Private Jailhouse Rock

[Levi]

"The Brig", Montitia
Judd - Jacen Nimdok​

---

In Levi's defense, the planet of Canyon had a long standing reputation as a haven for scoundrels. Sure he clearly didn't keep up with current events in the Grant Sector, but how was he supposed to expect that Montitia had been making a big anti-piracy push? Let alone one that actually saw successes? Nothing used to ever happened around here.

But of course, when he finally commits to a Canyon road trip, Levi is caught by sector police before he could even make it planetside. After being forcefully grounded, he was hauled off to a newly built prison, just for people like him. Pirates. Star hopping ne'er-do-wells who were unlucky enough to get caught up in the Alliance's crackdown on crime.

This prison had been affectionately nicknamed "The Brig", presumably a cutesy reference to the starship roots of many of its inmates. Frankly Levi didn't find it all that humorous. The prison wasn't even aboard a ship. It was terrestrial, planted right between the border of Megacity West, and the most flat expanse of nothing Levi had ever seen.

"Are you sure there's no more fried nuna legs left? Maybe some in the ba-"

"We're out, pal," The Abednedo cafeteria worker slapped a pile of mush onto Levi's plate, "You get oatmeal."

Levi glanced down at the dubious contents of his lunch, "You call this oatmeal?"

A guard stepped in, and nudged the prisoner away from the line, "Get moving, Dorne. Or you ain't gonna have time to eat."

Levi relented, sighing in defeat as he plopped down into a seat, "I don't believe that man has ever been to culinary school." He lifted up a sloppy spoonful of gruel, grimaced, and set it back down, "Guess the bleeding hearts couldn't squeeze a few more credits out of the Corpos for a decent meal plan?" He commented broadly to whatever other prisoners were in earshot.

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

Due to a bureaucratic oversight (and one of the many cons of being much older than you looked), Jacen Nimdok found himself in a Montitian jail, looking very out of place amongst the other inmates at lunch.

He stared at the the plate of gruel he'd been given. It couldn't possibly have been appetizing to a human, but to vampire? It was utterly inedible. Jacen didn't want to stir up trouble or draw suspicion, so he would likely have to eat this crap and try to obtain a real meal later. Still, he had yet to work up the courage to actually take a bite of the slop...

"I don't believe that man has ever been to culinary school. Guess the bleeding hearts couldn't squeeze a few more credits out of the Corpos for a decent meal plan?"

Jacen glared over at the other prisoner, who was making unnecessary commentary about the food as loud as possible. Finally, if only to avoid the horned alien trying to start a conversation with him, he picked up his spoon, scooped up some of the goop, and put it in his mouth.

Almost immediately, his face turned gray and he gagged, spitting it back up again. He coughed roughly, reaching for the cup of water they'd been given to wash his mouth out. The water tasted metallic, but that was far more tolerable than the "oatmeal".

Judd Levi​

 

[Judd]

THE BRIG
MONTITIA
​

They say when you go to prison, the first thing you should do is pick a fight with the biggest guy on the lot.

Solid advice, for the most part. Even if you lose, you show everyone that you're not to be messed with, that you aren't afraid to get your hands dirty. And if you win... well, that's just icing on the cake. Fighting the big guy will usually get you a talk with one of the prison gangs. Since they were in an Alliance border world prison, those gangsters held a lot more sway than one might think.

But it certainly got old fast when you were the big guy.

Judd sat by himself in the messhall, giving withering glares to any that even thought about joining his table. On his plate, a heap of grey mush, that the Dowutin swallowed without complaint. He'd had far worse meals in the past.

Already, one of the new inmates, an Iktotchi with a cracked horn, was sizing him up. Judd could feel the man's expectant stare on the back of his scarred head. Waiting for the guards to turn around. Judd just pretended he didn't notice, ready for the time the man worked up the courage.

"Guess the bleeding hearts couldn't squeeze a few more credits out of the Corpos for a decent meal plan?"

Judd barked out an unexpected chuckle, turning his head to a nearby table. There sat a devilish individual, and a young man looking a little green around the gills. "Nah," he returned, gesturing with a hand. At least, where a hand would be. Instead, a cleanly cut stump waved at the joker in question. "To do that, they'd actually have to care."

He regarded the younger man again, orange eyes intense under a heavyset brow. "It doesn't get better," he offered with a smirk. "But at least it'll keep you alive."

Levi - Jacen Nimdok ​

 

[Levi]

"The Brig", Montitia
Jacen Nimdok - Judd​

---

"Nah. To do that, they'd actually have to care."

Levi grew a toothy smirk, "And here I thought the Montitians might be turning a new leaf. Alas, if they can't even keep their own people out of the dregs, perhaps I shouldn't be so surprised," If anything, their living conditions were probably better than some natives. Oh the irony.

A young man across from Levi had unsuccessfully attempted to acquire a taste for the prison mush, which only drew the devaronian's attention. He snorted, "Hmph. First time?" He studied him closer, and became more curious, "I know most folk seem a bit young from my perspective, but you seem especially… fresh-faced. No?" Levi glanced at the towering Dowutin man, as if looking for a second opinion.

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

Even after he drank the water, the foul taste and texture of the gruel lingered in his mouth. Jacen tried not to gag again. Well, at least he didn't feel so hungry anymore. That crap had killed his appetite for now...

"It doesn't get better. But at least it'll keep you alive."

He shook his head. "Trust me. This," he held up his spoon, oatmeal as thick as glue trickling from it, "will not keep me alive."

"Hmph. First time?"

Jacen glanced toward the garrulous Devaronian, and found himself being studied.

"I know most folk seem a bit young from my perspective, but you seem especially… fresh-faced. No?"

"I'm thirty-two," he replied with a grimacing smile, intentionally baring his fangs just in case the devilish alien got any ideas. "For someone like me, that's just getting into the rebellious teenage years." His sharp-toothed grin faded, and he sighed. If only he hadn't tried to lure that girl in for a midnight snack. She'd gotten entirely the wrong idea about his intentions. And it wasn't like he could tell the truth to the cops. "I totally just wanted to suck some energy out of her, officer. No big deal." If he'd been honest, they'd likely have put him somewhere far worse than the slammer. This at least was manageable, though he would have to find a way out of here sooner rather than later...

Levi Judd​

 

[Judd]

As the Devaronian continued the joke, Judd huffed, his smile falling to a more neutral, Alliance-scorning scowl. Despite the recent changes, Montitia's shortcomings certainly didn't surprise him.

"Trust me. This will not keep me alive."

Judd snorted in amusement, returning to his own meal. Sure, it was barely tolerable. But it beat a poorly-sourced ration pack, prepared with run-off rainwater from the front lines. Regardless, the kid's disgust was pretty funny. It would be interesting if he'd keep that attitude in a few days. Or if he'd even be alive in a few days.

The older felon commented on the younger man's age, looking to Judd for confirmation. The large medic tilted his head in agreement, waiting for the kid to elaborate. Of course, when he did, one of Judd's eyebrows raised. Not at the kid's age- Dowutins were also a rather long-lived species- but at the flash of sharp canines. Deep-space myths about long-lived vampires came to mind.

"Obvious you're new to prison, though," he rumbled, taking another bite of slop. "As far as a first clink goes, you could do worse."

Slowly, the Iktotchi prisoner started stalking Judd from across the room, grabbing a spoon along the way.

Levi - Jacen Nimdok ​

 

[Levi]

Levi grimaced as the young man bared his fangs. Combined with his apparent long-lived youth, it wasn't hard to piece together, "And this rebellious streak has ended with you in prison, it seems," He leaned back, unphased by Jacen's vampire nature. He had known an Anzati quite intimately for years, after all. The devaronian gave him a disarming grin, revealing his own pronounced (though not quite vampiric) canines.

"Yes, I've been in some real nasty joints. So far this one seems to at least be… above board." He agreed with the towering Dowutin man. And already his mind was wandering towards a future dream. A guy like that at his back would be quite the asset. He glanced at Jacen again. He already knew that a blood sucker could prove effective as well, but clearly this kid wasn't taking much of a liking to him. Still, an extra set of hands in a getaway couldn't hurt. "But I just can't stand the… confines. You know, I heard…" He trailed off, noticing an Iktochi man skulking around the edge of the cafeteria. Levi knew a thing or two about reading people. He was getting himself fired up about something, and moving in their general direction. "…Secret admirer of yours?" He said quietly, pulling his eyes away from the man so as to avoid suspicion.

Jacen Nimdok - Judd​

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

"Obvious you're new to prison, though," he rumbled, taking another bite of slop. "As far as a first clink goes, you could do worse."

"I shouldn't even be here to begin with," Jacen muttered. Picking up the piece of fruit on the side of his tray, he turned it around, examining the skin. No brown spots, but it felt underripe. He still took a bite, only to spit it out almost immediately.

The piece of fruit went flying farther than he intended, landing in the oatmeal of the Twi'lek sitting across from him. Shooting him a glare, the prisoner started to stand. Jacen rose to his feet faster and immediately socked the man in the jaw. It was a pure panic reflex, motivated by a sudden and overwhelming fear of becoming the cell block's resident punching bag.

Since the stools they were sitting in were nailed down, the Twi'lek fell out of his seat, landing in a heap on the floor. Jacen waited with bated breath, expecting a guard to swoop in, but nothing happened. What was worse, the Twi'lek got up, looking even angrier and meaner...

Judd Levi​

 

[Judd]

"I shouldn't even be here to begin with."

"Everyone says that, kid," Judd grunted, seemingly without a hint of sympathy. He wasn't the type to cushion a blow, nor was he the type to care about someone whining about it. "For some of us, it's even true."

The Devaronian, on the other hand, seemed much more experienced. Judd's lips twitched a smile, though he didn't look at the man. "Beats Narsh," the Dowutin mused, growing silent again as he ate. He'd been in a few terrible lock-ups, not all of them, in the strictest sense, legal. He'd seen awful living conditions, so he supposed the Alliance had that going for it. He didn't worry about the wardens killing him. Fellow prisoners, on the other hand...

"…Secret admirer of yours?"

Judd didn't have to look to see what he was referring to. The medic just shrugged. "Yeah. I'm a real romantic." He smirked.

There was a sudden commotion. Judd watched as the younger man spat food at another inmate, then socked him in the jaw. The Twi'lek was quick to rise to his feet, and slink towards the vampire once more. Where he met a swiftly-standing Judd, who picked him up by the front of the shirt. The smaller man struggled against the large brute, beating his fists into the Dowutin's barrel-chest, to no avail. "I like your style, Teeth," he offered over his shoulder, before hucking the man over a table, hitting a line of prisoners. They stood up. Then, more prisoners stood up.

Then, it was chaos.

Levi - Jacen Nimdok ​

 

[Levi]

"Narsh," Levi made an ick noise, "What a dreadful place. Easy for laying low— Like Canyon was supposed to be— But the decorum is just nonexistent," He bemoaned, stopping himself to sip at his water.

The Dowutin seemed to know, or at least was able to put together, what Levi had noticed. The Iktochi came closer, but before he could make his move, Jacen had initiated a domino effect of chaos. Unintentional sure, but some of these types were on a hair trigger, including Jacen apparently. He quickly tried to amend his mistake not with words, but by striking the Twi'lek in the face. It made sure he didn't get the first swing in, anyway. But Levi simply sighed as he saw the opportunity to passivity immediately thrown aside.

"Here we go…" No big loss. It might help them in the long run anyway. The Dowutin stepped in, and it was officially a full-on brawl in the cafeteria. Inmates turning on one another just to get a good hit, including a large man who pulled Levi into a headlock, "Really?" The con man spoke in both annoyance and disbelief. Putting yourself in headbutting range of a man with horns was bold. Levi stepped on his foot to loosen his grip, and used the space to swing his head back, knocking his horns against the poor fellow's cranium. He let go just as quick, "That was just unsporting."

Klaxons wailed, signaling the emergency. Riot guards would likely be descending on the scene soon. But the guards already in here were not so equipped. Levi came between his two lunch companions, and whistled for their attention, "Think that one's got a key?" He nodded towards an officer currently beating an unruly thug with his baton.

Jacen Nimdok - Judd​

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

To the teen's surprise, the big guy came to his rescue, throwing the Twi'lek across the mess at a table of other prisoners. The Devaronian didn't look happy about the sudden violence of the proceedings, but he too joined in the ensuing brawl. Jacen was just relieved that he wouldn't have to listen to the two men reminiscing about the various prisons they had stayed in like they were comparing vacation hotels anymore.

"Think that one's got a key?"

The boy was unable to reply, his mouth preoccupied with the neck of an unconscious Mirialan inmate. What? He wasn't about to skip on the opportunity for a real meal in all this chaos.

A baton connected with Jacen's face. He uttered a cry of pain and dislodged his grip on his prey. Warm black blood gushed from his nose, mingling with the red smeared over his lips and teeth. The guard who had struck him moved to stand over the boy, his baton sparking as he switched to stun and prepared to hit him again.

Judd Levi​

 

[Judd]

Judd raised a judgmental eyebrow at the Devaronian. Decorum? Who in their right mind cared about a jail's decorum?

His disdain would have to wait, as a classic cafeteria brawl began. A savage smirk split the scarred Dowutin's face, as he pulled himself to his full height, and silently dared anyone to step forth. Apparently, a human with a nasty burn scar was quick to try something, jumping onto a table to land a flying punch. Judd didn't feel the fist connect with his jaw, but it angered him regardless. He turned towards the human, using his one hand to jerk his own chin to the side, cracking his neck.

The human swallowed.

All Judd did was bring up his elephantine foot, and push. The man went flying, his back hitting the edge of a table, sending him tumbling ass over kettle.

"Think that one's got a key?"

Judd looked to where the devilish man was pointing, just in time to see the guard smash their baton into the vampire's face. A few steps brought him into melee range. Before the guard could strike again, Judd palmed the end of the stun baton, gritting his teeth as electricity scorched his hand, and giving one of the others an opening to attack.

"Tickles," he hissed.

Levi - Jacen Nimdok ​

 

[Levi]

Levi grimaced at the sight of Jacen already gnawing on some poor fellow's neck. A meal in the middle of the riot? Arguably the most sensible time for it, but Levi couldn't help but view it as a lack of self-control. Admittedly, his perception was a bit poisoned by his ex-wife's repeated offenses.

The guard suddenly closed the distance, striking Jacen with his baton. Levi mouthed a silent "ouch", but before it could happen again the guard was subdued by Judd. He approached, and simply reached up to snatch the keycard from his belt, "Thank you sir," He flashed their plastic piece of freedom to the other two, and headed for one of the locked down entrances. He skidded to a halt in front of the first, "Not there!" A cadre of police with armor and riot shields was marching down the corridor, soon to quell the madness in the cafeteria. Levi ran to the opposite wall, deactivated the next lock with the card, and opened the door.

He waited a moment for the others, but wasn't planning to stick his neck out for a pair of strangers if they dallied too long. "Time is not our side, boys!"

Jacen Nimdok - Judd​

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

Big guy came with the save, grabbing the baton with his bare hands. The electricity didn't seem to have much of an effect on him. Gratefully, Jacen kicked the guard in the stomach, then brought his elbow down on the poor bastard's head.

The Devaronian snatched up the guard's keycard, leading the way to the nearest exit. Bloodied and surrounded by chaos, Jacen didn't think too much before following him. The vampire teen knew only one thing: he couldn't stand another moment longer in here. He'd rather be a wanted fugitive from the law. A prison escapee.

"Time is not on our side, boys!"

Jacen shot through the doorway, looking both ways down the corridor. "This way," he headed right, in the opposite direction of the sound of stomping boots on linoleum. How he wished he had a blaster in his hand right now. Why he hadn't thought to take that guard's baton or something, he didn't know...

Judd Levi​

 

[Judd]

Judd was quick to drop the baton after the young man took the opportunity, shaking his wrist to banish the burning sensation. With the devil-man procuring the keycard, the medic was quick to follow the others, not afraid to throw his weight around to get through.

And, just for the hell of it, he walloped an off-guard Iktotchi as he charged past, the man flipping in the air before landing flat on his face. Judd smirked, before continuing the mad dash to the cafeteria exit.

The Dowutin made it through last, hitting a meaty fist against the controls, breaking them to ensure they stayed open. The more ruckus they could use to mask their escape, the better. Narrowing his beady eyes as the vampire chose their direction, he nodded, and took up the rear as the trio continued to run. He spoke to the more experienced of the others, running at a clean, if mildly slow, jog. "They're sending all hands to the cafe! There's a chance we can bust through the front gate!"

"Or we climb!" They could escape by scaling the courtyard. Both avenues had their risks.

Levi - Jacen Nimdok ​

 

[Levi]

Levi trailed after Jacen, glancing back to confirm that Judd was behind them. With the doorway stuck open, it was only a matter of time before more prisoners got the same bright idea. Good. While the guards tried to quell the masses, the three of them could slip out with lessened resistance.

Judd laid out their most likely options. Levi bit his lip, "…We rush the front gate. I want out of here as soon as possible." More of a brute force approach, but taking too long would only secure their failure. This was their best shot, he felt. And he was feeling lucky.

They slid into another corridor, where they were met by a lone guard. Not a big deal on its own, except for the fact that he was holding a gun at them, "Woahhh… Hey now. We ah— There's some real crazy folks down in the mess hall. It's a good thing y-"

"Don't move." The guard raised his weapon, uninterested in hearing any of Levi's tales.

Jacen Nimdok - Judd​

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

The big guy suggested rushing the gate or climbing the wall. The Devaronian insisted on the gate. Jacen didn't have a clue what he was doing, so he decided to just agree with them, heading for the front entrance of the prison.

Turning a corner, he came to a sudden stop as he found himself face to face with a lone guard pointing a gun at them. The Devaronian tried to reason with him, but the guard wasn't having any of it.

"Don't move."

Jacen had been taught a form of the mind trick during his time on Atrisia. He used it now, meeting the guard's eyes and attempting to cloud his mind.

"You will forget you ever saw us. We were never here."

Judd Levi​

 

[Judd]

"…We rush the front gate. I want out of here as soon as possible."

Judd huffed through his nose, somewhere between annoyed and excited. "If you say so," he muttered, despite cracking the front doorstep open being partially his idea.

The large man's forward momentum was halted as the trio turned a corner, coming face-to-face with security. Devil's first instinct was to talk their way out of it, Judd's was about to be charging the man and knocking him on his back, sure to receive a burn or two in the process, but thankfully, Vampire cut him off at the pass, executing an all-too-familiar application of the Force.

Judd did a double-take at the young man as the guard seemed to grow confused. "You... were never here," he murmured dazedly to himself, staring past the three of them as if they'd never existed. Judd continued running past, as he was sure the others would do, though not without a disdainful look towards the vampire.

"Figure's you'd be a fethin' Jeedai Vampire," the Dowutin spat out, as he continued charging. "Just my luck."

Twisting and turning through a few more corridors, the prisoners finally made it to the front area. Judd stopped short of the corner turning in, peeking over to see what was left. Three layers of barred doors, with two guards at each level of security. All carrying blasters. And the criminals had their fists.

Great. Just great.

Levi - Jacen Nimdok ​

 

[Levi]

The vampire kid raised his hand, and pacified the guard with a few simple words. Levi was rather offended that his silver tongue had no such influence. Magic was cheating. But at least it got them away from the guard. Judd expressed his own disapproval, "Force types and I tend not to mesh well." The Devaronian raised an eyebrow, "But you can't be a Jedi."

"Can you?" He shot Jacen a toothy smirk, "Jedi are too clean to end up in prison." Sure, the kid said he was framed. But it's not like either of his fellow escapees fully believed that yet.

They soon turned another corner to the front door. Which was currently locked down by an emergency lock. Levi sighed, "Make sure nobody stop us," He stopped at a console, ripped off the panel and began finagling with the guts, "I'm gonna need a moment here." He happened a glance up at a security camera right across from him, and gave it a sheepish smile.

Jacen Nimdok - Judd​

 

[Jacen Nimdok]

Jacen couldn't help but grin with relief as the guard fell under his sway, allowing them to pass. His co-escapees didn't seemed to appreciate it as much, however.

"Figure's you'd be a fethin' Jeedai Vampire. Just my luck."

"Force types and I tend not to mesh well. But you can't be a Jedi. Can you? Jedi are too clean to end up in prison."

"I'm not a Jedi," Jacen said, and left it at that. They had a new obstacle to deal with: doors.

Three layers of doors, to be exact, with two guards posted on each. The Lavender Devil immediately proceeded to rip a console panel off the wall and fiddle with the guts that came tumbling out, muttering something about not letting anyone stop them. Jacen glanced up at the security camera pointing right at them, then at the Big Guy with a perturbed expression. What the hell were they supposed to do against the armed guards, serve as meat shields?

More footsteps, this time accompanied by shouting. They were about to be boxed in.

Judd Levi​