A Long Night

[Layla Tyr]

Layla Tyr moved to take up a spot in a chair by the bar, tapping her finger to get the attention. She nodded towards the glittery pink drink that sat on the tall shelf. She was in a simple purple and pink glamourous dress. Her five light blue and white lekku were pulled back, hanging over her bare shoulders.

Tonight she was without her typical pink twi'lek companion, which was for the best that the pair were not seen together. Layla feared for the health of the on and off girlfriend that she kept finding herself with but there was more to the story.

A dangerous situation was brewing. She had not heard from a contact in a while. Here she needed to make friends, or to find an enemy that might be pursuing her and her crew. It was here were she needed to find a friend willing to brave against an invisible force that was tracking Lalya and her crew.

The Nautolan sighed and sipped the pink drink, savouring the taste, then turned, leaning slightly back to to bartop to watch the influx of customers walking in and out. Her purple-black eyes scanned the people walking about and sitting at tables. She reached up, nervously, stroking one of her light blue and white lekku.

Valiens Nantaris

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Layla Tyr"]
Observing from the shadows was Valiens Nantaris. Beside him was his friend Raloph Scindia. They were dressed in civilian clothes and watching.
“Hey, look at that one,” Nantaris said, nodding. A pretty Nautolan in a very contrasting dress was sitting at the bar drinking.
“She looks just your sort,” Scindia commented dryly.
“Hey now, I’m not going to go proposition her. Not yet anyway. Wait and…ah yes, here we go.”

The doorway to the cantina was eclipsed slightly by a very large Houk, followed by a pair of Rodian goons. He sauntered over to the bar beside Layla.
“Hey, sweetheart. My boss wants a word with you. You wanna go easy or hard?” he growled. His goons produced concealed blasters.

 

[Layla Tyr]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

Layla saw the huge Houk and his goonies walk in and eye her. She swayed slightly, shifting her hips, her weight moving to her back kegs. She tilted her head, those lilac eyes staring up at the large creature, tilting her head in thought, one lekku straying and falling over her shoulder.

She reached to sip her drink again, her eyes not leaving the houk. She knew that blasters in a cantina wasn't going to fly if they could avoid it... she hoped.

"Who is your boss. That decides if I need it the hard way or the other way..."

She remained leaned against the bar, her hand stroking the stray lekku lightly, the drink held in her other hand, if there was trouble, she could certsinly hold her own.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Layla Tyr"]
“You’ll find out…it’ll be a nice surprise!” There was always a joker.

He leaned forward and grabbed one of her lekku roughly to drag her out. Everyone knew those were very sensitive.

“Take your hand off the lady or I will do it for you,” Nantaris said, stepping forward. He’d drawn his lightsabre but not activated it. Scindia had done likewise and was covering the two goons. The patrons watched, nothing like a free show!

The Houk growled, but he’d taken his attention off the nautolan to reach for his blaster….

 

[Layla Tyr]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

She growled sharply as he snatched one of her lekku, making her slam backward before a sharp voice cut through, then she was free from the grasp.

The attention was off from her as she splashed searing Zeltron alcohol in the houk's face enough to grab his blaster from his belt and her own. She stared, her eyesight becoming blurry, he must have torn her lekku when ge grabbed it.

Anger swelled inside of her as she tried to remain outwardly calm, tried to back up towards the now obvious Force users. She didn't want to shoot blindly into the crowd but she also wanted answers.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Layla Tyr"]
“That’s it, girlie. I was gunna be nice to you, but I guess you’ll end up calamari now!”

With sudden, terrible speed, the Houk produced a knife from a wrist sheath and slashed at the Nautolan.
His stroke never reached her. A blinding flash of green as Nantaris’ lightsabre, as was mandatory in Star Wars, hewed off his arm at the elbow.
The goons, panicked, fired, but Scindia was there, his blue blade deflecting bolts into the ceiling. With a neat parry he sent a bolt back into one Rodian’s head, then pivoted to slash the other one across the chest.

There was silence in the aftermath aside from the sizzling of burnt meat and the cursing of the Houk.

Nantaris deactivated his lightsabre and looked to Layla. “I’ll take this chap outside and learn what I can from him – stay here with my friend if you want or come outside. My name’s Nantaris, that’s Scindia. I’ll treat your wound afterwards.”

 

[Layla Tyr]

Layla grsped for - what she assumed was- the nan's arm, her left eye slowly adjusting as she shifted. "I am Layla and I am interested in what this foul man has to say."

She walked, pulling all four lekku around to inspect them, leaving the injured one alone to not further tear it.

She kept a soft grip on Nantaris' shoulder as they went out into the shockingly cool air, makibg her shudder and drop her hand from him to wrap both arms around herself. A slinky dress was not the most warming of clothes...

She stood slightly behind him, "I do not know who sent you, but whomever your master, I will find them." She spoke curtly, her tone sharp, her intentions clear, no one else was to be harmed because of these men and their ilk.

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Layla Tyr"]
(Apologies for the delay, been sick and busy.)

Nantaris and Scindia hauled the Houk outside and dumped him to the ground.
“Who sent you?” Nantaris demanded.
The Houk spat at him, but the Jedi was quicker, almost prepared, and the stream stopped in mid-air and was ground back into the creature’s face.
“You want to tell me who sent you,” Nantaris said again, slower, his eyes narrowed. A gesture of the hand.
The Houk shook his head violently, as if trying to dislodge something.
“You will tell me who sent you,” Nantaris repeated forcefully.
“Dursk the Hutt sent me,” the Houk gritted out unwillingly before collapsing back unconscious.

Nantaris rose and looked at Layla. “That was what I feared. Still, at least we have a common foe. Do you know anything about Dursk?”

 

[Layla Tyr]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]
(Absolutely fine ^_~ Apparently sickness is contagious through the internet and I became sick, so thanks for that ;p)


Layla watched the scene unfold, standing there in the cool night, her arms wrapped around herself as she watched the progress unfold. Clearly these two men were Jedi, whom she had never worked with before. She thought Jedi had it pretty easy though, friendly peacekeepers of space. Maybe there was something larger to them though.

She came out of her thoughts as she heard the name of the Hutt. She scowled and stepped forward, her heeled boot slamming down on the Houk's wrist, "Ah your master is Dursk?" She chuckled and then nodded to Valiens, "I know the Hutt quite well. I used to be an employee for him working jobs and other things until I discovered his cargo were little girls and boys set for slavers. It earned him a knife in an eye and me leaving with part of his crew and his cargo."

She sighed lightly, her thoughts off from things as her eyes drifted between Valiens and Scinda, her hand moving to stroke a lekku as she settled into thought, "I imagine he didn't make friends with the Jedi, with his operations..."

She moved to Valiens, the injured lekku offered to him to heal it, "Does it look bad?"

Another pause as she thought then tilted her head slightly in pain, "How did he end up being an enemy to you two?"

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Layla Tyr"]
Nantaris nodded in respect when she told her story.
“Slavers are the lowest form of life,” he said with surprising fervour. “You did well to get away when you did, but I can see how you made an enemy of him.”

He gently took the head-tail in his hand and put as much healing energy into it that he could. After that he applied a kolto patch to it and numbed the pain with some pain meds.
Of course did find it necessary to examine her other lekku…just in case they were hurt too. After this brief but very gentle examination was complete he stepped back.
"Oh, it looks just fine, dear," he said with a grin. Scindia made a visible eye-roll.

“Scindia, I think we can leave our friend here. I suspect his reception will be poor from the Hutt so we need not do anything else.” He turned to Layla. “Will you come with me back to our ship? We can make a plan of attack from there. Dursk is a very nasty Hutt, and for reasons similar to your experience he is not happy with me at all. We’re looking to shut down his operation for good, so if you can help it’ll be appreciated.”

 

[Layla Tyr]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

Layla groaned slightly in a mixture of pain and relief as he touched her lekku, leaning back into his hands as he also examined the others, her eyes watching Scindia. She chuckled at his eyeroll to the remark as she felt Valiens taking a step away from her.

She was almost tempted to tell him that he could inspect her lekku anytime he wanted but that might get out of hand. Especially if that reaction from his friend was any indication.

She then turned her attention to the task at hand, looking down at the Houk and frowning, "I imagine his boss will do worse things than what we could ever do to him..."

She considered the offer and then nodded in consent, "Yes of course. It'll be my pleasure to help bring down a menace to the galaxy." She tilted her head and crossed her arms over her chest. "Do you mind if I stop off to my ship first, I need to get out of this terrible dress. Plus my crew will be anxious if they don't see me soon. Give me your ship coordinates and I'll be there in an hour, sound good?"

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Layla Tyr"]
Nantaris nodded and gave her the location. “Did you want one of us to go with you?” he asked politely. “Not saying you can’t handle yourself, but there’s going to be more of them looking for you I’m guessing.”

He had another look at her lekku…making sure they were responding well to treatment of course!

 

[Layla Tyr]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

Layla considered his statement, nodding her head in thought. He was right there would be more, they knew the Phantom since she had taken it quite easily from the Hutt. She looked to him and tilted her head, her lekku falling in place around her shoulders.

She smiled at the pair, they seemed like an odd couple, but it takes all kinds in the galaxy and they were sweet together. They seemed to have a better rapport with each other than she and that part time girlfriend she had. She realised that she had kind of been staring at the two and nodded, "Sorry, yes, I would enjoy an escort, seeing as I haven't changed ships since I left Dursk's fleet, you'll see why though. She's a good ship."

She held the blaster with ease, looking to the pair, "Scindia, mind if I steal Valiens from you? I'll need help that is true."

She smiled and turned, walking towards the port, moving behind the Jedi quickly as she heard loud footsteps. Her lekku twitched in awareness as she took in the scenario unfolding, holding up the blaster as she set it, looking to him as she slipped in front of him, her back pressing to his chest as she reached back to pause him quietly.

She looked back to him and smiled, "Ready?"

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Layla Tyr"]
Scindia nodded. “You may steal him. If you really want you can even give him back afterwards!” he said.
“Hey, none of your cheek. Get the rest of our people together and await my signal.”

Laya pressing into him like that was very much appreciated. The lekku twitching like that was certainly distracting. He reached up, but restrained the urge (barely) to touch it.

“Ready, let’s get you back to your ship. We can meet up with Scindia at Dursk’s fortress.”

 

[Layla Tyr]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]



Layla smirked at the back and forth exchange, it was interesting at least...

Once they reached the hanger for her ship, she stood ready and looked back at him. Oh it would certainly be interesting in getting her ship back and then she saw someone.

Her lekku began to squirm and twitch uncontrollably as she began to receive the signals from the Zeltron taskmaster in charge of the group. Layla stepped out around the corner, her blaster held low in a non-offensive position, "Zanea, he sent you?" Layla's lilac eyes looked at the blue haired Zeltron and smiled softly, "You didn't bring many people."

Layla circled around the woman as she returned in reply, "Not all of us care if Dursk is a slaver. He's a Hutt, you can't just quit knowing what you know, Lieutenant. It doesn't work like that. Now then, who is your friend. Come out friend, I can feel you..."

Layla looked back towards the corner where Valiens would be standing and sighed, "Zanea, let us go and you and your crew will be safe from me."

The Zeltron suddenly flared at those words, "Safe?! From you? Does your friend know, Layla? Did you tell him how you commanded the biggest raid crews, that you were Dursk's right hand man in most of his operations. The only reason you didn't lead the slaving crews was because you were too sensitive to the emotions of our stock. You were a liability and he knew."

The blaster fire rang out as the Zeltron collapsed, the wound in her knee would be painful, crippling even, but not deadly, "Get her out of here and don't let me find you ever again." She knew that her voice still carried weight with low level grunts, she was a popular leader and they grabbed the Zeltron, dragging her away.

Layla blinked and looked away, moving to the Phantom, entering her code and the walkway began to unfold, "You.. must have questions. C'mon, it'll be a long journey, the droid can pilot us most of the way." Layla turned, motioning for Valiens to take care of it as she slipped into the captain quarters to change, wincing in pain as she pulled the fitted tunic on and pulled up her pants, buckling the last of the few buckles up as she walked out to join him.

She looked up to him, worry obvious in her eyes as her pheromones gave away her sadness and self-doubts, looking to him for answers, for comfort, anything..."Please..." she whispered softly.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Layla Tyr"]
To say that Nantaris was immediately distrustful and suspicious would be a gross understatement. His eyes narrowed, and even after the Zeltron had been kneecapped, he initially made no move to follow. When he did, he boarded the ship with a metaphorical thundercloud building over him.

“Did you, at any stage, think it was necessary to mention you had been part of the Hutt’s gang? Though the Zeltron eloquently exonerated you from being a slaver, you’re still a pirate. Or have you given it up?”

Arms crossed, he waited for her to return and took a seat. His hand wasn’t on his lightsabre, but it was close.
“So give me the real story, Layla. No more evasions. What was your role with Dursk, why did you leave and why is he coming after you now?”

 

[Layla Tyr]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

As she came back in from changing clothes she stared at him and then sat down, noting his hand near his lightsaber. Her lekku twitched as his obvious emotions were being taken in and she tried to brush them aside, pulling a lekku into her hands nervously, stroking it to calm herself from his emotions.

"I have told you that I was part of his crew. I was the lieutenant in charge of leading raids against those that had made threats against him... It turned out more complicated than that."

She crossed her arms, staring out the window as the ship drifted from the port, her lilac eyes shut for a moment, lekku still twitching as she read his emotions, "It might not surprise you that Dursk is a liar. I wasn't doing raids against fiends but people he considered rivals."

She let him absorb that information now, her chest moving slower as she calmed slightly, looking back at him, her chin resting on her shoulder, watching Nantaris.

"Valiens, I never knew such hatred towards someone, towards... myself. I took a crew, took my ship from him. I was a good runner, for a long time, I ran until I couldn't-" she shut her eyes and turned to face him.

"Am I a pirate, yes. I smuggle precious goods. I keep a blaster at my hip every day for protection, but I fight against Dursk and anyone like it. So, Jedi, what do you want to do to me? Cuff me, arrest me, what?" She sighed and turned her back to him, bending slightly against the console, grabbing a datapad.

'My codes to the cargo bays, want to check 'em? Want to see what I carry now?"

Her anger vibrating from her body, her lekku twitching as she scratched her fingertips along the dashboard, waiting for his replies, waiting for judgement.

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Layla Tyr"]
Nantaris took a deep breath. The girl was being truthful, as far as he could sense.
“No, that will not be necessary, Layla. We’ve all done things in the past we’re not proud of. We’ve all sinned, and you’ve done the right thing.”

He moved his hand away from his weapon. “If you’re committed to joining me take down Dursk once and for all I will be happy to let the past slide. Who knows, we might even be able to make a business arrangement too.”

 

[Layla Tyr]

[member="Valiens Nantaris"]

Layla nodded as he eased up and then she let off a faint smile as he mentioned that everyone had a past. "Even Jedi Masters have pasts? That is a surprise."

She chuckled and pulled up a map, watching as coordinates began to fill in of known locations for Dursk the Hutt. She nodded and looked back at Valiens as she leaned over to gather four of her lekku, pulling them together and gently tying them with a simple piece of ribbon to keep them out of her way as she piloted.

"The best place to look is between known trade runs, Dursk likes to operate fast and then speed off into neutral or enemy territory. He has a lot of known associates, politicians and other agencies that work with him or for him. We would do best to find him... Here."

She pointed to the coordinate that rests just above Ryloth, "He has a small spaceport just here and then a main building that houses his operations is planetside. Any thoughts on how we go about this? And I might have a contact or few that are willing to offer us a small place to stay if we need it."

She chuckled, a light grin tugging at the corners of her mouth as she considered her own words. The Twi'lek homeplanet, oh the trouble that she could get into there...

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

[member="Layla Tyr"]
“Ah, Ryloth. I’ve been there a couple of times,” Nantaris replied evasively. He’d been there more than a couple of times.

“If you can get us in we’ll go in light. Too many people will alert him. I’ll go with you, and Scindia can come along as well. Myr will bring my ship close in case we need backup. When are you ready to go?”