"…and that's why I had to spend four months in the Intergalactic House of Brothels" said Steve as people around him began to laugh even more.

Rob sipped at his Corellian Ale and then cleared his throat lightly. "While I am sure my story isn't going to be able to hold up to that, I'll give it a try. I warn you, however, this story is not for the unintelligent, so everyone at this table can stay but Steve."

"Get on with it, Rob, before I swat you."

Rob grinned and took another sip. "It was just after I had left Corellia and had come to Nar Shadda…"

"Well, this is the place for rent," said Jeff as he huffed the bag over his shoulder. "It's the best I could find off the 'Net, everything else seems to come with conditional employment."

Rob looked around at the building and scowled. It was a half-burnt hanger with enough room for three small freighters and an attached office. Behind the office were the living quarters, enough room for two people with modest possessions, more than what Rob and his brother had at the moment. "Why is it burnt?"

"It used to be the private hanger of a minor Hutt crime lord. She didn't make her clan happy and so they killed her."

He turned to his brother, a wry grin on his face. "Why did we come to this planet again?"

"You wanted to be a mechanic. If there's one thing Nar Shadda is in need of it is mechanics. The place runs on shipping and smuggling, and that requires mechanics and technicians."

"I'd rather be a merchant runner." He looked over the building once more and then set down his bag. "I suppose this will do. Do you have the advertisement?"

Jeff reached into his pocket and pulled out a datapad. Rob took it and clasped it in his hand.

"Go and get Torch, make sure the Jawas aren't trying to sell him or take him apart. I'll meet with the owner and finalize the details."

Jeff just nodded and walked away, humming to himself. Rob turned and walked around the hanger, looking at the half-burnt walls and the accumulation of dust on the floor. He was lost in his findings when he heard someone clear their throat behind him. Turning around quickly he came face to face with a Twi'lek woman. She was clothed in what looked like casual fatigues. She was young, in her late twenties, with a beautiful face that went well with her trim, almost athletic figure. Stepping a little bit closer to him she cleared her throat once more.

"Can I help you?"

"Yvane Usee?"

"Yes?"

Rob gave a short bow in respect and then showed her the datapad. "I'm here to inquire about the building for rent."

She took the datapad and looked it over. "All of the information seems to be filled out correctly, but I have a few questions for you myself. Follow me, please." She started walking and Rob jumped into step behind her quickly. "What exactly do you want the area for?"

"Mechanical repair; I'm going to open a repair shop for small transport and freight ships."

"Any particular reason as to why you came to Nar Shadda?"

"I'd rather not answer that, ma'am."

She looked over her shoulder briefly at him before returning her gaze ahead. "Will you be throwing any loud parties or sporting events in the building?"

"Sporting events? What kind of sporting events can you hold indoors?"

"You've never been to a Hutt party, have you?" She gave a small laugh and Rob was sure he could sense that she was amused by his naïveté. "Well, everything looks in order. So, why don't you come to my place for a drink, to celebrate the close of the deal?" She moved a little faster towards a small apartment next to the building, her name on the side.

Rob just gave a blank stare for a moment before following after her. Did I just get asked out?

The interior of her apartment was cluttered with colors and decorations of Ryloth as well as a balcony with a modest-looking hot spa on it. He gave a low whistle at the sight and remembered the time that he had gone to Ryloth with his father. It was during the hot season so he wasn't able to see much of the planet-not like there was much to see in the first place-but he was fascinated by the culture that the Twi'leks had. "This is a very beautiful place you have here, ma'am."

"Yvane, please. And thank you, it's the only reminder I have of home, aside from my brother." She walked over to a small cabinet and removed a large bottle of ale and two glasses. Pouring slowly, she motioned to the chairs in the center of the apartment. "Please, be seated."

Rob sat down and made himself comfortable. "So, Yvane, what is life like here on Nar Shadda?"

"Oh, it's a bit like any other scum-infested hub of villainy. Business is good, but it's not exactly on the most legal of terms." She handed him a glass and then sat down across from him. "So long as you don't cause too much trouble with the local crime syndicates you should be okay. Oh, and I'd advise you from even going to Nal Hutta, they'll overprice you on everything, including transportation and docking fees."

He sipped at his drink and found it to be pleasing. Normally he didn't drink, due in part because of the taste, but the texture of the liquid was very welcoming to him. "Mmm, what is this? I don't think I've had it before."

"Alderaanian Wine, very expensive and used for special occasions."

"And why did you break it out now?"

"Because it's a special occasion, Rob." She crossed her legs a little and let her lekku drape over her shoulders. "I was able to find someone to rent the place and I met a very nice young man. A Corellian, in fact, though you sound as though you have a bit Alderaanian in you."

"My mother was from Alderaan. In some way I am happy that she wasn't alive when the planet was destroyed, it would have torn her apart."

"So I take it you're all for the rebellion?"

Rob scoffed a little and shook his head slowly. "The Empire has done a lot of questionable things over the years, there's no doubt of that. However, I'm not entirely sure if I consider open rebellion an alternative; chaotic corruption is no better at rule then organized corruption." He took another long sip of the wine, letting the burning liquid run down his throat. "I am a bit sympathetic to the cause, yes, but I don't condone violent reaction when things might be workable from the inside."

Yvane just nodded a little and hummed some. "Do you want to relax a little?"

"Eh?" asked Rob, unsure of what she meant.

"The hot spa. You look as though you could use some relaxation."

Rob just blinked a little and stammered. "I-I'm sorry, I'm just a bit confused."

"Oh," she said with a sly-looking grin on her face. "You need to relax some, good sir. Now come, the spa is nice and warm, you'll enjoy it. Call it physical therapy for having traveled so far from Corellia." She got up from her chair and went into the bedroom area, the curtain dividing it and the rest of the apartment fluttering behind her as she pulled it closed.

He got up from his chair and started walking around, his mind racing a little. What is going on here? He spent a few more minutes thinking of things when he heard some rustling behind the curtains. "Yvane, I have a question."

"Yes?" came her muffled reply.

"I'm starting to get this feeling that you're coming on to me, don't you think that's strange?" he asked, his hand running through his mussed hair.

The curtain opened up and Yvane was standing there in robe. "Why would I think it's strange when it's very much the truth?" She gave another grin and moved to the hot spa on the balcony. When Rob didn't follow she turned to him and asked, "well, aren't you coming?"

"I, uh, don't have a bathing suit."

"That's no problem," said Yvane as she slipped off the robe and slide into the hot spa. "Neither do I."

Rob swallowed hard and started to undress. Once he was finished he was about ready to slip into the hot spa when there was a series of loud knocks on the apartment door started.

"Yvane? Are you in there?"

"Sith!" hissed Yvane, jumping out of the spa and grabbing her robe. "It's my brother!"

"Your brother? Here, now?" Rob jumped out of the spa as quick as he could and looked as the started to open.

"Quick, out the back way!" whispered Yvane urgently. She pointed to a door just on the other side of the bedroom curtain." I'll get in touch with you later at the building."

Rob ran for the door just as he heard a male voice say something that sounded like a curse. As soon as the door was open he ran out into the street, never looking back to make sure that he wasn't being followed. He ran for what seemed like endless blocks, weaving in and out of crowds to avoid hitting anyone and to use them as cover in case Yvane's brother was chasing after him.

Finally he stopped to catch his breath and to make sure he hadn't been followed. Leaning against a pole he felt cold and couldn't understand why. He looked around to try and figure out where he was but couldn't recognize any landmarks to get his bearings. What he did see, however, was that people were looking at him with a mixture of amusement, disgust, and curiosity. Why are people looking at me like that? And why is it so cold?

"Mommy," said a young boy as a family walked by, "whay is thawt man nakid."

Rob looked down at himself and finally noticed that he was very much one with nature. In all of the confusion he had forgotten to get his clothes. Ah, Sith!. He ran into a nearby ally but not before more people saw him. "This is just great."

"Excuse me, sir."

Rob turned around and saw a very beautiful woman around his age standing in front of him. She had beautiful hair and a smile that was a bit mischievous. Rob tried to make sure he was covered up as best as he could and blushed from embarrassment. "Y-Yes?"

"I know I'm new here, but I don't think running around without any clothes on is considered an appropriate thing here."

Rob couldn't help but laugh a little, but he was still very embarrassed.

The woman reached into a bag she had and pulled out a long jacket. "Here," she said as she handed it to him. She then turned around and waited while Rob put on the jacket.

"Thank you," he said. He pulled the jacket tightly around him and tied it off. "You didn't have to do that."

"While I admit it's strange to see someone without any clothes in the middle of Nar Shadda, I do not want to be considered someone who doesn't look out for people."

"Well, thank you for helping me. I'm Rob Baden."

"Nice to meet you, I'm Lela Nin."

"Wait," said Neill Magill as he tried to control his laughter. "Let me get this straight; you skinny-dipped with your future land-lady, streaked through the repair district of Nar Shadda, and then stood naked in front of your future girlfriend?"

Rob nodded, trying to bite back the laughter himself. "She certainly got to see what I was made of." Everyone broke out into laughter as Rob sipped his ale slowly. He grinned and nudged the XO. "What about you, sir, what did you do that was crazy?"

"Well, it was just before…"