Posts by The_Revanchist

"Me? I'm just a mercenary. And a part-time passerby hero, it seems." Brade replied dryly, looking out at the expansive Nar Shaddaa skyline out in the distance. high up in one of the buildings was a bright, pale light that practically screamed "sterilized".
"That up there is the good doctor. He's a little bit on the loony side of things, but he's a good man. I trust him."

Brade strode into the hospital alongside this unfamiliar woman, and was immediately greeted by the lazy-eyed Dr. Vala. The middle-aged Mirialan's black hair was dissheveled and unkempt, and his mouth was twisted into a half-warm, half-crazy smile.
"Ah, Mr. Drenid! I didn't expect to see you here for some time, old friend!" He exclaimed excitedly, clapping his hands on both of Brade's shoulders, giving him a wide, toothy grin. "What brings you to the old Smuggler's Moon?" Vala asked, then glancing over at the dazed and confused Vynir.

"And with such a pretty lady friend, no less!"

Brade pinched the bridge of his nose, not quite used to the eccentric idiosyncracies of the loony doctor. "I'm just here on business. Some Weequay was roughing up this woman, but I managed to scare him off. I brought her in for a psych eval, she seems pretty shaken up to me. But I'm no therapist, so I've no way of knowing what sort of damage was done." The mercenary explained exasperatedly. "I'll cover whatever expenses arise, including temporary room and board. She doesn't look as though she has anywhere to go back to, so would you mind taking her off my hands for awhile?"

Dr. Vala scratched his chin for a moment, quickly examining Vynir before turning back to Brade. "You've gone soft, have you?" He jabbed, sneering. "Sure, I'll have my droids tend to her for the time being." He answered, waving a hand dismissively before approaching Vynir calmly.
"It's not every day an Echani walks through my door, madam. May I ask your name?"

"My name is Dr. Vala Bore, very nice to meet you, miss!" He said, taking her hand and shaking it vigorously. "If you wouldn't mind following my personal assistant, Naddie, to the examination room, we can get you checked out and administer the proper treatment." He told the young woman, pointing to a silver, humanoid droid that beckoned to Vynir to follow. Its gold, unblinking photoreceptor slits beamed at them all with an emotionless stare.

"Right this way, miss." The droid said in a soft, feminine tone.

Brade looked around at the stream of activity and orders generated by none other than Dr. Vala. "Well, that's our doctor for you. Always in a rush... Speaking of..." He trailed off, looking back at the door they had just entered. "Don't worry... Vynir, was it? Vala's among the most trustworthy and kind people on the planet." He assured, "Not that that's saying much..." He added silently under his breath.

Brade sighed inwardly as he walked back outside and towards the speeder. He was glad that Vynir was safe and out of his hair, but this had cost him some valuable time he could have been spending by searching. He passed the taxi driver a credit chip and slipped into the passenger's seat.
"Take me back to the Corellian Sector, alright? I'm in a hurry, so move it." He told the automated driver before speeding off into the night. Meanwhile, Naddie ushered Vynir into the chair and sat down across from her.
"Ma'am, could you please explain to me what your situation is? That will better allow me to assess your mental state, and what should be done about it."

"And how would you describe how you're feeling right now? Do you need anything? A drink, some food, just some rest, perhaps?" Naddie asked, her automated voice making a tone of concern.

Brade found his way back to the cantina shortly thereafter, asking patrons and the bartender himself. No one in the entire establishment had ever seen anything like the holocrons he was searching for, but they did point him in the direction of a local "Collector" as they called him. A pompous Twi'lek who wanted everything of value he set his eyes upon. A physical manifestation of greed, he was. A perfect candidate for the owner of these relics.

"Very well, I'll send word to Dr. Vala to set you up in a room. Just relax, you'll be just fine, ma'am." Naddie assured, stepping out of the room.

Brade soon found that this "Collector" was holed up in what could pass for either a palace, or a fortress. The outer walls were armored, and the defenses were entirely automated. A big mistake on his part, Brade thought as he reached into his pouch for a handful of EMP emitters, rolling them around in the palm of his hand as he walked towards the gate.

Brade kicked over the desk of this "Collector", whose name was Zeb Ferana, he learned mere moments beforehand. Not that his name mattered, as he was now sniveling and cowering behind his large, ornate chair. Tired of wasting time, Brade shoved the chair out of the way and aimed his blaster directly between the Twi'lek's eyes. The blaster was set to stun, but he didn't need to know that. Sweat condensed on Zeb's brow, and the corners of his eyes began to show tears. He falsely believed he was in mortal danger. It would now be an easy task to extract the information he needed and make off with his acquisition in tow.
"Please! I'll give you anything you desire, just don't kill me!" Ferana groveled, shaking terribly out of fear.
"All I'm looking for is a set of holocrons. One's a red pyramid, and the other one is a blue cube. Have I made it clear enough for you?" Brade asked, his burning gaze unwavering.
"What? You're looking for those? I never got my hands on them... The droids I had transporting them were ambushed, and the holocrons were stolen!" Zeb cried, holding up his hands. The look in his eyes told Brade that the Twi'lek wasn't lying. But he was nonetheless angry.
"Dammit, and where would these ambushers take these things?" Brade asked aggressively, pressing his blaster's muzzle in between Zeb's eyes.
"I don't know, I don't know!" Ferana pleaded, "But the gang acting in that area aren't too bright... They're spice addicts, you see? They probably threw them away, and I wouldn't be surprised if some slummie grabbed them out of the trash after that..."
Brade's heart sank, and his grip on the blaster slackened. "Where did you say this gang operated..?"
"They're based in the Corellian Sector, last I heard..."

Brade pushed open the doors to the hospital, his determined march only stopped by Dr. Vala.
"Mr. Drenid! Back so soon?" He asked, tilting his head to one side, "Have you found whatever it was you were looking for?"

Brade steeled himself and sighed. "Not yet. But I think that Vynir lady is connected to all of this. I'd like to know why, and how she came across the relics I'm looking for." He replied sternly, marching past the doctor on a warpath. Upon arriving at her door, Brade knocked somewhat heavily on its durasteel surface.
"Vynir, or whatever your name is, I need some questions answered. I certainly hope you can answer them..." Brade said brusquely.

Brade was taken aback by her ghastly, ghoulish appearance, physically recoiling for just a moment. "By the Maw, what happened to you? I've half a mind to send you to the mess hall and force feed you, kid!" He scolded, folding his arms across his chest. "Now I need answers, but I hate to see someone in such a sorry state." He chided softly. His pay could wait for a little while longer, however reluctant Brade was to do so.

Brade examined the Echani's gaunt face and grimaced. "I'd better have Vala rewire that damned droid if it's doing this shoddy of a job keeping someone healthy." He cursed under his breath, "Look, my job can wait. Either you come with me up to the cafeteria or I'm hauling you there myself. I'll pick up the tab and you eat anything you like." He said. Brade was banking on this haul to far outweigh the costs. If he had to pay a little extra, it would be more than worth it.

"Damn it, I hate stubborn brats..." Brade cursed under his breath, pinching his nose. "Look, my job involves dealing with you now, got it? I'd rather work with a healthy person rather than someone who's seen Death too early for her age. Either you stop being so blasted stubborn, or I hotwire Naddie to not leave until you eat your food. I know a starving person when I see one." Brade said, suddenly realizing what he was saying.
"Agh, damn this... Why am I trying to argue with some stubborn slummie? I should just grab my acquisition and go, but here I am..." Brade grumbled to himself.

"A pair of holocrons, Jedi and Sith. I need them, kid. Money's tight right now, and this could set me up for a long time. Hell, it could set several people up for years." He added. "Believe me, I need this paycheck for more than just simple monetary gain..." Brade replied, with a slight edge of sadness in his tone, hardly detectable.

"You need to tell me where they are so that I can be on my way and stop bothering you. The Jedi and Republic are close to winning the war, and those holocrons may very well push the war to an earlier close, you see? I hear that those data containers hold ancient secrets and powers that could change the outcomes of battles or even wars. Don't you think that's more important than stubbornly holding them to yourself?" Brade asked, narrowing his eyes.

"If you don't have them, then certainly you must know someone who's found something of interest lately. Are you going to throw innocents into flak, or are you going to tell me what you really know?" Brade asked, looking at Vynir dead in the eyes.

"What? No, I'm not as heartless as you may see me. I see no need to send you back there. If anything, I'd keep you here. I know the street life, and I wouldn't wish it on anyone." Brade replied, scoffing at the thought of sending someone to the streets. "Why do you ask, huh? Do you see me just like any other bounty hunter? I'm not some bloodthirsty, callous brute like Calo Nord of old. Void knows I've tried long enough to rid myself of that sort of reputation..."

"Where else do you have to go, huh?" Brade replied gruffly, staring Vynir down questioningly. "Whether you admit it or not, I'm willing to bet that this place is better than whatever shanty you sheltered yourself in."

Brade cocked an eyebrow, looking at Vynir curiously. "You'd take up the life of a freelancer, or even a bounty hunter?" He asked, then pointed down at his blaster, "You'd be willing to bring criminals to justice, even if that meant you had to harm or even kill another living being? I'm not above hiring you on, but you'd better be sure you want this sort of life. You'll be forever viewed differently, you understand? Bounty hunters and freelance guns-for-hire aren't exactly well liked."

"My, you've had a rather quick turnaround. Well, first thing's first, you have to get some flesh on your bones. I'm not going to train you while you're a twig that I can snap by breathing on it too hard." Brade replied, propping his hands on his hips. "You ready to go to the cafeteria now?"

Brade escorted Vynir to the largely unpopulated cafeteria, where only a few patients and doctors now dwelled whilst eating their meals.
"Go and grab whatever you like, I'll pay for whatever you get, alright? Just don't eat me out of house and home, you hear? The quicker you get some meat on those bones, the faster I can get you to a Guildhouse and trained."

"Geez, kid... You sure you're not a Hutt with an insanely high metabolism?" Brade jabbed as he walked over to the serving droid, handing the drone several credit chips.
"I didn't ever think I'd see someone like you eat as much as you just did." He said, snickering to himself, "But hey, at least you show enthusiasm."

~

A month or so later, when Vynir had grown less skeletal in form, Brade approached her. "Alright, I feel like you've had enough time to recuperate, it's time to head to a guildhouse. After we deliver the acquisition and get my pay, of course." Brade made sure to add.
"My ship is on landing pad 38, I'll hail a taxi to fly us down there in an hour or two. Make sure to gather your things, as well as the holocrons."