Ask Nar Shaddaa Harrowing Haro

[Preef Callo]

Theme​

Location: Zaa Fenn Penthouse

Now that Kara Lok was trying to prove herself fit to become the new crimelord of the Zaa Fenn Crime Family, Preef had secured a modest penthouse in one of Nar Shaddaa's upper level skyscrapers. You know the ones plastered with billboards so you can see them from the floating palaces and casino's that block all natural light from the moon's surface. Here she uploaded the Zaa Fenn's databanks into the secured private server and reintroduced herself to the KnowOnes subnets.

But while she did that, Preef Callo reached out to an old friend the old fashioned way. Years ago, securing the support of the Mothraki Crime Family had been the only way to ensure the Zaa Fenn could move on the then leading family of the Crymorah Syndicate, the Xaa Hafven, and get permission to take out the Syndicate boss, Gori Xaa Hafven. While either Preef or Marissa were at the helm of the Zaa Fenn, their alliance with the Mothraki had remained. Now, however, with one presumed dead and the other's disappearance following the attack on their family three years ago, nothing was certain.

Thus Preef had invited both the illustrious Nor'baal and the crimelord of the Mothraki Crime Family, Haro Mothraki, to the penthouse. Preef had sworn both his peacemaker as the younger ringleader to Hutt's service and thus any deal that was to be made with the Crymorah Crimelord would naturally have to benefit the Hutt as well.

The main living room of the penthouse had a grand view of the Supreme Mogul statue and the Hutt sky palaces behind it. The landing dock was reserved for Nor'baal's personal skiff and all his favorite amenities had been provided for at Preef and Kara's expense.. or rather, at Kara's expense, and it had almost bankrupted her. Such was the was of the foodchain and it had been Preef's second lesson to her.. the first had been to shoot her whenever she opened her mouth without asking.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Preef had certainly proven his worth in the weeks that had passed since the long-thought departed Rodian had pledged himself to the Hutt's service. And, as Nor'baal stepped off of his skiff, it was clear to see that he was spending his well-earned credits well. Nor'baal was accompanied from the skiff by a smattering of guards; his faithful Gamorrean duo and a protocol droid, as well as a heavy-set Houk with a blaster about as mean-looking as his face. If ever there was anywhere that he didn't need to bring the 'whole set' it was here, deep in the heart of Hutt Space.

<Jee dotmay la lee chalya uba wa dan che copah.> Nor'baal spoke to his droid as he walked in. The automaton beeped at him ineffectually - speaking more sense than Nor'baal got out of most of his underlings most days of the week.

He was quietly impressed with the setting. The penthouse commanded good views of his statue below, which was doing wonders for the Hutt's ego, and the food on display was quite simply opulent. <Preef, hih bu lumpa uba gee yoieu wata.> Nor'baal greeted the Rodian as he entered the main room. The Hutt was pleased with what Preef had pulled together, a meeting with one of the other 'Commission' families of the Cymorrah, a person with whom the Hutt intended to do business - the easy way, or the hard way.

<Kaa Jee dayan bai bla bankop la yoieu wata?> he enquired, eager to ensure he had any information he needed, to get the upper hand from the off, ahead of what could be very fruitful talks indeed.

 

[Preef Callo]

The rodian was glad that Nor'baal seemed to content with the welcoming at the penthouse. Usually a Hutt of his stature didn't visit penthouses made for the lesser species and Preef had been a bit worried about the reception of his invite. Maybe that's why he had made sure to pay a lot of credits to ensure all Nor'baals favorite amenities were present. "Our visitor is called Haro Mothraki," he replied, remembering their earlier meeting, "He was more robot than sentient even back then. His family specializes in political connections and diplomacy, but their true strength lies in using the Droid Gotra," he paused to emphasize the next part, "more importantly; the Droid Gotra's brutality." No one was a more efficient killer than a droid that didn't have to worry about regrets and feelings of guilt. Haro was known to give the droids the most horrific orders to drive down a point with whoever refused to work with him initially.

A scoundrel Kara had hired to guard the penthouse suddenly came running to the room, "They're-" he panted, "They're here."

THEME​

The first thing Preef and Nor'baal would see was four KX-series Security Droids entering the living room armed, blaster pistols in hand and the barrels raised to the ceiling. Their chassis was altered, their eyes were red instead of white and everything about them screamed Droid Gotra Murder Machine.

Next came a eight foot tall human man who with enhanced robotic limbs and cybernetics instead of facial features. This was Haro Mothraki and he looked almost identical to the last time Preef saw him nearly twenty years ago.

Two more enhanced KX-series droids made up the rear. Haro walked straight up to Preef, "Boss Zaa Fenn," the mirth in his mechanical voice was unmistaken, "Back from the dead?"

Preef needed a moment to recover, but he had gotten used to the image of the Mothraki Crimelord when he presided over the Comission all those years ago, so he recovered faster than perhaps the Hutt would. "Boss Mothraki," the rodian made sure that Haro could see the peacemaker holstered at his side, "Still sentient?"

They exchanged a cutting silence. Despite appearances, the Mothraki Crimelord wasn't one for smalltalk.

"Let me introduce you to the Supreme Mogul of the Hutt Cartel," he turned and gestured towards the only Hutt in the room, "The great and omnipotent Nor'baal Desilijic."

Then he turned towards Nor'baal and gestured towards their guest, "This is the Crimelord of the Mothraki Crime Family, Haro Mothraki."

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Nor'baal nodded along as Preef bought him up to speed with the plan for the forthcoming meeting. Over his considerably long life, he had heard quite a lot about the 'Droid Gotra'. Thus far, he had avoided doing business with them beyond the occasional deal here and there. However, he knew how brutal they were in combat and in general. Normally the Hutt preferred to use the Order of the Night Wind when he needed someone taken out, but the Droid Gotra had their used when you really needed to send a message.

He nodded as the guard came scurrying in to inform them of the group's arrival and gestured to his guards to take their positions. The Gamorreans moved to flank their master, their hands dropping to their blades as the cyborg walked in.

Nor'baal smarted at the sight of the droids, who dared to come into his presence armed. He ought to have them flogged for importance, he lamented. Can you flog droids? Nor'baal did not know, maybe one day, he would need to find out.

The Hutt smarted some more as Haro all but ignored him, and made a beeline toward Preef Callo. It was a meagre attempt to belittle the Hutt, Nor'baal was certain, yet he paid it no mind. He nodded his recognition to the man-machine, and to Preef for the introduction.

As was custom, Nor'baal expected the presentation of gifts to be made - so he began, speaking as a slave entered, bearing a box and looking nervously at the titanic cyborg. "His excellency, the great and omnipotent Nor'baal, has prepared a selection of Coaxium Crystals, a form of native artwork from Jiguuna, in which the Coaxium Fuel is crystallised into jewels." the slave opened the box, as the droid continued.

"You are welcome into the presence of the Supreme One, who awaits your tri -" the droid quickly moved to rephrase "- gift in return." it finished, as Nor'baal - who had yet to speak, looked toward Haro, his face expressionless.

Finally, he spoke <Fa doth bankepie che hee ba bababekahea kankay dopa woceuea bai apoya, um jeejee gee kiuke bai setpika. Chobaso bai Yih Bmola> he said in Huttese, switching to basic as he said the mans name "Haro Mothraki." he concluded, offering a nod of respect to the other Criminal.

 

[Preef Callo]

The cyborg's eyes suddenly changed color momentarily and then one of the droids stepped forward, opened its chest chassis and retrieved a miniature diamond statue of Nor'baal's mother. Preef had almost forgotten that while Haro had originally been human -or thought to be at least- the robotics he infused in himself had prolonged his life significantly. He had been the crimelord of the Mothraki since before Preef was born and when Nor'baal still stood in the shadow of his mother. "A gift to remember where we came from," the mechanic emotionless voice said, before he looked at Nor'baal as his main conversation partner.

Preef's role in this gathering had for all intents and purposes already been concluded. He was no longer the boss of the Crymorah Syndicate and he only spoke for a crime family that no longer had the influence and power to be able to discuss topics on the same levels as the Mothraki crimelord and the Supreme Mogul.

"The Zaa Fenn said," Haro paused, his voice hinting just a little bit of disdain for the former kingpins, "you had a business proposition."

Kara Lok had done her homework. There had been no chatter that new self-proclaimed leader of the Crymorah Syndicate had ever met with the crimelords. In fact, judging from the information she had gathered, she guessed that Covax had no interest in crime and preferred to play at being a soldier for credits from within Corporate Space. Both Preef and Nor'baal had been briefed on this fact.


@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

His eyes narrowed as the small figurine was presented to him. It was of trifling value to him, yet the Hutt was aware of the craftsmanship that had gone into its forging. Yet there was something else to this gift - his mother had been assassinated some time ago.

Secretly, on Nor'baals orders.

He could count on one hand, well - with one finger - the number of people still living who knew that fact. Perhaps this was some sort of veiled threat from the Mothraki, or perhaps it was a mere coincidence?

Nor'baal did not believe in coincidence.

<Woy la ateema.> he looked over at Preef, wondering whether it had been him or Kara who had used such presumptuous words. Admittedly, he did have plans with the Mothraki, and intended to hold talks, in the usual manner - try to broker a deal, and thereby avoid sending in the Rancors, so to speak.

Nor'baal was keen to ensure that the Mothraki understood how business was to be conducted under his leadership of the Clans.

<Peee uba gee neu, kaa doth uonza hhont bu Yoskah bonee wagan cuee. Bu tokiy ahban doth dotkola kankahhacs, an doth bapy bai setpika cay uba kava da lwaa doth bahia bankop.> he began. Ideally Nor'baal wanted to see the Cyborg bend the knee to his betters but failing that, a deal could always be met from which all could benefit.

<Cymorrah gee uonza. Douacanh see mee pahma yatuka bai phiha, hocan bu Yih wonka bu kougine heee see yanee. Wonkee cha uba woy yanee cay ten, bai bahia bankop da heee see nem, peee tee?>

 

[Preef Callo]

When the Hutt turned to Preef, the rodian shrugged. How else was he supposed to get the Crimelord of the Mothkari Crime Family to Nar Shaddaa for a meeting? Dangle some parts or offer to comp his oil change? In the end, he figured it was probably wisest to just not talk at all. Let the ones who still had power do the talking while the rodians who only had their reputations left stayed quiet.

Meanwhile the cyborg crimelord seemed to ponder the Hutt's words. Centuries ago a war between the Crymorah Syndicate and the Hutt Cartel had almost wiped the Mothkari's out. Much like the war between the Five Syndicates and the Independent Systems Consortium had done to the Zaa Fenn. Back then Haro's family had to adapt to changing times and abandon the old ways of the old times. Was the Mothkari's Crime Family truly not better off now than it had been under Preef? He involuntarily darted his mechanic eyes towards the rodian gunslinger and then back to the Hutt.

"The new natural order hasn't been bad for us," he began in his mechanized robotic tone of voice, "We are guaranteed spice, despite the civilized world's claim on the worlds that produce it."

Haro's family was well-known for using their diplomatic connections and their skills in negotiation and deception to their benefit. For violence, thus also the distribution of the spice they got from Covax, they used their enforcer-branch; the Droid Gotra.

This admission did make Preef look at the Hutt in surprise, however. Guaranteed spice from civilized worlds? Was this a trick by the Mothkari boss? A deceptive statement to make them think that Covax had somehow wormed away a steady and significant source of spice right from under the nose of the very strict anti-crime worlds of the Independent Systems Consortium?

Turning back to Haro, the rodian couldn't help himself but to speak anyway. "Civilized worlds neither of us would be welcome on, Boss Mothraki." He said, referencing that one had the reputation of being an infamous yet legendary gunslinger and the other was so full of illegal cybernetics and enhancements that the first civilized world he stepped on would strip him of all of it and leave him dying in a prison cell.

If his robotic frame had allowed it, Haro Mothkari had shrugged. "Credits are credits. I can enjoy them from Hollastin just the same." Kriff, Preef was at his wits' end. Hopefully the Hutt had a better angle to play with the Crymorah crimelord.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the Cyborg was not as amenable to the Hutt's requests as he had hoped. Decades, if not centuries, of bad blood, existed between the two groups, and it was therefore not shocking that he was hesitant and standoffish. Nor'baal opted to change tact.

<Bu tam ahban caiot yoieu wa jakola cuecoudan.> he replied flatly <Paupe see mee cohkeon tee panwa bu boe jedahag uba gee, bu Gotra, che dopyacmi.> he stressed the name of one of Haro's 'familial' connections.

Allowing his words to sink in, Nor'baals implication was clear. If the Mothkari would not do business, safe in the knowledge they were 'welcome' in the civilised worlds, the Droid Gotra would be approached instead.

<Hollastin?> Nor'baal paused, as if deep in thought <Jee cha phaba bu Lanka gee neu mee phabeka kohpa gee bu Mothkari peekasa, che yanee dah tee planeeto?> he sneered at the Crime Lord, before concluding <In ting jeejee caiot wahuota hee dayan bai neu mee tah ukawa, see pacmhanaduee- cay mee pinraumaoba du bu mogka chagaph?> he asked, attempting to compel the man into agreeing to support the Clans in clearing the AMS off their worlds.

 

[Preef Callo]

If the cyborg could blush, then this would be the moment where he'd blush. Ever since Preef Callo and the Zaa Fenn almost obliterated the Hutt Cartel, took Nar Shaddaa and let the Hutts cower among civilized worlds like New Alderaan (which had seen a thriving Hutt community), the Mothkari Crime Families had stopped paying their tributes to whichever Hutt claimed to be Hollastin's Lorda by Hutt Council's decree. Up until today they hadn't restarted paying them..

..thinking that Covax would protect them from kicking up to the Hutt Cartel just like Preef had done. Instead, he had done the opposite and paid dues to the Supreme Mogul as if he was a mere crimelord under the Hutt's rule.

The computers inside Haro's head quickly came up with a more cost-effective solution to back-paying decades of Chapakh fees. "The Mothkari Crime Family will support the Supreme Mogul's efforts in the clearance project." Its mechanic monotone voice stated.

Preef was impressed. It had taken him and Marissa a considerable concession and a whole lot of credits to get Mothkari's support. Nor'baal as Supreme Mogul amongst the Hutts had merely threatened the Hollastin Crime Family's bottom line and got what he wanted. That was a power only the boss of the Hutt Cartel could wield.

@Nor'baal

 

[Nor'baal Desilijic]

Hit them where it hurts. Nor'baal would have laughed had it not been considered unwise to do so when confronted with a highly-strung member of a rival family. Both benefited from this deal; the Mothkari avoided paying backdated frees - which Nor'baal would almost certainly have massively inflated - and the Hutts got some more support on clearing the AMS from the 'Throne Worlds'.

<X'hoo tam, yanay dotmuaha dee Lanka.> his rumbling reply came, a deep voice that almost commanded respect. Nor'baal referred to the man as a 'Peer', a rare compliment that the Hutt certainly did not mean - a way of cooling the air after a heated exchange.

The addition of the automated forces of the Mothkari would aid immensely in his efforts to return the Hutt Core to the glorious majesty it had once enjoyed. The resulting economic boon would far outweigh the commercial inflow that the Mothkari paying backdated Chakaph could bring. He smiled, waved one of his hands and summoned slaves <Koose yocola an uyat che tee tam pateessa!> he commanded, concluding the events of the day with celebration, and thus celebrating their new 'alliance.