As the squad enters the speeder Colvin nods to Galatea, "Great job. The next time I am looking for a job I'll have you negotiate my pay!"
Colvin takes a seat and is a bit tense. He's been around but he's never willingly walked into the lair of a Hutt before. Plenty of souls enter such "palaces" and never step back out.
Sebbik holsters his blaster and meets the others back at the entrance, climbing into the hoversled as the others crowd into the speeder. The Duros follows at a short distance, his eyes wary as he watches for an ambush or the like.
"Well, that all went decidedly less violently than I expected," Callum quips with a smile as he boards the hoversled alongside the rest of his friends. "Not that I am complaining mind you," he adds with a wink.
Womp Rat is surprised when Colvin and Sebbik come out of their hiding place, and his hand almost goes to his blaster, but seeing that they're apparently with you, he grimaces and says, "You could have told me there were more of you." Eyeing Sebbik's hoversled, Womp Rat says, "Try not to fall too far behind on that. It can't go as high as my speeder." With everyone loaded up, he takes off and heads through the city.
Over the next half hour, he takes a winding course through the bridge city, weaving in and out of ruined buildings and taking shortcuts through the rubble.
Eventually, you reach a dense cluster of buildings that blocks out your view of the Cato Nemoidian sky. As you approach, you see that you are within the ruins of several destroyed Nemoidian palaces, a place where nothing important could possibly be. Raden pulls off in front of what appears to be one of several ruins, but you notice upon closer inspection that it appears to be a complete palace cobbled together from the ruins of other palaces. You stand before a massive set of blast doors, 5 meters tall and covered in elaborate Hutt runes.
Raden, who has been looking a bit pale over the past few minutes, timidly walks up to the communications panel on the door, presses a button, and says something into it.
"This is Raden. I've come to deliver news to the mighty Darga. With all due respect, I require an audience."
He then steps back and fidgets nervously. A long quiet moment passes, and then two Nikto appear on battlements above the doors, holding hunting blaster rifles on you in the ready position. A metal panel in the blast doors scrapes as it is pulled to the side, and you glimpse a pair of glowing red eyes. The voice growls something in a gravely voice.
"You're in for it now, Raden. Darga is expecting visitors, all right, but those creatures are not them."
The panel slams closed. A moment later, there is a heavy clank of metal on metal, and the blast doors part to either side. A rush of cold, dry air flows outward from the Hutt's palace, and Raden motions you to follow him inside.
Of the red-eyed being that was at the door, you see no sign.
Raden leads you down a long, dark hallway lit by torches set in sconces at seemingly random intervals. There are unmarked metal doors set into the walls at various points, the air is thick with the smell of dust and rotting wood, and you get the feeling you are being watched, though you see no sign of anywhere someone could watch you.
Much of the architecture and trim is of Nemoidian design, and it is quite clear that this palace likely once belonged to a high-ranking member of the Trade Federation - perhaps even an advisor to Nute Gunray himself.
Raden leads you towards the soft sound of music and voices, eventually entering Darga's throne room. Darga’s throne room is both opulent and repulsive. A thick layer of oddly scented smoke drifts through the air, rising out of braziers in the corners of the room. Once-beautiful tapestries line the walls, though most of them have been torn, burned, or stained to the point that they are almost unrecognizable. A raised dais in the center of the room supports the massive bulk of Darga the Hutt, and behind his dais a large, open balcony seems to extend into darkness.
As Raden leads you into the throne room, all sounds of music and conversation stop. Silence reigns as all eyes turn upon you and follow you as the clearly terrified Devaronian leads you to an open space in front of an opulent dais. Darga's eyes roll from you to Raden, then sharpen with anger.
"What is the meaning of bringing outsiders here?"
Raden drops to his knees and begins groveling, "Please, mighty Darga! Forgive me for bringing such guests unannounced! I know I am not worthy to make such great decisions for your magnificence! Please have mercy on me for this transgression!"
The court jeers and laughs at Raden as he grovels, continuing to do so for a minute or so before Darga's voice booms out a single word,
"Silence!"
Raden goes quiet, as does the court. The Hutt says something else...
"TC-663! Get up here! Now!"
...and a silver protocol droid steps up from behind the dais to stand at Darga's side. Darga says something else in Huttese, and the droid says, "The illustrious Darga demands to know why you have come to his palace, and how you have convinced Raden to escort here."
Sebbik's hoversled does indeed have a bit of trouble keeping up with the speeder at times, but the duros is able to compensate with his own skills at handling vehicles such as this one.
As they make their way into the Hutt's not-so-opulent palace, Sebbik frowns as he understands the conversation taking place - having dealt with such crime lords before in his own past. The throne room however, is much more extravagant and also repulsive to the duros as he again listens in on the exchange between Darga and Raden.
He tries to avoid fidgeting and glances at Galatea expectantly when the silver protocol droid speaks the Hutt's question.
Not knowing Huttese, Scuttle watches Raden suspiciously during the escort inside. It is only when he starts groveling that Scuttle stops paying him any mind. "Cowardly creature," the droid mutters. "He will have no place in the tales of our victories!"
Colvin steps forward and bows low, "Mighty Darga, we have come for the same reason all others come to your palace, for a business proposition.
We believe that this proposition will be valuable to you and as we are a highly skilled group, evidenced by the fact that we stand before you, I am sure that you will find it worth your while.
Is there a place where perhaps we can discuss our mutual interests without a crowd?"
Darga rumbles out a response in Huttese, translated by the protocol droid thusly, "The illustrious Darga welcomes you, and is always of a mind for business opportunities. However, the great Darga feels that you can discuss your business in front of the court."
Colvin shrugs, "Very well.
I am looking for a certain piece of information, the nature of which I will not reveal outside of a private meeting as my foes have eyes and ears everywhere. In exchange for this information, myself and my team can perform tasks for the Mighty Darga the likes of which few others can perform. Whether these tasks are required here or even on another world is of no import. We're just that damned good.
If such an opportunity entices you, I and my team will remain at Court until the point that such a task is required to be completed.
Thereafter, I see no reason why this mutually beneficial relationship cannot continue, after of course, I handle the personal tasks which need to be dealt with".
Callum takes a deep breath as he looks around, taking in both the surroundings and the people within, Darga especially. Knowing Huttese, he does not need the protocol droid to understand what the Hutt is saying, but he does find it amusing to hear the differences in what Darga actually says and how the droid translates it to sound... well, quite a bit more diplomatic.
With Colvin doing a fine job as their representative, the Corellian moves closer to Scuttle. "So, there will be tales then? Songs maybe? Dare I even say... sagas?" His tone is not so much mocking as it is teasing and friendly.
Galatea's body is pumping adrenaline as she believes this audience to descend into violence at any time. She is doing her level best to look and sound calm and replies quietly to Callum with "Hopefully a saga my friends. As long as it is not a funeral dirge..."
"Hmmmmmm...." the Hutt says as he regards your group. After a moment's silence, he says something in Huttese. Raden momentarily looks relieved, then his face pales and he cries out, "No, mighty Darga! Please have mercy!"
The droid translates, "The mighty Darga has decided to allow you to stay at his court to determine if you have any skills that might be useful. Slaves will show you to your quarters."
"Very well. You shall remain at my court until such time as I have need of you. Slaves, show these guests to quarters. Guards, take Raden to the cells!"
Two Weequay move over and grab Raden, disarming him and marching him away. A Twi'lek slave approaches you and offers to show you to quarters where you can freshen up.
"We thank you for your hospitality Wise Darga and look forward to proving our worth to you".
Colvin follows the Twi'lek slave assuming the others will do so as well.
Sebbik only nods as Colvin speaks his thanks to the Hutt and follows after the slaves. "I've got a bad feeling about this." He mutters to himself, but in truth the Duros saw no other option for them. Perhaps they could find a way to get the information they needed and escape this place before Darga called upon them...
Galatea nods moodily in response to Sebbik's comment and then says "You handled that very well Colvin."
When the group is alone after reaching their quarters Galatea will translate what was said for anyone who does not speak Huttese.
"The best lies are obscured by partial truths. Now that I am here, I had might as well see if the Hutt can aid me in finding what I can seek while at the same time seeking out what we collectively came here for.
I guess we should try and figure out who else Darga is waiting for eh? Maybe it will be important for us, certainly if it is that swoop gang leader it will give us some leg up as she should be a bit alarmed by us being here.
Could it be the Imps?"
"Well, it would hardly be unlike a Hutt to deal with all sides involved, Imperials included," Callum remarks with a shrug. "Just business, I am sure, but their reputation as basically having no morals is well earned."
"Scuttle, can you head to the throne room and just listen in on the denizen conversations? That may assist us as these scoundrels will keep tight lips around us but will likely think nothing of speaking openly in front of you".
Scuttle seems "restless", in the quarters, as much as a droid can be said to be, at any rate. When Colvin suggests a task for him, he extends his legs, seeming to leap up at the opportunity. "Of course! I shall be the best spy the Republic has ever known!"
Scuttle makes his way to the Throne Room, doing his best to stay out of sight, and in the event that someone does notice him, he does his best to appear as simply a maintenance droid. He makes his way around the throne room, taking in any information he can.
Sebbik nods at Callum's words. "I have had dealings with criminals myself in my past. Not something I'm proud of, but you're right. I missed that sentry's reference to other visitors. Sounds ominous. I might be able to get us some information if I can hack into Darga's computer system. But it's risky..."
Galatea nods approvingly at the others suggestions and actions, not having anything to add at that time. When Sebbik annouces he is going to look for a computer terminal, she replies "I will come with you, I might be able to help."
On your way to the throne room, a couple of Twi'leks pass you, heading in the direction of the guest quarters. They are speaking in Ryl.
"Let's be quick. Darga wants the guests present for the feast as soon as possible."
In the throne room, you see tables being set up and a lot of expensive food being brought out. You overhear conversation that seems to indicate Darga is throwing a feast to welcome his new guests.
As Galatea and Sebbik prepare to leave and look for a terminal - there not being one in any of your quarters - two Twi'leks enter the room and say, "The illustrious Darga requests your presence at a grand banquet in your honor. Please accompany us."
Colvin nods, "Excellent. I appreciate a timely lunch". He follows them, keeping his eyes peeled for anything unusual to investigate later and to just get a general layout of the place as it may matter if it comes down to shooting the way out.
Having dealt with Hutts before, the Duros isn't particularly looking forward to the menu at this 'banquet', but he nods and follows the Twi'leks wordlessly.
Scuttle stays in the throne room, curious about the feast, and trying to determine the intent behind such a thing.
Callum simply smiles and moves alongside his companions as they all follow the Twi'lek to the "banquet hall". However, he is far from complacent as he uses the Force to get a better sense of his surroundings and any persons that may be keeping themselves out of sight. It would not be particularly good to simply walk into a trap with armed people waiting for them.
"What can be better than a fine meal and fine company?" says Galatea in reply to Colvin with absolute insincerity.
As the group enters the throne room Galatea attempts a use the force check for the same reason as Callum.