Whispers of the Force IC Thread

[Absol197]

WHISPERS OF THE FORCE

Tremors of fear are felt throughout the galaxy, from the Core all the way to the Outer Rim. ALDERAAN, one of the oldest planets of the old Republic and the new Empire, has been destroyed, leaving nothing but field of asteroids strewn in its orbit.

Whispers tell of a massive Imperial battle station capable of destroying planets that is responsible for this unthinkable act, but whether this is true or where this massive weapon might be is unknown. Terror has gripped the people of the galaxy, and in the face of terror, chaos blooms.

On the burgeoning city-planet of ERIADU, located at the juncture of two major hyper-lanes, the HYDIAN WAY and the RIMMA TRADE ROUTE, that chaos has become a surge in crime. Fear creeps into every domicile, and no one who can touch the Force can escape its icy claws...

Episode 0: THE LOST ARE FOUND

A cold sleet falls on the narrow streets of the Ungullan district, tumbling down the dozen-leveled city above to pool at the feet of the lonely and forgotten below. Harsh chemical lights in a myriad of colors burn above disheveled shops desperately trying to attract patrons, and the hum of repulsorlifts and the roar of engines from the nearby spaceport battle with the sluicing sleet for domination of the ears of passersby.

Down these near-empty streets a lone figure passes, her hood drawn, the only one who's purpose is not to escape the weather...

[Byunny]

Vrei was on the hunt.

She silently slipped through the snow and sleet, hood drawn close over her head; through the city's garish colors and the omnipresent hum, her eyes and ears would do little good. Rather, she felt the world around her, feeling the occasional heartbeat or stray scurry of footsteps reverberate through her montrals.

The Togruta were born hunters, after all. Even Vrei, raised so far from her ancestral home, knew it.

Though, she thought, things would be much simpler if she knew who or what her quarry was supposed to be. All she knew was that someone was snatching children, and that it seemed up to her to put a stop to it. She was looking for a "suspicious figure", likely cloaked, likely skulking... "Maybe in a mirror?" she remarked, catching sight of her own shadowy figure in a nearby puddle. Indeed, it seemed as if she herself was the shadiest person she'd seen all day...

[Absol197]

As she stared at her reflection in the muddy water, some instinct inside of her (was it her hunter's instinct? It had to be, right?) caused her to pause for the briefest second. And there, in the space between the passing of two speeders above and beyond the hissing of the falling sleet, she heard it: a scream, a plea.

Someone, a girl it sounded like, was in trouble. Just off the street, in the shadow of the large spaceport, no more than two streets in front of her.

[Merilan]

A very curious girl, it turns out, with ashen-white hair down to the small of her back, a small braid on one side of it. She couldn't be more than in her mid-teens, and doesn't exactly loom over anyone - certainly not her captors, for one.

"Please, unhand me! I beg of you!"

The girl's refined accent certainly doesn't mark her as someone native to the Outer Rim territories, and you'd be hard pressed to see anyone walking Eriadu's streets in the equally refined clothes she's wearing. It must be tailor-made, and haute couture at that. A ruffled cream-white capelet sits atop her button-up blazer and blouse, navy and white in colour; a ruffled skirt covers most of her thighs, leggings the rest. Her short, light boots look more suited for fashion than the rough-and-tumble streets.

Equally curious is the bag on her back, easily mistaken for what looks to be an incredibly fluffy, adorable fat stuffy of a lion.

[Absol197]

Four men had accosted her, and in the young girl's struggles to get away, three of them were driving her into a nearby alley, while the last looked on, a wicked smile on his face.

The onlooker was the only human in the group; a pale-skinned Twi'Lek, a wrinkled Weequay, and a sinister, reptilian Trandoshan stalked the poor girl, who was splattered in mud and shivering from the cold. And from fear.

[Byunny]

Vrei leaped immediately into action, moving swiftly toward the sound. Under her cloak she gripped her blaster in her hand, fiddling with the switch on the side. "Never take a life..." she murmured angrily, her voice drowned out by the falling sleet. "No matter how much the bastards deserve it."

The blaster stayed set to stun.

As she peeked around the final corner, Vrei found herself staring at four very questionable looking men driving a young girl away. Vrei was briefly taken aback at the sight of the girl, who was dressed like some Core World princess. Or at least what she imagined a Core World princess to look like; she had never actually seen one before. The Togruta also felt a flicker of concern; perhaps she had been a little headstrong in leaping to the girl's rescue. She wasn't entirely sure if she could take on four bad guys with her blaster skills.

Help the helpless. No one else is going to.

Steeling her will, the Togruta stepped out into the alleyway. Perhaps she would put her suspicious look to good use. Casting a rougher, cruelly dismissive tone to her voice - the same she'd heard her masters use so often in her youth - she said to the four men, "Well, gentlemen. Found an easy mark, I see? Looks right off a ship from the Core, this one. If you plan to sell, I serve an individual who would... appreciate such a specimen." Vrei kept her eyes fixed on the men, trying not to gag on the words. Slavers' talk felt dirtier than any profanity, but if she could just distract them for long enough, she could give the other girl a chance to get away...

[Merilan]

Immediately, Terra whimpers out a, "Please help me--" but pauses, flinching away as the Togruta appeared to be one of the thugs' own. Just how many more would come, and what would happen to her? She quietly clings onto the seashell-shaped pendant on her chest, thinking quietly of father, and mother.

[Absol197]

The poor girl was quite thoroughly trapped: the alley behind her was short and dead-ended not 10 meters down; the only place to hide was behind a large metal container (or maybe it's a trash compactor), nothing that would protect her for long. Just in front of her the three menacing sentients loomed.

The newcomer's voice caused them to pause and turn, and their blasters cautiously rose from their holsters.

The human turned, and gave the Togruta an appraising glance, his large arms folded over his chest. "Sorry, kid, you're too late. Our boss ain't selling at the moment. Now scram before you end up joinin' her."

[Byunny]

Vrei stared the men down, looking cooler than she felt. She seemed to have convinced them of her legitimacy, but they didn't seem keen at all to let go of the girl. And their boss... she would have to beat the information out of these guys. Assuming, of course, that she could manage to take them down. "Your boss, huh? Well, as far as this business goes, I've found that negotiations are never unwarranted. Perhaps my boss can cut a lucrative deal." With her blaster still gripped in one hand under her cloak, she pulled her comlink from her belt, making motions of tapping in some random contact codes. She tossed the comlink at the three men nearest to the girl, deliberately a little high to draw the gaze.

With the same motion, Vrei swung her blaster around at the human man, pulling the trigger. You had to learn out here: always shoot first.

"Girl!" Vrei barked. "Run for cover, now!"

[Byunny]

The instant the men took their eyes off Vrei, she sprang into action, raising her blaster and firing at the human man nearest her. Without waiting to see the familiar blue stunning rings hit, she dove around the corner, taking cover from the four blasters' worth of shots sure to come flying toward her.

[Absol197]

As Vrei cried out to the young girl, as if he was expecting the attack, the man jerked to the side just when the sizzling blue rings flashed from the Togruta's blaster.

The beam sailed past, leaving a scorch on the alley wall opposite, but he still gasped in pain, his free hand clutching his face as he blinked furiously, trying to clear the flare of light from his eyes.

[Merilan]

The lights and loud sound of the blaster frighten Terra.

Quickly, the vast number of things she's never so much had to consider are stacking up - from the hostile mannerism of the thugs, to the varied number of species she's never seen in her life, to the violence that now rings out so swiftly and without warning. The Coruscant girl has not so much seen a blaster, and the few times she's seen it in fiction have always been when her siblings have watched a documentary or film, which frequently intimidated her.

The white-haired girl turns and flees at the first ring of disaster, whimpering wordlessly as she quickly ducks behind what she thinks is a large metal container. Except... that isn't quite the case, now is it?

[Absol197]

As Vrei dove behind the wall of the nearby building, the blasters behind her began to bark as the thugs took aim. The acrid smoke of burnt plasteel filled her nose, but she appeared to escape unscathed.

"She's using a stinger!" Their leader's voice rang out as he rose again, trying to blink away the last of the flash of Vrei's shot. "I've got this," he growled, waving the rest back. "Go get the girl, make sure she doesn't get away!"

As he stalked forward, keeping his back to the wall, the three thugs turned, advancing menacingly towards the terrified Terra, until they were just on the other side of the compactor.

"Come on, girly," the Twi'Lek cooed. "Make this easy for us and we don't have to use the clubs..."

Suddenly, the human lunged out from behind the wall and fired, the rapid report of his blaster ringing out repeatedly. Vrei gasped and reeled as his first shot scorched her side, and then stumbled back just in time to avoid another from slamming into her shoulder, although the reek of burning fabric informed her that her cloak had not been as lucky. As the pain flooded her mind, her eyes watered and her hand shook, disrupting her aim.

And just as quickly, the slaver was back behind the wall, protected by cover. He laughed. "Happy you got involved now, huh? If you don't die, I'm taking you with us."

As Terra huddled behind the compactor, shaking with the cold and fright, a new sound broke through the night: the high-pitched whine of a droid powering up. Suddenly, the trash compactor began to move...

[Rakaydos]

The droid rumbled, and a buzzing voice came from one end. "My Apoligies, miss, the heavy servos can take so long to warm up. Excuse me? Blaster-armed people? I'm required to inform all of you that you are engaging in dangerous behavior. If you persist, I will be forced to take action."

[Merilan]

Terra's eyes widen with the kind of wonder a child's would, on seeing the -- what she assumed to just be some kind of large metal object -- droid power up. She's flabbergasted, but then instinct kicks in as she glances back to the blaster battle and begs: "P-please, help her!" as she points to Vrei.

[Absol197]

"Grrr, get out of here, droid!" Snarled the Trandoshan thug. "Thissss doesss not consssern you!" He waved his blaster towards the entrance to the alley. "Leave now, or we'll blassst you to ssscrap!"

[Merilan]

The sheer excitement of adrenaline is starting to catch up with Terra - and unlike a regular, fit person, it's causing her to start to breathe erratically. She urges with desperate imperative, "Please, Mr. Droid... she tried to help me... please do not let her--" and she doubles over with a bit of a throaty cough, and ducks behind an actual metal box next to Sawtooth's rear servos. Her head is beginning to spin, but she knows she's got to keep it together.

[Rakaydos]

"A Safe Workplace is Everyone's Responcibility," buzzed the massive droid. Backing toward the combat, he turned deceptively quickly, bringing a metal leg up to catch the lizardman's forehead. "I repeat, if you continue, I will be forced to continue taking action."

[Absol197]

With the cracking of bone, the burly droid's blow flung the reptilian attacker back to slam into the far wall of the alley, where he slumped down, unmoving, his blaster skittering a short distance away.

The speed and power of the ungainly-looking droid elicited looks of shock from the Trandoshan's remaining allies.

[Supercrazy DM]

The smell of alcohol and smoke clung to Ori as she wandered through the streets of the Ungullan district. Ori's clothing revealed a blue v-cut shirt with long grey trousers with a brown jacket giving her some warmth against the sleet. Her red hair flowed in the wind whipping around obscuring her face. Her white skin prickled with goosebumps for the cold and her pace is swift walking and darting in and out of the crowd.

Deep in thought Ori mused, Thank goodness the deal went as planned that Toydarian vendor was practically coercing the cantina when it came to the price. I'm happy to have helped-. With that a pulse of fear shocked Ori to sudden alertness. Instantly she began scanning the crowd and looking to see if anyone was around her. Without seeing anyone she concentrated on the Force its pull feeling like the tide moving ashore. As she felt the waves break upon her she began to sense other force users near her. I wonder who and what they are? Maybe they're in danger? Resolved to get to the bottom of what was occurring Ori stretched out her senses to find the other Force users. She began winding her way around the Ungullan district trying to find where these people are.

[Byunny]

Vrei ducks back behind the wall, resting her back against it. She attempts to focus her will, tapping into the power she knows is there. But her reach finds nothing but anger. The Togruta smiles slightly; she knows rage will do just fine. She lets the emotion simmer and seethe, flowing through her veins like boiling water. "Alright you scum, I won't let you take that girl..." she hisses quietly, even as her wounds heal.

[Absol197]

In an almost blind panic, the two remaining thugs bolted up the alley to regroup with their leader, firing wildly at the mechanical beast behind them. The hail of fire hissed as it vaporized the falling sleet, but none of the bolts found their mark. As he moved past, the Weequay was clipped by one of the droid's swinging limbs, throwing a nasty gash across his forehead.

The gang leader scowled as they came to a stop near him, their blasters still firing. "What are you doing? Is one little girl too much for you? What, is she some kind of Jedi?" He mocked, his eyes still scanning the street for some sign of his quarry.

"This crazy droid just flattened Ssruluk!" The Weequay hollered, one hand holding his bleeding face as he continued to squeeze off shots.

At this, the Human turned, and then snarled. "The boss is gonna hear about this," he warned. He pushed past them and leveled his blaster at the insectile machine. After a pause, he fired off three measured shots, but from the shifting light and the sleet, only one found its mark; a grazing shot that deflected off the droid's curving carapace.

[Merilan]

In truth, Terra didn't know what she was expecting, but Sawtooth's rather sudden display of mechanical hydraulic strength sends the white-haired girl pipping behind the box. It's impressive to be certain, but also pretty frightening - none of the droids in her manor ever displayed any kind of violent behaviour like that. ... oh ... she misses Mr. Beep-Beep, he told really funny jokes and made cute beep-beep noises.

But now wasn't the time to reminisce -- her eyes widen again as she sees the human slaver ready his gun once more. "W--watch out!" she blurts out of nowhere, to Vrei.

[Absol197]

Vrei listened to the commotion happening not far away. There was a droid that was doing....what? It sounded like it had taken out one of the thugs, but the girl's voice rang out again, telling her to look out. But by the sound of it, the gang was distracted, so Vrei took a chance.

Carefully, she moved back to the edge of the building and peered out. Three of the men, including the Human, were firing wildly into the alley, at the droid, she hoped. But she would probably not get a better shot for a while. The girl's words still ringing in her ears, Vrei lined up a shot and squeezed the trigger, the crackling blue rings flashing forward. They struck the Human in the middle of the back and he retched and cried out as the stunning energy enveloped him.

Vrei hunkered down next to the wall, a wicked grin on her face. Not a perfect shot (stunners work best when you hit the head), but it would do.

[Rakaydos]

Stepping toward the leader, Sawtooth raised an arm as blaster bolts glanced off his carpace. A whine rose from his "hand", and the blastertwisted in the bandit's hand, slamming forcefully into Sawtooth's magnetic grapple. lifting it above the human's head, sawtooth began shaking, until the human finally dropped the weapon.

[Absol197]

"Blast this thing!" The gang leader shouted from the ground, a sight slur in his voice from the stinging stab of Vrei's shot.

Heeding their leader's orders, the two remaining gangers steadied their aim at the rampaging droid in their midst. But their attempts to remain out of reach foiled them again. Steam wafted up from the blaster bolts that struck the ground, creating a haze over the battle, but nothing struck the droid but glancing shots.

As his lackies fired again and again, the human raised himself up, wiping away the freezing water from the puddle he'd found himself in. As the mechanical powerhouse was distracted by the bandits' wild fire, the human timed his strike and launched a thrusting kick into the reticulation of one of the droid's mechanical legs.

And although his blow struck home, the well-built construction seemed completely unfazed; then, as the droid changed positions rapidly, the leader's leg wrenched painfully and a loud snap came from his knee, causing him to cry out again.

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori reaches out with the force and winds through the streets dodging the fast moving pace of the crowd. Reaching out with the force she reaches an intersection The force is guiding me... this way. With a burst of speed and focus Ori heads in the direction of the force user hair whipping around her as she ran deeper into the night.

[Merilan]

A slight wave of nausea is starting to come over Terra, as blaster fire is traded between Vrei and the thugs; Sawtooth's intervention is a relief for certain, but she's -- she's just never seen a droid built for anything but cleaning, or diplomatic protocol, or amusement. She didn't really want anyone to truly be in harm's way, after all.

"E-enough of this!" she calls out to the thugs, "Please just leave and-- do not bother me again!" She didn't really think she could persuade them in her position, but perhaps it would be useful enough as a distraction.

[Rakaydos]

Turning away from the new-disarmed leader, Sawtooth stepped toward the remaining thug, servos whining as he stepped omminusly toward him, blaster in "hand"...

[Absol197]

Vrei looked on at the scuffle warily. She wasn't sure why the giant droid was getting mixed up in this, but he seemed to be helping out, at least for now. The cloud of steam rising from the blaster fire was making it hard to distinguish the various combatants, but she hoped that droid like that would be able to take a few stun-setting bolts if she accidentally hit him.

Vrei squeezed the trigger multiple times, sending crackling blue rings flashing through the melee. None seemed to find their mark, but as the flashes shot through the steam, the gang members flinched, trying to avoid getting hit and disrupting their timing.

As the massive bot approached them, the Twi'Lek and Weequay dropped their blasters and pulled out the long steel truncheons they carried on their belts, dodging the stunner flashes as they did. "You're gonna regret getting involved in this, you scrap-heap!" The Weequay snarled, and they launched themselves on the droid. But with his attempts to keep them at bay, along with his sturdy construction, the only blow to land on him was another from behind, as the human leader landed another kick, this time on Sawtooth's carapace.

However, except for a slight dent to his chassis, nothing sensitive was damaged, and as he turned around, his waving legs caught the human across the jaw. The blow lacked the force of a purposeful strike, but after having already suffered multiple hits and a blast from a stunner, the gang boss stumbled back and collapsed against the ground, the puddles soaking his clothes even more thoroughly.

[Rakaydos]

"I will leave when the athorities arrive," buzzed the droid. "They should arrive momentarally. Please keep ineffectively attacking me until then."

[Absol197]

Looking from the giant droid to their fallen leader, the resolve of the two remaining thugs finally gave out.

"Screw this!" The Weequay grimaced. "I'm not waiting around for the Imperials to get here." He fled, and he was followed quickly by the pale-skinned Twi'lek, sprinting off into the night.

[Merilan]

Terra's breathing is laborious as she watches the thugs flee; just as soon as the cacophonous rings of combat begin to fade does her body start to catch up with everything that's been happening to her. She quietly leans against Sawtooth's side, finding a footing to sit down on as she wheezes and tries to keep herself upright.

"How scary..." she murmurs to herself. "This is a scary place..."

She remembers her manners, though, looking up towards the droid and Vrei both. "Um-- I... thank you. Thank you for your assistance..."

[Absol197]

Vrei cautiously moved out from the protection of the building, watching the thugs flee into the chemically-lit night. Then she crossed the street towards the girl. She lowered her blaster, but didn't holster it yet; the droid had mentioned he had contacted "the authorities," and on Eriadu the Imperials were nearly as callous as the criminals (not that they weren't often one and the same). It might have some sort of ulterior motive for its actions. You could never tell an unknown droid's allegiance, and this one was, as she had clearly seen, quite dangerous.

"Thanks for the help, I guess, droid." She said as she approached. She kept a wary distance as she circled it to approach the girl. When she got there, she knelt down and began to carefully check her for injuries. "Are you okay? Did they hurt you at all?"

[Merilan]

Terra doesn't look to have been injured; at most, she might've just had a little sprain where the thugs grabbed her hand earlier. She looks -- just a little nervous as Vrei approaches, not familiar with her species or in fact any non-human species at all. But one fact did ring clear above any hesitation: They saved her.

"I--I am okay," she affirms for the togruta. "Um-- it is nice to meet you. My name is Terra. Terra Niere..." She bows her head, still used to acting with impeccable manner regardless of the situation.

[Absol197]

Vrei gave a low chuckle. "Kid, you stick out like a nerf at a rancor banquet. And if you keep acting like that around here, you're probably gonna be just as safe." Satisfied that Terra wasn't hurt, the Togruta looked her over again, taking in her odd appearance. Her outfit and adorable bag had been ruined in the scuffle and the sleet, but it still looked much too immaculate for Eriadu. "And you probably don't want to dress like that, either. You look like some kinda helpless Core World princess. What are you doing out here, anyway? You should probably go home. I can take you if you know the way. Make sure no more thugs try and jump you."

[Merilan]

Terra cuddles Mr. Lion with a protective manner more befitting of -- well, a Core World princess, yes. "U-um, but, I do come from the Core Worlds... from Coruscant." A pause, as she tucks her head down sadly. "W--well, I used to. I do not... have a home anymore...."

[Absol197]

Vrei stared in disbelief, wondering what this tiny, cordial, soft-spoken child could ever have done to deserve to be abandoned on a dump like Eriadu. She couldn't think of a thing; if she wasn't already sick of the decadence of Core Worlders, she definitely was now.

Help the helpless. No one else is going to.

"Wow. Look, I'm sorry, kid. Terra. That's all kinds of messed up. I'll help you out. Find a family willing to take you in, at the very least. As you might have figured out, there's some nasty folks about snatching up kids recently, so you don't want to be on your own right now."

She glanced at the gang boss, slumped over in a puddle, looking like he was about to drown. She wanted to let him, but she needed information. Oh, and it wouldn't be right or something. She looked up at the giant mechanical beast that hovered over them. "So, uh, just stay with Mr. Droid for a little bit. I need to have a chat with this guy and his scaly friend back there real quick. Uh, droid, do you have an operating number I can call you by?"

[Rakaydos]

"I did years ago, but you can call me Sawtooth." Hi responce was far more fluid than most droids you'd encountered, as if he'd gone far too long without a personality wipe. "Would you like me to actualy call the athorities, or can we keep this incident off the books?"

[Merilan]

Terra lights up a little, lacing her hands together. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. Sawtooth." A pause, as she glances aside to ask a timid question: "Are... the authorities really going to help me?"

[Absol197]

Vrei laughed a dark laugh. "No way, kid. Around here, the Imperials are nearly as criminal as these bastards. No authorities, if you could....Sawtooth? Man, a droid with a name, never seen it before. Out here, the good people try to look after each other, and stay under the radar."

She stopped to think. "Hmm, actually, if you haven't called the grey-shirts, that gives me a bit more time..." She glanced at the droid. "Would you be willing to help out a bit more, or do you have somewhere to be? I know a place we can take these guys to talk with them that would be a lot less obvious than standing here on the street, but there's no way I could carry them myself."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori arrives in the alley out of breath from her brisk pace. As she came closer she felt the force presence blooming becoming stronger and stronger. Her wet hair whipped around her face, frizzing from the rain and humidity and taking in the rather odd situation.

Looking at the motley assortment and seeing the situation Ori paused. The sense of danger, fear... They must have been attacked. If they Imps heard about it, and come here... A wave of cold fear washes through Ori accentuated by the cold rain. Looking at the people before her she spreads her hands showing she does not have any weapons. "I know you don't know me, but when I was going home today I felt.. I felt like something was guiding me here, it looks like you faced some trouble. I've been down on my luck enough the past few years. How can I help?

Ori approaches the group slowly showing the lack of weapons in hands and tries to show the sincerity of her voice and eyes.

[Absol197]

At the newcomer's approach, Vrei's protective instincts kicked in. She glared as the woman approached, and scoffed. "Something was guiding you here? Yeah, that's not suspicious at all.

"People don't just come out of the shadows and offer to help, not here on Eriadu, and probably not anywhere in the galaxy. I've had to do all the helping myself."

[Merilan]

Terra jerks back just a little bit. For a moment, her eyes look unfocused, and so are her senses. There's an odd thrumming, whistling ebb of noise within her mind as the images flash through the front of her brain. "What... not again..."

She jerks back doubly, drawing Mr. Lion tighter around herself. "Who... are you...? What was that dark pool? Who was that green boy--" A pause, as she fidgets, just about aware that she's nearly hyperventilating. "... be careful. There is darkness in your near future. And... a child, that you must save. A child of a -- race with green skin, and large red eyes."

What a time to receive a vision... I hope these people don't think I'm-- crazy... Terra thinks to herself, her face scrunching just a little. She always feels a little drained after receiving a vision, the way they flood her mind so.

[Absol197]

Vrei's head snapped to attention as Terra began to talk, a look of bewilderment on her face.

"Hey, kid, are you alright?" But as Terra continued, her face screwed up in confusion. "Green skin and red eyes? You mean a Duros?"

She looked back and forth between the small girl and the newcomer. "Do you know the kid here or something?"

[Rakaydos]

"Well, actually, I do tend to just come out of the shadows to help," countered Sawtooth. "And yes, I'm between projects at the moment and slipped out of the inventory cntrol program for the moment. Why, whad do you need?"

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori curses under her breath this was not the way she hoped this would go. The outburst by the young girl worried her, but the force works in odd ways.Listen, I've never met any of you. I've... Been through a lot and I work to help others. Just got a deal for a cantina owner off someone who was scrimping him. Galaxy is already messed up enough I just want to make it a bit better.

[Merilan]

Terra hesitates as she looks to Ori, unsure whether she can trust her. She looks to Vier and -- chews on her lip, murmuring, "I-- somehow... I think we can trust her. ... she felt-- comforting, in my vision. But... um, if you're busy with that thug, then..."

[Absol197]

Vrei gave a tired smile to the small girl. "Look, honey, I know you're not very familiar with this place, but here you have to be cautious of strangers coming out of the shadows."

She looked over at the human woman. "But, the droid makes a good point. If you want to help, help me with these goons here. They jumped the girl, trying to take her off to who-knows where. I think they're part of a group that's been snatching people for the past week or so.

"I'm gonna have Sawtooth here haul them to a shop I know nearby. I helped him out a little while ago and he's got a back room that would be a nice private place to do an interrogation."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori looks over at the small girl, and the small mountain of a robot as the rain beats down hard on her face. Looking at the girl she says, Thanks for trusting me, the name is Ori by the way. Ori felt a wave of cold and then heat go through hear at mention of how the gang members may be related to the recent kidnappings. Looking at the man she says Alright, let's get moving then and ask them some questions. We should move quickly in case their friends come back.

[Merilan]

Terra... just nods very quietly, in no way knowledgeable about picking up people and interrogating them. It still felt a little unreal, like it were one of those action movies her brothers and sisters liked so much. "M-my name is Terra, Ori."

She steps a little bit closer to Vrei, perhaps finding the togruta the largest source of protection and comfort in an alien -- literally -- world at the moment.

[Absol197]

Vrei grunted at the exertion as she and Ori heaved the limp gang boss onto the droid, and then jogged back into the alley to get the Trandoshan that still lay out cold. A trickle of blood was dripping down the back of his head, but it didn't seem life-threatening.

As she and Ori started to move the reptilian sentient, she paused for a moment to pick up the fallen blaster he had dropped.

After the Trandoshan was also safely (more or less) about Sawtooth's carapace, she bent down in front of Terra. "Here, kid, take this," she prompted as she offered the blaster. "I know you've probably never used one before, but you can go out around here without a weapon. You're old enough I know you're not gonna shoot your eye out, and you need to have some way to protect yourself."

[Rakaydos]

Accepting the burden, sawtooth pointed out where the tie down straps were, before turning toward vrei. "Lead the way, sir or madam."

[Merilan]

Terra meekly accepts the blaster, staring down towards the pistol with a -- terrified look on her face. She rather clearly is not comfortable with the idea of shooting someone, but... there's simply no other way. She tucks the gun into one of Mr. Lion's side pockets next to a water bottle, and slips on Sawtooth's side.

[Absol197]

Vrei gave what she hoped was an assuring smile as the young girl took the blaster. Then, with the two crooks secured atop the droid, she led the way through the twisting ground-levels if Eriadu's massive cityscape.

The sleet had begun to pick up, pouring down from overhead, but Vrei purposefully avoided the paths that would provide them cover.

[Absol197]

Her hood pulled up against the driving sleet, Vrei led the way through bleak streets, the lights of the ground-level shops causing everything to glare brightly in the freezing precipitation. She kept up as brisk a pace as she could without causing little Terra to stumble, but even then it was nearly ten minutes before she stopped.

The roar of the spaceport had faded into the distance as Vrei came to a halt at a nondescript door that stood next to a larger bay. She banged loudly, dancing slightly in the cold. After a moment, a circular aperture opened and a small spherical camera extended on a reticulated arm to stare her directly in the face.

Vrei started back a little, but didn't seem surprised. "Hey, Movru. It's me."

A speaker crackled, and then a male voice came from the camera. "Vrei? What are you doing here?"

"I needed a safe place, and you were the closest. I could use some help, if you're willing."

The camera swiveled to take in the rest of the group. "What's with the construction droid? And why does it have people strapped to its back?"

"No offense, Mo, but it's really cold and wet out here. Can't we discuss this inside? I can vouch for..." Vrei paused and stole a glance back at Ori. "Everyone. There's no trouble."

The camera swung back to stare Vrei in the face, and she matched it unblinkingly. After a tense few moments, the speaker crackled again. "Damn it, Vrei..." The camera snapped back into it's alcove and the grate shut.

A minute passed, and then with a hiss, the large bay door leapt up, allowing the group entrance. Inside was a large, dark room, with lifts, tools, and various implements scattered about, clearly a mechanics shop, likely mostly for the airspeeders that still wooshed by far above them. Vrei hurriedly waved the group inside, out of the pouring sleet.

[Merilan]

The biting cold isn't doing any favours to Terra, who huddles up and tries her best to keep pace with the group and letting herself on Sawtooth at one point -- and pointedly staring away from the thugs, unconscious or otherwise.

She gawks a little as she looks around the airspeeder workshop, clearly having not been in any kind of environment like this before. "U-um, thank you for letting us in."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori's thoughts raced as she crept through the cold rain of the city. Arriving at the safehouse Ori was only more than happy to allow Vrei to take lead. Feeling the warmth of the shop Ori smiled and shook off the rain like a waterfall. Taking off her robe she looks at the thugs who were unconscious. Looking at the rest of the group she says Alright, I know I just walked in, but can I get more details about what happened? Also, I don't know how long these thugs are going to stay cold, but I imagine the warmth will wake them sooner rather than later. I would say we should bind them to make sure they can't escape.

Eyes darting around Ori looks around the shop for something that would be suitable and also remarks saying And maybe something to cover our faces? I'd prefer if they didn't know exactly who we were and had time to study us. Ori looks around nervous having small waves of fear pass over her. Internally her voice is saying It's ok they haven't seen you yet. Just do what you've done before, for safety and you're fine. They don't know the safehouse they don't know your name. Help these people out and it'll come back to you. Maybe.

[Absol197]

After everyone entered, the large bay door dropped shut. For a moment the shop was in darkness, then lights began to flicker on, lighting everything in sterile white.

Not to much later, a door on the right wall opened and the host entered. He appeared human at first, approaching or already in middle age, but the small horns jutting from his bald head and his yellow eyes marked him as a Zabrak. As he approached, nervousness apparent on his dark-skinned face, Vrei flashed Ori a 'one moment' gesture.

"Okay, you're in," Movru remarked, looking at the group. "Explanation, please?"

Vrei gave a condensed version of the events, altering the story to make it sound as though Ori had been helping her from the beginning. As she finished, an incredulous look spread over the man's face. "And you thought it would be a great idea to bring a couple of gangers here? Vrei, the Grinners' have already got a bounty on you because of what you did for me. You KNOW they watch my shop."

"I know, but I needed a place to squeeze some info out of them, and I thought I could use your storeroom. There's no identifying marks, and I'll stun 'em again before we leave, so they don't see where we are.

"Come on, Mo, I couldn't interrogate them out on the street, that would have been way too vulnerable, and I wasn't leaving the kid out there." She spared a glance at Terra. "I think this is the same group that snatched Nangle Keeg's kid." She gave him a pleading look.

At the mention of the name, Movru shifted uncomfortably, his voice getting low and taking on a dangerous tone. "They're the one's who took Rek?"

Vrei nodded. "I think so."

Movru sighed. "Alright, you can use my storeroom. But get them in there quickly before they wake up." He shook his head. "If it was anyone else but you, Vrei..."

[Merilan]

Terra could barely follow Movru and Vrei's conversation. All the names flying around were foreign to her, but she could at least tell enough that they didn't mean her any harm. Instead, while Vrei spoke to the Zabrak she turned towards Ori. What... was that small sensation coming from her? It tingled, and -- felt a bit... strange.

"What did you mean... earlier? About something -- something guiding you, Miss Ori?"

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori focuses her bright eyes on Terra. Smiling and lowering her voice to a whisper she says Terra, have you ever felt like you were meant for something? That there was a force guiding your actions and that you could intuit things just before they happened? That is the Force. We can't talk about it here, but after later when we're safe and alone I'd be happy to talk to you. Smiling at Terra she nods at her letting her know that she isn't alone, that she has found someone else like her.

[Absol197]

Their conversation finished, Movru returned to the front of the shop through the same door he had entered through.

"Hey, Ori," Vrei called as she approached Sawtooth. "Could you help me with these creeps?"

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori strolls over looking at the creeps and says Alright, how do you want to handle this? What do you want? Ori looks over the thugs sniffing the sweat as its pungent odor filled the air.

[Absol197]

"Mo's storage room is over there," Vrei said, pointing towards the back of the shop. "We're not getting Sawtooth back there without destroying a lot of stuff, so we have to carry them. I'm thinking we bind 'em to some chairs, let 'em wake up and listen as they talk. Then we'll find a good time to jump in.

"Or, if they're being boring, we make an entrance quicker." She looked at Terra. "Hey kid, stay here with Sawtooth, okay? He'll look after you. Are you hungry? Thirsty? Mo might have something for you. Feel free to ask; you should see his office light if you go through the door."

[Merilan]

Terra nods meekly to Vrei, looking up at the construction droid for a moment. But her attention had been distracted by what Ori said just before the woman headed off to help Vrei with the crooks: the 'Force', she said.

For all her life, Terra had been guided by her premonitions; this was not a mystery to her. But to actually have someone else say that, yes, there was an invisible force guiding her... it... actually unsettled her. Raised uncomfortable meta-questions, about the nature of whether she had any free will to herself and her actions or not. But she kept them to herself now, it wasn't the time or place to voice such questions.

"I--I haven't eaten or drunk since I left the spaceport, no..." Terra admits, heading along towards the Zabrak's office to see what Mo is doing. "Excuse me...?"

[Absol197]

Terra approached the door and pressed the release, causing it to slide upwards with a faint woosh. The other side was dark, except for a electric-blue glow coming from somewhere close by. It was obviously the reception area for Movru's office; she was behind a long desk with a pair of computer consoles. A small waiting area with four swivel chairs bolted to the floor stood against the wall opposite, and a vending machine, dark and powered off, stood near them.

The blue glow was coming from another room on the far left side of the small room, its door ajar. Terra could make out the movement of a shadow there.

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori nods at what Vrei is saying and says Sounds good to me. Let's get these guys all tied up. Working together with Vrei she tightly binds the thugs to the chairs. There was no way they were escaping from there. Now it was just a time for a waiting game. Inwardly Ori reflected Can't believe how my day is going, just wanted to make some decent credits. Now I have some thugs tied up here and will have to be moving soon. I wonder what mo- With that she cut off her thought, the memories of her mother held nothing, but pain and it would do no good to be thinking of her now.

[Merilan]

Terra peeked around the corner, a little curious about where the blue glow might be coming from. A monitor, most likely. "Excuse me, Mr. Mo?"

[Absol197]

Movru was working at a larger computer terminal, and the glow was indeed coming from his monitor. He had a datapad to one side, and was working off of both. He stopped to look up when Terra spoke. "Oh, hiya, kid." He flicked his fingers over the datapad a couple of times and it shut off. "Sorry, got lots of invoices to collate. People in these parts are always trying to get out of paying you...What are you up to?"

[Merilan]

Terra puts her fingers together and -- feels a bit bad to impose further on the Zabrak. "Can I... can I please have some water and food? It has been a long time since I last ate..." A pause, and then in her own little attempt to try to be helpful: "Maybe I can help you with some of your work....? It looks like Vrei and Ori will be a while."

[Absol197]

The Zabrak gave a kind smile. "Oh, sure thing." He chuckled a little at Terra's offer of assistance. "You don't want to help me. This is really boring stuff. All the fun of this job happens in the shop." He rifled through his desk drawers a moment, but came up empty.

"Sorry, let's go out into the lobby. I can steal from the vending machine. It's not like my boss is gonna yell at me." He winked. As he led the way out of the tiny office, he gave Terra a sideways glance. "So your folks really just left you here? Wow. If I didn't already hate the kind of people who live in the Core, I sure do now. You're just lucky Vrei found you. You could do a whole lot worse around here."

[Merilan]

Terra follows Movru out, looking back towards the doorway to the workshop where Sawtooth was. The droid likely can pick up on their conversation now. She gets a little more rueful as she says, "Thank you. Um -- not even left, really... my father spirited me away on a starship alone. But... I've this feeling that he didn't send me away because he hated me." There's a fidgety, mousy little pause as she says, "I have a feeling he was scared of... something. What, though, I do not know." But perhaps she's starting to have an inkling, as she clutches at her seashell pendant.

She does perk up, though, and says, "I can cope with boring. I am probably useless with machines, but numbers...? I could do numbers..."

[Absol197]

Movru took out a ring of key-cards as Terra talked, and opened up the darkened vending machine. "Well, maybe I'm being too hard on your folks, then." He rummaged around in the machine's insides and came out with several bags filled with brightly-colored sweets, and a plasteel bottle filled with water. "There you go. Probably not what you're used to, but unfortunately this isn't some fancy tier-five restaurant. We'll have to make due. And if you want to help me with my invoices, be my guest!" He chuckled.

[Absol197]

The Zabrak led Terra back to his office, and showed her what he was doing. He had been right; the work was extremely dry, but it was similar enough to the arithmetic she had learned in school that, for the first time in days, Terra felt a little bit of normalcy return to her life.

----------------------------------------------------------

In the garage, as Sawtooth waited passively, a binary squeak sounded. A small repair droid, it's giant nose-like optical unit gleaming ridiculously in the sterile light, wandered over to him.

"Hey hey! Where did you come from? Are you here to help me with these junkers? I can barely keep up, we've been needing a new droid!"

---------------------------------------------------------

In the back of the shop, Vrei leaned up against the wall outside the small storeroom. She glanced at Ori. "So, we've probably got a few minutes before they come to, and Mo's gone, so now you can start talking." She craned her neck, making sure the Zabrak hadn't returned to the shop. "I told him that I would vouch for you, but I can't really do that yet. I want to believe that you're actually trying to help people around here. I've been doing it on my own so long, I would kill for some help. But..." She shook her head. "I'm not sure I can take it on faith. Not anymore. Make me believe, and you'll have a partner in this business."

[Merilan]

Movru took out a ring of key-cards as Terra talked, and opened up the darkened vending machine. "Well, maybe I'm being too hard on your folks, then." He rummaged around in the machine's insides and came out with several bags filled with brightly-colored sweets, and a plasteel bottle filled with water. "There you go. Probably not what you're used to, but unfortunately this isn't some fancy tier-five restaurant. We'll have to make due. And if you want to help me with my invoices, be my guest!" He chuckled.

Terra looks incredibly grateful to just -- receive food and water; conscious that it might make her stomach hurt a little later, she greedily gnaws on some of the sweets and drinks the water, sighing very gently. "Oh, thank you... and-- yes!"

She follows the Zabrak to his office, and diligently sits down and starts counting the invoices. It really wasn't a problem for her, and it was very nice to just do something... yes, normal for a change. And try to get her mind off the thoughts of this... 'Force'...

[Supercrazy DM]

Turning towards Vrei and smiles softly leaning against the wall she closes her eyes. She can smell the fresh woods of Naboo with its rich clear water. Talking softly she says My mother and I used to work together.. She was an amazing woman. We had a small business helping other businesses negotiating deals for businesses mergers, acquisitions, supplies that sort of thing.

Ori pauses trying not to cry as the memories of that fateful night crept over her. Remembering the departing spaceship and the blaster fire that consumed her mother says My mother got on the wrong side of the Imperials... she was trying to save a woman being attacked by some gang members... they were on good terms with the Imps.... they killed her. Taking a deep breath and looking straightforward Ori says I've tried to do the same as my mother has keeping the business going. When I saw the gang members... it brought me back... if we can help to prevent them from hurting others than that's worth it. I don't want anyone else to become an orphan because of them. The war has caused too many already.

[Merilan]

Terra worked silently and quickly -- but she couldn't get that earlier conversation out of her head. "Movru...? What does Vrei want to do with those -- thugs? She seems very kind, but also driven in some manner..." A pause. "Was it a child named 'Rek'?"

[Absol197]

Movru looked at Terra, a trace of sadness on his face. "Well, it's not just Rek, but..." He shook his head. "Rek's a little Duros boy. Six, maybe eight years old. His dad's a pilot-for-hire, name of Nangle Keeg. He comes in here whenever he's planet-side and needs some of his tech calibrated. He's one of my best customers, and one of the few I'd call a friend on this rust-heap..."

He leaned back in his chair, his eyes far away. "He always brings Rek in with him. You know, life as a spacer, he doesn't get to see his boy that often, so when he's here he goes everywhere with him. I love that little tyke, I always show him what I'm doing, he's gonna be a great mechanic someday..." He smiled briefly, but then his expression became stern again.

"Well, about a week ago, Nangle's missus came in scared out of her mind, asking if I'd seen Rek, had he been in that day. Nangle's out on a cargo haul right now, and it seemed like Rek had just gone missing. I helped look, asked around, but..." He shook his head again. "We couldn't find him anywhere. When I went to Nangle's place that night, his wife said that she had seen Vrei, and that Rek wasn't the first to go missing, and already he wasn't the last."

Movru looked Terra in the eyes, and she could see the beginnings of tears gleaming in his yellow orbs. "So that's what Vrei's up to. She wants to see what kind of information she can get out of those gangers, see if they're the ones snatching kids. Since they went after you, seems likely that they are. I don't think she's gonna kill 'em, Vrei's not like that. Although..."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vrei listened as Ori talked. When the red-haired woman was done, the Togruta nodded. "I can understand a little about losing your mother. I never knew mine, but, well, there was someone who took that place for me, and I can't see her anymore. Don't even know if she's still alive, actually." She pushed off the wall she had been leaning against and held out her hand. "Okay, I can work with what you've said. Good to meet you."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori nods looking at Vrei with a sudden knew understanding. Shaking Vrei's hand she says I'm sorry to hear about your mother... it's not easy, trust me I know. Before we ask these lovely gents some questions is there anything I should know about them?

[Merilan]

Terra feels like she could choke a little, and reaches over to pat Movru on the shoulder to empathise with him. "If only there was more I could do--" A pause, as she bites her lip. A Duros? It was just like the one on her premonition. "... ah..." She pauses, faltering just a moment and looking towards the stack of invoices in front of her. "I feel like I saw him in a vision, just now. If that is the case..." She looks a bit more determined. "Ori and Vrei can help him, I know they can. And I hope Sawtooth will help them too!"

[Absol197]

"A vision, huh?" Movru smiled. "I didn't know that people from the Core believed in the Force." He chuckled. "I know that if anyone can help, it's Vrei. I don't know that Ori lady, but if what Vrei said is true, she might be able to, as well."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vrei shrugged. "Not much. I don't know what crew they're with, if any. Someone's been snatching people, mostly kids, over the past week or so, and since they went after Terra I'm guessing they might be part of that group. I hope they are, at least. There are too many parents going out of their minds around here."

She tilted her head, and narrowed her eyes, listening and feeling with her montrails. "Hey," she said, lowering her voice. "I think it might be showtime!"

[Merilan]

Terra admits, "I... don't know what the Force is. That Ori lady spoke of it very briefly." She's trying to not edge the conversation towards that, for now. "I hope that we find those missing children. It is... awful, to think that such a thing as kidnapping and slavery should even exist." It sounds terribly naive, perhaps, but...

[Supercrazy DM]

As the gang members wake up Ori smiles so they see her bright white teeth and fiery red hair. Giving them little time to talk she goes on saying Hey, how are you feeling? This must be strange for you right? Waking up in a place that you're not familiar with? Well, we have some questions for you.Taking a deep breath she pauses before saying I don't think you're fundamentally bad, most people I think are capable of good. Probably, hit a rough patch right. trying to make some extra credits? I've been down on my luck and trust me I know the temptation... to do what you want... to take what you want.Ori pauses to let that sink in.

However, I've never attacked a young woman in an alley. You know I've heard things, about your gang and I'm one of the good people, we all are actually. So how about this, you tell us why you targeted the girl and what you can tell us about your gang and we let you go. We won't hurt you, we know what it's like to be desperate. So how about it some information to be able to walk free without being hurt any further?

[Absol197]

"It is awful, but just 'cause it's awful doesn't mean it doesn't happen. I hear the Hutts have their grubby fingers in a lot of the slave trade, but it's just about everywhere." Movru shook his head. "I really hope Vrei's right about those thugs. And I hope that if she is right, they haven't taken all those people off-world already..."

He looked Terra in the eye. "But enough of that for now, huh? Depressing stuff. Let's see if we can get a few more of these done, huh?"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vrei motioned Ori over to listen at the door. From the sound of it, the Human had woken up first.

"Hey. Hey, Ssruluk! Wake up!"

After a few seconds, the sibilant voice of the Trandoshan joined in. "Where are we?"

"Who knows? I think that Togruta lady got her crew together and brought us here. We musta been pushing in on their territory."

"Which crew do you think it wasss?"

"Dunno. I can't think of any that work that area."

"Where'r Kurthu n' Sssahbo?"

"Dead, most likely. The boss'll be angry..."

[Absol197]

When Ori walked in, the human gave her a sideways glance. "Are you for real? 'Tell me what you know and I'll let you go?' 'We're the good guys?'" He looked across the small room at his Trandoshan ally. "We're not stupid, you know. We know how this works. Tell us where your turf ends, and we'll make sure our boss keep his operation clear of it, but we ain't spilling his secrets. He'd take our tongues, if we're lucky."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori looks at the male gang leader and the Trandoshan and pauses deep in thought. Looking at them both she speaks her voice icy and dripping with clarity, Look we're not gang members and here's a few things to consider. First, if we did have "turf" so to speak that would be rather scary wouldn't it? How would you, and your boss miss an entirely new bunch of people taking turf with nobody noticing? Secondly, we don't have any identifying marks to have us be a gang. Also, when was the last time you heard of a gang attacking another gang to help an unknown girl?Probably can't remember right? Ori pauses and looks at the human male dead in the eye and says And if we were a gang, we wouldn't be asking nicely, we would have skipped to the unpleasant bit.Pacing the room and looking at the Trandoshan she says So what do you know? Help us out.

[Absol197]

"Isss sssome trick, no?" The Trandoshan asked his fellow captive, a confused look on his scaly face.

"No, I think she's being serious," the Human answered, and his face split into a enormous grin. "Really? Just some random do-gooders decided they'd pop in and...? What? If you're not willing to get your hands dirty, how did you expect to do anything? I bet Kurthu and Sahbo are probably still alive too, huh? Did you let 'em just run away? 'Cause that's gonna hurt you."

When Ori opened her mouth to protest, he shook his head. "No, you know what? Sure, I'll tell you what I know. I think I want to see how this turns out, it'll be hilarious!"

"There was a bunch of us hired for this job. Some Gank creep is paying for heads, the younger the better. We're one of, what, five groups? Yeah, five I think. He says he's workin' for some big boss, probably a Hutt or something. We bring him cargo, and when his hold is full he's gonna just take off. It sounded like he didn't want to stick around too long."

He gave Ori a smirk. "So, whatcha gonna do about it, huh? Ask him to pretty please stop being mean?" He laughed again. "Okay, you got your info. Let us go. It's the right thing to do..."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori's face remains impassive as she looks at the gang leader and says We're going to do what it takes to stop him. And anyone else we find there at the compound. So given that I have a few more questions I'm not satisfied. Pacing slowly throughout the room Ori speaks concisely You said some creep is paying you, what's his name and where can I find him? Ori walks around the room and takes note to look at the Trandoshan, who seems the more nervous of the two as well saying What's the droppoff location, or is it the same place as your boss resides? Ori looks around the room casually inspecting it and keeps her grim face on whilst inwardly smiling I'm doing this, I'm getting the information we need. Those kids aren't going to be hurting, not for much longer anyway.

[Absol197]

"We don't know hisss name," Ssruluk answered. "He din't give one. We callsss him 'the Gank'."

"He's got a private hanger at the spaceport," The human added. "Probably paid a lot of creds for it. We drop off the cargo there. After we're verified, of course." He chuckled. "There's no way spaceport security is gonna let you in without his say-so, and there ain't no females on his payroll, so you'll stand out a little!"

He nodded towards the door. "So, how about it? Can we go now? You said you wouldn't hurt us, and the good guys have to keep their promises, right?"

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori nods and says Being good guys doesn't mean we're stupid. You mentioned being verified, how does that work do you have a code or something else you have on you or use?Ori glares at them hard and her tone brooked no argument. Looking at them she goes on further to say How exactly do you get in touch with him, via comlink there must be some way that you communicate besides just showing up. I somehow doubt he's the sort to want you to come unannounced.

[Absol197]

"Yeah, sure, I've got an encrypted comlink that I use to set up a drop." He shifted, lifting his left side up off the chair slightly. "Left back pocket. Feel free to reach on in, honey..." He gave Ori a sleezy smile and chuckled again.

[Merilan]

Terra nods, satisfied with that, and returns to the invoices. She's still not sure what she'll do from here... would she just -- watch Vrei and Ori leave? She's not sure that Movru would be safe if she stuck around... should she stick with Vrei and Ori instead...?

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori grimaces at the gang member's poor attempt at hitting on her. Making a point of going to the Trandoshan she faces him and says Anything else I should know? We're going to end Gank's abduction ring. This is a chance for you to help out all those poor helpless kids and make some amends. You're better than this. Taking a moment Ori feels a sudden sense of clarity as if there Force is speaking directly to her. Feeling the warmth embrace of the force Ori looks deep in the Trandoshan's eyes. Help us, please... You can do so much good, your path in life isn't rigid. I know this man has been trying to intimidate you, both there are other options. Join us and help us rescue these children. You're important and we need you.

[Absol197]

Pathetic," the gang boss mocked. "If you're done 'grillin'' us, could you let us go now? We're busy people, you know?" But the smile on his face flickered as he looked at his Trandoshan ally. "Hey, Ssruluk? What, you're not actually listening to her, are you?"

The reptilian's inner eyelids were blinking rapidly, a sign in Trandoshans of distress. "There'sss no jagannath to be gained from catching hatchlingsss unawaresss..." He stated, uncertainty evident in his voice.

"Oh, come on!" The man shouted. "You know that whole 'afterlife' thing is all poodoo, right? Who cares what some fake deity thinks?"

This appeared to be the exactly wrong thing to say. At the man's retort, Ssruluk's eyes flashed with rage. "She isss NOT fake!"

Just as it appeared a shouting match between the two inmates was imminent, the door to the supply room burst open and Vrei entered, her blaster raised. Before anyone could even turn to look, she had pulled the trigger twice, and two bright blue flashes of stunning rings had collided with the human's head. Once again unconscious, he slumped over, saved from falling off the chair by the binders that held his hands.

Vrei pointed the blaster at Ssruluk, but didn't fire. "That guy is an utter bastard, and if I wouldn't hate myself afterward, I wouldn't have been set for stun. Are you going to help us, or not?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sitting in the office and staring at his datapad, Movru jumped when the sound of blaster fire rang through his shop. "What the...okay, those were set to stun. Damn it, Vrei..." He jumped up, muttered, "Hold on, Terra..." and dashed out of the room.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Yesss, yesss, will help you!" Ssruluk hissed, flinching back from Vrei's blaster.

[Merilan]

Terra's heart skipped a beat again, and the first thing the Coruscant princess does is bravely sneak under the desk and clutch onto the stolen blaster that Vrei gave her. "B--be careful..."

[Supercrazy DM]

Vrei smiles as Ssruluk begins to see the options before his life. So focused was Ori on the discussion before her, she did not sense Vrei bursting into the room. As he did Ori watched as the blue stun rings arched out of his blaster. Turning around to look at him her face turning bright red she feels anger consume her. Anger that she wasn't trusted to be alone. Anger that a man was hurt. There is no emotion... there is peace...As Ori thinks that she begins to gain her calm back, turning and facing Vrei she says I understand why you did that, but what you did... he was not about to hurt me or Ssruluk here. In fact in his anger he may have let some information slip. Pausing for the effect of her words to sink in Ori continues saying, We cannot do anything about this now except deal with the situation at hand. Would you please search him to see if you can find anything? I know he mentioned about having a comlink, but he may have other information that could help us.

Turning to Ssruluk she says I'm sorry for my rather abrupt arrival of this Togruta here. Put that gun down before you hurt anyone.Ori shoots a look at Vrei as he begins to search the thug's body. Look at Ssruluk she says Soon we're going to let you go, we're going to blindfold you out of here, but is there anything else you can do to help us? To help save the young ones?

[Absol197]

"The creep deserved it," Vrei said as she patted him down, locating the comlink he had mentioned. "And I seriously doubt he would have given up anything else."

She glanced at Ssruluk as she continued to frosh the unconscious man. "Sorry about the blaster in the face, force of habit. What's this guy's name, anyway?"

The Trandoshan gave the Togruta woman a wary look, but answered, "Alshar."

He looked at Ori. "Not much can do to help. I won't let the Gank sssee me working againssst him; too much trouble. But i tell you, we alwaysss being the hatchlingsss to him stunned, in shipping crates. Ssspassseport sssecurity looksss the other way, and no record of them going in isss created. He will be sssussspisssiousss if you have no cratesss."

He looked between Ori and Vrei. "And you needsss a male. Maybe he doesssn't know all he hired, but asss Alshar sssay, no femalesss."

[Absol197]

"Great," Vrei muttered. "I have no clue who I can get. Nobody around here is either skilled enough or motivated enough to help me - uh - us go after this guy."

As she finished her thought, Movru's voice came from around the corner. "Why are you shooting? Are they both stunned?"

"Hold up one second!" Vrei called, and she left the room and closed the door. Ori could here her talking quietly with the shop owner.

"We got most of the info we need," Vrei informed him. "The human was an utter bastard, and I couldn't take it so I stunned him to make him shut up. The Trandoshan actually seems to have a conscious, believe it or not. He's not gonna help us full on, but he's given us some good info."

"Please tell me you stunned him, too," Movru asked. "I don't want any gangers, no matter how nice you think they are, to get any ideas about my place."

"No, I haven't stunned him yet. Ori seems to want to just blindfold him and lead him out."

"This is not what I agreed to, Vrei. Look, I appreciate what you did for me. Really, I would be out of a job without you. But that doesn't mean I can just let you do whatever you want here."

"Hey," the Togruta protested. "I never said I was calling in a 'favor.' I never even asked for a 'favor' in return for helping you. From what I see, I owe you. But if this guy is helping us, and I'm pretty sure he is, I'm not stunning him and leaving him lying in some alley. He's a reptile, for goodness sake, he could die of cold out there right now."

"I can appreciate that, but you're putting me at risk."

"And don't you think it's worth it? A dozen people Mo, at least. Mostly kids. Isn't a little risk worth saving them from who the hell knows what? They said they're nabbing them for some Gank down at the spaceport. You know who the Ganks work for, so what do you think that means for these kids? For Rek?"

There was a prolonged pause before Movru answered. "...Alright. Okay, okay, fine. Just try to be get them out of here without letting them know where they are. That's all I ask."

As the sound of footsteps began to recede, Vrei's voice came once more. "Oh, one more thing: he says that the only people this Gank has hired are male. Ori and I can't get to this guy ourselves, and I don't know anyone who might help. You got anyone you can think of that might be willing to help us? He's apparently holed up in the private sector of the spaceport."

Movru sighed. "Yeah, I think I know a guy. His ship's...stuck, you might say...in the private sector. He owes me for some repairs and for getting him in touch with some people. I could see if I can get him to help you."

"Thanks, Mo. I owe you the world!"

"I'll settle for you not being around in the next half-hour." He replied, and the sound of footprints retreated.

[Merilan]

Terra climbs out of the desk after a moment, and peeks around the corner. She could hear Vrei and Movru talking in hushed whispers; it was a bit hard to make out what they were hearing, but she made do. She had to wonder if she was as much a liability to Movru as Vrei was; as their conversation died down, she peeked over the threshold of the doorway to tilt her head.

"I should probably not hide here either..." she answers the Zabrak. "I don't want to attract trouble to you. I guess... the only way I have is with Vrei and Ori, isn't it...?"

[Absol197]

As he returned to the office, Movru gave a sad nod. "Unfortunately. Sorry, Terra, but I can't really do anything to take care of you. Vrei knows people, she can find someplace for you to stay."

He flopped down into his chair, and pulled out a comlink. "I've got to make a call here, if you don't mind." He punched in a contact code and waited as the comlink beeped. Eventually, the connection opened. "Raskyl, you there?"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The storage room door opened again, and Vrei re-entered. "Sorry, our host is getting antsy."

[Chronicler]

An incessant beeping woke Raskyl from a dreamless sleep. He sat straight up and promptly banged his head on a metal slat. Dizzy, cotton-mouthed, and feeling like he'd been trampled over by a herd of wild banthas, the still-inebriated smuggler reached out for his comlink. Grumbling, he held it close to his mouth and slurred, "Whaatcha waant??" Seconds ticked by with no response, but the beeping continued. Blinking his crusty eyelids open, he stared at his hand, ready to melt the offending device with his angry glare. But then he noticed he was holding a hydrospanner. Tossing it to the side with a loud clatter, he grabbed his actual comlink this time. "Fast Rask's Freighter Service, how may I help you?" he answered sweetly, or so he thought. His voice sounded like burning sandpaper.

Looking around in disgust, Raskyl finally realized that he had passed out inside of the Sassy Starling's escape pod. He wasn't even in his own captain's quarters. Groaning, he mentally reminded himself never to mix Cometdusters with Reactor Cores ever again. I think that Twi'lek bartendress was tryin' to kill me. He ran his free hand through his matted hair and shook the cobwebs from his brain. Turning his attention back to his comlink, he hissed reflexively, "Hello? Look, I already paid up. I swear."

[Absol197]

"Not to me, you haven't," Movru answered. "In fact, I'm holding, let's see..." He flicked his thumb across his datapad a couple times. "Six invoices that are, wow, over forty-five days old. Imagine that."

[Chronicler]

Oh great, the ol' Zabrak, Raskyl sighed. "Uh, hey. It's you, Movru. Okay, so maybe I haven't paid up already," he admitted, chagrinned. "I, uhh, thought you were somebody else. Yeah, that's it."

For a split second, Rask was tempted to try the ol' static interference imitation shtick and cut the comm connection with the cranky tech before he could start demanding credits. But he didn't. Yet. "Okay, so I take it this ain't a social call. You just wantin' ta nag me over six measly invoices, or maybe it is a social call? You miss me and want ta hear the sound of my sweet voice, eh?" A congested cough punctuated his ill-advised sarcasm.

Raskyl groaned. What am I doin'? I shouldn't be tryin' to tick this Zab off. But no one ever pegged the errant smuggler for smart, for good reason.

[Absol197]

"Uh-huh," Movru grunted as he listened to Raskyl's blabber, obviously unconvinced. "No, this isn't a social call. I would rather not hear your voice, pretty much ever. However, I do have a deal for you; if you do this for me, we're even. You owe me nothing anymore. You interested?"

[Chronicler]

Raskyl sat up even straighter, nearly banging his head for a second time. Movru's surprising offer had sobered him up quick. A deal to clear all of the debt that he owed to the mechanic was worth quite a lot to him. But there had to be some sort of a catch. Hesitant and a bit suspicious, the Eriadu native replied, "Hm. Yeah.. I'm interested. So long as yer not gonna ask me to give up a vital organ or one of my limbs. I'm quite attached to those." It was a lame quip, but he couldn't help but smile at his own wit in the dim lighting of the escape pod.

"So whatcha need doin', Mo?" he asked a few seconds later.

[Absol197]

"There's a...personal matter that is quite important to me," Movru said. "I've got a group of friends here who need to get into the private section of the spaceport and...have a chat with someone docked there. They can't get near the guy by themselves, but they might be able to if you're with them."

He paused a moment to let the smuggler digest what he'd said. "Help them get in, get the cargo this guy is hauling, and get out. Do that, and we're clear."

[Chronicler]

Running a calloused hand over his face, Rask reviewed his options. Temptation tugged at him. And he was really bad at resisting temptation. Movru made things sound so easy. Just do this, and ta-da, no more debt! And the more he thought about it, the more he realized - what other choice did he have? If he declined, he'd still be in the same rut that he was in now--with starport fees and his drinking tab steadily eating away at what little credits he had left to his name. Soon, he'd be sinking deeper and deeper into oblivion until this cesspool of a planet eventually swallowed him whole. And he'd even seen it happen to other sentients far too many times.

"Okay, Movru. Just assure me that these friends of yours aren't Rebels and I'll do this for you. You know I stay neutral. No Empire. No Rebellion. Period." He was adamant about that. "And I get a percentage of the cargo. It must be valuable if your friends are going through this much trouble." Breaking and entering, and grand theft were not minor misdemeanors, even on a relatively lawless world like Eriadu. The risks involved were considerable.

[Absol197]

"They're not Rebels. And you know how I feel about the Empire, so I think you can guess whether they're Imperial or not. But you don't get any of the cargo. No one's keeping it. Not me, not my friends. It's..." The Zabrak paused, uncertain whether he should tell the smuggler what the "cargo" was or not. Without an incentive (above and beyond writing off his debt), the smuggler might bail.

"Hell, it's a bunch of kids. This creep has been paying gangers to snatch kids for him, probably as slaves. Including the kid of a friend of mine. We're getting them out."

[Chronicler]

Raskyl stared hard at his comlink for the span of a few heartbeats, wondering if he had heard Movru right. Kids?! he thought incredulously. Slavers were a despicable lot, and he gladly reported them anonymously to sector security. In his ire, he spat on the floor of his own ship and immediately regretted it. Gah, I'm gonna hafta clean that up. Sadly, he couldn't even afford a maintenance droid to keep the Starling's interior nice and neat.

Okay, so no cargo. That kind of stunk because the strapped smuggler was hoping for some kind of monetary gain out of this. But getting a chance to stick it to a slaver was almost just as good. "Okay Mo, I'm in," he confirmed. "Where and when do you want me to meet you?"

[Absol197]

"Not me, I'm not cut out for this kind of thing. My friends will be there, let's say in two hours, right outside of private. There's a Human and a Togruta." He paused, thinking. "They may have a second Human with them, too. And maybe a construction droid. We'll have to see."

He glanced at Terra, giving her an uneasy smile. "Sound good?" He asked into the comlink.

[Chronicler]

So, no personal introductions. A blind date then. Rask shrugged even though there was no way for Movru to see his reaction. "Yeah, sure. Your call." At least two hours would give him plenty of time to find his pants. Shaking his head, he could've sworn that Mo was planning to tag along. The fire in the Zabrak's voice when he'd said, 'we're getting them out,' had sounded surprisingly sincere to the smuggler's ears. Oh well, it's probably for the best. He'd just slow us down anyway.

"Two hours," Raskyl repeated, "I'll be there. When this is over, you and me are even." He stood and exited the escape pod, heading toward the refresher and then the galley with its autochef, in that order. First, he'd get cleaned up, and then he'd get some food inside of his rumbling belly. And after that, it was show time.

[Merilan]

Terra looks a little uneasy as well; she's just kind of been shunted through her arrival and immediately into this bold plan to rescue some children from slavers, after all... but a part of her -- really wants to save the children as well.

Like you were meant for something...

Ori's words echo through her mind for a moment. She grimaces, but then nods. "Yes," she answers Movru.

[Absol197]

Movru put his comlink and datapad down and sighed, leaning back in his chair. "Welp, that's 3,000 credits I'll never see," he told Terra. "Not that I was really ever expecting to. That guy is really down on how luck. So we've got about an hour and a half; I can take you guys down to the spaceport in my speeder, get you there faster. And drier. Anything you want to do while we wait for the others to finish up?"

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Vrei looked at the Trandoshan, and moved to remove the binders that held him fast to the chair. "Anything else you can think of that we should know? This Gank have and sidekicks or anything? Ori, any other questions?"

[Merilan]

Terra puts her hands behind her back and sweetly says, "Let's finish those invoices before Vrei and Ori finish up."

[Supercrazy DM]

As Ori looked at the Trandoshan a sense of compassion overswept her. Leaning in front of him she says Growing up my mother taught me a lot about compassion. How doing the right thing will always come back to help you. Pausing for a moment her fists bunching up on her pant legs she goes further sayingStarting fresh isn't easy, especially with all of the dangers of this world. Fist unclenching she slowly reaches into her pocket and flashes a quick smile Here are 50 credits... I know it isn't much, it's all I can afford to give but... use this money to help jumpstart your new life. With a smile watched as Vrei undid the Trandoshans binder cuffs and placed the credits in his scaly hands. This, this is what a Jedi is supposed to do. To help those that need it, even those that have lost their way.

[Absol197]

Ssruluk blinked at the gift; it could very likely be the first that he's received in quite a long time.

"Okay," Vrei said as the last binder snapped open. "We're gonna need to blindfold you as we leave; our host is nervous about you seeing where we are, but we won't stun you. What would be a good place to drop the two of you?" She glanced at the slumped-over Human. "Or him, at least? I get the feeling the two of you aren't going to be seeing eye-to-eye anymore."

"Where we found the hatchling isss best for him." Ssruluk hissed as Vrei found some cloth to cover his face with. "I will go, and find my way from there."

"Fair enough," Vrei said as she finished affixing the makeshift blindfold to him. "Give me a sec, I'm gonna tell M - our host - what's up and see what he wants to do."

She left the room and hurried to the reception area. On the way, she passed by Sawtooth, talking in beeping binary with Movru's droid. "Hey, big guy. Are you going to help us any further, or do you have something to get back to?"

Looking up from the diminutive droid, Sawtooth buzzed a bit, then answered, "I have no pressing concerns at the moment. I shall continue to assist."

"Good to hear it," Vrei said as she passed by. "Give me just a minute and we'll be heading out of here."

When the sound of the shop door opening reached the office, Movru looked up to see the Togruta enter. "What's up?"

"We're getting ready to move out," she responded. "We need to talk about a couple of things. Did you get in touch with your guy?"

"Yeah, and he's agreed to help. He's gonna meet you at the entrance to the spaceport's private section in two hours."

"And he's dependable?"

"He's...dependable enough. And he's honest enough that I trust him to work with you for this job."

Vrei chuckled. "What a glowing endorsement. I look forward to meeting him." She turned to Terra, kneeling down to get on eye level with the girl. "We need to talk," she said, concern in her eyes.

"I have to do this, there are too many people who could be in trouble if I don't. But it means I might not come back." She looked at Movru briefly, before looking Terra in the eyes once more. "So you need to make a choice. You can stay here while Ori and I go do this, but if things go wrong, Mo isn't going to be able to let you stay forever. I'm sure he'll help you as best as he can, but you'll be on your own some. Or..."

She paused, closing her eyes briefly as she steeled herself. "If you want, you can come with us. It would be very dangerous, and I can't promise I'll be able to protect you. But it's up to you."

[Merilan]

What choice did Terra have to make? None of the options were terribly palatable. Either way, she was bereft of home, and only the cold weather awaited her. If she threw herself headlong into this terribly strange, dangerous path, would she have a quicker end, or perhaps a better chance of something eventuating?

"... at-- at the very least," Terra coughs up into a stammer, "I could try to help you. But-- do show me how you..." She holds onto the stolen blaster she's still got on her person. "Show me how you shoot this at someone..."

[Absol197]

Vrei smiled. "Sure thing." She took the blaster carefully from Terra, and started pointing. "Okay, very important: this here on the back is the safety. When it's like this, you're off, and the blaster won't fire. Flip it, and you're live. Keep the safety on unless you're actually shooting. This," she pointed to the switch on the side of the grip, "is your setting. This one's got stun, which is like this," she demonstrated, "and blast, which is like this.

"Here's how you eject the pack if you're out, see? And then it just slides back in until it locks." She returned the blaster to the girl then stepped to the side. "For you, you'll probably want to use both hands to steady yourself. Hold it out, and line up whatever you're aiming at with this little blade here. And when you're ready, you squeeze the trigger."

She looked Terra in the eye. "It's not too hard. The hard part is pulling the trigger when you know someone on the other end is going to get hurt. That's why I leave mine on stun most of the time. Make sense?"

[Merilan]

For all her faults, at least, Terra can be a quick learner when she wants to be; so she nods a little, though the weight of the blaster isn't a joke with her arms. She turns towards a corner and -- holds the blaster up, squinting with one eye, trying to just imagine it. "Okay... stun it is," she murmurs.

[Absol197]

Vrei nodded as Terra practiced her technique, although traces of worry could be seen on her face.

"Okay," she said, turning to Movru. "Ori, Sawtooth, and me are gonna go drop off our guests, and then we'll be back to grab her and go."

"I can drop you off at the spaceport in my speeder," the Zabrak offered. "I think I can get the droid on the back."

"Good, good. Listen, I know you don't want to be involved, but could I ask you to wait out front for about an hour afterwards?" Vrei asked. "It sounds like spaceport security is involved somehow, even if it's just looking the other way on customs inspections. Hopefully it won't happen, but if we can't get out ourselves, we can at least try to send the kids out. If I don't make it, would you try to help them get home?"

Movru shifted uncomfortably, but after a moment he nodded. "Sure. If you can't get out yourself, I'll at least try and get them home safe."

"Thanks, Mo," Vrei smiled. "Okay, back in a few."

Working with Ori, Vrei loaded the unconscious thug onto Sawtooth's back once again, and then, blindfolded Trandoshan in tow, they headed out into the night. The sleet had let up slightly, but it was still a miserable ten minutes back to the spot where they had first encountered the gang.

"Okay, Ssruluk," Vrei said as she untied the blindfold. "Here we are. Thanks for your help. There's a bunch of people who'll lead better lives because of what you did." She smiled and offered her hand. After a moment's hesitation, the reptilian sentient grasped it and shook.

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori is quiet for the ride deep into the night. She is keenly aware of the cold sleet as it hits her skin causing pale white goosebumps to raise. Upon arriving at the location she looks at Ssruluk and says Good, luck and use this opportunity you have for you now. Be better.With that she gives a final handshake to Ssruluk and a broad dazzlingly white smile.

[Absol197]

The Trandoshan nodded and turned to walk away into the harsh, chemically-lit night. As he rounded a corner and was no longer visible, Vrei turned to Ori. "You know, that was fairly impressive. I never would have thought that we could get one of them to help like that. I don't know how much of a change of heart he had, but it was something, at least, which is more than I expected."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori nods to Vrei as they wind through the streets. Pulling her soaked cloak closer for what little warmth it still provided she whispers From my work I've found that most people can be good. They just need the right person and push to change. The human... I wasn't the right person, but for Ssruluk I was. Thank you for noticing, it's not always easy or safe to do the right thing.

[Absol197]

"Tell me about it," Vrei agreed, also huddling under her cloak. "I've been doing this shtick by myself for about a year now, and I've been shot multiple times and have a couple thousand on my head for my trouble." She stared of into the night, deep in thought. "Sometimes I get it wrong, sometimes in just don't feel like being merciful to the bastards that go around hurting people. I have these...rules, I guess, that I try to follow. But it's hard."

Her eyes snapped back into focus, and she shook her head. "And it's gonna get harder, too. We're not done with this one yet. Let's get back; we don't want to be late to our meeting with Mo's friend. He doesn't sound all that dependable."

With that, she picked up the pace, leading the way in silence back to the small shop. When they arrived, Movru's beat up airspeeder was waiting on the shop's bay, the Zabrak looking it over.

"I figure we can get your droid into the cargo hold, if we leave it open," he said. "It won't be a fun ride, but the roads down here aren't very crowded right now."

"He's not my droid, he's just helping out, " Vrei protested, but she nodded at the mechanic's assessment. "It shouldn't take more then ten minutes to get to the spaceport, even with him in there, right? And maybe another fifteen to get to the private sector? We should still have a little time to burn. I don't want to be loitering in there any more than I have to. Just my luck it would turn out to be illegal..."

[Absol197]

A little over an hour later, with Sawtooth teetering in the back of the speeder, the group arrived at the spaceport. As other districts had grown into larger urban centers as Eriadu raced to become one of the largest trading centers of the Outer Rim, the XXX spaceport had fallen by the wayside. The metal exterior of the forty-seven leveled structure had lost its shine, and there weren't enough credits to restore the dull façade. Even late in the night, ships were coming and going. The sleet had all but stopped, and foot traffic had increased, both coming and going.

Movru pulled to a stop at the tier-twelve entrance. "The private sector is in the middle of the spaceport. Raskyl's ship is on this level - basically the lowest-level private dock in the whole spaceport. This is where it was delivered, and he's never had occasion to get it out of dock."

"And he calls himself a captain?" Vrei asked, incredulously. "Why even buy the ship? I'm not sure I want to be risking all this on a screw-up like this guy."

"He's not a screw up, he's..." Movru paused, searching for a properly positive term. "Unlucky. This ship should have been his ticket out of here, but the people who lent him the credits for it tangled him up in a bunch of poodoo, and it's limited his options. But he's reliable enough, and I know for a fact he hates slavers. So he'll help out."

The Zabrak popped the latches on the doors and climbed out of the speeder, and moved to the back to unstrap Sawtooth. Now that he was out in the open, his words took on a feigned innocence. "Yeah, my guy is looking for some work; he'll give you a good fare." He helped the massive droid down as Vrei approached from the passenger door. "He's in docking bay 1246."

"Alright, thanks for the lift." Vrei shook his hand, then turned and waved the rest of the group together.

[Merilan]

It was a little heartening, perhaps, that there were people willing to help. Certainly Eriadu was not a place Terra would like to call home, but seeing these people work with each other to carve out the little living they had... well, it made her wonder whether she'd taken everything for granted.

The Coruscant girl coughs a little, feeling the rather heavy, filmy feeling well up on her lungs again. The cold wasn't a particularly good place for her, but it could ill be helped. She follows Vrei, tucking Mr. Lion's straps tight to her shoulders. The blaster is stuffed on her water bottle pouch on the side.

[Chronicler]

Checking his wrist chrono, Raskyl noticed it was rapidly nearing the appointed time to meet with Movru's friends. Feeling better after getting cleaned up and downing a couple of tasteless, Imperial-surplus protein cubes, he punched in the access code to lower the entry/exit ramp of the Sassy Starling. As he walked down the incline with his booted steps clanking against the metal gantry, he could hear the distinctive roar of sublight drives both approaching and retreating as various starships came and went. Judging by the sound of things, it seemed to be a somewhat busy night, traffic-wise, for the dingy starport.

Hangar 1246, where Raskyl's ship was parked, was nothing to boast about, sandwiched as it was at the bottom of the private docking stack. The bay was barely large enough to accomodate his modified YT-1300 with its centered cockpit. Frowning slightly, the sandy-haired smuggler drew in a deep breath and immediately regretted it. The exhaust vapors were thick in the air causing him to cough unceremoniously. He sighed after his coughing fit ended, wistfully wishing for the day when he could retire to some lush world like Takodana with its clear skies and clean air.

First things first, Rask mused, get a crew. Then make some cred. And then see about retiring. His long term plan seemed a long way off, but with any luck, tonight's meeting would be a step in the right direction.

[Merilan]

The white-haired girl peeks from behind Vrei as they approach Hangar 1246. She'd recalled the term "YT-1300" a little from when she listened in on her father's business meetings -- some sort of freighter? She was too young to really understand at the time. "Is that him...?" she slowly asks Vrei.

[Absol197]

"I guess we're about to find out," Vrei mused. Lazing the way, she approached the man who was waiting in front of the blast doors underneath the giant sign that read:

PRIVATE DOCKING
AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY

"Hey," she called as the group approached. "You Raskyl?"

[Chronicler]

At the sound of his name, Raskyl looked up. Squinting both eyes, he peered at the odd assortment of beings walking toward him. They were an interesting looking bunch to be sure, and definitely not what he'd been expecting. But at least they didn't look like any of his creditors' enforcers, unless they were scraping the bottom of the barrel for thugs these days. Regardless, Movru had a lot of explaining to do. Shrugging his shoulders inside of his oversized pilot's vest, he answered warily, "Raskyl? Why, does he owe ya money? If so, you an' yer gang need ta try bay 1256. Common mistake."

The suspicious smuggler watched them with hooded lids as he rested his right hand on the butt of his blaster which was holstered at his hip. After a short pause, he added, "Unless yer here on account of an ol' Zabrak buddy o' mine. We go waaay back, me an' him. He owes me a bunch o' cred, but in the kindness of my heart I let it slide. If y'all are part of his crew, tell me the Zab's name and maybe I can help ya find this handsome and talented Raskyl guy."


Uh, can you tell that Raskyl has 0 ranks in Deception? :smalltongue:

[Merilan]

Terra squirms just a little bit, perhaps finding his demeanor slightly offputting. But she looks to Vrei for a moment, and then says, "But Movru said that he was waiting in Hangar 1246... I was sure to write the number down. Are you not -- Raskyl?" There couldn't really possibly be a single deceptive bone in the out of place Coruscant girl's voice or demeanor.

[Absol197]

Vrei stared in disbelief at the man in front of her. "Mo's trying to kill me. Okay, new question: please tell me you're NOT Raskyl."

[Chronicler]

Puffing out his chest, Raskyl indicated himself with a jerk of his thumb. Eyebrows arching and eyes flashing, he brashly declared, "I wish I was Raskyl! That guy is the best darn pilot in the whole sector! He's famous all along the Hydian and Rimma, and he flies the fastest ship in the entire Outer Rim! The Sassy Starling, I know you've heard of it!" Taking a gulp of air, he tried to slow down before he became too overzealous with his self-compliments even though he still had so much more to say. "Anyhoo, you'd be lucky ta have him on yer side."

Satisfied with the image that he'd built up, which was outrageously out of proportion, Raskyl took a minute to eye the female Togruta up and down. She seemed to have a bit of sass to her, a quality he didn't care much for except when it came to his ship. However, a few seconds later, what she'd just murmured finally sank in, "Wait, did you say 'Mo?'"

[Merilan]

Terra cups her cheek, just a little distracted by that description. She asks with a slightly incredulous look on her face: "What makes a starship sassy...?"

[Absol197]

Vrei sighed and held her face in her palm, her frustration and exasperation clearly rising. "Yes. Yes I did, and if you'd been paying attention you'd have heard the kid say his full name, too. Look, you're clearly either the guy we're looking for, or else you're getting paid way too much by the idiot to talk him up, and Movru told me he doesn't have any crew to pay. So why don't we just cut to the chase. Tell me which it is, and let's get this disaster moving."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori chuckles inwardly as the encounter enfold before her. In her mind she is still far off thinking about the events of the day. How crazy is it to think that everything... everything has changed. I feel as if I am standing on the precipice of a great change. Looking between Vrei and Raskyl she says Name is Ori, and oh yes he did mention Mo, mentioned something about an amazing pilot. Alright let's placate this person and get moving we don't have time to waste.

[Chronicler]

Waving his left arm around to encompass the noisy docking bay, Raskyl asked with a sneer, "And how exactly was I supposed ta hear that wisp of a girl talkin' with all this racket goin' on? Need ta teach yer lil' princess ta speak up! An' who brings a kid along to a slaver meet-an'-greet at a spaceport anyway??" If it wasn't for Movru's offer to wipe the slate clean, he would've ditched this group as soon as he'd spotted them. They looked like nothing but trouble to him, or a veritable hassle at the very least. Yer lucky I'm in a tight spot, he thought.

Wondering about the girl for a second time, Raskyl tried to figure out her angle. Everyone had an angle on Eriadu, it was just a natural part of life here. The whole innocent look was probably a ploy to fool people into letting their guards down, and then when they least expected it, she probably sicced her rotund attack droid on them. A typical bash and grab. As for the female Togruta, she just seemed to be a thoroughly irritable person. They were a cred-a-dozen on this planet. The third woman, who'd been silent up until now, appeared to be the one with the highest chance of being rational and sane. Though with his luck that meant she was the craziest out of the three.

Throwing his hands up into the air, Rask muttered loudly, "Fine! Let's go! It's your funeral, an' mine too most likely. If this scumsucker yer lookin' for is as nasty as Mo says, then we need ta head up. An' if he's throwin' around enough cred ta be bribin' what passes for security 'round here, he'll be at the top o' the stack." He started to turn back toward the blast doors. "Follow me," he mumbled over his shoulder. The repulsorlift that they needed to take was on the far side of the bay.

[Absol197]

Vrei snatched at the pilot's hand and pulled him back. "Are you insane? Don't mention things like that out in the open!" She hissed. "It may be noisy, but there are still security monitors everywhere!"

She glared at the smuggler and dropped his hand, her voice still quiet and seething. "Also, we need to formulate a plan first. Take us to your ship and we can talk there."

As Vrei and Raskyl continued to quip back and forth, Terra's wandering eyes saw, quite clearly through the crowd, two figures she had likely hoped to never see again. The pale-skinned Twi'Lek and the wrinkly Weequay from the alleyway were there, in the spaceport, not twenty meters away, talking hurriedly with a security officer. The officer appeared to be skeptical about whatever it was they were saying, but he dutifully withdrew his comlink from his belt and began to speak into it. And then, just beyond the officer, Terra spied the Human man, impatience evident in his eyes, as he waited for the guard to talk to whoever it was he was speaking with.

Her blood seemed to run cold at the sight. They were here, and that could only mean one thing, right?

The young girl's intense stare drew the attention of the smuggler as well, and he looked across the spaceport, guessing that the gathering around the security officer was what she was looking at.

[Merilan]

Terra's stomach just about twisted, and she felt that pained pang of distress in her head and her lungs again. She looks between the kidnappers who are speaking with the security officer, and between Vrei and Raskyl and runs towards them, all of a sudden. "T--they're here, they are here, Vrei," she begs, clinging onto the togruta's cuff. There's a somewhat clammy, mortified tone to her voice now. "The men who tried to spirit me away."

[Absol197]

"What?" Vrei asked, suddenly alert. "Wh - oh, I see 'em." She swore under her breath. "Okay, buddy, some of our boy's pals have shown up, so we need to get out of sight, now." She pulled her cloak over her head and grasped Terra's hand, holding the girl close.

"Hey, Sawtooth!" She whispered. "Try to, I dunno, not look so big?"

"My chassis is not equipped with adjustable-size modifications," the droid buzzed at full volume. Apparently his designers decided the giant construction droid would have little need for the ability to whisper. "Perhaps if the trouble-makers have arrived in the spaceport, we should alert security? Their actions are not conducive to a safe travel environment."

[Chronicler]

During the back and forth bickering, Raskyl silently fumed. The Togruta was proving to be as bossy as he'd guessed she'd be. "Of course, yer Highness. Whatever you say, yer Highness," he replied with heavy sarcasm. What in the galaxy am I getting myself into? he wondered for the umpteenth time tonight. And what the heck kind of a plan could this bunch honestly come up with? Whatever it turned out to be, he knew it wouldn't be any good.

But before anything could even possibly be hashed out, trouble arrived. Rask groaned at his rotten luck. Apparently, fans of the bossy queen and the little princess had finally found them. And of course, he'd be implicated in whatever mess they caused just by simple association from standing right next to them. Gah! I should cut my losses and run. At that exact moment, he could've gone either way. However, against his better judgement, the grouchy smuggler decided to try to stick it out. Probably out of some misguided sense of right and wrong.

Clearing his throat, he hissed, "Well, unless you've got a better idea, we can button up inside o' the Starling 'til the heat loses interest." The port side ramp was still lowered, so quick access was not a problem. But while turtling up was certainly an option, they'd be backed into a corner unless they took off. Which was fine with Rask, but his passengers still seemed Byss-bent on agitating their slaver contact face-to-face.

[Absol197]

"Yeah..." Vrei said, her attention focused obliquely on the gangers. "Let's get going. Oh, man, this is not good..."

[Merilan]

Terra scurries along without another pip or word, terrified that she might have already been seen. She didn't think it, but...

"You-- you said you were moored though, were you not? Are we not trapped in here?" she had to voice.

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori looks around feeling a palpable sense of cold fear permeate the air. Letting the back and forth continue she lets her hands fall casually to her side. Looking at Vrei and Raskyl she whispers Honestly, I'm not a huge fan of being trapped inside the ship. At that point they could surround us trapping us unless we flew up and away. Looking at the two thugs a sudden realization strikes Ori like a hammer hitting a bell.

We need to help save and find out what happened to the kids. If they find out we know, even if we do escape, we've lost our lead. They haven't seen me before and don't know Raskyl so for now maybe we could bluff our way through this? Ori speaks quickly, but feels sweat beginning to gather in her hands. Shaking it off she looks to the rest of the group for suggestion.

[Chronicler]

Vindication was usually a good thing, but in Raskyl's case it wasn't. He had guessed right. The quiet one was the craziest of the bunch. "Uhh, honey, yeah you go over there and bluff away to yer heart's content. I'm goin' this way." With that said, and with his electronic keycard well in hand, he spun about and started heading straight toward the blast doors, behind which lay the Starling's awaiting gangplank. "Stay here if ya want! At least my ship's got big guns to dissuade anyone too curious fer their own good!" It would take some serious firepower to get through the light freighter's armor, and an expert slicer with a lot of time to bypass his private bay's security code first. Although now that he thought about it, the abashed smuggler realized he should have probably changed his numeric access combination to something a little more complex than 1-2-3-4-5.

[Absol197]

"Actually," Vrei mused as she serendipitously pushed Raskyl through the opening doors and almost hauled Terra by her hand, "that's not a bad idea. It doesn't look like they've seen us..." She cast a furtive glance at the gang. The human had just started talking in an elevated voice to the security officer, and people nearby were beginning to stare.

"Maybe just go over and see what you can hear. Do they know we're here and are trying to get us? Or are they just trying to warn the guy? You got a com? Call us when you're ready to be let in. That gets us out of sight, but we can still learn something."

[Merilan]

Terra had to agree with Raskyl for once -- being in the ship, with Sawtooth and the "big guns" that he was boasting about (though whether they're truly big or it was just his braggart nature she didn't know) felt a lot, lot safer. She nods to Ori, hands laced gently to say, "Please be careful. Do you-- need to carry this, just in case?" She holds the stolen blaster up, since she wasn't sure whether Ori was packing herself or not.

[Supercrazy DM]

As Terra attempt to hand Ori the gun she smiles and pushes her hand away from it. Whispering quickly to Terra she says Don't worry about it kid, I can protect myself.Sensing the nervousness of Terra she goes on to say Thank you for the offer, it means a lot, you're very brave. As the others go up the ramp Ori pauses for a moment her ears trying to cut over the whine of idle sublight engines and the constant tinkering in the hanger.

[Absol197]

Vrei quickly ushered the group into the hallway beyond the secured blast doors, waiting anxiously for them to close. She kept a firm grip on her comlink, in case Ori needed to be in touch. "Okay, not-Raskyl, which one's your hangar?"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Picking her way carefully through the crows towards the beings indiacated, Ori noticed that the Twi'Lek was watching the blast doors curiously, and speaking in asides to his Weequay partner while the Human continued to rant at the grey-uniformed security officer. Had they seen the others going in?

As she serendipitously circled the group, Ori could catch snatches of the conversation.

"I understand your concern, but as I've told you, sir, the gentleman in that hangar has explicitly requested..."

"...you telling me I can't..."

"...It's not our decision..."

Finally, as she finished circling the group, a lull in the ambient noises allowed her to hear what the man was saying.

"Alight, fine," he snapped, quite clearly irritated to the point of exploding. "You won't let us in. Can you at least deliver a message? Tell him that some thieves are coming to try and rob him." He waved away the officer's protest. "I know, I know, your security measures. But tell him anyway."

"Very well, I'll...see what I can do," the officer relented. He turned around without an additional word and walked briskly away.

"Scutta," the man spat. "If he doesn't tell the Gank, we're all in deep poodoo if those heroes get in."

"I think I saw the droid," The Twi'lek said as they regrouped. "He went into private just there."

[Merilan]

Terra lets out a little, frazzled sigh but nods in return to Ori. Her words in return are little encouragement, though she appreciates that Ori was trying to be nice to her; right now she's just -- frozen with fear, feeling like she's not yet out of danger... if it's even possible to escape danger in such a planet. But she takes a moment to reassert that image she saw -- and that there were other people in need.

"Oh, um--" she clears her throat, looking to Raskyl. She bows gently and says, "I did not introduce myself yet. My name is Terra Niere..."

I assume Raskyl can roll to see if he's heard of the Niere family -- it probably won't be hard given his occupation?

[Supercrazy DM]

As Ori moved throughout the hanger a note of serious concern and surprise overtook her. If they know we're here... we don't have much time. Bending over quickly to tie her shoes Ori uses her clothing to obscure her comink calling Vrei. They told security about us, but they aren't letting the gang members in to see Gank. Security seemed unsure of the threat, but seemed the sort to follow up on it. May tell Gank. How should we proceed? Ori continues fumbling with her shoelaces so onlookers think she is particularly inept at tying her shoes.

[Chronicler]

Raskyl pointed, "My hangar's that way. C'mon, let's beat feet." Before taking another step, he peered over at the little princess who chose now of all times to introduce herself. "Look sweetheart, er, Terra Niere-whatever, I don't care who ya are. We jus' need ta get outta here, 'kay?" Her little lost girl act might've fooled most people, but Rask was too sharp for her. He'd never heard of any Nieres before, but he was sure she was probably a Tarkin yesterday, and would end up claiming to be the Emperor's granddaughter by tomorrow. So long as she didn't try anything funny with her oversized attack droid, he didn't care who she wanted to pretend to be. Just don't think I'm some easy mark! he mentally huffed.


Knowledge (Core Worlds) Check (http://orokos.com/roll/363200): 3eA+3eD 0 successes, 2 advantage
http://orokos.com/roll/images/eote/a-a.pnghttp://orokos.com/roll/images/eote/a-a.pnghttp://orokos.com/roll/images/eote/a--.pnghttp://orokos.com/roll/images/eote/d--.pnghttp://orokos.com/roll/images/eote/d--.pnghttp://orokos.com/roll/images/eote/d--.png (http://orokos.com/roll/363200)

[Absol197]

Vrei was irked at the smugglers callous dismissal of Terra's politeness, but she tried not to let it show, and, for once, held her tongue. As they approached the bay marked "1246," her comlink chirped. Opening the channel, she listened as Ori gave her report.

"Hmm," Vrei pondered. "I'm not sure yet. I'll let you in, and we can all talk about it. We need to go over the details with not-Raskyl, anyway." She glanced him. "Do you need a keycard to open the doors from this side?" When he replied with the negative, Vrei began to jog back the way they had come. "We'll be back in a sec."

[Merilan]

Terra looks -- discouraged, actually, as Raskyl dismisses her just a little. Though she could tell that he's got a lot on his mind in turn as well; maybe this wasn't the best place for an introduction. She hadn't heard what Ori discovered... she really hoped security just turned them away at the door.

[Absol197]

The secure blast doors opened again and Vrei, skulking in the shadows, ushered Ori in before quickly closing them once again. "Come on," she urged, "Our bay's over this way."

She lead the way down the left-hand corridor to the place where hangar 1246 stood ajar, Sawtooth waiting at the entrance for them. "Leaving doors ajar may allow unauthorized personnel access to restricted areas," he informed them. "If a door must remain opened for any length of time, a guard must be stationed to protect company assets." With that, he turned towards the ship that waited in the tiny bay.

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori stealthy moves with Vrei keeping her head low to avoid hitting it against anything. Hurrying along she stays quiet and thinks about the almost inevitable conflict in the none too distant future.

[Merilan]

Point, squeeze, shoot. Point, squeeze, shoot...

It almost seems like a children's nursery rhyme, albeit one with disastrous consequences. Terra had to steel herself for what's to come, as she hurries with Vrei and the others.

[Absol197]

Once the hangar bay doors had closed behind them, the group moved along to where Raskyl waited at the bottom of the ship's gangplank.

[Merilan]

Terra moves towards the gangplank and looks up towards the ship. Certainly, she has a hazy memory of at least one of these models of ships either in some of her family's dealings or... just, somewhere. But that isn't particularly important. "We do not have much time," she speaks, a little out of breath already. "We need to go over Vrei's plan with you, Mr. Raskyl."

She looks towards the togruta for a moment, then back towards the smuggler. She only heard of the plan in hushed whispers, but she feels like she's been able to connect two and two together enough. "The slaver we are seeking -- Gank -- he only hires men to do his bidding. That is where you come in. We need you to pretend to be a -- slaver, or some kind of hunter, to bring us in. Take us close enough to him to strike."

She can't believe she just said all that, and looks to Vrei for confirmation.

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori nods affirming Terra's idea. Looking at Vrei she says I think we can come up with a serviceable enough plan. We bring ourselves with your as potential slaves. We hide our weapons on us and try and talk our way through it. I'm not a fan of getting into a firefight with security and Gank's forces.

[Chronicler]

"Well, come on then. We'll talk about things inside," the lean smuggler declared, shooing them up the ramp as if he was herding a bunch of Loth-cats. As the members of the group passed him by, Raskyl flashed each one a lopsided grin and droned on about his ship. "Sure, she may not look like much on the outside, but she's tough as nails and as a fast as a Mynock with its tail on fire." The light freighter showed unnerving signs of carbon scoring and what looked like blaster scorches all along her underside. It wasn't exactly the most comforting sight. He slapped the hull reassuringly to prove the Starling's sturdiness, but the motion backfired when a small block of electonics encased in a durasteel frame fell off the belly of the ship. It clattered to the bay floor with a loud clanging noise.

Raskyl sheepishly hurried the last person aboard so that no one would stop to gawk at the minor spectacle. "Uhh, that was intentional! Don't worry, it wasn't anythin' important!" Inwardly, he groaned. Ohmigosh, I think that's a piece of the sublight engine alternator. He rushed over to pick it up and quickly shoved it back into the housing socket that it fell out of. "There, fixed!" he crowed to himself since no one else was around to witness his engineering genius in action. Eat yer heart out, Movru! Running up the ramp, he closed it behind himself and set the digital lock which switched colors from green to red to indicate that it was engaged. Taking an immediate left, he joined the others in the combination lounge and galley area. He glanced around at the sea of somber faces and asked, "Okay, so now that we gotta parsec, what's this about a plan? I gotta pretend to be a what now?"

[Merilan]

Terra makes a face with a wince as Raskyl baps the frame off the ship, inwardsly thinking: What a piece of junk...

She tries to write it off, however, as they head to the lounge. She stares with a little dumbfoundedness and shakes her head, speaking with a little less haste and perhaps a little more clarity: "We need you to pretend to be a slaver. So that we can reach Gank and rescue those children." Her eyebrows raise afterwards as she pauses, wondering if the smuggler will listen to her this time.

[Absol197]

Vrei nodded an affirmative to Terra's statement. "That's right; our source says that this guy has hired a bunch of people to...supply him," she spat out the word like it was a curse. "But they're all male." She took a small comlink out of her cloak pocket and handed it to Raskyl. "This is encrypted, it's how the gangers set up a drop. Ori and I obviously can't do this ourselves, so that's why we need you."

She leaned back against the small table in the gathering area, a strained expression on her face. "Look, I need you to be straight with me," she asked the smuggler. Her voice no longer contained any fire or anger, only a hint of quiet desperation. "Please tell me the incompetent loser thing you have going is just an act. Please. There are at least a dozen people this guy has taken, and it could be a lot more than that. Mostly kids." She bowed her head, and her eyes seemed focused on something far off. "They're counting on us. If we can't pull this out, they're going to spend the rest of their lives being beaten, abused, starved...and they probably won't live very long. They're families are already devastated.

"I...I'll die before I let him take them away, but if we're going to have any shot at doing this, we need you, and that means you need to be competent. Mo trusts you, and I trust Mo, but..." Her words trailed off. After a moment, she looked up, the strength returning to her voice. "This is too important to screw around with. So please, if you don't feel like this is something you can do well, tell me. I'll understand, and we'll find another way."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori takes a hard look at Raskyl her hands unconsciously bundling up against her coarse clothing. As her clothes dried a familiar mantra went through her mind, There is no emotion, there is peace. Taking a breath she lets the conversation playing out before her. As Vrei and Terra talk Ori waits for her moment. Speaking softly she looks at Raskyl, the short of hard look that spoke of anything but levity. "Vrei is right. There is far too much at stake here." Gesturing outside of the ship she continues onward saying "We have a chance to make a difference, a real difference here. Even if there are no kids to save now, we're saving so many more kids. That would be abducted. Stolen."

Taking a deep breath Ori goes on her eyes softening a bit. "We need your help with this. There is too much at stake for these kids and their families.

[Chronicler]

Frowning at the device, Raskyl lifted his right palm to eye-level and stared at the comlink he'd been given as if it might suddenly start squawking answers. With a shrug at its impersonal silence, he set it down atop the smooth surface of the holochess table and backed a few steps away. After a thoughtful second, the young Eriaduan straightened up to his full height and began ticking off fingers on his opposite hand one by one. His voice took on a lecturing-quality as he spoke to those around him. "You're in over yer heads. Your first mistake was to insult a captain aboard his own ship. Your second was trustin' Movru. Even I don't trust Movru. On this planet, there ain't no such thing as trust. And your third mistake was expectin' me to be some kinda savior. Because I'm not. I'm no hero, and I'm definitely no Jedi Knight-in-shining-armor. Hell, I'm barely even a smuggler."

Raskyl paused for a moment, his weight shifting from one foot to the other, but eventually continued on, "Y'all are certifiable. That Gank is seriously bad news. So yeah, you need ta find another way an' another chump to lead ya to your doom." There would always be slavers. It was a terrible fact of life. Just like weeds, take one down and two more would pop up. While the group's cause was just, it was also inevitably futile. He'd tip off the Imperials and the Sector Rangers about the Gank and let the proper authorities deal with the situation.

"Look, you can hang out here 'til whoever's lookin' for ya is gone. But then you're on yer own." The errant smuggler knew that it was time to find greener, safer pastures.

[Merilan]

Terra frowns just a little. She felt like it was a bit of a waste of time, at first, and wanted to just -- leave. He's right. Find someone else who'd be willing to help them. But there was also sense in what he's saying; they couldn't just expect him to put his life on the line, and even she knew that things worked differently in this planet.

What's more, why is she doing it? The answer didn't come to her immediately, and it might have been a dark one if she searched for it, so she instead looked square to Raskyl and knew what probably would grab the smuggler's attention:

"I am part of the Niere family." A pause, and then she reasserts, "I am very, very, very rich. Do you want your -- debts paid? Purchase a new ship? Move to a greener, cleaner planet?"

It's a half-truth, but it was worth a shot.

[Absol197]

Raskyl chuckled at Terra. "Listen, girly, I've heard that tune way too many times to fall for it again. Don't think I haven't figured out your angle."

Vrei gave the girl an incredulous look, but didn't comment on what she'd said. Instead she turned to the captain. "Alright, captain, I meant no disrespect, but I can see how I probably didn't come across. We'll get out of your hair." She held her hand out for the comlink, returning it to her pocket when the smuggler gave it back.

"Look, it's not like I don't feel for those kids," Raskyl explained. "But I don't see how this could end up any way other than us dead. And you can't stop all slavery in the Galaxy, anyhow."

Vrei's face twitched, and her expression was dark. "I can guarantee you that those kids don't feel the same way. Come on, guys, let's go."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori stops for a moment her body perfectly still as thoughts race through her head. How can he show such.... casual indifference?As Ori departs the ship she looks Raskyl in the eyes saying. "Don't ever forget this. When you chose to turn your back on others. When you condoned slavery. When your inaction caused the continuing suffering of others." As the last bit of venom drips from her voice Ori finds herself staring at fists turned bright red from clenching.

As she takes a moment to breathe she turns to Vrei and Terra composing herself. "I say we go on with the former plan where we are both slaves you're bringing to Gank. Let's take care of him."

[Absol197]

Vrei nodded as she closed the bay door behind them, leaving the small group of would-be rescuers in the hallway. "Yeah, that's probably our best bet. I could say I work for that creep we interrogated, and that he's incapacitated which is why I'm calling in instead of him. He'll be suspicious, and probably put on guard, but I think that might be our only chance."

She looked at Terra. "Do you think you can handle that? Pretending to be a slave? It'll be rough, and we'll be counting on you to help out, so you can't freeze up. And Ganks can be scary; most all of them are cyborgs and they wear armor..."

[Merilan]

There were a lot of things Terra could've said further to the smuggler, but it was pointless. His resignation to the system that worked around him reminded her of how she, too, was chained to the system of predestination that apparently worked this galaxy. It's an utterly bitter pill to swallow.

"I do not think we have any other choices..." Terra murmurs slowly as she follows Vrei and Ori out, looking somewhat resigned. "I will do it."

[Absol197]

"Atta girl!" Vrei praised, but she was definitely on edge. She clearly didn't like this plan much.

"I guess there's no time like the present..." She took out the comlink and studied it. It was pre-programmed with only a single contact point, which made it easy. "Here goes..." she muttered, and then pressed the button to initiate a call.

The comlink beeped ten times before the connection was established. There was only silence on the other end. "Hey boss," Vrei greeted, trying to sound nonchalant. "We've got some merch to bring ya. One's a bit older than most of 'em, but they're both in good shape. You want 'em?"

The silence continued for several tense seconds, and as the pause continued Vrei's face became more and more panicked. But then a rasping, mechanized voice spoke, deep and growling. "Who is this?" The voice asked slowly.

"Name's Atelba Shek, I work for Alshar. There was some unfortunateness that went down with one of the acquisitions, and he's sleeping off some blaster burns. No witnesses (living, anyway), but he wanted me to set something up for soonish. You have time tonight?"

There was another prolonged pause, but then the voice responded, slow and menacing as before. "An hour." The connection severed.

"Well," Vrei deadpanned, staring at the device. "What can go wrong." She looked around at the group. "Okay, that gives us an hour to figure out what hangar he's in, and get set up. Ideas?"

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori looks around the airport trying not to be too obvious when doing so. Looking at Vrei and Terra she muses. "From what we know Gank is moving a fair amount of cargo right? So there have to be people around here who are familiar with him, maybe even the layout too." Looking around for security and other personnel a sudden thought strikes Ori like lightning. "Look Gank knows we're coming right? So we go up to a junior guard or some other tech here and ask which hanger is. We can tell him we got mixed up and have a delivery for him. Looking around the spaceport she says "I figure there has to be service entries so that someone like Gank doesn't have people strolling about the middle of his hanger. We convince the guard or whoever to give us access to that space and we can surprise Gank. It's not lying... technically we're the delivery." With that Ori flashes a smile at her own small deviousness.

[Merilan]

Terra mulls over that plan herself, tilting her head. "I suppose this is the kind of place where even the spaceport's security would not bat an eye to such shady dealings, would it...? It is our only option at this point, lest we find those-- kidnappers and interrogate them further."

[Absol197]

Vrei nodded as the group discussed. "I think either could work, But we may not have time for both. I think we need to pick one and go with it. Unless we get exceptionally lucky, which doesn't seem to be in the cards for us recently."

[Merilan]

Terra makes a quiet face and says, "... Ori's idea. Better the faces we know will not try to kill us on sight."

The girl glances towards one of the hallways in the private sector, her mind still terribly busy at everything that'd been going on. First her attempted kidnapping, to meeting Movru and dealing with the smuggler who rejected their plea for help. Some part of her mind was brushing at means further than what her tangible, conscious thoughts could...

[Absol197]

Terra's vision swam again, and the familiar feeling of swirling into her strange visions.

She was in a crowded place, but all the people around her were blurry and indistinct. But Ori was there, speaking with another being, a woman in grey. Then she was in someplace, tight, dark; a voice, dark and sinister echoed around her, freezing her heart.

[Merilan]

A pained grimace comes from the white-haired Coruscant girl in the middle of her thoughts -- and she falters and leans against a wall.

This pressure -- this sensation... again...! It's coming...

The vision fills her mind and distracts her from tangible sensations, for a moment which is both brief for those around her and yet seemingly long for her. "A woman in... grey?" She pauses. "An Imperial, or...?" She tucks her head down and plants her palm to her forehead, shuddering. "You were speaking to her, Ori... is that who we should seek?"

[Absol197]

Vrei gave Terra concerned look. "Hey, you okay? Are you sick or something? That's the second time tonight you've..."

She looked at Ori. "Are you SURE you don't know her? Every time she gets woozy she starts talking about you..."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori looks at Terra and can feel the cold sweat in the air from the girls fear. Kneeling slightly to face Terra at eye level she says, "No I don't know her, but something tells me I'm going to fairly soon."Grimacing at the uncertainty of her own future Ori looks to Vrei keeping her voice level. "Just met her today like the rest of you. I think Terra and I just understand one another." Helping Terra off of the wall she shoots a quick look back at Vrei. Also, don't talk about her like she's not here. She can speak well enough for herself." Helping Terra dust off some of the accumulated grime she starts walking down the hallway looking at Vrei and Terra. "Well, let's get moving gotta find someone to talk to, and I'd prefer not to wait."

[Merilan]

"We... understand one another....?" Terra murmurs, still a little half-dazed and lost from her reverie.

That's right... she thinks, to herself. That power that she mentioned before... that... entity...

She looks hapless and apologetic to both Vrei and Ori, nodding. "I'm okay, Vrei. I just receive these... premonitions. I have not met Ori before, but I feel we've need to have a long discussion after we rescue the children..." she glances somewhat intently towards Ori. Then nods, following after her. "Let's go."

[Absol197]

"Premonitions?" Vrei asked. "Uh...well, I guess I can't knock it with some of the crazy stuff I can do, but I won't pretend I understand it. Let's see..." She looked around, considering her options.

"I think we should stay in the private section, 'cause I don't think we're getting back in easy if we leave. We also need a crate. Ssruluk said they always being the people they've caught in on crates, to cause less fuss." She glanced at Sawtooth. "Hey, you think you can find a way to procure a crate for us? One that could fit these two?"

"Cargo containers are not the proper way to transport personnel," Sawtooth buzzed. For a moment it seemed that was all he was going to say, but then he continued. "From the sound of it, this criminal is flouting many security precautions. I will find a crate, if it will help prevent any further disorder. Please contact me when you are ready to proceed." Without ceremony, the droid turned and wandered off.

"That droid is odd, but really helpful," Vrei commented. "Okay, let's see about the turbolifts..."

[Merilan]

Terra blinks for a few times, the last of the throbbing emanating out from her head. "There were a lot of people around you, Ori." She squints for a moment to say, "I doubt we'd be in the midst of a crowd if we remained here, but..."

She hesitates. What is she doing? Chasing after what feels like a far shot... yet, certainly the premonitions were why she's even still alive at the time.

"I think this woman in grey may be outside, upon the public floor, Ori..."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori watches in muffled amusement as the droid went through its thought process. Snapping back into the conversation Ori turns to Terra. "Alright, let's go searching for her then."Ori heads off to the turbolifts to try and find the woman in grey Terra had spoken about. Ori's palms began to sweat at the prospect of danger in the near future.

[Absol197]

Vrei lead the way, searching for turbolifts to take them upwards. After a minute, she found a bank that took them up to the thirty-eighth level. After the lift reached the top of its climb, the doors opened on a much different scene than the one from twenty floors down. The spacious hall was floored with gleaming tile, and droids of all sorts assisted passengers and traders with luggage, translation, and various other menial tasks. The private bays, from what could be seen from behind the large doors, were massive, and furbished with plenty of equipment and luxuries. While still obvious in force, security personnel were the minority of the station employees available - concierges, attendants, and others were stationed liberally, seeking out customers to assist.

Vrei stared in disbelief. "This spaceport has a place like this? I didn't know this district had anything this posh!" She glanced at Terra as she exited the lift area. "Okay, assuming these premonitions of yours are accurate, how do we find this lady we're looking for?"

[Merilan]

Terra puts her hands to the railing to take in the details of the staff members. Were their typical uniforms grey, or another colour? It was going to be difficult to pick out a single staff member amongst all the tourists, the passengers, the commuters...

"Ori was not speaking to any staff member in an office or a desk, so that rules them out. I would say it's likely it's one of those minder who are looking for passengers to assist..."

[Absol197]

As she looked around, Terra saw that all of the spaceport personnel were dressed in grey, which did not help with narrowing down who the mystery woman who could be their key might be.

"Is this place crowded enough?" Vrei asked. "This is the top floor that has a public docking area. It's probably more crowded, we could try out there, but I'm sure our guy is on one of the floors above us."

[Merilan]

Terra squints hard and spends a moment to recollect the already fleeting premonition from her mind. Could she become stronger at some point, and intuit more details? It was a scary thought, to gaze deeper into this future which had already apparently been predestined...

"I feel like... she is here, and not in the public floor," Terra murmurs. "There was a lot more -- metal, and polished effects like where we are now. Also, I believe she was part of the security detail..." She falters on that note, not quite certain. "We may as well start our search here."

[Absol197]

"Okay..." Vrei hesitated. "I'll be honest, I'm not too sure about using strange visions to lead us, but you did somehow know about Rek, or at least it seemed like it, so we'll go with it. Plus, I have no better ideas at the moment. We do need to be careful, though: if we ask around too much, they may get suspicious and toss us out, and then we're in trouble. Especially here, I bet security is trained to be extra paranoid this high us the 'port."

She gave Terra a pat on the shoulder. "Lead on kid. Ori, seeing how well you did with Ssruluk, you're on point when we find someone we want to talk to."

[Merilan]

Terra nods in agreement with Vrei, murmuring, "To be honest with you, I feel much the same way. ... but these premonitions did save my life, once." A pause. "And they led me here as well, so I suppose I cannot say they are in my favour, necessarily."

She does turn to concentrate, though. She had to capture the image of that woman more clearly, as she walks along the high mezzanines to keep an eye for the woman she saw in her vision.

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori looks to Vrei and nods saying. "My pleasure, more than happy to help and take point. Whats the worst that can happen?" With that Ori flashes a very uncertain smile at both Vrei and Terra. Pointing at Terra she says "Lead the way I've got your back."

[Merilan]

A few minutes later, Terra shakes her head and looks towards the group. "I don't believe she's here... but I believe she would be part of the security detail. Let's try the public floor, next." She hadn't quite noticed security keeping an eye on her at this point.

[Absol197]

Vrei nodded. "Good idea, look: I think the guards here are starting to notice us. I think our clothes are too mussed up from splashing around in the sleet, we don't fit in with this crowd." She quickly led the way to the west, where a door connected to a tunnel and a pair of thicker blast doors.

On the other side, the spaceport was much more Spartan than the expensive décor of the higher-end private floor. Other than the large windows that looked out onto the blazing lights of the city by night that were spaced irregularly, there was little noticeable difference between this floor and the one they had arrived on. The crowd was very thick here, as this was the largest floor that allowed vertical takeoffs, so the pilots of many ships docked here whenever they could.

[Merilan]

The thick crowd is certainly a little daunting, and yet it's -- familiar. It's like Terra could match the image of the crowd with the one from her premonition, as she continues onward and tucking her backpack straps closer to herself to find this woman that they are seeking. This had better been worth all the trouble... she thinks to -- no tangible person in particular. Perhaps she was starting to lose it, and start speaking to this 'Force'?

[Absol197]

The minutes ticked by as Terra scanned the crowded floor, looking for someone who could be the security woman they were supposed to find. Sweat began to bead on her forehead as time went on. If this didn't work, then she had lost them their chance...

But eventually, she saw her: she was tall, human, her hair pulled back in a large, tight bun, the ubiquitous insignia of the spaceport gleaming above the breast pocket of her stone-gray uniform. She was talking with a group of three, each a different species, and was apparently trying to calm down an altercation that had arisen.

[Merilan]

Terra is not really anyone to stand up to pressure -- and she can feel her lungs following suit; her body starts to churn and her head flush as she looked though the public floor for any indication of their source.

But -- then she pauses, blinking twice and nearly missing it. "That's her," she says once. A pause, and then doubly sure: "That is her. That was the woman I saw in my premonition."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori looks at Terra and says. "Thanks, you did a good job. I think I've got an idea that just might work."Heading over to where the three different beings are Ori begins listening into the conversation trying to get a sense of what they're arguing about. Thoughts race through her mind as she considers the almost infinite number of possibilities that could occur from this one conversation.

[Absol197]

As Ori approached, the crux of the issue started to materialize out of the conversation. The three beings, a sibilant Quarren, a huffing Aqualish, and a growling Wookie, had all arrived around the same time. The Aqualish, a trading captain, had been unloading his cargo when the Wookie's ship had arrived. The ship had flown too close, and a mild collision had damaged both ships, destroyed a part of the cargo. Falling crates for the had landed on the passing Quarren, causing injury.

The Wookie maintained that the Aqualish captain's vessel had been improperly parked, and was jutting into the landing lane, the Aqualish, of course, denied this, and the Quarren simply wanted reparations for the injuries he had suffered, which, while minor, were disrupting his duties to his own ship.

Between the three sentients, the security officer looked frazzled and tired. Clearly, this same argument had gone back and forth several times and was beginning to escalate, and between members of three aggressive species, she was having a hard time making herself heard.

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori listens into the conversation and right when the security officer reaches the height of exasperation pipes up. "Excuse me, I'm sorry, but I overheard some of this conversation." Giving a slight nod to the security officer she turns to the Aqualish her voice level and calm/ "Listen, it's ‎Ponda right? It sounds like you were quite surprised by our dear friends Rwook's ship?" Rwook let's out a low growl at the mention of the idea of blame. Turning to Rwook Ori says "Now you say that Ponda's ship was improperly parked correct which is why you hit it?" An affirmative growl comes out to which Ori nods smiling.

Looking between the Aqualish and Wookie Ori swallows her nervousness. "How about you both go over and talk to the security cam official? If Ponda was improperly parked you can split the difference from the cost of the ship repairs, depending on what you find. In that case Ponda how do you feel about accepting the destryoed goods as part of that deal? If he was parked according to spaceport regulations, then pay the full amount for both how does that sound?"

Not forgetting the Quarren Ori turns and says "Qesh here is a simple passerby in this circumstance. As a matter of good faith since it was Ponda's cargo and Rwook's striking the ship that caused his injuries that you pay him whatever money he's lost in the time spent unable to work." Ori bite's her lip looking between the distraught individuals and says "How does this all sound? Fair enough?" Ori looks at the security guard eyes looking for support.

[Absol197]

At first, the officer made to cut Ori off from participation, but as the red-haired woman smoothly worked on negotiating a solution, she stepped back, watching warily and composing herself.

The initial exchanges were met with skepticism and hostility, but as her calm and poise and rational arguments continued, the three feuding sentients settled down into a grudging acceptance.

"Yes!" Rwook howled near the end. "There should be security footage! We'll get to the bottom of this!"

Taking that as her queue, the security officer reentered the discussion. "You're correct. If you can wait a moment, gentlemen, I can get an officer to escort you to the monitoring station and we can review the vids." She flashed Ori a grateful smile, and then spoke quickly into her comlink.

Not a minute later, another human officer arrived to escort the spacers away. While they were still clearly angry, they had calmed down enough to treat each other with respect, and they followed him off into the crowd.

As they disappeared from view, the remaining officer turned to Ori. "Thank you so much!" She said, breathing out a sigh of relief. "I was trying to suggest the same thing, but they were so riled up that they wouldn't listen to me, they just wanted to shout at each other. You've done this sort of thing before, haven't you?"

[Merilan]

Terra can't help but be impressed at how -- calmly and methodically Ori moved to discuss the matter; she'd seen her father and other people discuss business and other sensitive matters, and even pacify enraged clients, but she didn't consider herself to be a particularly good diplomat.

"She's very good at it, yes..." Terra nods, smiling quietly towards Ori. Perhaps that will help grace her in the officer's good books.

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori flashes a smile back at Terra and Vrei and her head snaps back to face the security officer. Reaching out to shake the officer's hand she says "I actually just got done negotiating a deal for a small cantina near hear. Had a Toydarian try and practically rob a poor cantina owner of his margins. Been doing this type of thing for a while now negotiating deals, helping people out." Ori finishes shaking the security officer's hand and looks at her eyes soft.

Voice steady Ori says, "Look I was wondering if you could do me a small favor for me? We're supposed to meet up with someone who is a Gank. He's been rather secretive and we don't know his name, which I guess isn't uncommon for people around here. We have to make a delivery for him and he's meeting us in just under an hour. We really want to make sure we make an impression and we'd like to get there early to set up. The downside is that we're unsure of which hanger he's in and it won't look good if we call him. Would you be able to help us out? I'd really appreciate it." Ori gives a small hopeful smile towards the woman trying to radiate sincerness.

[Absol197]

"Oh, yes, I know who you're talking about," the officer said. "He has a lot of shipments coming through. He's up in...4203, I think. If you can go get your cargo I can take you up, it's no trouble! I'll even walk you through, get you there quicker."

Her comlink began to beep, and she checked it. "Oh, sorry, I've got to get this. Can you get your cargo up here in, say ten minutes? I should be done by then and I can take you up."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori nods smiling at the security officer thinking This was better than I could have even hoped for. Ori looks at the officer saying "Thank you so much we do so appreciate it. I hope be able to see you again, I have other work I need to do before I go to the hanger but maybe it'll get done in time. In not but Vrei here will meet you with the cargo and our loader droid. Thank you so much!" With that Ori gives one last smile as she watches the officer disappear back into the crowd to take the call.

Turning to Vrei and Terra Ori whispers "Alright, Terra and I go into the cargo hold and Vrei and Sawtooth can "deliver" us. Or since we're all early we can all go in with the empty cargo and wait for a bit before we smuggle ourselves in. However, I'm willing to bet he's got cams so he may be wondering why us women are there. What do ya'll think?"

[Absol197]

Vrei nodded. "Oh, he's definitely got cams. If I show up with someone who's not part of Alshar's crew, he's gonna get suspicious if he's not already, and I'd rather that not happen before we get in the room." She thought a little, then continued. "I think the best plan is to have the two of you in the crate, but with a way out. The less we vary from his pattern, the better chance I think we have."

She turned to Terra. "Unless you've got more of that remarkable insight?"

[Merilan]

Terra flushes just for a moment, and then she puts her hand to her forehead. She actually looks a bit skeptical, but turns to Ori.

"More of that insight...?" It's as if she's just cottoned on to the idea that -- perhaps, she could control when she'd like to view these premonitions. Wouldn't that be a boon, not receiving splitting, nauseating sensations at inopportune times?

"I do agree that we should be in the crate, with some way out of it where possible... but... yes, let me--"

And then she pauses, focusing on her will, her thoughts... her sensations. Could she actually do this?

[Absol197]

Terra focused her mind, trying to force a vision to appear. After a few moments with no results, it seemed she'd failed. As she relaxed her attempt and her mind stopped straining, it came on in a rush.

She was in a large, open space, bombarded with sound and light. Flashes of blaster fire ricocheted in time with their rapid report. Then all she saw was a face - a single plate of metal in garish red, shaped to invoke a fearsome skull, the slitted, feline eyes behind it boring into her soul, anger pouring over her in a flood...

[Merilan]

Once more, the young, white-haired girl dithers and nearly loses balance on her feet as the premonition washes over her senses.

"A metal-placed skull face... cat's eyes..." she whispers, beads of cold sweat forming over her as her pupils dilate and her gaze becomes far-off, as if perceiving something over the horizon that no one else is. She frowns, as the vision's dominance relents from her mind. "I guess that diplomacy will not work so well on the Gank...?"

She looks concerned, gazing to Vrei. "In the case where we do fight... what else could we do to prepare?"

[Absol197]

"That good, huh?" The Togruta pondered a moment. "I'm not sure; we don't have a lot of time, is the thing. The only other thing I can think of is stock up on some...stronger ordnance and catch him by surprise." She looked around, taking in the crowd and the many ships. "I mean, we are in a spaceport, but purchasing restricted weapons right under the noses of Spaceport Security is not my idea of a good time, even if we can find someone who's got some here that they're trying to get out of their ship."

She shrugged. "I can't think of anything else we can do with the time we have."

[Merilan]

Terra nods quietly... before looking towards Mr. Lion for some clever idea. There wasn't, of course, anything that could be used as a weapon inside -- some of her personal effects, her medicines, a water bottle, a few of her favourite novels...

Novels?

"Hmm... I may have an idea, if it truly becomes dire..." Terra murmurs, but then glances to Ori and Vrei. "But we'd best hurry now, yes."

[Supercrazy DM]

Ori nods at Terra and says "I trust your judgement Terra, we know we can count on you." Turning to Vrei Ori's brow furrows and says. "You're right us buying a bunch of ordinance will only draw red flags to us."

[Merilan]

Terra puts that idea away for now, a possible ace up her sleeve... or possibly just an extremely foolish idea. But they have more pressing concerns.

"More importantly, where are we going to find our cargo crate? A rental, I assume, or..."

[Absol197]

"Hopefully Sawtooth has that covered," Vrei replied, taking out her comlink. "Hey big guy," she asked into the device. "We have a way in, have you found us a container yet?"

There was a brief pause, then the droid's voice responded. "Affirmative. I am on level 18. Please rendezvous quickly: I am violating company protocols regarding the placement of cargo supplies in pedestrian areas."

Vrei smiled as she disconnected. "I guess we don't want to keep him waiting, huh?"

[Merilan]

Terra gives Vrei a nod, hurrying towards the turbolifts again to head to the specified level. She glances towards the stolen blaster again for a moment. Is she still going to need to use it, today, without any real practice...?

[Absol197]

Vrei and Ori hustled after Terra towards the bank of turbolifts, and rode it down the twenty levels needed to meet up with the large red droid. The lower level was less crowded than the upper, and Sawtooth was not hard to find.

He was idling in the middle of the floor, where several rows of chairs rose from the floor, attempting (and failing) to be out of the way of the sentients that moved through the spaceport on their business. Beside him, a large duristeel cargo container rested, clearly his haul.

"Hey big guy!" Vrei greeted as the group approached. "Dare I ask how you got this thing?"

"I purchased it from a trader who no longer had a need for it," he buzzed.

[Merilan]

Terra smiles softly towards the droid, nodding gently. "Thank you for your help and efforts..." She looks to Vrei. "Okay... how do we make sure we aren't locked in here? It would be quite foolish to trap us in there..."

She steps towards the container to take a look at it. She certainly wasn't familiar with them, but... common sense, perhaps?

[Absol197]

"I have taken the liberty of installing an internal release to the locking mechanism," Sawtooth replied. "The only issue will be the air supply. I was not able to find a model intended for transportation of organisms."

"Do you have an idea how long they'll have?" Vrei asked. "I don't want them suffocating..."

"I am not proficient with the oxygen consumption rate of various organisms," Sawtooth admitted. "I acquired as large a container as I could, I would assume approximately a half hour. If one or both possesses a rebreather, it would be recommended that it be utilized."

[Merilan]

Terra looks somewhat happy and proud for a moment, as she rummages around Mr. Lion and produces a perfectly functional -- if medically designed -- rebreather. "Here, I have one. My doctor always told me to keep one around in case the oxygen content or air purity caused me to have trouble with my fibrosis..." A pause. "I do not think I am contagious, but if you are concerned..."

Using the Destiny Point to produce a rebreather, then.

[Absol197]

"Don't worry about it," Vrei chuckled. "I can help out if people get sick; that's MY special talent. Got me in more trouble..." She shook her head, banishing whatever memory she had been about to go down. "Never mind. Sawtooth, should one rebreather be enough for them?"

The droid paused, buzzing slightly. "Yes," he responded after a moment. "With only one lifeform using oxygen, the time until the supply is low enough to cause concern should be roughly an hour."

"Well, if the two of you are still in there after an hour, we've got bigger problems," she looked around. "Okay, let's try to find a shady spot to get you in there. You two climbing in a crate in the middle of the terminal might just be a bit suspicious."

The group split up to find a suitable place to begin their plan. It wasn't a long search - Ori quickly located an alcove that seemed to be in a hole in the surveillance, and Sawtooth dutifully dragged the crate over.

"Okay, everyone ready?" Vrei asked as the create yawned open, ready to receive them. "I'll tap three times when we're ready for you to jump him." She stopped and tousled Terra's hair. "You're really brave for doing this. Both of you."

[Merilan]

Terra's cheek flushes just a little as she looks up to the togruta, when she toussles her hair. It feels strange, but it's like she's just received a shot of courage just -- watching her, hearing her speak of what she wishes to do... even against adversity and danger.

She wonders if she could be that brave on her own, someday.

"It's okay," she bows her head gently, then steps into the crate. "I'm ready..."

[Absol197]

Ori climbed in first, then turned to help Terra.

"Okay," Vrei said as she prepared to close the lid. "Make sure all your electronics are powered off - comlinks, everything. I'm sure they're gonna scan this thing at some point, and we don't want to scare him off by having odd hits on the scanners. I'm gonna close this, try out the inner latch." She cast a sideways glance at Sawtooth. "Not that I don't trust you, big guy, but we have to make sure before we walk into the Rancor's den."

Vrei closed the lid, and a mechanical click sounded as the crate latched shut. Inside, everything was dark, dimly illuminated in red by the lone light of the hastily installed inner latch.

"Here goes," Ori remarked as she pressed her hand against the latch release pad. The inside of the create flashed green for a moment, then another click and the hiss of the release accompanied the opening of the lid.

"Perfect!" Vrei said. "Okay, everybody ready? Any last thoughts? After this, we're committed."

[Merilan]

Terra made a point to check the electronics she had -- fortunately, she didn't have a lot. And was silently glad in hindsight her doctor opted to not give her a pacemaker and just 'wait and see'. "I'm... I am ready," she nods.

[Absol197]

“Okay, let’s get going. Good luck to everyone.” Vrei closed the lid gently, the mechanisms locking it into place.

Inside, it was cramped and stuffy, the heat from the two women filling the small space quickly. Ori in particular was forced to sit with her knees tight against her chest, and the two of them were pressed uncomfortably close together. Within a few seconds, the dark box began to move. It was mounted on primitive wheels, not a repulsorlift, so the bumps and grooves of the spaceport floors jarred them as they traveled.

Afer a minute or so of travel the crate paused, and then a short trip resulted in a sudden jolt upwards; Vrei and Sawtooth had clearly reached the turbolift. After the brief climb, the lateral movement continued…

Back on the top public floor, Vrei wheeled the crate around, looking for the officer that Ori had spoken to. She tried to look nonchalant, like this was something she did all the time, but a cold sweat was trickling down the inside of her lekku – she was putting her life, and the lives of the two women in the crate, on the line with this gambit. And if things went wrong, little Terra might be in for something worse than death. Vrei was no stranger to how slaves with rare gifts were treated.

After a few minutes, she spotted the security woman and angled her path to approach her. “Hey there!” She called wheeling the crate to a stop. “Ori had another appointment, she’ll be back in a bit. Name’s Atelba Shek,” she held out her hand.

“Soona, Soona Gibbs,” the officer offered, accepting the handshake. She smiled, but looked somewhat confused. “I thought…Ori said your name was Vrai?”

“Oh,” Vrei shook her head chuckling. “That’s a nickname she has for me. I’m a bit touchy when I get mistaken for a Twi’Lek (it happens more than you’d think), so she calls me by a Ryl name to tease me. If I didn’t know her so well it’d make me mad, but we go way back, so I don’t mind when she does it.”

“Oh, okay,” Soona nodded, accepting the Togruta at her word. “Well then, Ms…Shek? Follow me and I’ll take you on up.” She led the way across the floor, past the many wide cargo doors that opened up into the hangar, and to a small bank of turbolifts that had no call buttons. She took out a white keycard and waved it at a sensor pad, and the nearest lift opened, admitting the group. Vrei engaged her in small talk as the lift rose, then followed her out onto the floor of the spaceport’s top level.

While it wasn’t as decadent as the lower private floor they’d been on, there was a definite feel of superiority here, and it made sense: Eriadu was tring to become the “Coruscant” of the Outer Rim, so making the high end of its spaceports nice, even those here in the lower districts, would be something they’d spend the money on. The floor was professional, polished floors with a pond with a fountain in the middle, and large exotic plants in planters dotting the area adding color. Other than another bank of turbolifts opposite them, there were exactly ten hallways that branched out from the main atrium, each with a numeric designator, from “01” all the way through “10.”

Vrei’s eyes immediately focused on the one labeled with “03.” That was where they were going.

[Merilan]

Certainly, this was no crate designed to be made for human comforts. Terra was somewhat glad that she was smaller in size, she didn't have to squeeze nearly as tightly as Ori did... she holds the rebreather up to take quiet and controlled breaths, rather familiar with the process, and also handing it to Ori periodically to share with her. "Let us hope it goes well..."

[Absol197]

“Okay, we’ll be just down here,” Soona prompted, steering Vrei and the crate-toting Sawtooth down the hallway marked “03.” “Now, our customer in this hangar has some pretty strict security requirements, so I hope you don’t mind the inconvenience. I’m sure he informed you when you set up the meeting.”

“Oh, sure,” Vrei agreed. “I wouldn’t have it any other way. You can never be too careful.” She smiled, but her stomach fluttered uncomfortably. This was it; any one of a dozen things (at least) could go wrong. If they detected Terra and Ori, if the Gank didn’t like the look of her (or Sawtooth, for that matter), if he was uncomfortable that they were early…a chrono on the wall of the hallway indicated that they were just over half an hour early. Was that too much? Vrei started running through lies in her head, trying to smooth out her delivery to put the monster at ease.

The hallway was decorated with pillars, a hologram of some luxurious place from far remote corners of the galaxy centered between each pair, and once again dotted with exotic plants. After about forty meters it made a single turn to the left, then ended ten meters further down. The large blast doors stood closed, and a desk with three additional security officers jutted from the wall.

As the group approached, Soona called out to the officers stationed by the bay. “Hey there, having a good night?” She gestured at Vrei and Sawtooth. “They’ve got a meeting with the gentleman, so I thought I’d bring them up.”

One of the officers, a wiry, grey-haired man, consulted a datapad from his seat, scanning it with a finger. “Name?”

“Atelba. Atelba Shek,” Vrei gave promptly, trying to make her voice as nonchalant as possible.

“You’re early,” the guard said, looking up from his datapad. “We weren’t expecting you for another half hour.” He squinted at Sawtooth. “And the droid isn’t on here.”

“I can’t very well move a large cargo container by myself, can I?” Vrei asked back. “He’s here for transport of cargo, and loading if needed.”

“It’s okay, Alec, I’ve verified them,” Soona said, trying to pacify the surly guard.

“Our friend here doesn’t like people being too early, and he doesn’t like people not on his list coming in. I have to assume that includes droids.” He stood up, passing his datapad to the officer that stood beside him, a Rodian, and the first non-human Vrei had seen working at the spaceport.

Sweat began to bead on Vrei’s forehead, but she tied to remain cool. “Look, as was communicated to him when we set up our meeting, my boss has a tight schedule, and if he wanted to do this deal, we would have to meet as soon as possible. I’m sorry if I got here too soon, but I’m under orders.”

“Well, so am I. I’m not going to be responsible for a client like this getting mad at us.” Alec gestured, and the two other guards produced a large set of scanning equipment from under the desk. The three of them approached, and the two attendants began to run the scanners over the crate. Alec stood in front of Vrei, and began a rehearsed speech about spaceport regulations, Eriadu tariffs, and other legal regulations. “…do you understand the regulations and penalties as I’ve explained to you?” He asked at the end.

“Of course.” Vrei answered, she tried to position herself so that she could keep an eye on the men with the scanners, but it was impossible with the head officer standing directly in front of her, demanding her attention. She just had to hope Sawtooth would speak up if they tried to open the crate.

“I’ll need any weapons you may have. They’ll be returned when you leave,” Alec said, holding out his hand.

Vrei blanched. She had not been expecting to have to give up her blaster before meeting with the Gank. That would make things much harder. But she was committed, so she made a show of opening her cloak and withdrawing her blaster, handing it over. She then glanced back at the crate with the others inside. The men were finishing up with their scan, and the Rodian had moved on to Sawtooth, applying the scanner to him as well. After another minute, he finished and moved back to pack the scanning equipment away.

“Nothing here,” he intoned in Rodese. “The droid is an older model, but nothing unusual.”

Alec nodded, and the three of them returned to the desk. He sat down at his station again, dropped Vrei’s blaster in a lockbox and closed it before placing an earpiece and pressing some buttons. “Sir, your appointment is here.” He waited a moment, before responding, “I know they’re early, but they said they told you they were in a rush.” He paused again, listening. “No, sir. Yes, sir. Of course.”

He gestured at Vrei and Sawtooth. “Please step forward into range of the main view array,” he ordered, pointing at the number of cameras stationed above the door. Vrei obeyed nervously, beckoning Sawtooth to follow. She looked up at the cameras, an impassive expression on her face. The monster was on the other end, watching her, looking for a clue as to who she was. After a pregnant pause, Alec spoke into the comlink again. “Very good, sir.” He pressed a button on his console, and the double-layered blast doors began to slide open.

’This is it…’ Vrei shuddered.

[Merilan]

Terra sat as still as she possibly could inside the crate, taking turns breathing on her rebreather which -- she'd never thought she'd have to use in this way. She'd heard of people using it to navigate dangerous, hazardous spaces and water, of course, but to her... it was just a life device. In more than one way now, it would seem.

She couldn't very well hear what was happening outside, though she had this uneasy feeling -- they'd stopped for what she thought was a bit overlong, and she worried for Vrei. She could only hope they weren't too late for the children.

Internally, she readied herself for her surprise -- it'd require an amount of willpower she's never mustered before...

[Absol197]

The hanger on the far side of the doors was wide and spacious. Sitting in the bay under the closed vertical takeoff doors was another YT-1300, although in much better condition than the one that Raskyl had owned. Several crates were scattered about, and a workstation took up the far wall.

But the thing that chilled Vrei's blood was the person who stood waiting in front of her. The Gank was tall, over two meters in height, and his chest and face were covered in heavy plates, colored blood red. He stood impassively, his arms behind his back, although Vrei could clearly see, even from the angle she was at, that his right arm had been replaced with a cybernetic version. His yellow-green eyes stared at her unblinkingly. The Gank was flanked by four spaceport security officers, two on each side. Vrei swallowed nervously; she hadn't been expecting him to have backup.

As she and Sawtooth stepped into the hangar, the blast doors behind them slid shut, sealing them in.

Vrei steeled herself; without a weapon, and with four additional opponents she had not been expecting, she needed to find a way to get an advantage. "Hey there," she said, trying to keep her teeth from chattering. "Nice to finally meet you. The boss's been having us running all over finding, uh," she glanced at the guards. "'Cargo' for you." She flashed a smile. "Sorry about the short notice. We wanted to get these ones out of out hands. Local troubles, you know. Nothin' that should bother you."

The Gank simply stood there, utterly motionless, not even blinking. The guards that flanked him shifted some, and one cast a glance at the cyborg.

"So, uh, are we gonna get to it?" Vrei asked. "I need to get back, make sure Ssurluk hasn't killed our boss through his incompetence yet." She shook her head. "Word of advice? If you're a mammal, NEVER let a Trandoshan patch you up. They don't really get the whole, 'no regeneration' thing."

He still didn't move. Vrei had seen statues show more animation. She had one more thing she could think to try. "So, we gonna deal, or what?" She glanced at the guards. "And you know, I kinda live here, I'm not so big a fan of them being around. I don't want them to get the wrong impression of me, in case we cross paths in the future."

Finally, the Gank spoke, he deep, mechanical voice resounding through the hangar. Unfortunately, it was absolutely the last thing Vrei wanted to hear: "I've heard enough. Take her."

[Merilan]

I've heard enough. Take her.

Terra's blood nearly froze as she leaned forward and barely heard that command through the cracks in the cargo crate. She knew it'd probably be quite difficult to get to the Gank, and that a peaceful solution was not terribly likely... she glanced to Ori, for a moment hesitating.

Then she stopped.

No, hesitation wasn't going to get them anywhere. He already made his hostile intent clear. There wasn't room for niceties and kindness here, something she'd unfortunately learnt since touching base on Eriadu.

Her eyes narrowed. Something that hadn't quite stirred in her rose -- and when she heard Vrei knocking twice, she pushed the latch open where they'd left a way out for the two of them. She quickly emerged out into the spaceport, her blaster drawn with its killswitch pulsing red -- and she held it up to her Mr. Lion-shaped backpack.

"Nobody move!!" she shouted at the top of her lungs.

She stared daggers towards the Gank, the very vision of the metal-plated person from her premonition.

It's all because of this man...
He'd trade and sell children to slavery without a second thought...
Someone like this... someone like this shouldn't...!

She needed to fuel all the anger and disgust she could muster in herself. To push past her usually docile and meek demeanor. She took another deep breath and exclaimed:

"I have a dozen thermal detonators primed in this backpack and all the mind to blow this entire hangar sky-high with us!! Do not try me!!"

[Absol197]

As Terra burst from the crate, the entire hangar froze in surprise and shock. Including Vrei, whose jaw dropped in shock. She quickly regain her Cool, however, and used the distraction to jump back towards the doors and engage the lock.

The Gank was the only one who seemed unchanged (although he was frozen to begin with; the only thing that had moved at all were his eyes). As Terra stared at him, he stared back, boiling rage seething in his feline gaze. His rage was an almost palpable thing - something inside the girl seemed to react to it, feel its flickering like a flame in a strong wind.

For Ori, she didn't even need to try; her connection to the Force was such that the pulsing, burning hate that the Gank was radiating was as obvious as a planet's star in the day.

The officers shook, unsure of what to do, whether to act or remain still. They looked towards the Gank for direction. And as always, there was a long pause before he finally spoke. "Your insolence is not amusing, child," he spat. "Do not make me kill you. Put the bag down. Now."

[Merilan]

Terra stared back towards the Gank, for a moment feeling as if she was emotionally swimming on a murky, cloudless mire. She could see -- no, sense his rage, something that she'd never seen up close before, but in turn, it fuelled her. The gaze in her eyes intensified.

"How much do you value your life?! Because I will tell you, that I value mine far less! And if that means I will eradicate people like you from this galaxy, then I've achieved everything I've ever wanted to!"

Inside, a small part of Terra worries over how much of a half-truth that might already be.

[Absol197]

After locking the doors, Vrei looked around. Terra's bluff likely wouldn't hold them for long, and she needed a weapon...glancing around hurriedly, she noticed that there was an array of blasters on a workbench nearby; the Gank had apparently been tinkering with his downtime. She stole a look at the Gank and his retinue, who were all staring pointedly at Terra. Good. Slowly, she made her way over to the bench, and found a blaster that looked functional. It was fitted for the Gank and slightly unwieldy for her, but it would do.

As Vrei turned, the heat between Terra and the Gank was reaching a breaking point - the cyborg's relentless stare and burning rage were building up in her mind; the Coruscanti girl felt about to crack under the strain of his gaze. She held on for as long as she could, but under the pressure, her eyes gave an involuntary twitch, glancing at Mr. Lion for just a second before going back.

But that was all it took. "There are no detonators," the Gank growled. "Kill them!"

[Merilan]

As the staredown continued between Terra and the Gank, the Coruscant princess didn't find her resolve failing her--

No, it was her body that was failing her. She hadn't quite realised how physically stressful this was -- holding Mr. Lion up on her hand, blaster to a backpack that obviously, to her, contained nothing. She knew it wasn't a credible bluff, no matter how easy the novels made it sound. Her lungs were seizing up on her, her breaths were coming up very short; her sight was becoming slightly muddy.

The moment she looked away was the moment the Gank yelled, and she immediately ran forward for the crates and shouted, "Vrei! Look out!"