The First Moisture Farm

Naraya's orders come in an encrypted holo, brief and decidedly unsexy. It's barely more than a recitation of coordinates and amounts to secure, and auto-erases itself afterwards. Apparently now that negotiations are over, she's all business. Pity. She did arrange for a speeder, which should prove more reliable than Timik's bike.

You and Tekka head out just before sunrise. You'll take any chance to beat the full noonday sun. Tekka is dressed for the sun in short beige shorts, and a cropped black tank top that covers so little blue skin it's barely worth wearing. She's also packing the smallest blaster you could find in your arsenal, and instructions not to fire without a direct order.

"Remember, these should just be simple farmers. They might get jumpy if they see us waving blasters around, so keep it holstered unless I tell you. You focus on keeping lookout, and tell me if my eyes miss anything."

She nods, barely containing her excitement.

You approach the first moisture farm, parking a short ways away and proceding on foot. The buildings are all the same squat brown stone everything around here is made of, but as you approach a weathered man exits, clearly expecting your arrival. His clothes are well worn, and his graying hair a bit wild, like the wind ruffles it and he doesn't care enough to fix it. He doesn't look armed, but you approach with your hand casually resting on your blaster. You note with satisfaction Tekka keeps her hands off her own weapon. So far so good.

By way of greeting, the farmer barks angrily at you. "The last guy said to expect you today, and I'll tell you the same thing I told him: I don't got it. I can barely afford to keep the 'vaporators running, and I've had to let all my help go just to pay Jabba's 'tax'". He spits the word. He's angry, but still no indication of a weapon. That's good at least.

"Oh Beal, that's no way to treat a guest. Invite them inside, and we can talk about this like civilized folk. That sun is hot, and in this wind we'll have a storm hit sooner than later."

From the door of the central building emerges a middle aged woman. She appears slightly weathered, like most people who live on Tatooine, but attractive in her own way. She's wearing the worn drab homespun favored by farmers around these parts, and her blonde hair hasn't quite started to gray like her husband's.

He agrees, reluctantly, and you enter a small but comfortable kitchen. The farmer's wife, who you learn is named Willa, offers you a glass of some sort of blue beverage. One sip and you resolve to avoid drinking the rest at all costs, manners be damned.

"As I was saying, you can't send people 'round twice monthly to squeeze us. We barely make ends meet as is, I got no help, and Jabba don't even send people 'round to keep the Tuskens at bay."

"What about your daughter?" Tekka asks innocently. "Doesn't she help? I know I helped my sister kick in credits when times where rough."

The room grows quiet. "Who said anything 'bout a daughter?" You're curious too. The holo said to expect Beal and Willa, but didn't mention a daughter.

Tekka points down a hall, to a closed door in the back. "Unless one of you is a big fan of Rom and the Starscreamers, I would bet anything that room belongs to a teenaged girl." You don't know who Rom is, or what a Starscreamer could possibly be, but the handsome youths on the poster suggest Tekka is on to something.

You push back slightly, hand back on your blaster and ready to draw. "Is she home? She must be, or you would have mentioned it first." You raise your voice. "Why don't you come on out, wherever you are. I'm not gonna hurt you, but I sure would like to see everyone's hands open and accounted for."

The postered door creaks open, and a girl emerges. She's eighteen, maybe nineteen. She looks unarmed, but not afraid of you either. A brave one, that's certain. Pretty too. You're sure she's the picture of her mother, back in her prime.

The wind outside is howling now, and the sound only makes the feel of the room more tense.

"Look, Bella does some work, but we just saved enough credits to send her to school offworld. We won't have nothin' afterwards, and times will be even worse when she's gone."

"So you have money saved up? So you can pay the taxes?" Tekka springs on Beal's misstep. She's quick in a conversation, you'll give her that. "Do you know who this is? It's Corvin Marks. We're here to collect, and you should know he always finishes his job." You stifle a groan at the over the top tough talk, but register differing flashes of recognition. Beal seems to only care about the gun at your hip, and the idea you might use it. Willa and Bella both seem to recognize the name, and share a glance.

"Beal, there's a storm outside. Let's give these two some rooms, and we'll rest and talk fresh in the morning."

"Pa, maybe that's best. I'm sure they'd be more understanding in the morning.

Beal doesn't seem pleased. "I'd rather they stay out here. They can rest in the living room, and we can talk all night and figure out exactly what to do here."

You have no doubt that with a night of interrogations, you can convince Beal that paying up is better for his family's health.

Than again, the look the ladies gave one another was significant. You sort of want to see how they might try and persuade you, but you'll definately lose some of the payout, and that will hurt your reputation.