Nar Shaddaa

The Shifting Wound was by all accounts an unremarkable ship. Aside from having a pristine coat of paint on its hull and a well-taken-care-of interior, it could easily fit in on any outer rim trade lane, even the least savory ones. That of course, was the whole point. A generically anonymous exterior. At least that's what the Sith told herself as she sat in the common area, stuffing her face full protein bars and gloop that presumably had nutritional value as she stared at a dataterminal's readout. Shipboard food was rarely up to the standards of most people; but fortunately Layne had spent most of her life eating worse.

She could handle the food. It was the suddenly cramped living space that got on her nerves. Her quarters on the Hidden Blade had been large enough that she could at least stretch. And things were even more cramped now that her expected guest had brought along an unexpected one. It did little to improve the Sith's mood. She couldn't wait to get to Nar Shaddaa.

The door to Sylvain's quarter's slid open as he stepped out into the cramped shared room in the center of the craft. He looked up at the little rainstorm of joy that sat chewing on her bars and he nodded his head as he took up a seat on the other side of the room.

He pulled out a protein bar himself and looked around the small interior as he put his feet up onto a small table.

Coming from the bridge Wilhelm stood in the hallway and checked a holo display nodding his head as the time ticks and then he smirks. He reaches into his shirt and removes a flask and pours some into his kaff and then says, “Have to take my medicine or the space madness will get me, my lords.”

He drinks down the spiked kaff with a pleased grin.

Sylvain acknowledged the man with a nod. "About how much further are we out Corporal Wilhelm?"


---

*Sylvain uses whatever the man's proper title is.

“Should be in Nar Shaddaa first thing in the morning, my lord; good thing too I could go for a smoke,” Wilhelm says putting the cup on the table.

“All is clear, all systems green.”

Sylvain nodded approvingly, "Thank you for your assistance Corporal."

He tossed the man a few credits, "Allow me to pay for that first pack of yours."

"Sure thing, my lord," he says slipping the credits into his pockets with a healthy grin of appreciation.

Layne rolled her eyes at Syl's transparent attempt to get Wilhem on his good side.

"Feeling generous, are we? I could use a little pocket money myself."

He chuckled, "For what? Already blown through your stipend?"

“My lords, Darth Baras is on the line, I think we should not keep him waiting,” Ensign Reshir says as she enters the room in her crisp uniform.

Sylvain nodded and made his way to the communicator.

"You've never been to Nar Shaddaa, have you? Docking fees are ridiculous. Parking the ship for a week would eat through most of my stipend."

She shoveled more food into her mouth as her attention was drawn by ensign Re'shir, making her way into the common area from the bridge to inform the passengers of a waiting call.

"Saved by the holo, Torsin. That's okay though, maybe you'll get to be a big spender after we land."

Layne finished the last of her gloop, wolfing it all down like an animal afraid she wasn't going to get any more any time soon, and then stood up to head for the main holo-communicator.

"We better take this."

And punched the button that opened the line.

“My apprentices, it is so rare that I have both of you in the same place… perhaps not since Korriban,” Darth Baras says with mild amusement, he almost quirks a slight smile.

“I trust you are prepared to do my will on Nar Shaddaa, there will be much for you both to do. I expect it done before my arrival.”

Sylvain nodded, "Of course Master."

He stood with a strait back and attentive look on his face, "What is thy bidding?"

It was unexpected, the revelation that he would be arriving on the smuggler's moon himself. It inspired the desire to ask inane questions that were ultimately irrelevant; but she managed to refrain and focused on more useful ones.

Sylvain's question eliminated the need to ask that particular one, so she instead sought to establish a deadline; "And when can we expect your presence?"

“In five days time, there are matters I need to deal with personally. In the meanwhile you will both have tasks that are crucial to my plans. Neither of you has failed me, yet. I expect that diligence to continue,” Baras says calmly.

“Has the ship performed to your needs, Layne?” he adds holding off on his commands for chit-chat.

"I would have preferred the old one, Master. But I understand that would unnerve the Hutts."

Asra emerges into the room as well, but stops cold when she hears the voice over the communicator. She waits, observing the situation and listening, but not speaking. Fairly typical behavior even when Darth Baras wasn't on the communicator, though.

Layne Hoshin wrote:"I would have preferred the old one, Master. But I understand that would unnerve the Hutts."

"It was needed, this allows you to travel to places that an Imperial Frigate would be barred. Your preference is noted," he says dryly.

"I do not believe I have shared words with your guest, step forward Asra, let me get a good look at you."

"Yes, Lord Baras," she says quietly, stepping forward, close enough to where he could get a good look at the small rail of a woman. She stood straight and tall (well, as tall as reasonably possible), as if it were inspection, though the morning and the unexpectedness of the call meant that her jacket was still in the other room.

"The proper term is Darth Baras but I hold no animosity. I have not been a Darth all that long," he says calmly.

"Your file speaks well of your talents, we may have to utilize them on Nar Shaddaa."

Sylvain just looked over to Asra and nodded affirmatively.

She closes her eyes for a moment at the mistake, letting out a breath. "My deepest apologies. Thank you." She bows her head in acknowledgement of what's in her file. "I hope my presence can be useful to you."

"If you were not I would have Layne end you," he says flatly.

"It is of no consequence, we have larger concerns. Darth Vengean wishes for this peace to be reality, therefore it is now your primary goal. There is an obstacle that will be dealt with when I arrive but in preamble to that task Layne you should have your task and I expect Vosk to be dealt with."

"Sylvain I expect you to keep a close eye on Shaisha, Vowrawn's lap dog. If she proves a danger then my sword will end her. I expect you can handle this with your usual diligence."

Casna, Asra's spotter, stepped out of her bunk and stood at attention alongside her partner. She gave a salute to all of the Sith present but otherwise kept her mouth shut for the time being.