Stolen Memories: Path to Reconnection

Chapter Six: Unexpected Reunion ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Location: Nar Shaddaa, Refugee Sector

The slow decent into the refugee sector was one of relative ease. No one would question another ship landing in an area too thick with traffic to monitor. The ship touched down and all aboard began preparing to disembark.

“What is the plan here again? You know the BIC probably ID’d your ship. If not, then they could just follow our hyperspace trajectory.” Twilight stated.

“Don’t worry your little pony head. The ID signature on my ship is a fake. Even if they do follow us here, which I doubt, we’ve already landed. It’d be like trying to find one grain of sand on Tatooine.” Twilight wasn’t entirely convinced but at least for now she was appeased.

“There’s more to it than you’re telling us Korrik.” Velvet declared.

“I can’t keep any secrets can I? Fine, yes I have other plans. While we are here I’m going to get in contact with the bounty hunters guild, see if they know anything about the sudden interest your Elements.” Twilight and Applejack shared a worried glance but seemed to accept his leadership. “Actually with that in mind I’ve been meaning to ask, you possess an Element too right Twilight? Where is it?” Twilight brushed a hoof on her chest and smiled, looking down at it as if she were recalling fond memories.

“I left it in my room back on Citadel Station. I’ve been helping the Ithorians there with wildlife importing from Equis as well as the application of magic on integrating certain species.”

“Pfft! Magic.” Korrik scoffed. Twilight arched an eyebrow at him questioningly. “Sorry but every time you Equines refer to the Force as magic it makes it hard to believe you were uplifted by the Jedi.” Korrik said. He walked towards the rear of the ship and hit a button that lowered the entry ramp. The entourage proceeded to walk out into the refugee sector where the concentration of people was staggering. People from many worlds made their home in this cramped, filthy, rundown space.

The sector was in great disrepair, most of the refugees lived in re-purposed shipping containers. Those unfortunate enough to lack the strength or resolve to carve a place of their own had to make their home wherever they could find room. Nar Shaddaa was run primarily by the Hutts so security ranged from nonexistent to overwhelming depending on their interests. The refugee sector however was heavily controlled by the Exchange.

“Even if the Jedi brought us to the galactic stage that doesn’t just erase millennia of culture and beliefs.” Twilight stated matter-of-factly.

“Even so they uplifted you because of your species’ force sensitivity and trained you in their Jedi arts to aid them in the Great Hyperspace War. I would think by now the force would have melded into your terms.”

“I disagree; I think magic and the Force are very different powers.”

“I don’t. If the Jedi are to be believed you unicorns can only manipulate the force more acutely due to that appendage on your forehead.” He said, tapping a finger on the tip of her horn. Twilight pulled back and closed her eyes in annoyance and said

“Grrr! I don’t want to argue philosophy with you. Why is this important?”

“It’s not, now keep your heads down and follow me out of this, we don’t need to attract unnecessary attention.” Korrik said as they casually followed him out of the area. Once out of that dump they made it to the ore open areas where walkways would guide you between the many buildings that offered their wares or services.

“Well that’s a small victory now stay close and-” Korrik bumped into a large male Twi’lek flanked by two war droids.

“Korrik Delwyn, I’ve been ordered to bring you before His Greatness Grota the Hutt, obey or we will escort you there by force.” The Twi’lek ordered. Korrik put his hands up in a show of compliance and nodded.

“Now jus’ what the hay is this all about?” Applejack frowned and asked uncomfortably as the two war droids made their way behind their entourage to escort them where they were needed.

“It was too much to hope that someone would have taken you out by now Grota.” Korrik growled under his breath, clenching his fists.

“What’s going on?” A wide eyed Twilight repeated Applejack’s sentiment.

“…I might have done something to upset ‘his Greatness’ the last time I was here.” Korrik replied.

“Oh, now what Kor?” Areuli whined, bringing her hand to her forehead in an overly dramatic fashion.

“Now’s not the time, Velvet can you… Where is Velvet? Blast it did she run off!?” After everything I told her… she…she tricked me. She didn’t know a damn thing and now she’s running back to the Exchange! She would no doubt run back to her masters and tell them all he had so foolishly revealed. While the Republic was spread very thin, they still had the power to destroy enemies of the state.

“Sithspit! Looks like we’ll have to cooperate for now.” Korrik said his voice low and aggressive.

“Hey tailhead, aren’t you gonna take our weapons?” Korrik shouted to their large guide. The Twi’lek’s head tails twitched in annoyance as he answered.

“His Greatness is allowing you to keep your weapons. He trusts you aren’t stupid enough to try anything now that we know you’re here and have grounded your ship.” Korrik threw his fist down in frustration. It was stupid of him to think fleeing into Hutt space was a good idea. However, Grota might be able to help him again after he repaid his debt to the Hutt. Hopefully the price isn’t one that can only be paid in the pit, which was as good as a death sentence. After a short walk they were all loaded into a small shuttle. Once in the air their path took them into the Corellian sector.

“Where are they taking us Kor?” Areuli asked, her arms resting behind her head nonchalantly as if this were routine. Korrik on the other hand held his head in his hands dejectedly.

“Corellian sector, to Grota’s casino ‘The Wayward Star’.” Everyone shared tentative glances before Applejack asked “That’s good right? A casino don’t sound so bad.” Korrik chuckled to himself. “You’ll change your mind once we get there.”

“What do you mean by that?” Twilight asked.

“Let’s just say that people don’t go for the Sabacc tables.” Everyone now shared an uncomfortable silence as the ship continued its way into the sector. The walkways were rundown and dirty. Many repulsorlift garbage scows floated between levels collecting refuse and debris leaving most of the sector smelling foul. The gambling industry was the most profitable enterprise for this sector making it a place full of popular hotspots. Just as equally stretched throughout the sector was the criminal element.

Many warehouses in the ill-kept warehouse district served as meeting locations and occasionally the hideouts of the gangs that held a death grip on the sector. Security here, if you could even call it that, was limited to a small port control crew and plentiful bounty hunters. The engines of the shuttle began to power down as the craft touched down on the Wayward Star’s VIP landing pad. The group had little time to observe their surroundings as they were ushered inside. Their Twi’lek escort and his droid muscle hurriedly marched them across the casino floor and into an elevator.

“What are we going to do?” Twilight worried aloud.

“Don’t worry Twilight, this is about me not you guys… I just hope none of you are too attached to me.” Korrik joked. Twilight and Applejack both found no humor in his joke and Areuli slugged him the arm. In all likelihood he was only half joking. Grota didn’t react kindly to his own people when they failed him, what would they do to him, someone who had betrayed and outright stolen from him? He supposed that they would find out very soon.

After a quick descent the elevator doors opened to reveal a large round room with a high ceiling. Surrounding the whole room were viewer’s stands where many people from all walks of the Galaxy stood or sat cheering. Dominating the center of the room was a large transparisteel dome, which itself covered a large underground arena, “The Pit”. Beneath the stands in the arena fought two large beasts, A Rancor and a blue Dragon. Above the stands, relaxing and enjoying the carnage from a balcony sat Grota the Hutt. Korrik was shoved into the stands and forced to sit, as were the others.

“His Greatness does not like being disturbed during fights, so I suggest you enjoy it while you can.” Twilight had a hard time watching the spectacle below. All she could see when she looked at the Dragon was that time when Spike’s greed forced him to grow. It made her really miss him and feel queasy at the same time. Applejack tried her best not to watch thinking that Fluttershy wouldn’t approve if she ever found out. Korrik and Areuli however were unfazed by what was happening below and watched with enjoyment.

The Dragon had it wings disabled by two large durasteel binders to keep it from flying and forcing it to stay on equal footing with the Rancor. The blue Dragon was noticeably bigger than its foe but lacked the reach the Rancor possessed, which it used to rake swaths of scales and flesh away from the Dragons body with its massive claws. The Dragon seemed unfazed by the claws tearing at it as it lashed out with its elongated neck and bit down on the Rancor’s arm, swinging it around to the side and threw it where it collided with the wall with a resounding smack. The Dragon, showing no quarter, unleashed a blast of fire from its maw, scorching and blistering the skin of his enemy. A loud roar echoed throughout the arena as the Rancor charged through the flames and rammed the dragon, pushing it all the way to the opposite wall.

The sight was grisly, past the char it was easy to see the curled and distorted flesh the flames left in their wake, blood leaking through the cracks where skin once was. Another roar thundered across The Pit as the dragon jammed its right claws into the Rancor’s neck. It stepped back, pulling the dragon with it by its claws, its growling growing weaker and weaker. With more agility than a creature that size should possess, the dragon lashed out with it second claw, piercing the Rancor’s throat alongside his other claw. In one swift motion the dragon pulled his claws apart, sending the Rancor’s throat sailing through the air in two different directions. The beast fell to the floor in a pool of its rapidly diminishing life force. There was a great deal of clamoring from the stands as attention drifted from the now lifeless Rancor back to the dragon that slayed it. An awful sound of warping metal could be heard as the restraints on the dragon’s wings began to bend. Down below the sound of clattering chains and binds was heard before a rage filled bellow ripped through the stands. The creature extended its wings to full length and took to the air, climbing in altitude very quickly until it crashed into the transparisteel dome. It hovered just below the dome and stared in the direction of Grota’s balcony. A gust of smoke exited from the beast’s nostrils as it spoke.

“You will pay for this, worm! The last thing you will ever see is my dragon fire AS I FINALLY BURN YOU FROM EXISTENCE!” From the balcony came the unquestionable amused laugh of Grota the Hutt.

“Pacify the dragon and replace the binders for his wings. I don’t want this beast to ever look me in the eye again.” He ordered in Huttese as he turned and slithered through the exit of the balcony. Korrik sat watching as several panels on the wall slid open to reveal mounted carbonite freeze guns. Before the incident was completely resolved, Korrik and Co. were once again forced to their feet and hooves respectively to follow their guide to meet with Grota.

“Korrik, ah think now’d be a good time t’ tell us what this is all about.” Applejack said as they began walking. “And please, tell us the truth.”

“… All right.” Korrik sighed. “I suppose you all deserve that much. The last time I was here I was working for Grota in exchange for a few favors… but something from my past caught up with me. Some… uh… mercenaries had been tracking me and finally caught up with me here. I pleaded to Grota for protection before they arrived and when they finally did, in the chaos that followed, I let my fear get the best of me and I stole Grota’s fastest ship. Killed his second in the process to get it. I imagine his losses were enormous and when he had nothing to show for it he blamed me. I don’t even want to imagine what he thought when he realized I had left.”

“How long ago was this?” Areuli asked. To which he answered. “About six or seven years ago, a little into the Jedi Civil War.” Twilight looked puzzled for a second before asking. “Who was coming after you? And why?” Korrik really didn’t want to bring up the topic again so soon but he saw nothing to gain by keeping them in the dark. Besides, they were all in it together at this point, walking the precarious edge of retaliation from the BIC on one side and the criminal underworld on the other.

“… Truthfully they weren’t mercenaries… the Republic sent Army recon commandos after me Twilight, for retribution.” He started. Before he could expound further he was interrupted by questions.

“Retribution fer what? Did that have sumthin’ t’ do with the Mandalorian Wars?” Applejack asked.

“Partially… look if you want to know more about that it’ll have to wait, I don’t want to talk about it just yet.” Korrik spoke softly looking off away from his companions, a forlorn look in his eyes. Despite their curiosity about him, Applejack and Twilight understood when to let things go… for now.

Areuli on the other hand accepted his statement, crossing her arms in slight irritation. It was hard for Areuli to fathom just why Korrik was willing to tell these Equines anything. She had been partnering with Korrik for three years now and while the relationship did get… unprofessional once… or twice, he was always very reluctant to share about his past. What is it about these ponies that got to him? She thought. What was it Adanar had said? Do you believe you are getting something in return? Do you even know what it is? With that in mind, Areuli started feeling her first doubts about Korrik.

The path to Grota’s chamber showed many signs of classic Hutt wealth. Many lavish tapestries depicting what Korrik could only assume was some kind of Hutt ceremony, hung on the walls alongside extravagant paintings. It certainly had the ability to make one feel unwelcome or out of place but Korrik learned early in his career not to let himself be impressed or intimidated by the opulence of Hutts.

Two heavily armed guards stood on opposite sides of a large steel door at the end of the corridor. As soon as they got close the guard looked to their escort and then to the right and hit several buttons on the door’s access panel and everyone was rewarded with the hiss of the door sliding open. The room to which they were greeted was mostly empty save for the large seat from which Grota commanded. Two more guards stood inside and like their counterparts on the outside, they too stood on opposite sides of the door. As soon as Grota noticed the group enter he laughed deeply and said “Well well, it’s been a long time Korrik, at least by human standards. Thank you for taking such good care of my ship, I dare say it came back better than it left.”

“Cut the phobium Grota, we all know what this is about. So let’s get on with it.” Korrik interrupted, in no mood to hear a self-satisfied speech.

“In due time Korrik, you double-crossing coward. You cost me a fortune by tricking me into fighting the Republic commandos after you. After we killed them the Republic sent a force to find out what happened and I had to release, give up and destroy many of my business ventures to avoid suspicion. I almost lost everything and for that, you will pay!” Grota’s expression showed genuine fury as opposed to the emotionless neutrality that most Hutts possess.

“Grota, look at it from my perspective. What would you have done?” Korrik asked. Trying to justify your actions against a Hutt was like trying to cut down a Wroshyr tree with a vibrodagger.

“It doesn’t matter, what WILL happen is this. I own you now Korrik, you will work for me without question until your debt to me is repaid. And then, only then, after surviving a tournament in the Pit will you be released.” Grota’s tail twitched, whether in excitement or agitation was hard to tell.

“Forget it Grota, I refuse to play your games, kill me if you have to but I will not work for you again.” Korrik crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes at the unflinching Hutt.

“So be it. Oh but wait, I won’t be killing you dear Korrik, I will kill your friends first. Slowly and painfully while you watch, starting with that one.” Grota stated as he pointed at Applejack. As if reacting to an unheard order, all four of the guards from by the door stepped forward into the room and struck Korrik, Areuli and Twilight in the head with the stocks of their blasters and held them to the ground with their heads up as the fourth grabbed a fistful of Applejack’s mane and forced her to the floor on her back.

“NOO! Get yer hands offa me!” She yelled and thrashed about to no avail. Once he had her legs pinned he pulled out knife and very slowly pressed it against her forehead where a small bead of blood began forming where it touched.

“Wait! Stop!” Korrik screamed. Seeing her like that made him remember the first time he saw her, her body scuffed up from being beaten and the blood dripping down her thighs from…

“I’ll do whatever you want! Just leave her alone.” Korrik lowered his head in a sign of obedience as well as a sign of disappointment in himself. Grota’s laughter filled the room again. “I knew you’d see things my way.” He chuckled. Applejack got back on her hooves and as the guards were about to escort them out of the room Grota added an addendum.

“Oh and because of you refused me before, your little friends now work for me too. Guards get them out my sight and take them to the warehouse.” By now, their group was used to the armed escort but now they had new reasons to feel uneasy.

“That could have been a lot worse.” Korrik sighed in relief.

“Ah don’t see how that wasn’t worse.” Applejack glowered.

“Trust me, there was a good chance he was gonna kill you anyway just to show he was serious. The fact that we are all walking away unharmed…well mostly unharmed is a surprise.” Areuli said, wiping the bead of blood off Applejack’s forehead.

“Looks like our stay here just got extended…indefinitely.” Korrik sighed in exasperation.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Location: Telos, Citadel Station.

“I don’t think I’m allowed to let you in, even to retrieve Ms. Sparkle’s property. We run a very tight operation here so please understand that-” the voice of the man guarding the scientist’s apartment block was silenced by the sound of a blaster. The guard fell to the floor dead as someone or something began hacking into the access panel. The intruder was not denied entry as it stepped through the door and found what it was looking for, clutching a golden crown topped with a purple star shaped jewel.

“Commentary: It is only a matter of time before the CSF come to investigate. Droid, bring the crown to docking bay 7 and deliver it to the ship there. Releasing control.” The protocol droid’s photoreceptors turned from red back to white as its programming restarted. The lone droid shuffled out of the apartment block and towards the elevators. The doors opened and three CSF officers stepped out.

“Greeting: Ah, good evening officers.” The droid spoke but none would listen as they jogged past it. It entered the elevator and continued its new primary function.