Nar'Shaddaa rooftops

[Jen]

​

Nar Shaddaa
Upper City
Isotop Cantina

The thumping mechanical roar that only speeder bikes were able to produce would be heard outside the roof top nightclub known as Isotope, as a heavily customized Joben T-85 speeder bike slowly moved to land outside the club. Its loud heartbeat humming interrupted only by the occasional revving from the repulsorlifts that kept the speeder alive, yet the loud clamor was almost entirely drowned by the noise from the bass heavy music and loud voices of the people in and outside the roof-top cantina.

Isotope was a busy place and one of the most busy upper city nightclubs on the ecumenopolis planet that was Nar Shaddaa. Some critics claimed that the spice and alcohol attitude infused with luxurious locales were ‘in’ at the moment, hence the clubs success and while that might have been true to some of the visitors, others simply visited Isotope to mindlessly spend credits and yell along to loud music on the clubs dance floors. Species of all kinds waltzed chaotically among each other, trying to navigate through the masses of dancing and intoxicated people.

Outside, Jennifer turned off her speeder bike, enjoying the fresh midnight breeze of the upper layers of Nar Shaddaa. It was not often she traveled this far up and actually took a moment to slow down and catch a few deep breaths of partially clean air. Perhaps it was important to the task ahead as well, calm nerves was after all always preferred when you dealt with a Hutt.

Leaning the handlebars of the bike for a couple of minutes while finishing a deathstick, Jennifer took a moment to enjoy the fresh air and view of Nar Shaddaa from above, having no trouble ignoring the intense music that filled the air around the nightclub. After all, she had basically lived in one for most of her life.

Once the deathstick had burnt out, she would adjust the leather jacket she was wearing and approach the nightclub, walking to place herself in the large (large enough for a Hutt) booth she had reserved for the occasion, put on her round sunglasses and lean back in the comfortable cushion and await the arrival of the Hutt in question.

For all intends and purposes she would only be known as EXEC, as that was the moniker she went by as the operator of The Hydian Way. By the time Kossak would arrive, a large bowl of nala tree frogs as well as Corellian whiskey and a double piped hookah would be placed within the private booth.

[member="Kossak the Hutt"]​

 

[Kossak the Hutt]

The planet of Nar Shaddaa seemed to Kossak an unclaimed jewel. It filled with life, industry, and the promise of great wealth for the few and great debt for the many. He strove to become a great representative of the few. This Hutt was ambitious. Nar Shaddaa would not remain so free for so long, if he had his way. Kossak had only recently taken over the Hestilic clan’s kajidic, but he was already making waves. Not content with what he had, he was preparing to make even more. This one would not be sated until his kajidic touched all corners of the galaxy.

The large Hutt had agreed to a personal meeting. It was not a thing he frequently did, but tonight was an exception. They would meet on neutral ground. Both would likely have preferred something different, which probably meant it was a fair agreement to meet as they did. In their line of work it was understandable to feel a hint of reluctance to relinquishing control and walking into the den of another.

The rooftop nightclub, Isotop was a fancy location he was familiar with. He hadn’t been here himself, but there were those in his employ who had, and could inform him on what to expect. The Hutt didn’t have much of an interest in the pastimes of lesser beings, although he could appreciate the scantily clad female dancers that often frequented such places. One such dancer tonight was in fact one of his girls, a blonde firrerreo. She was dancing with a Weequay, another under his employ. If all went well they would be free to continue dancing through the night. Kossak came prepared, a necessity to calm his paranoid mind.

The floor of the exotic nightclub was no doubt grateful for the fact that the Hutt travelled on powered chair, that used basic antigravity technology to lift it above the ground. The large green-skinned slug floated into view of the private booth. He was pleased to see EXEC already there waiting for him. The chair sat down, and Kossak slid down and positioned himself into the booth.

“Haku wa cuove bihmhepa bai boonowa uba wata. Jee hatkocanh pineu uba” (What a pleasant surprise to find you here. I will join you) became his words of introduction, as he made his way into the booth. He spoke Huttese, working under the assumption that she did so as well. Considering she had set up shop on Nar Shaddaa, he should hope so. While he was familiar with Basic, he much preferred his native tongue. Having already in his mind shown her great generosity by meeting her in person at a location of her choosing, he did not seem interested in degrading himself further by uttering Basic. Not on Nar Shaddaa.

Though he had called it a surprise, both would know it was anything but. This had very much been arranged. Here they could speak business in private. He knew nothing but her code name, and his eyes was pleased to find he was dealing with a humanoid of the female variety. They were always more entertaining to him.

While Kossak appreciated the view, a Quarren stood by the side of the booth. He was tall, skinny, and wearing long robes of deep purple and black. Squid-face was serving for the time being as Majordomo for Kossak. He could translate what Kossak was saying. If she knew Huttese his presence was not really necessary. “I am Deel Maru, Majordomo to his Excellency Kossak the Hutt. Will my services be required?” he spoke in an eloquent tone, the tentacles from his face moving ever so slightly with every syllable.

[member="Jen"]

 

[Jen]

“Bo shuda Kossak see lanka Hestilic.” (Greetings Kossak of clan Hestilic) Jennifer answered with a grin from her leant back position in the cushion as the large Hutt entered the booth, her pronunciation in the huttese tongue lousy. It was obvious that she was far from fluent and had practiced the sentence before speaking. She was however not completely inarticulate or devoid of understanding, she had over her time here on Nar Shaddaa learnt a few words and could from that guess the meaning of his initial sentence without outside help.

When the Hutt had settled in the booth, he would despite the round sunglasses that covered Jennifers aureate in color eyes notice that she was not entirely Human. She was of half Ryn descent. Such ancestry could be assumed based on her slim pale features, but also other striking characteristics such as the odd tail of hers and sharp nose. Other than this, the Hutt would find that she was covered in tattoos where visible, that currently being her hands as well as neck. If he bothered to read, he would be able to make out the text that covered the front of her neck, it spelling out ‘slicer’ in huttese. The other were heavily speederbike gang, prison or syndicate related and if he had any knowledge about such tattoo culture, he would know she had once been in the higher echelons of a criminal syndicate, specifically the Red Ravens.

She was aware of the pride Hutts usually associated with their mothertongue and had for that reason made sure to bring equipment that would be able to properly translate what the Hutt said. The small earpiece was currently turned off and with a single click and motion to her ear it was ready to translate the Hutts’ speech. This also acted as a gesture for the Majordomo to leave, answered with a wave of her hand, a smile and a simple. “No.” Her voice oddly melodic now that she spoke in basic.

The ear piece had the capabilities of synching up with a datapad and thereby acting as a comlink, she had however for pleasantries sake disabled the option for now. Should it become needed, J03, an associate of hers was available only a block away, capable of fully understanding Huttese, but also contact other friends of theirs should the need arise.

Without waiting for the Quarren to leave, Jennifer would lean a bit forward in her seat and reach under the table, pressing a button that would enable a yellow tranquility screen around the booth that muffled the noise and loud music from the club around them...

“It is good to finally meet you in person, my friend.”

[member="Kossak the Hutt"]​

 

[Kossak the Hutt]

Kossak was pleased to be greeted in Huttese, although he was a little surprised that she was aware of his clan name. Suppose a little research would've given her that information easily enough. Wary eyes scanned her quickly. Had it been a threat? Though all he saw was the grin of a potential business partner. All was well, and Kossak relaxed for the moment.

The Hutt was not familiar with Jen's half Ryn descent. It was not a species he had had much dealings with, so it gave him little bonus information as to what to expect from her. Simply knowing that she was not entirely Human would suffice for now. There might be some cultural differences to look out for, but otherwise he proceeded as normal. The tattoos told him more, noticing the one that spelled out 'slicer'. Although he did not recognise the symbol from the Red Ravens, he did manage to identify the one that told that she had been to prison. He was quickly finding her to be a woman to his liking.

The Quarren nodded when Jen implied his services would not be needed. He turned quickly to Kossak first for confirmation. When he received it with a gesture from the Hutt's hand, he bowed and took his leave. Off to have a drink, and maybe a little something else if he was lucky, perhaps. Regardless the two of them were alone now, able to speak freely and discuss the matters at hand.

Kossak chuckled once she pressed the button that had their booth become a little more private. She took the appropriate precautions. Again, his impression of her improved, and he was looking forward to doing business with someone like her. She seemed clear-headed. "Likewise, friend." he replied in Basic. Perhaps surprising, but he showed at least that he understood it and had the capacity to speak it. If she wanted to speak Basic, she would not need it translated to Huttese for him to understand. He had not thought to speak Basic, but she had put him in a sufficiently good mood to allow himself to utter those two words.

"I have heard much of your digital network. Impressive work." he said, defaulting right back to Huttese, starting off with some pleasantries. He didn't speak praise unwarranted, but it was true. Had he not found it so appealing, he would not have taken an interest in getting involved with the project in the first place.

[member="Jen"]

 

[Jen]

It happened rarely that Jennifer met business partners face-to-face, mainly because anonymity was one of the key components in the bond of trust most holonet hacktivists, entrepreneurs and personalities alike all shared. It was the one integral factor that made sure the entire scene did not collapse in upon itself. If everyone knew each other personally, all it would take was one government enslaved agent to bring everything to shreds.

It had been with great consideration that she had met with this Hutt, but taking into review the real reputation he had built and was willing to go to great lengths to grow, one could only come to the conclusion that he was no poser. Also, she needed good friends with interests similar to her own.

Nevertheless, their meeting location had been chosen exactly for the purpose of avoiding any unwanted attention. It was impossible to hear anything inside the club simply due to the nature of such places and with a tranquility screen enabled and a booth pre-checked for wires, it was hard to see how anyone would be able to get any proper insight into the life of either of the clients.

It seemed the Hutt was in a great mood, a quiet smile seen forming on Jennifer’s face as he uttered the duo of words in Basic. It was not every day you got to hear a slug mutter in such languages. As he continued in Huttese, obviously having been generous enough with the two words alone, the earpiece hummed, translating his speech live. “I don’t refuse compliments.” She replied in basic, the deathstick she had smoked only a few minutes ago probably making sure in keeping the grin of hers continued to be plastered onto her face. Not that a single one actually had great effect on a seasoned user like herself, but still. “And right back at you. Your pipelines seem legit, for real. It's pretty hard establishing such shit these days. So many phonies in the system... Whisky?” She asked, leaning forward towards the table, grabbing the bottle of Corellian whiskey and one of the glass placed by it.



[member="Kossak the Hutt"]