Open Nar Shaddaa Echoes of the Past

[Perun]

With the rush of the escape subsiding, Perun leaned against the cool stone of the alcove, a faint sheen of sweat on his brow beneath his long silver hair. His golden eyes twinkled with mischief and satisfaction, even as the hard edge of Telly's blaster trained on his temple. The faint hum of the weapon's energy cell was a sharp contrast to the distant din of the auction house, a grim reminder of the precarious situation they were in.

"My dear friend," the Ma'alkerrite began, his voice smooth and unruffled, a stark contrast to the tense atmosphere. He appeared unbothered by the weapon pointed at his head. "You seem to have forgotten that we are not dealing with a charity here. Bagga Bagga isn't in the business of making friends or preserving reputations. His only loyalty lies with the weight of one's credits. Trust me, the moment you have something else he desires, all will be forgiven."

Perun's fingers brushed lightly over the wooden box hidden beneath his cloak, his senses attuned to the gentle pulse of the Force within the artifact. He could feel its power, resonating in harmony with his own. A torrent of possibilities washed over him, painting a picture of countless hidden pathways through the stars. For a moment, Perun was lost in the sensation, his mind traversing the unfathomable depths of the galaxy.

"Anyway," the Jedi continued, snapping back to the present, his gaze drifting to Ceris, "The lovely lady does raise an intriguing point. If this map truly works as Bagga Bagga claimed, then we could be on the precipice of untold discoveries, wouldn't that be something?" The playful banter, the lifeblood of Perun's personality, was back in full swing, filling the alcove with an air of lightheartedness that seemed to cut through the tension.

"Let me assure you," the Knight said, turning back to the disgruntled Pau'an, "I didn't take this artifact lightly, nor am I ignorant of the potential consequences. But I believe the risk is worth it. And about your predicament," the Ma'alkerrite paused, a devilish grin spreading across his face, "how about a trade? The potential treasures we find on our newly charted courses could surely compensate for a pack of hounds, wouldn't you agree?"

With a wink and a dismissive wave of his hand, Perun stepped away from the wall, his attention turning to the wooden box once more. "Now, shall we see what secrets this artifact holds? After all, we don't have all millennium."

@Altaria @Fantasy Liver

 

[Telly Udon]

Telly was getting irritated with the upstart youth. As a long-standing officer, he knew the best way of communicating with young knuckleheads was clear instructions, simple words, and a firm tone. Otherwise, they'd walk all over you. Telly knew this firsthand - he'd been a knucklehead once, many centuries ago.

"My boy, you've seemed to have laid your cards on the table so allow me to do the same. You're clearly a Jedi or, at least, close to it. And I'm with the Resistance. I've killed Imperial Knights and I've shot at Sith and I intend to do more of the same. I have to believe that we are at least somewhat aligned on that matter."

"But I've been fighting Imperials since the old days. By that, I mean since the original Alliance. This isn't a replica." Telly continued, pointing to his antique Rebel Fleet Trooper helmet that adorned his head.

"And that means I've been around the block enough to know that promises of future treasure on an untested hyperspace route won't be enough for me or my men. Rebellions are always one or two moves away from being wiped out, which means I need definite resources now, not maybe resources later. And given that I just spent all my credits on a pack of attack hounds that I can't access because of you, I do believe the decent thing for you to do is make that right with me somehow. And I won't help you any further until that point has been addressed. Otherwise, I might be so inclined to fire my blaster in the air and let Bagga Bagga's men know exactly where we're hiding." Telly concluded, aiming his blaster up to illustrate his point, figuring that the Jedi was capable or resourceful enough to be able to find some way to replace the lost salky hound pack for him.

@Aberforth @Altaria

 

[Ceris Odrosess]

Ceris stepped back upon the Pau'an pulling his blaster out. She immediately put her own on her hip to grab her own but stopped before doing so, knowing it would scare him into shooting the Jedi. Although she thought that may be the most useful for her; the Pau'an gets rid of the Jedi and Ceris would get rid of him, leaving her with the artifact. The only problem was that she would then have to find another force user to fetch the contents of the wooden box, and they may not be as easy to work with than this one.

"If it's merely credits you want then I can be of assistance. she quickly chimed in as telly aimed his blaster in the sky. "May I propose a sort of three-way trade here? I'm the CEO of Azura Systems. I can easily provide you and your rebels what you need."

Turning to the Jedi she continued "and in return for paying him, I believe it's fair that then I am the recipient of the treasures found through that box." She relaxed herself, taking her hand off her own blaster and crossing her arms while eyeing the both of them. "Does that seem fair for everyone? Questions, comments, concerns? We have to get out of here quickly."

Tags: @Aberforth @Fantasy Liver

 

[Perun]

The sweet aroma of the distant food stalls intertwined with the effluvium of nervous sweat and hot blaster oil, filling Perun's nostrils as he leaned back against the cool, craggy wall of the alcove. It was a heady combination, a sensory remembrance of danger. Yet, there was a certain thrill to it, a blood-quickening excitement that made his Ma'alkerrite veins sing.

Perun considered Telly's gruff words and Ceris's business-like proposition, a slight smile curving his lips. His multifaceted eyes flickered between the Pau'an and the young executive, the usual playful twinkle replaced by a hardened glint of careful calculation. He didn't mind the bluster, nor did he chafe at the potential profit Ceris sought to extract. It was part of the game, and Perun had always been a player.

"Ah, I see. 'The certainties of the now versus the promises of the future.' A timeless conundrum," the Jedi said, his voice rich with amusement, his eyes scanning the market bustling beyond their alcove. His gaze traced the pattern of the crowd, the eager and the greedy and the desperate, all wandering through the maze of uncertainty, chasing their own pieces of 'now.'

"Very well, Ancient One," the Ma'alkerrite began, turning back to the Pau'an, his voice laced with a palpable gravity, "I respect your experience and your position. Rebellions do indeed run on the fuel of immediate resources. We'll figure something out, you have my word."

Turning to Ceris, he studied her for a moment, then slowly nodded. "And lady, that is quite a generous offer. However, as intriguing as this three-way trade sounds, the contents of this box, and the potential secrets it holds, are not something to be passed around like trinkets at an auction. The Force guides us, it doesn't follow the highest bidder."

The playful banter was back in his voice, tempering the severity of his words. "So, here's the deal," he added, his fingers tracing the edges of the wooden box, "You help Telly with his immediate needs, I'll provide my assistance in your search for knowledge. As for the treasures, well, they go where the Force wills. And if the Force wills it to be your pocket, who am I to argue?"

As he concluded, the Jedi Knight tipped an imaginary hat to both of his companions, his eyes gleaming with a mischievous light. With a playful bow, he gestured towards the distant marketplace. "Now, shall we venture forth and meet our destinies?"

@Altaria @Fantasy Liver

 

[Telly Udon]

"Azura systems, eh? Well that's jolly good news because the truth is, I'd probably be spending them with you arms manufacturers anyways. Maybe I could even get a friends and family discount if this goes well, wot wot!" Telly chuckled, holstering his blaster. The threat to his resistance cell has passed. While the loss of the hounds was an annoying distraction, he would be suitably compensated. And now he had a Jedi and a CEO connection to boot! Not bad for some haggling and stunning a Crolute!

"Let's get on with it then gents."

@Aberforth @Altaria

 

[Ceris Odrosess]

Ceris wasn't completely satisfied with Perun's answer but she'd make no qualms about it. The way he put it, she wasn't guaranteed to obtain what they found, it was up to the force. It sounded like every scam trick in the book. He could easily just grab something and say it isn't meant for her because the force wills it so.

"and if the force wills it into your pockets? Surely you don't plan on claiming the force wants to give out our findings, since you are the only one here that can supposedly tell. So I say whatever ends up in either of your pockets, will make their way into mine." She smiled and turned towards Telly "I think that's the best way we'll all be satisfied, and I'll be more than happy to assist you in your endeavors as long as we see it through."

There would be some audible commotion in the busy streets, more than usual that is. Ceris' ears perked up "I believe that's our cue to leave. I'll make my way back on my own ship, I'm sure you two have your own means of transportation. We can meet on New Alderaan, no one will be able to track down that box there."

@Aberforth @Fantasy Liver

 

[Perun]

With Ceris's somewhat disgruntled acceptance and Telly's amicable agreement, the compact between the three took on a sense of firm finality. The rising cacophony from the market resonated against the damp stone walls of the alcove, a fervent symphony of confusion and panic that underscored the urgent necessity of their departure.

"Oh, my dear," the Ma'alkerrite chuckled lightly at her thinly veiled suspicion, his gaze warming with genuine amusement. "We're all bound by the whims of the Force, one way or the other. But worry not, I promise I won't be filling my pockets with relics and antiques any time soon. Not my style, really."

As he emerged from the shadows, he turned to give his two new associates a playful salute. "Until New Alderaan then. May the Force be with us."

The haphazard tapestry of the marketplace unfolded before Perun, a riotous kaleidoscope of colors and sounds. His senses absorbed the familiar thrum of the bazaar, the intertwining threads of commerce and chicanery that defined this nerve center of the galactic fringes. He smiled at the charming chaos, feeling the cool breeze on his skin as he sauntered away from the alcove.

His ship was stationed at a discreet distance from the hubbub, a silent sentinel amidst the chaos. Its familiar silhouette, shrouded by the dark, was a comforting sight. As he approached, the ship hummed softly to life, the hull glistening under the distant lights of the marketplace.

Perun let out a low sigh of satisfaction, a gentle exhalation of relief, and the tension that had knotted his muscles ever so slightly, began to unfurl. He was proud of how the scenario had turned out. This was a game well played, a stage expertly maneuvered. He was indeed a Jedi, not just by the virtue of the Force, but by his guile, and his ability to navigate the winding pathways of the galaxy's grand chessboard.

As he boarded his ship, he allowed himself a moment of quiet reflection. The hushed hum of the engines provided a soothing accompaniment to his thoughts, a calming drone that welcomed him back home. His heart throbbed with anticipation for the journey that lay ahead, the Force guiding his steps towards the endless unknown.

@Altaria @Fantasy Liver

//END?

Spoiler

Quick TDLR summary of the thread for future reference

In the kaleidoscopic chaos of the cosmos, a triumvirate of curious companions, the sagacious Ma'alkerrite Jedi Knight Perun, the cunning corporate queen Ceris, and the grizzled freedom fighter Telly, found themselves in the opulent court of the Hutt magnate Bagga Bagga. Upon his overflowing menagerie of artefacts was a humble wooden box, a trove of celestial secrets that housed an ancient kyber-powered hyperspace map, a whispered promise of unseen Jedi lanes etched in the fabric of the galaxy.

With audacious bravado, Perun commandeered the force, stirring a tempest of pandemonium to cloak his acquisition of the coveted box, leaving Bagga Bagga bereft of his prismatic prize. This unscheduled diversion rankled Telly, robbing him of the opportunity to add a pack of salky hounds to his ranks, a purchase that had already nibbled a considerable dent in his coffers.

Amidst the swirling maelstrom of negotiations, Ceris, ever the entrepreneurial opportunist, offered to line Telly's lightened pockets in exchange for a stake in the potential cosmic cache. Perun, ever the moral compass, acquiesced, stipulating that the Force would preside over the distribution, weaving its ethereal will to ensure that the benefits of the map were for the betterment of all, not the greed of one.

In the tick-tock of a Naboo sun dial, the agreement was sealed, and the trio dispersed, escaping the shadow of Bagga Bagga's ire. With a rendezvous set for the verdant expanses of New Alderaan, they set off separately, steering their starships into the boundless abyss.