Chapter 11

Nar Shaddaa

The pair of Mandalorians walked along the familiar pathway, their colorful armor lit up by the garish holographic signs that spread above them. Normally, Weiss would have Pyrrha at her side, the two of them presenting an imposing enough sight that most who might otherwise oppose them would scurry away in fear.

This particular time, however, they had an additional member of their party along. Hence Pyrrha's other familiar position, watching Weiss' back.

"Y'know," Yang mused, her left hand resting on the heavy blaster strapped to her hip while her cybernetic arm swung easily at her side, "I really didn't expect you to ask me along."

"Elek?" Weiss questioned curiously. They hadn't bothered giving the blonde a comm unit as they were not expecting trouble, so she kept her external mic open. "You did not make any protest."

"Eh, I was curious, figured you'd tell me eventually."

"Hmm." Weiss turned her helmet slightly to regard the taller Corellian woman next to her. "I've come to value your knowledge with regards to the underworld. While this contact is kar'taylir… that is, known to us, I would like to ensure he is jate. On the level."

"Gotcha," the blonde replied cheerfully. "Plus, we're goin' to a bar, maybe we can have a drink while we're there?"

"Perhaps. I've been meaning to ask you…"

"Yeah, boss-lady?"

snikt

"Um, sorry… I mean, yeah, Weiss?"

snikt

"How is it I keep finding you with a chilled bottle of what seems to be some sort of alcohol in your hands?" Weiss asked curiously. "I do not recall ever seeing such aboard."

"It's Corellian ale," Yang responded with a grin and a wink. "And I have my ways. I'm a woman of many talents."

"Kandosii!" Pyrrha chuckled from behind them. "I believe the entire ship knows just how talented you are…"

"Nora does have a set of lungs on her," Yang conceded, grin unabating.

Weiss just shook her head slowly. "Next port of call with a shipyard, I'm refitting with soundproofed interior bulkheads. I eventually found Ruby with her head buried under the pillow."

"Uh-huh," Yang chortled. "Your pillow, am I right?"

"Er… elek."

"Noticed she ain't been coming back to the room… So, how's that going?"

Weiss cleared her throat, grateful for her buy'ce that covered her blushing face. "Fine," she finally replied, wincing at the squeaky tone to her voice.

The blonde threw her head back and barked out a laugh. "Right, just 'fine'? You're sleepin' with two women at once, one of whom is my lil' sister, I kriffing well hope it's going better than 'fine'..."

"What do you want me to say, Yang?" she retorted irritably. "It's kandosii'la, amazing, alright?"

"That's better," the Corellian pilot returned smugly. She paused for a beat, her voice sobering. "And… is she… okay with it?"

Weiss let out a sigh. "Yes, she is, Yang. I promise."

"Okay, good. Just… wanted to check…" Yang rubbed the back of her neck awkwardly. "I feel a lil' weird asking her about it, y'know?"

"You care for your sister very much," Pyrrha spoke up, the warmth easily bleeding through the electronic filtering.

"Yeah, she's…" The blonde swallowed, glancing away and off to the side. "She's all I got left. I just wanna make sure she's happy."

"She is," Weiss murmured. "We all are, truly."

"Good, good." Yang cleared her throat, becoming more businesslike. "So! Anyone else notice we keep coming back to this kriffing planet?"

"Our path does seem to keep leading us back here, doesn't it," Pyrrha answered wryly.

The trio came to a stop before a dilapidated-looking bar. The holographic sign overhead was only partially working. No letters were showing, just a sputtering picture of what looked to be a dead Womp Rat on its back.

"I've always wondered…" Pyrrha glanced around curiously. "What is the actual name of this place?"

"No idea," Weiss shrugged, pausing before leading the way inside. "Just so you know, this contact of ours… he's uncooperative and a buffoon at times, but knows his stuff. Please keep quiet and remain in the background, for now, troch?"

Yang nodded casually. "Yep, gotcha."

The interior of the bar was a fairly decent reflection of the exterior, dimly lit and filled with a wide variety of sentient species, even some droids who were accompanying the revelers. Small droids the size of ZW-31 wheeled deftly through the crowd, trays of drinks bolted atop their heads.

"This way," the alabaster-armored woman stated curtly.

They made their way through the boisterous patronage, most immediately moving out of the way of the determined Mandalorian warrior. Those who did not were shouldered aside and any protest died on their lips as they took in the fearsome procession.

Eventually, they ended up at the far back of the establishment where the lights were even dimmer and secluded booths lined the wall. Weiss came to a stop at a booth that had a scruffy-looking Zabrak with tanned skin and spiky blonde hair that went well with the horns that dotted the top of his head.

"You're late," he smirked, leaning back in his seat. The open white vest he wore slipped back to reveal his muscled abdomen, but then he shot to his feet, slamming his drink onto the table.

"You?!" he shouted incredulously.

Yang stepped around Weiss, grinning sardonically. "Yep, me. How'ya been, Sun?"

"How've I…? You gotta lotta nerve showing your ugly mug around here," the Zabrak growled.

The blonde woman's grin turned into a wide smirk. "Oh, now, that's just hurtful coming from a kriffing Hutt-spawn like you."

"Oh, shab," Weiss moaned over the Mandalorians' shared frequency. "This was supposed to just be an easy meet…"

"Are you regretting bringing our pilot along, ner vod?" Pyrrha returned humorously.

"Right now, I'm trying to decide which one to shiv," she growled in response. "Perhaps both."

"Udesiir, ner vod…"

The Zabrak male and Human female stared at each other, unblinkingly though with hands twitching at their sides. Suddenly, as if from some unseen signal, the both of them broke out into wide smiles and hearty laughter.

"Shavit, Yang, it's been too long!" Sun shouted happily, closing the space in between them and wrapping the blonde up in a tight hug.

"Yeah, it has, Sun…" Yang laughed. "Seriously, man, how have you been? Haven't seen you in… Sithspit, it's been years!"

"Yeah, I retired from the whole smuggling gig, I keep my feet on the ground now and do jobs as a middleman… Kriffing safer, I'll tell you that much…"

"What, seriously? And I suppose you're no longer a grifter, either?"

"Hey, now, I still gotta have my fun somehow!"

The two Mandalorian women slowly turned to face each other while the other pair joked and landed mock punches on each other's shoulders.

"I've somehow lost control of this situation," Weiss mused over their helmet comm.

"Ner vod, you never had control."

"Oh, k'uur," Weiss muttered without any real heat.

Pyrrha giggled softly. "Yes, dear."

Eventually, with their helmets on the bench beside them, both Mandalorians were seated with the Zabrak and the blonde Corellian, ordered drinks in hand. Yang and Sun both were chugging mugs of ale, while Weiss and Pyrrha ordered tumblers of tihaar, a powerful Mandalorian alcoholic spirit distilled from a variety of fruit.

Pyrrha let out a happy sigh as she licked her lips, lowering her small glass onto the table. "Oh, it's been quite some time since I've had proper tihaar."

Her partner nodded amicably. "Elek, I didn't even realize they had it here. Granted, it's better mixed with shig…" Weiss smiled softly, remembering the hot beverage she'd first tasted on Mandalore. The citrus-flavored drink was the only thing she'd found to relax her after a grueling day of proving herself during training.

"What isn't?" the redhead returned with a giggle. "So, then, Sun, you were saying?"

"Right, right…" The Zabrak downed the last of his drink, letting out a loud belch as he sat it down with a bang. "So, Sith Lords… Yeah, wish I could help you ladies out, but I haven't heard of any fitting that description. Don't really run in those circles."

"Probably better for your health that way," Yang murmured, tapping her artificial fingers on the tabletop. Seeing that, Sun let out a chuckle.

"So, what's the newest story?"

"Er, pardon?" Weiss prompted, perplexed.

"With the arm," he laughed, gesturing towards Yang broadly. "Every kriffing time, it's something new with how she lost her arm. So, what is it this time?"

"I don't know what you're talking about," Yang replied loftily.

Sun gave her a skeptical look. "Oh, yeah?"

"Yep, my story's always real enough." The blonde sat back with an adamant huff. "Dunno why you never believe me."

"Because it changes every time!" he retorted. With a smile, he gave her a regal nod. "Very well, then, Miss Xiao Long, do tell. How did you lose your arm?"

She sat forward once again, a gleam in her lilac eyes. "So, there I was, cornered and alone, facing a pair of bloodthirsty Sith…"

Weiss let out a soft snort as she took another sip from her tumbler of fragrant tihaar.

She's still full of osik. But maybe someday I'll get the real story out of her...

Nar Shaddaa

Migrant Merchants' Guild

Neptune Vasilias let out a long, relieved sigh as the door to his quarters came into sight. The last few days had seen a flurry of activity as he attempted to rebuild from the disastrous attempt to capture a particularly lucrative bounty.

The Guild leadership stopped just short of demoting the Devaronian for his extreme lack of good judgment. His punishment was tempered only by the fact that the dead Trandoshan mercs did not require paying, at least, and that the presence of a Jedi was completely unforeseen.

"Kriffing Jedi," he grumbled as he entered his room, the door swishing closed behind him. "Spice take the lot of 'em, nothing but trouble…"

"Oh, now," a soft voice spoke up from directly behind him. "That's just rude."

Neptune let out a startled squawk as he spun and stumbled backwards, his hand scrabbling for his blaster before he froze in terror. He instantly recognized those glowing amber eyes that peeked out from beneath the dark grey hood.

"M- Master Jedi!" he stammered, smiling weakly as he slowly lowered himself into the chair behind him. "What a… pleasant surprise! Er… no hard feelings, I hope?"

"Mmm." The Cathar woman slid by him, seemingly interested in the wall shelf full of the memorabilia he'd collected from around the galaxy. "Jedi are taught to abstain from such recriminations."

"Oh, well, that's-"

"Unfortunately for you, I'm not a very good Jedi."

"O- Oh…" The Devaronian's hand crept back down towards his blaster, but he froze again at a soft clearing of a throat from the back by the doorway. Standing there, his hands tucked into the sleeves of his dark green robes, was a Mirialan male with long hair. His eyebrows were quirked questioningly as if wondering whether or not he'd need to teach Neptune a lesson in manners.

Shavit! Another kriffing Jedi? How did two of them get into my quarters in the middle of the karking Guild complex?

"Now, then, Mr. Vasilias," the Cathar woman spoke up as she turned to face him again. "I have a way for you to make this… affront… up to me."

"Oh, certainly, certainly!" Neptune grinned disarmingly. "You name it, I can get it! Weapons, spice, information..."

"Information." The Jedi tilted her head, regarding him levelly. "I'm looking for a Sith Lord, purported to be here on Nar Shaddaa. He's a rather large Sith Pureblood male by the name of Darth Hazel."

"Oh, yes, yes, I know exactly who you mean!" he exclaimed in relief. "Yes, he's been working with the Kintan Kings, helping them come into more territory, more power… But he's got a complex of his own, spends most of his time there, from what I understand. I can even give you directions!"

The Devaronian paused, stamping down on his nervousness. Part and parcel of how he came to be so successful within the Guild was his ability to negotiate, to always close the deal. Make sure everyone walked away happy.

And, of course, that he was always left with the upper hand.

The Cathar woman stared at him unblinkingly for a few seconds before giving him a slow nod. "Very well, then, give us the directions and we shall consider your... debt to us repaid in full."

Alone in his room once more after having given the pair of Jedi directions leading them to a stronghold just outside the Red Light Sector, Neptune slumped wearily at his desk, cradling his horned head in his arms.

"This was a bad idea, a very bad idea," he moaned. At the knock at his door, his head shot upright, the long, blue-painted horns almost knocking over his desk lamp. "Enter!" he called out.

Really, he shouldn't have been surprised at the next visitor that evening.

"I suppose you noticed them leave, did you?" he asked warily.

"I did, yes," the Twi'lek woman purred. She lifted her hands up to pull her hood back. Neptune idly noticed that several fingers on her left hand were a lighter shade of green than the rest of her skin. "They did not see me, of course. Is it done?"

"It is, yes, my Lady." The Devaronian swallowed nervously as he plastered a professional smile on his face. While he'd often stated he could negotiate better than a Jedi mind trick, working with the Sith always left him on edge. "Got them pointed in the right direction, just like you asked. Er… I'm assuming my standard fee rate will suffice?"

"Hmm." With a wicked smile, Emerald leaned forward, tracing a long fingernail along his red-hued jawline. "I think, in this instance… we'll go with double."

"Double?"

"Indeed. This job you have done for us will go a long ways for placing me… placing us," she corrected herself absently, "in very high esteem with my Mistress. The service you have done for me… is almost priceless."

Neptune chuckled nervously. "'Priceless' is something Alderaanians only use to describe things they still own. Know what I mean?"

"Quite true, my little Devaronian." The Twi'lek woman leaned back again, a pleased smile on her face. "Do remember, though, the conditions."

"Oh, yes, absolutely." Neptune raised his hands up to shoulder-height. "I'm not stupid enough to rat you out to the Jedi, this little conflict is all yours, I want no further part of it."

"Good boy," she smiled, crimson eyes glinting hard. Without another word, she spun on her heel and strode from her room, black robes flapping around her.

His forehead hit the desk with a thunk as the doors swished closed. "You know," he mused to himself, "I hear moisture farming on Tatooine is relatively unexciting. Might even consider it a vacation."

At another knock at his door, he sat upright yet again with a scowl. "Kriffing what now?" he growled. "Enter!"

Fortunately, this time his visitor was no more than one of the Guild lackeys. "Uh, hey, boss?" the diminutive, mouse-like Chadra-Fan female squeaked out. "Um, not tryin' to be nosey or anything… But did I see first a coupla Jedi, and then a Sith, leave from here?"

"You did indeed, Selea," he sighed, rubbing at his face wearily. "Welcome to my life."

"So… who arya workin' for?"

"Myself, of course." He dropped his hands, grinning at the small grey-furred woman who often curried for his favor. Deciding that it wouldn't do any harm to allow the Guild Member into his confidence, he lowered his voice conspiratorially. "So, those Jedi, they wanted info that I just so happened to have been paid by the Sith to plant. I got the Jedi off my back, with no way for it to come back to me…" He spread his hands out. "Since it was the actual truth… And the Sith get their little ambush nicely set up to be sprung like durasteel jaws around a Gundark."

The Chadra-Fan shuddered briefly. "I don't like the Sith, they scare me… Jedi, though… Jedi are all talk."

Neptune chuckled, a touch of anxiousness only hinted at in his voice. "No, I'm all talk. Jedi are something else entirely."

Nar Shaddaa

Red Light Sector

Emerald Sustrai walked unhurriedly along the alleyway behind the towering structures. The fronts of the buildings were lined with bright neon lights and holosigns, both live and simulated exhibits of flesh on display for the mewling, sweating masses. The main part of the Red Light District was a cacophony of colors, smells, and sound, all vying for attention, for credits, for temporary solace from the pain of life.

The back alleys, though, were where the public stayed away from. It was home to robbers, murders, and organ harvesters.

Her kind of place, really.

Any of the criminal denizens that she came across gave her proper obsequiousness, of course. They well knew the Sith Lord who dwelled nearby, and by proxy, knew who he associated with. And they were far too canny to risk their survival over insulting one of the servants of the Dark Side.

Eventually, she reached her destination, waving her hand at the door to disengage the lock. She frowned slightly at the discolored fingers on her left hand, once again stoking the white-hot furnace of her rage at the treatment she'd received at the hands of the Cathar Jedi.

"Next time," she grated out, stalking along the narrow corridor. "Next time, it will be your head lying on the floor, not my fingers."

"Ohhh, poor little Twi'lek girl," a male voice sang out from the room ahead. "Still moaning about losing your itty bitty digits?"

Emerald sighed as she passed the threshold, glancing over at the Zabrak who was crouched on a chair, backside resting on his heels as usual. "Lord Tyrian," she returned levelly. "I wasn't expecting you back so soon."

"Hmm, yes, one rarely does." Tyrian snickered softly, rocking back and forth on his toes. "I do tend to come and go as I please, don't I?"

A semi-amused snort caused her to turn and glance at her sometimes partner. "Still hung up over the fingers?" Mercury asked idly. He was sitting back on the upholstered couch, arms crossed before him. "Thought the grafts took well enough."

"They have," she responded slowly, uncertain where his sudden concern over her well-being was coming from. More often than not, they were at each other's throats, vying for the favor of their Mistress. "I find it… useful to regard them as a reminder, as a… focus for my hatred."

The grey-haired Human nodded levelly. "'Least you didn't need cybernetics," he grunted, looking away disinterestedly. "Takes longer to recuperate."

Suddenly, Darth Tyrian was there, perched on the edge of the couch next to the other Sith male. To his credit, Mercury didn't react at all, though Emerald couldn't stop herself from flinching.

"Oh, yes, and you would know all about that, wouldn't you?" the Zabrak giggled. He rapped the long hilt of his unlit lightsaber against both of Mercury's knees, grinning at the sharp metallic sound it produced. Cackling, Tyrian launched himself back out of the couch and cavorted back to his original perch, spinning in place before crouching atop the chair yet again, chin resting in both fists.

"How can you put up with him so readily?" Emerald murmured out of the corner of her mouth, almost subaudibly.

"Because I value my life," he returned just as softly, without looking in her direction. "And I know how to bide my time."

She frowned at that, stalking around to sit at the other end of the couch. It was something she'd had to work at, patience. And it was a skill she had yet to master.

The holoterminal display in the middle of the room sprang to life, then, and she leapt back to her feet. The Twi'lek's mouth spread into a wide, pleased smile at the sight of her beloved mistress.

"Ah, good, both of my faithful servants are present," Cinder murmured with a small smile. She turned and gave a short bow to the Zabrak male. "Lord Tyrian."

"Lady Cinder," he grinned, the tone mocking and light. Emerald quickly pushed down on the hot flash of anger at the disrespect shown to her mistress. Patience. I must remain patient, like Mercury, until the right moment. And then we shall see who is more worthy to take down this insane fool. I shall attain my rightful place at my mistress' side… one day...

The raven-haired Human, though, seemed to brush off the slight, instead turning back to her two apprentices. "Report," she requested calmly.

Mercury, of course, beat her to the punch. "My Lady, the forces have been requisitioned and are in position."

Emerald was quick to jump in right on his heels. "And they have taken the bait. The Jedi who we fought on Hoth received the information. I confirmed she and the other Jedi with her are on the way back to the ship, likely to bring everyone along."

"Very good, both of you," Cinder purred. "Even as powerful as you say this Jedi was, we should be able to handily deal with her and the others as my Lady Salem wishes." She tilted her head to view the Zabrak male who was quietly humming to himself. "And you, Lord Tyrian? Are you ready to do your part?"

"As always," he retorted with a giggle. "I am a weapon poised above the throat, ready to slice, slice and dice…"

"Indeed," a rumbling bass voice commented from the doorway. Emerald twisted around to see the hulking form of a Sith Pureblood male walk in, his red skin shining in the lighting cast from the holoterminal. "We will all be ready to do our part."

"Excellent." Cinder dipped her head to acknowledge the newcomer, who also gave her a short bow, raising Emerald's estimation of the Sith Warrior.

The raven-haired Human woman's image turned in a circle to take everyone in. "We cannot fail in this," she intoned softly. "Lady Salem grows impatient, and before long the eyes of the Emperor will be upon us and ruin any chance of glory."

With one final, decisive nod, Cinder gave them all a confident smirk. "But we will not fail. I shall see you soon with the prize."

Emerald grinned tightly as the connection was severed and the holoterminal went blank. Yes, we shall capture our prize… And, the Dark Side willing, I shall also have my revenge...

Dramatis Personae (in order of appearance):

Yang Xiao Long - Human female from Corellia. Smuggler, talented pilot, and droid tinkerer.

ZW-31 - Yang's custom astromech droid.

Ruby Rose - Human female from Corellia. Smuggler, skilled mechanic, and gun nut.

P3-NY - Ruby's astromech droid.

Lady Salem - Rattataki female. Sith Lord and advisor to the Emperor.

Lady Cinder Fall - Human female. Sith Lord Inquisitor.

Darth Hazel - Sith Pureblood male. Sith Lord Warrior.

Darth Tyrian - Zabrak male. Sith Lord Inquisitor.

Emerald Sustrai - Twi'lek female. Sith Marauder.

Mercury Black - Human male. Sith Warrior.

Weiss Schnee - Echani female from Eshan. Mandalorian bounty hunter.

Pyrrha Nikos - Human female from Alderaan. Mandalorian bounty hunter.

Jaune Arc - Human male from Mandalore. Mandalorian bounty hunter trainee.

Hei "Junior" Xiong - Human male from Tatooine. Gangster and information broker.

Melanie Malachite - Devaronian female exiled from Devaron. Bodyguard and assassin.

Miltia Malachite - Devaronian female exiled from Devaron. Bodyguard and assassin.

Blake Belladonna - Half-Cathar female from Cathar. Jedi Master.

Lie Ren - Mirialan male from Makeb. Jedi Apprentice to Master Belladonna.

Master Ozpin - Human male from Coruscant. Jedi Master and Council Member.

Nora Valkyrie - Human female from Ord Mantell. Republic Commando.

Neptune Vasilias - Devaronian male from Nar Shaddaa. Migrant Merchants' Guild.

Sun Wukong - Zabrak male from Nar Shaddaa. Grifter, middle-man, thief.

A/N: Well, shavit. Things are starting to heat up, eh? By the by, I'm not really trying to portray Neptune as a bad guy here, again. He's merely an opportunist. A rather greedy one, granted. And we're at the halfway mark in the story!

Stay shiny!