Scientific Materials, the invoice said 'SCIENTIFIC MATERIALS'!

[Sangga]

He laid back, on his bunk, in the Yoania. They were taking the long way around the Outer Rim. The box was locked in the cargo-hold of the Entendre, and Pippa's suit, and the haul was in the Yoania. The twins had finally separated and things became a lot quieter again, he kind of missed the company of the Kid and yes, he even missed Bucket head. They were due to make a call soon, but he lounged with one leg hooked over his knee, the thrum of the hyper-drive obscured by the old recording on the music player. Another old ditty from Hapan, sounded like an old repeating music box of plucked strings, and an eerie male voice sounding higher than it should; the distortion pitching it higher.

An impressive haul from Pippa caused him to relax a little, and when the red pustule that was Zosma gave them this easy job; he could've kissed him. Deliver the box, get paid. Yeah it'd be hot. But the request of Kyllan was still buzzing in his mind. Tatooine was remote, there were less warm planets nearby... it was certainly worth the thought. He'd have to look into the Star Maps and do some prospecting on the Holo-net.

There was then a noise, a soft tapping on his cabin's door. His thoughts and peace were shattered, and he'd just got comfortable. He tok sometime to stretch as he got up and to turn of the music player. He was dressed down to his undershirt, trousers and boots. The coat, shirt and hat were hung up. His sold form was clean and its most visible as he opened the door. "Yes..."

@Pippa Rhute @Kaylon Neroka @StarWriter @Frannykins87 and when we get to it, @Killa Ree

 

[Pippa]

Dlizz,ser,fiassa stood framed in the open doorway. Hips sarcastically cocked and one eyebrow playfully raised. She allowed Hart's yes to hang heavy in the air as she blinked slowly and deliberately. She dragged her eyes from the ground to his face, aggressively loitering everywhere in between. "Hello, Captain." she said after a moment "I find myself particularly parched from helping Pip count out huge piles of credits and thought I'd ask you what kind of thirst-quenching supplies you had to hand?"

In the hold of the Yoania Pippa was finishing counting, sorting and organising the haul from purgatory. She understood why Hart had wanted her on a different ship from the box, she had been very eager to open it when it was loaded on and despite being told that not opening it was part of the job she probably wouldn't have been able to resist the urge for the whole trip. Oh well, if the ships docked again at some point she'd have a closer inspection of their mysterious cargo. It also made sense to have here here to fully inventory the valuables she had helped steal. It took her almost an hour to count out every credit ingot and sort them into piles and the piles into boxes and the boxes into the "hidden compartments" that Hart had had built all around his ship. Slowly but surely she squirrelled away each and every piece of loot before compiling it into a list to go and show hart. Data pad in hand she pottered along the corridor but stopped seeing Hart and Dliserfia engaged in some kind of conversation at the door to his quarters.

 

[StarWriter]

Tanaab. Nar Shaddaa. Pantolomin. Each planet was as varied from one another as you could get. Each one held their share of challenges, and dangers. And rewards. Though the latter may be far fewer than the former. At present he suspected Pip and their recent addition, a passenger rescued as it were from the shadow of the Hutts, were busy counting the potentially significant haul liberated a short while ago. It was rarely a safe thing, to steal from a Hutt. With luck though, given the chaos of the events on Purgatory, the slug would have more pressing things to attend to than track them down. However, Kyllan knew enough of their ilk to know that sooner or later it would send someone to come for what was taken, or to exact a price.

Perhaps the most important reward he himself had gained recently was that of a more esoteric nature. The ragtag crew he had become a part of and now traveled with. Despite his abrasive demeanor and gruff appearance at times Hart was more than capable and he suspected had more of a soft gooey center than he let on. His penchant for creating nicknames for those he knows was both irritating and in a way endearing, mostly irritating. A wry grin curled the corners of his mouth as he stood in contemplation. The hard surface of the bulkhead he leaned on was cool even through his casual attire. One of the few times he was without his armor was when in hyperspace and among friends. Then there were the two savvy, technically minded crew mates. Pippa and Alisha. Both remarkably skilled in their own unique ways, jovial and quite fun to be around. Especially Alisha, whom Kyllan had known prior to meeting the others and was more and more in the forefront of his thoughts of late. She was gorgeous to him, in nearly every way and that realization was equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking.

Even as a smile brightened his face, his thoughts drifted back to Nar Shaddaa and if vanished. The hold of the Entendre was remarkably silent. Whatever repairs Alisha and Pip had done to his ship were incredible. The hold was mostly full, though there was a particular crate that had his complete attention. The one they were charged with transporting and delivering to Tatooine. No questions. No peeking. Given how much they were being paid for such discretion he was more than a little anxious. And there was just something that grated at the back of his mind. His father's words seemed to repeat in his head. Never trust a job that pays more than it should. And this one paid a lot. His boot pressed flat to the bulkhead while the other was stretched out from him a bit, his body braced against the wall as he stared at it. Arms crossed over his chest, one elbow propped in the crook of the other while his fingers rested against his chin. He Contemplated the crate and the uneasy feeling it gave him. They were do to call the Yoania soon, more than likely. Kyllan had lost track of time.

 

[Frannykins87]

Alisha was too excited to think about the cargo. This was her opportunity, after their job finished, to potentially see her father again. If it wasn't too dangerous.. Alisha decided to try and talk to him beforehand. That morning she spent a few minutes checking the entire ship, and verified that the repairs she and Pippa did were pretty good. Before diving into her quarters, she popped her head into the cockpit, where she saw the back of Kyllan's head.

"I'm in my quarters if you need me. Your ships should be good." She chirped in his direction.

Once inside her cosy quarters, she walked over to the bed and sat on it with her legs crossed, pulled out her holocom and initialized her call. Her heart was racing slightly. It would feel so good to talk to him again.

Beep. Beep. Beep..

Alisha frowned slightly. He didn't usually take so long replying. She waited patiently, almost breathless..

Beep. Beep.. Click.

Finally! A grizzled man appeared, his beard growing and rather messy, and his face seemingly tired. His dark eyes though were unmistakable, as for the luscious amount of jet black hair, with streaks of grey here and there.

"Dad!!"

Alisha almost sat up straight. She was excited to see him, but it caused her pain to see her dad looking so tense and..old. He looked like he aged 20 years... "How...are you ok? "

The man's visage lit up in an instant "Princess! I am so glad to see you...How have you been doing?" He ignored her question, though Alisha decided she was going to bring it up face to face.

Alisha proceeded instantly to tell everything had happened to her since Tatooine, leaving perhaps the most dangerous parts and the shadiness. Certainly the alien from which they took this current job... Alisha was excited, but blushed, smiling, when telling her father of Kyllan. Her father listened, and his lips curled into a grin. So her daughter got herself a boyfriend. Obviously, Alisha didn't mention his backgroung..She felt it prudent not to. But she was just as excited talking about the rest of the crew, whom she grew rather attached in a short period of time. They talked a while, and after enquiring about the business, her father responded with a very casual "Eh, all good." Which made Alisha thing all was not good. She frowned but her father wouldn't hear any of it. Alisha promised him she'd go see him when she could, and they ended the call.

Alisha sighed happily, and put her communicator on her bedside table, then layed in bed, stretching, and giggling. It would be great seeing her old man again. She bit her lower lip, her eyes sparkling. She was going to tell Kyllan about it. She stood up quickly and rushed to the cockpit, sitting beside the captain's chair. She looked over, with the same spark in her eyes, and a smile that could have melted an iceberg.

"Guess what? Hopefully you get to meet my dad on Tattoine!" She almost squealed in delight, but then tried very hard to refrain herself "Ehm after the job is done that is...obviously.. I hope to introducedadtoyouall, Itwillbegoodtoseehim..Ihaven'tseenhim for SOOOO long.." She was so excited at the prospect she almost forgot to breathe. After inhaling, her face turned a little sad "He looked really stressed.." She shook her head, her mind racing and her speech equally fast "Well no point in dwelling on it now. "

She grinned and turned to face outside space again "So, how are we looking?"

 

[StarWriter]

With a groan Kyllan pushed off of the bulkhead with his boot and turned away from the hold of the ship, casually striding through the Entendre to slide himself down into the captain's chair. Settling into the cockpit he tried pushing the earlier thoughts from his mind as he went over the readouts and checked on their progress. Regardless of the unease this job gave him, they were already fully invested in it and had to see it through. If something went sideways, then he'd just have to do his best to keep everyone safe and deal with whatever might arise.

The sudden melodic voice behind him pulled his attention. "I'm in my quarters if you need me. Your ships should be good."

A bright smile rose up on his face at hearing Alisha and he merely nodded his head, she was gone before he glanced over his shoulder, once again that picturesque face filled his thoughts. Kyllan chuckled to himself as he pondered what his parents might say about the way he was around her. Then groaned as he knew exactly how that exchange would go. His dad would likely ramble off a series of deeply personal questions about just how intimate they were while his mom would want to know how many times she's beaten him in sparring and then proceed to grill him about how she wouldn't want her son getting hurt protecting someone who couldn't even hold her own in a training circle. Despite the apprehension he would have at having her meet his parents, Kyllan was amazed that the idea of that was a thing. Alisha was the only woman he'd ever even fancied the notion with.

Once again he completely lost track of time, jumping with a start as a series of beeps announced the presence of T3 beside him. "What Teethree?"

Beep boop?

"That's none of your business. But yes, I was thinking about Alisha, why do even want to know?" He gave the astromech a squinty eyed scrutinizing glare.

Booop beeep. His oldest friend teased him with a long series of chirps and whistles as his chassis spun around slowly, only to wheel himself out of the cockpit as Kyllan's boot swung towards him.

"Hah, go away you brat." Kyllan had noted that since Alisha had saved one of his droids, both of them had grown quite fond of her.

Not a minute after their exchange he heard brisk, bouncy footfalls behind him before Alisha came in and sat beside him. He looked to her and his heart stopped in his chest when he saw that smile. Mandolore's name she was gorgeous.

Given what he was thinking while she was in her room, her sudden comment about her own father made him stare at her a moment, before that near ever present grin of his appeared. "Bringing me home to meet the parent? If I didn't know any better Alisha, I'd think you like me." And there came the wink.

Kyllan just let out a jovial and contented laugh as she rambled on excitedly, catching every word of it. Kyllan's hand raised to try and calm her a bit. "Breathe."

When her expression saddened his grin faded and he turned in his chair to face her. "Tatooine is not an easy place to live, I'm sure he's fine and if he's not we'll be there soon to make sure he is." His voice was soft and expression tender as he leaned over and planted a reassuring kiss upon her lips, hands cradling her cheeks before he sat up again.

"We're doing good. The repairs you and Pip made were perfect. Both ships are running well. We're due to call into the Yoania so you're right on time gorgeous." With that he pressed a button on the communications panel and hailed their sister ship, knowing it would alert Hart of their incoming call.

 

[Killa Ree]

That slimeball son of a Bantha had no right to put his hands on her.

Within the cargo, her hands flexed over and over with satisfaction when she recalled that scream of her previous master. She would have welcomed dying in that moment, but was alarmed when he didn't. But this... she didn't envision this. When she had seen her method of transport, her knees weakened and she fought. That was all she remembered, lashing back and forth and screaming. Her throat still ached, and even though she knew she should still panic, she was still in that twilight zone of comfort. She fell unconscious in this thing... and all she could recall last was the click of a tranq at her throat. And everything faded off.

But it was too dark here. She couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. It was too tight in here. Her wrists ached... perhaps they were still cuffed together, she couldn't remember. But everything was rushing back now, and suddenly Illyt gasped, the panic of what was really happening clicking into place far faster than her brain could compensate. Her arms shook and a whimper of terror threatened to fall out. It soon gave way to a shriek, the effects of the drug worn off and true fear replacing the mid-dream sensation of before. "Get me out of here!" She tried moving again, but the space was too narrow, just wide enough to shift her arms and her feet. So she stomped down as hard as she could, her raw throat scratching out what little she could say. "Gak me, get me out of this thing!"

 

[Sangga]

As the door opened, Hart was a little taken back by the supple, female form behind it; so much so that he jerked his head back like a dog on a leash. Now at his full six foot tall he took half a pace back, making sure that there was at least some room between them. He resisted the urge to bow his head and avert his gaze. Her confidence was so striking it, triggered some very old, bred in habits. He stamped down this rising submissiveness, his distraction almost missed her question. As he was due to answer, he didn't look her over; his cold blue eyes caught her light reds. "That would depend on what you have a craving for..." now he had to not gak this up. "...Miss?"

The tone from the comms system could be heard down the corridor, his wrist comm was hooked into the system, it bleeped with a slight delay from the cockpit comm unit. He looked to her to move, his eyes darting to the left; signalling down the corridor. When she moved, he noticed that she let him move, he paced down the corridor to the cockpit. He heard her footfalls, soft, and within his own. He felt her watching him, she was his passenger... he was conveying her... it was not worth any trouble, but if he could just figure out what she was thinking... it'd never happen for any woman so far.

Setting down, the trails of hyperspace streaming outside the ports, he flicked the dial to transmit and contacted the Entendre. "Buckethead, good timing. We're about to come out of hyperspace, above Tatooine. Then before we land, might be worth docking. Just so we can talk over the deal first." He turned the dial to receive, and turned his vision to Dliserfia. "Huh, that drink then..." he reached an arm down between his legs and pulled out a bottle of Ithorian Mist, half full. The pale green liquid slid around the clear glass bottle nicely. He flicked the switch to transmit. "Say again Buckethead, I had a little interference..."

 

[StarWriter]

Conflicted with the swelling and fairly foreign feelings towards the radiant beauty sitting beside him being both unnerving and the thing he'd been missing from his existence, he was grateful for the sudden sound of Hart's voice over the channel. As strange and annoying as that was to admit.

"Buckethead, good timing. We're about to come out of hyperspace, above Tatooine. Then before we land, might be worth docking. Just so we can talk over the deal first."

A bright grin remained on his face as he looked away from Alisha and switched a toggle on the console in front of him, setting his own comm unit to transmit.

"What can I say, I'm versatile. Sounds like a plan, Codger. I'm curious to find out how much we hauled away from the slug and the sooner we get this cargo unloaded the better. I've got a bad feeling about.."

Kyllan was interrupted by the high pitched shrill of a repair droid shrieking a warning as R1 came barreling into the cockpit and bumped into the console with a harsh thud. Vreeeeeeeeeeeeep!

"Arrone, what? You sure?"

Breep vffft.

Kyllan sprang out of his seat and over the repair droid as he broke into a dead sprint towards the cargo hold, as he left the cockpit Alisha would clearly see the mandolorian draw both heavy blaster pistols from his thighs. "Stowaway!' he called out barely audible through the communication channel. R1 sped off behind him and as he came to a skidding halt up against the wall just outside the hold, he saw T3 standing beside a rather vocal cargo container.

"Gak me, get me out of this thing!"

Kyllan slowly moved up next to the container and nodded to T3, who chirped then produced the arc welder from his chassis. It made short work of the seals on the durasteel crate and with a swift tug it dislodged. Both heavy blasters pointed right at the lovely face of the crate's current resident. "Make move, and I'm the last thing you'll see." He told her in a frigid tone, Kyllan did not like stowaways, particularly on his ship even if they did so against their volition. Then he saw her restraints and snapped.

"Teethree, tap into the open channel to the Yoania." The moment he saw the holographic projection of Hart in the air in front of T3 he snarled. "When the gak were you going to tell us we were trafficking people Hart! There's a woman in the cargo crate and she's in restraints!" Kyllan's voice boomed through the cargo hold in a frightening way. All of the disgust and loathing he had for slavers and their ilk boiled up in him, though many of his kind openly engaged in such activities he absolutely reviled slavers and would be damned if he was going to become one by proxy.

 

[Pippa]

Lizz watched hart's every tiny move. She new her future could hinge on knowing this crew and these people as best she could. She'd noticed a hesitance from Hart to engage with her at all and had decided to force the issue. She wasn't disappointed. His immediate reactions told her most of what she needed to know. The recoiling, the affixed distance and the deliberate eye contact all sang a story. Coupled with and odd moment that put her in mind of a Twi'lek cage dancer about to be "educated" by their master. Someone had burnt something into this man, probably a long time ago.
"That would depend on what you have a craving for... Miss?"
She managed to keep a straight face at his probing pause, he clearly wasn't sure how old she was and making a considerable effort to remain polite without too much assumption. She decided to press her advantage.
"Something with a kick to it if you've got it...Captain." she pressed herself a half step forwards all but preparing to invade his personal space but was stooped by the beeping of the console. Making a point of allowing him to pass her with her body language she traced him towards the cockpit. She shot a look at Pippa who blinked and followed after as well at a distance. Lizz watched Hart's strides, once more confident with a new problem to focus on. As he beavered about the Yoani's comms unit he handed her up a half filled bottle that looked like a cork-stoppered uncut crystal decanter. She looked at the green liquid and smiled. "Ithorian Mist, good choice. I'd say it suits you, but I can't help but feel you'd prefer something smokier." As they dropped out hyperspace over Tattooine she smiled again, it always good to see a planet at the end of a jump, especially a profit den like Tattooine, with the right attitude and a fortuitous back-ally one could really make a killing on this dust ball, or be killed. "Well" she said almost right behind Hart in his chair "To future endeavours." She swigged down the fiery liquid directly from the bottle, leaving just enough for a full shot in the bottom. Handing it back to Hart, she indicated that he should join her. But before he could Kyllan's voice began to blare over the Comms.

Pippa watched the two for a while, impatiently grasping the datapad. She could hear the plans clearly from down the corridor and tired of waiting she went and prepared the airlock to dock once they'd dropped out of Hyperspace. If Hart was too busy, she was sure that Kyllan and Alisha would be interested in the data. She didn't want to bother Neroka in his room. While he was quiet at the best of times she had learnt that he valued his privacy even more so than Hart. She tapped in the docking sequence as the two ships drew close together and the moment the ships were connected she happily waddled into the Double Entendre to find some one to share the data with only to be welcomed by considerable yelling coming from the Cargo hold.

 

[Killa Ree]

The crash of the lid and the immediate fresher air was a clarifying wake-up call. She took in three deep breaths, dark blue eyes narrowed at the male who threatened her. The relief of being released was swiftly giving way to belligerence; if she could have, ice would have shot from that hard glare. She was still shivering from the aftereffects of that panic, but her voice spat out one word. And she spoke it with deliberate venom, body still trembling from the shock of claustrophobia that threatened to swallow her up again. Even though her voice trembled, it remained hanging in the air with that level gaze.

"M-m-mandalorian." Her wrists throbbed with the tugging of the restraints, but her feet were not. She briefly considered his grip on the blasters, and his tense poise, and internally cursed. No way to run your way out of this one, Illyt, not without leaving a hole somewhere. And despite her previous disposition to dying, she didn't feel much like doing so right now.

Her eyes widened as she processed where she was. No desert sands. No harsh heat or suns beating down, but the cool interior of a cargo hold. And that costume she was wearing before... she gave a yelp, then moved her arms as if to preserve modesty, as though it were even important. Sheer, violet fabric that did little to conceal. She clamped down her jaw though, and tilted her chin up to resume glaring at the male. Her arms moved down once more, and her clipped, icy tones were low, as if only for his ears alone. "If you're going to sh-shoot me, better do it now. I don't take kindly to flesh-peddling, r-rusty dicers!"

She clenched her jaw again, then slowly shifted up, protesting muscles bringing up a wince of pain to contort her features. She glanced up at him again, her face still set, and allowed one breath out. "People? You're funny... I haven't been c-c-considered a person in over fifteen years." Her throat still ached raw, her ribs, everything... she slowly inched her legs up until she could sit somewhat upright, her knees raised and her forehead resting on them, her arms drawn in to her chest. Submission burned like gall in the pit of her stomachs, but what could she do? She didn't feel like fighting at the moment, and quite frankly, she didn't want to talk at all. Hart? The name wasn't familiar, none of the traders she had been processed through before had that name, and if she had ever heard it before she'd remember it. But it seemed like they didn't know she was even in there... sourness threatened again, but she forced that feeling down, instead focusing on breathing. She wouldn't faint now.

 

[Sangga]

There was nothing in his mind as he saw her drain the Ithorian Mists, to a single shot. Wow, what a... person. Seriously, this thin, and yet curvaceous woman, drank more than he had in three weeks... in one sitting. Hart was returned to the world with a thud as he felt the ships dock, and raised an eyebrow at Kyllan's outburst. Slaves? The gak is going on, this was supposed to be a simple job, one that paid the bills and they'd get on with their lives. The idea that Buckethead thought that he, of all people, could be a slaver... how dare he!

Stepping up from the pilot's seat, the anger bristling across his face, he pushed past Lizz; absence of care very clear, in that moment. He was in the airlock momentarily, and picked up his light repeater. He swung it up to his shoulder and hugged the arc of the cylindrical corridor. He arrived on the edge of the alcove, the muzzle pointing at the exchange. Hart's eyes glowed like molten iron, the rage was almost untameable; almost. "Buckethead, calm the gak down, right now and I will as well, then..." he would lower the gun when Kyllan calmed. He glanced at the Twi'lek and turned away, the gun dropped his fists clenched to show white knuckles. "... that slime-encrased, underhanded, pustule-ridden, motherless slug is going to regret the day that he did this. By every oath in the cluster I swear I will see that gakker in chains; see how he likes being furniture."

 

[StarWriter]

Through his furious indignant rage at the circumstances at hand Kyllan hadn't even registered the jostling of his ship as the Yoania docked with it. Nor did he realize that he was still pointing those deadly blasters at the shackled Twi'lek even when she venomously replied to what he shouted over the comm. "I never have been a gakking flesh peddler!" For the first time since Kyllan had met any of them his voice trembled and like Hart, once he joined them aboard in the hold, his knuckles were white hot gripped about the blasters.

The mandolorian's entire body shook from his rage and though it may outwardly seem like he might snap and start shooting, Kyllan had a clarity of focus right then and there. "You've been a person since the day you were born. There isn't a being in the galaxy that has the right...to tell you or make you think otherwise....and anyone who tries is going to die a horribly painful death.." Frigid cold oozed from every word as Kyllan spoke to the woman that had been travelling in his cargo hold, in a gakking box for days. If it wasn't apparent before now, the cocky warrior reviled everything about slavery.

"Buckethead, calm the gak down, right now and I will as well, then..." His head snapped towards his fellow captain. "I will not calm down you damn codger! That worthless, arrogant, repulsive slug made us slavers!" There was a momentary pause as he slumped back against the bulkhead behind him. "Chains? If I ever see that slug again I'm going to drain the power cells on my blasters until he's nothing but a slag heap." Cold calculating hatred returned to his voice until he glanced over at the still shackled woman and recalled the look on her face when she saw his armor.

Lowering his left hand to his thigh he secured that weapon to its proper place before ripping his helmet off of his head and throwing it further back into the hold with a mighty heave. It barely left his hand when he spun on his heel, right hand raised and finger clenched around the hair trigger. One. Two. Three..all six shots in the cell fired off, all but the last two striking the helmet before it fell to the deck plate barely functional. As the echoes of those shots faded he stood there, motionless. "Alisha....could you please find her something to wear? Teethree...cut those damned shackles off of her..." A tremble filled his voice as he slowly dropped to the deck, cold bulkhead at his back with the empty blaster dangling in his grasp. Countless voices, memories, filled his mind all uttering the same word. 'Monster'.

 

[Pippa]

Pippa sighed as Hart commandoed his way past her. There always seemed to be so much shouting and running. Often she didn't really understand why. She pottered along towards the sound of raised voices but broke into as much of a sprint as she could muster when blasters began to fire. She scampered past Hart's still readied pose and took in the scene as fast as she could muster. Calculating rapidly she sprung into action.

Skrreep Bee Bip she hurriedly droidspoke at T3 instructing him to wait until she could get over there to help. She turned towards Hart and tossed him a data pad and she railed off a series of invoice data out loud as she clambered onto the now opened box. "213,995 credits in spendable credit ingots, 1,576,223 unusable credits in tagged credit chips, 1,546 credits worth of miscellaneous galactic currencies including 234 Druggats, 114 Wupiwupi, and 12 Nova crystal shards, approximately 100,000 credits worth of saleable narcotics though Dliserfia assures me that with a small investment into raw chemicals and chemistry equipment those narcotics could triple in value in the long term."

Finally clambering up onto the open crate she stood up, her eyes coming up to the sitting woman's chin. Pippa turned to specifically address T3. "Thank you for stopping, if you cut the connecting restraints first we can release this unidentified female without causing undue harm, when restrained like this for long periods of time the close shackles or bindings must be removed slowly to prevent the return of blood flow to the extremities causing internal bleeding and systemic shock. In a worst case improper release could lead to loss of life or a need to amputate the damaged limb and while I have seen an amputation procedure I lack the medical knowledge to perform one." She spoke matter-of-factly about restraints and their effects much like she often did about technical subjects but the lowered tone in her voice and the pair of robotic legs she pottered around on lent a strange weight to her words on the subject.

As she allowed T3 to resume working on the safer chains she pulled a small cutting tool from her tool bag and began to loosen the rest of the shackles one at a time allowing the limbs to return to full function slowly and carefully. While she worked she spoke quietly to the poor Twi'lek. "I'm sure you aren't ready for full conversation yet so do not respond if you do not feel a need to, my name is Pippa Rhute and I know what it feels like to be treated as a commodity. You will be safe aboard these vessels; these are good people and they would not have transported you thus willingly. I hope their clear rage at the situation is a heavy indicator of this fact. Once we have you free we can find you some water and soft rations then once you have eaten you should probably rest as you have been through quite an ordeal, though I would very much understand if sleep is hard for you. I would recommenced we find you a physician, we do not have one on the ships though Dliserfia mentioned that she was capable of synthesising a range of pharmaceuticals..." Pippa continued to mutter gently until all of Illyt Katu's limbs were finally her own again.

Lizz watched as the furious Captain barrelled away towards the other ship. She shrugged and put the rest of the alcohol back under the seat He'd fished it from and started to check out the local comm channels to see if there was any interesting news floating around Tattooine system space.

 

[Frannykins87]

Alisha barely had time to register Kyllan's comments at the cockpit when R1. Alisha swiftly followed Kyllan in the cargo hold and watched the scene unfold.. Her eyes widened in shock. She was just as furious as Kyllan, but she gulped. Given the look of the woman, and the way she talked, Alisha was immediately concerned. Poor thing, she could not imagine being trapped in that box ..alone and restrained....

"It's ok..we won't harm you..." She spoke softly and reassuringly, tmeanwhile mentally swearing all colours at the dam Jablonian. She didn't blame Hart, she blamed that creppy son of a bantha.

'Alisha....could you please find her something to wear? Teethree...cut those damned shackles off of her..."

She nodded and instantly rushed to her room. She found a spare pair of casual clothes she got on Tanaab, and grabbed it, rushing back. She immediately gave them to the woman. "You can use those..Hopefully they will fit you. Are you ok? Are you hungry and thirsty? We got food.."

Without waiting for a reply, she rushed to the ships' lounge and frantically searched the cupboards for some water, and a ratio, and rushed back, balancing carefully so nothing would spill over. She put those down on a nearby crate. "There, food and water..." She hears Kyllan's reaction and her heart skipped a beat again. It was sweet, sort of, though the word slaver rang insider her mind loud and clear. She gritted her teeth, wanting to add something to Kyllan's words, but seeing the woman she decided anger can come later. Her main concern was her well being. She watched the girl carefully, to see what she would do next, sympathy in her eyes. She knows that look only too well. Too many people on Tatooine end up like that, and she very nearly did too.

 

[Killa Ree]

The male's anger at her accusing tone would have been satisfactory, had there not been an audience. Suddenly, the rage vanished as quickly as it flared to life, and she merely stared at the male numbly when he spoke to her. One brow ridge rose, as her breathing evened and her shivering lessened. The polished edge of panic began to dim, but just when she was about to respond another male appeared.

"... that slime-encrased, underhanded, pustule-ridden, motherless slug is going to regret the day that he did this. By every oath in the cluster I swear I will see that gakker in chains; see how he likes being furniture."

"Chains? If I ever see that slug again I'm going to drain the power cells on my blasters until he's nothing but a slag heap."

She hadn't meant to, but her face twisted into pleasure at what image that thought brought on, but then melted into surprise at the Mandalorian's violent outburst. But then, oddly, she was assuaged. Perhaps she had judged too harshly.. but that did not excuse the rest of his kind. In other times, maybe, she would apologize for her accusation and deliberate baiting. She would have opened her mouth to protest the Mandalorian's reaction to those accusations, but she was suddenly face-to-face with another, smaller furred form.

She remembered one of their ilk. It caused a sharp pain in her chest at the memory, and unbidden she let out a loose breath. She closed her eyes and took another deep one, but then her voice came out weak, almost reedy. "Mandalorian... I'm sorry. Forgive my hasty judgement... it's been a long time since anything, or anyone, had considered myself as a person." She doubted he could hear her, however, as lost as he seemed. She then heard the steady stream of data the other addressed to the male who had burst in previously, and felt the sickness return when she realized she had been used as a commodity. Again. When the last shackle was snapped free, a soft groan burst from her lips, and she clenched her hands once. They were bruised and chafed in some parts, but they were there.
"...I know what it feels like to be treated as a commodity. You will be safe aboard these vessels; these are good people and they would not have transported you thus willingly. I hope their clear rage at the situation is a heavy indicator of this fact."

Dimly, she was aware of the other still chattering to her, and she had to drag her attention from her wrists up; she gave a thin smile. "Pippa Rhute... you are a welcome sight. I am Illyt Katu.. forgive my rudeness, I haven't been treated like my own self for so many years... it's strange." She offered up a worn-out chuckle, then winced at the raspy tone.

She turned in surprise when another ran in; just how many of this crew were there? There seemed to be two captains... two ships? That train of thought was once again interrupted by the mention of a physician. "No! No docs, please... they and I have never seen eye-to-eye when it comes to patching up..." Grimacing, Illyt managed a grateful smile at the other female who had dashed in and out so unexpectedly. She wanted to trust that the two males here would not have submitted her to slavery, had they known she was aboard... but still, that irrational anger directed was partially justified in her eyes. They would have sold her off without even taking a glance!

"You can use those..Hopefully they will fit you. Are you ok? Are you hungry and thirsty? We got food.."

"They should fit fine, but..." she felt nauseous at the very mention of eating anything; instead she briefly shook her head, but she was already gone. "Just water... and I need to get out of this thing." Once again, her eyes slid across the female perched right before her, then the male who had his back to them... and then the one who seemed so ready to snap earlier. "What is your...?" the word name almost slipped past her lips, when the second female reappeared, saw how she glanced to the Mandalorian... and how sympathy brimmed in those eyes. She could feel her features shut down in recalcitrant response, and even though she didn't meant to, she resented the fact that they might pity her. She merely squared her jaw and shoulders, ignoring the twinge of pain the abused arms responded. The second male had already left when she glanced about again. For some reason, she felt a twinge of guilt over her initial reaction, but felt her features harden again before shaking her head. The three lekkus, two about her shoulders and one down the length of her back, almost seemed to stretch at the newfound freedom, and once more she offered a weak smile, as though to dissuade her venomous actions of beforehand. Instead, her gaze alighted on the human female, and she tentatively outstretched an arm.

"If you could... my legs can't seem to lift me..." She was clearly embarrassed now but her expression was one of pleading. She loathed to beg, but here she was. And perhaps... there might finally be a taste of freedom with that bitterness. "And I want to get out of this tasteless uniform."

 

[Frannykins87]

Alisha instinctively, but gently, grabbed Illyt's arm, and supported her as much as she could, with a gentle smile on her face. She was grateful for the reaction of both men, but she wasn't sure that's what the twilek would need to hear at this very moment. Her own anger put aside for the time being, she proceeded.

"Here You can use my quarters if you want some privacy. and a place to sit , lay down or shower, or anything."

Alisha couldn't read her expression but it didn't matter to her. She wanted nothing more than to help. So she put an arm on the side of the Twilek, and gently lead her of the room, glazing at Kyllan and nodding briefly as they walked past. She was struggling a bit, only because she was not very strong, but the Twilek did not feel heavy, which made her slightly concerned.

"Pippa, could you bring the water container to my quarters please?" She says to her small friend as she carried Illyt out of the room

"Alisha, by the way. My name is Alisha..You have nothing to fear from me and Pippa, nor the two men, I promise that.."

When they reached the door to her quarters, she walked in. Her room was tidy only because she doesn't have many possessions, other than the few bits of gear, including her weapon, that are stacked in a sort of pile in one corner of the room. This was, afterall, not her ship, and she still didn't really make her room hers properly. She walked slowly to the bed , keeping the door open and gently let go of Illyt.

"There you can sit, and you can change in here if you want and whatever else, but drink first."

She looks to the door expecting Pippa to come in with the water.

 

[Sangga]

He tried to step away, but his mind was caught between Pippa's data, and the gunfire, the slave and the general state of affairs of his pitiful existence. He heard the girls and Pippa leave, then turned back to talk to the younger Captain. He paced forward, nice and slowly. Bent down to pick up his gun and then placed it on the table after giving it a once over. A few more paces forward and he reached into an upper coat pocket and pulled something out in his palm.

The older Captain loomed over the Mandolorian for a moment and then wheeled beside him and slid down the wall. He let out a sigh and moved something from one hand to the other. He then popped the clap in the original hand and pulled out a cigarra, then held out the case to the other Captain as he in a fluid motion he bit and spat the end of the cigarra, then lit it on the tiny and intense blue jet of flame. Snapping the lighter shut he'd hold it for Kyllan. Clasping the long, brown paper smoke in his thumb and index finger; his others outstretched his others as a guard to where the smoke would eventually burn down to in a while, he took a long draw and held it, to then puff out a perfect ring that sailed out over the communal area.

There was no way the narcotic could've acted so quickly but the Captain was immediately in a comfortable slump beside Kyllan. he took another draw and he managed two smaller rings than the first. He then placed the smoke in the corner of his mouth and glanced to Kyllan, returning the smokes to his coat. "Kyllan... y'know... we haven't talked in a while... I don't think we've ever talked about gak this heavy..." he took a softer draw and just forced the smoke out his nose. "You can go first if you want, and I don't advocate what the fat little toad has done to us and this tailhead, but what's your beef with slavery... I always thought you b-... Mandolorians were above this; honour, blasters, loving and so on, and therefore it didn't concern you lot." He rolled his head to face the other Captain. "... I'll tell you mine if you'd rather." It was the best he could offer. What the younger man needed was a good companion, and he certainly didn't have a good one in Hart... but he could try to at least offer conversation.

 

[Pippa]

Pippa grabbed the water container and followed after the two women. On the way she stopped to retrieve a health kit from one of the storage compartments. Sifting through it as she went she recovered some rejuvenation sachets, packets of essential salts and nutrients designed to be dissolved in water for those who can't eat and she added one to a measure of water. Coming in a little after step of the much taller humanoids she proffered the water to Illyt "Here Illyt Katu, I have added a rejuvenation sachet to this water to help alleviate the effects of malnutrition without the immediate need to consume calorific sustenance. I find it can add a chalky flavour to the water but these ones are-" she stopped to read the packet "Meilooran flavour, which I would describe as sweet and watery with a citrus-like after taste." She allowed Illyt to take the water and then turned back to the health kit. "There are other useful substitutes in here for many minerals, vitamins and even whole food supplements. I am unaware of the dietary requirements of your species, or many humanoids now that I think about it, but I am sure we can build you back up to processing solid foods soon with this kit." She stood and left the kit near the bedside before turning to Alisha.

"I think it best if we ask a medical opinion on the planet, even if we do not have them on the ship or in Illyt Katu's vicinity I would feel better to know we were proceeding correctly. I can complete the necessary research to have an idea of treatment and diagnosis but my data catalogue is broad and generic on many subjects and for medical information I would prefer a far more comprehensive source. It has also occurred to me that in the future a medical presence amongst the crew many prove vital, I have read that there are decent sources for parts and trade on the surface of Tattooine, it may be possible to source parts to build a droid of some kind to perform such a duty. I believe that you have much more experience with droids and their programming than I, it would be good to collaborate on such a project." After a few moments of conversation Pippa left Alisha's room to go and retrieve her data pad so that she could begin doing appropriate research about treatments for malnutrition and the processes and functions of medical droids.

She trotted back into the cargo bay and part the two men having a moment and collected her data pad from where hart had set it down. She looked back at the now empty cargo box and looked at the heavy durasteel plates that made up it's construction. Quietly recruiting T3 to help her they loaded the box parts onto a grav dolly and moved the heavy sheet metal into the hold of the Yoania where Pippa would leave it until she could strip it down for materials for her diving walker. Thanking T3 for his efforts she then climbed up into her walker to quietly begin her research so that she could distract herself from the memories of her own captivity that were threatening to overwhelm her. She remained in the cockpit of her walker until the ships landed on the surface of Tattooine.

Lizz flicked through the channels not surprised to see that Tattooine was everything she'd heard it was. Boring as all hell out side of the cities and festering back-alleys within. She was pleased to see it was the kind of planet that didn't ask for identification or landing authority, it'd make it that much harder for anyone to follow them through here. She got on the ship's comms and alerted everyone else to what was happening. "Ladies, Gentlemen, droids and others, this is your impromptu autopilot assistant informing you that we've cleared the non-existent landing protocols for Tattooine atmospheric entry and will be touching down about 30 clicks away from Mos Eisley by a town called Anchorhead in about 10 minutes. Thank you for flying with 'your own ships and allowing me free reign of a cockpit and comms system' space liners, we hope you've had a pleasant journey and fly with us again in the future." After this announcement she got up and went to the Double Entendre to see what it was that was going on and if these ragtag smugglers were going to blow up their own ships before they got to the surface.

 

[StarWriter]

The next several minutes passed in a fog of sounds, sights and sensations as the mandolorian introverted to the deepest recess of his own psyche. A void of memory and emotion as everything else unfolded around him. Head hung low in his muddled stupor he barely registered the now freed captive as she spoke to him at least, what twice?

Kyllan was barely cognizant of those around him as the two female members of their crew did what they could in haste to tend to the Twi'lek and ensure her medical needs were administered to the best of their meager abilities. Tumultuous recollections of his past buffeted his thoughts like a tempest, old faces he'd forced himself to forget long ago and things that he once was a part of that haunted him still.

Then he felt something against the wall beside him and half glanced to his side to see his fellow captain on the floor beside him and a canister being offered to him. The general malaise of his mind lifted as he reached for the metal container with his left hand and removed the cigarra from within. Kyllan had never partaken of the narcotic before, tough he knew what it was. Sluggishly he bit off the end as Hart had done and quickly spat it out before taking the offered lighter and using it to ignite the end of the paper. Putting the proper end between his lips he handed the lighter and the canister back to Hart and took a long draw from the paper smoke.

A brief series of coughs were stifled from the mandolorian as he watched his compatriot show off a bit with skillfully guided puffs of smoke. "Kyllan... y'know... we haven't talked in a while... I don't think we've ever talked about gak this heavy..." That earned a halfhearted chuckle from Kyllan that ended up as a coughing fit from the narcotic before he calmed himself.

"You can go first if you want, and I don't advocate what the fat little toad has done to us and this tailhead, but what's your beef with slavery... I always thought you b-... Mandolorians were above this; honour, blasters, loving and so on, and therefore it didn't concern you lot."

"... I'll tell you mine if you'd rather."

There was a pause as he withdrew the paper smoke from his mouth and held it, much like Hart did in his hand while his wrist draped over his knee, ashes falling softly to the deck plate. "In all honesty, I don't think we talk much about anything...but you're right....I think that's the first time you haven't called me buckethead." That brought a wry bit of laughter from the troubled man before he continued. "It's alright, you can say it. Bastards. I'll admit, most of my kind deserve that term. There was a time when all Mandolorians were as you described. Honorable, warriors who love and fight with equal parts passion. And I'm sure there are a few clans still that do, but mostly...Mandalore is not what it used to be. Well, according to my mother."

As he spoke Kyllan did not budge, his head still hung shamefully. "I don't recall enough of what she told me to give you a precise accounting, but at some point many of the clans devolved into nothing more than mercenary thugs. And a once proud, honorable people became pirates, raiders, smugglers, bounty hunters, mercs and worst of all...slavers. Second to the Hutts I believe in the Outer Rim." A bitterness joined the dejected tone in his voice.

"When I was younger..well I didn't really truly know what slavery was. My parents kept me away from the less scrupulous clans and I had a few friends that I spent every moment I wasn't learning from my father or training....There was a girl among the group that I was always close to. Mena Valara. Hell, she was the first girl I fell for, though I didn't realize it until...a lot later. Mando, like me she belonged to a different allied clan. Along with her brothers and my cousin we got into pretty much as much trouble as you'd expect." There was a long pause as Kyllan struggled through the roil of emotions these memories brought up within him.
"A few years later, we're all older, more troublesome. Things between the clans get a bit..dicey and before we know it her clan, lead by her uncle now, breaks their alliance with ours and a few others and raids several of our strongholds at once. I was away with my parents on a smuggling run when this happened. So we only got word on the way back that things had gone sideways. Mena and her brothers walked right into our home, took everyone by surprise....my cousin...her daughters..." For a brief moment the trembling in his voice caused it to crack. "When we came home...the place was on fire...anyone who had resisted were killed and those who couldn't were shackled. Mena's clan sold the survivors into slavery...we never found out where or to whom. Though I tried my damnedest. Shortly after I bought the Entendre I went searching for them throughout most of the Outer Rim. So many slave markets...I never imagined there'd be so many. And every time the slavers saw me they grinned, greeted me as a valued supplier...telling me how great their last haul was that my people brought them." His lips formed a snarl as he spoke, a grimace on his face as if his stomach were turning.

That was when Kyllan's head finally turned to face Hart, eyes filled with watery remorse. "You know what the worse part was? Seeing the faces behind those cages, or of passersby on every world I visit when they see me. The hate, the rage...worse the fear...and the one word I hear most of all...monster."

Kyllan leaned back against the bulkhead, staring at the spent blaster in his hand, his voice barely above a whisper. "I don't want to be a monster..."

 

[Killa Ree]

She hadn't realized just how weak she really was until she nearly toppled over again, dizziness replacing the nausea. For a moment, she gripped onto Alisha as though she were the only reason she could barely stand on her own feet. Another grimace of discomfort to the sensation returning in her legs would have brought on another groan, but she bit it back savagely. Let them pity her all they wanted, but she was loathe to add fuel to that fire. Betrayed by her own body. If it weren't for her own stiff limbs and the last vestiges of the tranq that ran through her system, she would have strode out of here...

...to where? And where was she? Although, nothing nearly surprised her quite as much as the human female's kindness. Why? After berating her captain and verbally lumping him into one of the vilest categories ever, shouldn't she be at least a little resentful? Again, that uncomfortable, guilt-pricking conscious reared its' ugly head, and she clamped down on her lower lip. Both as a show of struggling to even damn walk, or to open her mouth and say anything emotional and stupid. Give her a knife any day, battling and navigating through asteroid-ridden ways were much easier to deal with than guilt or regret. She could never go back. That option was sold off behind her nearly two decades ago on the ports of Ryloth.

She continued to limp along, aided, and only then did she let her eyes wander a little in the personal quarters of the female... Alisha? "Thanks," she mumbled, swaying slightly when she released her. She gave another tight smile, but she seemed nothing more than worn through. The bunk seemed inviting, temptingly so, but she knew the moment she would lay she would toss and turn for several restless hours. Sleep would not come, perhaps for a long time. "I... I am sorry for my reaction. It's just..." there was a small shrug, and then her eyes lowered as though ashamed. She was about to say something else, but then came in Pippa, and the relief of seeing the water pitcher was evident by the way she slowly sank into the mattress, giving another thin smile. "I will eat at a later time... at least, when my thoughts are clearer." Her hands wrapped about the drink, taking at first a few tentative sips, then whole gulps. It was sweet, and immediately she could feel herself relax. She was unaware her shoulders had been clenched this whole time; she stared a brief moment at the kit, then the pair at the entrance to the quarters. Soon the container was emptied, but the thought of ingesting anything at that moment seemed the least appealing. Instead, she stood again, albeit very shakily, then stepped towards the two females, arms crossed beneath her.

"Thank you, again... if you wouldn't mind terribly, I think I'll wash and dress..." she paused at the mention of the planet in question. Tattooine. That place, again? It had been years.. and then the intercom announcement, and relief flooded those pale blue eyes. Maybe she could renew an old acquaintance. Perhaps... she turned and slowly picked up the clothing Alisha had given her and, giving a small, grateful nod to the woman, limped her way to the cleansers.

And perhaps burn that gakking dress when she was done.