The Living Illusion : A Missing Child Case For The BHG. (invite/ask)

[Thecomicbookbroad]

The Living Illusion : A Missing Child Case For The BHG. (Closed)

“You’re brother and sister, aren‘t you?” Gazing up with big curious eyes the color of Jade, Kimber Anjule had finally gotten the courage to breech the burning question.

They were returning home; in a matter of minutes her mother would arrive, whisk her away and she would have missed another chance- Not again. This time she asked it as soon as she had begun to sense the visit with her aunt drawing to a close.

“You’re not like us…” She said, delivering the distressing realization with her head lowered and her innocent gaze averted.


The sun was shining low on Coruscant.

The day had begun winding down and coming to an end, a twi’lek with a smoky complexion was walking side by side with a small human and feeling quite uncomfortable at that particular moment.

She was lean woman, with curvy hips and a sharp, sweet face. Her eyes peered down affectionately, they were of murky bottle green, surrounded by dark lashes.

Her lips softly parted and she spoke with calculated serenity.

“I’m a twi’lek, Sweetie. Not a droid. We’re not so different.”

Shapely Lekku hung stationary behind her shoulders, dressed in tight restraints with arrow shaped ends. Clad in contrast, Her outfit clung to her frame tightly. She wore a fitted pallid coat and black leggings with laces up back of the legs reaching her waist beneath the cover.

“Your father and I aren’t of the same blood but family stems deeper I think.”

She stopped, bent her knees to the girl’s level and tenderly pushed strands of gold from her sun tanned little face.

“It’s a long story- one I’ll tell you when we have more time.”

She smiled, crooked and endearing.

A large, scruffy, blonde man approached from behind and hooked his arm around the woman’s waist, planting a kiss on her temple. She flinched, startled.

“Uncle Mullen!” Kimber exclaimed excitedly.

“Hello Kim!” The shaggy human greeted, his shoulders were broad and he smelled of ship fumes. He embraced the child warmly, his stubble scratching her cheek .

“Good to see you”

Focusing back on the twi‘lek he grinned.

“Blairy, you gorgeous creature...”

There was visible friction between the two of them.

BelleBlair frowned, she rose and directed a small smile at her niece asking for a pardon.

“Excuse us for a second, Kimber I have to have a word with your uncle.”

They departed a few feet away, leaving the girl to her own means for what would surely be but a few minutes.

Distanced from young ears they conversed.


“Where have you been?” BelleBlair asked, her voice coated in ice.


“Not far.” Mullen replied, studying his hands as he flexed them nonchalantly.

“Jetta was asking for you.” BelleBlair hissed, “Your mother was worried about you and I had nothing to tell her!”

Laying his big rough palm on her arm, he clicked his tongue.

“Well, here I am.”


She was irate. She couldn’t stand to face him so long as his smugness was displayed so proudly.

She turned from him, hugging her sides and biting her lip. Storming back to her ward, he followed, still pleading his case.

“I can’t sta-” she started.

Kimber was gone.

“Kimber?”

Mullen leaned over to view past the twi’lek.

The girl was no where in sight.

“where’d she go?” he mused dumbly.

“Kimber?” BelleBlair repeated, anxiously searching with her eyes, the crowd was thicker then she remembered.

Her suspicions became more plausible and she was unnerved, teetering on panic.

She turned to Mullen with a clenched jaw.

“Do you owe someone money?” she demanded.

He paled. It was all the assurance she needed.

They began a frantic hunt.

“Kim!” Mullen called for the third time.

Then she spotted her in the distance, disappearing into the hazy swarm in the arms of a stranger

“Kimber!” cried BelleBlair, Racing through the crowd, pushing and shoving her way through and still the distance between them growing steadily by the minute.

“No!”

Mullen was quicker, he maneuvered through the tumult and gained on the thief in a matter of minutes.

The three of them disappeared around a corner, leaving BelleBlair to drown in the sea of bodies.

After a struggle she managed resurface and elbow her way to their location. Turning the corner she met eyes with a blaster pistol.

“Easy, snake head.” a low voice warned.

Mullen stood with his hands up, the person who had abducted and carried off their niece held in his other hand a weapon.

She obeyed, lifting her hands and glowering at the faceless culprit.

He genially tapped her chin with the gun's nose. They were secluded, in an ally separate from the prying eyes of the busied passer-bys.

“Good girl.”

“What did you do to her?” Mullen barked.

Kimber was lying limp and lifeless. The man wore a mask that covered his face and head, plain and blank of expression save for the curvature of his features beneath.

“She’ll be fine. She would have been better if you hadn’t followed me.”

“What do you want?” BelleBlair asked, her voice smooth and relaxed.

“It isn’t obvious?” the gunman said.

“Your niece.”

She swung and hit his trigger arm, sending a shot skyward.

Mullen lunged but was hit with a knee, square in his gut.

Lifting his blaster with blurring speed he shot and hit The twi’lek’s shoulder as a parting gift.

“BelleBlair!” Mullen came to her side, holding her while she clenched her injury in more frustration then physical harm.

The masked abductor disappeared back around the corner and was lost to the crowd.

“Go after him!” BelleBlair shouted.

“Someone! My niece!”

“he’s gone…” Mullen said in bewilderment.

His ‘sister’ groaned, over exerting her weakened frame trying to lift and drag herself, it was no use.




“Kimber!” she screamed, as if to the heavens…



All that heard was the shrugging masses.






That was two days ago…









BelleBlair had taken matters into her own hands since then.

Inviting a bounty hunter to her home in upper Coruscant wasn’t precisely the first course of action she’d considered but after the police had returned day after day with no lead she felt there was little choice.

She awaited her guest with red eyes and a heavy heart.

Mullen hadn’t shown his face since “the incident”. Her other sibling was inconsolable.

Her own searches had led to naught, but perhaps a hunter, with other methods could illuminate the path and return the girl,

Alive.

She was depending on it.

 

[T.J]

The swarming crouds seemed to diverge infront of Ares as if by his will as he to his next job. He smiled under his helmet, obviously his daily visits to the under city seemed to be taking there effect. He felt the buzzing in the back of his head every once in a while as he walked, but he ignored them due to the urgency of his current task. Ares walked with a somewhat quickened pace, he wasnt late by any means, he just wanted to get started as soon as possible. This case involved a missing child, if Kal wasnt busy Ares was positive he would have joined him. It was a touchy subject for him, those who kidnapped children were one of his favorite targets, next to murderers and rapists. Ares would enjoy every ounce of pain he put into the one who caused all this.

Ares walked through what seemed like a labrynth of houses and narrow walkways until he got to the house he was supposed to go. It didnt look out of the ordinary or different in any way, just your average ordinary dwelling of any middle-class Coruscanti citizen. It made a pang of slight sadness shoot through his heart, they were wealthy enough not to be in the undercity, but not rich enough to get whomever was taken on their own. The feeling of helplessnes must have been overwhelming for them.

Three rythmic nocks on the wooden door was all he did as he waited, arms folded behind his back.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

BelleBlair answered the door with baited breath.

He was everything she expected, armor clad and authoritative.

The bounty hunter had a dark air about him, something lurking beneath his crossed visor that made him intimidating. BelleBlair had been pulled into the dark dealings of the under city often enough herself to expect as much. You can only interact with monsters for so long without getting their scent on you.

“please come in.” she stepping aside for him to enter.

Her home was big and empty with the melancholy air only luxury included.

“I am BelleBlair.” She said.

“I hope this sort of thing isn’t out of your jurisdiction.”

 

[T.J]

Ares nodded silently as he stepped through the doorway and into the twi'lek's house. He hadnt expected a twi'lek to file a missing childs report on a human child, being that they were unable to bare children with a human partner. Never the less it was still a important case.

"If it involves a missing child its always in my jurisdiction." Ares said in the cold metallic voice that came with wearing his type of helmet. He almost removed it, the saddness in the young twi'leks eyes was like a bullet to him. Speaking face to face was much more personal to him. But he needed to keep a proffesional appearence, so he would keep it where it was.

"Can you tell me anything about the assailant? Anything at all?"

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

BelleBlair took a seat and gestured for the hunter to do the same.

“As you know it happened not far from here.” she said, the reality of the situation was taking its toll, as well as the very real possibility Kimber would not be found even with her new help. She remained optimistic.

“It was man, he wore a black mask. Its impossible to be sure but I believe he was a human…possibly a kiffar.”

She locked her fingers together above her lap.

“I had expected a ransom but he said nothing of money…he knew she was my niece.” she halted briefly, letting her words sink in.

“I’ve done some searching on my own but nothing has turned up…I assumed the kidnapper was an associate of my brother’s- he hasn't disclosed my theory."

She honestly didn't feel he needed to, the fact Mullen was present was proof enough he was involved deeper in the case then it would appear. She felt no anger or blame- it simply was.

 

[T.J]

Ares nodded agian and took a seat, waiting for the Twi'lek to finish speaking before continueing his questioning. "Your brother? What is his name? I might need to question him....." Ares really didnt know if her brother was really needed, but you could never be to careful. Often kidnappings involved family members.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

"Mullen Anjule." said the twi'lek with finality, she gazed on dreamily as if the title held clues.

"He comes and goes, I only find him when he wants to be found."

'It's always been that way'

She almost laughed for a moment, perhaps the bounty hunter knew him already. Mullen's record was hardly squeaky clean.

 

[T.J]

Ares had heard of a Mullen, but never a last name. It was on some of the lesser thugs he took care of during his off the clock work. He almost chuckled at the thought of it, alot of them thought he wanted something from them. But in reality it wouldnt have mattered what they told him, all he wanted was for them too die. Either way he knew this Mullen dealt with the wrong croud, and that meant Ares would probably want to kill him.

"Is there any way for you to get him here? I want to have a word with him.....Now if possible." Ares paused for a moment. "And please dont tell him I'm here."

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

"If it were that easy sir, he would be here." BelleBlair said, feeling embarrassed by association with her seedy sibling.

“I apologize, I wish I could say otherwise.”

"He wonders about lower Coruscant, I have no way of contacting him except going to his old haunts." She held out her hands.

"The last time we were together was the day of the abduction. He hasn’t contacted me or our brother Esteban- Kimber’s father.”

 

[T.J]

"I think I should start there. Ive heard of your brother before, and I hate to say it but, your brother does not deal with the best kind of people. It is quite possible that he might have something to do with it. But I must ask, have you dealt with any unsavory characters? Anyone that might want to hurt you?"

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

BelleBlair looked unconcerned.

“I’m well aware he isn’t the best person, but I claim him none the less.” she said, standing and pulling her arms through her coat sleeves.

“ I visit the area quite frequently-I have nothing to fear,” she said almost rueful. She suited her bare Lekku with ready harnesses near the door way, examining them while continuing on.

“Mullen is a cad and swindler but he’d never hurt Kimber.”

She unintentionally flashed a blaster at her thigh, while pulling her head tail’s muzzles tight, strangling them limp with slight discomfort. She then placed a horned black cap on her head and let its unfastened chin straps hang low.

“Come,” she said, ready to exit.

“We might find him at the ‘devil den’.”

 

[T.J]

The metal plates that made up Ares's armor clanked together quietly as he stood. He was slightly suprised to see that the Twi'lek would be accompanying him, being that he wasnt used to taking civis out on missions with him. "Are you sure you want to come along? Things might get hairy, and I dont want to have your death on my conscience." He said as he waited for her to ready herself, he knew she would probably follow him anyway, most women in the galaxy seemed to have a stubborn streak.

"Your file said your name was BelleBlair, is there anything else you would like me to call you?"

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

The woman of gray regarded him with a light laugh through her nose.

“There’s nothing I would rather be called,” she said tilting her head slightly.

“I’ll be alright, I need to know why- and you need a guide. I'll accompany you but I didn't hire you expecting a body gaurd- I'll hold my own- and leave you to it when the time comes."

she gestured for the door.

"Shall we then, Mr.....?"

 

[T.J]

"Ares. Ares Varga." Ares plainly, he wasnt good with introductions. Considering that he usually punched said person in the face upon meeting.

"I would be willing to protect you if the situation called for it. Believe it or not this armor isnt just for show." Ares said with a chuckle due to his last statement.

"Infact, I might wave the charges. I enjoy this line of work more than most, and if I get my hands on the kriffing scum bag that took your neice I will for sure request no payment." He waited for BelleBlair to continue guiding her to the Devil's Den she spoke of.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

the twi'lek strode through the upper level’s of Coruscant amused by the metallic voice of her companion.

Her neighbors greeted her curiously regarding Ares with new gossip already forming on their lips.

“If you find her, Ares,” she said.

“I would except nothing less then giving you a bonus.”



Thus the pair began their descent into lower Coruscant.

 

[T.J]

As the pair got deeper into the under levels of Coruscant, the crouds began to split around them like before. Some had faces full of shear terror, others of grudgenly ganied respect. Ares didnt mind or even care for that matter. As long as his work had some effect at all he was satisfied, but he knew he was far from over with Coruscant.

Ares followed the charcoal colored Twi'ek through the throngs on sentients. He started psyching himself up for what was ahead, surely people outside and in their destination would recognize him, and would retaliate violently.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

They neared the “Devil den” shortly after, it was hardly hidden in the shallow depths of the city’s underworld and BelleBlair pointed it out relatively quickly. She accepted the seedy cantina’s existence with a grudge. The place made her sick, it smelled of corruption and disgrace, blood and tears and filthy money. Wandering hands made innocent hearts unclean.

They had arrived faster then she had expected, the people melted away at the sight of her cohort. Part of her wondered if he was as cruel a man as the ones he struck fear into, but she was too pleased to be bothered- they’re fear meant she had made the right choice.

She caught a glimpse of a fellow gray figure and instead of the front entrance strayed to its side, There leaned a twi’lek woman with an uncanny resemblance to herself. Of a softer gray and stronger features she regarded the pair with a tired:

“I’m on break.”

“It’ll just be a moment.” BelleBlair said.

The off duty dancer regarded her with sudden intrigue.

“You must be BelleBlair.”

The later cocked an eyebrow at the recognition.

“why…yes, I am-”

“Your brother isn’t around. He hasn’t been here for a couple days.” the dancer finished shortly. She looked her Doppelganger up and down with displeasure. Belleblair got a strange sensation from her gaze, like she had failed to meet some sort of expectation.

“He’s a hot item today.” The lighter gray said, regarding the fastened Lekku of the other with satisfaction. She avoided eye contact with the armored stranger.

“you're certain he isn’t inside?”

“trust me.” she said, pushing off from the wall in which she leaned and gesturing back with her thumb.

“He’s usually here every week, if I’m not at work he starts throwing punches- I’m the only dancer he likes.”

BelleBlair’s mouth twitched. A new awkwardness had begun to pool. She looked back at Ares to see if he would mirror her expression of unwanted enlightenment; she only found his faceless mask.

“two guys came here before you,” the dancer stated through a sigh.

“Humans. They wanted to see Mullen too- is he alright?” she raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

 

[T.J]

Ares took a long step so he could be infront of his companion. His posture was cold and one of his hands hovered over one of his new revolving slugthrowers. He never took the word of anyone in the undercity, but time was of the essence. If they could find the men looking for BelleBlair's brother, it could make for a quick end to the case, and a safe return of the twi'lek's niece. This dancer infront of them had nothing coming from her, she was just born into unfortunate circumstance. Ares had no need or want to kill her.

" Ma'm. It is very important that you be honest with me. Did these two men you spoke of give you any information? Location. Names. Anything at all?" The bounty hunter said in as calm of voice as he could. He didnt want to spook the twi'lek, she probably knew his reputation.

 

[Thecomicbookbroad]

The twi’lek leaned back as if seeking escape, she flashed BelleBlair a questioning look and spoke steadily faster.

“No. All they said was they wanted Mullen. They asked for me, asked if I’d seen him and left- thought I was you at first-” she added, nodding at the twi’lek opposite.

“they gave me this.” she muttered, reaching for her back pocket and pulling a small sheet of flimsy out.

“I didn’t open it- they told me to give it to him the next time I saw him.”

BelleBlair reached over and retrieved the note, unfolding it daintily.

She leaned towards Ares so he could view its contents.

It read:


“She’s dead if you don’t show your face.

Your dead if the police show there’s.

There’s more where this came from.

Room 414. Spire site.



-Kartel”

A key dropped from its folds.




"when did they give you this?"


"Just this morning-" She replied nervously.

 

[T.J]

Ares read the small piece of flimsi silently, taking a mental note of the location it specified and the warnings it contained. He almost laughed, it was a good thing he wasnt the police. Ares was glad he wasnt a man in blue, he knew they would never let him handle things his way. He probably wouldnt have the reach he had now if he was an officer in the CSF.

"Thank you Ma'm. I wont keep you any longer." Ares said as he turned and started walking back the direction he and the twi'lek had came. He knew exactly where the note wanted them to be, but they would know something was up if they saw him. Considering most of them probably knew of him. It was times like that, that made Ares slightly regret having a name for himself. He was forced to handle things a little differently this time around, forced to be unorthodox. Ares would have to deprive himself of one his most valuable assests, his armor. It was an icon of sorts in the undercity, and it made him stick out like a sore thumb. He would have to stop at one of the many hideout/weapon cache's he had hidden all over the undercity. To drop off some of his armor, but first he stopped and looked back to ensure his client was still with him. Seeing that she was he spoke before walking again, " I need to stop off somewhere first. It wont take long I promsie."