Trooper

Reopened Wounds

Bracca: 14 BBY
Imperial Shipyard
Jess

    Ryn passed the borrowed monoculars towards him. Jess peered through the lens, watching the Imperial stormtroopers below. The new shipment of Nu-class shuttles was being heavily guarded.

    "If we're even going to get one of those off the ground, we've got to take off in the middle of a shift change," he muttered, passing the monoculars back.

    "We can stake them a day or two until we figure out their routine," Ryn replied. "Mal won't miss us at night."

    "I'm a little worried about her. After we leave, she won't have any workers anymore. What will she do?"

    "We could ask if she wants to come with us."

    "Yeah, that's true."

    Ryn gave him a lopsided grin and crept away from the shipyard below. "Come on. We still have a sector to clear out. Mal said her boys would be there so we can give them a talking to."

    "Prauf and Cal?" Jess arched an eyebrow, following Ryn up the rusted metal ramp heading towards the clamps.

    "Yeah."

    "Great. I get the feeling Cal doesn't like me very well."

    "You met him once right after he was attacked by the Lita Guild. It's been a week. Maybe he likes you now," Ryn offered.

    Jess rolled his eyes. "And maybe rancors fly."

    "That would be something."

    They fell silent as they walked past several other scrappers. None of them were members of the Guild, thankfully, but Jess was wary none the less. He shifted his poncho over his blasters even more.

    Ryn sighed as they made it out of hearing range. "Did you get the scans of the shipyard?"

    "Yep. Full schematics and everything. We just need something to display them from."

"I bet we can use Mal's datapad."

They reached their scrapping sector a few moments later. Cal and Prauf were already there, with crates full of parts next to them. Cal glanced up as they approached. His gaze passed over Ryn impassively, but darkened as soon as it reached Jess.

"What are you two doing here?" Cal asked.

"Same as you," Ryn replied. "You're welcome, by the way."

"For what?"

"For the help we gave you. Your friend seemed grateful, so why don't you?"

Jess was grateful for the helmet that hid his smirk from Cal. He turned to another wall and began stripping the metal paneling from it, revealing the tangle of wires and parts within.

"Look, we both know you're a clone so just take off the helmet," Cal said, rolling his eyes. Prauf gave him a somewhat confused look.

Jess shrugged and pulled it off. He tossed it into one of the empty crates Mal had set out for them earlier. He stuck his hand into the wall and grabbed a part. Ryn was gingerly doing the same.

She caught sight of his amused look and narrowed her eyes. "What?"

"Scrap rats?"

Ryn rolled her eyes and let out a disgusted sigh. "You're never going to let me forget that, are you?"

"Scrap rats are gross," Cal added.

"Thank you." Ryn flashed him an appreciative smile.