The Smuggler and the Tutor

[Luy]

Spoiler: OOC

This will be taking place before the Tribunals

Tal'cara
Kothlis
Bothan Sector, R-14
Mid Rim

"By your own hands you may prevent your own defeat, but the opportunity to defeat your rival is provided by the rival himself."

―Golm Fervse'dra, first ruler of the Stone Clans​

A slate grey city, set by a blue grey ocean and a grey sky of a grey planet. By the Force this was not the season to visit the Bothan colony world. He’d been told tropical islands, shimmering cities and friendly natives. What he’d got was storm-torn beaches, rain-rinsed alleyways and a populace that wouldn’t even give him two words.

He had at least got company and was on the trail of something big. He’d heard of something, whispers with journals and the annals he’d found in the archives on Rishi and Anoat Al’doleem’s histories also pointed to something that was revered. But all he could hypothesise, was that there was a Jedi site that the Order had forgotten with the deaths and fading of the Jedi. He’d asked for sometime and a decent pilot. The Alliance Council turned to the ranks of the famous Star Squadron, and he’d been assigned a scamp of a Twi’lek. Ner’Gisa, best part of two feet shorter than him and much, much lither, this lekku-locks was said to be a fine pilot and capable in a fight. Not what Luy imagined at all. His hulking form appeared to be initial shock to her, but he had to blame his persona of a diplomat. But as he had arrived at the ramp of the Tempest Hunter, he’d seen he wasn’t what she expected.

After a fairly silent trip to Kothlis, most of which was spent in meditation in his assigned quarters, the landed. Since then it’d been two weeks, the pair had frequented all sorts of bars and Pazaak dens, but no sign of the Bothan SpyNet. What they had been able to do was come to a working relationship at least. Each one had defended the other against probes from potential agencies, a quick word from either in their own amiable way had seen off most. One evening, Luy had to draw his chromium knife and he saw it had caught her eyes.

The silver stabbing knife held a bit of history to him, but it had taken til tonight for her to inquire. “Well, my Father had made it from a sheet that was set to be a mirror for a grav train carriage, back on Tyegin. Melted the whole half inch sheet down, forged this and then set to work honing and polishing. The grooves had been inlaid with Tyegin Vimmon, but over the centuries of wear and tear… the wood crumbled. But the blade has held up. Mainly due to the care of those who have had the skill to help me.” There was a look of bittersweet revere as he played with the sharp, triangular blade. He then carelessly flipped it and offered it to her to have a look at. “In many ways than one, it's been a companion and a reminder of where I have came from, even if my duty takes my attention away from the past.” He clapped his hands together and took up a glass of brown liquor, the burning sensation brought him to the now. He exhaled loudly and then after the return of his breath he let out a full-bodied and well-spirited roar of laughter. “BWA-HA-HA-HAAA! So, Miss Gisa, how did you feel when you were told that you were going to baysit this old, ugly Feeorin?” The old, robed male leaned back against the booth wall, his broad shoulders hauled up meaty arms enshrouded in his robes’ vast sleeves. His hands rested behind his head. His saber was worn, but clipped horizontally to the back of his belt under his outer robe. It pressed into him, a reminder of who he actually was and to remain alert.

@Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Ner Giza]

Nera was rather surprised by the details of her recent assignment to accompany the diplomat on his research mission thinking that there were several people more qualified to help out on such a detail. Aurelian came quickly to mind for his studious nature and penchant for seeking out old texts and artifacts would have been of more use to the man than herself. Even so, a sense of excitement began to fill her as she set the Quilting Bee and 99 to cleaning up the Tempest Hunter for the esteemed gentleman’s arrival.

She would put him up in Aurel’s old quarters, her brother having moved all of his belongings out when the base on Hoth was established. Though buffing out the scrawlings of her droid upon the hull had been a chore and an half, she wasn’t about to task him with the detail. Hopefully 99 would not get a kink in his circuits by this Luy taking up residence in Aurel’s old digs. The astromech could be touchy about certain things and she never knew what would set him off. He had absolutely refused to permit anyone to occupy the room in total denial that Aurel’s missions took priority to their Dejarik games.

Whatever the reason her number had been chosen to escort the elderly gentleman around, she was quite pleased. It would be nice to get a break from combat for a while and the chance to visit the tropical paradise was one she was glad not to have missed. At any rate, the ship needed a good cleaning for it had got rather cluttered up with rubble from her recent bar crawling adventures with Ji Hu. Cleaning out the sonic shower had been the worst, however and she nearly vomited as she cleaned out the human hair stuck in the drain. Hair was something she had a slight aversion to and she vowed that this was something she was going to refuse to do on board the Nightengale. No way she was going to even touch a shower, not with 50 Wookies making up the bulk of her Corvette’s crew. It never dawned on her that with her new rank of Rebel Lieutenant this was something she would never be called upon to do.

Well the big ship was for special military missions and this research that the diplomat was conducting certainly wouldn’t need the fire power a Corvette could provide. It had been a while since she had flown her freighter as most of her missions involved using her fighter, the Blue Angel. 99 still hadn’t forgiven her for failing to install an astromech socket on the fighter and continued to call her ship the Blue Harlot. It would do the tiny droid some good to out on this mission and she hoped do a lot to sooth his feelings over being left at base so much of late.

Standing at the end of the gangplank, satisfied that everything was ship shape, she waited for the man to arrive. Ner’Giza’s mouth gaped open a bit when she finally met Diplomat Luy and she was certain the fact he was Feeorin had been withheld to prank her in retaliation for her own tendency to play tricks on certain members of the Alliance. He was huge! Her eyes went round as she craned her neck to gaze upon his face pretty much speechless until he began to board the freighter. Hustling to keep up she offered to carry the man’s luggage but he of course refused.

Even so, she got him settled into his new quarters for the lengthy trip through hyperspace would take a while. Her hopes for engaging conversation were summarily dashed as the man spent most of the trip in his quarters doing whatever it was old men did in their rooms. 99 did not help alleviate her boredom either taking great delight in Master Luy’s total disassociation from the Twi’lek. She chastised the droid for calling him that reminding him that slavery was illegal and if he didn’t want a mind sweep he had best watch his bleeping mouth! Master indeed. She was nobody's servant… despite being commanded with flying him to the planet and being taxed to be at his beck and call until further notice.

She had refused to speak to the droid the whole way to Kothlis.

Fortunately things between herself and Luy turned out to be much better than the silent treatment in transit had indicated, the two falling into a pretty amicable working relationship. Her IFF spoofer codes got them through security at port, all her permits for ship modifications in place as the Tempest Hunter was registered to her Uncle’s ‘trading company’ on Ryloth, Nercathi Imports. She was pleased to see the man was just as quick on his feet as herself when it came to spinning fabrications so what one of them couldn't cover for the other naturally did. Most days as they made their forays into the city Ji Hu and 99 stayed with the ship. There was no way she was going to trust the port security with her baby.

Two weeks later, however, the novelty of the tropical paradise had pretty much worn off for the Twi’lek. Whoever said this place was a sun worshipers haven should be shot. The truth couldn’t be further off if it had tried. So much cold and chilling rain that she doubted she would ever be warm and dry again. One of the first things she did when they were wandering the markets was to buy some rain gear. Clad in a black slicker with an ample hood to accommodate her special needs, she wore her leather knee boots with trousers tucking into the tops, a long sleeved brown shirt, and the winter underwear she had been issued on Hoth. Her feet were soaked anyway and she thought her skin would never be the same again.

Despite the man’s age she was quite surprised to learn how handy he was in a fight. Well, at preventing one. All he did was draw a knife and the would be bandit turned tail and fled. Naturally the weapon had caught her eye and she was dying to ask him about it but it had taken her a while to get up the nerve. Warm and semi dry for once, she broached the topic as they sat over drinks in one of the local bars. To her delight he was all too willing to share its tale and even presented it to her for examination.

With a bit of reverence and awe she handled the blade as he told of how his father had constructed it. She imagined how the pommel had looked originally before the Vimmon had worn away through time. That thought was staggering to her as well and she could only imagine at all the tales he had forgotten let alone experienced during the last three centuries. She handed the dagger back and then laughed at his question.

“Well you saw the look on my face, right? No one bothered to tell me you were Feeorin, just that you were old as dirt”. She grinned before reaching for her mug to take a sip of the dark brew. For her part she was just carrying the one blaster tonight, a quick draw she had paid a pretty hefty sum of creds for; but it was worth it. Strapped to her leg within its holster, her rain gear hid it from view quite nicely. Nibbling on some odd looking wafers with brown goop smeared in between them she said, ”I rather enjoy scouring around for things. Aurel and I were always on the lookout for rare books and such for his research.” She sighed before eating the rest of the treat not really wishing to think about that right now.

@Sangga

 

[Luy]

Luy watched the cheeky woman devour the wafers and paste, the knife still lay on the table. His hands flexed behind his head and among his tendrils. It was moments like this that he was glad to be alive, companionship tuly filled the Master with joy. Foor too many years did he wonder wastes and wilderness, alone against the worst they had to offer. Yes this bar was run down, the drink still coated his teeth with a stickiness he’d have like to have gone by now. But these moments were the ones he’d cherish.

A holo-show started and he saw two buxom and busty twi'lek dancers, in very little, with their supporting jizz band; the sudden crescendo of noise snapped peoples attention to the stage from all over the bar. With that Luy got up and sheathed the blade, he looked to her not once had his eyes returned to the show. “Come on, we should go, you don't have to sit through thi-” The fool that had tried it earlier in the week had come back, and he’d brought friends. A pair of disgruntled Devaronians, one had a chain with some kind of spike and the other had a scattergun resting on their shoulder. A Weequay was with them and wielded a wicked looking boarding axe and then something loomed in from the entrance. The Lasat was large by the species breed, and he was stooping under the doorway. The brute carried a nasty looking cudgel and in the other hand appeared to be a heavy blaster, upsized to fit his meaty paw. The Rodian that had fled smiled and pointed to them. Luy turned to Ner, a more than anxious look. “We leave, now.” With that, he began moving through the bar and the patron to the back, looking for an exit. His large form, hampering the alacrity of his escape.

“Get them! Make them pay for insulting the Havocs of Tal’cara!”

@Ner Giza

 

[Ner Giza]

She couldn’t help but grin seeing him parked out like that, leaning back in his seat with his arms flexed to either side of his head. Despite the inclement weather, the man was truly a ray of sunshine. The tip of her tongue darted forward to nab a bit of a crumb from her bottom lip, the back of her right hand coming up to cover the sight even as she tucked her chin to meet halfway. Upon straightening once more, she turned her face away to look out toward the room.

At the sight of the holo-show her features fell and yet even before she could voice so much as a sigh in disgust the man had retrieved his blade and was on his feet preparing to usher her out of such a scene. She shook her head looking up to him, already moving to push herself to her feet as well, with an expression of warmth for his perceptible thoughtfulness toward her sensibilities. That was when the entrance of the goon squad caught her attention.

When Ner’Giza had shifted her seat to rise to her full height and move out from behind the table, she had also pivoted her form to present her side toward the door. There would be no grabbing a grenade and waving it around to get out of this situation like back on Tatooine, that much was for sure. That had been her very first mission for the Alliance when she and Aurel had joined up with Jorrin to rescue Sonna Deli. She couldn’t just shoot up the place and expect to be permitted to continue their search; if that went down she had no doubt they would have to abandon the planet and Luy’s mission would be a failure. But talk about over kill.

The Rodian had brought three… her eyes took in the massive Lasat wedging into the bar with his late entrance and had to amend her count… four extra men. She didn’t have to insult the fool, he did it to himself. ”Good plan”, was all she said when her Feeorin friend said it was time to go. With the sniveling bandit’s taunt ringing through the air she set her sights to the back and fell in line behind Luy.

Never feeling so exposed in her entire life her mind tried to make some sort of plan as her eyes scanned the area for anything she could use against them. She didn’t even hesitate when they rushed past the swinging kitchen doors and saw a service droid pushing a hover cart that was twice as tall as the waist high construct. Reaching out with her left hand she grabbed the corner of the cart and pulled hard to swing it away from the droid and around into the aisle behind them. It was not much of a barricade but at least would keep the Havocs from getting a clear shot at their backsides. But the going was so slow. ”Luy, just shove them out of the way. We gotta get moving!” Her right hand dropped to her thigh clutching the butt of her blaster to remove it from its holster but as yet she left her arm hang at her side.

@Sangga

 

[Luy]

The pair of disgruntled Devaronians barged their way into and through those in attendance of the bar. The Weequay was with them and threatened a bulbous Jablogian that was chatting up a Bothan waitress. The Rodia and the Lasat left to move outside and around the bar to try and cut off the pair.

Luy knew he might hurt people if he used his bulk to aid their egress, sohe had taken his time. As Ner called out to him and he looked back. Luy’s eyes widened as he saw the Scattergun get pulled up. He reached back with his arm and hefted Ner over his shoulder with all his might and tossed her through the door. He then continued his throwing motion as he dropped flat to the floor as he saw the door swing back shut. The cone of fire blasted out, Luy saw several patrons get clipped by the volley of micro-lasers.

He laid still, for the most part. His hand slowly drifted to under him and his fingertips found the hilt of his knife. The pair of matching horns came across the prone Feeorin and cackled. “Not so big and bold now ay? Big guys always fall harder.” Luy drew the blade, he would have to strike true, he couldn’t have more innocence harmed. He thurst his off hand down and hooked his legs under him, with a twist the Chromium blade was brought up and the off hand snatched the front of the Devaronian’s jacket hauling him onto the blade. It went in as easy as the blade was designed to make it pierce. A light shove back and the blade was released, the scattergun dropped as the gunman did, clutching for a blade that was no longer there.

Luy’s eyes and formed to the next that then threw the chained spike at him in vengeance.

@Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Ner Giza]

A quick glance over her shoulder gave her a beeline view between the shelves of the cart enough to see the loser turn tail and leave, taking his hired muscle with him. Naturally he left the other three to do his dirty work and wasn’t even gonna stick around to watch. Some people just weren’t worth even a pickle jar of spit.

Looking along their back trail she didn’t see Luy turn to get his own opinion of their circumstances and she gasped to feel his hand lift her clear of the floor. ”Hey now…”, she began to object not quite knowing what he had in mind but his lift had brought her above the height of the cart and she could now see the scattergun leveling for the both of them, pretty much causing her to shut her gaping mouth. It was but a glimpse she was given before her vision spun when Luy tossed her about like a toy. Nera gasped with barely a moment to draw breath before she realized he had pulled her clear over his shoulder and was about to launch her through the back doors!

”Oooooh…”, she breathed out and was launched through the air like a javelin. For all of two seconds she sailed through the room instinctively curling her spine inward a bit toward the left to tuck her head. Expecting to hit the door with her right shoulder blade she clenched her eyes shut only opening them when the impact never came.

Holy mother with no name, the words came into her mind even as the door slid back into place. Everything sped up at once as she struck the ground, her instincts having served to let her roll through the crash without breaking an arm or anything else. Frantically she scrambled to her feet hearing the gun blast from inside. Such a panic filled her chest that she actually screamed in denial of the vision filling her mind Luy’s body being slammed into by the continued volley of shots, ”Noooooo!”. She could hear the mayhem of voices from inside even as she darted for the door and ran smack dab into the path of the Rodian scum.

The leader of the Havocs grabbed her arm jerking her up close against him, laughing in the face of the prize he now claimed; it was about the stupidest thing the man had done all day, to step in the path of Ner’Giza baring her way to Luy’s side. He never felt the muzzle of her blaster press into his side nor her pulling the trigger that sent the bolt diagonally through his chest to emerge through the top of his shoulder on the other side. Shoving against the dead man, she loosed his lifeless hold upon her arm and leapt away.

That was when the huge Lasat rounded the corner of the tavern brandishing his club. ”Kark, I don’t have time for this”, she muttered while aiming her blaster at his head. Luy might be dead for all she knew. Even as she fired the brute lifted his up sized blaster firing off a shot of his own.

@Sangga

 

[Luy]

The spike flew over Luy’s shoulder. His hand lifted and rolled the chain around his wrist. “No, you could’ve done so much better.” Luy pulled the chain taught and the Devaronian closer. “In a fight such as this, you must get close.” Luy’s blade lunged forward and the horned alien was pulled onto it like their twin. Only the Weequay was left, Luy let the deadman fall from his grasp. He took a step forward and the Weequay practically tripped over themselves to rush out of the bar.

There wasn’t enough time to comment as a shot rang out from behind the door that he’d tossed Ner through. He tore through the door and saw the Rodian falling down and the Lasat raising their blaster. Luy jumped, slamming his unarmed forearm down upon the blaster. The cudgel lunged at him, he tried to block with his chromium dagger, but the Lasat had leverage and the weight of their weapon. The shining blade clattered across the floor and Luy was hit once more.

He let the Force fill his limbs and, with a speed that could would not be matched by a normal Feeorin, swiftly dodged a wild swing that was brimming with overconfidence. Luy trapped the Lasat’s arm in a hold and yanked it to the side as he rounded to behind the Lasat. Luy tugged at the large arm and there was a yelp from the great beast. Luy did not let up, not for a second. This was how those that these punks tried to emulate acted. If they were the real deal, Luy would’ve had to reveal his actual weapon of choice. “So close to Hutt Space, and yet nothing compared to the real deal. I frankly expected better from a gang that functions under the watchful eye ot the Bothan Spy Network.”

“Well, that is certainly true. But then again they are not one of us.” Luy froze, his grip tightened. The individual had manifested, but the accent was unmistakably a Bothan. The muzzle in his back was all he needed to know, this Bothan was in charge of the situation now, and whoever they were would decide Luy’s faith. “Let the Lasat go, and then we can talk, Tome.” Luy’s eyes widened slightly, he’d only been given the name after Al’doleem. This Bothan knew that, then they knew who he was and what he was. The fact that they were revealing this information meant that he was at least trusted with a visit. Luy looked to Ner and shook his head, he let go of the Lasat and raised his hands. The Lasat ran past Ner to flee back to whence he came, this encountered had risen to a level far outstretching his capabilities.

“Well met, you know my name, I’m afraid I don’t know yours and simply calling you Bothan would seem impolite.”

“So would raising your hands, put them down and follow me, your friend too.” The Bothan holstered his rather underwhelming sized blaster, but the casing did bulge in several places; who knew what it could do? Luy looked to Ner and shrugged, what else would they do. He leaned closer to her.

“While I don’t trust him, I trust my intuition. I think we are about to have a crash course in the famed Bothan Spy Network.” Luy winked to her and stood up. “I don’t think there is any doubt that we should follow.” His voice struck a normal volume, its clarity solid as it had been in their first meeting. With that, the old Feeorin strode out to follow to the roadside, where there was an airspeeder waiting. “Oh joy, a ride…”

@Ner Giza

 

[Ner Giza]

Fortunately the sliding open of the back door caused Nera to pull her shot upward into the air as she was slammed aside by Luy’s sudden arrival into the fray. And here she had been set to go rescue him! The relief that washed over her upon seeing he was not lying on the cantina floor blasted into eternity barely had room to register as the fast paced events unfolded. The Lasat’s shot hit the dirt, Luy having hit the blaster before raising his dagger to counter the cudgel.

Although she was moved out of the way, she stepped forward circling round the pair’s left flank, her blaster raised seeking an opening to fire upon the Lasat without hitting Luy. It was an adrenaline filled moment, Luy’s dagger knocked clear of his hand and taking a hit from the massive club but the diplomat was far from out of the running, his speed dazzling to see as he recovered instantaneously to dodge a second attack by the Lasat and his big stick. Such wild swings proved to be the villain’s undoing for once Luy caught hold of the man’s arm she knew the matter would be soon settled in Luy’s favor. She had seen those arms of the Feeorin and felt the strength that had set her airborn through the diner soaring for the back door.

Even so she continued to circle about the combatants until she was at the Lasat’s back. She had to grin, realization of her worries about Luy as needless angst sinking into her consciousness, when her big friend made the man yelp. Her stance became less precarious settling into a ready stance should her interference become necessary. Positioned as she was had a major drawback for she didn’t see the Bothan sneak upon Luy, the bulk of both combatants preventing a line of site for Nera.

Jumping out to the side, her blaster leveled at the Bothan, she heard his words calling Luy by his call sign. A frown creased her features, the shaking of Luy’s head enough to get her to lower her weapon. As Luy raised his hands in the air, releasing the Lasat, she stepped back to let him make his get away having more important concerns than some skeevy hoodlum. As the two spoke she realized that inadvertently they had finally made contact with the bothan Spy Network. Holstering her blaster, her form visibly relaxed moving closer to Luy once they were both instructed to follow the Bothan. ”I think it’s not an invitation we can refuse”, she chuckled softly shaking her head.

Moving along at his side, they would follow the mysterious contact to the speeder, Luy’s remark causing her to grin. ”Ah come on now. Where is your spirit of adventure?”, she quipped not waiting to climb in the back and leaving the front seat for him. Hopefully things would go smoothly, though who knew what this man would be willing to tell them. For the most part she would keep her mouth shut and take her cues from Luy.

@Sangga

 

[Luy]

Luy lowered himself into the airspeeder, and once in it rose. He looked back to Ner, a more than concerned look on his features. “Do not worry…” the Bothan opened the conversation as he drove them up and away from the city. “... We like you Jedi, and the Galactic Alliance. But we like our security and our own achievements.” Luy's eyes darted back to Ner, so that was that pretense shattered. The airspeeder swooped in a long arc as it changed its bearing to move out across the ocean. Luy stalled and then rebuilt his confidence, still looking to Ner.

“That’s good, we are fond of you Bothans? I found one of my recent Padawan on Bothawui. I quite like Bothan space.” Luy seemed calm, but he could not take his gaze from Ner. It was obvious that he knew that he'd been lying and that he was watching her reaction.

“So, why are you here Jedi..." he looked up into the mirror. "...and you little twi’lek? We know that you are no monk. The exploits of Star Squadron have reached our ears, Lieutenant.” Luy looked away from the window and raised an eyebrow toward the Bothan.

“You have us at a disadvantage, you know who we are.” Luy’s arm reached back and he scratched his back under his outer robe.

“ You may call me Dargan.” the intelligence operative had a rue smile across his muzzle, and there was a sparkle of mischief in his eye.

“That’s not your name, is it?” Luy’s voice had hardened, this was not good. Who was this Bothan, and what had they done by getting in his airspeeder? The Bothan let out a chuckle. He flipped a switch on the dashboard and Luy tensed.

“Of course it's not, but know I do not mean you harm.”

@Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Ner Giza]

Amber eyes would stare back into the depths of Luy’s gaze, the corners of her eyes pinching in slight amusement when the Bothan told her not to worry. He’d have had better luck telling her not to be hungry. She sniffed slightly, crinkling her nose a bit as she shifted to retrieve another of those wafer snacks she had been munching in the cantina and began to nibble on its edges saving the creamy spread on the inside for last. The woman always had food packed away on her somewhere and her brother often teased her about getting fat if she didn’t slow down. In truth with her level of activity she would have looked gaunt were she not prone to stress eating. She usually just replied to his teasing with something about having more stomachs than humans and needing to eat more often than he did.

She wasn’t quite prepared to be hearing the words that followed, however, and nearly choked on the dry biscuit. Was this guy brightsided? There were no such thing as Jedi anymore. But then Luy’s expression changed, his eyes looked pensive as though he had been caught with his pants down. His words actually caused her mouth to gape open raining crumbs down her front. Expecting the Feeorin to laugh at the Bothan’s obvious delusions, he instead confirmed the accusation. Her painted brows drew together sharply, a frown taking hold of her face long enough to shut her mouth and swallow her food.

People were entitled to their secrets, Kriff if she didn’t have a few of her own, but this? Not only a Jedi but taking on students and more than one by the sound of things. Her first thought was of Aurel and how he would take the news that the Jedi were not extinct. She imagined it would fill him with joy to know that his research would have living breathing examples for him to interview. All his long years since his parents had been executed might finally have some meaning, his search and all his sacrifices at last legitimized by the survival of this one man. And herself too dumb to have seen it…

A feeling of elation began to fill her, pushing aside all thoughts of pettiness from her heart to be replaced by hope. Her calculating nature began to take over, adding up the minute bits and pieces of information on the fly. To take a Jedi knowingly into custody was a fairly bold move and she was forced to reevaluate the risk factor here. She was quick to note that Luy didn’t really answer the man’s question about why they were here. She leaned forward crossing her arms to rest upon the back of the front seat and said, ”Well you know, fighting for freedom is not really for the faint of heart. I am curious though why we are of so much interest to you, Dargan was it?” It seemed the reputation of the Spy Network was well deserved if even her meager exploits had come to their attention, even something so insignificant as her recent enforced promotion. Nera couldn't give two mynock teeth about prestige and rank, let alone command and all the responsibility that came with such.

@Sangga

 

[Luy]

“What’s not to be interested about? Two tentacle heads within this galaxies most sought after bunch of misfits and terrorisers, and you are seeking us out, isn’t that right Tome?” The Bothan took his eyes off of the air to look at Luy, the Jedi replied with a slow nod and then looked back to Ner. “So we had to take interest in you, especially since the Sith are so interested in your activities.” Luy’s form hardened, and his arm dropped from the top of the front bench’s back. “Watch it Feeorin, Jedi Master you might be, but I’m still behind this wheel and we are a ways away from your ship”. Dargan turned to glance back to Ner, “... and if that wasn’t enough, there’s a deadman switch hooked up to my vitals. So seriously, don’t do anything rash.”

Luy glanced back to Ner and then his gaze drifted to Dargan. “All I wanted was to know if you knew anything about the order? Heard any odd archaeological discoveries in the nearby systems or weird happenings I might be interested in?” The air speeder had long been over the water, but as Dargan was about to let another witty retort fly his face became a mask of stoicism.

“Well… you’ll find out what we know soon.” The speeder was brought right down until it was producing its own wake. They skimmed over a beach and then, under the leaden sky of grey. They landed outside a small compound. There were bothans with compact blaster carbines on the walls and even a few heavier repeater weapons in emplacement either side of the gate. Dargan exited the speeder and held up his hands to show that he was unarmed. Luy’s bulk sidled out of the speeder and all weapons were then pointed up at him. “Your saber, Master Jedi.” Dargan held out his hand, Luy’s eyes widened at first and then narrowed. Everyone waited.

@Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Ner Giza]

If nothing else Nera was quick on her feet, meaning she could string together a line of rycrit feces faster than you could shake a stick. Her thoughts were often prone to racing as she had a calculating mind used to having to find an angle for her to exploit in order to get by. More often than not it involved having to make due with little or nothing in order to survive. The more she listened to the Bothan speak the less she liked what she was hearing. The instant he made the remarks about Luy being a Master Jedi, however, she slipped her arms from the back of the front seat and leaned back to recline against her own. As she did so, she cued her comm link leaving it open so Ji Hu back on the Tempest could hear what was going on. Was it likely that the man was just lurking around waiting to hear from the woman? Not very, but it would alert 99 as to their location.

Looking out over the water she was becoming increasingly nervous, not because the situation was looking less and less like a friendly outing, but rather because the woman couldn’t swim. Master Jedi, she ruminated over this additional revelation. Aurel had filled her head with all sorts of tales concerning what the knights of old could do, but of the masters the legends had been astounding. Did this make Nera a scholar of the order? By no means, it made her a woman who was taking an active interest in the passion of her brother and when he shared with her his stories, she soaked in every tidbit he had bothered to relate. The boredom of hyperspace was of particular annoyance to the woman and Aurelian’s stories had filled more than one unending voyage with interest.

Eating the last bit of the wafer, the richness of the creamy center which had been saved for last occupied her pallet while the growing threats of the Spy Master filled her mind. Soon enough her extraneous fear was soothed as the speedster took to land once more. Her eyes took in the compound noting the placement of armed men upon the walls and about the gate. It appeared to be heavily fortified and she didn’t much appreciate the Bothan’s penchant for making threats against actions which had never been made.

Once they had stopped she too would climb out of the vehicle and move to stand at Luy’s side. It was only when the man asked for the Master to hand over his weapon that Nera raised her wrist to her face and said, ”Nightingale”. Her eyes commanded the attention of the Bothan as she began to educate the man. ”I’m not a woman prone to sticking her head into a noose, Dargon. Far from my ship I may be but it is never far from me. If I do not check in regularly my ships will level this compound.” She smiled and repeated, ”Ships, Dargon. I have three after all and one is Corvette class.”

She gestured toward the Jedi Master and smiled. ”And while it is said that the light saber is the heart of a Jedi, it is merely a tool. How will you protect yourself against what he is and against the power that is at his fingertips?” She smiled to the man and went on to say, ”Would it not be better to acknowledge that though we could kill each other in a variety of ways, that we all agree to behave ourselves and not make this day about violence?”

@Sangga

 

[Luy]

“Idle threats Lieutenant. Yes you may have the means to level this compound and if it was only you and us I am sure you would be happy to risk that, but then we have Jedi Master Luy here. You may try and scare us, but we are all in this for our own allegiances, we are all working for the Network and we know if we die in it’s service our families will be happily reimbursed.” The Bothan pointed to the sky, spiralling his finger. “Before the Nightingale comes swooping down, or any of your precious Star Squadron descend to unleash fire and anger; a very Imperial act I’m sure, but this world’s defenses would rise up against them.”

The Bothan crossed his arms and the armed spies around them had not lowered there aim, some laser sights had drifted to Ner and Luy’s chest. Luy moved slowly to open his outer robe. “What I think my colleague is looking for is assurance that we won’t just get killed, but I assure you that we are not going to be the ones that shed blood this day.” The Master unclipped the saber and tossed it out on the ground by Dargan’s feet.

“I know exactly what she was saying, and I hear it loud and clear. The mighty arm of the Alliance flexing." Dargan gave a wolfish grin, his eyes boring into her. "You see Lieutenant, Luy here gets that we hold all the cards, there is no threat of mutual annihilation here, only the certainty that yours is in our hands.” Dargan bent down and picked up the saber, “This will be returned to you after our talks." A happy and friendly smile crossed his face. “And now that is over, please we want to help your Order Master Jedi, and by extension, the Alliance.” The Bothan turned to the doorway and entered, Luy followed and looked to Ner. His gaze hung and then he entered through the door with a stoop.

Immediately he was at the top of a steep set of metal stairs that went down several metres, it was practically a ladder. Lit by dim, yellowed globe sconces it was dim and oppressive. He could no longer feel a breeze and the warmth of beings underground rose up to meet them. An archway was there in the dim corridor and as they passed through they were in a large communal space with an older Bothan woman sat in a chair opposite. Two dozen differently equipped Bothan manned several stations or played cards or were working on their weapons. All halted as Luy entered the room. Weapons were brought up, but a single hand rose and waved them down. “I am Olom, and these are my guests.”

@Kayenta Moenkopi[/abox]

 

[Ner Giza]

She was not a woman who ever made idle threats and as far as ‘flexing’ went, she never wasted time on posturing. Death would rain on them all if things didn’t proceed amicably; the men however were entitled to their opinions and so she merely smiled and nodded her head as Luy tossed his saber to the ground. Dargan assumed much, like that she was a good little soldier; she was not. Nera was a smuggler and by hook or by crook she would get out of this compound alive or many would die and the Alliance had not a twit to do with that. The contingency had been a standing order between she and her crew and as he may be correct about the Nightingale’s chances this world’s defenses hadn’t done a thing about The Tempest Hunter which was already upon the surface of the planet.

There was much she could have said to correct the man’s assumptions but as it was her intention to follow Luy’s lead and keep her mouth shut this is what she would do, for as long as it served their needs. Nera was no one’s teacher and she had no desire to school the man upon the error of his ways. She noted the abrupt tonal change in the Botham the instant he got what he had wanted; his fingers curled round the light saber giving him the false sense of security that he had so insistently desired and totally missed the point she was making; Luy was the weapon and taking his saber had not disarmed him in the least. No, what had mattered to the Botham was submission. It was a poor choice for him to have made and not one she would ever forget.

Ner’Giza certainly did not have to stoop as she entered the compound and found herself at the top of a steep set of stairs. For the subterranean dweller, the muted lighting of the yellow globes was a comfort and she was more than happy to descend down into the stable temperature provided by being underground preferring that to the impromptu tempests that were wont to rain down upon the surface at the drop of a hat. She went down the stairs and made her way to the archway and the dim hallway beyond into some sort of gathering hall. All activity ceased weapons being drawn and aimed at them as they stepped into the room but the word of Olom put a halt to the defensive measures, at least for the moment. She cast a glance to Luy then set her gaze upon the elderly matron before saying, ”It is an honor to receive your hospitality, Olom. Sadly I had no time to prepare a suitable gift due to the impromptu invitation.”

Among her people the exchange of food, to gift your host in such a manner, was tradition and bespoke of the gratitude one felt in being honored by the invitation to one’s home. It was one of the greatest tenets of her kind to do in the galaxy as they would do on Ryloth and carry their ways with them always. She had been sorely lacking these days and could not even offer up one of the wafers with the paste as she had eaten the last one on the ride here.

 

[Luy]

The elderly Bothan woman nodded to the greeting and watched Luy as he bowed deeply in respect to her. She nodded back to Ner at her remark and raised a hand. “Plying me with gifts is beyond where we are now. The syndicate has information crucial to your efforts… Master Jedi.” Luy’s head snapped up at his addressal, and this concept. The Bothans had information on the Jedi teachings, or the location of Jedi resources or temples? His hands dropped to his side and all pretense of courtesy dropped from his demeanour. He hardened, his stance became bent at the knee slightly and his large fists formed and tightened.

“What will this cost us?” Luy looked around at the amassed agents and gunmen. Then he turned to Ner, his face screamed that he was at a loss for the Bothan’s wants. Not panic but a definite absence of understanding. The old Bothan stepped up from her thone to Luy, her hand planting up on his broad shoulder, tugging him closer.

“You are to send a message to your leader. Simple. Inform Commander Ion that we, the Spy network, wish to ply our trade on behalf of the Alliance. This will require an exchange of information and that we can still conduct our own affairs. But you will be considered an ally when all perfunctory measures are satisfied. There will be tests, you will need to prove yourselves to us and of course we will need to talk. Then and only then can we consider letting you know some of what we know.” Luy nodded, and as he was let go, his hand waved Ner closer. His hand then drifting up to her shoulder, his arm wrapping around her. To keep her close.

“Fine, I can at least let the Commander know of your intent. But we will both need to leave.” Everyone chuckled in the room, mockingly so. This died off swiftly as Olom raised a hand.

“Fine, but know this. Ruusan is ill, the Force has been tainted for too long. You will find truth in the Valley.” Luy’s eyes widened, how did she? But? Luy’s grasp tightened hard on Ner’s shoulder. His head shaked, then he began to walk backwards til they were at the staircase. His saber was handed to him by Dargan. Luy almost absentmindedly placed it on his belt as he turned to ascend the staircase.

“So, what are you going to do now Tome?”

“Now, now I will give Olom’s message to Ion and then… make all possible haste to Ruusan!” Luy leapt up the last step and the coastal wind tore into him. “Ner, we need to an extraction. NOW!” Luy’s roar forced its way through the gusts and wind bursts.

@Kayenta Moenkopi

 

[Ner Giza]

Watching the elderly woman tweak Luy, Ner’Giza felt a growing sense of annoyance filling her stomachs. All this cloak and dagger crud was getting on her last nerve but it was the obvious change that came over the Feeorin that irritated her the most. For some reason seeing him so discomforted was more insulting to her than had been the dismissal of the rites of hospitality. Reflexively her own form tensed as her weight shifted to be evenly displaced between her feet. The slightest flicker from Luy and she would have been on top of Olom before anyone knew what hit them. For all Dargan’s talk of being ready to sacrifice for the cause and his descendants being cared for in the event of his death she didn’t for an instant believe they felt this matriarch so expendable.

Then Luy voiced the crux of the matter, she realized, and when he looked at her obviously at a loss for where to go from there, she suddenly realized she was in the middle of a done deal and all that was left were the posturings. The Bothan needed them! The right side of her mouth twitched upward into a slight smirk, her eyes alight with mischief even as her form visibly relaxed. It was all about honor, one monarch to another. No way would they sign their own extermination by harming the Master Jedi. It was all about appearances and positions of strength. She could play the intimidated peon just as well as the next guy if it helped them all to save face.

Listening and ever watchful as the old crone rose from her throne to lay hand to Luy’s shoulder, Nera was reminded of the negotiations she and Aurel had brokered to bring the Order of Kouhun into the Alliance. Part of her had to wonder at why she of all people should be present at two such occasions. Soon enough Olom laid out her conditions, future tests but Nera was determined they would not walk away from here today empty handed. Even as Luy beckoned her near once the woman released him she knew herself to be but a player inside a staged drama.

Moving to his side, she felt the weight of his hand fall upon her shoulder and Nera exuded calm and contentedness with all her heart. Her own voice joined the chuckled of the Bothan with her own lighthearted tones, her eyes looked up to Luy with a smirk on her lips and humor in her voice. Only the Bothan’s raised hand kept her silent sparing them all from her self deprecating sense of humor for it had been on the tip of her tongue to say that no one wanted to foot the bill for her eating habits. It was just as well for the news about Ruusan seemed to pain Luy if the tightening of his grip upon her shoulder was any indication.

Her eyes became pinned to his features as he drew them back and away toward the exit. Ruusan was ill? Well she knew it, the whole place seemed to be eating itself alive with political strife, the populace hardly needing the Empire to bring it harm when they were so bent on self destruction as they were. She had been there with Aurel and Aurora on a relief mission and the memory caused her grin to slip for she hadn’t liked the former Jedi Master in the least considering her an arrogant piece of work. As it turned out she had been a craven coward using her padawans as bait to cover her own escape from death. The rest was history leaving her with nothing but worry over her missing brother. Reflexively her hand twisted into the fabric of Luy’s robes as though he were the only point of stability left in her world.

At the door she extracted herself from the Master’s embrace as he was given his saber. Dargan’s questioned mirrored her own, what would they do now? She could feel the need to act filling her and wasted no time with goodbyes once her companion vaulted up the steps but moved out hot on his heels. Despite the force of the winds assailing her slighter form she was more than relieved to be in the open air once more. It was time for action and she responded to Luy’s call immediately.

Cuing her comm link upon her wrist Nera said, ”Gilded cage” then turned her sights to Luy. The wind tore at his robes, the expression upon his face indicative of a man who was seeing another place and time leaving her thankful that she lacked the understanding of the true import of Olom’s words concerning this truth in the Valley they would find. There would be time enough later for her to learn just what this might mean. It was but a moment before the Tempest Hunter came into view settling down upon the ground before the compound and noted the groundsweeper was deployed beneath the hull. Even as the gangplank lowered
99’s binary language was squawking over the comm link informing her that The Nightingale had just entered the system. She wasted no time in boarding her ship heading straight for the cockpit barking orders left and right.

”Ji Hu. Get us to the Nightingale and commence docking procedures. Have Nyash lay in a course for Ruusan. Nine-nine, get Commander Ion on the comm immediately. Luy must speak with him and don’t put up with any lackeys like that b1th Susan either. Priority - don’t kark with me, stat!” Nyassheeghrorr, or Nyash, was the Wookie co-pilot of the Nightingale. She had aided in his rescue on the space station over Nal Hutta and he and a crew of his compatriots now crewed the corvette. The rest of her crew would also be on board for the men of the Quilting Bee would rather have died than stay out of the action. Whatever they found on Ruusan they would be well armed if nothing else.

Soon as Luy was on board the ship lifted into the air adding to the torrent of wind about the compound and then she was gone at full speed shooting up into the atmosphere without delay. 99 warbled in compliance but even as he made the comm link he informed her that the Blue Angel was on board the Nightingale too. She blinked at the oddity; it was the first time her astromech had gotten the name of her star fighter correct. ”Don’t you mean the harlot Nine-nine?”, she said while strapping herself into the pilot seat. The droid spun its socket coupling in the air and even as the connection was made and she laughed to hear him inform her the instillation of the astromech socket had been completed which raised the ship’s status in 99’s database.

Leaving Luy to tend to business, she focused upon piloting their way into the landing bay of the Nightingale. She could have just let the program run but she needed to have something for her hands to do while she processed all that had happened today and what the future would bring.

@Sangga