AN: Hello readers, followers and other fellas. This one was a little late because of last exam on uni in a week or two, and will probably have some week or 2 of exam free. As mentioned in notification last week, I will be putting some references to modern day culture... ofc, they will not be obvious and I do not own them, I am using them only for the sake of depicting ambient of world. I do not own Dragon Age nor do I own Star Wars. You know that kind of drill... Also, an idea has struck me, of writing a crossover between Star Wars the old republic and Elders scrolls: Skyrim. Tell me what you think of it. I would write it after i finish with this project, though. And now... author out, story in.

Rakghoul Blight

Chapter 3: Dirty Deeds / Underhanded works


Nar Shaddaa, Jaesa Willsaam POV

"I have to ask, but should we not go to coordinates that we managed to get instead of being in this cantina waiting for something or somebody? My master said that I should follow you and be with your group but I do not see reason for being here. " Jaesa Willsaam wondered. She didn`t like secrets, plots, underhanded dealings and everything that was happening in last several hours stank on those kinds of things. Instead that they went from Taris straight to the world of so called Thedas, they went in the direction of Nar Shaddaa. She did not fell the dark side or malevolent intentions from Arkanax, but she still wondered. Well, he was captain of ship she was currently on and his crew members respected him, even thought when she asked them why they were going on Nar Shadda, they were not entirely sure of the reason. And now they were in this cantina waiting, while in background was some music that she seemed to like, reminding her of jazz and blues by Yar Slerahc. While they were waiting for anybody to come, several groups of shady people or aliens were also in cantina sitting, talking and/or making deals.

"No need to worry about everything. Right now, try to relax and enjoy this drink. This cantina has one of best drinks and really good music, and also... " Arkanax came closer to her so that she could hear him whisper " I know the owner of cantina, and he owes me several favors. Nobody will start a fight in here, because we are currently in center of Hutt controlled area. Everybody knows that if you start a fight in here, Hutts will not look at it nicely. And it seems my, or better, ours contact has arrived. "

Even before she could sense the contact with her force abilities, the contact sat with them at table. It was evident that he was covered in rags of robes and clothes, more akin to the clothes of Sand People of Tatooine but still not same. The person did not have the mask, and when he unfurled veil that covered its face, Jaesa understood why she could not feel contact in the force. Their contact was a droid, and it seems a highly sophisticated when he could walk quietly and use clothes to mask that he is a droid. Well, that at least left her baffled. Even on Alderaan, the nobility never sent the droids as contacts or post mans, even though the droids were way more trust worthy servants than living servants.

"This one greets you, travelers. For do you seek a carriage or a hammer? "The droid asked "Both, hammer for sturdiness and strength, carriage for people and safety on travel." "Then follow this one to the step. Master also sends regards and wishes a safe travel. "That was a trade of words between Arakanax and droid. Arakanx showed me to start moving and we followed the droid from cantina trough some small alleys and hidden paths to the area where hangars for space ships would be. On the way, there were many poor people begging for money, some slaves, we passed even through brothel to get to destination. "We arrived. This one hopes you will be satisfied by the display of choices. Know that what you choose will be a gift from master as token to his good ally and associate, for all the work you have done for us." The droid gave Arkanax a tablet with a list of ships of Frigate class.

Now that even got me more puzzled and somehow raised me a lot of questions. Who was an associate of Arkanax on Nar Shada that could give a Firgate class ship just as a gift and have a very sophisticated droid to use as a messanger? Even the Empire or Republic could not afford to be so generous... Knowing Arkanax, even for a month, she could decide rather not to ask him, for even thought he was favored by light side of Force, he was a resourceful man with a lot of secrets. She did not yet see the face under that Mandalorian helmet. At first, she thought that reason behind was that they were in area were Rakghouls could easly attack them, but even now on the ship he had the helmet on all the time. While she was going through all those thoughts, the Arkanax was browsing through tablet and looking at the ships that were available. He paused on one ship before and showed it to droid. In that time of pausing, she could only see outlets of the ship, as it seemed to look like a Hammerhead ship, Frigate class space ship. They were reliable and they could be heavily customized. The droid showed them to follow him to the taxi that landed several meters away from them. Quite convenient, maybe even to much convenient, but Arkanax sent a message to Mako to await them in space and he sent her some coordinates where they will meet. He also sent the same coordinates to some other contacts of his saying that the order is given, for they now what to bring. She grew even more skeptical with Arkanax. She knew better not to ask, but her curiosity got better of her when they entered the taxi. "Arkanax, I trust you because you proved your worth, but could you explain what in krifin` hell is happening ? And I swear on that I am sith apprentice, that I would kick your ass if you put us in danger. "He looked at her for a moment, and then a laugh could be heard. After some time he stopped laughing, even thought Jaessa was fuming with steam of anger.

"You could not put me in danger without putting yourself in danger too. We are in closed and cramped area of taxi. Your force and close combat abilities would not help you here. On the other hand, for me who knows how to fight in close quarters and confined places, even with experience of fighting both sith and jedi , I think that if i wanted to harm you, I could have done it long time ago already. There is a saying... show them open hand in welcoming gesture, but have a concealed weapon in another. "then she saw that bolter was already aimed at her. "For trust, it takes a lot of time to be built between to people, the time which we currently in a lack of. One of reasons I am not saying anything is because I also wish secrecy in all what we are doing. I do not seek expansion of Empire on unknown world, but I neither wish for Republic to get a hint of what we are doing currently. I have done dirty deeds for both sides, and both have a lot of secrets nobody would want to know. Secrets have a price, and sometimes they are more profitable than deeds taxi is leading us to the shutle for going were we want. Everything else will be known in the due time. " He removed blaster after saying all of that. Well, she saw his reasoning, and knew that behind those words is experience and also truth. That is, if she would try to harm him, she would not be able to do it without putting herself in danger. And that was even in open area where she could exert her powers of using Force. Well, she understood that she could complain as much as she would like but she would not get her answers. Well, with not being to get answers from Arkanax, she decided to at let herself calm down. It was not befitting of someone who watned to change Empire from inside to act only on feelings. She will have to secretly remind herself of jedi teaching. But still, she still did not trust him, only time will show her. Better that she is prepared for anything to be thrown at her.


Several hours later, Arkanax POV :

Well, everything went better than expected. The Flaria, the unknown element on Nar Shaddaa hold her part of deal they struck several months ago, after she had employed him for several jobs, from being a body guard to several people who were under her influence to "encouraging" people who opposed her to not oppose her anymore or even to give her a several benefits. He never met the person, but heard her voice over voice message through which she was giving him information about jobs and missions. At first, the payment was good, but after he got acquainted with her line of work and hearing some rumors, he decided to rather trade in favors. He does one job for her and she would owe him a favor, a reasonable one at that. She owed him already a dozens of favors, and when he heard that he had to travel to uncharted planet in unknown parts of space, he decided to pull some strings and get some favors repaid. He contacted her for to prepare him a ship of about 180 meter length that could be piloted by 2 person and kept in full function by several people, that it has big cargo space and sturdy hull so that it could take quite a beating if they would be attacked by anyone. Of course, he promised Flaria to return the ship after he was done with mission for which he needed the ship for. He also contacted several traders who were in debt to him to inform that they would pay their debt by some percentage by providing food, drinkable water and some others necessities such as life support tools, stimpacks and medi-gel. He informed them of all of that even before he landed on Nar-Shaddaa so that they have all prepared when he would get the ship.

Well, all in all, now that he looked how everything went, it went better than he expected. Flaria went out of her bounds with that personalized Hammerhead called "Infinity", which was quite in bounds of his demands. It even had integrated cloaking system that could slip them through some radar and several turrets for defense or offense. She was quite a beauty, and could hold the most important ship, his own D-5 Mantis called "Lady Hope". He knew well that if things went south, he would have to abandon "Infinity" and get away with "Lady Hope" but "Lady Hope" did not have enough space to supply a lot of people for a lengthy period of time. And he knew they would spend a lot of time on planet of Thedas. Better be prepared than sorry. He was also content that there were enough so rooms for everyone on board. But it seemed that Lieutenant Pierce followed them and he openly expressed that he wishes to join Arkanax on his mission. Arkanax was a little bit unhappy with it, but decided rather to have some heavy weapon specialist and trained soldier on ship rather to leave him on Nar Shaddaa. You never knew what can a world, that is probably a home world of Rakghouls, throw at you. Even on some peacfull worlds, a shit could hit the fan before you even pulled a blaster from it is folder. And that happened more often than he could think or count of. One of reasons why he loved words like Tatooine or Hutta, you could always count on things to go south, deals to be broken and backstabbing to be casually as shaking hands. Hutts were greedy slimes with no backbone, but they knew his reputation and not to mess with him or he would send regards to them. One they would not forget so fast, and will make them think twice before doing anything. They all know what happened with last hutt that wanted to cross him.

And now, he has servants loyal to Sith Warrior and by that extension, to the Sith Empire, abroad his ship. It was reasonable of his employer to be suspicious and send some to check if the mission is going as planned, but it unnerved him the thought that he serves the Empire by some extension. The jobs of warring sides may make you rich, but that makes you a rich person for the short time, for the other side would probably try to get rid of you, and your employers would want to put you under their heavy rags where they keep all their little dirty secrets. At least those who he got were not some mindless puppets of Empire. Pierce seemed like a soldier fella who follows orders, but also thinks with his own head and will not let be led by some unworthy people who do not deserve his respect. Arkanax could work with that kind of people quite fine. Heck, he was usually on very good terms with them because of their straightforwardness.

On the other hand, Jaesa was a weird or uncountable element. An apprentice of Sith warrior, but he knew from his dealings with any of Sith that that was not everything. She was just too calm and peaceful with how she acted, reminding him of how Jedi should actually be, as he knew one old Jedi from his childhood. At first he thought that she was a kind of sleeper agent, but it seems that even she has some strings which you have to pull to stir her a little bit. He tested her while they were on Nar Shaddaa, to see how much of waiting and secrets she could take. It was underhanded of him, but life is not a fairy tale where you can trust everyone. Trust can only be earned by hard work and lost easily as breathing comes to living beings. Jedi and Sith, both were people that he could come hard to trust. Jedi who are not seeking always peace instead seeking a conflict with Sith because of their different believes, or Sith for being drunk on their power and importance that they get in the Empire. They see world just as black and white, while it is actually several shades of grey or even a full color spectrum, it depends on how you live through it.

He knew he had not enough of time to tinker about them for they were already short on time, he could not say for sure, but he could smell that Republic could be on their tail about this mission. He will truly have to be crafty with how he thinks to get to that world of Thedas, as it was called. He managed to salvage some of scraps from ancient ship on Taris, and it seemed that they had some knowledge of metallurgy and were making swords, for he kept one he salvaged. He and his rew trained everyday with Torian in a way that Torian explained them. It was an interesting one, using music, trust and weapons to train their skills as team and as individuals, strengthening their bounds that they shared. It was mostly him, Torian and Mako, but sometimes Gault or Blitzz would join them. It was needed that once in a week they do it all together in same time. He has done it even on his honeymoon with Mako, without the rest of squad. He was quite happy with how some of those moments of training turned out on his honeymoon. But nevertheless, he gained a lot of experience with fighting with melee weapons. Hell knows he will need it.


Thedas , Unknown POV :

Ah, the pawns, puppets and puppet masters are starting to move. Some pawns will become puppets even without them wanting to become it. Fate was a cruel mistress, or was it destiny or per chance misfortune of some people to be in one place. One of pawns gave her nice visit, fools who understands more than he realizes or a genius who realizes everything but does not understand it. You could always count on fools to do their part, but genius always made greatest sparks and ripples in quiet world which stirred it as it should be. Well, some things even she could not control, but she could guide or move in a way that would be in her favor. Some pawns never realize what they are until is too late, no matter what kind of person they are. There is potential in those who visited her, and she shall see it that they are guided under her influence, let the ripples they make at least be in some way to her favor. A seed will have to be planted. A seed that will create one of biggest stirrings that even the rest of Old ones will not be able to stay quiet about it. A history repeats itself, without everyone noticing, for all have forgotten it only legends and myths have stayed. They all faded , what an amusing play of words was that. It is ironic one but a true one. Everything fades but never ceases to exist. She can feel something, but even she does not know truly what unknown will come. It may be a last straw of hope or a first cut in ropes that hold world from crumbling. Visions are never clear about those kinds of things. They always put weird ides in your heads, but only morons do not heed what visions may mean. And she was never one of such people, for they guided her in some moments of life and they did come always true. The strongest of ropes are knitted by many threads , and when one thread breaks, rope weakens. And this one is already weak.