Nikana: 18 BBY
Hondo's Stronghold
Lesia Mirri

    Les led the way towards the camp's main compound. Several Weequays stopped and watched them approach. None spoke or tried to intercept them. Les glanced around warily. She was surprised to see that Hondo had already rebuilt two of the spice warehouses she'd destroyed.

    The compound doors hissed open and Hondo strode out, accompanied by an orange Twi'lek male. "Ah, I wondered if you would be back," Hondo chuckled. "What do you need?"

    "Information," Lesia replied.

    "Hm. What kind of information?" He stroked his chin, watching her. "Information can be dangerous these days."

    "I need to know where to find a certain Mandalorian."

    "What makes you think I know where he is? Ask the two you're traveling with." Hondo waved a dismissive hand and turned away.

    Les narrowed her eyes and chased after him. "They don't know where he is either. We need to find him. He knows where someone important is."

    "Someone important?"

    "Does the name Tarek Vizsla mean anything to you?"

    "Never heard of him." They entered the compound and Hondo swiped two drinks from a serving droid. He handed one to her and downed his own with ease.

    "What about Feton Ralius?" Les prompted.

    Hondo nearly spit his drink out. "If you know what's good for you, you won't go poking around for that one," he snapped.

    Nakoa and Oni shifted behind her uneasily. "What do you mean?" Les asked. She took a sip of her drink, after eyeing it cautiously.

    "He's a crime lord on Coruscant," Hondo explained. "Very good at what he does, considering his age." He drummed his fingers on a table. "I've had a few encounters with him. They didn't end well. He's a thief, that one."

    "You must be talking about the wrong Feton," Nakoa argued. "He was the heir to my old Clan. He couldn't be what you say he is."

    Hondo shrugged and grabbed another drink. "People change when they have to, Boy. You Mandalorians are no different. Why do you need to find him?" He directed the question back to Les.

    "He knows where Tarek Vizsla is. We're hunting for Tarek on a personal vendetta," she explained.

    "Ah, well, who am I to stand in the way of revenge?" Hondo laughed. "I can send you his coordinates, but I suggest you be wary around him."

    "Why?" Les handed him a holodisk. He input a set of coordinates and handed it back, then leaned towards her.

    "He likes Twi'leks," Hondo drawled. "And..." he dropped his voice to a whisper, "he hates Jedi."

    "Ugh." Lesia rolled her eyes. "I'm sure we can handle it."

    "I'm warning you, Lesia." Hondo lifted a finger to her chin, surprisingly serious for once. Nakoa took a step forward, but Les raised her hand and he paused. "You shouldn't trust him."

    "I'll keep that in mind." Les jerked her face away from him. "Come on." She brushed past Hondo with Oni hot on her heels.

Nikana: 18 BBY
Hondo's Stronghold
Nakoa Sen

    Nakoa remained still as Hondo watched Les and Oni leave. "Why shouldn't we trust Feton? I'd think he'd be more trustworthy than you."

    Hondo shot him a smirk. "You'd think that, of course, but don't forget that I have a heart. From what I've seen, Feton Ralius does not. If you want my advice..."

    Nakoa crossed his arms, waiting for him to continue. "What advice?"

    "Make a claim or lose the game." Hondo downed yet another drink. Nakoa didn't know how he was still standing.

    "What are you talking about?"

    "Like I told Lesia, Feton has a thing for young and beautiful Twi'leks. The minute you take her near him, he will try to make his move. He'll either win her over, or he'll steal her."

    Nakoa rolled his eyes beneath his helmet. "As if you haven't done the same. She'll be fine with me and Oni around."

    "You misunderstand me." Hondo tilted his head, a lazy grin on his face. "From what I've heard, he doesn't take no for an answer. You'd better hope he doesn't want her. If you plan on making a claim, you'd better do it."

    "Make a claim? You talk about her as if she's property of some sort." Nakoa clenched his fist, dying to take a swing at the pirate.

    "Feton won't pass up a woman like her. You know this."

    "I think you should stop talking about Les."

    Hondo shrugged. "Don't say I didn't warn you. Even I can try to be helpful at times."

    Nakoa walked away from him without another word. He bit his tongue, diverting his attention towards the pain, rather than the anger that festered in his mind.

    Oni and Les had already prepped the ship for takeoff by the time he returned. Nakoa slid into his seat and they soared away from the pirate compound. Les dropped her head back against her seat.

    "He's more annoying every time I see him," she groaned.

    "Well, hopefully you won't have to see him again," Nakoa replied.

    "I won't be that lucky," Les scoffed. "Still, I suppose I owe him some thanks. He's kept more than one secret for me."

    Oni subtly glanced at Nakoa, but he pretended not to notice. "Feton's headquarters are in the Lower City?" Nakoa knit his brows, studying their locked coordinates.

    "It's common for gangsters and crime lords to run their operations from the Lower City," Les replied. "From there, things only get worse the further down you go."

    "How do you know?" Oni asked with a sniff.

    Les rolled her eyes and purposefully kicked her feet up on the back of Oni's seat. "Everyone knows that. I assume that's not a good enough answer for you though. I spent some time on Coruscant when I was younger and Hondo made me run a few errands to the underworld every now and then."

    "And you never ran into Feton?"

    "I saw Mandalorians, but I never stuck around long enough to meet them."

    "Get ready to scramble our signature," Nakoa ordered, breaking the two of them apart before they could start to argue. "Imperial security will be tight around Coruscant."

    Les turned to the monitors as Oni began the procedure. As the navicomputer began beeping, Nakoa deactivated the hyperdrive. Coruscant appeared before them, glowing with millions of dazzling lights. His eyes widened at the sight of it. He'd never seen the planet before. It was beautiful. Nakoa glanced back at Les. She watched the planet for a moment, a dark look in her eyes, then went back to watching the monitors.

    Oni scrambled their signature once they got closer to the planet. A blockade of Star Destroyers surrounded it, as expected. The transmitter lit up shortly. Nakoa switched it on and a hologram of an Imperial officer appeared on the control panel.

    "YT-1760 freighter, please transmit your identification forms for clearance," the officer instructed.

    Nakoa sighed and tapped a few buttons on the panel. The hologram wavered just a moment. "The forms are sent."

    "Reduce your speed and wait for clearance."

    He obeyed. Les watched the monitors intently. Oni's hand hovered over the auxiliary power converter in case they needed a quick escape. Finally, the officer spoke again.

    "You are cleared for entry."

    "Thank you, Sir." Nakoa switched off the transmitter and increased their speed. They passed beneath the blockade and reached the planet's atmosphere. The city appeared below them, bustling with activity. Dozens of ships were arriving and leaving.

    "It's just like I remember," Les murmured. Her gaze drifted across the planet's surface, almost reverently. Nakoa bit his lip and turned his attention back front.

    He directed the Mythos towards one of the large openings in the ground that led down to the lower levels of the city. "It looks like there's a docking bay not far from Feton's compound," Oni reported. "We'll have to make sure the ship is secure, though. I don't doubt people will try to steal it or get on board."

    Nakoa nodded his agreement. They reached the Lower City after a few moments. They soared towards the docking bay, passing all manner of ships and speeders on the way. At last, they landed. Ugnaughts and droids filled the docking bay. They eyed the Mythos curiously. Nakoa stood and made sure his weapons were in place.

    "Let's go see Feton."

Coruscant: 18 BBY
Lower City
Lesia Mirri

    Les dropped her lightsaber inside her cabin before following Nakoa and Oni off the ship. As soon as they were all off, Nakoa locked it down. An Ugnaught was approaching them. He crossed his arms.

    "It'll cost you to dock here," he grunted.

    "How much?" Nakoa replied.

    The Ugnaught listed his price and Nakoa handed him the credits. They carried on and left the docking bay shortly. Oni projected the compound's coordinates from her vambrace.

    "It should be just up ahead," she said.

    Les scanned the streets ahead, looking for something that would fit the compound's description. She narrowed her eyes, spying a familiar marking on one. "Look. There's the Clan Ralius signet." She pointed towards it.

    "That must be it," Nakoa said, his gaze following her finger.

    Oni inched closer to them. "We've been spotted." She jerked her head towards another building. Les spied two Mandalorians crouched on top of it. The two ducked out of sight shortly.

    They kept walking towards the compound, increasingly aware of the gazes that had begun to follow them. Les stepped closer to Nakoa, his presence somewhat comforting. She stretched her senses out and found several Mandalorians closing in on them.

    They were surrounded within seconds. The Mandalorians said nothing, but followed them...or escorted them...towards the compound. They stepped inside and Lesia's mouth went dry.

    "Hand over your weapons," one of them ordered. Les drew her blaster and handed it to him.

    Nakoa and Oni relented as well. Nakoa even handed over his vibroblade. She would've thought he'd try to hide it. I guess this is important enough to him that he won't risk angering Feton, she thought.

    Once the Mandalorians were satisfied that they were unarmed, they proceeded further into the compound. More people began to appear. Most of them wore Mandalorian armor and carried their helmets beneath an arm. There were a variety of other creatures as well. All of them looked dangerous.

    They entered a large open space, similar to the throne room in Jabba's palace. A few young Twi'lek girls were dancing in one corner, with a crowd surrounding them. Tables covered in food and drink surrounded the room. Along the center wall sat a makeshift throne.

    Lesia's gaze drifted to the man seated on it. Feton Ralius watched them through shrewd brown eyes. His silver armor had some carbon scoring on it, proof of a recent fight. His red cape was draped over the side of the throne. His helmet sat on the floor next to him. She had to admit he was handsome.

    Feton waved them forward, finally. "Who are you and what do you want?"

    Nakoa moved in front of Les and Oni. "I'm Nakoa Sen, a survivor of Clan Ralius."

    Feton seemed surprised at that. "And what are you doing here, Nakoa Sen?"

    "I've come for your help to avenge our Clan."

    "You've come for Tarek Vizsla," Feton realized. He inclined his head. "I might've known."