Jektoo Zaerd examines the vehicles carefully, poking a finger into blaster scars to see how deep they go, and grumbling something when he realises that some of them go right through the transport hull.  The newly acquired swoop is scrutinised with particular thoroughness.

Finally he looks away, gazing into the distance, as if seeking some sort of guidance from the city skyline.  Then he turns back, "Is nod good.  Much works is neeted for trans-port be used agains.  New swoop is nod best on mar-ket.  Was nod best when was new.  Will nod pay for works on trans-port.  Also there is my damaged swoop to consitter."

"Bud I likes hyou.  Hyou seems like honest people, and I am gut judge of people.  I will take eg-stra swoop to cover part cost.  I also will keep deposit.  Between two, I make only small loss and still affords to feed my family."

Back on the Dancing Bantha, Reldan Jalt continues preparing the ship.  With luck, she'll be ready by the time everybody is ready to leave.

Luck, it seems, may not be with them.  R2-O0 warbles urgently, bringing an exasperated curse from Reldan, and a yell that the droid should, "Fix the damned thing then, laser brain!"

Judging by the noise which is the droid's response, it's probably best that nobody else within earshot can understand it.

Shard studies the Rhodian as he checks out their vehicles.  Oddly enough, the man appears despondant but not surprised.  Her thin brows draw together as he continues to study the vehicles.  It's a bit of a shock that he doesn't choose to gouge them for all the damage - and the shock isn't because he's a Rhodian.

"Seems fair enough," she finally replies, "though it's not up to me.  I'll cover half of whatever you pay, Rhijans.  But I'm a little disappointed in our friend, here," she continues, eyeing Zaerd.  "I don't recall any warnings about swoop-gangs, just 'no animals'.  And you seemed pretty familiar with the directions to Ker Aldas, but aren't the least bit surprised that we turn up with holes shot through our vehicle.  I was expecting wailing and gnashing of teeth."

Stepping closer, she eyes the dealer thoughtfully.  "If I didn't know better..."  A shrug finishes that thought.  "But my philosophy runs something like 'if there's no proof, it's rude to say'."

Part of her philosophy, in any case.  A very small part.

The rhodian spreads his hands, "Sometimes is bantits on roads, but nod all times.  More times nod.  Sometimes other whys for things are shod at, but nod all times.  But those times I finds is best nod ask too much keshton.  Some people nod likes keshtons."

Assisting Reldan with the preparations Neary shakes her head at arguing with the droid.  In her experience it was always a loosing battle, especially if you actually managed to tick the droid off.

So she focuses on her tasks and leaves Reldan to his own devices.

Rhijans actually gave a half-grin at Shard's comments.  "I took it as a given, when he made a point of the mining laser being an optional weapon on the other transport, that there was a chance we'd have trouble.  But I also figured that we probably had enough firepower already, especially when we added the swoops."

He focused his attention on the Rodian.  "I'll call it a deal.  Sorry we couldn't bring her back in better shape...but it could've been worse."  He was a pragmatist.  Not knowing who the swoop gangs were, Zaerd likely had to be careful what he said by way of warning.  Offering someone an armed transport was a good warning, to those who knew what to look for...and Rhijans had considered it.  Given that they'd ended up traveling back with an extra swoop and its pilot in the cargo bay, as well as their cargo (and unexpected passenger), he was glad he'd opted for the larger vehicle, even though it wasn't armed.

"Been a pleasure doing business with you.  If I'm ever back in Ker Zaineer on business, I'll look you up."

"Fair enough," Shard concedes, both to Rhijans' point and Zaerd's.  Maybe Zaerd is in with the swoop gangs, maybe he isn't - whichever, they have no proof either way, and there's no point in harassing the merchant about it.  Better to give him the benefit of the doubt.

"Just how much was the deposit, merchant Zaerd?" she inquires, figuring on getting a more accurate answer from him than Rhijans.  Her teammate might give her the right response...or he might shade things to favour her.  He might also shade them to favour himself, but Shard hasn't received that impression from him.  Either way, she wants this to be fair.

She can always bug their command people for some credits.

Rhijans shrugged as he glanced over at Shard.  "It's already been paid.  We can square accounts after we deliver our shipment."  He'd already planned on reimbursement from the Rebellion, although whether or not their leadership in this area felt they could afford a few hundred credits on top of the power converters remained to be seen.

"We've got a delivery to make, and it's coming up on time for our friend here to close up shop for the night.  Let's not take up more of his time."  While maintaining a business-like manner came naturally to him, Rhijans couldn't escape that little part of his mind nagging that they needed to get out of here before the Empire decided to expand their search for the group's new and unexpected addition to the passenger manifest of their ship.

Reldan jalt continues the preparations for departure, studiously ignoring the R2 unit which works around him, and seems to make a point of bumping into him every so often.  It also seems to be... muttering... to itself constantly.

Neary Narf assists with the departure checklist, while her own mouse droid  appears to be giving R2-O0 moral support.

Mark Jacobs watches over the strange orange Jedi, who wakes from her brief nap, apparently finding her seat too uncomfortable to relax in.  She doesn't say anything, though, she simply smiles at the human.

Shisskurr finally declares that he's done all he can for Jihon Mogg.  The blaster wound will probably heal without a scar, or it might not, only time will tell.

Meanwhile Jektoo Zaerd looks at Shard and says, "Deposit is one pard in three of cost.  Pait al-ready."  To Rhijans, he adds, "Yes.  Hyou is wel-come.  Tell hjour frients aboud Jektoo Zaerd."

Shard and Rhijans Thanus take their leave of Jektoo Zaerd and start back towards the ship.

"Fine, fine..." Shard shrugs, one hand slipping under her cloak.  "Let's get going - we'll hash this out while we walk.  Thank you, Merchant Zaerd - good luck with your business in the future."

It's better to end on a positive note.

Pacing along beside Thanus, the older woman comes out with both her flask and a small wad of bills.  Flipping the drink to her other hand, she sorts through the bills, tugging out a couple and snapping them out to Rhijans.  "There.  Please.  I'd rather avoid the embarassment of you refusing and us getting into an argument about who gets the 50 credits."

One third of three hundred...half of that...yep, that sounds about right.  She pops the lid of the flask and takes a drink, just enough to put some heat in her belly.  The lid snaps back on, and Shard bleakly studies their surroundings. "Seen one starport, pretty much seen them all, eh?"

Rhijans looked at the credit note, then at Shard, without missing a stride.  "You DO realize I was expecting Command to reimburse the whole thing, right?  I mean, I'm certainly not going to argue with you about it...especially not over fifty credits...but at least hang onto your money until we see whether or not the Higher-Ups decide to stiff me for the bill, okay?"

He gave a dry chuckle...well, sort of a chuckle, at least, but it was about as close to amusement as anything he'd done thus far.  "If they decide they're going to stick me with the expenses, I'll be glad to take your credits, okay?"  He shot a glance at her, kind of half-turning his head so he could see her clearly...and she could see he was looking...but still maintain a view of what lie ahead of them.  There was something--analytical, almost calculating, even--in his gaze, but for the moment, at least, he said nothing more.

Mark Jacobs scowled when the orange alien jedi smiled at him. He'd heard some stories about the jedi, all bad. Most had been from the newsfeed from the Empire. But when there was nothing else, that's what Mark had to go on.

"So what is it with you. What makes you special, and everybody else not?"

"Fine, fine."  Irked, Shard stuffs the cred-note away, knowing full well she'll probably forget about it by the time they got around to talking to command.  But she's not here to argue with teammates, and isn't interested in a prolongued game of chop-logic.  She continues to walk for a few more paces, the furrow between her thin brows growing more and more pronnounced.

Finally, "Out with it.  Something's caught your interest, and I suspect it isn't my curvaceous figure."  There's heavy irony in the older woman's quip given her wiry form, now shrouded in the travelling cloak.  "You either have a question, an observation, or a conclusion based on such, and if you're going to burn holes in me with your eyes, I deserve to know which and what."

Rhijans smiled a thin-lipped grin that showed none of his teeth.  "Oh, I've got a string of questions.  Just not sure that out on the streets, where potential Imperial sympathizers could overhear, would be the best place to start."  He gave an odd mix of sniff and chuckle, and shot her another glance.

"I guess this one's innocuous enough to start, though...Why are you so dead-set on making sure that I'm not stuck holding the bag for the transport rental?  Not that I don't appreciate it...credits aren't always easy to come by, after all...It's just--I don't know.  Not like anyone I've ever had to deal with, I guess."

Shard grimaces at his hint of a handful of probing questions, the sort he doesn't want people to hear.  Some of them she can guess - they'll be the ones she'll have trouble answering, no doubt - and others...at her age, she has grown not to enjoy surprises.  They're usually unfortunate ones.

But the first question is simple enough.  "A couple of reasons," she begins, still ambling along. "The first is a little long.  This is a team."  Her lips shift into a moue of consideration.  "I've seen people who figure it their duty to pay for everyone and everything; those people get used, and that can break a team.  I've also seen people who sit on their stuff, don't dole it out to help the group; those people get resented, and that can break a team.  If this team starts having issues, it'll fall apart when we need it to hold, and that won't just be the mission going down the tube, it'll be all of us."

One eyebrow cocks.  "So that's the logical, thinking reason.  To continue." Two fingers pop up, then her hand falls.  "Because it's wrong for you to pay the whole thing, and it's right for me to chip in," she states, her tone frank. "I've got money, it's not invested in anything other than the next bottle, so I should be tossing in my share.  And you shouldn't have to carry the cost for everyone."

Tfalta dawl studies Mark for a moment, a frown of confusion temporarily replacing her smile, then, "I'm sorry.  I don't think I've ever said that I'm special, and nobody else is.  If I really thought I was better than anybody else, it would be easy for me to make you believe the same, but I wouldn't do that, because that would be one step on the road to becoming just like Ghea Nimadda."

"Next thing you know, I'd be torturing people and ordering stormtroopers to wipe out entire villages."

The smile returns, "I prefer to keep a more positive outlook on life.  People are equal - only the choices they make differentiate them."

Reldan Jalt finally leans back from the panel and speaks to Neary over his shoulder, "That's it, we're ready to go, just as as soon as the others... " he leans forward again, peering at a display, "Uh oh... this doesn't look good."

Shard and Rhijan's are crossing the field, on foot, deep in conversation.  Rhijans spots it first, only a second before Shard.  In the distance, still beyond the flicker of the protective shield, the unmistakeable shapes of a pair of Lambda class shuttles can be seen, apparently descending towards the city...

Rhijans uttered muffled curses in about four different languages.  "Okay, we'll continue the philosophical discourse later...we've gotta get out of here."  He broke into a jog, and grabbed his commlink.

"[COMM]Jalt, get us takeoff clearance ASAP.  We're on our way back, we'll be there in two minutes."  About thirty seconds before the shuttles power down, he estimated.

I KNEW things were going too smoothly...

"Oh, lovely.  Yeah, let's hope they..." Neary starts and then the call comes over the coms.

"Nothing promotes action like a bit of the right incentive, eh? Even if they aren't coming for us we're better off being not here, so I'll go get things started," she says with a grin and then scurries off toward the cockpit to begin flipping the needed switches and pushing the buttons required.

Shard and Rijans start running towards the ship...

The defensive shield flickers as the two shuttles pass through it, their wings folding up in preparation for landing...

Neary starts activating controls, as Reldan replies to Rhijan's urgent message, "Just saw them.  No point asking for clearance - if the Impies plan on closing the port, it's probably too late to try and get it already."

Landing struts unfold as the Lambdas come in over the perimeter of the field...

"Just get back here as quick as you can."  The sound of the engines ramping up sets anything loose in the lounge rattling.  "We're ready to blast out of here as soon as you're aboard."

The shuttles start their final descent, their gear only metres above the ferrocrete now...

"Everywhere I go, always running."  Shard shakes her head as she sprints for the ship.  "You'd think it would get easier with experience, but no - I'm just getting older."  Bitterly amusing, that admission.

"I'm not sure...it's such a good idea to just blast off," she gasps, staggering for the ramp.  "Might get us out of her...fast, but they've got people in orbit.  Maybe get clearance first, and hope...any words hasn't trickled down to the nobodies yet."

Assuming, of course, those shuttles are here for them.

Rhijans nodded as he kept pace with Shard.  For all that she talked about how old she was, the woman was doing a good job of staying athletic in her aging.  "Agreed..."  He made sure he had the commlink activated before continuing, "If we can play it off as business as usual, maybe we can slip out before they actually shut things down.  If we try and blast our way out of here...well, there's an awful lot of firepower in orbit, and I don't think we're far enough around the planet to make a break for it before that Star Destroyer shifts orbit to cut us off."

Of course, by the time he finished the explanation, they were within a few dozen meters of the ship.  Requesting clearance would only be effective if nobody in the tower had just seen two people come sprinting up to the ship.  They might not have any say in the matter.

Mark stood at the ramp. He tried not to seem anxious as he waited for Shard and Rhijans to board. "Trying to cut things a bit too close."

"Let's go."

Rhijans grimaced at Jacobs.  "So sorry to keep you waiting," he replied, drily.  "No one bothered to inform us that we'd have Imperials arriving, or we'd have been more punctual in our business.  Just wanted to make sure if we ever came back to town, we wouldn't wind up seeing ourselves on wanted posters, for running out on a rental bill."  He continued past Jacobs without pausing, proceeding directly to the crew commons area and taking a seat.

"Clearance or not, it's time to go!" he yelled in the general direction of the cockpit. He really hoped they'd managed to get clearance.  Or that some other idiot was also making a run for it so the Imperials wouldn't be able to focus their entire effort on just one ship.

"Good to see you," Shard gasps as she stumbles past Jacobs.  Still fast on the sprint, Shard, but I see you've lost some of your wind.  She knows she'll have to work on that if she doesn't want to slow this group down.  'Work'.  That means exercise.  That means cutting back on the drinking.  Not exactly a pleasant thought - some days, the booze is all that keeps her going.

A Very Bad Thing™, that, but cursed if she knows what to do about it.

Rhijans seems in better shape than herself after that sprint across the field - hardly surprising, the man looked like a professional.  Probably does calisthenics every morning, Shard sourly concludes, her irritation focused on herself and her half-planned exercise routine rather than the man.  They probably garnered all kinds of the wrong attention with the run, but given the people who might be watching it will take time for that to float upward to someone both interested and capable of doing something about their leave-taking.  If they move now - not panicked, but with purpose - they might very well escape the closing gates.

"I'm in," she coughs out, falling into the seat across the lounge from her running partner.

"Just a few more seconds!  Got to wait for them to sit down!" Reldan Jalt calls back from his position at the controls.  The ramp closes and seals the Dancing Bantha.  "Everybody strap in, I'm expecting... turbulence!"

The two shuttles touch down, and their ramps drop.  Stormtroopers start to disembark in an orderly fashion.  At which point, Jalt activates the Bantha's thrusters, sending her straight upward and through the defence screen.

"That should give us a head start, they won't be able to come after us so quickly with the doors open and troopers on the ramp." the pilot explains to Neary, with a grin.  "So we can concentrate on what's ahead of us."

He raises his voice again, shouting to their passengers, "Somebody want to get ready in the turret, just in case?"  Then, to Neary once more, "I hope the starboard alluvial damper holds up, R2 was griping about it."

The ship climbs rapidly towards the edge of the atmosphere...