From kkeisel@columbus.rr.com Thu Aug 21 10:59:55 2003 Date: Tue, 15 Jul 2003 20:54:45 -0400 From: Ken Keisel To: cantina@deathstar.org Subject: FoE Role-Play: molithauv's cantina (han) 4 The following story is rated PG-13 It contains strong language and sexual situations. Parental discretion is advised The Pink Falcon Part 4 Molithauv's Cantina had stood for two hundred years. It could last another two hundred years, another two hundred days, or another two hundred hours, depending on the whim of it's clients. Such was the life of a Cantina on Corellia. Surrounding it that night, under the radiant glow of Jespa, was the usual dinning horde of spice merchants, soldiers, spies, pilots and beggars, some counting their beads, others their chances. Some were Corellian, most were not. Some were human, most were not. The inhabitants of Corellia, Corel bless them, and it, are few. The rest are parasites, and the Corellians would have you believe that their planet was populated by ten million life sucking citizens who were not citizens at all. Wars had brought them there. The Empire had brought them there (for no Imperial garrison was ever stationed on Corellia). While others had merely ended up there through no effort of their own, left behind by countless ships that came and went daily and nightly. Most were penniless, in pain, or both. None, unfortunately, could be trusted. Few on Corellia truly know Corellia. There were two that night at Molitauv's Cantina that could be said to know Corellia. Their names were Han Solo, and Kislar Jonuta. Though Jonuta's is the least sweet temper in the universe when the argue grips and shakes him, he knows Corellia the way some men know their religion-by fathoms. He stared up at the sign over the cantina's doorway. It too had stood for two hundred years, though it had fared the ages less well. Jonuta saw the blast mark on it, knew who had shot it, and knew that it was the last thing they ever shot. Only a few eyes glanced upon Jonuta and his companions, Kenowa, and the cat-like HRal, HReenee, as they approached the entrance. Few had been around long enough to remember their last visit, though it had been only a year ago. Fewer still would be around, or alive, for their next one. Jonuta knew just where to find Han. Knew even which booth he would be sitting in. As it turned out, he was right on both counts. Jonuta admired Han for this. It was not that Han was predictable, only careful, and that was something that Captain Cautious understood. Han sat in the corner booth that offered the best view of the cantina, and of the door. What did come as a surprise to Jonuta was that Han was not accompanied by an Alliance Officer as he had expected, but instead by a very beautiful woman. "Ah, hell!" Han said to Leia as he spied the trio coming through the door. "Friends of yours?" "No!" Han said. "Competitors?" "No. Leia, I think you're about to meet Kislar Jonuta." "The slaver?" Leia said, uneasy even to use the word. As far back as her life on Alderaan she had heard the name of Captain Jonuta. He was once part of a slaver cartel operating within Alderanni space. It was an embarrassment to the House of Aldreaan, and a blight upon her people, and she hated them the way one hates a disease. Leia had taken it upon herself to drive the vermin from her world, and abolish slavery everywhere she could find it. In the end all she had managed to do was make it unprofitable. The cartel had left Alderaan, not defeated, just financially overextended. "He captures people on low tech worlds and transports them halfway across the galaxy, selling them at the slave auctions on Dramier and Bleak, or as slave labor to the mines on Franji." Han said as Jonuta's eyes met his. Han shook his head, "This is not good." Leia kissed him on the cheek. "You do have some interesting friends." Jonuta stopped just inside the doorway. He was remembering Jonuta's Rule #9, "when entering a cantina, always look as though you're capable of leaving it-alive." His blaster was secure in the equhyde holster at his side. Kenowa carried her's in a low slung hip holster. It was small, but most clients of a cantina knew better than to judge a blaster by its size. HReenee was wearing only a gold caftan that hung loosely about her. She looked unarmed, but noone dared guess what she might be carrying under it. It wasn't wise to guess in a cantina (in reality she carried no additional weapons save those that nature had given her, which were usually enough to do the job). Jonuta reached into a hidden pocket behind his belt. He produced a credi card and handed it to HReenee. "Here sweetheart, get yourself a drink, and in ten minutes if everything looks okay bring me one as well....and try not to kill anyone until then." HReenee took the card and paced away. Most eyes in the cantina followed her. "As for you...." Jonuta said to an excited Kenowa. "I know you've been waiting for this." He reached into his boot leg and produced a holocording card and tossed it to Kenowa. "Akima Mars!!!!" Kenowa shouted with excitement, nearly leaping out of her leotard. "The latest." Kenowa read the title. "Bound for Glory." She knew what it implied. "Are they....mechs?" She asked, her eyes growing wide. "Tenticles." Jonuta replied. "Owwwwwwww!!" Kenowa squealed with excitement. "Enjoy." Jonuta said as Kenny ran off looking for the nearest holocube. Alone, Captain Jonuta walked casually toward Han and the woman seated in the corner booth. Quietly Han reached under the table and unsnapped his holster. The action wasn't missed by Jonuta, who held up his hands, palms forward as he approached the seated pair. "Okay if I join you?" He asked them. "What if it isn't?" Han replied. "It has to be." Jonuta said with a tone of urgency in his voice. Han was surprised. Jonuta was not known for urgency. "And who might this be?" Jonuta said taking Leia's hand. He reached down to kiss it, intentionally ignoring the look on Leia's face. "I'm Leia," she said, "Princess Leia." "Princess?" Jonuta said, glancing knowingly at Han. "Nice work. You're following Jonuta's Rule #35. What are you Princess of?" "Alderaan." Leia stated firmly. Jonuta stopped in mid kiss. After a pause he finished and looked at Han, "but you broke Rule #39." "Which is?" Han asked. "When associating with royalty, make sure their world still exists." Leia ignored it. "I'm going to get a drink. I'll leave to two of you to get reacquainted." She slid out of the booth and walked away. Han looked sternly at Jonuta. "What the hell are you doing? You know you could be arrested, even here." Jonuta waved a hand carelessly across the room, "here, there, and everywhere. I've gotten used to it." "Still got Kenny, I see. What happened to Sweetface?" "The Jarp? He's no longer with me." Jonuta replied. "I'm sure." Han stated, and looked over to the bar. Leia was standing a few feet from HReenee. "What about that other....kranj, I don't even know what the hell that is!" "Her name's HReenee, and she's a HRal. She's very warm. Very....accommodating." Jonuta said. "What happened to Janja? She hasn't found you yet?" "Not as far as I know. But if she had, I wouldn't know about it." Han laughed. "Still making trips to Kamino, I see." "Only for the occasional download. I want to keep the clones 'current.'" "So you might be Jonuta #3 and I'd never even know it." "Neither would I, or Kenny, or anyone. I'd like to keep it that way." "Janja wouldn't." "She'll give up eventually." Jonuta said. "I doubt it." Han said. "Can you blame her? Hell, what do you expect. You land on her tech 3 world. Blast the spear out of her hand. Stick her in a holocage. Fill her full of "Breeder's Friend", and...." "Okay, point taken." Jonuta said interrupting. "That's why I have the clones." "Still Captain Cautious." Han said chuckling. "So why are you here?" Jonuta paused. "We're being watched." "I don't see anyone. From where?" "The one booth that you can't see from where you're sitting. Female, Human. Dark shoulder-length hair. Wearing a black liqui-skin bodysuit. Smoking a synthi-cig." "Pell Mell?" Han asked. "Correct." "Unfiltered." Han stated. "Yes, how about her lip covering?" Jonuta asked. "Probably MAX, No. 401." "Correct, 'Burnt Amber.' She probably wears 'Temptation.'" "Suspicion No. 5." Han replied. "Okay, I can see that. So who is she?" "Her name's S'Lara." Han said. "Trouble?" "Could be. Is there a nervous looking kid with her?" "No, she's got a fellow with her though. Probably a bodyguard. Former military, from his blaster and the way he's trying not to look at me. Long hair, so he's out now....and has issues. Why, who's the kid?" Jonuta asked. "My son." Jonuta gave Han a disapproving glance. "I guess you must have missed that class."