We Feed Children So That Makes It Ok... Right?

[James Justice]

"Of course I care," James said jabbing a few more slices of meat abs popping them in his mouth. "Sometimes the kindest thing ye can do is rid the galaxy of a murderer. And the kindest way to do it is making an example of 'em so someone else thinks twice bout it afore they pull the trigger."

He chewed for a moment more. "Having ye own business is hard. It can take a lot of hustle, a lot of work. And a damn lot of time. But if ye pour enough into it, it comes out right.

"I been to a lot of nightclubs. A crap ton of bars, cantinas, and pubs. I ain't seen many without a criminal hint or two. It's how ye stay afloat. Acourse, not all are as bad as the Den cause not all are owned by crime lords. Granted," he swallowed and gave an impish grin. "Nothin' bout the Den is illegal. I make it all legal."

He took a few gulps from his bottle, it was now a third full before devouring a few more bites of food. He took the time to formulate his thoughts.

"I have holdings on the governments of Nal Hutta, Nar Shaddaa, and Kessel," he said at last. "And of course here. I can keep the local governments off ye and the bad local buggers."

He gave her a solid, serious look look for several moments. "But for this kindness I'm gonna need returns. One day I'm gonna give ye a call. I'll send ye a set of coordinates and when ye get it ye are gonna go. And ye are gonna help me. Ye will find me and ye will do as I say. Understand?"

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

Listening to James speak and the conditions of his help I mulled them over and weighed them in my mind. I'd already helped him and in order to fully set up my way out of the Jedi and a life with Aria I'd trade services for help doing that. Meeting his gaze I said, "I believe that's a fair trade as long as you don't call after I've proposed to Aria. But that's fair enough, I understand what you're asking of me. A favor for a favor right?" Finishing my soup I pushed the plate and bowl away and glanced back over at James. For a man who drank and smoked as much as he did he was remarkably quick to capitalize on opportunity.

Hopefully by the time I actually proposed to Aria James will have called in his favor...I didn't like owing debts and I hoped I'd be able to pay them off by the time I'd proposed. Sipping my tea I felt like something else was on James' mind and I was very wary of that right now but unless he shared I'd never know what it was...

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James didn't reach the top of the food chain by near as out of touch with reality as he let on. After all, what were the chances that a drunken widower would become a multi billionare and crime king of a planet by chance and luck alone? Non-existent at best. He had taken a tramp two hundred year old rusted trap freighter, a blaster, and a pair of tin credits and turned it into a fleet spread across the galaxy. That didn't happen by luck. The most cunning of vipers came disguised as harmless ones.

He looked Celiana in the eye. He didn't take her for the "settling down" type. She was born with a blaster in her hand, just like he was. It took one to know one. The adventure itch. It never went away. He was sure she wanted stability, to be safe, but he doubted she would ever really hang her blades up. As long as she wanted the adventure, and she could bring her love along too, he'd offer jobs, protection, connections, and anything her heart desired. She'd help take care of his own and make him rich, and in return--as all others--he'd remove all other worries from his life. That was how a wise crime lord worked. It was what he did to [member="Gray Raxis"], [member="Stardust Raxis"], Triam, Thraxis, and so many others.

But this--this was more than a job. This was the stuff of life and death. And more. The stuff of a lost planet and a dead woman he loved more than anything.

"Aye, and it will be soon. Very soon" he said with a cryptic nod, "Ye just show up and help me. I'll get ye bar up and runnin' when ye done helpin' me."

He stabbed his food a few more times and stored a bite in his mouth, chewing chewing, chewing all day long. "And if ye keep helping me, ye very well could find yeself as a CEO. I have an arms company that needs someone to spearhead it."

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

Smiling as he mentioned the possibility of being a CEO and an arms company that needed someone to spearhead it. I looked at him and said, "James you do have a way of persuading a gal to want to work with you. I'm all for new toys, and if they make a nice pretty explosion it's just a bonus." Having finished my food I'd been sipping my drink and watching James he may be a constant drunkard but he was a viper even so. I saw he was digging in heartily to his food and it brought a smile to my face. I had a feeling the favor would be sooner rather than later but there was something James needed to see and understand about me here on Triple Zero.... After dinner though it could wait until then at least...

I knew the deal I'd made but I was happy to pay the price with James. I at least knew the stakes there, the devil you knew and all that...
Sipping my tea I continued to observe and waited...

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

"Those who do good to me," he said taking before finishing off his bottle, "I make damn sure they get their own. If ye are interested, feel free to work it."

Good business was generous. The more he had, the more he could motivate his workers, the more they were motivated, the better he would make. James finished off his meal without much addo. He was a purveyor of fine cuisine. Dal'Bor held all the delights a person could ask for--and not just sexual ones. The dining was top of the line, the massages were the best, and the spa parlors were without equal. Sure, James frequented the bars the most, however, he made sure that all of his city was the finest that could be offered. He grabbed a bottle of Lum to go and pulled himself out of his chair staggering slightly. That was not as much a show as it was the booze finally kicking in and impeding his co-ordination. He gave a slight chuckle, humming as he fished out a fresh cigarette and made his way, with some difficulty towards the door. It took a lot to get him drunk, and James was starting to get a bit tipsy.

"Let's steal a speeder," James said suddenly as they reached the door, "Believe it or not I am a better pilot drunk than I am sober."

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

Paying for the bottle of Hellfire whiskey and leaving the waitress a VERY generous tip I left instructions for the leftovers and whiskey bottle to be delivered to my ship. James had grabbed another bottle of Lum and pulled another cigarrete and lit it then suggested something utterly ludicrous that we steal a speeder and that he drive it. He made mention that he was a better pilot when not sober. Oh by The Force! I'd be damned before I let that happen, besides I piloted with my eyes closed always freaked out people not to mention it was a neat trick fro swoop racing...

Looking at him as I eyed a speeder I said, "If it's all the same to you I'd rather not let you pilot this James. I'm not a fan of intoxicated drivers even if they normally are functional drunkards...shall I drive and explain some things the slicers you no doubt hired to find out about me wouldn't ever find? There's after all quite a bit that nobody knows about me it all started here on Coruscant for me....least I can do is give you the Celiana Drayven tour...I'll tell you what one of the places we'll be going will have girls you can hire since you were so keen on the waitress at dinner..."

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

"That is nothing," James said waving his hand wide, "A lil speeder joy ride ain't hardly a thing. I once ran a blockade drunk with nothin more than me rust ship that was barely held together by insta weld and mud. And I came round unscathed. And I ain't near as drunk as I were then."

Truth be told, James' force abilities were stronger when he was intoxicated. Without his inhibitions to hold him back the force flowed stronger through him. He didn't have to time to think, question, or double guess it. Instead its raw, primal power roared through him like a lion.

"I am just a businessman tryin' to make the galaxy a better place," he said, referring to the girl, "Combating poverty one new, well-paid stripper and waitress at a time." He waved his hand before offering a clumsy bow, "but if ye insist, I will follow ye lead."

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

Sighing I looked at James and said, "Be ready to mount up in under five minutes." With that I bypassed the alarm on the speeder and having disabled it I also short-circuited the tracking unit. After re-wiring the ignition I kicked the engines on and slid into the drivers seat gesturing for James to do the same. As he slid in I took off and merged up into the sky-lanes. Looking over at James as I drove I said, "This place was my home from sixteen years old until I was twenty. I graduated combat school on Eshan and moved here to be with my Father who still remains a counselor for wealthy, corrupt senators. Long story short some of his..."Associates" were at a dinner party and my attendance was mandatory. I'd been the selling point for most of my fathers business deals. James I was a pretty face with a body that had curves in all the right places and I was used to sell business deals."

Accelerating into a turn I went up a level in the lanes and up to the senate district. "I discovered my Force abilites at that party when some dancing girls who were brought as the "entertainment" I'd had enough of being groped and fondled and I wans't about to let that happen to them. So I threw up a Force Barrier and after one of the men went to strike me I blasted him out the window to climb back up. I began moving out that nigth and down to the lower levels. Learned how to blend with crowds, conceal myself, pick pockets and even dancing...All in the period of two years. After that I went to Mandalore and learned how to fight in a way that most people don't like being on the recieving end of..."

"You'll get to see where I lived tonight and where I worked while I was living in the lower levels James hopefully you'll understand me better after you've seen these places...Right now we're heading to the Senate offices for me to pay off a debt and deal with something I should have last time I was on Coruscant...after this we'll be heading to the lower levels so you can see what I did and where I lived also to say hello to a friend of mine. For now relax and enjoy the ride James..."

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James watched Celiana as she got to work on hijacking the speeder. And by that--he meant he watched her butt since she was bent over. The dress did wonders for her posterior. When she was done, he plopped down in the passenger's seat reluctantly. He hated being a passenger, he was a pilot, a damn good one too. Ok, maybe not, but he was a smuggler and he had issues being a passenger. Too many accidents as a passenger. All the same, he listened as she talked about being a tool for making deals.

"I was a pretty face with a body that had curves in all the right places"

"Not much has changed then, eh?" he chuckled with a wink. His face went somber when she was done and he looked out the window, watching the city zoom by. Its lights, its massive cityscape and mass of beings was glamorous in some paces. And in others--well it was hell. A lot like the rest of the galaxy.

"Mum left when I were young," James said at last, breaking the silence, "Just left. She dun't want the responsibility of taking care of a kid. Dad still raised me on his freighter. It were a lonely life. One planet to another. Friends were few and far between. I learnt to make the most of the time I had with the people I did." he paused again, pursing his lips. His age began to show through his dark eyes, "I were hungry a lot. We lived hand to mouth. One job to another. Then dad just vanished when I were thirteen," he waved his hand through the air, "Left on Tatoowine. Went out to get a box cigs and never came back. I picked my ass up off the sidewalk and survived. Job to job. One run to the next. One cargo hold to the next. I only had two tin creds to rub together."

He looked at Cel, his eyes tired, tried and slightly inebriated, "I built myself from the bottom up, everything I got, I earned. Worked for it. I make a mind to make life better for other hard workin' folk. Give them a chance for a better life. Even when it costs me my soul."

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

As James spoke I listened and as he finished I said, "I was different. I had the money and connections available to me if only I'd let various men get handsy with me and allow them to do as they wished. They didn't get the second part of that deal and since I blasted an associate of my Fathers' out the window I was cut off and had to learn the skills to survive." Pulling out of the skylanes I parked the speeder on a landing platform on the upper levels of the Senate building.

Sliding out of the pilots seat I looked at James and said, "First stop James, now a favor please if you could refrain from shooting, slotting, beating or otherwise making a bloody mess of some of these uptight and rich spoiled and corrupt senators I'd appreciate it. I do still do business with a few every now and then even if they are Fierfeck'la dikuts...Information is such a valuable thing anymore makes bribing and blackmailing the opposition that much easier."

Heels clicking as I walked into the Senate building I couldn't help but miss Coruscant sometimes. If nothing else I'd be sure to shock my father when I saw him tonight....

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James watched as they stopped at the senate building. He was surprised it was still here. After all, the One Sith had occupied and controlled the planet with time out of mind. Their fist had been iron, their care was zero. Besides that, the Alliance's struggle to take the planet back had been--bloody. To say the least. But, the spacer supposed miracles did happen.

"I make zero promises," James said heaving himself from the speeder. Generally when someone tried to make him promise to not hurt someone, it would be the time most needed--or the moment he wanted to the most. Sometimes a little bloodshed was all you needed to whip a few bad people in line. Other times you needed a lot of bloodshed. James worked the kinks out of his neck and adjusted his leather jacket before starting down towards the building bottle in hand. He almost dared anyone to stop him as he walked along. The last time he had been on Courscant he had ended up killing--near 100 cultists with Miss Blonde. Sith worshiping inbreds.

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

Chuckling slightly as James said, "I make zero promises." I was uncertain if this was a wise choice of things to be doing now of all times going back to where I'd dealt with abuse on a regular basis...Though I knew that I needed to. Stepping into a lift with James coming up behind me I tapped a button taking us to the floors of the Senate Councilor chambers. Looking at James I said, "By the way James if you feel so inclined to acquire any information on Senators, aides, or Councilors while we're here go for it." I tapped my nails against the polished rails with a click-click-click a few times then the doors opened and I stepped through.

Walking down to the Senate and Councilor's aide center I found who I was looking for. Isabelle, by The Force she looked as if she were the same as when I'd left. Although somehow she seemed more sad than anything... She'd always been so kind to me while I'd been here and she'd helped arrange a way for me to move to the lower levels of Coruscant too. She'd apparently not been able to leave as she'd planned...Walking over towards her desk my heels ostensibly clicking agaisnt the polished marble floors she jerked herself up off the floor and back to her desk, probably afraid she'd be yelled at for not getting someone their Caf...

Walking over towards her desk I said, "Long time Isabelle still working for the old man?" Jerking her head up she smiled and stood giving me a hug. "Celiana! I'm so glad you're back and of all people you came to visit me? I'm sure your father would be furious if he knew you were here. Oh, my I didn't know you were on a date..." Chuckling at her conspiritorial tone I looked back at her and returned her hug. Then I said, "Business dinner actually. But you're not wrong either I am here to see my father or rather leave something in his care...You heard of the inter-species trafficking ring being taken down I suppose...Yeah that was me... I actually came to make sure and extend you an offer for a job that wouldn't drive you to tears or a bottle at night. What would you say to coming and working with me? Basic data-analyis, coding, keeping track of information networks bascially the same job you're doing here except I'll pay you what you're actually deserving of and you can sleep at night with a clear conscience. How's that sound Isabelle?"

She looked at me open-mouthed and said, "That....that sounds wonderful Celiana. But, why? Why such an incredibly generous offer? Where would I be moving to?" Smiling at her I said, "Because Isabelle you made it possible for me to leave here and begin my own life. That dream I always told you about? It came true, I'm training as a Jedi now. As to where you'd be moving that'd be Voss with me I'll set you up there but it seems you need out of this place and off-planet badly. I'm returning the kindness you showed me while I was still here. If you're interested go ahead and run a search on The Cherry Blossom and meet me there in two hours. I'll finish up here and meet you then. Just go Isabelle let someone else grab the Caf now."

She hugged me again nodded and grabbed her things before scampering away towards the lifts. I saw her mouth the words thank you and then she was gone. Only for a little while though I'd be seeing her agin shortly. Turning to James I said, "Feel free to drink, smoke, and I'm giving you a free pass to relieve yourself in the office we're going into." With that I walked down a hall and channelling The Force through my left hand I flicked the door open before going in. The plaque on the wall read Thomias Drayven Senate Councilor. What a joke, he was a businessman who handled the unsavory associates of Senators and made money swindling them and pocketing the profit while making sure the Senators never noticed...

Pulling a data-chip from my gauntlet I copied the information on his business dealings and attached a note to the data-disk that read , "Thomias Drayven, I know of the things associated with your name I know that you are a criminal and I know that while I do not trust you you did once love my mother and I. In your own twisted way I think you still do. With these things being said, do not look for me, don not attempt to contact me, do not set foot on Eshan to visit what was once your home. You are Dar'buir to us both now. Mandalorian for no longer a father or husband. I am the best of three cultures now Echani, Mandalorian, and Jedi. I made my dream of becoming a Jedi happen and I did so without your money. Goodbye and May fortune rule over you, peace live in your heart and may the stars always watch over you.

Yours,

Celiana Drayven"

I signed it with our house crest, My Mandalorian clan tag, and my Jedi signet ring and left it on his desk with a video file of what I'd done to the slavers.

Looking at James I said, "I used to think it was so beautiful here....In any case I'm done here but I'll let you make the drive down to the lower levels James..." With that I walked out of his office and back towards the lift to wait for James. This had been needed but I didn't enjoy that last part either....

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James didn't care about Celiana's little heart to heart. She wasn't part of the Justice family--she hadn't requested to be or earned her way in. So until then, those affairs were her own to have, he supposed. So instead he began to wander around these offices. When he was a mere smuggler running guns, spice, and contraband through the outer rim, he had learned to pick more than a few pockets and to make things disappear. Golden nick nacks, over jeweled figurines, mini idols, and all sorts of that found their way into his pockets. How did they all fit in James' pockets? Easy, they were bigger on the inside.

The spacer sat at one of the desks with a sigh. He pressed a data card into one of the computer's ports. A few moments later he had easily cracked his way in. Even drunk , James was still a smuggler, a pirate, and a thief. And he didn't get to be one of the best in the business by being hap-hazard. It was all about intel. And that he did strip away. Records, passcodes, laws, patrols, schedules, names, all sorts of things. He would find a use for all of it. Every bit. When he was satisfied, the spacer rose from his chair and took a pull from his bottle, just in time as Celiana came back out.

'After ye, miss," the spacer said, waving his hand towards the door. "Here among the senate?" he gave a grunt, "I ain't callin the likes of this beauty. If ye wanna see beauty, come with me to the Crystal Forests on the poles of Soceras. They glitter, glimmer, and glow. Them crystals been growing for thousands of years. The snow is laiden with carbon and it compacts, locking in some of the radiation. Glows, shinning in the light. Nothin' quite like it. This,' he gave a wave to the building around them, "This ain't nothin' but corruption at its finest."

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

I smiled at James and said, "Agreed on the senate being corruption at its finest. Though you could have a bright future here James at least you don't lie about your motivations." Walking over to the lift I got in and looking over at him and said, "This time you're driving. Also I'll be having some of this." Reaching over I snatched James' bottle of whatever he was drinking and took a hefty swig before passing it back to him. While I was glad to be done with the Senate it had always made me want to drink and then take a shower after. The best thing was that I'd been able to provide Isabelle a way out of here. Pushing the button I began the lift ride down. I hoped James was as good a pilot drunk as he claimed...

[member="James Justice"]

 

[James Justice]

James gave a half step, feigning insult, "Miss, ye mistake me for a bastard. I be a scoundrel, a wastrel, a drunk, a murderer, a smuggler, and a pirate, but I never be a politician."

He let her have a pull from his bottle. That's what it was there for, after all, and he wasn't against sharing every now and then. The saddest part was, with the politics he knew the struggle to keep a planet up and running. He knew how hard it was to take care of his own, and unlike these fools, he was the ruler, the corruption, the business, and the voice of the people. He was a savior figure to them in a way, rescuing the people of Dal'Bor from the crime lords who preyed on them without mercy. They sold their daughters, enslaved their sons, and forced their fathers to fight petty wars for them. And that was just Dal'Bor. But, he couldn't see any excuse for this level of corruption.

The doors opened and the moment that James stepped out into the fresh air he felt like he needed to scrub himself clean of the filth that could not be seen. He staggered to the driver's seat, taking a few long gulps before revving the speeder to life.

"Alright, ye are giving me directions then," James said, slamming his foot on the gas and fishtailing into the traffic. Why go the speed limit? That was much too boring.

He looked down at the dashboard and gave a disgusted look, "Automatic? Huh, that's too bad."

His hands alternated between the bottle and the wheel. He swerved at the very last mili-second, barely missing speeders, buildings, and billboards many times. He was easily going twice the legal speed limit--and in the wrong speederlane most of the time. It was a serious miracle of the Force that they were not killed. At last he settled the ride down at their destination.

"Damn city needs to learn how to drive," James grumbled climbing out.

[member="Celiana"]

 

[Celiana]

As I got back into the speeder and closed my eyes seeing with The Force instead. I could feel the speeder accelerating to dangerous speeds and in the matter of minutes I realized I'd never let James drive me around again...We'd arrived whether he knew it or not in one of the lower rings of Triple Zero where strip clubs were actually a place of employment and I'd worked for a time...Stepping out of the speeder I looked at James and said, "I used to work down here so at least try to behave James. That being said feel free to hire anyone you want down here. I need to pay off a debt then I'll be good to call it a night and return you home to Soceras."

Heels clicking along the faux marble streets I made my way to a strip club called Nexus. Walking around to the side I found the hidden panel I'd been looking for and keyed in my old code for when I'd been working here. The panelled door slid open and a rather beefy security guard stepped in front of my path and said, "Miss Drayven never thought we'd see you back here. Please come in I'll show you towards the Mistress's office shortly. Though I'll have to insist your...guest wait outside." Chuckling I said, "Tiny good to see you. While I do understand the need for security I'm not going in if he's not. I'll have to insist on that." Looking up at him I stuck my lip out and gave him the pouty lips while also giving him a look that said we're both going in.

Tiny sighed and said, "Osik. Had to do the pouty lips huh? If I recall correctly that along with how you used to dance used to get you quite a few rather generous tips. Fine he's good but make sure he doesn't touch anyone he hasn't paid for..." Smiling I pushed up on my tiptoes in heels and gave him a kiss on the cheek then brushed past him and into the club. Tiny closed the hidden door and began to lead us up to my old boss's office...

[member="James Justice"]