Ask Appropriation by Appointment Only

[Cassian Graves]

The gentleman from the auction, the one with the gold pocket watch and the salt and pepper hair hadn't been difficult to track down. Child's play really, for a Zeltron with a charming personality and good connections. All Cassian had to do was follow the money, and it led him here.

To Byblos.

Byblos was a planet known for its technological advancements, its drive yards, and its five thousand story skyrises, but on the outskirts of Byblos City, it looked just like any other planet you'd find scattered across the galaxy. Neon lights flickered to life. The familiar hum of speeders racing along the skylines melded with the syncopated rhythm drifting through the open doors of a jazz club down the street. Men and women stumbled out of cantinas, their shrill laughter and spirited conduct on full display for every passerby to see.

Now came the hard part, the part where you break into a wealthy businessman's heavily guarded estate and steal one of his most prized possessions. Luckily, for this caper, the Zeltron had enlisted the help of an expert. An officer with Onderon's special forces—supposedly the best, if his superiors were to be believed.

Cassian stood in the alleyway behind the Porg's Broken Flipper, the cantina where they were to rendezvous any minute now. From a cavalier strapped jacket to black gloves and boots, the Zeltron was dressed in all black. Face concealed in the shadows, Cassian glanced at his chrono.

Hopefully the best wouldn't keep him waiting.

@Sreeya

 

[Vash Lysander]

Vash couldn’t believe what he was being signed up to do. However, in all honesty he owed the damn prettyboy Senator. Declining the invitation to join the Royal Guard landed him in a bit of hot water, and it was ultimately the Senator that authorized his appeal to remain in the forces. The guy likely didn’t even know he had done Vash a solid, but it meant a lot to Vash all the same. He would help him out with whatever he asked, and he owed the man the freedom and luxuries he enjoyed to take Delta deep into Sith space.

He was dressed in civilian attire, but that didn’t mean he didn’t carry a concealed pistol, knives and even a few thermal dets and smoke bombs. Vash’s larger frame allowed him to conceal a lot of things in his clothing. He walked over to where the Senator was, dressed in a baggy hoodie with the hood up. His brows raised when he spotted the man.

“Weird to see you scurrying like an alley rat instead of strutting about like a peacock,” Vash couldn’t help but blurt out, flashing a grin. The Senator had a penchant for being flashy in almost all public appearances, so seeing him appear as some wannabe crook was entertaining at the very least. He looked down at his own chrono.

“I got some guys to bug the residence so we can hear what’s going on and get visuals on who’s inside,” Vash said. He never came to a job unprepared, “Getting in may require some climbing,” He eyed the Senator up and down, wondering if he was up to the task.

@llamallove

 

[Cassian Graves]

"It's about time you showed up," Cassian muttered in spite of the fact that he wasn't even late, but there was no real venom in his voice. As the Zeltron stepped out from the shadows, his gaze swept up and down the soiled alleyway, just to make sure they were alone, before settling on the captain in inspection. They'd never met, but Cassian recognized him from the file he'd been provided a few days ago.

"I hear you're the best there is," he added, jaw set as a black alley cat brushed against his boots, scampering down the side-street and disappearing around the corner. It was a good thing Cassian wasn't a superstitious man. "I hope you won't disappoint. It's paramount that this go off without a hitch."

The last thing Cassian needed was to be caught red-handed in New Republic space, breaking into the mansion of one of their military's top suppliers. He could already see the headlines those leeches at the Hyperlane Herald would publish. The Free Worlds Alliance already had all of the bad PR it could handle.

Aware of the captain's evaluative gaze, Cassian decided to dispel any doubts regarding his ability 'to climb.' "Don't worry about me. I'm a rat, remember? We're excellent climbers." A smile crept over his lips, a sign of the senator's characteristic humor at last.

Stepping closer, the Zeltron pulled a pack of cigarettes from the pockets of his jacket and offered one to the captain. "Lysander, isn't it? Cigarette?"

Cassian slipped one in between his lips, lighting the tip with a silver lighter and tossing the empty pack into the nearest trash can that lined the alleyway.

@Sreeya

 

[Vash Lysander]

“That’s right,” Vash answered the Senator, impressed he remembered his name. These diplomat types always pranced in the clouds and seldom recalled the names of even high ranking military men. He nodded and took a proffered cigarra, drawing in the smoke and exhaling in the other direction.

“I don’t suppose you’re in the mood to share why we’re doing this mission,” It felt strange calling it a mission. It sounded more like a shady crime job. He took another puff of the cigarra as they walked, spotting the building in question in the distance. Vash had his men prepared to signal the time to move based on the comms.

“We will go in through the front, cut around the building and climb from the back,” Vash explained as he looked towards the building. They could spot luxury speeders leaving the premises. The host had a gathering tonight and the guests were leaving. Based on the chatter, everyone had a decent bit to drink, which meant that the target was likely inebriated and going to drop like a rock when he slept.

The gates were left open to allow the constant stream of speeders to be let out and that was their way in. Vash looked over at Cassian, “All right, make like a rat and be discreet,” He said simply with a faint grin as he waited for a lull in activity to start making his way into the courtyard. The cameras had been hacked already and there was a conveniently timed blip with when the two men would walk in.

@llamallove

 

[Cassian Graves]

"Believe it or not," Cassian replied in a low tone, striding alongside the Captain at a brisk pace, "I'm trying to do a good deed for once."

Under the darkness of night, the two men opted to cut through back alleyways and fields rather than lit side streets and well traveled thoroughfares where they risked being noticed and remembered. Eventually, the loud, boisterous sounds of the city were left behind, music and people fading to nothing and replaced with the rustling of the wind as it swept through blades of grass.

"It just doesn't look like it." Cassian wasn't exactly sure why he was bothering to justify his actions to a total stranger. Old habits died hard, he supposed. Self-preservation of health, power, and reputation were qualities instilled into the very nature and identity of every practiced politician. You could never let your guard down, and trusting your reputation and future to another person was difficult. "Sometimes you have to crack a few eggs to make an omelet. I'm sure a man of your.... unique skill set can understand that."

Marco Pabella's mansion was surrounded by a black wrought iron fence, with sprawling lawns and pristine gardens on each side of the front courtyard. The businessman did very well for himself. Either the New Republic was paying top credit for his hardware or the rumors about his ties to organized crime were true.

The Zeltron took one last drag on his cigarette before crushing the butt beneath the heel of his boot. "Too bad we weren't invited," he lamented, albeit facetiously. "I wouldn't mind a drink right about now." One luxury speeder after another raced through the gates, the more inebriated drivers swerving recklessly and almost knocking over the statues of a pair of Twi'lek dancers carved from stone outside the entrance.

Cassian matched Lysander's grin. "Like a rat up a drainpipe," he replied with all of the confidence in the world.

As soon as there was a lull in the partygoers passing by, the Zeltron slipped through the front gate and moved toward the bushes lining the courtyard for cover. His foot caught on a rake that a careless gardener had misplaced earlier in the day, and Cassian tripped and fell face first into one of the bushes with a muffled grunt.

@Sreeya rolled a 4/20 for Cassian being discreet lol

 

[Vash Lysander]

“Getting us invited was option 1,” Vash admitted, “However, turns out Pabella isn’t a big fan of yours and it wouldn’t have worked out,” He turned to the Zeltron with a grin. He didn’t ask Graves anything beyond his initial question about the mission, mainly because it was quite frankly none of his business. He did as he was asked and left it at that when it came to superiors.

“I’m definitely getting a drink if we pull this off,” He remarked quietly as he eyed the guests leaving, “You’re welcome to join me - though I can’t imagine you’re a moonshine fan,” Vash grinned as he put his own cigarra out. Graves seemed more like a fine wine or brandy type guy.

They barely made it through the gate when Graves unceremoniously tripped and fell over. Vash cursed under his breath, the noise attracting the attention of a guard that just so happened to be walking over to hand over something a guest had left behind. He spotted the Zeltron and quickly turned to investigate, making his way over.

“Get up!” Vash hissed at the Senator who was entirely too slow to recover. From the looks of it, the man’s foot was caught on something. The soldier had no choice, and he leveled his blaster, set it to stun and shot at the guard. The man convulsed a bit before dropping with a heavy thud. He grabbed the guard and hoisted him over to drop him behind a bush, cursing the entire time. He commed his people.

“Guard down. Need an extraction and containment,” He grumbled. It was entirely too risky, and unlikely to even happen. Vash turned and ran over to help Graves to his feet.

“Still want to do this or abort?” He asked urgently. He didn’t give the man much time to answer before he yanked him to the side to duck behind a fountain as more speeders began to leave the manor. This was going to make things more complicated for sure, and he wasn’t convinced his people would be able to come in and remove the guard before word got around.

@llamallove

 

[Cassian Graves]

"Not a fan?" Cassian repeated, eyebrows arched and words laced with an inordinate amount of sincerity for a humble politician. "What's not to like?"

No, it was better this way. Cloak-and-dagger. An invitation meant Cassian would need to show his face and spend the evening glad-handing and making small talk with Marco Pabella and his closest friends and associates. People would remember he had been there, remember his face. After all, a Zeltron's face was never unmemorable.

The moment Pabella realized this particular possession—originally from Onderon—was missing, it wouldn't take him long to put two and two together and peg the Senator of Onderon as the thief. This way, Cassian could sneak it and out, and no one would be the wiser. No one would ever know he'd been on Byblos tonight, much less realize he'd been near Pabella's mansion.

"I'd love to join you for a drink." They'd certainly need one after this little excursion, moonshine or otherwise. "I'll even buy. I never drink alone if I can avoid it." Not strictly a factual statement, but the Zeltron and the truth weren't exactly on a first name basis, even on the little things.

Not even the best laid plans are exempt from human error and unforeseen circumstances, and unfortunately, tonight was no different. Cassian had tripped and fallen faster than a Hutt could devour a nine course meal and slip out before the waiter came back with the check.

"I'm up, I'm up!" he snapped from his unflattering position amongst the bushes. In his hurry, the Zeltron struggled to free his boot from the garden rake, and it wasn't until the captain forcibly drug him behind a fountain that he was able to stand on his own two feet again.

Drops of blood seeped from a thin scratch above the Zeltron's eyebrow, where a branch had scraped against the skin. "Of course I still want to do this," he answered with a pinched expression. I'm not leaving without what I came here for."

@Sreeya

 

[Vash Lysander]

Vash was not in the least bit pleased, but he wasn’t going to let that manifest on his face. He was a professional and he kept his cool, nodding when the Senator suggested continuing the op. He had to hand it to the man - the dude had guts. Not many diplomats would want to continue after a close call like that. But Vash sure hoped he would stay true to his promises of buying drinks.

“Okay let’s go around the building,” He said, making his way towards the back. The coast was clear for now and his team was working to remove that stunned guard from the scene. The last guests had left and it was entirely quiet in the courtyard. His team suggested there hadn’t been a guard check in so the two men had some time to get done what they needed.

The soldier launched his grappling hook to a point that would allow him to climb over a balcony. He glanced back at the Senator, “You got this?” He asked before he turned to climb. Vash effortlessly scaled up the building and hoisted himself over the balcony. He was perched outside of an empty room so he was safe for now. He looked down to see how the Senator was faring and he purposely left his own grappling line untouched in case the man forgot to bring any climbing material.

Dice: 15/20

@llamallove

 

[Cassian Graves]

Cassian was silent after that, still incensed over his sudden fall. Talk about looking like a buffoon, and in front of an elector, too. If the Zeltron was lucky, Lysander was a man that possessed an incredibly short memory. Unlikely, given his line of work.

Silence had settled over the estate now that the last of the guests had left. The still quiet of the darkness was almost eerie, and Cassian wondered if there was more in store for them than they realized inside that house. Maybe his imagination was running away from him after that bump on the head.

The two men crept around the estate, over rolling lawns and across dirt paths that led them through fragrant, blooming gardens with roses and purple catmint on each side. They eventually came to a stop at the back of the manor, directly below a balcony on the second floor.

Moonlight shimmered on the lake behind them, fifty or so yards away. Cassian's gaze was drawn briefly toward the beauty, before snapping back to the grappling line. Lysander was already up, staring down at him from the balcony's railing.

"Yeah, I've got this," he replied in a hushed tone, a little more cross than he probably intended to sound. The Zeltron pinched the rope between his feet, just as he'd been trained to do when he served in the Royal Guard on Onderon. Of course, since becoming a senator, he was a little rusty in the acrobatics department, and it certainly showed.

He almost slipped a time or two, but his intense desire to not fall flat on his rear end and make a fool of himself again fueled the determination he needed to hold on. Eventually, after what must have felt like an eternity to Lysander who'd scaled the distance in a matter of seconds, Cassian crawled over the stone railing.

Once he had caught his breath, he said, "I promise I'm not always so incompetent."

@Sreeya rolled 8/20

 

[Vash Lysander]

Vash reached down and helped Cassian over the edge of the railing. The Senator would notice that Vash didn’t immediately suggest breaking in. This was mainly because he needed to pause for Cassian to stop heaving like an old granny and alerting the whole manor of their presence. He waved off the comment easily enough, “We've all got our areas of specialty, Senator,” He said with a grin. Once Cassian caught his breath, Vash got to work undoing the lock to get in through the balcony doors. He quietly commed his team.

“Drop the holonet in 3…2..1..” He timed his tweaking with the lock with when systems were down. To anyone watching, it would appear as a simple blip in the network dropping. There was a click as the door opened, “All done,” He commed quietly, the network coming right back up before anyone would be alarmed. No one would think anything of it outside of a brief lag. He gently closed the door behind them so nothing would appear amiss from outside.

Vash walked inside and slowly padded through the dark room. Once he was sure they were clear, he pulled up the datapad he had with the manor schematics, “Where is the item you’re looking for held?” He whispered quietly, displaying the map to him.

@llamallove

 

[Cassian Graves]

While Cassian was far too proud to ever admit that he needed to pause and rest after that climb, he was relieved that they lingered on the balcony longer than was necessary so he could catch his breath. Maybe Lysander needed a break, too—or, at least, that's what Cassian told himself. The Zeltron leaned back against the stone railing, one hand reaching up to wipe away the beads of sweat that had formed across his forehead. The cut he had sustained above his eyebrow had already stopped bleeding.

"This is just like one of those spy holodramas you see on TV," Cassian observed in a low tone, making idle conversation as Lysander picked the lock on the balcony doors. Meanwhile, Cassian pulled up the grappling hook, coiling it—just in case someone happened to wander by and notice it hanging there. Displaying a wide grin, he would add, "I guess that makes one of us the leading man and the other the leading lady. Too bad we don't have the budget for a couple of good stunt men."

Apart from the faint, steady ticking of a wooden wall clock, everything was quiet inside of Pabella's estate. They had broken into the south wing of the house, its hallways lined with unused guest rooms. This part of the house had the least amount of activity, which was exactly where you'd want to make your entry. Unfortunately for them, however, that meant that the odds of Pabella storying anything of value here was highly unlikely.

The Zeltron hovered near Lysander, staring down at the datapad in his hands. Blue eyes wandered over the schematics for a few seconds before he answered. "I can't know for sure, but my source said that Pabella has two offices. One on the first floor, where he entertains all of his business associates, and one on the second floor, in the north wing."

By 'source,' he referred, of course, to that attractive Twi'lek half Pabella's age that had accompanied him to the auction. After a few drinks and a few more pheromones, the Zeltron had had no difficulty convincing her to open up to him. "Apparently, Pabella never lets anyone near that second office. The doors are kept locked at all times, and he carries the only keycard with him. Even to bed."

No need to explain how he knew that. Cassian looked at Lysander in the darkness. "Think you can get us in?"

@Sreeya

 

[Vash Lysander]

Vash grinned beneath the helmet as he looked at Cassian, “You make a fine leading lady, Senator, though I can do my own stunts,” He said simply before leading the way in. Once Cassian explained about the second office, Vash couldn’t help but grimace, “You know that would have been useful intel before we broke in,” Perhaps they could have sent someone in to seduce the man and snag the keycard while he slept.

“No matter,” Vash said as he looked down at the schematics he was given, “I will have to get out of the window on the ledge of the adjacent room and let you in from the inside. Another blip in the Holonet should give me that gap of time,” He explained. It wouldn’t take them long to arrive near that second office. The manor was quiet and it was apparently Pabella had crashed in his bedroom, no doubt with a mistress for the evening.

“Wait here and hide immediately if you hear or see movement,” He pointed towards a few doors, “Those are some linen closets to duck inside.”

With that, Vash ducked into the room adjacent to the second office in question. He worked to discreetly open the window without setting off any alarms, planning to walk across the ledge below to the window that led into the office. Hopefully Cassian wouldn't notice how he purposely asked him to stay behind instead of 'helping' this time.

Meanwhile, the hallway was quiet for Cassian. However, after a moment, panting could be heard as a very overweight bulldog began to turn the corner and amble across the floor. The dog was clearly spoiled rotten and was slowly waddling over, severely panting from the great ordeal of crossing a hallway towards where Cassian was.

@llamallove

 

[Cassian Graves]

The Zeltron stared at Lysander for a moment, jaw set and eyes unwavering in the darkness that swallowed them. A 'fine leading lady?' Captain Lysander had a big ego for a man in his position—a man who was here to take orders, not give them. Still, Cassian wouldn't have been here if it weren't for the soldier standing opposite him, and he had just enough self-awareness to realize that the captain was an indispensable part of his plan and, most importantly, its success.

Good thing Cassian was secure in his own masculinity and competency, even if he had made a fool of himself on more than one occasion tonight. With any luck, that embarrassing but passable display climbing the rope would be his last. "I would make an excellent leading lady," he declared with all the confidence in the world, head held high. "I'm certainly better looking than the majority of them." Blue eyes wandered the length of the Onderonian, features twisting. "A sight better than you, too, I imagine. So don't expect a kiss when this is all over."

A smile spread across his lips after that, to make sure there were no hard feelings. In the Zeltron's profession, a jab for a jab was to be expected. In Lysander's, too, but in a literal, actual jab for a jab.

Before the Onderonian could slip into the room adjacent to the office and disappear in the darkness, Cassian warned, "Be careful. Pabella might be as old and boring as the Jedi code, but I wouldn't be surprised if there's a few surprises lying about the house." By 'surprises,' he meant traps. Pabella was a major supplier of New Republic military hardware, and a man in his unique line of work had lots of secrets to keep and would probably go to any lengths imaginable to protect them.

The hallway was basked in moonlight and eerily quiet, with the sole exception of the occasional complaint from Cassian. "Sure... I'll just stay here in the hallway. Alone. Doing nothing. Sounds great..." The Zeltron paced, biding his time but too excited to remain still. Then the sound of breathing echoed down the hallway, and he grew deathly still. He expected a human face to emerge from the darkness at any moment, but it never did.

Instead, an overweight bulldog was plodding toward him at an excruciatingly painful pace. Even a snail could probably move faster than that, if given the proper motivation. The Zeltron breathed a sigh of relief, unaware until that moment that he'd been holding his breath. "You gave me a fright, little fella," he muttered quietly, kneeling down to stroke the dog's ears as it reached his feet.

The moment he extended a hand, it growled and snapped, drooling all over the carpet. @Sreeya