(Prologue) You're probably wondering how I got in this position...

[RVFVS]

[Prologue]
Your probably wondering how I got in this position...

​

"Ok, listen...if you have to kill me fine. But please don't do it on the docks...I hate the goddamned docks." Kaul Solimar took a deep breath of the permeating stench of fuel and waste that covered the docks. "Take me to the refugee sector for all I care just not the docks. Also, can't I stand up? execution style is a little much isn't it?"

Wearily a skinny Zabrak, Kazar, shook his head, "The boss said here. So its here, its nothing personal Kaul. It's just business."

Kaul rolled his eyes, "So whose going to know? The only people here are you and I..."

"And the three gamoreans the boss sent with me you idiot!" Kazar kicked Kaul in the back causing him to fall, "Look Kaul you were warned over and over. All you needed to do was nut up one time and grow a pair but you couldn't even do that."

"I can't do children. I can't do women. You know that. I was fine with hitting Gorge but I just couldn't grasp the point of rubbing them out as well."

"Your job isn't to grasp, Kaul, it's to enforce. You are actually pretty good at it too, except you can't go the full mile and finish the job." Kazar raised his blaster pistol and put it to the back of Kaul's head, "But I can Kaul...I can." He pulled the trigger.

---------------

​

"I want everyone here when the Hutt's Trail closes. No excuses." That's what Kaul and his fellow Tower Gangers had been told. Thus, it caused Kaul some level of frustration when, an hour after the Hutt's Trail closed, he was still waiting for the glorious leader of the Tower Gangers, Iven Kalo, to arrive. Kaul raised his cup of Juma Juice and sipped slowly, savoring the taste. He put the cup down and then considered taking another, larger sip of the alcoholic liquid but decided against it. Whatever orders Iven had for them would most likely be carried out tonight and Kaul had no desire to be spinny while executing them, especially after his last job. At that thought Kaul changed his mind yet again and downed the entire cup of the greenish-yellow liquid.

That last job had been a complete botch. If he had just did as Iven asked and killed who he was told it would have all been fine but, for whatever reason, Kaul always seemed to be unable to take that final step. Women, children, he couldn't kill them. It's not even that he didn't want to, he did. However, whenever he got to that point he always ended up hesitating and eventually not being able to go through with the job. The problem with that was it made the entirety of the Tower Gangers look soft. If you couldn't pay and it happened continually there had to be reprisals. Of course you could just kill the debtor but then how would you get your money back? The answer was to hurt or kill the loved one, most often the wife and kids. Simple gangster economics and yet despite five years of running with the Tower Gangers he couldn't grasp it.

"Eh there stranger."

Kaul glanced to his right and saw a skinny Zabrak approach and sit next to him, "Kazar," nodding as he spoke. Kaul and Kazar went way back to when Kaul had first come to Nar Shaddaa. They started running with the Towers at the same time and had a sort of friendly rivalry with one another. It was possible, Kaul mused, the Zabrak had wanted to become friends but he wanted none of it. A drinking partner at times and a gun to cover the behind, thats what Kaul needed. It just happened to be that Kazar was the best man to cover your back.

Kazar grinned as he spoke, "I'd be careful with the Juma there, Kaul. You know that we are probably going after the Verts tonight."

"I'm aware," Kaul grunted, "It seems strange to bring everyone in though. I mean one hit squad would..."

"You want another drink over there Kaul," Dax the barkeep shouted over the sounds of chatter and gossip.

Kaul considered for a moment. He did want more but the Juma at the Hutt's Trail was strong and usually took some time to hit you, "Nah, I'm ok Dax but..."

"I hear that they've found the location of Gorge Morval," Kazar said in a falsely casual tone as he took a sip, "Apparently he's hiding out in the refugee sector," Kazar snickered.

"Actually Dax, I will have another drink, thanks." Kaul was going to need it. For over a little over a year now the Tower Gangers and the Vertical Syndicate had been engaging in all out gang warfare for control of the docks and the refugee sectors of New Vertica, the section of Nar Shaddaa that the Towers and Verts operated in. The Hutts technically controlled both gangs but believed a bit of competition was good to weed out weakness and complacency. This, however, went far beyond that. The war had become more and more brutal as both gangs went into deep cover to avoid being hit. The only targets had become the local shops and stores that were protected by either faction and, as a result, innocent shop owners began to be slaughtered by either side, en masse. Gorge Morval was the leader of the Verts and had been in hiding since he led a botched hit on Iven that, despite crippling his left arm, failed. The war simply escalated from there.

"Everyone quiet down. NOW!" Iven Kalo's voice pierced the dense chatter like a sword and it died down instantly. "Now listen up, I am sure, being the gossipy bastards you are that you've most likely heard the news. We've located Gorge Morval and he's in the refugee sector. Apparently he thought he could hide out in a local refugee house just outside the main camp of refugees. Now I think it goes without saying that if we can end him tonight we could well end the war!" There was a few woops and cheers, "However, we need to also defend our own locations at the same time as it could be a trap. So I am going to send the best hitters we have here for this one." Iven paused to take a sip of an unknown drink he had on a end table near where he spoke, "I also want everyone in that refugee house dead. Gorge has his family with him and I don't want to have to worry about either his wife or kid coming after me later. However, while we know of his family we don't actually know what they look like. So kill everyone in the refugee house, just to be sure. Ok boys listen up, these are the hitters I want on this: Tormund Zolroon....!"

Kaul sighed, "So now we're killing refugees."

"We'll kill whoever we're told Kaul. You know that," Kazar replied in a hushed and serious tone, "If you botch another job, especially one like this it may be you who has the hit out on him next."

"Kazar Alobanko!"

"Let's see if I'm even part of the hit squad," Kaul already knew he would be. He was one of the most able fighters among the Tower Gangers having been trained with a sword since his youth as well as learning much faster the ins and outs of street combat over the past half decade then the average ganger.

"Kaul Solimar!" Iven gave Kaul a dark stare, "Your on the team. But before you go I want you to come see me in the back."

Kaul put back what was left of his Juma juice and stood up wearily, he was not looking forward to this.

 

[RVFVS]

[Prologue 2]
Too damn soft...

​

The sound of speeders, crowded walkways and sentient suffering filled the air as the five man hit squad made their way into the refugee sector. Kaul had always hated coming to this part of town. It was filled with ex-GAR troopers, displaced Republican citizens and all kinds of exiles and unwanted members of society. When he had first arrived on Nar Shaddaa Kaul had been one of these refugees, one of the hundreds of thousands who chose to leave the core worlds rather than face Imperial control. Today, however, Kaul was here for an entirely different reason.

Kaul had been given very strict instructions by his boss, Iven. If he botched this job or didn't assist with the execution of not only Gorge but also any refugees that happened to be in the safe house at the time then it would be Kaul who would be hit next. This was not a comforting position to be in as not only was his life at stake but currently Kaul was also quite buzzed on Juma Juice. His motor functions were fine, of course, he hadn't had an excessive amount, but he felt the jello feeling all throughout his body. At least it would hold back any pain if he were hit, at least that was a positive.

The hit squad had been assembled from five men. Not all of them were great fighters but they were ruthless and known for their efficiency in executing Iven's orders. Kaul and Kazar were the two best fighters by far, complimenting them was Jacen Var, weaker fighter but skilled in the street style warfare that Gorge may employ while backed in a corner. As well, Iven had sent alone Korz and Karz Halden, two Devaronian brothers who were famed in New Vertica for their brutality and sadism. The orders were simple, go in guns blazing, round up any survivors and then put them down execution style. Seemingly simple but things like this rarely were.

Kaul was no stranger to violence of this kind. He had been party to his fair share of hits and had even executed a few men himself. However, they were generally rats or enemy gangsters, not children, wives and innocents. Kaul wasn't squeamish by any means but he had never been able to stomach the idea of killing a man without purpose. Regardless, he didn't have time to back out now as they had arrived at the safe house.

Kazar turned to face the hitmen, "Ok listen, we want to send a message here so lets line as many of them up as possible and put them down execution style. Preferably that scum Gorge as well. Var, your with me, we'll go in first and clear out any resistance. After that we'll move up each level sending down the refugees. There are three levels to this place so there shouldn't be too many. Korz and Karz I want you to stay down and organize the executions, you don't have to kill them all at once but try and keep them calm if possible. If any try and run shoot them. Kaul, I'm gonna do you a favour and let you guard the entrance. Unless Korz and Karz mess up you shouldn't be worried about having to get your hands dirty," Kazar cast Kaul an insulting grin, "We do this quick, we do it hard and, most importantly, we make sure that Gorge is dead. The refugees, although part of the message, are secondary to him. Any questions?"

Karz nodded, "How do you want Gorge done?"

Kazar paused for a moment and then pulled out a small blade, "Slit his throat. Anything else?" The group remained silent, "Ok lets go...well except for you Kaul," the hitmen snickered as they began to prepare to move in.

For Kaul this was a load off his mind. He let out a sigh of relief and then shouldered his blaster carbine. The hitmen counted down from three then burst into the main foyer of the refugee safe house. Blaster shots rang out loudly followed by a few heavy thuds as well as screams. Kaul heard Korz and Karz start demanding the refugees line up and that they were conducting a raid for illegal spice on the premises. Any person with a brain would know that was a lie but it was a nice touch.

Kaul leaned against the wall of the safe house, keeping his carbine carefully trained at the door. He still felt a little numb but it had been starting to fade. It would be interesting to see if Gorge was even here, they had been getting false reports for months, however, Iven seemed sure. If he wasn't though what would that mean? A slaughter of refugees for no purpose. Kaul paused for a moment. Was this fair? Was this right? What if he had been one of the refugees in this house? No, he wouldn't think about that there was no use dwelling. It's not like he could do anything about it. Well...maybe...there were only five of them.

Kaul shook his head in frustration. No, there were five but then he would be marked by Iven and his Tower Gangers. How would he even go about getting off Nar Shaddaa? Hmm...there was Iven's personal transport vessel, Kaul often piloted it for Iven to bring him to meetings on Nal Hutta with the Hutt crime lords. Maybe he could do it? Then he would finally be rid of the Tower Gangers, the Hutts and most importantly Nar Shaddaa. Its been five years there is now way the Sith could possibly even remotely care he was the son of grossly corrupt Senator. But how would he dispatch the five inside the safe house?

​

Without thinking he slung his carbine and turned into the building, upon entering he saw two dead refugees and Korz and Karz rounding up the rest in front of a wall. Kaul moved with deadly purpose toward the two unsuspecting Devaronians.

"Move it! Line up! We are going to inspect each and every one of you for..." He never had time to finish as Kaul, who had unsheathed the vibrosword on his back, thrusted the blade through Karz's back and through his chest. Hearing his brother's cry Korz turned to see the muzzle of Kaul's blaster already positioned adjacent from his head. Kaul pulled the trigger once which resulted in charred bits of the Devaronian's brain and skull going flying right onto the nearby wall.

Turning to the refugees Kaul raised the pistol at them and fired a second shot, "Go. Now." Not needing to be asked twice the refugees made for the door to the refugees sector. Kaul began to rip the sword out of Karz when he heard a sharp pop, followed by blinding pain in his left knee forcing Kaul to kneel. A second shot followed that would have killed Kaul then and there had he not used Karz as a shield. Blindly, Kaul fired his blaster pistol in the direction of the stair case where the shot had come from. He felt more shots hit Karz and one knick his right arm which was firing the blaster.

After what seemed an eternity Kaul stopped feeling shots hit Karz and so tossed the dead Devaronian aside, while keeping his blaster trained on the stair case. On the ground lie Jacen, killed by a stray shot that went through the wall hiding the stair case, luckily the refugee sector wasn't known for it's sturdy craftsmanship. Kaul painfully rose to his feet and glanced at his wounded knee. It was injured for sure, perhaps permanently. Had the Juma Juice not still been working it's numbing affects on his body Kaul knew he would have been in agony. He ripped his vibrosword out of the mutilated Karz.

Before he had a chance to properly prepare, Kaul saw a flash of red fly in front of his face, singing his beard. He turned to see Kazar standing in the stair case, his rifle raised. Kaul summoned every ounce of strength he had to rush Kazar who had the chance to fire off one more shot before being taken to the groung, smashing Kaul in the upper left shoulder. The two gangers rolled and thrashed, each trying to get a better handle on the other. Kazar used his horns to stab Kaul in the stomach, not seriously but painfully. When he did so again, Kaul held his head in place allowing himself leverage to get on top of the Zabrak. Grabbing hold of the horns that had been in his stomach seconds before, Kaul proceeded to slam Kazar's face into the ground over and over. After several agonizing moments he felt Kazar go limp and, finally, Kaul rolled off him.

His entire body felt like it had been chewed up and spit out. His knee rang with pain, his should sent sharp shots down to his fingers and his stomach was pulsating with a dull, bored pain. Luckily though, none of the wounds would be fatal. The blaster shots were charred and painful but wouldn't bleed out and the stomach wounds were not nearly as deep as the pain associated with them made them out to be. Kaul concentrated hard on rising. He had a limited amount of time, he had to make it to Iven's ship soon before he caught wind that the hit was botched.

As he began to limp away Kaul glanced back at Kazar, still on the ground. He paused for a moment then drew his blaster, aiming for the Zabrak's back. He held his aim for a few seconds before shaking his head and audibly grunting, "I am too goddamned soft." He hobbled toward the door and had almost reached it before feeling a blunt force smash the back of his head.

"Yes. You are."

 

[RVFVS]

[Prologue 3]
I'll see you in hell...​

For a long time there was only darkness, even after Kaul awoke. He knew he was in the trunk of a speeder but he had yet to pinpoint exactly where he was. He heard speeders, the sounds of ships departing and the bustle of workers finishing their day. He was going to a place he knew all too well; the docks. In particular a deserted area of the docks where unwanted individuals were generally given a blast to the head and then cast off the dock into the undercity below.

Kaul sighed. Well he had almost made it. At least most of the refugees had made it out all right, that was something. Despite his current circumstances he was still quite impressed with himself that he had managed to almost take down five experienced hit men. With that said Kaul had always had a certain...luck, the best word for it, in combat. It just seemed he was able to move quicker and almost...know what would happen before it did. Kaul simply had always amounted it to luck but it seemed, as per his current circumstances, his luck had run out.

He felt the speeder stop and the movement of various heavy and one light figure. Suddenly light cast itself into the trunk as it was opened. Kaul began to speak but was silenced within a moment with a but of a blaster to the head. Darkness...again.

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Kaul's eyes opened once again, this time, however he was not met by darkness.

​

Kaul was on his knees, very painful due to his injuries, which Kaul had just remembered and felt for the first time since the fight. His hands were bound from the front and he heard the squeaking sound of Gamorreans from behind him. He then heard a click of a blaster being readied directly behind his head.

"You almost had me. Too bad you couldn't pull the trigger," the voice was Kazar's and he sounded notably pleased with himself.

"Ok, listen...if you have to kill me fine. But please don't do it on the docks...I hate the goddamned docks." Kaul Solimar took a deep breath of the permeating stench of fuel and waste that covered the docks. "Take me to the refugee sector for all I care just not the docks. Also, can't I stand up? execution style is a little much isn't it?"

Wearily a skinny Zabrak, Kazar, shook his head, "The boss said here. So its here, its nothing personal Kaul. It's just business."

Kaul rolled his eyes, "So whose going to know? The only people here are you and I..."

"And the three gamoreans the boss sent with me you idiot!" Kazar kicked Kaul in the back causing him to fall, "Look Kaul you were warned over and over. All you needed to do was nut up one time and grow a pair but you couldn't even do that."

"I can't do children. I can't do women. You know that. I was fine with hitting Gorge but I just couldn't grasp the point of rubbing them out as well."

"Your job isn't to grasp, Kaul, it's to enforce. You are actually pretty good at it too, except you can't go the full mile and finish the job." Kazar raised his blaster pistol and put it to the back of Kaul's head, "But I can Kaul...I can." He pulled the trigger.

The shot rang loud across the docks for but a moment and was followed by a light thud. Kaul didn't feel any different and he hesitated to open his eyes he had instinctively close upon being shot. What would death look like? Would he feel any pain if he did open them? Come to think of it he had't even felt the force of the shot against his head. He opened his eyes slowly. The shot had missed his head and hit the ground and the thud had been caused, seemingly, by the small holdout blaster in front of him.

"Pick it up and shoot the damned Gammoreans before they stop whatever they are squealing about, " Kazar hissed in a whisper.

Kaul snatched up the small blaster and turned quickly to face the Gammoreans who were busy having some kind of minor altercation over...something, who knew with Gammoreans. He aimed, he had to be quick but careful, if he didn't hit all of them he would be done for. In what felt like an eternity but was in reality a second, Kaul fired five quick shots four of which hit their mark. The holdout blaster must have been more powerful then it indicated with it's size as the blasts either incapacitated or killed all three Gammoreans. Immediately after Kazar, without speaking, grabbed the blaster from Kaul and casually strutted over to the large pig creatures and put a final bolt in each of their heads. He then threw the holdout on the ground next to Kaul a second time and proceeded to unlock the binds on Kaul's hands.

Kaul narrowed his eyes at the Zabrak gangster, "I don't under..."

"I may be ok with killing women and kids but I am not without sport Solimar. You bested me in one on one combat, where I come from that is a big deal. And..." Kazar finished unlocking the binds and tossed them aside, "you spared me. I felt it was only fair I did the same."

Stretching his hands from the painful binders, Kaul nodded to the Gammoreans, "I assume your going to tell Iven I did this then?"

"Yes, with a hidden holdout," Kazar replied pointing to the holdout blaster, "I had no idea you had it on you," Kazar grinned devilishly.

"Iven will still send people after me and most likely will put some kind of bounty on my head."

"Oh, I'm counting on it. You bested me one on one and then chose to spare me. I spared you but I have yet to beat you Kaul. I'm giving you this head start but mark my words...I will find you and I will kill you Kaul Solimar. Now..." Kazar picked up the holdout blaster and handed it to Kaul, "shoot me in the shoulder."

Kaul turned his head in confusion, "Not to say I don't want to, but why?"

"Iven will never believe I simply was unharmed from your escape. Shoot me in the shoulder!" Kaul gave a small grin, raised the pistol and fired. Kazar was thrown back but he kept his balance. Kazar glared at Kaul, "You bastard, consider this even from when I shot you." He held his shoulder and menacingly said, "Enjoy your last days Solimar and remember my face. It will be the last one you see."

"Then I'll see you in hell!" Kaul smashed the but of the pistol against the Zabrak's head, knocking him clean out. "Now we're even you Zabrak bastard." Noticing that Kazar had taken Kaul's armoured coat he struggled to pull it off the limp alien, "That's my jacket," Kaul growled as he finally wrung it free. Kaul went back to the speeder and rearmed himself with his weapons and affects. He then finally sat in the speeder and took a moment to reevaluate.

The pain from the injuried Kaul had sustained was back in full force and it was hard for him to think. He had to get to Iven's ship and take off, that was his first priority, but after he would need to see to the wounds. Frankly, it was a miracle Kaul was able to operate properly with how long the wounds had gone on unattended. There were doubtful to be any guards or resistance as the ship was fully code locked and only Iven and Kaul, who Iven believes is dead, know the codes. Kaul started up the speeder and began his painful trip to Iven's dock.

----------

​

Kaul had managed to board the ship, get it into space and patch himself up, to an extent, without incident. That in itself was a miracle and Kaul thought as much as he finally collapsed, exhausted into the pilot seat of the "Serpent", Iven Kalo's prized freighter. It had even been equipped with a M7 unit which allowed Kaul to take a few moments as the droid piloted the ship. He wasn't sure where he was going to go quite yet but Kaul had instructed M7-G2 to get out of Hutt space, preferably to an area in Sith space as the Tower Gangers would think twice about sending mercs that way and supposedly Kazar was wanted on some Sith worlds.

​

The ship fired into light speed with a satisfying swoosh feeling. Kaul poured himself a small cup of Juma Juice and smiled. He had done it, he had finally left Nar Shaddaa. For the first time in Kaul's life he was free, free of his tyrannical, corrupt father, free from being imprisoned within that prison of an estate, free of the Hutts, of the gangs, free from everyone. Kaul smiled. What would he do now? Did it matter? He could explore the galaxy as he had always wanted, go where he wanted, do what he wanted. One thing was for sure, he would stay clear away from the Sith, whatever remained of the Republic and any other authority figures that called themselves "governments". Kaul was done with being told what to do.

Kaul clenched his fists. It was the Republic and the Sith that put him here in the first place. The Republic for allowing his corrupt father to infest it's inner bureaucracy, allowing him to blossom into the monster that had neglected and abused him for almost two decades. The Sith destroyed the world he had come to know, killed his mother, the only person he had ever loved. No, when Kaul had seen what he wanted to see, when he had finished seeing the galaxy he would find a nice agrarian planet and he would settle down. Maybe he would find a wife, start a small farm. Kaul smiled. He would have kids, he would love them like he had never been loved. If ever there would be a way to spite his father and honour his poor mother...that was the way.

The "Serpent" began to rumble lightly as the alert sounded for the descent out of hyperspace. Kaul wondered where M7 had brought him.

​

Kaul's eyes widened in disbelief as he saw the first planet in view. A robotic voice came over the speakers of the ship announcing the location.

"Welcome to the only destination available to this navicomputer..."

"Welcome to Nal Hutta. Glorious Jewel of the Hutts."

OOC: Thread done
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