A Street Rat Once More

[Garza]

Nar Shaddaa
Lower levels
Roaming the streets

Once in my life I had been a street rat. Living off of my wit and skill alone. Well, not completely alone. I had a droid with me. Even then, I kept her in the ship to avoid someone trying to take her, or steal the ship. She was very capable in training me, and was adept at Lightsaber combat. Enough that she could teach me to a knight level, and even now, provide some challenge to me.

Over the years, I found my home with the Silver Jedi. Even more so with the Mandalorians just recently. Even ranking up from an Initiate to a Rally Master. Usually I would have been decked out in my armorweave body suit carrying a lightsaber, and my hammer. But seeing as how this was one of the many underworlds, It was easier for me to wear my Beskar'gam. While it was made in the same fashion of one, it was made out of a very rare, and impossibly durable metal that made me impervious to blaster fire. And High resistance to just about everything else.

On my belt was a lightsaber. Simply made, and easily usable. I pulled the red cloak around my left shoulder. Hiding the hammer on the left side of my hip. On my right thigh was a simple blaster pistol. Enough to keep the guise of a normal mandalorian. I looked around. My visor and HUD telling me all of the information about potential threats close by. I looked around and kept my hand close to the blaster pistol. I may be a Jedi, but before I was one, I learned how to shoot a blaster or two. I knew how to fight in hand to hand combat. And even now, I knew how to be one conniving son of a queen.

I moved onward through the streets Just remembering the good ole days when I had to grow up faster than most. Having little to no childhood at all. And wanting so badly to be a kid again. To have the ignorant bliss of war. To not care if someone smelled bad or if they looked weird. Even now, there were some who reeked of year old food and body odor that somehow could penetrate my suit. I pushed myself through the area anyways. Wondering what would happen. Even as I had memories of a life that seemed like it only happened yesterday.

 

[Nyx]

Nyx strode along the streets, her usual cocky grin on her face. She'd just finished up shaking down a store owner that had pissed off the wrong people, made off with a good amount of credits, and even had enough for an actual bed that night. Her day was going well, to say the least.

The dark-haired street rat always loved simply strolling the streets, just like how it used to be. Sometimes, she'd even do some good old-fashioned pickpocketing.
Today happened to be one of those days, and she analyzed her fellow pedestrians out of the corners of her eyes, trying to decide whose day to ruin.
Her eyes came upon a Bothan, but he was already looking at her suspiciously; not an option. That Wookie didn't even have any damn pockets, and that Duros had an obviously itchy trigger finger.

Finally, she spotted someone. A Mandalorian, not looking her way; and she spotted the blaster at his side. She could pawn that for a good amount, enough for some good drink, anyway.

Cautiously, she stepped into line behind him, matching his stride. After a minute, she carefully stepped forward, her hand reaching for the blaster. . .

[member="Xander Carrick"]

 

[Garza]

Many people walked in and about. Minding their own business. Some looked a little shifty when I walked past them. Almost as though they had a hate against Mandalorians. Even more so with ones that were in red cloaks. I continued to look around. Seeing as how there were a lot of people, I allowed my mind to slip into the force. Feeling for intentions. While I wouldn't know what the intention was, I could feel the darkness from it. The sensing of the dark side easily came to me. When I was a Padawan. I needed to sense. I needed to have what was called, Active awareness. Meaning I could take in all the information around me, and learn to deal with it on the spot.

Now as a Master, I have refined this skill. Learning to pay attention to people. By looking at them in the order of hands, waist, and eyes. First hands, because I want to see what they are doing. What do they physically have on their hands. If they have a weapon, what is it? and so on. Then the waist to see if they had any weapons on their belt, or even thighs. If it was hidden, I could easily look for bulges around the hips. And possibility of a weapon. Then the eyes. What were they paying attention to, what were they looking at. As well as their facial reactions. Were they smiling? frowning? And so forth. As I did so, I could see a man look down towards my waist. As it happened, the man was a Rodan. And well, for them to look down, they had to move almost their entire head because of the snout in front of their face.

Reaching for my thigh fast, I grabbed for my gun, only, instead of feeling the rubber grip, and the metal of the trigger on my armored hand, I felt flesh. A wrist and hand that I gripped onto and kept a hold of with an iron grip. Smiling as I turned my head around to face whoever it was. Seeing a woman.

"It would be bad to steal something from a man who you know nothing about."

My helmet covered my face. Hiding the smile, but it could be heard on my voice.

"Even more so when you can't see their facial reactions."

I let go of her hand and pushed it away from me. Turning to her, I raised a hand to let her know I wasn't going to try anything.

[member="Nyx"]

 

[Nyx]

Sithspit.
Getting caught was the last thing she needed, especially by a Mandalorian.
As he pushed her hand away, she rubbed her wrist where he had grabbed her, grimacing.

"Well, you caught me." She muttered as he raised his hands, understanding that he meant no harm.
"You know, most Mandos would just cut off my hand." She stated, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Why didn't you?"
She almost cursed herself for questioning his intentions, but her curiosity was taking over.

Why the kark would a Mando be forgiving to a pickpocket?

[member="Xander Carrick"]

 

[Garza]

"Survival is a necessity. I can't blame you for trying."

Answering the woman with the clearest answer I had, I knew what it was like to try and survive. I was once a urchin that was stuck on the lowest level of the streets. I had lived the first few years of my life scavenging everything on the ground. Even when it was just a random person, I decided to be kind, rather than an ass.

I pulled out a five hundred credit chip, and flicked it in the air for her to catch.

"Maybe instead of taking it, I'll give you something else. Since I kind of need this blaster."

I gave her how much I paid for it. In all reality, this was nothing for me. It was rain money. Money spent on a rainy day just because I could. Even then, the Silver Jedi paid for my missions, and sometimes would pay for my gear. Nevermind that. I looked the woman over.

"You have talent far beyond anyone else here. So why are you still here?"

[member="Nyx"]

 

[Nyx]

She caught the chip, blinking in surprise. He was just. . . Giving it to her? She made this much in a week of mercenary work!

"Why does anyone stay on Nar Shaddaa?" She answered, looking at the Mandalorian suspiciously. "This is one of the places people like me can find work. The Ravens pay well, and the Hutts sometimes have work."

Although, just about all she did nowadays was shake down storeowners and kill debtors. The street rat desired better work, but honestly, who would hire someone like her? No, the criminal life was the one for her.


[member="Xander Carrick"]

 

[Garza]

Surprise on her face, and even more so with her answer of saying that people like her could find work. I nodded once respectfully and showing her that I heard what she said. I looked her up and down. She had skill. Being a person that had to do it for safety, as well as a job, I could tell that there would be more in store for her later on in life. She might always be the crook or the rogue girl who would surprise every man who tried to take advantage of her, but she will be strong. I could see it. Knowing this, I smiled.

"Working for the Red Ravens. Not the best place to be, but they do have almost constant work."

The Crime Syndicate that was taking the Galaxy by storm. They had allied themselves with the Sith, but with recent involvement in fights, they are now setting bounties on one another. Even I was tempted to get in on this and make some allies with the Red Ravens. Contacts within the crime, without doing the crime itself. While I was a Jedi, a Silver Jedi at that, I was considered a Grey Jedi. Going on the edge, and never really believing all of the religious things that went with it.

"Lets forget about the stealing, and let me buy you a drink."

I was not meaning it in the sense of picking her up. No. I just wanted to try and make contact with her. Seeing as how she had potential to go far, I wanted someone who would have a good foundation, rather than just become friends because of a few credits. Even then, we may never be friends. More along the lines of allies.

As well, I could get her the gear she may need. For a price though.

[member="Nyx"]

 

[Nyx]

Nyx immediately grinned as he offered to buy her a drink, and relaxed her posture. She could tell he wasn't making a move on her, but was being friendly.
While it still weirded her out a little, she was willing to take a free drink any time.

"I'm taking you up on that." She said simply, crossing her arms. "Just to warn you, I'm going to get the most expensive drink they have."

It wasn't her money; she might as well make the best of it.


[member="Xander Carrick"]

 

[Garza]

She grinned at me. Good. Everything was going well instead of her taking it the wrong way. Considering that I was not wanting to go against my current relationship, nor was I really interested in a woman like her, I knew one thing though. She knew how to take advantage of things. She even said so herself. The comment of taking the most expensive drink in the house. I shrugged my shoulders and easily walked over to the counter.

"Whiskey, and your most expensive drink for the lady-friend."

I jabbed my thumb in her direction to let the bartender know who it was going to. I then sat down some credits for him to take. I then turned to look at the woman. Standing up straight, I found that I was alot taller than her. I stood just about two meters tall. While she was clearly under that. Maybe Five-nine? Either way, My armor even gave me a little boost. So really I was around six foot seven because of the boots, and help adding to my height.

I reached under my helmet, pulling on the straps and then took off my helmet to show off a turtleneck from an undersuit. and my face. My hair was currently up in a pony tail and had been folded onto the back of my neck. I took it out, and let my hair fall. It looked a little mangy from being stuck in the helmet. But other than that, I looked like any other blonde guy. Maybe a little bit of a scruff on my face. Even that, Scruffy, being my nickname among the Mandalorians, and "Master Scruff" with the Padawans at the temple.

"The name is Xander Carrick. May I have yours?"

[member="Nyx"],

 

[Nyx]

She took a long pull of the drink before responding, wiping her mouth with the sleeve of her jacket.

"Technically, it's Anixya. But you can call me Nyx."
The drink was good, she decided as she took another drink.

She glanced at Xander, examining his face.

"What's a Mandalorian doing on Nar Shaddaa, anyway?" She asked, curious. If the warrior people ever came, it was usually to do business with the Hutts; they didn't patrol the streets like this one did. He had raised her curiosity, and she wanted it sated.


[member="Xander Carrick"]

 

[Garza]

Nyx. Quite a different name in all accounts. Since I have never heard of someone called by that before, I nodded my head twice with a sluggish smile while I took a drink. She herself seemed to enjoy the expensive taste. Considering she lived on a beer budget, I couldn't blame her. Even when she asked the question why a Mandalorian would be here instead of somewhere else, I smiled and shrugged my shoulders.

"You might not believe me, but I was once a Street Rat here among these streets that you were likely working on."

I took another sip, nice and slow as I looked over the rim to her face. Watching her reaction as I sat it down.

"Mostly, I don't work with hutts and others of a more questionable agenda. I don't want to get tied up in it."

[member="Nyx"],

 

[Nyx]

Nyx leaned back in surprise as Xander told her that he had been in her position, a street rat.
She squinted as she tried to imagine the Mandalorian in the same outfit she had on, the same grime, the same bitter look; and she found she couldn't. She couldn't imagine him as anything other than the armored man she saw in front of her.

The street rat swirled the drink in her hands, staring at it.
"And you ended up a Mando, huh?" She said after a minute of silence, anger rising in her.
"Elevated above the rest of us?" She regretted saying it as soon as it left her mouth, but she couldn't help it. With a sigh, she returned to her drink.

[member="Xander Carrick"]