Out of the Frying Pan... (d20 Star Wars)

[Bobitron]

Tal stands down and flips up the visor of his helmet as Felia speaks, but his demeanor doesn't change. In his travels, he has found the best way to deal with this sort of ruffian is to appear to be the person most willing to do violence, regardless of the consequences. He turns his eyes away from the bravo's face after a long, flat stare.

 

[Ambrus]

Shadow:[sblock]

Dofina next to you begins to stir.

DRK-1X will not try to rush her; it'll probably take a while for her to come out of her stupor. 1X would rather not draw attention to it or her until she's fully regained her senses. If there is a food dispenser in the audience chamber 1X will make its way to it stealthily and acquire a cup of Dofina's preferred hot stimulant drink. It'll carry it back to her with its arms deployed and proceed to feed her some slowly until she's fully aware of her surroundings.[/sblock]DRK-1X whispers out of Felia and Tal's earpieces via comlink: "Statement: I've never known the Cockpit Cantina to have a 'members only' policy. This individual may be lying or in error."

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

Sorry about the delay folks, Ambrus and I were clarifying a couple of things quickly.

The man's eyes dart back and forth between Felia, Femi and Tal, focusing on the blasters near the hands of the two men. X's transmission comes through as Felia speaks to him, letting her know that this man may be lying, even though her senses were quiet on the subject.

"I...I suppose I could let you in, for just a moment or so. Go straight on through the door and make sure you all buy at least one drink from Gurdz, or they'll know you're outsiders. He slowly backs away, to the detriment of his ego, with his cronies throwing insulting remarks about his manhood.

As you enter the building, few of the scores of patrons look up at you. Most are simply enjoying their drinks, having conversations at tables or just dancing to the music being piped in from somewhere. The way the place is laid out, you find yourself looking directly at the bar portion, through the throngs of people. That is surrounded by stools and chairs of varying types, most all of them occupied. Near the walls however are the tables and booths, they as well being mostly occupied. Felia and Femi's senses are nearly overwhelmed with the myriad emotions running high in the room, mostly due to intoxication more than anything. In fact, you feel that if you stay around too much longer, you might be affected as well.

DRK-1X:
[sblock]In Torrba's place, you find a serving droid that serves a steaming cup of coftea. It's a human drink, but Dofina has taken a liking to it from her journies. As you begin to help her drink it, her eyes begin to clear, slightly. "X, have I.. Have I ever told... X you.. Thanks, X." Eventually her eyes again are able to focus and she seems to be thinking more clearly. "What's going on?", she whispers. "Why is everyone asleep? Where is that group we came here with?"
[/sblock]

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

Femi makes an effort to focus on blocking the most intense of emotions coming from the patrons of the bar. He wants to remain clear-headed for whatever may come. He remains silent, content to let Felia or one of the others do any talking for the time being. He scans the room, looking for any signs of trouble, anyone who might be paying a bit too much attention to he and his companions.

OOC: Spot +3

 

[Kemrain]

"I hope one of you boys has a few 'blending in' credits, because I'm broke," Felia whispers to her companions as they get into the cantina. She stops as she gets close to the throng of people, shaking her head a little to clear it before gritting her teeth and pressing on into the smokey room. If between the three of them they have the credits to pay for it, Felia orders a light, common drink, drinking half of it at the bar over the course of a few short minutes, trying to seem like she's nothing important, before trying to make her way towards the race tracks as inconspicuously as possible.

 

[Bobitron]

Tal leans in close to Felia. "Uhhh... shouldn't we find this Gurdz guy quick-like? Bringing you in here is awkward enough without everyone knowing we don't belong."

He steps back and takes a look around. My kinda joint. Too bad I'm here on business, he thinks glumly.

 

[Ambrus]

Hearing the sounds of music and conversation filtering in through Felia an Tal's comlinks DRK-1X assumes that the trio have entered the cantina. Since they seem to have a few moments to spare the diminutive probe droid continues to report information they may find useful, its whisper soft voice issuing forth from their earpieces; "Report: If you are to interact successfully with the residents of Nar Shaddaa it may prove beneficial for you to be aware of some of the current events that are of interest to the local populace.

The primary topics of interest are the recent founding of the First Galactic Empire, the Empire's declaration of victory in the Clone Wars, the impending presentation of Emperor Palpatine's newly drafted constitution and their impact on hutt space and the regional economy. There is a general sense of concern and unease amongst the residents of hutt space since some vessels of the Empire's fleet have been sighted in the area and there are reports of local space transports being boarded and searched by imperial troops. The uncertainty of the situation has led to a general slowing of local sporting and entertainment events, such as swoop racing, which is leading to concerns amongst the populace of an impending economic depression.

In contrast, there is a sudden leap in the local bounty hunting industry as the Empire is currently issuing lucrative bounties for the capture and return of fugitive Jedi. Consequently Nar Shaddaa is hosting an inordinate number of bounty hunters who are en-route to other locales in search of Jedi."

DRK-1X, floating next to its catatonic Mistress in Torrba's audience chamber, pauses in its transmission hoping that its sudden silence will draw its listeners' attention to the significance of what it's just said. It waits patiently for any response or questions while listening intently to the sounds of the cantina through Felia and Tal's comlinks (Listen +9).

Shadow:
[sblock]Listening to its Mistress' confused questions, DRK-1X decides that it is best to take it slow and limit itself to answering Dofina's questions simply rather than completely until she appears a little more cognizant. The diminutive probe droid floats nearer to Dofina's head, switches its vocabulator to nemoidian and begins whispering so as not to wake any of the nearby sleepers.

"Report: You are in Torrba the Serene's audience chamber and are recovering from the effects of Ryll spice and Apathy. Everyone is asleep because they were similarly drugged and it is now nighttime here. The group we came with left earlier on a mission to help you, given to them by Torrba."

The diminutive probe droid falls silent and waits for its Mistress to digest this information. It offers her another sip of coftea.[/sblock]

 

[shadowbloodmoon]

X is slowly reminding me of the Hitchhiker's Guide to Nar Shaadaa... I ad-libbed a bit for Felia's benefit..

The place is definately packed, but Femi's keen senses, no doubt enhanced by his natural connection to the Force, notices that there are people here not enjoying the atmosphere. Most of them stand in corners watching over the crowd, but the two that stick out most are the ones that stand on either side of a door in the back. From the trideo monitor above it and the neon hologram of a swoop bike, you can tell that it leads to the tracks.

X's telling of the local news is accurate. Near that same door, you see a small group of people, similarly not relaxing, looking over a technical terminal of some sort. It almost seems as if they are bidding on something, but you can't tell from this distance due to the ambient noise.

As you slide up to the bar, a short round humanoid creature approaches you. His name, 'Gurdz', is clearly displayed in Basic on his serving smock. "What do you want?"

"Give me something light and comfortable", Felia says nonchalantly. Gurdz simply nods, looking expectantly at the rest of you.

DRK-1X:
[sblock]
At mention of Torrba's name, a look of complete understanding crosses Dofina's blue-green face. "I guess you now know another piece of my business as well, X." Her Nemoidian is slurred. She pauses for a moment, as if gathering her thoughts, her language faculties, or both. "X, listen to me. Whatever Torrba is having you do, do it. He is as quick to have a person killed as he is to smile at them. You don't have to tell me for me to know that he ordered you to leave me here. It is his way. Now, what is it exactly that he is having you do for him?"
[/sblock]

 

[Ambrus]

Uncertain of what the others are seeing, DRK-1X continues to digitally analyze the audio transmission it's receiving from Felia and Tal's comlinks (Listen +9).

Shadow:
[sblock]

"I guess you now know another piece of my business as well, X."

The diminutive probe droid continues to stare impassively at its mistress with its three unblinking photoreceptors. "Statement: I'm afraid I've been aware of your drug use for some time Mistress. I am better able to serve you by being aware of all your activities."

"X, listen to me. Whatever Torrba is having you do, do it. He is as quick to have a person killed as he is to smile at them."

DRK-1X politely reminds its befuddled mistress of a simple fact; "Statement: Please forgive me Mistress, but it isn't necessary for you to warn me. If you'll recall I've spent more time on Nar Shaddaa interacting directly with Torrba's servants and witnessing his methods than you yourself have. If however you are instructing me to henceforth follow Torrba's orders as well as your own then I will require you to state your owner's identification code so that I may amend my program accordingly. Recommendation: I would suggest however that you wait until you are feeling fully recovered before proceeding." The diminutive probe droid waits patiently while showing no outward indication of the trepidation it feels.

"You don't have to tell me for me to know that he ordered you to leave me here. It is his way."

The diminutive probe droid responds in its monotone whisper-soft voice; "Correction: I'm afraid you are mistaken Mistress; Torrba did not order me to do anything. Report: The only thing he suggested I do was to allow you to remain here. Since you chose to come here I saw no reason to disagree with him. Proposition: Perhaps he realized that it would be futile to issue me orders since I am not programmed to follow anyone's orders but yours."

"Now, what is it exactly that he is having you do for him?

DRK-1X, seeing that its Mistress is now in need of information more than a stimulant drink, traces a small arc through the air to deposit the cup of coftea on the couch's flat armrest. The black spherical droid then retracts both its arms into its chassis and drifts back to rest its vocabulator grill next to its Mistress' ear hole and lowers its audio output so that no one else can eavesdrop on its report. "Report: The refugees and I were summoned here to meet with Torrba. He proceeded to bully the other refugees with baseless accusations and threats before revealing his suspicions that you were being hunted by the newly formed Galactic Empire. He expressed his concern over the existence of witnesses and evidence that may link your business activities with his own and the possible threat that the Empire's investigation could pose to his interests. He then expressed an interest in having the refugees aid him by somehow ending the Empire's investigation or by tampering with the witnesses or evidence. Torrba vaguely promised them compensation and future non-interference from his people. Felia Sardo accepted on behalf of her fellow refugees who offered no comment of their own."

DRK-1X pauses to allow its befuddled Mistress to assimilate that information before continuing. "In response to my subsequent inquiries Torrba revealed that he had a male Twi'Lek, Ka-Femi-Odo's master who was left behind on Taris, as a prisoner. The human Sith, Ventress, then entered and revealed that she had brought him here a few hours prior to our arrival supposedly as a willing prisoner. Torrba revealed that she had brought him news of a tracking device installed on the Geth Hound and insinuated that it had been placed there by a traitor to you long before our departure from Taris. He indicated his desire that this traitor be found and dealt with. Torrba then indicated to the refugees that they should go meet with Kellon Greytouch for aditional information that would allow them to begin their mission. They left shortly thereafter.

Since their departure, Ventress has returned to speak briefly with Torrba voicing her concern about trusting the refugees. In their exchange Ventress addressed Torrba as 'master' and he addressed her as 'apprentice'. Proposition: Although other explanations are possible could this perhaps indicate that Torrba is himself a Sith Master and Ventress is his apprentice? Recommendation: It would help me to serve you in this case if you could impart to me how it is that you recognized Ventress. Proposition: Did you perhaps encounter her while you were associating with Count Dooku?" The diminutive probe droid stops speaking aware that it may have overstepped its bounds in voicing its theories.[/sblock]OOC: I don't know much about the Hitchiker's Guide but DRK-1s (and probe droids in general I imagine) live to spill their guts about what they've seen and learned.

 

[Toric_Arthendain]

"Give me something light and comfortable", Felia says nonchalantly. Gurdz simply nods, looking expectantly at the rest of you.

When Gurdz looks at Femi, he nods in agreement. "I'll have the same," he says, deciding that the less he says the better in this place. Once he has the drink in his hand, he'll take a sip and turn around, lean against the bar and scan the room, paying particular attention to the group of people around the terminal who seemed to be bidding on something. He does his best to not appear too interested in anyone, trying to casually sweep the room with his gaze.