Private Huttbusting

[Alexa Keel]

“I was unaware that Tuskans thought so highly of their women.” She said. “I have heard quite a few stories about their care of women not belonging to their tribes. I was told they enjoyed torturing them to death if they were captured in a raid.”

Of course this was also a documented event, especially pertaining to the very Sith Lord that had crossed his mind previously Darth Vader, who’s path to the dark side had begun with the death of his mother at the hands of the Tuskan’s. And if the records were to be believed, they had not been particularly kind to her.

She shook her head, feigning fear at his suggestion, “I couldn’t possibly sir. I imagine I will be reprimanded as it is for speaking to you as I am. I couldn’t possibly speak with a guest, particularly one to meet with his eminence so informally.”

Of course he could sense that she wasn’t particularly worried about any punishment that might be inflicted upon her, she wasn’t exactly here to play by the rules.

 

[Sen Kai]

The Mando listening to her interjected,
"The tribe of Tuskans I was with was not like that.. though I also am referring too.." He decided to refrain from saying he was a Mando, that might change the mood of the room if they learned that. Better to be a Tuskan, an animal as Dread was calling him.

Her reaction and decision to not use his name he accepted,
"So be it. I understand that it is best not to risk speaking out of turn."
He was remembering a time when Chieftan smacked him across his jaw with a stick for interrupting The Telling, a very important history sharing from the Leader of the Raiders.

Some dance tunes began to play and Dancers were being called to Dias for inspection before they began. Looking at her with his visor he said,
"I am not sure of the custom, are you suppose to join them?"

 

[Alexa Keel]

She shook her head. “I would be expected to were I among the servers. But as your personal escort I am to entertain you, in whatever way you require me to.”

The dancers began their routine, the scantily clad slave women beginning their movements to arouse the crowd. Alexa was disgusted by it, and frankly glad that she wasn’t required to join them except at his request. Though she wasn’t sure if doing it for him alone would be any better.

It did a good job of distracting the criminals in this den, and keep their eyes where she and her team wanted them to be. Her eyes scanned the chamber, falling on Kublai the Hutt’s booth, the datapad they were here to access was sure to be in there. And she came to realize that perhaps this arrangement would actually be beneficial. If things were to go to plan, Kublai himself would be put to sleep by the drugged refreshments by the end of the evening. Which she guessed would be around the time that Sen was summoned to speak with him. She would have perhaps the most perfect opportunity to access it if fate was on her side.

 

[Sen Kai]

Sen gave a nod, when Dread approached, his long black braided locks cascading down.
"A Tuskan.. to think one of your lot is Champion. I am pretty sure you used some trick. You Sand People are known for your mirages.. deep down you are just animals."
The Tuskan stood up and looking him in the eye through his visor.
"That's it Tusky! Lets see if you are spineless as the lot I fried.. their corpses burned so brightly, about all your kind is good for."
Sen had to muster strength to hold back his hand from drawing up the Gaderffi Stick and beat his skull in. It was not the insults, it was the man, he knew him, and saw of what he spoke. Sen was there.. and the horror of that day still haunted him.
"You know one of them got away.. that slippery one.. I could tell he was different.. I saw him use the trick of the Jedi. That is the only explanation for how he survived the inferno I unleashed."
He eyed the robes of Sen and said,
"He wore similar patterns.. then again you Tuskans all have the same tailors right? Ha! Bantha skins and the clothes of Farmers you steal of their corpses.. oh yes.. thieves.. and murderers"
Sen made a fist, he began to call to the ground, it began to shake, as the Force swirled around it. Some of lamps above began to move from whirlwind of Sorcery, some remarked it must be sand storm outside, or a tremor. Sen then released this call of the Power, he could not break his cover, lives depended on him not revealing himself. Besides a time would come when he would cross blades with this man.. this killer of his Tribe, but it was not now.
The Dread scoffed,
"Nothing to say? You are all like that.. only those animal noises that sound like a dying Nexu. Ah well.. know this, I have my eye on you.. be careful.. I would want an accident to happen to The Hutt's Champion.."
With that he walked away, Sen turning his head away, his hood flowing. He stepping away from the cushions of golden yellow,
"I need to pay a visit to the wash closet.. please do as you wish Phoebe till I return." '
He then left the Den, and headed to where all went to tend to the business of nature.

 

[Alexa Keel]

This was escalating quickly, and seemingly out of nowhere! How could this simple mission of theirs go so south so quickly! She remained silent during the exchange between the Tuskan and this bounty hunter. It seemed to get pretty heated, and she hardly had any time to really think about it before it was over, and the Tuskan excused himself.

And continuing with the theme of receiving permissions she wasn’t actually permitted to use, he told her to spend her time as she liked while he was gone. It wasn’t like she could just roam around. If she was caught that would only complicate matters more, especially since she was now attached to someone. All she could really do is wait for him to come back.

But she did have a moment alone. So she reached up to her collar and touched the sensor located under its metallic surface.

“Code Yellow. Unforseen complications. Stand by for assault and exfil.” She whispered, letting the microphone hidden in that same collar convey her instructions to her team. Things were definitely going to get hairy if this trend continued as it was.

 

[Sen Kai]

Sen went to a rather opulent place, there at a mirror he looked at himself, placing his fist on the counter, it shaking with its golden basin and black patterns. The Hutts spared no expense, everything was to indicate they were able to purchase anything, even souls. Most of all that if you worked for them, they owned you. The situation had become complicated by Dread, of all the places, that he was in Kublai's employ, it made sense, since he worked with Spicers that wanted his Tuskan Tribe exterminated. Perhaps even Kublai had ordered it, and if that was the case, an opportunity for revenge was at last here.. though this was when his two natures, three actually, came in conflict. His Mando Ijaat demanded satisfaction for the loss of.. and his Tuskan baptism meant he was the last of that Tribe and must avenge them, and here was the rub, The Jedi Path demanded he ignore both calls to dip his blade into his enemies. The goal here as a Shadow was to save slaves, and break up this traffic of flesh. And yet would he get another opportunity to take out Dread and even perhaps the one who gave the command to destroy his family.

This conflict of emotion flooded his heart, his right hand glove slipped from the perspiration, taking it a metallic knuckle could be seen and sound of motor as his fingers moved. Centering himself in the Sorcery, he began to search, he saw outcomes, if he cut down Dread, the goons would open fire, he saw his attempt to kill Kublai and the HK opening fire on him and Phoebe. He searching this possible futures came to the one guided by The Force, in which he neither sought Dread's pelt nor went after The Slug. In this he saw a crowd of youths with chains and him cutting them with his gilded kyber blade. Taking a deep breath, he then left the water closet, and heading back to the booth where Phoebe sat, leaned next to her to appear as if he was going to touch her, for benefit of those watching.
"Many pardons for that.. we Tuskans are not well liked."

 

[Alexa Keel]

With her orders sent out to her team, she could only sit and wait until her charge came back. He sat down and offered an apology, and leaned back in his seat with his arm across the back. Alexa scooted in and leaned against him as he did. She wasn’t terribly fond of doing these things, but she had to do it. She couldn’t afford any more attention being thrown their way. Her mission required subtlety, and that meant looking and behaving like all the other slave girls there. At least until it was time for action.

“You have nothing to apologize for Sir.” She assured him.

They would sit there for a little while longer, until eventually the HK droid approached them.

“Meatbag.” He said, addressing Sen, “His Eminence requests your presence. Come with me.”

 

[Sen Kai]

Sen had to admit when she leaned on him it stirred more memories he had buried, and for a moment it felt good to be touched in gentle manner, and not cut and shot at.
He was certain that there was much about this Phoebe that was being concealed, and yet he did not pry, rather he allowed her ambiguity, The Force would reveal things in good time. Besides he was playing a role as well and did not want to be unmasked.
When the HK unit approached, Sen rose up at the request and offering his hand to Phoebe said,
"Come.. a Hutt awaits."
He walked towards The Dias, where the Great Slug in all his obese glory sat, his great amber eyes focused on them, He puffed some smoke from one of the devices from his great mouth and said,
"I see you chose the new one as your prize.. ho-ho-ho-ha-ha-ha, I admit I was going to select her myself."
Sen looking at Phoebe said,
"It it pleases my Lord you may have her, for what is mine is yours."
He gave a bow.
The Hutt licked is gigantic slimy lip with his grotesque tongue.
"You outdo my hospitality Tuskan.. I would like a closer look at her.. for now she is yours. Now on to the proposal.. you have slain two of my finest gladiators and one of my guards. This creates for me a problem.. I need a new guard and after seeing your skills in the pit.. I wish to offer you the position, that is if you are up to it."
Sen bowed his head,
"It would be my honor your Highness, to serve."
Kublai chuckled once more,
"ho-ho-ho-ha-ha-ha! I am glad! Now I need to find some new gladiators."
It was clear Kublai was satisfied and he did not mention what he was going to speak to each of his high war lords and crime bosses about. Sen sensed that this Guard duty was another test, that he would have to prove himself the Hutt's Great Protector to earn some trust before he would learn anything of how this whole operational worked. For a Jedi Shadow, that was no problem, he would disappear into this role.

 

[Alexa Keel]

Perhaps… this was fortuitous? He was now a guard for the Hutt. And she was attached to him. So she might have more opportunities to get to this datapad of his and learn more if they don’t get to it today.

As Kublai spoke his eyelids were already getting heavy. And a few of the other guests had started to seriously slur, stumble or even pass out. The drugs were beginning to take effect. Good. Now all she needed to do was wait for everyone to be down for the count, hopefully her charge would be as well, so she could make her way into Kublai’s private chambers, and hack into his network.

Once that was done, she could exfiltrate, and report back to her superiors about their findings. And hopefully put a hole in Kublai on her way out.

Kublai, with his offer made and accepted, waved his hand to dismiss Sen and make room for his next guest. Only a few more minutes and everyone should be down. Though she might need to call on her compatriots to deal with this HK droid. They had a few anti-droid measures with them. But it would still pose a major risk. HKs weren’t exactly pushovers.

 

[Sen Kai]

The crime bosses began to drift asleep as their Host The Hutt did, Sen could feel it, something in his system, he drew on The Force and began to purge, a filter in his respirator taking it and moisture that then vented out and kept anything from smelling. He turned in his visor to Phoebe, they having newly returned to the cushions, many of the crime lords were now collapsing, and Kublai began closed his big eyes, the Jedi made his way to His Charge and felt his pulse, everyone was out save Him and her.. which meant..
Turning the Tuskan looking back to her, he did not say a word, the motion of his helm enough to indicate that he suspected her to be the culprit of this mass sedation of the Hutt, His Bosses, and Henchmen.

He was certain the same question could be asked of him and he would need a good alibi. Already his Guard Duty was being tested by the simple fact that he was awake to guard his Liege Lord. He drew his Gaderffi Stick and kept vigil there in front of Dias, his visor fixed upon Phoebe. The time was soon coming for things to be revealed, he knew she was not what she seemed. Her physique was vastly at odds with the other now drowsy dancers, and she had that aura, though faint of the Force itself.

 

[Alexa Keel]

She sighed when the Tuskan who had recently gotten himself a new job under the Hutt already came to his sleeping lord’s defense. The HK droid also taking up position next to him, scanning the area, and his optical scanners landing on the one conscious slave girl. She reached up, and with her thumb and forefinger pressed on either side of her collar.

“Code red, need immediate assistance.” Was all she said, her voice stern and calm like one would hear from a military commander.

Soon after the door was kicked open and five people in mercenary garb of various kinds rushed in with practiced efficiency. One firing an ion blaster into the chest of the HK droid, temporarily disabling its systems, and leaving it useless.

“Stand aside Tuskan.” Alexa instructed him, all pretense gone from her expression. She was no longer a slave girl, and he would sense that she was dangerous. Maybe not to him on her own. But these troopers with her were not to be scoffed at. He would have significant difficulty overcoming the five in the room. Especially all by his lonesome. “You are not his yet. You needn’t die here.”

 

[Sen Kai]

The Tuskan watching the door blast open and mercs flood in with weapons primed, The HK barely got a few shots off before it was downed by ion fire. Now Phoebe demeanor was completely changed and she spoke as one with authority.
"If you aim is to harm The Hutt, I will fight to bitter end. If it is some other device or purpose, then you may do as you wish."
He contemplated revealing himself, using The Force to throw them back and hold them off, but that would reveal his identity. He was in a conundrum, victory meant using the Sorcery, and yet it meant defeat in his quest to find out how the Trafficking network worked and how to free not just these slaves, but the millions that were being used throughout the galaxy. This was about larger objectives, and Phoebe or whoever she was, had thrown a wrench in the plan.
"I beg you.. stand down.. I do not want to hurt you.."
The plea of the Tuskan was labored, he was outgunned, and his one trump card was something he intended to not use at any cost.

 

[Alexa Keel]

“You have no reason to defend him Tuskan. One of his slaughtered your people if what that bounty hunter said is to be believed. You have many reasons to want him dead just as much as we do. If this is so you can have your own vengeance they you may be the one to deliver the blow. But we cannot allow his works to go unchecked.” She told him firmly, her team moving to more advantageous positions around him to get multiple firing angles, one of them tossing her a carbine rifle, which she hefted and leveled at his chest.

“Stand aside and let us do our work.” She commanded again, while one of the others broke from the formation and entered Kublai’s private chambers. Definitely to search for something. Meanwhile another moved to physically dismantle the HL droid with a plasma cutter. Severing the head and the arms from the chest to render the droid completely useless.

 

[Sen Kai]

Sen sighed, she thought she knew what is angle was, revenge, and that would serve as a good cover. So he played that angle for now,
"You have read well.. leave the Hutt to my hand.. he is responsbile for the death of my.. wife and child."
As he said those words, he body involuntarily shook, he bent his head down into his chest a moment, before bringing it up to reflect her beautiful face once more in his mirror on his mask.
"I beg you.. leave the Slug to me.. I have to.. I have to make him pay for what he has done!"
Part of this was theatrics, though he channeled his emotions over the events of His Tribe's demise. So that it was clear he felt what he said, though his true intent for His Highness remained concealed.
"I will not impend your work.. save that I be allowed to take the rite of a husband and father.. and see the life drain out of those cold eyes of their murderer!"
He was drawing on a Well of Pain in his very soul, saying things he never had spoken since that day. Using them thus felt sacrilegious, but he was doing it to save others, like he could not save them. So he knew they would not mind, especially her.. she would understand most of all.

 

[Alexa Keel]

The woman lowered her rifle. She didn’t entirely trust him. But she also didn’t detect any deception from him. Subconsciously the force telling her that he was trustworthy. He’d behaved chivalrous so far, definitely not one of the rest of those here.

“Fine. You kill him. I’d rather not have to bring him through the courts anyway.” She added that second part under her breath. “Riggs, do you have it?”

“I’m in, uploading the virus now.” The voice called back. “Once we’re out of here everything he does we can see.”

“We’ll try to hurry it up, I’d rather not be here when they all wake up.” She called back.

 

[Sen Kai]

The Tuskan lowered his Stick as she had lowered her carbine. When he heard about a virus, he wanted to inquire, they were going to be able to observe all that the Hutt and his crime bosses were up to. This could aid immensely in his mission to bring an end to the trafficking operation. Slinging the stick through a cloth belt, he was now at ease.
He did nothing to draw further attention to himself, and simply came to Kublai face, he was fast asleep and making slight snore. He contemplated trusting her in return and asking for the intel they were gathering, since it may lend light on to how the trafficking rings worked. But he needed to keep his cover, to when the Hutt awoke remain a loyal and dutiful servant. For while these Mercs or whatever they were relied on technology, it was quite possible that the Crime Lords kept things off the books, and that secret ledger of scroll or committed to memory remained.

Some of the wasted bosses began to stir, their bodies moving slightly as they turned in slumber. The Sentinel watched and waited, he figured soon she and this crew would be gone and he would have to explain the situation. He began to consider if he should not look as if he was knocked out by the spiked drinks too. That was Plan A, however, an secondary plan was to say that his respirator filters the fluids and he was uneffected. He had his alibi and back up for when his Master awoke.

 

[Alexa Keel]

He would sense that yes they were about to leave. And this was confirmed a short while later when the disguised trooper known as “Riggs” came back out and reported. “We’re all set Captain.”

“Alright. Let’s go before anyone wakes up.” She glanced his way, appraising him again.

“Are you sure we should just let this one go?” Riggs asked. “He’s a major liability.”

“No… leave him be. He wants the Hutt dead, I’m sure of it. He won’t compromise us.” She told him.

“how do you know?” Riggs asked again.

She didn’t answer. And instead she turned to the rest of the group, “come on. Our window is closing. Let’s get off this rock before all hell breaks loose.”

With that she and her team left the room. And nearly fifteen minutes later everyone else in the room would begin to stir. It was gradual, many people waking up sooner, many more waking up later. Among the last to wake up would be Kublai himself.

 

[Sen Kai]

As she and her team began to leave, he wanted to make a remark,
"I guess we will never get to pull off that ruse by going to my private quarters."
He knew not to say that aloud, and kept it in his heart. He had to admit something about her stirred his fancy, something that had not happened since.. well that was his reason for staying behind.
Before the guests came to, He took his left hand and with Sorcery he pulled at his mechanical arm, and took it apart, and dropped it beside him, letting ti spark, he then levitating a blaster pistol aimed it at his abdomen and fired, muffling the shot and using his power to keep the burn on surface so that his robes had the marks of shots, and then he dropped to the ground, beside the HK. When the guards came to they began raising the alarm, the bosses drew weapons, and Kublai awakening shouted,
"What happened?!"
Looking down at Sen who was pretending to stir with a missing hand, and his HK.
"Sweep the Palace! Bring me their heads!"
The Nest had been kicked. Sen began to sit up and turned to The Hutt.
"My Lord.. there are many.. I fought them, your unit did too.. but they carried away their wounded."
Kublai looking at him with his amber eyes,
"As Champion I expected their corpses, though I am alive.. which means you did your job as Guardian.. tend to your arm and join the Hunt for these fools! I shall activate all my informants and insurgents! They will know what it is to cross a Hutt!"
Sen taking his arm headed to a repair console, and began to put it back together with a droid's help, the droid with big blue eye saw a compartment in arm and then looked at him, the visor of the Jedi reflecting its face. The droid said nothing.

The Trandoshian had gotten his turrent and snarled, Sen joined ranks as the prusuit began. He could sense her.. but he would not lead them to her. He did not want.. again emotion was trying to take over, he hardly knew her, but something about her.. more than Midi-Chlorians, more than the fact she had trusted him. He lead the Trando to the underpalace, there he had diverted their attention, when comms came alive and that said,
"The Main Gate! They are trying to extract! Take the bird down! Fire!"
The Trando looking at the Mando Jedi stuck out his tongue and made his way back outside, where seeing the ship, pointed the turrent and let fire great bolts, they burned blue and flew at the ship. A Rodian with a RPG aimed and locked on and let fire missile, Sen reaching out with his hand made the missile explode in the air, which made the Rodian look at his tube to see if something was wrong. That use of his power was a risk, but Phoebe, or whoever she was, was as good as dead if that hit the ship.

Dread came out of Palace gate and pressing a button on his data wrist pad, called a swoop to him and several more with his men, who then gave chase, making for the ship. He took a thermal detonator and threw it at the drop ship's open back hatch.

 

[Alexa Keel]

Thankfully, the ship they were chasing was manned by a droid and nothing else. The actual group had disappeared into the underground, and took speeders through the sewer system, until they arrived at their landing site. Where they safely boarded their ship, and took off without anyone seeing them. Their decoy successful, and their getaway complete. The six people breathed a sigh of relief.

Alexa, finally able to break character, went into the ship’s head, more commonly referred to as the bathroom, to get changed out of her revealing garb, and into her uniform. Finally she was able to get some real clothes on!

It would be a while before the two of them met again. But they would, and both of them could feel it.

 

[Sen Kai]

The Decoy suddenly exploded, causing many of swoops to burst into balls of flame and Dread was thrown and landed in sand. Sen watching the explosion sensed, and she was not there. It seemed that somehow she had escaped. Beneath his mask he smiled.
There was great angst rising in many tongues, Sen turning back to the gate as they poured in. Dread came limping up, and at the moment beneath the sun, he felt this was opportunity to kill him. To avenge his Wife and Child, but Ijaat would not permit it. He was wounded, and turning on him would blow his cover. There was still work to do.
Looking up at the sun as it set, Sen sighed,
"Fair well for now Phoebe."
He knew that was not her name, but it would have to suffice still her true name was one day revealed, for he sensed that day would come.
Returning inside the gate shut and Sen would spend his time being a good protector, learning all he could about their operations, building trust, getting Kublai ear to find out what was not on the servers, that secret info that would lead to The Exodus, when slaves would be free en masse from the tyranny of not only the Hutts, but everyone else involved in this despicable trade in souls.