Setting Up Shop (closed)

[Clive Jerrard]

Clive stepped back near the front door and looked at the shop he had just finished setting up. His business of gun running, dealing ammunition, and ship modifications and upgrades had been so successful on Nar Shadda, that he felt it was high time to set up a tony little shop on Coruscant.

While most of his dealings were sketching and shadey at best, he had been able to keep a clean reputation with the law. Oh, they were dumd. They knew he had his left hand deep in the candy jar, but they could never prove anything, and having been sued several times for harrassment, they'd kept a healthy distance from him. But those sniper scopes never stopped watching what he was doing.

Brushing his hands together, he moved forward towards the back of the shop, standing behind the counter and this time looking out through the front door. Both hands were placed firmly on the counter as he sighed, flashy a very happy grin.

Life was good. As he though about how good it was, it wondered into his past, remembering the good times as a pirate. Well, the not so good would have been the time he lost his eye. But he had to admit, the replacement, hidden underneath the patch, had done him a load of service. It was much better than his original, allowing him to see infrareds.

And then there was his nickname Cyclops, given to him by a fellow pirate shortly after the loss of his eye. Clive hadn't been too fond of it at the time, but he realised he could use that as an alias whever he needed it. And from that point on, he had embraced it.

And now, retired from pirating, here he was, with his own business. Some may have thought that to be quite respectible. Of course, the type of business he dealt in would have tarnished that easily enough.

Never the less, life was indeed good.

A crash in the back room brought him out of his happy bubble as he shook his head and looked over his shoulder through the darkened door.

"Raunkks! You better not be breaking any of the merchandise before we've even sold it!!"

[Raunkks]

A loud snort and snurffle was heard from the back as a large crimson reptilian head popped out to regard the man. "None of the merchandissse was harmed. Though next time, actually clossse the broom clossset all the way."

The head disappeared again into the back room, propeled by a muscular body covered in a thick scaley hide, a thick tail following lazily behind.

Raunkks sat himself again at his terminal, mulling over some computer coding. He was a hacker and slicer, a good one at that. Clive had made Raunkks his partner in crime shortly after he'd resigned as a pirate. Being a pirate had brought in it's share of wealth, but being a gun runner and having Raunkks as a partner had doubled that wealth.

Despite the small keyboard, Raunkks deft claws punched out lines of code, snooping into whatever computer systems he felt would continue to bring in that wealth.

[Tirsa]

:: she strode into through the front door of the newly set up shop. Wide eyes took account of what wares were being offered and the Nebari hopped onto one of the display cases, looking up at the sales displayed along wall ::

[Clive Jerrard]

Clive rolled his eyes as his partner disappeared back into the back room. Sighing, he turned back around to replace the elbow he'd removed from the counter when he noticed a custo,er walk in through the front door. he elbow never made it to the counter as Clive straightened, put on his best dashing smile, and walked around the counter.

By this time the young woman was checking out some merchandise on one of the shelves. He came up slowly, stopping at her side so she'd at least see him from her periferal vision, and cleared his throat.

"Anything I can help you find today, miss?"

[Tirsa]

:: her cat-like eyes were still fixated on the assortment of blaster rifles on the wall ::

"Maybe."

:: she unhooked the leather strap across her chest and tossed the light repeating blaster over to Clive. There was nothing fancy about the weapon. It was just a regular rifle ::

"What can ya tell me 'bout upgrading that baby?"

[Clive Jerrard]

The rifle tossed at him caught him slightly off guard, but he caught it non-the-less, albiet fumbling with it as it settled half in his left hand and half in his right arm.

Once he'd achieved a grip on the blaster rifle, he looked it over, turning it upside down and sideways. It'd seen it's days of action, and was certainly an older model. But it was still in good condition and kept clean.

"Well, we can certainly replace the ammo pack to give you more powerful rounds." he looked at the barrel. "A new barrel and site would be good." He pointed to the end of the barrel. "Looks like the carbon scoring has taken it's toll. The bolts may not be exiting the rifle at the straightest line possible anymore." He hefted the weapon. "And we can certainly give you newer parts that would be lighter."

He looked back up at her, having to stare at the back of her head as she was still intent at examining the guns on the display case. "Either way, you've got a good weapon here. I wouldn't recommend replacing it. But upgrades are definitely doable."

[Tirsa]

"Well..."

:: hopping off the counter, Tirsa leaned up against it with a knowing smile ::

"... was hoping for some special upgrades. If ya get my meaning."

[Clive Jerrard]

Clive had been in the business to know what "special" meant.

"Well, in that case, I think a new weapon will definitely be in order."

He handed the weapon back to her, and slipped his business card to her at the same time.

"A background check will need to be made on you, for formalities sake." He smiled and then turned his head towards the back of the shop. "RAUNKKS! CUSTOMER CHECK PLEASE!"

[Raunkks]

The black-scaled Barabel came lumbering into the main shop with a finger print and retina scanner. He approached the petit woman.

"Pleassse place your thumb on here", He pointed to the pad on the scanner, "And your right eye into here", He pointed to an eye shaped whole also built into the scanner. A few moments later, Raunkks had the identy he needed. "Thank you."

As he lumbered away, he heard Clive say, "He'll only be a moment."

Back at his terminal in the back room, Raunkks began the background check, keying over the various records he found on the woman. With a few hacks here and there, he uncovered a rather colorful past, one that was fitting for a "special" weapon.

Satisifed, he called back into the main room. "CLEAN!"

[Clive Jerrard]

Clive flashed an even bigger grin and gestured to the woman. "Madame, please follow me into my office."

He led her through the back room, past Raunkks, and into a small office. He offered the woman a seat across from his desk, as he took his own seat at the desk.

"Now, what "specials" were you looking for exactly? Did you have anything particularly in mind?"

[Tirsa]

:: plopping down in the chair, she kicked her boots up onto Clive's desk ::

"Dunno. Depends on whatcha got hidden in this little joint in order to make a decision. I'm thinking not too much just yet since ya just opened."

[Clive Jerrard]

The smile remained as he quirked an eyebrow in the direction of the lady seated across from him.

"Well, you're right that my stores here aren't vast, but I have another establishment that has anything and everything you may be looking for... and that can easily be viewed without the scrutiny of our authoritative friends."

[Tirsa]

"Cool, but when do ya think this place will be up and running by?"

:: she flashed an inquisitive smile ::

"Ya know, so I can spread the word to my buddies."

[Clive Jerrard]

"Oh, my humble store here on oruscant is up and running as running as it will get." He leaned back in his chair. "We have some stores of items that your friends may be interested in."

He leaned forward out of the chair to lean his elbows on the desk. "For your needs, however, and the specifications you wish to put on your weapon... that requires a trip to Nar Shadda." He flashed a rogueish grin. "I'll even offer transport for some of my clients."

[Tirsa]

"Awesome!!!" :D

:: she clapped her hands together ::

"Sorsha'll be glad to hear that."

[Clive Jerrard]

In the line of business Clive was in, he knew better than to ask questions. However, the name mentioned did peek his interest. He'd heard it from somewhere, but he couldn't pinpoint exactly from where.

He'd have to get Raunkks on it with his hacking and slicing.

He smiled in response to the woman's enthusiasm and interest. "When would you like to have your weapon upgraded then?"

[Tirsa]

:: she laughed then stopped as if to calm herself, but then began laughing when her eyes fell upon Clive again ::

[Clive Jerrard]

This behavior prompted Clive to raise the eyebrow over his patched eye. "Did I... say something?"

Yeah, he was slightly confused.

[Tirsa]

"Silly One-Eye."

:: her giggling subsided ::

"Not here for the gun. Was just feeling ya out for the boss. Ya know ... Sorsha."

[Clive Jerrard]

His good eye blinked once. "Oh. Ok."

Now he really wanted to know who this Sorsha was. He did however smile about the "silly one-eye" comment. First time he'd ever been called that.

"Perhaps your boss knows me better as Cyclops? It was a name I carried long ago during my more... adventurous endeavors." He stood and made his way over to the door. "Raunkks, would you come in here for a moment?"

There was a grunt from the other room, and Rainkks came shuffling to the door. There Clive said something to Raunkks, inaudible to his guest, and then the large reptilian lumbered away. Clive himself went back to his desk.

"So, who is this boss of yours exactly? You've peeked my curiousity, I must say?"

[Raunkks]

Raunkks caught a bit of the ;ast question Clive asked as he went back to his computer terminal. A somewhat redundant question as Clive had just asked him to look up the name Sorsha.

Not exactly a common name, so perhaps something interesting would come up.

Raunkks' claws clicked on the keypad as he entered data and serached for information, hacking into various systems that might yield what he was looking for.

His boney ridge over his eyes furrowed together as a simple name search began to turn into a web of on-and-ons and dead-ends. His sharp teeth exposed themselves into a grin as he continued digging further. He so loved a challenge.