A Different Treasure

[Saeros]

The wookiee kept up the conversation. He actually seemed like he had a good head on his shoulders, unlike this paranoid boss of a pirate. The irony of the situation was laughable, and Nora was clearly taking advantage of this. The two Shadows would definitely laugh about it later. For now though, he inwardly grumbled as he clearly observed the smirk that tugged at Nora's cheek. The question on the difference between Jedi and Exiles was outrageous to the Rishii — he'd have given a lecture on the abomination of the Dark Side and their total lack of empathy, compassion, and care for the needs of others. Of course, his tirade in Rishii would fall on deaf ears. Nora seemed to be catching on, though.

At her comment on them being "soft", the pirate scowled even further and shifted in his chair with indignation. "This was sure as hell wasn't soft," he spat, a hand brushing his mangled lip. He clearly did not like whatever dealing he had with Tanda Winters. Fysekk looked nervous, but he also looked like he just needed a little push to spill the beans. Saeros intended to do just that, calling upon the Force once more to subtly give him that mental nudge. A little prodding, a little encouragement. It wouldn't hurt to tell the story, right? Explain how boss got his mangled lip. It was a tale that simply needed to be told, who was Fysekk to hold it back?

 

[The Wook]

Soft? Jedi were soft? Like...fuzzy soft or soft-hearted? They didn't seem that way from the war. Serenno was a testament to how un-soft the Jedi could be. "Awwgggghhh aaaaahnr," he growled, thumping his hairy chest with an equally hairy arm. He watched as the betting progressed. Messed-up lip folded with a sneer. The bets went back around to The Wook. He thought for a moment, wondering if he could get away with another raise. Even if everyone folded he'd get the money and if someone also could get to 20, they'd just split so... "Huuguughghg uughguughhhghghghhhgh uughguughhhghghghhhgh uughghhhgh huurh raaaaaahhgh?" he asked as he slid forward two hundred credits in chips. Maybe someone would bite.

Messed-up lip just sneered again and crossed his arms, clearly not willing to talk much. The Wook resisted the urge to roll his eyes. He would, but he didn't really want to get in a gun fight right now, even though he'd totally win one. Dead pirates didn't tell him where this Jedi broad was. He looked around the table. "Uughguughhhghghghhhgh awwgggghhh, uughghhhgh? Huurh huuguughghg raaaaaahhgh wrrhwrwwhw huurh huuguughghg huurh aaaaahnr wrrhw hnnnhrrhhh uuh?" he asked the other pirates. Fysekk appeared uncertain, the wiry pirate chewed his lip a moment before speaking.

"Oh man, nah, don't go after her, it was a shitshow," he began as he ignored his boss' annoyed glare. "We was at the old Renshirii Shipyards, they've been abandoned ages now, just rusting half-finished wrecks. We thought we could cash in on that bounty, you know? Finally break into the big leagues, get a new ship and stuff. We'd chased off some of those Exile guys, I think they was lookin' for her, you know? But like...she just tore through us. Half of us were knocked down with that stupid Force stuff before we knew what hit us."

 

[Nora Grazioso]

Nora quirked an eyebrow to the Wookiee as he growled something about finding the Jedi without any leads. Welcome to the party buddy... was all she could think. She felt a shift in the Force, her own senses reached out feeling Saeros in the waves and Fysekk started to speak, looking a bit more confident than before. What he described surely was their councilor, but what concerned her was his description of some dark siders. Though concerning, it wasn't surprising; Nar Shaddaa was a variety pool.

The Jedi Knight pressed her luck in the game, dropping a few more credits in the pot and taking a hit from the dealer and it landed her a 2, giving her a perfect hand of 20. Nora's pazaak face kept her hand a secret though as she waited for others to start folding their hands.

When Fyseek finished, the gimped lipped Pirate looked livid. He pulled out his blaster and fired it at Fysekk's head, a point-blank shot that he couldn't avoid. The dancers screamed and everyone was at attention, hands over blasters, some pulled, Nora also hand her hand on her own blaster. All eyes were on the Pirate.

"I told him to shut his gob." he growled, "Anyone object?" he then sneered and many returned to the game and the music once more started to played. The Zeltron girls around Saeros were upset, looking to hide underneath his feathers for safety, their hands feeling everywhere on the bird person.

There was silence at the table as the remainder of the pirates either played or folded their hands before it returned back to the Wookiee. Nora didn't like the silence and spoke up, "I enjoy a good hunt, I don't care about credits, I look for the prestige." she started, her green eyes floating from the men who looked at her before they fell on the head pirate whose blaster now rested on the table for quick access if anyone else wanted to describe his bruised ego. "I get credit for the kill and you can have the credits for the saber." the girl offered.

@Vosrik @Clayton

 

[Saeros]

Ahh, and so it seemed this Wookiee was looking for Tanda Winters as well. It seemed their interests aligned, although for two entirely different reasons. Saeros was quite sure that Tanda was capable of holding herself against a single bounty hunter, likely even two or three. The Rishii let out a strange noise that could only be assumed as a laugh at the Wookiee's comment on how soft he was. Saeros was more than willing to bet that his own white-and-beige plumage was much softer, and he had a trio of giggly, grabby Zeltron girls to prove it. His chest feathers poofed out again in pride, despite his ironic dislike for people actually daring to touch his feathers. If Nora hadn't reprimanded him earlier, these humans would likely be losing fingers. Saeros was certainly no cuddly cotton ball with eyes.

And with that, Fysekk had spilled the beans. The Rishii had honestly surprised himself, the pirate did not need much pushing and spared no detail in their encounter. It then was no surprise to Saeros when Fysekk's body dropped like a sack of potatoes after the point-blank shot. Nora continued the bounty hunter charade as the Pazaak game continued, offering to take credit for the kill of the prestigious Councillor. Saeros twisted his head to Nora, letting out a low but very noticeable hiss. If they were indeed "bounty hunters", the Rishii was particularly interested in also taking credit for the kill. Looking back to the leader pirate, Saeros' beak opened and he said slowly, "We will take this honour," surprisingly in Basic. This would undoubtedly be the first time Nora had ever heard him speak in anything other than his native tongue, but he had to play his role.

@Clayton @GABA Ren​

 

[The Wook]

The Wook didn't flinch as the pirate shot Fysekk, though his hand did drift a little closer to his own blaster, just in case. You never knew with these people. He shrugged indifferently as the pirate asked if anyone had a problem with what he'd done. The Wook kinda did, Fysekk had helped him after all, but this wasn't the place for hashing things out. Not when he was pretty outnumbered. A thin wisp of smoke drifted up from the now-dead Fysekk as the game resumed. Saeros then clarified that he and Nora were a team.

So the bird-thing spoke, it had been standing so quietly on the corner that The Wook had almost forgotten about it. He was curious about that bird now. Was Saeros related to chickens? Had The Wook eaten some of his cousins? What did Saeros think of hot wings? Did he drink beer? These were important questions that needed answers, and that was enough to make him agree to letting the two tag along. "Awwgggghhh, huuguughghg aarrragghuuhw. Huuguughghg huurh uughguughhhghghghhhgh raaaaaahhgh uugggh aarrragghuuhw-aarrragghuuhw uughghhhgh wuuh huurh huuguughghg," he growled to Nora as he flipped over his cards with the the addition of the card from his side-deck that brought his total to 20.

"Hnnnhrrhhh huurh huuguughghg raaaaaahhgh uughguughhhghghghhhgh wrrhwrwwhw uughguughhhghghghhhgh uughguughhhghghghhhgh huuguughghg, huuguughghg," On Nar Shaddaa, that was quite the statement, and it wasn't an inaccurate one. The shipyards and surrounding slums were a hotspot for underground manufacturing of weapons, clunker gunships, and everything else that a wannabe-warlord could possibly need. There were frequent turf wars breaking out, and strangers drew suspicion. How the Jedi had survived there was beyond him. She must be something else.

 

[Nora Grazioso]

The mangled lipped Pirate looked at Nora and laughed, "Sure thing, sweetheart!" he took a drink from his stein. He clearly didn't believe the girl could do it, if several of his men were taken down, what chance would she have. Not to mention, he wouldn't be losing anything from it, only gains if they were successful.

The Knight though quirked her eyebrow, clearly sensing his doubt, her eyes floated to Saeros, who in all the time they were here, he just now decided to speak basic. It was hard not to show him a what-the-hell look as the Wookiee also said he would join them. Great... not that they couldn't use the help, but knowing the Wookiee was not a Jedi and probably really was in for the credits, it was going to be a pain to get him off their tails when it was all done, successful or not. The Wookiee then flipped over his cards revealing a Pazaak of 20. The girl looked down at her own hand and voice rang in her head as though it were of some distant wisdom: Let the Wookiee win...

She couldn't disagree with it, she'd rather not have her arms pulled from their sockets or at the very least get shot in the back while hunting for the Jedi Councilor. So, the girl shook her head and tossed the cards into the discard piling, forfeiting her hand.

Finishing her drink, she set down the glass, "Then, we better not waste any time." she said rising from her seat, "I'm sure you'd want those credits as soon as possible."

The Knight stepped over Larry, who was just coming to, groggily trying to figure out how he had gotten on the floor. Nora didn't bother paying him any additional attention as she headed out of the Pink Room back into the club where now the music was more upbeat and there seemed to be twice as many dancers and three times as many more patrons. There seemed to be also enough pheromones to sooth a bull rancor that floated in the air and enough that the Jedi Knight needed to trust her senses in the Force to keep her focused enough until they got out the door.

Expecting the Wookiee and Saeros to follow, she waited for them next to some unguarded speeders, where they could take them to Renshirii Shipyards.

@Vosrik @Clayton

 

[Saeros]

The Rishii caught Nora's gaze. He hummed with amusement, seeing her fighting to keep down her confusement at his use of Basic. True, he could speak it, though he simply chose not to as he was more comfortable speaking his native tongue. Saeros was sure his partner would have...strong words for him later. It appeared their business here in the lovely pink room was over, so Saeros shook off the Zeltron girls with a level of contempt and followed the Shadow out the door. He readjusted his belts and holster, preparing for the mission at hand.

He followed Nora to the speeders, but didn't get in one. Spreading his wings and gently flapping them, Saeros stated, "Amin nauva aphadlle." <I will follow you.> He felt far more comfortable in the air on his own wings than in a speeder. It was likely he could keep relatively good pace with them too, unless they drove at the highest speed they could. It excited the Rishii to think that they were seemingly hot on the trail of the Councillor. Winters was one who Saeros looked up to, despite never actually having met her in person. The ability to elude the Jedi and Exiles for so long was incredible. There was a spark of doubt in the Knight however, as he thought that Winters would not allow herself to be caught or found unless she wanted to be. This in mind, he prepared himself for the possibility that they would find nothing more than clues to her whereabouts.

@Clayton @GABA Ren​

 

[The Wook]

The Wook grinned and collected his winnings, worth well more than what the crate of liquor had cost him. Today was looking up to be a pretty good day. He just hoped he could keep the profits flowing. "Aaaaahnr raaaaaahhgh uugggh," he growled to the pirates as he stood from the table. His winnings went into a pouch and he grinned. "Uughghhhgh huuguughghg uugggh." All that was left was to go to the Renshiiri Shipyards and find this formidable Jedi chick. He briefly considered packing a rocket launcher. The Shipyards were a nasty enough place without throwing a dangerous Jedi into the mix. He decided against it, however, these two would likely continue without him while he made the detour.

They went in his speeder, well, Nora did. Saeros elected to fly which was another really interesting thing about the birdman. Birdgirl? What gender was Saeros? Birds all kinda sounded the same. They were chirpy. The surrounding neighborhood grew more dismal and dangerous. After a certain point, open gunfights became the norm. Pretty soon a large pillar of black smoke reached into the horizon ahead and The Wook brought them up to a higher altitude for a better vantage point. Even from here, a few kilometers away, the heat was intense. The Shipyards were burning in a tremendous conflagration, which was impressive considering they were mostly metal. A serious weapons manufacturing operation inside must have gone very wrong to get this sort of reaction. Emergency crews were just sorta standing by, waiting for the blaze to go out. Their only concern seemed to be to stop it from spreading to other buildings. "Uughghhhgh huurh huurh uugggh huuguughghg aarrragghuuhw," he growled as he brought the speeder to a stop.


End.