Character Art work by Ana Karenina García Lamas
Chronicles of The Desperate Measures
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This is my record keeping with embellishments of a Star Wars Role Playing Game we played in the year 2020.
Or if you're on your phone, you can see the Categories at the end of this post!
This is my record keeping with embellishments of a Star Wars Role Playing Game we played in the year 2020.
Cast of Characters
Vidar Starhawk - Jedi General. Human.
Jaris Marr - Mercenary. Mechanic. Miraluka.
Candy - Pilot. Gunslinger. Duros.
Mandragore - Hired Gun. Mandalorian.
Hell Shepard - Demo Expert. Clone Trooper.
Jess - Force Wielder. Night Sister.
Snidely - ID9 seeker droid.
Jaris Marr - Mercenary. Mechanic. Miraluka.
Candy - Pilot. Gunslinger. Duros.
Mandragore - Hired Gun. Mandalorian.
Hell Shepard - Demo Expert. Clone Trooper.
Jess - Force Wielder. Night Sister.
Snidely - ID9 seeker droid.
The Story Behind the Game
Hoth was a scary mission. All other missions after this one was a cake walk for me. I say that, but I can hear Jaris smirk and say, "Sure, Candy. Easy for you."
Here was the mission:
A shady contact of Candy's gets in touch to see if she and her crew can find a Dr. Twoie on Hoth.
We found vampire-zombie rats, ghouls, and an important serum that can make a person into some super rakghoul. Our trooper found a data chip with important schematics that have to do with the entire army of storm troopers. If you follow Star Wars you know this probably refers to Order 66.
I thought I was going to die. I did pass out. (Okay, my character passed out─I was having fun)
The post mission shenanigans is long so I'm going to break it up. But by this time, we were all totally into it and having a great time extending the game to outside play time, writing back and forth to each other as our characters. This was my first foyer into discord but caught on quickly to the different rooms.
This was still the best game ever and I wish we had a recording of it. Alas, this is all I have.
You'll see different characters doing different things. I'll try to keep it all together but no promises. You'll see speech tags most the time, but not always. Hopefully by now you can tell the difference of language to tell who's talking.
Here was the mission:
A shady contact of Candy's gets in touch to see if she and her crew can find a Dr. Twoie on Hoth.
We found vampire-zombie rats, ghouls, and an important serum that can make a person into some super rakghoul. Our trooper found a data chip with important schematics that have to do with the entire army of storm troopers. If you follow Star Wars you know this probably refers to Order 66.
I thought I was going to die. I did pass out. (Okay, my character passed out─I was having fun)
The post mission shenanigans is long so I'm going to break it up. But by this time, we were all totally into it and having a great time extending the game to outside play time, writing back and forth to each other as our characters. This was my first foyer into discord but caught on quickly to the different rooms.
This was still the best game ever and I wish we had a recording of it. Alas, this is all I have.
You'll see different characters doing different things. I'll try to keep it all together but no promises. You'll see speech tags most the time, but not always. Hopefully by now you can tell the difference of language to tell who's talking.
Please make note: There are grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes. I can't catch them all. Thank you for your understanding.
Post Mission: Hoth
Part 1
First thing Jaris does after leaving the planet is step into his private section of the ship back in the engine room and change out of the prison guard uniform, incinerating it. He goes through sanitizing himself and the helmet before changing back into his gear and heading into the common area of the ship. Under his arm is the refrigerated unit taken from the penal colony which he plugs into power before sitting down.
"Okay, so we have learned to never let Candy select a mission for us." Jaris said. "Besides that, what did we come away with? I've got this thing." He says, tapping the refrigerated box. "Along with these." He pulls out the vials of antigen now contained in a secure carrying case. "Oh and Vidar gave me those to hang onto." He then draws out the penal colony documents.
"Okay, so we have learned to never let Candy select a mission for us." Jaris said. "Besides that, what did we come away with? I've got this thing." He says, tapping the refrigerated box. "Along with these." He pulls out the vials of antigen now contained in a secure carrying case. "Oh and Vidar gave me those to hang onto." He then draws out the penal colony documents.
First thing Vidar does is get cleaned up and back into his jedi robes and incinerates his pants. Then he goes to Jess's room and knocks on the door.
After setting course to anywhere but Hoth, Candy changes into more comfortable pants and shirt and usual gear. While she does this, she talks to Snideley.
"Beep bop beep beep".
"No, Snide, they weren't there."
"Bewrp."
"Yes, I looked."
"Bop bop beep beep."
"It's a frozen hell. I don't think they would make it out in the wild."
"Zzzzzzt."
"We'll keep looking. I don't exactly have anything to go on."
"Breeepptzztbep."
"I don't know."
Candy sets off in search of crew mates and finds Vidar knocking on Jess's door. "Before you two get into your verbal sparing, let me make sure she's okay."
Jess opens the door changed into more relaxed fitting clothes. You can see her bow taken apart on her bunk and some pillows on the floor like she was sitting there working on the repair. "Yes?"
Candy squeezes her way in first. "I'm just checking, are you in need of healing?"
Jess shakes her head. "Nothing at the moment. Maybe something later?"
Candy snorts "Later, huh." Her red eyes sparkle with mischief.
A shiver ran up the spine of Jaris as Candy spoke, the hairs on his arms raising like out of a ghost story. He couldn't make out the words but peering up he noticed she wasn't far so he approached the growing party in the hall.
"Candy I could feel the mischief radiating off you just now." He only then notices Vidar and Jess. “So, this a party or business? I was hoping we could go over our findings and figure out what to do with it all."
“We do have business to discuss. And I do believe Candy has set course for Coruscant as that is where we need to go to help her friend?” Vidar says.
"First,” Candy lifts a finger. “Just checking everyone is okay."
“I don’t think any of the Rakghouls actually hurt me. I didn’t find anything other than some minor burns.”
"Well no one has turned into a monster yet so we're doing better than I had thought we would."
“How do we know?” He smiles and turns to Jaris. “We can’t see your face.”
Candy smacks Vidar good naturedly.
"Was...that a joke?" Jaris was more shocked than anything.
Vidar inclines his head. “Why don't we bring our haul to the conference room and figure out our next move.”
"You want to join us Jess?"
She looks at the now gathered crowd. "Can no one relax for even a few minutes?" She sighs and turns around, before the doors close she puts out some incense she must of picked up on the last trip to Coruscant. You hear fumbling and even some what must be cursing in dathomri and shortly she returns back in more traditional red and black wraps. "Well? Lead on."
Jaris stands outside with the others but as she closes the door he turns around to stare at the opposite wall. If asked he would reply with… Don't want to stare through the door now do I?
Once she stepped out he led them into the galley and toke a seat at the table. "Just wanted to settle some things before we relax is all, though maybe Candy stocked the ship with some alcohol...”
Candy holds up a finger. "One moment." She goes to her cabin and gets her stash of ale. Comes back and sets a bottle and glasses on the table.
Jess seats herself close to candy and the ale.
Jaris looks down at the ale, nods his head, then presses a button on his forearm which causes his helmet to slide open allowing him to remove it and set it beside him. "Well, all is forgiven then.”
“So Candy is Coruscant our current destination?” Vidar turned to the captain.
"Yes. Coruscant is the destination."
Jaris busies himself with pouring a glass of ale for Candy first, then Jess, followed by one for anyone else who nods in acceptance when he looked their way. Finally he poured himself a glass and leaned back, sipping the lovely alcohol.
Vidar nods in appreciation.
"The jedi drinks, you learn new things everyday." Jaris says.
Jaris pulls out the penal colony documents and slides them over to Vidar. "So what exactly did your client want Candy? My understanding was they wanted a kind of super stim pack, but the code name they gave you was tied to the virus and its serum."
Candy takes a sip of ale. "That's what he told me. But, as I say, everyone lies. They have their own secrets. Some lies are worth investigating, others not so."
“That makes me question the motives of your client and whether they are worthy of such a dangerous item,” Vidar took a sip of his ale. “In the wrong hands those vials would be a nightmare of.... I’m not sure how to scale how bad that could be... in the right hands they can be a life saver.
Candy snorts. "My contacts let me pay for the ship."
"And who are they?” Jaris challenges. “Even the antivirus to something can be dangerous with the right people, and if they have the money to throw at this ship then I bet they have money enough to be dangerous."
Vidar opens the case. Looks at the missing vials. And says, “This was full... glances at Jess long enough for her to notice.
Candy shakes her head to Jaris. "They are people that can hurt my crew if they get too involved. Why? You wanna go after them?"
Jaris glances sideways at Vidar. "I only took the antigens, its full Vidar so you can shoot your glares elsewhere." He then turns his head to address Candy. "Not exactly, I just remember your contact felt they would die if we didn't deliver and I don't know the damage that could come from us delivering as promised. At least I have a good idea what to do with this." Jaris then pulls the cooling unit containing...whatever it was and put it on the table.
Vidar points to the empty virus slots. And to the matching antigen slots the match those virus slots and the more missing antigen vials.
I saw you take vials Jess what is your plan for that weapon of horrendous mass destruction? In the wrong hands it can destroy planets.
Jess sighs. She produces 5 vials from a pouch. Three virus and two antigen. "I was going to give them to the Captain after you went to bed. She needs them for payment and I was afraid you would just hand them over to your jedi."
“No. That is why we need to discuss what becomes of them,” Vidar says. “I wouldn’t unilaterally do that to her. But I do want to be sure they don’t end up in the hands of someone like that monster masquerading as a scientist.
Candy watches the back and forth.
There’s what amounts to a cold look from Jaris towards Jess as she produces the vials, but its more disappointment than anything. For a moment he isn't sure exactly what to say but eventually decides to remain quiet. He had said his piece back on the planet, he didn't believe the virus should have gone anywhere.
"Except her client works for a syndicate." Jess slams down her free hand. "She promised to help him, and this is the payment. You would never consider him a good option. Even if it saves his life." Jess leans back frustrated. "People do bad things for good reasons and even not so good reasons but your council feels they get to be defacto in charge of morality."
"I too don't want this in the wrong hands." Candy remains in thought. "I do have to wonder what they want with it. I'm assuming he lied to get me to go."
“We don’t have to give him the vial to save his life. There are other options,” the jedi says. “If we work together perhaps we can come up with a solution that does not involve arming mad men with weapons of mass destruction. The quick and easy path is not always the right answer. It might be. But it often leads to more... problems.”
"Damn." Candy looks to Jaris. "Was there anything you found in the computer about specs or like, a point to the experiments? Maybe they were trying to make them intelligent? Or, more intelligent. And what were those guards? They seemed interested in change."
Jaris doesn't speak up until Candy draws him back into the conversation. "There was no info like that specifically but they were obviously experimenting on them to create different versions. That’s a virus that if released could wipe out planets, hard to think of a better weapon for a criminal organization to use as leverage. I also got the sense the cure was complete, they just didn't want to use it on the upper levels, better test results that way."
"What if this is happening somewhere else? Who would benefit from having the cure? You could hold a galaxy for ransom."
Jaris nodded his head. "Pretty much, pull up to a world, threaten to release the virus unless they pay up, move along."
“Huttz, Black Sun, the Republic, the Sepratistss...” Vidar listed off. “The list of who could misuse this is long. What can you tell us about your client. Perhaps there is an angle we can see.”
Candy's eyes get a little wider. "You wanna know the details?"
"I've got good ale in front of me and this is near the galley so theres food, seems as good a time as ever for a story." Jaris takes another drink, a longer drink this time, before he sets his gaze on Jess and her collection of vials. "Seems my last second dash to grab the antigens wasn't needed huh? Maybe next time have a little trust in us..." He glances at Vidar. "Some of us anyway.”
"Well, I'm glad we have options." Candy looks between Jess and Jaris.
Did Jess blush? Who could tell? "I... You didn’t want to take the virus. I assumed Candy would need both... and you and the Jedi were being argumentative.
"You know Jess, there's always another way. Could give them a fake, or just the antigen since its labeled the same, could even tell him the place was a crater when we got there...point is there's almost never just a light or dark way of doing something. I feel we will want to think outside the box here, so please Candy, do tell us more. " Another sip of ale followed.
"I just know what that virus is capable of and didn't think it worth the risk, but its done so now we decide a course."(edited)
“How easy would it be to navigate hyperspace without knowing what stars, blackholes planets, comets were near the path?” Vidar says.
Candy looks at Vidar askance "What an absurd question. Are you going to share a part of space I don't know about?"
“Think of the answer to the dilemma of your client like a hyperspace route." Vidar smiles. “The right course of action requires knowing what the obstacles are.”
Candy snorts. "Promise me something. Promise me you won't be afraid to fly with me. I hope you know I would not endanger my passengers." Candy looks at all of them in turn.
“I won’t leave.”
Jess just nods and take a drink.
Jaris lets out a pffft. "You fly, I keep the ship moving, I don't see that changing anytime soon."
Candy takes a sip of her ale. “Well, it’s actually the story of how I was bestowed the honorific Traveler. I’d just gotten Desperate Measures and before I was assigned the General, we went out to… do a cargo run.” Candy sips her ale. “So, we got the cargo, but we also retained a stowaway. A very dangerous, murderous, unwanted stowaway. One of my crew got shot.”
Candy wrings her fingers together until they turn white. “The only thing I could think of to save us was to strap in, turn off the gravitation, and ping pong said stowaway out the open hatch. He kept firing at my chair, which is why you see plating at the back of it now. It wasn’t pleasant, I smacked his head against the walls to try and scrape him out into the atmosphere. We were departing Kronos.” She holds up a hand. “Don’t go looking for it, you won’t likely find it.” She wrings her hands again. “It’s another desert planet. We all nearly evaporated from the heat.” Candy tilts her head in thought. “I suppose it’s the best kind of death a Duros could have… looking out into the stars, caught between the weightless expanse and too insignificant to be pulled back to the planet.” Candy looks down at her hands. “He left stains. The blood spill stank for a week. It was a game of maze ball trying to evacuate him. A lot of twists and turns at the right moment so he couldn’t hook onto a latch or some panel.” Candy is silent for a time. “I’d do it again, if I had to, but I’d rather talk out any differences instead of having to shoot someone out the landing gear.”
"Sounds like you did the only thing you could think of, but how does that connect to this client? I imagine they were involved somehow?"
"Ricky was the one who went with me on the job. He thinks he knows what I'm capable of." She thinks about what she knows about Ricky.
"Seeing as you know him best then, what approach do you think we should take? I'm personally steadfastly against handing over the virus but perhaps we could give him an antigen or go with one of my other thoughts?" Jaris looked around the table.
"What are you're other thoughts?” Candy looks to the others in desperate hope. “I open to options, including the one that gives him a decoy."
Jaris counts off on his fingers. "Giving him a vial of the antigen, giving him a fake inside one of the vials we took, or telling him the place was a crater when we arrived... see how he takes that. For all we know that story about him being killed for not getting it is just that, a story."
"Then who do we sell this crap over to?" Candy waves at the vials and mumbles, "If it were me, I'd put some kind of agent to render the virus useless and give it to them to make them think it's bogus."
"Personally I'd incinerate the virus and give the antigens over to the Republic and the jedi council,” Jaris said. “I'd very much be for that plan Candy but I don't know enough to be able to do such a thing. If we could find a way, that’s a different story."
Jess sits and takes in the two people she has more respect for on this ship for different reasons analyzing their thought process.
“The jedi wouldn’t use it,” Vidar is fast to confirm. “Not so sure the Republic is above using it. Who is after Ricky?”
Candy laughs. "Because the republic and the jedi are so trust worthy..." she looks over at the General with a sheepish grin. "No offense."
Jess laughs out loud.
"They are the two groups most likely to be involved if an outbreak does occur, hence why an antivirus would be beneficial to them. Again, the virus should be destroyed."
"Ricky is with a crime syndicate.” Candy sobers. “They are three bosses trying to hold territory but once they figure out the barrel over the others, I'm sure they'll overtake the other two for supreme rule."
“The Jedi wouldn’t use it,” Vidar insists. “Then temptation for the Republic would probably be to great. But I wouldn’t give the Virus to anyone till we know if the antigen works... but I agree maybe the best thing is to hide the lot.”
"What's one more death, eh jedi?” Jess said. “Even if they are crime syndicate" Jess states sourly.
Candy thinks for a moment. "I guess I've always seen governments and organizations much like crime syndicates."
Jess nods. "Every group is a family of sorts. Even my lost sisters. There are good and bad, defined by our morals. It's what drives us. Government and other..... groups. Seem to think their morality is defacto.”
“You can’t always save someone from themselves,” Vidar said. “The question is what do we have to work with. Why is Ricky better than the others?”
Candy laughs. "I guess because he's small time. Maybe he won't think of the worse prospects of the virus and just threaten people. But he's working for someone. He'd probably hand it over to a boss."
"Not everyone needs saving Vidar." Jess says mater of factly.
"It did sound like he needed it to pay off for his life." Vidar said.
"Yep. He probably does. And, I'd like to help him there. But I don't want to give it to him."
"I agree," Jaris chimed in.
Candy groans, a bit too much in her cups. "Aggrghghghg. I want to get paid! We deserve to get paid for this shit."
Jess raises her glass slightly to candy. “Yes, you should.”
"Anyone know how to make a virus inept?” Candy swings her cup around. “Heat maybe?"
"Then how will you keep him alive? Triumverate may be small compared to black sun or the huts but they will find him and kill him for not getting what they wanted."
Candy thinks. Thinks some more.
"So, the plan is give him a fake then?” Jaris said. “I mean the only person they could go to for confirmation would be the good doctor and he is... well ashes."
"Assuming that was him....." Jess adds.
"Well, Beefpie seemed to be our contact. I'm not sure who Beefcake was." Candy took a long pull of her ale.
"I can't believe you named them like that..."
"What?"
"You.... what?" Jess blinks.
"Beefcake and Beefpie, the two mother of all rakghouls. Or father. "Whatever the case may be."
"I.... dont get it." Jess shakes her head.
"The two huge rakghouls in the biospheres? They were huge."
"I got that.... but why the names candy?" Jess just seems perplexed. "They weren't attractive..... unless....."
Candy blinks.
"Lets say we find a way to make the virus inert, worthless, and hand that over. With everything that went on there I don't think they will question if it doesn't work. They mostly want the threat anyways." It was then Jaris heard Jess. "...What?"
Candy looks to Vidar. "You saw them right? Did I get hit too hard by the Wampas?"
"I have heard that phrasing in my.... travels. However beefcake always meant large muscled sexually attractive males of the species" Jess states matter of factly.
Candy holds up her hands "Can we just assume that a reptile is more attracted to a reptile than a mammal?"
If Jaris could blink he would have.
"Just clarifying....." Jess takes a long swig of ale possibly blushing.
"Riiiiiiight. Well, ummm moving on from that incredibly disturbing image now in my head."
"Not that mammals aren't attractive." Candy grins at Jess... huge and teasing.
Jess smiles. "One pair of arms is like another..." She says softly.
"Yes. I agree.” Candy changes gears. “An inert virus is better than a live one. I want Ricky's limbs attached to him, but I can tell him we didn't have much time and did the demolition and swiped a sample. Though the doctor said it wasn't ready."
“The problem is does an inert virus still give them too much to work with. Wouldn’t it be a dead end or just a road block?” Vidar thinks, hand on his chin.
"If it’s done right they have nothing to work with, the virus would be destroyed, leaving just a vial of the preservative." Jaris said.
"At this point.” Candy said. “The virus was made. If the doctor reported anything to anyone, there will be more to follow no matter what we do."
“What about remove the other 2 that are after Ricky?” Vidar said.
"I'm pretty sure it could be anyone I. The syndicate. He isnt that high ranked right candy?”
"It could also be that someone realizes this virus is something that needed to be stopped. Hench why he asked me to destroy the facility. But, I know part of that is wishful thinking. And, no, Ricky isn't a higher up. He's just a hand. I think." Candy grimaces.
"Your plan is to take out two crime groups...that feels like it could take a very long time."
“Or you deal with the ones after Ricky.”
"You can't babysit him nor can we be sure we took care of everyone who might possibly be after him. That’s even if he did know the exact names and locations for everyone in the syndicate."
"Three....." Jess adds. "Three smaller groups working together. Not to mention sometimes they contract hits out."
"That too." Jaris nods.
"I didn't sign up to baby sit him. I'm just getting him what he wants to not die."
“You know theee criminals groups can probably be turned against each other. Problem solved...” Vidar sweeps his hand over the table.
"Do you know what the term collateral damage is?" Jaris turns to the jedi.
“What if they contracted a hit on another of the group?”
Candy looks at the General "You're fairly ambitious." She smiles.
"Except you are giving him something that may get him killed anyway for not delivering exactly what they want." Jess said. "Also Vidar.... the heads.... they don’t really do that. They have higher outside killers but never against each other. Just lower peons who they don’t want to have to deal with themselves." Jess states confidently.
"Well, sounds like someone speaking with experience." Jaris finishes off his glass.
Jess hesitates for a moment.
“It isn’t about the head’s doing it. It is about sowing distrust and turning them against each other.” Vidar said.
"Riiight,” Jaris said. “And they do that right after they kill Ricky."
“And giving Ricky a bogus vial also gets him killed. Turning them against each other might make that a priority over Ricky.” Vidar wasn’t giving up.
"Does it?” Jaris questioned. “He gives them what he was given from the lab, it ends up not working when they do decide to test it, but who knows when that actually is. Honestly, the only way to ensure his safety with the highest confidence is to take him ourselves. For all we know even giving him the virus might not work, they could kill him just so all the loose ends are gone. And do you really think you can dismantle three groups to the point none of them will think to kill Ricky for not delivering?"
"Especially when one is as skilled as Vidar at least," Jess adds in half-heartedly.
"Oh come on Jess,” Jaris cuts back in with a smirk. “Put some feeling into knocking him down a peg."
Jess looks actually upset and uncomfortable. She stands up and begins to walk out. Leaving the vials.
Candy looks after Jess with a bit of worry but sighs then points to the box Jaris brought to the table "So what's in that?"
Jaris goes to walk after Jess but is stopped when Candy points to the box. He slowly sits back down and makes a mental note to tell less jokes. "Something worth something? To be honest I don't know, except it was important enough to keep cooled but not related to the rakghouls since it wasn't kept down below in the secret lab. I was thinking I'd hand it over to the G.A.R. research division."
"There was nothing in the database about it?"
"Not that I noticed. I'd guess it has some biological element stored within, dna maybe? When we get back to Coruscant I'll have to try and get in contact with someone that can help me figure out what we have here. Make a decision from there. As for those documents Vidar found we can send those over to Republic intelligence. But question, what do you intend to tell your superiors Vidar? Was this mission sanctioned, is the ship and its crew free to take on jobs as we see fit even? I was assigned to serve under you, but I'll admit what we just did falls a tad outside the operating structure I'm used to. And if they do give you free reign to operate, will we be compensated?"
“We are operating under a Letter of Marque and Reprisal.” Vidar shoved his hands in the sleeves of his jedi robes. “We make our own missions for dealing with the Separatists.”
"So if you go to the Republic and inform them we destroyed a separatist biological warfare lab, they will compensate us?"
“Yes.”
Jaris leans back, clasping his hands behind his head. "A privateer huh? That's a new one for me. Have to update the resume."
"As long as I go with you, my Letter of Marque covers you.” Candy points to Jaris. “But don't go telling people that I have one. That's all I need is for marks to go running the moment they see me."
“And please don’t go mindlessly starting fights.” The jedi joked.
"Says the man now planning to take on three criminal syndicates." Jaris went to take another drink but realized his glass was empty. "Look, I say we destroy the virus before we ever make planet fall. For all we know this strain can get airborne and then everyone is dead should an accident happen. The antigens I say keep, a possible cure in case there are other facilities out there." He then rose from the table. "If anyone needs me I'll be in the engine room." It wouldn't be long after that he went to knock on the door to Jess's room, intent on checking in on her after her quick departure earlier.
“The right path is not always the easy path. It usually is the hard path.” Vidar grumbled.
"Well the hard path is not having anything to give to Ricky and that's not the one I want to go down."
“No. That is the easy path. The hard path is dealing with the triumvirate.”
Candy looks to the General. "Vidar, you're really starting to piss me off." Candy leaves the conference room to find Hell Shepard and his men were doing.
Vidar sighed and took another sip of his drink.
"Beep bop beep beep".
"No, Snide, they weren't there."
"Bewrp."
"Yes, I looked."
"Bop bop beep beep."
"It's a frozen hell. I don't think they would make it out in the wild."
"Zzzzzzt."
"We'll keep looking. I don't exactly have anything to go on."
"Breeepptzztbep."
"I don't know."
Candy sets off in search of crew mates and finds Vidar knocking on Jess's door. "Before you two get into your verbal sparing, let me make sure she's okay."
Jess opens the door changed into more relaxed fitting clothes. You can see her bow taken apart on her bunk and some pillows on the floor like she was sitting there working on the repair. "Yes?"
Candy squeezes her way in first. "I'm just checking, are you in need of healing?"
Jess shakes her head. "Nothing at the moment. Maybe something later?"
Candy snorts "Later, huh." Her red eyes sparkle with mischief.
A shiver ran up the spine of Jaris as Candy spoke, the hairs on his arms raising like out of a ghost story. He couldn't make out the words but peering up he noticed she wasn't far so he approached the growing party in the hall.
"Candy I could feel the mischief radiating off you just now." He only then notices Vidar and Jess. “So, this a party or business? I was hoping we could go over our findings and figure out what to do with it all."
“We do have business to discuss. And I do believe Candy has set course for Coruscant as that is where we need to go to help her friend?” Vidar says.
"First,” Candy lifts a finger. “Just checking everyone is okay."
“I don’t think any of the Rakghouls actually hurt me. I didn’t find anything other than some minor burns.”
"Well no one has turned into a monster yet so we're doing better than I had thought we would."
“How do we know?” He smiles and turns to Jaris. “We can’t see your face.”
Candy smacks Vidar good naturedly.
"Was...that a joke?" Jaris was more shocked than anything.
Vidar inclines his head. “Why don't we bring our haul to the conference room and figure out our next move.”
"You want to join us Jess?"
She looks at the now gathered crowd. "Can no one relax for even a few minutes?" She sighs and turns around, before the doors close she puts out some incense she must of picked up on the last trip to Coruscant. You hear fumbling and even some what must be cursing in dathomri and shortly she returns back in more traditional red and black wraps. "Well? Lead on."
Jaris stands outside with the others but as she closes the door he turns around to stare at the opposite wall. If asked he would reply with… Don't want to stare through the door now do I?
Once she stepped out he led them into the galley and toke a seat at the table. "Just wanted to settle some things before we relax is all, though maybe Candy stocked the ship with some alcohol...”
Candy holds up a finger. "One moment." She goes to her cabin and gets her stash of ale. Comes back and sets a bottle and glasses on the table.
Jess seats herself close to candy and the ale.
Jaris looks down at the ale, nods his head, then presses a button on his forearm which causes his helmet to slide open allowing him to remove it and set it beside him. "Well, all is forgiven then.”
“So Candy is Coruscant our current destination?” Vidar turned to the captain.
"Yes. Coruscant is the destination."
Jaris busies himself with pouring a glass of ale for Candy first, then Jess, followed by one for anyone else who nods in acceptance when he looked their way. Finally he poured himself a glass and leaned back, sipping the lovely alcohol.
Vidar nods in appreciation.
"The jedi drinks, you learn new things everyday." Jaris says.
Jaris pulls out the penal colony documents and slides them over to Vidar. "So what exactly did your client want Candy? My understanding was they wanted a kind of super stim pack, but the code name they gave you was tied to the virus and its serum."
Candy takes a sip of ale. "That's what he told me. But, as I say, everyone lies. They have their own secrets. Some lies are worth investigating, others not so."
“That makes me question the motives of your client and whether they are worthy of such a dangerous item,” Vidar took a sip of his ale. “In the wrong hands those vials would be a nightmare of.... I’m not sure how to scale how bad that could be... in the right hands they can be a life saver.
Candy snorts. "My contacts let me pay for the ship."
"And who are they?” Jaris challenges. “Even the antivirus to something can be dangerous with the right people, and if they have the money to throw at this ship then I bet they have money enough to be dangerous."
Vidar opens the case. Looks at the missing vials. And says, “This was full... glances at Jess long enough for her to notice.
Candy shakes her head to Jaris. "They are people that can hurt my crew if they get too involved. Why? You wanna go after them?"
Jaris glances sideways at Vidar. "I only took the antigens, its full Vidar so you can shoot your glares elsewhere." He then turns his head to address Candy. "Not exactly, I just remember your contact felt they would die if we didn't deliver and I don't know the damage that could come from us delivering as promised. At least I have a good idea what to do with this." Jaris then pulls the cooling unit containing...whatever it was and put it on the table.
Vidar points to the empty virus slots. And to the matching antigen slots the match those virus slots and the more missing antigen vials.
I saw you take vials Jess what is your plan for that weapon of horrendous mass destruction? In the wrong hands it can destroy planets.
Jess sighs. She produces 5 vials from a pouch. Three virus and two antigen. "I was going to give them to the Captain after you went to bed. She needs them for payment and I was afraid you would just hand them over to your jedi."
“No. That is why we need to discuss what becomes of them,” Vidar says. “I wouldn’t unilaterally do that to her. But I do want to be sure they don’t end up in the hands of someone like that monster masquerading as a scientist.
Candy watches the back and forth.
There’s what amounts to a cold look from Jaris towards Jess as she produces the vials, but its more disappointment than anything. For a moment he isn't sure exactly what to say but eventually decides to remain quiet. He had said his piece back on the planet, he didn't believe the virus should have gone anywhere.
"Except her client works for a syndicate." Jess slams down her free hand. "She promised to help him, and this is the payment. You would never consider him a good option. Even if it saves his life." Jess leans back frustrated. "People do bad things for good reasons and even not so good reasons but your council feels they get to be defacto in charge of morality."
"I too don't want this in the wrong hands." Candy remains in thought. "I do have to wonder what they want with it. I'm assuming he lied to get me to go."
“We don’t have to give him the vial to save his life. There are other options,” the jedi says. “If we work together perhaps we can come up with a solution that does not involve arming mad men with weapons of mass destruction. The quick and easy path is not always the right answer. It might be. But it often leads to more... problems.”
"Damn." Candy looks to Jaris. "Was there anything you found in the computer about specs or like, a point to the experiments? Maybe they were trying to make them intelligent? Or, more intelligent. And what were those guards? They seemed interested in change."
Jaris doesn't speak up until Candy draws him back into the conversation. "There was no info like that specifically but they were obviously experimenting on them to create different versions. That’s a virus that if released could wipe out planets, hard to think of a better weapon for a criminal organization to use as leverage. I also got the sense the cure was complete, they just didn't want to use it on the upper levels, better test results that way."
"What if this is happening somewhere else? Who would benefit from having the cure? You could hold a galaxy for ransom."
Jaris nodded his head. "Pretty much, pull up to a world, threaten to release the virus unless they pay up, move along."
“Huttz, Black Sun, the Republic, the Sepratistss...” Vidar listed off. “The list of who could misuse this is long. What can you tell us about your client. Perhaps there is an angle we can see.”
Candy's eyes get a little wider. "You wanna know the details?"
"I've got good ale in front of me and this is near the galley so theres food, seems as good a time as ever for a story." Jaris takes another drink, a longer drink this time, before he sets his gaze on Jess and her collection of vials. "Seems my last second dash to grab the antigens wasn't needed huh? Maybe next time have a little trust in us..." He glances at Vidar. "Some of us anyway.”
"Well, I'm glad we have options." Candy looks between Jess and Jaris.
Did Jess blush? Who could tell? "I... You didn’t want to take the virus. I assumed Candy would need both... and you and the Jedi were being argumentative.
"You know Jess, there's always another way. Could give them a fake, or just the antigen since its labeled the same, could even tell him the place was a crater when we got there...point is there's almost never just a light or dark way of doing something. I feel we will want to think outside the box here, so please Candy, do tell us more. " Another sip of ale followed.
"I just know what that virus is capable of and didn't think it worth the risk, but its done so now we decide a course."(edited)
“How easy would it be to navigate hyperspace without knowing what stars, blackholes planets, comets were near the path?” Vidar says.
Candy looks at Vidar askance "What an absurd question. Are you going to share a part of space I don't know about?"
“Think of the answer to the dilemma of your client like a hyperspace route." Vidar smiles. “The right course of action requires knowing what the obstacles are.”
Candy snorts. "Promise me something. Promise me you won't be afraid to fly with me. I hope you know I would not endanger my passengers." Candy looks at all of them in turn.
“I won’t leave.”
Jess just nods and take a drink.
Jaris lets out a pffft. "You fly, I keep the ship moving, I don't see that changing anytime soon."
Candy takes a sip of her ale. “Well, it’s actually the story of how I was bestowed the honorific Traveler. I’d just gotten Desperate Measures and before I was assigned the General, we went out to… do a cargo run.” Candy sips her ale. “So, we got the cargo, but we also retained a stowaway. A very dangerous, murderous, unwanted stowaway. One of my crew got shot.”
Candy wrings her fingers together until they turn white. “The only thing I could think of to save us was to strap in, turn off the gravitation, and ping pong said stowaway out the open hatch. He kept firing at my chair, which is why you see plating at the back of it now. It wasn’t pleasant, I smacked his head against the walls to try and scrape him out into the atmosphere. We were departing Kronos.” She holds up a hand. “Don’t go looking for it, you won’t likely find it.” She wrings her hands again. “It’s another desert planet. We all nearly evaporated from the heat.” Candy tilts her head in thought. “I suppose it’s the best kind of death a Duros could have… looking out into the stars, caught between the weightless expanse and too insignificant to be pulled back to the planet.” Candy looks down at her hands. “He left stains. The blood spill stank for a week. It was a game of maze ball trying to evacuate him. A lot of twists and turns at the right moment so he couldn’t hook onto a latch or some panel.” Candy is silent for a time. “I’d do it again, if I had to, but I’d rather talk out any differences instead of having to shoot someone out the landing gear.”
"Sounds like you did the only thing you could think of, but how does that connect to this client? I imagine they were involved somehow?"
"Ricky was the one who went with me on the job. He thinks he knows what I'm capable of." She thinks about what she knows about Ricky.
"Seeing as you know him best then, what approach do you think we should take? I'm personally steadfastly against handing over the virus but perhaps we could give him an antigen or go with one of my other thoughts?" Jaris looked around the table.
"What are you're other thoughts?” Candy looks to the others in desperate hope. “I open to options, including the one that gives him a decoy."
Jaris counts off on his fingers. "Giving him a vial of the antigen, giving him a fake inside one of the vials we took, or telling him the place was a crater when we arrived... see how he takes that. For all we know that story about him being killed for not getting it is just that, a story."
"Then who do we sell this crap over to?" Candy waves at the vials and mumbles, "If it were me, I'd put some kind of agent to render the virus useless and give it to them to make them think it's bogus."
"Personally I'd incinerate the virus and give the antigens over to the Republic and the jedi council,” Jaris said. “I'd very much be for that plan Candy but I don't know enough to be able to do such a thing. If we could find a way, that’s a different story."
Jess sits and takes in the two people she has more respect for on this ship for different reasons analyzing their thought process.
“The jedi wouldn’t use it,” Vidar is fast to confirm. “Not so sure the Republic is above using it. Who is after Ricky?”
Candy laughs. "Because the republic and the jedi are so trust worthy..." she looks over at the General with a sheepish grin. "No offense."
Jess laughs out loud.
"They are the two groups most likely to be involved if an outbreak does occur, hence why an antivirus would be beneficial to them. Again, the virus should be destroyed."
"Ricky is with a crime syndicate.” Candy sobers. “They are three bosses trying to hold territory but once they figure out the barrel over the others, I'm sure they'll overtake the other two for supreme rule."
“The Jedi wouldn’t use it,” Vidar insists. “Then temptation for the Republic would probably be to great. But I wouldn’t give the Virus to anyone till we know if the antigen works... but I agree maybe the best thing is to hide the lot.”
"What's one more death, eh jedi?” Jess said. “Even if they are crime syndicate" Jess states sourly.
Candy thinks for a moment. "I guess I've always seen governments and organizations much like crime syndicates."
Jess nods. "Every group is a family of sorts. Even my lost sisters. There are good and bad, defined by our morals. It's what drives us. Government and other..... groups. Seem to think their morality is defacto.”
“You can’t always save someone from themselves,” Vidar said. “The question is what do we have to work with. Why is Ricky better than the others?”
Candy laughs. "I guess because he's small time. Maybe he won't think of the worse prospects of the virus and just threaten people. But he's working for someone. He'd probably hand it over to a boss."
"Not everyone needs saving Vidar." Jess says mater of factly.
"It did sound like he needed it to pay off for his life." Vidar said.
"Yep. He probably does. And, I'd like to help him there. But I don't want to give it to him."
"I agree," Jaris chimed in.
Candy groans, a bit too much in her cups. "Aggrghghghg. I want to get paid! We deserve to get paid for this shit."
Jess raises her glass slightly to candy. “Yes, you should.”
"Anyone know how to make a virus inept?” Candy swings her cup around. “Heat maybe?"
"Then how will you keep him alive? Triumverate may be small compared to black sun or the huts but they will find him and kill him for not getting what they wanted."
Candy thinks. Thinks some more.
"So, the plan is give him a fake then?” Jaris said. “I mean the only person they could go to for confirmation would be the good doctor and he is... well ashes."
"Assuming that was him....." Jess adds.
"Well, Beefpie seemed to be our contact. I'm not sure who Beefcake was." Candy took a long pull of her ale.
"I can't believe you named them like that..."
"What?"
"You.... what?" Jess blinks.
"Beefcake and Beefpie, the two mother of all rakghouls. Or father. "Whatever the case may be."
"I.... dont get it." Jess shakes her head.
"The two huge rakghouls in the biospheres? They were huge."
"I got that.... but why the names candy?" Jess just seems perplexed. "They weren't attractive..... unless....."
Candy blinks.
"Lets say we find a way to make the virus inert, worthless, and hand that over. With everything that went on there I don't think they will question if it doesn't work. They mostly want the threat anyways." It was then Jaris heard Jess. "...What?"
Candy looks to Vidar. "You saw them right? Did I get hit too hard by the Wampas?"
"I have heard that phrasing in my.... travels. However beefcake always meant large muscled sexually attractive males of the species" Jess states matter of factly.
Candy holds up her hands "Can we just assume that a reptile is more attracted to a reptile than a mammal?"
If Jaris could blink he would have.
"Just clarifying....." Jess takes a long swig of ale possibly blushing.
"Riiiiiiight. Well, ummm moving on from that incredibly disturbing image now in my head."
"Not that mammals aren't attractive." Candy grins at Jess... huge and teasing.
Jess smiles. "One pair of arms is like another..." She says softly.
"Yes. I agree.” Candy changes gears. “An inert virus is better than a live one. I want Ricky's limbs attached to him, but I can tell him we didn't have much time and did the demolition and swiped a sample. Though the doctor said it wasn't ready."
“The problem is does an inert virus still give them too much to work with. Wouldn’t it be a dead end or just a road block?” Vidar thinks, hand on his chin.
"If it’s done right they have nothing to work with, the virus would be destroyed, leaving just a vial of the preservative." Jaris said.
"At this point.” Candy said. “The virus was made. If the doctor reported anything to anyone, there will be more to follow no matter what we do."
“What about remove the other 2 that are after Ricky?” Vidar said.
"I'm pretty sure it could be anyone I. The syndicate. He isnt that high ranked right candy?”
"It could also be that someone realizes this virus is something that needed to be stopped. Hench why he asked me to destroy the facility. But, I know part of that is wishful thinking. And, no, Ricky isn't a higher up. He's just a hand. I think." Candy grimaces.
"Your plan is to take out two crime groups...that feels like it could take a very long time."
“Or you deal with the ones after Ricky.”
"You can't babysit him nor can we be sure we took care of everyone who might possibly be after him. That’s even if he did know the exact names and locations for everyone in the syndicate."
"Three....." Jess adds. "Three smaller groups working together. Not to mention sometimes they contract hits out."
"That too." Jaris nods.
"I didn't sign up to baby sit him. I'm just getting him what he wants to not die."
“You know theee criminals groups can probably be turned against each other. Problem solved...” Vidar sweeps his hand over the table.
"Do you know what the term collateral damage is?" Jaris turns to the jedi.
“What if they contracted a hit on another of the group?”
Candy looks at the General "You're fairly ambitious." She smiles.
"Except you are giving him something that may get him killed anyway for not delivering exactly what they want." Jess said. "Also Vidar.... the heads.... they don’t really do that. They have higher outside killers but never against each other. Just lower peons who they don’t want to have to deal with themselves." Jess states confidently.
"Well, sounds like someone speaking with experience." Jaris finishes off his glass.
Jess hesitates for a moment.
“It isn’t about the head’s doing it. It is about sowing distrust and turning them against each other.” Vidar said.
"Riiight,” Jaris said. “And they do that right after they kill Ricky."
“And giving Ricky a bogus vial also gets him killed. Turning them against each other might make that a priority over Ricky.” Vidar wasn’t giving up.
"Does it?” Jaris questioned. “He gives them what he was given from the lab, it ends up not working when they do decide to test it, but who knows when that actually is. Honestly, the only way to ensure his safety with the highest confidence is to take him ourselves. For all we know even giving him the virus might not work, they could kill him just so all the loose ends are gone. And do you really think you can dismantle three groups to the point none of them will think to kill Ricky for not delivering?"
"Especially when one is as skilled as Vidar at least," Jess adds in half-heartedly.
"Oh come on Jess,” Jaris cuts back in with a smirk. “Put some feeling into knocking him down a peg."
Jess looks actually upset and uncomfortable. She stands up and begins to walk out. Leaving the vials.
Candy looks after Jess with a bit of worry but sighs then points to the box Jaris brought to the table "So what's in that?"
Jaris goes to walk after Jess but is stopped when Candy points to the box. He slowly sits back down and makes a mental note to tell less jokes. "Something worth something? To be honest I don't know, except it was important enough to keep cooled but not related to the rakghouls since it wasn't kept down below in the secret lab. I was thinking I'd hand it over to the G.A.R. research division."
"There was nothing in the database about it?"
"Not that I noticed. I'd guess it has some biological element stored within, dna maybe? When we get back to Coruscant I'll have to try and get in contact with someone that can help me figure out what we have here. Make a decision from there. As for those documents Vidar found we can send those over to Republic intelligence. But question, what do you intend to tell your superiors Vidar? Was this mission sanctioned, is the ship and its crew free to take on jobs as we see fit even? I was assigned to serve under you, but I'll admit what we just did falls a tad outside the operating structure I'm used to. And if they do give you free reign to operate, will we be compensated?"
“We are operating under a Letter of Marque and Reprisal.” Vidar shoved his hands in the sleeves of his jedi robes. “We make our own missions for dealing with the Separatists.”
"So if you go to the Republic and inform them we destroyed a separatist biological warfare lab, they will compensate us?"
“Yes.”
Jaris leans back, clasping his hands behind his head. "A privateer huh? That's a new one for me. Have to update the resume."
"As long as I go with you, my Letter of Marque covers you.” Candy points to Jaris. “But don't go telling people that I have one. That's all I need is for marks to go running the moment they see me."
“And please don’t go mindlessly starting fights.” The jedi joked.
"Says the man now planning to take on three criminal syndicates." Jaris went to take another drink but realized his glass was empty. "Look, I say we destroy the virus before we ever make planet fall. For all we know this strain can get airborne and then everyone is dead should an accident happen. The antigens I say keep, a possible cure in case there are other facilities out there." He then rose from the table. "If anyone needs me I'll be in the engine room." It wouldn't be long after that he went to knock on the door to Jess's room, intent on checking in on her after her quick departure earlier.
“The right path is not always the easy path. It usually is the hard path.” Vidar grumbled.
"Well the hard path is not having anything to give to Ricky and that's not the one I want to go down."
“No. That is the easy path. The hard path is dealing with the triumvirate.”
Candy looks to the General. "Vidar, you're really starting to piss me off." Candy leaves the conference room to find Hell Shepard and his men were doing.
Vidar sighed and took another sip of his drink.
Since this was a long, heavy conversation, I'm breaking it into parts. Remember, it's a game so there were several things going on at once. Our GM would go back and forth so nobody had more time than the others. He was amazing.
I also noticed some grammar errors. I've gone through and tried to catch as many as I can. Bare with it if you can. The story hasn't been copy edited so it's just you and me noticing issues. I'll fix any I find.
Until next time...
...happy reading!
~ Stephy
