Strangers at the bar (Valiens Nantaris)

[Sinya'olan]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

Sinya gave a short chortle, saying under her breath, "Used goods? You hurt my feelings," she wiped away the remaining tears and grinned.

The Hutt considered a moment then spoke to his translator " Sixty is the finally offer, her profit in the cantina has declined over the past few months. And that will be in gold."

A young Twi'lek losing interest in any cantina was unlikely but if it made it that much easier for her to get sold off, all the better she thought.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Sinya'olan"]
Nantaris looked across at her. It was a lot of money, no doubt about it. However, to save someone it was worth it, he supposed. Besides, they could raid another Hutt sometime and make their money back.

“Sixty it is. A pleasure doing business.” Nantaris turned away and reached for his commlink, calling his second in command and friend, Raloph Scindia. “Brak,” he said, using a codename they used in these cases, “I need you to come to Atruda’s Palace in West 13. 60k in gold. We’re making an acquisition…and bring me a Ruby Bliel.” The last was another code, indicating he was not under duress, but that his friend should be cautious.
“Done, half hour.”

Nantaris looked back to the Hutt. “Half hour, then the money will be here.” He gave Sinya a reassuring look.

 

[Sinya'olan]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

"Come, we'll go to my quarters and gather what little I have,"


Sinya lead them through a small maze of hallways and back outside behind the palace. They entered a much smaller and more run down building which was surrounded by all types of creatures from across the galazy that the Hutt had purchased at one time or another.

The halls in the slave quarters where tight and dingy not to mention packed with slaves and random items and filth. Sinya's quarters were near enough to the front that the two got to avoid most of the madness within the quarters.

"Sixty? Really? I figured I was a steal at double that," she joked, packing away a few clothes in a bag. Her room was basically empty, a few awards for the pits on the walls, a pile of something that passed for a bed and a chair. She was lucky enough to have a window, what a joy!

A guard had followed them Sinya assumed, she wasn't paid for quite yet but there was something she wondered.

"So, what exactly are your plans for me?"

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Sinya'olan"]
Nantaris followed her through into the slave quarters. Her billet was positively luxurious compared with what others endured. It made him sick to the stomach. He wished he could force this Hutt to free them all, to emancipate everyone.
But no, the galaxy was a tough place. One couldn’t wave a magic lightsabre and free everyone. Or rather, he could, but then what? No, he’d have to settle for saving one person.

Conscious of the guard overhearing them Nantaris had to be evasive in his language.
“Oh, I’m sure I could develop your talents and skills. As we discussed.”

The time passed, and a buzz on the commlink announced Scindia’s approach.

“Come on, let’s go meet my friend.”

‘Brak’ was waiting with several of the Rangers. They’d dressed in vaguely outlaw gear and had brought several crates on a hoversled. Inside were bars of gold.

“Sixty thousand, as promised Atruda. Now, may I take the girl?”

Nantaris and Scindia knew well that Hutts were duplicitous and might try and renege on the deal. What the Hutt didn’t know is that he had a former Jedi Master and Knight in the room.

 

[Sinya'olan]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

Atruda saw what appeared to be a ragtag group of minor outlaws, nothing worth his time normally but under these circumstances trying to buy his prized slave, Atruda would make some time.

The fat slug looked at the group, waving off his translator. He knew enough basic for what he was going to say.

"I think I will keep my slave, and your money as a gift for letting you leave alive," Whatever passed as a smile on a Hutt's face was on Atruda's maw now. There were more than a fair number of guards all around the room pointing all sorts of guns and blades their direction.

Sinya placed her bag down and drew out her blades, looking at the Hutt with murderous intent yet keeping her voice level, "You had a chance. You have made your last mistake Atruda."

Without a second thought Sinya dashed to the right with unnatural speed, reaching the first set of guards before they could react. She thrust her short sword into the gut of one and nimbly swung behind him on the left, yanking her blade from his midsection in the process. Again the other guards in the group were slow to react and she slashed at their knees, disabling them, no point to kill the guards, the Hutt was her target.

Her use of the Force to increase her speed would only help for a short time, the other guards were now reacting to her and the rest of the group.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Sinya'olan"]
Nantaris’ eyes narrowed, then he smiled. “You know, Atruda, I thought you’d be different. I thought I’d finally found a Hutt who would keep his word. I was shocked that it’d not come to this. I was wrong. Scindia…let’s get the party started.”

Nantaris cast aside his jacket and pulled out his lightsabre, Scindia doing the same. Behind him a pretty blue Twi’lek pulled out her blasters. They were the Freespace Rangers, and this was what they’d secretly hoped for.

Taking cover behind the hoversled, the rangers and Myr opened a steady fire on any guards in view. Meanwhile Nantaris and Scindia joined forces. Their goal was to hold the attention of all involved so the blasters of their allies and Sinya’s blades could deal with the Hutt unobstructed.

Roaring in surprised rage, Atruda activated a force field around his throne. However, there was a generator nearby which Sinya could destroy to expose the bloated crimelord.

The two former Jedi meanwhile were cutting their way through their enemies. Nantaris acted as the anvil, blocking lightsabre bolts and cutting down those who came close, Scindia was the hammer, leaping forward to dispose of any enemies nearby.
Pretty soon the main chamber was filling up with dead thugs and the Hutt was looking awfully exposed….

 

[Sinya'olan]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

The Hutt had no idea this would happen, even the force field would only slow Sinya for a few more seconds.

She weaved in and out of striking distances for her foes and quickly dispatched most of them. A few of the more hardened guards made her parry a few swings before she cut them down.

The guards around the generator fled upon seeing the carnage Sinya laid out in her wake. She flung her short short into the back of one of the fleeing thugs, her mercy was in short supply.

The generator was nothing special, a few quick slices and it was offline, exposing the Hutt to her fury.

Se glanced behind at what now looked more like the fighting pits then a throne room. Nanataris and his band of...pirates?...where more than they appeared to be. The way they fought together, however, made her think otherwise, another mystery of this man to unfold.

She ran up to the Hutt, the fight coming to a close, yanking her short blade from the back of the fleeing guard. Atruda was making an almost fearful sounding noise and spoke to her in Huttese.

"Leave now, go free and take your money but spare me! When have I treated you wrongly?"

Sinya jammed her long blade into the base of the Hutt's tail, pinning the already slow moving creature to his seat. The Twi'lek's eyes had a near bloodlust look to them but they also hinted at satisfaction.

"When did you treat me right?" she said as she climbed up the Hutt's body and drove her short blade through its head. With a shutter, Atruda was no more.

Looking at the slaves in the room Sinya said, "Tell the others they are no longer under ownership."

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Sinya'olan"]
Nantaris, Scindia and the rest of the crew had cleared out the rest of the room. Some, those who posed no threat, or who surrendered, he let go free. As he watched the final drama play out he saw Sinya finish off the Hutt in a most satisfying way.
"Once, I'd have suggested you not do that," he told her, offering the girl a hand to climb down from the mound of rancid meat. "But after disposing of the rest of the goons that'd be rather hypocritical. Nicely done."

He led her over to the rest of the group. "This is former Jedi Knight Raloph Scindia. He's a good friend, can't play Sabaac worth a damn though."
“What can I say, I’m not good at being deceptive and gambling heavily,” Scindia retorted.
“Harsh, but fair enough. This fine lady is Myr’tirae,” he said, introducing Sinya to a pretty blue Twi’lek.
“Hey there, nice work with the blade. Watch out for the old man, he can’t keep his hands off the lekku,” Myr said conspiratorily.
Nantaris just snorted. “Finally we’ve got Dray and Fisk,” he said, showing the final two of his group. One male Devaronian, one female Togruta. They offered their welcomes.

“Well, we may as well emancipate all the slaves here now we’ve killed all their masters. We’ve got a settlement on a Coalition world where we help them start new lives. It’s not much, but it’s better than this. As for you, Sinya, want to join my ship and the Freespace Rangers?”

 

[Sinya'olan]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

She welcomed each member in kind and thanked them. Seemed like a good group of people, loyalty wasn't always easy to come by.

"To think I actually offered up my own lekku when we first meet, if only I'd have known," Sinya sad to her fellow Twi'lek.

Nantaris' proposal was sudden but welcome, Sinya would love a group to roam the galaxy with. Plus she could get some more training in use of the force and lightsaber.

"If we get to have this kind of fun everyday, count me in," she said with a smile.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Sinya'olan"]
“You should have made him pay for that. Amazing what you can get from him,” Myr said. Her lekku twitched slightly, and Nantaris’ eyes followed it, as if hypnotised.
Finally Nantaris dragged his gaze away. “Pfft, well, a deal’s a deal. I need to get one massage in before you two unionise.”

By now the slaves were being led to freedom by Scindia and the other two. “As for fun, well, not every day, but every second day for sure! I was here to hunt a slaver…but it ended up with another target and some contraband to settle. Mission accomplished, I say. Scindia, contact the Liberator and get them to prep it for launch.”
“Come with us, Sinya, I’ll show you my flagship.”
“Clarification, he actually does mean a corvette,” Myr put in helpfully.
“See what I have to put up with?!” Nantaris said, waving his hand despairingly.

 

[Sinya'olan]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

Sinya laughed and continued to chde, "If your flagship is corvette, the rest of the fleet must be along the lines of a fighter class ships."

She glanced around the room one more time before leaving, this place, however awful, was part of nearly half her life to this point. Despite her hate for it, she couldn't help feel a little remorseful at her parting.

She followed the group, making ideal banter a long the way to this "flagship". She was glad to be leaving and happy with what she had done, now the real fun was about to begin.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Sinya'olan"]
“Is this the gratitude I get?!” Nantaris said sulkily. “I’ll have you know the Liberator is a fine ship!”
“Don’t mind him, Miss,” Scindia said gently. “He’s a bit sensitive about his ship.”
“Pah!” Nantaris said, stomping off.

A quick speeder ride took them to a guarded hanger bay carrying four dropships. Whilst the slaves were loaded into three of them, Sinya was taken with the rest of the command crew into the fourth.

Blasting off from Nar Shaddaa they were soon in space, and travelled slowly away from the moon and its planet Nal Hutta. In an otherwise empty patch of space sat Nantaris’ ship, the Liberator.

Though no star destroyer, it was still impressive for a corvette, with heavy guns, fighter escort and defences.

“Welcome aboard the Liberator, Sinya,” Nantaris said proudly. He was absurdly happy with his ship and it showed.

 

[Sinya'olan]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

"Honestly, compared to the cargo ships I've stowed away on this is pretty much the nicest ship I've been on," she said after taking it in.

She knew that these class of ships where fast enough to get away from larger opponents yet powerful enough to take on most that came their way, in a way sort of like Sinya herself.

It had been a while since she had been on a ship, after being caught last year as a stow away her former master kept a closer eye on her. It wasn't like she was ever actually fleeing, just wanted to get away from the moon every now and again. She did love the stillness of space, the cold emptiness was somehow comforting to her.

"Thanks for having me Nantaris, hopefully I can be of some help. And thank you again for getting me out off of that rock," she said, giving a slight bow.

"So where are we heading?"

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Sinya'olan"]
Nantaris smiled. In that moment he looked more serious than he had before, even in the heat of battle.
“You are most welcome, Sinya. If you ever want to leave us you need only say and I’ll get you to whichever planet you want. Except Mustafar…never going there again!”

“Come, I’ll show you your room.”
Nantaris showed Sinya to a small cabin which was just big enough to contain a bed with storage draw underneath, chair, folding table and sink.
“It’s not the Crystal Palace Hotel, but it’s what I can offer. Belonged to an Ensign of mine. Silly boy got eaten by a rancor. Hopefully you’ll not suffer the same fate!”

The corvette was big for its class, almost verging on frigate territory. Inside a mix of species and genders ran the ship. The freed slaves were being loaded into the bottom cargo hold, ready to be taken somewhere new.

“We’re heading to the planet Arkas to drop off the ex-slaves, there’s a settlement there for the freedmen where they can farm and live normally under the protection of the Coalition. I like to think it makes freedom worthwhile. I can’t give everyone a million credits and a glitzy life,” he said with a sigh.

 

[Sinya'olan]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

She packed her gear away, the room was again nicer than anything she had slept in since her time on Ryloth. "The room is more than I could ask for....and as for the rancor you can protect me oh master jedi...erm former...you know what I mean."

A drop point would be more than most these slaves could hope for. Many of them came from poor families or were orphans that got picked from the streets, knowing no better.

"Farming is a simple and better life than most of us have known, trust me. I'm sure they all thank you for the kindness," she didn't know if Nantaris had been a slave or had family that was sold into slavery, but any life is better than that.

"However, you have in interest in me beyond my charm and stunning red skin," she quipped. "While I appreciate the offer to leave when I please I think getting in that mind of yours will help out my abilities with the force."

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Sinya'olan"]
Nantaris snorted. “You don’t want to get into my mind, lass. Or maybe you do, but you’ll find it’s far raunchier than even you’re used to!”

“And to be fair, my interest is about fifty-percent lekku and fifty-percent Force training, so it’s the best of both worlds! We’re heading to Arkas, and whilst the emancipated people get settled in you and I can do some training. Force training,” he added quickly. It was unclear whether he expected her to get the wrong impression, or whether he was pleading the 5th!

“Of course, if you have no objection, I’d love for you to join us at dinner tonight, me and the officers. It’s not gourmet, but you can get to know them.”

 

[Sinya'olan]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

"Only fifty-percent lekku, that just leave fifty-percent for everyone else," she joked "But training would be great, something a little more refined than what my mother was doing...or maybe not hard to tell with you," she grinned.

Dinner sounded wonderful, killing a Hutt took as much energy as they had fat.

"I've never really needed to get to know a team of people, I mean all the slaves talked but hardly ever about personal lives before being a slave," she gave a brief pause, she really didn't have a friend in the galaxy come to think of it, "It'll be nice to dine in the company of such...lively...individuals."

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Sinya'olan"]
Nantaris snorted again. “You are a little firecracker. We’ve known each other only a few hours and you already think you know everything about who I am and what I want.” He paused. “The fact you’re mostly correct doesn’t excuse it!” he added.

“Come, I’ll introduce you.”

A short time later the Captain’s cabin was set out for dinner. Scindia and Myr were there, but also a half dozen other officers. They were being waited on by a creaky droid.

“Greetings, Lady Sinya’olan. What may I get to satisfy you?” it asked in a very put-upon voice.

“This hunk of junk is D43. And he’s going to end up in the scrap heap if he doesn’t treat my new friend properly,” Nantaris said.

“My apologies, my munificent and wise master, I shall make every effort to grovel before your latest conquest,” the droid muttered, tottering off.

Nantaris glared after the droid. “Stupid lump. Pay no need to him!” he declared.

 

[Sinya'olan]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

She greeted Myr and Scindia as they passed. No one seemed to really give her a second glance, a welcome gesture given her Lethan heritage.

She eyed the droid as it slunk away after she requested some food and drink. She had never seen a droid act like so broken.

"He doesn't seem to be the most stable droid in the galaxy," she said.

Soon enough D43 brought back some food with steam coming off and drink. Sinya took a whiff and it smelled much better than most of her meals for the last ten years.

"Does the droid cook the food?" she asked taking a bite, "Because I know some cantina owners that could use a chef of his caliber."

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Sinya'olan"]
“Oh, don’t mind D43. He likes to play the put-upon servant,” Nantaris said airily.
“I would not dare to question the great and worshipful Master,” D43 said snidely. “But no, Ms Sinya, I do not cook because I cannot taste.”
“Away with you, tin can! No, our Alicia is something of a gourmet chef. Who knew?”
Alicia, a shy looking human girl a bit older than Sinya, flushed in embarrassment and mumbled something.
“Don’t let her modesty deceive you. Before then we had to rely on the cooking of our Wookiee master-at-arms Groowrl.”
Said Wookiee had been sitting quietly, but now let out a howl of disapproval.
“Hey, I like Shang stew, Gro, but not every day,” Nantaris said hastily.
The Wookiee looked sulky but went back to eating.
“Don’t worry, you’ll be as mad as the rest soon, we promise,” Myr said from beside Sinya with a grin.