Stick with Me, Kid [Dianna LaCroix]

[Thurion Heavenshield]

​

Nar Shaddaa​

[member="Dianna LaCroix"]​

​

Nar Shaddaa... 'Little Coruscant' it is often called. Why remains a mystery to Thurion now wandering its dimly lit streets, as it didn't remind him any of the splendour Coruscant once held. Sure, maybe Nar Shaddaa could hold a candle when compared to the lower levels of Coruscant, but there's no Senate, no Jedi temple, no massive gardens to play hide-and-seek in with your master growing up. All he remembers about Nar Shaddaa is being given a headache by one of its fine citizens when he and the others from the Silent Conclave came here to help out shortly after it was invaded by the Sith Empire a long time ago. Members of a local gang tried their hand at taking the supplies for themselves, and long story short there arose... aggressive negotiations. He was but a kid at the time, yet he managed to fend off one of the bandits before being hit in the head hard enough to lose consciousness.

The scar still adorned his forehead, faded though it may be. Even back then he wouldn't get rid of any of his scars; they remind him of his past and what he had to go through in order to get where he was now. It's important to remember such things, yet not to the point of dwelling on them. What's done's done. He knew this life lesson better than most.

He had been sent to Nar Shaddaa on Silver Jedi buisness to begin negotiations with one of the many Hutt families. These criminal syndicates always managed to get their hands on valuable goods, be it actual goods or just information. This time concerned both, as evidence suggested that one of the transports carrying military arms and armour for the Silver Jedi was intercepted by pirates and sold to one of the Hutt crime bosses. Thurion is by no means a prejudiced man, but these Hutts are often times every bit as slimy and debauched as people say they are. Most of them care only about their monthly revenue or how much turf they control, or how much muscle they own. It was hard to think of even one redeeming quality they possess.

On this evening, however, one of them would receive a visit from a Jedi Master.

 

[Annalise Citra]

| [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] |

You had to work. It had been weeks gone by since she had left the home. Not that she knew or realised this. Time seemed to blur and mix together into one in the palace. Dianna wore a garb to cover her body and a collar around her neck. Force-sensitive children on Nar Shaddaa were not uncommon, and after an incident down in the slums, hers had been discovered and taken in by the regional Hutt.

Orphanages, such as the one Dianna had grown up in, were breeding grounds for all crimes and debreachuary that would make you sick to your stomach. Whether they were slaves... or something else. Dianna knew this well, having grown up on Little Coruscant all her life. She did not knew her parents or how she came to be in the orphanage. She longed to leave the moon and go somewhere else, where the air was fresh and the people were good; and it was this hope that she clung onto during her ordeal to the hands of the Hutt that a certain Jedi Master was meeting that day.

She came to a stop beside the slime covered monster. Dianna kept her teal eyes away from the Hutt, silently begging to leave. He leaned over and spoke something in Hutt'ese she did not understand, before running his tongue along her cheek. Goosebumps erupted across her body and the fear set in, palpable to any Force-sensitive in the vicinity. Dianna lifted the tray and the Hutt took what was on it, before shooing her away.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

As he approached the known location of Durga the Hutt, a veritable fortress considering the manpower stationed at the front door ready to meet him, Thurion adjusted his black leather before making himself known. "You wouldn't happen to be waiting for little ol' me, would you?" he spoke as he stepped into view, stoic in stance and lightsaber clearly visible at his hip. The Hutt guards, many of which were not human, immediately sized him up. "Mayhaps, stranger. Who are ye to be acting so foolish as to waltz up to Durga the Hutt's doorstep, eh?" one of them spoke up while pointing his blaster at him. "I am Thurion Heavenshield, Jedi Master. I have come to negotiate on behalf of the Order of the Silver Jedi concerning the supplies that happened to end up in your boss' hands."

The guard eyed him, at first looking like he getting ready to shot him right there and then, but eventually he lowered his weapon and ordered the others to stand aside. "You may try and persuade our boss. You may also not find it that easy a thing to do." Cue laughter from his unsavory friends. Thurion said nothing and instead stepped inside. He was immediately met with a smell most foul. Not long after he set eyes on the Hutt himself, sitting atop his 'throne'. Lined up on either side were more of his goons, probably attempting to inspire fear in those who come see him. Needless to say, it didn't work this time.

"Aaah... The Jedi send someone to parley with the great and mighty Borka, finally!" he spoke in slimy Huttese. "I told you they would, is that not right, my dear?" he told one of the scantily clad women at his side. It made Thurion grimace in disgust. "Master Heavenshield, is it? I have heard of your exploits. A father on Midvinter, a cosy little abode on Tabaqui, an adopted daughter... What was her name again?" Thurion raised his hand in protest. "Borka the Hutt. The Silver Jedi sends their regards and hope to resolve the situation swiftly--" He was interrupted by a blaster to the back of his head. "Ah, yes", the Hutt continued. "Nina... That was her name. Lovely little girl, isn't she?" he grinned in a debauched manner. Only manner a Hutt knows.

"My personal life holds no interest to you, Hutt. You would do well to leave it out of this discussion." Borka's smile vanished. "Is a simple buisnessman not allowed to make jokes in the comfort of his own home, Master Jedi? You disappoint me. Ask any of my men and they can tell you what happens when someone disappoints Borka the Hutt. Girl!" he called out, summoning one of his servants. "Our Jedi friend here is thirsty..." Thurion said nothing but merely stared down the Hutt with stern gaze, waiting for this servant girl of his to appear.

 

[Annalise Citra]

| [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] |

The room in which Borka the Hutt, Thurion Heavenshield, and Borka's servants was large, spacious and comfortable. A rug, which was undoubtly rare and beautiful, led up to the platform in which Borka laid. Beside him was a slave woman. Dianna was in the background, retrieving drinks from the nearby bar. An Twi'lek, named Ilk, alerted the girl to Borka's demand. Turning with the tray, which had an assortment of drinks including a Gizer Ale, was carried by Dianna to the platform.

"H-here sir," Dianna said, holding out the tray to Thurion to take.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

A scrawny-looking thing appeared carrying a tray of refreshments, immediately stealing his attention. She seemed like a shy girl, avoiding eye contact when possible. Thurion didn't give the assortment of drinks a single look, but was rather fascinated with the servant girl. He'd already picked up on her sensitivity to the Force and an array of emotions she experienced at this very moment. Awkwardness, shyness, fear and sadness were the most notable. When she wouldn't look at him, Thurion placed a hand under her chin to lift her gaze up to meet his.

"Thank you, my dear", he told her with a warm smile as he plucked one of the beverages off the tray. "You are stronger than you think. Do not give up hope", he then spoke into her mind. Knowing it would most likely make her feel uncomfortable, he removed his hand from her delicate chin and allowed her to go about her buisness. "You like that one, Master Jedi?" came the disgusting voice of the Hutt, causing him to sneer at the fat snail. "She is a pretty one, I'll give you that. Didn't think you Jedi were into that sort of thing." He let out a bellow of laughter at his own words.

Thurion said nothing, instead raising his drink to the Hutt as if proposing a toast. He then tilted the cup to the side and let its contents pour onto the very expensive-looking carpet, causing the Hutt to stop laughing. "I forgot to tell you: I don't drink." Then, in one fluid motion, he'd spun around and cut the blaster aimed at his head into pieces with his lightsaber before anyone could even react, least of all the one wielding it. "There, now we can talk", he said as he approached Borka the Hutt, lightsaber in hand. "Guards! Stop him!"

A few of the guards who hadn't already soiled themselves charged at him with blasters and sharp-looking objects. The blaster bolts were easily deflected, redirecting them into non-lethal parts of human anatomy belonging to the ones carrying knives. The ones who fired were just as easily taken cared of merely by pulling their guns from their hands, then slicing them in two as they came into contact with his lightsaber. They didn't put up that much of a fight after being disarmed and instead turned and ran away. "Amusing distractions aside, perhaps now you could 'show me the goods', as they say?" he spoke as he now stood face-to-face with the Hutt, who suddenly looked mighty displeased.

 

[Annalise Citra]

| [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] |

She dropped. This wasn't the first time Dianna had been caught in between a fire fight or two. It was the first time she had encountered a Jedi, however. Their legend was not unknown to the fourteen year old, as she crawled her way along the floor towards the wall. This was her opportunity to get out of here. For too long, she had been at the bane of Borka the Hutt and his men.

At the wall, Dianna rose to her feet and began to make her way at the side lines to the side door, which she knew led down to her room. There was a picture, something that she had managed to keep with her since she was a kid and she didn't want to leave the palace until it was hers.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

"Who do you think you are, waltzing into my establishment and roughing up my men?!" the Hutt cried out in outrage. "Cowards, all of you!" he told his fleeing guards, but then fell silent at the sight of the blue blade of the lightsaber held out mere inches from his face, hearing its harmonious hum. He made an audible *gulp*. "S-so this is the policy of the oh-so-noble Jedi, these days? Threatening innocent buisnessmen unless they cooperate?" Thurion deactivated his Jedi weapon, knowing he would not need it. This Hutt was far too intimidated by him now to put up any fight.

"Then give me what I came for. These belong to the Silver Jedi, not in the hands of mercenaries runnin' and gunnin' all over the place. Should this happen again, I'll know about it. I might not be so nice a second time. Now, order the remainder of your people to bring the shipment aboard my ship. I'll personally oversee the operation." Borka scoffed, but then followed it up with a hesitant nod of approval. "Fine. But next time, try not to mess up the carpet?"

Eager to get this nasty bit of buisness over and done with, Thurion turned and stepped towards the exit. The foul air was soon replaced by the not-so-foul air of Nar Shaddaa, still bustling with activity despite all she had been through in the past wars. He took a second to admire the view, then turned to make his way to the space port only to bump into the frail shape of a girl. The very same girl he'd encountered within Borka's palace. "You?" he asked surprised.

 

[Annalise Citra]

| [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] |

Thurion Heavenshield had stirred up quite the ruckus. Something that Dianna LaCroix had used to her advantage. Freedom was on the horizon and she was going to take it. The trip to the room that she had been given upon her becoming one of Borka's servants went unnoticed. She had been lost in the ensuing frenzy, as the elders looked to protect their boss.

Probably their wallet too.

The picture was tucked into her pocket. Then she was off. Dianna had already figured a way out of the palace. In the kitchen, there was a window that led directly up to the grounds. Then it was a simply a climb over the wall and she was off. Borka had a service port, used for deliveries that he didn't want the other Hutts to know about. Business such as those conducted with the Silver Jedi didn't want to be noticed.

Sneaking into the kitchen, she climbed onto a table and was up through the window fast than you could say 'stop'. The room had cleared out. Thank the Force for Jedi. Running across the yard, Dianna was in a frenzy herself. Freedom was just there, over the top. She was going to get there, someway, somehow. Looking over her shoulder to check if she was being chased or that someone had noticed she had disappeared and given the word out, she suddenly bumped into something hard.

Falling onto her ass, she gingerly lifted her gaze up. It was the same man who had drew one of those light swords. "You?" he asked.

One of the men carrying the shipment noticed the altercation. He dropped his crate and pointed at Dianna. "Hey I know you. You work in the palace. What the kark are you doin' out here?" Others stopped to look now. The girl turned to Thurion, on the verge of tears.

She could already feel the belting she was going to get for doing this.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Thurion heard the stern voice of the man approaching them as he looked down at the poor girl on the ground. Without hesitation he took her by the hand and pulled her back onto her feet and held her close. "This one's with me", he said, turning towards the man. "Eh? I don't think so. That girl belongs to the boss." The thug stepped closer, prompting Thurion to position himself between him and the girl. "I said, she's with me", he repeated, staring the man down. A single bead of sweat ran down the side of the thug's forehead. "Fine, but Borka will hear of this. He won't simply let you get away with his belongings. He will hunt you down." Thurion turned to the girl hiding behind him. "Let him try."

With the shipment loaded aboard the Oathkeeper, Borka's thugs left without a word, most likely in a hurry to tell their boss about the Jedi stealing his property. "Come on, let's go", he told the girl. "They'll be back soon, and in greater numbers. You don't want to be around when they do."

 

[Annalise Citra]

[Sorry it took a while to respond, got caught up in the invasion of Kashyyyk on another character.]

| [member="Thurion Heavenshield"] |

Thurion lifted her up. His touch was gentle. Dianna turned to look around her. To the thug that had dropped his delivery to warn the others of her attempt to escape. To the prospect of being lashed by the wicked men that served Borka the Hutt. She turned back to Thurion. He was a stranger. But desperate times called for desperate measures.

Dianna had no other choice.

"Please take me with you. I need to get out of here!" In between sobs and tears, the little girl ran to the side of the Jedi Master.

 

[Thurion Heavenshield]

Thurion offered a sagely nod. "Up the ramp, then. Quickly, child." Making sure the cargo had been adequately secured, the ramp was raised. "Let's get out of here, Teetoo. Set a course for Voss." In a series of bleeps and boops the astromech droid responded before launching the ship, leaving the moon of Nar Shaddaa behind. No doubt Borka the Hutt will not just roll over and let him take what was his (or maybe that'll happen either way, considering), and the farther away they got the better.

Taking the teenager by the hand he lead her to the small yet well-stocked infirmary. "You look like you haven't eaten anything in days, but just to make sure..." he told her, patting the bed for her to sit on. "I'm gonna check your vitals real quick. Roll up your sleeve for me?" He pulled out an empty syringe from one of the drawers. "I need to take a small blood sample to check for any abnormalities. Hopefully nothing will come up. Now, this might sting a bit..." But rather than stick the needle in her, he instead reached for her other arm and gave it a pinch. As she reacted to the light pain of the pinch, he'd already taken what little amount of blood he needed. "There, all done!" he told her, offering a smile.

He followed it up by placing the back of his hand against her forehead to check her temperature. "How are you feeling?"

[member="Dianna LaCroix"]