It had been two months since the initiates had arrived on the planet, and in that time Morathi and Sever's education had been expedited given their age. The group had already developed a strong foundation in the first lightsaber form, Shii-Cho, and each initiate was now striving to become closer to the Force. After some time, the Jedi Council decided it was time for these older initiates to be split into small groups- typically pairs and trios- and sent on their first assignments. As such, each initiate was given a small stipend of a few hundred credits and sent along their way to buy supplies from some of the vendors near the Jedi Temple.
Changing from his initiate robes to some of his more comfortable clothing he had worn on Kashyyyk- including a rather rugged and tattered tan cloak- Morathi had gotten some of the odd, silver objects from the elder Jedi and looked at them quizzically. He had never actually seen these strange rectangles for, especially given that on Kashyyyk he had primarily bartered for everything by hunting animals in the Shadowlands, especially by skinning kinrath pelts or picking some of the flora that was harder for the wookies to reach. Still, he pulled out one of the credit ingots handed to him since the initiates hadn't been given credit chips and jogged up to the Zabrak, showing it to him.
"Sever, you know how the Core Worlds work. Do you know what this little silver… stick is for?"
Sever couldn't be more happy to not only be out of that temple but also back in his casual clothes consisting of his cool colored hoodie and worn out pants; even if it was only temporary. He'd surprisingly been enjoying the lightsaber training over the past couple of months. It was the whole connecting with the Force part that he was struggling with. Attempting to not let such thoughts distract him, Sever continued onwards alongside Morathi with his hands casually tucked into the pockets of his hoodie. It would continue to be a real coincidence that he kept getting tied in with Morathi though the Zabrak didn't mind it. It was better than having to constantly deal with new people.
Not a second before Sever was about to ask what the first thing on their shopping list was Morathi asked a question that the Zabrak thought he'd never hear someone ask him. He looked at Morathi with a puzzled expression as if he didn't believe he was serious.
"You...you are messing with me right?"
After a few awkward seconds, it was clear the Mandalorian hadn't a clue.
"You've gotta be…"
He was clearly at a loss for words. Sever then pulled out one of the credit ingots he was given.
"This is a credit ingot, it is one of the main ways people on core worlds purchase whatever the heck they want. Think of it as a fixed amount of value is represented by each stick. They are kinda preferred by...well...more opportunistic businesses cause they are less traceable than other types of currency."
Now Sever was concerned with what else Morathi didn't know about core worlds; even the simple stuff and not to mention the shady stuff. He sighed before returning his credit ingot to his pocket.
"For now just..don't wander off and if someone bumps into you, be sure to check your pockets to make sure you've still got everything. We aren't in the lower levels so things shouldn't be too shady but the upper-level pickpockets will sniff out a non-Core Worlder like you in no time."
Morathi stood perplexed for a moment as he tried to fully comprehend what he had just been told, looking to the Zabrak before gazing at the credit ingot for a moment before speaking up once more.
"Wait, so you don't have to prepare kinrath pelts to trade for parts? You just use these little… 'credits' instead?"
Sever calmly looked back at his partner. Just how wild was this guy raised?
"No...you definitely don't need to do any skinning or trading. Well...for the most part anyways. Anyways, yeah you just you those little credits. Here, watch me buy the first thing that's on the list when we get there, ok?"
"Sure." Morathi shrugged slightly as the pair continued on down the various shops in the temple district. For the most part, the items on their list were standard fare- rations, spare shuttle parts, etc- with some room for the initiates to purchase their own, individual supplies. Morathi himself wasn't too sure what to go with regarding his own personal supplies as his vibrosword was well-hidden beneath his cloak. If nothing else, he didn't expect to actually use it while the Jedi Temple was overhead. The Mandalorian himself had been used to scavenging and making everything last for a while, which is why he had been adamant about keeping his old datapad, although he wasn't averse to using the comlink he had been given.
In considering the last two month period Sever appreciated the day as it felt rather normal for him. Walking the streets going from shop to shop to get the things he needed for the next few days. The sounds and sights of the planet-sized city were welcoming, unlike the dark skulker lower levels he'd gotten used to. The vendors were rather pleasant as he exchanged credit ingots for supplies; making sure to do so slower than usual to Morathi could have an easier time getting the idea.
Unlike before however, Sever had more than just his vibro-knives on him. He'd managed to sneak the training saber he'd been using during training out of the temple. He was rather surprised none of the guards or masters noticed as he half expected one of them to just somehow know what he'd done. The cylinder felt rather odd tucked inside his hoodie but it didn't way much thankfully. Pulling out his own datapad Sever checked their list of things to get that remained.
"Are we missing anything?"
Morathi scratched at the stubble on his chin- he figured that he should shave before he left, but he didn't think it was too pertinent. Looking around to some of the flashing signs, he fixated his eyes on one of the signs as one of the shops as the last thing he could think of was caught up in his mind as he glanced over to the Zabrak.
"I think all we have left to get are some security spikes- the tech shop right over there should have some. After that, we should be fine to head to the temple."
Walking through an automatic sliding door, the duo was welcomed by a tall, young adult Iktochi male with scarred horns as a welcoming tenor echoed throughout the store. "Welcome to Korach and Sons' Tech Shop! Let me know if there's anything you need."
The human soon walked over, looking at some of the droids. Morathi himself had little experience with droids, taking a look at some of the droid that laid dormant against the various charging cells that were installed into the main wall. One droid, in particular, caught his attention- a blue-grey little utility droid with a strange, circular head. There were some old signs of scorch marks and some telltale marks of since-repaired dents in the frame, but otherwise, the droid seemed lightly used. Almost like new, in fact.
Morathi picked up the droid's information card from the charging platform while Sever was browsing elsewhere in the shop, curious.
"Let's see… 'TC4-Z0: prototype model utility droid. Manufacturing year unknown. Last memory wipe: performed before acquirement. Asking price: 150 credits.' Now that I think about it, I always wanted a droid… maybe this little guy could be useful."
"Security spikes huh; I wonder if this shop'll have the same models I've used before." Upon entering the shop Sever casually responded to the Iktochi. "I've got an idea of what we need to get but thanks." It didn't take long for the mischievous trainee to find some security spikes. He took his time to make sure he picked out the better models that were decently priced as he was well aware that a good condition security spike was more valuable than the best blaster pistol at times.
Soon after Sever strolled over with his hands casually placed behind his head, meeting back up with Morathi as he was inspecting the droid. Without a doubt given the information or rather lack thereof Sever expected the droid to had been stolen and resold at some point. "The droids got character I'll give it that. I wouldn't buy em but hey, I never needed a droid and it's your credits man."
As if spurned on by the Zabrak's retort, the utility droid's ocular sensor began to slowly warm up as the contraption whirred to life. A few confused beeps and boops later, the droid seemed to adjust its sensors as it turned to address the two organics standing before it.
"Bzzt blip beep woooo. Click, bzzzt."
Morathi looked to Sever, then glanced back at the droid before scratching at his stubble and speaking with a hesitant voice. "I think he said something along the lines of not insulting him or else you'd be getting… shocked?"
"It said what now?" The Zabrak asked quickly. "This bucket of bolts better not zap me if it knows what's good for 'em." Sever leaned down slightly towards the droid with an annoyed look. "Listen, it ain't my problem whether Morathi here decides to purchase you or not. I already wiped my hands clean so don't get pissed at me."
The droid immediate released its shock arm, releasing a few harmless arcs of electricity as it whistled something annoyedly, which made Morathi almost burst into laughter as he raised his hands for the attention of the clerk.
"I'll take this little TC4 unit."
"Very good choice, sir! We'll throw in some basic droid maintenance tools, as a bonus to your purchase."
After a toolkit was now in Morathi's hands, the restraining bolt was released from the droid after all the credits were counted, the grey-blue machine whistling excitedly as its toroidal head spun around.
"We'll need a shorter name to call you by. TC4-Z0. Zee-zero…. Zero? How about 'Zero?' Do you like that, little buddy?"
"Beep dwoo!" The droid let out an excited whistle before looking to Sever and making an odd beep- some kind of robotic attempt at blowing a raspberry, perhaps? Either way, its cyan blue primary photoceptor lit up with glee as it beeped quickly and randomly, Morathi barely getting every other word due to his lack of proper experience with droid binary as he looked between the droid and the Zabrak before clearing his throat,
"Yeah, I guess? We should probably get to the shuttle bay soon, anyway."
There was never a time in Sever's life that he was more annoyed that he didn't understand a single shred of droid binary. He, of course, paid for the security spikes right after Morathi finished his purchase though it seemed the droid wasn't done with him yet. "Yeah yeah, keep it up droid." Sever smacked his left fist on top of the droid, enough to rattle it a little. "We got more than what we needed for sure; yeah let's head back before they start sending search parties. Now that I think of it Zero really might be a fitting name for 'em."
The droid gave some sputtering about as they soon made their way to their assigned shuttle bay, in which they would find the two mercenaries awaiting them along with a senior Jedi to oversee the whole affair. Their mission, specifically, would be revealed whenever they got into hyperspace.
As they approached, the droid whistled softly, making a point to Morathi. "Wait, you know how to fly this thing?"
"Bzzzt boop bip dwoo! Reet deet boop."
"That's amazing! I didn't know a little droid like you could do all that. What else can you do?"
"Bloop bip."
"Not telling all your secrets?"
"Bleep!"
"...I have no idea what you just said."
"Thweep..."
"I need to learn more binary."
Regardless, their travel kits had already been moved on the shuttle as the droid and the Mandalorian began to enter the shuttle as the humanoid looked around with a great fascination- due to how old he was, he didn't quite remember he had been on a small ship like this. He touched some of the various consoles and datapads, greatly curious, if nothing else. At the moment, he was simply excited just to take off and begin a new adventure in his life as a Jedi.