” Sometimes a deal with the devil is better than no deal at all.” - Lawrence Hill
Caltin was at the gates of the massive fortress. Feeling a bit of deja vu from stories he was told, the massive Jedi Master eyed the gatekeeper droid who eventually let him in. The palace guard was basically “all hands on deck” at that point. They had heard the stories about what happened to get them to this point, in fact, some of them were there when it happened. Deciding this time that discretion was the better part of valor, the big guy decided since he was getting the meet that he wanted, he would show them all that he was carrying, full transparency.
That was until two of them tried to grab his lightsabers.
They would pull back their hands fast enough, but they would cradle them in the pain that he dished out. The big guy did not use the Force in this instance, it was again his own grip on the Rodian and Weequay’s hands.
You can see what I’m carrying, but I’m keeping my gear.
“Weapons are not allowed inside.” The guard captain bellowed.
Caltin just eyed him.
Some would say that the Force itself is a weapon.
They went round and round for a few more moments before the big guy just exhaled sharply and began to trick their minds with and through the Force. Moments later he was being escorted into the main throne room where more guards and no less than three Hutts eyeing him, including Ssadrah. It was an intimidating scene to be sure, however, the big guy had been through worse, he also had an ace in the hole.
“Jedi, you have no business being here.” Ssabmud the Hutt spoke out, in Basic.
You don’t have to speak in Basic. I know you don’t like to.
“Do not insult me, Jedi! I choose to speak in your language since I am lowering myself to your level.” The angered elder brother blurted out.
You might say that I am lowering myself to your level. I was promised a meet with your father.
[“HOW DARE YOU BESMIRCH OUR FATHER! GUARDS!”] Ssapmaws the Hutt, the middle sibling growled as he called for the guards to close in. Many did, some did not. Caltin was not looking for a fight, but he was not going to back down. Several were knocked back, knocked down, and thrown, it was when the guns were leveled and he had a hand on both of his lightsabers when his trump card was played.
[“That’s enough! There will be no violence in this room, especially against my guest! You will show him the respect you show me!”]
The voice was distinctive to everyone. To those gathered, it was the head of the family, to the brothers, it was “father”. To Caltin? It was Ssataf the Hutt. A Crime boss he had met over eight hundred fifty years ago. A Hutt that he personally seen put behind bars. A Hutt he also arranged for early release. The reason for doing so is not relevant, and they were not “friends”, but there was respect. The Hutt had actually gone “legit” back then, now was not the same, but the big guy was not here to change that, He was here to see an old face.
[“Master Vanagor. I have not seen your face in a long time. I had heard you were dead.”]
I feel like I am on some days, indeed.
The exchange was showing proof that the Jedi was indeed “protected” right now. This was not to say that this was a welcome decision. Not at all.
“Father. You would associate with this Jedi?”
[“I will hear no more of this. This Jedi once saved my life, and I consider him an ally...”]
“... but Father I...”
[“You will not interrupt me, and you will know your place. All of you!”] The near-millennia old Hutt was strong enough to slide around on his own as his personal guard followed him. He was not going to be disrespected in his own palace. Ssabmud was tired of being put in his place, and the blaster pulled out of of his console showed his intentions.
[“You dare level a weapon on me?”]
“Not you, Father.” He then shot Ssapmaws, square between the eyes. The middle brother just fell in a slump as several of the guards began to move in and attempt to take control of the room, shooting others, and attacking Caltin.
“I am done playing ‘secon-fiddle’. I run the operation. I make the day to day decisions. This is [/I]my[/I] operation, Father you can either get with it, or be like your youngest son is about to be.” Ssabmud tried to shoot Ssadrah, but Caltin reached out, amidst fighting guards piling up on him and crushed the blaster around the elder brother’s hand. Ssadrah saw this gesture by the Jedi and realized just what a Jedi was, and ordered his own men into the fight, to which they seemed all too willing. More and more things and guards saw that Caltin was actually fighting on their side, defending their boss and they were more and more on his side as a result.
Even when half a dozen Gamorreans were piled on him, he was fine because the chaos was just that and was not focused on him.
ENOUGH!
An explosive burst of energy sent the thugs flying off of him and into the walls. It didn’t take long for the big guy to get back into the fight. Before long all who were not against the Godfather were the only ones standing. They may not have trusted the Jedi, but he was no longer an enemy to any of them.
[“Now, Master Vanagor. To what brought you through all of this trouble to find, and meet with me?”]
Your excellency, I seek an audience because there are Jedi out in the galaxy.
While two of the other three Hutts just looked exasperated, Ssataf just chuckled.
[“Well then, I feel better knowing that. Meeting adjourned.”] Much of the room laughed as he did, though he was in jest, the rest were mocking of the Jedi. Caltin just smiled.
They are out there and I wish to find them. Those who have forgotten what it means, and how it feels to be a Jedi. Those who are no longer “feeling it”. I am not looking for the affiliated, I am looking for the lost, and the disillusioned.
The Hutt actually nodded.
[“... and you believe that I can help you?”]
Do you no longer make it your business where Jedi are in the galaxy?
Again, the Hutt nodded as if to say the words “good point”.
[“Are you certain that I would be willing to help?”]
Because you still owe me for Corellia, and I’m calling it in.
Now it was Caltin’s turn to smile.
[“I had long forgotten about ‘Corellia’, but I am bound by my word.”]
Ssadrah looked on, clearly surprised by the events of the day. [“I had never thought that I would be thankful to a Jedi.”]
That’s all I ask, and Ssadrah? Look up “Broka the Hutt” we have an association with his organization.
[“Now, if you will please.”]
Taking the hint, Caltin nodded his head in place of a bow, and went to leave.
Caltin was at the gates of the massive fortress. Feeling a bit of deja vu from stories he was told, the massive Jedi Master eyed the gatekeeper droid who eventually let him in. The palace guard was basically “all hands on deck” at that point. They had heard the stories about what happened to get them to this point, in fact, some of them were there when it happened. Deciding this time that discretion was the better part of valor, the big guy decided since he was getting the meet that he wanted, he would show them all that he was carrying, full transparency.
That was until two of them tried to grab his lightsabers.
They would pull back their hands fast enough, but they would cradle them in the pain that he dished out. The big guy did not use the Force in this instance, it was again his own grip on the Rodian and Weequay’s hands.
You can see what I’m carrying, but I’m keeping my gear.
“Weapons are not allowed inside.” The guard captain bellowed.
Caltin just eyed him.
Some would say that the Force itself is a weapon.
They went round and round for a few more moments before the big guy just exhaled sharply and began to trick their minds with and through the Force. Moments later he was being escorted into the main throne room where more guards and no less than three Hutts eyeing him, including Ssadrah. It was an intimidating scene to be sure, however, the big guy had been through worse, he also had an ace in the hole.
“Jedi, you have no business being here.” Ssabmud the Hutt spoke out, in Basic.
You don’t have to speak in Basic. I know you don’t like to.
“Do not insult me, Jedi! I choose to speak in your language since I am lowering myself to your level.” The angered elder brother blurted out.
You might say that I am lowering myself to your level. I was promised a meet with your father.
[“HOW DARE YOU BESMIRCH OUR FATHER! GUARDS!”] Ssapmaws the Hutt, the middle sibling growled as he called for the guards to close in. Many did, some did not. Caltin was not looking for a fight, but he was not going to back down. Several were knocked back, knocked down, and thrown, it was when the guns were leveled and he had a hand on both of his lightsabers when his trump card was played.
[“That’s enough! There will be no violence in this room, especially against my guest! You will show him the respect you show me!”]
The voice was distinctive to everyone. To those gathered, it was the head of the family, to the brothers, it was “father”. To Caltin? It was Ssataf the Hutt. A Crime boss he had met over eight hundred fifty years ago. A Hutt that he personally seen put behind bars. A Hutt he also arranged for early release. The reason for doing so is not relevant, and they were not “friends”, but there was respect. The Hutt had actually gone “legit” back then, now was not the same, but the big guy was not here to change that, He was here to see an old face.
[“Master Vanagor. I have not seen your face in a long time. I had heard you were dead.”]
I feel like I am on some days, indeed.
The exchange was showing proof that the Jedi was indeed “protected” right now. This was not to say that this was a welcome decision. Not at all.
“Father. You would associate with this Jedi?”
[“I will hear no more of this. This Jedi once saved my life, and I consider him an ally...”]
“... but Father I...”
[“You will not interrupt me, and you will know your place. All of you!”] The near-millennia old Hutt was strong enough to slide around on his own as his personal guard followed him. He was not going to be disrespected in his own palace. Ssabmud was tired of being put in his place, and the blaster pulled out of of his console showed his intentions.
[“You dare level a weapon on me?”]
“Not you, Father.” He then shot Ssapmaws, square between the eyes. The middle brother just fell in a slump as several of the guards began to move in and attempt to take control of the room, shooting others, and attacking Caltin.
“I am done playing ‘secon-fiddle’. I run the operation. I make the day to day decisions. This is [/I]my[/I] operation, Father you can either get with it, or be like your youngest son is about to be.” Ssabmud tried to shoot Ssadrah, but Caltin reached out, amidst fighting guards piling up on him and crushed the blaster around the elder brother’s hand. Ssadrah saw this gesture by the Jedi and realized just what a Jedi was, and ordered his own men into the fight, to which they seemed all too willing. More and more things and guards saw that Caltin was actually fighting on their side, defending their boss and they were more and more on his side as a result.
Even when half a dozen Gamorreans were piled on him, he was fine because the chaos was just that and was not focused on him.
ENOUGH!
An explosive burst of energy sent the thugs flying off of him and into the walls. It didn’t take long for the big guy to get back into the fight. Before long all who were not against the Godfather were the only ones standing. They may not have trusted the Jedi, but he was no longer an enemy to any of them.
[“Now, Master Vanagor. To what brought you through all of this trouble to find, and meet with me?”]
Your excellency, I seek an audience because there are Jedi out in the galaxy.
While two of the other three Hutts just looked exasperated, Ssataf just chuckled.
[“Well then, I feel better knowing that. Meeting adjourned.”] Much of the room laughed as he did, though he was in jest, the rest were mocking of the Jedi. Caltin just smiled.
They are out there and I wish to find them. Those who have forgotten what it means, and how it feels to be a Jedi. Those who are no longer “feeling it”. I am not looking for the affiliated, I am looking for the lost, and the disillusioned.
The Hutt actually nodded.
[“... and you believe that I can help you?”]
Do you no longer make it your business where Jedi are in the galaxy?
Again, the Hutt nodded as if to say the words “good point”.
[“Are you certain that I would be willing to help?”]
Because you still owe me for Corellia, and I’m calling it in.
Now it was Caltin’s turn to smile.
[“I had long forgotten about ‘Corellia’, but I am bound by my word.”]
Ssadrah looked on, clearly surprised by the events of the day. [“I had never thought that I would be thankful to a Jedi.”]
That’s all I ask, and Ssadrah? Look up “Broka the Hutt” we have an association with his organization.
[“Now, if you will please.”]
Taking the hint, Caltin nodded his head in place of a bow, and went to leave.
