Pirating. Quite the lucrative business.

[Dar Moraal]

On board his ship the "Scourge" Dar Moraal was observing a republic transport. He recieved intelligence that it carried cargo that could further his power base. Quickly opening up a comm frequency from his Ardent-class fast frigate he grinned and said "Lower your sheilds and I may refrain from using threat of force. Wouldn't want any civilian casualties now would we?" After a brief pause. "​Please sir I-I...We will comply..." ​"It is good captain that you have a stronger survival instinct than my previous encounter." Glancing from his command chair he addressed his Captain "Begin boarding" "​Of course sit right away​"​ ​Leading his men he boarded the ships hangar and to the surprise of the ship's captain ordered his men to open fire. "Eliminate any security or military personnel and bring the rest here. Search the ship for the so called "Cargo"" "Sir I am afraid we were too late to stop them from sending a distress call​" After killing that soldier he opened up a frequency that any being of a less reputable sort should be able to pick up. The crew would fetch a nice price as slaves.

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

Oh dash it all. How did I end up in the middle of the muck again? Preposterous. Just when I thought I was safe from the Cartel's Repo Men my transport is seized by a cadre of amateur corsairs. I tell you, ever since Trechtus and I went our separate ways my luck's in the absolute sewage.

In any case, I found myself being escorted into some sort of holding area with all the other hostages. Fortunately, I wore my priestly robes that demarcated me as Priest of Dim-U, the Great Horned One. Surely these ruffians would not hurt a man of the cloth?

"Oof! Unhand me, I say. Have you no respect for relig- agh!"

The butt of a rifle took me in the gut and I suddenly felt the powerful and overwhelming urge to kneel. And who am I to disobey the orders of the Universe? So I knelt, hands over my head, in a line with all the other prisoners. My only hope was that someone would come rescue us from these barbaric savages.

[member="Dar Moraal"]

 

[Dar Moraal]

Dar briefly inspected the mechandise and noticed some form of religious man. Peering closer it appeared to- Wait it didn't matter. Religion had no consequence in this sorry excuse of a galaxy. Turning away he quickly addressed the captain of his men. "Has the cargo been found" "We have found multiple smuggling holes it would seem sir we are currently loading up the crates as we speak" Peering at the boarding ramp to the shuttle he inspected the crates. Somewhere in here was his goal. "Men kill that one" He gestured to a old man quite close to the strange religious figure. "He is to weak to fetch any price"
[member="John Psmith"]

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

Ah, at last, here comes a man of consequence and import. Perhaps he will-

One of the miscreants unholstered a blaster and promptly shot the fellow next to me. In the face.

Brain matter and blood spattered all across my robes, not to mention landing in my hair.

"What- I- the humanity!" I cried, tugging at my ruined robes while the body of the dead sop steadily pumped out blood around my ankles. "Who will pay for my new robes?"

Alarmed, I realized my outburst might be drawing some undue attention. Well then, I did have one useful quality.

"Hello there, are you the captain? I am John Psmith, and I happen to be a very excellent cook."

[member="Dar Moraal"]

 

[Dar Moraal]

The captain actually paused at what the religious man said. Not because he was interested but because it was completely unexpected. Honestly he stood there for a while processing the fact that a man who appeared to be religious just watched a man die and then tell the killers that he was a good cook. The captain glared for a second then went to go get Dar maybe he could shut up this robed man. Or maybe use him in one of his genetic tests. A moment later and Dar came to take a closer look at this priest. Leaning over him he tilted his head. "You seem a bit...apathetic for a priest"
[member="John Psmith"]

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

"On the contrary, I believe I have a considerable vested interest in making myself quite the opposite of that."

I smiled my prize-winning smile, the sort that any reasonable salesman would kill for. Not entirely genuine, but altogether disarming.

"Since it seems we lot are going out of this in one of two ways, death... or enslavement, I assume? Well, I'd rather prefer to not be sold to some horrible Hutt with an ankle fetish. And I think your endeavoring little crew here could use a bit of a morale booster, hmm? What better a boost than a hearty, well-cooked meal?"

[member="Dar Moraal"]

 

[Dar Moraal]

"Funny. If only this was a funny manner. I am actually curious exactly which religion you derive from but at the moment I am otherwise busy. If you'd so kindly let my men escort you to a fine chamber room for you it'd be much appreciated" By escort he meant dragged. By room he meant cell. Right across from his cell was a similar cell except the poor sap in that one wasn't as lively. One guard made a bet on how long the priest would last. "Nah no more than... a week and a half at most" They chuckled and preceded to go bother some one else. Meanwhile Dar was currently opening up a slaver frequency so he could sell these rotten things. Sitting here and waiting to sell them is not the nicest of jobs one such as him could get.
[member="John Psmith"]

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

I tried not to struggle too much as they drug me off and tossed me in a holding cell. No need for more bruises, thank you very much. Sadly, my captors had no sense of common courtesy and rather than shoving me into the cell like normal sapient beings, they practically launched me in there as if I were some dead fish to be stocked.

The quarters were cramped and-... oh of all the unholy sacraments. There's a dead man in the next cell. I haven't the slightest clue why they would try to intimidate a lowly priest of Dim-U such as myself, but the Ponderous One Who Walks the Sands would surely prevent any further ill from befalling me.

'Fine chamber' indeed. Hmph.

I sat down and twiddled my thumbs until my jailers decided to give me some sort of explanation as to why my perfectly reasonable suggestion was met with all this tomfoolery.

[member="Dar Moraal"]

 

[Dar Moraal]

Dar having nothing to do walked backed to the shuttle where the prisoners where being held. He was tired of waiting so he would converse with this priest. It should pass the time till he needed to leave. Standing next to the cell of the priest he glared through his red helmet and for a small while simply observed him. It didn't seem he was force sensitive but better safe than sorry. "Well priest let me explain the situation you are currently in. I am here on business. Now my tactics when it comes to the business world can be very harsh and draconian if need be. I would advise you not to take light of this. Now how exactly did a priest of whichever heaven you chose stumble unto this sorry excuse of a transport?" Glancing into the nearby cell he ordered the corpse in there to be removed. Honestly he forgot he was in there. Don't want his corpse to stink up his shuttle.
[member="John Psmith"]

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

Ah, and now my waiting hath been rewarded. A conversation with the big man himself. To be honest, I was tiring of the wait. A conversation with a fellow person was quite welcome. Regardless of his nefarious intentions regarding my person. A few words of persuasion, mark my words. He would come around to see things from my point of view. After all, who wouldn't want a cook aboard their buccaneering craft? And a priest at that.

I moved closer to the bars, wrapping my fingers around their cold lengths and drawing forward until my face pressed against them. "Well, my priesthood is persecuted wherever we go. We are monks of the order of Dim-U, you see. And I was on my way to visit the sites of the Enduring One in the Republic. Unfortunately, we were waylaid by your fine spacefaring crew." Another devastating smile on my part to secure the fellow's good graces. "My name is John. John Psmith. What's yours, or is there a nameless face behind that helmet?"

[member="Dar Moraal"]

 

[Dar Moraal]

Dar remained in his apathetc neutral stance. Though he found this man to be very amusing. He never heard of this religious sect before but sometimes the smaller religions are the most interesting. "My current name is Dar Moraal. Though that is not set in stone. Instead we are to go to sith space. Maybe I'll find a use for you. Not as a cook however." He betrayed nothing in his deep metalic baritone of a voice. "Were I come from cooking isn't a job with a high survival rate." He said this seriously "Now if you have any information about this vessal it would be very wise of you to give me such information. I am merely concerned for your future state of well being you see." He gestured to the cell where they removed the body.
[member="John Psmith"]

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

I glanced at the indicated and now empty cell. 'Twas all I could do to withhold a shudder of apprehension should I cross onto this fellow's bad side.

"Ah, well, I am very pleased to hear of your concern, Mr. Moraal. Sadly, I was not privy to the inner workings of the Republic vessel. Are you looking for something in particular? Perhaps a bit of a specificity might come in hand, always seems to clear up little misunderstandings, you know."

[member="Dar Moraal"]

 

[Dar Moraal]

Dar seemed to stare at him but under his mask he was thinking. The priest wouldn't know what he was looking for. Even if he did he couldn't risk asking about it. Too much of a security breach you see. Of course he was an expert with dealing with security breaches. "Were you aware that this ship dabbled in the smuggling trade? Quite a few many exotic items can be found in the core. Would you have any information as to where they were taking this cargo of who ordered it? Also if you truly are a priest it would be quite a shame to watch poor souls die only to go to the wrong afterlife or disappear into oblivion entirely. As to what I am implying is that if you do not have the information I require I may have to end the existence of some of the poor souls being kept in the hangar bay." Two men walked in each holding a person. One an adult male the other was a slightly younger female possibly his daughter. There cries were muffled by the gags stuffed in their mouths.
[member="John Psmith"]

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

"About that... I worship the Great Horned One. The Enduring Bantha? Who dwells on eternal grassy plains? Yes, yes, a bantha. I know what you're thinking, why would any rational person worship the great and powerful bantha? But the answer is really quite complicated. In any case, we aren't particularly in the business of redeeming souls."

I licked my lips nervously.

"But before you start introducing people to the Void, let me answer the original question. The ship was originally chartered for Arkania, but I'd have to get a look at the manifest before I could tell you anything else. I overheard the captain talking about it one day. Something about the Republican Clones? Politics is really a bit beyond me, but as I said, the manifest would certainly help."

[member="Dar Moraal"]

 

[Dar Moraal]

Dar's shoulders shook as if laughing. He was. The great bantha?! Quite hilarious. Oh well back to business. Arkania sadly he was unfamiliar to it but he have to take a look now. A very hard look. "Thank you for being so complient but I must apologize no one has come to claim those poor things in the hangar bay. That means they are quite literally a waste of space." Despite the muffled screaming the two people being held were killed in quite a messy manner. Also from the sound of blaster fire and screaming from the other room the prisoners were being introduced to there makers.
[member="John Psmith"]

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

I'd got the fellow laughing, so at least he had a sense of humor. I started to feel rather good about myself, right up until the sound of muted blaster fire indicated the demise of the rest of my unfortunate traveling companions. My throat bobbed with a hard swallow. Surely I wouldn't be next?

"How, uhm... how unfortunate. You wouldn't happen to be letting me out anytime soon, would you? I mean, after all, I've been nothing but cooperative."

[member="Dar Moraal"]

 

[Dar Moraal]

"Cooperation is commendable." With that as a dismissal his men finished loading the crates onboard and soon they were entering the hangar of his Ardent. Turning to the man's cell he let him out "Shall we go for a walk?" Without waiting for a reply he started walking in the direction of his library. He had a small proposition in mind. More of a favor actually. Anyways it didn't matter aslong as he got what he wanted. "Do you know why I attacked that ship?" He said as he walked down the corridor.
[member="John Psmith"]

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

Oh, Great Shaggy-Coated-One! He'd released me. As the door to my cell swung open, I put out a hesitant foot. If this was some sort of scheme to dispense of my body in a less messy manner, well then... well I'd be at quite a disadvantage. Looked to me like that was a lightsaber at this fellow's belt. Quite poor for the health, lightsabers. One little swish and you're in two separate halves, staring up at the ceiling and wondering why the devil the best meals are always the hardest to nab.

Sigh.

Regardless, I followed after my sinister captor, trying to dispel the steadily building sense of trepidation. I mean, he had just slaughtered the entire crew of a Republic transport. Or most of them, at least. What did he have in store for me?

"Money? Precious cargo? The thrill of the chase? I'm afraid I've never been a corsair before and my brothers monks don't exactly call me the sharpest tac in the lot, you know."

[member="Dar Moraal"]

 

[Dar Moraal]

"I did it for the reason most never seem to ask. Knowledge. A contact of mine informed me of a very valuable cache of knowledge on that ship. Now as for why your still healthy is that I have never heard of your sect before despite how amusing it is" he chuckled "I like to consider myself a collector and exchanger of knowledge and because of this if you cooperate just a while longer I'll drop you on the nearest civilized world with a story to tell and a small donation for your fellow monks" Dar walked in the entrance to his library as he finished quite an extensive collection he likes to believe. Of course he wasn't lying about letting him go. Though he refrained from telling him that the closet planet is coruscant the sith capital world.
[member="John Psmith"]

 

[Gorba the Hutt]

A library? Oh dear. Who knew pirates had scholarly inclinations? But then if he was some sort of Dark Sider he most likely kept up with the latest happenings in Sith Sorcery, or what have you. Hmm, oh yes. I could smell it on him. The power of the Force. My eyelids fluttered as I drank in the sweet aroma. How tantalizing, yet far too dangerous a meal for my delicate stomach.

So instead, I followed him into the library and said, "Oh of course, anything at all."

[member="Dar Moraal"]