Iron Chef: Abregado-Rae [Rekha Kaarde]

[Dekkan Fray]

There were a few other skills in there that would certainly be categorized as ones that you never forgot. For Dekkan those skills were best left forgotten in a closet caked with a few layers of dust. He didn't want to slip back into older habits, that was for certain. The rest of the Galaxy was better off if he didn't dabble in them as well. She'd do fine as a part time waitress, and his girls knew how to help someone get adjusted. It wasn't a large diner by any stretch of the imagination, so it wouldn't be overwhelming at any given day. He assumed though that her career her at the Do or Dine would be short lived, considering he'd be contacting the Barony of the Protectorate in the morning. No doubt the droid would certainly help out.

"Take your time with that. Get yourself in a good place, that's the goal after all." Dekkan offered as he slid from the booth, drawing the two bottles into his left hand and layering the plates on his right hand. Apparently he had some experience in laying down food before, where that had come from was only left up to her to guess. "Even with what happened on Coruscant, it is big enough that you could still keep it running without issues between those religious zealots." Dekkan didn't often voice his opinion on the Jedi or the Sith, or really any other Force faction. He wasn't a Force user and he never had to be in order to fight on either side of the law. He'd met a few, but it was just a religion to him, and despite it's obvious payoff, Dekkan wasn't a religious man. He talked while he moved back towards the kitchen, nudging open the swinging door with his shoulder. The large window where food was normally placed for the wait staff showing just the upper torso and head of the owner.

"Sounds like a fitting name though." He offered while scraping remnants off into the disposal, glancing up to give his coral eyed gaze a target on her. "The Lucky Lady." He gave a half shrug and rinsed off the plates with the sprayer. "Never said if it was good or bad luck - quite apt." Dekkan wasn't a man who really invested much in luck, as was more focused on creating his own. He made do with what he had, and kept his head down for the last decade. He was still doing that, just not as consciously anymore. Her question about having something to sleep in caught him slightly off-guard. He wasn't actually thinking about it, and it hadn't occurred to him that she'd need something. Dekkan wasn't married, dating, or even interested in the prospect - and hadn't been for some time now. That being said, it meant he had nothing feminine upstairs in the slightest, not even a plant to liven up the place. It was function over form for him.

"Nothing you're used to, I'm sure of that, but I'm sure we can find something." Dekkan offered with a casual head bob towards the stairs as he stepped out of the kitchen wiping his hands on a towel. The stairs already lowered were soon ascended, expecting Rekha to follow his lead. He heard the joints in his knees pop, an unfortunate but common effect of the aging process. She was quite a bit younger than he was, and he'd already seen quite a bit of action when he was her age, and even before. Strolling to a dresser, he pulled upon the middle drawer, and fumbled around a bit before producing a large flanal shirt, and a pair of shorts of which he stacked together. "How's this? I don't have much company of the female sort, so I don't generally stock anything that'd actually fit you." He said in an apologetic tone while still handing out the clothes for her.

[member="Rekha Kaarde"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

She rose up to follow but paused by the counter she looked up and down the diner, ok this wouldn't be bad she thought. I can hop foot from one end to the other and who knows maybe if I'm a good girl I'll actually get a tip. She pushed through the doors and looked over at Dekkan.

That was a caught off guard hesitation, ever so slight and for some reason it made her smile that she had said something that made him pause for a moment. "An old shirt will do Dekkan, and if you don't have one it means that I have to sleep in my birthday suit" She hadn't been in a relationship in a long time, she had not looked for one, yes she was a flirt but it made her customers feel good, and goddess help her it made her feel good too. She followed him up the stairs cautious still, that voice of mistrust in the back of her mind was singing to her.

She finally reached the rooms upstairs looking around it was basic. Functional even. She walked toward the dresser and the outstretched clothing, She reached over and took it from him the cloth was soft and worn. It would cover her and give her a chance to be out of her other clothes, and to take off the slippers. Waiting tables in slipper tomorrow was going to be a trip, and a conversation piece.

"Dekkan, this is great I don't care that's it not girly it will keep me covered and that's all I care about tonight" She smiled once again greatful for his kindness. She looked again around the room, no holos.

"How come you never married?" It was an assumption, no holo's usually meant no family.

[member="Dekkan Fray"]

 

[Dekkan Fray]

With the offered clothes in hand, Dekkan gave a slight hip check to the dresser, sealing it shut in absent minded fashion before he took a few steps around the woman and headed for the closet. Just a single desk sat to the right hand south corner of the room, a single holo-emitter to produce a screen and a few odds and ends littered the darkened wood surface otherwise. A few drawers, one of them containing a bottle of whiskey and a clean glass. To the left the bed he had mentioned. It was made - a habit he never let go of, and one that spoke to his military background. You could bounce a credit off of the sheets - as that had been the test to pass muster back in his days of service to the Republic. Aside from that, the closet and dresser hosted his array of clothing, and any other bits of precious he didn't part with. There were a few things that couldn't be seen and normally wouldn't be found without closer inspection, but he rarely let people up in this room, so things weren't really hidden as much as they were out of sight. Drawing open the sliding door, Dekkan pushed a few clothes from his sight and reached into the back pulling out a folding cot, and pulling it out to lean against the wall.

"I'll likely be up before you in the morning, and I'll have things ready for you when you wake up. No need to worry about timing on this - just get some rest and come down when you're ready." He didn't expect her to get up at the crack of dawn and follow him to the marketplace. That was his morning ritual, not her own - at least he didn't suspect it would be. Aged digits grasped the metal lining of the makeshift cot, and he began to unfold the frame, clicking metal joints into place. His movements however halted when her question was raised. He paused letting the last joint click slowly into place. Why wasn't he married? Well there was an answer to that - at least he imagined there had to be one. It was rare that he was asked such a question, even by those that worked for him. In point of fact he couldn't remember the last time someone had brought up his single status, at least in such a candid form. A small sigh escaped his lips and his hands dropped from the cut while he turned to face Rekha. For a moment the diner owner said not a word but simply looked at her. His face was featuring a range of emotions, but nothing cross or cruel. He looked oddly perplexed or confused.

"That...is a hard question to answer." Dekkan's voice finally broke the silence as both hands rested upon his hips lightly. "Apparently it's more obvious than I thought - especially up here." Coral eyes gave an appraisal of his apartment as if he'd seen it for the first time, noticing that it certainly lacked anything to tell a tale. Aside from it's sparse furnishings, and a neatly made bed, there was little to tell what kind of man he was. However it seemed that the lack of certain things, like holos, were a dead giveaway to his social status. "Short version, suffice to say, is that it was never in the cards for me. Would have ended badly." He uttered thinking to himself that it would of been his family that would have paid the price for the relationship with him. With the history of the Fray family, and all that had gone on in the last two decades on that front, he knew that a relationship was out of the question. The old saying that if your quarry went to ground, leave no quarry to go to was a true statement. He'd used that tactic himself he was ashamed to say.

"Same song for you, or did you hum a different tune?" He asked, putting the proverbial ball back into her court. He'd not seen a ring, not seen any indication that the woman before him had been engaged much less married. He didn't know the woman, but he suspected with her looks, and attitude - either she had rejected a few suitors in her time, or things had ended in worse affairs with whoever she was involved with. However unlike most people in a Corellian dive bar, he wasn't asking because he was interested in changing that state, he was asking to get the focus off of him and the tale of woe that went along with looking into his past too deeply. He didn't let people in, he knew the wouldn't like what they saw.

[member="Rekha Kaarde"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

No matter how far she traveled many of the stories were the same. She looked around the room yes it was obvious because it was so sparse if there had ever been a woman there would be something at least a holo. But who was she to talk how many holos did she have? She could count them on one hand, oh wait she did not have any either now. They were sitting on a table in the burned out place that use to be her home. Frak!

Was it the same for"I guess in some ways. I would get interested, he would seem interested but something always went wrong. Most of them just see a pretty face they don't her, bother to look further." She did not say much more than that that last one had taken about 1000 credits from her, to some that wasn't a lot but it was the point he could have asked. Frak. She rarely let anyone know about that soft underbelly she protected so carefully with sarcasm. When they get too close that's when they gut you and leaving you laying there gasping for air, nope it would be hard to get close to her now.

Her curiosity would often kill conversation, and this time it had back fired on her thinking about what he had done just made her mood worse. She turned away from Dekken, and without thinking pulled her shirt off, and then slid the one her gave her on. Then she began to wiggle out of most everything else. She wasn't ashamed of her body and she had learned a long time ago sometimes you just have to do it.

She had been too vulnerable, too comfortable. She shook her head trying to push that particular memory back into the darkness it deserved. She moved towards the bed dropping her clothes on the end of it, she sat down and pulled the slippers off. She looked up at Dekkan.

"Some people never know what they have Dekkan may the Goddess punish them all in the nine rings of hell" She tugged the blanket on the bed and pulled it around herself. "i never thought I'd have to live like this again, and now..." She made a face and fell over landing her head on the pillow.

"I'll pay it back one day, all of it" if it killed her she would.

"Will you find out about the other thing in the morning" Her voice was already beginning to drift, her body relaxing her feet still on the floor her head on a pillow. She yawned, "you need a new pillow Dekkan...maybe one of mashed potatoes" her mind was sleeping.

She smiled.

[member="Dekkan Fray"]

 

[Dekkan Fray]

Ever the Gentlemen, or perhaps more of just good manners Dekkan turned his back on Rekha as she stripped down to don the apparel he'd handed her moments ago. The trundle like cot was before his view, and he used the time to ensure all the metal locks were clicked on to keep the frame rigid and sturdy. He'd been around the Galaxy himself, but people didn't chase you down to start a life when you were on a killing spree, or drinking yourself into an alcoholic stupor night after night. It wasn't an attractive set of circumstances, and Dekkan's mind had been on everything else but a relationship for sometime now. He, more than most, could see the reasoning behind never getting involved with someone, and yet for apparently different reasons than the woman who was now getting into his bed. It was of slight comic relief to the man that most men would want her in their bed, but this situation was far from their fantasy.

"Not a whole lot goes right in this life, I suppose a lesser amount of trouble would be an attractive bargaining chip if your heart ain't truly in it." Fray admitted while he laid the cot down, only to move back to the closet and fetch a spare blanket and pillow for himself. "Some people though just don't know how to love." Dekkan was speaking of himself, or so he thought. He had compassion, he had -a- heart, but the romantic notions of attraction and deep commitment, that stuff was long beyond him. This is why people in the Galaxy got together much younger - their emotional pallet wasn't fully formed and set like cooled durasteel. It was much harder a reaction to shape once you had forged your own path and had a steady set of core values that weren't swayed. Tossing down the items onto the cot, he proceeded to pull off the off-white over shirt which left his torso in the white tank top. His bare arms hosted a litany of scars that were faded over time, and even a small tattoo on his right bicep that showcased an emblem long forgotten of a small rogue sect of a Republic Force; his brother's unit.

"Mashed potatoes?" He queried turning slightly at that off-the wall comment, and quirking a brow. A smirk tugged on his lips as he watched her yawn and slide into sleep soon enough. "Perhaps. I'll know more in the morning once I make contact. Have a good night and...oh." He remembered and moved across the room to her side of the bed, gently reaching down to pull the loaded blaster from underneath her pillow slowly. The safety was on, as he held it by the barrel itself so at not to frighten her. "Never can be too careful. Maybe now it won't feel like such a bad place to lay your head." Dekkan advised as he placed the gun into the drawer of his nightstand drawer. "Sleep tight." The man offered before moving back to the cut, and finding a somewhat comfortable position to lay on.

"Lights." The command rang out of his voice, and the lights of the small apartment dimmed down until they were swallowed in darkness. Only scant rays of light pierced through the shade of the auto-tint windows of the window to the side of the bed.

[member="Rekha Kaarde"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

She had not heard Dekkan say anything she laid there her feet still on the floor her head on the pillow, if she had any thoughts to share they were lost into the sea of dreams.

Dreams the ones that follow you night after night reminders of memories one would rather forget. Rekha was having one of those the invasion had started at the temple they had focused there. The Lucky Lady wasn't that far from it intentionally there to entice visitors to the temple, and draw the Jedi in with food. Rekha had hoped to glean information from them it had worked for a while the information though was old and of little use.

The sound of explosions had filled the air Rekha covered her ears in her mind she begged for it to be over soon. Then it began to get closer the repercussion waves took out the windows, then the looting started, and the fire which gutted the insides of the bar. In her sleep each time the explosions went off she began to curl up in her sleep, the small whimpers.

Rekha finally pulled herself from the dream, and sat up. Her heart was thundering and fear had gripped her. But she wasn't on Coruscant, she was far away from there. Through the dim lighting that slipped through the window she could see Dekkan asleep, or what looked like sleep.

How much more would her mind bear. She shook her head trying to clear it away, she could use some water. Could she make it back down the stairs without waking him, carefully she slipped from the bed her bare feet made a soft sound on the floor making her way to the stairs, and slipping slowly down. The floor was cold not knowing where to find a glass but spying a faucet Rekha made due cupping her hand and taking small sips.

She had suffered from nightmares most of her life never truly quite content and safe in one place. Coruscant had been the closet she had come to escaping the dreams. The Sith had taken that peace from her and awakened the beast in her pushing the nightmares back up.

She was hungry again too. She looked over toward the cooler had he kept her left overs? She wanted to look but she was a guest here and would not violate his trust by looking into places without his knowledge.

Rekha began to realize her body was sore she had finally stopped long enough to realize where she had grown soft. She decided to look outside crawling up on the table that she and Dekkan had eaten their dinner, she looked outside. A fish in a fishbowl watching the world, never quite part of it. She sat down cross-legged drawing her arms around herself hugging herself trying to find some comfort in it. It wasn't to be found so easily. She knew she was stronger than this but she couldn't get past the fear this time.

What would Dekkan's contact recommend? What would be the idea of help? She couldn't let her own thoughts beat her right now. She needed to pull from inside herself the strength and courage that would move her, she sighed softly not wanting to make any more noise. She felt she bore a heavy burden and this was when being alone was not ideal. No one to share fears with, or turn to for that moment of atta girl. She knew she'd live another day. She slid off the table to go to the door her arms still wrapped around herself.

She knew she should go back to sleep it was going to be a long day.

[member="Dekkan Fray"]

 

[Dekkan Fray]

---
The Next Day

1100 Hours Galactic Standard Time
---

Rays of Abregado's sun peaked through the auto-tint window of Dekkan's loft above the diner proper as the beginning of the mid-day star's light crept slowly over a large adobe edifice that rested just east of the window's vantage point, keeping the sun from filtering in until about an hour before true mid day. The port city of Old Patch was bustling with foot traffic outside while long canal waterways were peppered with boats going back and forth to ferry passengers on the gondolas. Inside and below the apartment the feint sounds of the diner could be heard, as well as the unmistakable scent and aroma of fresh food. The cot that had been used the night prior was already tucked away, leaving no evidence that Fray had spent the night just a few inches from the floor. Near the desk was the chair, situated to face the bed where the waitress outfit (sized to fit) rested neatly pressed, as well as a pair of boots that were just Rekha's size on the floor before the chair. Atop the desk a small sheet of flimsi rested in a creased state to stand on point - a small note for when the woman awoke.

Good morning,

I hope you slept well. Please take your time to get ready.
The outfit is yours to keep, as are the boots. I've contacted
the Protectorate with what we discussed last night and they
should be sending someone to the diner sometime today.
Just give me a wave when you head down and we'll get
you acclimated to the position.

Regards,
Dekkan

Well before the sun had made tracks to climb over the building and illuminate the room, Dekkan had been up and apparently very busy. He had foregone his normal trip to the market where he generally browsed around for new dish inspirations and fresh produce. They had more than enough in stock, and he had other things to attend to this morning. Among his preparations, he'd taken the time to get his wait staff's opinion on the sizing of an outfit, using Rekha's clothes from last night as reference. Those clothes were still folded on the dresser for her. True to his word, Dekkan had also contacted [member="HK-36"] earlier this morning and explained the situation in brief detail. He had a newcomer to the diner that was looking for work, and a way to get back on their feet. He didn't go into detail, and he knew that the droid would do right by him, and offer a few ideas to the bar owner he'd given sanctuary too through the night.

Dekkan himself was where he normally was this time of day, right behind the counter. Various patrons were finishing up their breakfast for the morning, or just starting on an early lunch while his two waitresses were busy filling drinks and getting orders. Dressed in a blue cloth shirt and a pair of dark black trousers, the man slid the cleaning rag over the counter-top collecting stray crumbs and dumping them into the trash. Weather eyes shifted to the door time and again expecting to see HK, or one of his other droid cronies step through his door and trigger the electronic doorbell. The distinctive ring of a bell behind him though snapped him back to reality as his cook featured another dish in the window.

"Order 66!" The Weequay in the kitchen bellowed - and the immediate cringe of Dekkan followed suit. A few forks dropped on the plates in the diner and the ambient din of talk hushed to mellowed tones. Dekkan turned, his brows knit and his eyes glaring at the beady eyes of his cook through the pickup window. Reaching out, he grabbed the plate and handed it off absently to the waitress after giving it just a slight glance.

"How many times..." Dekkan grunted with a scowl before continuing the rest of the rhetorical question in a version of Bocce that seemed to be customized to the relationship between diner owner and short-order cook. Then man wore on Dekkan's patience, but he was the best at what he did. Dekkan was a fairly good cook as light night indicated, but he wasn't nearly as fast or as diverse in his cuisine knowledge as Jorak. The Weequay answered back in gruff tones as they bantered back and forth. Occasionally Dekkan raised his hand in emphasis of his speech. Their arguments generally getting nothing more than an eye-roll from the wait staff before the two men both turned in temporary disgust, and Jorak relented.

"Make that 67.." He said with a relenting sigh having no desire to keep belaboring the moment. He simply didn't care about the order to execute all Jedi nearly nine hundred years ago. Apparently there were still some hard feelings on that front even on a Smuggler's planet.

[member="Rekha Kaarde"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[member="Dekkan Fray"]


Rekha had returned to bed only a few hours before dawn she had not heard Dekkan rise or place anything so near to her. If she had she'd have been awake and alert looking as if lightning had struck. As it was she looked like it had, her hair was tussled her eyes still showed signs of sleep.

She looked at the uniform neatly pressed and oh look boots. She broke into a smile as much as she loved her ewok slippers boots were a welcome sight. Knowing that Dekkan was downstairs already gave her a little freedom up there in his room. She stripped over the night shirt and headed into the refresher. Once again the water streamed down over her, standing with one hand on the wall the other dangled at her side she enjoyed the water.

Last night as she had looked out onto a place that she did not know and had not yet made any movement to restrain her she had decided to stop fretting about it, and move on. The Lucky Lady was not lost completely it was taking a break.

Rekha did what she needed coming her hair with Dekkan's comb something she might have to replace. Her thick hair compared to his had well bent over some of the combs teeth. She stopped for a moment looking at her reflection hair in place, bags might be retreating, dark circles almost gone, her green eyes were beginning to show again. She was ready everything fit very well, a few places a little too well, but maybe this was how Dekkan liked his waitresses to look. It would certainly garner tips but respect would be earned in this.

Rekha retrieved the note once more so his friend was coming. Good. Let's see what he offered.

Giving herself one more pep talk she headed down stairs. She saw him standing behind the counter, lord and master of the diner. She smiled and headed over.

"So mi 'lord Duke of Diner, where shall your newest dining hall wench start?" She was trying to be funny with him some women might be offended by the term wench but Rekha had a bit more confidence than that.

 

[Dekkan Fray]

Inside the Do or Dine activity was never too hectic or fast paced, moving things along in a casual manner. Dekkan wanted folks to enjoy their food, not shovel it down or inhale it - though some certainly did just by the manner of their species. More than a time or two he'd watched certain guests even pour the liquids straight into the holes atop their heads. There were certainly some strange and unusual creatures out in the Galaxy - but after you traveled enough, not a lot could throw a seasoned veteran. The general pace and gait of the place was relaxed, but still demanded attention from the staff. Two of his regular waitresses split the place between the booths along one side, and the set of tables around the other. Dekkan, as usual, manned the counter making sure that the orders came through and tending to any business in the back when he needed to. His message to the Protectorate hadn't warranted a response just yet, but he was hardly priority number one on the list. He knew the response would come soon enough, so he wasn't going to worry about a delayed arrival of the droid.

Galactically, lunch time was starting to come into effect, and various groups of sentients were coming in to get seated and order what they would. It was generally the busier of times in the diner, and warranted a bit more attention than a typical slow day of the week. Sweeping some crumbs off the side of the diner counter with his handy rag, and turning to place the cleared dishes in a bin under the counter, the aging human turned to get a few drinks prepared. He'd give a few greetings to those that came to the counter for their meal while the waitresses took the customers that wanted a better seating preference along the bay windows. Last night was still on the man's mind however - as he had learned a bit more about this stranger who had walked into his diner and found a friend. She was in a less than desirable place now, and while he'd offered to make her burden lighter, he knew that for right now she'd have to find herself again on a strange planet with folks she hardly knew. He'd already made his staff aware of the new employee, just enough to give them some context to go off of, and that she'd need a quick run-through of the day to day.

"Afternoon." Dekkan commented as his blue eyes shifted towards the raven haired woman's entrance and amusing comment. A slight smirk touched his face while he set a couple of glasses of jawa juice in front of two frigate pilots that had taken up shop at the counter. "Careful with the flattery, that might just earn you dish duty." Fray said with a grin spreading before he took a few steps forward, reaching with his right hand directly to her right shoulder. Drawing her hair back with a flick of his wrist, and slowly removing a piece of fuzz from the uniform. Holding it up for inspection, and tossing it away he offered a kind nod. "Rekha, this is Kadee. She's my number two around here - unless you ask Jorak. She'll give you the run down." Dekkan gestured to the arriving gray skinned Zabrak who had highlights of pink around the ridges of her horned head. A pleasant enough smile washed over the girl's face as she looked over Rekha and gave a wave. "No one from the Protectorate is here already, but I'll pull you aside if they arrive."

With that settled and the Zabrak going about to educate the woman on the finer things of waitressing in the diner, Dekkan went back to the counter and started to pull orders down from the pick-up window, setting them down before his customers. A datapad was pulled from a shelf thereafter, and Dekkan leaned up against the wall. He had already setup an account for Rekha, to which he'd transfer funds for her work here and log her hours. She was part time, so she didn't need any access codes just yet, but he would make sure she got paid. He found it kind of odd that he never had to put up a help wanted sign for this place, as most of his staff just came to him in one way or another.

[member="Rekha Kaarde"] | [member="HK-36"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

"Dish duty huh, you planning on staying there and watching me, might not be so bad." She smiled watching him take the lint off, "he was hitching a ride, got lonely by himself" She talked about the lint like a pet she was actually just busting Dekkan's chops. "thanks" she whispered, she understood appearance was everything.

"Hi Kadee, let's rock and roll" She nodded when he mentioned the protectorate and then went off to learn how to wait on tables in this place as opposed to others. She nodded and listened took a few mental notes on customers, and then began her part of the shift. She took that deep breath that she needed just before diving in. Soon she had a few orders and headed to the window to place them.

She wished she had some gum to finish this look that she pictured in her head, "OK here we go, need 3 bossy in bowl, two bantha burgers dragged through the garden well done each with a white cow, and one heart attack on a rack" She put up her tickets, and then went to gather up her drinks needed for each table. While it had been a while since she had hoofed it around she did remember.

This was the way the rest of her shift went, she would hot foot it from one table to the next in her section at times stopping to talk for a few minutes. The Salesman from Corellia out here looking to get rid of a hot case of Whyrens stopped her cold. She smiled some, she wished she had the credits for it right now. But she didn't. And for the briefest of moments she remembered [member="Jon Burke"] and all that he had said to her, all that he had alluded to. Everything that she had believed. She nodded and told him that if she could find him a buyer in the diner she'd send him over.

Him, she looked at Dekkan her green eyes were a bit tired but would he be interested in such a deal. She walked over as if going to ask a question, "Dekken you like Whyren's? Cause I got a salesman on table 4 that has a hot case to get rid of" She left it at that it was up to him whether he did anything.

She wandered back to the next table and began talking about the need for vacations, Rekha went on a few not many but she always had the energy to talk about them. The day was wearing on and Rekha had been earning her tips putting them all into one jar to split with Kadee for showing her the ropes. It was the least she could do three of them working in there didn't leave a lot of tips for each of them.

She was ready for a short break when she disappeared into the kitchen, standing out the back door looking up she took in the air cold refreshing. She felt like she had finally accomplished something. She began to calculate how much she owed [member="Dekkan Fray"] for the uniform. And she was going to ask him something else, and it might not go over well but she would still ask.

 

[HK-36]

[member="Dekkan Fray"], [member="Rekha Kaarde"],


//Sorry for the huge delay, there were issues and business RL I had to attend to//


Finally the bell connected to the Diner's door chimed, alerting of another arrival to the tavern, a tall, slender figure stepped forth through the threshold, clad in bandages and tunics, brown robes over the clothing, goggles covering the spots where his eyes would be. The shape of him was vaguely humanoid, the sharp features and contours of the prolonged face suggested some sort of inhumane nature, as well as the hands with six digits, also covered in bandages, but unless someone had a scanner or metal detector, it wasn't likely they would be alerted of the droid's nature, so far it seemed just like another queer alien strolling through the diner.

The being would come up to the counter where Dekkan held his post,

"Tavern-keeper,

He rasped out in hushed voice, disguising the usual monotone drawl, as one of his hands moved gently to the hem of his robe.

"I am here about the new janitorial position,"

The being slightly moved aside the flap of the robe to reveal to Dekkan the simple, ancient in appearance, hilt of a lightsaber, one he would hopefully recognize as the weapon HK sported on his belt whenever he met with Dekkan in his official uniform,

"Shall we discuss it out back?"

The droid assumed the situation was a bit delicate one so they best speak somewhere where it would be more private, perhaps it would be unnecessary, but it's better to be safe rather than sorry.


Although Rekha would probably not hear the words exchange between the two, perhaps she would be able to catch a glance of the lightsaber hilt, hopefully HK would not get so sloppy in his age.

 

[Dekkan Fray]

Unknown to most was the actual affiliation Dekkan had when he came to Abregado-Rae to setup his diner and find a new life for himself. At the time, a fleet of independents ran a collective string of off-the-radar type vessels sailing in obscurity. Dekkan had their trust, and he had put some stock in their ability to keep him appraised of dangers that might be heading his way. Even now, with a well established diner in Old Patch, Fray was still a wanted man. It had been several years though since a fresh bounty was placed on his head, because by now he was either inconsequential, or presumed dead. Likely the latter, but even through the trials, he hadn't changed his name, or tried to alter his appearance. He didn't let fear rule him, and in point of fact, he had never been afraid of those that might come for him. He knew why he was hunted, and it was a very good and sound reason - it had just never panned out that way. Most that came for him either didn't make it very far, or turned tail once they actually learned of his situation. One of the last to every try, he'd actually made dinner for. However, that vagabond fleet had moved on and dispersed - and with the shifting tides of the planet in the encompassing power of the Protectorate, and his friendship with the Barony of this world, Dekkan had decided to take the next step, and slip into the fold of the Protectorate as they kept the planet and it's citizens safe from outside forces. It was a logical choice to make.

Splitting his time between the affairs of the everyday diner politics, and his new part-time waitress wasn't too hard of a job. Rekha was taking to this life like a mynock to power cables, and it suited her well enough. The lingo wasn't hard to spot either, and even though his cook could be a bit curmudgeonly to new-comers, he didn't seem to bat one of his three eyes at any of her descriptions of the food she was ordering. That right there was evident sign she was going to do well here. He'd trained his girls from the ground up, and they had eased into the transition. Originally he had done the counter, and that was all the diner offered, but as customers kept coming, he'd invested in booths, tables, and extra help. Cogs in the machine, himself included kept the diner clockwork turning notch after notch in the restaurant industry. The diner was his home, in the most literal sense of the word since he lived above it, and he was proud of it's success. He wasn't going to franchise anytime in this century, but a quiet life without the troubles he'd faced or even created in the past was a soothing balm to the Tyer native.

"Whyren's?" Dekkan asked in rhetoric while he wiped off a section of the counter. "I've got four cases in the back, haven't moved in a month. I wouldn't exactly call what he has hot." A smirk touched his face as he recalled the last time a salesmen had tried to pawn off the goods. He'd taken the chance, and not a single one had been asked for or ordered since he did. He wasn't going to throw money like that away again, especially for a repeat offender. A crease of his brow though had him thinking, and his fingers curled for Rekha to lean closer. "Show of good faith though, give him ten percent off the bill. It'll do him a kindness, and you'll probably get a better tip." Always looking out for his own, and maybe he'd help out someone else along the way. Pay it forward and all. Business as usual, nothing out of the ordinary - which was specifically the way he wanted it to stay. Surprises brought problems, and he didn't generally gravitate towards either with any sort of desire.

About an hour later, as Rekha retired to the back alley of the diner proper, the chime rang to indicate a new customer - one garbed in very strange and overtly conspicuous attire. If that wasn't suspicious enough, the words 'tavern keeper' certainly caused a dark brow to rise on Dekkan's skeptical face as he slung the tower over his right shoulder planting both palms against the metallic counter-top. This was far from a tavern, as Dekkan never wanted to think of himself running a bar. Diners were fine, they catered to all kinds - bars however had a notoriety about them, even the more upscale ones. The rest of the stranger's request though had Dekkan thinking this was some sort of setup for a bad joke, or possibly a holovid contest to some kind of obscure scavenger hunt. Those thoughts however vanished once he saw the glint of metal beneath the fabric, and a roll of his eyes came next. A head jerk towards the kitchen door was offered as he started walking that way.

"Watch the counter for a bit." Fray offered to one of his other wait staff, as he rounded the counter and slipped back with the oddly garbed visitor. "What exactly are you supposed to be in that? Whatever it is, it's not covert." A smirk touched Dekkan's face as he led the droid through the kitchen and out to the back. Fortune had it that Rekha was already outside in the alley, and they were heading that way to have a small palaver. "At least take off the hat and goggles, even for a droid you look ridiculous." Passing through the kitchen pantry and out to the side door, Dekkan pushed it open and leveled his coral gaze on his new part time employee. "Rekha, someone for you to meet - and with a fascinating explanation for his wardrobe, I'm sure."

[member="Rekha Kaarde"] | [member="HK-36"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[SIZE=12pt]Rekha picked up the conversation about the Whyren’s, she couldn’t keep it in stock seems there was always someone wanting to impress someone else with the purchase of a bottle. Personally she had too much emotional attachment to the bottle to ever pass one up. It had always been just in case he came through the door, just in case he wanted a glass. Sadness filled her again, she shook her head and pushed it out. “10%, sure can do” whatever the tip was it would come in handy, and she continued to split her tips with the others knowing she was taking credits from them by working in a place that clearly didn’t need three.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Rekha looked up at the stars standing there, her dark hair slipped from the tiny bobby pins means to hold it in place. Couldn’t have a guest get any in their food, the thought of it made Rekha’s stomach turn.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]But the stars were not lost on Rekha she knew some of them well enough, or knew where they should be. Did anyone miss her tonight? Did anyone know where she had disappeared to? She half smiled a few might but not many and she had made it that way. The less people around you meant the less chance of getting hurt and after everything she had been through, less seemed like more.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Was it a year ago, or longer now the explosion of the Burke Enterprises building that had put [member="Jon Burke"] into a coma. She had visited his room religiously looking for a glimmer of hope that he would open one of those icy blue eyes and call her name. But it hadn’t happened. Solomon had said he would contact her if there were changes.[/SIZE]


[SIZE=12pt]She had seen that look in Solomon’s eyes that day. It wasn’t that they didn’t want her to come and visit, it was having to deal with knowing their son was laying there helpless.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=12pt]Rekha reached up and wiped the tears away, the one person in the entire galaxy she had loved and trusted taken from her. She had allowed no one since to even get remotely close, just as they could not before Jon they wouldn’t after either. Jon had been her one. Jon who wheedled his way into knowing her. Rekha shook her head again, she had to stop thinking. But looking up at the stars reminded her of nights on the boat, and the promised trip to Spira that had never happened.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Lost in the memory holding it close to her heart she would never let go, she needed to call Solomon. And then words that weren’t her own began to filter through the haze that she had placed herself in. Looking over she saw Dekkan, and…ok. What’s that?[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]“Hi, Um nice outfit friend of Dekkan’s, design it yourself?” she smiled as she took those few short steps toward them, extending her hand as she did so. Was this Dekkan’s friend within the Protectorate, the one that could help her? She arched a brow and waited.[/SIZE]

​

[SIZE=12pt][member="Dekkan Fray"] | [member="HK-36"][/SIZE]​

 

[HK-36]

[member="Dekkan Fray"], [member="Rekha Kaarde"],

HK would follow Dekkan into the back where he presumed he was to meet the diner owner's new contact in Abregado,

"Already with the attitude? I thought you needed my help."

He would reach to his goggles, slipping them down to reveal the red light of his photoreceptors and he begun to untie the bandages covering his head to reveal his face as well,

"I picked this up on Tatooine when I went into the hiding during the Knightfall, it was enough to keep the stormtroopers and sand at bay back then, you humans have a tendency to stay away from aliens and or lepers."

It was now that black and darkened spots would be seen on the bandages, something that could be mistaken either for dried blood or dirt, whatever it was by now its smell would be gone from the linens, but the appearance and textured remain, although it was still a questionable choice to lead the droid through a kitchen, somewhere along the past it could have been worse still as that would give the two a clue the disguise once appeared, and smelled, much like a diseased walking corpse. It was probably something they would notice sooner but the writer forgot to mention that part before.

The machine would look to Rekha as he unbandaged his metal grey-colored hand as well,

"You must be Rwanda, just call me 'Iron'."

He would offer the damsel his hand to shake, as much as he could claim that he just misheard her name, it was doubtful a machine would do that, it was more likely he was just twisting the name to poke at her for that comment about his appearance. He had the latest Fashionable Drama Queen app installed on his iOS after all.

 

[Dekkan Fray]

In the time that Dekkan had known the droid, he'd rarely seen him as anything but straight-forward and humorless. The peculiar and rather odd manner of dress and speech for the hunter killer droid before him now gave him pause, wondering if it was indeed the actual best way to introduce Rekha to the Protectorate. Perhaps a few of his circuits had fried, and he was becoming demented in his old age. Still, this was one of his only contacts on world, and while the behavior didn't exactly match what Dekkan had known of the HK unit, he wasn't about to look elsewhere for a contact he didn't know and risk that interaction. Hands on his hips, arms akimbo - his coral gaze surveyed the droid with a cool scrutiny. A crease of his tanned brow was all he offered as Rekha's name was changed into something further off course. Pleasantries aside, a shake of his head came in quick succession - not at all pleased with that introduction. It was already going to be hard to convince the woman that she was in good hands with the Protectorate, and HK wasn't making this interaction the easiest for comfort sake.

"Seems like he's taken to trying humor. It's obviously a flawed program." Dekkan replied in glib fashion. He wasn't that big of a fan of droids, but he'd not fault HK for acting odd, from what he'd learned of the droid thus far. Ever since boot it seems he'd gained a litany of experience with humans and other sentients, and had eventually become a self aware droid that had surpassed mere programming and earned his place as possessing self aware thought and sentient like emotions. "She's had a string of bad luck, and she could use some good backing." He offered HK before he gave a nod towards his new part time waitress. "He's actually rather decent if he gets passed this charade. Keep an open mind, and don't hesitate to ask - I'm sure 'Iron' will be fair." His gaze cast in a more stern fashioned towards the droid and clapped his hand over one of the droid's shoulder hinges. "I'll be inside."

Turning from the pair to let them talk in peace, Fray headed back inside the diner and through the kitchen to man the counter again. Not that he didn't trust the two, but he wasn't sure how the actual conversation would go - he brought up source feed on the monitor outside the door. No audio piped through, but he wanted to make sure there wasn't anything detrimental going to happen in his absence. He'd grown fond of the spitfire brunette, and wanted to make sure that HK didn't do something that would alarm or upset the woman.

[member="Rekha Kaarde"] | [member="HK-36"]

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[SIZE=12pt]If she was a timid mouse she would have protested [member="Dekkan Fray"] leaving her alone out here with someone she did not know. Rekha was a grown woman and very much a mind of her own, her sarcasm Dekkan understood. Now his friend stood before her and she was concerned about business with a droid.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Her experience was that droids were programmable and therefore had the ability to turn on you. Dekkan said don’t hesitate to ask, she smiled at that. Her needing help from people she didn’t know as he knew was a big stretch of her faith in people. Now he was wanting her to stretch her faith to a droid.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Iron, huh she thought. She looked at him trying to think with a person she could read their body language, their movements, the drum of their fingers but how does one read a droid. Reminder to self, bop Dekkan on the head for not giving her a heads up.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Dekkan trusted him, she had trusted Dekkan. Now she would have to go beyond her comfort zone, beyond her usual natural abilities to talk to someone and talk to “Iron” She giggled again, and shook her head.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Taking that deep breath that said Ok I’m ready to do this, “Iron, really? Not Cortosis or Beskar.” She looked him over again, why would a droid wear such an outfit was he hiding or was he playing dress up. She just did not know.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Breath Kaarde she repeated in her mind, keep your defenses neutral and do as Dekkan suggested have an open mind. Open mind. Umhmm. I can do this.[/SIZE]

[member="HK-36"]

 

[HK-36]

[member="Dekkan Fray"], [member="Rekha Kaarde"],


"Charades are what allowed me to survive so many Sith occupations,"

The droid would quip back as an answer to Dekkan's comment, glancing to Rekha momentairly before returning his attention to Dekkan as he clasped his shoulder and the droid nodded in acknowledgment,

"Besides, if you would live as long as I have, at one point you would start to do those things just to see if you would be able to get away with them. Remind me to tell you a story how once I made a group of Jensaarai believe I was a protocol droid back when they were fighting the Jedi. I think you may like it."

HK finished his thought before Dekkan strolled out of the room to tend to his own business.


And so, the droid was left alone with Rekha in the same room, his attention, as well as the dull-red gaze of his photoreceptors, once more turning towards her to receive her query,

"It is short for 'Iron Knight', but I do not suppose you would know what that title ties to unless you are a historical scholar passionate about obscure cults of the Force now all but gone and forgotten."

One of his arms moved to fold behind his back, the other would reach to the fold of his outer robe again to move the fold aside slightly, revealing the simple metal hilt of his lightsaber,

"Long story short, it is either a crystalline Force-sensitive being using a droid body as his vessel, or very rarely, a droid who was taught how to wield a lightsaber and philosophies and codes of the Force."


The droid's arm would move aside, letting the robe slowly fall back to its place as he watched and scanned her carefully, unmoving in his stoic monotone voice, and few gestures, more practical in nature than anything.

"Dekkan mentioned you have hit a streak of bad luck, please elaborate as to what exactly that entails and who you worked with before. Any previous training, current skill range, and what type of profession you were interested in would also be useful. After that it should be easy to give you a list of contacts who could help you directly, I doubt you would be interested in helping me with my own plots and schemes."

With a simple gesture that would be reminiscent of that mind-trick short wave of hand, HK would wave that idea off,

"Unless you mind picking a fight with a Sith every time you get and occasionally have a building collapse onto you or get sucked out into the vacuum of space."

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[member="HK-36"]

"I am not a historical scholar, sitting still for that long tends to make me extremely cranky" She tilted her head and stepped back against the wall. She listened to him speak as to which she thought he was she wouldn't speculate but if he wielded a lightsaber she would hope that he had earned the right to do so, and would not question him on it. It could be personal and sometimes she just didn't need to know. Perhaps if she ever gets to know him better she will ask, but tonight wasn't that night.

Bad luck, and now he wanted her to spill it to him to, she clenched her teeth slightly it was that vulnerable feeling again like bearing her soul for strangers to see, taking time to stab her if they could.

She inhaled though trying to get that knot out of her shoulders, "I opened a place on Coruscant, Sith dropped by, no more place on Coruscant. Which also meant all my credits are in the bank there still, my ship is in impound there, and I got a business there that I can't run." There she thought that wasn't so bad. "Haven't had a building fall on me for a couple of years now, and even then I was fortunate to survive, my first mate however did not."

Yes she had seen her share of problems, and gotten out of them. "Mostly worked a friend who threw me work transporting things, then I began getting some little jobs. Mostly I like running my bar, it gives me the comfort I need, or needed".

She needed to be calm now, "I need to make some money that will get me out of [member="Dekkan Fray"]'s hair and supporting myself. He's good to me, but I"m not that type that takes charity easily. In my mind it's accumulating a debt" She looked over to HK, and wondered where Dekkan had disappeared to now. Hopefully he wasn't listening.

"You have anything I can do?"

 

[HK-36]

[member="Rekha Kaarde"],

The droid nodded, assessing to which hellhole he could send Rekha off to based on her answers,

"I do actually. We have a mining Outpost on Bespin, it is a station shared between me and the Firemane of Kaeshana, while it is a small venture right now we will be expanding it in the near future, more Cortosis is always needed when defending against the Sith Empire. As the population of miners and soldiers on the Outpost grows, so do their needs, and a cantina there would be quite useful. If you would be willing to run it I will sign the lease over to you, meaning you will own the bar or diner or whatever you will decide to do with it, you will have no other competition on the Outpost, and as it will grow, you will get more clients."

The machine would fold his arms behind his robed slender figure,

"Of course should you gather some information of interest while there, whether on any smuggling or crime rings, or other happenings on the planet, I will pay you a bonus for your time. And since it is in Omega territory, you will be able to travel to Abregado to visit Dekkan whenever you want."

"But-"

He would raise his hand,

"Here is what I want you to look into especially. Since the Outpost is joined by Firemane, and their CEO's are good friends of mine, I can recommend and introduce you to them. Both of them ex-Pyre mercenaries, like me, but unlike me they are less concern of focusing on what they already have and fortifying their positions, they prefer expansion and gathering new assets. So whenever you would be tired of being a barkeep, you could work with them on the side to do something more exciting, although usually combat oriented."

The droid would nod,

"And good thing is they are not scholars either, one of them is called the Battering Ram of Pyre, not the Encyclopaedia of Pyre. But I must warn you, she will hit on you."

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

All of this sounded too good to be true Bespin, a bit isolated for certain but who cared she'd be working and earning credits. What was being suggested was exactly what she had been doing all along anyhow. So.

Then the but came. Rekha listened she had to listen words have meanings, words can get you in a sling faster than a bantha on doodoo. Now she had to think on this just a bit, it would be hers to run. He would give her the lease. She had to smile though he said she would be able to visit [member="Dekkan Fray"] whenever she wanted, and she would want to. If only to tell him how things were going.

"Lease and start up costs" she said asking, "I'd go with a bar, it's familiar to me and I can use the contacts I had for Lianna and Coruscant to stock it." Yes and miners they liked good food and good drinks, she could do both. And besides drinks loosened lips. "I'm not much of a combatant unless its with words that I could probably pull off" She smiled. Words could be vicious.

"Battering Ram of Pyre, that sounds like it was painfully earned." Rekha wondered how did someone get that kind of a name, well perhaps she'd be able to ask in time, but now he said she would hit on her. Oh really, well if she's pretty enough....no she wouldn't.

"Well she can hit on me but I'm swinging in the other park these days" indicating that she had once swung the other way. She pursed her lips and thought, "All of this sounds good to me with the exception of being in combat." She looked at the droid carefully now very carefully.

"When can we start?" This only showed how much she wanted to be on her own, to pay Dekkan, and build back to a life she once knew and enjoyed.

[member="HK-36"]