Chapter 217
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Note: Quark is from the "Star Trek" franchise, particularly "Deep space nine." Hondo and Nute Gunroy are from the "Star Wars" universe.
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Phoebe, Mel, Maggie, Andrew, and Gabrielle followed Hope's directions and found the person who could transport them to where Phoebe's son was. They found this man, Quark. Quark was a ferengi, a race of creatures who believed in financial profit above all else. Quark wasn't as bad as some, during the cardasian occupation of Bajor Quark had sold food and medicine to the bajoran refugees, at just above cost. For a ferengi that was practically charity. These good deeds were apparently not enough to get him into Heaven, but his skills were neccssary right now in Hell. Quark ran a bar and casino, he also dealt in information. His intel was usually good, provided you could pay him in gold. Hope had given them gold to pay Quark and whoever he might have to pay off. Why exactly anyone cared about Gold if they were already in Hell was unclear.
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Phoebe: Can you help us find my son?
Quark: Perhaps. I believe that this boy, who is suppossed to become the source of all evil, is in a nearby kingdom. I don't know what his plans are, but some are trying to help him achieve this destiny because they figure it will mean power for themselves. I know a pirate who could sneak you in there, for a price. His name is Hondo, during the clone wars and days of the Empire he was a mercenary.
Phoebe: What does he want in exchange?
Quark: He'll let you know. Speaking of which, I bleive I was promised gold.
Phoebe: Okay, but why do you need gold here?
Quark: I still believe in the rules of aquisition, and it's as good a social standing as any.
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Quark brought Phoebe and the other heroes to Hondo. Hondo agreed to take them to this new kingdom, for a favor to be named later. This idea made them somewhat nervous, but they decided to risk it. Hondo seemed to love to talk, about anything really. He was actually amusing, but the heroes also knew that they couldn't trust him completely. Still Hondo was reliable, he transported them to this other kingdom with little difficulty. But once they got here, the possibility of a confrontation greatly increased.
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There were advertisements, Nute Gunroy was selling weapons. It seemed there were at least two, maybe more, factions fighting for control of this kingdom. Gunroy didn't seem too particular about which side he dealt with, or which side won. Hondo knew Gunroy a little bit from the clone wars. He was a minor officer in the Trade Federation, then he testified to the ruling board of directors about one director's "crimes" such as charity and disregard for profit. The board member was expelled, and Gunroy's own career advanced. He eventually joined the board, and then made a faustian bargain with Darth Sidious. Sidious ordered Darth Maul to slaughter the entire board, except ofcourse for Nute Gunroy. With his "miraculous" survival Gunroy controlled the board and was able to fill the remaining seats with puppets, essentially controlling the Trade Federation. Then Sidious colledcted his debt ordered Gunroy to conquer the peaceful planet of Naboo. This was all part of Sidious' plan to become emperor and rule the galaxy with an iron fist. Gunroy, for all his loyal service, was slaughtered by Darth Vader at the end of the clone wars. Whatever Gunroy's plans were now, Hondo doubted it was going to be good. But something else caught Phoebe's eye. It was a poster of the overlord of this kingdom. Suppossedly his name was Benjamin. But he was the spitting image of his father, Cole Turner.