a little over 48 hours later you leave hyperspace near Nar Shaddaa. You see Nal Hutta in the near distance and its moon Nar Shaddaa standing between you and her. Nar Shaddaa, the largest moon of Nal Hutta, once resembled the planet it orbited, with boundless jungles and the bluest oceans. Those features disappeared within centuries of the Hutts' appearance in the YToub system. Over the centuries. Nar Shaddaa became a city from pole-to-pole, so overbuilt with spires and spacedocks that residents refer to it as "Little Coruscant." No matter how close it is to the system's sun. Nar Shaddaa seems to be in a state of perpetual gloom, smogged over from engine exhaust and refueling depots. It has become the perfect place for Hutts to conduct their shady deals.
You ship orbits and prepares for landing at one of the docks.
Kara emerges from her bunk having spent most of the last two days preparing for the next op.
'...job. they're jobs now...'
She spent mornings and early afternoons in physical training: push-ups, sit-ups, planks, etc. Hardcore bodyweight exercises to keep her fit. In between she went over her gear disassembling and cleaning, sharpening, making sure everything was stowed to her liking.
Now that the Kessel's Folly was prepping to dock, she came out of 'training mode' and went into 'operation mode'. It was a ritual she could perform in her sleep. She slipped into the black, form-fit neo-synth suit first, layering the laminate armor over the top. The camo-green plates fit just so, customized to her exact specs. Next came her weapon loadout, heavy pistol, knife, and her trusty Czerka rifle. Last came the helmet, green to match, and hiding her features.
Kara moved up to the cockpit, stopping just behind Juviest. When she spoke, her voice was a electronically altered version, coming through the helmet's com system.
"Where are we going?" She asked, her voice mechanical and cold.
Just the way she liked it.
Juviest stretches, yawning, as he turns around, his right hand searching for something at the console. In a moment, he locates a cup and lifts it up, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. He looks at Kara as he turns the chair around.
"I thought I'd put this thing down, and then we're going to the bar, down a couple of drinks, gamble a bit.", he smirks. "Dressed the right way, I see. Stick around, LT.", he continues as he pushes a button on the command console.
"Right, kids. We're about to land in Nar Shaddaa, also known as "Little Coruscant", and it's got all of the bad parts with none of the refinement of the big one. If we play this carefully, we won't end up on a street vendor's special offer for the night.", he says, pulling out his flask and taking a small sip. "Don't stare at anyone, unless they start staring at you first. If they don't look away when you look at them, poke the Trandoshan. If they don't look away after he looks at them, get ready for a fight."
He turns off the intercom, and digs in his pocket, drawing out a half of a cigar. He looks up at Kara. "I say we get the small crate to the dock master on the way. Gives us some time to see what the general humours of the population are these days, before the big payoff. Plus, you never know when you might need a couple hundred of credits in the pocket, and all I got is a couple of spare clips and way more ash than I need."
Turning back to the console, he puts the headset. "Nar Shaddaa, this is the Kessel's Folly. Clearance received, and I'm bringing the can down." He puts down the headset and turns around. "It's going to be about half an hour until we make surface. Now you could stand there and loom over my head, or you could do me a favour and bring me a java juice." Let's all try and be polite now., he thinks, wondering about the facial expression behind the mask. "Please.", he adds after a brief pause, hands already on the controls.
Looking for information on Nar Shaddaa underworld, relevant to our situation.
.......
Aneira hangs in the entryway to the cockpit, staring through the canopy as the Nar Shaddaa docks come in to view and the Folly lands. She glances appraisingly at first Juviest then Aristi, before shrugging and pressing her fingers against the left cuff of her black jumpsuit.
Abruptly her outfit has changed, she's wearing the scuffed black leather boots, military pants and rugged jacket of a Corellian smuggler. Her face is set in a lop-sided grin as she raises her eyebrows at the bumpy landing
Jeez old man, maybe we should invest some of our profits in a beaten up R2 unit to land this crate for you...
she shoves the Sullustan good-naturedly as he processes the fact that she's now talking in a dialect of Basic dredged from somewhere in the deep, dark depths of Coruscant's lowest level slums.
This'll be like that milk run to Dantooine where we got chased off a prime salvage by pirates... messy!
she glances around at those present, confidence oozing from every pore
What? I got something on my face aside from these incredibly well styled hair bangs!? A touch too much rouge on my cheeks!?
She laughs as she walks off down the corridor, coming back a few minutes later with the delivery crate on a repulsor lift.
Do I gotta do the whole delivery myself? You all even got your suits and boots on yet?!
she stands by the loading ramp, impatiently tapping her heel.
'...So. Much. Talk...'
Kara follows Aniera down the ramp, taking up a position behind the repulsor lift. Somewhere where she can visually sweep the area for threats. Her hands are empty, but they rest on her hips - within a blink of her heavy blaster pistol in its holster.
The smell of the spaceport smacks you in the face as you come down the ramp. Grime and fuel, trash and the smell of the many denizens mix into a noxious stench that forces you to fight back gagging. The bustle of the spaceport is almost intimidating as your gaze moves side to side locating the dock master's office a short walk away. You feel the eyes of the crowd scanning you, some uncaring, some distrustful and suspicious, and some seem hungry. It is the last group gives you the uneasy feeling as it is not a physical hunger but a malicious one. A hunger for what you have: wealth, freedom, life. you fight back a shiver and realize that there is no such thing as safety on Nar Shaddaa.
Djebelle's usual carefree nature has fallen away somewhat; her nose wrinkles at the stink of the place. "Just like coming home."
She grew up on a place like this, in a city like this; it might even have been this city. She doesn't allow herself to remember those days. The hostile gazes say it all: she got away, but too many do not. She represses a shudder. There but for the grace of...
Watchful, vigilant, mute, she keeps an eye out for trouble.
"I've been away from the scene too long; I can still sling the lingo enough to fit in, but I don't know anyone here..."
The lights of Nar Shadaa are reflected in the faceplate of Kara's helmet.
She isn't affected by the smell, the filters of her gear scrub the odor for her. As for the stares, they can't see her face, but they don't need to. Her features are as blank a mask as the one on her helmet. Kara falls in opposite of Thrask, dropping her rifle to a carry position. If the unwashed masses aren't intimidated by a giant Transdoshan and an armored trooper with a huge blaster rifle...well, they deserved what they got.
Kara sublimates into her comm: "Eyes open, people. This is bandit territory. Any takers, we give our faces a chance to talk. Any weapons, things get messy."
Juviest rises quickly from the pilot's chair, drawing and starting to check his blasters one at a time on the way. "Every landing you walk away from is a good one, and every landing you don't need to pay for repairs is a great one, in my book.", he retorts to Aneira with a grin. "Nice threads.", he continues, putting on his hat.
--------------------------
Walking slowly down the ramp, he wrinkles his nose. "Remind me to pick up some Kashyyyk air fresheners on the way back.", he nods at Aneira as he walks to the lift, ramp closing behind him. "LT's right. Might as well let you ladies try and talk things out.", he nods, starting to push the lift towards the office, biting down on his cigar.
Aristi enjoyed the voyage to Nar Shadaa. Juviest was full of stories, and he was growing to like the old spacer. He was also getting to know the rest of the crew of the Kessel's Folly . The Bothan had been thinking about the taciturn Kara and Thrask, and making plans to ask the two fighters for some combat tips. The flight though was too short, and before they knew it they were descending on the Smuggler's Moon.
As the group heads into the city, Aristi pipes up, having made a show of checking his own weapon, a light blaster. Alright, let's see if we can find this Proc Shmo. The Frothing Bantha bar should be the place. How many Twi'leks can there be on this moon?" As he says this he glances around at the others, his mouth quirking up in a smile and his fur rippling. Taking the others' advice, he keeps a lookout for trouble.
Actually, as they were walking through the crowds, Aristi wondered whether any of his parents factors were available. Was it Teldren Kan'dris that was working out of Nar Shadaa? Drina Sin'dri? He wondered if there was a way to get maximum value out of the credits provided. He should raise it with the others. "Hey. Speaking of credits, anything we want to pick up while we're here? Reckon we've got space in the hold for a bit more cargo. My family might have contacts here, they might be able to help us."
Aneira moves alongside the others, senses taking in the thriving, pulsing community scattered all around them. Like the rest of her team, her hand never strays far from the hogleg she has strapped to her thigh, the weapon nearly as large as her whole forearm.
Well let's be ready, some folk around here like their blasters to do the talking, we should be fine though. If numbers and weapons don't do it, one glance at cold and deadly back there could make anyone rethink their criminal intent
her head jerks backwards at both Thrask AND Kara
Now where's that sneaky Twilek at? This crate is getting tiresome to maneuver and we have cargo to pick up...
The group proceeds towards the Frothing Bantha in search of their contact.
Thrask opened his eyes after having set resting with his back against the durasteel. He had been motionless for the last few hours, finding the center of his quiet rage and honing it and pushing it down deep under the surface but ready to surface at a moments notice.
His blades laid out in front of him on the floor, cleaned and honed to a razor sharp edge. He opened his eyes as he felt the rock of the landing and stared down at them before picking them up and slipping them into their harnesses.
He stood up and ran his fingers over a few of his trophies before coming up to a bowl before a mirror where he stared into the depths of his own eyes and flexed his claws before digging them into his own scales and causing a few drops of blood to drip into the already blood stained. He licked the self inflicted wound clean and set the trophy that had been given to him from his own arrogance down on top of the bowl before making his way off the ship.
He followed along in silence, his head snapping to when the Devaronian jerked her head towards him and he raised his lips to show his teeth. "I'd prefer the fight as opposed to sitting back and sneering at them..." he said as he checked the armor to make sure it was all in place.
Juviest chuckles at Thrask. "Well, Trandoshan, I promise that if we don't get in trouble by tomorrow, we'll check out the fighting pits." He shuffles forward. "Though, for now, let's focus on getting paid. The dockmaster should be close." He raises an eyebrow. "Anyone check what's in the crate?", he says, looking at Aneira.
A grimy male human in dirty clothes with a smell that precedes him meets you a few steps from the end of your loading ramp. "Did Bulva send you? This is the Kessel's Folly right." he says almost chittering the words. "You have my crate of hygiene supplies right? I have not showered in a month."
Whew! Humans can be such a filthy species.
Aristi tries not to get too close but acknowledges the grimy human. "Well, sounds like we showed up just in time! Aneira, do you have the package this guy's looking for?" The Bothan takes a guess at what might have been in Aneira's crate.
Aneira sneers at the man
Who we are, who sent us, where we're going and what we have here in this crate... that's all valuable info you know!?
she sits on top of the crate with hands on her knees.
So who's asking? So we know this'll get where it's 'sposed to go you understand...
Kara stays watchful, keeping an eye on the crowds around them.
"My name is Thomsid, I dont care who you are or where you got that crate as long as it has my hygiene kits." he says chuckling apologetically. "You look like shrewd business minded people, lets say I give you 500 cred for it right now and we part as business partners. " he says with a disarming smile and an itch of a rash on his forearm.
Djebelle looks the man over: he's mentioned Bulva's name, and they do have a contract to hand the crate over to the dock master at the south side hangar; that should be easy enough to check.
"Hi! Happy to make business partners; what did you say you do here?" She looks around, giving her best ditzy look, twirling a lock of her purple hair round her fingers. "And I'm lost - this is the north side hangar, right?"
She gives him one of her dimpled smiles.
Aristi shows his biggest smile as he listens on. Taking a step forward and clapping a hand to the man's back... wait, is that stuff contagious? The Bothan sweeps a hand towards the crate with Aneira sitting innocently atop. "This is your lucky day, we are here to help you. What is it that ails you? With this kit here you'll be feeling right as rain in no time. But you know something? This is becoming a rare commodity in this sector, and as you know fuel and maintenance costs keep going up. 500 credits is wonderful and I thank you, sir, but it's not going to be enough to allow us to bring more meds in the future. If not for yourself, think of the other poor suffering souls, all around!" He adopts sorrowful, pained look. He indicates Djebelle. "Why, look at her, you wouldn't want to see her suffer as you have suffered? Certainly not!"
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Juviest smirks to himself, chewing on the cut cigar. Well I'll be damned. May not be the best pilot I've seen, and Djeb might not be the greatest in a fight, but those two can convince a Hutt to make a charitable donation. He takes a step back, lighting it up and letting out the smoke in the rancid Nar Shaddaa atmosphere. Leaning on a wall, he pulls up his flask and takes a look around, the crowds passing by.
Tapping on his earbud, he mutes himself to everyone but Kara. "Well, LT, the kids seem to be playing this guy by their tune, and we're about to go for a good deal away from Nar Shaddaa." He stops, taking a sip from his flask. "I've never seen a person be unhappy about having a job and getting paid. So, that could be just the whiskey talking, but it leads me to think that you don't really enjoy the whole thing we got right here." He exhales another cloud of smoke. "So, as a nosy old dewback, I gotta ask, what would you do, if there was nobody but yourself calling the shots and telling you what to do? Don't answer me if you don't. Just think about it." He reaches behind his ear again, connecting himself to the other comms.
Kara's posture doesn't change one perceptible iota, but she makes a subtle shift to speak directly to Juviest alone.
"Listen old man, 'enjoy' is not word I use on these operations. A job is a job, and that's all it is. You get in, you get out. And hopefully the 'getting out' isn't in a body bag."
Aneira keeps a careful eye on the man to check his reaction to Djebelle's probing. She mentally berated herself for not getting more info from Bulva about the contact they were supposed to meet, and what was in the crate.
Thomsid spins and looks at Djebelle, "I am the dock master and this is the south side dock. the north side is well way up north of this sector." he says while pointing the sign above the entrance to the docks which says "South Side Dock".
Turning to Aristi, "Yes, I like what you are saying, what do you propose?"
At Thomsid's words Aristi strokes the side of his muzzle with his paw, a pose of deep thought as he pretends to consider his words. He holds this pose longer than intended, as he spots something a few stories up a building overlooking the exit. What he sees unsettles him. He turns back to the dockmaster: "Let's say you give us a list of the items you're after, and we can see about arranging some future business? In the meantime, perhaps you can recommend a dealer where we could get a good discount on a reliable astromech?"
At a nod from Djebelle that this seems to be the one they seek to deliver to, Aneira hops off the crate, landing with one hand hovering over her still holstered hand cannon. She glances around to make sure there are no additional complications and monitors the situation.
"Yes, I like what you are saying and I have an old R2 unit at the back of the dock. It needs some work, well it needs a new motivator cause it cant move around, but you can take it and we will cal lit even. I will get you list sent to you comm."
A loud crash at the back of the dock grabs your attention as the crowds around you swell.
Aneira nods and holds up her com to sub-vocalise to the team
He's legit, I think that- she stops speaking as a loud crash echoes around the docking bay with more and more people suddenly thronging the area.
I'll check it out...
she moves to the side and stands on a nearby crate to see if she can see what's going on, relaying anything about what she sees back to the team.
Kara doesn't like this, not one bit, too crowded....
The Twi'lek in the window catches her eye. She sublimates on the group comm: "We have an observer. Across the dock, three stories up in the window. Twi'lek, male, dark robe. He has a communicator. Can't tell if..."
The crash at the back of the dock cuts her off. Suddenly on her guard, she puts both hands on the Czerka, and thumbs the safety 'off'.
"...stay together. Thrask, if anyone gets too close and they look hostile, get big!"
From the top of the crate you see a pile of crates now laying on the ground with what appears to be two dock workers shouting at the crowd.
The crowd around you seems to surge for a moment then ebb. Due to the close proximity there is a bit of jostling.
Aneira hops on to the crate the team are delivering so no-one 'accidentally' bumps in to it, her hand a hairs-breadth from her holstered blaster.
What's the story oh those with a more expensive view than I? she drawls in to her ComLink
Seems like I'm not going to have to drag the Trandoshan to the fighting pits yet. Seats there just kill me..., thinks Juviest, leaning away from the door and walking calmly towards the rest of the group. On the way, he casually puts his hands on his waist, showing the handles of the two massive blasters.
Letting out another waft of smoke, he stands next to Thrask, the Trandoshan rising nearly three whole feet taller than Juviest. "Alright, Trandoshan. Seems like you won't be so bored anyway.", before responding on comms. "Want me to get the Twi'lek, LT?", he asks, putting his thumbs in his belt.
"Get him for what? As far as I know, he's just watching."
Then to Aristi: "Aristi. I think you just got your pocket picked."
Thrask just stands there seemingly unperturbed by the crash or the dealings about. While he was itching for a fight, flashing his claws and blades about in a crowd is how one ends up on the most wanted list.
He was however ready should anyone be stupid enough to bump into him to pick them up and make himself some room.
Aristi moves his attention back and forth between Thomsid, the figure up in the window, and the pile of crates. Suddenly his focus is drawn back much closer to home. His paw whirls to one of his pockets, then he shouts, "Hey! Someone's trying to rob me!" He scans the crowd, trying to spot the perpetrator.
The figure in the window recedes from the window, out of sight.
At Aristi's shout 4 members of the crowd start to run away from you.
Well, one old trick is to create a distraction and lead folk away from their possessions, so if you don;t mind Aristi, I'll stay perched on this create here and put smoking holes in anyone that tries to lay hands on it... or me!
Aneira resumes scanning the crowd for threats or anyone overly interested in the crate.
Kara, in total agreement with Aneira, steps up to the crate putting her back to the Devaronian's.
"They stole my...." Aristi pats his robes (Perception check) "...whatever it was, they'll pay!" Rather than take off in a random direction, he hovers near the others while he tries to work out precisely what might have been lifted and by who.
Nodding at Aneira, Juviest casually twirls out his blasters, the speed almost a blur. "Don't go for holes though, kiddo. Stun setting's there for a reason.", he says, taking aim for one of the running for.
The blue beam of light flickers past several crowd members, nailing one of the runners in the right shoulder. Juviest holsters the blaster, raising hands in the air. "Let's go drag that thief to our young friend, Trandoshan. Isn't real right, thieving.", he says with a grin. That takes me back a long time. Thought I'd never miss it. Least I'm not shooting to kill now, damnit., he thinks as he sees the crowds part, as he puts his hands on the worn blaster handles.
Djebelle is quick to act: heading for the nearest of the four who are running away, she reaches out with her mind, trying to twist it to her will: "You need to stop running, come and talk to us."
Force check, Discipline (1 Light Side, 2 Successes)
She won't be able to hold them indefinitely, but if she can make them even hesitate then she hopes that somebody will be able to grab them - or perhaps make them stay still long enough for Juviest to get in a clear shot at them. She hopes.
Thrask looks around watching the others react and try to handle the situation while he just stands there beside the crates and the dockmaster. He looks at the others and snorts "Ain't my job to go catching some pickpocket. The job's right here, lest one of you lot is looking to start handing over some credits." he said as he focused on being ready to strike should something happen to the crates or their contact.
Behind the mirror-like shield of her helmet, Kara grins at the big Transdoshan's actions. If this pickpocket was a diversion, anyone coming for this crate was in for a world of hurt.
Juviest's quick shot slams into on of the fleeing men's back stunning him and dropping him to the ground in a heap.
Another one of the runners, hearing Djebelle's words, stops and turns toward her with a concerned look.
With that Thomsid lets out a squeal and points at the thug in a heap. "Blasted thieves. Take that! Now I have friends that will put an end to your work!"
Aristi pats his clothing, and sure enough something's missing. "Hey one of those thieves nabbed my datapad!" Taking Juviest's cue, Aristi draws his light blaster and takes careful aim at one of the remaining two trying to get away.
Thrasks eyes narrow as he heard what Thomsid said. He turned his head towards the dockmaster and bared his teeth. "You know these fools....You have a short time to tell me what this is about before I decide to take out my frustrations on you." he said starting to lose his temper at the situation.
...'datapad?'...
Kara turns towards the last two fleeing thugs. In a smooth motion, she brings up her heavy blaster pistol and thumbs the toggle to 'stun'. Sighting down the bore, she takes aim at one and fires...
...the shot strikes him square in the back, sending him sprawling. The body tumbles as it hits, tangling up the other fleeing thief, and tripping him up!
'Eat plastcrete, dirtbag.' She mutters.
"Got 'em! I'm on them." She says over the comm. Leaving Thrask and Aneira to guard the crate she sets off towards the two down thugs.