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Chapter 6: The Hutt World Order

=IK=

Part 3

=IK=

Cantina

Nem'ro's Palace

Jiguuna region

Tatooine

The place stank; exotic spices and perfume did little to cover the scents of bodily fluids, unwashed flesh, pheromones coming from at least twenty species that Quinn could see and enough weapons that his nose twitched from whiffs of cleaning oils and Tibana gas. Strippers shook their bodies on three small scenes strategically placed in a triangle around a bar which took up the centre of the room. Beside it, holographic Twi'lek danced wearing only thin strips of leather and few silver chains that only accented their assets and left nothing to the imagination.

When all was said and done, this was the kind of place that Malavai wouldn't step a foot in unless he was raiding it for resistance members. It was so low class and unsanitary that it managed to offend all his professional and personal sensibilities the moment they stepped in. Predictably, everything went downhill from there. They had to wait for the Hutt to grace them with an audience while pretending that this affront to decent taste and blight upon all proper bars was a place they were comfortable in.

"Yiee-piee!" The insane Twi'lek shouted and jumped upon one of the empty stools next to the bar. Her piercing screech was loud and obnoxious enough to cut right through the thumping electronic torture that passed for music around these parts.

"Please shoo me already." Malavai groaned.

The agent slapped his arm. "This is the kind of place where someone would cheerfully oblige you." She hissed.

"Two bottles of your best rot-gut!" Vette shouted at the droid bartender.

Malavai twitched at the thought of having to drink anything served in this place. They all were going to end up poisoned, he just knew it. Probably blind too.

The Sith removed his helmet, grimaced at the stench and waved for a glass full with something amber and bubbling. It wasn't ale, of that Malavai was certain.

"You actually bring me to the best places, boss-man! We're going to have so much fun here!" Vette crooned and swiped a glass of her own.

"Cheers!" Veil and the Twi'lek slammed their gasses together spilling alcohol upon the bar-plot and then drained them in one go.

Quinn waited for the two of them to collapse and begin twitching from whatever chemical weapon grade stuff they served here, but instead they just called for seconds.

"When on Hutta..." Krell whispered and went to sit next to the insane alien.

"Perhaps dying of alcohol poisoning won't be so bad..." Malavai told himself and took the free seat beside his commander. Or perhaps getting shanked or shot in the back to put him out of his misery...

'Join the military, they said. See the galaxy, serve the Empire, meet interesting people and then shoot them...' Why did he listen to his family in the first place? Ah. Yeah. Because someone had to make sure the Empire continued to live up to its potential even when people kriffed up spectacularly – like on Balmorra and someone had to clean up the messes. Malavai sighed and grabbed a glass of his own. He carefully sniffed the bubbling liquid. Definitely not ale, though there were a lot of spices in there and even more alcohol. He gave it a try by taking a very small careful sip.

The damned stuff burned his tongue. It was more than strong enough to treat wounds with, that was for sure. Huh. Actually it wasn't as bad as he feared. It was too bad that he couldn't really afford to get sloshed. It would be unprofessional, not to mention likely fatal considering where they were.

"So, Blade, you were here before?" Shae had to shout to be properly heard over the music.

"A few years ago. I had commission to hunt down couple of rogue Sith Acolytes and when that was done I joined one of the groups preparing for the Great Hunt. That was fun..." Veil began.

Telling tall tales to enhance the Blade's reputation as well as taking credit for his real exploits thanks to a dossier provided by II they had to learn by heart on the way here. That wasn't Malavai's idea of fun, but needs must, he guessed...

Half an hour and a bottle of drinkable spirits later, the Hutt's lieutenant was back.

"Blade, Nem'ro's ready to receive you now." The large man's deep voice carried above the sorry excuse of a music trying to deafen everyone in the Cantina. "Just you, he doesn't deal with minions."

"That's all right." Veil nodded and finished his drink. Stood up and looked at Quinn. "Make sure that those two don't burn down the place while I'm gone."

Malavai gave the Sith his best a thousand yard stare. How the hell was he supposed to do that!?

"No worries, Bladess-man!" Vette crooned. "We'll be good!" She hugged the IA and placed a wet sloppy kiss on her cheek. The young woman looked like a small animal that just found itself in the way of an armoured column charging through the countryside.

"See. They'll be good." Veil chuckled and left with the criminal leaving his helmet on the bar-plot.

"We promise! Mal, came here and give me a kiss!" Vette batted her eyelashes at him.

Quinn silently debated the merits of shooting the insane woman and the odds of surviving the Sith's ire. Veil wouldn't be too pissed of, right? Malavai would be doing a public service by removing that menace?

He grabbed another drink before doing something even less professional.

=IK=

Nem'ro's audience chamber was just a hundred meters deeper in the palace and it had almost direct access from the cantina. There was just a single long tunnel, which had a bar and few stools next to the far end where a group of mercenaries sat nursing steaming cups with various stimulating liquids – there was caf, various teas and outright stimulants that I could smell as we walked past.

"Now, pay attention." Javis raised his meaty paw to stop me. "Nem'ro's inside. I'm not sure why you're really here. Business, pleasure or something else. Just be respectful and don't cause any trouble or you'll be vaporised, Sith or not."

"I've met him before, I know the drill." I looked Javis in the eye.

He examined my face and frowned. "You do look familiar..."

"Great Hunt few years ago. I hooked up with Stephen Ordo and his crew. It was surprisingly fun."

"Oh. It's you." Javis' eye lit up in recognition. "Do try to cause less trouble this time."

"I've got reputation to live up to and not just as the Blade." I gave him a bloodthirsty grin.

"What's up with that anyway?"

"There are places that the Red Blade can't go but a Sith can. The reverse is also true. I'm a practical man who likes to keep his options open." I lied by telling him the truth.

"Makes sense." The large man nodded. "Now get in."

The audience chamber was even more opulent than the last time I was here with my Mandalorian buddies. It had more guards and at least twice the number of visible shutters hiding automated weaponry. There was also a sliding trapdoor in front of Nem'ro leading to who knew what grisly death that wasn't here a few years ago. Nearby stood a repulsorlift with my gifts on top. Ideally no one helped themselves to the goods or I would be making a lot of examples.

"Great Shuudaa Nem'ro, it is the highest of honours to meet you again! I come bearing gifts!" I plastered my best manic grin on my face.

In front of me laid a huuuge slug. He had certainly grown fatter over the last few years. Even laying to his side on a massive recliner his large head still towered above me from at least twice my height.

"You're the Red Blade!?" Nem'ro's reptilian eyes narrowed at me.

"It's one of my names, just like Acolyte Delkatar Veil and lately Lord Vael. My reputation precedes me." I boasted and stretched my arms in 'what can you do' gesture.

"Last time you played sidekick of that Mando Ordo!" The Hutt glared.

"He's a friend and that was his game." I shrugged. "I was around just to have some fun."

Nem'ro stared at me for long seconds then the chamber shook with his guttural laugher. "Fun indeed! I hear you already had some with a few of Fa'thara's dogs!"

"They were barely adequate for stress relief. I'm here to have a bit of real fun and get a pay-check or two. Do you want someone killed? Something levelled?"

"We don't need the likes of him causing us even more trouble!" A red Twi'lek stood from a stool to Nem'ro's right. "He already provoked Fa'thara with his actions!"

"Who is the dog? It's whining is irritating. Can I put him down?" I glared at the man who dared interrupt me. The Dark Side's constant presence had me on edge despite the alcohol or perhaps it made it even worse. My temper flared and the words were out of my mouth before I could think.

"I'm Toth'lazhen, Sith! Know your place! This isn't the Empire!"

"No, it's not Toth. If it was, you would be already dead."

Nem'ro laughed harder. "Let's see your gifts, 'Blade'." He pointed a stubby hand at Javis.

The old man walked to the lift and opened the largest of the three containers. "Well, well, well..." He chuckled. "You need to see this, Nem'ro!" Javis carefully picked up the heavy statue of a Hutt warrior and carefully turned around to present it to the crime-lord.

Nem'ro's eyes widened and he stared at the gift with reverence, something I didn't know Hutts were capable of any longer.

"You honour us both with this gift, Sith. Where did you find this?" The Hutt's voice held no trace of laugher any longer. It resonated deep with emotions his kind seldom felt.

"I retrieved it during the sack of Balmora." Another half-truth.

"Good, good, my new friend. You will be honoured! You have my leave to conduct your business in my lands! The best drinks and women we have are yours for the asking! You'll stay here in my guest suites as an honoured guest!" Nem'ro trailed off when Javis offered him the statue. He leaned forward making his great bulk shudder and gently picked it up to bring it closer to his eyes. "I haven't seen something like this in five hundred years..." He muttered. Nem'ro traced a thick finer over the fine details of the statue and became lost in his own world.

Javis bowed and slowly retreated until he stood beside me. "That was a good gift, Blade." He said it in a serious tone. "You just earned Nem'ro's respect and few ever did it. Let's go. You won't achieve anything else while he's that way."

We went back to the cantina where I found my minions drinking with an odd pale-skinned woman. She had black tattoos around her eyes that make her look like a Sith who drank too much of the Dark Side koolaid. The stranger sat between Vette and Shae and they entertained themselves poking fun at Quinn. The Lieutenant looked and felt like he was close to drawing his blaster and shooting them all.

"I can't leave you alone for a five minutes, can I?" I grumbled and sat between Malavai and his tormentors.

That was new. When he noticed me, he felt such relieve that it resonated through the Force. Emperor's balls, how did I always get myself in such situations!?

"Mastah!" Vette slurred and tried to salute me with a half-full cup, thus spilling most of the drink.

The second bottle was all but gone, which explained it, I guess. Nope. I really couldn't take this people anywhere...

How did I end up being the straight man, anyway? I was the bloody Sith in the group!

"Bartender, get me another bottle. We've got Nem'ro's best suites for our stay here and we're moving this circus there before I have to carry you. You won't like if it comes to that." I warned. "Who is your friend?"

"That's..." Vette mumbled. "Whuwrg your gain..."

"Shae, you're carrying her." I grumbled. I was going to keep the last bottle for myself, drain it and hope that absolutely nothing happened after I left Nem'ro's chamber. Yep. That sounded like a great plan.

"It's Kaliyyyyo!" Our resident IA drawled. I narrowed my eyes at her. She actually didn't appear to be as drunk as she seemed. Good, at least someone kept their wits around them.

"Kaliyo Djannis." The woman introduced herself. "Boss' best suites, eh? How did ya manage that?"

"I loot the best of gifts. See?" I asked after the bartender brought me a bottle of whatever that bubbly rot-gut was.

"Neat. The Red Blade, eh? What are you doing around these parts?" She licked the tip of her glass before sucking in a mouthful of alcohol.

"Fun, whatever mischief I can get myself in and making a bit of money, not necessary in that order, though I would prefer if it stays that way."

"Aren't you interesting..."

"What about me?" Shae pouted.

"You need better reputation to be interesting. Getting shot up at the spaceport don't count." Djannis lectured while looking me up and down as if I was slab of meat.

Joy. Another crazy. Really, what was with all the crazy I kept running into? I already had that covered with Vette, damn it!

"We'll be working on that with my young protégée."

"I really tried not to get shot!" Shae protested.

"You were very bad at it." Quinn shot at her.

"Children, we're retiring for the night before you try to kill each other. I still have an use for you. Up." I ordered.

"You're no fun." Djannis pouted too.

"I'm more fun than you can handle, girlie."

She snorted. "I've heard that before and they all disappointed me. You wouldn't do that to me, would you? You're the big bad Red Blade, aren't you?" Djannis gave me a smoky look that held dark promises.

"Very big, very bad and soon to be very drunk. See you around, girl."

=IK=

Guest suites

Nem'ro's Palace

Jiguuna region

Tatooine

Nem'ro's best suites were underwhelming. Only three things stood out – a huge comfortable looking bed that looked large enough to held at least couple of orgies simultaneously without people getting in each other's way. The second was the desk – complete with computer terminals and everything you'll need to conduct all kinds of business, legal or otherwise. It wouldn't be out-of-place in a CEO's office. Number three was a large holo-tank snuggled neatly in the corner between the bed and desk.

The rest of the room held furniture that didn't clash too bad with the metal walls and floor – a few cupboards, lockers, a large wardrobe. There were various murals along the walls that made no sense to my human eyes and that was it.

"Put Vette on the bed and start scanning for cameras and bugs." I ordered.

Shae, who had to guide my first minion as instructed shot me a betrayed look and did as instructed. At the end she gave Vette a light shove and that was enough to have her plop on the soft mattress and she was out like a light seconds later.

An hour later we had the place swept clean – fifteen bugs, seven cameras and that was just the large living room. There were more in the bathroom too, including two placed to have great angles to the shower-bathtub combo.

"Jammer's up." Quinn reported.

"I'm almost done here too." Krell was fiddling with the holo-tank. "Aha! Done!" She pressed a few buttons and it came to life. A tall thin figure materialized inside, which I recognized as Keeper, our II contact.

"Agent, my Lord." The spy-master bowed. "The connection reads as secure. Please report."

We did summarize the situation.

"It's fortunate you made a great good impression to Nem'ro, my Lord. There has been a complication on our side."

"I don't like the sound of this." I sighed. I knew things were coming along too nicely since we left Balmorra.

"What kind of complications, sir?" Shae asked.

"A Dark Council Member took interest in your operation. Lord Jadus. His interest picked up even further when he found out of your involvement, my Lord Vael."

"Wasn't he my Master's rival as far as Imperial Intelligence is concerned?" I asked. I've heard that name in passing from Baras and not in a good light.

"Correct. It just became even more imperative that this operation goes smoothly."

"Not for me." I chuckled darkly. If I kriffed up again, Baras would have my guts for breakfast if I was unusually lucky.

"Our sources tell us that one of Nem'ro's Lieutenants, Karrels Javis is a weak point we can use. Lately he has failed out of favour with his master. Become his friend, help him return into Nem'ro's grace and turn him into our creature. I'm sending you everything we have on him. We're doing our best to provide you with both intelligence and material support as needed."

"Is there any particular reason why Lord Jadus considers this operation of note? Sir, you made it sound it isn't because of Lord Veil's presence." Shae demonstrated that she indeed very much sober despite her earlier performance.

"None at this time. My Lord, be advised that you do have the attention of both Lords Baras and Jadus, perhaps other members of the Dark Council as well. Keeper out."

"My Lord, what exactly is the significance of the Dark Council and how are they relevant to our situation? All I've heard about them is rumours." Shae turned to look at me when the holo-tank shut down.

"They're just below the Emperor in power and for all intents and purposes run the Empire while he does whatever he usually does. Needless to say, both personally and politically they are among the most powerful beings not only in the Empire but the galaxy."

"And we have the attention of at least two of them." Shae blanched.

"That was inevitable, agent. We work for Lord Baras, and Lord Vael here is the man's Apprentice. Lord Jadus however is a complication we don't need." Queen explained further.

"Lieutenant, sweep the other suites. Agent, you're with me. We're going over the data Keeper sent and figuring out how to best turn our new friend Javis."

=IK=

AN: So far the butterflies compared to OTL are small. Veil's closer association with Lord Renning on Korriban, which led to a few mutually beneficial transactions which culminated in Veil surviving his encounter with Overseer Tremel and thus becoming Baras Apprentice; in the same time Renning got the mostly intact brain of a very rare critter created by the ancient Sith to play with, thus he was able to complete his research and bring the results in front of the Dark Council where he dropped Delkatar's name thus complicated his life in the future.

The above directly led to the ambush that damaged the frozen captive Veil was escorting to his master and ultimately led to his trip to Hutta and his entanglement with II, more attention from Lord Jadus than he would have gathered otherwise as his rival Baras' Apprentice and a few more butterflies that might stand out in the past couple of updates... For those wondering, canon will go gradually more and more off rail as butterflies add up and Delkatar raises in power and rank and thus gains more agency of his own.