City Lights

[ZeroOrgan]

If there was one thing rails hated about Nar Shadda, it was the polluted air. She had been here for ten years and still couldn't stand the pollution. Rails shook her head, focusing back on the task at hand. She moved through the streets, deathly silent, her hat tipping over her eyes lightly, her gaze flowing downwards, just enough to avoid hitting into someone. Cries of beggars and crime rang through the air. Rails kept her casual pace, it was sad that she had become used to such things. On Nar Shaddaa, It was kill or be killed. Every man, woman, and child for themself . Rails sharply lifted her head for a moment, glancing to her left and down to her feet, a young Twi'lek girl, begging at her feet , extending her hand . notioning for a few credits. Rails was a sucker for childeren, kneeling down and placing a good 50 credits into her hands , Rails remaining eerily silent, though smiling. The Twi'lek girl, nodded in thanks with a giggle, and ran off. A few odd stares at this occasion caught Rails attention, she shrugged them off for her own good. Rails then moved onwards. She had been contacted by a crime gang, inquiring if she could do a favor for them, She had to go find some burly Rodian in a trench coat, in an upcoming Cantina, and talk about gang relations . She quickly took a sharp left into the Cantina, and glanced around for her target. But for the moment she coughed, as some of the lingering smoke from...something, in the Cantina caught into Rail's lungs, it wasn't hard to spot the Rodian. And she quickly moved over. test

She sat down, and glanced to the Rodian, He chuckling and speaking in his hometounge, Thankfully , From her experiences, Rails knew the language.

"So, you wish to talk about our gangs working together? I didn't expect you but, You'll do~" the Rodian chuckles.

Rails shook her head, simply smiling, and returning a few words "Down to business"

The Rodian chuckled, moving a hand for his blaster "Yea.. , They owe us a few favors, fitting they send us a future slave~"

In the meantime, several shady figures approached and lingered from the darkness, this would be evident for sometime before the Rodian lowered his hand to his blaster.

 

[TAC]

Nar Shaddaa was fun.

The world was famous for being a full of scum-bags, low-lifers, and just general bad-doers. It was also packed to the teeth with weaponry and all sorts of death-do-da's which meant a generally bad time for any that crossed the wrong scummer. Ra had found himself here often over the years, tracing down a particular fleeing corrupt governor or ruthless murderer. It was an amazing place for that type to blend into the crowd.

Of course, what it wasn't was great place for trees. It was hard to find an appropriate place to perch, as the permacrete or whatever was completely devoid of sentient vegetation. But Ra had reasoned that it wasn't necessarily inconceivable for one of the local cantinas to have some decoration. And while the local owner might be a bit perplexed by the new added greenery, she hadn't investigated too closely, which worked well for the Neti.

The shapeshifting tree had already tossed the government official she was pursing down a fifty story drop, but without any other pressing business, she had decided to enjoy himself for a few days - see what she could find. The being had been meditating for about a day and a half, perched as a decorative piece above the scum and villainy that had entered the place. Normally Ra preferred candidates who were actively engaging in evil-doing for his pursuits, but there had been a few bad eggs she couldn't pass up. For this, she used an old trick she had developed - the scum would accidentally find themselves pricked by the large tree, undoubtedly to their chagrin. In fact, the Neti had inserted into them a small, poisonous seed. Over the next week it would take root in the being's flesh, and eventually cross a blood-steam where it's poison would attack their nervous system and kill them. If they noticed the seed before then, which was certainly possible, they could cut deep into their flesh to try and remove it, potentially killing themselves or even possibly damaging the seed while it was inside them and nonetheless dooming themselves.

The Neti's soul smiled at the thought.

But alas! Here, some evil-doers indeed. The Neti carefully watched the young human as she interacted with the others, judging quickly for herself the character and stature of the being. She decided this was a worthwhile intervention. She wasn't sold on the being herself, necessarily, but she was certainly not despicable enough for Ra to allow her to be made a slave.

I think not, wermo, the Neti vibrated in Rodese. The Rodian and his crew of motley evil-doers looked around, a bit confused. The words had vibrated seemingly out of thin air. Once of the patrons sitting in a booth underneath the tree looked up, terrified. He backed up and out of the booth, never taking his eyes off of the decoration.

"I-i-i-it's alive!" he declared, before spinning and rushing out the front door.

A tree branch became suddenly more flexible, and shot out and through the throat of the scum standing next to the Rodian. He gurgled as the blood spat out through the gaping hole in his trachea, his neck uncollapsed only because of the three inch tree branch that had rammed clean through it. On the other side of the Rodian a tree-vine limb snapped out, wrapping around the neck of another of the Rodian's roadies. The man, who obviously had some access to air, grabbed at the tree branch around his neck and let out a blood-piercing scream. Ra smashed his head off the ceiling, and while the screaming stopped, his legs continued to kick. Ra smashed his head against the ceiling once more, and let his limp and no longer kicking body fall to the ground.

 

[Silas Amory]

Silas Amory had recently left the Senate. A somewhat tragic piece of news, but when one saw how the Senate was run, they would see that there was little that could be done to mend it corrupt state. So, rather than keep everything on the low, Silas left and resumed his status as a well-known (in remote circles) criminal mastermind. He had decided to invest in this cantina on Nar Shaddaa as a place for the illegal spice trade and backroom black markets to flourish.

Amory sat in an armchair in one of the raised alcoves of the cantina, smoke curling up past the low railing as women danced and bouncers bullied people into spending their hard earned credits on booze and drugs and women. He was dressed in a sharp grey suit, perfectly tailoured to his slender body, with a neat silk black tie. His pale blue eyes wandered about the patrons until his gaze caught sight of a Rodian thug talking to an anachronistically-dressed human. He knew the body language, he knew the dance; they were forging an alliance.

Silas thought for a moment, contemplating the advantages. He gestured to his side distractedly and an almost towering Zeltron woman in a professional suit drew towards him.

"The Rodian, with that woman." He pointed. "I want them. Up here."

The Zetron bodyguard nodded politely and stepped past the bouncers, down the steps, and onto the main cantina floor. She wove through the crowd of being with purpose, but still discreetly and silently despite being at least half a head taller than most of the patrons. She quietly approached the pair at the table before the commotion started. A tree manifested to life, the Rodian ran. The Rodian was skewered and gored about the room as several of the bouncers drew their heavy blaster pistols, leveling at the beast. Patrons ran and panicked and caused a massive surge of bodies through the building, looking around for some sort of answers. The Zeltron drew two heavy blaster pistols, one each leveled at the bloody tree and the human woman. At this, Silas Amory stood up and approached the railing, slowly assuming his authority over his cantina. The people stopped and their eyes found him leaning over his place of business and all fell silent.

"Simple," He began shifting his weight as he leaned. "You move, you probably get shot. Go back to your tables slowly. No one leaves until questions are answered." He looked around at everyone's terrified eyes, letting his commands sink in as they began shuffling about, taking care not to bump into the some 20 armed bouncers dotted about the cantina. "I believe we have an understanding."

He waited for the human woman and the... tree(?) to come cleanly and allow themselves to be at least restrained. Resistance would most likely be met with volleys of blaster fire, under which any being would succumb in short time unless they attempted to simply escape.

 

[ZeroOrgan]

Rails stared blankfaced at the Rodian, before her glance shot to the tree like a few bullets, she stared at the tree breathless in a sense, seeing a tree pretty much destroy a whole gang of criminals , armed to the teeth. BLAM , BAMPH, The cracks to the ceiling and to the poor mans skull gave Rails the feeling of loss of control, Rarely, she was scared. Usually she could've easily handled all of them, but having a tree do it? in a few seconds was ..scary, to her, and she was even more terrified by the large amounts of armed goons, , She looked up towards the suavely dressed man, her expression unchanging as she lifted the brim of her hat, standing, and placing her arms behind her head, sighing lightly with an agitated look, remaining silent as always.

 

[TAC]

The tree, seeming no more a sentient than any other tree (besides the devilish branches that had brutally murdered two people), carefully and slowly reassumed it's original position. It was the size of any other indoor tree, it's branches no longer flexible, but rather quite strong as the bark hardened and retook its natural shape. It was on the space between two booths, not threatening or endangering anyone, not higher than two meters tall in the dingey cantina.

The tree was nothing more than a tree, of course.

And so it did not respond. It simply sat there.

Better to see what the child does with herself, Ra mused, quite pleased and contented. It was fun to brutally murder evil-doers.

 

[Silas Amory]

The Zeltron stepped forward and shoved one blaster pistol into the girl's back. Three guard stepped around with their weapons at rest to the front door, blocking it. Four others stepped around and all kept an eye on the... tree, as it simply sat there. There weren't any other trees in the cantina, so it kinda sat there out of place.

"Walk." The Zeltron commanded the woman, indicating the steps to the upper alcove. Silas awaited their arrival, finally retaking his seat and drawing from a glass of Moscato Spritzer, savouring the drink's sweetness.

 

[ZeroOrgan]

Rails sighed in agitation , she hated this situation . Out numbered and force to do their will, lest she would get a blaster blast through her spine. She opted to survive, biting her lowerlip in anger, before going to step forward, keeping her hands above her head, her eyes lifted for a moment ,giving a glance to him, it was hard to read, full of conflicted feelings of curiosity and anger. Alas he arrived on the platform, across from him, silent as the dead. A blank stare, and a good pause, before she spoke .

"Cant a woman hold her own? Without..a tree..or, some , " She paused , smiling "Bootlicking guards , interrupting my fun?"

 

[Commissar Brett]

"Ah, you misunderstand. There is nothing for you to handle, as this is my establishment." Amory smirked, sipping at his spritzer. "However, I do have a proposal for you." He gestured openly to the seat in front of him, giving her freedom to move as she pleased about the alcove. "You and that Rodian were striking a business deal, but I am curious as to the particulars that were to be discussed before... Well..." He turned his gaze to the bloodied tree.

 

[ZeroOrgan]

Rails paused for a moment, deep in thought regarding what had just happened. Before deciding to take a leap of faith, going to step forward still eyeing the man as she had taken a seat in the comfortable chair. Taking an idly glance at the guards behind her, before turning back to the man, smiling. "It wasn't really business, they were using my life to pay a debt my gang owed to them I assume, given what the Rodian said. Ill be paying them back with a few bullets." She paused for another moment tapping her chin. "Ahh..well, Im Reddia, Most people call me Rails though"

 

[Silas Amory]

"Ah, a story of life owed to crime. I can relate, more than people realise." Amory chuckled a little. "How about I make you a little deal?" He leaned back, steepling his fingers in thought. "I give you the resources to hunt those men down in a manner as to not almost get yourself killed, and I give you some paying work when it's all said and done? I have more connections than even most Hutts, and I can practically promise that you'll make plenty of credits brokering deals through me."

 

[ZeroOrgan]

Rails pondered this, was it worth working for someone who forced her by gunpoint to his private little area, and gives her this little nice slice of happiness act . She didn't like it very much, but it was very hard to refuse, If this man said was true, she would be in for a ride. "I'll think about it.." She simply said "In the meantime, while I do. Mind if you give me a place to stay? Relax abit? I can pay for food and all that, and I aint askin' for services, merely somewhere to sleep without worrying about gettin' shot~"

 

[Silas Amory]

Silas had to think, look around, become aware. She was uncomfortable.

"Boys, why don't we put the guns away for now, at least up here? She's no longer a threat." He waved most of them away and let her relax a bit.

He pulled out a datapad and starting pulling up apartment lists for the properties on Nar Shaddaa under his control. Areas he could almost guarantee protection. The only problem was... well, it was still the most crime-ridden planet in the Galaxy. That was the point of it, anyway, and Amory liked the lack of true laws here. He turned the datapad to expand the view of the list and leaned over, handing it to the woman.

"Pick a place, and consider it yours. Everything comes with fine print, but I won't try and screw you. I only screw my enemies."

 

[ZeroOrgan]

Rails paused, glancing over at the datapad, smugly and casually taking it to look at the apartments. Her eyes scanning over the apartments, and over every apartment read her smile widened tenfold. She glanced back up to Silas, and then back to the guards to confirm their weapons no longer being focused on her. She smiled back to Silas, tipping her hat back up. "Hmm.., You really are somethin..'aintcha.." She giggled, confidently plucking her finger on an apartment. "While we are here.." She had moved to hand the Datapad back ."If I were to work for you, what do I gain from it?" Rails questioned , peaking curiosity and interest in this man.

 

[Silas Amory]

"From me?" Silas leaned back and thought. "You gain protection, resources, connections, some of the most well-paying clients in the galaxy. You get you choice of my services, and you gain the access of my pleasant company." He listed with confidence, offering her enough to make just about anyone's mouth water. The last little bit was a joke obviously, but the rest he was very serious about. "So... deal or no deal?" He put his hand, as an offering of trust. Though he rarely liked the gesture, he knew its importance to other people.