(no subject)

The device started beeping almost as soon as the door to Milliways closed behind him. Atton discarded it quickly, heading over to the computer and opening the message.

I don’t know how to deal with all this. Why the kriff would you tell me something like that? How am I supposed to use that? I know I asked, but maybe you should’ve lied. I don’t know.

Shadra would like to invite you for a drink with us sometime. I don’t care either way, so come if you feel like it.

- L.

Atton grinned broadly, quickly typing a response back.

Sure. When?

A few messages later, a time and day was set. Atton grinned broadly, stepping out of the hole in his shuttle too look around the hangar.

Almost immediately, he found himself almost knocked back by the turbulence of an entering ship.

Bright orange and black, massive and sleek, engines roaring loud enough to make Atton’s ears throb, it floated through the containment field, sending droids scattered with shrill shrieks as it crashed down in the only clear spot large enough to contain it’s bulk.

The ramp was far louder than it needed to be, succeeding in drawing the eyes of the one or two workers that had looked away since the ship had landed.

Four lines of silver battle droids descended into the hangar, followed by a brilliantly smiling blue skinned woman, a dark-haired and glaring man at her shoulder and a host of humans in identical orange and black uniforms, all trying their best to look intimidating.

“Greetings to you all,” The blue skinned woman called. “Greetings from Czerka Corporation.”

“Oh,” Atton murmured, running a hand through his hair. ”Kriff.”

(no subject)

“Greetings to you all,” The blue skinned woman called. “Greetings from Czerka Corporation.”

“Oh,” Atton murmured, running a hand through his hair. “Kriff.”

The battle droids moved outwards, glistening in the light, to allow the woman and the man at her shoulder through, as the Czerka workers moved across the hangar bay, pushing any of the approaching spacers, mechanics or hangar workers away.

“Please, go about your business,” The blue woman called. “We wouldn’t think of interrupting your work.”

Atton frowned, crossing the hangar towards them. Two workers stepped in his way, reaching forward to shove him backwards. Atton flicked a hand, knocking them to the floor, and continued past them, cutting in front of the blue woman.

Several battle droids swung round, blasters pointed at him, but not firing.

“Is there a problem?” The blue woman smiled brightly.

“No, no problem,” Atton replied. “Sorry, I should really introduce myself,” He pulled his lightsaber from beneath his jacket, dangling it. “Atton Rand, Jedi Knight.”

The man at the blue woman’s shoulder jerked sharply, brow furrowing. If the woman noticed her companion’s reaction, she didn’t let it show.
“Is there a problem, Jedi Rand?”

“Unfortunately, yes,” Atton smiled sheepishly. “I want you off this planet. Nothing against you, you understand - Though I have absolutely no doubt that I’d hate you if I got to know you - But, you see,” He paused, momentarily shutting off the voice that told him to at least try being diplomatic. “I heard about Telos.”

The woman laughed softly. The man at her shoulder scowled.
“This is nothing like Telos, I assure you.” She shook her head, smiling winningly.

“Really? Seems pretty similar to me. The Ithorians get a restoration going, you come and muscle in on it.”

“Rest assured, the unfortunate incidents on Telos weren’t Czerka’s doing. Jana Lorso had several deep psychological issues, and was deeply corrupt. She pursued a mad quest for power, against Czerka’s orders,” The blue woman shook her head again. “Besides which, we have no interest in the restoration. We’re here to talk about mining. Environmentally friendly, of course.”

“Oh, naturally.”

“You doubt us?” Growled softly.

It was the first time the man at the blue woman’s shoulder had spoken, and Atton had to strain his ears to hear him.

“Yeah, pretty much. Czerka’s never been known for being reliable.”

The man opened his mouth to say something, only for the blue woman to cut in.
“I assure you, you have nothing to fear. If a small mining industry is set up here, it will only help the restoration. Funding will flood in. We don’t mean any harm here. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we are on a tight schedule today.”

She moved around him, moving onwards and out of the hangar bay. The man lingered behind, hovering behind Atton with his back turned to him.

“You don’t need to be so hostile,” He murmured. “Czerka isn’t your enemy. And neither am I.”

Atton frowned, tilting his head to one side slightly, but saying nothing. The man didn’t move.

“Till another time, Jedi Rand.”

He followed the blue woman out, leaving Atton to frown and head back to his shuttle, ignoring several angry Czerka workers.