Ask Remnants of Callo (Reloaded)

[Covax]

Covax was returning to the Core, to Coruscant. The last time he was here he and his long time partner Aska had put a stop to Gareth Gin. Who the galaxy believed was the last boss of the Zaa Fenn. How wrong the stars would soon be. But those were plans for another time. First he needed to take care of someone, and in the process, perhaps recruit.

Approaching the landing pad, Covax was returned to the here and now. With the flick of a switch the Infiltrator would hover over and then slowly land on the platform jutting out from the urban sprawl of the city planet's level 1313. Coruscant's underbelly and perhaps the last bastion for the last of the Callos.

Covax had gotten word from a contact within the remnant of the ZF on the planet. After nearly being caught on Nar Shaddaa by a couple of rookie hunters, Geena Callo had run to the core to hide. The Wookiee of the group had to be dealt with, as he was also a member of Black Sun. But Covax had invited the other hunter to finish the job.

The imposing human would meet his would be partner at Calamari Seafood, where after a few words and perhaps a bite, they would meet the contact that had information on where the sister of the Preef was hiding.

@Burpee

 

[Krom Grenivad]

The trip from the Outer Rim back to the Core was a long and angry one for Krom, who sat in silent reflection nearly the whole way. This Geena Callo had slipped through his fingers, largely thanks to follies of an unfocused partner, and now he had the pleasure of flying halfway back across the galaxy without a payday. He can't say he was faultless though. He had been out of practice from hunting and not quite equipped to communicate with his previous partner. With the glowing orange lanes of Coruscant's surface growing through the transparisteel of his cockpit, Krom did his best to shake previous mistakes out of his mind and refocus himself on the task at hand. It wouldn't do well, professionally, to let this target slip away again.

His transport's landing gear hissed as the weight of the ship compressed the hydraulics and Krom decisively powered the ship down, grabbing his hunting gear and making sure the goggles he almost lost on Nar Shaddaa were properly tightened against his forehead. With DG-7's on either thigh and his EE-3 slung around around his shoulder, Krom confidently marched his way down the ramp and headed toward the seafood joint this Covax had mentioned. Something about the name, Covax, rang a bell, but Krom couldn't quite place where he might've heard or seen it. He wondered what kind of skill sets this companion would have. He damn sure hoped he wouldn't have to use a protocol droid to talk to him.

Pushing in the door of the modest diner, Krom scanned the tight interior for his partner and met eyes with a surprisingly large human - probably only inches below his own height - whose presence dominated the room, and he decided to make his way over. Despite the locale, food was far from Krom's mind after having fixated on his previous mistakes his whole trip, but he'd be willing to wait long enough for his partner to get a quick order if needed. The Lasat offered up his ungloved hand to the imposing human for a handshake and added "Krom. You Covax?"

@Taz

 

[Covax]

The imposing human hand already taken a seat at a raised table with a couple of chairs. Typical for such small food establishments. He'd learned the hard way over the years to avoid booths. His smartpad in hand, he was texting and old friend. As the door opened, he caught the moment out of the corner of his eye.

Covax put the phone away and turned his full attention to the Lasat. Giving the other hunter a hand as the furry man offered his own. "That's me, nice to meet you Krom." He said, shaking Krom's hand.

As the two shook and took a seat, a heavyset Karkarodon would approach the table. A blood soaked apron doing little to cover his mass. The massive head of teeth and predatory looking eyes looked to Covax first. "What'll it be ?" The shark man asked with a voice that sounded like he smoked two packs a day.

"I'll have the eel roll, extra sauce. And a Thorn energy to wash it down." Said Covex. The shark-man gave a nod, before turning to the other hunter. "And you ?"

@Burpee

 

[Krom Grenivad]

"Nice to meet ya," Krom responded with the edge of a smile. The Lasat enjoyed the firm handshake and took a seat next to the human, crossing his arms and relaxing against the counter. As the thick Karkarodon approached, Krom briefly pondered the potential humor of a large shark-like person making and serving seafood but any such thoughts were dismissed when the Karkarodon opened his mouth to speak and flashed his rows of jagged teeth. When the server's attention shifted to him, Krom spoke up. "Just a water. I'm not hungry. Thanks." Without so much as a blink, the Karkarodon turned around and walked back toward the kitchen to get started.

Krom poked at the datapad on his wrist, pulling up a map of Coruscant and sliding his fingers through several districts as he scrolled past them. He didn't know exactly what he was looking for; just half-heartedly hoping that absentmindedly swiping across the map would reveal some secret or obvious location where his target would be. Not meaning to be rude, Krom turned the screen off on his datapad and spun in his chair to face Covax, before speaking lower. "So, Covax, I feel like I've heard your name somewhere before. I'm guessing you've been hunting for a good while. Where ya from, if I can ask?"

Krom thought the answer to that question might possibly answer where he'd heard the name Covax before but ultimately just wanted to make conversation until the food arrived. Connections were helpful in this line of business. As his companion began to respond, a brown glass sloshing with water slid across the countertop before spinning to a halt vaguely between the two men. Krom went ahead and grabbed the glass, sniffed at the contents briefly, then took a slurp before setting it back down on the composite counter.

@Taz

 

[Covax]

As the Lasat aimlessly scrolled at the pad with his finger, the shark man returned with the drink. A tall can of the Thousand Crown flavor Emryc energy and a water. Covax popped the can and added a three count of clear liquor from a small flask that seemed to appear from nowhere.

The human then made a short snort laugh at the other man's "don't I know you" comment. "You could say that." He mused. Not flexing the fact he was a member of the team that took down the crime lord Durr the Hutt, or his part in taking down Gareth Gin. The mastermind behind the massacre on Mon Cala and the largest bounty to date in the known galaxy. While he wasn't as well known as his partner Aska Ryan. Covax was still a respected name in the galaxy.

"I'm not from anywhere kid, I go where the job takes me." Answering the other hunter before taking a drink of his jet juice spiked energy drink. The human's own little inside joke to the galaxy. The shark chef then returned with a plate of tiny rolls of rice and something like fish. As well as as a napkin, with something written on it.

Covax put the can down and picked up one of the perfectly even sliced disks. Popping it in his mouth as he picked up the note with his opposite hand. Whatever was on the paper brought a tiny smirk to the mercenary's face. "You may as well get a bite kid, we have some time to kill."

@Burpee

 

[Krom Grenivad]

With the brief flash of a flask over the human's drink, Krom grinned, realizing what was likely happening. He personally didn't like to work under the influence, but he understood that that was not the case for everyone. He had once met a man before who was only a marksman while inebriated, so he didn't judge. Krom wiped at the condensation built up on his beverage and returned a curious smile as Covax answered. Based on his disposition alone, Krom figured his human companion must have some notoriety. Only a fool with something to prove would spout off about past deeds in mixed company, especially on Coruscant.

As Covax spoke of his 'home', Krom chuckled while finishing a sip of water. "I can respect that. My ship is more of a home than I've ever known." As the Karkarodan stopped by with the food, Krom made notice of the slight smirk across Covax's face upon looking at a napkin. "What, our friend get delayed or something?" he let out with a grumpy huff. Turning back to the Karkarodan who had started back towards the kitchen, Krom yelled out to him. "I'll take a fish and chips."

Krom waited in relative silence for his food with a scowl on his face, picking at a piece of the counter's edging that had started coming up and cursing himself internally for not seizing the opportunity he had back on Nar Shaddaa when Geena Callo's precise location was already known. Such was the struggle of having to work with others. Some people were just better at some things than you were, and eventually you'd have to rely on them no matter how independent you were. When Krom finished his water, he pushed the brown glass to the end of the sticky counter. He'd have to ask for another when his food came.

@Taz

 

[Covax]

Covax popped another fish roll into his mouth as he listened to Krom. He understood that life well. Much of his own early days were spent on his old ship after he lost Eva and Izzy. Until Aska quite literally fell from the sky and into his life. Then it was a roller coaster ride of high priced jobs, and bad deeds. Then...

Krom shook him from his daydream a moment later when he asked about their friend. He liked the Lasat but he was a bit slow on the uptake. So Covax took another big swig of his drink before putting it back down and pulling his smartpad from a warn pouch on his armor. Tapping a nav-app on the screen, the human then punched in the code on the napkin. Then tapped a couple more keys to make the view 3D project and placed the phone on the table. Now clearly showing a map of the a lower level of the city planet.

"See that," Covax pointed as he spoke. "She's down on 1212. Likely hiding in one of what's left of the Lower Five gang's hideouts. Stupid fuckers still loyal to a Zaa Fenn and Preef, even though the Rodian and been dead a couple years now." Covax popped the last two fish rolls in his mouth. Chewing and swallowing before finishing his little rant. "So, we can go in hot. Maybe find her, maybe not. Or....we stakeout the spot and wait to see when she pops up. Either way, eat up."

@Burpee

 

[Krom Grenivad]

The Karkarodon came back with a greasy basket of fish and chips as Covax was retrieving his smartpad. Krom nodded at him in appreciation and pushed his glass towards him meaningfully, which the cook understood and refilled for him with the click of a hose from under the counter. Though he wasn't all that hungry, Krom ate with all of the vigor he normally did; the basket was half empty by the time the human was taking his last bites of fish roll. Krom studied the projection and nodded as he chewed, shoving the last of the fried fish into his maw. He wiped sauce from the corners of his mouth as he spoke up, still working on mincing up that last bit of food.

"Fuck that. I'm not gonna rush to my death without even knowing if the broad's there." He swallowed and pushed the basket towards his companion. "Want the rest of these fries?" He paused, taking a big gulp of his water before continuing. "So yeah, stakeout. I need a pay day and I don't wanna go spraying blaster bolts across Coruscant without knowing there's credits at the end of this." Wiping his hands on the sides of his pants, Krom slid off the barstool before standing and stretching his arms out with a groan. "You were right. The food was a good call. So, we ridin' together or separate?"

@Taz

 

[Covax]

Covax smiled at the Lasat's comment about not rushing to his death. "Good. I can use a guy who likes living." He replied, then shook his head at the rest of the bounty hunter's meal. Instead finishing his energy drink and booze. "Let's get this job done. Maybe later we'll talk about some more work." Covax offered. If the human was going to rebuild what Gin and Callo fucked up, he was going to need man power to do it.

Putting an 50 cred chip down, the towering human gave the lasat a nod to follow. The two would dip out, leaving a nice tip, and head for the speeder that Covax had waiting around the back. "Get in." Covax ordered. Then jumped into the driver seat. When his companion wedged himself in, the Crymorah Vanguard sped off toward Coruscant's level 1313. More specifically Little Rodia.

@Burpee

 

[Krom Grenivad]

The prospect of more work was intriguing. Like he'd told the human, he needed a pay day. He'd been stretching the credits from his last job for far longer than was comfortable, hence his expedience in following the Callo to the galactic core. He wasn't the type to do little jobs; rather complete something difficult and live off the earnings for a good while before worrying about money again. Krom would have to stay in contact with this Covax after the job - see what kind of credits they could make each other.

Krom took notice of the credits the human put on the counter and nodded his head toward him in appreciation, assuming his meal to be paid for, and followed him out to the speeder. He hopped into the seat and settled, resting his arm along the side of the frame as they took off. It was a fairly quiet ride for him as he mostly took in his busy surroundings. As they approached the portal to level 1313, Krom casually moved his left hand to his blaster while he continued to spectate the traffic. Even though he'd spent some years running in the underground, he was always on guard when on a hunt. If it became evident they were bountyhunting, some might lash out simply as a preventative, thinking they might be after them.

There was just as much life and buzz down in these lower levels as in the upper, albeit with a 'darker' feel, both literally and figuratively. As they started heading toward Little Rodia, something dawned on Krom. "Hey, uhh...you speak Rodese?" One of the downfalls of his rough upbringing was unfortunately a lack of languages. He could pick up a little bit of Rodese and Huttese here and there but the only one he could truly converse in was Basic.

@Taz