Ral Intro Thread

[Wisconsin Wookie]

At the sound of booted feet in the hallway, Ral's eyes snap open. Even though he'd only been asleep for a few hours, Ral was instantly alert and fully aware of his surroundings - years of slavery had trained him to always be ready to defend himself. Ral thought for a moment how slavery had hardened him and steeled his nerves. With regret, he briefly remembered so many others who had not come out of this horrible way of life the same way. Too many friends and acquaintances had been broken by the process...

Not allowing his thoughts to linger too long, Ral turned his attention back to the present. The heavey footsteps were getting closer and now were accompanied by the sounds of jingling keys and heavy chains. On the bunk to his left, Marcus lay sleeping soundly.

Ral didn't really know the other 8 individuals in the cramped room. A week or so ago, their slave masters had rounded up some of the most able-bodied slaves and shipped them off to a new location. Ral was still in the process of getting his bearings.

[Methedor]

'what now?!' speeds through him mind. with the other slaves having disappeared recently there was clearly a reorganization a foot. Who were they going to take next? Well the farghul would know soon enough. For the guards sake it better not be the warden. The felanoid perked his ears up to try to identify or make out voices. His nose would of been better, however the conditions weren't favorable.

As he listened Ral Voidstar swiftly moved over to Markus and gave him a firm shake and hard whisper, "Marrcus, the gate keepers are coming." After a few moments of the attempt he turned to face the cell doors and the unknowns. His tail swaying in irritation.

(OOC: You can roll f or me, it adds more excitement to the scene.)

[Wisconsin Wookie]

Marcus, fresh out of a very deep sleep, takes as big a yawn as Ral had ever seen and says, "Now what? Is it morning already?"

As Ral faces the door, he can hear the guard getting closer - he was almost to the door now. There were no voices that he could hear, but from the heavy shuffling of the feet, Ral is guessing the overweight human guard Baldor was approaching. As Baldor reached the door and stopped, Ral detected another set of feet, though he had no guesses about who the other individual was.

[Methedor]

"Mrrrmg, Baldor and..." Voidstar sniffed the air to no avail, "Others are here." The Farghul glares at Baldor, "What do you want Baldor?" Ral sneers, "I'm afraid I'm not up to purring for folks today."

[Wisconsin Wookie]

Baldor looks through the window and flashes a quick grin on his grizzled face and says, "Watch your mouth. It's a little early in the day to get the fur beat off a ya."

With that, the door opens inward and there stands a human male who was easily 6'4" and pushing 350 pounds. The big man's frame fills the doorway and Ral can still get no glimpse of the other individual. Baldor, as usual, was wielding his stun baton and had a half-smoked cigar sticking out of the corner of his mouth.

Baldor flips on the lights and growls, "Everyone up! Time for inspection!"

[Methedor]

The Farghul flinches at the sudden increase in illumination and snorts at the smoke in the air. Grumbling he helps Marcus up for the inspection and makes sure to hide anything illicit in his possession. "We are going to get out of here some time soon." it was a whisper to Marcus and Ral hoped that when that time came he would have a chance to seek vengeance on the Warden and prove the human's assurance of Sala's death a lie.

All that was required was the right moment and hopefully help from the others. Of course maybe he could hep the right moment appear. After helping Marcus he kept his eye peeled for keys on the keepers. He was also curious as to the extra hidden person, why so secretive?

[Wisconsin Wookie]

The other beings in the room respond with groans and complains when the lights go on, though quickly jump out of bed and into position as they realize Baldor and his baton have entered the room.

As everyone falls in line, Marcus sleepily whispers in reply to Ral: "If you say so."

Once everyone was more or less in line, Baldor stepped to the side, allowing yet more light to come flooding in, but also to reveal a second human - this one female and much smaller than Baldor, though she somehow seemed more intimidating. She wore a modest pants suit expertly pressed and adorned with gold buttons that someone had obviously spent many hours polishing to a perfect shine. Immediately Ral was hit with the aroma of way too much perfume from this individual.

The woman stepped into the room with her hands clasped behind her back and an expression that gave away her obvious lack of respect for those assembled before her.

[Methedor]

Ral gagged and took a step back as the perfume overwhelmed his senses. This person was completely new and she looked too dressed up to be in a place like this and her superior attitude was almost visible.

'Maybe she was a buyer?' he thinks, trying to figure her out. 'Maybe a syndicate or non-republic government.' Even with this woman's overt disgust Voidstar did hope that she'd get Marcus and himself off the market. At least that way obtaining freedom would be easier for a time, a transport couldn't be that secure.

Deciding to speak up he resumed his position before Baldor had 'legal' cause to strike him, "mrgm, Baldor, who's new lady? Did you get a gift for all your harrd work?" Ral then looked at the new, no nonsense arrival, "No offense if your a buyer ma'am" a smile forms on his face "I'd recommend the stock with backbone."

(hoping to lure Baldor in close enough to snag a key or other small useful item if he batons me. I'll not defend.)

[Wisconsin Wookie]

At Ral's remark, Baldor snaps his baton into positon and Ral can hear the baton's power charge up. Bracing himself, Ral looks toward Baldor's belt to locate some keys or anything else useful.

But before Baldor can strike, the woman steps forward with two long strides and with eyes narrowing down to near slits, sizes up Ral. With an arrogant smirk she states: "You'll need plenty of backbone, if you are going to survive the next stop in your pitiful life of servitude." Turning to Baldor, she says, "He'll do."

Not waiting for anything else, the woman turns and continues inspecting the others. Baldor follows and pauses in front of Ral, giving him an icy glare.

[Methedor]

'Nothing did ever go to plan did it?" Ral thinks to himself as the guard was stopped and the new woman chose him. It sounded like ether more hard labor or somekind of job with strict oversight. At least that what he gathered from her high and mighty words and dress.

"I think I'll exceed your expectations, become the left hand furball perhaps? I think I'll start by recommending the next best canidate here." the Farghul gestured to Marcus, a person who needed a chance out as much as he did, "Marcus is a multiplier, pair him with a wookie and you'll get four." as he spoke his tail sways to and fro.

[Wisconsin Wookie]

As Ral finished speaking, Baldor growled and backhanded Ral across the left cheek. "That's enough outta you fer one day." Ral winced from the strike, though he could also tell Baldor didn't put everything he had into the shot.

To his left, Marcus exuded much less confidence than his friend. The woman back-tracked and glared at Marcus, who was hesitant to return her gaze. After a moment, he musters up some courage and says somewhat sheepishly, "I can be quite resourceful." The woman frowned back at Marcus for a moment, before casting a quick glance around the room. Turning back she says with a nod and disdain clealry in her voice, "Well...Marcus. Today appears to be your lucky day. The rest of the group doesn't appear to be fit for the task ahead. By process of elimination, you will be joining your confident little feline friend here."

[Methedor]

Ral wished, not for the first time, that Aku'a was in play. Baldor would of been cast out for his actions. He was tempted to bite the hand, but that wouldn't have accomplished anything, maybe even setback the fortunate turn with Marcus. so he just stood there. If his immediate goals did come to pass he'd be back for the Warden.

The cat-like eyes were locked on the strong woman waiting to be moved out and hopefully find out what exactly they were going to do/

[Wisconsin Wookie]

With a condescending smirk, the woman turned on her spiked heel and strode out of the room, issuing an order to Baldor which Ral couldn't quite make out.

Baldor backed toward the door with a glare and pointed at Ral and Marcus, "I'll be back for you two." The big man slowly turned and went through the doorway while bellering: "The rest a ya better rest up...It's goin to be a lo-o-ong day."
With that, the door was slammed shut, leaving a ringing in Ral's ears.

Marcus turned toward his friend and said, "I hope you know what you're doing."

[Methedor]

'She must have paid extra for that.' the phrase ran through his mind when the authoritative woman gave Baldor a set of instructions. Ral flinched as the door slammed and now that he didn't need to be standing he sat on a nearby bed, his tail moving to lay across his lap.

Listening to Marcus' question the Farghul had to admit to himself that he wasn't certain as to what would happen next, but "Anything has to give us a better chance at being between jobs then staying herre; we'll be fine." 'or we'll make it fine' he mentally added.

After taking a change to look around for any subtle changes, consider a new person was here, he addresses the group. "Anyone know about the girl holding Baldorr's leash?" After a few minuets Ral begins collecting what stuff he has.

[Wisconsin Wookie]

As Ral asks the question, no one responds immediately. He looks up to find a few averting their gaze and looking down at their cots.

Shortly, an older Twi'lek limps a few steps forward and whispers: "She first showed up about a month ago. She marched into the facility wearing that same fancy dress with the patch on the shoulder." Ral thinks a moment and can't believe he missed that.

The old Twi'lek continued in a whisper: "Everyone called her Madame and was quick to get out of her way and do what she said. Then just like that, 15 or so of the workers were shipped off and never seen again. The next day there was no sign of that woman." The Twi'lek finished his story and turned around to lay down on his cot.