Grillfe

This is a chapter from a short series I wrote for my RP character for an Edge of the Empire Campaign. This is only fanfiction and I claim no ownership to any of the Star Wars Property.

Content Warning: Threats of violence, sexual implication detestable main character.

Coruscant 5th district, 9th cycle. Shipyard owner Kaven Toss walks home after a long day of negotiations with the shipwrecks union. Significant loss of profits and politicians of the old guard breathing down his neck to find a resolution. He had been planning to wait them out, but doing so was costing him too much, and the police presence was unable to perform their duties as of yet. It was one thing to commit an atrocity in the outer rim on something like Ryloth and another to do it in the backyard of the capital of the empire. In three days, imperial troops would arrive; those bucket heads were so trigger-happy that the problem would be completely solved, and in the eyes of the public, their boys in white could do no wrong. Kaven passed his doorman. Kaven had begun to tire of the presence of the species. Sure, the women were well and good for a bachelor party, but the men, especially second-generation men, had this attitude about them he just couldn’t stand.

“Good day ta ya, sir,” The twi'lek nodded to him. Another thing he couldn’t stand was that absurd and idiotic accent.

“Yes,” he walked past them into an extravagant lobby of the apartment complex and passed the receptionist. She must have been new because the one he remembered wasn’t a twi'lek. “They're like womp rats,” He said under his breath as he passed her.

He presses the elevator button to go to the 156th floor. Kaven looked out the elevator door while waiting for them to shut. Then he saw it a servant carrying groceries another twi'lek. Kaven pressed the close door button rapidly, unfortunately, to no eval.

“Oh, bless your blood for holding the door,” She sighed. He had never heard that turn of phrase before. Usually, they said heart rather than blood. Perhaps it was some liberal saying since not all species have hearts but multiple pumping organs along the veins.

“Not a problem,” Kaven shuffled away from the servant. He only then noticed the kid. It must have been the master of the house kid because he was human. It was unseemly to take a person of importance to such menial tasks.

He took a breath, only just realizing that she hadn’t selected a floor, meaning that they would be stuck together all the way up. Then he took a glance at her. She was well endowed, as all women of her people were, but she was on the older and heavier side, which was rare to him. Then again, most of them that he met were…. Exotic entertainers. As his eyes followed up the curvature of her body, she caught men. He looked up to the ceiling. It's a shame the kid was here. He could have gotten a quicky for a few credits.

“Don’t I know you,” her voice was smooth and non-confrontational.

“I don’t think so.”

“Na, I know ya. You were on the news. Yes, you’re in charge of the shipyards.” She said as though she had just met a celebrity.

“I am,” Kaven didn’t remember giving any interviews about the situation, but they must have used a photo for the news segment.

“Well hows it goin with all that.”

“It will be over with shortly.”

“I hope for your sake.”

“Hmm? What do you mean by that?” I shot a look back at her, and she was staring at me with the widest grin and no hate in her eyes.

“Just puttin’ all those people’s lives in flux must weigh real heavy on you.” The floor pinged, and she left, dragging the kid behind her.

Kaven stood for a second, watching her walk away and thinking about her words. He shook his head while walking to his apartment. A familiar mechanical click signaled the unlocking of the door after he entered his passcode. The suite was dark as he reached for the switch; before he could touch it, it was lightened. The door behind him clanged shut and locked. Kaven’s face went pale, and he called out. “Hello, anyone there.” He slowly walked toward the main living space.

“Imma just in your livin space,” The voice was casual which to Kaven was more disturbing than if it were violent. He walked into the room and saw yet another twi'lek standing in dirty boots on his Wampa rug. “Nice place ya got here, mister Toss.” He wore black cloth gloves and had a mask that covered his mouth and long sleeves covering his lekku. “I hope you had a good day sir.”

“Who are you? How did you get in.” Kaven walked toward a disk in which he hid a blaster pistol.

“We’ve already done introductions today, so I would like to bypass the pleasantries, Kaven. You don’t mind if I call you Kaven, do you.” He watched Kaven walk toward the desk, fumble with a glass, and pretend to look for some alcohol in the drawers whilst really looking for the blaster.

“Whatever you like, you,” He kept looking for the blaster. “But, I would prefer that you look at me whilst I’m speaking to ya.” His voice sounded like a father lightly guiding a child.

“I’m just trying to get a drink.”

“Then you’re lookin through tha wrong drawer.” A cold fear splashed over Kaven. “It’s in tha second one if I’m remembering right.” It was.

“So what do you want?” Kaven grabbed the neck of the bottle and shakily poured a glass.

“I want to talk about what you’re going to do tomorrow,” Kaven turned around and saw them sitting on a footstool, watching him. “ As we both know, the imperial army is coming, and we both know about their skill,” Kaven walked toward the chair, but his path was quickly blocked by the intruder's arm. “No, you can sit on the floor,” He waited for Kraven to sit on the floor he refused. “I want you to accept the next deal you are given.”

“So you are part of the union. What makes you think you’ll get away with this? The empire will find you.” The intruder took a sip from his glass.

“Who, are they going to find? I’m a no one with a gun. And before you think about how you could just up security, I know thirty different ways to get to you. I know the places you eat, Sogerilly’s artisanal Multmigs, I know where you get food, that little place where you talk to Jannak Orma, I know where you get your ass fucked, the Red Hall room 5. I know you inside and out, and I hate you.” Kaven could see the hate. “Please have a seat.” He pointed to the ground, and Kaven sat. “You are going to accept the deal, or I’ll be seeing ya. I can’t say you’ll be seeing me” There was silence. “I need you to agree.” A tear rolled down the man's face. “I can’t hear ya.”

“Yes, I’ll do it.” Kaven’s Hand went limp, and he spilled his drink on the ground.

“Bless your blood, Kaven.” The intruder got up and left out the front door.

The next day, Kaven left the meeting room, having agreed to the worst deal he could have. As he left he could only see just how many twi'leks where around him how it could be any of them.