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[Aaisha Varr]

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Throughout her career as a smuggler, Aaisha had found herself conducting a number of dangerous runs. Whether it was transporting the finest Glitterstim or a cache of Blackwell weapons, or having to outrun Republic warships - the Morganian prided herself on consistency and results. It was, after all, what had ultimately landed her a gig with Terra and Crimson Dawn.

All the same, Gatalenta was a first.

In the aftermath of the assassination of its Senator, the normally-serene Core World remained in chaos. The tension and anxiety hung in the air, while security forces were out in full force in hopes of locating and arresting Basilisk. He was already wanted for the murders of a Chancellor and Admiral of Mon Cala, and no expenses were being spared in ensuring his capture. There was already rumor that additional forces from Coruscant and other Republic worlds would be pouring into Gatalenta to assist in the search.

The likes of which Aaisha wished to avoid, given her intentions of spiriting her anonymous contact to freedom.

While security forces were out in full force throughout the Government District, Aaisha settled into the White Slicer - a particularly seedy cantina, located in one of Gatalenta’s more impoverished districts. It was a step down from the high-class establishment she worked in part time, but it served the purposes of meeting with her contact-turned-cargo well enough. She was tucked within a booth on the far side of the room, conveniently tucked away from anyone who might be attempting to eavesdrop. Not that many did, in a place like the White Slicer.

She was dressed in her usual style - sporting a pair of jeans and leather jacket, with a blaster tucked against her hip and a cigarra lazily hanging from her lips. The Morganian didn’t bother waiting for the assassin to arrive before she flagged down a waitress to order herself a drink, exhaling a cloud of smoke from her nostrils. She had idea who would be arriving, but given the circumstances, doubted they would take very long to arrive.

 

[Edin Frost]

It was a sign that he was getting too high profile when his ride off the planet panicked and bailed. It meant that things were compromised and the contact went into hiding. This left Edin stranded on a planet after he had just shot its Senator to death. He was still anonymous without his armor and helmet, but he made a point to avoid using his trademark gear from now on. After killing the Chancellor, a Sith Councilor, an Admiral and now a New Republic Senator, he had far too much spotlight on that set of armor.

Edin wasn’t spooked easily, but even he was a bit rattled by his ride bailing. This meant he put out a call for any smuggler to transport him off and past the blockade no questions asked. Of course, he had to offer a fat stack of cash for it, extra money for the no questions part.

He arrived in civilian clothing, largely unassuming. When he spotted who his contact was, Edin had to chuckle to himself. He slinked over to take a seat next to her, “Fancy seeing you here,” He said simply with a grin before he ordered himself a drink as well - water with lemon. Edin didn’t display even a hint of panic externally, but he knew he had to play it cool. If he scrambled to get off planet, he would attract more attention. He, after all, literally just got away with murder. He wondered how long before she realized he was the cargo.

@Altaris

 

[Aaisha Varr]

Aaisha reclined into the cushions of her booth, lazily allowing a stream of pale smoke to drift up from her lips. Despite the increased security on the planet, the Morganian couldn’t have been more relaxed than at that moment. She was confident in her abilities and the plan she’d organized to get them off the planet, and the work had yet to begin quite yet. It was the calm before the storm, and she reveled in that bit of leisure. For a woman in her line of work - their lives in constant risk - it was important to find ways to unwind.

Her manicured nails drummed against the counter faintly, steady in their rhythm until a familiar voice captured the Morganian’s attention. She immediately glanced to her left, eyes of molten gold settling upon Edin. It had been months since their heist on Indupar, a job which she was still reaping the credits from. While the Morganian still wasn’t entirely pleased with the thirty-seventy cut at the end of the job, their stolen treasury a handsome chunk of credits.

“Mm,” She hummed, tilting her head to face him. “What a surprise. This where everyone from the office decided to spend their happy-hour?” The Morganian grinned, making a not-so-subtle reference to their shared employers. “Or did you just come here looking for a follow-up dance?”

Aaisha finally swiped her drink from the counter, taking a small sip from the dark liquid that swirled within. “Might be an early night for me, though.” She glanced over to him once again. “You plan on sticking around here for a while?” The Morganian wasn’t entirely sure if he was her contact, but the true meaning of her question wouldn’t be difficult to decipher if he was. If he wasn’t, Aaisha would’ve been content with enough dance with the Firrerreo while she waited for the actual cargo to show up.

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin’s brows rose at her question, “Didn’t know I made such an impression,” He responded as he sipped from his icy water. He reminded himself to never touch whatever those burritos were from that job, the weapons of destruction perfect for a quick diversion. Edin grinned as she mentioned an early night for herself. Clearly she was used to everyone constantly asking for her time left and right.

The assassin glanced around, spotting two men in Ranger uniform walking in to speak to the bartender. Edin could already tell they were showing a Holo projection of him in armor. The assassin sighed as he looked back towards Aisha. He didn’t have time to chitchat.

“Early night for me too apparently,” He said simply, “Because I’m the one that booked you for the rest of the night,” Edin grinned. He jutted his chin towards the exit, “You ready?” He kept his cool, trying not to make it obvious that he was nervous about the uniforms walking around just a few feet away.

@Altaris

 

[Aaisha Varr]

“Most don’t,” Aaisha said with a small smirk, tilting her head towards Edin. “You did,” The Morganian was accustomed to people constantly wanting her attention, and typically failing to keep it for very long. Edin certainly had been different in that department, during their brief work together on Indupar. She took another small sip from her whiskey, enjoying her drink of choice despite the troopers that entered the cantina. She glanced towards them through her peripheral but otherwise didn’t pay them much mind, her posture relaxed.

Whatever heat Edin was feeling, Aaisha didn’t share. So far, the Morganian hadn’t done anything wrong since arriving on Gatalena - and the search for Basilisk meant that the authorities were more preoccupied than normal.

“Sounds like the rest of my night shows promise, then,” Aaisha said smoothly, throwing back the last of her drink. The Morganian slid out of her barstool, placing down a few credits for the Rattataki bartender behind the counter. “See you again soon,” She flashed a smile, despite having little intention of ever coming back to the Core World.

“Got a destination, then?” Aaisha turned on a heel to face Edin, walking backwards a few paces towards the door. “Y’know I heard about this knew club a few blocks away - The Halo? Good DJ, low entry fee.” Her head tilted a bit. “I seem to recall you know your way around a dancefloor,” She said with a playful, fanged smile. Of course, only Edin would likely notice her words were spoken a bit louder than necessary for just him to hear - loud enough for the nearby troopers to overhear their conversation. The Morganian had little desire to raise suspicions by their sudden departure when authorities arrived. Between her raised voice and exceptionally flirtatious demeanor, Edin would likely be able to decipher exactly what she was doing.

“Come on then,” She waved a hand, walking her way towards the exit. Once outside, the Morganian casually began to stroll down the road ahead - hands tucked into the pockets of her jacket. As she reached a crossroads, the Morganian took a sharp right turn - starting their path away from the nightlife and seedy district. It was clear she had no intention of visiting The Halo that afternoon.

“Couldn’t find a spuber?” She glanced back with a grin.

 

[Edin Frost]

“Must be the jawline, because I know my dance moves aren’t that impressive,” He said with a grin as his gaze briefly flicked back towards the Rangers. Her little lie was convincing that he almost believed it himself, wondering if she was seriously suggesting more of a delay. However, a glance at her eyes and tone of voice finally clued him in.

The Rangers paid them no attention, and Edin left with her. He walked with her for a while, “I’ll have to actually go pay this Halo a visit some time,” He remarked quietly. He wasn’t a big smoker, but he definitely did it when he was on a job or when he had anxiety. Edin drew out a cigarra and placed it at the corner of his lips, igniting it as he puffed on the smoke.

“Spuber?” He asked with a quirked brow, “As a smuggler, I figured you’d know all about the blockade,” Edin smirked, “Not inspiring much confidence here,” He teased.

@Altaris

 

[Aaisha Varr]

“Or maybe it’s that little growl you do when my hands are on your waist,” Aaisha said with a grin, casually leaving the butt of her own cigarra in an ashtray. “Rather hard to say.” The Morganian hooked her thumbs outside her pockets, golden eyes sweeping the city as evening drew ever closer.

“Quite the place, from what I hear.” Aaisha quipped over her shoulder. “Assuming you ever want to come back here, of course. What’s that saying - about always returning to the scene of the crime?” She snickered a bit. Of course, despite the word choice, the Morganian had no reason to believe that Edin was connected to that crime - even if she could guarantee he was wanted for one thing or another. He rolled in Syndicate circles and was requesting a smuggler to take him off world, so..

She rolled her eyes a bit at his last statement, “Try not to look so worried,” Aaisha mused back in his direction. “As per usual, I have a solution for that little inconvenience.” The Morganian turned down another road, beginning to make her way towards the warehouse and shipping quarters of the city.

“Blockade is tight, but there are still some ships getting through for Agricultural shipments to the rest of the Core.” For a planet largely reliant on perishable produce, authorized vessels had to move. “Which is why we’ll be making a little pickup along the way from a local seller.” Coupled with local transponders, Aaisha hoped it would be a relatively clean job. Complications could be addressed when they got there.

@Sreeya

 

[Edin Frost]

“Tch,” Edin scoffed, “That was probably from you stepping on my foot,” He quipped back. He didn’t growl very often, and would certainly not admit it if he did. He took a drag from his cigarra, not even glancing over when she made the remark about returning to the scene of a crime. Edin didn’t expect her to immediately point him to Basilisk, but he wouldn’t entertain the bait either way. His response came in the form of smoke pluming from his nostrils.

“For the credits I’m paying you, I better not have to worry,” He said as he jutted his chin towards a side alley, “Quick pitstop,” He said simply before he ducked in. He returned with a large duffel bag slung over one shoulder and a long suitcase in the other. Edin said nothing about it - it was no questions asked.

“Fine by me,” He said, continuing their conversation about making a pickup along the way, “Suppose you’ll be stuck with me and my growling for longer,” He said as he checked his chrono briefly, “If you do me solid, I may give you a more consistent source of income.”

@Altaris

 

[Aaisha Varr]

“I rarely miss a step,” Aaisha quipped right back, arching a brow in Edin’s direction. The Morganian wouldn’t press the point of his little growl any further, but instead flashed the Firrerreo a rather knowing smirk that was far worse. She didn’t miss his silence in response to her crime scene remark, but similarly made no attempt to push the issue.

“Or disappoint, for that matter. Results speak for themselves, love.” Aaisha glanced back at him, flashing a wink. “Just sit back and enjoy the ride, and we all end up happy in the end.”

Aaisha followed Edin towards the side alley when he indicated, waiting until he returned with the dufflebag and suitcase. Though it was met with a raised brow, Aaisha asked no questions - and Edin offered no answers. It was standard conduct after all. Discretion was a valued commodity in her field, and she had little interest in what Edin had done to need transport off the planet. So long as he paid for it, little else mattered.

“I’m sure I can tolerate it briefly,” Aaisha said with a grin, glancing over towards Edin when the Firrerreo mentioned being stuck with him. Her mind briefly wandered towards ways of filling that time before remembering the job at hand. “Oh?” She arched a brow.

“If they all pay as well as this, you have my attention.” She crossed her arms over her chest. “Jobs similar to this one, I take it?”

Regardless of his answer, it couldn’t take them long to arrive outside a large warehouse on the far side of the city. Immediately, Edin would be hit by the smell of fish. Aaisha walked towards one of the side doors, drumming her knuckles against the metal until a Toydarian hesitantly opened it half-way. Aaisha jutted her chin towards him, flashing a smirk. “Here to see Tyvar. Tell ‘em it’s for Carla’s shipment.” She said, making reference to the alias she sported for the job.

@Sreeya

 

[Edin Frost]

Edin grinned, “I said steady payment, never said it’d always be the same amount,” He clarified. Ideally, he wouldn’t have to rely on a last minute scramble like this. However, discretion was the most important part of it all. He was prepared to put a blaster between her eyes if she got handsy with his luggage or took a peek at his armor.

“Similar, yes,” He affirmed, “Or to deliver something for me. No questions and we’re good,” Edin said as they arrived at their detour. His face scrunched up at the smell, his Firrerreo senses unfortunately keen to where it felt like a punch to the face.

“Smells like a Mon Cala whorehouse,” Edin muttered mostly under his breath. He waited patiently for whatever exchange Aisha needed to make to get the cargo. The transponder code was clutch for them to make it past the blockade. Edin was placing a lot of faith in her, and he despised having to do that. It had taken him years to become comfortable with his last smuggler, and now the man had bailed on him. A sad part of Edin knew he would have to close that loop by making that man quietly disappear.

“We have a problem,” The Toydarian remarked after a while, “The customer doesn’t wanna buy anymore.. Said it costs too much to pay to get past the blockade. They hiked the price an hour ago.”