Cashing In On Old Favors Coruscant Connections (PM to join unless tagged)

[Celiana]

After having completed the heist of both Arkanian tech and diamonds I needed to break up the sheer amount of diamonds I had and I had a few people I owed and that owed me on Coruscant. In fact it was time to cash in and repay those favors. Punching in the coordinates in the nav-computer and engaging the Hyperdrive I headed to the cargo bay where I stashed my swoop-racing bike and loaded things into my private vault. Punching in the security code and giving my handprint and retinal scan I unlocked my vault and brought two full cases of diamonds out of my vault into view.

Opening the cases I ejected the hidden blade from my left gauntlet and punctured the wrapping of the diamonds cutting them free. Multiple sizes and colors spilled into the briefcase and after making sure that there weren't any stray diamonds in the wrap I tossed it aside and repeated the process emptying the diamonds into the cases. Sealing the cases back up I walked into my cabin and popped open the concealed compartment in my bed frame exposing a velvet green bag that I'd stored at least two handfuls of diamonds into of various colors inside of. Tying the bag to a length of leather cord around my neck I slipped the velvet bag inside my shirt.

The ringing of an alarm let me know I was dropping back into real-space. Triggering the landing sequence I place a quick call to Zara. "Zara, it's Celiana. I'm back on Triple Zero and I've something to give you when I arrive. Give me a call back when you get this." I gathered the two cases of diamonds and locked the rest back up programming the security measures to take effect as soon as I disembarked my ship. Pulling on my black riding cloak I ordered a cab to come and collect me from the landing pad. I'd be taking these diamonds to a Jewelry designer I knew and had saved several years ago.

Zachariah was good that way. He was constantly tending to people with more money than sense here on Coruscant. Plus if I could supply him with this amount of diamonds then he'd keep me in mind in the future for favors also I needed to have some jewelry made and he was the one to do so. Aria deserved to have something nicer than the sparrow ring I'd picked up on Nar Shadaa. It fit her, with the tattoo she'd gotten but she was priceless to me and deserved to have at least a few extraordinary things of her own...She was after all my princess.

Having disembarked I waited for all of two minutes and after having given the driver a sizable tip and telling him where I was going we got under way. Time to go surprise Zachariah....

 

[Celiana]

I chatted with the air taxi driver as we sped around and before long he'd pulled up to a landing platform in the fashion district it was only noon so odds were that he'd be there. Tipping the driver I walked the short distance to Zachariah's shop and walking through the door headed to the back where he was finishing up another piece. After watching him put the finishing touches on the piece he was working on I cleared my throat rather insistently. He turned to me and grinned, "Celiana dear how've you been?" Setting the two cases on the table I grinned back at him and said, "I've been....productive. I've got something for you Zachariah. I'm going to want to be paid for this, plus whatever you take out of these cases I want your word that they'll be put to good use by which I mean I can count on you to design some things for myself and a few friends of mine. I'll need your word before I open the cases."

"Hell, you saved me three years ago. You've got it." Nodding I opened the cases and the vast array of diamonds was on full display. Zachariah's mouth dropped a bit and I pulled the green velvet bag from under my shirt cutting the leather strand to remove it. "The diamonds in these cases are yours to do with as you please though I want your estimation on their value as well. There are ten more cases like these full of the same amount of stones. But these two cases will be yours minus this." I emphasized my point by pulling a small fistful of diamonds out of one of the cases and placing them in another bag. "Celiana the amount and quality of these gems...where did you even come up with this quantity?" "Stole em', Arkanian diamond transport. Sith research was inside, nasty stuff really."

"Excuse me, did you say Arkanian? Then the lot for these two cases is easily five hundred million credits, even with the handful you jsut removed." "Excellent, would you be willing to buy the two cases from me then? I'm strapped for cash and I need to get rid of them, plus you can turn a profit from the jewelry. Coruscant senators and their galas with more money than sense eh?" Turning he said, "yeah I can do that. but by The Force! You've got ten more cases?! You must have some powerful enemies Celiana...I'll need to break these up into shipments but I'll get you your money. Anything else?"

Nodding I sealed the cases of diamonds and cleared the table. I poured out the contents of the green velvet bag and brought up my designs for a bracelet and earring set of diamond and sapphire for Aria. Then I brought out the designs for a similar set for me with Emeralds and diamonds. "The sapphire and diamond set is for someone very important to me. The emerald set well, you know how I love the color green Zachariah. Can you get these done within the next two days?"

Looking over the designs he nodded and said, "Yeah I can definitely get both sets done in two days time and the money should be there by the end of the night for the gems you brought me. I'll ping your comm when the transaction clears."

Nodding my head I said, "thanks Zachariah, be back later." Grabbing the green velvet bag that was now empty and the black bag I'd stashed the handful from the case of diamonds in I walked out the door and seeing Zara had called I called her back it was time to pay her and give hope to some people in the lower levels...

Aria's set

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/6f/e8/05/6fe805c78844e94b0e2a444fe3b90ae4.jpgBracelet
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/ac/a6/43/aca643be260646f527b493a1ab86771b.jpgEarrings

Celiana's set

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/7d/2e/d0/7d2ed00517d6c47895b4fcd11bc6e254.jpgBracelet
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/54/b5/ae/54b5aeccc1970332b8f67c97b76bf4ee.jpgEarrings

 

[Celiana]

As I waved down another air taxi cab I placed another call to Zara. I'd secured the black bag of diamonds inside my shirt again and after calling her she picked up. "Hello, who is this?" "Hey Zara, it's Celiana. Don't know if you got my message or not but I'm on Coruscant and I'd like to meet if possible, I have something for you." "Celiana! Wow, back in no time I see. You looking to collect on some bounties girl? Or are you just here to visit my smiling face, bring me shiny things and try to seduce me?"

Chuckling into the comm I said, "Well, depending on your reaction to what I have for you I may not have to try. You still laying low Zara?"
"Yeah, I'm holed up in a place I've used before. I'll send you the address, lower levels though so be careful on your way down." Chuckling I said, "You know me Zara, I'm always careful. I'll be there soon." Telling the driver to take me to an access point for the lower levels he simply nodded and we sped away. When we arrived I paid him and walked to the turbo-lift taking me down into the lower levels of Coruscant I was headed for level 1313. Dark, dangerous, and oddly very much Zara. The lift came to a jerky stop and opened letting me back out into the neon underbelly of Coruscant. I began walking towards Zara's safehouse even though I questioned how safe she could really be down here...

 

[Celiana]

As I made my way further into Coruscant's seedy underbelly on level 1313 I blended with the crowds and worked my way to the coordinates I'd received from Zara. Knocking against a crusty door frame I announced my presence at the door. A slit opened at eye level and after recognizing me I heard latches being lifted, then the door opened and Zara stood there gesturing me inside. "Sorry you had to come this low into Coruscant, I had to seriously lay low after you took those predators out."

For the first time I saw Zara without her helmet and armor on, and she was gorgeous. Platinum blonde hair pulled back into a messy bun. "Wow, you sure hide a lot under your armor Zara, and before I forget I have something for you." Reaching into my sports bra I pulled the blag bag out and handed it to Zara. As she opened it I saw her eyes shoot fully open in surprise and her lips open in an O. "Celiana, where the hell did you get these? They're gorgeous but these can't be for me." "Well, to be completely honest there was a diamond heist not too long ago on Arkania. I may have made off with some of their gems, and well I'm trying to do some good with them. You could honestly probably take half a handful of those and afford to outright buy several properties here on Coruscant, instead of cheap food and sleazy places though I understand the need to use them for work."

"Wait, Celiana...you're giving me these? No strings? There has to be a catch." "There is Zara, three quarters of these are yours to do anything and I do mean anything you want with. The last quarter portion is what you should use to start and staff a shelter for abused, enslaved, and otherwise abandoned young women here on Coruscant. I'm many things, bounty-hunter,thief, smuggler, Jedi...But I was in the same position as those girls at one point and I wanted to make a difference as a Jedi. Using stolen diamonds isn't Jedi approved per say, but if it finances the change and shelter of young women like me who've suffered... well I'm sure someone in The Order would approve of that difference."

"Plus, you can use a place of your own I think. That bag altogether? Over four hundred million credits worth of Arkanian diamonds. I'm sure you can find a way to make them work for you and the troubled young women of Coruscant hmmm?" Zara looked at the bag of diamonds then back to me and just nodded that she understood. Then after closing the bag back up she leaped across the table and hugged me. Wrapping her legs around my waist and just sat there hugging me. "You don't understand what this means Celiana, not only have you just saved my life you've given me the ability to have a home of my own. Not to mention the good this will do for so many young women here on Coruscant....By The Force, you're....amazing."

Smiling I waited for Zara to dismount me and then after she did she gave me a kiss on the cheek. Blushing I said, "Care to grab your things and go for a bite?" She nodded and quickly packed what looked to be everything she owned into a duffel bag and we left. First food, then back by Zachariah's place. He'd hook Zara up with a place to stay until she'd found a place of her own, he was good like that. Making our way back to the lift we headed back up to the upper level of Coruscant to get food and things squared away with Zara and Zachariah.

 

[Celiana]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Riding up the lift I noticed Zara was quiet. Not odd in of itself but she'd said that I'd saved her life...Odd wording.[/SIZE] [SIZE=10.5pt]"Zara, what did you mean by I'd saved your life? You don't strike me as the type who needs saving love."[/SIZE] [SIZE=10.5pt]Stiffening up she glanced over at me with a guilty look then said, [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]"I screwed up Celiana, I borrowed money from a Hutt in the form of asking for a place to lay low. That place you found me in down there, it cost me the last three months of bounties." [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]Jerking up in surprise I said, [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]"Zara where is this Hutt? Where do they keep shop? Because you need to pay them back right now. How much do you owe?"[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Turning to look at me she said,[/SIZE] [SIZE=10.5pt]"Level 1300, there's a smuggler's den and cantina there as well as the bounty office. The Hutt's name is Kumondra as to how much I owe.....400,000. Celiana I'm so sorry." [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]Glancing over at her I said,[/SIZE] [SIZE=10.5pt]"Zara it's not a problem two of the diamonds will do for this Hutt but give them a third. It'll help smooth things over and allow you to keep them as a contact and use the bounty office. Two diamonds, 250,000 credits worth each but the third will bring the total to 750,000 credits worth of precious stones." [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]Glancing at the lift levels I hit the stop as we reached level 1300. The doors opened and I gestured for Zara to go first. Pulling three of the diamonds from the pouch I saw here palm them and before we entered the smuggler's den. There was a Hutt lounging in the center of the Cantina and as we approached the guards stopped us. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Then Zara said, [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]"I'm here to clear my debt with Kumondra." [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]A booming voice said [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]"Let her in. I'm interested to see her." [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]Walking forward with Zara I stopped behind her and to her left a few paces. Zara stepped forward and said,[/SIZE] [SIZE=10.5pt]"Kumondra, I've come to square my debt to you I owe 400,000 credits and while I don't have those credits I have three flawless clarity Arkanian diamonds each worth 250,000 credits the first two are to square my debt the last is to continue enjoying the use of your bounty office and facilities here. Do we have an agreement?" [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]"Zara you do good work. Not only are you offering to pay me more than you borrowed you went the extra mile and paid more to keep yourself in work. Yes, we have an agreement you may leave your diamonds with my major domo." [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]Zara took the diamonds she'd palmed and placed them in the Nikto's hands that Kumondra had gestured to. Then we walked back out to the lift, and I hit the button that'd take us up to where Zachariah's shop was. Zara pulled her helmet off and clipped it to her belt and as we began rising I did as well clipping my helmet to my belt. Zara leaned her head on my right shoulder and said softly,[/SIZE] [SIZE=10.5pt]"Thank you Celiana, you've saved me and continue to be someone I can trust. What did you have in mind for food?"[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10.5pt]Smiling I said, [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]"I was thinking burgers, and Zara you're welcome but you don't have to thank me. Mandalorians put honor and family above all you are family and I'm honored that you are." [/SIZE][SIZE=10.5pt]We stood after that in silence as we approached Zachariah's shop just enjoying each other's company and the fact of paid and repaid debts...[/SIZE]