Private All Eyes On Me

[Agrippa The Hutt]

Nar Shaddaa, a moon rife with the worst denizens of the galaxy. People that revel in the immoral. Slavery, drug trafficking, even prostitution. This is what Nar Shaddaa is, what it has always been, and what it shall always be. Above it, all, sat Agrippa’s penthouse, a large floor to ceiling window that looked out and across the large ecumenopolis.

What was usually a place brimming with life was eerily quiet on this day. The shudders of the windows drawn close. The loud glimmik music that usually blared out into the night sky was non-existent on this night and had been the same for the past three cycles.

Within the confines of the penthouse, standing before a table, Agrippa held within his hands a large cobalt stone the likes of which he’d never seen. For decades, nay centuries Agrippa had scoured the holonet, and darkweb in search of force artifacts. Millions of credits spent, hundreds of lives lost. Every time it seemed as if there was hope it would slip between the hutt’s fingers and another would end up with what he sought. Yet finally it was his moment. The gem radiated a power that caused the air around it to reverberate. A chill filled the air whenever Agrippa stood within its presence.

Simply holding the rock had proved insufficient to unlock its secrets. For days Agrippa toiled over it, having cleared his home of everyone except the protocol droid that faithfully served him. Grip tightening around the gem, amber eyes closing, the Hutt pulled the artifact close to his chest. Still, there was nothing.

The massive form that was the pillar of pride shook. Those amber eyes opening, the serpentine orbs flexing, a hiss escaping from between the crimelords lips. Once more the tycoon found himself betrayed by those he put his trust in. Over three-hundred thousand credits down the drain. Grip tightening on the crystal Agrippa drove it down into the homogoni surface.

The blow destroyed the table. Folding inwards on itself, what had once been a masterpiece now lay in shards upon the ground. Eyes looking to the needless destruction Agrippa didn’t even look up as the obsidian protocol droid approached. “Can I be of service sir?”

“Bx, see this cleaned and send a message to Yenip.”

“Just what message would that be my lord?”

“That if he’s not here by 0800, I’ll have his head mounted above my fireplace.” Slinking away into the depths of the penthouse, the gem still clutched in his palm. Agrippa entered his personal chambers. A room that was lavish in only the ways a Hutt would consider tasteful. The room’s dimensions enough to fit an entire home inside. Attached to the ceiling a chandelier of glitterglass which exuded an artificial light. At the head of the chamber sat Agrippa’s throne piled high with pillows made of catharian silk. All of it meant nothing. The power of wealth was different from what Agrippa sought. He wished for true power, he wished for the force and no matter his efforts it eluded him.

 

[Darth Voracitos]

The Coven of Gluttony held a significant presence on the crime moon. It was rarely a good source of mystic artifacts or any relics of power that so interested that master of the Coven, but nonetheless the power of Voracitos often found its touch on Nar Shaddaa. When Voracitos was fully mortal, he had been a crime lord, with a gang that found its clutches in every corner of the eastern galaxy. After his coronation as Sith Emperor, that infrastructure fractured as the interests of their boss reached elsewhere, and it fell apart completely once he was assassinated.

Once his return became apparent after the Netherworld Crisis and escaping the Aslyum of Gluttony which locked him away after his duel with Darth Vornskyr, he had begun rebuilding almost immediately. Not only had he been obsessed with reestablishing his influence and power within the Sith Order, but his reach also had to extend over everything he had touched before he died. The old remnants of his gangs displayed various colors of receptiveness or rejection, but one thing was certain: it would never be fully restored, and it would always remain fractured. Too much time passed, and what Voracitos had enjoyed became permanently lost much to his chagrin.

When finally the Sith Lord felt he was recovering, he then began to expand. The Coven of Gluttony was only the first step into garnering more power, and they offered themselves up as the powerful instruments by which his material pursuits could be explored simultaneously with his Sith objectives. They attended auctions, they traded and exchanged stock with big players for big favors, they offered their services to other Crime Lords to steal from or kill rivals in exchange for information and resources, and they quickly found that hunting relics and artifacts of the force did not necessarily or even often require them to raid ancient tombs. More often than not, the Coven found that the most secure sources of ancient mementos came from eccentric collectors who had done the work for them already, which meant they needed connections and favors to rip them from their hands... warm or otherwise.

This brings the narrative attention to a lowly Starved Subject tracking the whereabouts of one known as "Yenip".

Leon got roped into the Coven of Gluttony a few years ago at a slave auction. He was going to be sold along with the rest of the Twi-leks to a local Hutt when a mysterious Togruta figure began to make bids for him specifically. The Auction house was of course confused at first but after some clarification that seemed far too easy, they became oddly agreeable to her demands. Instead of becoming a slave, Leon came under her service and introduced him to the covert order known as the Coven of Gluttony. She explained that she was a Starved Subject under the authority of the Savant Wrath, a Hungered Vassal of the Sith Lord Darth Voracitos. Further, she explained that the powers granted to her through her masters allowed her to see a glimpse of Leon's future, and found that he would someday become useful to the order. Yet he had no idea what she had meant, as Leon exhibited no such abilities, insensitive to the force completely.

That did not stop the Savant Wrath from imbuing him with a Sith Spirit, the same Sith Spirit he now somehow commanded to hunt his quarry through the force. Despite the pain reverberating throughout his spine as he commanded the malevolent spirit, Leon focused on what he could pick out of Yenip's holonet activity. It was clear he was a contact of the notorious collector Agrippa The Hutt , and it seemed he would soon be meeting with the Hutt. Once Leon was sure of his destination, he recalled the Sith Spirit that served as his personal companion and servant, and asked for a new gift be granted to him:

Not to be seen as he followed Yenip into Agrippa's palace.

 

[Agrippa The Hutt]

Like every other night on the planet of Nar Shaddaa, it came and went in a drug, hedonistic haze. When Agrippa’s reptilian eyes opened the amber orbs were somewhat glazed, the nictitating membrane flickering open and closed. The Hutt’s lungs felt as if an inferno had been set alight in them, his head left ringing from the night’s activities.

Rising from the throne that he’d fallen asleep on, Agrippa stared at the pedestal before him and the gem that sat upon it. It taunted him, it sat within arms reach, yet the secrets it held were lightyears outside of the Hutts grasp. Checking the chrono that sat upon a nearby dresser he saw it was only seven-thirty in the morning. Leaving Yenip less than thirty minutes to arrive. When Agrippa gave time, one knew it was best to be there on time if not early.

Despite the spice haze that hung on the crimelords brain, the hutt slithered out of his chambers to the scent of freshly made panna cakes, fried kaadu eggs, and even some zucca bacon. The usually breakfast for the Hutt crimelord. While other Hutts feasted on worms, grubs and other insects they had let themselves grow fat and complacent. That was not the path of Agrippa. Unlike many of his kind most of the Hutt’s body was that of defined muscle. Centuries he’d spent honing his body to the peek of perfection that slithered before the newly replaced table. Bx having replaced it some time during the night.

“Morning Lord Agrippa, your breakfast is prepared to your exacting specifications.” Coming before the new table crafted from obsidian the droid brought a tray of food bigger than themself setting it down upon the table. “Did you enjoy your rest master?”

“No, the gem offers little. I fear Yenip has possibly taken me for a fool.” Digging into the stack of panna cakes, Agrippa shoved five of them into his maw all at once. “Hundreds of thousands wasted, on what is little more than a glorified paperweight.”

“Shall we call Trajan Kurze to deal with him?”

“No… Trajan’s on another job. I’ll take care of Yenip myself, that’s why I invited him.”

The rest of the hutt’s breakfast was held in relative silence except for the news playing on the holodisplay. For the past few weeks, the news had been going over the recent battle of Mandalore between the Sith and the Mandalorians. Sipping at the large mug of caf Agrippa couldn’t help but smile. The more wars the Sith fought, the more weapons, and supplies traded simply lined the IGBC’s pockets.

A faint bing signaled the arrival of a guest in the penthouse. Agrippa never leaving his spot. Instead simply standing where he’d ate his breakfast. Into the suite came a small bothan, the one Agrippa had known as Yenip. Said to be one of the best slicers and infochants to grace the current age. If only that didn’t seem to be in question.

“Illustrious Agrippa, I received your message. Can I assume the package was to your satisfaction?” The bothan’s fur rippled, the air filled with the faint scent of their pheromones. Agrippa could smell the fear.

“Do you take me for a fool?”

Brows raising the Bothan’s head cocked quizzically. Eyes widening with realization the bothan withdrew a step. “Whatever do you mean my lord? Have I done something to displease you..”

Nodding his bulbous head, Agrippa sipped once more at the hot drink. Exhaling heavily before heaving the mug the size of a human’s cranium at the Bothan.

Unable to dodge it, there was a loud thud, and crash as the mug shattered against Yenip. Scolding hot caf splashing across their fur dragging a howl of agony as they now lay splayed across the tile. “You sold me a karking dud! I told you what would happen if you failed me again! You recommend a witch and she offers nothing! You tell me of a book that only six copies exist and sit outside my grasp. You sell me a motherkarking useless rock!”

Reaching down Agrippa seized the bothan by the fur on their scalp. With as much effort as a human lifting, a child the hutt yanked the bothan free of the ground to come face to face. In Agrippa’s other hand the blue stone glowed vibrantly as it was brought up before the Bothan’s eyes.

“I’m sorry my liege! I meant not to deceive you. My contacts sa-” The bothan’s words were cut off as they were flung across the penthouse chamber and into the wall with enough force that duracrete buckled. Yenip slid to the ground.

“I tire of your excuses!” Agrippa shouted, out of the corner of his eye spotting the black carapace of Bx as the droid quickly turned around and retreated back within the kitchen.

Darth Voracitos

 

[Darth Voracitos]

Leon observed the poor Bothan get thrashed around violently, and simply overhearing the conversation confirmed to the Starved Subject that this was exactly the sort of place he was intended to stake out. Even in spite of the words of the Hutt, Leon knew that Hutts were not touched by the force, it was less likely that the artifacts he gathered were lacking genuineness, and more likely his lack of sensitivity to their power prevented them from demonstrating their worth to him. While the Hutt was distracted, however, the Twi'lek took this as his opportunity to 'tactically acquire' the Hutt's 'dud'. The blue gem gave off a faint glow across the table, it was truly a massive stone, and he could not help but gaze upon it as he placed his hands around it and lifted it.

From across the other room, Yenip's head rose slightly, barely clinging to consciousness. What he saw inspired excitement within the fury alien, an escape from this pain. "L-look!" He sputtered a bit of blood onto his further and weakly attempted to raise a finger pointed towards the blue gem that now rose in the air, apparently of its own volition.

What Agrippa The Hutt would see, however, would be a red Twi'lek cradling the Bluestone in his hands, slightly obscured by some strange shape he wouldn't be able to recognize. It would seem to him that the Bluestone was glowing more than it did for himself.

 

[Agrippa The Hutt]

Raising his enormous palm, prepared to strike down the bothan, Agrippa stopped at the creature’s words. The fact that it was a ploy occurred to the Hutt, yet Agrippa could see something in the reflection of the Bothan’s eyes. Turning his head, following the finger of the fence. Agrippa was shocked by the sight of a Lethan twi’lek that had somehow found their way within his home. Had somehow managed to avoid all the security cams, enforcers, and even Bx.

More offensive than the twi’lek’s invasion of Agrippa’s private sanctum was the fact that they held something that belonged to Agrippa. He held the stone that had cost the Hutt enough to refit a Starhawk III’s hull. Breathing increasing, the Hutt’s wide chest expanded and contracted. Each breath growing quicker, eyes growing bloodshot at the edges.

Roaring Agrippa seized an artisan-crafted chair in his hand, with a heave and a slight exertion the gastropod sent the chair streaking through the air to strike the crimson-skinned twi’lek. The crack of the chair meeting flesh and bone was more than audible, almost resembling the sound of thunder. The impact great enough that it lifted Leon from their feet and sent them careening to meet the floor.

Slithering with a speed resembling a locomotive Agrippa became a wall of death and destruction that rushed the starved subject. Whatever the veil that shrouded him seemed to offer no protection, at first Agrippa having thought it to have been a shield. What it was mattered little, all he cared about was the stone that the acolyte held in their grasp.

Scrambling to their feet, the twi’lek turned in time to see a horrifying sight. That of a Hutt that propelled its musculature with a speed that thought impossible for such a large species. Fumbling for the vibrosword within their robes, The twi’lek drew it out in a wide arcing slash. The blade hummed and whistled through the air, digging into the flesh of Agrippa and continuing on.

The indignant roars of the Hutt simply grew louder as the cut did little to stop him, having barely fazed his bulk. Blueish-green blood cascaded down the alien’s chest from the shallow cut. One of the hands reaching out seized the twi’lek by their robes before they could scuttle away. Leon could do little to escape the grip of a creature like Agrippa and soon found himself leaving the ground as the floor suddenly became the ceiling and he was accelerated towards it.

A scream escaped the twi’lek as they slammed into the tile floor. The audible snapping of bone, was both felt and heard as blood splattered from beneath the twi’lek’s partially broken form. Lifting the figure up to eye level, Agrippa eyed them with the promise of damnation, his other hand rising to seize the twi’lek’s skull.

Half of the alien’s body hung limp, the bones that had once held it together gone, the left side of their face slumped, crimson blood escaping through torn portions of flesh and muscle. The gem Leon once held now sitting upon the ground, painted with the fresh ichor of life.

“Who sent you boy?”

The answer Leon gave was a whimper, and in a blinding motion brought the vibroblade up and drove it towards where it believed the Hutt’s heart would be. The vibrosword sunk deep into the flesh, its vibrations tearing at Agrippa’s body, causing the Hutt to wince but quickly came to a stop short of its goal.

Hand having moved to grip the blade with his fingers and stop its progress, Agrippa smiled down at the twi’lek. “You need a bigger sword than that to kill me, boy.” Pulling on the blade, Agrippa took pleasure in the fear that finally crossed Leon’s face. The realization that it was over.

Withdrawing the blade from within his body, Agrippa’s thumb pressed against the side of the blade, it snapping beneath his unrivaled strength. The tip falling harmlessly to the ground, the vibrations coming to a stop.

“I take your answer and offer you a rebuttal.” With a final roar, both hands seizing the lethan twi’lek, Agrippa heaved them with all their strength towards the windows that lined the wall. Windows that were meant to stop both slugthrowers and blaster bolts. The acolyte’s body slammed into the surface, then proceeded through it the glass exploding outwards. Leon’s screams could be heard as he plummeted from the highest point of Nar Shaddaa to its lowest points. At the very edge of the window sill, Agrippa stared down to the falling figure till they were lost in the clouds.

Darth Voracitos

 

[Darth Voracitos]

Leon fell, consciousness lost from his body as it tumbled into the deepest levels of refuse on Nar Shaddaa, as he was always destined to. As he dipped beneath the layer of smog beyond Agrippa The Hutt 's vision, and life left his body, the strange shape that had surrounded his figure coalesced into its own form and left his body as a ghost might from a dead man. This was, of course, exactly what was happen, it simply wasn't his ghost which was leaving. Unseen to most, the shadow that had accompanied the Starved Subject in infiltrating the Hutt's palace fled through the air, to the next master which owned it before Leon...

"Poor, poor Leon," A woman's voice said in Togruta. "I knew this day would come, but you have left me so soon." The Wrath of Envy said with a pouted lip as the phantom returned to her, and began to make its screaming in her head of all that transpired, bent to her will by extension of her master the Lady Envy, and the Lord of Gluttony himself. Though it held no will, it still possessed its rage over its servitude. The Wrath of Envy had gotten used to the voices of the dead ever since her previous master, the Hungered Vassal Savant Wrath, had died on Rhen Var. When his soul was recovered by the Lady Envy, she had become hers... though something had happened, to the Lady Envy on Rhen Var. Though she lived, she had not been seen since. Yet the Master of them all insisted she existed, and that the souls which belonged to both the Savant Wrath and the Lady Envy would now belong to a new Hungered Vassal.

Samo Sa, a favored Starved Subject of Savant Wrath, would become the Hungered Vassal in his place, and that was when she learned the truth of the Coven, about her Masters, and what happened on Rhen Var. She cradled the fractured lightsaber crystal of the Savant Wrath, the only thing that could be recovered of her former sponsor, pushing the memories away.

"Hekter, warm up my speeder, I have a visitation to make." The Warth of Envy smiled.