A short time later the Jewel Bird was in orbit around Hutta. Customs were just as easily dealt with as on the planet's moon. Once she agreed to pay the fee she was granted clearance and directed to the Jiguuna space-port.

As she exited the ship, her lightsabre discreetly tucked into a battered kitbag, she couldn't help looking around distastefully.

The sky was a sickly yellow due to pollution from heavy industrialisation and the air stank of petrochemical fumes and anaerobic decay. The ground underfoot was muddy, with a thin covering of patchy brown grass and numerous pools of stagnant filthy water. A few trees struggled to grow here and there but even those were twisted and misshapen from the pollution and poor quality of the soil.

The buildings were utilitarian, squat and ugly, all of them showing severe corrosion from acid rain. The only exception was an immense structure that towered over the landscape and dominated the skyline. The main building was conical with a cylindrical tower on either side. Although grimy from the air pollution it was unmarked by corrosion. From the research she'd done before coming here she knew that the building was the palace of Suudaa Nem'ro, the Hutt crime lord who controlled the town.

Well here I am she thought. Now how am I going to find Huttsbane?

Her thoughts were interrupted by frightened cries and jeering voices. She turned to see a young Evocii cowering on the ground. Two Weequay stood over him with cruel grins on their leathery faces.

"Stupid bog rat" one of them. "We'll teach ya to steal from Nem'ro."

"Please, we need that medicine! Our…"

"Shut up!"

With that he yanked the Evocii to his feet and held him in a full nelson. The other Weequay drew back his fist.

"Stop!"

The Weequay glared at Kory as she approached. "Get lost human or you're next."

The Evocii shot a fearful look at her and shook his head. Undeterred she stepped forwards and waved a hand in front of the two brutes. "You don't want to hurt him" she said.

"We don't want to hurt him" repeated the Weequay as he released his hold.

"You want to leave us" she added as she waved her hand again.

"We want to leave you" he repeated. He and his cohort turned and walked off.

Kory turned to the young Evocii. He couldn't have been older than sixteen, thin and malnourished. His clothes were tatty and covered in patches.

"Are you all right?" she asked.

"I'm okay" he replied. "Thanks for saving me."

"No problem."

The boy's eyes gleamed with excitement but he lowered his voice as he said, "you're a Jedi aren't you?"

"Yes I am. My name is Kory."

"I'm Jay. Are you here to see Huttsbane?"

She was so shocked it took a moment for her to reply, "Yes, yes that's right." Inwardly she thanked the Force for guiding her to this boy.

"Come on. I'll take you to him."

As they walked off neither of them noticed a dark-robed Kubaz watching them from a corner. He took out a com-link and sent a call to his employer.


Nem'ro laughed raucously as he peered down into the beast pit where a Rattataki that had made the mistake of trying to double-cross him was fighting for his life against a pair of manka cats. Despite the vibro-blade he wielded he was no match and was soon torn apart.

Nem'ro laughed even louder, making the rolls of fat covering his body wobble disgustingly. His laughter was echoed by the crowd of onlookers standing around the pit's edges. There were smugglers, pirates, contract killers and many other criminals from a multitude of species.

Even by Hutt standards Nem'ro was huge and grossly obese. His slimy, wart-covered skin was green with a tan underbelly. His right eye was red while the left was white and sightless. The tip of his slug-like tail twitched with excitement as he watched the slaughter from atop the platform on which his bloated form rested, propped up on his left side by a rest moulded like the arm of a throne.

To his right was his chief enforcer, Carnus. A Houk, Carnus stood over two metres tall with the toad-like features and heavily muscled build typical of his species. His skin was yellowish with blue patches around his eyes and on the back of his hands. He too was laughing as he watched the spectacle.

A Chagrian servant cautiously made his way up to the platform. "Mighty Nem'ro, the ah, delegates from the Empire are here."

"Send them in" he replied in Huttese, his voice deep and rumbling.

Three dark figures strode into the chamber. Immediately the revellers fell silent as they hastily backed away from the three. Although they were hardened criminals and cutthroats, the aura of menace surrounding the newcomers struck fear into all of them. No surprise, for these were Dark Lords of the Sith.

The first stood in front of the others. He wore black robes with ornate embroidery and a metal mask with a single black visor and an elaborate crest of black plumes. To his left stood a red-skinned Sith pure-blood with yellow eyes and black hair, wearing black and purple robes. To his right was a cyborg covered in metal armour that had been grafted directly to his body. A grotesque mask hid his face. All three had lightsabres on their belts.

"Greetings Nem'ro" said the one in the plumed mask, clearly the leader. "I am Darth Yakul. This is Lord Zabo and Lord Bolla." He gestured at the Sith pure-blood and the cyborg respectively.

"On behalf of the Empire I am honoured to accept your offer of an alliance." Behind his mask he smiled as he thought how the Empire had tricked the Hutt into coming to them by framing the Republic for killing one of his lieutenants.

The Hutt nodded. He was also shaken by the Sith but he knew better than to show any hint of weakness.

"I will supply your Empire with valuable chemicals and minerals. In return you will help me crush all who oppose me. Both of us will benefit highly."

"Precisely. Regrettably I must go and attend to other matters but Lord Zabo and Lord Bolla will remain here to aid you."

"Splendid. I'll enjoy having Sith Lords at my beck and call" he chuckled.

Zabo snarled and stepped forwards. "You fat slug! How dare you…"

One glance from Yakul stopped him dead. He stepped back and lowered his head.

"I apologise for Lord Zabo's behaviour. He is headstrong but he will do as instructed."

"Apology accepted. No offence intended you understand. Just a little joke."

"Of course."

Just then the communicator built into Nem'ro's platform beeped.

"One moment."

He tapped a button and a holographic image of a Kubaz appeared. He recognised him as one of his informants.

"Boss, we got trouble. A Jedi just showed up in town and it looks like she's working with those savages that have been causing you trouble."

The image changed to show two of his Weequay enforcers about to beat an Evocii when a female human walked up and waved her hand in front of them. They let the Evocii go and wandered off.

"You've done well to bring this to my attention" said Nem'ro. "You will be well paid."

"Thanks boss." The hologram vanished.

"Allow us to handle this" said Yakul. "Dealing with Jedi is our specialty."

"Very well. Also kill the natives Spirit-Leader. That will teach them to defy me."

"Lord Zabo, go and deal with this."

"Yes my lord."

He turned and strode through the door with a grim smile. Killing a Jedi was just the thing needed to improve his mood about this assignment.