Aftermath Session XVIII

[baronsamedi]

It seems the time once again for beatdowns to occur. I knew there were enemies on The Wheel, but it seems like everyone’s old enemy hangs out here, even mine. And I was only dimly aware I had any.

Aya and I got up after a very nice and romantic night and returned to the ship. I have to say, it was very nice to share a real bed with her. She deserves such treatment all the time, but I cannot really give that to her. Anyway, When I got back Whistler gave me a status report; Khayall had been out late scouting and spying, and had discovered Shackler is, indeed, based on The Wheel, and found that Alli was leased, not owned, by the Hazard lounge. He even managed to get her owner’s address. The owner was an Ubese, which should have been a clue but I was not paying attention. Sheela was enjoying her room awhile longer and Greegan was fixing Sigma with some of those arms he bought. Nika wanted to get a droid brain for Tau (he had a less sophisticated processor than Sigma or R5 had, apparently), so she and Jek went where Greegan and I had been yesterday to purchase one. Eventually, they returned. Jek was quite eager to see the swoop races, as this gal Nil was the latest he had his sights on, I suppose because she was all glowy which seems…well interesting to say the least. He took Greegan and Sigma with him, but I decided to stay behind and see if Khayall needed any extra muscle for what he was going to be doing that day.

Also, to try and practice understanding this confounded R5 unit’s beeps.

Khayall eventually got up, and he and Namri elected to go to the races as well. I went along and took R5 with me, so we could bond a little bit. I still did not like leaving Zoë behind but you gotta do what you gotta do. Enroute Khayall mentioned Jek had been watched by an IG droid with the number 4 painted on it. Great. Being watched by a veritable droid army.

Where have I seen one of those before? With an Ubese even?

Once there, we watched as Jek’s gal won. There was a close finish between her, a human pilot, and some Jawa guy. The Jawa guy had a crazy speeder but it wrecked. Jek won like a hundred credits, and then promptly blew them to go to the VIP lounge to talk to the racers. Greegan went also, and Sigma followed. They let Sigma in free, assumedly because he is a droid.

I spoke to Khayall outside. I learned some good military and survival stuff on Yanab-Uru, but this wolves’ den called for different skills. He recommended being alert and not going anywhere alone. R5 chipperly suggested I not trust any droids I meet here.

Thanks R5. That’s helpful. I really need to get Greegan to check him out when we have time, which won’t be soon.

Eventually Jek returned, looking smug, along with Greegan. Jek had spoken extensively (of course) with Nil, and met this Stev Porkins guy (the human racer) who had served under him and apparently named his son after him. Jek Porkins…odd name. Greegan had spoken with the Jawa, whose name is Taubi, about…Wheelbike racing? He actually went out and registered. Greegan lacks a self-preservation instinct. I mean, I knew this, but it only foreshadowed what a lack of self-preservation instinct he has.

Man I suck at foreshadowing.

Speaking of sucking at foreshadowing, Sheela, who was keen on finding this Kershaw guy to collect the bounty on him, decided to go alone (see Khayall’s suggestion above) to the Mistress of Coins. And absolutely nothing bad came of this. I am also a Gundark Jedi Master, if you believe the preceding statement.

Anyway, we went on to the Moons of Iego after that. Picked up Aya for it, as she really wanted to go. It was a pretty swank place. Of course, Namri went a little funny about a powerful force user when we entered, cuz that’s her thing. Jek said it did not seem like a trap (spoken like a true Admiral) and we went on in. I was very cautious about the place, but Jek convinced me to relax. Io, that other Diathim Jek was not macking on, greeted us, and told us Ysia wanted to speak to us, and this was kinda an honor as she rarely sought people out. She advised us to avail ourselves to their luxuries in the meantime. When she left, R5 tried to confront Namri about being a Jedi, but she did not understand that weird beepy language he speaks and so I told him to be mellow. Sigma and R5 went to go get a cleaning and oil bath, and Aya wanted a massage so I went with her…I mean, to keep an eye on her and all. Greegan went for a massage as well.

Eventually, we were sought for by this gal named Serenadé (ed note: pronounced Serenity) who was to lead us to Ysia. When R5 came back (looking shiny) they were talking about a Naboo noble house having owned him, and he had a symbol on his head. I guess that means he was owned by Gungans before. I don’t think Jonco owned him, he did not have the look of a noble to him. Would be ironic though. I asked R5 about being owned by a Gungan and he just made a low whistle that sounded a little like a sigh.

He also made some reference to me getting a message from the Queen when he rolled up. I have no idea what he was talking about.

When we went in, we were presented to a human looking woman with a blindfold resting on pillows (which is always hot; the pillows, not the blindfold). Aya said later she is a Miralukan, whatever that is. Serenadé left once were inside. Ysia greeted Jek, Namri, and Khayall by name (greeting Jek as Jek Hebrides, not Jek Bauer). She said she had dealings with the previous owner of the Sunrise, and had visions of our pasts and future, especially Namri, Khayall, and Jek. She opened the floor to us first, but Jek noted that as she had important information, that would shape any questions. She agreed.

She told us that in the long term, we would be forced to face the Empire sooner or later. And while our forces now were no match for them, the future might bring many things.
More immediately, she warned us forces were aligning against us on The Wheel. One was created by and after Greegan especially; This was apparently Sigma Four, a wild yarn Greegan always had but we had never really put much stock in. Sigma Four, which apparently had gone rogue, was now hunting Greegan. Worse, she had teamed up with the Ubese bounty hunter Zassh Kumida we had last faced on Xagobah. It became apparent the IG droid Jek had seen was involved as well as Alli.

And of course, the Juon also run a chunk of the station and Shackler is actually here too.

Ysia counseled we had potential allies here however, and noted Jek’s potential squeeze Nil for one. Then she moved on to bigger things. Namri and Khayall she warned would face great trials, and Khayall especially would face a great and overwhelming darkness, which is always something you want to hear I guess. Looks were exchanged with Namri when he was told his fate was more important than hers, which sounded all cool till the whole overwhelming darkness thing came. Jek was told his leadership would be tested, and he would either become a great leader against the Empire or hide from his responsibility, with the unspoken implication this would lead to suffering. She then, again, opened the floor to us.

There seemed hesitation, so I asked what happened to Paelle. Ysia told us he had fallen to the darkness and returned to his homeworld…from whence he would go to serve Darth Vader and, in time, come after us. I asked if there was any way to redeem him (he had been part of the Herd after all) and I was told it was possible but there would be great sacrifice, and he would have to be made to see that Vader was not the great one he thought he was.

I asked about Ero Rameeda and that Imperial Security Bureau guy who I was reminded was named Zelko Kaine. Ysia said Rameeda was not in danger now but the Empire would eventually spread to Susevfi. Kaine she was vaguer on, but noted the small Imperial Intelligence presence on the station did not like ISB involvement in their affairs, and could possibly be turned against Kaine. That is good I guess.

Jek had heard about enough. He noted Nil had given him a heads up on a job on some ice planet (more cold, joy) which had claimed two expedition, one of which had a sole, somewhat insane, Devaronian survivor who hung out at Skeemer’s, of all places. Khayall attempted to contact Sheela to tell her to get back to the ship but got no reply. We turned to face Ysia, and when asked she told us Sheela had been kidnapped by our enemies, Sigma Four and Zassh Kumida. She gave us a general idea of where she was, which was different than the place Khayall was given as a place Alli’s owner was (which he apparently got the previous night). R5 suggested hitting there to get them where they were not expecting, but that did not seem like the best call at the time…especially given that if Zassh figured out we had been looking for her there may be a trap there.

We discussed returning Aya and R5 to the ship, but we did not want to take the extra time to get there since time was not really on our side, and neither are combat hardened (though R5 is creepily willing to try to engage in it). Jek contacted them, and Tycho confirmed all was well there, but they had gotten an anonymous message offering to trade Sheela for Greegan. So great.

Time to roll out and deal with them, round two.

Supplemental: Provided by R5-D7

I may have implied Master Dumaw and I were in the employ of a Naboo Noble House back in the Moons of Iego. No harm in a little obfuscation in case someone was on our trail, which they are.

Also, they have not one, but two Jedi. Great. Well, this should be exciting…