A Chance Meeting… "The names Ka’el Antares, and ya that's right, i can fly…” Ka’el tilts his head at the skeptical glance looking at him from across the smoky cantina table. “no, you don't understand.. I can FLY…” Leans back at ease with his hand cupping his glass of Corellian Whiskey as he talks. “I have never been a brawler, found that out the hard way as i would get pummeled almost daily in early education. So i figured if i can't beat em, i better learn how to get away… so i became a pilot when i grew up, a good and fast one. “ Chuckles slightly as he takes a quick drink setting the glass back on the table. “Grew up on Corellia. Got a Mom, Dad and a brother back planetside that i have not seen since i left. I miss em but leaving wasn't really my choice. Well let me be honest it was but i did it to keep them safe. See, sometimes the choices we have trap us, irrespective of which way we chose.” "See, I'm a good pilot, a real good pilot and skill like mine is rarely overlooked. Me and my partner, well ex partner, used to run meds through some of the less patrolled routes to cut off places in need. It was a good business, it was honest.. well.. it was business. It paid the bills and kept me in the sky, especially if i could stick it to the empire, that just made it fun. Luckily there was very little imperial interference as they had their hands full with some rebellion out-rim.“ Pauses to take another drink.. “Eventually all good things come to an end.. “ Leaning back he crosses his arms as he looks across the table. “So one day we are making this run to Goorla, simple job. Got 32 Flats of Imperial tagged Meds and Medical in the cargo hold for this one village with a case of rock spots. I notice my partner keeps looking at the arrival metrics on our jump. I ask him about it and he tells me not to worry and think nothing of it. Should have known better for as soon as we entered the system we got a flash message and our landing coordinates changed. “ “I don’t like change like that and I asked him about it, again. I have known this fella for half my life, never had a reason to question him.. except this time. Something was not right, as we hit the ground there were a pair of skiffs waiting for us with some men in med garbs. “ “My partner dropped the ramp and went outside to meet them,I followed a few paces behind keeping things cool, you know. All seemed up and up.. good pay for a good deed but that's when things went dead stick. They started started small talking us as they handed him the creds and I overheard one of em let slip about how they were gonna make a fortune on the resale. “ Leaning forward on the table.. “Resale? look.. I'm not one to turn down good credits legal or not, but i’m not gonna gaff over a whole village who was expecting help over a lousy hand full of credits either. I like to sleep good , you know what i mean?” Leaning back once more he takes another drink finishing the glass setting it upside down on the table. “Well I pulled my partner aside and well… He did not like me questioning him. At that point i realized I was outmatched and outplayed. He was dead set to do this because all he saw were credits in his hand. I saw bodies and i’m not taking blood money. “ Pausing a moment … ”Apparently he had made a deal with this group of fellas.. honestly no idea where he meet them. I’m not like that and I was not letting it go down like that. “ “We had rigged a snap-hatch, ya know when ya need to lock up quick? Anyhow managed to convince them i was opening the cargo hold, but instead i opened up the throttle and got my bantha ass out of there.. “ “Never saw him again and don’t know what happen to him, it was an easy choice based on the circumstances but definitely not one that I liked making. He probably thinks I betrayed him but I feel the same way about him." "Eventually I made my actual delivery and got paid. Ya it was a lot less than what we were getting but at least it was clean creds. With both of us moving in the same circles and such and he was running things, i figured i would move on and now here i am…” “So do ya need another pilot for your next run?” Pauses looking at the man then smiles as he gets up.. “I’ll be here for a few more days, you know how to reach me. “ Tossing a few credits on the table he looks back at the man… “And what was your name again? Solo?? “ With a short nod as he departs, his gaze shifts to the exit as he steps away from the table. A blond kid and old man in a brown a robe covered in desert dust absently bump into him as they shuffle past him to sit at the table he just left. He shakes his head… “Gaffing locals…”