Ask Dessert in the Desert

[Quin Leonkri]

Back in his Padawan days, Quin would have found these supply-delivery trips boring. He’d feel like an errand boy, running supplies back and forth. But a lot had changed since then, and oftentimes, when things got tough, he found himself wishing for these kinds of missions. So when he received the distress call from a remote town on the desert planet of Arda I, he answered it gladly.

Although, this time he picked up a Padawan along the way. It was a good experience to have, and it was highly likely that she’d one day be leading one of these too. Plus, with all the war in the galaxy going on, he hoped that it would be a nice break from that sort of thing.

Quin flicked a few switches in the cockpit as the ship approached the landing pad, glancing over at his companion to his right. He could already see some of the townspeople gathering outside through the windscreen behind her, eager to receive the supplies the two Jedi had brought. He was just as eager to get out there. His legs were killing him.

“You ready to deliver some dinner, Nikko?” The knight grinned, offering her a hand to help her out of her seat.

@Interdictor

 

[Nikko Ivita]

Nikko had slept most of the trip. Still, the feeling of the ship entering the atmosphere woke her. "Mmmf," she mumbled sleepily as they approached the landing pad, and her eyes flickered open. Yawning, she looked out the window just as they set down. "Thank you," the Pantoran said, accepting Quin's hand. This mission would be boring to most people, but she had used it as an excuse to research Arda I cuisine and make a few dishes. They were simple but flavorful, and she had even copied down one of the recipes on a piece of flimsi to save for later. As usual, she wore her Jedi robes and utility belt. She had let her hair down for this mission. Standing and stretching, she then walked over to where Viper was slumped against the wall, charging. Nikko knelt down, opened a panel, flicked a switch, and stepped back. With a few beeps, a red light came on, and the droid slowly powered on, hovering above the ground. "C'mon, Viper, we need to start unloading things," Nikko said. With a disgruntled beep, the probe droid spun in the air and prepared to follow the two Jedi.
@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

“‘Course.” As Nikko went to get her droid, Quin went to the back of the ship to let down the ramp. Stacks of metal boxes went all the way up to the ceiling of the ship, filled with supplies enough to last the town at least sixty rotations. They wouldn’t have to come back for a while yet, he thought with satisfaction.

He would wait for Nikko and Viper to join him in the cargo hold before he explained what the plan for today.

“Hey there, Viper.” Quin greeted the droid with a nod before turning to the Padawan. “So, this is pretty simple. When we deliver the supplies, just remember to ask the townspeople where to put them, and, well, drop them off where they say. That’s it!” He grinned, then briefly skimmed the labels of the various stacks. He’d noticed Nikko writing what looked like something about food earlier, or maybe it wasn’t, he’d just noticed a single word that read “fry” and his always-hungry stomach had immediately jumped to “fried gorg.” Still, it wouldn’t hurt to let Nikko explore the kitchens a bit.

“Why don’t you two handle the food, and I’ll take the medicine? There’s less of mine, so I’ll help you out when I’m done,” he suggested. “If we’re quick enough, we might even finish before dinner.” The thought of food was making him hungry again, and Quin didn’t wait for a response as he started to push his stack down the ramp.

@Interdictor

 

[Nikko Ivita]

Nikko and her droid entered the cargo bay and listened as Quin described the plan. As she did, the Pantoran let her gaze wander around the room. There were so many crates! "Sounds pretty simple," Nikko said with a small smile. "I doubt we'll be here very long." Then, she walked over to a stack and picked it up, holding it in front of her. It was quite large compared to her petite frame, so she looked somewhat awkward. Behind her, Viper hovered over another stack, using his several manipulator arms to heave the containers up under him. Nikko and Viper descended down the ramp, and the Pantoran girl couldn't help but smile at the enthusiastic looks the townspeople were giving the supplies. This is why I love being a Jedi, she thought. "So, uh, where do I put this?" she questioned the nearest person.
@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

Once he and Nikko had reached the dusty ground with their respective stacks and Nikko had asked her question, they came face to face with a slightly better-dressed human compared to the rest who appeared to be an authority figure. The mayor? His face was one of worry though, not at relieved like what Quin was expecting given a mission like this.

“Actually, the townspeople and I can handle unloading and storing the supplies. Thank you for bringing them though, Master Jedi, we truly appreciate it,” he answered the Padawan, giving her a respectful nod before his gaze flickered over to Quin. “The reason we sent you a distress call was not only because we were running out of food, however. Pirates have been stealing everything you brought to us in the past, which is why we are grateful that the Jedi Order sent us not one, but two of you.”

Quin exchanged a glance with Nikko, a question in his eyes. Did they tell you…? But the mayor kept talking as his men went to work around them.

“They usually come the next day, after they see the shuttle leave. So, once we’re finished unloading, I request that you take your ship and land here—” he handed Quin a set of coordinates, “and we’ll send a speeder to pick you up and bring you back here, where you can help us fight against the pirates. Only if you’re willing, of course.” He clasped his hands behind his back, looking back and forth between the two Jedi.

“Let us take a minute to discuss this,” Quin said, glancing over at Nikko again before the mayor nodded and turned away. “What do you think? I’m down if you are.”

@Interdictor

 

[Nikko Ivita]

Nikko blinked in confusion. They didn't want help with the crates? What did they want, then? The answer followed swiftly. "Pirates?" she couldn't help but gasp out. This mission had just gotten a lot different. When Quin shot her a look, she shook her head, completely confused. Then, the Pantoran took a moment to wrap her head around the information. From what she understood, the pirates would come after the Jedi ship left. So the mayor wanted them to...fake leave? "Shouldn't we still help you unload the supplies?" she said suddenly. "The pirates might think something is up." It seemed like a good idea. When the mayor turned away and Quin asked if she wanted to do it, she nodded. "We're Jedi. It's our job. Plus, pirates are a big problem. I'm in."
@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

The Padawan was just as bright as she was enthusiastic. Quin nodded at Nikko’s remark.

“She’s right. We should do that first, and then go ahead with your plan.” The mayor didn’t look opposed to the idea, and now that both Jedi had agreed, it was go-time. Looking back toward the cargo hold, the townspeople had worked pretty quickly, leaving just one stack for each of the Jedi.

“O-kay. Once we finish putting those away, we can meet back here. Oh, and don’t forget to keep an eye out for the pirates. They might be watching. Call me if you see anything” He was sure that Nikko knew that, though a reminder never hurt. With that, Quin went back into the ship, loaded his stack of medical supplies onto a cart, and followed the person in front of him that had taken the previous one.

“Jedi, huh?” The man didn’t even look back as he spoke.

“You got it.”

“Think ya can get those pirates? Nasty folk, they are.”

“We hope to. What can you tell us about them?”

“Well, they come in packs. Every couple o’ rotations or so. You hear ‘em before you see ‘em. Blasters, speeders, they got it all. Then they take what they want ‘n leave.”

“I see. Do they have a leader?”

“Well…”

They reached the hospital then, where both men dropped off their materials into a warehouse. Quin noticed that there were blaster holes in the walls. The man whispered.

“Best not to talk about ‘im. He has eyes and ears everywhere.” That was all he was willing to say, apparently, and he left Quin standing and pondering what he’d just learned.

@Interdictor

 

[Nikko Ivita]

Nikko and Viper took their stacks over to a large brick warehouse and dropped them off. A few townspeople thanked them and, despite Nikko's insistence on helping, waved her away and carried them inside. She looked around for Knight Quin and spotted him watching a civilian head away from a large warehouse. "Hey," she said, "Viper and I dropped off all of our supplies. Is...everything alright?" Nikko said the last part cautiously, not sure if the stranger had told Quin anything. Subconsciously, she placed her hand on the hilt of her saber."Because we're ready to head back to the ship when you are."
@Sicadorito (Apologies for how short this post is)

 

[Quin Leonkri]

Quin was still standing there with his hand stroking his chin when he saw Nikko and Viper approaching him. Oops. He’d forgotten his own plan. Silly Pad. He could hear his master’s voice in his head.

“For the most part.” He answered the young Pantoran with a slight smile, though she would be able to see that his eyes were troubled. “I’ll update you when we get there.” With that, the trio would make their way back.

Only when they were in the air again did Quin turn to Nikko and start to give her the information he’d received.

“It turns out that the local raider group nearby— the pirates— come here more often than the mayor lets on,” he said. “Apparently there are spies throughout the town too. Which seems odd, considering the mayor pretty much announced our plan to everyone in earshot. Unless…” Quin’s eyes lit up at he looked at the Padawan.

“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?”

//OOC: Don't worry about the length! It's the story that matters :D
@Interdictor

 

[Nikko Ivita]

Nikko nodded hesitantly. Although Quin was smiling, the grin didn't quite make it up to his eyes. "Okay." She and Viper followed the Knight back to the ship, and once they were airborne, Quin started explaining the situation. The Pantoran absorb all the information she was being given. Spies…oh, kriff! The mayor had not only lied about the frequency of the attacks, he'd basically announced their plant to the whole village! It took her a minute to think things through, but she finally worked it out. "The mayor must be working with the pirates. I bet those coordinates he gave us are going to be loaded with thugs waiting to jump us." she said the words through gritted teeth as her mind worked overtime trying to think up a plan. "What if I sent Viper to check out the landing zone ahead of us? He's literally a probe droid. This is what he was built for." Behind them, Viper beeped and waved an arm.
@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

It appeared that Nikko was indeed thinking what Quin was thinking, and he gave her two finger-guns/checkmarks right as she finished. This time, his smile was genuine.

“Exactly!” At her proposition of sending Viper down, Quin nodded. “Sounds like a solid plan if I’ve ever heard one. I knew it was a good idea to bring you along.” With that, he would steer the ship toward the coordinates that the mayor provided for them.

As they approached, Quin would go into the now-empty cargo hold to speak to Viper.

“You let Nikko know if there’s anything down there, alright? We’ll be there to get you in case something goes wrong.” He patted the little droid on the head before heading back into the cockpit and settling back into his seat.

“We are ready for launch,” he announced as the ship neared its destination. “Ready, Private Viper?”

@Interdictor

 

[Nikko Ivita]

Nikko couldn't help but smile at Quin's compliment. "Thanks," she said. When the Knight went back into the cargo hold to talk with Viper, Nikko stayed where she was.

As Quin instructed the probe droid, Viper gave a small salute with one arm and let out a beep of acknowledgment. Finally, as they approached the destination, Viper exited the open cargo ramp and descended until he was about two hundred yards from the given coordinates and fifteen feet up. Slowly, he began scanning the surrounding area with all of his sensors, quietly moving in a spiral pattern that brought him slowly closer to the coordinates.

From the ship, Nikko watched in excitement and nervousness as her comm regularly pinged to life with updates from her droid. "Do you think he'll find anything?" she asked Quin.

Viper's search roll=15/20
@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

As Viper departed on his mission, Quin saluted the droid back. Even he wouldn’t have liked going down there alone, but given that it was a droid, well, maybe the pirates wouldn’t react too harshly. He hoped.

Still, Quin’s eyes were on Nikko’s comm just as intensely as hers were. Suspecting the mayor of cooperating with the pirates was pretty large of an accusation, and he genuinely hoped that it was just gross negligence on his part instead of treason. At the sound of Nikko’s voice, he looked up to meet Nikko’s gaze.

“You know, I don’t know if I want him to. We can only hope that there’ll be a speeder down there, and only that.” Just then, Nikko’s comm seemed to go crazy. Quin jumped out of his seat.

“What is it? What did he find?”

@Interdictor

 

[Nikko Ivita]

Nikko nodded. "Hopefully, he doesn't ge-" her sentence was interrupted by Viper's urgent beeping over the comm. She listened intently, then turned to Quin with a scowl on her usually-kind face. "We were right," she spat out. "Viper says his scanners have picked up at least two dozen heat signatures and steady comm traffic." the Pantoran paused for a moment as Viper beeped again. "He's going to broadcast it to my comm." After a few seconds, the sounds of unidentified voices filtered through her comm.

"So, ever killed a Jedi?"
"Nah, but if any of the stories are true, we'd better get paid well for this."
Nikko let out a little gasp. They were talking about killing her. She had almost died a few times in her life, but hearing people she didn't even know talk so casually about killing her…it made her blood run cold. But the pirates weren't done.
"They should show up any minute now."
"Yeah…hey, do you hear that?"
"No, I-wait, I do. Sounds like a repulsorlift or something."
Uh-oh. Nikko was gripping the comm so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. "Viper…get out of there!" she shouted.
@Sicadorito (Roll: 6/20 for stealth)

 

[Quin Leonkri]

“Hm.” Quin leaned forward, flexing his sword hand as he listened to Nikko’s reports and the voices coming from her comm. He wasn’t surprised that they were talking about killing Jedi— many had made that mistake and some lived to regret it. Others never had that chance.

Although he was used to it after hearing it countless times as a knight, it was understandably horrifying talk for a Padawan. Quin opened his mouth, about to assure her that it would all be okay when Nikko suddenly yelled for Viper to flee.

“We’ll get him.” Quin swiveled his seat back to the console, dipping the ship down toward the ground. “Once we land, you go after Viper, and I’ll handle the pirates.” The knight grabbed his saber as the ramp opened, but he rested his hand on Nikko’s shoulder for just a moment before they both headed out to reassure her. “Remember, stay calm, and use the Force to guide you. Don’t worry about me— just get Viper. I’ll keep you covered as best as I can. Ready?”

@Interdictor

 

[Nikko Ivita]

Nikko took a deep breath. "Right. I'm ready." Then the ramp was open, and she ran out. Her gold saber whirled as it deflected shot after shot, protecting her as she sprinted towards Viper. The droid beeped at her and floated over to her side as blaster bolts flew around them. With a grin the Pantoran looked to where Quin was fighting the pirates and grinned. "C'mon, Viper, let's go get those glorified scumbags," she said, sprinting towards the thugs. Unfortunately, those 'glorified scumbags' were excellent shots, as evidenced when one of the blasts bypassed her lightsaber and struck her shoulder. Nikko cried out involuntarily, the force of the shot dropping her to the ground. Viper hovered over her body, his integrated blaster mowing through the enemy lines. Slowly, shakily, Nikko stood to her feet with the help of Viper's manipulator arms, and began limping back towards the ship. "I…got him, Knight Quin," she gasped out.
(Roll for saving Viper: 14)
(Roll for taking out the thugs: 4)
@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

Quin nodded, and the pair of Jedi headed for the back ramp. Almost as soon as it was down were blaster bolts filling up the air, but Quin counted roughly a dozen within view. Igniting his lightsaber, Quin made his way off the ship and into the fray, mostly deflecting the blaster fire headed his way back the way they came, the occasional forward slice to disarm them, and most importantly, keeping an eye out for Nikko. He couldn’t see Viper from where he was, but he was sure that she was getting to him in the quickest and safest way possible.

But then he lost sight of her.

“NIKKO!” he shouted. A pirate tried to get in his way, but one deflection was enough to knock him down. Another sent a blaster bolt flying toward the Jedi’s head, but he managed to duck and shoot out a Force push, sending him toppling into one of his companions. Then, he spotted Viper’s arms around the Padawan just ahead.

“Get back to the ship!” He didn’t know if Nikko had heard him or not, but he closed in toward them, deflecting blaster fire when needed as they slowly inched back toward the vessel. Quin could tell that she was injured just from the way that she was moving, so they would have to get to a medical station fast.

Fortunately, there were only a few pirates left by the time they reached the ship, and none of them had thought to hijack it. It was only when they boarded and the ramp was closing that Quin would see one of them round up the men. He didn’t get a good look, though, since his attention was immediately drawn back to Nikko.

“Oh, kriff. This is all my fault,” he muttered, seeing the wound in her shoulder. “I should have asked you to follow me. Not go out for Viper alone.” He took a breath before looking into her eyes. “How bad is it? Are you able to move?”

@Interdictor

 

[Nikko Ivita]

Nikko heard the shout from her companion and started stumbling back towards the shuttle, Viper guiding her along. Finally she stumbled up the ramp with Quin right behind her, and she immediately dropped onto the floor with her back against the wall. Viper released her and floated towards the controls as Quin stood over the girl. "No, its-agh-not your fault," she said breathlessly, gasping in pain as she tried to move her shoulder. "I should have…followed orders." Something was wrong with her eyesight. Everything was blurry and out of focus. "Y'know, that's the first time I've-ow-been shot," Nikko said with a small chuckle. "And yes, I can move most of my body, but my arm…it hurts, moving or otherwise." She was starting to feel tired. "A nap would be nice," she mumbled, eyelids drooping and head lulling to the side. The dark shadow of unconsciousness was begining to creep up on her.
@Sicadorito

 

[Quin Leonkri]

Quin shook his head and got down to his knees, trying to reassure her as much as he was trying to reassure himself. Even if she said it wasn’t his fault, he knew that it was. Entirely. When did he and Vayla ever split up on their missions together? He’d learned nothing.

“Shh. You did follow orders.” Quin swallowed. “Now don’t talk. You need rest.” He could see that her eyelids were starting to droop, and his lips curled into a sad smile as she chuckled and said it was the first time she’d gotten hit by a blaster. My fault. “Hurts like hell, doesn’t it?” he whispered back. The minute she closed her eyes, though, Quin would gently scoop her and carry her back to her seat in the cockpit.

“Thank you,” he said, stopping in front of the droid as he passed by, “for helping her back.” He didn’t wait for a response, instead setting Nikko down when he could before setting a course back to the town. Traitor or not, the mayor would likely dare harm a Jedi in the hospital. However, in the chance that he might try, Quin would make sure to keep a watchful eye on any of the staff to make sure of it.

“Kriff.” He rubbed his eyes. “This is going to be a lot harder than I thought.”

@Interdictor

 

[Nikko Ivita]

"No, I…tried to help you," Nikko slurred, struggling to stay awake. "That was…against orders." When he said getting shot hurt, she smiled a little. "Yeah, it does…" her voice trailed off and her eyes closed as she finally slipped into unconsciousness.

Viper merely gave a beep in response to Quin's question before heading back towards the cargo bay to charge.

@Sicadorito