clan_techie | (no subject)

The Madrigal crime syndicate had been disbanded, and luckily someone involved with that disbanding knew where to send her tech -and favorite pet- since releasing him into the local waterways wasn't something he'd survive, not with the augmentations he had and not when no one knew for sure if he was even native to the planet. Cybernetic eyes that hadn't actually been made for him and had just been implanted because they were available and a collar that was fitted closely enough that they couldn't be sure whether it was just tight or whether it was grafted on, and the small box set against his throat was apparently just there to deliver a stinging electrical charge if he made any of the sounds a Mer would naturally make, apparently an encouragement to speak basic.

He definitely wouldn't have survived just being released into the waterway in the state he was in even just a couple days on his own. No one had known he was in her manor or they would have cleared it out sooner, and it was the brand at his temple marking him as property instead of a member of the syndicate that likely saved him from arrest or worse.

When he arrived at the facility on Naboo he was in what amounted to a shipping container, too small by half and short enough that his tail was folded back on itself, fins starting to curl, though it was likely that was more from malnutrition and being kept in a too small tank at the Madrigal Manor more than it was the travel container. He was definitely underweight, skin practically pale enough to see through, and what had once been brilliantly orange-copper scales on his tail and scattered in patches up his torso were dull, almost dusty. He'd hissed and snapped half-heartedly at his rescuers, but didn't have the energy for much more than that, and definitely didn't have it now after a few hours in hyperspace. Mostly he was just regarding his new surroundings with suspicion, breathing and the movements of the gills along his ribs irregular and shallow.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

clan_techie

He gave a little shake of his head, but did clasp her hand for a moment all the same, "It was a long time ago, before MaMa took me in." She hadn't rescued him, no matter what she tried to tell him, and he knew that much, but he also knew better than to argue the point.

Not that he had to worry about that now that she was dead, he just had to worry about someone else in the clan sweeping in to take over, despite the rescue team and the crew of the ship that had brought him here reassuring him that anyone sufficiently ranking was no longer a problem.

From:

defendstruth

"Being long ago doesn't mean it hurts any less." The clasp came with a small squeeze, her hand wrapping protectively around his as best she could.

And that was what legal was for. Techie was hardly the first and would not be the last sheltered by the Naberrie Clan and their money, their connections to politics, and Padmè's drive to protect others. "It'll be ok. All hurts fade, in time. No matter how badly they scar."

From:

clan_techie

"Yes." He agreed with a nod, though it was difficult to say for sure which statement he was replying to, likely the latter, though he shrugged a moment later, apparently finished with that line of conversation as his next question was: "Are there a lot of others here besides the tarteas?"

He wasn't concerned about sharing the space, there was plenty of it, he just didn't want to be a problem for anything else living there.

From:

defendstruth

"There are small crustaceans, which shouldn't bother you. They do feed on other fish. There are snails, another species of tarteas which are orange, pink, and pearlish in color but they aren't as social. What's needed to keep the plants healthy really." Nothing his presence will offend, nothing which posed a threat to him. Just a small healthy ecosystem.

From:

clan_techie

He nodded, filing that information away for later research, and now that he had access, he could look up anything he was looking at, and he wouldn't have to ask what were probably objectionably simple questions, though she didn't seem annoyed by them yet and he certainly appreciated her patience.

"Thank you for answering my questions." He added, even as he flipped through the last of the menus he hadn't looked at before deactivating the screen and returning the datapad to its hidden place.

From:

defendstruth

"You're welcome. So you have any other questions?" Despite not needing to sit on her perch with the screen deactivated, she stayed put, enjoying the way it put them on more equal seating with one another.

From:

clan_techie

He shook his head, "No. Nothing immediate." Nothing that wouldn't become a fully-formed question until he'd been there for a while, had a chance to interact with some of the others.

He also popped the datapad free, reactivating it, checking the menus again and shutting it down once more, as if he had to make sure he could do it again without direction first.

From:

defendstruth

"All right. You can message me any time via the holonet, and I or one of my handmaidens will answer as soon as possible. To let you know - I have a longstanding working relationship with the Jedi, two in particular. Jedi General Anakin Skywalker, who I'm going to contact about your collar. He's an engineering genius honestly, and I haven't the slightest doubt he'll be able to safely and quickly remove it. The other is Jedi High General Obi-Wan Kenobi. I would like to tell him about you so he may use the Jedi Archives to see if they have any information which may be of use to you. With your permission, of course." Giving their names would allow Techie to look them up without her looking over his shoulder and while she understood, she thought it best he felt safe to investigate the Jedi.

"You can also review the planned menu each day - because of the nature of markets, you won't be able to see it before four hundred hours, and only until the next market but if there is something you dislike or enjoy, you'll be able to request that." She decided to nudge him towards the idea of food, he looked so thin.

From:

clan_techie

He did file the names away for later research, reasonably sure that if she trusted them where MaMa hadn't, that meant they were good people, or reasonably law-abiding people at any rate, and sometimes that was the same thing.

He'd been about to mention that telling people about him was fine whether it was for some kind of historical research or not, though even that was because he wasn't used to being able to decline that kind of thing, which meant it was probably a good thing that the statement that he could pick his own food derailed that initial response, brow creasing, "I can say what I want to eat?"

From:

defendstruth

Anakin was only somewhat law-abiding but she adored him because of it.

"Of course?" Derailing both of them really. "I mean if you eat a great deal of food that is more junk food than healthy for you, EmDee will fuss but otherwise, no one will say anything." She knew that of he wouldn't have had much choice - but Shmi and Anakin had been able to come up with food and something things.

From:

clan_techie

His brow was still creased, biting briefly at the inside of his cheek before he replied, just a little quieter: "I don't think I know which is which."

Certainly he knew if something was spoiled or he otherwise shouldn't be eating it because it would make him sick, but he wouldn't know the difference between junk and good for him even with labels.

From:

defendstruth

"That's something we'll need to work on together." Because they didn't know, but also she wanted to stress: You are not alone. We aren't going to abandon you. "For now, getting food into you is more important, I think."

From:

clan_techie

He nodded then, expression smoothing a little, though there was still some concern around his eyes, "Yes. I think you're right." Mostly because he knew it had been too long since he'd eaten, likely part of why he'd been apparently fine with just dozing off in a strange place without some kind of protective cover.

From:

defendstruth

"There's a plate of fish and seafood in the medical building that was prepared this morning, do you want it?" EmDee could put it on a mouse droid and send it out to them, as well as water to drink. They weren't actually sure what he drank, but water was probably a safe gamble, they thought.

And the reason for the different types of food was to figure out if there was anything he didn't like - as well as what he did.

From:

clan_techie

His brow creased once more, not quite as nervous as he had been before, but still some, "If it's not meant for someone else, I'll take it, yes."

Water was also a good bet, though he was likely going to be surprised that it wasn't liquor, since that was all anyone drank under MaMa, and luckily he didn't need much actual liquid intake, either.

From:

defendstruth

"It's for you, prepared this morning. We weren't sure what shape you've be in when you arrived if you'd be able to eat. And even if it wasn't, I'm offering it to you - and no one here would argue with me on the matter, or I'd tell my mom someone is trying to prevent me from feeding a guest." And her mother would put a fast stop to that. Frighteningly so. But there's friendly mischief in her eyes rather than a threat. Something she could tease about while passing the message back to EmDee to send Techie's food out.

From:

clan_techie

It was only the fact that she reassured him first that it had been meant for him that made him realize the rest wasn't entirely serious and he nodded, "Alright."

And then, because it was habit and not likely something he'd get over anytime soon, "Thank you." He pulled the datapad out again so that he could go over the food menu, just so he'd have a better idea of what it was when it arrived, but even that was quick, nearly perfunctory because there was a lot of information there and he knew he wouldn't be able to memorize it all so quickly.