They were held in a grungy back room of a small produce store, if the smell of old vegetables emanating from the rough hemp sacks was anything to go by. The Nexus had been thrown in there and tied to wooden chairs by their captors, and Amoya was not handling the situation well.
'Just stay calm, 'Ro'vena tried to assure the struggling Nautolan.
Amoya strained at her restraints, and even in the dim light Luna could see the ropes tightening around her wrists, her hands turning a dark green to match the bruising around her left eye.
'So stupid,' she muttered to herself, and then to Ro'vena. 'How can you be so calm?'
'Do you know how often we get captured?' the Twi'lek asked her.
'At least once a mission,' Hoshi answered.
'Sometimes twice,' Luna upped the ante.
'It's our speciality,' Ro'vena agreed. 'Just sit back and relax. We've got this,' she let her mask slip and offered a reassuring smile to the Nautolan.
Amoya looked at them warily. 'I'm missing something,' she said. 'I know we don't have back up coming, so it's not that. Not unless you have some signal device I didn't spot.'
Luna thought about Hoshi's commlink, placed in her breast pocket that their kidnappers had missed, but put it out of her mind. It wouldn't help in this situation, and besides, even if it was a viable means of escape, she wouldn't use it to blow their operation. Luna shook her head. 'Think about our situation, about our kidnappers. What stood out to you about them?'
'That they need a bath?'
Ro'vena snorted.
'That's a start,' Luna nodded encouragingly.
Amoya frowned. 'There were a lot of them. I didn't get a good look,' she said defensively.
Luna nodded in understanding. While she, Hoshi and Ro'vena had accepted their fate and surrendered without a fight, Amoya fought their captors the entire time, even when they had trussed her up and carried her, kicking and screaming, to the store. She waited for Amoya to continue. When the girl looked about her, Luna saw something click into place behind her eyes and she nodded approvingly.
'They're poor,' Amoya said at last. Cheap clothes, just a few had blasters. Sticking us in this place instead of some, I don't know, secret hideout.'
'Exactly,' Luna agreed. 'They're not a big gang, probably just a local street gang looking for opportunities to make money. Probably don't even have a plan for us. And you know what we're capable of, what Hoshi is capable of. These aren't even durasteel chairs, just simple wood. We can break these in a heartbeat. They had the upper hand when they ambushed us; we just need to wait for the best moment to break out and carry on our mission.'
'See?' Hoshi said, taking a hand out of her ropes and waving playfully at the thief. 'We're safe. Don't worry.'
Amoya looked away. In the dim light, Luna could see her blushing. 'I'm an idiot.'
Luna smiled sadly, but it was Ro'vena how spoke up first. 'It's okay. Here, let me help you with your restraints,' she slipped a hand out of hers and reached over to loosen the ropes around Amoya's wrists. She flexed her fingers as feeling came back to them.
'I thought I'd messed up,' Amoya said in a tiny voice. 'I thought-'
'Hey, it's okay. I understand,' Ro'vena said softly. 'It's your first time off planet, right?'
Amoya nodded.
'You're probably eager to impress us, but also scared because you feel out of your depth. You knew your planet so well, knew how everything was, where everyone stood, you felt confident in your abilities to read the situation clearly, know exactly what to do.'
Amoya gaped at her. 'Are you a Jedi too?'
Hoshi let out a little squeal, affronted to be called a Jedi. Luna leaned over and kissed her shoulder, and Hoshi relaxed.
Ro'vena ignored them and smiled at Amoya. 'I'm just an actor. Well, a lawyer in training, but also an actor. I have a knack for getting into people's heads.'
Amoya stared at her, then said, 'is it just heads you're interested in getting into?'
Ro'vena snorted and turned to Luna. 'Can we keep her?' she asked, grinning, her eyes bright.
Luna chuckled and looked to Amoya. The girl was still blushing, still feeling her mistake, but she seemed more at ease. As she returned Luna's gaze, Luna saw something click again behind her eyes and she sat bolt upright. 'I have an idea,' Amoyah said.
It was an hour before the door to the supply closet opened, and in came three tall and gaunt Muun, who paused as they saw the Nexus, unbound, and helping themselves to their food. 'Erm, Jorin?' the shortest called back through the door. A moment later an older and burlier looking Muun stepped in.
'What in blazes is going on?' the newcomer, Jorin, said.
Luna looked up from her leaf of lettuce. 'Oh, hello there. Have a seat.'
'You're in no position to tell me what to do, young lady!' Jorin fumed, then let out a tiny yelp as his knees buckled and he slid along the floor the three feet to join them. He looked about himself, alarmed, unsure of what had happened.
Luna gave a sly wink to Hoshi, before turning a stern gaze on the Muun. 'We need to make a few things clear. First: I do not appreciate some low life, two bit street gang interfering in my business.'
'Boys!' Jorin shrieked. Before the three younger Muun could advance, they flew backwards into the wall. It wasn't a powerful throw, and the impact wasn't enough to knock any of them out, but it was enough to send a message. They didn't move.
'Second,' Luna continued as if nothing had happened. 'Try to raise a hand to me or mine again and I will wipe out you, your family, your loved ones. It'll be as if you had never existed. And I wouldn't even break a sweat, nor lose sleep. Are we clear on this?'
Jorin stared at her, wide eyed. He nodded shakily. 'Y-yes!'
'Third. Speak one word of our presence on this planet and I will make my previous threat look like a slap on the wrist. My goals are too grand to be scuppered by someone whose name I won't even remember tomorrow.'
Jorin nodded enthusiastically, clearly terrified. 'Who are you?' he just about managed to wheeze out.
Luna smiled wickedly at him. This was one detail they had gone back and forth on, the risk being so high of it backfiring on them, but she took the plunge, and pulled up her right jacket arm to reveal a circular tattoo. It was a poor job, drawn by Ro'vena out of red ochre that she had found among the wares, and she hoped the dim light would hide the low quality. 'We're Crimson Dawn.'
Jorin gasped in shock, his skin paling. He began to shake. 'Forgive me,' he bowed at Luna's feet. 'Forgive me, I had no idea. Please, I'll do anything-'
'Stop your mewling and get up,' Luna scowled. He did so immediately. Behind him, the other Muun knelt and bowed their heads deep in respect.
'Lastly,' she leaned forward. 'How would you like to make some money?'
