An Acquaintance Of The Past

[Mariya Fleischer]

A mercenary's life was never easy. Sometimes, credits got hard to come by when there was no contract available. That was when you would have to save and scrimp to survive. On other days when a lucrative deal was made, you would happily spend the hard earned credits till you suddenly find yourself going back to square one. For now though, Mariya had earned enough. Enough for a visit to Coruscant, a place where living expenses were insanely high. She was not there for a tour or retail therapy though. Nope, she had more important things to do.

When she had decided to come out of retirement, one of the first things she did was to try and search for the remaining members who used to join the Underworld cartel that she was part of. The search was still ongoing, and proved exceedingly difficult. There were rumours of Saede Taggart being spotted and building up a new pirate crew, but she was unable to verify them. Others proved just as illusive, though her persistence allowed her to dig out the name of one survivor.

[member="Rekha Kaarde"], the smuggler pilot.

Mariya had never really talked much with Rekha before, though the blonde was pretty certain she had heard of Rekha's name being mentioned in the Underworld. Rekha was either a member of the Underworld, or had worked for the Underworld before as one of the pilots. Not that it really mattered. Mariya had decided that if she were to continue to live her life out in the open, she would need allies and friends. Rekha was one of her people on her list to meet up. She knew that the smuggler had a bar. The Lucky Lady, they told her, because the smuggler was literally the living proof of luck.

"A Corellian red, please."

The mercenary found the bar and sat at the counter, nursing her glass of red wine. Now, if Rekha was truly Lady Luck, then she would be present for Mariya in this unsolicited visit.

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

So what do you do when old friends and acquaintances show up unexpectedly. She had long thought that [member="Mariya Fleischer"] was dead. If there were true then the green eyed brunette was looking at a apparition and needed a drink.

She heard the order and watched Jon fill it. Rekha contemplated a few things before deciding to move over to the end of the bar. First she had to take into consideration was she imaging it? Second did Mariya have a twin and this was her? Third she was over analyzing everything and should be a good host and go say hi, whoever it was.

But there was a little trick she'd greet the mercenary in old corellian many of her old smuggling, mercenary friends knew the language. It was often considered a dead language but they used it to recognize one another and ensure some privacy if needed.

She walked down the bar her gaze set on the blonde till finally she stood before her , "Ol'val shranla" (Hello stranger) as she smiled. She would have to admit it was good to see a somewhat familiar face in a place where most just passed through.

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

Her order came, a nice looking glass of red wine served by the bartender. Mariya picked up the glass and took a long sip, not just to enjoy the taste but also to see how good it was. The wine was a table wine, a common label which was usually produced on a mass scale for consumers. She needed to find out whether the Corellians could make wines just as good as Alderaans. Her conclusion? The Corellians were more skilled in whiskey making, hence their monopoly. The wine was not bad, but she was certain that her newly created company would be able to produce Alderaanian table wines that could taste better. Whiskey though, would be a more difficult project. She might need to hire an experienced whiskey maker from Corellia and perform some research to come up with something new. Speaking of Corellia, someone just greeted her in that.

"Ol'val shranla".

Old Corellian, or more precisely, Olys Corellisi. The mercenary found herself grinning when she saw the brunette. It was like the smuggler had yet to age. Sure, it might had been the dim lights helping, but she was certainly Rekha had maintained her looks somehow.

"Khasaan'l, Rekha. Cjaalysce'l." (Greetings, Rekha. You are wearing the road well.)

Her tongue felt slightly unused to the old language, though Mariya was rather certain her pronunciation was accurate enough. Her years spent in Nar Shaddaa as a kid had allowed her to remember many tongues, a hidden boon when she needed to converse with other species.

"I'm so glad to see a familiar face. Like... wow."

Mariya grinned like a cat. Sometimes all you needed was to see a familiar face among a sea of unknowns to strike up a conversation, even though you hardly spoke to each other before.

"I see that you have been doing well. I think the gaming machines draw the crowds here more than the bar."

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[member="Mariya Fleischer"]

She nodded yes this was she and by the goddess it was good to hear a familiar voice. "It's great to see you, come on let's talk where it's a bit quieter and the view is better." As much as she liked the bar she enjoyed tranquility to. Rekha grabbed a bottle and a glass, "my rooms are upstairs we can relax and talk."

The brunette motioned a few folks out of the way, "coming through" she jumped up on the bar and then stepped off, "Mariya what are you doing on Coruscant?" They could exchange pleasantries while walking, other things would come when they were alone.

"The gaming draws them in here, they need the break from the pressures of Coruscant but out on Bespin they need the drink." She nodded and motioned to a lift to take them up.

How long had it been? She couldn't remember...but maybe she had word on a few more of their mutual friends..

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

"Okay, let's go then."

The blonde got up, taking the glass of wine with her as she followed Rekha. That jump on the bar was a little strange, but she kept her comments to herself. If Rekha wanted to step all over the bar counter, that was her problem since she owned the bar, hygiene be damn. The two of them made their way through a private doorway and walked up a spiral staircase.

"I needed to see for myself if you are really in Coruscant, of course."

Mariya had no eyes established on the capital planet, ever since the whole cartel collapsed. She had to do it the hard way by making the trip personal. Not that she minded, now that her food and beverage company was up and running. She could do some research on her potential rivals as her company expanded. For example, that Corellian red in her hand. She had full confidence that the upcoming Alderaanian Classic developed by her company would win in terms of taste, allowing her to grab some market share.

Corellia should just stick to their whiskeys.

They soon found themselves walking into a quieter room, offering a good windowed view of illuminated buildings in the distance.

"Nice place."

She grinned, helping herself to the comfortable looking sofa chair.

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

Rekha nodded, "Thanks" It had taken a lot of work and knowing some of the right people and for a change she could say she knew the right people. "Yep I'm really here, sometimes I don't know why but here I am." Rekha looked out the window it was a descent view course anything above a couple of floors offered a view of lights and buildings.

She slid into a comfortable chair leaned forward and set the bottle on the table.

"Where are you hanging your hat these days [member="Mariya Fleischer"]?" Many of her friends had stopped living the nomadic life and took on the more recognized planted life of a home. Heck some even had families and things.

Rekha hadn't quite settled yet life was too uncertain not that she was the type that needed certainty but she knew that it came in handy when dealing with business partners, wingmen, and other types of relationships that dealt with trust.

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

[member="Rekha Kaarde"] had asked one of the most common questions when people met up. What the other person had been doing with his or her life. Mariya knew that was coming.

"I have just recently got back to work. You know, finding mercenary contracts. Then I realised that there was a pile of credits from my old cantina business, which I turned into a new F&B company called Soul Brothers & Sisters."

She paused, pointing to the half drunk wine in her hand. Mariya had no idea how successful her new business would become, but she had decided to give it a shot. Since Rekha asked, she figured it might be as good a time as any to slip in a potential partnership offer. Just discretely. She had come here to reconnect and network. Pushing business down someone's throat so abruptly was not her goal.

"So this stuff here is part of what I am doing. Wines, spirits and food making. The galaxy has enough of weapons and armoury. I don't want to add to the blood spilling, at least for now. Who knows, someday I might be your supplier and need your business support."

A established cantina would have obtained their supplies either from a middleman or directly from the supplier if the quantities were sufficient. She had no idea what kind of quantities were being done here in The Lucky Lady, but she would not mind getting a new deal as long as there was something to be made. Coruscant was probably one of the biggest markets in the whole galaxy, so establishing a foothold here would be more than just the sales. The brand recognition would be invaluable.

"How about you? Been doing anything exciting other than settling down?"

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[member="Mariya Fleischer"]

Had she been doing anything exciting...well..but now she wanted to deal with this business first...

Rekha arched a brow and thought about it wine was always in demand, and good wine brought good prices, "Let's start with the wine thing first, set up a tasting if I like it I'll give you contract for 6 months. See how it performs, if it does well we will do a year if it flops we can say we gave it shot." She was willing to help a friend no reason not so. Mariya had always been fair with her so she was happy to return the same.

"Now as for what I've been doing." She had to laugh then cause what she had been doing was anything but settled. "Oh fighting wars, flying fighters, doing business and trying to stay alive to enjoy this" She waved her hand around to indicate her home.

"Ya know Mariya smuggling was good to me doing something for credits and not caring where the stuff went or how it was used. Now" She took another drink as her green eyes settled on her friend, "it matters. I couldn't disconnect from it anymore. So I decided to throw my lot in with folks who seem to care, and they make me care." She smiled.

"They might be able to use someone of your talents, plus there are others out there looking to hire mercs to further their cause. I hear them if you want I'll give them your 'card'" She lifted her glass once more.

"I've been wondering about some old imperial folks those that well weren't really that imperial when it came down to it. You hear anything from the Colonel?" They had that in common but she wondered sometimes what happen to them all.

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

"I will definitely send you a few bottles for sampling. Just the table wines will do for a start, nothing fancy."

Mariya was glad that the negotiation went easier than expected. Perhaps wines were just one of the hot items being sold in The Lucky Lady. The details on the pricing of the wines could be done later, after [member="Rekha Kaarde"] had done her tasting. The mercenary was pretty confident of her own product, so taste should not be a problem.

"I figured you might stop your smuggling days once you had your own nest."

She had no idea who were the folks that the brunette was talking about. Unlikely to be the cartel, since she had spent much time tracking them most of her known allies without much success. Rekha was one of the few whom she managed to find. Perhaps it was the Galactic Alliance, since Coruscant was technically under their control. Whoever they were, Mariya would not mind being hired if the pay was right and the job aligned to her own moral compasses.

"The Colonel? Nope. Maybe he is gone for good."

The mercenary knew who Rekha was referring to. Thyssen Stehl, an officer from a splinter group from the Galactic Empire which called themselves the New Imperial States. Roguish, arrogant and irritating. Everyone seemed to call him by his rank, which was easier to pronounce than his name anyway. Mariya concluded that he was dead along with the rest.

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[member="Mariya Fleischer"]

She nodded when Mariya mentioned Thyssen, the Colonel. Yeah he was a thorough pain in the ass but he had managed to be nice to her once in a while. She managed not to shoot him except that one time. She smiled.."Too bad some of them were good folks." She lifted her glass, "To those no longer with us"

She let it out then, "Yeah you might want to talk with the Outer Rim Coalition they have this new mandate that might work well for you. I've been part of their group for a long time. Live and let live but take what you need." She lifted her glass again this time to take a drink.

"I didn't think I'd ever stop smuggling. Nothing like outrunning everyone to get there first gets the adrenaline going and well nothing like that feeling." She really had thought she wouldn't stop ever but she had found a few friends along the way. Dekkan who took her in, Coren and Sparkler who let her tag along with them, just to name a few.

"You partial about who you work for Mariya?" She couldn't remember and if she was going to help her friend well she'd have to ask.

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

"You are right. To them, wherever they are. They are not dead as long as we speak about them," she raised her Corellian red and made a toast to her fallen friends. Dead, alive or missing, the toast was for them.

"Outer Rim Coalition. I have heard about them... I did consider moving there initially but they are a little far from the core worlds. So far, my footprints remain in the usual nearby places. Kiribi, Arkania, Alderaan. Coruscant is also a nearby hop. For now, I'm kinda satisfied running my company and getting paid from doing assignments for the Collective and Commenor Systems Alliance. Alderaan and ORC are in the future plans though, when my company expands its presence."

Mariya thanked her friend for the suggestion, though for now she had to keep her focus on establishing her company's presence. "I never really tried smuggling... but I guess we are all the same. I get a thrill when I'm doing my contacts and doing stealthy work."

As the chat continued, Mariya noticed that [member="Rekha Kaarde"] was still an outlaw at heart. One could say the blood of the underworld flowed within each member, regardless of their occupation. The bounty hunters, smugglers, mercenaries and pirates had their own agendas and quarrels among each other all the time, but somehow they had always remained united in the face of outsiders. It was a strange experience, something which Mariya had doubts that it would ever repeat itself in the foreseeable future.

"I'll work for whoever pays well enough and has no crazy agenda to dominate the galaxy. We all like our freedoms." She got herself another glass from the bottle Rekha had brought up. It was a different spirit, but she did not really care. The mood was set for a drinking session somehow. She looked out of the window, seeing the congested traffic zooming by below.

"I can see why you build your room here. The view is worth it. Imagine if the rest were here. Would be quite a party..."

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

"Coruscant nothing like it, except maybe Lianna." Rekha emptied her glass in salute to those missing, and then made to refill it, "more?" She moved closer just in case she did catch that [member="Mariya Fleischer"] had a bottle already. "Kiribi, Arkania and Alderaan. Bunch of hippies on Alderaan, don't have much on Kiribi there was a very prominent weapons maker I think there, Arkania I'd have to google."

She sipped her glass...and thought about old times.

She looked out the window again and then got this evil little grin on her face, "Want to ...take a spin around Coruscant check out some....competition?" Now what kind of competition was she talking about, who knew but either way she felt like going out.

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

"I'm fine with the drinks, especially you have just mentioned about going for a spin..."

Mariya had no idea what [member="Rekha Kaarde"] was suggesting yet, but the grin on the other face was an obvious warning that there was some sort of fun being involved. And by fun, it could meant something totally illegal like vehicle or ship racing.

"Hover bike or your ship? I'm terrible at flying... as long as you are flying and I'm accompanying you."

She had not seen Rekha in action before, but they were talking about a smuggler. Not some half ass cab driver who flew passengers around for a fee. The police, military and underground enforcement would be hot on any smuggler's tails and the pursuit should be rather thrilling. Somehow, Mariya found herself growing slightly pale at that thought. She came to Coruscant legally and had no wish to be deported for breaking a dozen traffic or shipping laws. That would be a sad way to be kicked off the planet.

"I hope you are not going to break too many traffic laws with that idea of yours?"

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[member="Mariya Fleischer"]


She grinned big, "Trust me " it was that cat ready to eat the mouse grin but she had no plans of hurting Mariya at all just a bit of fun. "I'll drive and as for the traffic laws I can take that two ways one would be that you want to see how many I can break without getting caught or two you want to see how many I can cause others to break." She did that little I'm excited dance.

"We'll take an air speeder." Yeah this sounded like fun and it would help to ease that longing starting to bubble on her insides about being free.

"Bring the bottle." Rekha set her glass down they wouldn't need the glasses, but a bottle to share yep once they stopped.

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

"Whatever you say, boss..."

The whole thing was beginning to sound like an bad idea, even if for daredevil like her. Maybe she never liked to be in the passenger seat and letting someone else dictate her life. The other option was asking her to drive. That would be alright, but there would be no fancy stunts. No jumping over a few lights, skidding all over the place and exceeding speed limits. No, she had no trust in her own driving or flying skills to perform such feats.

"I have no choice but to follow, isn't it?"

The glistering eyes of [member="Rekha Kaarde"] were enough to convince Mariya that she was stuck with the idea and would have to tag along. She hopped out of her seat, grabbing the bottle along as the two of them exited the room. She had no idea where the speeder was and decided to let her friend lead the way.

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

Headed to the roof where the sleek black XJ-6 waited she looked back [member="Mariya Fleischer"] didn't seem quite as up to this as she had but she had a feeling she'd come around, "One flight of stairs Mariya that's all then you can sit back and ride."

There were a few things on her mind and this little drive would take all that angst away. Stepping out onto the roof she couldn't help but look up traffic everywhere as far as the eye could, "That" She pointed out to the traffic, "I don't know it can be too much." It was and if she thought about it too long it weighed on her mind the thoughts of how many inhabitants there really were here. The crowds. The mechanized everywhere. She missed grass.

She looked back at Mariya shrugging her shoulders and shaking her head, "I'm ready if you are." Rekha walked towards the airspeeder one of the few items she allowed herself to keep on Coruscant. She slipped into the driver's seat pressed a single button the engine purred to life.

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

Mariya climbed up the stairs to the rooftop where the hover vehicle awaited them. It looked like a sports model, making her apprehension increased. But she had already promised [member="Rekha Kaarde"] to do so and backing out would be embarrassing. She sheepishly hoped onto the passenger seat, hearing the engine roaring at the back.

"Sounds pretty speedy," she said, buckling up the seat belt which was the only thing that would prevent her from being tossed off the ride. The glass bottle was swiftly sent into the vehicle's compartment, having no other place to store it. She had no idea whether Rekha had ever drank while speeding through the air, and she was not about to find that out. Even the sky dives, parachute jumps and orbital drops seemed safer compared to this.

"I guess I'm ready."

The mercenary prayed silently that her friend's driving skills would hold up against the alcohol. She gripped the edge of her seat, mentally preparing herself for the zooming ride to begin.

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

Rekha smiled, "Relax [member="Mariya Fleischer"] it's not like I'm going to dash off into a lane and take you parking." She worked the pedals and pushed the yoke Rekha looked left then right then dropped into a lane.

"One thing I've learned about being on Coruscant it you have a death wish it will be granted out here in the lanes if you really want it." She moved over quickly watching traffic. Traffic was every where, lane changers from above to lower left to right and then just down...she sighed heavily.

"We will be going to the level above where what they call the lower levels. There are some folks down that way looking for mercenaries, and then there are some that have been intercepting my liquor shipments so I need to have a talk with them." She looked over, "This should give you opportunity for a job and me to make a deal. Its more fun to make it sound like it more than it is but it beats sitting in the house talking about old times and gathering moss on my shoes."

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

"Oh, so you are actually looking for someone to 'talk' to them? Tsk, I should have brought my rifle with me."

She bemoaned a little, her favourite toy being left behind in [member="Rekha Kaarde"]'s room. It was too late to go back though, since the speeder had already took off into the sky. The traffic in Coruscant was known to be busy, so making a U-turn back directly was a no go. She still had her blaster with her and her utility belt, so she figured that they would suffice. Even without her rifle, she was still capable of putting up a fight if things became rough.

"So, any idea who has been stealing your liquor? I'll definitely make them listen, one way or another," the mercenary smiled, admiring the view of Coruscant from her passenger seat. Rekha had been behaving so far with her driving, so it was all good for now. She had always been fascinated by the urban buildings and complex structures on the planet, so the night view of the city's skyline was definitely worth a hologram video. Mariya tapped on her hololink on her wrist, capturing the beautiful city skyline and the brunette at the driver seat.

"Heya! Guess who I have found on Coruscant? It's Rekha! Sorry, she is kinda driving, so let's not disturb her and just admire the lights..."

The speeder continued its journey towards the lower levels. The transition was obvious, judging by the amount of lights that disappeared slowly as the speeder flew downwards. She had never been to the lower levels before, so she kept the recording on for curiosity sake. She would turn off later when they arrived.

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[member="Mariya Fleischer"]


"Not to worry these guys generally have plenty laying around. But we'll get further with a smile and a few batted eye lashes then we can introduce them to the reality of their situation." Yeah they liked making comments about her gender but she had been able to fend them off in the bar with her Woebringer but out here she was in their turf might not be so easy.

"I think its this Red Star Gang they've been making plays on every planet between here and Nar Shadaa. I mean to convince them the Lucky Lady is off limits. " The brunette meant it every word there would be no more pilfering of her supplies. She wouldn't pay them either. It might mean some war but she knew a few folks that would make them miserable if they didn't listen.

Rekha turned smiled, "hi whoever we are talking to, by the way come visit. Love to have visitors." She did but she had learned something along the way. People leave, nothing was forever and she well she hide her fears better than anyone she knew.

The air speeder took a slight dive to go down a few levels. "Wish we could go to Bespin. My other bar we can ride the thranta there. So cool! Amazing...freeze your arse off but fun. Ever ride one?" She was keeping alert there were eyes everywhere.