Ask When Meeting An Orc

[Dumaagorn Yagah]

Dumaagorn waited patiently on Cyrillia for the one who would join him. Shaw Amaris, a popular human he had met once at a Jedi social event, one the Orcalon rather enjoyed. And yet now it was to the more serious business. Attempting to stop a exceptionally brutal slavery ring lead by a Dug...A particularly savage and sadistic dug called Paswus Ngonsura from exploiting a group of vulnerable teenagers and younger, transporting them into a life of slavery and bondage. It was not something Duma would allow, it was like the same evil he was seeking to end even as he tried connecting more with nature and the wild.

He had felt a calling to stop them.

To help those who were innocent and teenagers like himself, even if he was twice their size. None deserved what was in store.

The Dug was held up in a large warehouse, with dealings in illegal fights, gambling, underage dancers and all manner of activities. He was apparently insulated by supplying the Hutts with slaves so far and the two young Jedi had been assigned to try and find a way to get the teenagers and kids out without alerting the Hutts, and bringing Paswus Ngonsura in to face justice for his crimes. Duma was playing the part of a enforcer for now as his cover, although he didn't like it. It was what fit best for someone his size and physique. Shaw was given the option of his own choice of disguise.

Duma waited at a cafe on the other side of the city, they would make their way from here and decide how to handle the situation.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

The accompanying Jedi Knight was on the trail of a notorious dug that he had been tracking for some time now. Shaw got the feeling that there was some personal vendetta that motivated the knight, some unspoken history between he and Paswus Ngonsura, but if there was he wasn't the type to talk about it.

This particular Jedi Knight, a zabrak by the name of Trempati, was of the old school train of thought that padawans were too soft these days and needed toughening up. Duma and Shaw had already lost count of the amount of times he had said back in my day...

Shaw had never gone undercover, so admittedly he was pretty nervous. Sweaty palms was just the beginning as Knight Trempati slid a pair of stun cuffs onto the teenager's wrists. "Gotta look the part," he shrugged when Shaw gave him a look that clearly said he wasn't sure how to feel about this. "You're supposed to be for sale, remember?" Shaw wasn't sure how he felt about that either.

"Can't we get a bite to eat first?" Shaw asked, but that was a firm no. So what was the point of meeting up at the cafe? An orcolan, a middle-aged man dressed up like a smuggler, and a cuffed teenager walked down the street toward the warehouse. It sounded like the opening line of a bad joke. @Akheron

 

[Dumaagorn Yagah]

Duma waited with the patience of a saint as the zabrak, Knight Trempati took forever to arrive and when he did he was suitably grouchy. It reminded him of his grandpa. Grandpa Brokgra. Or as he knew him Groucho. He knew the Knight only by reputation as one of the old school more traditional types shout value on toughening peasants up. He wasn't quite sure how he got stuck with him but it was as it was.

He was glad though he wasn't alone, with Shaw being assigned to with him. Both would no doubt suffer the whole way, in fact they had on the way there. He recalled Shaw as being somehow involved in something that went on at the social but it wasn't important. He glanced up as the two arrived, with Shaw placed in stuncuffs and playing the part of a slave for sale. Which was partly why they were to meet at the cafe. A representative of the Dug was to meet them and access the 'product ' was worth purchasing before his boss saw him for further scrutiny.

Soon enough and the trio were being lead towards the warehouse, Duma was hesitant to ask for a bite himself after the form no. So instead stayed quiet until spoken too. They were soon led down some dark alley, and further into a rough looking part of town with many street rats lurking around eyeballing them. Lookouts no doubt. The eyes and ears of the Dug.

The Weequay banged on the door to the warehouse, with a Gamorrean sticking it's nose out the slot, it's eyes looking at the group suspiciously at least before the Weequay explained he was here with some product for the boss man. The door opened to reveal larger space, with industrial equipment around, passing through they were lead further into the back and a far larger space below ground. Taken to an office, there Sat the Dug surrounded by Twi'lek escorts and credits he was counting up like some kind of kingpin. Yet everyone knew he was just a middleman for someone else with delusions of grandeur.

A protocol droid stood next to him to translate as he spat out a mixture of different words, some were not kind to Shaw.

"Boss Ngonsura says that he is satisfactory, but will not pay your asking price. He feels the product is of a inferior quality to those from his usual supplier and only accepted this meeting as a favour to Varg. He offers 10,000 credits and no more." the droid said mentioning to the Weequay who had been convinced by the Jedi to help or face serious prison time. Meanwhile Duma observed, looking for possible escape routes if it went sour, and gave Shaw a look that said it'll be ok.

Although he wasn't certain at all. He sure hoped the zabrak Knight, Trempati knew what he was doing.

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

Shaw had never felt so out of place, stuck between another padawan pretending to be an enforcer and a grouchy Jedi Knight pretending to be a smuggler while a greedy slave trader eyed him up and down like he was a piece of meat hanging from a butcher shop window. A thick layer of cigarra smoke hung over the cramped office. There were several DUM-series droids running all over the place. One of them kept running headfirst into Shaw's leg, photoreceptor colliding with the teenager's knee. It would definitely leave a mark, but if that was the worst Shaw suffered this mission he would consider himself lucky.

"Ngonsura says that he is sorry," the droid would translate for the dug, who was grinning at Shaw through a row of yellow teeth. He didn't look a bit sorry. "That he likes to tinker with them in his spare time. That it is so hard to find good help these days. Though, he says, that would you know all about that since you are here." As if Shaw didn't already feel uncomfortable.

Knight Trempati fidgeted impatiently beside the padawans. "Fine. If that's your best offer."

"Ten thousand credits!?" Shaw blurted out, mouth falling open and brown eyes wide. "I'm worth ten thousand credits!?" Had he missed something? That couldn't be right. That didn't sound right. He exchanged a look with Duma, but the knight smacked him on the arm to shut up.

"Excellent," the translator droid would speak up again. The dug waved his hands...feet? Shaw couldn't tell. Anyway, he waved it at the weequay, giving the order for his newest 'purchase' to be taken away. The Jedi Knight would slip Duma the keys to the stun cuffs. Shaw glanced between both of them. Was... was this part of the plan? It was all happening so fast. @Akheron

 

[Dumaagorn Yagah]

Duma could see the obvious discomfort upon Shaw. Although he couldn't blame him, his position was a precarious one and he was very obviously out of place. He didn't envy it. Tell way the dug kept looking at Shaw was very disconcerting, almost like he wanted to do unspeakable things he could hardly imagine. Such were telling rumours coming from this place about what went on. The dug was known to enjoy torture for no other reason than pure enjoyment.

Duma stayed silent and listened as he droid translated. The Orcalon felt a pang of sadness for what Shaw was going through and mild annoyance at the Jedi Knight. He didn't much like him but put up with him. Not by choice though. Perhaps they could find a way to play a prank on him when they got back. As two Knight fidgeted, it caught the attention briefly of the dug, who got suspicious.

The droid translated "Ngonsura says why are you so nervous when we are all friends here. He asks you to relax."

As Shaw exchanged a look Duma looked back as if to say yeah. This is awkward. He was worth twice that, at least he thought so had he been in that business. As the droid spoke again and the deal was done, Duma quickly slipped a hand to receive the keys. Luckily the dug got distracted eating something as the Jedi Knight slipped them to him.

As he was eating, sending spit on all three he spoke and the droid translated, to the disgust internally of Duma, he gave a look to Shaw as if to say. Did that really just happen? Did he just spit on them.

"Ngonsura says the brute can take him to the cages below. Another brute outside the office will join him and help the transfer while paperwork is sorted up here and credits are transferred. He says any funny business and everyone dies."

Duma wasn't particularly amused. Both with the spitting or being called a 'brute'. He was the furthest from it. He gave Shaw a look that said 'charming'. Moments later and Duma was outside next to a Gamorrean who looked miniscule by comparison. It was like comparing a ogre to a troll. As they walked, Duma sneakily undid the cuffs, loosening them. Yet kept them on to keep up appearances until they were out of sight of the Dug and could slip away. Well once they found a way to get rid of the escort.

Luckily there was a large dumpster. It gave him an idea.

When finally below and as Shaw was about to be put inside, Duma gave the Gamorrean a large bump on the noggin, his large hand dazing him unconscious before sticking the Gammorean inside the dumpster. He didn't like doing it but it was the only way. The smell briefly making him gag as he spoke to Shaw "This smells worse than a soiled pair of underwear my grandpa once made me wash."

Now free, he looked around, hoping no-one saw that as the two ducked for cover to avoid being found out. Not a easy task when Duma was so tall and stood out like a large green giant.

Spoiler: Jedi Knight Trempati attempt to try slipping Duma the keys to the stun cuffs unnoticed

Roll D20: 15

@throwitintothefire

 

[Shaw Amaris]

Right before they reached the holding cells Duma took care of their gamorrean escort. Just in the nick of time! "Thanks, dude," Shaw said, giving the orcolan a grateful nod as he slipped out of the stun cuffs. He wouldn't get rid of them, slipping them through his belt just in case he needed them. Just because he was out of the cuffs didn't mean they were out of the woods yet. This place was still crawling with enforcers provided to Ngonsura by the hutt cartels, his favorite employers. "I owe you one." The list of people that Shaw owed was getting pretty long these days.

Leaning over the side of the dumpster and fiddling around for a moment or two, Shaw would pop back up with an old fashioned key ring in hand. The cartels hadn't sunk that many credits into this place. What could you expect? It was a refurbished warehouse. So of course it didn't have anything fancy like key cards and electronic locks. "Got the keys!"

Now to free as many of the prisoners as possible. Knight Trempati hadn't been too forthcoming in regards to the objective of this mission, but that was one thing they could all agree on. Free the prisoners. Shaw threw open the door to the holding cells, expecting he and Duma to have a fight on their hands, but there were no guards. Just countless pairs of frightened eyes staring back at the Jedi from between cell bars. It was a sobering sight.

Shaw swallowed. They had to hurry. Just because there were no guards at the moment didn't mean they wouldn't be back soon. "I'll take right, you take left!" he said to Duma, approaching the first cell and slipping a key into the lock. "Is there a back way out of this place?" he asked aloud. @Akheron

dice roll 10/20

 

[Dumaagorn Yagah]

Duma nodded in return as he spoke, he hoped Shaw would have done the same for him if the situation had been reversed. He couldn't imagine the life some of the slaves locked up had gone through already or for how long they had been going through it here. It was a awful thought to consider and all the more reason to shut the operation down. Although Duma knew even with Shaw free and the Knight talking, there wasn't alot of time before the dug got suspicious. Especially with the missing Gamorrean and soon to be empty cages.

"No problem, I don't leave a friend in need." he said , with a small smile.

The Orcalon looked puzzled for a moment as Shaw dug about in the rubbish, while he held his nose trying to avoid gagging from the smell of rubbish that hadn't been emptied in a few weeks. As he returned from inside with a key ring and approached the cages, Duma gave a nod of understanding. Only then did he understand why. Although he hoped he had a shower or several when he got back or the dorms would smell for weeks just like the dumpster and no doubt Shaw wanted to be known as 'The Dumpster Kid' which apparently had been the fate of another padawan, Larry at one time who lived in dorm 31. It had stunk out the entire forms for a month before it was fixed the rumour was.

A silent prayer was made for dear Larry. He doubted it was something Shaw wanted.

"Great, good job, now to free them." he responded with a smile. Happy they were freeing the trapped.

Duma prepared himself as the cage doors opened, expecting alarms and a fight. Not something he liked doing,but he would have. And they probably deserved a good clobbering anyways. Looking at the young formerly caged kids, and some older adults who stepped forwards, Duma was reminded why they were Jedi. At least in part. To prevent situations like this from going on, and defend the helpless who could not defend themselves. It made him more determined, after seeing the sight for himself of the affects of slavery before him.

Duma also knew they had to be fast, despite how fearful some of them appeared when looking at him. Mostly due to his immense size towering over them. It really did look like a giant, ready to squash them. But he would do no such thing. He wasn't a ogre like some kids might call him. Indeed he had been referred to it once or twice in the past when he first joined the temple on Tukadana.

But he had since made friends and proved he was far from a beast. That he was kind, gentle and generally wanted what was best for the galaxy and others.

Duma nodded as Shaw went right, and he went left. As Shaw questioned, an elder man near the back of the group, who appeared to been here a while in as punishment of some kind, and helped by others stepped to the front. His beard was long, near hitting the floor.

"I can help you. I saw a few guards often go back there." he pointed towards a narrow stairway by the very back of the warehouse and a narrow stairway beyond that went down and out, a more secure area. There were a few more cameras and security, but it was the only way and safer than the front door. "Although I heard say the Dug has a secret escape passage around here somewhere. Just need to find the crate with a symbol of Sebulba podracer on it. His a big fan of the old legend going by talk."

He took a breath and continued "I heard it was somewhere near here. By the right aisle and left. Are you here for us? Will you take us with you?" he inquired.

Meanwhile, Duma was told a similar series of answers by one in the cage he opened. Soon convincing the group to go with him and freedom, he returned to Shaw. Attempting to keep everyone quiet. Although it was proving a challenge with the younger kids in tow, who sometimes stopped after being distracted seeing something they liked and needing an adult to get them moving again.

"So what you find out?" Duma inquired with Shaw, hoping he had success with what he was doing. He knew it wouldn't be long before the Dug came to look and the Jedi Knight would have to intervene.

@throwitintothefire