The Apollonas: Prologue
Part 1Neoptolemos hurriedly trotted down the wide street, noting with growing concern the presence of Sith soldiers at the elevators to the lower levels. The sweeping curves of Tarisian architecture flew past as Neoptolemos marched towards the 4 men in combat armour gathered around the revolving metal doors. The sun bounced off their armour, but this was nothing special, everything in the Upper City gleamed, the buildings, the food, even the people had to be perfect. Although it was ironic that the local bar was run by a Hutt.
Neoptolemos’ short smile at this thought vanished as the soldiers turned to face him:
“Lord Apollona, can I help you?”
“No, no don’t bother yourselves, just making a quick business trip to the Middle City.”
The soldiers stepped forward, cutting him off from the elevators.
“What’s in the bag?”
Neoptolemos felt sweat break across his brow, a cold trickle worked its way down his back.
“Nothing, nothing.. just you know, files and the like…”
“… well you won’t mind if we take a look then? There’s been an incident and we have had to tighten security, nothing to worry yourself over though.”
Neoptolemos began to work his hands round his wrists, his bag contained food and medicine for the Undercity, if this was to come out he could be charged with helping the gangs, and with the Sith in charge…. That could mean death.
“There will be no need for that soldier, stand down.”
Neoptolemos swivelled to face the voice, almost tripping over in his haste, but what he saw made his heart drop.
“I recently had the pleasure of dining with Lord Apollona and his wife and I can assure you there will be no problem from him, will there Neoptolemos?”
The two red eyes bore into Neoptolemos’ skull, and he felt like confessing everything, begging for forgiveness…
“N-no none at all, im merely travelling on business.”
“See, now please allow Lord Apollona access to the elevators.”
“Yes sir.”
The soldiers bowed and retreated to their stations by the elevators. The Sith smiled at Neoptolemos, but he knew it was anything but friendly, it reminded him of the creatures he’d seen in the Undercity, the kind of smile a predator gave to its cornered prey. This particular creature had been forced upon them by Darth Malak the night before, in the guise of creating better relations between the leader of the Sith Empire and Tarisian nobility. Of course Neoptolemos’ wife, Kranthia had lapped it all up, bowing, exclaiming at how wonderful Sith occupation was. The Sith made Neoptolemos almost as sick as the other nobles, at least his peers tried to remain dignified whilst sucking the life out of the lower levels, the Sith however were openly cruel and often brutal.
“Lord Apollona is something amiss?”
“N-no, no I’ll be on my way now.”
“Certainly, however I suggest you get home soon, your wife will be waiting..”
And with that the dark cloaked figure stalked off towards the old Jedi tower, now a mockery of its former self, headquarters to the Sith on Taris.
Neoptolemos didn’t relax until the elevator stopped after an hour long journey. The doors opened, bringing in a wave of breathless air, and the stench of the Undercity. A sprawl of tents and grey clad aliens met his eyes as he stepped out of the elevator shaft. Most looked at him accusingly, staring at his fine clothes and healthy face. Rhodians, Twi’leks, Trandoshans, Ithorians, the list went on, yet every alien had something in common: the stooped shoulders the scared eyes, hands grasping onto their meagre possessions like their life depended on it. These were people who had given up, ghosts of society.
Neoptolemos crept through the crowd, or rather the crowd opened up in front of him. The Upper City noble sped to a tent erected towards the middle of the compound and rushed inside. Ducking under the flap, Neoptolemos was met with a clinging darkness, he froze, allowing his eyes to adjust enough to spot the Besalisk crouched in the corner, leaning over a young Twi’lek who was visibly throwing up. As Neoptolemos approached he had to stop himself as the pungently sweet smell of sick hit him, yet another reminder, he thought, that he was doing the right thing.
“Neo, me ol’ pal, fancy seeing you down here!” the Besalisk’s booming voice filled the small tent, in fact his body filled it as well, he was a full grown 2 meters but had to crouch in the confined space.
“Gabbar, hello, I’ve um…. brought you something.”
“Brought me something, well thats grand! Grab a pew and tell me how you’ve been getting on! Last time I saw you you were going on about some wedding, who’s was it again?”
“Gabbar, it was mine.”
“Oh, hehe” Gabbar stopped and fell into a fit of wheezing, Neoptolemos stood to assist him but the Besalisk waved him away with 3 of his hands.
“Oh no don’t mind me, just getting a bit old y’know, I’ll be fine.”
“You don’t look fine, you haven’t been… bitten have you?”
“Haha course not, they woudln’t let an ol’ greybeard like me outside the compound. No as I say age gets to everyone. Now lets have a look here…. Meat, by the stars we haven’t seen meat down here in forever! And kolto, Neo come here and give me a hug.”
And with that Gabbar lumbered over and squeezed the considerably smaller human between his 4 giant arms.
“Ok… thats enough!”
BEEP BEEP
“Ok Gabbar I have to go, my wifes calling me and the guards will get suspiscious.”
“Look after yourself youngster and.. you’re doing the right thing, this planet needs more men like you.”
Neoptolemos stepped outside of the tent and took the call on his holocommunicator.
“Neoptolemos get back here now.” Kranthia’s voice screeched through the device making Neoptolemos jump.
“I’ll be there when I finish… dearest.”
“No. You get here now. Do you understand?”
“Has something happened?”
“I DONT NEED TO EXPLAIN JUST GET HERE‼!”
