made ale. Cina had eaten here a few times before so the owner who was handling the bar that day offered her a short wave in greeting before returning his conversation with the two local farmers that sat in front of him. Her newly made acquaintance sat with his back to the wall which allowed him full vision of the room and ultimately her arrival. She wasted no time making her way to his table and claim the empty wooden seat across from him, taking a comfortable position in the chair but sat in a way where she could still easily draw her firearms.

“So, who are you and what kind of job sends you looking for a mercenary on a rural outer-rim planet?” she asked with a tone that only reflected mild curiosity on her part. She didn’t bother asking who told him where she was as she had spent enough time working as a mercenary to know that with enough time, patience, creativity, and credits, you could find almost anyone.

 

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Dantooine, Dantoo Town
Val Harik
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Val was enjoying a plate of Charred Kath Shank and some sort of greenish liquid that looked absolutely vile yet tasted very pleasant indeed. The old fellas he had met just a short time before had asked him to rejoin them but he politely declined without any real explanation and they respected that enough to leave him alone. While he ate, chewing the tough meat that had been flavoured with something just on the right side of spicy, he considered his next move.

New Republic Intelligence was stretched to the breaking point and had little time to micro-manage everything going on across the galaxy. As a result, his handler, a Bothan he'd nicknamed Silverfox, was only one of two beings in the entire security apparatus who knew what Val was up too. Even then, only Silverfox knew his true identity, otherwise he was known by the code name ROAMER for this particular operation. He had cut his teeth in insurgent ops during the Rebellions march toward Endor and since then he had become what Silverfox referred to as a "Shaker". There were many terms in the spy world, and many trades as well, but few had the skills needed to operate almost completely alone without a support network and Val was the best there was. The target he had been given was as bad as they came and when he had been offered the task he had jumped at it with enthusiasm.

He sensed rather than saw the Mandalorian when she arrived. The bar tender suddenly stiffened slightly as the door whooshed open and a moment later the trim figure in grey and blue walked in, offering a small wave. A friendly Mandalorian, what an exciting find! He thought with a silent chuckle. He grinned outwardly at her and used his foot to slide a chair backward for her. She ignored it and went for the second chair. Fair enough. He didn't trust her either, yet.

“So, who are you and what kind of job sends you looking for a mercenary on a rural outer-rim planet?”

He did love a straight forward person and so, without any fanfare he leaned forward and placed his elbows on the table, hands steepled under his chin. The boyish humour vanished in an instant and the professional intelligence officer beneath made his appearance. He had no doubt she would sense a scam or a fraud, the Mandalorians were notoriously good at that sort of thing, and he had decided he wouldn't beat around the bush with this one either.

"My name is Val and I want to pay you to keep me alive."

 

[Saix]

Dantooine, Dantoo Town
Cina Eldar​

Cina tilted her head to the left in curiosity as she listened to the answer he provided. Gone was the playful charm and it is place was a hardness that was only found in those who walked a dangerous path and lived to tell the tale. Part of her was interested in what those stories entailed and if this job was worth the trouble, perhaps she would hear some of them.

“Protect you from who?” she asked promptly. Prior to his switch up, she would have guessed Val needed protection from an angry husband of a woman he was sleeping with who was wealthy enough to hire some decent assassins but now, nearly anything was on the table based on the look he gave her. Cina could only hope his pockets ran deep with credits, otherwise only a pile of beskar would get her involved in whatever job he had in mind for her and that was incredibly difficult to come by unless you managed to steal it from the Empire. Or whatever was left of them since they were no longer in power and those that remained were in deep hiding.

 

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Dantooine, Dantoo Town
Val Harik​

There were who those wore masks and helmets to hide their expression, Val could do without either of those things. He noted the subtle shift in the Mandalorians body language when she she realized this might be a bit more interesting than the average "save me from a bad business deal" and felt a small slip of satisfaction. There was something to be said for a little suspense; the hook had been taken and now he would need to show her what was in it for her. Val would have attacked the Emperor himself if he had been ordered to it, and he would have died with a smile on his face; he was a fanatic. She was a mercenary. Two motivations a world apart.

"I am going to be entering Hutt space where I have business that needs doing. It's going to be dangerous, it's going to get messy and a lot of people are going to die," He stated the last part with a confidence that few others might. "and I am willing to pay you 200,000 Imperial credits for your skillset."

It was a fortune, almost equal to the one paid by Darth Vader for the capture of Han Solo; who in turn had famously been paid 15,000 credits to deliver Obi-Wan Kenobi and Luke Skywalker to Alderaan; a journey they never completed. Despite the fragmentation of the Empire after the death of the Emperor, its various factions were still incredibly powerful and the New Republic had not had the time, or the energy, to set up their own reliable currency. The Imperial credit was still the safest and most stable currency in the galaxy. She might not know who he really was, or who he might work for, but very few beings out there had access to that kind of cold hard cash, and those who did were more powerful still.

"I have a secondary matter I intend to see too as well. For that, I will pay you an additional 200,000 credits." He could see his own reflection in t-visor across from him and not for the last time did he see the duality of the man he had once been and monster he had become. "For your discretion, and patience when it comes to knowing my targets, there is another 100,000 credits available." All told the money offered to Cina was a staggering fortune that would ensure she would never have to work again, and could live out her days in comfort.

"I suspect it is enough to tempt you with a life of leisure, or perhaps even to aid in the liberation of Mandalore..." He let the sentence fade away. He knew much of her creed and her kind. They shared something in common after all, a home world destroyed by the Empire. She, at least, had a chance to reclaim hers; all that was left to him was revenge and every wound he caused the Empire was more mark on the tally sheet against the obliteration of his people.

 

[Saix]

Dantooine, Dantoo Town
Cina Eldar​

Cina leaned back into her chair and slowly tapped the surface of their shared wooden table with her left hand as she mulled over his offer and filled their short silence with the soft thuds of her armored fingers as he took a few more bites of his meal. The man in front of her was layered, that much was certain, but how deep those layers went were a mystery to all but himself and whomever he trusted with his secrets, if such a person even existed. The number of individuals willing to pay the amount of credits Val offered was limited and given the details given of the job, that left him being likely associated with at least one of the three major factions that fight for power in the galaxy.This knowledge didn’t bother her nearly as much as his mentioning of Mandalore which had been glassed beyond sustainable life and it’s only inhabitants were the dead. Within the remaining hidden Mandalorian clans there were many who believed the planet to be cursed, some even going far enough to blame Lady Kryze for their downfall starting with her acceptance of the dark saber as a gift rather than through combat. This blame along with the genocide of their people is what drives the rest of her faction to hunt for Gideon, the man responsible for their loss and the current weilder of the saber to avenge their fallen brethren as well as offer the opportunity for their princess to earn back undeniable claim as their leader. The Night of a Thousand Tears had changed them all… some in more ways than others. For Cina, the memories of that night still haunt her and is the driving force as to why she travels alone. She’d rather support the clan from afar, gathering funds and information to help them reach their shared goals rather be under the constant reminder of what had been lost. What she had lost.

“If I had been any other gun for hire a life of leisure would be tempting, but I am not and the life I live now works for me just fine. As for Mandalore… in order to liberate a planet, there has to be people to save from their oppressors and nothing exists now other than the ghosts of our fallen.” As she spoke her tone and body language appeared as if they were talking about something trivial so as not give any hints to her true feelings on the matter. He was a stranger and it wasn’t his business. “Given the nature of this job, I’ll take 100,000 credits now and the rest can be given when you no longer have use for my services. If you don’t have your own transport you can meet me at the southern gate once you’ve finished your meal and I have finished my business in town. If this is acceptable, then we have a deal. ” Whether the money came from the newly reformed Republic, one of the major criminal syndicates that exist in the outer rims, or even the struggling Empire she wasn’t entirely sure but it wasn’t enough to deter her from taking the deal. In fact it would likely be the most action she’s seen in a while as Hutt territory is a lawless place filled to the brim with all forms of villainy and Cina could use the target practice.

 

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Dantooine, Dantoo Town
Val Harik​

Val let the boyish charm wash back over him like the mask it had always been as he tapped two fingers on the table, nodded slightly, and the right side of his lip curled up just for the briefest of moments. 100,000 up front was far less than he had expected her to ask for and knew that he could have it in any account she wished within the next few moments.

"We have an accord." They briefly shook hands, her grip strong, his deliberately less so. "Do you have an account number?"

As he suspected she had it readily at hand and he drew a datapad from the bag resting beside him on the bench. Everything he wore or carried was of such common origin that anyone, including the Empire, would have no way of tracing who he was or where he came from. One could never be to careful. He worked quickly on the datapad and less then two minutes of their handshake the Mandalorian was 100,000 credits richer courtesy of an account registered to a numbered corporate entity from, humoursly enough, inside Hutt space. He smiled broadly again at her inclined head when the money came through and looked down briefly at the datapad again.

"I'm packed and ready to go when you are. Name your time."

​

 

[Saix]

Dantooine, Dantoo Town
Cina Eldar​

The speed in which Val transferred the credits she required to start the job was satisfying. No mercenary enjoyed having to deal with clients who were either slow to pay or part of the unsavory few who tried to stiff them out of payment entirely and it was a roll of the dice for that client as to how far the gun for hire would go to get what they deemed to be rightfully theirs. Her new employer smoothly slipped back into his playful facade as they shook hands to solidify their deal and Cina released his hand as readily as she took it for their pact. Pressing both hands into the table to push herself up, the mandelorian rose from her chair to make a more thorough scan of the room and took a more serious note of everyone who had occupied the room besides the pair just in case anyone had eavesdropped on their conversation. It was early enough in the evening for them to make their way off-world before additional workers found their way into the bar and consumed enough liquid courage to try their luck for what would otherwise be life changing credits.

Cina spoke to Val as she logged their faces to memory and scanned them for anything notable, “I should be at the southern gate in about 20 minutes from the plant shop you found me in earlier. I doubt you’ll get into any trouble here but I’m going to give you one of my tracking beacons.” she reached her hand into one of her back pouches to pull out a compact silver circular disk with a press-able button in it’s center and placed the device in front of her newly acquired companion. The tracker she gave him was smaller than ones most people used to attach to vessels and was perfect for tagging people discretely as they were often mistaken for a coin. “Press on the center button and I’ll be able to find you anywhere on the planet.”

After a few moments Cina returned the full weight of her attention back to Val after not having discovered anything to note from the men who were at the bar and pushed in the chair she once occupied silently back into it’s place tucked under the table so she could take her leave. “Since that covers everything or now, I’ll be on my way.” she said simply, offering him a slight nod before turning to walk back out the front door. There wasn't a point in lingering or continuing the conversation longer as they would soon be spending a lot of time together on her ship as they made their way to whatever Val's destination was in Hutt Space.

 

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Dantooine, Dantoo Town
Val Harik​

A tracking beacon, how fun! He idly tossed it into the air and then caught it with his other hand as he strolled through town. There was no doubt that pretty much anyone who was anyone knew he had met with the Mandalorian, not that it mattered, nothing had been said that would give away his purpose. He steps took him aimlessly around the small settlement, there wasn't much to do on a planet like this but he could at least indulge in one of his favourite past times, shopping for property he would never buy.

It took him no time at all to locate the local realtor, a scruffy looking Bothan who looked like he'd lost a fight with a bad electrical circuit. He also happened to run the only real outfitting and hardware store in town, not to mention have the only off-world communications array - if you didn't have your own star ship - that he charged a few credits more than an honest creature might to use.

"A thousand acres you say?" Val said as he glanced over the holographic image before him. It was a quaint looking farmstead near the ocean, about forty minutes out of town as a speeder goes. "Got its own well and refresher system?"

The Bothan nodded his silvery grey head, the light rippling like a moon over moving water, and stabbed a claw toward the house. "Yes, and the house was built four years ago."

"Could set up a decent operation there. Who is the seller?" Val asked, carefully watching the other out of the corner of his eye.

"Erm, that would be me." The Bothan seemed uncomfortable and Val narrowed his eye slightly over top of his never ending smile.

"Indeed... So why are you selling?"

"I just don't need the place anymore. I've got 100,000 acres to the north I'm looking to develop into a game park to bring in more tourists. You might say that credits are not in great supply here."

"Indeed not," Val replied. "But this one isn't for me quite yet. Maybe when I get back."

The Bothan eyed him carefully for a moment. "You're taking up with the Mandalorian then?"

"Oh yes, a certain ladies husband is looking for me and I'd rather not be dead," He pretended awkwardness for a moment. "You won't mention any of this if someone should come looking for me? I might just need to buy something out this way to stay low, if you know what I mean."

Greed gleamed in the Bothans eyes as he nodded and escorted his strange guest to the door. There could be a considerable fortune in such an operation for him. The human hadn't even flinched at the price tag and he knew a rich man when he saw one.

"Safe travels until you return then." The Bothan said as the two shook paws. Val began to make his way south and the silvery figure watched him go for a couple moments before shrugging his shoulders and returning inside.

Val made his way to the southern gate, smiling happily at anyone who greeted him and offering a friendly, though muted, reply. He might be a stranger, but he was a friendly one, and that was just as forgettable as if he'd never been there. Everyone remembered the dark brooding types, the Mandalorian for example, but no one bothered to memorize a person who greeted you and then vanished from your life. In a way, he reflected, he was something like a ghost. Briefly visible and then immediately forgotten. He liked it that way.

The southern gate was a generous term. It was two wooden posts with a cross beam flanked on one side by a speeder station, and on the other by an empty woodlot. Val found a comfortable log and leaned his back against a couple more. He closed his eyes and turned his face toward the sun. He had no doubt the Mandalorian would find him, if she wasn't already tracking his every movement with the device she had given him. He would wait. It was a fine day to sit in the sun.