suitably_heroic | The Ebon Hawk, Nar Shaddaa, After Last (Reply)

Atton	The Red Eclipse attack had escalated from 'welcome distraction' to 'complete chaotic mess' real damn fast. Within five minutes Atton had wound up inside the Ebon Hawk, taking down a nigh-unending stream of mercenaries as they poured in through the entrance. Then suddenly one of the mercenaries went flying for no good reason and hit the wall behind Atton-- he looked up and just managed to catch a glimpse of brown hair and purple lightsaber. He raised his blaster and put a bolt in the head of a guy trying to bludgeon her with a pike and moved on.
Meetra	The corridors were starting to get quieter. Meetra beheaded the next fool who came at her and started towards the bridge. Two more Red Eclipse went, and her path was clear... ...a path that held the Red Eclipse leader at the very end. "You trespass on the territory of the Red Eclipse," the Trandoshan snarled. "We will not surrender it without blood!" He gestured towards a young human boy by his side. "We already found this thief sneaking on board! We caught him as he crawled on board, thinking to steal this ship from us." He stepped forward. "If you cross us, you will end up dead!" Meetra eyed him. She'd just cut a bloody swath through his people. Was he really still trying this? "I don't ask for your blood. Just for your obedience." "What are you talking about?" the Trandoshan asked, tilting his head in confusion. "We are not slave bodies for you to order around!" "I could kill you in a heartbeat," she said flatly. "Your lives are mine, whether you like it or not." The Trandoshan deflated. "You... smell of many battles fought and won," he muttered, as his bravado left him. "If you are the stronger, what would you have the Red Eclipse do?" "You could start by giving up the slave trade," Meetra said, her mouth setting into a thin line. "That we shall never do," the Trandoshan snarled, "Those who are weak have forfeited their lives to us!" Well, it had been worth a shot. Meetra sighed and chopped off the Trandoshan's pike-hand, then shoved her lightsaber through his chest. It was over in seconds.
Atton	"Look, there's been a misunderstanding," the human boy in the corner gibbered. He was covering against one of the walls. "The ship is all yours! Consider it a gift, okay?" Atton could barely keep himself from rolling his eyes. The boy pulled himself upright. "Didn't know you were mixed up with Red Eclipse slavers. Guess those stories about the Hawk being a cursed vessel are true--" "Get off the ship before we throw you out," Atton said. Nicely.
Meetra	Meetra watched the kid run off. "Did you have to be that rude?" she asked.
Atton	"You just chopped several people's heads off," Atton pointed out. "Are we really going to make a thing out of this?"
Meetra	Meetra shook her head. She was just going to... not. "I picked up a few more droid parts," she said. "I'm going to go try and fix that chassis we've got lying around." She paced back into the main chamber.
Atton	Atton looked around himself - and the bridge. "Oh, schutta," he groaned. "What'd they wreck?!"

Atton	When Atton found himself back in the main chamber a couple of hours of incredibly frustrating repairs later, there was a large red HK-droid standing in the center, upright and functioning. Atton stared at it.
HK-47	It stared back. "Cordial greeting: Hello, meatbag."
Atton	"I'm not dealing with this," Atton decided, and walked out of the ship down the ramp and onto the street.
Meetra	Meetra was outside, pouring over some maps while Kreia meditated not too far away from her. She no longer needed to look up to determine it was Atton walking towards her. "Have you met HK-47 yet?" she asked. "I think he used to belong to Revan."
Atton	"Yes, I saw him," Atton said, glancing back towards the ship. "Seems even creepier than the regular HKs--" His comm beeped. He frowned. "...We just got a message on the comlink," he said. "Looks like trouble." He looked up and pursed his lips. "Meetra? I think this is one everyone will want to hear."
Meetra	Meetra nodded. "I'll head inside, let everyone know it's time to gather up," she said, walking up towards the Ebon Hawk. Soon enough, their entire merry team of misfits had gathered just outside the Hawk, and they were looking at Atton expectantly.
Atton	"The droid's the one who picked up the message first," Atton said to everyone, once he'd realized who they were looking at. He gave T3-M4 a little kick in the rear. "He's got it all ready to display." T3 beeped in protest, but it rolled forward obediently and activated its holotransmitter. The image of a Quarren sprung to (blue-toned) life. "Welcome, Meetra Surik. I regret this message has taken so long in reaching you, but I have only recently become aware of your presence here on Nar Shaddaa. I am Visquis, a representative of an... exchange of shipping interests here on the Smuggler's Moon. I am extending an invitation to you to join me in my private lounge within the Jekk'Jekk Tarr, where we may speak without being disturbed." The image paused, if only for a moment. "I wish to discuss something of mutual interest concerning your past profession - and prospects for the future." The image winked out. Atton's eyebrows climbed up. "Well, good thing it's not a trap," he snarked.
Mical	"No, Atton," Mical said, wide-eyed, "I think it may be a trap!"
Atton	... Was this guy serious? "Could you lighten up for one second?!"
Kreia	"It may be a trap," Kreia said serenely, "but traps work both ways." She turned to the Exile. "This Visquis... his kind are spread throughout the lower reaches of Nar Shaddaa, and they may have information." She folded her hand into her other sleeve. "But the choice is yours. If you go, you will have to go alone."
Meetra	"I will go see him," Meetra said quietly. It wasn't even a choice, really, was it? "Where is the Jekk'Jekk Tarr?"
Atton	Once again, Atton contemplated how crazy his life had gotten. "It's just off the docks, near one of the far traffic pylons," he supplied. "He's got you at a disadvantage there, though. The place is filled with cyanogen gas. One whiff of that, and it'll be the last breath you take. You'll need something else to let you breathe in there - and disguise you from the other patrons." They weren't so fond of humans, most of the time.
Meetra	"Good thing I still have my space suit from Peragus, then," Meetra said with a faint smile.
Atton	"Yeah, that means all you have to worry about is the patrons not finding out that you're human and gunning you down," Atton said, his voice overly perky - could you sense the sarcasm in that, Mical? "Be careful. This whole situation stinks."
Meetra	"Looks like I'm finally off to go talk to the Exchange," Meetra said, squaring her shoulders.
Atton	"Well, I wouldn't keep him waiting," Atton muttered. He so did not like this. At all. "If you got his attention, you've probably attracted the attention of someone else, too."