Liberty or coin?

[Vardon Galland]

Nar Shaddaa. Local time: 14:30.

In his quest to follow the bidding of the light, Vardon Galland found himself on Nar Shaddaa. He didn't hold the planet in very high regard as the stench from the misery on the planet could be smelled as soon as they entered its orbit. The Padawan's friends, however, seemed to have found their way to, well, whatever it is that suited their fancy. At this point, Galland suspected that it might be easier for him not to learn what they were up to.

Without much direction, the tall man simply strolled the streets of the planet without any care for where he would end up. If the force wanted him here, he was certain that he would stumble upon whatever it was that needed his attention sooner or later. The Padawan let his hand travel to his jacket from time to time as he made his way through the streets, making sure that he could still feel his lightsaber under his lightly beige coloured jacked. He didn't really expect anyone to successfully sneak up on him, but it was always best to be safe.

The streets weren't to crowded yet. While the planet was a endless pit of crime and corruption, there was still a notable difference in how heavily populated an area was when people worked and when they didn't, although Vardon had a feeling that time was becoming less relevant on the moon that never slept.

It was not long until the Thyferran heard a most horrid scream around the corner which prompted him to rush towards what he percieved to be the origin of the scream. Perhaps it was what brought him to the planet? Perhaps this was where the light would be best served? Upon rounding the corner, Vardon could see that a couple of thugs were carrying away a struggling Nautolan screaming for help. The Deveronian thugs both wore an orange insignia which looked very much like a horn but but just as the Padawan started running towards them, they took off in a speeder along with their victim in the trunk.

Even though he was convinced that the light could make him to incredible things, flying was not one of those things, and certainly not fast enough to compete with a speeder. The Padawan soon lost track of the speeder but was determined to help the poor fellow who was kidnapped.

There were no obvious way for him to do it, however but his gut told him to ask around in the shops nearby, and so he did. The young man entered a droid shop which seemed rather quiet at the time. He looked around to see if anyone inside could be of any assistance.

@Rexvis Zaetoran

 

[Rexvis Zaetoran]

In a small droid shop located in the deeper parts of Nar Shadaa, there was a Kel Dor male working a long shift. Having spent most of his morning and afternoon repairing protocol droidsand wiping memories or re writing the code to many of their processing units. The Kel Dor wasn't as skilled in his craft as more experienced mechanics, though he knew the basics and somehow was always able to get the job done.

Ko Atoln is a 6 foot tall being, humanoid in nature aside from requiring an antiox breath mask to live away from his homeworld, a mask which in many ways was more of a hindrance than anything else. As he worked, his black orb like eyes scanned over the circuit boards of a protocol droid that was shut down and laying upon a work bench. The droid was having issues with his voice calibrator, and had been unable to speak in any capacity, quite un acceptable for such a droid. Ko atol reached for a soldering tool with his large four fingered hands, grabbing the object and pulling it over to his work station.

Sparks began to fly and the buzzing sound of the machine could be heard as he worked, splicing wires and re soldering them into the correct spots on the droid circuit boards. A few sparks began to fly and a small plume of electrical smoke rose into the air, but by the time that Ko Atoln had finished the droid was repaired. He re booted the robotic entity and awaited for it to come back online.

While he was waiting. He heard the door to the shop slide open. He turned around to see who had entered, laying his eyes on the man with a soft gaze. Speaking out, his voice would be muffled slightly and it sounded as though he were speaking through auto-tune, such was one of the side effects of his mask. "Hello, welcome to Vavaro's shop for droids and droid accessories. How may I assist you?" As he finished his sentence, the droid he had been working on sprang to life, it could be seen just over the Kel Dor's shoulder. Sitting up and turning its head sporadically while speaking in the usual protocol droid way. "Oh my. I seem to have been kidnapped."

Without looking back at the droid Ko reached a hand behind his back and switched the droid back off, it's shoulders slumped and it's head dropped as it lost power. "Sorry about that, sometimes they like to interrupt the conversations of more sophisticated beings."

This comment suggests that Ko Atoln doesn't think very highly of droids.

 

[Vardon Galland]

While the Padawan felt rather rushed, knowing that time was of the essence, it would hardly show as he managed to keep his rather stoic and calm demeanor. An observant eye, would however be able to take note of his relatively heavy breath as well as his eyes quickly darting back and forth as he entered the shop.

A Kel Dor approached the young man and welcomed him, which was rather usual during quiet days like these. But this man didn't seem like a normal mechanic at all. Instead of the normal flab which many of the alien's fellow professionals had gathered over the years, this one seemed to be rather fit. While Vardon couldn't think of anything pointing towards the man being a warrior, he did seem to carry himself like one.

Despite the rather serious situation which he found himself in, the Thyferran couldn't help but smirk at the exchange between the droid and the mechanic in front of him. "That's quite alright. My name is Vardon Galland." the young man announced his name with a sense of pride as he extended his arm for the alien to shake. The Padawan enjoyed being less formal with people, certainly, but this person was a rather new acquaintance and without knowing the man, he felt that it would be more prudent to remain more moderate for the time being.

After the short introductions, Vardon felt like the matter on hand needed to be brought up. His voice got a slightly more pressured tone to it as he spoke up next "A Nautolan was just kidnapped outside. She was taken by two Deveronians wearing orange marks formed like cones or horns." The young man found himself leaning forth towards the Kel Dor as he spoke, subconsciously conveying a sense of urgency. "I need to find where they went, a base or something. I guess I'll also need a way to get there, my ship is 20 minutes away by foot" he said while searching for any kinds of reactions from the man with the mask.

Galland almost felt a little stupid for asking a mere shopkeep for this kind of help. But he had a good feeling about this person and was sure that the light would guide him to where he needed to be. With that, it was quite clear that the young man was rather hopeful as he waited for a reply from his new acquaintance.

@Rexvis Zaetoran

 

[Ko Atoln]

The Kel Dor listened intently, though didn't seem surprised by much of what the man was saying, he stared at him for a long moment with a serious expression. However as the man finished, Ko would seem to scoff and turn back to the droid. Reactivating it. As it came online Ko would then speak to it. "Where is the nearest hive of scum and villainy?"

The droid was eager to help, such is it's programming, and it twitched it's head and arms in the usual protocol droid way as it spoke. " Well, sir. The nearest establishment rich in criminal activity is a club named Malevolence, and it is popular because of it's underground slave market. Thousands of beings are sold on a daily basis."

Having gained the information, Ko then shut the droid down once more, it's metal body slumping back over onto the work bench. Turning back to the man Ko would then address him. "Per the droids information, your best bet is to search around this club. Maybe the Devoronians took your missing Nautolan to be sold at auction."

 

[Vardon Galland]

Looking down at his extended arm, Vardon soon realized that it wouldn't be shook anytime soon. He didn't mind it much, however, it was just a gesture and people acted very differently throughout the many corners of the Galaxy. But then, he was quite curious about the man's name. But it would have to wait as the alien was quick to focus on the task at hand, turning the droid on to pose a few questions.

Thousands of slaves? That did sound like a much larger operation that the young man thought he would be taking on today. But, even if he couldn't save everyone, he was at least determined to save as many as possible. He took a deep breath while looking seriously at the droid but couldn't resist letting out a slight chuckle as the Kel Dor suddenly turned it off. Despite the current setting, Vardon couldn't help but to feel like there was more to the mechanic than met the eye. "The Malevolence, you say? I can't say I know the place. In truth, I could hardly claim to know any place on this moon." he said, obviously fishing for an offer of aid. He soon continued, with a light shrug and a less stoic tone than he had earlier "There's always honour in helping the poor. I suppose I would pay for a guided tour at the Malevolence too."

The Thyferran didn't like offering the guy credits for doing it as he felt like there was an inherent lack of respect in doing so, but the light took many curious paths and on Nar Shaddaa, this one weren't that uncommon. With that, he looked his potential companion in the eyes with both hands resting on his waist, hoping that the Kel Dor would accept his proposal or come with one of his own.

@Rexvis Zaetoran

 

[Ko Atoln]

It was clear to Ko that Vardon wanted his help in saving the Nautolan, though he knew the harsh reality of Nar Shadaa, crime was just a way of life here. Ko approached the man and stood before him with his arms crossed. "Listen, Vardon" The Kel Dor's voice was slow and deliberate, and he seemed to become quite serious. More so than before. "I admire your zeal, your eagerness to help these people is admirable." He'd then turn to a desk that sat against the wall beside the two, opening one of it's drawers and pulling out a small pin. Upon the pin was the shape of the planet Corellia with words chiseled below it that read as 'Keeper of Order and Administrator of Justice.'

Holding the pin up to the light of the room so that Vardon could see it clearly, he would speak out. " I wore this pin once when I was a legal peace keeper and bounty hunter on Corellia. I wasn't an official of the law, but I WAS given legal authority to hunt down criminals and protect the planets innocent population."

Taking his eyes from the pin he'd then place it gently back into the dusty drawer he had gathered it from. "While I used to be someone that would willingly throw himself into harms way for innocent people no matter the situation." His eyes would softly fall back on Vardon as he finished. "There would be no point in doing such a thing on this world. Unfortunately law and order is non existent here. Justice is just a fleeting memory in these peoples minds. A life of hardship and crime is all they know."

He would re approach the man, placing a hand on his shoulder as he stood beside him. "Whatever it is you are trying to accomplish here, won't make this planet any better of a place. Your efforts would be in vain... You should focus your attention someplace where your deed will make a clear difference, the Nautolan you are looking for has probably already been sold on the market..."

Ko seemed like a man who had given up on his beliefs. It was clear he wanted to help, but that he didn't see a point when another crime syndicate would just rise up to replace the old one.

"If you wish to continue on your search. The Malevolence shouldn't be too hard to discover on your own.."

 

[Vardon Galland]

The Kel Dor told him to listen, and so he did. He followed the man to the drawer and looked at the badge and kept listening attentively as the other kept reiterating how hope was lost and his actions meaningless. Finally, Ko ended his rant by basically letting the young man know that he should be able to find the malevolence on his own. The padawan smirked, finding the situation rather amusing "The light truly works in curious ways. It guides me to stumble upon a problem which needs to be solved, and it even guided me here to you. Out of all shops I could've entered, I ended up at the one with a trained Keeper of Order and Administrator of Justice." he said with a rather enthusiastic tone to his voice.

Vardon nodded "The force wouldn't have taken me to you if I didn't need your help" he continued, but the sentence was more of a confirmation to himself than a statement directed to the Kel Dor. By this point, he knew that his, almost religious rants about the light and the force weren't what people found the most convincing arguments for why they should risk their lives and do something for the light. The padawan knew that he was no born speaker, but he would do his best.

"You're right. Nar Shaddaa is the armpit of the galaxy, stinking with crime and corruption." he said before throwing a glance out the door to the street from which he just came. "I know we might not do much to change things on the grander scale, but I'm sure that Nautolan would appreciate being saved, and if it is too late for that one, the next one will surely appreciate it. And we would be doing the li-.." the young man suddenly stopped in the middle of his sentence, noticing how he almost slipped back to ranting about the light. "..the common people of this planet a service. It doesn't have to be too big. But the apathy of not acting will make the world spiral towards the worse, in contrast, working to make it better can only have the opposite effect. Besides, if the thugs have made a bunch of money, I'm sure you could take a share of the loot." he finished, trying to use both moral and material arguments to convince the Kel Dor to help him

"So, what do you say?" he asked, looking at the alien with hopeful eyes and a soft smile.

 

[Ko Atoln]

Listening to the man speak, Ko would feel ashamed. Vardon was trying his best to help people while Ko was only becoming just another obstacle. Ko isn't entirely a good or a bad man, he mostly does whatever it takes to survive, but at heart he isn't okay with letting innocent people be mistreated. It's also true that Ko has the skills needed to assist Vardon.

Without speaking another word, Ko walked into the back of the droid shop where a large locker stood. He typed in a combination and the locker sprang open, revealing an old set of durasteel armour, on the right part of the chest piece was the same symbol that the pin he showed to Vardon depicted as well as the same phrase. ''Keeper of Order and Administrator of Justice.'

He stared at the armour for what seemed an eternity, wiping the dust from it's plating as he reminisced on his time as a legal bounty hunter until finally he broke past the mental barriers that were stopping him from acting. He started grabbing pieces of the old armour and fastening them to his limbs even though he hadn't put it on in years, until finally there he stood before Vardon, once again an administrator of Justice.

Finally he spoke. "I haven't gone into combat in thirteen years, so you'll excuse me if I don't remember how to use this." As he spoke he pulled free his WL-29 Long-Blaster rifle. Like the armour, the weapon appeared to not have been used in a long time.

He then moved to the front door, It's motion sensors causing it to slide open. He beckoned for the man to follow him. "This way, I'll take you to the Malevolence."

 

[Vardon Galland]

Proud was the wrong word, but it was certainly close to the warm and happy feeling Vardon had when the Kel Dor finally walked over to the locker which stored his gear. The armour looked old, certainly something of a relic from the alien's younger days, but it would serve well enough.

It was obvious that the man knew what he was doing as he strapped on the armour - he still seemed to have some of the muscle memory from when he last wore it as the pieces were equipped properly and without unnecessary delay. The man said that he hadn't been in combat in thirteen years, but Vardon was confident that his new ally would perform just fine.

It seemed as if the force had not only guided him here to save the Nautolan and end the Deveronian business, but it might also be to imbue this warrior with a renewed spirit of action. The young man put a hand on Ko's upper arm "You will remember how to use it when the time is right. I know it." he said with confidence in his voice.

Vardon followed the Kel Dor to the front door, but something wasn't right. He carefully looked around until he saw four Deveronians approach, seemingly ready for battle.

"Well, well, look what we have here. If it isn't the fellow who saw our brothers doing some work earlier. Now, we don't like loose ends." the apparent leader then turned to the Kel Dor "And as I'm sure you understand, both of you will be coming with us, the speeder is right there" she said while casually pointing at a speeder parked nearby with her thumb. The guy next to her would then draw a blaster pistol while the other two walked in behind them to keep better watch over them.

@Rexvis Zaetoran

 

[Ko Atoln]

Ko didn't hesitate, knowing who these people were he was aware that they were dangerous, and he was not about to allow them to harm a man that had so far shown that he only wanted to help others.

Ko began to count down. "One."

The female Devoronian's cocky smirk turned upside down into an irritated frown. "What?" She spouted out in anger, not computing what he meant by simply saying a number. Ko took one step forward this time saying "Two." Now it may seem strange that he was counting, he was literally giving the enemy time to attack, however. His belief in the justice system forced him to give the enemy a clear fighting chance, such is the honorable way of his people.

When the Devoronians didn't retreat he took another step forward and just as he was about to finish counting down, the two larger males behind the female drew their blasters, this was all the indication that Ko needed and he sprang to life. Before the Devoronians could finish raising their blasters he had aimed his rifle and fired two quick shots in succession, each plowing through the two male Devoronian's foreheads. Their eyes sank into the back of their skulls for a split moment before their bodies fell to the floor, steam rising ever so slightly from the holes in their heads which were created with intense heat.

"Three." The female Devoronian stood there in shock as he finished, she didn't even move when he placed the barrel of his blaster rifle to her forehead. "Tell me a way past the security in the Malevolence. Now."

The Devoronian stammered for a short moment. "Uhh. Umm. W-well. I have a keycard. It lets you through the reinforced blast doors that lead to our hideout..."

"Give it to me." Ko said abruptly, his eyes piercing through her soul. She reached into a pack on her hip and pulled out a small keycard, Ko took the keycard with one hand, pulling the trigger on his rifle with the other. Her body slumped over onto the floor and he continued walking out of the door, seeming to ignore the three he had just killed. His actions may seem harsh, but on his homeworld his people have a very strong sense of justice, which they carry out with a swift and firm hand.

He climbed into the speeder that the three thugs had arrived in and he called out for Vardon. "How nice of them to leave us a form of transportation, wouldn't you say?"

 

[Vardon Galland]

Vardon looked on as Ko started counting, almost as confused as the Deveronian thugs. The padawan did, however have a sense of calm to him as he felt that the Kel Dor knew what he was doing. The tall young man simply regarded the exchange passively, making sure to keep his hands resting on his waist, close to his somewhat concealed weapons as he waited to see what would happen.

After the count of two, action quickly broke out as his ally responded to the Deveronian threat, killing two of the bigger guys at the bat of an eye. The padawan looked on, quite impressed with the feat. He didn't enjoy seeing lives being taken but it was in self defence and despite his curious method, the Kel Dor did give them a warning of sorts.

The lead Deveronian was shaking in her boots as Ko pressed her for information and the other one was shaking in a more litteral manner as he slowly sat down on his knees with raised hands in surrender. Vardon frowned slightly, seeing how his ally executed the leader, but there was not much to be done about it now. He did however, feel like he could show the man an alternate way. With that, he grabbed the last thug by the neck and forced the alien to his feet. Looking down on him, the padawan spoke "I'm sorry about what you had to see. There is still hope for you, if you change, and start working to better the world, I will let you go. And know that I will see if you're lying" he said with a calm but stern voice, just as if laying out a simple rule. The Deveronian nodded desperately until Vardon released his grip around the man's neck "Go" he said as the final thug ran away.

There was plenty of time for the Kel Dor to shoot the thug down but Vardon started walking towards the ship, if his ally wanted to shoot the last Deveronian, the padawan wasn't going to stop him. "That was indeed very nice of them" he responded with a rather enthusiastic voice. "Do you feel like driving? I'm not very familiar with the paths here on Nar Shaddaa" he asked, prepared to take either the driver's seat or the passenger seat depending on the response.

@Rexvis Zaetoran

 

[Ko Atoln]

As the last Devoronian ran through the doorway and started to leave, Ko brought up his rifle and rested the barrel over the top of the speeder, using the material of the speeder as a stabilizer. Without hesitation as well as any sort of expression or remorse, he pulled the trigger. The Devoronian was dead before his body hit the ground.

"I'll drive." Ko said shortly as Vardon climbed into the speeder alongside him. "You should be more careful about showing these thugs mercy. They'll only return to the criminal life they had always lived."

Ko flipped a few switches on the control board of the speeder and then pressed a button. The speeder then sprang to life, vibrating and gravitating just about the ground, it was obvious that he had driven these sort of vehicles before. As he drove the speeder onwards heading to the Malevolence, he would speak to Vardon.

"It's alright to show mercy in some situations. But people rarely change, you could let someone go and then a day later feel their vibro knife in your spine." He seemed to have a very serious personality, it didn't help that his antiox breath mask covered much of his face, so it was hard to ascertain any sort of expression from it. Even without the mask however, his mouth isn't shaped like other humanoids. Kel Dor can't smile or frown in the same ways as other species as their mouth just looks like a gap in their head, a pit of nothing. In all honesty Kel Dor look more aesthetically pleasing with their masks on than without, which is ironic since the masks are needed simply to breath.

"I am Ko." He finally said. Revealing his name to the man at last. "Ko Atoln."

With that, they sped to their destination.