Ask Bakura Boogaloo

[Crix Dolan]

BAKURA
Red District, Glasco

The pulsing neon glow of lascivious holo-ads reflected off the windshield of Crow’s speeder. The red district in Gesco, the second largest city on Bakura, was just another den of iniquity on a planet where the Security force was just as likely to rob you as the denizens were. He eased down into an exit lane and turned off the main drag. The miasmic purples, reds, and blues, of the main strip faded into darkness as he slid further and further away from the glitz and glam.

Rundown residential apartment buildings lined the avenue, gang bangers with supped-up speeders became more and more prominent, and Crow felt right at home. He understood the rules of engagement here. There was a liberty in knowing that in the poorest portions of a city survival was the only real law. He slowed as a traffic light turned red and saw a pair of twenty-somethings exchange drugs and a greeting in a single fluid motion. He couldn’t help but wonder if the gig tonight would go as smoothly.

A man can only be what he is. A lifetime ago on Denon, Crow, had been different. He’d been a straight edge, a hard worker, and a devoted husband… Now… now none of that shit mattered. He took the wheel with his knee to free up his hands and plucked a cigarette from his jacket pocket. He slipped his lighter from his pants pocket and flicked it open igniting the device and his cigarette in a single fluid motion. He slipped his lighter back into his pocket taking the wheel back into one of his hands.

The effeminate voice of his personav told him his destination was near. The location was a dimly lit parking garage just ahead on the right. It was dingy and dimly lit. On his way to the top, he saw plenty of homeless camps and a couple of spice heads fighting for the best position around a burning trashcan. His speeder crested the final ramp and spilled into the open air of the parking garage’s roof. He slid into the rendezvous point, backing in just in case.

Crow stepped out of the speeder and popped the trunk. With his cigarette pressed between his lips, the smuggler donned his gear. Once outfitted he took a final drag and flicked his addiction over the side of the wall. The glow of the cherry spun away and disappeared into the night. He slid his helmet on and activated the voice scrambler. He might have been pulling a job with the goons on their way, but that didn’t mean he trusted them.

@Orbit

 

[Matias Vale]

Matias rode through the streets with ease, his bike beckoning to his command without question as he split lanes between speeders. Even though it was his first time in the new city, the pace was the same as Salis Da'aar, and as result made him feel that he knew the roads like the back of his hand. In actuality, he followed the route his personav drew up for him as he only had been given a list of coordinates for this meeting.

A few sharp turns and cut-offs later, he arrived in the Red District, a fitting name as he would be engulfed in red neon light wherever he drove, at least on the road. The route eventually led to what appeared to be an abandoned parking garage and he banked to the right in order to turn into the entrance. Even with Crix waiting at the top floor, he would be able to hear the roar of Matias' bike and draw nearer each passing second.

There was no effort to be discreetly made as it really wasn't possible with his ride and on cue, Matias would practically shoot out over the final ramp with a deep mechanical rumble. There was a lone light fixed to the front of the bike that was bright enough to make someone's head turn away as it would be conveniently slid over Crix as he parked right next to him. The small flashing gave him an opportunity to see the type of gear that the Enforcer was wearing, an indication for him of how heavy this Op would be. Clearly, they both had gotten the same memo.

Being parked right next to Crix, he would get his own view of Matias and the tactical suit he wore. It was a new addition to his arsenal after the number of credits he had been earning lately. In truth, he was comfortable with his civilian clothing but he had learned quickly that while his appetite couldn't be sated for work, his body wouldn't be able to keep up. The suit offered protection he didn't have before and that was enough of an excuse for him to swallow any complaints. Various weaponry was stowed away on him a vibrosword, blaster pistol, and others that were hidden.

Even though the suit came with a helmet, he chose not to wear it. While he bought it for protection, he hated the feeling of an enclosed bucket around his head. It was alien to him as he always preferred the feeling of the wind whipping his face and hair. As a replacement, he simply had a black bandanna that covered his lower face while a pair of tinted riding goggles covered his eyes.

Matias would glance over at Crix before finally shutting off his bike and dismounting from it. Instead of speaking, he simply leaned against the vehicle and waited for the others to arrive. As his arms crossed over his chest, he caught a whiff of the cigarra smoke, and in order to refuse the urge, he dug his fingers silently into his biceps.

 

[Crix Dolan]

Crow leaned back on the hood of his speeder and crossed his arms over his chest. His usual assortment of equipment was accompanied by two thermal detonators and four knives. The detonators were clipped to his hip above his DH-17 and the knives were hidden in easy-to-snatch places along his person. A toydarian barkeep had told Crow, back when he was just Crix, that a man could never have too many knives, and The Old Smuggler agreed. Thinking of which, Crow plucked one of the aforementioned knives and began cleaning his nails. It was a nervous habit he’d picked up, but there was something calming about having a weapon in your hand and a task to put it to while you waited.

The roar of an obnoxious speeder getting closer drew Crow’s attention away from his knife. He turned to face the ramp he’d come up from. He slipped the knife back into it’s sheath and let his left hand, the one facing away from the ramp, drift to the blaster on his thigh. A beam of light sprayed the wall across from the ramp. Crow gripped the blaster tightly, knuckles going white as he squeezed. All of a sudden, a brute of a speeder bike whipped around the corner and roared up the ramp and into the air. The single impossibly bright headlight cast a spotlight into the sky.. Crow couldn’t help but think that was an interesting choice considering they were meeting to commit a violent crime, but who was he to judge? The bike landed, slowed, and swung into the spot next to him. As it did, that literal ray of sunshine, washed over him. Crow winced as the light whipped over him, but he didn’t fully turn away.

Astride the beast was a tall humanoid wearing pitch-black tactical armor, a bandanna around his mouth and goggles over his eyes. Crow gave it a once-over, it looked sharp, not much distress on it, he figured it was new. Well, at least this guy had some of his priorities straight. He and Goggles exchanged a look, but neither of them said anything. The younger man turned away and Crow went back to cleaning his nails.

Five minutes later a K-52 Strongarm Gunship swooped in and landed on the roof across from Crow and Goggles. The ship’s boarding ramp lowered and two figures stepped out. The first was a lean Chiss with a wicked sneer a scar cut through his left eyebrow. The second was the badest Wookie Crow had ever seen. It loomed over the Chiss as if it were his menacing shadow come to life. Crow stood from his speeder, stowed the knife, and let his hands hang loose but at the ready as the pair sauntered toward him and Goggles.

The Chiss’ sneer spread into an ugly smile as he asked, “Evenin’ gents. I can tell by the look o’ve ya, you’re the bastards we hired. Which one o’ve ya is, Crow?”

Crow stepped forward but said nothing. “Fancy yourself a slinger, eh?”

The Chiss pulled his gun. He was fast. Obviously practiced, but too eager to show off. A tense moment dragged out before he broke into a cackle. He made a show of flourishing his weapon before holstering it. “I hope you’re faster on the job,” said the Chiss as he shifted his attention to Goggles and took a couple of steps toward him a little too close for Crow’s comfort.

“Yew must be Fours. 'Erd you had hands. 'Erd young like getting up close.”

Crow watched Matias carefully. Based on his entrance alone, Crow, didn’t think he’d be able to ignore the jibe. His eyes flicked back to the Chiss. One hand was behind his back, the other casually draped over his blaster, and his chin was stuck out begging Matias to take a swing. Crow chanced a glance at the Wookie. The monster’s face was calm. Where the Chiss was all bluster and bravado, The Wookie was quiet and calm, which was an easy feat when you could carry a big ass rotary blaster like it was a squirt gun. These tests were common. No one liked having people you didn’t know or trust at your back, and this Chiss was trying to establish a pecking order.

"That's enough Dax."

The Chiss froze, like a dog who just hit the end of his leash. A Togruta stood at the foot of the gunboat's ramp.

"We don't have time for pissing contests. Board up, we need to run the plan."

Without another word, she strode up the deck and established herself at the top of the pecking order.

@Orbit

 

[Matias Vale]

No conversation birthed between the two of them while they waited for the rest of this team. Even if one had been, its life would have been short-lived as a few minutes later, a ship flew in to cut off whatever could be heard. With the empty lot, it was rather easy to land and it was done so right in front of the pair. The entire time Matias remained silent still, not even shifting slightly as gusts of wind barreled right into them, his observative nature taking the lead as he felt any question he had would soon be answered.

The ramp dropped down to reveal two fellow mercs already waiting there and completely opposite from each other, at least appearance wise. They were a Chiss and Wookie, both carrying the same heavy arsenal, and the only aspect that was somewhat similar between them. The blue merc took the lead first as he stepped down, greeting them grandiosely before he first made his way over to Crow. Every step the man took dripped in a swagger that he believed he possessed and left an ugly taste in the young merc's mouth next to Crow. Matias still remained quiet in order to not start any issues, not exactly amused with this bravado being shown by the Chiss. As far as he was concerned, if they were already hired, this "show of skill" felt unnecessary to him. Not only that but it was a risk too.

From the short conversation that unfolded, Matias learned that Crow found his forte with blasters at least. So, he hadn't been wrong about his assumption. The number of knives that covered him disrupted that theme but he would take the Chiss at his word.

When they finished, the Chiss then finally made his way over to Matias but unlike Crow, he didn't step up for a greeting. His gaze tracked the Chiss slowly until they stood directly across from each other, barely any space separating them. Though Matias resigned himself to just spectate at first, the pressing and daring nature of the Chiss quickly undid that promise to himself. That anger that he always had been lurking within him started to swirl out of his control, only needing the smallest tinder to set it aflame. When the Chiss took his final step to close in, Matias made the first strike out of instinct as his hand moved like a blur. Almost in the blink of an eye, the tip of a knife would be pressed right into the right ribs of the Chiss in a controlled manner still. Even with his quickdraw skills, his lung could be punctured much quicker than the gun could be pulled out.

Without saying anything, Matias maintained his gaze on the Chiss'. Even with the tinted goggles, the man would be able to feel the intensity that smoldered beneath. A line of sweat would even caress down the Chiss' face until they were eventually interrupted. This time, it was by someone who appeared much more measured, a Torgruta woman that immediately called her pet back and revealed how much power he had.

When she re-entered the ship, that's when Matias would twirl the blade away and back into its sheath. He took a step forward to make it so he was shoulder-to-shoulder with the Chiss. Peering to his left at the alien, he calmly clarified, "Really close." It was a subtle warning that required no explanation. Leaving it at that, Matias would walk past both him and the Wookie as he scaled the ramp.

 

[Crix Dolan]

As he followed the rest of the crew up the K-52’s gangway, Crow considered Fours’ choice. He’d given in to the Chiss and performed exactly the way Dax had wanted, but at the same time, Fours, had drawn a line in the sand. Even now as he walked apace with Dax it was clear he wasn’t letting that little “interview” go. The mercenary broke from Dax stepping ahead and plunged into the ship without looking back. The Chiss stopped, wiped his forehead with the back of his hand, and glowered at Fours’ back. He muttered something in huttese under his breath that Crow didn’t catch, but from it’s tone, he could guess it wasn’t a blessing.

Best place to settle a score would be in a fight, thought Crow as he stepped past the Chiss and into the ship Dax brought up the rear and lifted the boarding ramp as the ship began to rise steadily into the air. The K-52’s interior was standard. As with most career mercenaries, a ship becomes more of an asset than a second home. Crow could spot the tale tell signs of smuggling compartments and counted three weapon lockers on the way to the lounge. The Smuggler found he was frowning with approval, maybe this wouldn’t be a shit show.

Crow rounded the corner and stepped into the lounge. The Wookie was seated at the Dejarik table, Crow took up a space at the wet bar looking toward the center of the room. Dax stalked in and sat opposite the Wookie, and the Togruta entered from the cockpit. A quick glance down the hall revealed an assassin droid piloting the ship. The Captian of the ship stepped up and started the brief.

“Let’s keep this short. I’m Daliah, the arrogant blue thing is Dax, and the mountain of fur is Barrah. We hired you, so we know who you are. Thank you both for being on time,” as she spoke she stepped to a panel on the wall and input a code. A hidden compartment hissed open and she plucked a blastvest from it and slid it on.

“This job isn’t complicated,” she looked around the room to make sure everyone was keeping up as she slung on her gun belt. “Barrah, pull up the building, please,” said Dahlia. The Wookie complied and the Dejarik table displayed a hologram of their target. A feral grin spread across Crow’s face. They were hitting a Black Sun corporate office.

“Our target is Black Sun executive—” as Dahlia spoke a window in the hologram opened up displaying the Falleen in question “—Jin Sevoss. It’s been rumored that Jin and ilk are planning on hitting a Crimson Dawn supply line. We’ve been asked to take him out.”

The map zoomed in on the roof of the building. “We’ll split into two parties. Scare and Snare. Dax and Fours you’ll be the Snare. Your job is to disable Sevoss’ escape ship and then take out the target when they arrive.”
“You got it boss,” said Dax, but he wasn’t looking at Dahlia.

Crow didn’t like that. It was a dumb move to put two together when there was bad blood, but it wasn’t his call.

“That means Crow, Barrah, and myself will be the Scare team,” as she spoke she looked each of them in the face as she clipped a couple of thermal detonators to her belt. “We’re gonna hit the ground running and light up the floors just below Jin’s office. That’ll send him and his guard running right to the Snare team with us fast on their heels.”

Finally, she slid a HUD facemask on and said, “If you have questions now is the time. We’re the minutes from Snare Team’s drop. Otherwise prep however you see fit and get to the boarding ramp. Speed is the name of this game.”

Crow pushed himself up from the wet bar and made his way to the boarding ramp. He was getting tired of depending on the honor of hired killers to have his back, but at the end of the day what did it matter? Better to have someone you don't know kill you than someone you do...

@Orbit

 

[Matias Vale]

Compared to Crix, the smuggling compartments and such passed by completely unnoticed. This was one of the rare times he actually entered a ship and it appeared normal like the rest to him. Matias found his spot on an empty section of the wall in order to listen. Once his back touched, his arms crossed over his chest as he assumed his typical stance. The Togruta entered the room once they all found their positions, quickly jumping into introductions and what the job entailed for them.

Matias listened silently to the whole plan, committing to his memory easily. So far, it didn't appear flawed except for one aspect, Dax. When he heard the revelation the two would be paired, the only sound that did erupt from him would be a simple, "Hmmph." While he wasn't exactly pleased, he wasn't here to make friends or leave good impressions, it all came down to the credits. Greed was the main motivator but not in the sense he wanted credits all for himself to make the claim he was the richest. He wanted the most he could get to take care of himself and another peacefully.

All that Matias was used to was depending on killers, hired or otherwise, to get the job done. It made him feel right at home as not everything was different from his home planet. Pushing off from the wall, he took a quick glance at Dax before just following Crix to the ramp. The silence was his answer about questions as he went to the other side of the ramp. As they waited, Matias would idly be pulling knives out to only twirl them before sliding back into the sheath. The motion would be repeated, becoming smoother and smoother as the outline of the city would start to become visible.

 

[Crix Dolan]

Crow was leaning up against the wall, arms crossed over his chest. This job was going to be messy. Dahlia was smart to keep it simple, but there was a lot of grey area here. A little too much for his liking. He stooped and adjusted one of his jet boots. He heard footsteps coming down the corridor and found himself relieved to see Fours.

Betrayal in this line of work was expected and when a crew hires extra muscle they normally cut their losses as soon as the muscle isn’t required anymore. Crow and Fours were extra baggage. He didn’t trust the knife-twirling biker anymore than the others, but at least he knew Four’s didn’t have two other friends with him for backup.

The freighter began to descend as they made their final approach to the first drop point. In a voice, only loud enough for Fours to hear Crow said, “Gotta bad feeling about this. Watch your back.”

Dahlia’s voice called down the hall, “Crow, get ready, we’re out first!”

“Copy!” he called back. He looked back at Fours, then Barrah and Dahlia turned the corner. She looked back and forth between them for a second, “Did we interrupt something?”

The Wookie laughed.

Next thing Crow knew they were boots on the ground. The boarding ramp had lowered and they were suspended halfway up a skyscraper. Barrah lifted his massive repeater and opened fire on the side of the building. Transpiristeel shattered and rained to the ground. Dahlia shot forward and lept through the shot-out windows. Barrah threw his gun through the opening and followed his boss. Crow activated his jet boots, pulled both of his blasters, and flew after the other two.

The office building was in chaos. Barrah and Daliah were cutting a bloody path for the nearest stairway. They had to climb two flights in order to bait their target upward. Dax was piloting the ship and once he was sure the Scare team was clear he’d pull out and head to the roof.

Crow landed and jogged off after the rest of his team, being sure to finish off anyone left behind.

@Orbit