Eerin sighs, then reaches for a lever just above the ramp. With a quick yank, the lever is flipped and the cargo bay begins to open. However, he stands in front of it, halberd at the ready.
"[Not yet]," he snarls. Understood or not, he will get it across that he will not allow the cargo to be deposited yet.
Retter groans, pulling out a datapad.
"Here! The manifest is on there. So's the contact information, for when you reach Lok. The drug baron won't let you near him unless you've got the crates and the proper codes."
The pirates look unsure, Eerin. They cannot understand you, but the way you are standing between them and their destination with a hefty halberd somewhat gets the point across.
Kyle, the manifest is simple. It gives the name of the item being shipped, a measurement of how much is being shipped, and the cost. The costs have been voided and the measurement is unimportant, so what we're looking at is the names of the items.
As Retter said, a great deal of crude has been packed. However, he failed to mention the glitterstim or the death sticks. Crude is non-habit forming, but glitterstim is one of the most addictive drugs in the known Galaxy. The death stick is right behind it, toxic enough to shorten your lifespan, but not enough to throw you off of it.
If the Empire caught you with it, it would be the Nobog Corporation all over again. The Hutts would disown you and you would live out the rest of your days in solitary confinement on Oovo IV.
Roughly, at this point, a few people are singing rousing spacer tunes at one side of the pub.
Retter sighs. "Yeah, yeah, I'll let the Hutts know to up your payment, boy. Just don't expect them to happy about it..."
Suddenly, a gloved hand taps Retter on the shoulder. He raises an eyebrow and looks up into the face of a woman wearing a suit of light blast armor. Her skin has a slight green hue and she possesses several blue tattoos. She keeps the gloved hand clamped on Retter's shoulder.
Oh hell, Kyle, you recognize her from her reputation. She is a Mirialian bounty hunter named Rylis Tavel, known for her successful hunts and cold efficiency. Not good to see her turning up anywhere.
"Now, I have some business here, and I think it might be in your best interests to move." she says, resting her other hand on her blaster. "You do enjoy living, correct?"
"I think my business is a tad more important, lass," Retter growls, reaching for the pistol in his jacket. He gives a sharp whistle as he draws it, and three thugs emerge from the crowd, wielding blaster rifles. She's bungled into the business of a Hutt emissary. "I have to ask, do you enjoy living, dearie?"
"Actually, you're just the person I needed..." Rylis comments, looking over at you. "I just picked up a bounty for the Hutts, but no one's come to get him yet and I really can't afford to hang around here any longer. You know how it is."
"Oh." Retter raises from the stool, but doesn't call off the thugs. He swipes a hand at you behind his back, Kyle, telling you to stay quiet for a moment. "Say, you're not Rylis Tavel, are ya? I heard you were in town. Who's the bounty?"
She pulls her gaze away from you. "Helodira called Tib, he murdered someone apparently...don't really care about the details, just the money. He's locked up in my ship. I don't think he's inclined to try anything anymore."
"You sure? I don't want to send my boys in if he's going to be a problem. Helodiras are nasty bastards."
"Yeah, I've noticed...he's not quite in the greatest shape and is restrained. Just watch out for those spikes...he also doesn't seem very fond of fire."
"Got it. Yeah, he won't be too fond of three blasters on him." Retter pulls out another datapad. "So, eh, what's yer docking bay number, is your ship locked, and is Rylis Tavel the name for your account for credit transfer?"
She provides the necessary answers, then continues. "Cargo hold is unlocked from the outside. Just don't let the door close behind you else you'll be waiting until I get back to the ship."
"Gotcha. I'm Retter, by the way. Any bounties out on me?" he asks, jokingly.
He hands the datapad off to one of his thugs. "Go get the Helodira out of her ship. Don't lock yourself in or you're fired." The thugs slink off.
Kyle watched the exchange suddenly. It was never a good think for a bounty hunter to show up, whether they were interested in you or not. He looked around while she and the Hutt contact talked, marking the exits. Hopefully, Eerin was still getting the comlink transmissions, and would eb ready if things went down hill.
"Oh, if there were, I'd know about it." Rylis says. "Mind if I sit down for a quick drink? Don't get many breaks on this job, after all. What sort of business do the Hutts have you up to at the moment?"
"Oh, not much, just our usual shipments," Retter says. "If I told you anything about it, I'd have to cut your career short, eh? That or the Hutts would."
Retter gestures to the stool that Eerin had squeezed onto. "Go ahead and sit, lass. This is Kyle, one of our men. He doesn't bite."
-
Eerin, the thugs push the grav-sled into the cargo bay, push off the crates with little caution, and rendezvous with the other three thugs that had been there for the payment. They lug the crate of chromium bars down the ramp and deposit it onto the grav-sled, and then they all take their leave of you.
(Can Kyle beat him out the door without actually bolting?)
Kyle keeps a wary eye on the approaching stranger as he responds to his partner.
"Well, Retter and I were just accosted by Rylis Tavel, bounty hunter. The good thing is she let me go without a word. Which is wierd, because she seemed to know who I am. Bad news, there may be someone else who wants a moment of my time. Why don't you lock the ship and head back this way. Just in case."
You can, no worries.
Emerging into the warm Nar Shaddaa night, you are conscious of the man also heading out the door, keeping some distance but not enough to lose track of you.
You are presented with the walkways that lead back to the ship, or the 'streets,' which consist of walkways linking all the different shops and pubs. Plan?
(Head straight for the ship.)
Kyle notes the strange fellow still tailing him and covertly activates his comm. "Eerin, I'm being followed, pick up the pace. I'm on the way back to the ship." He again keeps the link open, for Eerin.
(Plan: Make it to Eerin, then turn and confront the stranger. Deja' vu, eh?)
Traversing the walkways takes you closer to Eerin and the docking bay, but further away from the crowds of Nar Shaddaa's nightlife. Soon, on these rusted old walkways, you are alone with your stalkers. Rylis Tavel has joined him.
Suddenly, you see the man draw a repeating pistol, a military model from the Clone Wars. He aims down the walkway at you...