- Joined
- Dec 13, 2016
- Messages
- 108
- Reaction score
- 100
She looked from her small Corellian Luxury Ship's cockpit window out towards the swamp world before her. Her back sunk slightly into her mauve leather seat as she exhaled, narrowing her eyes to absorb the view. In life, the common saying is to "not judge a book by its cover," yet planets were a different story. Manaan's oceans, Coruscant's cities, Alderaan's continents and seas all painted a vivid image of the world ahead. The Doctor's black gaze combed the planet, searching it from top to bottom for any hint of beauty...Yet she could see none. An anxious repulsion gripped her throat the closer her pearl-white ship drifted towards the planet's atmosphere.
This is a mistake.
She shut her eyes, feeling a tense chill run down her spine. I'm going to get robbed the second I land in a bloody starport. Her teeth gingerly bit down on her lower lip, Or...worse. She rapidly stood from her seat, pacing across the Corellian Vessel's pristine white corridors towards her chambers. Though taxing, she eventually found the closest things she had to resemble the lower class - a pair of brown slacks, plain black slippers, and a black tank top. She returned towards the cockpit, as a guttural alien's voice spoke through her comm system in Hutteese.
"1000 credits for Hangar 44. Daily - you don't pay, we take your ship."
She frowned, raising a distasteful brow. So much for pleasantries. Indeed, first impressions hardly mean anything out here, do they? She responded, "That won't be a problem. Hangar 44 it is." She paused, "Excuse m-" Too formal. "I want my ship alone, and unknown. Do you have any private docking bays?" The Alien shifted languages, now speaking in a tongue she couldn't comprehend. A rising pressure arose in her chest, They know I have money. That much'll be obvious when they see the ship. I need them on my side.
"I asked you a question. I want a secure, guarded, docking bay."
"10,000 a day. Hangar 48."
She smiled, 10,000 a day'd get you the cheapest bay in Alderaan. "Excellent. Thank you."
The comm channel cut with a distinct zip. Artemis' eyes shifted back through the cockpit glass, watching the ship descend into the Planet's atmosphere. Upon piercing through a layer of smog - her eyes widened.
Disgusting.
The only word that could describe the planet before her. The sleek Corellian Luxury Liner flew through the yellow-tinted skies with an established autopilot, as Artemis stood in awe of the sight. The Oceans - if they could be called that - looked of tar. Barren mountains of rock and willow trees covered the landscape, accompanied by buildings using the Hutt's signature circular architectural style. She rose a palm to her lips, covering her mouth momentarily. This place is an absolute Biohazard. Light shouldn't be scattering across the atmosphere like this - it's completely tainted. Her eyes glanced down towards the swamps, The pH levels here must be abhorrid. Too much hydrogen.
She paced back towards her chambers, hearing the ship's male automated voice respond speak across the ship:
"Landing - Nal Hutta Starport, Bay 48."
Artemis went to her closet once more, pulling a white scarf and wrapping it across her face and nose, to then cover her hands with a pair of tight-fitting black leather gloves. A moment later returned to her ship's cockpit, feeling the ship gingerly settle down onto the starport's surface. She tucked her datapad onto her tan slack's back right pocket, to then glance at her credit chip laying besides it. Walking around with over 5 million credits on-hand likely isn't a good idea. She paused, Then again, neither is landing a Corellian Cruise-Liner in Nal Hutta. She reached forward, grabbing the credit chip and tucking it within her right glove.
"Lower the hatch, I'm leaving," she spoke to the ship. "Don't open for anyone. If I haven't returned in 72 hours to the ship-"
The thought of a distress beacon or something of the like briefly ran across her mind. She shut her eyes and solemnly shook her head, Noone would come. "-Nevermind. I'll be back."
She turned towards the hatch, and took her first steps in Nal Hutta. Immediately, the raw stench of rancid atmosphere and polluted air struck her nose and lungs. She coughed, tucking her clean white scarf closer to her face. Her skin tingled as she walked across the starport, envisioning the multitude of skin diseases that accompany the planet. She shut her eyes as she paced across the dirt, I need to do some shopping while I'm here. I'll be damned if I'll be in this atmosphere without sleeves on for longer than 24 hours.
As she approached the Hangar bay exit, the doors suddenly swung open - revealing a wrinkled alien with three eyes. Her left eye twitched slightly, examining the mucus oils that covered the creature's skin. He spoke in plain basic, <"That's quite the ship.">
She rose a brow, peering at the alien from behind her black-rimmed spectacles. "Indeed it is. Is that a problem?"
He tilted his head slightly, <"Well, that certainly depends - why are you here?">
She straightened her back slightly, feeling her patience thin. "I'm here on business representing the Planet of Corellia. I'm paying extra for not only the security of this vessel, but also the privacy of my arrival. Correct?"
He shrugged, <"You think people don't notice pearly white ships in the sky when they land here? The fuck kind of privacy do you think we can deliver?"> She retorted, "The kind that keeps people away from my ship. Simply execute, and we'll conduct business. Is that fair?" The alien rose a hand beneath his wrinkled maw, <"Payment now. Not later.">
She glanced over her shoulder at her ship - seeing the boarding platform still down. She took a deep breath, reaching into her right glove for her credit chip. He reached behind his back, pulling forth a small datapad. Artemis took a step forward, holding it towards him. All three of his eyes widened for a moment, <"A Coruscanti Diamond credit chip. You're the real deal, lady. I've never even seen one of those."> She frowned beneath her scarf, "Take the damn money."
He inserted the credit chip into his datapad and returned it to her. <"Artemis Lou...Loure...">
A vein began to protrude on her forehead, dreading her sudden but blatant lack of authority.
"Are we done?"
The alien gave a brief smirk, turning his back towards her and happily whistling upon the acceptance of the transaction.
<"Welcome to Nal Hutta - enjoy your brief stay.">
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Moments later, she found herself in the center of the starport. Aliens, soldiers and armored mercenaries passed her by as she walked. Creeping chills ran down her spine as she continued through the town of Jiguuna, as out of place as someone could humanly be. She reached to her back pocket, pulling out her datapad and retrieving Lex's coordinates. Standing amidst the center of the town, she briefly eyed a small marketplace towards the south-east. She walked towards it, figuring that if she was going to stay in this place any longer - she needed some form of armament and attire.
Maybe I'll be find some help. Somebody needs to know Lex around here.
In the distance, a Trandoshan duo locked their gaze onto her, and began their approach.
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