Last Stand

Kandara's Run was a quaint little backwoods town, and if there was any justice in this galaxy it would have a bunch of quaint little shops selling ju... quaint little treasures.

There had been a lot of rushing around lately. Rather too much being shot. Some leaping. And a good deal of introspection. Zephrin took his time walking down the street and perceiving in various shops. It was mainly a nice way to meet the locals. They were too polite to ask what he was 'looking' for.

Eventually he came to One Treasure. He had a good feeling about it, so he stepped inside. The owner seemed to have accumulated a vast array of...well...stuff.

Stuff, stuff everywhere. More power converters than you could shake a stick at. Droid parts, weapon parts, dress parts? Weapons, food, scrap metal. The collection was both organised and eclectic, as if the owner had seemingly lost interest every 5 minutes and moved on to something else.

The Shop is mostly empty at this time of the morning except for two young Obroan's come to check out some Mandalorian salvage. The kids were gawping at a couple mostly intact Crusader helmets.

Of the proprietor there was no sign.

"My goodness, what do we have here?" The Jedi picked up what appeared to be a multi purpose power converter, the sort of thing that would work in a lightsaber or a moisture vaporator. "A C-65 if I'm not mistaken."

He set it down again and wandered over to the youths. "Mandalorians frown on others wearing their armour. Just in case you were considering it." A pause ensued. "Of course, to be fair, they frown on a lot of things."

His force senses took in the room. There was a lot of conflicting information from all the stuff. Imprints of previous owners. Energy fields binding the universe together, that sort of thing.

"I don't suppose you have seen the shopkeep have you?"

"But we can't play Mandos and Jedi without the right helmets!"
"Yes mister, the Crusaders are terrible but their helmets are pretty cool!"

They both turn to look at Zephrin at his question.
"He said he was getting breakfast, told us we'd get 10 credits each if we watched the store. So uhh, don't take anything?"

"Ah, a fair point!" Zephrin nodded and gave them a slight smile. "I have heard that they are quite 'cool'. I will take your word for it. And of course, I shall be sure to avoid taking anything."

A solemn nod was offered.

"I thinkni shall nose around if you don't mind? I imagine there could be all sorts of amazing things hidden away in here." He started perceiving around again, letting the Force guide him from item to item with no goal in mind.

"Oh yeah, he has everything!"
Zephrin vanishes from their interest as soon as he arrived as they try to work out which helmet they could afford if they pool all their funds.

There are small hints of force residue on many of the items in the store. Several of the weapons (thankfully locked behind the front desk) bear scars of pain and fear. The clothing section has echoes of both terrible happiness and terrible sadness. The box of 'lightly used' grenades has traces of...good humour? Well that was a little disturbing.

Behind the Jedi there's the sound of a large vehicle pulling up outside and then a few moments later the door opens and a jovial voice cries out.
"Good job children! Good job! I have your 5 credits each, as agreed."
"Mister, you said 10!"
"...Uh, right. Yes, 10 each! As agreed! Here you go, here you go. Oh, and we have a customer?"

It was never clear what traces the Force might leave behind. Always some curious after-image of previous lives. Absently he wondered if the grenades might have belonged to Apollo once, and if Tereck might be interested in them...

And then the shopkeep arrived. Zephrin allowed himself a small smirk at the negotiation. "They did an excellent job of minding your business."

Stepping out he moved towards the voice. "Zephrin Hayn, Jedi Knight. You have a most interesting shop."

"Ah, a Jedi you say? Why would- no, it must be the war. We are all so busy, I understand."



The corpulent Rodian jerks a thumb behind him at the RV parked in the street.
"As you can see Mr Jedi Officer. I am still within 50 meters of my domicile. There has been no breach, yes? Honest Abe remains a law abiding citizen....but you said interesting. Perhaps you are interested in some sort of a purchase, hmmmm?"

He starts floating over to Zephrin.

"Hmm? Oh no, I am not involved with local law enforcement. You are correct, I arrived with Republic vessel. Besides which, I am sure you parked admirably." Zephrin did not do vehicles, it never ended well.

"Honest Abe? A pleasure I'm sure." There was a nod of the head to back up the comment. Abe was certainly the largest Rodian he had encountered.

"A purchase? Perhaps I am. Although in truth I was just curious about your store. Such a wide variety of items though. Do you have anything that might interest a Jedi?" You never knew, although it seemed unlikely that there would be a set of Jedi battle armour. Or some sort of blaster repellent...

"Of course! Of course! I have something for everyone, at least One Treasure I always say."
He starts leading Zephrin down a corridor overflowing with junk on both sides.

"Let me see, Jedi, Jedi...Perhaps some incense? I have some straight from the rim, very calming. Or maybe polish for wood or boots? I have ever colour you could want and then some."
He pauses for a moment.
"Of course, the store is not my entire stock. There are specialty items for specialty customers...although they are at premium prices to reflect their quality."

"Where does it all come from? This looks like several lifetime's work." Perhaps Honest Abe was the latest in a long line of assorted Abe's?

He dutifully sniffed the incense. "Lovely." Polish? Well, Jedi Knights were widely regarded as having excellent taste in boots...

Zephrin felt as much as experienced the cogs turning in the Rodian's mind. "Oh yes? Do go on." There was a little idle speculation from the Jedi as he considered whether the Rodian had been out to loot the remains of the Jedi temple. No, that was uncharitable.

"Specialty items you say? Well well." Premium prices though. It would be an experience at least. Jedi were notoriously poor.

"Indeed, indeed! Oh such wondrous things. Perhaps you're in the market for armour? Everyone wants armour these days. I have Republic armour, Mandalorian armour, Jedi armour, all for very reasonable prices plus shipping and handling.

He taps some buttons on his chair's arm and a list of items is displayed which Abe rapidly cycles through with a wave of his hand.

"Jedi Commander armour for only.....7,500 credits. Brand new, fell of the back of a temple truck. A number of available colours and, machine washable. Of course, if that's a little out of your price range..." More cycling "Perhaps some stealth armour? I have some of the lighter variety for a little over 3,000 credits. Sneak anywhere at anytime. If you're discovered and attacked, your money back!"

He beams down at Zephrin.
"How does that sound?"

Or perhaps he was a little too charitable?

"Off the back of a truck you say? If you say so my friend." Thee was a thin smile. "You may be surprised to hear this but I do get shot at rather a lot Abe. So that Jedi Commander's armour would certainly come in handy."

He patted his Utility belt. "Of course, being a poor Jedi in the middle of a war I don't have that sort of money available." There was an apologetic gesture.

"As for Stealth armour? It sounds intriguing and useful, for the right sort of Jedi. Unfortunately I don't do stealth."

"You get shot at a lot? I cannot imagine it my friend! A good man like you? These Mandalorians, they truly are terrible. Fortunately, for 7,500 credits you will never have to worry about them again. With that armour you will be invincible, or the closest reasonable approximation of it."

Abe was leaning forward and wobbling dangerously on his chair, clearly keen to close the deal."

"As I said my friend, sadly I do not have 7500 credits. Perhaps you are feeling charitable towards the war effort though? Or maybe you have an alternative purchasing scheme?" He paused.

"Now that she has mostly recovered I suppose I could check with Master Saubet what the Temple's policy is towards recovered Jedi property?" The excitement seemed to be rolling off the Rodian.

"Hmmm....alternate arrangements...alternate arrangements."
His other hand hits some buttons on the opposite arm and brings up a list labelled 'blackmail' which is hastily side swiped.

"I am sure Master Saubet could fill out the necessary forms to petition the Republic to petition the central government to order the magistrate's to conduct a search for said goods. Then you would have them in only a year or two. But I would not want that my friend, I want you happy and protected, so let me think..."

Zephrin couldn't help but smile at that. "Ah yes, the wheels of bureaucracy." Obviously the Rodian desperately wanted a sale. Perhaps he should just buy some incense. Torvin was getting better at centering himself but maybe it would help.

Besides, Jedi Commander armour? That was pretty fancy stuff.

"Ah, I believe I have found a solution for your quandary. Yes, elegant, refined, practical. I can have you in a suit of pre-loved Jedi Commander armour for a mere 500 credits!"

A little hologram of a suit of armour appears and starts slowly rotating.
"It's been furbished to be as good as new and, you're recycling. Think of the environmental impact you'll be avoiding. An excellent buy, hmmmm?"

((for 500 credits you can buy a suit of Jedi Commander armour that is 1 soak 1 defence. For 300 credits and a hard modding roll it can be modded to be 2 soak 1 defence))

Zephrin set the incense down and tilted his head towards the Rodian. "I expect you are displaying a little hologram? My Force Sight only picks up, well, it is hard to explain, but this sounds like a rather good deal."

A little too good perhaps, but still...

"Plus the environmental benefit of course." A friendly smile for the large Rodian. "Very well, I would like to inspect it but assuming it is not designed for beings the size of a Wookie or an Aleena I think we have a deal."

"Perfect! Perfect! Well, not the difficulty in reading the hologram, but the deal itself is perfect! You shall come by later, this evening perhaps and I shall have the armour ready for your inspection. Then perhaps you will tell all your friends of this incredible deal?"

He extends a hand.