Out of the Frying Pan 2 (Bol and Kesler)

[shadowbloodmoon]

Ack! I knew I skipped over one detail when describing her... she is light tan in color. Kind of like the color of desert sand at dusk. She is not an uncommon color for her race, and in fact hers is extremely common among her kind. Your knowledge also tells you that this color is popular among human slavers because except for their headtails, they look similar to humans.

Again the alien woman smiles, this time showing her white, pointed teeth. "I can understand your... apprehension." Her other hand, previously hidden from view appears in Kesler's vision holding a holo-pic to his face. "Look closely Doctor."

The picture shows a scene of carnage and destruction. Medbeds and autodocs, along with broken bacta tanks and makeshift bacta washes litter the entire room. Patients are being seen to by many people, and memories of the war to free Naboo come rushing to your mind. In the center of the picture is a very familiar face. Yours.

 

[Dire Lemming]

OOC: She’s kind of insane too, that’s ok so am I.

Kesler steps back from the picture in shock. Though he had experienced a lot of violence in his time he never could bring himself to become comfortable with it. He suppresses an outburst, and then glances nervously around the cantina, hoping he had not drawn any unwanted attention, before looking back at the Twi-Lek. Speaking again as he regains his calm, Kesler says, “Who are you? What’s the meaning of this?” He isn’t angry, but is definitely more than a little confused. He looks again at the picture trying to remember if he’s seen it before, perhaps it was a picture from the Holonet, for a news article or something. He tries to remember when and where it was recorded, and despite the improbability of success, who might have recorded it.

OOC: I just realized after righting the entire post that I had used past tense for the entire thing! I changed it but it might seem a bit awkward in places, well, more than usual

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

No worries. I never think about what tense I type in. It just happens as it does...

Removing her face from yours, the Twi'Lek woman takes a seat next to you. She points to another Twi'Lek in the picture, this one is an older female. "You saved her. You didn't have to and I know she couldn't pay, but you saved her anyway." She lets the words sink in before continuing. "I've been looking for you ever since."

 

[Dire Lemming]

OOC: Whoa, a little more insane than I thought. Well at least it's not the dangerous type of insane, to other people, it could easily be excessive bravery, unusual as that is in Twi-Leks. Or maybe it's an elaborate hoax.

Kesler sits down as well, and his expression softens as her words sink in. He looks at the woman in the picture, trying to recognize her. Regardless of whether or not he succeeds, he looks up at the woman in front of him and blinks at her in surprise. “I… see. Are you a relative of hers?” He gives her just a moment to answer before continuing, “Why did you come searching for me? I mean, it must have been dangerous.” Suddenly his brow creases “How did you end up here?” He says, in a concerned tone, thinking, “Twi-Lek women are disturbingly popular with slavers, and Tatooine being what it is… It can’t be good.”

 

[maddmic]

Bol raises an eyebrow and looks at the Chadra. "Ok. I thought you needed some kind of help? Perhaps I misunderstood you. I want to get off this planet and had thought that you might know of a way to do that. I figured we could work out a deal. If you needed help with something, I could look into that. In return, I'd like passage off this rock."

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

The tan colored alien woman sighs. Kesler takes another look and sees that this Twi'Lek he does indeed remember. She had been brought in by resistance fighters that cleared out an old Gungan temple of Federation droids. What she was doing there, they could only guess. "She was my mother. I was a pouchling at the time, but she told me the story. I thought it would be...good to thank the man responsible for keeping her well. That and...this is probably selfish of me, but I... I didn't believe her at first." You don't remember the soldiers mentioning a little Twi'Lek girl though. She stops as you ask more questions.

"It has been...difficult, yes. In order to even get passage to Tatooine, I had to join with this troupe. I didn't know they belonged to someone. Someone important. I was stuck here until, well, I guess fate brought you in."


The Chadra-Fan seems to have understood Bol's response, as it frowns in thought. "Off rock?" He draws a card. "Cards say possible. Come soon to see you. Ship come to you." Drawing another card he squeaks again. "Bad thing come too. Make deal, go fast. You have another question?"

 

[Dire Lemming]

OOC: Holy Jawa giblets what kind of rational sentient is she, no kind I guess. Now correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t traveling around the galaxy in search of someone she’s never met, whom her mother claims saved her life once, and she doesn’t even believe it, grossly uncharacteristic of the typical Twi-Lek? That’s actually something Kesler would like to know the answer to as well.

Kesler doesn't know what to say at first, he certainly wants to believe this woman, as strange as her story is. It really seems like something out of a romance novel. Except that he’s never met her before. After a moment he speaks; “You searched the galaxy for me just to thank me for saving your mother? That’s crazy, you shouldn’t have done it.” he actually feels a bit angry that she would put herself at such risk for something so small, like a careless patient. “Well I guess there’s no point in saying that now.” he says with a sigh. Of course thinking of the slavers makes him alot angrier, but he checks it. “Is there some way I could help you? Maybe we could barter for your freedom.”

 

[maddmic]

Bol ruffles his fur, upset that he was duped by the Chadra. Realizing it was his own fault, he throws a couple of credits on the table and towards the small figure. "No, no more questions. you go now." 'Why did I fall for that? People using cards to tell people's fortunes. I guess it takes all types.' He gets up and looks at the door. 'Still better take it easy. Somebody is out to get me and I doubt that the doc will be of much use right now.' He glances over his should back at the doctor with the Twi'Lek near him.

Knowing that his survival is most likely tied to the person who can keep him patched up, Bol decides to not leave just yet. He orders a light Corellian ale and finds a booth where he can keep an eye on the entrance to the cantina. He makes sure that he is covered by as many shadows as possible. He then gently places his right hand on the butt of his blaster while casually drinking the ale slowly.

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

This should tip Kesler off to something, yes?

"It's not something I did lightly. My father never cared for either me or her and a stranger to us came and helped. I mean, I know it was your duty during that time, but still." She looks at you for a moment, her eyes searching for something in Kesler's own eyes. "I'm sorry. You're right, it was crazy of me to do this." She begins to stand.

***

Disheartened, the little chiroptera-faced alien gathers his cards and moves away, attempting to find someone else to tell his fortunes to. It is as Bol settles with his second drink that he hears a commotion outside the cantina. The high pitched whine of repulsor lift vehicles is unmistakeable among the throng of cantina patrons talking.

 

[Dire Lemming]

OOC: Hm, well she's obviously not just some random scammer since she has that picture. Try as I might I can't think of what reason she could possibly have for all this besides something at least similar to what she's said.

The story seems crazy to Kesler but he can't think of how or why she would have that picture unless it were at least partially true and if it is he can't simply leave her here. "Wait." says Kesler as she seems to leave. "It was also very brave. Look, I helped your mother not because I had to, but because I wanted to. Your thanks is more than enough to repay me, and what you had to go through to find me puts me in your debt. There's got to be something that can be done to get you free." he stands, and starts to rummage through his pockets for his credit chip. Wondering what a slave actually costs.