Ask Coruscant Asset Retrieval

[Neera Nazneen]

The Mid Levels of Coruscant​

On the outside, the building was simple enough. A modest structure in a quieter level of the ecumenopolis. But upon entry, the interior was far more decadent; there was fine art and even finer sculptures. The client apparently fancied himself a collector, and he was not shy about displaying even the most expensive of his trinkets.

The Ithorian looked more like a businessman than an actual crime boss. True enough, his rackets weren’t on par with anything belonging to the five syndicates, but (clearly) it kept him in comfort. Abstaining from committing any violence himself, he was not above hiring others to do the dirty work. That is where Kotti Solus came in.

The client’s alien language was guttural, with words indecipherable to the average ear. Luckily, a service droid, gilded in silver, was there to translate. “The master bids you welcome and thanks you for assistance. Your reputation is most impressive.” As the Ithorian went on, the droid continued in perfect tandem. “An asset of the master’s has gone missing. It’s been two days since her last communication. The master would not have worried, had he not been notified of the kill order. Enemies would not dare come after the master, but they would gladly eliminate his investments.”

Whilst translating all this, the droid offered Solus a datapad inscribed with all the information on offer. It then projected a hologram of the target; a young woman, with otherwise dark features. Not quite human, but near enough. The file classed her as a Nagai.

“Neera Nazneen is one of those investments. Find her. Protect her and deliver her, alive, to Nar Shaddaa. Should you be successful, you will be compensated greatly. The Master is a generous man. He asks you to name your price.”

When the droid had finished speaking, the Ithorian took it as an opportunity to light a pipe of some sort. In he breathed, and then out, his two mouths expelling a large puff of smoke. He could be patient. He’d wait for the Mandalorian’s response.

@Darasuum

 

[Kotii Solus]

When it came to the Core Worlds, Kotii knew he needed to tred lightly. The more towards 'civilization' the more rules and restrictions were put in place for the safety of non-combatant galactic citizens. But as 'Black Hand' he was a licensed Hunter for the Bounty Hunter's Guild having been elevated from 'Tracker' not long ago. With a good reputation, Kotii expected to have more work thrown his way too. But always his duties to House Solus as its Alor came first.

When offered the datapad, Kotii took it and scrolled over the information. "Is this the first time Neera's had a hit out on her?" He asked for a number of reasons. Behind the red and black painted helmet, Black Hand eyed the Ithorian. Delivering the Nagai woman to the Smuggler's Moon could be difficult especially with the AMS virus in high intensity.

The badger would turn his eyes to look around the room and peruse the collections. There were items of various cultures and importance which caught his eye. But one case held not one, but three items. Three damascus blades sat in a beautiful wooshyyr wood box. Kotii recognized beskar and slowly turned his helmet to look at the Ithorian. "These."

Kotii knew that if they were indeed what he thought they were, then there were three more of the throwing knives in the galaxy somewhere. He doubted someone would simply melt down the knives unless they were ignorant of what they meant. But if the werda'kar were not on display, than it was unlikely the crime boss had them. "Do you have any other Mandalorian artifacts?" The stern tone of the Alor was down to business. When it came to dealing with outsiders it was easiest and also wise to keep things strictly professional.

@Pam0wl

 

[Neera Naz-Neen]

The Ithorian continued to savor the smoke of the pipe, drawing in deep before continuing. Once again, guttural sounds rumbled from within the confines of the alien's thorax, their inaudible sounds translated dutifully by the silver, service droid. “The master has no knowledge of any prior contracts. This asset came recommended specifically because of her…’young blood’.”

Meaning Neera Nez-Neen was somewhat of an amateur. That in itself could be an advantage though; with little notoriety came little notice. Keeping her head down and a target off her back let the young grifter move in and out of the criminal world rather freely. That was until she fell into some contracts here on Coruscant. Now someone wanted her dead.

Despite the gravity of it all, there came a chuckle from one of the Ithorian’s four throats, his idle fingers tracing in the direction of his collections. He didn’t seem all that put out by the Mandalorian’s request; in fact, he seemed rather agreeable. Neera was apparently worth more to him than the blades within his possession.

At a snap of the finger, the droid retrieved the box and its contents, offering them to Solus as a form of advanced payment. “You share the Master’s appreciation, it seems. You recognize only the finest. The Master respects this. The blades are yours but regretfully, here there are no further artifacts. He trusts this will suffice.”

If it were anyone else, the Ithorian may have been far less trusting. Only a fool would pay for an asset not yet in his possession but the hunter was in a league of his own; quality came at a price and his included a code of conduct. The leatherthroat was confident in the badger and his reputation. He would honor the conditions of the agreement.

With the evening growing late, and the proprietor starting the tire, there came yet another rumble of the chest. He was eager to conclude this business; the sooner, the better. “As stated, the datapad contains all necessary information, including Miss Naz-Neen’s most recent movements. The Master wishes you luck in this endeavor.”

With that, the droid escorted Solus out of the inner chambers, the Ithorian not paying him another glance. Indeed, the datapad had some recent information, including several locations Neera had called in on. Whether or not Solus could use this though was up for debate. The Nagai was as good as a ghost, only clocking in when her employer needed her; there was little pattern to her cavorting; a few days ago, she was on one level, and then the next, she was somewhere else. One would almost mistake them for evasive tactics.

There was, however, one consistency within Neera’s joints. The Outlander gambling bar, located in the Uscru Entertainment District.

@Darasuum

 

[Kotii Solus]

Spoiler: Music

It was a blessing when things ran smoothly. There was no telling when it came to the underworld. People in power gave the false impression they abide by the rules just because they were the ones that made them. The Ithorian did not give Black Hand the impression he would try to double cross him or take advantage of the situation in any way. At least that would be the case as long as Kotii did not make himself an easy mark. But they had an understanding. "I'll be in touch." He assured the droid and its master with datapad in hand.

Leaving the collector's mid-level habitation, the Mandalorian would travel to a different part of the city in an air taxi. His first stop would be to the Coruscant Covert on level 1313. The Solus made certain he was not being followed first. The hidden Sentinel Hotel was only recently made available by Tor'la Akaan'ade. Now it was as good a place as any to review any data as a staging ground. The entire planet of Coruscant was a city and he had a little bit of time before he would go to the Uscru Entertainment District.

The half echani reviewed the datapad a little further. Another reason he went to the Sentinel Hotel was because when he finds the Nagai, he would be trying to deliver Neera to Nar Shaddaa as soon as possible. The badger's bounty hunting ship, The Bevrag'ad, was parked in a private hangar until he needed it.

Neera looked to be tanner than the average Nagai judging by the pictures. She was not short but not especially tall either by Kotii's judgements. Numerous minor offenses related to her young life were documented in police reports that indicated her troubled upbringing and run ins with the law. The Hunter wondered how many individuals had to live like that in the core worlds. It also showed Naz-Neen and her family did not have a lot of influence, not like the Hutts.

The red and black armored Mandalorian would have his sniper rifle slung across his back. He doubted he would need it but the marksman prefered to carry it with him. He possessed the necessary licensesing for it. But carrying his micro-missile pistol would get him flagged by security without a doubt. On his left hip, Black Hand carried his heavy blaster pistol of the same name. The thermal detonators he normally carried on him had been swapped out with two G-20 glop grenades.

With those changes to his loadout in mind, Kotii turned off of the street and entered the Outlander gambling bar. Screens showing pod racing on different exotic locations played in the background. The place was filled with a vibrant array of people and lights. Music and voices all mixed together to make an excited atmosphere. All the while, Black Hand waded into the crowd and approached the bar.

His T visor slowly moved from side to side, letting the patrons know he was looking around. Some made way for him while others seemed to just stop and eye him. Others simply did not care and went back to their gambling. Being a little taller than some of the other gamblers, Kotii tried to find the person he was looking for. Behind his helmet, he also kept an eye on how much people were betting and if it was corelated to which sport. Some were playing in house games. Perhaps the badger would find her playing Sabacc or Pazaak. Maybe Neera was the type to even just rolling chance cubes. Despite her being a stranger, Kotii found himself feeling a bit curious to find out why she gambled. Was it the rush? The material reward? Only time would tell.

@Pam0wl