[Hutt Carterl] Mission: The Art of War

[Snake Eater]

Spoiler: Mission

Mission Name: The Art of War
Location: Naboo
Details: A prominent Bith artist has recently depicted several prominent Hutts in extremely unflattering ways. Receiving death threats due to his work, he has contacted the Ranger's for protection
Hutt Objective: Destroy the 'art' the Bith has produced and kill him
Ranger Objective: Defend the Bith and if possible his works
Participants: 1 Ranger, 1 Hutt Enforcer
Additional Notes: N/A

One flick of the wrist stained it red, another stained it white, just a few more until Poc 'Asso would finish his painting. As usual, he let his mind wander. Normally, Poc 'Asso's thoughts would range from the old Empire before Darth Judge Judy or whatever his name is to the peaceful world of Bastion that was protected by the Imperial Knights formerly. Now, his only thoughts took him to a galaxy without him; his propaganda would go on without himI think, I mean, the Hutts have to have some kind of enemies. It was more than one event that made him go in hiding, at least I found somewhere nice.

A few weeks ago, Poc 'Asso contacted a group called the Waste Rangers for protection. It had only been a few days before he heard a response that someone would be on their way to protect him, even though the payment wasn't cheap. Po 'Asso's commissions over the years from the Empire, Cartel, and even the Republic had given him enough credits to live over fifty years without working again; but alas, a true artist can not live without publishing some of his works and that is how Poc 'Asso began spreading the face of scum and villainy: Vero the Hutt.

Spoiler: I paint things as I think them, not as I see them. You, my friend, are not as we see.

Poc 'Asso took his painting from the easel and hung it off the balcony for all citizens of Theed to see while drying. Then, he went back inside and locked his doors, arming himself for any unexpected visitors.

 

[Chairdor]

The mission was highly unusual to the droid. He was to defend someone he didn't know for a subject he knew little about and cared even less about, not due to any hatred but from the simple fact that he was a droid. Despite his natural inclination towards abstract concepts like humor and empathy in the end these were mere mimicry of natural and true responses. Hiro knew that and as such his own responses were worth less than those true things. So as such it was only logical that art, the mimicry of life, was worth far less than life itself. So for an artist to put their own life in danger due to the nature of their work seemed not only foolish, but philosophically uneconomical. Hiro adjusted his hat as he attempted not to calculate on this any longer. No matter how many reference pictures he pulled he could not find a definitive example of art, it was all so different and extreme and loud that together it became a meaningless jumble.

Despite this meaninglessness, the droid knew one thing, this man said someone was out to murder him, for doing something he loved. While Hiro could not understand that thing, nor why it's existence would lead someone to such rage that they would attempt to murder the being that made it, he could understand that such an action was a punishment not befitting of the crime if there ever was one in the first place. Thus he gladly took the credits from the artist and accepted the job, flying out straightaway to Theed.

It was a long journey, but Hiro was used to lengthy flights and it helped being able to pass out on command, it took no time at all to get from Zonju V to the city where his client lived and better yet Hiro saved money on travel by going as luggage rather than as a passenger. Arising he entered the spaceport and went to the repair facilities first, taking time to fully charge himself and oil up, he had himself inspected for any nicks or damages that might have occurred on the journey. None found he rented a speeder and sought out the artist.

Once in his neighborhood it didn't take him long to find the artist's home. Many people were outside admiring his latest 'work' which interested Hiro about as much as paint drying, which this literally was, this was paint drying. Still it seemed to fascinate people, which the bot was oddly not happy about, but not due to the reaction itself, it was a more selfish reaction, though he failed to find a word for it. Hiro found that odd, but entering the oddly decorated home of the bith he soon found odder. Coming to the artists door, he found it firmly locked and so he knocked roughly a few times before saying,

"Howdy there mister Asso, my names Hiro, that Waste Ranger you hired to protect you an yur pretty paintins, mind lettin me in so we can talk shop?"

 

[Darkwasp]

The Imperial born woman stood amongst the rest of the onlookers, as they gawked at the overzealous painting of the venerable Vero the Hutt. While her almond shaped eyes appeared wide with excitement, they skillfully studied the balcony; trying to ascertain possible entry ways into the Bith’s abode. As she diligently studied the area around Poc’Asso’s domicile, Mai was presenting a unique art of her own. The lovely woman skillfully responded to the onlookers who chatted her up about the art piece. She made brilliant comments about his use of color and strokes, as well as associative relativity to other artist… all while completely dismissing the actual conversations and focusing on her opportunities to enter the home.

She was dressed rather attractively; her red dress was both elegant and sexy, and stuffed under her left arm was a large roll of parchment paper. This was part of her first plan; a plan that she hoped would be simple and allow her to complete her job without much fuss or fight. Her heart began to race with the excitement of her plan about to be enacted, and then suddenly adrenaline was gone. A strange looking man, in a large hat, moseyed up to Poc’Asso’s door; giving it a solid wrap. Mai’s eyes narrowed at the sight of the man; her mind racing towards what he could possibly be doing here. Instead of making her move, she decided to hold off a little bit. She needed to know the entire situation, before throwing herself into it. So she sat, and watched for a bit.

Spoiler: Picture

 

[Snake Eater]

"Ah!," Poc 'Asso shouted from his locked bathroom after putting his repeater rifle down, "I've been waiting for you."

He left the bathroom and opened the front door and saw a large droid. This is it! I'm dead.

"Are you sure you're not an assassin droid?" he said half-heartedly as he stared at the crowd below him, amaring his art. The Bith felt an ecstacy he hadn't felt sine his first published works that gained him popularity within the Empire. If he stayed alive long enough, he would try to work with the Rangers; they would use his credits to their full ability, afterall, I have everything I ever wanted.

 

[Chairdor]

Hiro heard a considerable amount of latches being undone as at last the door finally opened to reveal the face of a Bith happy at last to have his guard. That face swiftly vanished as he became fearful and inquired in Hiro was in fact an assassination droid. Due to his lack of memories and inability to tap into his source code, the droid couldn't say for sure,

"I'm whatever droid I need to be given the job, but I assure you today I am an anti assassination bot pardner, now let's establish some security protocols,"

Hiro began as he swiftly walked inside and closed the door locking it,

"I'm the only Ranger here and if you didn't hire anyone else, I'm the only feller that should be enterin this house with a weapon,"

As Hiro walked further into the home he noted the abstract pieces all vomits of color and form to the artistically blind machine. Looking upon one piece in particular, a giant metal pole which glowed from various pores in random and ever shifting patterns, all Hiro could do was try to dissect some encoded meaning, to decipher how the randomness was truly an illusion of some kind. Perhaps that was a meaningful reaction, but the droid could not tell, it was not art he should be concerning himself with anyhow, but the artist.

"Hope you don't wilt like a flower without the sun," the droid said as he shut a series of windows and curtains, "Because were gonna be on lock down till we can figure this out alright?"

After Hiro ensured all the entrances were locked and the windows closed to ensure no sniper could pick off the artist, Hiro turned to the one he was to protect and approached him,

"Now Poc ' Asso, you mind tellin me how much of this is real and how much is fear, cause I'll have my guard up all the same, but I need to know how quickly things might get ugly for us,"