"Agenda Item #14"
Fan written fiction by Joseph Miley


"Follow me." The Rodian watchman handed the silver droid back the
scandoc, and punched a code into the wall computer terminal. The the
triple-layered blast doors parted one at a time, and M8PD was escorted
into the throne room of Toca Drole.  Drole was a Twi'lek pirate who
had recently attained the status of crime lord, which merited the
attention of M8's associates.
     The droid's photoreceptors adapted quickly to the dim lighting of
the chamber, and he noticed the different humanoid species represented
at the round tables scattered throughout the room.  A Gamorrean looked
up briefly from the unidentifiable animal he was consuming, and then
resumed picking meat from its spine with his teeth.  Two Squid-headed
Quarren ignored his presence entirely, slurping some foul looking
liquid from small bowls.  A Gotal and a typically too-tall member of
the Duros species sat and smoked to the left of the droid, and a
rather scruffy human and a Jawa sat to his right.  A chubby Kitonak
wobbled from table to table, filling empty glasses and handing out
dishes of food.  At the head table, Toca Drole lounged in her
oversized chair, seemingly ignoring everything but the fruit she was
eating in a provocative manner.  Her plentiful jewelry, as well as the
low cut of her dress and her long bare lege, were obviously designed
to distract her audience.  Not surprisingly, M8 failed to be
impressed.  A stocky, scarred Devaronian sat to her left, and a huge
Herglic loomed behind her to her right, apprising M8 with a menacing
stare.  Probably Head of Security, the droid silently noted.
     "Speak!" the Rodian watchman insisted as he struck the back of
the droid with the staff of his force pike.  M8 turned his incestoid
head to glare at the Rodian.  In a surprisingly deep voice, the droid
barked "Touch me again, and I break yer filthy arm!"
     This undroidlike behavior brought the full attention of Toca
Drole's court to the battered Industrial Automation modified pilot
droid, including Toca Drole.
     "Glim. Why is this droid here?"  Toca Drole demanded of the
Devaronian.
     The Devaronian, produced a datapad from his crimson cloak, and
leaned closely to Toca Drole's head, carefully avoiding avoiding
touching her long head tail with his horns.  "Agenda Item 14. A new
business venture." he replied.
     "Well?"  Toca Drole asked impatiently, leaning away from the hot
breath of her assistant to accept a new fruit dish from the Kitonak
servant.
     "Zek Stark, notorious smuggler, has started a bold enterprise
known as Canaan Scout Information Services.  We provide information,
as well as find and transport 'rare commodities.'  He has asked me to
offer our services to you, for a reasonable fee, of course." M8 tossed
his scandoc on the table in front of Drole.
     Glim recovered the scandoc and glaring disdainfully at the droid
for its brazen behavior.
     "Who is this Zek Stark?" Toca Drole asked her assistant.
     Glim glanced at the scandoc, and then moved close to Drole's head
again, to her discomfort.  "According to our sources, Zek Stark was
somehow involved with the Empire.  For some indiscretion of duty, he
was given to Kumac the Hutt as a gift. Kumac has long preferred to
surround herself with attractive male servants from different
species. He served as a spaceship mechanic for Kumac, and then was
given to a Trianii named Paka."
     "Paka?  The same cyborg pirate that use to smuggle 'economic
refuges' out of the Corporate Sector?" Toca Drole interrupted, moving
from her lounging position to a more business-like stance.
     Zek had predicted that his former connection with Paka would get
Toca Drole's full attention.  Drole had a well known hatred for the
Corporate Sector Authority. She had preyed on many a Corporate supply
ship in her pirating days.  M8 made a mental note not to tell Zek that
he was right.  Most humans were self-righteous if you ever give them a
chance to say "I told you so", and Zek Stark was no exception.
     "The same Paka who also served as one of the honored Sheylecs of
the Hutts." Glim nodded enthusiastically, coming dangerously close to
nicking Drole with his horns.  "A Sheylec is a neutral emissary
between rival Hutt clans.  One does not act against a Sheylec without
approval of all...."
     "Yes, I know full well what a Sheylec is."  Toca Drole pushed the
horned head away from her.  "So Zek Stark traveled with the great
Paka.  What else do you know?"
     "Our sources also tell us Stark served as his copilot aboard the
Canaan Scout, a modified light freighter that Stark later used to
avenge the death of Paka by the hand of Governor Brak.  Brak was a
former Imperial governor who tried to incorporate his resources after
the death of the Emperor.  Brak dealt in probe droids officially, and
slaves and 'modified' probe droids unofficially." Glim stated.
     Toca Drole noted with some satisfaction that Glim did not mention
Brak's illegal spice trade.  Maybe her intelligence advisor was not as
thorough as he constantly claimed.
     "..Brak had captured a young human girl with Jedi abilities. He
was going to use her in some sort of scheme to take control of a
sizable portion of Corporate Space.  Zek Stark foiled Brak's dreams of
expansion by rescuing his prisoner from Brak's antique Mandalorian
Dungeon Ship.  Rumors at the time named Zek's associates as former
Imperial Intelligence and a TIE fighter pilot."
     Toca Drole smiled wickedly, fondly remembering a TIE fighter
pilot she had kept as a love slave for a short time. Her mood quickly
cooled, however, as she noticed her grizzled human bounty hunter was
suddenly paying closer attention to the droid and Glim than his
meal. Perhaps Glim is right about Berellian Frale being an informant
for the Corporate Sector Authority, something she would have to give
more attention.
     Glim interrupted her observations by continuing. "Rumors also
gave credit to Stark and his Imperial friends for bringing down Brak's
private empire through inciting a revolt among the native Xal on his
home planet, and was likewise responsible for the Droid Rebellion of
Gul IV."
     So Zek Stark did not like to be meddled with, Toca mused.  That
was respectable enough.  Resourceful, too.
     "Interesting.  Thank you." Toca dismissed the droid with a casual
wave, turning toward the fruit dish in front of her.
     M8 hesitated at the abrupt dismissal, which caused the Rodian to
shove the droid. The pilot droid turned around with amazing speed,
grasped the Rodian's right arm, and twisted it sharply with an audible
snapping noise.
    The Kitonak lost control of the pitcher he was holding, drenching
Berellian Frale in Corellian brandy.
     The Rodian watchman dropped to his knees, grasping his arm with a
cry of pain.  The droid simply shoved the Rodian out of his way, and
proceeded to exit through the blaster doors, with no apparent haste.
      The Herglic behind Toca Drole raised a blaster from the hidden
folds of his crimson cloak, as other members of her court reached for
their own weapons.
     "No."  Toca Drole dismissed the Herglic with a gesture.  "An
enterprise that has such character might be useful to us.  Leave the
droid alone."
     "As if I am a damn messenger..." the droid clearly muttered as he
walked out of sight, adding to Drole's amusement.
     "Useful, indeed." Toca Drole thought, as she considered hiring
this Canaan Scout Information Services.  She would pay handsomely
enough if they were able to ferret out the hidden location of her long
time nemesis, the semi-retired Talon Karrde...

          To be continued...

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