This cat of the slum had a mind, wasn't dumb...

[jedi_librettist]

Ben kept to the least reputable areas of Republic City. It was easier to find the parts he needed there and, more importantly, to avoid notice. It wasn't just that he didn't want to be recognized as Prince Ben Organa-Solo. He needed to avoid notice since he had no money of his own.

He smiled slightly when he saw the power core. It was exactly the kind he needed. It was far too small for a ship but clearly more powerful than any speeder had a right to be. He walked casually over to the shop. "Which model is that?" he asked, easily drawing the dealer into a conversation.

Several minutes later, he picked up the part. "You were already paid for this," he murmured. He waited just long enough for the togruta to repeat the phrase back before he left, prize in hand.

Comments

[girlandherstaff]

"You're telling me," she said. "I need to rip out and completely replace the fresher because Bail decided to take his temper out on it." The tone of her voice made it clear this wasn't the first time she was making repairs thanks to Bail's temper. Frankly, she wasn't all that surprised; people who fought in the pits did worse, and they had met when he was fighting in the pits on Jakku.

"What you shopping for?" She asked. "Maybe we'll be able to help each other out."

[jedi_librettist]

Ben had to look away when she brought up the fresher. That wasn't Bail's doing but he wasn't sure admitting to it would be a good thing. "That and one of the bunks."

He shrugged. "Just... parts. I'm trying to find what I need for a podraces."

[girlandherstaff]

"I was planning on replacing those anyway," she said with a shrug. "They wobble a lot when he hits hyper and you don't need that."

She brightens. "Podracing? I haven't worked on a pod-racer in years."

[jedi_librettist]

"I liked that," he admitted. "Bunks never do that on land."

It helped him sleep and stay asleep. There was no fear of waking up to find it had all been a dream. Well, it helped until Bail had figured out about Ani.

"They're about all I've worked on."

[girlandherstaff]

"Are you working on one now?" She was curious.

[jedi_librettist]

He nodded, growing more confident with this subject. There was nothing to hide about pod-racing.

"I haven't started building it yet."

[girlandherstaff]

"Are you going to need any help?"

She would love to work on something like that again, it had been so long. It was some of her first experience, really, with fixing something that was expected to be able to move again, not just be ready to re-sell.

[jedi_librettist]

"I don't know about needing help but if you want to..." He trailed off, biting his lip. "It might be nice to not do it all myself."

[girlandherstaff]

"I would love to!" She beamed, and then remembered what Bail had told her about Ben not being too good around people. "I mean, if you're okay with that."

[jedi_librettist]

He nodded, biting his lip. "You mean a lot to Bail. I suppose I should get to know you. And it will be different to have some to work with."

[girlandherstaff]

"All he ever talked about was how he was going to find you," Rey said, feeling as if she should make it clear that while she might mean something to Bail, his twin did mean more. "And now he has... I think he's a bit lost for what to do."

[jedi_librettist]

Ben frowned at that. Did that mean Bail might be better if he left again? He didn't think that was what she meant but he'd suspected that his presence was destined to make things harder for his family, not easier.

"What do I do, then?"

[girlandherstaff]

"Nothing, he's just being an idiot," Rey said, in the secure tone of the partner who has seen the moods. "He's just... He's so happy to have you back and it's just going to be a few moments till his mind catches up with him."

[jedi_librettist]

Ben watched her for a moment, trying to sense any doubt she might have. He didn't know what to say when he sensed none.

"Have you seen any oil tanks?"

[girlandherstaff]

Oil tanks... She looked thoughtful for a moment then grinned.

"Actually yes! There's a place that gets a few in. We might be able to find you one. It's down here," she added, setting off in the right direction and just assuming Ben would follow her there.

[jedi_librettist]

He smiled although it seemed far less natural than when she did the same. "Nothing too big," he pointed out. "If there's too much oil in it, the pod will crash."

[girlandherstaff]

"I know," Rey nodded. "But I know how to convert a bigger tank into one that will fit a racer," she added, "so it gives us a bit more leeway in what to look for."

[jedi_librettist]

"It would still slow the pod down," he pointed out. "Unless we can take the weight off somewhere else without damaging the structure of the whole pod. I don't want it to fall apart on the racetrack."

[girlandherstaff]

"I've done it before," Rey said. "I can make it work."

[jedi_librettist]

He looked thoughtful. "Then maybe we should stay with the smaller tank and still take weight off elsewhere." His mind already flew to the advantages of a lighter-than-normal pod-racer. He would take any edge he could get.

[girlandherstaff]

"Have you got any blue prints or anything?" Rey felt like it was a question that should be asked.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben just gave her a look. "Blueprints. For a pod-racer. I'm pretty sure they don't make blueprints for those. It's why they're never the same, even if they're made by the same person. The basic structure is pretty simple. Then you get whatever parts you can find and make them fit somehow."

[girlandherstaff]

"I know that," Rey rolled her eyes. While there were a lot of differences in the Solo twins, sometimes you could see the moments that made it very clear. "I meant have you drawn up any of your own?"

[jedi_librettist]

He shook his head. "I'm still finding all the parts. I can't even start that until after I have them all."

[girlandherstaff]

Rey had to admit that Ben did have a point. For most pod-racers, it was better to just work with what you had to make the best racer you could, rather than to try to plan and find you couldn't get anything you needed. Still...

"... But we've actually got time and enough resources to be able to plan out first? We could make the best pod-racer ever before we know exactly what we're looking for."