Chapter 2: Reliance
The pair walked into Darth Baras's chambers with the Darth himself staring at the imperial banner with his back towards the entrance.
"Well, well the acolyte returns an apprentice, I take it Vemrin is no longer?" The Darth asked examining the ancient lightsaber.
"He wasn't open to reason." Answered the newfound apprentice.
A Pity, I'm sure. No matter, I congratulate you apprentice, I'm surprised you got the slave to cooperate. Keep her, perhaps she will keep you… Entertained." Both sith turning to look at the twi'lek leaning against the wall. Uri gave an encouraging wink and turned back around.
"Now, next order of business is for you to take a shuttle to the imperial space station from there find transport to Dromund Kaas and meet me in my chambers at the sith academy." Baras ordered, Uri said nothing but replied with a nod.
The pair walked out of the academy and down the pathway to the shuttle to the imperial fleet. Before leaving Uri had acquired a new hooded robe as a reward, with her hands in her pockets she hummed quietly about her newfound success. The Twi'lek was lagging behind but only a little to look over the sith once more.
'She told me about her past, but that doesn't explain why she's so...nice, if anything she should be just like the rest of the sith here. I've seen many sith come and go in my short time in the academy but none like her, maybe she's faking it?' Vette thought to herself. When they made it to the shuttle Uri began talking to the imperial guard about her objective, the guard nodded in response and went into the shuttle to prepare the engines.
The Twi'lek was still staring at the white-haired girl. The apprentice turned her head to the Twi'lek girl with an inquisitive look on her face. 'No, this one is different in a very big way.' Thought Vette as the apprentice's face turned from curiosity to amusement. Then it hit the Twi'lek, snapping back to reality for a moment she returned the smile as she sank back to her thoughts. 'I think, as far as trying to break into a Sith tomb overrun by deranged sith, only to be caught by the sith, and then put into service under another sith goes, I've got it pretty good.'
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The doors on the shuttle opened to one of the hangars on the imperial fleet space station. Uri stepped out first and stretched out, "ahh, I am starving. Would you like to visit the cantina, Vette?" The apprentice asked turning her head to see the Twi'lek step out groggily, rubbing her eyes.
"Food? Yeah. Food sounds good." Vette said before yawning and wiping a little drool off her face. As the pair made their way to the cantina in the center of the station Vette scanned around the station spotting a couple of vendors, some of which included: one selling weapons, the other attachments for said weapons, and a clothing merchant. The last merchant was folding something that caught vette's attention 'I could go for some new clothes' thought Vette trying to get a better look, though as they continued walking she lost sight and sped up to keep next to Uri. As the two arrived at the cantina Uri turned to her companion and asked, "May I see your hand a moment Vette?" Vette smirked but stretched her hand out and replied "gonna propose?"
"Drat, I left the ring in my other pants" Uri replied as she rummaged around her pockets before pulling something out. "Here, I hope this will make up for it." The sith stated handing Vette 300 credits. "It's not much I know I just didn't wa-" the white haired girl was cut off as suddenly Vette quickly wrapped her arms around Uri, then promptly let go and retreated back to where she was standing. "Uhm… Thanks for getting me out of trouble on Korriban and for this." Vette explained holding the credits between her middle and pointer fingers. Uri replied with her signature smile and a slight nod.
The girls ordered some food from the cantina and had finished eating and were relaxing in their seats. When Vette spoke up, "Oh yeah, on our way here I saw a vendor I wanted to check out, I'm gonna go and see what he's selling real fast." She said getting up.
"Don't run into any trouble, I'm too lazy to get up." Replied Uri crossing her legs leaning back and closing her eyes.
Vette walked off towards the vendor she saw earlier. When she got to the vendor she browsed around for what she had seen. "Now, where did I see you.." The Twi'lek said to herself quietly. After a few moments Vette spotted it, an old fighter pilot's jacket folded neatly on a cargo crate. she grabbed it and brought it to the vendor and asked "how much for this?" The rather indifferent looking vendor slowly looked up from his data pad and sighed a response, "I was told to throw it out so I guess it's free." Vette nodded wanting to spend some credits, she browsed around a little more before spotting a pilot's belt behind the sighing shopkeeper.
"Uh how much for that?" Vette asked pointing at the belt the shopkeeper groaned loudly, grabbed the belt and tossed it to Vette and with a mock smile followed by mock enthusiasm said, "Free, if you leave me alone." Vette more confused than offended took her things and left. As Vette was leaving she threw on her new jacket and fastened her belt and clipped her dual blasters to it. Vette hadn't realize when she saw it before but the belt was just a broken pilot's harness, the clip to fasten the harness was gone so the straps simply dangled around her waist. "Oh, no wonder it was free, oh well." Vette sighed and made her way back to Uri. On her trip back she stared down group of rowdy imperial guards harassing a couple of aliens when they noticed Vette they stared back at her. When the Twi'lek saw that they realized she was staring she continued on her way, When Vette arrived at the cantina she scanned around looking for her Sith companion who wasn't where she should be.
While searching Vette's concentration was broken when she saw the chest plate of an imperial guard appear in front of her, and when she looked around her 3 more imperial guards stood eyeing her as well. The surrounded Twi'lek made an attempt to walk away only to be grabbed by the arm by one of the harassers.
"Where do you think you're going, slave? Where might your owner be?" The word rang in her ears as she traced her hand around her shock collar.
"I was uh on my way to the little slave's room." Vette replied laughing nervously, not convinced by Vette's persuasion attempt he tightened his grip. Another imperial guard approached her eyeing the Twi'lek head to toe. "This tail head ain't as bad as the ones we've seen around here. Maybe we should keep her for some, entertai-" the approaching guard was cut off when he felt a presence speed past him into guard in front of him, the imperial holding onto Vette's arm suddenly flew straight into the cantina counter. Vette as well as the Guards were shocked and confused at the sudden incident. The remaining guards searched around for their attacker turning their backs on Vette.
With blinding speed Uri appeared from behind Vette and whispered, "run into a bit of a problem?" Placing her chin on Vette's shoulder.
"How did you…" Asked the Twi'lek looking at the still searching guards and back to the white haired girl on her shoulder.
"Very carefully." Uri replied with mock seriousness, "I'll take care of this." Uri stated stepping in front of Vette. The Sith placed her hands behind her back and cleared her throat, "Gentlemen, might I ask what are you doing?" Asked Uri in her most condescending tone.
"M-my lord! This slave assaulted one of us!" Stammered one of the guards as he motioned towards the downed imperial by the bar and Vette. Uri looked back towards Vette and rolled her eyes, then turned back towards the guards.
"You mean to tell me that this lone Twi'lek girl pushed one of your men from here, into the cantina knocking him unconscious?" Questioned Uri with an eyebrow raised. The three remaining guards looked at each other with defeated looks on their faces. "N-no sir, it was a ridiculous accusation forgive me."
"Are you asking or telling me, soldier." Uri added with steely voice.
"Asking sir I swear!" Whimpered the guard.
"Good, now leave." The sith commanded, with a look frightening enough to paralyze a Rancor.
"Y-yes sir, my apologies sir." The guard managed to stammer. Uri nodded and shooed them away, as the guards left the sith apprentice stood watching until they were gone from sight then turned her gaze on Vette. "It wasn't my fault I promise." The artifact hunter said throwing her arms in the air. Uri began to walk closer to the twi'lek not breaking eye contact, she drew in close and wrapped an arm around Vette's neck causing the twi'lek to flinch.
The sith's companion opened her eyes after after she heard a clicking noise and felt a release in tension around her neck, Uri used her free arm to hold Vette still while she removed the collar.
"I know it wasn't your fault, it's mine. I should have removed it sooner." Said the apprentice tossing the collar aside, "I like the jacket and belt by the way." The apprentice added with a toothy grin.
Vette traced her hand around her neck, newly freed from restraint. With a smirk the Twi'lek replied, "Thanks but, it's not that I don't enjoy encounters with jerk imperial guards but shouldn't we be going?" Asked Vette raising an eyebrow. "Quite right my dearest Vette." Uri exclaimed walking off.
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Uri's Holocommunicator beeped as the two stepped into the heart of the empire's Capital, Dromund Kaas. The apprentice quickly snatched the device and answered, Darth Baras appeared on the other end. "Master." Uri blankly stated.
"Apprentice I take it that you have made it to Dromund Kaas unharmed, feel free to take in the sights, visit the local cantina before meeting with me here." The Darth suggested. " I need to take care of some things in the meantime." Added the Darth.
"If you insist, master." Uri nodded closing the channel, pocketing the Holocommunicator. Uri turned to look at her Twi'lek companion, "let's see what this town has to offer us."
"Let's see." Vette replied walking towards one of the colossal statues with Uri in tow.
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Lightning crackled from Baras's fingertips as he unleashed a torrent of electricity at the Republic SIS agent that Uri had recovered as her first task on Dromund Kaas. Baras relished the screams of the agent as his flesh was being seared by his power, all the while the Darth was hoping that his technique would be enough to pry the Republic's secrets about his enemies from the agent's mind. As he continued shocking his captive the Darth realized that his communicator was beeping, Baras stopped shocking the SIS agent and answered the communicator.
Baras stood quiet listening intently. "Yes, that's correct I shall be sending her to deal with the problem." Said Darth Baras into his communicator. The Darth stood listening to the response, "I don't care what you think. Should she complete this task then you can do what you wish." Added the Darth shutting off his communicator as he sensed Uri approaching.
"Apprentice, I take it the slave revolt is dealt with?" Asked Baras.
"Handled." Uri stated as she glanced at the unconscious republic agent. "Do not worry apprentice, he is not dead. Not yet at least, not until I pry what i want from his brain." Explained the Darth extending his arm once more as lightning erupted from his fingertips. The agent responded with blood-chilling screams, for Baras this was one of his many pleasures as for Uri she watched with a blank face.
Uri glanced over at her companion as vette placed a hand over her mouth, speaking softly she announced "I think i'm gonna be sick…" still watching at the terrible sight. Uri stepped in front of the Twi'lek's line of sight, placed her hand on her shoulder, leaned in close and whispered: "Spare yourself, you shouldn't have to see this." Offering a comforting smile.
Vette merely nodded and walked off towards the entrance. Uri watched her companion leave only to be interrupted by Baras. "I do hope you are done coddling that twi'lek, apprentice because we have work to do." Uri chuckled to herself at the 'we' part of the statement.
"I need you to assist another one of my apprentices in dealing with a renegade Sith Lord by the name of Grathan. This contact of mine is disguised as one of Grathan's followers, his name is Dri'kill ba'al infiltrate the compound as you see fit and assist him." Explained the Darth.
"Consider it dealt with." Uri replied with a slight reluctant bow "Good, now go while I tend to this miserable whelp." Said Baras turning resuming to shock the Agent.
The apprentice walked through the entrance scanning around for her twi'lek companion. A few moments passed before she saw Vette leaning on a railing in the distance. Uri approached her silently and found a spot on the railing next to the unsuspecting twi'lek, staring ahead she asked "You okay?".
Vette replied with a light sigh and said "you know, you would think that me being a slave for a good number of my life I would be used to cruelty and violence along with morbid torture.." Uri glanced over with an inquisitive look on her face and asked "If you don't mind me asking, how did it all start?"
"I-I don't know just one night … My mother, sister, and I were grabbed when I was little, it's a blur as to what actually happened. What i do remember is that they had us work the mines on ryloth everyday until we dropped, that was a blast…" Vette added sarcastically with a hint of sadness in her voice. "Then, they separated us. I ended up with a Rodian, who sold me to a hutt, and finally landed with some weird three-eyed thing." Uri just stared at Vette as the two stood quietly. With another sigh Vette asked,
"Have you ever heard of Nok Drayen, Pirate of sorts, terrified criminal of the underworld for awhile?" Uri placed her hand on her chin thinking to herself. "Ah, is this the same guy who destroyed the Rath cartel and the um, Vandlehelm Combine. That Nok Drayen?"
"That's him, strange to think of him that way." Said Vette contemplating the notion before speaking again.
"Well anyway, he's the one who set me free, three-eyes must have crossed him or something because no one that wasn't owned as property survived."
"He seems like a decent fellow." Replied Uri.
"He was still a pirate, but he wasn't just some thug. Like a pirate prince or something, well anyway he told us that we could join with him or we could go our separate ways."
"I went away with Nok and his crew, mining taught me how to hide in small spaces, his crew taught me how to steal. So ensued my life as a pirate, it taught me a lot about the Galaxy." Vette said turning to look at Uri.
"Vette, I'm sorry you had to go through all of that." Uri said quietly placing a hand on vette's as she held onto the railing. Vette turned her head and stared at the hand overlapping hers as silence came over the two until uri spoke once more.
"But, thank you." The statement from the Sith caused vette's eyes to widen and look at her companion once more. With a warm smile that melted the twi'leks heart stood Uri staring back at Vette.
"W-What?" Asked Vette still slightly confused.
"Thank you, talking about a troubled past is never easy but you told me yours. Thank you for trusting me." Uri explained still smiling. Vette was still taken aback but she returned Uri's sentiment with a smile of her own and said, "Of course what are friends for?"
for that moment everything seemed right, the two leaned on the railing not worrying about anyone or anything around them except each other. The pair enjoyed each other's company for a little while longer before heading out to Grathan's compound via speeder bikes.
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A/N: Whoops, anyway. Hi it's me again thanks for taking the time to check this out and read a little. As always feel free to leave any feedback, I appreciate it. Hope you have a good day. (You look great today by the way)
