Raiders of the Lost Droid

[Bryce Bantam]

Location: Small open air cafe in Pesktda, planet Garqi

Bryce scarfed down the tray of local pastries he had ordered while waiting for the droid girl. Taking LASS’s suggestion he had chosen to meet Menka on Garqi which reminded BB of his new home of Biitu, only more advanced. Getting there days earlier than expected thanks to T7-S8E hyperspace navigation he had taken the time to enjoy the Garqi Agricultural University and Pesktda Xenobotanical Garden, with his little astromech droid while waiting for his charge to arrive.

“You told her to meet us here,” he said to the slicing computer sitting in the table in front of him his mouth still full of bakery heaven.

“Yes, and she just signaled she was in the area. Menka Guga should be here soon.” LASS said.

[member="Menka Guga"]

 

[Menka Guga]

[member="Bryce Bantam"]


It wasn't the easiest thing to do, getting her beloved Corona approved for docking and just being in the general area. After all, it was still a warship, albeit very weak now. But it was nothing new for her. She had taken one of her shuttles down with her to land on the planet, along with her obvious bodyguards, two UUD-1 and their obvious backpack upgrade, also wielding the relatively new R-7 Blaster. She wasn't afraid of the contact she was meeting, and why should she? Was he going to kidnap her? But no, she always kept her droids with her as she is always nervous and very weak at fighting.

She walked into the cafe she was supposed to arrive to in order to meet her contact, wearing her breathing mask which he would remove as she saw the individual. She coughed a little, but cleared her throat and smiled, waving over to the individual, not calling his name as her voice wasn't back immediately. She and her droids walked over to where he was sitting, one of the droids speaking up in their original B1 Battle Droid voice to greet him if he hadn't noticed her yet.

 

[Bryce Bantam]

[member="Menka Guga"]


Bryce notice the Twi'Lek and her droid companions as they entered. His teenage hormones were immediately activated and a silly look of infatuation came over his face when he saw how the Menka smiled at him. Stuffing his face with one last pastry he sent Sady to go order more before waving them over and motioning for them to join him at his table.

"She's here Lass!" BB said excitedly his month still full.

Lass activated her holo emitters and projected an image of her personal avatar which BB had rarely seen her do save in situations like this where face to face contact was needed. She bluntly told BB to cool his jets seeing how the girl had excited him before her avatar bowed deeply as Menka and her droids approached.

"Greetings Lady Guga, we have been expecting you. Please have a seat, I feel we have much to discuss." Lass said while motioning to the open seat opposite BB.

 

[Menka Guga]

[member="Bryce Bantam"]


Menka smiled as her politeness called for it and took a seat at the table as the two droids took a sentry position, on lookout to watch for anyone that may be hostile as was their normal programming. She snugged the breathing mask to her belt, it's unique design making it small enough to be out of the way. "Hi th-" her voice was raspy, so she pulled her hand up to cover her mouth to give one good cough and groaned a little," Sorry, hi there. You're the one about the BAF droids? I was also interested in the Droid Carrier you first mentioned in your messages, is it still possible I could see it?"

 

[Bryce Bantam]

[member="Menka Guga"]

"That can surely be arranged, right master Bryce." Lass said.

The words Lass spoke seemed to drift passed BB as he was now fully enraptured with the scarlet vision of beauty that sat before him. Lass attempted again more strongly to get his attention but it was a lost cause. Only when Sady returned with a new tray of treats was BB revived with a quick shot from her electric spike. Shocked back into reality he offered her some of the goodies before Lass began again.

"BB, that can be arranged right?" Lass said this time obviously annoyed.

"Sure, anything for her..." BB replied giddily.

"Anything as long as the price is right." Lass corrected.

 

[Menka Guga]

[member="Bryce Bantam"]


Menka was kind of oblivious to how the boy was acting towards her, openly listening but lost in thought of the future she wanted being lost, now forced down a different road. But as he agreed with the technological device that seemed to have an AI, she smiled, leaning into the table. "No thank you, I'm not really hungry right now... But where will we be going to see these droids and the ship? Do you have them locked up or something?"

 

[Bryce Bantam]

[member="Menka Guga"]

To answer her request BB grabbed a datapad from his shoulder bag and quickly shows it to her.

"They are underground on Taris, all of it. The ships, droids, heck entire city's forgotten to time till I rediscovered them. Sady was one of them once, buried and forgotten. But I rescued her, rebuilt her, you look at her now and tell me she looks over 4000 years old." BB said.

Looking to secure the deal Lass cuts BB off and says, "Yes Lady Guga, all can be yours as long as your willing to meet our price, say 100 of your UUD-1 units?"

 

[Menka Guga]

[member="Bryce Bantam"]


Menka tilted her head, to ponder for a moment. They only wanted a hundred of my utility droids? She felt bad almost, she didn't feel like ripping this boy off simply because they didn't seem to be a very observant bunch. "A hundred droids? That's absolutely no problem. My ships little factory should be able to get that done in a few days, I can have that started." She reached over to tug at one of her UUD-1 droids arm so it turned to her. "Yes, Commander?" "Send a transmission to the Corona, begin construction of a hundred UUD's, please" She smiled, appreciating her little droids, even though they were basically going to be replaced. The droid nodded, "Understood, Commander." She then turned back to the boy, "I have to let you know, the UUD-1's are not combat droids. UUD's are very annoying, and very limited Utility Droids. A hundred UUD-1's will cost be a hefty amount of materials that I personally have to re-salvage and mine, I don't have employees. If you would like them to be Combat Droids, you need to buy their Backpack Module," she reached up to 'tap tap tap' the large backpack on the back of her Droid, "There's only so much I can give for free, even with equal trade."

 

[Bryce Bantam]

[member="Menka Guga"]

"No that is quite alright, the backpack module will not be needed as we plan to use them as labor not combat untis." Lass said trying to hold back her delight thinking they got a great deal.

"What about the additional units?" BB asked actually beginning to pay attention to the conversation.

"Oh yes, we would also like to add a rider to purchase an additional 1000 units at half price should these UDD-1's serve our needs." If you agree I already have the contract drawn-up." Lass said as she transmitted it to Menka through the normal secured channels.

****Notice of sale contract, Corona S&S agrees to the offer of 100 UDD-1 units for the services Master Bryce Bantam on a one month expedition to the planet Taris, All expenses incurred by Master Bryce Bantam while in the employ of Corona S&S will also be covered by Corona S&S no matter there nature. Corona S&S also agrees to and additional purchase offer of 1000 UDD units at fifty percent market price which can be exercised within the next SGY. All Droids to be delivered to the city of Tagata’Osofa, planet Biitu to the estate of Bryce Bantam upon services end no matter what the outcome of the expedition. If additional time is needed beyond one month period extension of services to be negotiated at that point ****

 

[Menka Guga]

[member="Bryce Bantam"]


Menka was taken aback as the suddenly new deal was thrown at her and she shook her head vigorously, "Excuse me?? Did you not just hear me? The resources and materials I need to produce these droids I physically and directly get. I don't have mines, mining access for outside individuals is a Star Destroyer of expenses for someone like me in general, and I don't have employees to do work for me. I get my materials mostly as trade, when I provide relief and aid and search & rescue operations, I get paid by the salvage and wreckage left behind. Rarely do I get access to random asteroids and space wreckage. I can not make an order that large at this time, and especially not at that price. That's a little outrageous of a price while I haven't even seen the droids or the ship."

She crossed her arms feeling betrayed, no, ripped off, after she just tried not doing that. She was upset, and said nothing until the boy had a better request, or else she would leave.

 

[Bryce Bantam]

[member="Menka Guga"]

BB was confused because he had little to no knowledge about these things and felt bad that Menga looked so update. He though hard for a minute, then said. "Your a salvager right? Like I said Taris is one big battle zone, years upon years of wars, of salvage. So how about this, not only will I take you to droids and ships you like. I'll show you were I found the most stuff. Even if you can't use it, you can salvage it right...."

"We can also come down on our discount request, say a 10% discount on the order?" Lass added trying to salvage her deal.

 

[Menka Guga]

[member="Bryce Bantam"]


Menka disagreed once more, "I can't do an order of a thousand droids. I don't even know the quality of the droids and ships, they may be too decayed to even salvage. Isn't most of Taris at the hands of those Rakghoul things? I know they were rebuilding Taris, but I don't remember they rebuilt the entire thing. Like forts and fenced areas are only protected. I never visited because I felt it would be a hassle either way. I don't know what you need all these droids for, but if you really need so many, wait until I can upgrade my company and buy factories and mines. I could continuously make you droids, and then a discount could be talked about. But I'm paying you with a hundred droids to lead me to the droids and the ship. I'll then pay you on quality of the droids. I won't rip you off, because if they are in good enough condition, they can get my company on its feet. If they can't, then there isn't much I can do for you."

 

[Bryce Bantam]

[member="Menka Guga"]

"No the Rahgoul plague ended a few centuries ago, and I made sure to keep it that way, but your right there are a lot of nasty things still in the wilds where we will be going." BB said answering her question on Taris.

"I will also withdraw my request for the additional contract too,as long as all other parts of the contract remain intact and we have your word that should you be able to fill that order we can once again begin negotiations." Lass continued.

"And I can still show were you find more salvage stuff!" BB added trying to be helpful.

"So do we have an arrangement?" Lass asked Menka

 

[Menka Guga]

[member="Bryce Bantam"]


Menka scrunched her mouth in as she shrugged, "I will agree to further negotiations for adequate payment for the condition of the items we find, but I don't want to spend time on Taris. Even if it has been rebuilt, pollution and other things will still remain, and I can't defend myself well. So I only want to be on the planet as long as critically needed; meaning, the salvage can be left behind. Maybe some other time."

 

[Bryce Bantam]

[member="Menka Guga"]

"We have a deal then, nice negotiating with you Lady Guga, when would you like us to aboard the Corona? Lass said after receiving the conformation to the revised contract.

"The Corona?" BB asked.

"Her flag ship, I assume that is where you will want plan this expedition, correct?" Lass said.

 

[Menka Guga]

[member="Bryce Bantam"]


"You seem to know a little about me, mister Bryce. Forgive me if I don't reaaally like that. But yeah, I suppose we can travel on my ship if you don't have one. I don't really have a guest area, since everything has been converting to a manufactory and hangars. There is a hard box room though, where I use to test droids... It doesn't have air conditioning or electronics access, but it would be a short trip, if that's fine with you. I'm not exactly confortable with letting you sit and wait in my personal quarters, heh." She noted

 

[Bryce Bantam]

[member="Menka Guga"]

An abandoned city on Taris



They landed on an abandoned shuttle pad that was still structurally sound enough to hold them. BB had already ran a sweep of the area and it was safe enough for now. Collecting the remainder of his kit for the long trek down into the heart of the crumbling city BB slung his KUT-42 Plasma Torch as well as his DC-15A rifle over his shoulder readying them for the decent ahead.

"All set Menka?" he asked her as he was ready to begin the trip.

 

[Menka Guga]

[member="Bryce Bantam"]


Menka set foot down along with Bryce, but she was not going to take any risks. Another shuttle huttled down, but didn't land. Instead, it angled itself at the edge of the landing pad and opened its gangplank. Ten UUD-1's shambled out of the Shuttle and took up position behind Menka, who already had four droids following her, with a total of fourteen droids protecting her. "I'm sorry mister Bryce... I can't shoot for anything, and I'm really weak, weaker than you... If anything my droids will get torn apart before me," she shrugged, "Why don't you lead the wa--" She was cut off from talking as she coughed, being forced to get her breathing mask once again and activating it. The atmosphere was fine, it was just her damaged body. After she finished putting the mask on, embarrassed and sad underneath it, she looked to Bryce to wait for him to continue. She could not talk while she had the mask on.

 

[Bryce Bantam]

[member="Menka Guga"]

BB understood what she has asked and with rifle in hand began to lead them down to the middle city. He knew this part should not me much trouble and the upper levels tended to me less populated with bogstalkers and Ferrazid hounds. From his time in the wilds BB had learned to move with a nature stealth obviously lost to the party he was leading. He also began to question how good they were at repelling. Having only brought one set of gear he wondered how Menka's clanky crew would handle more rugged terrain. Shrugging it off to poodoo he can't fix he instead turned his attention to the path ahead and trying to lead them through it as quickly as possible.

 

[Menka Guga]

[member="Bryce Bantam"]


Menka brought so many droids because of their poor combat abilities. Of course, they could take cover and fire off at enemy troopers like an average battle... but UUD-1's and B1's were never that great at fighting creatures that didn't follow some sort of combat protocol. B1's and UUD's were programmed with tactics of soldiers, and to meet other soldiers in commonly used combat tactics. Other than that, they were severely limited on anything concerning fighting. "So you come to this broken planet a lot, mister Bryce?" Menka spoke up after pulling at her mask slightly so she could, wondering if some conversation could happen to kill the silence.