A Kaleidescope

[Gambler]

On Coruscant the moon was up, hidden behind clouds and spiraling skyscrapers. The streets were abuzz with activity as people made their ways to their habitual roosts. Some headed to cantinas to drown away the sorrows of the day. Others were steadfast, making their way back to families and cozy apartments. Then there were those who lurked the streets themselves, preying on any of the former foolish enough to walk unprotected. Belkov was one such man, but unlike the rest he was looking for one person in particular.

He prowled the streets, scanning faces and eyes, trying to decide who to pump for information. The person had to be appear willing to talk, but not have the look of a practiced lark. The person needed to be small enough to bully if need be, or have a price within reason. Lastly, the person needed to have the information he needed. Unfortunately, the last was the hardest to verify. There were plenty of the first, though the majority of them were drunk, and the second was vague enough to fit just about anyone. The final was trickier. Furthermore, he had a relatively small population to consider. The person had to have been at the Outlander Club when his quarry left. That left only a handful of men to consider.

He spotted one particularly plump young man strolling the streets with the invincibility of youth wrapped around him. His eyes were sharp, but he also appeared fresh. Ripe pickings for anyone looking for a quick grab. Belkov would be doing him a favor by scaring him shitless. The best part was that, unless his memory was mistaken, the boy had been at the Outlander Club roughly around the time his quarry had left. Perfect.

He followed the young man away from the crowd, until the watching eyes were well in the distance. Knife in hand, he shoved the young man against a wall, pushing the blade to his throat. He grabbed the young man's arm, twisting the wrist and elbow to elicit a startled grunt.

"Move and I'll kill you," he said in a deadpan voice. It had been a while since he last had been forced to take such a hands-on approach in a deal, but it felt good to stretch his wings. He waited for a nod of acquiescence before continuing. "I want to know about a man. He has blonde hair, blue eyes, and a scar on the side of his lip. Very easy to pick out of a crowd. You've seen him." It wasn't a question.

"I..." the boy trailed off to take a gulp of breath. "I might have seen him today. I don't know. I saw a lot of people."

Belkov pushed the knife closer, adding pressure to his hold. "Don't play coy. You saw this man. I want you to think very quickly. Where did he go?"

"I don't know!" the boy tensed, trying to sneak glances down at the knife.

"You and he were in the same club an hour ago. The Outlander Club." He hated the place. "I've already asked around. Now, tell me where he went from there. You're a bright kid, you saw something."

The young man's eyes were as wide as they could be. He fished for replies, but nothing came to mind. All he could think of was the knife and how close it was to his throat. One more push and it would cut through his flesh... he would bleed out on the streets and no one would even care...

Belkov sighed. Slowly, ever so slowly, he removed the knife. He maintained his hold on the young man's arm, increasing the pressure further, but the knife was gone. "There. Now, think about it. You talked to a man with blonde hair and a scar on his lips at the Outlander Club earlier this evening. You left together." It was a bluff, but a believable one. He was working with information gathered from other unsuspecting club goers. "So tell me where he went. It's a simple question."

"Blonde hair?" the boy asked. Belkov nodded. "Scar on his lips? Looks almost like razor bites?" Another nod. "I talked to him... but I didn't leave with him or anything." The boy paused. "He was getting drunk, really drunk. He kept saying something about some warehouse he owned or something. East side of town. Said he was going there later and wanted to spread the word. He... needed people for some reason or other. Sounded like he had a show going on or something. I don't know... can you please let me go? I told you everything I know..."

"First, give me your wallet."

"My wallet?" He looked confused.

"It's simple, really. Give me your wallet or the knife comes back. And this time it will kill you." Recognition flashed in the young man's eyes. He produced the wallet. Belkov shifted through it, taking two thirds of its contents before handing it back. "For being so helpful," he explained. "Get out of here."

East side of town? That was vague enough to describe several warehouses. It looked like it was going to be a long night.

 

[Saint]

Walking along with his younger female aide, Deacon glanced up at the night skies, remarking to her rather quietly, "Nice night. Lookin' forward to callin' it a day 'ere shortly." Before too long, he would return back to his apartment and fall asleep in the arms of his lover. Until then though, he pushed the distracting thoughts from his mind and focused on the here and now.

You never knew just what you would run into walking along the streets of Coruscant. You never knew. Having just checked on a rather large order of various chemicals and all sorts of bad stuff, Deke ensured that the order was properly accounted for and stored correctly, along with checking over the security detail assigned to keep it all safe. Good help was hard to find, but Black Sun always pulled through.

A number of their guards and grunts were former military, a number specializing in special ops of some kind. Now, they basically did the same sort of work, only for a -lot- more pay. Oh yeah, and the perks and benefits were nice too. VERY nice, for those that didn't have a strong moral compass that is...

 

[Zen]

Alexis Nonomyth, had been on the hunt for a Killer of her brother. And when she was pissed it was not very Pleasant at all. She wore a Hutt Empire Armor, A Knife hidden, And a Slugthrower, She was in a dark ally with men of drunken disgust and arrogance."Bloody Lightweights."She said. Her voice was deep and cold she can drink a City of wine and not pass out. The amount of wine consume by her no man or woman could live. Her voice sounded like she was twenty which was of her body age, her actually age was eighty nine, and she had two hundred more years to live. One of the men spoke. Human."We've got ourselves a Bloody Lady. Boys."The men spoke drunkenly, And one threw a knife at her. She ducked, and the knife hit the man behind her as man died. She eyed them, and sighed, as she rushed at one of them, her flexibility working in her favor, as she kicked off the body of the drunken man causing him fall on the ground she flipped in mid air, before landing her right heel right into the neck Of the Man, And it was not organically heel stomp, it was infused with the force,as she took the man's head off, from the socket of the Neck. After performing that, she landed in a split, and kicked up into air landing on both the mens head's on her arms, as she broke off there heads as they were twisted. She was finished, as she left the bodies to rot. She spoke."I need to find the Killer of my Brother. And I intend to kill anyone Foe or Ally in what ever my means messily."She said in a cold blooded twisted hypocritical sentence.

By all means she was not stable, and right now highly dangerous. Now she was headed to the east part of town somewhere she has not been, her Force Alignment was hidden, from any force Users. As She made her way in the Armor, blood stains, on the leg, of her Hutt Empire Armor. As She made her way into the Darkly street.

She aimed for a man to be a knowledge thing even at her unstable matter she was very clear and was thinking, this did not prove any way helpfully as she was off duty. And would be pissed, if she came here all the way for nothing, Her ship was hidden, in the way she came from. It was not in the Eastern part of town seeing as it was her first time being here.

 

[D.C.]

It was a pretty rundown sector of the lower city of Coruscant. Just the place for a filthy group gangsters to hide. This area smelled like shit, and that was probably the thing that drew those gangsters to here. They were all pieces of shit, but they all thought high of themselves. Unfortunately... for them.

On the roof of one of the warehouses—this area was full of warehouses—stood a shady figure, shrouded in a black cloak. The faint moonlight shone down on him. His face was hidden deep inside the black hood. Only two blue 'lights' could be seen in the shadow that obscured his entire face. Those lights were his eyes, illuminated by the Force. Thanks to the Force he could see perfectly in the dark. Every detail. Every small thing.

At first glance the figure appeared to be unarmed, but the truth was that his weapons were concealed. In times like these it was wise to conceal your lightsabers, because the galaxy was overrun with fools who called themselves 'Jedi Hunters'. It was just so kriffing annoying when one of those ****ers showed up to try to kill you. It just takes so much of your time to beat the crap out of those idiots... and you gain nothing. It's just a nuisance, that's what it is.

The figure's glowing eyes were fixed on the building across from the one he stood on. He saw straight through the thick, stone walls, thanks to his gift of Sight, and he saw they were all hiding on the second floor. The figure smirked deep inside his hood. This just seemed so easy. He counted the people he saw; he counted ten.

He'd come here for a little reckoning. He'd come here for a little bloodshed. Those blasted, kriffing idiots inside that building had kidnapped an innocent, pretty girl and he just couldn't let that happen. Kriff knows what those bastards would do to her inside that kriffing warehouse.

The figure clenched his hands to fists and glared at the building. O, yes, he'd so **** them all up and show them just what it is they deserve; a little beating. And he'd beat them to bloody pulps, o yes he would. He'd beat them to pulps and then continue to beat them until there was nothing left of them. Then he'd take the girl out of there and bring her to a hospital.

Anger boiled inside him.

Those kriffing ****ers had to die. Now.

 

[Zen]

Alexis made her way towards the lower parts. Bloody hell this whole place was filled with scum, thieves, Nasty, and dirty people. This was pathetically. To be honest. It would be hard to find a someone that can her help. She should just give her hopes up for revenge. Maybe that's something she would do. She sat slowly next a wall leaning over it and begun to think.

This is boring I cam here for nothing, killed drunk men, Life, it a bloody hard circle, Jedi and the Bogan. Are all similar. One is Evil one Is Good. One fights to end a war, one fight to have world of entity to themselves. God, children are children. If only words can reason with people it'll be better. The Bogan Roster was of containable short tempered Jackasses. And only reason she stayed because I Vowed my life there. Or, I have other plans to speak of. I guess as the Dark Apocalypse comes and takes over, This constant none stopping war will just keep going back and forth with no end.

She sighed, and spoke."Lord help us. This whole world needs help, even myself at this hard drastic times." She said slowly.

She slipped away as she begun to form a genetic thought. If Menkio was a Disgrace, why do I even care. Bloody help I would have never thought I cared. Until this point, and this is coming from a Dark Master of the Bogan and a Major in the Hutt empire.She thought slowly. She stood up and made her way towards one of the warehouses. There she spotted, man, and a young girl. She hid herself slowly. Watching. And thought. And this is the kind of sicken bullshit I am talking about. This is not even necessarily. She a child. Even The Bogan know better. She paused slowly, in her thoughts.She would wait for the right minute to safe the girls life. Why did she hesitated through?

 

[Saint]

Hopping up into a charcoal grey speeder, Deacon and his aide buckled up for safety, and were on their way only a moment later. As they flew along, Deke spoke aloud, bouncing thoughts and ideas off of his aide. She wasn't as experienced as he was in the business, in fact, she really even wasn't -in- the business, just simply serving as his aide... mostly. Regardless, Deacon would hear her thoughts and opinions on what matters he deemed appropriate to speak to her upon.

Truth be told, there wasn't a single deal or meeting that he had, of which she was not aware. Most of the time, when Deke would bounce an idea off of her, she had already turned it over in her own mind, as it took him awhile before he would even really voice it. Still, he rather enjoyed her conversation and took her advice most of the time. Obviously there were times when he didn't, but nonetheless, he respected her opinion.

His recent decision hadn't been met with the most enthusiasm or excitement from her. The motivation behind it was most certainly understandable, but regardless, there were times when sacrifices had to be made. However, this was one sacrifice that Deacon simply was not willing to make, and since he had the knowledge and power to do so, he would see that it did not come to pass... or at least, that it wouldn't come to pass this time, from this individual.

How to insure that was a matter of great debate within his own mind. One option paid little dividends, but was nearly a sure thing. Option B however, had the potential of having rather large dividends, but on the same token, it set up a relationship and would probably lead to other difficulties... okay, well, not probably, it most -certainly- would lead to other difficulties later on down the road. Decisions, decisions. There was a -slight- chance that it all could pan out beautifully, but Krath, when did -that- ever happen? One in a million? One in a billion? Don't hold your breath.

Being a bit of a risk-taker, Deacon had finally decided upon Option B. Risky as it was, there was still a strong enough possibility for big enough bonuses, that it made it worth it in his mind. How worth it? Well, at least enough to entertain and present a vague pitch. Depending on what he got back would help him gauge any further commitment, if any. If only he could read the future... damn Jedi voo-doo...

Moving up the steps of the Coruscanti governmental building, Deacon was still a bit unsure of his decision, but it was getting close to the point of no return. Pushing into the main corridor, he walked up to the Information Center, approaching a clerk there. Laying a hand upon the counter, he told the clerk that he needed to see someone. Now.

 

[Gambler]

For Belkov, the past hour had been spent gathering hired muscle willing to help him shake down a wayward dealer. It was easy enough, when one knew where to look. As the cautious fled the streets, Belkov was left with his newly hired guard of riffraff and thugs looking to make some quick credits. If it came to a fight, Belkov had little faith in his thugs, but the intimidation factor should be enough to diffuse the situation. With a little luck, he would get his money and get out without resorting to a fight.

The main districts of the city slipped by, brightly lit cantinas and clubs fading in the distance as the warehouse district approached. Silhouettes watched from the shadows, waiting for their chance to pounce. Belkov could feel countless eyes on his back, biding their time until they could find weaker, more isolated prey. He knew their tactics inside and out. First they would wait for a single person to break off from a group, then they would lure him or her further and further from the crowds. Finally, when the witnesses either wouldn't care or weren't present, they struck, using superior numbers to take whatever they want. Sometimes, if the group was bold, they would take on small parties, never exceeding three or four and never on a main boulevard.

Such a simple method, but effective. The warehouse district was notorious for street gangs and thugs, making it one of the most dangerous districts on the upper levels. They were predictable, though, and most people had the sense to travel in groups if they ever walked through the district at night.

With the warehouse district in sight, Belkov was on the prowl again. This time, he was not alone.

 

[D.C.]

Khu saw him. The prowling prowler. Normally, he wouldn't give a damn about those types, but this time it was different. What was that figure doing down there? He was getting dangerously close to the warehouse Khutarrah had his eyes on. If the figure meant to go into that warehouse, then there were two possibilities.

The first one (though unlikely, because he was prowling, instead of just walking), was that the figure was a thug himself and was a member of the gang that hid in that warehouse.

The second possibility was that the man was going in there to fight. Or at least to get his money. It was always about money. Always. And this possibility seemed to be the most logical, because the guy was prowling. If he was a member of the gang, he'd just walk in.

Khu bit his lip. This wasn't good. If that guy really wanted to go in to 'get his money', he might just ruin Khu's entire mission. That really wasn't good. The Noghri couldn't allow this!

He leaped into the air. His robe fluttered around him as he flew. He landed right before the prowler and pointed at the man with both his (deactivated) lightsabers. Khutarrah's face was completely shrouded inside his hood. The prowler would not be able to see his features.

'Good night,' Khutarrah said. 'Care to explain just what the kriff you think you're doing? This is my hunting ground, not yours.'

 

[Gambler]

Belkov flinched as the figure sprung to life from the shadows. When the creature spoke, revealing itself as a sentient being, he almost smiled. "Good evening to you too," he said. "The last time I checked, no single person owned this 'ground.' Thieves rule the night around here, and it's open season nowadays." He smiled. Some of his men fidgeted for a moment, noting the robes and lightsaber hilts, but they put their best "tough guy" faces on, using the cover of the night to add to the attempted intimidation.

"But, if you're claiming these as your hunting grounds, far be it from me to tell you otherwise. In fact, we might have similar goals in mind." He nodded towards the warehouse in front of him. "The person hole up in there owes me a deal of money. He skimped out on a deal, costing me twice as much as he's worth. I have a reputation to maintain, you see. I can't let people get away with cheating me." Several of his hired muscle nodded in agreement. They weren't new to this line of work. They knew the business inside and out.

"The name's Belkov, and I was wondering if you'd be willing to help me out."

 

[D.C.]

'Money,' Khu said. He lowered his arms, but held his sabers in his hands. 'It's always about money, isn't it? You stupid kriffers can only think about money!' He sighed. 'Hired muscle, I see. So you're counting on a fight.'

He pulled down his hood, revealing his Noghri features. He glared at Belkov, as if he hated the man's guts. But he was just agitated. Those gangsters inside that building held a girl captive in there and he wanted to save her before she got hurt. Or at least, he wanted to try to save her before she got hurt. In fact, there was only one thing he really wanted and that was to kill those gangsters. Maybe 'saving the girl' was just an excuse to butcher them all up. Maybe not... Only Khutarrah knew, and he wasn't gonna tell anyone. Except for maybe his Brother. But Jairo wasn't here. Khu liked to keep his intentions to himself.

'I could kill you all in a matter of seconds,' Khutarrah said. 'So speak quickly, if you value your life. I'm already agitated and I don't have much time. Spit it out, idiot!'

 

[Zen]

She sighed, it was not worth it or was it. Dammit these morals were all bouncing back and forth in her head. She heisted again. Struggle went upon her. the place was heavily Guarded she slipped in, if she shot them. She would give an alarm. She sighed, and sneaked back out and left the warehouse, as she placed one hand over the wall. Taking deep breaths She slowly made her way towards a group of what seemed to be two men."Evening gentlemen, or Ladies."She said slowly. Two both of them. Monement she spoke an argument broke done or A man that pulled down his hood just got pissed off, the girl was not safe for now. So she needed a bit of help as well as she wanted to help the girl Well they were dead."Settle down would you, Lightsaber boom.?"She giggled.(Cloudy and Gramber.)

 

[Gambler]

"Are you now?" Belkov asked. "Agitated, I mean. There doesn't seem to be a reason for that." He look across his men. "But I was about to give you my offer. What I propose is the following: you seem to want into that warehouse"--it was a shot in the dark, but a plausible guess--"and I can help you past that. You carry yourself like a wanderer, never knowing where you are going to go next. I offer you a concrete goal, something on a scope you have yet to see." He glanced at the men behind him again.

"I will pay you, of course, but you don't seem like the type to work simply because the pay is good. I'm willing to give you a create chaos. Not here," he said, encompassing Coruscant with a gesture, "but rather where there is a boiling point. I am an opportunist. I live for this kind of thing. What I am offering you is a chance to be in the center of the opportunities I find. All I require is a little help once in a while with trifling matters. Then, when the going gets hot, you can carve a piece of the chaos for yourself." He smiled thinly.

 

[D.C.]

Khu's eyes narrowed. He had a suspicious look on his face, but in truth that was how he looked when he was curious.

'Chaos?' Khutarrah asked. 'What are you? Some kind of suit-wearing Dark Acolyte? I am interested though, for I love to set things on fire.' He quickly clipped his left saber to his belt (so fast that it was as if the one moment he held the saber in his hand, and the next it was clipped to his belt) and reached out his empty left hand. He conjured a small yellow flame and held it in his hand.

'Fire is what I desire,' Khu said. He clenched his hand to a fist and the flame vanished again. 'So, what is it you need? What do you want me to do for you? What's the... price?'

 

[Gambler]

Belkov spared the newcomer a glance. "As you can see, the lightsaber is gone." He ignored the person for a moment, turning back to the Noghri. "The price is simple. First, just help me extricate the money the guy in there owes me. Then, if you're halfway decent with that lightsaber, you can act as my shadow. More of a partner, really, and more for show than anything, but you might have to kill once in a while." He paused, allowing it to sink in.

"And, if I may ask," he began, addressing both the Noghri and the newcomer, "who might you be?"

 

[D.C.]

'Khutarrah,' the Noghri said. 'Remember that name.'

He had not really decided yet. If this man was trying to fool him, he'd kill the man and just walk away. If this Belkov man was serious, then Khutarrah would work with him. He decided to just play along for now.

'I'm your man. Now, we gotta get into that building. There's not much time left.' He shot a quick glance over to the newcomer, but didn't pay much attention to him... her... it... he couldn't see what it was in the dark. He could've used the Force to see the person clearly, but he didn't. He simply didn't care at the moment. They had work to do.

 

[Zen]

She looked at them and spoke slowly."Just some helpfully bystander, why do you ask?"She said slowly in an unnerving sound a bit troubled as the warehouse was packed with heavy screwy. She sighed looking bored as she begun to speak."Your men, you, And this guy. I assume Are going inside one of this warehouses? Not a wise thing to do. It's packed."She said slowly.

 

[Saint]

It took the clerk a few moments, even having Deacon repeat the name of who he wanted to see, but he soon called up his supervisor and informed him of the request. It wasn't too long until a Captain introduced himself to Deacon, the two shaking hands as they exchanged formal greetings. When inquired as to whom he would like to see, Deke once again made it very clear that he was here to see a very certain someone.

The Captain's eyes lit up in recognition of the name, glancing briefly over at the clerk as he explained, "I'll take it from here Robertson. Thanks." With that, Deacon Nash was escorted down a hallway, through an area full of cubicles that was horribly functional and little else, lacking any real decoration or individuality. Once past that area, the stepped onto a life and ascended up to a floor that seemed to be located between the twelfth and fourteenth.

The Captain had to use his key to get there, and the lights lit up all the way up to twelve and past, but did not light number fourteen. For whatever reason, having a thirteenth floor was bad luck, so most buildings just skipped the number. Apparently this building was no exception, well, except that there actually was a thirteenth floor. It was just unmarked and inaccessible unless you had a special key.

"Right this way," remarked the Captain as he led Deke down a solid hallway with heavy doors. Each one appeared to be sound-proof from the outside, being well sealed-off and secure. No doubt, this was a super secret squirrel floor, meant for super secret squirrel operations and super secret squirrel interrogations and inquires. Deacon didn't hear any sounds of torture... but that didn't mean that none wasn't going on up here, what with even the sounds of his very footsteps seeming to be soaked up and absorbed before they could reach his ears.

Krath... this was kind of creepy. The Captain turned towards one of the exceptionally large doors, this one looking exactly the same as the rest. Shoot, the entire FLOOR looked the same. The only way you knew which door was which up here was because you belonged up here and knew just where you were going. If you were anyone else, every kriffing door looked the same, as did every kriffing hallway. Once inside, Deacon sat in a large, comfy leather couch as he awaited a meeting.

 

[Gambler]

"That was obvious from the get go," Belkov said, running the numbers through his mind. 'Packed' could mean anything, but knowing the snake inside it would be between fifteen and thirty guards, a medley of hired men and professional mercenaries. The man himself would most likely be on a catwalk or something similar; he had an eye for the dramatics. He looked over his men, twelve in all plus the two Force sensitives. They would be outnumbered two to one at worst, leaving them to rely solely on Khutarrah's abilities to get them out. He eyed the Noghri for a moment, weighing his words.

Khutarrah was determined to kill the man inside the warehouse. There would be no negotiation involved. He could see it in the man's eyes. Whatever his reason, he looked like he could hold his own, and that was exactly what they needed. As long as those lightsabers were for more than show, Belkov would get his money's worth and then some. He toyed with the idea of unleashing Khutarrah on the denizens of the warehouse alone to test his meddle, but only for a moment. The man inside had cheated Belkov, not Khutarrah, and he was going to make the snake pay for cheating him.

"You still haven't told us your name," he said, sparing the other newcomer a sidelong glance. "According to my new friend here, we don't have much time. I make it my business to know things, people and otherwise. Trust is a gift, one I don't give freely. As it stands, I don't trust you." His eyes were flat as they stared at the newcomer. "Either you tell us your name and say what you're looking to gain, or get out of our way." He crossed his arms over his chest, that flat look taking on an edge.

 

[Zen]

She laughed at his remark, before speaking."Your quite the entertainer, Alexis Nonomyth Hutt Major. I intend to blow this warehouses to hell's pit."She said slowly, eying the man's he was in fact a joke to her to be all in honest. And she found him very very very funny. She said."Well, are we going stand here and look like pretty girls, or are were going kick some scum's ass? I'm waiting boys."She sailed after speaking.

 

[D.C.]

Khutarrah glanced at Alexis, the moment she said her last name. The Noghri's sabers found their way to the Noghri's hands again. He looked at her, suspiciously. He didn't look over to Belkov, because he didn't need to. If Belkov was smart (and he should be, since he was a gangster boss or something like that) then he could tell something was wrong from the way Khu looked at the newcomer.

'Nonomyth?' Khutarrah said in a low voice, but loud enough for everyone around him to hear. 'Last time I encountered a Nonomyth, he threatened me with death. Ironically enough, his first name was Death. I had to burn the idiot.'

Monomyth. Nonomyth. Khutarrah didn't know there was a difference, and so he messed up the names. He now thought that Death and Alexis were related, and instantly, he distrusted her. Of course he found it odd that Alexis was a Human being and Death was a Kel Dor, but then again; He is a Noghri and Brother is Human. Looks don't count for much.

'And on top of that,' Khu went on, 'you're a Hutt Major. We're in the Heart of Coruscant. Get the picture? Belkov,' he never looked away from Alexis, 'we can get quite a bounty if we bring her to a bounty office. Or we kill her now. Bit of a warm up before we head into the warehouse. This one is an enemy. Unless... she's got a very good reason for us not to kill her...'