Ask Plot Nar Shaddaa Needed Supplies

[Oren Zapan]

As they came into view of the third block Oren would assess the situation, even though he asked his apprentice to do so. It wasn't out of not trusting her, but in a situation like this it would be best for her to learn and for him to confirm the things she was feeling and doing. Reaching out through the force he would since three dulled beings lingering through the force, which confirmed the suspicions that the young Jedi had.

"I feel only three as well, so you have a good assessment on the situation," he'd smile as he stepped into the block, spotting what appeared to be three bounty hunters that shambled back and forth, their mouths gnawing and snapping at nothing in particular. With so little of them, there would be no point in trying to sneak around them, and instead Oren would go for a much more direct approach that highlighted his sense of urgency with the situation.

Snapping his lightsaber into his hand and hissing it alive, he'd flick the saber out with his wrist, his hand guiding the twirling white blade towards the direction of the grouped zombies. With little effort he'd direct it into their mid-sections slicing them in half and sending them tumbling and gnawing at the ground. Calling the saber back to his hand he would motion for them to continue. "They won't be a pain there, let's keep moving."

The fourth and fifth blocks would seem rather empty, which seemed to concern Oren as he heard distant blaster fire. "Stay close," he'd say as they made their way towards the sixth block. Peering over he'd see a group of B1-Battledroids serving as quarantine protection, battling it out with what appeared to be a group of Black Sun gangsters. He counted nearly a dozen forces on both sides.

"Well isn't this quite lovely.."

Tag: @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach lacked all sense of pride. She was either right or she was wrong and given she relied so heavily on facts, the latter was rarely the case. Except that life in the Order meant she was expected more and more to deal with situations where data and intelligence were scarce and judgement was at a premium. Of course, she had the Force to rely upon, but it could only help so much. She was pleased her assessment of the current situation was accurate and was impressed with her Master’s approach to the problem. She was beginning to see the zombies as little more than puppets, and primal instincts driven by whatever had infected them were their master. They did not die at Master Oren’s hands, they were already bereft of life.

Their progress was swift to date but Fiach took nothing for granted. This was The Smuggler’s Moon after all, and the zombie outbreak hardly made things any better.

As they approached the stand-off, Fiach considered what they were up against. Sometimes it paid to be a book-worm – at least in Fiach’s mind. The clankers were widely produced and deployed, but also flimsily designed and easy to destroy, and was only truly successful in large numbers.

Of course, post the Clone Wars and the Empire, the droids were modified and were far more effective.

Scanning them, she paid particular attention to the numerical markings on the back of their comlink booster packs. Variants ranged from rocket battle droids through to grapple droids that had white and green plating.

“I see a number of repeater blaster droids, Master,” she indicated a group that wielded a repeating blaster and looked ostensibly like standard B1 battle droids. “But those,” she now pointed to a number that had an overall grey body and dark red markings, “are Heavy Battle Droids. As well as repeating blasters they’ll be equipped with Z-6 rotary blaster cannons.”

She knew of, but had never encountered the Black Sun. She knew they came to prominence – by an odd coincidence – in the Clone Wars and had many of the Falleen species as members.

“Do we go around or look to engage, Master?” She knew that time was pressing and they could ill afford too many detours.

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

The sound of rotary cannons filled the air and a volley of red and blue blaster fire streaked across the sky which caused the Jedi Master to take a position against a dirty and grimy wall. It was too dangerous and neither the droids nor the criminals would really care to see the two of them. "It's best we let these gears for brains handle whatever drama they have going on their own," he'd say with a nod.

"These criminals don't need our help nor would we be appreciated." His eyes would shift towards a small emergency fire escape, which he'd begin to climb and slowly pull himself onto the top of the roof. Peering down the men and the droids seemed smaller, "They won't be able to spot us from up here," he'd grin, "Let's keep moving," and so they made their way onto the seventh block, where the unknown was waiting for them.

Tag: @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach understood much about military tactics – it was something they were taught at the Academy. But there was nothing you could learn from a datapad or even the most useful of lectures that could prepare you from the grim reality of a firefight. Especially when you weren’t part of the problem, nor the solution.

“Understood, Master,” Fiach said and as surreptitiously as possible, followed Oren up the fire escape. She mused that she could have been wearing a clown suit and banging a drum and they still would not have noticed her – given their attention was quite reasonably focused presently on not dying.

They traversed the block via the roof and realised they could reach the adjacent building to continue in this manner. Therefore, down was the only way forward – and fortunately the fighting was now behind them.

Fiach reached the bottom of the ladder and turned the corner to see something that would truly test their moral compass. Ahead of them was a man. But not just any man. He wielded a double-bladed red lightsabre and was surrounded by a pack of hounds that were clearly of the undead variety. They could not go over, under or around.

Fiach turned to Oren. “Well, Master, do we let this play out – or do we pick a side? And if the latter, which one?”

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

The way the man was dressed, his garb and his setup, it was clear he had no proper training in the force or was force sensitive at all. The Red saber which was often unstable in itself was almost impossible for the gangster to use in anyway himself, and the zombie hounds slowly surrounded the man. Oren would curse under his breath as he stepped forward.

He would push out with the force, in an attempt to knock the hounds away, but a stray blaster bolt came ringing from the rooftop above, striking the man in the shoulder, which caused his force push to go completely off track and strike the man he was trying to save. The man plunged and screamed and slowly crunched with his fall--his life force draining and a coldness falling over the Jedi Master, who felt dazed for a moment, and a burning injury to his arm, which would make it near impossible to keep fighting the way they had..

"You tarks!" A masked bounty hunter, the one that shot at Oren would come jetpacking across, drawing a Vibrosword and rushing towards the two Jedi, the hounds looked dazed for a moment, but came snapping out of it and would charge the two of them as well--the two of them could quickly be over powered and possibly die, and Oren was out of the fight for the moment. "You killed Remos!"

Tag: @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

As the scene in front of them played out, it was clear the saber wielder was no Sith. He swung the blade like a club and the Force was clearly not guiding his defences. How he came by it was a conversation for another time.

And, just as her Master was about to resolve the situation, a blaster bolt from above hit his shoulder and spoiled his aim — with terrible consequences.

As the masked bounty hunter swooped in, Fiach instinctively stepped in front of her wounded Master. She momentarily closed her eyes and opened them, adopting the Soresu opening stance — her saber had snapped into her hand in a fluid movement and the lilac blade now illuminated her face.

As she was trained, she allowed the Force to guide her movements and walked forwards, giving her Master some space to recover.

Maybe the sight of her striding towards the bounty hunter stalled his progress, but the sound of the dogs behind him soon brought him to his senses. He was skilled with a vibro-sword, but he was no Jedi.

Fiach’s actions were not aggressive, as this was her chosen style, so she deflected every blow and soon his swings were wild and ragged and she counter-attacked to remove the sword hand and blade. Using the Force to push him back into the pack of dogs, she turned to her Master. “We need to move swiftly, whilst they’re distracted.”

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

The Jedi Master grunted as Fiach stepped in front of him, saber drawn and ready. It seemed that the girl did little ever to panic, and to see her in the face of grave danger brought the wounded Jedi some comfort. He stepped back gripping his shoulder, watching with deep intent as the girl swung and blocked the sword of the bounty hunter, it was a life or death situation at this point and Oren could do little to help. I should have seen that blade coming, he told himself with several curses that clung to his breath.

But, the girl was more prepared and her training with her saber and dedication to her craft overpowered the bounty hunter and his reckless fighting style. With a flick of her wrist she would send the bounty hunter back, gaining them an opening which they would need to take. Oren didn't waste any time, but still he felt responsible for this all, and he had killed that man through the force--even a Jedi Master still felt shaken up by the incident, but he tried to do his best to not worry about that now.

She had bought them an opening and Oren wasn't going to waste it, and instead took off, clutching his shoulder in extreme pain as he made his way across the block and towards the spiraling penthouse of the Hutts. It seemed to be in complete disarray and the dead seemed to shuffle and croak towards a group of men who held a little Hutt child as a form of hostage, he couldn't tell if they were the Hutt Lord's men or if they were gangsters that were looking to make a quick buck.

Oren clenched his arm, realizing that he could do little at this moment or for the rest of this adventure. "There are too many of the dead to simply walk through them, we need to find a way to get that child to safety...But, I can't do it, you need to." He'd say with a sharp nod, "I believe in you."

Tag: @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

The small opening she’d secured them was enough - but she was not foolhardy enough to believe that they were over the worst. It seemed that every step forward found a new challenge, but so far they had been equal to the task — although, with her Master’s injury — she might have to step up her contribution from this point forward. She was aware of the pain he was in and in a sense, she might have to metaphorically carry him to the conclusion of the mission.

As they reached the penthouse they had been seeking, Fiach saw just what her Master saw. Undead, some men and a baby Hutt. Who the men were, was a matter of conjecture, but that was irrelevant right now — the life of the young Hutt was paramount to their mission.

Her Master’s voice was both reassuring and disconcerting. It was one thing to have his support and faith if trying a new Force technique. But to be charged with the life of an infant that was so crucial in the fate of so many? The responsibility could have weighed heavy on her shoulders — but fortunately, she was focused only on the challenge, as her brain clicked into overdrive, surveying the scene, options and odds of success.

Fighting was an option — but poor one, her Master was right. They could wait for the scenario to play out a little longer, to thin the numbers. It was a possibility but way too risky for Foach to seriously consider. Which left the option of a longer-range solution and her only ally in this situation — the Force.

She closed her eyes for a few moments and connected as deeply as she could to the Force. Once calm and her mind clear, she opened her eyes once more and extended her right hand. She turned her palm upwards and raised it…slowly and carefully. Simultaneously the baby Hutt lifted from the arms of the man that was holding it. It took a few seconds for him to realise.

Fortune seemed to favour the Padawan. The zombies were not focused on anything above eye level and the men were no doubt to preoccupied with not being eaten to spend too much time working out what was happening to the baby.

Fiach drew her hand towards her and the baby floated in the direction of the Jedi Master and his apprentice. She remained calm and in a matter of seconds, the baby was now cradled in her arms.

She looked at her Master. “That was…easier than I expected.” She glanced across at the fight that was unfolding between the undead and the men. “I fear time is against us to help them.”

@TWD26

 

[Oren Zapan]

Oren watched his apprentice with earnest, taking it in with a wide grin, her thought process seemed so different from his own and the way she approached problems was uniquely Fiach. To think of levitating the child away from the hands of the mercenaries and across the sea of the dead, it was a risky move that required complete focus and concentration and she did little to budge.

The Jedi master peered towards the baby with a wide grin, as he clasped his hand against Fiach, "Sometimes student becomes the teacher," he'd grin as he plucked at the nose of the baby hutt, which squealed and giggled. It was strange to see such a creature so small and innocent and the likelihood of what it would grow to become, Let's not be pessimistic, think positive..maybe they'll grow to change Nar Shaddaa for the better.

Oren watched as the zombies moved towards the men, overrunning them quickly, "Come on..we need to leave," he'd say as he began to limp away, "Let's just hope this Hutt holds up to his end of the deal."

Tag: @Corbeau

 

[Fiach Dubh]

Fiach’s eyes never left the baby Hutt’s as she listened to her Master. An old scripture said that the Master-Padawan relationship was two-ways. Each could and should take the opportunity to learn from the other. And so it have proved. Yes, Fiach did 99% of the learning, but it was natural that 1% of the time, she could provide a thought, perspective or solution that her Master had not considered. After all, a Jedi never stopped learning.

“In times of need, I opt for the simplest plan, and one that plays to my relative strengths,” she replied.

Tucking the baby Hutt inside her cloak, she fastened it tightly, to allow both arms to be free. “I’m right behind you Master…or rather, we both are.” She smiled at the baby Hutt and said, “And we don’t even know your name do we, little one,” before returning her gaze to her Master and following him back to the rendezvous.

@TWD26

 

[Fiach Dubh]

The made their way back to the Hutt’s warehouse relatively easily – especially when compared to their journey to collect the Hutt youngster.

Once the guards realised they were carrying the young Hutt, they not only allowed them instant access but formed a guard of honour to escort them to meet J’agga. Of course, Fiach mused, it could be that they were being frog-marched but she decided to consider the optimistic side of the options.

Aware that her Master was now in some discomfort from his wounds and given she was – quite literally – holding the baby, she shared a look with Oren. His eyes approved of her taking the lead.

Presuming actions spoke louder than words, the young Padawan took the young Hutt from his place of safety inside Fiach’s cloak and held the baby up to be seen.

There was a collective gasp. Maybe those assembled did not believe they would rescue the young Hutt? Regardless, Fiach stole a glance at the mother and child from the corner of her eye and was relieved to see they were still there – albeit now held in a cage raised a few feet off the ground.

And then a curtain was opened and the Hutt was once again on view and let out a strangled gasp and a string of words Fiach could not understand.

“Mighty J’agga says you must hand over his son immediately – and he will consider allowing you to live,” the droid translated.

"We have returned my lord,” Fiach said, effectively ignoring what she’d just been told. Her Master had warned her that the Hutt was not to be trusted, so she was expecting something like this. “The people of Nar Shaddaa are lucky to be graced with such a strong, merciful and wise leader,” she began.

The silence of the room returned as they clearly wondered what the young Jedi was going to say.

“Your gracious offer of supplies, and the release of the survivors was humbly accepted in the manner it was offered and we have honoured our part of the bargain. Of course, prince Xantha is worth significantly more than your side of the bargain and, as I look at him now, I would fully understand if you wished to increase the level of supplies you initially had in mind.”

Fiach knew that no amounts had been mentioned and she was pushing her luck, but she bargained on the Hutt not wishing to undervalue the life of his son.

There was a long pause, followed by the Hutt’s belly laugh.

“Mighty J’agga is pleased with your assessment of his son’s worth and agrees to double the amount of supplies previously agreed.” He added, in a lower voice, so as not to be overheard, “And I would recommend you leave soon, before his highness changes his mind.”

Fiach bowed and handed the young Hutt to a courtier, who took the prince to his father.

Fiach then strode over to the cage, lowered it and opened the door. The young girl grabbed hold of Fiach, who patted her head and spoke to her mother. “We should leave quickly, my Master requires medical attention.”

As they headed to the exit, Fiach considered this a relatively successful mission and, moreover, a number of lessons learned. But for now, her priority was to get her Master back to full health.

/end thread