Defiance (Week 4)

The Devon's Triumph glowed in the viewscreen, festooned as it was with uncharacteristic gaiety. I learned from Jean that this ship, in fact the entire system was owned by one Devon Regis, whose son captained the ship we were now on. I found it interesting that such gaudy splendor belonged to the father, while his offspring flew about the galaxy in a heap barely held together with adhesive and prayers. I have encountered many oddities outside the cluster, however, and this is certainly not the largest of them.

Regis took the girl Kaos with him to see his father while Tiki remained on the ship. I did not wish to stay, nor did I wish to accompany our captain on his errand. Instead, I followed Nondo and Goryx to the casinos. I have no interest in gambling - I have always had more than enough currency for my needs and do not desire more than that. But with a casino there is always a crowd, and I thought watching the happenings around me would take my mind away from the broiling madness my life has become of late.

The game did not appear to be going well - Goryx kept his attention completely upon bringing the Jedi drinks and that may have been part of the problem. Soon, appearing frustrated with his losses, he turned to me and asked my opinion of our journey this far. Obviously, I informed him, I had spent most of the last few days drugged up to my hairline and in considerable pain and the only thought I had on that was how to avoid such injuries in the future. To that, he informed me that Regis' hasty flight had been the very thing that had nearly caused my death, and in the process he had almost left my brother stranded on Mandragaard! Once I recovered from my immediate fury, I admitted to myself that I cannot blame him as such - after all we are a motley, thrown-together crew, and barely know one another. I probably would have done something similar in his situation, although perhaps not the hyperspace jump in atmo. The ship still bears the scars from that particular command decision. In any case, my understanding of the action does not cancel out my anger, nor does it incline me to trust our captain from this point. I said as much to my companions and Nondo mentioned that he was pondering leaving our patchwork crew for a better, possibly safer option. This was indeed news - I wonder what the chances were of us commandeering a new ship for ourselves. The security on the station was heavy, but I've found that necessity always breeds possibilities.

Intent on my musings, I never noticed Kaos approach us. She seemed agitated, grabbing my arm in a most disconcerting fashion, telling me that we had to talk for a second alone. I got out of my chair, but before she dragged me off the Jedi warned me to be careful - it was obvious he was suspicious of the Lorrdian. With good reason, I found out. Apparently this meeting she'd been at between Regis and his father concerned my brother and I. Instead of the one or two pirate organizations that were pursuing us there were four! And it seemed they were all pounding down the elder Regis' door with demands to hand us over. Kaos told me that Regis had been given only three hours to find us and bring us to him. I had know doubt what would transpire after that - we would be handed over to whatever fate awaited us with the pirates. Though the girl tried to convince me to comm Regis to tell him where I was, I tore away from her and hurried back to my companions. The Jedi's brow darkened when I gave him the news, doubtless the same thought of betrayal had occurred to him. He ordered Goryx to escort me to the ship immediately while he determined what was going on.

On the way, the wolfboy got a comm. I could not hear exactly what was being said, but it could not have been good. Goryx told me that both Kaos and Regis were calling him, frantic and insisting that we come to the ship's command center immediately. His tone clearly said that he thought we should obey. I had no idea what to do. The Jedi thought I should be back on the ship - but it would not take the security long to ferret us out from there. If this Devon knew we were on the station, he surely knew where we were docked. But to face him directly seemed utter foolishness. How complicated my life has gotten! In the end, I took the path of least resistance and went with Goryx to the audience chamber.

It was as overwrought a room as the rest of the station was, with the owner sitting in the center on a throne. The Twi'lek dancer perched on his lap squirmed and giggled when he shooed her away, and he turned to face the lot of us. The chamber was built to impress, that was certain, and it appeared to be working. Kaos stared unabashedly at our surroundings, and Goryx began to look more and more uncomfortable as the seconds passed. Devon questioned the group sternly for a few seconds before turning to me, wanting to know what exactly it was that would bring so many mercenaries and pirates to his home looking for me. At that moment, I felt it was useless to prevaricate any longer. After all, this man held the advantage - it was his ship, his planet, his guards. I did not want to launch into the story of my past and the greater danger of the old evil I believe is chasing me. So I told him about the gems, a move which took the rest of the party aback. But it wasn't their reaction I was interested it. Devon's eyes glittered, he completely failed to conceal the lust in his face. He turned away, appearing to be lost in thought for a moment before he spoke again.

His offer was transparent - he would keep the gems for me until the pirates were off my back and lend us a ship to escape on. It was obvious that I would never see the jewels again if I handed them over willingly, his deception radiated from him. I heard the Jedi suggest offering a single gem for a ship, but I was too angry to listen. To be lied to in such a bald fashion was insulting, and I could not let it stand. No doubt my reaction was foolish, but I had not come this far to be duped by an ostentatious wealth-monger.

I told him exactly what was going through my mind. His offer was a farce, and I did not intend to hand my possessions over willingly to someone I knew to be lying. I would rather flee from this audience chamber, doing as much damage to this station and its inhabitants as I could before the security gunned me down. I wonder how many people would visit this man's casinos once word got out that a madwoman had opened fire on the crowd at the sabaac tables. In any case, I was livid.

I do not know if it was my threats that made him reconsider, or just the fact that anyone would defy him in such a complete manner. His falsely kindly demeanor faded and he inquired whether I had some kind of counter offer. As loath as I was to do so, I offered him one of the gems, not as a loan but for him to keep. I would not seek it from him. In return, if he would exchange our ship for one that was unidentified by the pirates and let us go on our way I would be most grateful. I have to admit I was surprised he accepted. I had definitely underestimated the worth these objects had outside the Cluster - back home most families have their own mines for them. In any case, he did agree and I produced one of the rainbow gems from their wallet at my waist, making sure it was the smallest one as I did so. He smiled graciously as he took it from me, and offered me a seat on his throne. Confusing. But I did so, and suddenly I was sliding down some kind of chute to land in his personal escape vessel, the Gamera. It was a far cry from our previous transport in luxury, that was certain. And much faster as well. Soon the rest of the crew joined me and we set off. As we jumped to hyperspace, our old ship floated out of the bay doors only to be met with a torrent of laser blasts from the Star Destroyer. There was a fleeting hope in my mind that the pirates would leave us for dead after that, but I did not dwell on it.

The question was then where to go next. In this area I am completely useless - I have knowledge of this part of the galaxy. It was eventually decided that we would go to Regis' home planet, as it is close but not heavily trafficked. I have no opinion, so I make quarters for myself and go to sleep. The events of the day brought back the pain from my recent injuries and it wasn't until we reached our destination that I felt close to myself again. Even so, I stayed on the ship the duration we were there and only found out our next destination was Coruscant while in hyperspace on the way there. Apparently it is a highly industrialized planet, with billions of inhabitants. That sounds promising to me - the more people there are around the more easy I feel it is to hide. I worry though - how long will this hiding be necessary? What can I do to rid myself of these troubles? These are questions I have no answer to - and more distressingly, I am not sure of anyone who would.