SithLore

On the Hunt for Materials

Context: Xerxes has returned to a mining colony on a planet designated Colisling to once again pilfer some cortosis ore for his experiments. But a year on and a boom in mineral veins has seen the outpost in the Unknown Regions expand dramatically. He went to what had formerly been the local Cantina for the blue collar workers only to find it is no longer frequented by the miners he was hoping for. To make matters worst it seems he has been recognised by someone and they were smart enough to piece together the sequence of events that surrounded his last visit.

IC:

Xerxes sighed and smiled as the vivid pink Zeltron sat down across from him. "I'm surprised you recognised me" he said nonchalantly trying to figure out what this might mean for him. She obviously had pieced together his arrival and the break in last time, not that that was much of a stretch. However, she hadn't immediately called in security and he sensed no immediate danger either. What was her motive in talking to him then? "The Miner's Mettle has changed a lot since you were last here" she said conversationally, "Yeah, when I was here last the name was representative of the clientele, now it seems to simply be a name. I can't believe how much has changed in a relatively short period." Luce nodded and took a sip from the fluted glass she had brought to the table looking pointedly at Xerxes glass that remained untouched. "You do know that, that's part of the reason you stood out last time right, at least make a show of drinking" Xerxes picked up the glass and feigned a sip "See much more natural right" she chuckled. "Yeah, it's something I picked up after I left here, although I must say your arrival threw me a bit." She smirked "Well I daresay you didn't expect to be recognised, but you've got some brass ones coming back after what you did. You know this place has no laws right, we're in the unknown regions officially here." Xerxes nodded "Yeah a might makes right situation, I'm well aware." "That confident in yourself then" "That's part of it sure, but, mainly I know it'll cause me fewer headaches to get what I need here than somewhere more well..." "You mean you don't want to come to notice of the GA or Empire but a corporation doesn't matter much" Xerxes nodded "Pretty much."

The pair sat for awhile and Xerxes allowed his attention to shift back to the patrons. The miners, dockworkers and security grunts were what had made the Miner's Mettle now it was all middle management, foremen, accountants, dock masters and the like. Luce had been a technician working on the equipment when he last met her, the fluorescent yellow coveralls had been replaced by a more demure beige shift dress. "The coveralls fit you better" she chuckled "Well I'd imagine you'd look better in what you find most comfortable too, unfortunately with your actions last time there became vacancies in management and I don't want to become a casualty of your second visit." Xerxes nodded "I don't plan on doing the same kind of brash theft" she looked shocked at his admittance. "Not going to play the game with me then" the lad shrugged "No point in lying if I don't have to and I'd rather not cause you any hassle." She gave an appreciative nod "Glad to hear it, but I can't help but feel that you wouldn't have come here if you planned to do something legitimate, after all there'd be no reason to leave the more civilised space for that." "True, that's why I headed straight here, I needed to talk to the miners this time, security I can handle easy enough, easier now than I could then. But only the miners have the information I need." She looked him over, the nondescript appearance suitable for whatever role he wanted to play, but her gaze lingered on his boots, heavy thick soled, likely hidden steel toecaps and being the astute woman she was she had an inkling of what he planned. "Well, I have to say this place is incredibly dull and I could do with a little excitement. Would you care to join me, though I'd need to change first" Xerxes could feel something stirring within Luce, a wild energy that he couldn't place and he wasn't sure if it was his or her empathic skills that allowed this but, he was getting nowhere fast here so he nodded "Lead the way, it'll be good to get out of this characterless place." She stood and he followed hoping he could trust her and that he had guessed her intent correctly.

They walked the streets, Luce leading the way to he could only guess was her domicile, though most of the places here looked the same, prefabs with no character. He however, had to be cautious and other some debate with himself he opened himself up to the Force once more allowing his mask to crumble away and the second sight that was so comforting return. He instantly reached out to his surrounding and allowed his enhanced sensed draw a map for him. “It’s not nice to ignore a lady you know” the words cut through to him and he felt a flash of something, a slither of humour shared between them, he slammed shut the corridor to his psyche straight away “What” the hint of pain from the Zeltron told him he had over reacted and her eyes slipped to his, “Well” he met her gaze, he knew he’d over reacted but, that violation and the flash she triggered in his mind by that incidental connection. A bronzed skinned girl and that infectious laughter a snippet of his past brought up by the good humour. Luce stopped and turned to him “I said well, care to explain that one.” Xerxes shrugged “I don’t know what you mean.” “I mean the cold shoulder just now, not many can slam a door on me and none I know can hurt me doing so.” The pirate sighed and simply replied “I’ve had training,” “No Sith, Yoda, next you’ll be telling me that water is wet.” She sighed and started heading down the street again, “I knew something was different with you last time, I just assumed you had a touch a Zeltron to ya, but after what you pulled and the return.” “I’m a miner” he interjected trying to change the conversation “I know you’re a damn minor that’s why it was so impressive” “Not minor, miner, rock in me blood, piss and flesh as they used to say where I was put to work.” She turned to look at him and realised what he meant “No crazy stunt on the surface this time,” he opened the door allowing her to sense the truth of his words. “No, no one misses what they never had.” She nodded and stepped towards one of the habs.

He followed her into the hab, better than any he’d seen on the asteroid during his long time mining but, then again slaves comfort wasn’t high on the list of important things. This place reminded him more of a modern spaceship, everything laid out precisely to make the most of the available space. “Wait here” she said slipping into what he imagined was the bedroom, she needn't had said anything, he wasn’t going to follow her. “That’s why you want to talk to the crews, find out where their mining and try and slip in yourself, you’ll be lucky, they won’t think anything of someone extra going in but, they’ll check you on the way out and they’ll keep an eye on you down there.” “That’s only if I go down with them, I don’t need a crew with me” “Then you’ll have to keep out of sight of the guards, there’s no way they wouldn’t be watching the active seams that’s their profit.” “I won’t be working an active seam” “What you expecting to go down and fine a new seam off of a side tunnel, you some sort of super miner.” “No, the crews will know of at least one fresh seam otherwise they’d be searching for work elsewhere.” “Why?” “They have quotas right” “Yeah,” “No one cares as long as the quotas are met right” “Exactly” “And once the jobs done that’s it” “Well that’s mines for you” “So why report new seams when they are found when all the company will do is bring in more workers or increase quotas shortening their contracts.” Luce was silent for a minute then a barked word in a language he didn’t know but was definitely an expletive came from the closed room. “Why didn’t I think of that, I could have been selling on the side for months” “You’re a technician, you have a job no matter what you’ll just be moved where your needed. Miners are contracted simply because of the hazards of the work. If you’ve never been down there breaking your back you wouldn’t know.” In his case keeping the new seams secret meant he could keep his family safe and secure by keeping up with their quotas working on fresher seams than toiling on seams that were drying out. He heard a shift behind a door and Luce came out in her fluorescent yellow coveralls.

“So you’re after this new seam. Why tell me this, I could just…” “Because if I thought you were a threat to me or my mission I wouldn’t hesitate to eliminate you” he said bluntly and the coldness in his eyes in that moment and the sincerity he allowed her to feel told her just how serious he was about that statement. She took a step back suddenly fearful of this boy, no young man she had thought would bring a little entertainment to her otherwise boring life. “However, I’ll tell you what’s in this for you.” He said and she looked at him “You could never convince them to tell you the location of the seam, I can. I don’t need the whole seam and I can give you the information and leave the infrastructure there if you like. That way…” “I can either report it to headquarters and get a bonus or” “Exploit it for yourself as a little side business. So, let’s call that your price for this help.” She realised that this was going to be his play from the start. Once he’d realised he couldn’t find the miners as quickly as he liked and that she had recognised him, a partnership was in his best interest. She nodded “Then we have a deal,” “Good” Xerxes said nodding and then reached into a breast pocket of his jacket and tossed her something. It was a crystal but, no crystal she had seen before. “That’s a down payment, in case this doesn’t pan out at least you still have something that you can sell.” She placed it on a side table as she headed to the door “You know how to sweeten things just right don’cha” “It’s a skill I’ve been developing since my last visit, I’d rather have more allies and contacts than enemies.” He left with her leaving the Force crystal behind, he had spares after all, the malestare crystal was no longer needed ever since he had removed the cortosis handguard on his lightsabre.