Part 3: Home

The crew of the Horizon Chaser, 9,000 credits richer but less two members, are each lost in their own thoughts as the ship speeds through hyperspace. The deal with Thessa’s contact went smoothly and they are on their way to find a place to spend credits, and hopefully find some more work: Nar Shaddaa.

Jack is sitting in the copilot seat, ruminating on the losses of the past month, when a light begins flashing on the console indicating an incoming message. Morosely, he reaches out and accepts the message, but then sits upright as Ada’s voice comes through the speaker.
"Hi Jack. Shut up, let me talk…this isn’t a two-way call, just a message. I…I can’t talk long, have to get back to work. But I wanted to let you know…I’m okay. I got away clean and am making a new life. Even got a straight job, can you believe it? Anyway, I wanted to say thanks. And sorry. Hope you guys are doing okay and haven’t crashed my ship."
She signs off with Ada’s typical dry humor and Jack feels the tightness that has been growing in his chest ease, just a bit. He sits back in the chair again and thinks to himself…

Bo is working on the spare parts she found on Bespin, trying to find a part to repair a wonky switch, when she hears a soft androgynous voice.
"What are you doing?"

Doc is arranging his medical tools, replacing used items and making sure everything is properly sterile. As he reaches for a laser scalpel his hand suddenly begins to shake and a memory from the past overtakes him…

Bo gets no response, and is clearly alone.

Settling back into their routine, the trip through hyperspace is uneventful for the crew and they soon arrive at their destination. Nar Shaddaa is a moon that is like Coruscant in that it is completely covered by buildings, but the corruption, crime, and violence lacks the civilized veneer of the core world. This is a place where anything, or anyone, can be bought...for the right price.

The ship touches down at the assigned berth with a loud hiss of hydraulics.

Bo converges in the cockpit to watch the ascent to the planet. Once safely on the ground she says "Anyone know ah buyer fo da merchandise? Maybe we need to tawk to some locals?"

Jack has kept up with news of his one-time ally over the years, and knows that she took full credit for the defeat of her rival, Grubbo. That victory caused her to rise in the Nar Shaddaa hierarchy and now she is known for her extensive arms smuggling business.

Being from Nar Shaddaa, Jack is familiar with many of the most famous cantinas. He knows of one near here, the Crystalline Wreckage, where spacers often go to find work.

The bar from the outside is unremarkable. A neon sign proclaims its name, competing in a desultory manner with all the other blaring signals of this district. As you approach a Sullustan stumbles and out and loudly vomit on the street.

Jack circumvents the mess, heading into the cantina.

Bo sees a diversity of other species and miscellaneous humans, but no Rodians.

Jack knows that talking to the bartender is generally the best way to learn anything.

Entering into the cantina, you can see that the builders had more vision than practicality; all of the furniture is formed in the shapes of crystals - resulting in uncomfortable chairs and oddly slanted tables. Despite this, there are a score of beings consuming their intoxicant of choice.

An Aqualish tends bar, and she greats you as you enter with a jovial wave before returning to concocting drinks. Her flowing dress also seems impractical for her line of work, but she seems to be enjoying it nonetheless.

A dejected Gand sits at the bar, looking deep into his cup as if it might hold the answers to his problem. His cybernetic leg squeaks as his shifts in his seat. He's wearing the typical garb of a spacer, but the attention he is giving his drink may mean he can't afford many more.

A tall blue humanoid with long, dark, unkempt hair sits slouched in a booth. He is wearing thick clothes and a utility belt, but seems to have little else with him. Perhaps a local, perhaps someone truly down on his luck.

A Twi'lek woman plays holochess against the computer at one of the tables. Her piercing blue eyes narrow as she concentrates, then she smiles fiercely as she keys in her next move. Her excitement fades and fatigue washes over her once more as the computer counters it.

A Human male, unremarkable in every way, sits at the bar idly fidgeting with the space equivalent of a tiny plastic sword, his fingers flickering faster than eyes can easily follow. He is medium height, medium build, and an undefinable age...young and old at the same time. He has slight wrinkles and grey sprinkled through his disheveled dark hair. His demeanor is kind but his grey eyes betray his constant watchfulness, his restlessness.

The woman cocks her head with a self-deprecating smirk and gestures to the opposite seat as she says, "That would be me, apparently."

Doc nods at Jacks direction and heads toward the blue skinned humanoids booth.

The barkeep nods eagerly and begins filling glasses. Just as she settles down to chat, another customer beckons her over and she shrugs at Jack. She points to the human at the bar and the blue-skinned being in the booth before scurrying off to serve other customers.

Doc tries, but he just can't place what species the man is. He is confident he's not a Chiss...they eyes are wrong.

The Twi'lek woman quirks a smile as she replies in Basic, "Not shy. Sizing you up. Ready to play?"

She starts up a new game and gestures for Bo to make the first move.

Through a series of clever moves, Bo removes four of her opponent's pieces before any of hers are taken. Unfortunately, this aggressive series of moves opens her up to a counterattack.

The Twi'lek answers in Common, "Not something I would know much about, sorry." She seems very distracted by how difficult an opponent Bo is turning out to be. She manages to take one piece, but then Bo takes four more.

As she makes her next move, she appears remarkably confident given how many pieces she has lost. She glances up at Bo and adds, "Now that piece of poodoo you call a vibrosword, that I could help with."

The Twi'lek smiles and merely replies, "Maybe I should." While she has few remaining pieces, suddenly the woman's skill becomes apparent as she moves them about masterfully.

The woman smirks at Bo, "It's too easy if I still have all my pieces." She looks impressed as Bo steps up her game as well, continuing to take more pieces that she gives up.

The Twi'lek presses a button and her final piece, a krayt dragon, lays down peacefully as she replies, "True, especially against such a skilled opponent. You have my thanks, I haven't had such fun in a long time." She tilts her head as she continues, "Are you as skilled with your sword as you are at chess? If so, perhaps I might be able to return the favor."

"Are you indeed?" she replies. "Then come to my shop when your friends have finished their business. I have a blade that has been waiting many years for a being worthy of her." She sends Bo an address nearby.

She stands and gives her a Rodian salute and says in that language, "May your blade be ever sharp, and your hunts successful." Without waiting for a reply, she turns and leaves the bar.

As the group approaches the counter, they can hear the old man muttering, "Gotta get her back. Won't treat her right."

The Gand, delighted to have an audience, clutches Jacks arm and sputters, "My ship! Those karking bandits stole her." His three eyes narrow as he continues conspiratorially, "But they don't know about my special tracking system. I know right where she is." He pounds the bar to emphasize the last four words and continues, "And right where they are, too. Hasn't moved in three weeks."

The Gand patiently explains, "I don't have a ship...can't walk through space." He pauses a moment then continues more politely, "Oh, you though she was here, on planet. No...they have a remote hidey-hole, nothing at all there from what I can see. Some dwarf star with no habitable planets."

The man sputters, "The secret base of these horrid pirates isn't enough? I'm sure they have plenty of ill-gotten gains." He harrumphs a moment then continues, "No, I suppose not. Well I have some small savings put aside. Help me get my ship back, and it's all yours."

"Yes...but I need some insurance you're not just gonna steal my ship to. I want to come."

The man nods, "That's fair. When we you be ready to go? I can give you the cash once I'm onboard. I don't have it on me, for obvious reasons."

The Twi'lek looks pleased as Bo enters her shop. Various weapons adorn the walls: swords, daggers, pistols, and more exotic tools for killing and maiming. Her desk is immaculate and she nods at Bo from behind it. "Well met, once again, clever hunter," she greets her.

The woman shakes her head as she replies, "In terms of damage, no. Nothing but a lightsaber could do better. But I watched you play. You have a beautiful balance of attack and defense. You, amoung all those I play, may appreciate this." She keys in a series of symbols on her desk and a large compartment hisses open. Rising from within is a beautifully made dagger with an unusual crosspiece that curves up to parallel the blade.

She touches it lightly as she explains, "You have perhaps seen bladebreakers before. This one, though, is made of cortosis. Unbreakable, and incredibly difficult to forge."

The Twi'lek sighs, "Normally, for a work like this, 1000 credits. But seeing you wield it lifts an old warrior's heart. It cost me 500 to make. For that price, it is yours."

Bo:

The woman crosses her hands over her chest and bows as she replies, "That means a great deal to me. The galaxy is dark, and trusted allies are the bright lights within."

The old man emerges from his room, datapad in hand. His prosthetics clank across the deck as he approaches and says, "I'm ready when you are. I have the transfer ready, just need to know where to send it." He seems more cheerful than he was in the bar, as if a long-lost hope has been rekindled.

The ship glides gently off the landing pad and into the air, gracefully curving around the surrounding buildings. Her controls respond to Gav's deft touch so effortlessly that he is filled with immense joy. The members of the original crew are taken aback a moment, as the ship's path has not felt so smooth since...since they lost their pilot.

The journey to the provided co-ordinates is long, but not arduous. You take your time with each hop, carefully calculating the next jump, because you are moving into the much less-traveled areas of the outer rim. Finally a bright yellow star appears in the screen. You seem to have arrived at your destination...but will need to move closer...

Bo works some incredible magic with the sensors and manages to detect four planets, one of which is in the right zone to sustain life.

As you approach, the planet turns peacefully below you. There is a great deal of water, and several large landmasses. Nothing appears to be in orbit.

A passive check reveals no outgoing transmissions, which is unsurprising given the lack of anything to transmit to. That is, other than your ship.

Bo manages to pick up a cluster of engine signatures on one of the larger continents. You're too far away to make out much detail, but there appears to be a small settlement there.

Gav brings the ship in a long slow loop around the planet, breaking atmosphere on the far side from your target. He coasts in low over the ocean, with a flash of sunrise you re-enter the dayside of the planet and skim over the waves. You approach the large continent from the west and fly past plains and forest, then weave through the grand peaks of a mountain range. Bo watches the comm panel intently, but there is no indication that you have been spotted. Gav sets the Chaser down on a grassy plain, about 10 kilometers from the settlement. There is a forest before you, with wind gently blowing the purple leaves of the trees.

Doc reads the atmosphere as mostly nitrogen, with a liberal dose of oxygen. There are no toxic gases in any dangerous quantities, and it seems quite safe for the crew. If anything, the oxygen is a little higher than normal, which will give everyone a boost of energy.