With Eyes to See

[Jsc]

Fondor

Lake Eden was a beautiful place to behold in the summer. Tall green mountains to the east. Families vacationing to the beach and pizza parlors buzzing with customers. Bison and white gulls nearer the far water's edge. It was so strange to be back here after traveling for so long. Karen sometimes barely recognized the place when she pulled in.

Docking her Xw-R onto the pad, she lifted up the canopy and nodded to R2's whistling. It was always good to be back home.

___

Inside the workshop Robert's laid her peanut butter and honey sandwich aside. The table was quite messy and it appeared Grant had been tinkering. You could always tell because he never put his tools away in the right place. Well... The right place being were Karen would have put them. She had a different method than he did. Which... Could get confusing. Yes.

Before she began sorting through the mess, Blue returned to the woodbench and removed the Material Canister that R2 had deposited there. A large durasteel container that had been filled with the rarest of Havad evolutions. A matrix metal locally renamed, Bloodsteel. Taken right from Corellia's transformed mantle.

"Ah yes. Now this I can work with."

She smiled and looked back at her workbench. Even clean, it simply wouldn't do? Best to get a professional.

 

[Jsc]

Fondor
Lake Eden Factory

Originally it had been designed to retrofit the Lake's many visiting boats and watercraft. However, when Ram Charger bought the place six years ago? It had been transformed into a blue collar workshop into a rich man's metalworks. It even had that new car smell.

"Ram? Heya."

"Hello hello Mrs. Roberts. Fancy seeing you back here. You must have liked that chair I made for ya."

Ram was a smirking blond. Strong, chiseled frame, average height, and colorful tattoos all over his body. He ran this workshop like it was his baby. Everyday filled with laborious retirement. And he wasn't even fifty years old yet either.

"I sure did. Grant sends his regards as well."

"Oh I know. He stops in here every month to talk shop and look at the new Motorskis. Heh. Still haven't sold him one yet. But I will."

Karen shook her head. Grant sure did love his toys. Thank goodness he was wise enough not to buy a dozen of them. ...Yet, anyway. She waved away the thought and placed her material tube on the counter top.

"I'm sure you will. But today I was wondering if you could take a look at this for me?"

"What is it?" Ram eyed the tube with a puzzled shrug.

"Corellian Havad. Found it on a dig recently. I was hoping you could transparent it for a mold I'm making."

Ram nodded. "Sure sure. Let me take a look."

He opened up the tube and peered at the crystal formations inside. It was pretty raw stuff. Not the crude you might need to refine or process first. He could make it work.

"Looks good. Pristine condition. And if it's anything like the real Havad we can have it transparent inside the day. Even mold it for ya. What do ya say?"

Karen smiled with glee. Ram was a master.

"That would be great. He's the design. Maybe?"

"Ah. A visor for the old EVA. I see what you're planning now. Sure sure. I'll have the boys get on the ticket right away."

"Great. Pull me up a bill and we're all set."

Ram nodded and sent the work along. He didn't mind working for Karen Roberts. She brought in all the most interesting things. He's probably be bored without her. Ram punched up the cash register with a smile,

"Okay. Ticket's away. ...And off we go!"

 

[Jsc]

The next day

Karen got the call that her material was ready down at the Factory around noon. Ram sure was fast with her orders. It was amazing to see. She drove down there and bought him a pizza too. The pizza around Lake Eden was famous as a tourist trap but it really was quite good. Robert's pulled into the parking lot and grabbed the box out from the passenger's seat. Chicken Bacon Melt. Mmm mmm.

"Ah! There she is. Welcome back." Ram smiled from behind the counter.

"Indeed. And here's something for you too. Appreciation for the speed and brevity."

She pulled the pizza box onto the counter and winked. It was almost lunchtime after all. Ram chuckled and opened it wide up,

"Ah ha! Chicken Bacon. Now that's a winning recipe right there. Much appreciated Blue. I'll have my boys take her in the break room later. Good show."

"So? How'd the Havad do?"

Ram nodded. It had been an easy process.

"Fine fine. Just like the real stuff. Here we go. All done."

"Ooo. Even mounted the rivets I see."

"Sure. Had a few spares. No biggie. You'll need to Reflect it still, but the opacity matches the spec. Should do wonders in spacewalk."

"Oh I know. But I wanted the strength for other reasons."

Karen smirked as she said it. Ram didn't enjoy the thought of his favorite customers in firefights. That made her giggle inside. Such a softie.

"Oh right. Forgot you were still smashing heads out there."

"It's a living." Karen winked.

"Sure sure. Guess the old transparasteel didn't hold up eh?"

"Nah. It worked fine. But I'm always looking for that Jedi's Edge. Never hurts to be prepared."

"Ah. Got cha'. Well... In that case. You're all set. So good luck out there. She'll work great."

Karen grabbed the visor mold and pushed the pizza down the counter.

"Thanks again Ram. See ya next month!"

"Let's make it a date! Ciao amiga."

Ram smiled as she walked out the door. Mmm. Pizza time.

 

[Jsc]

Back at the Workshop

Karen kicked the door closed behind her and struggled with all the goods in her arms. Groceries, pizza, and a new visor mold. Maybe she should have let R2 do the heavy lifting. Good grief.

She sorted the fridge and put away the cold goods. Then grabbed a plate and a few slices of pizza. Perfect for a workshop lunch. R2 was taking a nap so she wouldn't need to babysit him either. The whole evening would be hers to tinker away with her new EVA helm and parts. Maybe Grant would call back and she could show him too. Ooo. He'd be jealous. She got all the new toys. Spent most of the money too. Oops.

Pizza in hand, Karen wandered out into the workshop and forgot that she still needed to clean off the workbench.

"Darn it. ...Welp. There goes the next hour. Bleh."

She took a bite and shrugged. Nothing for it. Can't build a new visor without a working workshop. Oh well. At least R2 wasn't here to complain. She'd be done in a flash.

...

 

[Jsc]

Midnight

The pizza box was empty and her dirty plate was resting on the kickstand. The lights were still buzzing in the workshop and R2 had finally gotten around to rolling inside. He wasn't much help but he could toggle the TV without a remote. That was handy.

"R2. Ta da! All done."

Karen held up her new helm to the white lights. It had taken all evening to install. Ram's rivets hadn't been the right size. It was nice of him, but her helm was built to a different spec. Lady sized.

"So? What do you think?"

~ / woo woo !

"I know right? It's pretty cool. Just wait until Grant sees it. He'll love it."

~ / woop woop

Karen placed the new helm back on the counter. It glowed red even in this light. Very very cool. She was about to try it on when suddenly a yawn overtook her. It was getting late.

"Okay well. Tomorrow then. ...Come on R2. Let's head to bed. We can enjoy our new trophy tomorrow."

~ / woot

Together the happy pair left the workshop and turned off the lights. Leaving a brand new Havad Visor sitting perfectly still on the workbench.

It would do nicely.