Stalking forward in my best imitation of the few women that had exited and entered through the front doors of the Six Star Incorporated business building noting the architecture of the decorations outside were both elegant yet tasteful. Some of the modern art pieces can go since those look like a baby chewed on something and then just threw it back up and boom there is your art.

Give me something else anytime. Something like Van Gogh where it’s more pleasing to the eyes. I notice how several of the women on duty have their eyes on me as I walk up to one of them at a desk.

“How may I help you?” She asks kindly in a practiced manner but her tone is laced with suspicion.

“Yes. I was told to show this when I arrived.” In my feminine disguise with a disturbingly different voice sounding more elegant yet arrogant in tone, the emblem is held within my palm shown for her as her eyes widen before looking up at me.

“Your Mr. Attano?” She says as a few of the guards have their hands on their weapons whether it be the two women behind her stationed at the elevator doors holding two pikes taking them and holding them at the ready or the ones near the front entrance with blasters or vibroswords raised.

Leaning down I notice the long strand of white hair in front of my face, “I am Corvo Attano.”

My voice shifts back to normal when saying my name as the woman looks at me with a look I can’t decipher. I would like to think it is confusion if not shock.

She nods her head, “Very well. Stay where you are and I will contact someone to come and bring you up.”

After that, the guards stand down as they put their weapons away. The two at the elevator doors themselves have their weapons planted on the floor standing as still as statues. So still in fact if it wasn’t for them looking ready to attack they could have been mistaken for dummies meant to be a distraction or a joke.

Not long after this, the doors open to the elevator as Serleena steps out herself with several women garbed in black cloaks covering their bodies save for their heads the women manning the front desks all stop what they are doing and as they are halfway to standing up she waves a hand at them and they stop resuming what they were doing.

She calmly walks over to me as I walk to her and see the four cloaked women behind her with no tension in their movements as calm as one would be walking into a grocery store yet a part of me is hesitant to even get near them. Something my two lives in both Skyrim and the Boston Wasteland can see.

They are dangerous. Like standing before a snake you think is harmless when in reality it is the most dangerous thing near you. Appearing calm and relaxed but underneath the facade could be coiled and poised to strike at any time.

“I must say we were not expecting you to come here in your current… state.” She says looking over my disguise with interest.

“Neither was I but my hand was forced. Will admit to being surprised about who you were. A representative of Six Stars Incorporated.” My disguise fades away like mist brushed away by a strong gust of wind. “Didn’t expect people like yourself to be keeping a keen eye out for me.” I mutter but Serleena, unlike the rest who hide it well enough, gives a small smile.

“If you would like, you could discuss it while we go to see my Lady.” She says turning around and I follow her as the four cloaked women box the two of us in.

Standing in the center of the elevator while the guards remain in the four corners I try to discern what kind of weapons they have to no avail. The cloaks do a good job of hiding what is under their robes and even help hide any movements their limbs or bodies would make.

Despite the absurd speed we are moving at in the elevator I look out the translucent part of the elevator and see the city below and the vast horizon before me. Despite everything I have seen and done by this point it takes my breath away.

The rays of the star, the movement of the trees in the jungles. Even the flow of speeders and the rise and fall of starships. It's something I don't think I will ever take for granted. The constant flow is like watching columns of ants march forever on.

“Enjoying the sight?”

“Yes. Something that I think many people in the galaxy take for granted.”

She gives me a questioning look as we stare out at the view, “Too many people are always in such a rush. Not like I was any better but I learned later on to simply take a seat and enjoy the surroundings whenever I could get the chance.”

“I cannot say I have ever truly taken any time to enjoy such things but maybe sometime in the future I will.” She says calmly.

“So how long have you been with house Solorok as its Steward?” I ask her not necessarily fishing for information but to fill the awkward silence between us and hopefully break the ice.

“When I was fifteen. Lady Solorok and I had known each other for a long time. Long enough that it was before my time in servitude to the family and there are few she nor I could truly trust besides one another.”

I don't even bother looking at her to gauge her reactions because of how futile it is. I would sooner find the secret to the universe observing a dog licking itself than I would know what she is currently feeling. 

“Well glad to hear you found someone that can be considered a friend and companion for life. Those are incredibly rare no matter when or where you are.”

A needle-thin smile is shown, possibly one of the few times she would ever show me any emotion. “Wise words Mr. Attano.” 

“One thing I don’t get is why House Atrix is so dead set coming after me?” 

A chuckle escapes Serleena before shaking her head, “You have managed to humiliate them twice. Not simply a noble house but a major one at that.” So she is willing to reveal that but not why one of the older families of the Echani people who owns one of their bigger companies is seeking me out. This is getting more interesting…

A snort escapes me, “I have dealt with all kinds. Even nobles and the games they play. I know they can hold grudges for a long time but to do this much for someone like me there has to be more.” 

All the times Corvo had to deal with nobles and all that trouble that came with them back in Skyrim. One troublesome family is the Blackbriars and Silvermanes. The former being a pain in his ass before he joined the Dark Brotherhood and became the Listener. 

Come to find out after dealing with a few bandits and eventually two different Brotherhood assassins Maven had been trying to kill him. That was an interesting discussion to have with Astrid. Give the woman that she was at least honest when I brought it to her attention and acknowledged that she had sent the assassins. 

Didn’t stop me from ensuring it was brought to an end by having Maven swiftly eliminated by one of the assassins I had personally trained. I saw no reason in killing her myself with me being far too busy to waste valuable time like that on someone like her.

The Silvermanes themselves had seen fit to simply throw me into the prison they used to make their money. Much like Maven they paid for their deeds in blood. 

“An astute observation. One that will be answered before long.” Instead of outright demanding an answer with this or the fact the family who owns the company whose tower I Stand in as we speak I take her at her word on why that noble house had developed such a grudge against me and leave it be for now. I will get my answers in time. 

After her response, we fall into a long silence with no sound save the absurdly quiet breathing of her and her guards. 

Eventually, the ride came to an end. We were near the top of the tower and despite the staggering height we were at it still fell short before the Six Sisters towering over all as the doors opened and a long hall rich with history sat before me.

Murals and paintings of what appear to be notable women and even a few men of Echani descent either posing or in battle against varying enemies. Some depicted green or blue lightsaber-wielding adversaries or at times even red. The latter who wielded the blood-red blades looked like Sith but then again just because they looked like they were ancient Sith doesn’t mean they were…

They more than likely were. 

Metal cast statues of Echani holding spears, pikes, and even swords. There were even guards stationed along the hall as they stood at attention, eyes locked onto me as I glanced around seeing several even having blasters on their person. So they are not completely beholden to glorious melee combat it would seem.

Massive metal doors stood before us and with no groan or sound, they opened before us showing a chamber with an ornate seat sitting at the far wall above a flight of stairs with a table surrounded by other chairs not as elegant or relaxing as the one at the head of it. Several young women and even a few men and like nearly every Echani I have seen so far they all are almost if not entirely identical either sit in the seats or are standing.

Despite the black clothing they wore it was suitable for physical activity like fighting but unlike the guards or the ones with robes surrounding me, it was intricate and showed the detail in it compared to the simpler clothes others on the streets had worn. It spoke of utility yet also showed one's status compared to others.

Unlike the many different Echani here, the one who has my eye is the woman sitting with one leg crossed over the other at the head of the table.

Regal yet powerful. Her gaze locked with mine as pale icy blue eyes unlike the others more gray stare into my own. An elaborate long braid of hair falls to her side over a shoulder. 

Serleena steps forward, bowing her head to the Matriarch. “Matriarch Selene Solorok. Corvo Attano has come after some deliberation to meet with you.” 

I glance at her before looking back at the woman calling the shots here. Memories of dealing with royalty or those of high standing come to mind as I give her an elaborate bow at the waist before rising and see a ghost of a smile on her face that fades away so quickly that if I hadn’t seen it I wouldn't have believed it had even happened.

“Corvo Attano, bounty hunter. A pleasure to meet you, Matriarch Selene.” I introduced myself properly with an ease that would have surprised me had it not been for the skeleton key.

“A pleasure Corvo. I take no offense to you coming now and not when the invitation was sent. Understandable since one does not blindly trust others so readily without knowing where their true loyalties lay and you must have been rather busy. As you know my house has an interest in ensuring the fall of house Atrix. Something we both have in common.” She says smoothly while cutting to the chase.

“Which is why I must ask, why are you so interested in bringing about their downfall?”

“Because they, instead of being fine with their position, desire more. They had proved my family's capabilities for many years before taking what was ours. Something I have had to live with for some time now. That is of course until this conflict erupted across the galaxy with the Hutts and I now see a rare opportunity.” Instead of remaining seated, she rises from her seat that may as well have been a throne as her black clothes compared to all the others just from a simple glance tell me they are of far higher and better quality.

Form hugging black clothes that look almost like they are silk with heeled boots going up to her shins. She descends from the stairs as several guards follow behind her.

“I have read a little about your people’s culture. Is it considered taboo for another ruler over the Six Sisters to desire a higher position and usurp it?”

A frown mars her face, “No. It is not wrong for a rising house to take the position of another that was a part of the Six Sisters. You can only learn so much of our culture from the holonet. The rest of you are dismissed. Return to your duties and stations.” She says to all of the Echani in the room.

They all leave some slower than others as they file out of the room. A handful glance back at me then Selene as she stares back at them stopping for a moment before they break the staring contest and walk off out of sight with the doors closing behind them.

Sashaying ahead of us as Serleena stays by my side and the four guards remain alongside any of the others along the corridor and throne room. Unlike before, instead of seeing the artwork, I see walls lined with weapons of various kinds whether they are swords, spears, or blasters, I even see a few slugthrowers.

What has my attention, however, is the occasional piece of Mandalorian armor, particularly the helmets arrayed on racks in a few rooms where the doors are left open with all kinds of displays. One display inside of a room that draws the eye is an array of droids of various makes and designs that I have never seen before, and at the far end right in the center is a large droid whose face is nothing more than a bunch of forward facing blasters with two on each shoulder joint.

Two arms with claws on the ground with no legs but a tail sat behind it. Serleena gives me a look as I glance one last time at it before we pass by it. 

“Is it alright if I call you Corvo?” Selene asks me out of the blue.

“I would prefer that you did Matriarch Solorok. Was never one for others to refer to me by any titles.”

“If so then refer to me as Selene then Corvo. We are not in the presence of others that require you to refer to me as such.”

“Alright Selene. I was told by Serleena here that you could answer my questions.”

“Serleena was indeed correct, depending on the nature of the question.” She answers back cryptically.

“Why is House Atrix willing to go to such lengths to hunt me down of all people?”

Her head turns to face me while moving forward, “Because you have embarrassed them at a time that is unacceptable for them. Corvo, how familiar are you with how our society tends to work? Not in the past when our people were major rivals to the wandering Mandalorians and we waged great wars proving our people’s gifts time and again in ages past.” 

“Not much beyond what little the holonet could give me. Your people tend to keep to themselves which makes it difficult to gather any information.” I responded honestly as I had tried and despite my best efforts even willing to pay decent credits for something that I might be able to use and nothing. They knew rather little, maybe a little more than the holonet but unless I wanted to give out my entire fortune for the best information brokers then I wouldn't get much.

“Something we have encouraged in our society for some time now. We still hold onto our warrior ways like our ancestors save for us not becoming embroiled in major conflicts as we had in the past. Besides the occasional small group of Echani or the Sun Guard, our people keep to ourselves seeing no point in becoming embroiled in conflicts that have nothing to do with us.”

“Yet House Atrix has gone against this. Is it some kind of law?” I ask still not connecting the pieces fully.

“Not a law per se, more of how things simply are and everyone had agreed for some time though we have had our fair share of those who don’t like it but don’t openly go against it. House Atrix like some of the Mandalorian clans such as clan Vizla wish to go back to their old ways. Obsessed with proving that the old ways would be better for our people trying to reclaim a past that is just that, the past.”

“So is that why they had two of their own protecting Dib?” I am starting to see the picture as the pieces start to take form.

“Yes and no. That was from what my sources had gathered, they had owed a debt to the merchant and sent two of their younger Echani of the house to act as his bodyguards for the duration of his stay on Nar Shaddaa. Fulfilling their end of the debt while giving little to do so by sending the less experienced of their family. While this was happening House Atrix was attempting to prove themselves and that their way is best. Most species do not know this about our people but any house can challenge another in various ways to take away their control over one of the Six Sisters. It is something that has been a tradition for as long as we can remember. It is how they had taken away my control of the Second Sister.”

“So when I bested them and word got out regardless of them being nowhere near their older sisters' skills they lost face at a crucial time. Other lesser houses sought to challenge or at least probe them for weaknesses when it happened.” I say with a sudden realization.

“Exactly, but only a part of it. You have bested them twice, the second being against their elder daughters who were sent to fight against a force-sensitive bounty hunter to prove how powerful they are. But it would seem they were fighting two instead of one.”

“You mean one. I’m not force sensitive.” I tell her as her head slowly turns to look at me as she stops and turns around, ice-cold eyes staring into my own. 

“You have to be.”

“I’m not.”

A small moment of silence passed between us as Selene and Serleena looked at one another before looking back at me. “If you're not force sensitive then how did you do what you did?”

“Magic.” I say wiggling my fingers at her in an exaggerated manner with a grin on my face. Instead of disbelief or a deadpan look, she merely looks at me curiously.

“It would seem you view the force in different ways than the Jedi.” She says before walking away as I remain silent not even arguing with her on it. 

Letting her think what she wants so long as it doesn’t become a detriment to me I am more than willing to leave it be. 

As cool as the force was to me as a kid but now as an adult and my perspective has changed I wouldn’t want access to it. Slave to some unseen force so powerful that no matter how much mastery I ever achieve I will always be subservient to it? Screw that.

Live like a Jedi having no wants or desires yet serving it with no reward or reason to live my life how I see fit? No.

Become a Sith or some dark side? Whose negative emotions are amplified so much that it not only makes me a monster who kills without cause but a drug addict who will never get enough and can never turn away from the dark side. 

Hell. To. The. No!

For all the Siths preaching about the force setting them free, there is no freedom from it. They live and die at its command. It’s like death from Final Destination, one way or another in the end it will be the victor no matter what. Something I refuse on every level.

We continued as the next big question remained on my mind waiting for them to answer it. What do they want me to do that will help us both with dealing with House Atrix?

Finally stopping at a door to a random room after numerous twists and turns sees a large expansive room with weapons of various kinds lined up against the wall. All of them are old fashioned up close and personal weapons, no blasters of any kind.

“Now for the answer you have been wanting. If you agree, you will be given housing and protection while we train you in our ways of fighting. Once you are at a satisfactory level I will challenge House Atrix and you will fight in our stead. House Atrix will have no choice but to accept the challenge. If you beat them they have lost all power. My family will in turn take control of the Second Sister once more.”

My eyes stare at her gobsmacked yet I can see the appeal to it. A random bounty hunter that has bested them twice now is taught their ways of fighting and beats them. Like a guy using an incredibly weak character in a fighting game and beating a pro player using the most character they could play. Not only do you get the rewards for winning but you get to do a backhanded insult to your adversary.

“How do you know they will have no choice to accept? Why me instead of one of your family members?”

“They have been vying for a long time now to go back to the old ways and have managed to ally with the First Sister who is contemplating what they wish. I must stop this before they achieve what they want. Time is not on our side, fortunately, the grace period to challenge them is over so I can declare a challenge against them.” She says all of this like she is speaking about the weather. Despite her tone, I can hear the steel and determination in her to beat them.

“Regardless if the House is far above them or beneath them it is considered incredibly foolish and weak to refuse, something House Atrix cannot do. Unlike the current day Mandalorians we Echani have not forgotten our warrior heritage despite leaving the past behind us. And it will be a message to the rest of our people, one that will tell all that House Atrix is not only vulnerable but not worthy of holding a seat of power amongst the Six Sisters when they lost to a foreigner who has had little exposure in such a short time to our people’s martial arts while proving my families right to the Second Sister.”

It would seem she doesn’t think too highly of the pacifist Mandalorians, which I can’t blame her. I was bummed out learning that the badass warriors Boba Fett had come from were a bunch of peace-spouting pussies like my sperm donor and incubator tank.

When the war happens they are going to get dragged into it one way or another. You can only have peace and be left alone so long as you have the means to push back any aggressors. With the Duchess' current way of thinking the Mandalorian people are more vulnerable than they ever have been before.

“So what do you say? Do you agree? If not, I wish you the best of luck in finding another way to get at them without making an enemy of my people.”

Walking over and inspecting a spear on the wall my blacksmithing skills come up and note how well made the weapon is. The blade at the tip is both sharp enough to cut or to thrust into an enemy yet the metal looks durable along with the effort put into its creation.

Thinking over the offer that as nice as it is goes against how I tend to fight my enemies. I am an ambusher. I don’t fight my enemies head-on unless I know I have the advantage of them having none or the closest thing to it when they are far beneath me. Not that I am opposed to it. Simply an investment I am not too enthusiastic about.

Letting out a sigh I turn and face her, “And let’s say I agree to this arrangement. If I manage to beat whoever House Atrix sends against me, will they no longer have the power or means to continue to harass my employers partners?”

She looks confident as she steps over to a pair of vibroswords on a rack, “I can guarantee you that they will not have the power to keep up the attacks on the Hutts with both the loss of face and by right of them losing they forfeit the power they have currently to even conduct such an act as they are now. Only one of the Six Sisters can conduct such actions against others and even then it has never been abused in such a way. With my control over the Second Sister restored I would have the power and leverage necessary to ensure they never bother anyone again.”

She picks up one of the swords going through several swings with a speed and grace that I would go so far to compare to a capable Jedi. Nodding to herself looking satisfied before she continues. 

“It’s not just my House that has a problem with it but many of the others. Some of our people wish to go back to the old ways, and there are many more like myself who wish to remain as we are and move onward while still keeping our heritage without it causing our society to collapse. House Atrix has been a thorn in our side for far too long.”

Contemplating this whole arrangement, a part of me thinks this is too good to be true, and if everything she is saying will happen. Then there is the warning from Jabba about not screwing this up. Finally, the training I could use to compensate for my lack of any skill in close quarters. Not that I intend on changing my methods as I find it far better to let others do my dirty work or outnumber someone and ambush them.

Moving from weapon to weapon seeing daggers, swords, mauls and hammers, staffs, and many more exotic weapons I had never even heard of in all three lives. Yet each one is well made and taken care of. Mulling over the possible pros and then the cons contemplating if what she says is true and she can be trusted.

Stopping before a spear, deciding to turn to face Selene. She has a small smile on her face, seemingly knowing the answer already. “You have a deal. But one thing in particular I want once this is done.”

Serleena has a brow raised while Selene smiles at me like she is indulging her child who wants two candy bars instead of just one. 

“Depending on what it is. After all, I am providing much to you.”

“I have no intention of altering the deal already struck. Simply hire your family's services if you would be willing.”

“Is that so?”

“Yes.”

Instead of getting indignant or insulted Selene merely laughs. It sounds melodious, something that I would never call laughter. 

“You are a rare one, Corvo. I can respect that, far too many outsiders would say one thing but hide what they truly want. Depending on what it is, I may be capable of making such a transaction.” She acquiesced to my bargain as Serleena stood by the doorway emotionlessly.

“How good would you say you and your family are at your people’s martial arts? Compared to other Houses and families.” My question makes both of them bore holes into me with their eyes.

“We would be near the best among our people. The greatest would go to the First Sister since that position is held by the greatest fighters and those who know how to move around in politics.”

“Good. Once this is done I would like to hire you to train some people I know. For long enough for them to be considered masters if not near the level of a master.” 

They stay silent for a brief moment before Selene breaks it, “You do realize it won’t be cheap nor an easy endeavor.”

“Never expected it to be. As they say, you pay for what you get.”

“I’m rather surprised you wouldn’t be willing to teach them yourself once you learn from us?”

Stepping closer to the center of the room staring into the blue icy depths of her eyes as they shine like sapphires, “I could teach them a bit, but not like someone who has spent their entire life learning this way of fighting. I would only know so much but not the finer details like a master would.”

“Depending on how skilled they are it could take years to get to the level you are wanting.”

“I have plenty of time so long as I don’t die in the line of duty. So do we have a deal?” I ask her.

“We have a deal. So then it is time for us to begin. Transportation will come to pick you up and you will be taken to my family manor where you will be housed and trained once you have disguised yourself once more.”

What I didn’t know was how long this would take. Several months of grueling training even with my enhanced physique would put me through the wringer.

…