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Underworld Lower City
Maze of the Pit
Pit Claims Area
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a large form, barechested in a black robe slides into the office, a huge blade back-strapped towering over his left shoulder
setting down three mid sized cylinders each the size of a drinking cup "Tally them up, I have places to be."
adding a pressurized sweepings box to the table, the end covered in red black remincent of blood
checking his desk console sensors, scanning his guest for hidden crystals, and finding none
moving with care, the republic noble carefully picks up the containers
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"You are new." looking from his headband to shirtless chest, sliding the containers into a pressurized chamber "Who did you kill for them?"
smiling through the thin wrapping cloth masking his lower face, "They are still around." resting his hands near his belt
"I killed em with laughter, you did not want see the recusitation." seeing the nobles curious look he continues, "It was a scuffle over shares, they will be here later.. once they wake."
"W-why did my guards let you in with that blade?"
smirking at the noble, "They were not dumb enough to try to take it away."
tilting his head and nodding toward the emptied containers being ejected "Found a pocket the size of my head, three major crystals and rest smaller shards."
"Where did you find them, any other pockets?" returning the emptied containers to the warrior
answering he watches the noble "If there are, I will find them later. If the price on these make it worth the effort." sliding the empties into a side carry pouch
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pushing across his desk a verified credit stick, "We need as many crystals this size as possible."
raising a hairless brow, "Why the fire sale then?" checking the stick value on his datapad
"Market went from a glut, to under the supplied need, the republic has ordered over 200 large new ships from the mixed shipyards, all yards are reving up."
"Engine level drive crystals like these are needed, if you are still partners with your 'friends' you might be able to keep them working."
"Talk from Coruscant is of a police action on a rogue world or cluster, price will keep going up as long as the need is there."
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"Groups will be offering bonuses to keep the miners in the maze digging, those that keep producing will get more lenience from management."
"The bonuses alone might cover a year of easy living."
noise off from another room stops the conversation as people barge in, only to stop as a blades huge edge hammers across the doorway
sudden instinct and fear stop the advance of the disarmed before the threshold
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Looming large the two meter form snarls to the intruders, "Leave, business is being conducted here."
only easing off when the noble states they were expected
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Pushing into the room, when the noble waves aside the tall bladed hunter
an armored and empty holstered form followed by the wookiee maze boss and others
"Hey I'm partnered with those deadbeats, they put me in to defray the money they owed me."
escorting the known hunter from the office to a large open information center "How did they die?" turning to the man reclaiming his sidearm
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after reseating his returned equipment the hunter turns to the rep
lookin at the noble, "They tried to mine the lava chamber, probably the child thinking he was shielded by his equipment."
disappointed the noble has a droid pull up a hologram of the maze and highlighting the section concerned
irked the hunter looks over the holo "When will the paperwork get done?" pointing at the highlighted area
"If you want to start the repayment for their debts it might speed up the paperwork on giving you rights to the mine."
looking to the main rooms console "The issues are:"
"Three magma-locks were provided on an emergency basis, cost and fees are still being calculated,"
"Two challenges to your prior partners from the corperations are under review, they had legal rights, but you do not."
"Did you salvage any crystals from their remains?" the bounty hunter shakes his head "Area has to cool."
"Then you need to pay the fees outright, that will clear that part of the problem."
"Your papers and the papers forwarded by Renraku showing your share that you hold, can then clear you for the ownership faster."
"We are 4 cycles from the claim going to free claim status due to the unpaid charges."
"What do you want to do?"
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"Blast, this may take most of my spare funds, what is the total?"
"25,000 credits for each of the big doors, 20,000 for the C, the emergency setup of two lava doors in case of total breech 50,000 each" this alone turns the hunter's skin grey
continuing the rep states further charges, "droid services, fast response emergency teams, body disposal to the shadowlands" most decent miners cringe hearing this
"redeemed some of the costs by selling the surviving jokerz to Makai" some miners hearing this leave to puke, before returning
many of the fast response members whisper among themselves discussing shares involved
the growling of the wookiee mazeboss clears an area near him
"Total charges passed down by admin come to 250,000 credits." stating the amount like it was logical and normal
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shocked at the total 'that was more than three times more than the bounty on the kid was worth!' the hunter considers his options
looking off to a nearby Renraku representative
with shaky hands he steps up to the computer and makes payment transfering from several accounts
unnoticed as each card or credit stick is put away it is swapped out
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the representitive steps forward drawing the attention of other corperate interests in the chamber
Unitech's and Tekwork's pit minions start muttering into comlinks
handing the Republic pit representative a dark card, the Twi'lek stands next to the hunter
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"Renraku supports our hardworking colleague, the difference is covered to continue future services" Bowing before moving forward
The Twi'lek looks to the representative "Are all the charges here listed?" holding up a black card
face in sour prune mode the representitive nods "All charges are currently listed awaiting final payment."
nodding in dignified victory the Renraku agent slides his card into the computer
paying the balance, then moving to store the card in his sleeve
handsigns unseen under a nearby cloak cause the card to slip from his fingers and drop in the sleeve
causing the Twi'lek to fumble transfering the card into his sleeve catch pocket
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realizing that a corperation had found a method to take the claim numerous miners growl
frustrated the republic rep shakes his head, resigned to the fact Admin was going to have no chance at the claim
'the bosses are going to go rancor over this' looking at the hunter and rep
"Since the charges have been paid, the claim files will be processing now and clear within the hour."
"Once cleared, you will have to set the area claimed, are you limiting the claim?"
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the hunter is about to reply, before stopping as the Renraku rep puts his hand on the hunters shoulder
looking and grinning at the other corperate agents "standard area for now, we will be expanding it soon"
wincing and gritting his teeth the republic rep notes the computer with the details for finalization.
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pressing button on a com link hidden in his belt,
Naruto 'henged' as Zabuza watches the real show begin.
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chimes ring and an droid voice "Statement: claim change-claim beacons activating for the disputed location under discussion."
everyone in the holo chamber turn at whiplash speeds to the display
"Claim area expansion from magma-locks to current new beacons 40% increase in area,"
"scanning system for overlaping claims," droids shift and check the main holo grid, "no competing claims in area, closest location 2 miles distance"
"Anomaly: second claim on direct path to end chamber of final beacon of first claim"
"Secondary claim ownership: combined Unitech-Tekwork project"
tunnels in the holo shrink expanding the area to show the approaching tunnels
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cursing is suddenly heard from the side where the representitives for the two corperations stand
dozens of miners are heard muttering while watching the proceedings
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"Statement: secondary claim has activated additional beacons, added tunnels are indicated for another half mile dug from setup of last beacon"
"disputed area now being shown" as the holo shows overlapping area still far short of the endchamber
"time limit for final mediation for disputed claim area now activated"
"no further digging allowed, representitives to be sent to establish endpoints before final division"
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"Droids being dispatched from base stations"
the hunter and the Renraku rep go white at the next statement, "Changeover of claim forms on basis of death of prior claim holders, on hold."
"Claim and accounts involved locked-down. Lockdown activated and established."
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laughter is heard, shocking many, the tall bladed warrior is almost doubled up laughing
his next statement makes everyone stand open-eyed "You tried to claim jump people who were not even dead?"
"I have heard of dumb thieves but this sets a new low."
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chimes ring and the computer announces "first claim personell arriving"
Nameless and Mack show up first escorted by droids followed by a crowd of miners tagging along
the following miners slide to the sides heading to other groups checking what was going on
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Looking at the Hunter, Mack shakes his head "Looks like we are alive, did you miss us?"
"Seriously, no really seriously, you did miss us, when you tried to kill us." Leeds and Bo join the others followed by a Naruto clone
shaking his head, "poor form, poor form: and you got caught also." gazing at the whitening Twi'lek rep
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as the party advances the bounty hunter sees Naruto alive and reaches for his pistol
'if he does not die then his bounty will go on my head for collecting before showing his corpse'
people scatter in the line of fire, seeing the hunter moving to shoot
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dozens of riled miners draw and level guns even as the blasters of the droid escort open fire
shields activating admin droids turn the armed hunter into smoking char
the Renraku rep crawling away smoking from having been on the fringe of the target
Only to be stopped as the edge of a huge blade drops in front of him stopping his progress long enough for a sandaled foot to slam him to the floor
pinning him down, "with your friend gone due to his stupidity, you get to answer his questions." a chill voice states
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"What was your part in this mess?" asks Nameless, as he lifts the suit bending him backward over the computer console
nodding to the tall human, the warrior steps back, whimpering in pain, the rep talks of taking a rival corp claim
causing them to loose time and money, mostly just normal business doubledealing
nameless and party looks to the republic rep "Admin's position?"
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Looking at the mood of the miners, the noble steps back "We follow the code and the Deal stands"
cursing the Renraku rep shoves Nameless aside
"No, for Manhandling me and killing our agent, I decree you under bounty from Renraku for assaulting a black card, 100,000 credits, ea..eee"
his voice shifting to high pitches as a foot and leg interrupt his ranting speech, the swinging kick lifting him yards from the floor
the below the belt kick curling him up around shattered bones and pulped essentials
"Get this fool to a bacta-tank, he's delirious," states the towering warrior,
looking around at the miners "and if the scum asks."
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"Tell him to get the name right, it is Zabuza Momochi, Demon of the Mist." he states in a chiding voice
forming a handsign with a maniac grin just before mist flows around and over him blocking vision in the entire room
his last statement lingers in the mist filled chamber "Be warned though, those that pay the bounty, as well as any hunters will be hunted in return."
the chilling echos of the last statement fade as the mist does
with Zabuza nowhere to be seen.
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[droid net:unknown energies detected]
[type: unknown-match in system]
[location:Pit]
[area: Claims area Maze]
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[identified humanoid: Zabuza Momochi]
[unknown abilities]
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[Bounty target spotted]
[BANK notified]
[anomalous information: Target declared dead by Bounty hunter]
[Hunter dead, probable false claim]
[contacting BANK on original bounty]
[original bidder will likely re-post on target]
[analysis: possible clone/twin?]
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echoes from somewhere closer
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"blast that warlord, she destroyed the arena and wiped out all the fighters of every stable"
"and now the herd of commoners has nothing for entertainment for months"
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"I think it is time to pack-up and relocate"
"where should I go"
pulling out a datapad, "what places are available and what favors are owed"
"entire new stables will have to be set up"
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"ah Petranaki arena on Geonosis"
"bloodsports and executions"
"not long lifespans for stable gladiators"
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"oh yes, expendable chimeras from O'maki"
"yes that will work, Night is there"
"lets call and chat about old favors and debts"
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other echos
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"master Jocasta Nu" calls yoda as he approaches
stoppping and bowing to the grandmaster she smiles
"how can I help"
"puzzled am I"
"a detail deleted it was, from the database"
"information on a starsystem or planet called kamino I seek"
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looking puzzled at the inquiry, she pulls out her datapad
"ah data, Nu -314"
"removed by order of a master from the main database"
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"Nu -314?"
"any item or information deemed dangerous by a master is removed from the database"
"just because it was removed from the database, does not mean it has been removed from the archives"
"each master archivist, as information is removed or secured, sets the data aside"
"it is secured in a standalone database in case it is needed again, or opinions change"
"it is in the grandmaster database accessed only by the archivist that removed it, the master archivist, and the grandmaster"
"it allows history and the true details to not be forgotten"
"For us and others 'those who forget the past are doomed to repeat the mistakes made', is the reminder."
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"It also carries the tales most want forgotten,"
in a teasing voice, "have you forgotten your own time in the stacks, yoda shelfhopper?"
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omake
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do you remember the songs you sang as a child
are they near and dear to your heart
sung to to the music of your work as an adult
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taught to children with light and hope
the fun when a day of work done
words for wisdom sung for a caring heart
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