Chapter one :: 87 Hours

Nal Hutta illuminated the Dark sky of the moon Narr Shaddaa. Often the Nights seemed to last forever, but the beauty of the planet seemed to bring a peaceful light that gave the mirage of a new day. The Hideaway was a bar Kosh often visit for a drink and maybe a relaxing game of Sabbacc. Not today, he had a few questions for a smuggler named Dek Anorik. The smoke filled room was dimly lit and strangely quiet for this time of day. Since the standard day consists of 87 hours it is split in to 4 time periods in which this time was a sleeping time. It had some thing to do with the gravitational tide of Nal Hutta. That is what Kosh had heard anyway. 

  As Kosh sipped on his Ryll Beer , a fine lager created with a touch of Ryll spice, when a figure comes through the door. Right on time Kosh thought.  Dek was a grizzly old smuggler, who to Kosh’s knowledge used to work for the Empire. He would always be able to get stuff for him from time to time when he asked. Gurlak the Hutt was Kosh’s employer and he didn’t care where he got stuff from as long as he got it. Today it was Gacerian gems. Evidently Gurlak had some business with some prince on Malistare that wanted to buy the affections of some other royalty. Kosh didn’t care. He just wanted the Gems… It seemed very odd when Gurlak worked with royalty, but he would tell him how that was where the money was at, so he never argued with him…

Dek went to the bar and ordered . . .

KOSH: Kosh's eyes light up mischievously and a sly grin slides it's way onto his face. He walks up to Dek and slaps him across the back. In huttese he says, "Hey, you walkin' excuse for bantha fodder. Who let you outta your cage?" To the bar tender, he says in basic, "Put the drink on my bill."

 DEK: “Kosh! Hey what are you doing here this time of day?” Dek looked to the bartender who seemed like he had been there double shift. “I’ll have a malted Anote,” he said to him in common. Looking back to Kosh in eagerness he continues “How is good ole Gurlak?”

  KOSH: "Well, let's see," he rests his chin in his right hand and mockingly produces an expression of deep thought, "He's fat, slimy, greedy, and ruthless." Kosh perks up and shrugs with a grin, "As far as Hutts go, he's doin' great!"

 DEK: Laughter bellows from his loins. You can hear a croup in his throat like he had been breathing smoke all his life. “Well what really brings you here?” You notice the Imperial insignia on his dark blue jump suit. He smelled dirty like he had been working at a spaceport in the mechanic section.  

KOSH: He takes a sip of his drink, "Business as usual. Doing Gurlak's leg work...'cause, ya know, he doesn't have any legs."

DEK: “Well what is it this time? Glitterstim, Alderaan Ruge , Some sort of repulsorlift for his fat tail?”

KOSH: "Heh...no, nothing like that. More in the line of Gacerian gems."

DEK: Dek was a little surprised and unsteady when he herd that planet mentioned.. “Ever been to Gacerian?” he asked. “It is under Imperial control.”

KOSH:  He looks pointedly at the imperial insignia on Dek’s jumpsuit, "The Imps haven't seemed to bother you so far..."

DEK: “It would be no problem… Why the Gems? They are pretty expensive, but I just happen to know a way to get some free. I have a contact on the planet that smuggles for me. He owes me a favor.”

KOSH: The sly grin returns to Kosh's face, "And just what is this favor gonna cost me?"

DEK: Dek’s face lit up. “You know me too well Kosh. HA! The only thing I ask in return is for you to come with me. My second hand has bellied up and quit, so I’ll need the help moving the gems. I am pitted to make a stop there tomorrow any way so if you come with me I will let you keep some gems for Gurlak. What do you say?”

KOSH: Kosh contemplates it for half a micro second, "Aaah, what the Hoth! Let me grab some things and I'll meet you at your ship. What dock are you at?"

DEK: With much surprise and relief Dek started waving his hands up and down. “Whoa Whoa slow down” Dek said laughing. “There is no rush is there? I am not leaving till this time tomorrow. Don’t you think you should let good ole Gurlak know where you will be?”  Dek paused for a sec. “I tell you what, go tell him that you are saving him money by going and don’t mention my name. Say I am your uncle or something. If he has no problem then meet me here in 87 hours. I really need the help. I am getting old.”

KOSH: Kosh nods, slaps Dek on the back and slips out of the bar. He steps outside and stretches his hands toward the sky, yawning and then brushed his chin length brown hair back revealing a boyishly handsome face, clean-shaven and perfectly smooth with the exception of a thin white scar tracing a line from his left cheek down to his jaw line.

Kosh cut a dashing figure at his 25 years of age. He was tall and slender, but well muscled and in excellent shape. He dressed well, with fine loose fitting khaki trousers and a black tight fitting shirt, accentuated by brown knee high leather military boots and an open front brown-leather vest. The vest looked extremely functional, lined as it was with pockets and armor padding, but was exquisitely tailored to appear quite fashionable as well. Kosh paid a pretty credit for the vest and loved it dearly. With his twin blasters strapped to each hip in leather holsters, his laid-back manner, and a perpetual confident grin, Kosh seemed the quintessential gunslinger. Just as ready to duel with Sabbacc cards and witty remarks, as well as a quick draw of the blaster.

He sighed and began the long walk to Gurlak’s...

GM: The halls of the seemingly endless sky scrapper were soft gray and somewhat peaceful, if not drab. The lights hung from the ceiling like the old railcar tracks used in mining tunnels. They shrank down to size of a credit in their fixed point on the horizon signifying how long this hall really was. To the left were endless rows of windows hanging like gateways to another dimension. All that was visible were larger over populated buildings that masked the ground. On the right were different stores, lounges, restrooms, and convenient stands selling snacks and beverages.

The trip to Gurlak’s abode was somewhat a long stroll. Kosh came to a repulsorlift elevator. He had 158 stories down to the nearest buss transport.

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