Open Plot Nar Shaddaa Scouting for the Site

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach smiled and pulled a small device from her belt and spoke into it. “You should have a fix on my current location. Please bring the small crate of spare parts to me.” From what was clearly a com-link, a series of bleeps were clearly audible. “Yes, the one that you say looks like a pile of junk.” She smiled at 3-B and Nara. “A memory wipe was recommended, but I appreciate his honesty,” she said. “It’s the droid I started building in the classroom. I finished him a week ago…And yes,” she returned her attention back to the commlink as a sharp burst of beeps could be heard, “I know the channel was still open. Please be quick.”

She pocketed the device. “Best to end the chat before he shares any obscenities. I didn’t even know droids could swear.” She looked towards the Rodian family. “Nothing too rude, but not pleasant regardless.”

She turned back to Nara and 3-B. “Once I get the box of junk, I mean spares, we can see what we have to work with. 3-B, could you start with anything you’ve detected can be fixed by simple re-wiring?”

@Fantasy Liver @Charndley

 

[Juniper]

Nara listened to the conversation Fiach had with her droid, chuckling at the droidspeak beeps. She couldn't hear everything, but she did pick up on certain words. And definitely the tone. She felt an odd moment of pride that Fiach had taken what she'd learned from the workshop and built her own droid... and they clearly shared a preference for droids with personality.

"They sound fun! Droids are always much more interesting with a little bite to them. The last thing you want is some dull, totally pliant protocol droid following you everywhere." She nudged 3-B, who looked up at her with a little shake of his head. He was only too happy to listen to Fiach and clatter off, heading towards a loose panel in the wall. The probe slipped out from his head as he started to fix the wiring, gentle sparks fizzing from the end.

"I should go and get my medical equipment from my ship too. Maybe take these two," she started to say, nodding her head towards the Rodians, "get them some sleeping bags or something. Maybe a blaster or two, help make sure they're kept safe." Brushing herself off, she moved towards the door.

"You okay on your own for a little bit?" she asked Fiach, awaiting an answer before she'd leave.

@Corbeau

Spoiler: OOC

I'm presuming Drow has left the thread. Not sure how much longer you/we want this to go on for! Maybe fix up the place a little more and call it there? :)

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach nodded at Nara’s words. “I wouldn’t change my little R2 unit for anything,” Fiach replied. “In fact, it is his propensity to challenge my thinking that I like best. If he simply agreed with me every time, I wouldn’t need him, would I?”

As if on cue, an R2 unit trundled into the shop, pulling a crate that must have been four times his size. He left it in the middle of the room and proceeded to wander around the unit, giving opinions on what he saw – in droid-speak naturally.

Fiach largely ignored him and instead turned to Nara. “We’ll be fine – and we can get on with the repairs whilst you’re gone.”

She immediately walked over to the crate and opened it, sifting through the parts until she found what she was looking for. “This’ll do,” she said, to no one in particular and she opened a panel in the wall and began to swap the charred and therefore damaged unit for the one she had found.

@Charndley

 

[Juniper]

Nara had to step out of the way to allow Fiach's R2 unit inside, staring at the huge crate it dragged behind it. Impressed, more than anything, at how sturdy the droid had turned out to be. Wow. Fiach's got skills. She gave a forlorn look towards 3-B, who's spindly little legs looked they'd they'd break if you asked him to haul anything more than a credit chip.

He makes up for it in personality.

She left the shop space with the Rodian pair, the boy excitedly following his mother. The stims in his system were perking him up something good now. He seemed almost normal, aside from the discolouration on his scales and skin. Nara smiled at his antics, leading the way towards the nearby landing pad she'd used. Looking around at the general hubbub and... well, ooze of life in Nar Shaddaa. Felt like normal... well, mostly like normal. A little more tension in the air. A little more... worry. Not just the usual milieu of hopelessness that underpinned Nar Shaddaa either. More like a sheer anxiety for something. It didn't exactly bode well for what was to come.

Once on the ship, Nara gathered her medical gear and stashed it in some bags. The Rodian pair gathered up some of their own equipment to enable them to move in. Nara stood by the computer on her ship for a little bit, wondering if she was just being paranoid. Eventually, she decided to do it. She tapped out a quick message to send to the Order. Just an update.

Knight Allam: staying on Nar Shaddaa for a while. Something seems wrong. People worried. Rumours about all sorts of strange things. Will try and help where possible. Details of location to follow.

At least if the whole moon went to hell, they'd have the location of her attempted clinic. Maybe they can make it a tombstone, just for you, Nara.

It was getting fairly late by the time Nara returned to the shop space, dropping bags of equipment in through the door. She directed the Rodians towards the back, where they could get some rest. With that, she started to get her own equipment out and set up a rudimentary space.

"It feels weird out there Fiach," Nara finally said, a little nervousness on her face. "Something's going on. It feels unsafe." Nara paused for a second. "Unsafe-er. More unsafe than usual. You know what I mean."

@Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach sighed audibly as her R2 unit’s continued griping about the location became a distraction from the task in hand. “If you have nothing helpful to say, say nothing,” she chided. The R2 unit stopped its torrent of bleeps and whistles in mid-flow and moved slowly to a corner of the unit. “And there is no point in sulking. Find something useful to do.” After a long pause, a few more bleeps could be heard. “I’ll let you decide. Work with B-3 here.”

Content that she’d solved the problem, Fiach returned to the task in hand and three new parts later, she closed the panel and wiped a greasy hand across her forehead. “Fixed,” she announced to the room. “That’s the aircon resolved – so no chance of getting cold or overheating. Next to sort out the security.”

Once again, she wandered over to the crate and fished out a few smaller components before heading to the front door and getting to work on the entry system. Something distracted her and she was about to scold her R2 unit again, when she realised the droids were working well together. “Oh,” she said out loud, and closed her eyes, connecting with the Force. Whatever had disturbed her was nothing tangible – it was a feeling, and the Force simply amplified the sensation. Shaking her head, she returned to the task in hand but when Nara returned, she was somehow expecting the conversation.

“I know exactly what you mean. I can’t put my finger on it, but there is something happening.” She replaced the front plate on the security system. “I’ve set it to recognise people and a code. One or the other won’t get you in, you need both. You just have to decide who you want to be able to have access to the unit.”

@Charndley

 

[Juniper]

She was glad that Fiach felt the same. At least she wasn't being completely paranoid. And she had a front door now, at least. With a much improved security system too. Maybe she'd have to get more security on Nar Shaddaa. A guard droid, perhaps? Or some sort of suppressant system. A turret would probably be too off-putting, unless it was concealed... okay now you're being very paranoid.

The air felt better too. The interior was already feeling a lot more comfortable. "That'll do wonders for the kid's black scale." She didn't know how many more times she could thank Fiach. Without her there, Nara wouldn't have been able to do anything like this. She had a place to start. A decent place to start and they'd managed to help someone in need out too. Not bad for a day's work.

"Well, I think we've managed to get a good space fixed up. And it's probably working better now than it has in a decade. Especially thanks to the droids," she said, waving over to them. 3-B beeped in reply, before scampering back over towards Nara, chittering excitedly.

"I think, the next time I head back to Ajan Kloss, I'll see if I can grab one of the old droids in the shop, work out how to rig it up into a guard. Just to be a little more secure," she thought aloud. "But thank you. Thank you so much. Once we're up and running here, we're going to be able to help so many people on here. We might actually be able to make Nar Shaddaa slightly more liveable. Imagine that."

@Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Unaware that she had a large grease stain smeared across her forehead, Fiach smiled at Nara. “I agree, it’s in pretty good shape. There’s only so much you can fix – you’ll need some hardware too. Maybe we could get some old gear that can be repaired, otherwise you’re going to have to rely on charity…which isn’t in great supply around here.”

“In terms of a guard, I wouldn’t dream of talking you out of it, but sometimes the better the security, the more attention it gets. There is a saying on Klatooine, ‘Nobody kicks a dead dog.’ When this was derelict, nobody batted at eyelash when they walked past. Now it has decent security, people will wonder what’s inside worth taking. Throw in a security droid and the kind of miscreant showing an interest steps up a level or two.”

“I have an alternative plan if you’re interested. I know of a Hutt nearby, and this is his turf. If it were known this was under his watchful eye, it would make a difference. I can’t promise he’ll help, but he owes me one…kind of. We could pay him a visit?”

@Charndley

 

[Juniper]

Nara tried, and failed, not to stare at the smear of grease on Fiach's forehead. She spoke a lot of sense though, particularly about security. Not wrong there. How could I be so dumb like that? I used to live here, damn it. She nodded and held up her hands. "Yeah. Quite right. I'm just getting over-excited."

Her next idea was quite interesting, though. The idea of being involved with a Hutt of all things was a little slimy to her. The last thing she wanted was one of them getting involved with things. This is a Jedi clinic, not a mob sawbones. Though Fiach Dubh, I never thought you'd have it in you. There's more to you than you're letting on.

"I'm not overly fond of Hutts, but... you're right. It couldn't hurt to have some limited acknowledgement like that." Even something as simple as a 'hey, leave this place alone' would be good enough. "You sure you wanna use up your leverage for this? Getting one over on a Hutt is pretty powerful."

There is definitely more to you than you're letting on.

@Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach’s brows knitted briefly before returning to their usual position. “Leverage is a strong word, especially when it comes to the Hutts. My Master and I saved his son a short while ago. In his eyes, he paid the debt by letting two locals go free instead of enslaving them. But I think I have the measure of his ego, and playing the role of defender of a Jedi clinic would be something he would relish – especially if we ask nothing in return. Because – and this is where we have the edge – the alternative is we let someone else take the accolade. Do I believe he’ll be a pushover? No, but he knows I’m not one either – and if I had to use up whatever goodwill I’d generated, I can’t think of a better cause.”

“So, are you still in?”

@Charndley

 

[Juniper]

Nara was.

"Oh, I'm so in. I've got to see this." Not only was it helping out the clinic, it'd be a lesson for her too. She considered telling Fiach that she'd be a natural for the Nar Shaddaa underworld with her logical, focused and determined attitude... but she held that back. Didn't want to offend her. Besides, they were all just lucky she was with the Jedi.

"3-B, I'm heading out with Fiach! You keep up the repairs. Be nice with the R2 unit. And whatever they say, you listen," she told her droid pointing to the tenants as she grabbed her small backpack, her blaster and checked her saber was still clipped to her waist. Heading out into the street and waiting for Fiach, checking her datapad. Hoping that Fiach's measure of this Hutt would be worth it.

It will be. We can do this. And then we'll have made a real difference here.

She waited for Fiach to follow her out before looking out beyond the street. "So, where to? Where's the slimy guy hanging out?"

@Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach didn’t even say a word to her R2 unit as she prepared to leave – before he bleeped a short message. “Yes,” she replied, smiling, “that means you have to be nice too.” There was another short set of beeps and whistles. “And yes, look after this family and do whatever they want that will help us get this clinic up and running – and more importantly self-sufficient. We won’t be here in a few days and I can’t leave until I’m sure I’ve done all I can.”

She returned her gaze to Nara, who was exiting the unit. Catching her up, she nodded in the direction they were facing. “It’s about six blocks from her in that direction.” As they walked, Fiach’s brow knitted momentarily and then she spoke again. “Do you know, despite working together often, I don’t know much about you – and what’s even stranger is that we share the same Master. We should chat as we walk.”

Fiach rarely did ‘chatting’ but since becoming a Knight felt more comfortable in seeking knowledge about people, especially if they were to work together.

@Charndley

 

[Juniper]

"No problem. Sounds pretty nice. And you're right, I don't know much about you either. I think we might've met way, way, way back when I first became a Padawan." The mention of their shared Master made her a little more solemn. It'd been a long time since she'd talked to him. She wasn't sure how to feel about it, aside from the general squirminess inside her stomach.

Does he still mean more than just my trainer and teacher?

"There's not much to tell about me, really. I grew up here," she said, waving around them to the general Nar Shaddaa-ness, "I was found by some Jedi and taken to train. Oren was my master, then he got himself arrested and I had a bunch of masters for a while." She neglected to mention her... interesting reputation in the Order, which she was sure Fiach probably knew already. You shout at them one time when you're 17...

"How about you then? You said you were from Klatooine, right? What was it like for you?" she asked, genuinely interested. "If you want to share, I mean. I don't want to pry."

Tellmetellmetellmetellme

@Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach, fortunately, had a vice-like memory. Not one piece of data was ever lost in the database that was her mind. Of course, she knew that this huge benefit came at a cost – her logical brain was inadequate when it came to social interaction and she simply did not understand inference at all. But she was learning strategies all of the time to compensate wherever possible.

“Yes, we met, and we’ve been on missions together, but we haven’t spoken properly.” Given Fiach had hardly spoken to anyone, this was not precisely strange – for she found small-talk awkward. But she was a good listener and focused on Nara’s story, an eyebrow raising from time to time. “I didn’t know about Master Oren and prison – but if he wanted me to know, he would have shared his experience no doubt.” The fact he was now a Jedi Master meant more to Fiach than any prior incarceration – even if he were guilty.

“As for me, I always thought I was average – but looking back…” her voice trailed off, her recent visions flitting across her mind. “I was an orphan and raised by a same-sex Klatoonian couple who owned a repair shop. Which is why I’m good with my hands. One day I was out in the desert looking for spare parts and I came across three Jedi, who recognised I was Force-sensitive and one took me as a Padawan. She disappeared and so Master Oren agreed to continue my instruction.”

She looked up, down and everywhere except at Nara before stopping abruptly and stared into her fellow Jedi’s eyes. “You know Force visions, in crystal caves and the like. Well, mine tend to be the same and every time they happen, more is revealed. I think…maybe…I have a sister and we were somehow cloned. I don’t know enough to be sure, but if the visions are true, I may be some experiment – and I have a sister walking around somewhere, who may just be looking for me.”

@Charndley

 

[Juniper]

"He didn't deserve it, really," Nara was quick to add, sharing her opinion. "But I shouldn't be bringing up the past like that. It happened. It all happened. There isn't much to do but learn from it."

Her comments made Nara smile. "Fiach Dubh, you are anything but average. You're pretty exceptional." Nara listened to the rest though, stopping with her in the middle of the street as she spoke. Taking in her words and her story, nodding when she mentioned force visions.

"Wow. That's a... that's a lot." Suddenly, Nara felt rather boring and normal. "A sister? An identical one? Sorry, stupid question, she must be if you're a clone of her. How do you know? That's... incredible," she admitted, though she didn't doubt Fiach. She was far too serious and logical to make something up quite like that, particularly on the spot.

"Have you told anyone about that in the Order? Like, Oren or someone higher up?"

@Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach cocked her head to one side and then continued to walk as she remained silent for a few moments, taking in what Nara had said. “You know how you get Force Visions,” she talked as if this was a natural part of being a Jedi and presumed they’d all had them, from time to time. “For example, when I crafted my saber, I had them. And when I found an old Jedi temple with Izel I had them. Then there was this Dark-sided cave. Anyhow, every time I have visions it feels like the same story, but a little more is revealed. A room. Two cots. Two babies, similar but not the same.” She closed her eyes momentarily. “But the same eyes, yes – the same eyes. And one had a name tag…Fiach Dubh. And I haven’t been able to read the other one. And words, voices. Of an experiment.”

“I was found on Klatooine as a baby and adopted as you know. What you won’t is that the only thing I had with me was my name. On a datachip. My name is Fiach Dubh. And no, I haven’t told a soul before now. I don’t even know what’s real and what might be the Force showing me something allegorical. Maybe it’s telling me that nature wins over nurture. That my decisions are mine and aren’t set at birth by your DNA?”

@Charndley

 

[Juniper]

Frowning slightly, Nara shrugged and lied. "Oh yeah. Force visions. Yup." She hadn't had any force visions, really. Bad dreams, sure. But she expected that those were pretty common, not just limited to those who could feel the Force. Though it was to be expected. Nara wasn't exactly a prodigy with the living Force, in the way that Izel and Fiach could probably attest to. Mediocre Force user represent.

Still though, it was an incredible story. She'd always assumed that Fiach had a fairly uninteresting, happy upbringing. Which it sounded like she had, but she could have never guessed the mystery behind it. The fact that she'd never told anyone else before made Nara feel very... well, privileged. Strange, too. Are... are we friends? Did that just happen?

"I don't know about nature vs. nurture. I mean, you can always change based on your choices and experiences. I don't know about you but I wouldn't be who I am now without everything that's happened. Without Master Oren." She bit her lip, trying to push it from her mind.

"Have... have you thought about going to find out? See what you can find back on Klatooine? There must be something. A lead you can find." They kept walking as Nara pushed her hands in her pockets. "I... I've thought about trying to find my parents, where I come from, but honestly? You could have a twin sister somewhere. That's... incredible."

@Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach nodded as they walked and spoke. “The nature versus nurture debate has gone on indefinitely and never truly been resolved. My upbringing was a poor one. Abandoned as a baby, raised in near poverty and subject to a harsh environment in so many ways. I could easily have ended up a petty criminal as it would have been an easy way out of my situation. And yet I didn’t. Whereas many around me did. So is that my DNA playing a part?” She shrugged. “Far greater minds than mine have debated the subject without a conclusion.”

“The idea of investigating has occurred to me from time to time. But firstly, I don’t want to become obsessed with it, given the oath not to become attached. Secondly, I know there was no obvious clue on Klatooine. I was simply left in an orphanage. I think these visions are likely to be my only chance of finding out the truth. But as I say, I don’t want to dwell too much on it.”

She looked around before pointing, “It’s next on the next block on the left. So, have you had to deal with the Hutt before?”

@Charndley

 

[Juniper]

"Speaking as the former petty criminal, you coulda ended up in exactly the same place." Though Fiach did have a point. The only reason Nara was with the Jedi at all was because she revealed her Force sensitivity in a fight and word got to a pair of visiting Jedi. Otherwise she'd still probably be running through the tunnels... or working for one of the Syndicates.

Or dead.

Nara didn't push the matter any further. Fiach would, in time, decide whether or not she'd do anything about it. Nothing for her to think about.

"This Hutt? No. I had... dealings with a predecessor. Or a rival. I'm not sure how it all worked out. A couple of friends of mine took some uh... product from one of his warehouses." She looked away for a second, slightly ashamed of her past. "I had some interesting ex-boyfriends. Still, it was maybe five years ago? I'm hoping nobody remembers me."

It'd be just her luck to have her ambitions ended with some Hutt recognising her from her crappy past. Turning to the left onto the next block, Nara followed Fiach and held her hands behind her back.

"What now? Think you can talk your way in, or are we... inviting ourselves?"

@Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach nodded at Nara’s words. Second guessing was rarely a fruitful exercise, unless you could learn from it. Simply wondering what if was never a good investment of time – at least not in Fiach’s eyes.

“As much as this is going to sound crass and potentially racist, my understanding is that – to a Hutt – one human looks much like any other. Especially after five years. And, to be fair, I didn’t spend any time discussing his history or how he came to be controlling this patch.”

“His name is J’agga the Hutt, but prefers to be known as Mighty J’agga – you know what they’re like for flattery. I certainly don’t trust him, but he has proven to be true to his word – you just need to be careful which words he actually utters and agrees to. And he has a protocol droid that translates for him.”

By now, they’d reached the block that represented the Hutt’s headquarters and in response to Nara’s question, Fiach said, “I always prefer the simplest approach possible.”

So, she went up to a huge set of double doors and gently rapped on them with the butt of her saber hilt. A small window opened and Fiach smiled in response.

“We are here to see the Mighty J’agga. And the we are two Jedi Knights. And yes, it’s official business.”

@Charndley

 

[Juniper]

"Oh trust me, the feeling is very much mutual when it comes to recognising one Hutt from another." Oozing, huge and slimy. 99% of all Hutts described in three simple words. She kept quiet though as they approached the Hutt's building. She knew how prickly Hutts were about... well, everything. Particularly if they were in charge of some turf. The appropriate amount of respect would be necessary and Nara... well. Nara was Nara.

Nara was surprised at how direct Fiach was. It did sound impressive though. Two Jedi Knights. Enough to stoke the curiosity of J'agga the Hutt? Enough to flatter him that they'd seek his attentions and support? Well... they'd find out soon enough.

After a brief silence, the double doors opened. A small screech of metal-on-metal as the doors parted, showing both Jedi a frazzled looking protocol droid and a very serious looking Gamorrean guard. Nara's eyes instantly fell to the axe that the guard brandished. Still made her twitch.

"The Mighty, Illustrious J'agga welcomes you both, Master Jedi," the droid said, it's eyes focused firmly on Fiach. "Please, if you will, this way." It turned and started to walk down the hallway as the Gamorrean looked them both other and followed. Nara took a breath and followed, stepping down the hallway as the doors closed behind them.

Down the hallway were arches and open doorways, leading into different parts of this... building? Compound? Through one, Nara saw a few other Gamorreans talking, grunting, laughing over some shared story. Through another, Nara saw something like a ramshackle cantina, with various shady people clutching at cups and glasses, the air hazy with smoke.

The droid lead them both further on, towards the back of the building. Another set of double doors that started to open as the droid approached.

"The Mighty J'agga is most interested in what business two Jedi Knights have with him," the droid shared, in a disconcertingly cheery tone.

@Corbeau