You are Approached by an Idealistic Young Man

You catch the waitresses' ear, and press some coins into her hand. You tell her to spread the word that Corvin Marks is here, and he's looking for work.

You expect to have to wait a few days for word to spread, and so are surprised when you are approached by a young man that very evening. He looks nervous, rubbing at a scar on his neck, but he hurries over when he spots you.

"You're Corvin, right? Corvin Marks?"

"I am. And you are?"

"They call me Walden. I... look, I'm going to go out on a limb here. I'm risking a lot just talking to you, but I need your help." Tekka sits up interestedly. Danger, intrigue, this has her written all over it.

"Kid, I don't know what your danger is, but I'm not ratting you out to anyone. Hell, I haven't been here long enough to know who to rat you out to. You can talk here."

He looks relieved, and launches into a hurried tale. "I used to be a ****. Born one, raised one, figured I'd die one too. Well a few years back, something changed. A **** came through, big Cathar gladiator named Nojahl. Didn't act like other slaves. They'd whip him and he didn't care. Beat him, and he'd get back up. Eventually, they realized nothing they were doing had any effect. Always went out and fought, always won, but wouldn't do any of the other bullshit they ask the slaves to do. Long as he won, the Hutt who bought him looked good. Long as the Hutt looked good, they left him alone. Other guys looked up to him though. Man who doesn't break gets looked up to down there."

Tekka speaks up excitedly. "And you want us to set him free?" Walden looks over, as though seeing her for the first time. His jaw hangs open, and you have to snap your fingers to get his attention.

"Uh, no. No. He's already free. See, when they left him alone, gave him special treatment, he'd use it to bribe folks, or influence guards. Started sneaking slaves out. Helping them get free. Guys like me, who never even imagined it would be possible." Walden rubs the scar on his neck reflexively; probably where an explosive device was roughly torn out. Like by Cathar claws. "When they started to figure it out, he just broke out. They say he killed a hundred Gamoreans and fled into the wastes."

That seems... unlikely, but the bones of the story are probably true.

"So you need us to... do what exactly? Sounds like he has things pretty well handled. You know I usually catch guys like him, right?"

"That's the thing. He didn't just run and hide. He keeps coming back, freeing slaves, stealing weapons. Word is he wants to start a revolution. Merchants are starting to put bounties on him. Recently a bunch got together and pooled their offers. It stands at 8000 credits to bring him in alive right now." You whistle appreciatively, and Tekka elbows you beneath the table.

"Some of us, guys who he got out, don't want him to die out there. But someone's gonna take the money eventually, no matter how scary Nojahl is." That's true. You're sympathetic to this guy's plight, but even you are tempted. "So we got together. Begged, borrowed, stole every scrap we could. One guy? Sold himself BACK into slavery, that's how much this is important to us. We owe him."

"So you have money, and you're talking to me. Let's get to the how much, the what for, and the why I should do it."

"We have 5000 credits. We want you to find him, bring him to us alive, before some other bounty hunter brings him in dead. We have a friend who can stow him on a ship. If we can convince him to leave at least for awhile, maybe gather support somewhere else until the heat dies down, he can come back stronger than ever. I don't know. Whatever gets him off planet. We just want to see him safe."

"You left out the 'why I should do it.'"

"We need a good man. Slaves talk. Someone heard your name, passed it along to someone else who could look it up. Passed it along to me. Word is you're a good man. It's not the best price, but it's a fair enough one." There's a resolute fire in his eye as continues. "That, and you'll have appreciation of a whole lotta folks all around this city."

"Their appreciation and 5 credits might buy me a drink in this dive," you grumble softly.

Tekka chimes in. "We have to do it! Escaped slaves, rebel forces, an undoubtedly daring escape. What more could we ask for in a job?" A look at Walden's face tells you he just felt in love with her. Probably forever, the poor bastard.

You sigh to yourself. We could ask for about 3000 more credits for one. When did you become a damn charity? But the way Tekka's practically bouncing up and down tells you she's likely to take the job herself if you don't.

"I'll do it. Tekka, stay in town and stick with Walden. Find out everything you can, and figure out how to get Nojahl to the escape point when I bring him in."

Tekka cheers, Walden looks like he's just relaxed for the first time in years, and you finish your drink. You have a lot of planning and gearing up to do tonight.

Tomorrow, the hunt begins. Goddamn it.