[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/uxpEJQH.jpg?1[/img][/center]
[right][b][sup]Black Spire Outpost, Batuu[/sup][/b][/right][hr]
As soon as the Dawn's boarding ramp cracked open, the sounds and smells of Black Spire Outpost began to filter towards Huc. He breathed deep, allowing each scent to bring back a memory. Ever since they had come to the more remote reaches of the Outer Rim to fulfill their mission, Black Spire had become Huc's favorite place in the galaxy. A true frontier town, it was one an important port of call for fuel before the invention of hyperspace travel allowed ships to pass it by. Now it was nothing more than a place people came to get lost, or make a quick credit on dangerous frontier work.

The landing ramp finished its cycle, and standing there waiting for them was Oga Garra, the Blutopian and defacto leader of the outpost. She wasn't as tall as Gar, but she was as wide. The pale pink tentacles on her face twitched as she saw the crew of the Dawn, "Well, if it isn't my favorite crew."

"Oga," Huc put his arms out and flung one around her broad shoulders, "we brought your wine. I know you've been itching for a shipment."

Her eyes shifted over to him as they walked down the ramp, "Uh, yea, sure. Wine. I'll have my guys come take it out of the hold."

"A fine year, you're going to love it," Yu'li winked as they passed out of the docking bay and into the main stretch of the Black Spire marketplace. 

"Hey, Duck," Huc called back to the droid, "help the guys when they come for the shipment."

"Fine, fine," the droid responded. "Make the contraband move the-"

"Shut up, Duck!" Gor shushed the droid as he made his way gingerly down the ramp.

"One day you're going to sell that droid to me," Oga elbowed Huc in the ribs.

"You already have a Star Tours model," he shook his head in return.

"Yea, but Duck would be way more dynamic of an entertainer," she shrugged.

The mud buildings that lined the long, narrow street of the marketplace were older than almost anything on Corellia, but their ancient architects were clearly skilled as they still stood strong. The centuries of inhabitants had worn on them of course. While they were almost certainly sparkling and pristine when they were first built, now there was laundry hanging between wires strung between upper windows and the faint din of music floating from terraces. Along the streets, merchants hawked their wears. Everything from toys to blasters were on display. If there was something you wanted, you could get it in Black Spire...for a price.

Huc's fist clenched as he saw how many Stormtroopers were patrolling the marketplace, looking at products and seemingly questioning the locals. They were looking for something, that much was certain. What it was, he didn't know, but they shouldn't be here. 

Yu'Li must have sensed his anger, and took his hand, squeezing it softly. He looked over to her, and she gave him a reassuring smile. He nodded back, understanding what it meant.

[i]Not now.[/i]

Yu was his rock. The best friend he had ever had, she was the cool, calm, collected one between them. Even though she had been split from her family and enslaved by the Empire, she could still hold her head when she was around them. Meanwhile, Huc was almost always ready to take down a squad of troopers. Maybe her cool demeanor was why she was such a good shot. All he knew, though, was that she was loyal and would do anything for him, and he for her.

"Want to grab a drink?" Oga asked as they approached her cantina. "It's on the house."

"How could we pass that up?" Gor-Nada laughed haughtily and stepped through the door to the bar. Immediately, the sound of music and the din of conversation burst forth.
[hider=Music][youtube]https://youtu.be/1_5I39eMqUY[/youtube][/hider]
The group move into the bar, and a smile came over Huc's face. The diverse, large crowd that filled the cantina was so much different than Corellia, it always brought a thrill to him. The dim lighting that came from each of the tables helped hide some of the faces of each being inside, but it couldn't mute the colors of their skin, their drinks, or the smiles as they enjoyed themselves. 

Tanks of varying size, shape, and orientation containing liquors, ales, and wines bubbled and churned above the bar. Taps made from starship parts and droid arms were pulled by the Aqualish bartender, Dud. He nodded when he spotted the crew walk in, just as he slid a drink down the bar towards a Quarren.

One of the clay-built walls of the cantina, right across from the bar, had part of it hollowed out. Inside, a makeshift stage was set up. Inside, an RX series pilot droid, which Duck's AC series replaced, turned on its attached base, flipping switches and playing the beats that reverberated off the cantina walls. Rex, as he was known, bobbed his head like a Takodonan chicken. 

Oga led the crew of the Corellian Dawn into her office, and the assembled group took seats on the plush couches. The Blutopian poured drinks from a private tap, and Huc took a big swig. The sour brew with notes of berry was a welcome and calming respite after a mission.

"Trandoshan ale!" Gor's satisfaction was palpable. "My favorite."

"I'll put a keg on the Dawn as part of your payment," Oga nodded before looking at Huc. "What did you bring me?"

"Blasters," he shrugged. "Lots of 'em. By the looks of things, you might need them."

"Why is the Empire here, Oga?" Yu asked. "We've never seen a presence like this on Batuu. A small group here or there, but nothing like this."

The large, aquatic alien shifted uncomfortable on her seat. She looked down at her feet before turning back to them, "They showed two days ago. Been searching for something. Mostly around Doc's store. Don't know what they want, but some pale looking guy seems to be leading them. Think the extent of their power is the Star Destroyer."

"Another two bit Moff who wants some glory then," Huc rolled his eyes. When the Rebellion shattered the Empire, it broken into a million different pieces like shards of glass. And every one of those shards seemed to be sheering its way through the galaxy, ripping its own painful hole as it went. Even in defeat the Empire was hurting people. It made Huc's blood boil. 

"Why Doc?" Gor asked. 

Doc Ondar, an Ithorian, ran an antiques shop in the square. It was one of the bigger shops in Black Spire, and was filled with some of the most wonderful junk Huc had ever seen. But it wasn't anything he'd ever expect the Empire to be interested in.

"No clue," Oga shook her head. "He doesn't seem to want to tell me. I think he thinks I might rat him out to get the Empire off Batuu."

"To be fair, I don't blame him for that," Huc winked at their contact.

She tipped her glass towards him and continued, "Maybe he'll talk to you. Always seemed to like you for some reason. Dunno why."

"Yea that doesn't make sense," Yu looked at Huc over the rim of her drink with squinted eyes, her pink skin catching the dim light like a sunset.

"Very funny," he shook his head and downed the rest of the ale. "You guys hang out here. I'll see what the crazy old Ithorian's got that the Imps want so bad."