Open Nar Shaddaa Erase My Number

[Briar Voss]

Despite disliking Nar Shaddaa for all of the obvious reasons, Briar's work tended to bring her to the Smuggler's Moon more often than not. It wasn't entirely surprising, given the nature of chasing down criminals, but still. They could have at least picked some place more aesthetically pleasing than what was essentially the asshole of the galaxy.

Complete with Hutt shaped hemorrhoids.

At the current moment, though, there was something far more pressing on Briar's mind: finding a place with a stiff drink. There was no shortage of grimy dive shitholes to choose from, but Briar had grown fond of a specific place during all of her stays here. The liquor was cheap and the foot was surprisingly edible, the latter being maybe the rarest find on the entire moon.

She strode into Shanko's, hands stuffed into the pockets of her jacket, scanning around the place to take stock of her surroundings while a barely lit cigarette hung lazily from her lips. It wasn't busy at the moment which Briar appreciated, though there was the typical Nar Shadaaian denizens you'd expect milling about.

Briar spotted a Toydarian named Blunto she recognized and gave him a nod, Blunto returning her greeting with a dirty toothed smile. He was a drug dealer and could get pretty much anything if the price was right. Including discreet information, which was generally all Briar procured from him. Generally.

Sliding into one of the numerous open seats at the bar, Briar put her cigarette out in a nearby ashtray before hailing down the bartender with a flash of credits and a playful smile.

Double Corellian whisky, neat. She said before sliding over a credit chit worth way more than any single drink would cost. And keep them coming.

Getting her drink, Briar took a short sip and let the warming feeling of alcohol grease her gears and relax her otherwise hidden tenseness. She didn't have a lot of time to waste, her current job was sort of time sensitive, but she needed the drink and hopefully someone around would be able to give her the lead that she needed.

 

[Z'Kair]

Blunto was shortly joined by another patron. Kai strutted into the scene, carrying some goods. Out in this part of the district, people more or less openly carried around spice. If you looked like you could defend yourself, nobody fucked with you. Which was hilarious considering how ‘adorable’ Kai looked. The eye patch, the stud, and earrings on his giant fox ears were the only characteristics that didn’t make him appear like a walking swanime character.

He plopped a bag down on the table, flashing Blunto a grin, “Scored you a few ounces more than you asked. Hopefully the peggats will reflect that,” Kai said. He put a cigarra to his lip and lit it, walking over to the bar to grab himself and his long time business partner Blunto some drinks. On Blunto’s tab, of course. It was when he caught the end of a female Fiani’s order. He cast her a sideways look, smirking, “Loaded and still a bad night? Tsk,” He quipped as he waited for his drink. He wasn’t a creeper - once he got his drinks, he would grab them and be on his way. Unless, of course, the cute chick actually engaged.

@Logan

 

[Briar Voss]

Or just the beginning of a great one, Briar replied, casting a sideways glance at the man who'd spoken to her. She couldn't help but let her fox-like ears flitter just a tad, she was surprised to see another Fiani here.

It was a subtle movement, one most wouldn't notice, but Z'Kair would be able to tell that his sudden appearance had taken Briar off guard, at least for a moment. Of all the gin joints in all the world, as it were.

What's someone like you doing working for a sleemo like Blunto? She asked, though her tone would make it obvious she was joking about the insult, though it was also one of those insults that was especially funny because it was true. He usually just has kids sling his dime bags.

Briar turned in her seat to face Z'Kair just as his drink was arriving, curious to see if he would stay and talk or just grab it and go. Most criminals weren't too keen on making small talk with strangers, so Briar figured it was best to not waste too much time.

I'm looking for someone on the uptake around here, She said, her way of seeing if Z'Kair actually had the info she was looking for or if he was just another drug dealer. Blunto charges too much for info, wonder if you might know something if the price was right.

Briar emptied her glass and placed it back on the bar where it was swiftly replaced by another. She dropped a few more creds onto the counter for a tip before taking her new drink, a subtle way of showing Z'Kair that she had money and was willing to spend it. Not always the wisest thing to do on Nar Shaddaa, but a surefire way to get people talking where they otherwise wouldn't.

Plus, she wasn't entirely concerned with Z'Kair trying to rob her. Even for a Fiani the guy landed far further on the adorable side of the scale than the intimidating one.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

“Well, someone like me got you talking to me, so I can’t be that bad,” He quipped back with a smirk. In truth, he had been robbing the Toydarian blind for years. He always got him diluted or tampered spice, but it was too carefully manufactured to be able to tell the difference. But he liked coming across as if he were some lowly runner instead of conning the con artists. She didn’t need to know any of that.

He glanced over at the credits she kept forking over, “I’m an economical date,” He said, “Buy me a few drinks and I’ll talk all you want,” Kai said. It was always difficult to tell whether he was just an average, naive nice guy or he was working up yet another scheme. However, anyone that had credits to throw around always had his attention. Her line of questions would clue him into what type of crook she was. So he was willing to play ball if it could ultimately benefit him. And it didn’t hurt that she was easy on the eye.

@Logan

 

[Briar Voss]

Briar couldn't help but let a smirk flitter across her face at Z'Kair's first quip. He wasn't entirely wrong, it was hard for her to play coy when she was the one who was looking for information.

But do you actually have anything worth saying is the real question, I imagine. She said, taking out her pack of cigarettes and offering Z'Kair one before plopping her own into her mouth. But I'm nothing if not a risk taker.

Briar motioned to the bartender again, but this time not for herself. Get him whatever he wants for the next little while. Briar said idly, pondering her next question. There were a lot of ways to ask it but far less ways to get the information she wanted without divulging too much.

Nar Shaddaa was aa dangerous place, after all, especially when you asked too many questions.

I'm looking for someone, daughter of low ranking royalty in the core. My intel says she might have fallen in with a bad crowd and gotten in way over her head. Rumor has it Vizar Gellek might be involved, but he's incredibly hard to find. Know anything about that?

Gellek was a name most people avoided saying out loud on Nar Shaddaa. Meanest mother fucker this side of Hutt Space with a violence streak as long as his rap sheet. Most people on the Smuggler's Moon would be aware of him, but far fewer would know the type of things Briar was looking for.

Even less would be willing to tell her. She hoped Z'Kair wasn't going to be another dead end, but Briar wasn't holding her breath.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai always appreciated it when someone offered a cigarra. He gave a tip of his head and took, lighting it. He ordered himself a Ryloth whiskey, puffing on the cigarra as she spoke. By the time she was done, she would realize his ears flattened to his skull and his hair stood on end. Kai knew that name, and knew it very well. It was impossible to curb the guttural growl that reverberated in his throat. The drink came and he slid it back towards her, that nonchalant smirk on his face wiped right off.

“You’re right, I don’t have anything worth your time,” He said curtly. He knew all about Vizar Gellek, of course. His reaction also suggested Kai would like nothing more than to bring him and his enterprise down. However, the risks were high and the payload was probably not worth it.

“Consider the daughter dead and go about your way,” Kai said darkly, moving to leave, “Not worth losing that pretty head of yours sticking it into places it doesn’t belong,” He added as he walked off.

@Logan

 

[Briar Voss]

Briar didn't say anything as she noticed Z'Kair's demeanor change quite drastically. His ears flattening and the growl that bubbled in his throat didn't go unnoticed, her eyes narrowing slightly as she too puffed on her cigarette as thoughts whizzed in her mind.

While she figured her name drop could be inflammatory, she didn't expect it to seemingly end their conversation outright. If her read was right, Briar couldn't let Z'Kair slip through her fingers so swiftly. He was the only glimmer of progress she'd managed to dig out of the muck and grime of Nar Shaddaa up until now.

With fox-like swiftness, she would reach out and try to grab Z'Kair by the forearm, not in a threatening or aggressive way, but in the way you would see in the holonet movies where someone was desperately trying to get a person to stay when everything around them was telling them to go.

I think you do, She said, her voice quiet, her amber eyes on the verge of pleading. And I think at the end of the day, we both want the same thing. Help me, and I get what I want, and maybe you're in a position to fill a sudden and unexpected power vacuum.

At the end of the day, Briar would have much preferred the criminality that Gellek perpetuated in the galaxy to end with him. But given the dire circumstances, she would more than accept someone less.. entirely vile and fucked up taking his throne.

Please.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai was surprised when she grasped his arm. Normally this would have gotten a strong reaction, but he could tell right away this was different. He paused, turning to regard her as she made her case. The pleading in her eyes, the look on her face, and he could judge which angle she was taking. And it was not on Gellek’s side. The Fiani was silent for a moment, the previously raised hair lowering and his tail dropping from where it was twitching before.

“I’m not in the trafficking business,” He said icily as he looked at her. He may have been a crook, and he may have even indirectly helped with slavery or trafficking, but he drew the line in active participation. Never again.

He jutted his chin towards the exit, implying that it wasn’t safe to talk here. If she joined him, he would lead her a fair distance away from the cantina and into an alley with a few dumpsters and nothing else, “I meant what I said about that girl..” He said as he lit a cigarra and puffed on it, “She’s as good as dead,” Kai met her gaze, “His network runs across multiple planets in Hutt space, but his HQ is actually in the Core,” He said with a hollow laugh, “His biggest benefactor is a particular Senator. Without that money flooding in, Gellek’s entire enterprise would collapse,” Kai studied her calmly, “You have to decide what your ultimate play is…take down Gellek or save the girl. You won’t do both.”

He didn’t add that there was a chance that the low ranking royalty had a hand in handing their daughter over to begin with. The girl in front of him didn’t seem as messed up as those that were born into squalor and deceit. She would have to have the harsh realizations on her own.

@Logan

 

[Briar Voss]

It reassured Briar that Z'Kair might have been the perfect person for her to have ran into when he mentioned he wasn't in the trafficking business. It was the way that he said it so assuredly, as if the very idea of being a slaver was the most detestable thing he'd ever heard that made Briar believe he wasn't lying.

I believe she's still alive. Briar said plainly, returning to the comfort of her drink, finishing it quickly as she followed Z'Kair out of the bar and to somewhere with less prying ears. Call it a hunch.

Truth be told - well, she wasn't necessarily going to tell the truth here - Briar more than just believed the girl was still alive. The Force had brought her to Nar Shaddaa and she trusted her gut feeling that not only was she still alive, she was still on the Smuggler's Moon.

But she wasn't going to just say that. Too many people were wary when it came to Jedi, especially criminals. She needn't divulge everything to Z'Kair - not until she really needed to.

You seem to know a lot. You have some run ins with Gallek? A question born of curiosity more than anything, though if her new.. friend had bad blood with Gellek, it would be good to know now rather than later.

The gravity of Z'Kair's claim about the senator wasn't lost on Briar, her brow furrowed intently as her mouth twisted into a grimace. I can't say I'm surprised. Politics is rife with scum and villainy. Although, that will complicate things. Senators make everything a lot more messy.

Briar sighed as she reached again for her pack of cigarettes, still offering one to Z'Kair before lighting her own. Not the best vice in the world, but they helped her think. And right now, there was a lot to think about.

We can save that decision until it needs to be made. For now, I think we should pursue the girl. Gellek likely won't be far behind. Briar blew a large plume of smoke from her nostrils, her gaze searching to meet Z'Kair's. You must know a good place to start - time isn't really on our side here.

@Sreeya

 

[Z'Kair]

Kai stared at her as she asked her questions. He was notably silent when she asked if he had run ins with Gallek. At the next series of her questions, he simply crossed his arms over his chest, blowing smoke out his nostrils. A grin played at his lips as he took another drag, “Scum and villainy?” He repeated her words, “Are you some kinda undercover Core World Ranger?” He asked with a quirked brow. She was asking entirely too many questions and he felt like some sort of informant.

“I know some shit, but you’re going to have to cough up more on your end,” Kai said, his eye narrowing, “Who are you, who are you looking for, why?” This was a risky job, and if she was asking about Gellek, then she knew just enough, but not enough to keep from throwing the name around.

Kai wasn’t going to budge until she gave up more information.

@Logan

 

[Briar Voss]

Briar's tail fwipped in insult when Z'Kair accused of being a Ranger. In her experience, most of the would-be do gooders were ineffectual at best and downright corrupt at worst. In their most ideal form they might be the kind of person she was, but that was a pipedream as far as she was concerned. Cops were useless and that's the main reason she even had to do what it was that she did.

I'm no Ranger, She said, her eyes betraying the annoyance Briar was doing her best to cover up. But that's fair. I don't expect you to just take everything on blind faith.

Sighing and rubbing her temples with one of her hands, Briar shook her head as she decided to be as honest as she figured was necessary. There were still things she wasn't holding back, of course, but they were things that needed to stay hidden. At least for now.

I took a job to save this girl, but I've been on the hunt for this guy for a long time. His trafficking operations spread far and wide, as you know. From here to the core, if there's someone sold into slavery, there's a good chance Gallek has had a hand in it.

Of all of the nefarious activities that occurred in the galaxy, slavery was by and large the one Briar found the most detestable. Drug smuggling, theft, even murder paled in comparison in her eyes. There was nothing more foul than stripping someone's freedom and forcing them into bondage. To her, anyone who perpetuated that cycle was a monster. And good guys, well, they killed monsters.

What I want is to remove him from the equation. Turn his operation into nothing but cinders, to free anyone I can that has fallen into his clutches. To put it simply, I want to kill him.

Briar paused for a moment, her eyes focusing on Z'Kair in an attempt to discern what effect her words had on him, if any. She hoped that he would see that what she said was the truth, and hoped that he wasn't some kind of secret agent for Gellek and would try to turn on her now that she'd confessed her goals.

She'd hate to have to kill another Fiani.

I'm not sure what more I can offer you, really. But name it and I will do my best to give it to you.

@Sreeya