Ask Rumble in the Jungle

[Jeyten Dres]

Felucia
Outer Rim Territories

​

Jey had made his way to Felucia for a change of scenery, after weeks of trying to decipher the clues in his father's journal to the location of the next Temple, the young Force-sensitive had decided to take a break on the colourful, humid jungle planet. Equipped with his lightsaber, two DL-18s and clothing more suited for the climate, Jey had arrived in a Felucian village with his droid pal, 4EY-18 sitting on his shoulder.

Chirping excitedly, the scout droid queried whether they would be going into the jungles where he could scan the native flaura for his database, Jey laughed it off and shook his head "Heh, no way buddy. You wouldn't catch me dead in those jungles." He began walking towards a small cantina in the centre of the Felucian village, he wondered what strange Felucian concoctions he'd be able to find in it. Or maybe even, new and interesting people as he seemed to have a knack for that sort of thing.

Jey entered the cantina - the layout was much different to the usual ones he had either bar tended or partied at, this one was slightly smaller and more calm. No flashing lights, no thumping music, just the various and overlapping voices of the cantina's patrons echoing through the room, however it was a nice and welcome change from the overly energetic ones he had been to in the past. The teen approached the bar and leaned on the counter and flashed a friendly grin "Afternoon, pateesa. I'd like the most bizarre drink you've got on the menu." when the Felucian bar tender simply nodded and turned around to make the beverage.

As he waited for his drink, Jey turned around and leaned back on the counter and took the time to observe his surroundings and the patrons, looking for anyone or anything interesting.

@KinkyPrawn

 

[Arden Kryze]

The armoured figure of Arden Kryze made its way from the landing pad where his YT-1300 stood. He checked himself once more to make sure everything was in its place. His target was supposedly on the planet and he doubted that the idiot would be hiding out in town. That would be too easy on a planet like this. But still, he needed to start somewhere and what better place than a bar to start a manhunt?

He approached the cantina, marching past the villagers and other people that all either got out of his way or stared at him with wide eyes. He really wasn't in the mood for gawking. They were lucky that he was not in the mood to shoot up the place already.

He entered the bar and made his way over to the bar, ignoring all the people in the place as his focus fell on the bartender. That changed very quickly, however, when he reached it. His head turned to the side as he stared at the man next to him. "Well then...slap my arse with a silk dress an' call me surprised. Never would have expected to see you again." he quipped before waving the barkeep over. He ordered a tall glass of beer with a straw and rested against the counter. "You haven't seen a Nautolan karker skulkin' around here, have you?" he asked Jey, his voice clearly not holding any hope for a good answer.

@AfroBandit20

 

[Jeyten Dres]

Jey was handed a strange purple concoction by the Felucian bartender which he observed by rotating the glass, he shrugged and drank it, Jey's face contorted into an unrecognisable expression and he shook his head swiftly when the alcoholic beverage hit his tongue. After a few moments, the teen smiled as the drink wasn't actually that bad. Turning around to observe the cantina once more - his attention was focused on its entrance, as he felt something... odd in the Force, something familiar.

Then the thing, or person, that he sensed proceeded to enter the cantina and Jey's mouth hung agape in shock - "You've got to be kidding me..." he muttered to himself, it was the Mando bounty hunter; Arden Kryze that he had encountered on Socorro months ago. 4EY-18 picked up on Jey's surprise and asked him what was wrong in a high pitched beep, although Jey ignored his companion's question without even realising. He watched intently as Arden made his way toward the counter, making sure the bounty hunter wasn't here for him and when he was completely ignored by Arden, Jey felt at ease once more.

It took a few moments, but the Mandalorian managed to recognise the teen and almost seemed pleasantly surprised at his realisation. Jey remained slouched on the counter with his back toward it, he quipped back "Small galaxy. What's your loca mug doing in these parts?" knowing he wasn't in any kind of danger, at least for now. His question was then immediately answered with another question, something about if Jey had seen a Nautolan.

The black haired teen shrugged "Naw, who's your unlucky prey today, pateesa?" he asked, showing genuine interest in the bounty hunter's answer, he needed a distraction from his current problems right now. Even 4EY expressed interest when he jumped from Jey's shoulder and onto the counter, gazing at the Mandalorian with child-like curiosity.

@KinkyPrawn

 

[Arden Kryze]

Arden eyed the man and shrugged. "Of course you didn't." he muttered, sipping away at his beer. He turned to look at Jey when he inquired about his reason for being here. "The Nau'olan I asked about." he said flatly, then sipped further. "The guy's wanted. Decent bounty on him, bu' nothin' special. I jus' don't have anythin' better to do a' the moment." he explained further, turning to face the bar again.

The beer was finished in a flash and he asked the bartender...who at least had some info. He got a heading into the jungle, which at least gave him a direction to go in. He hoped for more. But that was fine. At least it would be interesting.

"Well, seein' as you're utterly useless today, I guess I'll be movin' on. Cheers." he gave a light salute, then turned to leave the place. He was tempted to drag the guy along, but he really wasn't sure about that idea.

@AfroBandit20

 

[Jeyten Dres]

Jey listened to Arden's explanation about this Nautolan bounty - although he had his own job to do, it sounded fun... and he was bored, in need of taking his mind off of his own problems. Jey watched as Arden gave a light salute and turned to leave, he waited a moment and considered his options, the teen looked down and rubbed his gloved thumb around his fingers before calling out "I'll come." and lightly propelled himself from the bar counter, drink still in hand. 4EY-18 proceeded to climb up Jey's back as he began making his way to the Mandalorian.

"I'm bored too, let me help. I've got a scout droid to help search." he said, upon reaching a close proximity to the Mando, he leaned in and whispered "I'm also Force-sensitive, remember?" there was no way the guy could refuse having a Force-sensitive at his side for this particular bounty, especially on Felucia. Truth is, while he had mixed feelings about Arden he couldn't deny that he was an interesting guy, and getting involved with him was a guaranteed good time.

Taking a sip of his drink, Jey led the way outside the cantina and refused to take any kind of no as an answer. Now outside, the hazel eyed youth stopped just a few feet away from the entrance "Tell me more about this guy." Jey requested, he wondered what this Nautolan must have done to get a price on his head.

@KinkyPrawn

 

[Arden Kryze]

Arden stopped and slowly turned to eye Jey as he approached. He stayed right where he was, listening to what the kid had to say. He did raise some fair points. The droid and his force sensitivity did provide some amazing advantages in finding the target. He eyed him for several seconds before sighing and giving a nod. "Fine, you're in." he said flatly, then turned to leave the building.

Outside, Jey asked about the target. But for a good few seconds Arden didn't say anything as he walked back to his ship. "Guy's a waste of air. Smuggled a bunch of hard drugs, killed an officer who caught him, then ran. You can see how that'll give him a nice price on his head." Arden explained finally. By his ship he pushed out his speeder and started it up outside the ship. "Alright, sunshine, which way? You wanted to play bloodhound, here's your chance." he spoke as he seated himself behind the speeder's controls.

@AfroBandit20

 

[Jeyten Dres]

Jey followed Arden back to his ship, although he didn't say anything which prompted him to look at his droid and shrug. Although, after getting back to his ship Arden finally explained and from what Jey had heard... this guy was a real slime ball, so now Jey helping track this guy was at least for a good cause.

The teen then watched as the Mandalorian pulled out a speeder and sat on it, questioning him on where they should go next. Jey raised a finger to speak, then froze, completely speechless, he had spent so much time selling himself to the bounty hunter that he neglected to realise he didn't actually have any bounty hunting skills.

"Uhhhh..." Jey muttered but luckily, 4EY-18 beeped and chirped, suggesting that Jey use his own experiences on the run to look for this Nautolan. "Good idea, bud. Well... he'd obviously want to be as off the grid as possible right?" he asked rhetorically, "What better place to hide out on Felucia than..." Jey shuddered slightly "... the jungles." he finished off with a shrug, then proceeding to hop into the other seat of Arden's speeder. "Just cruise around the jungles until I pick up some kind of presence, or 4EY picks up a signature?" he suggested, Jey knew his maybes and uncertainties was bound to tick off the Mandalorian - it was a dangerous game he was playing but it was worth it to at least get a little rise out of him.

"Hey, what model is this?" he asked in referral to Arden's speeder, Jey knew this nonchalant question would be the icing on the cake.

@KinkyPrawn

 

[Arden Kryze]

The droid's beeping, combined with the kid's stupid idea, earned a well-deserved look from the Mandalorian. Despite wearing a helmet, Jey could easily see the look in the T-visor and the thoughts it accompanied. All Mandalorians knew how to express their emotion through the cold and emotionless T-visor. And every Mandalorian knew how to pull this look off.

Arden wasn't impressed.

And the sudden transition of topics definitely achieved what Jey wanted it to. "The type that'll wrap you around a tree if you keep voicing the obvious." he fired back irritably. He opened up the throttle and cruised through the town towards the entrance to the jungle. "So your genius plan is to do wha' any laserbrain would do to go after wha' any other laserbrain would do?" he berated Jey as he cruised along the path. "Why did I bring you along?" he asked rhetorically, glancing behind him. He adjusted one of his sideview mirrors to look at the kid behind him, the look still quite clear on his helmet.

Despite this, he kept driving at a comfortable speed to keep his eyes out for anything out of place as well as to allow his companions to try and make up for their bright plan. Arden sat back relaxed, with his right hand on the controls and the other draped over his lap to hold onto his pistol. His helmet turned every now and then to keep an eye out for his target. "You go' anythin' yet?" he asked Jey over his shoulder.

@AfroBandit20

 

[Jeyten Dres]

All the hazel eyed teen could do was snicker at Arden's retort regarding the speeder's model and the look he had given him. Before their search would begin however, Jey turned to the small droid placed on his shoulder and whispered "Well buddy, looks like you're gettin' your wish after all. Better hold on tight." all the while taking his own advice and placing both hands behind his seat and grasping it firmly. With that, the teen and the Mandalorian were off and cruising through the town at high speed.

As Arden piloted the speeder into the forest, Jey began attempting to sense any life forms through the Force - although, to be honest he wasn't sure if he would sense the fauna, local wildlife or the Nautolan, luckily 4EY may be able to distinguish between these. "Not sure, not sure if I'm sensing wildlife or your target." he replied, eyes closed and focused. After a few more minutes of nothing, his eyes shot open in surprise when 4EY beeped for both of their attention, the teen turned and listened as the scout droid beeped and chirped away before turning his attention to the Mando in front of him.

"He says he's picked up some organic scans just a few klicks that way!" he exclaimed while pointing in the direction to their left side - Jey wasn't sure if it was north, east, south or west but he just knew it was that way. With Jey focusing more now, he could also sense something too... it was a lifeform but it wasn't the same as the lifeforms he was sensing earlier, could this be it? There was only one way to find out.

@KinkyPrawn