Chapter 2: Killer Cargo
The preparation and execution of the heist went off without much problems. The ship was functional enough to get them off Arcosias, and Dugan got the decryption and encryption right that the empire had loaded up the transport with enough credits and supplies to get them going. Now they're getting a breath of fresh air on a new planet.
Yana doubles over coughing after stepping out of the ship quickly snatching a breath filter from Dugan's hands. "I told you you might need it," Dugan said.
"What the hell is with the air here?" Yana asked between heavy breaths.
"This is Hutta. The hutts have polluted the air here so bad it's near caustic," Dugan answers.
"Why did we have to come here?" Lizel asked.
"Very little imperial presence, high black market accessibility. Perfect place to sell stolen gear, and buy military grade ship parts while staying off imperial radar." Vara answered.
"How are you two not affected?" Yana asked Vara and Dugan who were breathing fine without breath masks.
"Toxin filter augments," Dugan and Vara answered simultaneously.
"You two can stay on board the ship. Vara and I can handle things," Dugan said to Lizel and Yana.
"Don't have to tell me twice," Lizel said. Yana had already ran back inside the ship.
Dugan and Vara walked the streets of hutt into a large bar. The bar was alive with an extreme amount of energy. The light headache Dugan received when people looked at him confirmed his suspicion that a lot of the people in there were high on spice. "Keep your mind focused, spice give people telepathy, don't think of anything you can't handle other knowing." Dugan told Vara.
"Noted," Vara said. "Have a plan?"
"I'm got some idea of who to talk to. For our buying and selling, go talk to those two over there, they're running from someone and they might be able to pay." Dugan said.
"Oh, come on. We both know you want to help them and aren't going to make them pay." Vara teased.
"Just talk with them. I'll get our other stuff in order." Dugan said.
Vara rolled her eyes at Dugan then walked over to the pair he mentioned. One was a dark skinned human male covered in a ton of cyber augs. He was wearing an all black combat outfit and almost seemed to blend into the darkness. The other was a female Rattataki, covered in scars and desperately trying to hide her face. "Do you too need a ride off world?" Vara asked strait to the point.
"Yes. I'm Zae Kassal, and my friend wants her name to remain a secret," the human answered.
"Well if you have credits I'm sure we can work something out." Vara said.
"It'd be better if we talked at your ship." Zae said.
"Well that should be fine…" Vara was about to say which hanger was theirs then decided that Dugan would probably lead them instead of risk saying it out loud. "Come with me."
Later on, back on the ship after introductions, it was revealed that the Rattataki's name is Osira Mollek, and that the two were looking for passage outside of Hutt space. Dugan offered a good deal if they were willing to wait a bit and help instal the upgrades to the ship. They agreed.
A few days passed just fine. Dugan shuttling the stolen gear off and returning with ship parts and Vara, and Zae installing the parts. During some of their down time Vara and Yana started talking in the ship's kitchen area.
"We never got much chance to talk after meeting," Vara said.
"No, I guess we didn't." Yana said. "It seems like you want to ask me something."
"Yeah. I just want to know stuff about you I guess," Vara said. "Unlike Dugan I'm not great at reading people and unlike Lizel I'm terrible at starting conversations," Vara spoke quickly and tried to avoid looking at Yana, worried they'd embarrassed themself.
"Well why don't we take turns asking each other questions about each other?" Yana asked.
"That sounds good," Vara said hopeful that they'd not embarrassed themself too badly. Vara and Yana ended up talking for hours, even continuing on to their work, Vara keeping up conversation while installing new cabling for the ships new shield system. They learned almost everything there is to know about the other, often going off on tangents after answering question. Their answers similar but never quite the same.
While everyone was getting along Zae and Osira were mostly secretive and didn't leave the ship much. Dugan was the one to learn why. He had a few more boxes then he was supposed to be bringing, and a lot of multicolored blood on his clothes. He pushed the extra boxes off to the side and called for a group talk. "Zae, Oris, I would like to know why you're running from Hutta?" Dugan asked.
"Why does it matter?" Zae retorted.
"Oh, no reason. Except the four people that tried to kill me," Dugan answered dryly.
"Uhhhhh, the people you're referring to aren't-?" Yana said looking at the boxes.
"Yes, they're dead and currently shoved inside those boxes." Dugan answered. "And before I go and dump them in the swamps I would like to know if I'm going to be likely to run into any more people that would love to meet you two."
"We're running from two different Hutts for two different reasons, that's all you need to know." Zae said.
"Yeah, no." Dugan retorted. "I need to know who and why specifically, so I don't make a snap decision to make you and Osira join those four."
"I'm running from Jarkutha," Osira said. This was the first time they'd heard her talk and her voice was calm and soothing, like honey. "I was sold to him by my father to be a pit fighter. After a few year of fighting for him I killed my guards and snuck away. Jarkutha is as rich as any hutt but you should reconsider threatening me while standing in front of me." Osira stared down Dugan but after a small flash of fear he was stoic.
"And what about you Zae?" Dugan asked. "Who are you running from?"
"Kortora the hutt. I was an orphan picked up to be a temporary holder for these augs which his men stole from the empire. However they activated and I was able to fight and kill to escape." Zae said matter of factly. "What are you going to have us do?"
"Well, I'm going to figure out a way to kill two Hutts in one attack while you to go to class." Dugan stated.
"What the fuck does that mean?" Osira asked.
"I mean you two are going to be hiding at the imperial academy here." Dugan clarified. "The hutts won't be able to find you and you don't have imperial records so you'll be safe there."
"That's...actually pretty smart." Osira conceded.
"Consider it trading favors in a way. You two would be valuable members of this team but I'd rather not have two hutts hunting us down. So you two hide out at the academy and try and find us a few more recruits, there's always people that want to leave the empire, and in return we'll come up with a way to deal with the hutts. Deal?" Dugan asked.
"That's hard to say no to. Deal." Zae agreed.
"Well it's better than trying to kill a hutt myself. Deal." Osira said.
I've made images for my characters however I can't post the link through this site, so if you want to see them either go to AO3 and search "Fireteam Have: the Formation", or go to "mandalore-the-gamer"'s tumblr blog and search "Fireteam Haven"