New Vertica

Jaoco's orange and brown eyes blinked in surprise as she considered Kolga's words.In truth, she did not like the politics of the Cartel game. She much prefered to run her own businesses and keep to herself without causing any ripples. She was a constantly nervous sort of person, family history being what it is, and she was ever wary and anxious, especially when it came to politics.A common nervous habit of hers, she wiggled her hands. What would you have me say? What would you have me do once there? Her eyes darted over Kolga's admirable features. I am honored you ask me to accompany you and I am ready to aid in this cause, but a great many things must be considered beforehand. When do you intend to leave for your gathering?

It was at a time like this that Jaoco wished she had her beautiful Kane beside her for support. She understood what Kolga meant, but all she could see was the great hutt wanting to use her for his own gain. At the same time, refusing him could be a huge mistake. It was always better to be in good graces. But she couldn't very well stick her neck out for him without assurances.

Great Kolga, I would be honored to aid you in such a way. What are the details of our exchange? Jaoco could think of no more discreet or polite a way to ask what her compensation would be for helping him gain more power.

Jaoco could not help but smile, Kolga's laugh was contagious. It put her at ease slightly.But he still spoke in vague terms...how did she know he would keep his word?

Having allies on the council is beneficial indeed, great Kolga. I would be pleased to aid you in this. But I need reassurances...I cannot afford to make decisions as you do.

Fargas grunted as the transport juked, causing his larger frame to collide with the inside of the infernal container. As the craft bumped Steffo opened his eyes.


“I dunno hows ya can sleep.”

“It was more a reprieve. I was thinking.”

No reply came, but Steffo saw the whites of fargas teeth as he grinned. Then the ex miner shook his head. The last bump had signalled that the craft had entered the atmosphere of whatever planet they were on. Steffo stretched out with the force, closing his eyes, he then nodded to himself. The atmosphere was breathable judging by the large amount of beings he could detect; it was a very built up populace, beings a almost living on top of each other. He sensed despair, anger, greed, this was a dark place. Not a planet he would chose to linger upon and it’s tang was familiar to him. He had a feeling he had been here before.


“Are you ready?”

“Fer wat?”

Came the reply.


“Freedom.”

“Bout darned time.”

Steffo reached down taking the familiar cool hilt that fit neatly in his palm. It was time to set his old friend to work. He ignited the blade. A cool blue illuminating himself and the cargo, he then rotated the liflghtsabers point toward the metal container and the metal began to hiss and smoke as he sunk the blade deeper. Having no idea of what lay beyond he was careful to feel and orientate his Jedi weapon, slowly he inched the ancient blade around through the container, leaving a molten snail trail, minutes after he retrieved the weapon, extinguishing the plasma blade, he then rocked back on his heels and slammed his left shoulder into the metal. It screeched like nails on a chalk board. He repeated the process and with a clang followed the makeshift flap and went tumbling out onto the floor of the cargo hold. Fargas followed choosing to step over the sprawled frame of the Jedi with his familiar grin. Steffo righted himself, they both had to stoop but it was better than the cramped confines of the box.
Steffo and Fargas braced themselves against the cargo hold wall as the craft bumped as it made contact with the ground, signalling Fargas to assume the same crouched position, then as the loading bay door began to open Steffo closed his eyes. Tendrils raced forth into the unsuspecting mind; there. He tapped gently, there was a bump. Then the two rose and walked down the ramp over the unconscious Steffo pulled the man into the hold and lay him up against one of the containers.

“We must move with haste. Stay here. If he comes around find a way to occupy him.”

This wasn’t favourable behaviour, but this wasn’t a favourable time, he had to make the best of the situation and also make the most of the opportunity. He turned, then, his attention toward the cockpit hatch and following a brief moment of concentration the hatch responded. Steffo dropped his hand by his side and made his way to the command console. He set about activating the long wave transmitter. He hoped the code for whom he sought remained the same. Once tuned in, any would hear the crackle, blips and chirps of erratic static. However the deep space frequency hid a code for those who knew it. Steffo tapped away spending his own code of static in short bursts. Once done, he knew he would be found. He returned from the cockpit and exited the craft to find Fargas standing over the body of pilot, Steffo arched an eyebrow.


“You says occupy I’m. “

“I didn’t expect you to knock him senseless.”

Fargas shrugged then helped Steffo move the unconscious man again.


“I dun see what’s a matter wiv my way un yours, cept mine was more physical.”

Steffo just shook his head. Then the two turned and with Steffo leading they headed across the landing area into the maw of the pit that was Nar Shadaa. Steffo knew he’d recognised the foul stench. Not perfect, but a good place to proceed with anonymity.
Making a turn they found themselves thrown into the main throng of the hustle and bustle of New Vertica, today seemed to be an open market, force only knows what the traders were selling, but guaranteed it would all be black listed contraband no doubt. Steffo began to move through the hub bub of denizen and visitor alike when he was bumped into. He felt a small sharp scratch on his right arm and wheeled around. Yet the being whom he had clashed with had vanished. He was greeted with a thronging mass of market purveyors. He glanced down at his arm and retrieved a small device no larger then a third of his thumb. As he retrieved it from his arm the needle retracted and a countdown appeared on the device. When it reached zero it turned green and the device, which Steffo realised was a small container, now popped open, within was a small ear bud.

So Wraith, no wonder the name given to the mysterious agent. Steffo had never met Wraith before, no doubt lay in his mind that very few had. Wraith was a master spy and intelligence operative who had worked with the Jedi and the Alliance for many years. Never seen, never heard. Only Wraith’s work was known, the results of which were always impressive.
Taking the bud he slipped it into his ear and was greeted by a gravelly voice that was heavily synthesis clearly to hide whom ever it was whom spoke.

::Welcome back to the land of the living Knights Rancis. Apologies for the manner in which we meet. One can not be too careful, I am sure you understand that I had to validate you were who you claimed.

As agreed I have followed your request. You will find a vessel more than capable of facilitating your needs, all you requested is aboard and at your disposal.

Now onto the favor in return. Well less of a favor. You are you see dead and it is the understanding of the Jedi spy network that you remain that way. You will receive no paper work, no formal reintroduction and communication for now will proceed over a secure channel.

It is the belief of the order that your current status and set of skills can be of much use.::

Wraith then explained about the target and the objective and the operation. The information stream began with Diamonte, a Jedi Steffo knew and held in esteem. What followed was further lead on Adimus Matango who was now as it was believedifficult to be a possible threat. Notes and descriptions on his activities and last where abouts led to Dantooine. A description make and model of craft he was believed to have left the system on was relayed by a Jedi Knight named Athos.

A myriad of thoughts crossed his mind. Predominantly, why and what, what had happened. Adi was or at least had been a paragon. Jedi Watchman and lead.

Steffo's lips formed a grim thin line. The transmission ended and Steffo crunched the eaebud beneath his bootedeath foot. He turned to regard Fargas who smiled and nodded.

"Go, yous got that fire a burnin. I sees it. Go fine yaw purpose gain."

Steffo nodded then exchanged a grasp with the man before turning and winding his way toward the refugee sector.

B13S had become a fixture in the place over several hours, each time turning away waitress after waitress as shifts changed and the next rotation came to check on the inhabitants of the place. The young woman might even have glanced upon his motionless form as she had made her way back to the private areas of the establishment.

The manager of the establishment, a Twi'lek male, had received several complaints from waitresses with whom he sat in their section, for the night, and finally the decision had come to aid the bum out of Paradise.

A Trandoshan, Human, and Gamorrean bouncer had been routed to B13S' table. Its sensors turned up collecting data about the pair, before it stood beside them. B13S towered at just over 2 meters tall, and its frame was daunting enough to look akin to heavy armor.

"You are going to need to move along, pal, or start spending some money."

The human spoke for the other two, since it was more likely to be understood by the human shaped figure. B13S glanced about, and moved his hand forward, in a customary greeting fashion.

"It was not my intent to cause issue with your employees..."

The human looked at the hand, and gave a sneer and raised his eyes up to the man who was in full heavy armor.

"Big man, coming fully armored into a bar, with no intent on causing issue? Yeah...right. Get out of here you coward."

B13S felt almost...amused...(it gained data that was relevant to its current assessments of organic beings' reaction to itself) by the human's comments about its being, it was quite concerned with how other beings reacted to it, maybe even to the point of vanity, if such a thing were possible without real emotional responses.

"No, no, good sir. You're mistaken. I'm, what you would call, a droid. This metal here is my skin, not my protection, it is by design that it is more resistant than yours, but not by my intent. You'll find that you do not offer many things here that I am interested in, but if the time arises that I must pay to enter this establishment, then I will do so. Until that time, I will refrain from leaving, and will continue to sit..."

B13S gestured to the chair it had just risen from, a very sturdy steel thing, with virtually no support, were he organic his muscles would need some serious attention.

"Here, and until such a time as I infringe upon a Common Law or planetary policy you may take your leave."

Again, it gestured, this time in a shooing motion, like what one would give to a pest or an annoying pet. B13S could detect the rising body temperatures of the trio, it had struck a nerve. It was what it had intended. It was currently learning to manipulate human emotion with stimuli. It was most intriguing, as it were.

The Gammorean, being the most hot headed, took a swing first. A wild, strong blow towards the sternum. B13S had already calculated that with their bare hands, none could damage his exceptional frame. It allowed the fist to clash against him, unimpeded. There was no hollow clang that followed, it struck with a firm 'thud', denoting the plethora of hardware that lurked below the frame, enough that no hollow points sang their presence with the current force being applied.

B13S did not budge, it was amused once again (pleased by the variables it had estimated aligning with reality).

"You may go now."

It reiterated its earlier assertion, before it turned to resume sitting where it had been.

The question was quite the philosophical one. It was perfectly aware that most of the galaxies inhabitants regarded droids as smart tools, with a sort of individuality like a domesticated animal might have, and it might be proper timing to answer this in such a way where they could debate the finer details of such a question, but B13S reasoned it was not, and also had a high priority assumption that she was not that philosophical in nature, especially, now given her arrival from the particular room she was in.

"Let us just say that I possess many capabilities and am a person not a tool, whilst still being what constitutes a droid. I believe, that will be the simplest answer I can give, unless you have time to go into the nuanced definitions of what constitutes a person...But I suppose, this is probably not the venue for such a conversation. I would be very interested in being near to you, however. If I may be blunt, the force is a mystery to me, and I would very much like to observe it...I could lie, and fabricate a grandiose scheme, but you seem like the type whom respects honesty."

It ignited some soft blue lights inside his visual sensory array, to contrast the lights of the bar, and provide some sort of expression for itself. It knew that organics loved sharing emotional responses.

"Could that be arranged? "

Fel stood on the landing pad, letting the winds blow through his hair, his eyes closed, letting it all wash over him for the moment. Never had he been so happy to be out of a ship and on terra firma. He had waved off the ugnaught deck attendant who scuttled over to him, seeking payment for fuelling service or possible repairs to be undertaken. It would be a cold day on Mustafar before Galdaart paid for this heap to be resurrected. As soon as he was able, he'd walk away from this mess, and it could be someone else's problem.

Still... it would only be so long before someone with what passed for authority came looking for docking fees, so it would be best if whatever had to happen here, happened fast. Feeling a fresh wave of nausea wash over him, he gripped the landing strut for support until it passed, clutching an arm around his mid-section in an attempt to hold himself together.

Presently, there were footfalls on the landing ramp, and Fel turned to meet them...