Ask Coruscant Underworld Ride

[Estelle Teraan “Nebula”]

Level 1313
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A thousand odors intermingle in the air on the level as numerous went about their business. A small figure in a green hoodie as black pants and matching boots strolled through one of the corridors. The traveler coughed every now and then, not being used to the stench here. Hands in both pockets, Estelle Teraan pressed on, approaching a massive tunnel on the wall.

“There we go.” Said the young human to herself, watching people alone or pairs going in. To say she was nervous would be a galactic understatement. Placing herself up against a wall yards away from the tunnel Estelle pulled out a small holoprojector and activated it. Instantly a text in Aurebesh appeared.

Reviewing it one more time Estelle turned it off and stepped out from the edge and went into the tunnel. Guarding the entrance were a pair of twin Klatooinians in tannish grab but armed with holstered pistols. They eyed up the newcomer with obvious suspicion before one of them growled.

“Password.”

Standing a few feet from them, the hooded woman answered. “Stardust.” Despite the correct answer the guards were reluctant to accept it but they only sneered before letting her through. They probably ping me from being topside. Walking past them as she thought.

They probably figure out that I’m from the topside. No surprise with that people here always seem ping strangers out.

Minutes later she came to a filth ridden lift and stepped inside. Activating it with the press of a button on the panel it’s shutters closed and the lift began its descent with a creaking sound. Estelle grimaced underneath the hood due to the sound. Finally the lift came to a stop and the shutters opened.

Exiting the student subsequently saw more than a hundred beings hanging around what had been a former factory turned into a makeshift race track. Green and purple neon lights lined on the walls, marking the tracks. Quickly she noted various speeder bikes and a number of their riders some distance away in the center.

Okay I’m at a illegal swoop race fostered by some gangs. Just act casual and don’t do anything stupid. Can’t finish that essay tomorrow if I get myself killed here.

Shaking her head at that last thought Estelle Teraan navigated her way through the crowd to get a closer look.

@The Captain

 

[Vri Nama]

There was something about the smell of stale beer, exhaust, and a hundred sweaty bodies crammed into a small space that just made Vri feel alive. And that wasn't an easy feat, considering she'd rendered herself numb to most common forms of alcohol, spice, and physical sensation years ago. Despite this, there was something unmistakably magical about the type of reckless, potentially lethal street racing of Coruscant that she found so enticing. Perhaps it was the risk of a racer ploughing into the crowd at 700 mph, tearing through everyone on the sidelines. Or maybe it was the slim but constant chance of a blaster fight breaking out over someone losing their shirt in the illegal betting pool. Speaking of which...

"Hey yo, skinny!" Vri shouted over to the scraggly, disheveled Weequay taking bets. "Gimme 150-no, 250 on the red Skyblade!"

Now, that bet represented a sizeable portion of her current income. In fact, it represented all the money she had to her name, except the few emergency creds she kept in her left boot. So if she lost this bet, and spent her backup cash on beer and spice, there were very good odds that she would be the pissed off racegoer who tried to shoot up the place when someone else walked away with her cash. But she wasn't thinking about that right now, or thinking in general, all she cared about now was the electrifying pre-race tension in the warehouse.

"C'mon, let's get this kark started!" She howled chatter of the crowd.

@Minuteman75

 

[Estelle Teraan “Nebula”]

Someone cheered and raised his left hand holding a beer can in toast to the upcoming race. However, much of its liquid contents flew and spilled on Estelle’s jacket. “Ugh oh c'mon!” She exclaimed, trying to wipe some of it off in vain. Frustrated she moved on a moment later.

That’s going to smell in the morning.

Pushing through the crowd Estelle had to suppress the urge to say sorry or pardon. Otherwise it might mark her as someone who didn’t belong here. There were some murmurs and open curses but otherwise no one bothered her. Keep cool, keep cool, keep cool. The New Alderaanian reminded herself over and over again.

Minutes later she shoved her way through the front line. Seeing the dozen or so swoop bikes grouped together a few feet away with engines blaring over the excited crowd Estelle’s heart skipped a beat. Seeing the Weequay taking bets she called out while raising her right arm.

“172 on the green sundancer!”

Just as she said that Estelle accidentally bumped the shoulder of a certain Rodian with a mohawk...

@The Captain

 

[Vri Nama]

Vri had finally handed off the last of her bet to the Weequay when another figure stepped forward, a little human in a hoodie, putting money down on the green racer. Now, at first Vri's only thought was: 'Hah, kid, get ready to lose that cash!'. But her thoughts changed rapidly when the human, apparently, elbowed her out of the way to get a better view of the race track. In Vri's mind, addled by adrenaline, substances, and more than a few concussions, this was a direct 'kriff you' aimed right at her, and she didn't care about the what's or the why's of the situation.

"You got a problem with me, runt?!" Vri barked and elbowed the human hard in the side, drawing the attention, and likely the annoyance of some of the racers around them. A fist fight always drew some attention at events like these, especially when the fighters were of the female persuasion.

@Minuteman75

 

[Estelle Teraan “Nebula”]

Taken off guard but the sudden shout Estelle grunted when elbowed, causing some others around them to look their way. A few groaned in frustration at the interruption. Stepping back and rubbing her side she angrily looked up at the one who did it. It was the meanest looking Rodian she had ever seen.

Organa’s ghost!

The green thug had a height advantage by a few inches Estelle can already tell and the muscle to back it up. A collection of eyes were on them now as some bystanders tried to put some distance away. Inwardly she kicked herself. This is the kind of thing I was trying to avoid. Poodoo!

Desperate Estelle kept a defiant look underneath the hood fired back. “Back off slime breath! You are not worth my time.”

Suddenly the young human paused in horrid realization. Wait, did I just say that?!

@The Captain

 

[Vri Nama]

Vri seriously considered grabbing the little human by the shirt and throwing her, backside over brains, onto the track for having the audacity to nudge her. But then she turned around, revealing the baby-soft skin and bright, hopeful eyes of someone who absolutely did not belong down here on Level 1313. This was a probably some college student from the upper levels, sneaking out of their cushy surfacer university to slum it with the dregs of Coruscanti society. In short, she wasn't a threat.

"Heh...hehe..." Vri burst into uproarious, cackling laughter, attempting to throw an arm around the human in an aggressively friendly gesture. "Oh honey, you're lucky you're not worth my time. Otherwise I'd plant my boot so far up your shrak you'd taste the gum I stepped in."

This sudden display of camaraderie annoyed the local thugs, who were hoping at least for a fist fight before the show began, but it looked like that wasn't happening. Unfortunately for them, Vri decided this human trying to act tough with her was a lot more entertaining than annoying.

"Hey, hardcase, you want a beer, maybe some 'stim? Or are you worried mommy and daddy are gonna find out what their baby girl gets up to at night?" Ah, glitterstim, the most invigorating (and possibly toxic) of illegal spices.

@Minuteman75

 

[Estelle Teraan “Nebula”]

For a moment that felt like an eternity Estelle thought she was going to be fighting for her life. Instead the Rodian began to laugh, surprising everyone most of all the college student herself whose jaw dropped in response. Subsequently the street tough threw her arm around an utterly confused Estelle.

Okay what just happened?

Soon enough she had an answer from the Rodian who explained more or less that she didn’t take her seriously. On one hand Estelle was relieved especially when the others turned their attention, but the other she felt a bit insulted. Guess her new friend must’ve pegged her as a surfacer and found it amusing.

She played along laughing though a bit nervously. While everyone else focused back on finishing their bets Vi asked her next question asking if she wanted a drink or maybe some spice. Suppressing a bitter scowl that threatened to come out but instead she projected an embarrassed smile Estelle repelied.

“Uh I’ll just have beer thanks. My name is Estelle by the way.”

@The Captain

 

[Vri Nama]

"Vri." She gave Estelle a tight-fisted, jerky handshake before waving down the Aqualish with the repuslor-cooler, who was offering somewhat cold drinks in exchange for credits.

As the hairy brute staggered over, Vri took a second to pop her boot off and shake the extra credit chips out, the last of the money she currently had on hand between Son-Tuul jobs. Meaning she was now one step closer to getting very belligerent if her red racer lost, and alcohol would only increase those odds.

"I hope you got creds, I'm not paying jack-kark for yours." Vri might not have felt threatened by Estelle, but that didn't mean she was going to be nice to her. At least, not while she was sober, but that problem was about to be corrected soon by a can of cheap, semi-cold booze, which she willingly forked over half her remaining credits for.

"So," She paused to crack her drink and take a long, deep, swig. "How'd you get down here? They don't advertise races like this topside...

...do they?"

Vri couldn't decide if the question was rhetorical or not, since she knew they didn't put up bill-holos on the surface, but there was still a surfacer standing next to her and she was genuinely curious as to how she found out about this race. Vri wasn't exactly in the advertising and marketing arm of Son-Tuul, she was more involved in outreach. Specifically, reaching out and breaking peoples noses.

@Minuteman75

 

[Estelle Teraan “Nebula”]

Estelle forced a pained smile from the fierce handshake. Her grip is like a rancor‘s. Keeping that thought to herself. When the bug eyed Aqualish came over, offering beverages, Vri took some credits from her boot to buy one. When her new associate stated she wasn’t paying for hers, Estelle replied.

“I wouldn’t expect you to anyway.”

Subsequently she took a small set of credits, paying for a cheap beer. Once the Aqualish left, the student snipped and nodded. Actually not bad at all. Just as she was about to relax, when Rodian asked how she found out about this event. Immediately she answered.

“True it’s not advertised publicly up there. But a friend of mine named Jon occasionally comes down here heard from a Black Vulkar member about this while they‘re playing sabacc.”

Pausing with a shrug she added. “He knew I would be interested and so told me about it. Love the thrill that comes with swoop racing.”

@The Captain

 

[Vri Nama]

Black Vulkar, at that name Vri perked up a bit and began eyeing the human a bit more cautiously. She was pretty sure she was just a surfacer looking for some thrills, but the Black Vulkar and the Son-Tuul weren't on the best of terms, since they were both fighting to carve out sections of the Coruscanti underworld. The Son-Tuul were bigger, and in Vri's opinion objectively better, but the Vulkar weren't without some tricks of their own.

"How about you put me in contact with your buddy after this, eh? I'd love to meet this Vulkar guy." Vri was sure she was being subtle, but her tone was definitely a little tense and threatening. Thankfully, she loosened back up a bit when Estelle mentioned her love of swoop racing.

"You ever been on a real racing swoop? Or do you just like to watch?" The provocative word choice was intentional.

@Minuteman75