The Prodigal Son

[Attom]

The Prodigal Son​

The Empire, a faction known for it's corruption. It's treacheries against the young Zeltros, and his Hutt affiliation, were coming to an end. Attom traveled to Zeltros, his home world, to liberate it from Imperial occupation. Before realizing it was too late, Attom was faced with few choices after assassinating the citadel Captain and his Inquisitor friend. So he did what anyone would do..... maybe? Escaping into the open streets, Attom looked at security as they circled around him. In a desperate attempt to avoid prosecution, he looked to the sky and fired a series of shots into the cab of a surrounding hover-craft. As it spiraled it destroyed everything in it's path. Security, vehicles, everything came to a fiery, and unfortunate, doom. A distraction would provide a few precious seconds to escape, and it did.


Not a second passed, however, before Attom started his craftily escape, running like never before. Dodging bullets were an acquired skill, of course, but it was one of his best. He vaulted an oncoming speeder and activated his thrusters, jolting him into the sky while he directed towards a landing platform. He peeked back and saw an oncoming craft only to be grazed by it's turret seconds later. Rolling over, while still maintaining speed, he drew his blasters and let out burst-after-burst.

"Boss," voice shouted, "it's time to leave! I have a squadron of imperial fighters on my tail." Attom quickly activated his wrist-com and retorted, "Bring the ship around," he growled, "it's time to leave." He slowed his ascent and dropped down onto the hood of the craft, breaking the glass with his weight and throwing the pilot to his doom. "Rayla," Attom growled, "I'm coming to you." He quickly pushed in the controls and sped off further away from the city, following the array of laser fire.

"I don't know if we'll hold together that long, Attom," she retorted, "we've taken quite a few hits." Attom rolled the craft adjacent to the ship. As Rayla looked forward, she could see Attom getting out of the craft and standing on the nose, signaling her to come around. "Lower the ramp," he said sternly. Moments later, a long and sturdy shaft separated from the aircraft as it moved closer to theyoung Hunter. Attom tapped his wrist, thrusting upwards as he caught the ramp and pulled himself into the bay. "I'm in," he yelled out, "take us out." Rayla struggled to get the ship steady as they took fire. Rolling and strafing through the city was harder than it looked and the ship wouldn't last much longer with those fighters on their tail. "Move," he hissed, "prepare to make the jump." Attom flipped the ship on it's side and flew it through a series of structures before reaching the mesosphere of the planet. With one strong push, Rayla forced down the hyper drive handle and the ship jettisoned into space.

"Well," Attom started, "unfortunately, the ship is going to need repairs." "Obviously," Rayla snarled, "where are we headed, Captain?" Attom scratched his chin, contemplating what system would be the best to lay low on. Nar Shadda was the closest Hutt world in their starmap, but the amount of attention they would attract with a Jedi ship, however, was not worth the hassle. He decided to go the extra mile and touch down on the cartel home world, hopefully they would recognize his signature after his disappearance. "We're headed to Hutta." He said as he began cruising towards the crime-ridden home of the Hutts.


Furthermore, after coasting in towards the planet, Attom sent out an ID signature. "This is Dral'Tracen requesting permission to land on Hutta." Hopefully, not likely, someone would recognize the signature and the voice before sending a blaze of fire at them. It had been months since Attom was on Hutta. The last time he was here, he and his counterpart Zane parted ways. Attom didn't explain why he was leaving, only that he was. Although he left so abruptly, Zane mentioned a name, Yuri, he was supposed to be an expert in the cartel. He'd search for him to lower his notoriety, perhaps that is where he would find Zane.

 

[Zay]

Hutta wasn't my favorite place in the galaxy. It always felt a little to tense for my liking it was almost like someone was gonna shoot you for breathing the wrong way here. "Oh, well..." I said to myself as I meandered through the hall of some glorious Hutt. I had essentially become a errand boy for Yuri. I wasn't really too happy about it but I knew Yuri was a good connection to have so I dealt with the mundane jobs in hopes that one day he would say "Hey Zane come here let me teach you this crazy fighting technique!" or "Hey Zane, I want you to have this star ship in me for all of your dedicated hard work." but unfortunately I live in the realm of reality where shit like that doesn't tend to happen.

I dropped off the blasters to the weapon smith Yuri asked me too and was heading for the shuttle launch area. "I getting real tired of this Yuri... I have enough patience already!" I said out loud on accident. I quickly glanced up to see a particularly ugly human merc eyeing my a crazed womp rat and let out a little sigh and put my head into my hands "I really need my own ship.... I wouldn't have to deal with this kinda stuff with my own ship..." As I waited for the shuttle to Nar Shadda I thought about my previous boss, Attom. "I wounder what that Chula is up too?" I thought and then leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes opting to get a little shut eye before driving myself mad.

 

[Gaja]

Theme​

And while the sun was setting on the horizon back on Nar Shaddaa a certain man was in his own world. His hands wrapped, white boxing gloves on and a mouth piece. Beside that all he wore were a pair of blue fight shorts as he unleashed combinations on the 200 pound heavy bag in front of him. Jab, straight, left low-kick, right straight, left hook, right high kick. That was the combo he was doing over and over while all sorts of fighters were doing their techniques.

The sweat comtinued to drip down as they were in the middle of training. It was an intense atmosphere no doubt. There was no yelling or even talking. No one but the main coach could be heard, the only thing that one could hear was the breathing of the fighters and the sound of the bags getting hit. It was a diverse group, no doubt. Trandoshans, Kushari, Gammoreans, a few humans and even a Wookie. But despite the massive group and the diversity of it the discipline couldn't be overstated.

At the end of the round Yuri took a look at the clock, wondering if Zane and the others had completed their jobs. While he barely spent two seconds thinking about it the Cartel Captain saw Samael on the other side of the room and thought about the other night when he visited the fights a few sectors down on Walking Street. By now Zane was turning out to be a reliable and hard worker, so Yuri figured it was time to hook him up properly instead of just paying him.

When he got back from Hutta he'd have to get him a place in the Corellian sector, to have him close. A personal ship and some proper guns. He needed to represent, not only the Hutt Cartel but Yuri as well and since he showed promise Yuri would reply in kind. But he'd get on that the next time he saw him, right now he had a 250 pound Trandoshan in front of him that he needed to focus on smashing...

---

Local port control was in a bit of an uproar right about now. Dral'Tracen, as he ID'd himself wasn't familiar to the new port captain who did everything by the book and called it in. Their records showed it being a ship that docked here previously but it also had the work 'Jedi' attached to it. Meaning that Attom would be allowed to dock without getting fired upon but was also requested to stay in his ship until they could confirm his identity.

Since the Dushkivic clan ruled this side of the planet, which was Vero's clan, the man called it in with them. But with everything that was going on, the war mainly, the port captain couldn't get a hold of anyone he was supposed to. So since everything was a mess he decided to give Yuri a call who usually docked here when he came to Hutta. With Yuri busy his adviser Olec directed him to one of their men planet-side. Zane Galla, a new guy would come by to confirm everything. Neither Olec nor Yuri should normally be bothered with this kind of stuff but the man was new to the job and didn't want to get killed in case it was some undercover agent for the Cartel or something...

And so Zane got the call that there's a situation... Maybe it was fate...

 

[Zay]

BZZZTT!....BZZZTT!....BZZZTT! "What the hell is that?" I thought in my semi-conscious state. My eyes shot open as I realized my Wrist comm was going off. "Oh shi-" I scrambled to wake up and flick on the comm before the call dropped. I wasn't used to using this thing or having it on me to be honest. Yuri had insisted on it and I relented. I cleared my throat and answered at the last second.

"Ahem uh... This is Galla." I said in my best I totally wasn't kinda sleeping 30 seconds ago voice. "Zane Galla report to the Port Control Office Immediately your presence is required. That is all. Out." I sat there a little, okay, a lot confused and then decided to just go with it. I hopped up off the crappy chair I had been in and started heading to the Control office. "What in the hell could they possibly want me for?" I grumbled as I walked out of the waiting room. I took my time getting there because I really didn't enjoy random people spouting orders at me and stopped at the near by Caff shop and grabbed a Caff to go. I took a sip and smiled "I love Caff with blue milk." and then I continued on my merry way to the office.

When I arrived the little man wasn't as relaxed as I was. He looked like he had been sweating for six months and he acted like he was walking around in a room full of thermal detonators. "Something I can help you with, Boss?" I said as I sipped my Caff. "I need you to verify this person's identity! Now!" I cocked an eyebrow at the man and clenched my jaw "This little son of a- Easy killer. Dude, is just trying to do his job take it easy." I thought as the little man continued to scurry about the office. "I'd be happy to, Boss. What's the ID?" I asked as I lifted the cup to my mouth. "Dral'Tarcen." upon the mention of the name I spit caff all over the sweat covered little man. "WHAT! Are you sure!" Wiping at his face with a handkerchief the now greatly annoyed Port captain nodded. "Quite sure...."

"I need to see him in person." I didn't wait for the captain's permission I just left. Heading straight to the Jedi styled ship. If this wasn't the Attom I knew this being was in for a sore surprise. I moved my coat back exposing both of my pistols and placed my hand on the right while removing the left from it's holster. I didn't like impostors and If they were gonna use the name of my friend they were gonna die.

 

[Attom]

Attom received the clearance moments before he looked to Rayla and commanded, "Take us down," he stated with a sigh of relief, "before they change their mind." Rayla resumed control of the Firefly, tuning it's nose towards the planet and it's landing pad waiting for them. "You've been here before?" she asked with a concerned tone, "how many times?" He scratched his chin, contemplating whether to explain his story. He looked to her and inhaled, "It was in another time, Rayla," he stated; changing his tone to that of despise as he added, "and it died when I did." He leaned back in his pilot's chair, crossing his hands and staring into the void of space, shifting his eyes towards the planet as they began to enter it's atmosphere. Rayla glanced back at Attom every once in a while. She felt as if she offended him as he was always reluctant to share his past with her, therefore making her feel like she was a burden. Although, in Attom's mind, he was quite fond of her; never knowing how to express himself; afraid that if he became too close that something would become of her. Never-the-less, Rayla tried not the dwell on it; concealing her emotions of indifference and focusing on the ship.

"Alright, Captain," she stated as she addressed the port officer, "we're entering your line of sight." Just after then, the ship departed out of the green and murky clouds of Nal Hutta and zipped down towards the landing pad, fuming and smoking whilst it made it's decent. "Stay within your landing zone," he stated gruffly, "we are sending an agent to greet you." Attom rolled his eyes and unstrapped himself from his seat, rising slowly to his feet and concealing himself in a tattered cape; mostly worn with his Zeltron cleric armor which he had currently equipped. However, the robe specifically was longer as if to cover the front of his legs and slightly higher up onto his flanks. "Lower the ramp," he stated to Rayla, "if you would."After receiving his words, she activated the ramp control panel and it began to lower for the esteemed Hunter. Attom began his decent of footsteps down onto the platform, each as hesitant as before as Rayla followed slightly from behind. She had thrown on a robe herself, concealing her face as to avoid attention to her Zeltron appearance. It had seemed that the 'agent' was had not yet arrived here to greet the young Hunter, so as he stood there in the boggy humidity he glanced up towards the control tower and shouted with a furious tone, "Are your forces so lacking that I could have landed myself?" His attitude was fiery and annoyed, annoyed that he would become prisoner to this planet longer than he would like.

 

[Zay]

I burst through the door leading to the landing strip that ‘Attom’ was supposed to be parked. I gripped the handle of my pistol in my left hand tighter as I closed the distance to the jedi styled ship. I could just barely see the outline of the figures helmet as I moved around the ship and got a glance at the figure I knew immediately from the pissed off stance that the being in question was Attom. “You son of a nerf herder…” I said under my breath. I was stunned into stopping about 2 meters away. I holstered my blaster. My anger abated for about a second and then a new anger grew.

“You left. You left and ya didn’t say a single word.” My eyes burned with anger as I watched him. I’m sure he was gonna brush off the comment and give me a one liner in typical ‘Attom’ fashion. I waited for his response and then lifted my wrist comm and radioed back to the captain “This is Galla. The being in question is Dral’Tarcen. He is clear. He’s part of the cartel. Galla out.” I shut down the commune and set my jaw and waited on him. That’s when I saw the smaller figure just behind him. “Who’s that?” I nodded to him. As far as I was concerned it didn’t matter why he was here or who was with him. We were done. Ya don’t just leave your number two with now word for months and then show up with some other shmuck and expect a warm welcome.

 

[Attom]

"The conversation, I assumed, would have gone much like this," he said with a snarl, refusing to reveal his face. He looked back to Rayla and nodded, giving a sign of assurance. However, she approached quietly and calmly; refusing to raise her head up towards Zane. She did not know this man, although his temper had flared higher than her counterpart. By this point she knew she was in safe hands as she instead focused on Attom before lowering her head. Attom looked back to his former comrade, withholding much information and leaving few clues to where his travel had beckoned him, "she is my companion." He could see that Zane felt betrayed, but his clarity of the situation was clouded, not much unlike the planet. Attom gently held onto Rayla, unknowing as to what Zane might do. "We need to resupply," Attom stated, "release me from your lecture. My business is with the Hutt clan and I would like to leave before nightfall." Attom gently leaned his left hand onto his Amtrak, concealing any movement underneath his billowing cloak as he eyed the fiery tempered hunter before him. Rayla, however, could see him reach for his firearm and halted his hand before reaching it's decent. She turned her back to Zane, concealing the ordeal, furthermore whispering words from her silver tongue, "We cannot afford to lose this docking port, Attom." she locked eyes with him as he stared back at her, "As you wish," he retorted, loosening his grip on the weapon, "although, I may regret it in the moments to come."

 

[Zay]

"That's it?" I shook my head and let out a scornful laugh. "Well, do whatever the hell you want. You've been verified." I turned my back on the person whom I considered my first friend. It pained me that with everything Attom and I had been through he couldn't trust me. "Oh well his loss." I thought as I began to walk away. "Good luck with whatever your doing I guess. I'd say don't get killed, but I don't really think I care anymore." I didn't wait for a response and just kept walking. Nothing he could have said would have stopped me. I reached door and passed threw it still seething I was looking for something to lay my fist into. I returned to the shuttle waiting area and took a seat.

I waited for close to fifteen minutes before the shuttle to Nar Shadda arrived. I had to report to Yuri and needed a good workout and stiff drink to help out my mood. I got into the shuttle and took a seat toward the back of the ship. An attractive Twi'lek made eyes at me for a little and I thought about pursuing the attractive young thing, but I wasn't in the mood for games and wound up just putting in my headphones and jamming for a bit on the way back to the smuggler's moon. The shuttle landed and I hopped off walking to my busted old speeder bike parked just outside the spaceport. I threw my leg over the seat and fired it up. The speeder roared to life and I joined the ongoing river of ever moving speeders that flowed across the planet's skyways.

I went with the flow of the traffic until I reached my gym. I angled the speeder bike toward the building and parked in my usual spot right in front. I thought it might be a good time to let Yuri know I had finished the job he sent my on and to tell him about the random meeting with Dral'Tarcen. Yuri was probably working out right now but it couldn't hurt to leave a message. "Hey, Mr. Sharpe. This is Zane. I'm just letting you know the blasters you wanted me to drop off are with the gunsmith now, he said they would be ready in a day or so. I can run back out there and grab them if you need me to. Also, while I was out there I was called in by the port captain to verify the identity of a person attempting to land on Hutta. It was actually an old hunting buddy of mine I think I told you about him, his name is Attom Dral'Tarcen. Anyway that's all I have to report at the present sir. If you need me I'll be at Murray's gym for a little while. Galla out."

 

[Attom]

Rayla witnessed as Zane retreated with a fiery spirit. Malevolently marching away as he walked with a heavy heart. She turned to Attom, whose posture stood as cold and callous as ever and inquired, "He does not know of your-?" "No," Attom abruptly answered; his eyes burned from within as he watched his student march away, "and I will not tell him." Rayla looked towards the door and back again. "You would condone his deception? Is that the teaching of your order?" she inquired, "to deceive and let suffer those around you?" Attom began his exit, leaving the platform without delay. The bog of Hutta crept quicker over the planet as the night fell and quiet came over the area. "The Grey Jedi ministered many things to me, Rayla," Attom stated, with gentle voice he turned to face her, "if Zane knew where I have traveled, he would try to destroy me and you," Rayla let out a sigh as she didn't know how to feel. "although I taught him how to hunt Jedi and resist their tricks, to discover that I have been mentoring under them would be a tragic blow to the former crew, furthermore their Cartel status. The galaxy is not as black and white as you may see it. There must be a balance between the two, otherwise chaos ensues. Perhaps, when the time is appropriate, I will tell him. For now, however, I need to find this Yuri fellow. I was told he could find us a new ship." Attom looked to the Bounty board and eyed Yuri's name as he rifled through the local reports. "Follow me...."

 

[Zay]

BOOM! TAC! TAC! WHAM!

“Man, you’re really putting a beating on this bag today kid. You ok?” asked Murray. I kept my eyes focused on the bag and answered “Yeah. I’m fine. I ran into an old friend.” I continued to lay into the bag for another fifteen minutes letting the sweat run down my face and torso. I felt a towel land on the top of my head. “Wipe off. You need to lift today.” Said Murray. I could tell the old man was worried about me but I wasn’t one to just open up and talk about my feelings, so I did as he asked and dried off a bit before putting a tank top on and walking over to the bench.

“We’re starting at 185, you know the drill, kid.” I nodded at Murray as I prepared myself for the weight of the bar. I counted to three in my head and then lifted the bar up off the rack. The weight felt light in my hands as lowered it to my chest and then pushed it back up. Inhaling down and exhaling up. I let my mind enter a kind of auto pilot that allowed me to clear my head. “Ok, we’re moving up to 215.” I repeated the process. “245.” Repeat. “Good stuff kid, last increase 275.” I nodded this was the most weight I’d done in a while and the struggle was addicting. The sense of accomplishment I felt when I struggled through the last push on the final rep wiped away any negative feelings I had toward Attom.

My life was in a good place and I wasn’t gonna let him change that. I racked the weight and Murray pointed at the squat rack. I burned through the set and moved on to the pull up bar. “I hate pull ups…” I thought as I slapped some chaulk on my hands and jumped up to grab the bar. I went through the normal routine and dropped into push-ups. Once that was done I was put through a burnout of abs. “Can’t forget the core, kid!” barked Murray. “I know, I know.” I replied as I began the final portion of my workout. I finished and stood up stretching my fatigued stomach muscles. “Good work today. Stretch out then get out would ya. I have other people to train than you ya know!” said Murray with a half-smile on his face. I waved him off and replied “Yeah, yeah whatever, old man.”

I did as he said and showered then dressed quickly. “Hey, I’m out of here! Go train someone else would ya!?” I joked “Shuddup and get out of my gym!” we both laughed and fist bumped as I exited the gym. “Still no word from Yuri. Hmm I might need to take a trip the Corellian sector.” I thought as I checked my Comm for messages. I hopped on my speeder and headed for the shuttle station. I needed to make sure Yuri got my report. I didn’t wanna look like an idiot thanks to a communication error.

I cruised across town and pulled into the shuttle station. I paid for my transport and was on my way. The ride went smoothly nothing exciting. Other than the fact that I was stuck next to the biggest KRIFFING Gammorian I’ve ever seen in my life! This freaking guy had to have been part hutt…. I was elated when the shuttle finally landed and I made sure I was the first on off the ship. I wasn’t prepared for what I saw next. It had been nearly five long years since I last set foot on my home planet and it almost sat me on my ass. “Welcome home…” I mumbled as I looked over the landscape and took in the city. I had directions on where I was supposed to go and made my way toward Yuri’s place. It was hard to keep the war torn visions from my mind as I made my way to the Apartment complex.

Miraculously, I made it to the complex and input the series of number and letters needed to give Yuri’s place a ring. This was the first time I had been here. It felt kinda weird and I could see the guards getting a little jumpy around me. Hopefully, Yuri would answer before one of these goons got hurt. Being back home merely added to the amount of emotional stress I was dealing with currently. I shifted my weight uncomfortably as I awaited admittance into the huge complex.

 

[Attom]

Meanwhile, Attom and Rayla's shuttle to Nar Shadda had arrived, dropping them towards the East of Yuri's apartment. Unknowing of exactly where it was, Attom would have a more difficult time finding him than Zane. "Stay close, Rayla," Attom commanded "it's easy to lose people in the crowds." She nodded to him, walking adjacent to him as they eyed the street rabble and commoners. One incident in particular, however, caught, Attom's eye. A crime in progress; a group of Hutt debt collectors as they pushed around a Twilek female, most likely owed protection money. As he observed the situation, it appeared to get more hostile, driving him to turn to Rayala. "Stay here," Attom ordered, "I'll be back."

Without delay, Attom began to walk over towards the scene, "Pay is overdue, miss," one chuckled out, "boss says he aint wasting anymore time either." One thug raised his blaster, although just before the shot Attom intervened. Without delay, Attom quickly pulled a hollow handle, thrusting it down as he extended it into a nightstick and patted the thug's arm downward, almost breaking it with the amount of shear force. "Osik!" he exclaimed in pain, "Tyber, get em!" Attom, with one swift thrust, knocked the thug unconscious before turning towards his colleague. "Now," Attom started, "you either tell me where I can find Yuri, or end up like your buddy; broken." The thug, however, could not speak; most likely a mute. Instead he signaled Attom to wait for a moment as he carved into the wall area that Yuri was in, an apartment complex that Attom had passed on the way here. He looked to the thug and nodded before both of them departed. "Well?" Rayla inquired, "do you always feel the need to stir up trouble?" Attom looked to her with a smirk, "I do," he answered, "and I now know where our target lives." Rayla shook her head, "You're so complicated," she stated with a slight smile, "well, let's go."