Mine Your Own Business

[Samuel Culban]

Samuel entered the busy spaceport on Nar Shaddaa. Looking down, he read the piece of paper he'd written the hangar number on earlier, 22B. He passed through the main entrance, moving his way through the crowd of various species coming and going. Samuel didn't remember the planet being this crowded, however he was only eight years old the last time he was on this planet. At the time didn't want to leave, eleven years later he couldn't wait to get off the crime ridden world. He stepped in the lift that took him up to the second floor, after getting off he began following the numbers down the massive hallway until he reached the hangar he was looking for, 22B. Hopefully the Captain of the ship would allow him to accompany him to Alderaan he thought. At least that would get him into the core worlds, hopefully making transport easier for him. He took a deep breath, opened the door, and entered the hangar.


[member="Duke Heston"], [member="Cato Marek"]

 

[Duke Heston]

[member="Samuel Culban"] had just entered the office of Duke Heston. Culban could look to his left and see into the hangar itself. He would see a modified YU-410 Light Freighter being loaded with various crates and containers. Culban could look to his right and see his target.

Duke Heston grumbled and slammed the datapad onto his desk. "I'm either gonna live forever or the stress of this job is gonna do me in." Duke Heston exhales and slicks his hair back before noticing Samuel Culban. "Oh dear, I'm sorry that you had to see that. I'm Duke Heston." Heston would reach into his pocket, you would hear a jingle as he searches his pocket. "I hate to break it to ya, kid, but I am not hiring right now." Heston would remove his hand from his pocket and place 5 credits down on edge of the desk closest to Samuel. "Here's some credits, this should be good enough to get you a loaf of bread or two."

Heston smiles and picks up his datapad again, his smiling dropping as his eyes narrow in on the screen.

 

[Samuel Culban]

Samuel was surprised by the directness of the man. That's probably how you have to be in this business though. He stood there for a moment with his hands in his jacket pockets not knowing what to say.
"Uh..." He paused awkwardly for a moment before regaining his train of thought. "Sorry to bother you, but I really need to get to Alderaan. I heard that's where you going. If you can get me there, I will work for free."
He hoped his directness would get him somewhere.


[member="Duke Heston"]

 

[Duke Heston]

Heston stops to ponder on Culban's offer and shakes his head. "No no no, I can't have you working for me because I don't need any help. I don't even know your name, kid." Heston walks over to the window to view his ship, "The Mockingbird." Heston places his hands behind his back and purses his lips. "The Mockingbird can carry up to 12 people, so I have plenty of room for ya. However, I'd be a fool to let you aboard without know your true intentions." Heston would turn to [member="Samuel Culban"] and await his reply.

 

[Samuel Culban]

Samuel looked at the floor then back to Mr. Heston. Not knowing how Mr. Heston was going to respond to him being a force user, he tried to come up with something.
"I'm going to see my Sister, and I don't have the credits to pay for a standard transport."
It made him feel bad lying though, seeing how he was getting free passage.
"Oh and my name is Samuel by the way. Samuel Culban."


[member="Duke Heston"]

 

[Duke Heston]

Duke Heston narrows his eyes as [member="Samuel Culban"] gives his explanation and then relaxes. He can't turn away a man trying to reunite with his family. "Alright, Kid. You managed to get a first class ticket to Alderaan. Family's very important to me and I hope it is to you. I only have one condition, you must surrender any weapon you may have before you step on my ship."

Heston walks back to his desk and tells Culban "Head out the door right in front of you and turn left. Talk to Shawn Nex and he'll get you all set up. It shouldn't be too hard to find him, he's missing an eye." Heston then chuckles after mentioning Nex has one eye.

 

[Meach98]

(OOC: I forgot to select my character when I posted, and I don't know how to delete reply's)

 

[Samuel Culban]

"Thank you. You wouldn't believe how many times I've been turned down before this. Oh and here is this."
Sam took the worn NN-14 blaster pistol out of his holster and held it by the barrel as he offered it out to Mr. Heston. He had taken the pistol off a dead slaver he'd killed on Teth. Although he'd never actually had to use it, the blaster doesn't draw as much attention as a lightsaber. Which he preferred to keep concealed in his backpack.

 

[Duke Heston]

Heston nods and takes the blaster, dropping it into a drawer in his desk. "Now all you gotta do is talk to Shawn Nex."

 

[Samuel Culban]

Samuel exited the office and entered the hangar. He stopped for a moment to watch the cargo being loaded. Not a bad ship, he thought to himself as he examined it. At least it was better than the half broken ship he'd taken from Slavers to get to Nar Shaddaa. He looked around in the hangar until he spotted a Trandoshan who matched Mr. Heston's description of Shawn Nex, and walked over to the one eyed man. Samuel introduced himself and Shawn, who showed him to the crew quarters where there were six bunk beds. Shawn showed him the lonely bunk in the corner that would be Samuel's. After stowing his stuff in the storage compartment he laid on the bed. It was comfortable for Samuel's standards. He thought it would be best to stay out of the crew's way as they prepared for takeoff.


[member="Duke Heston"]

 

[Duke Heston]

Heston looked up as one of his crew members opened the door and told him that the ship had been fully loaded. He chuckled, grabbed his datapad, and headed for the ship. In the heat of the moment, Heston had forgotten Culban's blaster in the drawer. He climbed the ramp of "The Mockingbird" and gave Nex a pat on the shoulder as he passed him. "I gave our guest the bed that your nephew wet himself in, Duke." Nex told Heston. "You're cold blooded, Nex. Cold blooded." Heston replied back. "I am Trandoshan."

[member="Samuel Culban"] would hear Heston's laughter echo throughout the ship, followed by hissing steam as the ramp closed. A speaker in the crew quarters buzzed "This is your Captain speaking. We are heading for Alderaan and never looking back."

Samuel would feel the ship take off from the hangar and soar out into space. "Hit it" echoed through the ship as The Mockingbird jumped into hyperspace

 

[Arahael]

Cato's ship emerged from Alderaan's atmosphere as the fiery friction faded away from the hull. Corellian whiskey was good, but that could be had almost anywhere. Alderaan wine, now that's something you have to get straight from the source.

As he began plotting a course to Coruscant, a distress signal suddenly came across the ships' sensors. According the the readouts, it was coming from some old mining outpost. Abandoned by the looks of it. Helping out people never hurt anybody, he thought to himself. Well, except for those times it did.

After re-plotting the course, Cato launched the ship into hyperspace. The trip was relatively short, and before too long the ship emerged back into realspace with the mining station in view.

"This is Cato Marek responding to a distress signal, does anyone read?" he transmitted over the local channels.

There was no response, but he continued a quick approach to a hangar on the station. The atmospheric shields still seemed to be working, so he entered the hangar and landed, then began scanning what he could.

[member="Duke Heston"], [member="Samuel Culban"]

 

[Duke Heston]

The Mockingbird exits hyperspace and Heston begins landing procedure. He puts on a headset and radios in to the Alderaan Spaceport requesting permission to land. "This is Captain Duke Heston on the Mockingbird, designation YM-6936. Requesting permission to land." A voice replies back "Captain Heston, please stand by for confirmation." In the period between standing by and confirmation, an appearent distress signal buzzed the sensors. Duke's first thought was turning around and following the distress signal but he knew he had cargo to deliver.

A voice once more came through the speakers "Captain Heston?" Duke leaned forward in his chair and replied "Yes? I read you." "You are authorized to land at Landing Pad 346-B." "Thank you very much." Duke replied as he excellerated his ship towards the surface. The Mockingbird soon touched down on the landing pad and its crew began unloading. Duke sat in the cabin, pondering as to what he should do. He knew he had to do something but he couldn't do it alone, not in his condition. His first thought was of the crew, they wouldn't go along with it, they were only temp workers. His mind soon drifted to his old friend, Nex. Duke called Nex up to the cabin "Someone needs our help, Nex. We're the only ones that can help." Nex shook his head "I said that this would be my last haul and I am a man of my word." In an unusual outburst, Duke shot back "After all we've been through? You wanna tuck your tail in between your legs and run?"

"I am not running, if we truly are friends, you would understand." Duke, opening his mouth for another shout, quickly closed it and looked down. "Damn." He thought to himself. Nex had him there. Duke's posture changes and his mood lightens up "You're right, Nex. I understand. I wish you the best of luck, my friend." "As do I, Duke." Nex nods and pats Duke on the shoulder before leaving the cabin. Duke knew that there was one more person he could ask. He set out to the crew quarters to find [member="Samuel Culban"]


[member="Cato Marek"]

 

[Samuel Culban]

Samuel had spent most of the trip to Alderaan meditating on his bunk. He felt the ship come out of hyperspace and land. Once it settled he got out of his bunk, made the bed, and began gathering his things. He put everything in his backpack and put it on his shoulders. Heading for the door of the crew quarters he came face to face with [member="Duke Heston"] as he was entering.

"Thanks again for letting me come along Mr. Heston, I owe you one. I'm going to head out now."

 

[Duke Heston]

Heston holds his hand up "Wait just a minute, kid. There was a distress signal a while back and it's still transmitting. I want to help and it's probably not the best idea to do it on my own." Heston then points to [member="Samuel Culban"] "You owe me one and I'm cashing in. I need your help. What do ya say?"



[member="Cato Marek"]

 

[Samuel Culban]

"A distress signal, coming from where?"
Samuel wasn't too keen on the idea of going with Mr. Heston, but he did get him to Alderaan for free and he felt he needed to repay him. The signal would probably end up being nothing anyway so he figured why not, but he still needed to know where it was first.

 

[Duke Heston]

Heston claps his hands together "It's somewhere between Alderaan and Nar Shaddaa. We missed it on our way here but we can jump straight to it now. It appears to be a mining station."



[member="Samuel Culban"] [member="Cato Marek"]

 

[Samuel Culban]

Samuel knew Master Culban would want him to go. It's not like he had anywhere to be anyways, this would probably end up being a short detour that would only end up being faulty equipment or worst case some miners needing evacuation. He decided to go.
"Okay, if you need my help, I'll go with you."

 

[Duke Heston]

Heston clapped his hands together and with a spring in his step, exclaimed "That's more like it, Kid. You better strap in, we're leaving now." Heston left the crew quarters for the bridge. [member="Samuel Culban"] could follow or remain in the crew quarters.



[member="Cato Marek"]

 

[Samuel Culban]

Samuel followed [member="Duke Heston"] to the bridge, wanting to see the mining satellite as soon as it came into view.
"What about your crew?"