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Thaddeus
Double Majoring in Moonfire and Neology
282 posts
89 likes
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last online Jan 16, 2015 2:57:43 GMT -5
Padawan
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Jul 28, 2014 14:38:58 GMT -5
Post by Thaddeus on Jul 28, 2014 14:38:58 GMT -5
Balkk allowed himself to smile a little as he saw Shorza slowly close his eyes. He could feel the little eddies in the Force as the Zabrak gingerly reached out, truly touching the Force consciously for the first time. Balkk's hand instinctively fell down to his saber and it ran over the smooth Lorrdian gems in its hilt. He remembered the months and days he had spent meditating on Ilum with Master Pledesin, and memories fired in his mind and flitted amid the Force that flowed through him.
"What you did jussst then..." He illustrated with his hands as was his habit. "... That wassss reaching out and sssensssing through the Force. It isss the life of the universssse, it isss in all living thingsss, bindsss them all together. There issss no life, no death, there isss only the Force." Balkk's Basic was quiet and calm as always, it lent the words a portentous tone. "Sssenssitivty to the Force isss a rare thing, though it issss in all thingsss only a few can sssense it and touch it." Balkk was not sure how aware Shorza would be of things, and so decided it was best to explain things at least somewhat.
As to why he had sought out Shorza he couldn't properly say, only that his instincts had told him that the boy was to be told about his sensitivity. Any deeper thought on the matter was put aside as Balkk noticed Shorza was walking forward, stepping aside and bowing a little he allowed the Zabrak to exit the cage.
"I apologissse, it wassss not my intent." Jedi or not it was not hard to see that Shorza's reaction spoke to something he was running from. But Balkk decided that now was not the best time to pry, not here among the metal which had caged only the Force knew how many souls. Balkk looked around as Shorza told him he should not have seen it, and quickly said that he only worked here... as if that excused it. He would have tried to explain how dangerous the practice was. For to believe that slavery was moral or even permissible was only possible after one had annihilated all reason and darkened all morals. It was an affront to the Force, for when one being suffered, when one being languished in chains, the interwoven nature of the Force meant all beings suffered and felt the weight of that chain.
But such philosophic moralizing was interrupted by the sound of clawed feet approaching, Balkk turned to face the stranger instinctively interposing himself between them and Shorza. Balkk's eyes narrowed and he looked down his snout slightly at the burly Trandoshan now leaning against the wall. While the newcomer toyed with his weapon Balkk noticeably pulled his robes in closer to conceal his lightsaber. He knew his kind, and had no desire to provoke a fight, fortunately for now the other Trandoshan seemed more curious than anything else. To Balkk the man's smile was like a greasy and sleazy second hand speeder-salesman's, muscles in his face contorted a little in distaste. But he extended his own hand and grasped Grozzack's,
"Ssish Balkk." His name was an unusual one, to capture one's prey alive was a rare thing for a Trandoshan, but to go through great difficulty to do so (as his name implied) was even rarer. Of course what is in a name? "I take it thisss iss your sship?" He looked around at the cages that lined either side of the hallway, and folding his hands in front of him as was his wont continued, "And Sssshorza here workss for you?" His tone was his usual gentle Basic only the ever so slight twitches of his muscles, the occasional flaring of nostrils, or the way his feet had now moved into the position for an opening guard betrayed that the Jedi was not simply chatting. "And your work, isss what? Sssslaving?" It was clipped with Balkk's displeasure not able to allow him to keep the word in his mouth long.
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Valcor
No longer lost in the woods
232 posts
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Meow see?
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last online Jun 1, 2021 23:31:32 GMT -5
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Jul 28, 2014 15:13:21 GMT -5
Post by Valcor on Jul 28, 2014 15:13:21 GMT -5
Shorza gazed up at Balkk curiously, but did not have the opportunity to ask Balkk if he was referring to Shorza as the Trandoshan he called boss interrupted. Grozzack continued to play with his blaster rifle lazily but made no hostile moves towards Balkk. Grozzack had been cooped up on this sand ball for weeks and only had Shorza and the locals to converse with. It was safe to say the Trandoshan was eager to talk shop with another of his species, eager enough to overlook the small clues that might have set someone else off on the fact that Balkk was not happy right now. "Capturessss your prey alive? Ha! Must like the thrill of the hunt I sssee?" Grozzack complimented as he took his hand back from the Jedi.
Grozzack was still oblivious to the profession of this other Trandoshan and assumed the robes were just an outfit choice, they did after all fit the current planet's environment and were not an uncommon sight among the locals. Grozzack kept a constant smile on his face, studying the large man in front of him slowly, "The Sssscore Keeper mussst be pleasssed with you. You are a big one!" Behind Balkk, Shorza tried to pretend he did not exist. Shorza could pick up on the subtle hints Balkk was dropping, indicating he was displeased, and was growing more and more embarrassed. He wanted desperately to get back to his engine room and sit with Hex, but the pair were blocking the path. Were it not for the red and black tattoo work on the Zabrak's face, his blush would be very apparent.
"Sssure isss! The Basssilisssk, proud Freighter of Trandosha, got her from my father when he retired..." Grozzack reponded proudly as he ran his clawed hand up and down one of the walls. "I sssee you've meet my little engineer!" Grozzack said with a bigger smile as his gaze shifted to Shorza, who avoided eye contact at all costs. Grozzack motioned for the Zabrak to come to him, noting how nervous the kid seemed. Grozzack may be a slaver, but the young kid had wiggled his way into the Trandoshan's heart, and Grozzack had come to care for the boy. He had also learned the boy's expressions, and the Zabrak's nervousness was apparent, causing Grozzack to grow slightly protective of the boy. "We've been working together for almossst, what? four yearsss now? Bessst mechanic thisss ssside of the galaxssy thisss one!" Grozzack said proudly, as a father might his son. Slowly Shorza brushed past Balkk and walked over to Grozzack's side, only for the Trandoshan to hug him into his side with his free arm not toying with a blaster. Shorza kept his eyes fixed on the ground, ashamed still and silent.
"How'd you two meet anyway?" Grozzack asked curiously and protectively, slightly concerned for Shorza and ignoring Balkk's last question, assuming the Trandoshan was just playing dumb. "You forget what I look like?" Grozzack asked before laughing heartily and looking down at Shorza. Shorza did not respond but felt a wave of relief flow over him as the loud thudding of Hex's feet made their way up the ramp. 'Thank god... Now I can keep these two from killing eachother...' Shorza said in his head as he let out an audible sigh. As Hex entered the hall, his large red lense focused on Balkk, 'How could I lack such intelligence. He came for Shorza.' Hex's processors whirred as he took a more aggressive stance, widening his feet and lowering his head. The big droid obviously did not like the Trandoshan he did not understand around his charge, and this situation seemed off to even the droid. It seemed only Grozzack was unaware of how tense the situation was, proving just how oblivious and eager for conversation the slaver was. Slowly Hex walked up behind Grozzack and Shorza, completing the trio that had been together for years. Hex's eye stayed directly on Balkk, his servos whirring ready to leap to his charge's protection should the situation turn south. Hex however was unskilled in organic conversations and had to focus on the body movements of Balkk for his cues. To Hex it appeared Balkk was ready to strike, and the droid was ready to stop it should it be aimed for Shorza.
"Ssso how high isss your ssscore Sish?" Grozzack asked, referring to the religion nearly all Trandoshans shared before he looked over his shoulder and smiled at Hex.
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Thaddeus
Double Majoring in Moonfire and Neology
282 posts
89 likes
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last online Jan 16, 2015 2:57:43 GMT -5
Padawan
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Jul 29, 2014 0:37:19 GMT -5
Post by Thaddeus on Jul 29, 2014 0:37:19 GMT -5
Balkk just nodded his head at Grozzack's amusement at his name; it was not the first time it had been remarked upon, and Balkk did enjoy the hunt for points in honourable combat. Of course Balkk knew that the chances that a slaver like Grozzack appreciated that distinction, honourable combat, was unlikely. Again silently Balkk nodded at Grozzack's compliment, though some took Balkk's laconic nature as being an insult in truth Balkk never spoke overly much. It was as much his nature as the years he spent with Master Pledesin that made him so.
"A family businesss then?" He nodded towards the rows of cells again. Balkk studied the other Trandoshan's look and tone carefully as he motioned for Shorza to join him. The smile was genuine, and the protective arm he draped over the young Zabrak was sincere. Balkk's opinion of Grozzack improved ever so slightly when he had come to this conclusion. But he noted how quiet and bashful Shorza had become, clearly not proud of his work like Grozzack was thought Balkk to himself. "Yessss I have ssseen how good a mechanic he isss." The first time Balkk's tone was warm. "Four yearssss? You mussst have found him when he wass sstill a babe?" Balkk pulled his robes around him once again ensuring that the sign of his calling was not showing, though it did jangle on his hip.
Balkk had to admit that Grozzack did share more than a passing similarity to him in appearance, "No, he fixed my ssshuttle." The mechanical thud of metal on metal echoed a little in the freighter and Balkk looked over Grozzack's shoulder to where Hex was now standing. Balkk considered the situation quickly, while he wanted to bring Grozzack to justice, and to continue his conversation with Shorza, the original path open to him seemed less feasible. For one if Shorza cared for Grozzack even half as much as the Trandoshan did for him there was no guarantee that Shorza and Hex wouldn't intervene. Not that Balkk could not successfully over come all three, no what he could not be sure of was that Shorza would not be hurt - and whether he would even be able to convince Shorza to talk to him after it all. Sighing inwardly his feet returned to a more natural stance, Balkk nodded a little at the droid as he could see that it seemed concerned for its master once more.
"I have hunted from the deep core to the outer rim for 55 yearssss, all my pointsss are honourably won." Balkk let the last few words hang in the air, and then bowed in turn from Shorza to Hex and finally the most shallow bow of all to Grozzack, before pushing past and making for the ramp. "I mussst go. Sssshorza trussst your gut."
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Valcor
No longer lost in the woods
232 posts
64 likes
Meow see?
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last online Jun 1, 2021 23:31:32 GMT -5
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Jul 29, 2014 8:45:57 GMT -5
Post by Valcor on Jul 29, 2014 8:45:57 GMT -5
Grozzack slowly rubbed Shorza's arm, feeling how tense he was and trying to calm the young Zabrak as best he could. He was unsure why the child was so on edge, but Grozzack could only conclude it had something to do with this newcomer. Grozzack's smile faded slightly as his initial eagerness for conversation with another Trandoshan waned. "Yeah, generationssss of pure blood Trandoshanssss." Grozzack claimed proudly, puffing out his chest slightly. Beside and behind the Trandoshan, the moods were not as pride filled.
Shorza slowly looked up from the floor, silently apologizing to Balkk as best he could without alerting Grozzack. Shorza's piercing blue eyes pleaded for forgiveness as he reached back behind him and gently grabbed one of Hex's massive fingers. This subtle movement was one Shorza carried with him from his childhood when he was frightened, and it showed just how much he cared for his droid. Hex in response, slowly turned his head down to look at his young creator before relaxing his stance. His feet shifted together and he once again rose up to his full height. Hex then returned his single red eye to Balkk, before giving him a slow barely noticeable nod. The droid approved of Balkk, clearly he was not as brash as many organics, Shorza included, could be and Hex acknowledged this.
Meanwhile, Grozzack, who had grown uncomfortable in the short silence that preceded Balkk's inquiry into Grozzack's relationship with Shorza, responded quickly. "Yesss, found him on Iridonia with Hexss when he was but a kid, and we've been together ever sssincsse. Little tyke sssaved my hide." Grozzack commented warmly as he hugged the Zabrak into his side. Grozzack had never had an interest in having his own children, he was much more of a hunter, but he had to admit, Shorza was the closest he would probably ever get to having one. Shorza blushed and could not help but smiled at the Trandoshan's kind words, showing the affection he felt for the burly lizard. This smile was quickly done away with though, as Shorza remembered how awkward the current situation was.
As Balkk finally talked of something Grozzack could relate to, the burly slaver smiled wide. "Haha! I have yet to venture into the deep core, but it'sss on my lissst." Grozzack responded, oblivious to Balkk's focus on honor in his comments. "Well I'll let you go, keep sssafe Ssskalli." The warm friendly Trandoshan said moving out of the way, using the Trandoshan word for comrade. Shorza flinched slightly at the comment, but remained silent. As Balkk turned his focus to Shorza, his face brightened up. Balkk's words stuck in his mind, "I mussst go. Sssshorza trussst your gut." rung in his ears. As Shorza grew lost in his own thoughts, and Balkk made his way for the exit, Hex stepped in front of the Jedi. Without another sound, Hex slowly lifted his massive gauntlet of a hand to Balkk as he had back at the Jedi's space craft. This silent show of approval and acceptance was a rare occurrence with Hex, as few were able to impress the towering body guard sufficiently. The Droid picked up on the slight twitched and tenses of the Jedi's body, indicating extreme irritation, and noted how other organics would have normally given into such feelings. Hex was also aware of the power a lightsaber wielded, and was also aware of how easily Balkk could have struck down Grozzack. Hex could not understand why the Trandoshan resisted, but he appreciated that he did, so he showed his contentment the only way he knew how, with a massive robot hand shake.
Behind Balkk, Grozzack took Shorza back into the bowels of the Basilisk, softly trying to comfort the child with promises of food he recently brought back to the ship. Shorza, however, turned and gave Balkk one final look over his shoulder, promising the Trandoshan Jedi he would do as he requested.
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Thaddeus
Double Majoring in Moonfire and Neology
282 posts
89 likes
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last online Jan 16, 2015 2:57:43 GMT -5
Padawan
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Jul 29, 2014 9:13:41 GMT -5
Post by Thaddeus on Jul 29, 2014 9:13:41 GMT -5
Balkk watched the vainglorious pride that Grozzack took in his ancestry, as if there wasn't a king who never had a peasant as an ancestor or a peasant who didn't have some king in their genealogy. Balkk said nothing, just nodded, and in between he caught Shorza's blue eyes looking at him pleadingly. His features softened and smooth out those minute signs of displeasure, Balkk did not blame the boy.
Hex's red eye transfixed Balkk and the gentle nod of the droid's he took as a good sign. Balkk listened to Grozzack relate how he had met Shorza, as brief as it was, and again despite his distaste for Grozzack and his profession he approved of his relationship to the Zabrak. No being was beyond redemption and return to the Light Balkk reminded himself of Master Pledesin's teaching.
"Yessss we all need comradesss."
Balkk noted Shorza's prideful smile at Grozzack, clearly the boy looked upon the Trandoshan with as much affection as Grozzack felt. Again he just nodded at Grozzack's desire to head into the deep core, Balkk had nothing to say which would end the encounter peacefully and which were useful so he maintained his silence.
Balkk turned to look back as Grozzack wished him well as a comrade, he inclined his head towards the Trandoshan, "May the Scorekeeper watch your hunts." Balkk knew that Grozzack would not see what he truly meant and turned once more to leave. His feet clicked along the metal, and as he was just about to turn the corner to the ramp he felt Shorza's eyes on him. Balkk paused in his step for but a second, as if in silent recognition, and then left. He was back at his shuttle before long.
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