Ask An extra boost wouldn't hurt

[Seyd Mac]

Vaccine Acquisition Mission - Zaa Fenn

Modern times had brought a lot of scrutiny against the Zaa Fenn. Seyd had been a member for not terribly long and had not made a name for himself yet. Simple jobs as a slicer and boring grunt work didn't make a famous criminal. In an odd way, the big bad target painted on the crime family made more opportunities for the slicer to rise up. This was one of his biggest opportunities to date and he did not want to fail. Instructions were to meet a Hutt Lorda on Nar Shaddaa and accompany him... it? ... to New Mandalore to negotiate. Seyd was flying his shuttle, the Rum Lover IV, and was already fully equipped for the mission. He wore a nice suit with the usual blast vest underneath it. It never hurt to be protected but it always hurt to look ragged for a business deal. It wasn't some assault armor but it would offer some protection. His blaster was tucked away in a holster under his suit jacket and his electronics gear tucked into pockets.

"TeeBee, set us down at the upper industrial starport. We should be meeting our... glorious partner... there." Seyd said with a casual, almost sighing voice to the droid at the controls next to him.

Of course I get paired with a karking Hutt for this job, he grumbled internally as he landed on Nar Shaddaa and got ready to meet with this Hutt for their mission.

A shudder signaled that the shuttle had touched down in the starport. Seyd instructed the droid to remain with the ship and keep it locked up. One last check of his gear and instructions ensured he was prepared before disembarking to find the meetup location. There was a private pad in the port belonging to the Syndicate that only VIPs like the Hutt could use. It was there he was supposed to find this Nor`baal. He had the respect to come early and knew the procedure for greeting a Hutt. Even if he internally disliked them, they had power that Seyd needed to leverage.

<<Toogi, Lorda. Moi sa Seyd um mee am unko tah go u tah newpa mandalore. Sa honor tah be noleeya do.>>

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

<Jee dotmay uba uoh bu yanay Jee gee batesneh bai uba cay cahcata uba bai bapacmon mi dah tah ketea.>

“Certainly, most serendipitous of sages. I shall most assuredly recall this visit for the rest of my miserable days.”

<Harrumph> the Hutt did not believe his considerably well-built guard, a Twi’lek with a face like an angry paving slab. Ever since he had collected the creature from his outfit on Llanic, the sneering little snipe had been a little to ready with compliments. It made the Hutt...uneasy.

Nor’baal sniffed the Twi’lek, and pondered what to do with him. An accidental acid bath perhaps? He considered, wringing the stem of his hookah pipe, affixed to the side of his hoversled as he formulated yet another plan to murder his minion. Or maybe I could feed him to the tromonid , he wondered before correcting himself on two fronts - he could not feed the Tromonid this creature, no no no, he was far to large, and he would not wish to waste any of the creatures venom on his worthless lackey!

All this thought of murder was making him hungry.

Now he would make a tasty aperitif, Nor’baal smacked his lips with his revolting tongue as he saw Seyd approach from his ramshackle looking shuttle. <<Toogi, Lorda. Moi sa Seyd um mee am unko tah go u tah newpa mandalore. Sa honor tah be noleeya do.>>

He shuddered - he even speaks Huttese!

<Sa, bu yanay doth mee Seyd.> he chortled, handing Seyd the Tromonids holding jar, the creature inside jabbing its pincers at the glass side of the jar in Seyds direction as he did so <Han mah sahuaka, an oto vo bu paiheua dah- bu fierfek doth kanu koumhaptece cuee ai uba.>

With that, Nor’baal waved for the man to follow him, as they headed toward the location of their meeting with the New Mandalorians.

 

[Seyd Mac]

The feth is this? Seyd nearly rejected the jar from Nor'baal at first glance. The creature inside was some disgusting poisonous thing apparently. Xenozoology was not on his resume and it never would be. A cradle of sorts was created with Seyd's arms as he accepted the large jar. Clinking noises as pincers met glass were unsettling to say the least but he couldn't show it. A slight cringe was all the slicer allowed before moving to follow.

Next up, Seyd turned his focus to the Twi'Lek mercenary or whatever it was. He seemed to be an employee of the Hutt. Likely just there to make sure the Hutt wasn't assassinated by his partner or the Mandalorians. Seyd figured he was not an issue for the moment, as the pair were supposed to be working together. The Hutt itself was what one could expect. Large and a bit disgusting. Not much else to say.

"Don't tell me we're bribing Mandalorians with this creature..." He said quietly as they continued moving.

@Nor'baal[/abbr]

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Pah!, Nor’baal audibly scoffed as his erstwhile accomplice spoke. <Wa bidovah? Nobata nobata nobata. Wa pacahla, see bmala.> he replied, a grin forming across his face as he added <Panweba mi.> about as convincingly as a Jawa selling ‘high-end speeders’ in Mos Espa.

Ahead of them the doors to the New Mandalorian building slid open, far more easily than most doors on the Hutt worlds - showcasing their technological edge. From the opening, three figures emerged. A well dressed human female, and two guards bearing electro-staffs, a common weapon in this all-to-pacifistic world. Nor’baal continued toward the representative of the New Mandalorians, who despite her extensive diplomatic training, allowed a thin look of disgust and shock to appear across her face.

“This is quite the….” the woman paused “...surprise. The Hutts have normally kept to themselves, especially after your kind unleashed the virus onto us.” she added, opening the discussion. Nor’baal smiled through the undiplomatic introduction as finally, the woman introduced herself “I am Shae Ishla, Junior Representative. And you are?”

“His Excellency, Nor’baal Desilijic Fa’athra, Eminence of Teth and Supreme Being of Kessel, and his servant, Seyd, thanks you for your kind welcome to this planet-” a protocol unit made the introductions before being silenced by a hand gesture from the Hutt who continued where the droid had left, speaking in basic “Thank you Shae, you honor the clans by accepting to meet us here. After all that has passed, and with all the crimes committed by the cowardly Zaa Fenn, when they manufactured the AMS virus, and distributed it through Lorda Durr, the Hutts are keen to make amends in his, absence.” the Hutt boomed.

 

[Seyd Mac]

It was tempting for Seyd to just shoot this Hutt on the spot. He was here as a partner to represent the Zaa Fenn, not to be a servant for this Hutt or to be excluded from the plans. Before he could really protest much, they'd already arrived and begun conversation with the New Mandalorians. It was ridiculously insulting to be presented as a servant while the Hutt grabbed full control. Someday, everyone would respect him as a Zaa Fenn.

AMS made by Zaa Fenn... I doubt it. Probably actually the Hutts just trying to frame us in opportunity. He almost said out loud as he heard the Hutt pander to these people.

Visibly, Seyd gave a bit of a glare to the protocol droid to perhaps signal to the clearly disgusted Mandalorians that Seyd didn't like the Hutt either. At least not at this moment. The Junior Representative, Shae, gave a slight smirk towards the Slicer who likely seemed more like someone she could work with than... a Hutt. She turned back to Nor'baal and spoke in response.

"I see... so you came to make amends. And want nothing from us in return?" The passive aggressive tone was hard to miss and wasn't the most professional note, but the New Mandalorians had hardly any trust or love for Hutts. "You'll have to forgive me for my shortness considering our... long history... with the Syndicates."

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Out of the corner of his eye, Nor’baal saw the Zaa Fenn agent attempting to hide his displeasure at his suggestion that his family had been the architects of the virus. Seyd did exceptionally well at concealing it, but when you had been alive for 108 years, a certain degree of attention to detail was easy to develop. What also did not escape his notice was the reaction of the New Mandalorian representative, Shae.

Nor did he fail to detect the tone in her voice.

“Amends?” Nor’baal was unsure why he was continuing to use that word, there not being an adequate comparison for it in his native Huttese “That and far more I assure you. Since the death of the traitor, Durr the Hutt, the galaxy has erupted into a tidal wave of prejudicial attacks against my species. The assumption that all of us must be held accountable for the actions of one of our number is rife. Here on New Mandalore, I know you have a more advanced way of thinking.” the Hutt remarked.

The New Mandalorians and their warlike counterparts on Mandalore, for example, were all too often compared.

“So what is it that brought you to us?” she replied, curiosity plain in her voice.

“Healing.” he replied flatly “Across Five Syndicate space, thousands die each and every day of a virus we can prevent, together. We have come to negotiate access to the vaccine.”

 

[Seyd Mac]

Seyd suddenly became quite aware of the creature in a jar he was still holding. It seemed to settle for the most part and had stopped jabbing at the glass for a few moments at least. Horrifying little thing couldn't possibly be desirable to peaceful New Mandalorians. The Slicer was trying to figure out the Hutt's angle here, and whether or not he'd have to step in to save this whole ordeal. A Hutt could speak for a hundred years and say nothing. This was feeling like the case to Seyd so far.

"Access to a vaccine that is freely available and shipped to whoever wants it?" The diplomat was quite skeptical now and put a hand on her hip as she glanced back to her companions. "Our supplies of the vaccine are more than adequate. If you need more, why not go to the source?"

She had a point. It seemed odd at first glance to go to a random third party for vaccine supplies. The Syndicates had an odd approach here to say the least. Seyd wanted to wait for the Hutt to get to his plans, but this was clearly going down a hole. He couldn't sit and be the silent servant any longer.

"It is better to build a relationship where one is needed, like between the Syndicates and yourselves, than to go to the source." He retorted quickly enough, giving a side eye to Nor'baal.

Plus, a large government entity that would want nothing more than to destroy our holdings does not need our trust and population data. Seyd thought to himself, rather than saying that bit out loud to the diplomats.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

"It is better to build a relationship where one is needed, like between the Syndicates and yourselves, than to go to the source."

Nor’baal shifted in his recliner as he briefly considered having Seyd flogged for his insolent tone. However, after a few moments of thought, he decided against it - these peace-loving Mandalorians most likely did not find corporal punishment as appealing as the vastly more civilised species, the Hutts. Plus Seyd might actually be correct.

Deciding that Seyd was merely echoing his own excellent idea, Nor’baal smiled and nodded along as the human spoke adding “Indeed, my partner,” Nor’baal rapidly promoted Seyd from his former position as a servant “- is most assuredly correct. An agreement between our two organisations would benefit many. It is why I have come with something to augment the offer.” he gestured to the glass jar containing the Tromonid.

“A gesture of goodwill. This insects glands have healing properties.” he added, as the New Mandalorian looked at the creature “I have never seen it’s like Hutt. We shall have it studied. But tell me - why should we exchange vaccines for this, creature?” Shae enquired, as Nor’baal kept his face impassive.

She held the Tromonid Jar up, and looked at it with a wry smile. Fascinating. “As you can see, its thromboid gland is swollen!” Nor’baal added, allowed a smile of his own as he gently suppressed a small button on the side of his throne, allowing the door to the jar to slide open and the Tromonid to leap on Sheas arm, and slam a stinger into her exposed flesh, its gland emptying of venom as it did so.

“Argh!” she yelped as the Hutt chuckled “You mistake me, Mandalorian. You should not exchange vaccines for the Tromonid, but rather for the anti-venom in my possession!”

L

 

[Seyd Mac]

That was a big nope from Seyd. The door opened to the glass jar and the creature left. So did the Slicer. He set the jar down as he quickly backpedaled from the immediate range of the critter. Both of the Mandalorian guards had been suspicious so when something went down, they were quick to react. One of them went to the aid of their diplomat while the other activated his electrostaff and lunged to stun the large Hutt in defense as Shae began falling to the floor.

"Don't try anything, no one has to die here." The slicer drew his pistol and pointed it at the guard cradling the diplomat. He'd let the mercenary, bodyguard, whatever that Twi'lek was protect the Hutt. Seyd couldn't care less if the Hutt got seared a little upon failure. They wouldn't kill Nor'baal, which is the only bad mark on his reputation. Returning with a dead Hutt Lorda would be pretty bad for his reputation.

"S-s-stop..." Shae begged, fear in her voice as she spoke up. "I'll give you as many as you want. Just save me,.."

Didn't take her for a coward. Guess some only have a weak front. Makes our jobs a bit easier. Wonder if the Hutt even plans to give the antidote once we have the goods... Seyd thought to himself as he watched the Diplomat beg for her life and abandon all principle. The guards would likely even be surprised by it. The Slicer kept his pistol aimed at the one guard but motioned with it in a shooing motion.

"You heard her. Get us six full crates of vaccines. Enough for a whole Nar Shaddaa District."

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Taking the correct amount of time to bask in his own genius, Nor’baal sneered at the New Mandalorian, Shae, clutching her arm as she looked up at the colossal Hutt. Briefly he considered just not giving her the anti-venom and letting her go through the ‘Fourteen Cycles of Trancendant Agony’, which, according to expert Xenozoologists, she would soon experience as a result of the Tromonids sting. Yet, here on a foreign planet, just littered with do-gooders, perhaps murdering their Representative wasn’t a great idea.

Even the Representatives guards failed to acknowledge to order of things, as one of them lunged at him with an electro staff no less! Deeply irritated by this show of events, Nor’baal slammed his tail into the lunching guard mid-leap, sending the heroic guard spiralling to the ground.

<Ateema, uba bla mee lumpa Konbouaheon, dah mee lania!> he gasconaded, switching back to Huttese now the upper-hand was theirs.

"I'll give you as many as you want. Just save me,.."

"You heard her. Get us six full crates of vaccines. Enough for a whole Nar Shaddaa District."

Excellent, everything proceeds as planned. And now for the coup-de-grac. he thought with a sadistic grin <Jee hatkocanh pha uba, Shae, um jeejee dayan batapiha. Jeejee dayan bu doth gahke dee janse- hahcena wahkepala see tee tam kankahuesa.> Nor’baal remarked, as he waved forward his Twi’lek, who held in his hands, a large collar.

<Hee jeejee lwaa woy wa bargon. Kuna kee chakaph bu camai see Yih Bmola cay mee noplena, an Jee lwaa chakaph haku doth bidwata.> he produced the anti-venom phial and held it in a pudgy hand, as the Twi’lek slammed the collar in place around Shaes neck. <Che Nor'baal, vee ye wanya catke cohka, haku doth bo.>

He threw the anti-venom at Shae, who scrabbled to catch it as the Hutt turned back to his yacht and threw back a parting remark in basic, at the guards “6 crates, every cycle, and you can sleep easy knowing I take good care of my property.” Nor’baal laughed, as Shae, her new slave collar in place, followed him back up the ramp to his yacht.

 

[Seyd Mac]

Yet another unexpected twist. This Hutt certainly had a way of negotiation. Seyd was unsure of the longevity and optics of a move like this during such times, but maybe the recent Zaa Fenn scandal was just the distraction this Lorda needed to seize more power for himself. An understandable thing to take advantage of, considering the slicer was doing so himself as well.

The guard who had left to grab crates returned fairly quickly, surprising Seyd a little as to them just having it ready to go. That meant it was inspection time. Empty crates would certainly anger the Hutt. A couple more guards were helping push the repulsor sleds with the crates, but seemed just as poorly armed as the first two.

"Hold up. Open them. We don't want to give empty crates over, do we?" He nearly hissed at the Mandalorians, keeping his blaster aimed in their general direction. "Shae is property of the Desilijic now. If she is replaced as a representative, she becomes useless property to toss out. Make sure your bosses know that."

A cute wink was given to Shae as he finished the last bit. As long as she was the contact for the Syndicates, she was safe. If the New Mandalorians wanted a less compromised diplomat... well her life would be pointless. Why have a slave that can't be useful anymore? These pacifists wouldn't dispose of her and she clearly was scared to die.

Six crates each with what seemed to be proper vaccines. Perfect first shipment. Seyd patted the last one inspected and shooed the guards towards the Hutt's transport with his blaster. They begrudgingly obeyed as Shae was gone now and had clearly told them to cooperate. A new necklace was quite cruel and Seyd certainly wouldn't have gone that route himself. Hutts were notoriously harsh, even for criminals.

That should do it... seemed easy enough. The Hutt sure was prepared...

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

"Hold up. Open them. We don't want to give empty crates over, do we?" perhaps this human was more astute as to the ways of crime than Nor’baal realised. Empty crates would certainly be the sort of double-crossing he himself would have pulled, indeed; it was a subtle, yet artistic swindle! "Shae is property of the Desilijic now. If she is replaced as a representative, she becomes useless property to toss out. Make sure your bosses know that." Nor’baal smiled to himself as he continued to glide back to the yacht - this human was very useful indeed!

<Jot ten bolla.> he gestured to Seyd to follow him up the ramp and back into the yacht, with their business now concluded on New Mandalore. Pleased with the days negotiations, the Hutt could return to Hutt Space in triumph, new vaccines, with a ready supply, in tow, as well as a new addition to his pool of slaves.

/endthread