#“Oh no I am faced with a big aggressive hairy thing let me just check what it is!” *sound of pages turning*

[fuckwhoeverpickedallthefunnyurls]

Name five thing you will take with you in a zombie outbreak

A fucking gun (No actually an axe bc a gun would need munition)

An encyclopedia of all existing plants and animals in my region

All my plushies (if I put them into one big bag they count as one right??)

A medical kit

A pen ok all poetry aside I‘m taking one of those flip mirror thingies because I could use it for multiple things

[wizardsnwookies]

Campaign Diary- FOC100517

The “Lady Luck” shifted almost imperceptibly as it dropped from hyperspace, and it wasn’t long after Lady Kara walked into the common room with a datapad and slumped lazily on the couch. In the corner Vrssl stood on a small crate, his hands buried in wire and circuitry of an clone wars era battle droid. He had been working on the two they had pulled from the cave since they left Siskeen, and were just about operational. Next to her Graalbar gave her a the briefest of glances before returning his attention to his Holochess match against the computer. And from the cockpit she could hear Rugor getting to know the ins and outs of their new ship.

“I can’t believe it’s been a month since I last checked the Holonet. Siskeen may have been backwater but not enough to be unconnected.”

“To be fair, we did have other things on our minds.” Vrssl looked up from his work. “What with the Empire and replica droids and whatnot.”

“Still...” Kara didn’t like being out of the loop for too long. In her line of work not only could it cost you jobs, but a lack of awareness could get you mixed up in the latest spat between the Imps and Rebs. She read aloud from the data pad by impulse mostly, but it wouldn’t hurt to keep the rest of the group updated as well.

“‘After the destruction of the Empire’s battle station four months ago the Rebellion had begun a massive push into the Mid Rim, overconfident perhaps but nevertheless they have been successful in taking back several planets and establishing their own outposts in the process. As a direct result Imperial chatter has all efforts currently being refocused in response and the Emperor has personally promised these worlds that order will once again be restored to their region of the galaxy.

‘In local news the election of the planet representative to the Empire between Polski Marr and Traad Aaran has been heating up. Marr trails only slightly in the polls due mostly due to his public absence. About a month ago Marr inexplicably began running his campaign while in hiding from “vicious and unsubstantiated rumors that has put his person in danger.” His platform changed which was famous for an aggressive Neutralist stance, has seemed to have taken a far less inflammatory route. Aaran on the otherhand is using the Mid Rim push to his advantage, stating “the so called Rebellion and their militia of thugs and thieves have proven to sacrifice any and all lives they deem necessary in pursuit of their cause. Nar Shaddar will not suffer their occupation under ‘proper’ representation.” Recent polls show that planet residence aren’t quite enamored with either candidate and hopes for a third option are high.’“

Graalbar frowned at the computer’s move and looked up at Vrssl, barking in Shriwook.

“Me? I think that might draw too much undue attention. We’re still technically wanted for a prison break.”

“’Technically.’“ Kara smiled at Vrssl. “Well, what do you know...”

“What?”

“Well, I sent out those encrypted ransom messages to the two politicos like you asked for.”

“You got a response? Great, which one paid?”

“Neither, Marr is basically trying to weasel his way out of it. Wants to negotiate.”

“And Aaran?”

“No official reply. However, I did have something pop up on the black net that is rather interesting. A ten-thousand credit bounty for our friend Erd and any data pad or slug that can be found on his person.” Kara smirked. It seems that Aaran had a splicer dig into her message and found the trail leading to their Ithorian friend.

“Good luck with that. He should be on his way back to Kessel by now.” Vrssl allowed himself a satisfied grin and continued his work.

---

“Ahhhh, Kara. So good to have one of my flock return to me.” Graakus was nothing like the stereotypical Hutt...except for the crime syndicate. He spoke clear and near perfect basic, sat perched on a chair of mechanical spider legs, his arms were lean and muscular as opposed to fatty, and around his neck hung a gleaming necklace of strange silver cylinders that only Vrssl and Graalbar recognized as lightsabers.

“I hear some are calling you and your company the ‘Kessel Five,’ but I only make four...”

“We had to ditch the Ithorian, more trouble than he was worth.” Vrssl replied stepping up next to Graalbar.

“Hmmm, understandable I’m sure. So, it that it?” Graakus motioned to the large chest in Graalbar’s arms who immediately shifted the weight so that he could reach out a hairy palm. Although he spoke only Shriwook, the gesture said all it needed to.

Graakus nodded to the finely dressed Twilek at his side who in turn passed a small box to the wookie. Lowered it down to his height, Vrssl opened to find a pile of credsticks. After a brief count, he closed it and nodded to Graalbar.

“Ahhhhh thank you.” Graakus eagerly received the chest and opened it with reverence. “I’m sure you’ve heard of my collection? Not a single being in the galaxy has one like it I assure you. Well...perhaps one other, but even I do not seem to have his funds.”

Reaching inside the chest the hutt pulled out the dark stone amulet and inspected it. Vrssl hoped he wouldn’t question the size differential between the chest and it’s contents. He had decided to keep the strange tome for himself to inspect, even at the risk of angering a hutt.

“Lovely specimen. Was there anything else? Tell me about the cave.”

“Not really, just a pair of broken down clone war era droids.” Vrssl did his best to put off an air of nonchalance. “The cave itself seemed like it was some kind of Sith proving grounds. Each chamber had a challenge you had to master to continue forward. The key to the chest was in one of the battle droids. Then there was the surprise waiting for us outside.”

“Surprise?”

“Some asshole named Nik, wanted to claim the job for his own. Nearly killed Kara in the process.”

ROWWWRK! Graalbar barked at Vrssl, motioning to the lightsabers around Graakus’s neck.

“My friend here wants to know if those still work?”

“Heheh, but of course. All of my artifacts are in working order. Even my Jedi Holocrons. I may not be able to open them yet, but my inspections have found them to be in perfect condition.”

ROW WROW ROK. Graalbar pointed to himself, then at the hutt’s neck, before finally making a swinging motion. This time, Vrssl didn’t dare translate but instead replied in shriwook, hoping the Hutt was not fluent.

“You do realize that is a VERY bad idea. Even if he was willing to part with one, there are some very bad people around the galaxy. If they see you with one of those on you’re hip...”

Graalbar shrugged but didn’t press the matter. He didn’t know what the big deal was. He was a mighty warrior as it was, if he had one of those, no one would be able to stand in his way.

“Hmmm. Your Wookie friend might do well in my arena games.”

“YES.” Graalbar’s vocoder box spoke for him in tinny basic. He only had a few choice words and phrases programmed into it, but it got the job done when he wanted to speak for himself. “YES. I AM MIGHTY WARRIOR.”

“Ha ha ha. I am sure you are. If you are interested, my assistant will take down your necessary information. I look forward to placing a large sum of money on your victory.”

“Speaking of money. We were kind of hoping for long-term relationship out of this.” Vrssl cleared his throat slightly, he wasn’t planning on being quite so blunt but, it seemed as good an opportunity to broach the subject as any.

“As re claimers?”

“Sure, or anything else really. We’re not picky.”

“Hmmmm.” Graakus took the group in. A strange bunch these were. The gungan surprised him most, but then again, if the emperor was any indication, Naboo bred strong individuals. “Perhaps. For now there is something you can help me with. Call it, a trial period.

“You mentioned that Nik was aware of your whereabouts, and purpose on Siskeen. That is, most troubling to me. As you can imagine, my occupation requires quite a lot of personal caution. One of these measure is a very strict policy in terms of the information I allow outside of my organization. For someone other than yourselves to know the details of the job indicates a leak within the chain somewhere. I cannot allow this.”

“Sure, so you want us to...’plug the leak?’“

“Precisely. But first, I need to know how far it goes. Find Nik and-”

“Oh, he won’t be a problem.” Vrssl laughed. “Let’s just say he learned the hard way not to carry a thermal detonator in your pocket.”

“Hmmm, still. I need to be sure he did not talk to anyone of this matter. I also need you to have a conversation with my jobs broker. He is the only one outside of the organization who has that information. Make sure Nik was the only one he leaked the information to. Once you have what you need from him...” Graakus gracefully trailed off. The implication was clear.

“You got it.”

---

Vrssl sat in a rather uncomfortable chair pushed up against a battered table. The worn felt top spoke of endless nights of illegal Sabaac games. Kara and Rugor leaned up against the wall patiently while Graalbar took his position just behind the door of the back room of their third Huttown cantina of the evening.

Graakus’s job broker was the same man Kara had been working with for years, short, frail, human by the name of Charmer. The name was a rather cruel self-deprecation of the scarred flesh that covered his face. It was a lifetime reminder not to cross the people you work for, which made it all the more strange that he had made the ill advised leak of sensitive information.

The door clicked and slid open to the backside of a rather awkward looking human. In each hand he was juggling his meal and a tall glass of ale while the key card on his hip had been maneuvered to grant him access to the private room. Taking a sip of ale he turned around and nearly choked with surprise.

*KOFF* “Mmm, oh sorry. Didn’t know I had someone waiting. Give me a second to catch my bearings will you?” Charmer set down a steaming plate and took one last gulp before flanking it with his glass. “What can I do for you?”

“Well, I’m looking for some credits and I was told you could help me with that.”

“Yeah, yeah. No problem. I’ve got some jobs lined up, get you paid plenty if you’re willing to put the work in.”

The door behind them shut as a hairy paw brushed against the controls, and Charmer glanced back to watch the two-meter tall wookie slowly advance from his place.

“Oh hey...I didn’t uh...know you had a friend.” Charmer blinked. “Kara? Hey, how’re things?”

Kara ignored the question as did Vrssl, who continued the conversation as if nothing had ever happened.

“Well, see that’s the thing. What if I were to say, I didn’t really feel like doing all the leg work? Perhaps you have a few jobs currently underway that I could...take over?”

“Ok, yeah. I see where you’re getting at.” Charmer shifted slightly, the Wookie was imposing, especially since he had never seen one before. But he was all business now with the current implications being placed his way. “What you’re talking about isn’t kosher. I don’t do that kind of thing.”

“Really? That’s funny, because a friend of mine said you were the guy to talk to.”

“What? Who?”

“A man by the name of Nik.”

“‘Nik the Dick’...of course.” Charmer slumped back into his chair. “Listen, I’m sorry but Nik is an asshole OK? He’s the only scumbag I know who does business that way.”

“So why would he tell me you would help me out?”

“I don’t know, because he’s a Dick. Look...” Charmer leaned in, his annoyance and frustration washing away all caution. “I did something I wasn’t supposed to, OK? It was a one time deal. If Nik is going around telling people I am loose lipped he could get me killed. So you can tell him from me, that if he doesn’t shut it right quick, he’s going to find a blaster bolt in his back.”

Vrssl tried to read the man as best he could, something wasn’t adding up. It was seeming more and more like Charmer had put himself in deep well against his own common sense.

“OK, no problem...but if it’s such a big deal, what do it at all?”

Charmer sheepishly looked down at the table. “You know how it is. You get carried away at the tables, you start owing people money...”

Vrssl shook his head slightly, thinking on where that same addiction had landed Erd. With a little help from them, of course.

“So, he paid you?”

“He offered me a cut. Said he had another buyer for the product you guys were retrieving. Someone willing to pay big, and who wasn’t about to take ‘no’ for an answer.” Charmer gulped his ale, his mouth was starting to get dry. He was getting nervous now, and the wookie looming up behind him didn’t help.

“Did he say who?”

“Naw. I don’t ask too many questions. It’s bad for your health.”

“Fair enough.”

“So, yeah. That’s neither here nor there. I can’t help you if you want to swoop in on someone’s gig. That information’s privilaged. But, if you want your own job...”

“Sure, let’s see what you got.” Vrssl let the conversation take a more casual tone. Charmer was getting worked up, and pushing too hard might tighten his lips. The small alien reached out his hand for the datapad but was met with a shake of the head.

“No, no, no. It’s all in here.” Charmer tapped his temple with a finger and closed his eyes. “Security reasons, only one copy of the information. Now, let’s see.” He leaned back and Vrssl could see his brow furrowed slightly.

He looked up at Rugor in against the wall who seemed to be having the same thought and was looking over the back of the human’s head. Internal neural computers were still in their infancy and weren’t quite yet to the point where all the components were completely internalized. If he had any biotech in him, there would be evidence somewhere, but as far as they could tell he was clean.

“Since you’ve already done a retrieval job, I’ve got a couple for you if you’re interested. Only scant details until you take the job. Again...security reasons.” Charmer seemed much more relaxed now. He was working, and as long as he was working, he was alive.

“I’ve got a bot hunt, and a repo job. Bot hunt is galaxy-wide bounty, replica droids. The repo job is right here on Smuggler’s Moon. Pretty self explanatory, grab the merchandise, get out, bring it back in one piece. You interested?”

Vrssl looked over Charmer’s shoulder at the rest of the group. They had gotten a lead on the leak, but he wasn’t ready to plug it just yet. They would follow up with Charmer later, but for now, they were all ready to make some money.

“Sure. Sign us up.”