Ahsoka, Daughter of the Light, Book 7: Hunt

Chapter 5: The Scrapper

CAL KESTIS

Cal Kestis worked tirelessly scrapping parts on the wreck of the old Venator on Bracca.

It always felt... wrong. Taking apart old fragments of his old life. No matter how hard he tried to forget his past, it was just not possible.

He was cutting off a component when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He stopped what he was doing and looked over at his good friend Prauf.

"Listen," he said, "I don't want to upset your rhythm, Cal, but the boss wants a word."

He tapped Prauf on the shoulder before taking off his safety mask.

"Could be good for us," Prauf continued.

He turned to the Foreman Droid.

"Here he is, Chief," Prauf said.

The droid took a moment to turn around and face them before giving them instructions.

"An error has been detected on line Ten-A," the droid monotonously claimed. "Hauler clamps are jammed. I need two workers to climb up and secure the cables."

"That's not an easy maneuver," Cal remarked.

"The Guild will double your pay for this shift," the droid continued.

"Come on Cal, little extra score, that couldn't hurt, huh?"

Prauf was right. Whatever credits they normally made, the Guild normally found some way to eat it back up, resulting in an impoverishing cycle that was hard to get out of. It was best to take any credits you could get.

"Okay," Cal agreed.

A large grin covered Prauf's face.

"Alright, let's go," he said, running ahead.

"Get to work," the droid ordered as Cal ran off to follow Prauf.

He ran towards a ledge, mantling onto it.

"This way," he said.

"I'm right behind you!" Cal replied.

"Up here!" Prauf exclaimed as the two approached a ledge.

Prauf and Cal mantled onto it and onto a catwalk on the ship's exterior.

As Cal got up, he saw something he couldn't believe, a Separatist ship landing on Bracca.

Three TIE Fighters flew overhead, a reminder of the Empire's presence on this world and their work alongside the Scrapping Guild.

"Will you look at that," Prauf exclaimed, "A separatist ship! Haven't seen a Lucrehulk in ages!"

"Yeah... ages," Cal replied.

"Breaking her will be big money," Prauf said with glee. 

They both took a moment to look at the ship.

It was almost sad. The mighty donut-shaped warships had once struck fear into the hearts of so many. Now, there were few left that hadn't already been scrapped, blown up, scuttled, or otherwise put out of service. Regardless, Cal could already taste the credits.

"Alright, let's go," Prauf said as a barge flew overhead.

Cal followed him as he climbed up a ladder and onto a catwalk.

Then, there was a clanking noise, and some barrels started to roll.

"Look out!" "Heads up!" the nearby scrappers warned.