Private Above the Noctilucent Clouds

[Spek Zhio]

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Background Theme

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Coming out of the Oktos Route via the Trax Tube junction, the Azure Alcyone made her jump out of hyperspace onto the Y'Toub system. The ship, a retrofitted YT-1930, transported Spek Zhio along with a shipment of moisture vaporators destined for Tatooine.

"All system's nominal, right Alcy?" the Zeltron male asked of his ship. A series of passive-aggressive blinking red lights, were letting him know she was not too happy with the detour he had chosen. "What's the big deal? We'll still make the run to Tatooine in sixty nine parsecs! That's less than three-and-a-half days with five jumps!" A quick hop through Shag Pabol to Rorak, followed by a jaunt to Circumtore along the Gamor Run; a lane shift to the Kaaga Run, that would lead them to Bothan Space - namely, near Bothawui - then on to Molavar, by the well-traveled Manda Merchant Route; and, finally, they would only need one last jump through the Triellus Trade Route, in order to reach their destination.

The instinctive astrogator and his ship, had their work cut out for them.

"We would have to pass through Hutt Space on the way to the Arkanis sector, anyway. Why not take the opportunity to settle the debt now, rather than later?" He sat back, naked, against the pilot seat. "Or... would you prefer they send more mercs after us?"

A few beeps of the console, in a progressively lower pitch, made him aware of the ship's frustrated resignation. LC-1, the high-strung droid brain acting as ship computer, lacked any means of communication other than through blips and bloops of the ship's displays and warning systems. For her pilot, it was getting to a point where it was almost impossible to peacefully fly the Alcyone by himself. Fortunately, the brain, even if lacking in astronomical charts, had full control over all other systems, including spacecraft avionics. Despite her ceaseless complaints, the starship had not deviated from their approach towards Nal Hutta, the third planet orbiting that primary yellow star."Set an entry vector for the moon and use that Hutt transponder," he got up. "Also, find us the nearest spaceport that's above cloud-level. I'd rather not descend too much unless I really have to."

The ship complied the best she could.

"I'll send word to my contact and then get ready to go out. I'll see if they can come to us. I promise we'll barely even set foot on the place."

Another harmony of beeping sounds played out from the flight deck.

"Sure... I'll take a bath before I leave," he frowned. "Just... land this thing."

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Unregistered Spaceport​

Nar Shaddaa, Y'Toub System​

Hutt Space, Mid Rim/The Slice​

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Local Time : 21:42 ​

Local Weather : Clear skies above the cloud top.​

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On the upper atmosphere of Nar Shaddaa, the ecumenopolis did not seem that bad. Almost being able to rival the likes of Coruscant or Trantor. That is, if you were blind to what went on beneath the surface, a mere centimeter deep. All that verticality piercing through the cloud cover, the myriad lights kindling the night, those unbroken chains of flying vehicles one after the other, which did little to masquerade what boiled underneath. A literal miasma rising up, the discharged smog from the power plants deep below, blanketing the criminal underbelly of the Smuggler's Moon.

Exiting through the starboard-side of the cargo area, aft of the ship, Zhio enjoyed the night view on that far side of the moon-wide city, but even more so the less fetid smell, so high up. In fact, the rarefied atmosphere made it hard to smell anything at all. A small, nearly subconscious control over Tapas - a Force technique that allowed him to preserve body heat - was all that was needed to not feel uncomfortably cold, even at that height at eventide. Therefore, Zhio's shirt was fully unbuttoned. The long gold-embroidered red coat being used more to conceal his pistol, holstered at his left hip, and the pouch on his right, carrying his two lightsabers inside. The Kingfisher, a long Echani vibrosword adorned with aurodium filigree along its cortosis-weave, was also sheathed at his left. Alas, not even the red coat was able to fully conceal the whole length of it.

As for jewelry, the man wore a couple of long silver pendants; an assortment of half a dozen rings, distributed between the fingers of both hands; and, a silver bracelet on his right wrist, that usually acted as a suppressor for his Zeltron pheromones - actually being able to, with the turn of a dial, direct them instead.

"I spy with my little eye," the spacer said out loud to himself, as his eyes caught sight of a particular vessel on a nearby landing pad, "a Galactic Alliance starfighter." Chances were there was a Jedi about. Something that should be of no concern to him. He was there to meet a Rodian, pay them the credits he owed his boss, and bounce out of that moon faster than a womp rat on stims running away from a dewback.

That Kreew Diee, his contact, had instantly agreed to his terms of meeting this close to the landing pad, gave Spek ample confidence that everything was about to go down as smooth as nerf butter. Whatever the size of the entourage escorting the scaly scoundrel, the smuggler would always be able to make a quick getaway back to his ship. They would also be aware of this, so it was in their - and their boss' - best interest, that they did not try any of their typical underhanded moves. That was, if they wanted the transaction to be completed.

"Oh! There he is," Spek announced to himself, "and he came alone, after all!"

Things could not have been going smoother.

"And..." Zhio squinted. "He's running?"

"Zhio! Coona tee-tocky malia? Boska! Boska!" the Rodian cried out to him.

"Hey, Diee!" with a jovial smile, Spek gave him a wave of his hand. He then cupped both hands around his mouth, and yelled back, "I told you before, I don't speak gibberish! What is it you want to say?"

"E chu ta an do padda-mames! Spek sleemo!"

"C'mon, that's not nice! I know that one, man!"

"Boska, sleemo! Cheekta rocka rocka!"

"What was that about a rock, you said?"

Wait... Is that a woman chasing after him?

"Give me a break..."

Was that a lightsaber on her hand?

---

Lily Decoria

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Crossguard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Spek Zhio

Lily had been assigned to visit Nar Shaddaa as part of her experiencing the many ways of life that existed outside of the Galactic Alliance and Jedi Order. Nar Shaddaa in particular for the noble Echani because it allowed her to see the problems and needs of those without the financial support that she had. Visiting the moon, she noted how densely populated it was and the cityscape structure of the smuggler's moon. It was very clearly a bright and similar vibe to Coruscant from a simple glance but the longer one looked, the more there were signs that this was a very different type of metropolis. That it was a deprived city that functioned purely due to the criminal organisations that operated out of the moon.

There was more casinos around a single area of the moon than whole planet contained from what Lily could observe. While casinos and their ilk weren't signs of clear poverty, they were a hint of the exploitive nature of the moon. She was not a fan of them herself but she knew plenty of people were interested in throwing their money away for the thrills that gambling provided. Lily was also attempting to learn the political system of Nar Shaddaa and how it was run, there seemed to be a lot going on for a comparatively small cityscape.

During her investigations of the city's politics and the criminal elements that were in play for the city, she had learned of a smuggling operation that was going on near the cloud levels of the moon. It was relatively small in nature compared to the larger criminal gangs that were running around, however, she was unsure on how to best approach it. She figured that she would attempt to seek others out and talk with them. Lily approached several civilians and asked them on what they might have seen or heard about in regards to a smuggling operation. Many were unwilling to provide, or did not have, any useful information on the smuggling operation that was meant to be going down.

That was until a Duros she was speaking with pointed out that there was a Rodian that she could speak with who might have ties with a smuggler. One Kreew Diee, Lily decided to approach it in a friendly manner and only wish to talk with him on the matter. Though she was adorned in her Jedi attire during this. The colder weather did not phase her at all, she was from Eshan which was a much colder world.

Arranging a meeting, Lily walked over to where she knew that the Rodian would be, in her hand was a translator so that she could interpret what he was saying since she was far from fluent in the Rodian language. As she approached, Kreew looked at her as she was checking the settings of her translator and then began to run. Lily caught the running out of the corner of her eye and began to give chance. Pocketing her translator for now since she did not wish to risk dropping it and damaging it.

"Stop! I just wish to talk!" Lily called out as she sprinted, shifting through the crowd gracefully as she could. The Rodian was quick but Lily was impressively athletic and closing the gap between them swiftly.

Her hand reflexively held her cross guard Lightsaber that was still clipped to her hip. She was prepping herself in case he pulled out a blaster and started shooting wildly towards her. She didn't want to risk harm to the people around her. "Let's just talk about this! I am not here to cause trouble!" Lily continued to call out, hoping that something would cause the Rodian to stop racing away from her.

 

[Spek Zhio]

Zhio intended to move and get between the Rodian and the one chasing him. She was gripping her lightsaber's hilt but had not drawn it, let alone ignite its blade. This gave him less cause for concern, seeing as despite the Jedi - like her attire clearly proclaimed her to be - usually practicing restraint when it concerned wielding a deadly weapon, the spacer was not about to leave anything to chance.

He hesitated for a moment more than what he had considered. Admiring the pursuing woman as she came into clearer view. She was slightly below his own height, but with a body as if carved out of marble, a fact disclosed by the lean muscles on her exposed arms and abdomen. Furthermore, her prominent feminine features were in full display, even beneath the plates of her white and grayish-blue combat attire. He casually approached the two incoming individuals.

As Diee, the Rodian blurting out Huttese expletives, was nearly passing Spek, he was about to unholster his blaster and turn around, now clearly more confident given the number advantage. The Zeltron surreptitiously placed his foot in front of the alien's path, causing him to trip and fall flat on his face. "Keep that thing where it belongs. Away from trouble," Zhio muttered, "you kriffing idiot!"

Approaching the Jedi with both arms raised, palms open in a universal sign of truce, Spek addressed her, "Hi there, gorgeous... Jedi... ma'am... miss..." he stumbled over the words, "can I inquire as to why you're pursuing my acquaintance over there? I'm sure this is all just a big misunderstanding.

"I have some... business to take care of with him. After that, he's all yours," Spek gave the Jedi a warm smile, while Diee continued to voice his choice of curse words, still on the ground.

Lily Decoria

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Crossguard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Spek Zhio

The Rodian hit the ground pretty hard after being tripped by what Lily could only describe was extravagant in humanoid form. There was a lot going on with the man, and she suspected that he was a Zeltron of some form due to his skin tone so she had the effort to ensure that he could not use his pheromones to charm her or attempt to smooth talk his way out of the situation. She was too cautious for her to be lowering her guard down around strangers. Taking her hand away from her hip and shifting from a run to a walk, she looked over to the Zeltron and raised an eyebrow at him.

"I had heard that Zeltron were a lot better at smooth talking and flirting than that, huh," it was blunt and Lily was unaware of how blunt she was being but she also could not lie that she found his opening line smooth or effective in grabbing her attention. Turning her attention to the Rodian, she pulled out the translator from her pocket and held it up so that it was clearly seen for what it was.

"I was simply hoping to ask him about any information he had about the smuggling operation that was going on here. I heard that there was something meant to be happening today, they pointed me in the direction of Kreew here and I was hoping he could either clarify his involvement or provide information on where it was going to happen." She tapped the translator and let it speak in Rodian for Kreew to understand, in case his Basic was not ideal.

Looking back to Spek, "perhaps you can help provide some information on illegal smuggling activity going on around here since you are an acquaintance of his." Her steel blue eyes studying his expression, she was ensuring that she did not see any indication of lying or deception. She had honed her skills of Echani culture to learn humanoid body language extremely well.

 

[Spek Zhio]

"Here I was, hands raised, and you still stabbed me through the heart!" he teased with a smile, while placing both hands over his chest. "So you're aware I'm a Zeltron? Well, rest assured I would never resort to cheap tricks in order to gain an upper hand," he said in earnest, "unlike the Jedi usually do, with their mind tricks."

The spacer chuckled.

"See? We can both have prejudice and say some pretty hurtful things!" Studying her translator, he then added, "But that won't work like that. He's speaking Huttese, not Rodian. Hey! I speak neither! It's just that Huttese is what you'll most commonly hear here... Also, are you really going around asking potential criminals about their criminal activities?" he then studied her.

"You haven't spent much time in Hutt Space, have you?"

Spek stepped over Kreew's heels as he was about to get up, pretending to do it by accident. The Rodian let out a yelp of pain and fell back down again.

"Look, I don't want any problems. I know nothing of smuggling on this moon," a lie, "I'm just here to settle a Sabacc debt," a truth. "You've heard the saying... unlucky at cards, lucky in love!"

The Zeltron offered her his hand, "Let's do this properly. The name's Spek Zhio. It's Zhio with a 'zh', as in leisure or pleasure."

He waited for her to introduce herself.

---

Lily Decoria

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Crossguard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Spek Zhio

The man was only what she could assume was feinting hurt at her comment about his introduction. "Well, the pink skin, and bold attire kind of gave away the fact that you were Zeltron." There was also the confidence in his body language and voice that came across somewhat arrogant for Lily but if the man was a Zeltron, there were unlikely people he met that would have felt he was anything but charming. Pheromones or not, they tended to surround themselves in positive energy.

"But your comment was woefully inaccurate?" She didn't understand, she wasn't hurt by what he was saying, though she did find it curious that leaned straight into jabs at Jedi when threatened. Which caused her to be suspicious of him. Her time as a Jedi, only people with something to hide or covering for criminal acts tended to hold issue with Jedi. Otherwise most were indifferent about them. "Hm. Well, he could understand Rodian since it is the language of his people but good to know." She made sure to adjust the translator to Huttese, "and to answer your question, yes. Questioning them gives time to understand why they are doing the criminal activity, reassure them that I only wish to help them and find them a new way to work that is legal as well as demonstrating that Jedi do not go in Mind Trick or attack criminals without communicating with them first. Unlike the false accusations that some might spread about us."

Her steel gaze looked over to him, hinting that she was talking about him in that final part of her statement. "Well, knowing nothing about smuggling on this moon is a lie. The whole deal about Nar Shaddaa is that it is the Smuggler's Moon. So, don't try lying to me." She didn't even need to read his body language to know that him knowing nothing about a smuggling operation was an outright lie, the way he dressed and carried himself screamed cocky smuggler cliché. "Is that so? Well hopefully you find the woman at a cantina to fulfil that."

There was a moment of hesitation as she was attempting to figure out what was going on, her gaze looked to the Rodian in a brief moment to make sure that he wasn't getting away during this. Turning her eyes back to Spek, she gave a firm, quick shake of his hand, "Lily Decoria, Jedi Padawan." She introduced herself simply.

 

[Spek Zhio]

Zhio became amused with her peculiar candidness, "Do you take everything at face value, Lily Decoria, Jedi Padawan?" he asked, shaking her hand. "A pleasure to meet you, by the way!

"This is a huge galaxy we're on! I did not meant that figuring out I'm a Zeltron is a great feat of deduction, same as recognizing you as Echani isn't," he declared, nonchalant. Spek had, at one time in the past, fostered a close relationship with one. His master. "I merely meant that you shouldn't mistake the individual for the group. It's why I mentioned Jedi mind tricks. Not as an insult," even though Jedi's steadfastness was a touchy subject to him, "but to illustrate that just as not all Jedi make use of every tool at their disposal, the same can be said of Zeltrons, Echani, Rodians... and so on... If it serves as consolation," he presented to her the bracelet on his right wrist, "this little thing fully suppresses my species' pheromones.

"Don't fall for stereotypes! It's like not all Rodians speak Rodian. I'm a Zeltron but I've never lived on Zeltros and can't speak the language." As Diee was getting up, Spek patted him in the back, a little too forcefully. "This poor lad, has also never left Hutt Space."

The spacefarer handed him a bag of credits, making a show of it so that his action could not be misinterpreted as covert, in any way. "It's all there! Feel free to count it and then answer this nice lady's questions," he told him, "I have places to be." He had, offworld. The Rodian avidly began counting the credits, without moving an inch from where he stood, and Spek took the opportunity to finish what he was saying.

"I understand your intentions are noble, but the people of this sector don't care much for that. Half of them are so neck-deep into the criminal underworld that they can't disclose anything without also incriminating themselves. That is, even if they wanted your help. Most don't. The other half, is rightfully scared to death of the former. They won't accept your help for fear of reprisals. As for love, you won't find it anywhere on this moon! Maybe you can buy some cheap knockoff of it, provided you have the credits," he made a gesture of looking towards the Rodian, "Alas! Woe is me! I'm all out!"

Spek slightly narrowed his eyes, as he glanced beyond Lily, at a point in the distance. Resting his hand on the pommel of his vibrosword, curiosity struck him as to why the woman was choosing to ignore - or failing to notice - its clear Echani craftsmanship. "Your poking around is more likely to draw attention from the Hutts than anything else. And I do get the feeling that you're reading way too much into superficial appearances. I see your eyes fixating on my bare chest, and not in an infatuated manner." He sighed. Not from what he was saying; but rather, in anticipation of what was coming. "Have you considered that sometimes, it's just best to fit in?

"I was trying to keep things uncomplicated, so you don't go in over your head. I don't really have solid contacts or tips that could assist you. These folks are just as likely to offer me work as they are to shoot me on sight, speaking of which..." He nodded with his head in a direction beyond Lily's shoulder, "Look there. Proof of concept has just arrived," he commented, as a group of criminal enforcers, wielding an assortment of melee and ranged weapons, were approaching the landing pad.

---

Lily Decoria

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Crossguard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Spek Zhio

Her expression was very stoic, looking at the suspected smuggler, she gave nothing away since she was focused on assessing what he was saying and deciding how best it would be to react. A lot of it was wild and a bit overwhelming, she looked to Diee and then to Spek, "just because he has never left this area doesn't mean his family did not teach him and speak Rodian in his childhood. Assuming someone doesn't speak the language from where they come from is stranger." Lily wasn't sure what Spek was attempting to state, she was trying to be respectful.

"It is not a stereotype to try speaking a language a race of people speak, especially when you have no knowledge of their background or origins..." It wasn't like Lily had learned the life story of Diee and she would never have assumed that Spek was born elsewhere.

Being confronted about the way she was approaching this and the reluctance of those living here, there was some truth in the matter since she had faced resistance from the locals but that wasn't going to stop her. "Your pessimism is noted. However, it is not my job to give up and leave those in need. I am here to help and I will make sure people see that there is hope, that there is good and that they can depend on the Jedi for help. You might decide that you want to live a life believing that no one will do a good act out of the kindness of their heart, it doesn't mean I have to believe that and that I have to leave these people to continue to suffer."

He was clearly wishing to depart soon but he was still talking as well, "the Hutts are not as dangerous as they once were, I am aware of the dangers here but I am also determined to not leave these people suffering. That is not fair to them and it will only continue a cycle of pain. I am determined to break that cycle." Lily then stepped over to Diee, "I noted your chest once, I did not look at it more than once. You think too highly of yourself to think I would need more than one look to assess you." She sighed, "I am not here to fit in. I am here to make a difference. To make a difference, you sometimes need to stand out."

She then looked over to the enforcers, she didn't see them much in terms of intimidating presence but she was a skilled fighter in her own right. "What are they here for?" Looking to Diee and Spek, curious on what they were here for.

 

[Spek Zhio]

The thought, Since when has this turned into a philosophical debate?, crossed Zhio's mind.

"That logic may seem sound and, in the end, it is a game of probability. Right? Anywhere else, you might assume that someone speaks their homeworld language. In Hutt space, the most likely circumstance is for them to only speak Huttese instead. I was just correcting your false deduction." He grabbed Diee by the collar, "This one here, for example, never had a family other than the Syndicate. He also never been outside this Sector." He was going to add that not everyone had the same privilege as her; or, how his previous remark, regarding his appearance, was not intended as anything other than to call attention to the fact she was judging him for it. In the end, he chose not to utter those words. Especially, seeing that the time for conversation was about to be cut short.

"As for your question, use that logic of yours and figure out why they have weapons and are aiming them at us, as we speak!" Spek pointed out, before ducking behind a series of cargo containers on the landing pad, and dragging Diee along with him by the collar.

The armed individuals were setting themselves behind cover as well and began firing at them. "Alcy, shields!" he yelled to his ship. In response, Alcyone powered up her deflector shields by herself. The man instructed the Rodian, "Run for the cargo bay, you poodoo! Inside my ship you can't get hit. And I need you alive to deliver those credits to your boss!"

Instead of running for cover, Zhio could have done one of any number of things to deal with the shooters. But many involved revealing to Lily what he could do with a blade or the Force, and shooting first would probably get him on the wrong side of her. He also had full confidence in her ability to deal with the incoming blaster fire on her own. And, he had not been too keen on trying to grab her and pull her into cover as well, seeing as his actions might have been wrongly interpreted.

"Typical Padawan," he addressed those words to her, from behind cover, "still lingering on every word we've been told. Those naive notions on how a single person can make the entire Galaxy change for the better! If you're lucky, you'll one day come to realize how they're nothing but self-righteous hypocrisy!

"Just a means to always feel assured that whatever they do, the Jedi, it was always the right course of action! Have you considered the possibility that your presence here, today, will not stop any suffering but instead cause more?"

He waited to see what she would do or say, before taking action himself.

---

Lily Decoria

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Crossguard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Spek Zhio

As soon as the enforcers attempted to fire upon the group, Lily ignited her Lightsaber and with swift and precise movements she safely deflected the bolts away from the pair of smugglers. Her movements were minimal and she was doing the required adjustments in order to ensure the attacks did not harm anyone. It was a demonstration of her years actively training and honing her body into a weapon that allowed her to work so efficiently and precisely.

"Lay down your weapons, I do not wish to harm you!" Lily called out to the enforcers, she had currently only deflected the bolts enough to cause minor injuries or disarm the enforcers, she was avoiding anything that would be considered life threatening.

She looked over to Spek, "they are only hypocritical if they do not fulfil their promises. I intend to fulfil mine, therefore I will be a Jedi who is not hypocritical." Lily stated without a hint of lying, she did not care about the other Jedi he met that did not live up to reputation. If they were bad apples, they would not last. She was going to be someone that lived up to the name, lived up to the legacy set before her. She was going to be the best Jedi that she would be. That didn't mean leaving the Order.

"Have you considered that my presence here will be a ripple for the necessary changes? Better to try, fail and learn then to do nothing and let the suffering continue." Lily was willing to learn from her mistakes but it would be a fundamental failure to just never try to do good. No one should feel like they are unworthy of her help. "You see only what you wish to see, that is your choice but do not think that I will just leave people to suffer because that is not who I am."

Lily then started moving towards to enforcers, they were likely strong people but Lily was a Jedi and she was Echani, she knew how to fight and she had trained her body to take on even the biggest of foes. Lily dodged, dipped and weaved as she moved forward, avoiding the bolts and deflecting those that came too close to her. If they refused to lay down their arms, she would have to destroy the weapons to avoid more harm.

 

[Spek Zhio]

While it is true that the best lessons are self-taught, "You can also learn from someone else's experience," Zhio yelled back at her. "You don't have to charge headlong into danger every time, in order to learn from your failures!"

To the former Padawn, her actions were tantamount to naiveté. She would not be able to revamp Hutt Space for the better, no matter how good her intentions or her feelings were. Sentient nature is sometimes akin to the laws of the universe. Occasionally, changing people's minds or conditioning is like having the sun rise from the opposite cardinal direction. Was he annoyed by the knowledge that he, as well, could not change hers - make her see the logic behind his words - while still trying to, anyway?

There were, however, more pressing concerns at that moment. Kreew Diee had been running and was now inside the deflector field of his ship. Spek unholstered his energy pistol and began firing, from behind cover. The weapon lacked a stun feature, so he had to aim it in such a way as to not hit any vital targets. The smuggler was more than capable, guided by the Force, to only hit their weapons and thus disarm them. But that would likely draw too much attention into himself, from Lily. Fortunately, the devastating pulse-waves from his gun when at close range, were considerably less so at that distance. Therefore, if he would it them on their armored chests, instead of piercing them it would merely be comparable to being struck by a heavy blunt object. It would surely leave a mark, but these would be survivable wounds. This way, he could play down his accuracy.

He shoot and knocked down a few of the enforcers. Even though he was certain she could have handled them by herself, he was not about to let her know that he knew that.

---

Lily Decoria

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Crossguard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Spek Zhio

"And where is the fun in that? I thought you smuggler types liked to do your own thing and make your own mistakes?" Lily was clearly enjoying herself, combat was where she excelled and she was a lot more comfortable in this area. Her body moving fast and defending herself from the bolts that were being fired in her direction.

Reaching the enforcers, Lily danced around them and hearing the shots from the smuggler, she was able to use the non-lethal level of her Lightsaber to disarm, disable and detain the enforcers. Using stun cuffs to keep them restrained as she smiled to herself, pleased that she had been able to handle them with quick efficiency. Looking around, she placed the criminals secure to one side as she approached Spek once again. While she had not caught it in the moment. The way he talked.

He was hiding a past and she needed to confront him about it.

Turning her Lightsaber off, she clipped it to her hip once again and looked to Spek, "you downplayed your skills. You are hiding your abilities. I can't sense them but the way you spoke, your actions, your skills... You were trained as a Jedi." She narrowed her eyes at him, "but I don't understand why you hate them. Being trained by them, you should know better than most that we are only ever trying our best to help." Her steel gaze was fixed on him, curious how he would handle her confronting him so publicly and deliberating calling him out like this.

"I have to take these enforcers in. So, whatever you two have going on... that will have to wait until I return. As long as you are both still here by then." It was a little gesture, she was not keen on letting them get away with anything underhanded, however, Spek had helped her and she wanted to show him that his ideals on the Jedi were wrong. It was a small gesture that she hoped would pay off in the long run.

 

[Spek Zhio]

There she goes with generalizations, once more. the Zeltron thought. "Unlike the Jedi, we smugglers are not consolidated under the same code of conduct." Would she ever stop trying to characterize him through her perceived labels? "There is no such thing as 'we smuggler types'!"

Ceasing to provide assistance midway through the short bout, Spek took note of some Echani marital approaches in Lily's technique with the saber. Getting up from behind cover, and meeting her halfway across the gangway connecting the landing pad to the upper city level, he replied to her, "What gave you that impression? Jedi training, me?" he smiled, not trying to hide anything but merely stating the question back at her. "You saw all that from the way I shoot? Or are you, once more, jumping to conclusions based on your own unique experiences, which are sure to be completely different from mine?

"And speaking of jumping to conclusions, saying that I hate Jedi is a very strong accusation. I don't hate you guys, otherwise I wouldn't have -- and still am, trying to help you!" Zhio met her steely eyes with a stare of his own, not threatening but stern. "Have you never heard the expression, the road to hell is paved with good intentions? I've witnessed, on multiple occasions, Jedi good intentions do more harm than good. The ends do not justify the means, and it's a vicious, escapist, and circular logic, to proclaim that Jedi are always right just by the nature of being Jedi. They're always right, so when they say they're doing the right thing, they're right. And always doing the right thing, makes them be always right.

"That's some frakkin bantha dung, if you ask me!"

With no reason to conceal anything from her stubborn, conceited, yet sometimes accurate blue gaze, Spek gently unsheathed his vibrosword. In such a way as to make her understand that the gesture was not intended for her.

"Plus, you're in for a surprise, if you think that the authorities on this place aren't in the pockets of the Hutts!"

The criminals, apprehended by Lily, were smiling, smugly. Kreew Diee slipped deeper into Zhio's ship. At the same time that, corrupt, heavily-armed, Nar Shaddaa's law enforcement officials, were approaching the scene.

---

Lily Decoria

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Crossguard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Spek Zhio

"Really, cause seen plenty of them generalise themselves. And not sure why you are taking a moral high horse when you generalised myself and the Jedi." Lily tilted her head, she had just tried to throw a meaningless joke in order to allow the smuggler to see that she was not someone trying to be stiff and stoic, yet he was eager to throw it in her face as some weird discriminatory comment.

Breathing in deeply, she sighed as he got on the defensive when she noted his actions and combating style downplayed his actual skills. "Still lingering onto every word we've been told." She quoted Spek, her gaze showing that she did not miss what he had said, merely awaiting the appropriate time to handle their meaning. "You helped me when it was also in service to yourself. Perhaps I jumped to hate prematurely," she conceded that, "however, I leaped to hate because you seemed to have a stick up your butt about everything and anything I say or do." He took her words and actions too literally in her mind and it was frustrating since she didn't want to have to spend ten minutes considering every word before saying them.

"I never assumed or said that everything the Jedi did is or has been correct. That doesn't mean I have to leave the Order like you did nor does that mean my actions here will do more harm than they will do good. That has yet to be decided." She was not stating it was impossible for her actions to cause more harm, but that was never her intent. "Inaction is an action and I refuse to be inactive and allow others to suffer, I refuse to watch bad things happen and do nothing because others believe they know better and think helping people will cause harm."

She watched as he brandished the vibrosword, the meaning behind it seemed a little lost on her in that moment since she wasn't sure what he was attempting to say. Especially since she was not bothered by an Echani weapon being in his hands. Mandalorians were only people she knew who were very precious about their cultural weapons and armour, even that was purely limited to beskar. The only reason she would have an issue with him holding an Echani weapon was if he had stolen it or it was something precious to someone else and he refused to give it back.

"If the authorities will refuse to do the correct actions, then they need to be replaced by people who seek to do good and right by the civilians. Once again, inaction here is acting and it is acting against those who need our help." Lily then turned away and walked over to the authorities. She wasn't sure on her chances of this working since it was a power that varied from person to person on how effective it was but she decided to give it a shot.

Tapping into the Force, she used Mind Trick with a wave of her hand to the cops, "you will leave here and inform the Hutts that the matter has been dealt with." Her voice was firm and held with strong conviction, she stood by the words even if the Mind Trick did not work.

 

[Spek Zhio]

"Don't think I've ever seen a horse in my entire life... Don't really know how high they get. But anyways, I'm not the one being haughty here," he replied to her first statement. As Lily paused before continuing, Spek had time to interject. "You were the one who volunteered how you can heal the Galaxy and do what's right and whatnot, and I commented how most Jedi act just like that. I did generalize but did it to a general group, which isn't at all nonsensical. Meanwhile, you took one look at me and all you could see was the outlaw. We are not doing the same kind of generalization, so don't group us both together."

After the fact, he did wonder if the words might have been too harsh. But the subject being discussed was one about which Spek had some strong feelings, and the words were just coming out of his mouth. While she was revealing her insights into the man's past as a Jedi, Zhio could not suppress a small flinch. Not of surprise, but of yet another nerve being struck. He gathered his thoughts, listening and waiting patiently for his turn to speak, which arrived after her commentary regarding foreign objects being inserted into improper body cavities. "I do appreciate your candor to come around and see me as the individual. Even if, maybe at a subconscious level, you were only able to do so after figuring out I used to be a Jedi. Think about that for a moment..." Through his Zeltron empathic telepathy, he noticed her apprehension behind every sentence. "And you don't have to analyze every word you say. In fact, I'd prefer you didn't, as that would be commensurate with dishonesty. It's just that who you are is imprinted in what you say. If you don't like me taking note of that, could it be that you don't like who you are?"

The Padawan went on articulating her views, up to the moment when the law enforcement officers on the scene began walking towards them, with a menacing gait. They had finished gathering all the information that they needed, from the criminals she had handcuffed, Seemingly unconcerned, the smuggler continued the conversation, as did she. "You've been touting the Jedi creed from the start. Why do it if you don't have the utmost confidence in all of it? That would just make you a hypocrite. So, take your pick." Proffering one last sentence to him, as if a partying gift, she headed to meet them halfway. Before the first of them could yell some authoritative command to the pair, they all suddenly stopped. Attentively listening to every word Lily had to say, before repeating the entire sentence out loud to themselves. Then, after taking a few seconds to look around as if confused, seemingly trying to convince themselves of the fact she uttered, they proceeded to leave.

Afterwards, Spek walked up to Lily, halting by her side. Now, more than ever, he was not done with the conversation.

"We do agree on a couple of things. Inaction is itself a form of action. And these people would be better off living under honest and incorruptible leaders and civil servants. But I don't see the Jedi putting up a temple and settling in any time soon, do you? And what makes the Jedi so incorruptible in the first place? I've seen plenty turn to the Dark Side. So, if not them, who's going to pick these better replacements? The Jedi themselves? On whose authority? Didn't you just said how the Jedi don't always know or act as if they know what's best? And if not them, then who?" he shook his head. "Overthrowing the Hutts would just create a power vacuum to be filled by an even worst collective. See the contradiction between your own words and actions?

"If not, let me give you another hint. Two actually."

Zhio raised one, then a second finger of his left hand, as he enumerated. His right still holding the unsheathed Kingfisher.

"Number one. You just said how you never assumed to know what the right thing was, yet you had no problem in mind controlling those guys into doing what you thought was best. Why not engage in conversation with them as well?

"Number two. You acted. Even if with the best of intentions, have you stopped to consider what will happen to those cops? They'll be made an example of, for turning their back on us. Them and their families tortured then killed, their corpses dumped on an alley somewhere. Next, the Hutts will invest more credits in protection devices against mind tricks, and hire more species immune to it. The economy and demographic will shift, and who do you think will pay the bill in the end, for the losses the syndicates will incur? The innocent civilians being extorted, that's who."

He tightened his grip on his vibrosword. Curious of what she would do next.

"So know, that inaction would've been the most benign action in this particular case.

"There is, however, one point you made that I must concede you were right. One person did just make a huge difference, if only for the worst."

---

Lily Decoria

 

[Lily Decoria]

Location: Nar Shaddaa
Outfit: Jedi Attire
Equipment: Crossguard Lightsaber, Hydrangea Moonblade (concealed)
Tag: Spek Zhio

Lily was done with everything Spek was attempting to lecture her about. She allowed him to say everything that he wished to say and belittle every decision she had made in their very, very brief encounter. She let out a loud, very passive aggressive sigh and looked at him. "Don't twist what I said as if it was some judgemental, disparaging comment. It was stated in a very casual, joking manner in attempts to offer an olive branch. All you have done is very incorrectly valued my actions as detrimental and harmful. Stated that in a negative stereotype, because the Jedi are just as large of a group of people as smugglers are and they are just as diverse, that all Jedi cause more harm than good but spout that the ends justify the means."

"So, perhaps your hypothetical notion that all I have done is caused harm is true. However, the opposite is quite possible. Nothing could happen to them, these enforcers serve their time in jail and the people of Nar Shaddaa get to see that the Hutts aren't some all powerful crime syndicate." Lily stated since there was nothing factual in the ideas of what was going to happen from Spek's fantasy, she figured she might as well give her own. "I can pretend to see the future as well. In fact, I am pretty sure any decision I made, you would have touted as being the most incorrect one to do. Because that is all you have had to say to me."

She turned away and grabbed the cuffed enforcers, "so go. Leave me be and in future, I will just avoid making polite conversation with you." Lily stated coldly, refusing to waste her time continuing to surrounded by a person whose only words to her were judgemental and unnecessarily harsh. She then proceed to take the enforcers to get them processed and charged by she knew she could trust to do justice correctly and lawfully.