"We need to get right down to it," he said to the King directly, really hoping he wasn't coming off too offensive. "I have some...business problems...which might be needing more of my attention shortly.

The King cocked his head, "Allright then, Barnes," he said at length.

"You said you had a possible link to Davidov?"

The King's look turned devilish. "How much will you pay for what I know? This one'll cost you, my friend."

Aaron had to fight with himself to not roll his eyes. "10,000," he said, cringing at the words.

If Terrin knew about this he'd kill me. Bargaining before knowing the true value of the goods. Yeesh...

"No, no, Barnes, you misunderstand. Credits don't do alot of good in the forest."

"Ah," Aaron said quietly, nodding in understanding. "Top of the line...freighter...sound good?"

"A yacht," the Marauder King insisted.

Aaron cringed inwardly again. Terrin would really kill me...

"Allright, deal is done. So what have you got for me? And this had better be good."

The King stood, motioning Aaron to follow. Aaron turned to Rathal, who was still enjoying his meal, and shot him a look that read "get moving." Then, without another word, the King led them down to the Marauders rather touching example of prisoner hospitality where they met a prison guard. The King addressed him directly. "Go retrieve the prisoner. These fine men want to make us an exchange..."

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The guard clicked his fingernails together in a nervous habit. "I have traveled," the guard explained. "Before this, before I was injured by a vibroblade in the knee, I was a bodyguard for King Kerat. On his ship came many visitors... traders, pirates, information brokers. One such man spoke of a pale human with changeling eyes who once lived among Jedi. These Jedi explored the Unknown Regions and mapped their discoveries. Maybe you know of this map or some of it's features?"

Caglion was struck by the guard's command of Standard, and caught off guard by his request. Naturally, Finn played stupid. "I don't know what you're talking about," he replied with his best Sabaac face. "I'm a pilot, see? I don't know any Jedi, at least not personally. And I've never been to the UR. It'd be suicide for a human to travel out there."

The guard studied Finn's eyes, which somehow managed to remain a neutral shade of pale yellow. Caglion had been practicing interrogation survival since working with Davidov. He silently hoped to survive this one.

What appeared to be a frown creased the Marauder's brow. A slow breath escaped as the guard turned in disappointment, which Finn could not decipher as real or bluff. "I will not be responsible for what happens to you from this moment on," the guard added over his shoulder as he turned to leave.

Feeling desperate, Finn wondered if he could create enough noise to draw attention from the mystery visitors the guard spoke of. He could yell at the top of his lungs or bang the slop bowl against his chain, but Caglion didn't know how deep in the cave he was or how far the party guests actually were from him.

Mumbled conversation in a foreign tongue was heard in the shadows... two voices, the guard and another Marauder. Both guards appeared from the darkness and stopped in front of the pilot. The new guard slapped a petrified knotwood club with his long, clawed hand, in a threatening manner. Finn instinctively covered his head for protection, suddenly finding the other guard laughing at him and moving to unlock his bonds.

Unshackled, the guard lifted Finn and braced him as the human regained ability to stand on his feet.

"This is your lucky day, human," the guard huffed. "Your presence is requested at the King's feast. Another bargain has been made. But... if you suddenly remember a trip you made to the UR, perhaps Kerat would make it worth your while."

"I'll keep that in mind," Finn smirked, grateful for his release, but at the same time afraid he might be jumping from the pan to the fire, depending on the identity of the mystery guests.

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Barnes was giving them a YACHT! Maybe this guy wasn't as tough as he pretended to be, Jonovar shook his head, he should have negotiated that dubious "pay increase" because this Aaron guy was looking like more of a pushover by the minute. Still he had better start earning his keep because if he didn't then there was going to be no pay increase, infact Barnes might try to take the price of the yacht out of his sallery. Rathal shuddered at the thought of that, no way was he gonna let it happen. So wheels began to spin in the bounty hunter's head, perhaps there was a way he could make up for the loss of the yacht. Still, Aaron gave it up willingly and without consulting him it was none of his buisness what chips his boss wanted to bargain with. Nonetheless he was going to start having to pull his own wieght in the future, this Davidov guy hadn't been found yet. Rathal sped up his gait, so that he was walking next to Barnes and whispered, "Are you sure whoever we are going to get knows about this Davidov guy? More importantly if he is some kind of rebel wouldn't the impys be looking for him, because if they are looking for him they sure as heck are going to check here and when they check here are you sure you wanna be on the 'guest list'?" he paused allowing his point to sink in, "Perhaps you should fingure some way to ensure that these guy's keep their mouths shut... I'm know buisnessman but I'm pretty sure you don't wanna be on the wrong side of the impy's unless it's absolutely nessesary."

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My Characters: Rathal, Narcolm, Freedon Naad

"Endor, a rich world of flora and fauna, inhabited by strange plush creatures that remind me of the dolls I slept with as a child," Kal's voice said over the com, his voice an egsagerated imitation the cliche nararator that is so common in holo documentaries. Kal's voice was sharp and dynamic, he would have made a great comedian were his jokes any good.

"Are you sure this is worth the trip," said another, softer, voice over the comm.

Aldrei smiled at her friend's characteristic cynisism, "Alda, we talked this over before, the Marauders are skilled pilots and if we could recruite some of them to man our ships all the better. You don't seem to realise how short staffed we are. Besides even if we can't get pilots, they have a vast resource of smaller vessels we could err..." she grinned wryly, "apropriat."

"Still, I don't trust them. Nothing they do ever smells right." Aldla bit her lip, realising that she had just given Kal the perfect setup for another stupid joke.

"Well, they dolive in the jungle, so you can't blame them for not showering much." Kal said, not letting her down.

"Did I ever tell you how much I love your sense of humor," Aldrei sighed, her voice driping with sarcasm.

Kal was preparing some witty retort when a navigator broke in, "We have settled in orbit around Endor, what next boss?"

Aldrei frowned, what next indeed... Truth be told she hadn't really thought out a way to contact the Marauder King, she certainly hadn't thought out a way to get the nessesary pilots. She did this a lot, going in to a situation with an intent but no clear way to acomplish it. Still, she had to say somthing, "Alright," she began, keeping her voice level, "Get a lamda ready, I'm going down to the planet's surface."

"Yes boss," came a reply, "just one thing, shouldn't you bring someone with you?"

"Oh, yeah... I said that right?" she said, trying to mask the fact that she had forgotten. She was unused to scouting, her former carrier involved doing very little of that, but this was piracy and it was a whole different ballgame. She ran her mechanical hand through her hair, itching the back of her skull.

"I suppose you did boss," cracked the comm, "So I'll get a lamda ready and find a couple a' guys to go with ya, right?"

"Yep," she responded, getting out of her seat and heading, at a liesurely pace, down to the docking bay. No doubt everything would be ready when she arrived.

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Standing before them with the guards and blasters still at his back, Finn waited to be spoken to first. The thought of perhaps being returned to a more hospitable civilization excited him, but he didn't want to get his hopes up prematurely.

And he REALLY hoped they weren't pirates...

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Aaron halted at that, eyeing this new guy that the guards had finally brought to them.

Who the heck WAS this guy? This was Kerat's mysterious link to Davidov?

This deal was getting worse all the time...

And he'd given up a YACHT for this guy?! Terrin would SO kill him...

Aaron crossed his arms and ignored whatever look he might be getting from Rathal, eyeing the prisoner once again. "I hear you have some knowledge regarding a Major Carlos Davidov," Aaron started, his brown eyes still clearly reading suspicion. "Being a prisoner on a Marauder base can't be all that pleasant. Tell me where I might find this Major fellow and I might be willing to make it worth your while..."

[ 10-08-2002 11:00 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin's Crew ]

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My Characters: Rathal, Narcolm, Freedon Naad

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"Listen buddy, you seem like a pretty honorable guy. I know how hard it is to languish in prison and I'll bet these Marauder guys were eager to get ya to say anything you knew about anything. Now my guess is you wouldn't even tell them what time it was and while your loyalty is comendable you arn't far from wearing out your welcome. In fact my geuss is that if you don't take us up on our offer you have about three more days before they kill you. Now if you were come with us you would not only get outta here but you would also have a chance to help out your pal Davidov and his err... organisation. If what you are saying is true and you don't know anyhing about this guy you have a free ride off this mud ball of a planet. Either way the best thing you can do is take us up on our offer and if it turns out you remember somthing about Carlos, then perhaps his guys and mine could do some buisness, the nature of which I'd rather not discuss here," he swept his hand around the room, "So whaddaya say pal, you wanna ride outta this bantha stye.

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My Characters: Rathal, Narcolm, Freedon Naad

This guy couldn't be an Imp, Finn decided. And he definitely had a point... the Marauders might give him one more chance to "remember" his travels to the Unknown Regions, but they weren't known for keeping prisoners around long term. Finn would give up the map location before he'd give up the Major, but preferred not to give anything to the Marauders, stinking devils.

"Alright, if you're willing to get me out of here, I'm willing to be in your debt. But I can't guarantee I have the information you need or want. You have my word I'll find a way to repay you, one way or another."
Being captive on a ship has to be better than remaining captive in a hole like this.

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Jeez, you hire a guy on, take him on a mission to watch him, and he turns into Mr. "I'm going to take over everything."

If it weren't for the fact Rathal might have just saved this mission, Aaron might have actually been mad. Even suspicious. But no time for that now.

"Allright," Aaron said, finally turning his attention to Rathal and...

...whoever exactly this guy was. "We'll bail you out..."
Aaron REALLY hoped this was worth the price he was going to pay...

"...and will be most interested in getting to know you."

With that he turned, waiting for Rathal to continue the pleasantries with their new cargo while he made final arrangements with King Kerat to deliver the yacht he'd promised in exchange for this guy. In no time at all they had left the unpleasant home of the Marauders and made it back to the Raptor where, as Aaron began prepping the Lambda-class ship for departure, he turned to their new "guest."

He actually cut a smile. "Name's Captain Aaron Barnes, part-owner of Eagle Enterprises. This here is Jovonar Rathal," he continued with pointing a thumb in Rathal's direction. "And you would be...?"

He paused at that as he waited, hand extended, to see what the newcomer might do.

[ 10-19-2002 11:17 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin's Crew ]

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The pilot took Captain Barne's hand and shook firmly. "Finn. Lieutenant Finn Caglion. Please don't ask what I was a Lieutenant of. I'd rather forget, and that information wouldn't buy you a caf on Commenor."

Finn tried very hard to keep his emotions on even keel so his freaky, color-changing eyes would stay a cool greenish-blue. Some people didn't take to his rare mutation very well. He wasn't confident he was succeeding, however.

He brushed a hand through his hair, feeling a bit awkward in his humble position. "I, uh, thank you very much for buying my way out of that Marauder hole. Didn't realize I was worth so much."

Finn broke a smile, hoping the Captain had a sense of humor. People without one were hard to travel with.

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Ok, that's odd...

But the guy was obviously nervous; it wasn't too hard to read whether his eyes had a thing to do with it or not.

"I'll be straight with you, Caglion," Aaron started. "I know you are somehow linked with Davidov, and I'm pretty sure how. While there are ways I can confirm that, it'd be best and the most efficient to hear it straight from your mouth." He paused at that, raising both hands. "I know, I know. You probably think I'm after him, connected to the Impys. I promise you it's nothing like that. Far from it, even. If you can tell me where your Major friend is, believe me it will be worth his while as much as yours."

Aaron lowered his hands, and waited to see what Finn might reply.

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"Well sir, then I guess it's safe to assume you already know what he's been up to." Finn looked directly at the captain. "Sorry for not being straight with you up front, but understand, I didn't know who you worked for, and I owe a lot to the Major. How did I know you weren't gonna just take your info and run, leaving me to rot down there."

Barnes patiently waited for Caglion to continue, Rathal listening in.

"It's a long story, but the short version is, I wound back on Corellia, I needed a job and the Major needed pilots. I took out my X-Wing after we had a little disagreement, just to relax. Next thing I knew, my nav was totally crossed and I woke up above sphere of this rock. More bad luck... when I came out of hyperspace, a short knocked out my thrusters and my comm. I was at the mercy of the moon's gravity at that point. Hunk of junk. I managed to survive several days on my own, until the Marauder's found me."

Finn hoped he'd given them the kind of info on Davidov they were looking for. It still wasn't too late for Barnes to turn back.

"I'm not sure he's on Corellia anymore," Finn added. "Our disagreement had to do with his wanting to go to some place called N'hreal."

[ 10-20-2002 02:55 AM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Finn Caglion ]

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Aaron paused as his bit his lip in thought.

He knew he'd heard that name somewhere before...

Then it hit him. Nh'real. A droid uprising. Seems the new "Empire" took some drastic action on Nh'real by the last reports he'd seen too...

"I don't know about him being on Nh'real either."

With that Aaron reached for the console of the Raptor, tapping it there for a moment as he considered which direction they should go. There simply wasn't a wealth of information on this Davidov guy--something that really impressed Aaron in terms of a good ally. But that really didn't help him find the guy a hell of alot.

One damn good rebel. But there had to be some way to use the...resources...he had now.

And perhaps there was at that. Aaron guided the ship upward, again activating the emissions overlay as he departed, making a hasty escape to hyperspace the moment they were clear of Endor's gravity well.

When all else fails, take what you've got and regroup...

(((OCC: Follow Aaron, Rathal, and Finn to Return to Ground Zero in this same forum. Thank you.)))

[ 10-21-2002 12:14 PM: Message edited 1 time, lastly by Terrin's Crew ]

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"Got anything in particular in mind?" Aldrei asked, it had taken her a long time to get an audience with this guy, his underlings having given her the runaround for quite some time. Once she had finally set up a meeting things weren't much better, Marauders were slippery guys and a real pain to deal with, but that didn't change the fact that they were a sigificant potential resource for her. It was even worth the added agrivation, after all her fleet were sorely in need of pilots.

"Certainly," said the king, "Not long ago a group of people belonging to the Eagle Enterprises organisation departed from this base in my debt. I have reason to believe that they might not be... willing to pay our agreed fee and as such we would like you to ensure that they keep thier end of the bargain. Were you to do this I would be more than willing to hire out a few of my pilots to you."

"Sure, seems easy enough" said Aldrei, "How much do they owe ya."

"Three yachts," lied the king

"Then I can assure you that you will be payed in full," responded the pirate.

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