A Scandalous Alliance
Set around 2BBY
*when they speak in italics it means they're speaking in Huttese
WARNING: drug usage and themes ever so vaguely suggested
Loud music played around the palace. Bounty hunters of all species were either cheering on the dancing girls or had already fallen on the fall drunk. And it was only midday.
Her boots clinked as she strode across the room, fortunately she had the clothe across the bottom half of her face so she didn't have to breath in the stench of sweat, alcohol and dust.
As she made her way through the vile crowd, another being's hand had found its way to her thigh. Before it could slide up any further, she felt with the Force for her blaster and it flew into her hand from her hilt she pressed the pistol to the nautolan's head, giving him a fair warning.
But when he paid no attention and continued, she raised her arm up high and pulled the trigger, sending a laser bolt to the roof and everyone around them to panic and wail, some even bracing themselves to the ground.
As the dust from the new hole fell around them, she leaned forward and pointed the blaster pistol back to the man's head. "In case you didn't understand, usually a blaster pointed in your direction means no." she warned from under her brown clothe mask. "Scram before I pull out the other one."
The nautolan eyed her, suggesting he may seek revenge for the embarrassment she caused him, before turning around and pushing his way through the terrified crowd.
While everybody around the room recovered from the scare, she slowly made her way towards the giant slug that sat in the room, now bellowing with laughter.
"Ah! My favourite female smuggler!" Jabba's voice rumbled around the throne room as at small creatures from his side. "The uncompromising Kat Dravvaadas has returned."
"I have the spice," Kat pulled the clothe away from her face pulled out a jar of giggledust from her rucksack. "Just like you asked. Now be a good boy and pay."
"I hope none was consumed on the way over?"
"No. I got my own."
"Ah, good girl. But because of the amounts you owe me..."
"Jabba, just pay me until I got enough money for you not to pay me back once." Kat placed the gigggledust next to Jabba's throne. "Give me six months and it will be back to normal. I promise." She stuck her hand into her back pocket and pulled out a small tube of glowing yellow liquid, sticking it between her teeth and she fumbled around more of her pockets in search of extra change.
"You are lucky that I find you trust worthy." Jabba compensated. "Bib Fortuna shall fetch you're cash now. This is your last chance, girl."
"You have my thanks, Jabba." Kat thanked the Maker for not having Jabba make her a slave. "I will be back with your money."
"And more spice?"
"What kind?"
"Surprise me."
Kat knew in her mind that it meant 'find me the most exquisite, expensive spice there is.'.
"It's a deal." She confirmed.
As soon as she was payed, she went to the bar and managed to barter for a Red Dwarf. She found a spot at a table in a small alcove. Before she had time to settle into the space herself, another man and his companion were sitting down opposite her.
"Those were quite some stunts you pulled." The man said as he sipped his own drink. His companion remained quiet. "Jabba really must like you."
"Look," Kat started as she pulled her glowling yellow death stick out from the back of her pocket. "If you're here to butter me up then lay me down in a bed your plan has already failed. Even under this stuff I'm pretty impossible to do without consent." She waggled the deathstick in front of his face.
The man simply sat up straight and held his hands up in defence. "Don't get too uptight there, Snowball. Simply congratulating ya, is all."
Kat shrugged as she popped open the glass tube. "Can't be too careful." She replied as she poured the yellow liquid into her Red Dwarf. "Certain events can change one."
"So I take it you're the one that takes none of the shivat that goes on around here?" his Wookiee companion howled something. "No Chewie, I'm fairly sure she's ok with us being here."
"Chewie?" Kat repeated the name again to make sure. "That's a pretty name." she sipped her Red Dwarf.
Chewie growled in response.
"He says thanks." The man translated before holding out his hand for Kat to shake. "Han Solo. Captain of the Millennium Falcon. This is my first mate Chewbacca."
"Kat Dravvaadas. I pay people like you to take me and my droid on your ship."
"Already looking for a way to get off this backwater planet?" Han mocked.
"Yes."
"If I'm not mistaken, your hair could probably do that."
Kat frowned. "Let's not bring its color into this, 'k?"
Again, Han Solo held his hands up in defence. "Don't get excited! Look, I'll can make ya a deal: I get you off Tatooine, you pay me."
"Deal done." Kat didn't even bother thinking of repercussions.
"Just name the system and I'll fly ya there."
"I gotta make two stop-offs before we go, but then me and an R2 droid should go to Ord Mantell."
"Alright then. We will meet at the ship yards in Mos Eisley. You have two days before I blast off this planet."
"Okey dokey." Kat shrugged. She knew the man wanted to say more, but would admit to nothing. Cheating slightly, she reached out with what V'kala had taught her and felt the thoughts and emotions pouring out of his head.
Relief… she concluded. Why would one feel relieved in a place like Jabba's palace? Kat scanned the room again as she and her new acquaintance continued their conversation. This is a place of scum, she continued thinking. He was probably scared before… why would he be relieved?
Kat realised that she was in a place of untrusted gangsters. All, at some point of their adventuress lives, would have conned somebody into their death. And her episode with the nautolan before would have set fear in most people's minds. Han Solo and Chewie were brave enough to even approach her after.
He was making an alliance with her because he was afraid of her.
Her first imprint on him was that she one who gave only one second chance. And for some reason Han Solo needed to get into Kat's good books.
She figured that if she were in Han Solo's position, she would be doing the same.
Kat at least somewhat enjoyed the feeling of being feared. Or maybe that was the alcohol and deathstick enjoying the moment.
Idk about you but Star Wars Rebels is actually really good.
And ta da here we have pre A New Hope Kat. Hopefully it gives you an impression on the kind of life she lived.
- yoda-is-cool
