Quarrels and Quills Outpost 2

Neva Xolte, Akaavi Spar, and Padawan Dallyn

For the briefest of moments, eyes completely unlike the captain's looked up from her face. Hollow, terrified eyes with pupils like pin pricks. One blink and they were once again familiar to Akaavi. Well, perhaps not wholly. They lacked their characteristic mischief. Instead, there was surprise and embarrassment. But, all in all, not totally unfamiliar. The Mandolorian gave Neva one last appraising look before rising to her feet and looking around the room to assess where the shot might have ended up. The only one on the floor was the man they were after, so she considered that a good sign.

Neva had managed to holster her blaster, murmuring apologies to the group as she dusted off her pants. She couldn't quite bring her eyes up to the level of the screens. She wasn't sure what had just happened, but she didn't want it to happen again. Not here. Not now. The why would have to wait until later - they weren't out of the woods yet. Resting her hands on her belt she nodded in Theron's general direction.

"Good, good. Glad they're going to sweep up. So...does that mean we're done here?"

"Only if you make sure you get rid of data pads that don't seem to be connected to the network. I've already scrubbed most of the data off the main computers from here. And uh, uh oh. You guys have um....attracted some attention from the local authorities. They've stormed the place and the chatter suggests that they're on the lookout for a zabrak Mandolorian and a blonde Sith. I guess...you two made an impression. Means you should probably keep your heads down if we're all gonna get off this rock."

Dallyn's voice chirped through the comms loud and clear - the bad news along with the good.

Lana Beniko

Lana sighed. "Not exactly a surprise," she said. "We do rather stand out. Wouldn't be the first time."

She pulled up her hood to cover her hair - not that it would make too much difference, since she was clearly still Sith, but it hid her most recognizable feature, and at least shadowed her golden eyes.

Belatedly, she turned to the dealer. "Your employer will be out of business..."

He put his hands up and shook his head. "I'm outta here. I can easily find another job. No offense. You all did right by me. Thanks for saving my life. But I'm moving on to safer digs."

"No offense taken," Lana replied. "Best of luck."

The Twi'lek boy stood rather awkwardly; with that slave collar on, he didn't have the freedom to seek brighter horizons even if he had somewhere to go.

Felix was thinking along the same lines. "There's some kind of... thing... to take that collar off, right? We can't just leave him like this."

The boy flashed him a look of gratitude.

Felix added, "After that, you can come with us, if you want. We'll take you someplace safe."

Neva Xolte and Akaavi Spar

Right. 'They' weren't quite done - they'd pulled a few people into their orbit on this particular part of the mission - and while the dealer seemed fine on his own, she was glad that Felix was quick to assure the boy that he wouldn't be left in the cold. She began searching the counters and finally found the tool she was looking for. Approaching the kid, she waved at him to turn so she could get to work on the collar.

"Hey, I've popped off a few of these, no worries. And I can get someone to fix you up an ID too. Unless you have a place to be on this rock, I'd recommend someplace else in the galaxy. Almost anyplace else, actually...no offence."

Akaavi had utilized a few other tools to secure the hidden entrance against the coming incursion by toeing some metal rods into place and jamming the circuitry. She opened the door to the outside, and scanned the area briefly before ducking back into the control room.

"We're clear out the back, but who knows for how long." She looked down at Neva, adding "Always a pleasure, Captain. Or at least, always interesting."

With that, the Mandolorian activated her helmet and made as stealthy an exit as one could with rocket boots.

Lana Beniko

"Thanks," the boy said, softly but sincerely.

With her hood up - the only concealment she could muster on short notice - Lana prepared to lead them out onto the elevated walkway that served as Mek-Sha's equivalent of a street. But the Twi'lek boy shook his head, raising a hand in a gesture of caution.

His voice shook a little. He was rather intimidated by the Sith, and also very unused to expressing his opinion, because it hadn't been his experience that anyone cared to hear it. In this case, though, it was necessary.

"Not that way," he said. "They'll have sent people already. They'll see us. This way."

He gestured them toward a small passage, almost a tunnel that passed between buildings. Easy to overlook.

Lana regarded him with interest, but caution. They barely knew this lad, after all. They couldn't be sure he was trustworthy. "How do you know?" Lana asked, being careful to keep her tone light - curiosity, not accusation.

"They had me deliver messages," the boy replied. "You learn to get around. When you can't really defend yourself, it's best not to be seen at all."

Lana nodded; she suspected the boy had learned this lesson the hard way.

Sure enough, after numerous twists and turns, they emerged at the bottom of a ladder.

"The Republic docks are that way," the boy said, pointing up. "Just one problem, though. We'll have to cross a bridge out in the open. So be careful."