Maria was currently lying on a couch with an ice bag over her face. The three of us sat in different positions around her.
"So what actually happened?" asked Trace.
Maria slowly sits up on the couch. Her posture slouched and depressed.
"It was the blood fang gang. Those guys are relentless. I got cornered and they tried to force me to sell the shop. When I refused they started beating me up. Luckily for me a patrol came by. Otherwise I would have been in a worse state" she said while massaging her temples.
"I thought this entire level was turf for the Cartel. Why is a small-time gang trying to make moves on their turf? Shouldn't they be protecting you?" asked Ahsoka.
"The Cartel allows smaller gangs to operate within its territory as vassals of sorts. They have to pay tribute monthly. And they can't do anything extreme. Otherwise they are free to do anything in their allotted turf. The only ones the Cartel protects are those businesses who pay tribute to them directly" explained Trace looking worried.
"Or those that have business ties or are subsidiaries of Straxon corporation. No one dares touch those" says Rafa with a tired sigh "Now you know why I am so adamant on getting that business proposal I put in approved" she said looking at me.
I could only nod my head at her frustrated statement. Life in the under cities is never easy. According to Trace it has gotten a whole lot better after the Cartel moved in, but it was still a cut throat environment to live in. No wonder these people have little love for those from the surface levels.
"Let's just make sure mom is healed and taken care of for now" said Trace, taking our attention back to Maria who was at this point leaning back into the Sofa asleep.
(Time Skip)
Late at night I was creeping through the shadows towards a bar which served as the headquarters for the blood fang gang. It was a medium sized partially rundown establishment. One of the few apparently run by the gang and used as fronts for their operation.
After observing for a while from a nearby alley I get a clear picture of what's going on in there. This blac not only served as a pub but also a drug den/brothel. That much was clear from what I could see and sense with the force.
I decide to take a closer look and jump onto a ledge near the window of a room from which I sense a group of well armed people were gathered. One of the benefits of being a force adept.
"Boss, we gotta make a move soon. If not we will lose our chance" said one of the goons.
"What are you on about? Didn't you boys 'convey' the importance of Paying debts thoroughly" asked the so-called Boss. A fat Zabrak.
"Yes we did. But We just got wind of something. One Maria's daughters have applied for a Subsidiary license under Straxon Corp. It will take a month to get approved after thorough checking. And if it passes we won't be able to touch their properties or them" said the Goon.
"That is troublesome. AARGH. Why can't they just obediently hand over those properties!" shouts the agitated boss and slams the table.
"Well they did pay off their debts last month. We just keep adding interest to it so they can't do anything to it. They don't know their exact numbers because their dead father was a fool and gambler" said another goon leaning on the wall.
"We have to do something quickly. Maybe we could discredit them in the eyes of the Company. That could help our cause" suggested the first goon.
"That could help. Either Way there is no use worrying about it. We will give them one week before we start turning up the pressure. We still have the documents signed by the dead husband naming the property and hangars as collateral. Now back to your jobs" said the boss before taking a sip of whatever concoction was in this glass. Seems like Maria's late husband was a good man but poor at handling money. SIGH
Slowly the men left the room leaving only the Boss behind. Once he was sure he was alone, the boss slowly made his way to a portrait hanging on the wall. After punching in some codes on a hidden keypad a hidden safe opens. If they were to keep important documents hidden somewhere this would be the place.
I slowly slide in through the window and sneak up on the boss. One strong chop to the back of the neck was enough to knock him out.
"Hmm. Let's see what we have here" I start to slowly rummage through the safe.
There were stacks of credit chips, data chips and datapads. And since I don't have enough time to check which data stick or tab, I might as well take them all. While at it the Credit chips will prove useful as well. I start dumping all the contents of the safe into a bag lying nearby. I will sift through it later. Once done I quickly make my egress through the window I used to come in.
(Time Skip)
It takes me some time to get back to the workshop. The gang realized someone robbed them and it was only a matter of time before they found out.
As I quickly made my way into the workshop I was greeted by the sight of Trace working on the YV-929 the sisters were going to use for their new company. Hopefully the first of many ships of the Martez shipping company.
"How goes the modifications?" I asked her as I trudged past.
"Progressing. Slowly*SIGH*" She said tiredly "only if we had access to some better suppliers, I would have this baby up and running in no time" she said, putting the tools down and turning to me.
She sees the bag I am carrying and asks " What do you have there?"
"Follow me and I will show you. I need both Maria and Rafa there when I show you" I said beckoning her to follow me to the house.
I eventually gathered the family of three around the dinner table.
"What's happening? Do you have something to show us Ahsoka?" asked Maria who was recovering quickly from the beating she took.
"Yes" I said while nervously rubbing my hands together. What I did could possibly cause serious trouble for the family of three if not handled properly.
I place the bag on the table and start rummaging through it. I place the data slate in front of them.
"I took it upon myself to liberate the original of the contract your husband made with the bloody daggers. Now they have nothing to hold against you" I explained.
"But that doesn't stop them from coming after us anyways does it?" asked Rafa with a frown "Especially if they suspect if it has something to do with us".
"That's where the rest of these Data chips come in. They must have something we can use against them. Plus if they press Maria for money we can just pay them off with the credits I stole from them" I said with a toothy grin. Maria laughs at that, but groans from the pain of her bruised ribs.
"Well then we better get started" says Trace grabbing a bunch of data slates to go through. Rafa and I joined her.
(time Skip)
We spent four days combing through data without much rest. What we found was interesting.
The bloody daggers were working with other local gangs and funded by someone higher up in the Republic leadership. The main purpose was to regain total control of the lower levels.
"This data is the key to our salvation!" says Rafa dramatically. Tiredness was getting to her head.
"True. If we give this to the Straxon group we can get on their good books. If we play this right we can also get their backing for our company." said Trace with a bit of excitement.
"We have to be careful. It looks like some big wigs in the republic are backing them. If we do this we will be solidly on the side of the Mandos" said Maria from the couch.
" Are you guys sure you want to go through with this?" I asked cautiously. Even though I am having second thoughts about the Republic and the Jedi. It still brought a sour taste to my mouth.
"It's not like the Republic did shit for us. If it were not for the Mando backed Corpos and gangs the lower levels would have remained living hell holes" said Rafa folding her hands in front of her chest.
"Very well. And I think I can help you guys with getting in contact with the right people '' Thank god I still kept the coms device Thrunn gave me. Hopefully I can get in contact with him or his people with it.