The old man waved his hand dismissively.
"Ack. Headaches. Every mechanic gets them after working around hyperfuel. Granted his were more severe than anyone's I've seen, but I chalked it up to him being green on the jobsite."
Hawkin's jaw dropped.
"Green? Green? I fixed things no one would touch. What do you mean green? Karavos, I should be any other color besides green at this point."
Karavos clicked his tongue.
"Hush boy. I'm talking to this here-"
He looked Calista up and down.
"Jedi."
Karavos shifted his weight and scratched his head with two of his four arms.
"Jedi? It's been years since I've even heard of the Jedi. And now you're telling me, this scrappy boy, really nothing more than a street rat, is going to be one, and you're going to be the one to train him? That's rich. Why don't we go into my office and talk about it more? I need more information before I just let you take my best fine motor mechanic."
Hawkin sulked.
"I am not a street rat. Well not anymore."
Dex piped up.
"Let's be real, you were. You can't even deny that at this point."
Hawkin pursed his lips, and held back a chuckle, as he looked towards Calista, awaiting her reaction.
Calista kept her face passive, not letting Karavos’s dismissive comments get under her skin. Though she could feel Hawkin’s understandable annoyance and sent a sense of calm to him.
“I can assure you that Hawkin’s were not solely from being around hyperfuel or being more sensitive to it than other mechanics.” she reiterated calmly before giving her Padawan a slight smile. “The Force is mysterious in who it chooses to be with. To my knowledge there is no definitive way of knowing who will be attuned to it… and who will not. However, I do know that he has great potential to be a Jedi Knight and I have every intention of training him.” she added confidently. “If you want to discuss this, there is no reason not to include him.”
Karavos laughed.
"Oh I fully intended to include him. Just in my office. Follow me."
Hawkin rolled his eyes and shook his head, nodding to Calista that he had felt the calm wash over him. He muttered to her.
"I told you he was a little difficult. But honestly, this is going better than I thought it would go."
Dex piped in.
"We haven't made it into his office yet. This could go downhill very quickly. I expect it to do so. I'm here for the organic drama."
Hawkin suppressed his laughter.
"Organic drama Dex? What in the stars name are you talking about?"
After a series of low whistles, Dex replied.
"Organic drama. Drama between organic life forms. You and Calista and this Karavos guy. I am most intrigued."
Hawkin strode forward after Karavos.
"Whatever you say buddy. Whatever you say."
He motioned for Calista to follow. He whispered back to Calista.
"He talks business deals in his office. I don't know what his plan is, but I don't like where it's going. We'll see how this turns out though."
Calista nodded, letting Karavos show the way to his office, a bit relieved that he didn't plan to exclude Hawkin from the discussion of his own future.
Though she had to bite her tongue as Dex compared their upcoming conversation to his personal version of a holo-drama. Something she suddenly decided against showing him, if he didn't already know about them.
“Thank you for the warning.” she whispered back. “Whatever his plan… I intend to stand by my promise.”
Hawkin shrugged.
"It is what it is. Karavos is a business man, and money talks. However, threats of leans and sending the tax collector do seem to work. That's the one thing that he's really afraid of. And it's the tax man and what he does when he looks at the books. He hates losing money to taxes. If he's going to pull something, and he will, threaten to have him audited. I know for a fact that his books aren't right, and he has books that are as we say, off the books."
Dex chirped.
"This is getting better by the minute. Calista are you hearing this?"
Hawkin rolled his eyes.
"Just please do your senatorial thing and talk business. He listens to that. He already knows I'm hot headed when it comes to him. He will say things that will rub me the wrong way, and he does it intentionally. I will try my best to restrain myself, but I can't fully promise I won't reach across his desk and throttle him. I worked for him, and he paid me fairly, and he kept me alive, but it doesn't mean that I liked him."
Calista listened to Hawkin’s advice/warning about Karavos, unsure exactly how unscrupulous things might get… but preparing for them anyway.
“If it will assure you, I will mention my contacts with the Senate, if it becomes necessary.” she nodded. “I can handle the talking. If he gets under your skin, just focus on your breathing and… “push” your anger away. Let the Force take it and you can deal with it in your own time when you're less tempted to do something you might regret.” she tried to explain.
Hawkin laughed.
"Yeah, I'll push my anger away. And down the nearest flight of stairs."
He looked at Calista.
"For all intensive purposes that is a joke. I would never push anyone down the stairs."
Dex piped in.
"Unless they really deserved it. You forgot to finish that sentence Hawkin."
Hawkin held his breath, because if he laughed it would have encouraged the droid more.
"Yeah. Sure Dex. Let's get this started and over."
He followed Karavos through the shop that he had known for years. Some of the mechanics nodded in his general direction, and they never raised more than a glance when he walked by. Karavos turned around and looked back at Calista and Hawkin. He held the door open.
"Please follow me. My office is right through here. Business awaits."
Hawkin grabbed the door, and let Karavos walk through, and gestured for Calista to take the lead.
Calista simply gave Hawkin a look for both comments. She had hoped he had only been joking with the first but now was not the time to be making dark-humored quips. "If you want this to be over quickly, my Padawan, I suggest you both let me do the talking until we are ready to leave." she said plainly, though there was a bit of a warning for Dex in her words.
"Of course." she nodded at Karavos as she followed him into the office. Perhaps it was just habit from spending so many years on the run but, while her posture and expression remained calm and relaxed, her senses were on high alert. Ready to spring into action at a moment's notice. "Fortunately, our business is a simple matter so we won't take up much of your time."
Karavos chuckled.
"I sure hope it's simple. My best mechanic is leaving. I just want to simply know what you're going to help me with in order to have him. Nothing in this world is free. I'm sure you know that much, Jedi."
Hawkin put his hands up to his temples.
"Ah, there it is."
Karavos laughed heartily at Hawkin.
"You sure know me boy. I'm glad to see that you remembered something. Please sit down. The both of you. Let's get to business."
Karavos went and sat down behind his desk, and picked up a hefty notebook. He picked up a pen and flipped to a new page.
"Let's begin. What can you offer me, so I can offer you Hawkin? Now granted he isn't a slave, but I'll be losing a significant amount of money by losing what he can do. There aren't many mechanics that can do what he does. So, how will my business be insured and continue to flourish, with his absence? That's just simply what I'm asking."
Karavos cleared his throat.
"If you have an answer, he's yours. I'm just looking out for myself and my livelihood. You'd know about that wouldn't you, Jedi?"
Hawkin bit his tongue to hide his discontent. The way he said the word Jedi. There was malice behind his words. He had worked for this man for years, and he had never heard his sound this way before. And he had heard Karavos yelling at ritsy customers before that had tried to cheat him.
Calista maintained her calm demeanor as she chose to remain standing. His obvious tone was something she had heard several times during the reign of the Empire, but it never really got any easier to deal with. The sting of it still made her skin crawl. She could feel his distaste for her, but she knew it wasn't just because she was a Jedi… It couldn't be. This had to be about business. She took a steadying breath, meeting his gaze professionally.
"I appreciate your candor, Karavos," she began, her voice steady as she replied. "I have seen how skilled Hawkin is as a mechanic, and understand the impact that his leaving might have on your business. While I am glad to hear that you do not view your workers as slaves, I will not argue that anything is ever truly free—especially regarding talent and expertise."
She paused, allowing her words to settle before continuing. "The New Republic values independent enterprises, especially those with skilled craftsmen. If Hawkin's absence creates a gap in your workforce, I can put you in touch with some contacts in the Senate to find potential hires. And considering the progress the Senate is making in reaching out to other systems, there are opportunities for those enterprises to expand and gain recognition beyond the local market." she told him, letting him draw his own conclusions. "You’re looking out for your livelihood, as you should. And I’m looking out for Hawkin’s future—and the way I see it, this can be an opportunity. Hawkin moving into a new chapter doesn’t have to mean a loss for you. This is a chance for all of us to flourish, Karavos. And I believe a smart businessman like yourself can see the value in that."
Karavos leaned in.
"I appreciate the offer of putting me in contact with skilled craftsman and mechanics like Hawkin, however, to find one mechanic that can do what Hawkin does, I'll have to pay them what they're asking. And they're not cheap."
He laughed and looked at Hawkin and looked back at Calista.
"You see, I can pay Hawkin whatever I like. He's not an adult in the eyes of the Republic. His pay scale isn't regulated. Which is good for my business. I've saved so much money by cutting ethical corners, and I would hate having to follow the straight and narrow. Now I'd know you might slam me with the threat of the tax man, but my books are very very clean. Give me another option. What else could you offer me?"
Hawkin rolled his eyes. He knew his pay scale was never accurate. But hearing Karavos say that it wasn't made him feel different. He slid his hand forward on Karavos desk.
"Listen old man. I've tried very hard to do what you've asked for years. Your books may be clean, but everyone here knows you have more than one book for less than desirable business deals. I'll find it."
Karavos leaned back in his chair and smiled.
"Seems you've learned something after all. If I were afraid of you, Hawkin Jaegerfly, you would have never been allowed in this office. You, yourself, have nothing to offer me besides your mechanical skills. And that is all. Your-"
He pointed to Calista.
"Jedi friend has more sway than you could ever dream of having. I intend to get what I want, and you're my leverage. A trading piece. And that is all."
Hawkin blinked hard. It had been years since he had heard his full name. He reached up and ran his fingers through his hair, He shrank down into his chair and pulled his feet close to him. He felt Dex scooch closer into his back, and he felt the small amount of warmth the droid radiated sink into himself, providing little comfort to the cold he now felt in the room.
(Aghhhhh I hate Karavos and I'm writing himmm. But boy do I love writing a horrible character. It just scratches an itch in my brain.)
(He is a real ass. Good job on making such a dislikable character!)
Calista had to admit that even with Hawkin's warning, she had not expected Karavos to be so blatant. She could feel that her Padawan was just as rattled by the confession as she was. If not more so. She moved beside him and placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. I will take care of this.
"I have no interest in bringing your tax evasion into this. I know you have no fear of being discovered in that way. Since you brought it up, I'm sure that you have diversions and subterfuge to avoid being caught." she stated, her voice completely void of emotion. "However… you should be more careful what you reveal. Hawkin is not a trading piece. He is my Padawan. With or without your permission. We merely came here to give you the courtesy of informing you of the change and that he will no longer be working here." she pointed out. "It is not the Jedi way to make threats. But if it becomes necessary, I will inform the Senate of what you just admitted to me about not paying your employees accurately." Of course, that wasn't the only thing she was going to mention. If Karavos had made the decision to "hire" Hawkin like this… then it was highly likely that Hawkin wasn't the first or the last. And that was as far as she was aware that was as illegal as owning slaves in the New Republic.
Karavos leaned back in his chair and pulled out a cigar from his desk. He let out a chuckle.
"Ah. This is why the Jedi and I never got along. Even before the Clone Wars. They never liked the way I did things. However I fixed nearly all of their ships when they came back from combat. I fixed them well, and quickly. They never asked about how well I paid my employees, they just asked how fast I could do the job. The Senate has never cared how I do my business, because I always cut them a deal. Nice try though. I've got to hand it to you. You've handled this better than everyone else they've sent my way. But you still haven't answered my question. What can you offer me? All you've thrown at me are empty threats. Lay your chips on the table. Give me something that I'd be interested in. A new customer. A hyperdrive core. A new ship. Throw out ideas."
He took a long draw on the cigar.
"I'm a business man. I make deals. Threats, Jedi, are not the way to go. Hawkin is a trading piece. He's valuable to me. However, there are things that I desire more, that would make losing Hawkin worth it."
Dex whirred against Hawkin's back, and he had begun to relax again. He breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Karavos was a business man. There was no reason this should come to blows.
Calista raised a brow in confusion. She doubted this was the only reason Karavos hadn’t gotten along with the Jedi of the past. But the unconventional compliment of how she was handling things almost made her smile.
“I’m sure your services to both the Jedi and the Senate were very much appreciated, especially in a time of war. Perhaps such a recommendation could play in your favor with the New Republic.” she mused, still thinking that suggestion through. Though the fact that the Jedi were never meant to be soldiers, actively seeking out enemies, and the corruption of the Senate both before and during the war didn't add much confidence to the situation.
She shook her head slightly. “As I’ve said, it is not the Jedi way to make threats, and my warning is far from empty. But I would prefer to settle this with a simple deal as well.” she admitted smoothly. “If the offer of new potential employees failed in appealing to you, perhaps I could find a way to have some of your tools and equipment updated. I could even ask about getting some specialized droids to assist you and your employees.” she suggested.
Karavos leaned back and took another long draw on his cigar.
"Now we're talking Jedi. New tools are always a good bargaining chip. As for the droids, I'll pass on them. I never need a droid to do a humanoid's job. I prefer living creatures over those made of metal and circuits."
He leaned forward and grabbed another thickly bound book and set it on the desk.
"Now you want Mr. Hawkin Jagerfly's information, correct? I have everything from his employment, to anything and everything that I could dig up on him. There's more about him, than he himself knows."
Hawkin leaned forward and reached for the book. Karavos swatted his hand away.
"This is not for you. This is for your Jedi. I will accept the trade for new tools, because I have a list that I need. The deal is between me and the Jedi. Not me and you. As a sign of good faith though, I will let you go with her. You are still employed by me, until she has everything on you, you listen to me."
Hawkin huffed and crossed his arms.
"Let's make this quick Calista. I'm ready to go."
“Understandable.” Calista allowed her smile to grow slightly at the approval, nodding at Karavos’s opinion on using droids. “Yes, that information will be very appreciated. It will make the transition smoother when Hawkin and I go to the Senate about him becoming my Padawan.” she said, using the Force to bring the book into her hands. While she had no plans of hiding the information from Hawkin, she couldn't resist thumbing through a few pages.
“If you are insisting on Hawkin being employed by you for the interim, I hope you don't mind that Hawkin’s training will be a priority. His talent in the Force is not something to brush aside. He needs to be prepared to defend himself in ways that… are hard to explain beyond saying that Jedi face more than just physical dangers.” she described. “If you will give me that list for tools that you mentioned, I can start looking for ways for the Senate to bring help supply you.”
Karavos nodded and pulled out his list.
"This should be exactly what I need. As for knowing Hawkin, that boy has been in enough scraps to know how to defend himself. Has he done that well? As for that, I don't know. But he's still alive. You can take him off my hands for now. You have everything on him. I'll look forward to seeing you in the future with all of my new tools. Once I have all of my tools, he will effectively be out of my employment. You can do what you want with him then."
He stood up and stepped away from the desk.
"You two can leave now. Hawkin knows his way out of the shop. Please go talk to my dear senate. And tell them I appreciate all that they do, for the most humble folks in the Republic."
Hawkin rolled his eyes and stood up.
"Come on Calista. I'm ready to leave."
He walked hurriedly out of the door, and didn't look back. Karavos had never been all that nice after all, but Hawkin felt as if he was leaving behind something that had meant something significant.
“You will get your tools, regardless of whether or not we see each other again.” Calista assured, accepting the list and choosing to ignore the Forde-null ignorance of her warning.
She calmly followed Hawkin out of the office but caught up to him and matched his speed. “Well, that could have been worse. So much for your organic drama, Dex.“ she smiled briefly with a light chuckle. “Are you alright, Hawkin?” she asked gently, understanding that this was a big change for him.
