milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Teja is in the forge, making surgical instruments from finely folded steel. Research, and design, have yielded results that he is now confident to actually put into practice, and make. For that young healer whom he respects deeply, only the best is good enough; and his work would, most likely, have to last her for a lifetime.

While he works, the door is open, and the cats are coming and going; now watching him, now going out to hunt. But they never disturb his work, no matter how curious they get -- one sharp 'NO!', and even curious Ferdinand retreats from the sharp blades.

Watchers, others that would work in the forge, friends, onlookers, potential customers or curious strangers are all welcome.-

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"You don't have droids for that?"

Han comes a bit closer -- not too close, as it is a sharp blade and wariness is part of his nature -- to observe.

"I have one droid," Teja says, "to fight against. But I would not make him help in the forge; Atton Rand has taken out much of his abilities to reason."

Ahhh - talking of droids so naturally, the boy would be from Atton's world, also.

"You a Jedi?"

He certainly doesn't look like one, then again, not many of them look like anything in particular.

"No," Teja says. "Those are the men that use magical powers to fight with glowing swords -- lighsabres, they are called, are they not? I cannot do that. I spar with my droid using my usual swords, and my axe."

"Yeah, the Force, religion an' stuff," Han doesn't believe much in that, other than stories and tales, but they tend to be pretty determined and set in their ways. "What system are you from?"

"System?" Teja says. "I am not from a system -- I am from a world, and a time, and a land, and a people."

"So what world are you from?"

He looks human.

"Earth," Teja says. "Italy. The year 552 of Christian reckoning. Ostrogoth. Dead."

No way.

"Then how're you makin' stuff if you're dead?"

Forgive the complete lack of tact.

"Like any other dead man in this place," Teja says. "This would be our afterlife -- we come alive again, and have bodies, if we do not try and leave for other worlds, for a longer time."

"Huh. Didn't know that."

A glance again at the weapons. "You sell this stuff or just make it for friends?"

"Both," Teja says. "I have learned many new things in this place. The next step I will try will be the virbroblade technology from your world. Atton Rand promised me a vibrating device."

Han's getting ideas.

"Do you make knives?" He sees swords and axes and fine things, and these scalpels, but he's interested in just a good, concealable, knife.

"Of course I do," Teja says. "Any man needs one, after all."

He reaches into his pocket (he has many things in his pockets, after all) and pulls out a crude, sharpened bit of steel. The blade is about four inches long, no handle -- the dull end is wrapped in some sort of tape to make up for the fact that it's broken off long ago.

"You can see why I ask," he admits.

Teja smiles at that. "It is a knife of sorts," he says. "But you would have one like of that size and dimension, but well-made, and likely to last?"

Pause.

"Do you wish for an ordinary knife, or a vibroblade? A knife, you can have right away; for the vibrating mechanism, I would have to get one from Atton, first."

"Just an ordinary one."

Shrike is less likely to ask questions about an ordinary knife than a vibroblade, if he sees him with a new one -- and less likely to take it from him.

He looks down at the blade, and thinks a moment. "I don't have that many credits though...but I could...work it off?"

Guy like him has got to need help, right?

Teja gets up, and brings a box of knives from the back of the forge. There are about two dozen of those, several sizes and styles, but all well made.

"You may choose one of those," he says. "And what sort of work can you do?"

"Anything," he offers quickly. "Ain't afraid to get my hands dirty either, I can carry stuff..."

As he's looking through the knives, carefully, he'd hate to damage one, he glances around the forge to find things that might need doing.

"Worked awhile in a mining facility a couple'a years ago," he adds. "Made carbonite, heated up the metals and did some pouring, that sort of thing."

A few of the blades catch his eye and he tests them gently in his hand, for weight, the feel in his grip.

Those knives would not be easily damaged; or they would not be worth their place in the box of those that Teja has thought good enough.-

"So you have some experience," Teja says. "Yes, that would come truly useful. I have to make a cast-iron pot, and would of course make several once I set up what I need, so one that is experienced in that sort of metalwork, and will not flinch when red-hot liquid metal is poured, will be very welcome."

"Then if you'll allow me to work to pay off the cost, I would be willing to do so," he says. Adding on at the end, quickly, "Sir."

As one doesn't disrespect the ones they work for, unless they wish to be punished for it

"I am still busy on these instruments, for awhile," Teja says. "You might come back on Thursday and work a day's worth on casting iron with me, and then I shall consider the knife paid for."

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