The Hutt's Palace

[Jae]

It was a rather dashing scene in the Hutt Palace. Dancers, and jesters were constantly putting in their best efforts to amuse the Hutt Princess. Jett was standing next to the Umager herself, smirking at the fact that they were all failing. Of course, eventually they would be thrown into the rancor pit where it would all end. Jett overlooked the palace, and made sure that everyone had something to do except well...himself. He turned towards Umaga as he spoke aloud.

 

"Everything seems to be in order, do you need anything done?"

[Beltran Rarr]

Some time later, Beltran saw Animando enter the throne room. Getting up, Beltran quickly fell in step behind his temporary partner. Together they approached Umaga the Hutt. Beltran dipped his head respectfully and waited for the massive creature to respond.

[Alpha Fett]

Alpha went out of the Palace and walked around the grounds. A bantha had wondered on to the grounds. Alpha thought he might make it a three legged bantha, that is, untill ha saw a canyon krayt dragon.

 

It attacked the shadow of the bantha's head, Alpha knew why. The dragons have a hard time telling the difference of 2-D things. Alpha read that in a book once, the krayt drangon was that months subject. He knew it was a canyon krayt dragon too and not another subspecies, like the greater krayt drangon. He watched it devour the bantha and lay down right there.

 

He wanted to kill something, and since the bantha was eaten, he decided to kill the dragon. He read about their weakness in the book too. A well placed shot in the sinis cavity would kill it. He watched it behind a boulder. It sensed him with one of its senses, either hearing, smelling or a sixth sense humans don't have. Alpha paniced and shot it a little off the cavity. It blacked out, but didn't die.

 

Alpha thought it was killed, so he marched off back to the palace's main chamber thinking highly of himself. The dragon was left to rot, but it just unwillingly slept.

[Guest]

The extremely Obese Umaga the Hutt fell asleep. She waited someone to take on the responsibilities of Regent.

[Beltran Rarr]

As Umaga slept, Beltran stalked the hallways of the palace. It was interesting to him what kind of things when on in a place like this. It seemed like everyone had their own little story to tell. Passing a couple of Gamorreans, he made his way to his suite.

 

It was large, far more luxurious than anything he'd had when he had been with Black Sun. Sitting back in a beautifully crafted nerf-leather arm chair, Beltran pulled out his datapad and connected to the holonet. He quickly learned of the official statements concerning the happenings between the Jedi and Black Dawn over Haruun Kal.

 

While his old employer, Piccolo, seemed to have had the upper hand in the beginning, recent news reports showed that the only merit his attack had had was that of surprise. As surprise wore off, it looked as if the half-doshan was getting the stuffing kicked out of him.

 

Turning from the holonet, Beltran allowed himself a brief respite from his activities. Much of his body still ached from the beating he had recieved on Hoth, and now that his accounts were far more comfortably filled, he planned to relax for a time.

[Alpha Fett]

Alpha grew bored and wanted to check his on how his ship was doing. So he did. He headed to the hangar as quietly as possible.

 

He was pleased with the modifacations on his YT-2400. The last peices of stygian-triprismatic polymer plates were being put on the hull. A thought acured to Alpha, "Who's going to guard it?" His pup sure couldn't. He started to walk back to the private rooms, but decided to go to the main audience. There a alien species tried to sail him an astromech droid of the R2-series. He didn't need such a droid right now. Another alien, tried to sale him a RA-7 droid. The droid caught his attention. As he listened, the droid's history was that it was an Imperial droid that an officer had left in the Dune Sea of Tatootine, probaly because of the recording devices in the droid that the merchant found. Alpha bought the droid because he decide to modify it in to a sentry/keeper for his ship.

 

Alpha, the pup and the droid went back to his room. Alpha then went to the weaponry storehouse in the palace and bought a A280, a targeting system, a KX-60 and some thermal detonaters for his droid. He bought a DLT-19 heavy blaster rifle and a scope for himself. He also bought a program that was simalar to the program the B-2 battledroids use that the weaponer recomended.

 

Alpha went back to his room and implanted the targeting system and downloaded the new program that would work with the old one to keep his ship clean and tidy, yet protect it. He then gave it it's weapons and sent the droid the the ship. Alpha locked his room and went to the main audience chamber to watch the female slaves dance for Umaga's male audience members.

[Beltran Rarr]

Several hours later, Beltran exited his quarters. Since most of the others were off world, and Umaga had this as a fit time to enter one of her notorious slumbers, the day to day running of the palace fell to Beltran and Animando. Walking through the extensive cooridoors, Beltran made his way to a spacious office. Sitting at his desk he keyed the COM array, checking for messages. Immediately he was greeted by a transmission from a ship in orbit. It was from the Hutt, Kijdic.

 

I require and audience, as soon as possible.

 

Opening a transmission to the Pride of Nal Hutta, Beltran spoke.

 

--COM to Kijdic--

 

Transmission recieved. Umaga is unavailable, but I am willing to discuss anything you require. Land at the following coordinates, I will have someone meet you there.

 

--END COM--

 

With that finished, Beltran ordered a Gamorrean guard to the coordinates with instructions to bring Kijdic to him as soon as he landed.

[Alpha Fett]

Alpha Fett got up from his chair and went to his room to sleep. When he got up, a message was on his com-link for him to go to Genosis to search out some B-1 and B-2 battle droids. It wasn't dangerous, so that was why he figured he was going alone. He feed his akk dog pup, which he finaly named Beastie, and left his room for the hanger where his ship was.

 

He got in his YT-2400 and told his RA-7 protocol droid to man the gun. He lifted off and went into hyperspace.

 

(EDIT:Mechis III not Genosis)

Edited November 7, 2006 by Guest

[Brina Thalin]

After a quick trip from the Golden Link Casino, the Pinta set down at the Hutt palace. Brina stood up and went back to make her self presentable. On top of the black bodysuit, she added the green vest and angled skirt, and redid her red hair. Making sure once more that her blaster was secure by her side, she motioned to Durose. "Are you ready? Let's go."

 

They exited the ship after the Cathar was ready, and made their way to the Hutt's main chamber. It appeared the Hutt--Umaga, Brina reminded herself--was asleep. She looked around for a majordomo or anyone else in charge. Their mission here was important, and they had business to do with the Hutt.

[Durose Roshan]

Finally setting down, Durose left to get changed. As for himself, Durose had donned a navy blue imperial style uniform custom-made to fit his body's contour. Also custom-made to add a little flair and formality to his suit, Durose had the Link symbol embroidered above his left chest. Lastly, he also sported black leather gloves to match his black leather boots.

 

Leaving his cabin, Durose commented with a smile, "It would seem someone is looking even more beautiful than usual. I didn't even know that was possible. I'm going to feel out of place now. If I'd a known, I would have brought something more fancy."

 

Raising a finger as a light went off in his head, Durose grinned, "Hmmm... I got an idea. Just a sec."

 

Popping back inside his room, Durose quickly sifted through his stuff until he found his crimson, cape-like cloak. Securing the ends together with a small, ovalish, gold medallion, his cape wrapped over his shoulders and flowed effortlessly down to his feet.

 

Rejoining Brina, Durose made sure to grab a twin blaster sheath for his weapons.

 

Now all set, Durose nodded, "Yup. I'm ready. After you..."

 

...

 

Once inside and finding that the Hutt wasn't available at the moment, Durose approached the bartender.

 

"Excuse me, sir. We're looking for the people in charge at the moment. We have important business to attend to."

 

Then pausing for a second, Durose added, "Oh... and since I'm here, grab me a blue milk. You want anything Brina?"

[Beltran Rarr]

Some time later, Beltran was alerted to the presence of two humans looking to speak with someone in charge. Making his way to the throne room, Beltran approached the two. Smoothing a crease from his suit jacket, he nodded to each of them.

 

"How can I help you?"

[Brina Thalin]

Brina shook her head at the offer of something to drink. As they stood there, they were approached by a man who spoke to them.

 

"Yes," Brina replied. "My name is Brina Thalin, and I'm a partner with the Link Organization. I have come to offer a business proposition and to work out a possible renewed alliance with your boss."

 

The man seemed to be in charge, and had an air about him that gave her the feeling he was perfect for working here.

[Beltran Rarr]

Beltran nodded, listening to the woman's words. He felt uncomfortable, being reduced from hunter and assassin to a mere negotiator, but such was the way of life.

 

Besides, one cannot expect to survive if one is not able to adapt. He thought to himself.

 

Ushering the two humans into his spacious office, Beltran offered them a seat. Sitting across from the two, he leaned inward before speaking.

 

"Alright, what exactly did you have in mind?"

[Durose Roshan]

The half drunk man glanced around in a stupor at the change of scenery. He wasn't quite sure what he was doing there, but he wasn't going to complain. Instead, he took another swig of his jawa beer.

 

Disgruntled, the cathar made his way to the room the others had just entered. The Hutt official had been in such a hurry to usher them in that he hadn't even made sure he had the right people. On top of that, he hadn't even given Brina time to speak up about his mistake. Of course, that other human did look the part. The cathar cursed at fact that their style of dress didn't match. He was dressed in more of a classic, flashy formal, while Brina was more of an urban, modern, sexy formal. Definitely unprofessional for two negotiators to not be recognized as from the same group at first glance. That was life, though.

 

Taking one huge gulp or two of his glass, Durose finished off his milk. Walking up to the gamorrean guards that had taken their places on either side of the doorway, Durose stared at them impatiently.

 

"Your boss grabbed the wrong dude. I'm suppose to be inside those negotiations right now... so if you don't mind letting me in..."

 

The gamorreans looked at each other and laughed.

 

Durose frowned at the disgusting pigs, "I'm sorry. Did I say something funny? Because I wouldn't be laughing if I were you. You do value your limbs, don't you? Or your lives for that matter!"

 

At Durose's comment, the two guards backed off of the wall and moved towards him with a grunt or two.

 

Durose lowered his hands, ready to draw the twin blaster pistols he had concealed under his cloak, if he need to. Meanwhile, the gamorreans tightened their grips on the large axes they were holding.

[Beltran Rarr]

Beltran growled softly as he was made aware of the altercation brewing outside of his office. This was the last thing he needed right now. Clamping down on a rare surge of anger, he keyed the intercom.

 

"Let him in, you idiots!" He barked, informing the two Gamorreans. Turning back to the woman sitting before him, Beltran tilted his head.

 

"Gamorreans... I still don't see why Hutts have such an affinity for them..."

[Brina Thalin]

She smiled and shurgged along with him. "Anyway, you were wondering what proposal the Link had to offer. In the past, we had an alliance with the Hutts. Part of my proposal is to renew that alliance. In addition to the Casino, the race tracks, pod racing, and other entertainment options we offer, we are also a business of piloting and transportation. However, our less public side is the side that the Hutts were most interested with in our last alliance. We also do some smuggling and freelancing. However, we are a neutral organization, and plan to stay that was as much as possible."

 

She paused. "The only organization that has openly defied us and earned their right to become our enemies is the Black Sun, recently renamed Black Dawn. However, I don't believe they are friends with very many people at this point in time," she added, making reference to what had happened and was happening on Harrun Kal.

 

She straightened up and looked Beltran in the eye. "What I'm also proposing is in line with that. It is in both our interests to keep an eye on that organization, to watch what they are up to. There are few in the galaxy who have the resources and skills of those in the Hutt Organization. We want to share that information as part of our alliance."

 

She stopped, knowing that sometimes, fewer words were better than many, but wanting to lay it all on the table before whatever was outside causing the disturbance was allowed in.

[Beltran Rarr]

Beltran listened to the woman's words carefully, his face betraying nothing. The Link's main concern seemed to be Black Sun. As he thought back, Beltran remembered that there had been some trouble between the organizations back when he had been an agent for Piccolo. Obviously, being as low in the organization as he had been, he didn't know any of the specifics. Truthfully, he didn't really care anyway.

 

As she finished, Beltran took a moment to think. "Spying on the Black Sun..." He mused. "A dangerous proposition indeed. For that very reason, you are right in that they needed to be watched. However, were my employer to enter into such an arrangement, she would need an incentive, something tangible."

 

Leaning forward, Beltran awaited the woman's response.

[Aschen Skirata]

From within the shadows a dark and narrow tunnel, moved a single soldier. A man who moved with the night and used the shadows to strike at his opponenents. His armor blended in with the darkness and made him a monster to those who feared justice and death. But his biggest weapon, was his mind. Even before the battles had begun, he had already decided his allies and his enemies, his gains and his losses.

 

Leaving the mysterious shadows of the darkest tunnel, Animando emerged into the light. turning his head back towards the shadows, his T-visor cast several reflected beams, just enough to witness a tail slinking further into darkness. Grinning beneath his helmet, Animando turned his attention back to the relatively quiet audience chamber. Umaga had fallen asleep, drool running down her large belly and pooling beneath her. Wondering who was running the place, Animando awaited any orders.

[Brina Thalin]

Brina leaned forward as well. "Naturally, there will be more financial benefits. Besides having us do some smuggling work for your organization as needed, we are willing to offer 10,000 credits a month to maintain the alliance, as well as an extra 5,000 for each bit of information."

 

She paused, letting it sink in. The rate was a standard one in cases such as this, but she would be willing to bargain slightly higher if Beltran pushed. This alliance was important to the Link. "Of course, if the information is more significant, we will offer more credits. The rate is the same as we paid Whyl the Hutt for our alliance with him."

 

She leaned back in her chair and tucked a stray red hair behind her ear. She was eager to get the details of this alliance settled. They still had several other stops to make on this journey. However, she was willing to stay as long as she needed to secure this.

[Rihn]

Rihn unannounced just outside the palace. Contacting several of his connections on Tatooine, he forged together a contract for a construction crew. It would cost him 10,000 credits for the construction of a large droid factory. After they were finished, he would use Hutt employees to build the secret underground facility.

 

Machinery would be the most costly coming to about 50,000 credits. It was something he could not afford to go cheap on as it would be more costly to production and the organization in the long run if he did go cheap.

 

Finalizing his plans, Rihn had the construction crews begin on building immediately. Located about a mile and a half north of the palace, the factory was to be building into a small depression in the desert landscape a tad too small to be called a valley. That way it wouldn't detract from the beauty and presence of the palace.

 

Sending Beltran Rarr a encoded message before engaging his engines once more to leave the planet, Rihn was satisfied he had taken care of all his duties on Tatooine. He now had other things to take care of.

 

[EDITED FOR BUILD TIME: EXPECTED COMPLETION TIME ONE AND A HALF WEEKS. (November 19th, 2006 US time)]

Edited November 11, 2006 by Guest

[Beltran Rarr]

Beltran mused over Brina's words. They sounded good to him, but judging from her body language, he felt he could do better.

 

"Thats an impressive offer, which Umaga the Hutt would surely accept. However, I wonder if you might be open to a further facet to this alliance, one in which The Link would stand to gain much with minimal effort."

 

He paused for a moment, before continuing.

 

"As you may have guessed, Umaga has become very interested in moving shipments of ...merchandise... coreward. I know you mentioned that the Link would be willing to conduct smuggling work for us, but I wonder if it would be willing to provide us the resources to conduct the business ourselves.

 

In exchange for providing us with an office in your facility, to oversee operations, the Hutts would be willing to assume all the costs for transporting and distributing our merchandise while paying to the Link, 25% of all profits made."

 

With all that said Beltran looked to the woman, awaiting her response.

[Brina Thalin]

As Beltran spoke, Brina was impressed. He knew his stuff. She mused over his words. With the extra income from Umaga's profits, the information on Black Sun, and the strength of the proposed alliance in exchange for an office in their Coruscanti headquarters, she could see this becoming a very beneficial deal. On the other hand, it was a very public move.

 

She thought about it a bit more. The Link was neutral, but they had plently of room and resources. It would be worth it, she decided. "Sir, on behalf of the Link Organization, I accept your offer."

 

She quickly jotted the particulars of the agreement down on an un-eraseable datapad, leaving places for both organizations to sign their agreement. She laid it on the table. "Is there anything else you wish to discuss before we close the agreement?"

 

((OOC: This is random I know, but you should check out FanFic again...your Running the Gauntlet is up for a FanFic Award...))

[Beltran Rarr]

((OOC: Cool, guess I should get around to finishing it, thanks for telling me.))

 

"Very good." Beltran said as Brina finished. "There's only one thing that I have to stress about our agreement, it has to remain completely confidential. Like yours, our organization is completely neutral. We have no interest in being publicly linked, pardon the pun, to anyone."

 

Beltran paused for a moment, then flashed a rare smile at the woman before him. He extended his hand, signing the agreement.

 

"It was a pleasure doing business with you, Miss Thalin. I will have someone contact you about setting up the office and getting our operation up and running. If there's anything else I can do for you, don't hestitate to ask."

 

Keying his com, Beltran sent a discrete message to Rihn, signaling that he was about to finish the meeting.

[Brina Thalin]

Brina nodded. "With all assurances. This alliance is not one that should necessarily be made public."

 

She shook his hand, returning his smile with one of her own. "I look forward to working with you again in the future."

 

All the documents were signed, and the meeting finished. Pleased at the outcome of their efforts, Brina rose and graciously said her farewells. Leaving the room, she came across Durose, who had just made it through the reluctant guards. One look at him told her he was rather drunk. She wished ferociously that she could deny any knowledge of him, or recognition of him, but knew she couldn't. "Get back to the ship," she told the Cathar quietly. "We're leaving."

 

She hoped he'd do as she asked. Their business was indeed finished, and they had several more stops to make. She herself headed back to the ship and prepped it for takeoff from the dry, dusty world.

[Beltran Rarr]

Beltran narrowed his eyes as he watched the woman leave. Several encoded messages had passed back and forth during the conversation, the content of which had soured Beltran's mood considerably.

 

He leaves me no instruction, and then complains when things don't do as he planned, Beltran thought to himself. This man is an idiot.

 

Turning to his com console, Beltran sent another message to Rihn. This time, he explained, in painstaking detail, the thinking behind his actions. To be sure Beltran wasn't used to dealing with this kind of person, one who seemed to completely misread an entire situation.

 

To be truthful, Beltran wondered how such a man has managed to survive as long as he had, much less to become a Regent to the powerful Umaga.

 

This is why I work alone.

[Kijdic the Hutt]

Recieving Beltran's comm, Kijdic landed the Pride of Nal Hutta in a docking bay on Whyl the Hutt's Palace. He flew his repulor chair over to where the Gamoorean Guard was.

 

"Take me to your master."

[Beltran Rarr]

The Gamorrean grunted in its customary manner and led the large Hutt through the hallways of Umaga's Palace. After a few moments, the emerged in Beltran's office. Standing, Beltran bowed to the Hutt before sitting again.

 

"Great and mighty Kijdic, I bid you welcome on behalf of her excellency, Umaga the Hutt. I hope your flight went well. So, how many I help you?"

 

Inwardly, Beltran winced at the flowery language. Such flattery and praise was not something he tended to put any stock in.

 

But, such is life. He mused. If this is what I must do to keep my accounts filled, then this is what I must do.

[Aschen Skirata]

As he awaited an assignment from Rihn, the Mandalorian hunter noticed a small blip within his HUD. Activating his records, Animand noticed that the Hutts were interested in finding a droid by the name of CR. This droid seemed to be in the same business as himself, so Animando wondered if he would be brought to the palace with ease or if the Mandalorian would have to drag him. Deciding to take the job, Animando accessed his own HoloNet account and began to scan any news articles relating to droid hunters. Although most were old reports of the droid IG-88, he found some interesting hits, most notably one on Naboo. Deciding to venture to Naboo, Animando once again left the Hutt palace and made his way into the deep reaches of space.

[Durose Roshan]

The very upset but completely sober, Durose glanced at Brina. Momentarily entering the room where they had done business, the cathar shooked his head at the man.

 

"Just because I'm not human doesn't mean I lack intelligence or the ability to be someone of importance."

 

Then he left. He was evidently frustrated as he finally caught up to Brina in the passage way leading to the exit of the palace. The Hutt representative mistakenly grabbing the wrong person made him angry enough, but Brina's visible almost near avoidance of acknowledging his presense had tipped him into furious.

 

They continued to walk side by side, Durose looking straight ahead but his anger was clearly conveyed in his stride and frown. As they approached the vessel Durose suddenly stepped in front of Brina.

 

Standing face to face, the large "beast" looked down at the Link representative, "I had every right to be angry about my treatment. The Hutt swine assumed that the Link would send two humans. Even with my fancy uniform, his own prejudices blinded him. He dishonored me and those Hutt pigs dishonored me..."

 

Durose observed the hot, flowing sand for a second as it blew in the wind. Then he refocused on Brina's eyes.

 

"But what hurts me the most is that you would dishonor me. Don't pretend to think I didn't see that look you had. The tinge on your voice. I'm sorry that I exist and I make your life so unlivable. I've tried everything I can to fit in. To understand your culture. To be your friend or at least your assistant. But you fight me at ever turn. You're just like ever other human I have ever met. When I walk into a cantina or eating establishment, people stare. People fear me. Waiters are scared to serve me. When I walk into a place of learning, people scoff. They look surprised. They imagine I'm there to rob them. When I go to work, I have to work twice as hard as every human there. Otherwise, they won't respect me. They'll give my job to some other less than impressive human. But you know why? It isn't because I'm a mean or randomly violent person. Have I ever attacked you since we've known each other? It isn't because I'm a stupid or uneducated person. It isn't because I'm not a hard or good worker. My resume and my work on the Link casino alone proves that. It's because I'm a cathar. Because I'm a cathar I have to be some violent, thuggish, uneducated, ignorant, slacking, good only for manual labor, beast! I've been treated like an animal all my life and no matter what I do or how much I fight that perception, people will only see me as such...Always and forever..."

 

Reaching behind his neck, Durose tugged hard, tearing at the crimson cape. Landing at Brina's feet, the shiny and uniquely engraved golden medallion popped loose from its hold on the ends of the cape. Now freed, the cape flapped and waved as it glided to the ground and collected itself into a wrinkled pile of cloth.

 

"I've tried to earn you're respect. To help you. To help the Link. I've secured the station. Upgraded the security systems. Risked my life for your safety. Even given you a gift of friendship. But at ever corner you fight me. I've tried to understand why. I've tried to tell myself that you aren't like everyone else. But nothing changes. You're just like the rest. You won't look past this," he spoke pressing his fingers against his chest. "No one will. They look at my appearance and they've already judged me. I'm an inferior being. A second-rate species. No one ever thinks that there might just be someone inside. That under all this there is a person just like you with likes and dislikes, passions, dreams, intelligence, a personality... emotion. I'm not just some animal. But that's all I'll ever be to you and everyone else, isn't it? Some repugnant watchdog that you decide to keep aroundly only because I get the job done and do it well."

 

Having vented, Durose had done enough talking for the moment. Not waiting for Brina to respond, Durose turned and stormed toward the ship. As he transversed the ramp, the cathar angrily yanked off one of his black gloves. Tossing it off the side of the ramp into the shadowed yellow sand, he repeated the process with his other glove before disappearing inside the ship.

 

Entering his room, Durose slammed the door shut but didn't bother to lock it. Instead, he crossed the room and leaned his forearm against the wall. With his head facing the wall, he angled it so that it rested between his forearm and bicep.

 

He could feel intense frustration trying to turn into extreme anguish, which was one of the reasons he had left the conversation when he did. It was shameful for a cathar male to display such sadness, especially in front of a female. Everyone else had dishonored him today, but he refused to dishonor himself. His honor was the one thing he had left, the one thing he could cling to no matter what happened to him or how people treated him. It was the one thing that kept him grounded.

 

Fighting the pain, Durose tooked deep breaths to calm himself. He tried to turn his mind to happy thoughts. Thoughts of delicious home-cooked meals, picnicing on the savanna with his parents, his scholastic awards, his first promotion, his first blood hunt, his friends back home... anything that could turn his thoughts away from the life of seclusions and degredation that he had suffered for so many years since he left Cathar to find his place in the universe. A place he truly wasn't sure he would ever find.

[Beltran Rarr]

The Cathar's words washed over him. Beltran could tell the being was angry. Apparently, he had felt that he had been excluded for not being human. In truth, he had been excluded because he was drunk.

 

Beltran had just been about to tell the being that when he turned and marched right back out of the office. As far as Beltran as concerned, the being had disgraced itself, not the otherway around.