Meeting with the Greats

[Bolt]

Doc nodded, arms folded against his chest as he listened to the Holo as the face of a salesman advised that he go looking for this allusive figure. Jorus. Merrill? These were two odd names for the man, sounding heavily alien even though it was implied the man was a human.

Not that Doc was a prejudice one, or even xenophobic. It was just odd.

Lightly tapping the butt of The Colt which hung below his armpit, slightly above the waist line, perfect for the swift draw he had worked so hard at. It was a habit he had come to possess, much as those that stroked their mustaches when deep in thought. "What can you tell me about him?" Doc asked the projected image.

"Nothing much. I only know of him through the grape vine. But I hear good things." The voice said, "I would recommend get to the general area, and broadcast a signal saying you are looking for the man."

Doc nodded and moved to the controls of his small ship, where the pilot sat with a questioning look, "You heard the man. Start the broadcast."

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Dead Eye"]

When a call like that went out, it took a thousand paths. Nine hundred of them dead-ended. Ninety of them routed through channels that someone somewhere intended to lead to the call’s intended recipient. Nine of them got garbled. One made it through just fine. Thus it was that the Wretched Hive exited hyperspace at a certain time, in a certain place, where it really shouldn’t have been.

The ship wasn’t much: a hundred forty metres of old Starcrest medium freighter, outfitted with mining and salvage gear. Low guns, decent shields, good engines, bad maneuvering thrusters. Not bad, nothing exceptional, not the kind of ship you’d expect to be associated with a General in the Underground, a man who’d built one of the most entrenched and diversified corporations in the universe.

“This is Jorus Merrill,” said an electronically distorted voice. “I’m told you’re looking for me.”

 

[Bolt]

Doc stepped closer to the comlink connecting the two men across the massive soundproof distance of space, "Jorus Merrill, what are the odds." He said, then once again tapped a finger against the butt of The Colt, "I was told you know a thing or two about electronics, engineering and what not."

As if he was pausing each time between sentences for dramatic effect, he paused again, but quickly continued - it was not for effect... well not really... Doc just was a card, an oddity with a flair for being outrageous.

"What say we meet, face to face, so we get a chance to discuss some plans I have in mind?" Doc asked, then glanced to the view port ahead of him where the man he spoke with was likely positioned, maybe sitting, in the ship that had dropped from hyperspace. Who was the mystery he spoke with? What kind of extracurricular had the man been apart of to have a reputation so known yet so elusive?

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Ashin Varanin]

Delete

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Dead Eye"]

"I know my way around a ship, it's true," said the voice. "But here's the thing. A ship in space can be a coffin as much as a home, and I don't go opening my home to just anyone. Friends of friends mainly, and I don't know that we've got friends in common. I'm given to understand you go by Doc, but apart from that, maybe it'd be best if you told me about yourself and what you've got in mind. It's no small thing, sending out a call like you did. I'm wondering what you're aiming to get built that would put you on my doorstep."

The Wretched Hive's turbolasers waggled helpfully.

"So, Mister Doc," said the voice without either suspicion or welcome, "talk at me."

 

[Matreya]

Delete

 

[Bolt]

Doc arched brows as the words came through, "Well now, Mr Merrill I don't recall giving my name." A slight chuckle could be heard, before he continued, a grin evident in his voice, "Very well. I cannot pretend that my ship, or intelligence of the workings there in, are any where even on par with the average pilot."

Pause, "It would be mighty stupid then to pretend we stand on equal grounds, no?" Doc said, folding his arms before leaning against a nearby wall as he called out to be heard, "Specific wise, your a gentleman and a scholar if you can provide details within, though I do know it is a ride I seek.

"I want a vehicle that moves hard and fast, it will need to be extremely durable as, to readmit what I said, I am horrible with technology." Doc said, "In regards to my self, I am a huckleberry. That of course, excuse me if you know the meaning, is a saying regarding me being superior to everyone but really it means I am a pretentious ass. I know it and don't mind telling it as it is.

"I work with a group of people called the Law of the West, and am a Gunslinger for their ranks, and have yet to take a Shooter under my wing." Doc ended then paused again, "Should I send a picture of my mug as well? Or is that enough?"

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Dead Eye"]

"Nah, you didn't give your name. What you did is broadcast mine just about everywhere, and when that happens there's people who make it their business to take a look at the ship that sent it, backtrack the registry and ports of call, and generally ask around. And as you say, you do tend to walk tall.

"I've got no problem putting something together for you, Doc. Let me see if I've got your specs straight. You want good acceleration, straightforward controls and maintenance, plenty of redundancy and reliability. If you're talking about a ship, probably enough lasers and ions to defend yourself or disable someone you're chasing. Maybe a two-seater boat with space for two prisoners. Now if you're talking a vehicle proper..."

The altered voice started chuckling.

"If you want speed, simplicity, and durability, and if you've got hair-trigger reflexes and a certain level of...hehehe. 'Scuse me. How does a podracer sound?"

 

[Bolt]

Doc nodded to himself, listening to the understanding that Jorus possessed simply by a mean explanation. He was clearly a damned intelligent man, and that was something worth its weight in respect, "Basically, yes. I want a decent ship, one good enough to be of use, but not requiring a lot of thought to handle or be good with." Then came the mention of a podracer, something Doc could not pretend to have an understanding of.

"What is that? A podracer?" Doc asked, muttering it quiet enough for it to not be heard by the mic.

His pilot turned and leveled his gaze on Dead Eye, "Well, imagine a superior speed capable, sleek ship. A podracer is a single seat, up to a few for other passengers, vehicle that reach incredible speeds, with decent controls. Usually they either are fast and hard hitting, or fast and durable. But in my opinion, a swift podracer with heavy damage sustaining abilities will always be best - it means less chances of exploding on contact with small things."

"So a small ship that moves fast and can take a hit, sound about right?" Doc clarified once more.

"Yup."

"Yeah, Jorus, a Podracer would be perfect. I do so apologize for the wait, I can't say I knew what one was. With advice from my acquaintance, I can say that yeah, it will suit my needs."

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Dead Eye"]

Jorus chuckled again. "While I work on this, you might want to look up some podracing footage. It's a sport vehicle - very fast, very dangerous. Most humans don't have a prayer of piloting them in real races; human reaction times just aren't quick enough, unless you boost'em with the Force or cybernetics or something like andris spice. But for a getting-around kind of vehicle, once you get the hang of it, it's pretty spectacular over open terrain. Verticality maxes out around twenty, thirty metres; it's more a landspeeder than an airspeeder. Most of'em aren't even enclosed.

"Here's my current thinking. We go for speed, we go for durability. Particle shields, inertial dampeners, crash bags. The weight of it would slow down a competition pod, but you're not looking to go pro here. Now your tradeoffs are going to be things like maneuverability, so you'll be great for straight-line long-distance transit, just don't try any crazy hairpin turns at high speed. Might not do so hot on initial acceleration either, but once you get up to speed, you'll be blisteringly fast. We'll toss in some collision-avoidance sensors with good range on'em - again, bulky, but they'll save your life. Sound like a plan to you?"

 

[Bolt]

"I have no idea what any of that means. I will take your word, so, need you my assistance?" Doc asked, stepping toward the communications device through which they spoke, "I would not mind assisting, but I admit I am not by any means knowledgeable in the aspect." At his hip he deftly drew free a knife and began picking at the underside of his nails as he mulled over the ability to build something so technological.

That was probably why he had never joined up with the Republic or any of the Empires or other factions. He simply did not like engineering or other advancements beyond the most basic. Steel and gun powder, those things appeased his love of life. Dueling with a six shooter, that was another thing he had too love. Drinking room temp whiskey, that made life fun.

He was never going to get the chance to potentially grow used to it without exposure though, hence this.

[member="Jorus Merrill"]

 

[Jorus Merrill]

[member="Dead Eye"]

"Just your measurements, bub. I'll take care of the rest."

At any one time, the Wretched Hive contained somewhere between 1.3 and 2.7 half-stripped vehicles or starships. There wasn't much to a podracer: a couple of atmo-optimized engines; a pair of energy couplers; two firm lengths of control cable; one cockpit of non-standard form; some basic repulsorlifts. He could pull the engines out of that gutted cloud car, get the control cable from the back half of a sail barge, cut the cockpit out of that junked interceptor, and cannibalize the repulsors from pretty much anything. The only tricky part would be the energy coupler. You tended to see those on...well, lots of things, none of them the broken ships in his hangar bays.

On the other hand, there wasn't a lot to an energy coupler, just a pair of overloaded tensor generators set to oscillate perfectly out of phase with each other. And tensor generators weren't too far from miniature tractor beams, in their way. Didn't that cloud car have a rescue beam array? Why yes, yes it did. One pair of energy couplers coming right up.