Teal-colored skin and Glitterdust

[Eccles]

Nar Shaddaa.

Was there a bigger cesspit of villainy and excess of vice? Well yes, Nal Hutta. Fortunately for those with a strong sense of smell the home world of the Hutts wasn't nearly as relevant and it was its moon that worked like a magnet to all ill-deprived and vice-rich specimens of sentient physiology. If the Empire would seek the Hutt's hand in marriage it was sure to see Nar Shaddaa as the diamond that makes the band of Nal Hutta dull in comparison. Alas, every suitor would sooner or later realize that the Hutt was a demanding wife whose antics and many affairs would make you paranoid of angst as her beauty quickly fades. Imperial presence in this system would have the well dry up before a simple 'All Hail' could be cheered, criminal organizations choosing the divert their opportunities to planets like Ord Antalaha instead. Today, still, Nar Shaddaa was that diamond to behold and the maiden that was so eagerly courted to no avail. Many would return to try again, like clockwork or seasonal laborers marching up and down the slave camps, and Kal Titch was one of those suitors.

"What if I told you I was rich beyond belief?" Kal asked the Twi'lek actress, growing desperate because of her continued denial of her teal-colored skin and the infatuation that he felt for her despite of it. She merely laughed at him and pressed the glass of wine against her sweet lips, unknowing that in a way, he was telling the truth. A few days ago he had found the Onderon Crown Jewels hidden away on the Lethisk-class Armed Freighter that shuttled Systech Corporation employees from Quesh to Nar Shaddaa and back. Six years ago a Systech employee had profited from the Sith Invasion of Onderon and used the chaos to slip into the Royal Palace, but for some reason he had not been able to pawn them. His last known location was the Protelariat on the Coruscant Lower Levels during the Sith Invasion of the planet. It seemed to be a pattern that a Systech representative was always on the ground during Sith invasions, but this time it seemed the thief had not made it back to his ship in time. "It's true!" Kal insisted when she shrugged it off in unbelief. "Diamonds fit for Queens and a Princess' diadem," he said more than he should've, but the Twi'lek still did not belief him. How could he, lowly security goon as he was, have come into such a fortune? It was a ridiculous bluff.

A fellow Systech employee noticed Kal's bad luck and approached him to put him out of his misery, "Come on, mate." He put his arm around him and pulled him off his stool, "She's just not into the infamous Kal Titch." He had meant it as a jest and a reference to Kal's prison time back on Coruscant, but when he uttered the name the actress suddenly piqued up. "You're Kal Titch?" she said, putting her hand on his forearm to prevent him from getting pulled away by his colleague. "Kal Titch from Coruscant?"

Both Kal and his friend frowned, "Eh, yes-" suddenly Kal thought of that strange message he had received from a moneylender forgiving his debt at the casino, "the one and eh-" he hailed the bartender, "-the only."

 

[Nor'baal]

A gentle coil of smoke traced its thin line toward the light bulb set in the roof, as the man who would be known today as 'Dran Mardel' sat in the bar, a drink resting on the wooden tabletop as he observed the goings on in the bar. He had forgone his usual 'uniform' opting instead for some more practical attire. A pair of goggles hung around his neck, capable of sporting a HUD alongside multi-spectrum vision, his MCV loosely covered by a Bantha Hide Jacket. He wore a set of cargo pants and underneath it all, an armor weave body glove.

Set in a shoulder holster, his B-8R pistol rested, whilst on his hip holster rested his Sunspear. Dran was amply protected in this place, with a small cluster of thermal detonators in a pouch on his belt to set things off. To say he was not expecting trouble would be to lie, in his line of work trouble was a natural part of life. Getting up from his chair, as he was now nursing an empty glass, Dran moved to the bar and took a stool next to Kal (@Ecclessey).

He rolled his eyes as he sat down. Infamous Kal Titch my ar.... his thought died off, clearly, the Twi'lek was impressed, or banking on free liquor. ''I'll have what he's having.'' Dran asked the Barman, his glass rapidly being filled, as he slid credits across the top with ease. Second drink of the night was hardly going to affect him that much. He did not like to admit it, but he had heard the name of the man before. ''Kal Titch ey? What brings you to the Smugglers Moon'' he asked.

 

[Eccles]

"Now I believe you're rich, Mr Titch," the Twi'lek actress bit her lip seductively and that was all that was needed for Kal to dismiss his colleague with an ecstatic gesture. Kal couldn't believe what was happening now that he had been so close to finally giving up, his name had kept him in the game by hitting him a home-run. The bartender approached with an impressed smile, "What will it be, sir?"

There wasn't a drink right now that could surpass the odd concoction served at the Systech cantina on Quesh, "Bantha milk with a pinch of Glitterstim." To his surprise the bartender did not look surprised, "Aha the Lorso special," the bartender nodded and poured the milk into a short glass, "I had a smuggler in here two days ago who got nostalgic after a few drinks and told me all about it." the Glitterstim had to come from a sealed case on one of the lower shelves, thus the Twi'lek actress used this time to get a bit closer and occupy the stool next to him. It seemed the roles were definitely reversed. "That Lorso guy seemed like a proper robin hood, freeing those slaves, not something you expect from Excha-" the Twi'lek shot the bartender a nasty look and the latter stopped abruptly. Kal could almost hear his thoughts running crazy and calling himself a donkey's arse for not putting two and two together. This guy was Exchange. Kal, however, was nothing of the sort and found the sudden self-censure confusing. "well?" he asked, plunging a few credits on the bar to the dread of the bartender "No no, on the house sire."

The bartender was saved when another customer sat down at the bar and ordered a drink, this time without the hearing the story of its origin. Kal pocketed the credits and took a sip while the Twi'lek muttered more excuses as to why she had denied him earlier. All Kal could think of, however, was the fact that tonight was definitely stranger than usual.

Kal Titch eh? What brings you to the Smuggler's Moon?

You'd think a gorgeous Twi'lek almost begging to sit on your lap would make others think twice about starting a conversation with you, you know, in fear of ruining what could become an amazing night. Wrong. Tonight it seemed everything happened in a way to confuse the hell out of Kal. "Leisure," he stated in reply to the stranger, "-but Mr Titch is going to smuggle himself a teal-skinned girl back to his ship." The Twi'lek actress raised his eyebrows in a teasing smile, "That all depends on whether or not it's a nice ship." This time he wouldn't be lying, "The Catscratch got floors of Bandomeer yew and is worth multiple fortunes." he might've overdone it a bit, but the Lethisk-class Armed Freighter was an expensive ship whose worth increased exponentially as long as the Onderon Crown Jewels were on board. "That'll do it."

 

[Arcangel]

Condensation dripped from the rim of her glass, a cheap imitation beer that had the flavor of starship fuel mixed with gundark piss. Swipe. A lone finger moving in a slick circle, left hand hovering above, wiping another forming droplet away before it could escape down the side of Tifa's glass. Staring from her arm at the slowly warming beer, a look of dejection so common on the Hutt moon of Nar Shadda. Three days without bathing, too expensive a prospect to practice more than once or twice a week on the urban planet where water costs were skyscraper high. Slumped over the bar, heavy jacket covering her form as she stared into the glass from the crook of her arm, smoke distantly rising over the top of it from the gentleman with the t'bac. Glancing down her arm at the man, Tifa's blank and downtrodden eyes took the man in.

Clean. Too clean for Nar Shadda. Slight buldge under his arm. Likely another blaster on his belt. Bulky, face doesn't match the frame. Chances of body armor likely. Possibly a bounty hunter or mercenary type. His buddy, the one flirting with the attractive teal skinned twi'lek, Some corporate stooge. A name, mentioned multiple times. Kal Titch. Known Exchange member. Twi'lek's attitude towards the man drastically shifts. Must be Kal Titch.

Her eyes rested on the pair of men for a second or two at the most. A slow return to the infinitely more interesting formation of condensation, eyes sliding casually back to her glass. Endlessly curious, her ears remained with their conversation, and her body tensed slightly at the possibility of armed conflict. A bounty hunter, a washed up detective, and an Exchange member walk into a bar, they all sat down. It sounded like the beginning of a bad joke, all it needed was a Rodian.

 

[Nor'baal]

"Seems a good place for it," he commented, "Shaddaa is full of vice for all." Dran finished, slamming his drink back as it was served, and placing the glass upside down on the bar in front of him. He was beginning to piece together to name of the man, and connect the dots as to who he was, convinced that he had heard the name before. Waving away the barman, and instead purchasing a packet of stims from behind the counter, he punched out into his hand and lit it.

Catscratch, Dran was convinced he had heard that before. Something to do with its make and value, but he pushed the idea aside. After all, it was none of his business. Returning to minding his own business, he walked away from the bar, only to find that his table had been taken by someone else (@Arclight). Pulling out his chair with practiced ease, he sat down at his table. "Evenin'" he said to the young woman.

 

[Arcangel]

As expected, the dripping water proved fascinating compared to the brief murmurings of strangers. The other man, bounty hunter, bought some stims and stood up to leave. A brief flickering of murderous thought crossed her mind. It would be so easy, just pull the trigger as his back was turned. Then he made his way back to his table, where a woman had occupied one of the seat. The thought vanished, she had no reason anyways. Tifa watched this all from the bar, where she sat, slumped over on the end of the grimy L-shaped surface. It did however seem that somebody was getting laid tonight. Lucky man, she wouldn't mind smuggling that teal skinned Twi'lek back to her ship herself.

The flickering door opened. Foul air stirring into the slightly less foul air of the bar. Her eye flicked to the door. Oh, there's the Rodian. Or rather Rodians, six of the ugly looking bruisers... Not that Tifa was against cross species romance, these kriffers were seriously just ugly, even for their species. Shifting slightly, propping herself up on her right elbow, hand laying on the counter in the direction of the Rodians. Left hand grasped the slick glass, bringing it up to her mouth for a large drink of the swill. It was actually growing on her, the way that mysterious ingredient that clung to her tongue and throat like engine grease. Maybe it was engine grease. Letting the glass settle on the bar, her left hand slipped down to rest on her right thigh.

The Rodians moved behind Kal Titch and his companion. A look of fear sprung onto the girls face. Tifa preferred the dimpled smile she had previously worn. But it was clear that she recognized these Rodians, either by name or reputation. They looked the tough type, blast vests, low slung blaster pistols. Itchy fingers and twitchy eyes. They were spoiling for a fight.

"Kal Titch." The center Rodian gibbered, the name Snot immediately jumping to Tifa's mind, a small pool of mucus forming under his noseholes as he spoke. "We hear you've been causing a bit of trouble for some friends of ours." The thug lisped in Huttese, a truly ugly language to begin with. Ahh an enforcer squad. Hand slowly creeping farther toward the inside of the jacket hanging next to her thigh. These thugs mean business, and Tifa didn't see this going down without a fight.

@Ecclessey

 

[Eccles]

Kal finally made his move, his hand sliding up alongside her shirt as he leaned in only to find the Twi'lek's eyes grow wide in fear. "Oh come on," he cried in embarrassed frustration. She didn't seem receptive to his cry of indignation, however, and her eyes were fixed on something behind her. Kal Titch a voice behind spoke with hostile intent. Frack. "Come get me later," Twi'lek took Kal's hand and put it off her body and back on the bar, "if you survive."

Kal only turned towards the hostile voice once the teal-skinned actress walked he bare legs off. There was a clear look of disgust on his face when he saw Snot, but when he noticed that there were six rodians staring at him he hid behind his glass of bantha milk. Snot said something in a gutter language, probably Huttese, but Kal had never bothered learning a language that was way too much of a tongue twister. "Last time I looked in the mirror I remember being delighted over not being an ugly snotty rodian, so speak basic to me frog-face." Where he got the courage to speak like that to obvious gangsters he wasn't sure, as the former Republic law enforcer in him could only have done that with Commander DeWitt's steely gaze next to him and yet here he was trying to bluff six armed Rodians. Then again, if they really thought he was some Exchange big shot, then he better play the part.

Snot frowned and then repeated his cryptic message in basic, causing all sort of alarms to go off in Kal's head. Getting mistaken for some Exchange celebrity did appear to have its downsides after all. This wasn't the moment to fold however and instead he looked around and raised his bluff, "Seems you're a stupid as your friend, Snotty-frog." he grinned and surprised himself that he could put his glass back on the counter without his hands shaking a little. "You see mister Bantha-hide jacket" (@Zaphod Norblebrox) "-behind you? He's got all three of his guns aimed at you since the moment you stepped in here, not to mention-" his head bobbed towards Tifa (@Arclight), "You really think a hot chick like her would be sitting alone at the bar drinking Gundark piss-" only then did he show the Rodians that he was packing his own sunspear heavy blaster, revealing it quite casually as he put his right hand on his hip, "-while we both know her favorite pastime is shooting her some frogs?"

 

[Nor'baal]

"Never a dull moment....." Dran chuckled to himself as the Rodians barged their way into the room, clearly spoiling for a fight. Slowly, he moved his hand do the Sunspear at his hip, just in case. "We hear you've been causing a bit of trouble for some friends of ours." spat one of the considerably less attractive Rodians.

Dran shifted in his seat, so as to get a better angle if needed. ''He's got all three of his guns aimed at you since the moment you stepped in here....'' Kal retorted. Well Damn, looks like its showtime. Dran thought, rising from his chair as if one cue, his pistol obviously shown. He said nothing, simply popping his goggles into place and pulling his bandana so as to cover the lower half of his face.

I always loved Nar Shaddaa

 

[Roro223]

Roro has been sitting in the corner of the cantina. Despite a system like Nar Shadaa were outsiders were a dime a dozen, he still managed to go the distance as on outsider due to his unique appearance. He'd been stalking the cantinas for days, looking for any word of some jewels from Onderan that had been stolen. Finally they'd made their appearance. He had been observing a man talking to a teal Twi'lek. She scurried off in a hurry, as 6 Rhodesians addressed the man, looking for a fight. It seemed the conversation between them was heading south real quick. Noticing several figures out their hands in their blasters. It seemed the Rhodesians were unaware of a lady behind them at a table who was ready to draw her blaster at a moment's notice.
He got up and walked over to the group after slamming his drink back and setting the glass on the table. Now's a good a time as any I reckon, might as well introduce myself he thought to himself. He stood behind him with his large hooded cloak covering most of his face, his snout protruding from the hood, followed by a set of viridian eyes. He bared his teeth as he let out a noticeably deep growl. Both hands hung low and open with his long black claws showing, clearly a detail the Rhodesians did not fail to miss as they turned their heads.
Several patrons in the cantina dropped their conversations upon hearing the menacing growl, interested in the event that was unfolding before them.
"Seems we have ourselves a Corellian standoff..." He growled under his breath as the Rhodesian who's turned to face him quickly put his hand on his blaster...

 

[Arcangel]

The man certainly knew how to talk game, tough words for a tough situation. His voice sounded fearless in the face of such overwhelming odds. He was a dead man.

Or not. Tifa sighed, he had dragged her into it, and the bounty hunter who had so recently occupied the seat next to the man. Didn't matter that they weren't involved, the enforcers would think they were Kal Titch's muscle now and treat them as such, regardless of the truth. Then another being, a Shistavanian, decided to get the ball rolling, walking up behind one of the Rodians and startling him into action.

"Lets get this over with." Muttering to herself as everyone in the bar either reached for their blasters or dived for cover. Six targets at least, blast vests. With a clench of her fist, middle finger prodding the palm trigger twice, two scarlet blaster bolts shot out from the device on her wrist, hidden from view by her leather jacket. The bolts, haphazardly aimed in the general pointing direction of the nearest Rodian to her, slammed into the aliens stomach in rapid succession, the first vaporizing the little armor he had, and the second burning a large whole in his gut.

Feet hitting the ground, Tifa slipped off the bar stool into a half crouch, arm raising to actually aim for the next pair of shots. Pew Pew. Two more blaster bolts and another dying Rodian. Even as she did this, her left hand, which had been reaching into her jacket, ripped the small 2112 Slammer Carbine which had been strapped to the inside of the material. Right palm slapping into the grip, she brought the gun up to her shoulder, quickly aiming at the next Rodian in line who wasn't blocked by a possibly friendly body.

The carbine emmited a loud whumpf, as Slammer Carbines are ought to do. With the noise a Rodian face exploded. Ducking back behind the bar as the thugs managed to get their blasters out and return fire, Tifa waited for the opportunity to pop back up and kill down more "frogs" as Kal put it. Though if everyone else pulled their weight, there wouldn't be anymore living Rodians to shoot at.

 

[Eccles]

Kal couldn't help but notice it when a six foot five wolf suddenly approached him and the rodians, for if that was what gangland enforcer looked like on Nar Shaddaa he was fighting a very different battle than he thought. His growl seemed to trigger the end of the standoff as other bar patrons suddenly dived for cover, putting themselves out of either one's line of fire. Kal knew better than to keep trusting on his bluff and drew his SA-21 heavy blaster as the first rodian collapsed from a gut shot. Obviously, Snot would be his first target and the froggy Rodian realized this all too well. His thin fingers slipped to his belt and retrieved a knife before moving to jump Kal.

He was lightning fast, yet just before he managed to get the knife to Kal's throat, the latter pressed the trigger and Snot's head popped open. Green brain goo spread out like a little mist cloud as the rodian collapsed to the floor, joining two of his friends. Kal didn't notice the efficiency of the woman he had called a frog-killer and spinster, but instead aimed his SA-21 at the next Rodian and pulled the trigger three times while he was too preoccupied staring at his dead friends. That left one rodian with the mission to kill Kal, and as he raised both his pistols the froglike sentient seemed to have the drop on the pretend Exchange lieutenant. Smiling, he said "Farewell Mr. Titch"

 

[Roro223]

Roro saw the last Rodian raise his two blasters, with evident advantage on the guy they seemed to have been targeting. A purple arc of light flew through the air like a serpent lunging at it's prey, wrapping around both his wrists and binding them together, causing the two blaster bolts to hit the floor. There was a second blur of purple light as Roro cut the blasters with his lightsaber, rendering the blaster useless.
The Rodian looked around shocked at all his dead friends. Hands still bound by the serpentine-like whip crackling distinctly as no other sound in the bar was heard.
"You're outnumber, and I highly doubt you get paid enough to to lose your life over this, whatever it's about... Let's say we just call it an evening."

 

[Arcangel]

It seemed that Kal Titch was competent enough dispatching of two of the six Rodians while Tifa killed the other three. Only one remained, who was quickly disarmed and apprehended by... JEDI! Alarms blared in Tifa's mind, for multiple reasons.

Without hesitation, her carbine sights aligned themselves on the Rodians head as the Jedi made his surrender offer. With a squeeze of the trigger, the Rodians head exploded, charres green gunk splattering all over the Jedi.

Of course she didn't stop there. Her blaster moved to align itself on the Jedi, her finger resting on the trigger. "Don't move Jedi." She had no intention of killing the Jedi, but wouldn't hesitate if he got aggressive. Force users couldn't be trusted, even the Jedi. Their Crusade had led them to commit many atrocities, for all they preached of restraint.

Really the only difference between the Jedi and the Sith, was the color of their sabers.

 

[Roro223]

"Pretty sure I could have let him kill you. And probably the LAST person you want to point a blaster at. I'll let the first time slide, but don't expect a second."
He stood his ground, flicking his left wrist, causing the whip to jump back and forth in front of him sizzling and crackling with life, like a cobra waiting to strike, purple lightsaber in the other hand, holding it across his body in a reverse grip.

Just when the bar patrons thought the trouble was over, yet another standoff ensued, as they all watched eager to see what would happen.

 

[Eccles]

Kal was momentarily stunned when the weird wolf-like creature took out a lightsaber and incapacitated the last remaining Rodian, leaving none left for the gunslinger at the table. Efficient, but Kal knew that if the rodian was kept alive he'd inform whoever that next time they shouldn't underestimate the apparent Exchange lieutenant. He had killed criminal scum in cold blood before, thus him killing snot and now raising his SA-21 heavy blaster to murder the last of the frogs didn't phase him. "evening isn't over yet," Kal said just as the Rodian's head already exploded, making him check his blaster with a confused look until it became clear that the woman had delivered the kill shot. She obviously knew how to handle herself and Kal was thankful for involving her in his bluff earlier.

That said, the Jedi didn't seem very peaceful as now the Jedi and Kal's new friend stood in their own Corellian stand-off. "Let's not be hasty," Kal smiled towards the nameless woman as he did a step back to line up with the Jedi at Kal's ten o'clock. "No one enjoys seeing Jedi here," he shrugged, Saints and Sinners, you understand." Kal holstered his own pistol and motioned for the woman to do the same, "Let's not bring the war down here." His words were naive, as by now the Hutt Families were already a target by all the major galactic powers and the freedom of this place was sure to end soon.

 

[Nor'baal]

There was a flash, another flash, a couple of muffled screams and a few thumps as bodies went down. Dran looked on in awe, as half the room joined him, it had been over almost as soon as it had started. Keeping his pistol out, he took two steps forwards as silence permeated the air following the lightsaber wielding man's incapacitation of the final thug.


Seeing his moment, he quickly shot one of the fallen bodies twice in rapid succession. ”He twitched?” Dran said, more trying to convince himself of the fact rather than sway anyone else in the room. ”I’m just sayin’, you can all thank me later.’’


Heroism.

 

[Eccles]

"Kal! We're going back to Quesh!" a fellow Systech employee called out to Kal with a look of fear in his eyes. Mato wasn't with compound security like Kal and he sure didn't have his military background, making the whole firefight that just happened a horribly scaring event.

Kal didn't respond at first, but his minds was racing on what would be the consequence of tonight. Certainly the dead Rodians were send here by the Hutts and as they own the moon there would be others after Kal soon. Perhaps it was better if he didn't stick around to find his teal-colored Twi'lek actress again. Damnit

"Well," Kal said as he began walking backwards towards the exit, "My thanks for your assistence," he nodded his head in the direction of the dead rodians, "-but don't call me."

With that Kal Titch left the cantina and bound for Quesh. It'd be some time before he'd venture off Quesh again.. probably about six weeks.

 

[Roro223]

Roro looked around and the sudden mess that had been created, nodding his head in disapproval.
Tsk, tsk. Well, since we seem to made quite the mess, I'm sure it won't be long before more of them show up in force. Seems we might as well stick together. I'll come with Quesh. Clearly I was hear for a purpose, there are no coincidences with the Force. When do we leave?