Open Lonely Lonn

[Kara Zaa Fenn]

Name: Hanako Lonn (NPC)
Wanted: Alive
Bounty: 50,000 Credits
Contractor: The Republic

• Target is a Czerka Regional Executive
• Target was last seen at her penthouse in the Corporate Sector
• The recently returned kidnap victim Kara Okada identified the target as a co-conspirator to her kidnapping.

________________________________________________________________________________

Some time had passed since Kara left her homeworld of Byblos. Crewmembers were exchanged for others, some died, some retired, were imprisoned or just plainly couldn't hack it in the more competitive world of true intergalactic hunting. Kara had been slowly building up her network. She knew the right people, got into the Proletariat Lounge, learned about the famous hunter Diva Tumi and slowly got a reputation as a reliable Fixer; someone who get get a capable crew together on short notice.

This time was no different than the dozen jobs she'd done before, well.. that's a lie. This time it was the kriffing Republic posting the bounty. Apparently they needed someone in their custody, but that someone was holed up somewhere the rangers didn't have jurisdiction and their ships weren't even allowed to land. Corporate Sector was always a pain in the ass. Luckily Kara had a contact with a corporation that held office on the same planet as Czerka and managed to bribe herself two shuttle seats to the spaceport closest towhere she needed to go. But you read that right, she bought herself two seats, for she wasn't about to do this alone. Her companion was a merc that was rumored to be a skilled hand-to-hand combatant and with security being tight as it is in the Corporate Sector they hadn't been able to bring any weapons on the shuttle. So in a way, Laeonas Tannaras' would quite literally make or break this job.

"So, Lenny-" Kara said as she exited the shuttle, straightened her most neutral looking corporate suit and turned towards him. "-you clear on the plan?" she asked almost rethorically, assuming that that general outline of the job in which she hired him, through the HoloNet, naturally, and the brief rundown on the shuttle ride would be enough. The plan was, due to sheer lack of intel, too simple: Get inside the penthouse, kidnap Hanako Lonn, stuff her in her own private shuttle and use her personal flight codes to get back to the Republic. It was simplistic, sure, but it allowed for a lot of the improvisational skills that Kara knew she excelled in.

Too bad she couldn't bring her blaster.

@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

Bounty hunting was never something he'd professionally participated. All the bounty hunting he'd done in the past had been freelance, never once official. Some convenience store owner would pay him five hundred credits to find and beat the guy who robbed him, or a mother would pay him to bring in a prick that wounded her child. Other jobs, similar in principle to bounty hunting, included extortion. He was very familiar with this job; mob bosses would send him off to break the thumbs of debtors and drug dealers who didn't pay to use the turf. It was a simple, often violent job, but it payed well.

This... was not the same.

Never in his life did he imagine that a job like the one he was dealing with would leave him weaponless. He knew there would be some restrictions, since he was operating within the bounds of the law. They couldn't go in, blasters blazing and sabers swinging, and expect to either be allowed to collect or even succeed. They had to exercise a tactic that the man hadn't used since he was a boy; subtlety. They'd need to be covert, blend in with the crowd, and make their way to the target without being noticed.

He couldn't even put up his usual makeup for missions like this.

Instead, all he managed was a light mascara, some lipstick, and blush that made those well defined cheekbones look even better. Nobody was going to question a seemingly important corporate executive wearing basic makeup. There wasn't much of a reason for putting it all on, but goddamn did he look good. Cracking his neck, the man started to fiddle with his cufflinks as the boarding ramp opened up.

"Who tha fuck came up with these..." He hissed, wrists unfolding once again. "Kriffin'... why tha 'ell is this even a thing..." He went on, following just behind the woman. When he finally noticed that she'd been speaking to him, he'd snap out of it, slipping the cufflinks into his pocket. "Crystal. Yer gonna get us t'tha suite, Ai'm gonna snap tha dicks off any moron that tries and stops us."
​

@Eccles

 

[Kara Zaa Fenn]

Well, that was aptly put. Kara couldn't help but smile as she turned away from Lenny with an approving nod and hailed the nearest droid taxi. "Residential building twenty-five, landing pad-" she paused to check the blip on her personav, "-thirty-three." Personavs were essential in her line of work for the simple reason that they tended to stand out way less that the fobs bounty hunters used. On a highly urbanized world like those in the corporate sector it also provided her with a very detailed mapping of her surroundings. Key for any Fixer worth their salt.

The ride over was short, only ten minutes, and the droid left quickly enough after receiving its wire transfer over the HoloNet. Kara and Lenny then stood on a landing pad that was basically just an extra large balcony, twenty by twenty feet, too small for a spaceship to land on, but close enough to where they needed to go. Most of the penthouses on the upper levels had their own hangars for personal shuttles and these communal pads were really just for visitors.

Including unplanned visits like they were about to surprise Mrs. Lonn with. Unfortunately Hanako Lonn wasn't stupid and she had heard about both the Republic bounty and the underworld one, both of which probably didn't come as a surprise when the kidnapping of her competitor didn't quite go as planned. The little girl was rescued, Hanako's partner in Czerka was killed and Blackwell didn't seem intent to just 'let this one go'. She amped up security, because only a fool would ever think themselves safe in the corporate sector.

"oi you two-" a burly looking human man stepped out on the balcony, his right hand suspiciously close to his jacket buttons. A concealed blaster, perhaps? "What's your business here?" Kara did he best to look outright offended and opened her arms wide as if it to say that she was someone that should be recognized. She wasn't, ofcourse, but it was worth the bluff. "Eh hello? Kara Lorso ring a bell? Sister of Davik Lorso-" she motioned towards Lenny, "CEO of Systech Corporation Davik Lorso? Are you really this daft?"

@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

There was something to be said about how quickly they were challenged. Things had gone smoothly at first, stepping off their shuttle, finding a cab, and arriving at the main landing pad. But shortly afterwards, their first challenge appeared on the form of some big guy questioning them. Laeonas actually had to do a double take, pinching himself to see if he'd finally gone off the deep end, and had just started hallucinating randomly. Otherwise, he could finally conclude that the force just hated him.

What came next entirely threw the man even further off guard. His partner tried lying about who she was, which made sense. He could pretend to be a bodyguard; hell, it wouldn't even really be pretending, considering his skillset and responsibilities during this mission. Everything ought to have been smooth speeding from there... until she claimed he was a corporate executive. Laeonas' eyes widened a bit, and he'd look down at the woman with surprise, and considerable frustration.

"Ehem... 'on--HHonestly," Laeonas began, shaking his head as he desperately tried to attempt an accent that wasn't his own, "I can't believe ya-you didn't know we were coming!" He'd exclaim, trying to emphasize frustration. "I mean, 'ow--HOW couldn't ya know? We HHHad a meeting, EHEM," He went on, forcing a cough. "Ugh, and Ai-II came all this way with a throat infection, just tooooooo get scrutinized before II walk in through the door?!" He went on, making sure to further emphasize the frustration, and explain away why he sounded like a total freak.

He was taking an additional five percent of the cut just for this.

"Look, we're ALREADY late, so could ya-you, do us a favor, and speed us through?" He added, reaching into his jacket pocket. He casually pulled out a 100 credit chip, looking at the man with a raised eyebrow. It was a negotiation tactic he'd used dozens of times before; ridiculing the person he was talking to, make them feel like their ideas and actions were stupid. Next, he'd offer something conciliatory. He'd both undermine the person's self assurance, and win their favor.

Ofcourse Laeonas didn't see it like that. In his mind, it was as simple as, "kick 'em down, pay 'em up." Whether it would work on this guy was another story, but if it didn't... what was the likelihood the cameras were paying attention, or would notice that a guard had been thrown off the platform?
​

@Eccles

 

[Kara Zaa Fenn]

Kara realized too late that she hired Lenny because of his skills as a combatant and not because he could out-haggle a Hutt. His stammering act completely negated the attempt to look important and the credit chip was, well, only a meagre 100 credits. The burly security guard raised his eyebrows and stepped back to make sure he had both of them in his view as he opened his jacket. The butt of a holstered blaster pistol became painfully clear once the jacket swung open. Kara's heart sank upon seeing it, but it was wasn't the first time she'd see a pistol before..

"Maybe you should call your supervisor first," she opted in a condescending tone, making sure the guard knew that she noticed the pistol. "Before you do anything you'll regret." He didn't falter, but his gaze did dart between the two self-proclaimed Lorso's. They didn't look like brother and sister... Kara knew she couldn't let this moment of hesitation slip and she put a foot forward, "Don't let his throat infection cost you your life. Check the name-" she lifted her right index finger and pointed towards the side of her own temple, "-Be smart. Name's Lorso."

They couldn't allow him to actually check the name, or indeed make contact with his supervisor, because it was a remarkably big bluff to assume there'd be a Lorso in there. A name she got from where? Some Ossein smuggler she bought some spice off on Byblos once. No way he had a penthouse in the Corporate Sector. Taking out the security guard would put the whole place on alert, but if they were lucky it wouldn't be caught on camera and that meant they had some time to reach the penthouse before his next mandatory check-in.

It worked! Instead of going for his blaster, the guard's hand went for his comms unit. It was up to Lenny to take him out before the link was made, but that didn't mean Kara couldn't help a bit. "Be sure to pronounce it correctly, too." she began in an irritated voice and claimed the guard's attention for a second, "It's Elle-Oh-Arr-Now!"

Hopefully Lenny was quick enough to understand what she meant.

@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

To his credit, Laeonas was facing a task that was uniquely difficult for him. He was as far from upper class as one could be; besides his last name, he was the epitome of a street rat. His mannerisms and way of speaking were entirely the opposite of a well off, aristocratic businessman. It didn't help that he had no idea how to use the proper terminology for this situation. No calm requests for redress, such as an "oh, check the itinerary," or a quippy joke that could've made the man calm; "sorry, the traffic on this world is so incredibly congested. What's the point of wealth if you can't even avoid traffic?"

No, instead he'd done what he always did when trying to bargain. He raised hell, insulted the man, and than attempted to bribe him. It was a strategy that almost always worked... if you weren't legitimate. His bribe was also rather pathetic, and a dead giveaway that he had no concept of higher wealth. To him, 100 credits was a week's wages, or a night at the bar with his friend's. To this guy, it was 4 hour's of work. To the person Laeonas was supposed to be, it was a chip that fell out of his pocket, yet was to insignificant to even bother picking up.

His first instinct when the man reached for his blaster would have been... extreme. Laeonas would've tried grappling the man, hoping to force the guard into a chokehold. He didn't doubt that he could bring the burly human down, but his string of consciousness was interrupted by his partner's words. Instinctively, he'd already moved into a combat stance, so it was a bit awkward putting his legs back together and standing up straight. Gradually, it became obvious as to what the woman beside him was trying to do.

The hint of a smirk twitched across Laeonas' lips.

He only had a few seconds to come up with a new plan. He could still try tackling the guy, but it would become incredibly difficult for them to complete their mission like this. The entire security detail would be put on high alert. There'd be no telling how many would come to face them, or if Laeonas could bring them all down. Hell, what was to stop their target from getting in a speeder and running in the event they even made it past the front door?

They had tried to avoid fighting the guard, but that wasn't going to work. They needed to use force to get past this obstacle.

...force.

In theory, all that needed to happen was for the guard to become distracted, or become incapacitated. He could fight the man, and he could win... but the entire security detail would become aware. Laeonas needed to bring the guard down without the security detail pinning it on them. He ran through all he could do in his mind, scowling a bit. They didn't have many options... but he was probably going to do this at some point regardless.

As the guard looked up, confused by Kara's sudden cry, he'd cough. Reaching up to rub his throat, a bubbling, sound came up, the sound of muscles contracting.

The sound of choking.

The datapad dropped, and Laeonas caught it with a free hand. With a dead expression, he'd exclaim in his shitty rich person voice, "Ohh God, he's havin'NNGH an attack! Someone help!" He'd shout, turning to Kara with a nod. "Help! Help!" He'd shout again, rushing past the guard and towards the main entrance.
​

@Eccles

 

[Kara Zaa Fenn]

What the kriff? Kara's mouth fell open and instinctively moved towards the guard to give him some support, but as she got closer it didn't seem to add up. He didn't fall. There was panic in his eyes, as if he didn't understand what was happening either. He couldn't have choked as he wasn't eating anything, but then.. it sure did seem like he was choking. While Lenny ran passed them, Kara quickly looked around and spotted just a lone fixed camera on the balcony. Helping the man not choke to his death was one thing, but there was no rule against making sure to help him outside the range of the that camera. As subtle as possible she gestured for the guard to sit down against a back wall, supported with a kind worried face and gentle touch. "Breathe slowly," she told him, "Hyperventilating won't help you." but it was no use. Whatever was happening to him, the guard didn't seem able to breathe and his throat muscles visibly endured high stress. Panic was in his eyes and Kara could just as well have stayed silent, for he was definitely at least trying to hyperventilate.

Sharing some of the guard's panic, Kara turned her head towards Lenny. "What the kriff is happening to him?" She hadn't said it or the guard was slipping away into unconsciousness, his body went limp, his breathing relaxed but the strain on his throat didn't seem to lessen. Kara didn't understand what was happening, but she wouldn't be an at least moderately effective fixer if she didn't know how to benefit from situations like this, so she unholstered the guard's pistol and took it in her right hand. Next she swiped his access card, "Sorry, buddy."

Resigning to the fact that she let her job outweigh the man's life, Kara got up and moved up to the door where she swiped the access card and got a green light before the door slid open. "With any luck the elevator gets us right to Hanako's penthouse."

@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

"Good," the man thought, glancing to see his partner had chosen to stop by the guard. His grip finally released on the man's throat, allowing oxygen to enter his lungs after he had passed out from asphyxiation. The woman's choice to help the guard would improve their alibi, along with what he did next. Rushing towards the two guards at the entrance, he put on perhaps the best performance of his life.

"HANDS UP! What the hell is going on?!" One would shout, both having drawn their blasters at the frantically approaching man. "DON'T SHOOT!" As loud as he could, putting emphasis on the sounds of fear in his voice. "Ai-Ai just came to get 'elp! Th'at guard let us in, but 'e collapsed! Can't breathe! M-mae sis is tryin'a' 'elp but she doesn't know 'ow ta save 'im!"

The performance didn't exactly take skill, as all Laeonas needed to do was sound sufficiently terrified. He was proud of himself however when both guards lowered their blasters, turning to each other.

"You can head inside," the other guard said, though there was an obvious look of concern... with hints of suspicion. "We'll ask you a few questions once you're in. Wait in the lobby; we'll take care of this." The other stated, before both holstered their weapons and headed towards their fallen comrade. They paid Laeonas' partner no heed, and immediately got to work trying to resuscitate the man. Optimally, it would take a solid ten minutes for them to get the guard back up and off the platform. That gave them plenty of time to get to the lifts.

Meeting his partner at the door, he smirked, watching her open it up with a quick swipe. "Ai'll explain what 'appened once we've got Lonn beggin' on 'er knees ta not rot in a cell." He finally replied, addressing her earlier comment. "We've got a bit of time. Let's go."
​

@Eccles

 

[Kara Zaa Fenn]

Kara bit her tongue, hopefully the other guards wouldn't notice she had taken the blaster. Before heading in, she looked back at them trying to resuscitate their friend and at the camera. It wasn't registering any of this. The blaster in her right hand felt heavy, but while she tried to convince herself to just join Lenny at the elevators, she knew she couldn't risk it. Setting the blaster on stun, Kara took advantage of the desperate resuscitation attempt of the guards as she stepped behind them and aimed the pistol. She uttered no words of warning or apologies as she shot both in the back, stunning them instantly.

Then she dashed after her companion and swiped the both of them into the elevators. "Whatever time we got," she said as she swiped the card again and punched in the right floor, "We only got the one exit now." At the moment she was too distracted by her own actions and the sudden spike of adrenaline telling her it was all about to get crazy to even consider Lenny's words. Later on she'd remember that he somehow knew -and could explain- what had happened to that first guard.

The elevator ride was short. The plus side of corporate sector skyscrapers: topnotch technology. Within twenty seconds they were on the right floor and the doors opened to an empty hallway. Kara took her personav out of her pocket and zoomed in as far as she could, "Doesn't give a clear picture, but I think Okada's penthouse is to the left. You lead, I'll cover the rear". She was a lot more confident with a blaster in her hand.




@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

Laeonas was afraid his partner was going to get sidetracked with the whole guard issue. He couldn't have imagined that she'd do what she did next, but when she did, his eyes lit up in shock. He stammered a bit, before he frowned. He'd worked hard to put on that performance. He'd have left the guards with an alibi; an airtight excuse that couldn't possibly lead to their arrest. Kara had just knocked them out.

He didn't have time to complain however. What was done was now done, and he wasn't about to try reviving them with the force. They'd be stunned for far longer, and now, it'd probably take an hour for the routine guard checks to figure out something had happened, or for one of them to wake on their own. Laeonas begrudgingly kept moving, speeding down the hallway despite the hesitation. Even still, he had hardly even slowed down.

He said nothing on the elevator ride up. He had to remain calm, meditate as best he could. He didn't have much time for that though; within seconds, the elevator had opened back up. He took the woman's words to heart, rushing forward into the hallway. "Lay coverin' fire if shite starts gettin' real." The man replied, moving down the corridor with haste.

Reaching out with the force, Laeonas would try to get an idea of where they were supposed to do. He felt life on this floor; not much, but it was present. Men and women of a variety of species in various rooms, some across from each other, others standing next to each other, and others... best left unsaid. Any of the blissfully unaware folks could have been the hunters' quarry. They could try searching through all the rooms, but how long would it take before the guards got called on them if they went that route? It was out of the question.

They were relying exclusively on Kara's info. If she was right, than the job would be over far quicker than they expected. If she was wrong, it would be up to the both of them-- though, mostly him-- to keep them from being captured or killed. There was no peacefully turning back anymore. They either had to succeed, or they'd probably be staring at a durasteel wall for the rest of their lives... however short that would be.
​

@Eccles

 

[Kara Zaa Fenn]

Hanako Lonn sat in her living room watching a news report about the Senate and how the experts were speculating that the Sector Rangers would soon receive an expanded mandate. She was always keen to follow galactic politics and not just because it made her job as a regional executive for Czerka easier. It was riled her up, motivated her just a bit more, to see those politicians in action that she knew were in Blackwell's pocket. In the competition's pocket. "Kriffing Julia Hipori got her hands all over that," she told her guards, all three of them, before she put the glass of wine to her lips. She had tried, ofcourse, she and Wex had kidnapped a Blackwell's executive's daughter in an attempt to bypass the senate and get a lucrative contract. Instead that bloody Bounty Hunter's Guild interfered and returned her to her father before the deciding vote. Blackwell got the contract and Wex was killed. Bad kriffing luck.

Now Blackwell managed to put her in a corner, too, by making the Republic put up a legitimate bounty based on testimony of that little girl. All because Wex was stupid enough to allow her to listen when he called Hanako with a status update. That's why she was holed up at home with three ex-military guards in her penthouse and building security on alert on the landing pads. Only break she caught was that the sector rangers didn't have jurisdiction in the corporate sector.. yet.

But while she lamented her fate in the perceived safety of her home, Kara fingered the door to Lenny with a confident smile. "This is it. Hanako Lonn's penthouse." They didn't know what they would find inside, or at least Kara didn't for she had no idea Lenny was a trained Force-sensitive. "I'm guessing this doesn't do the trick?" she said as she held the keycard against the panel, hoping that by some miracle it'd open. It didn't and a small red light made it clear that said keycard didn't have the proper authorization. "Guess it's time for the see if my slicing skills have improved somewhat."

Kara was by no means an expert slicer, but she knew how to cross some wires and she was known to download some programs from her personav when needed. It usually worked on Byblos and it worked again here in the Corporate Sector. The program, designed by a slicing collective from Coruscant took a moment to upload and work its magic, but then a few seconds later the door slid open and Kara quickly sought cover to the side, eyeing Lenny as if to say this was his moment to shine. "Keep the element of surprise for as long as possible," she whispered, gripping the blaster pistol ever so tight, "Don't allow her to escape to her shuttle, but don't kill anyone either." Their Republic employers would surely frown upon a kill count and subsequent news coverage.


@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

When they arrived at the door, Laeonas came to an abrupt halt. His partner confirmed that they were at the right penthouse, and Laeonas stood, silently grateful that the force hadn't decided to screw with their decision making process. She got to work slicing the door, and he got to work meditating. Once again, they only had a short window of time, but the man would use it well. Closing his eyes, he drifted outward, and entered the ocean of life.

His earliest mistakes with meditation were simple ones. Holding his breathe, hyper-fixating on things; all the typical behaviors of young, inexperienced children. He'd thought that he'd mastered the technique by the time he was 20, but it soon became clear that he'd fundamentally used meditation wrong since childhood. Laeonas had only ever focused on the cosmic force, ignoring even most of the living force while drawing on it's power. But beyond that, he'd entirely rejected the profane, cutting himself off from the lived realities of the galaxy.

It had been when he met the Jedi that he learned how flawed his technique was. It had taken him time to relearn one of his only pastimes, but when he had finished, the results had been significant. The force flowed into him stronger than it ever had before. His awareness exploded outwards whenever he meditated. It had been like taking his first step into a larger world.

So, when he dove in, the walls and buildings around him were not stripped away; they were expanded on. Between them, all that lived and all that didn't became obvious to him. He could feel the boredom in the hearts of their quarry's guards, finding the job pointless. He could sense the apprehension and annoyance in their quarry, the hints of fear of her safety deep in her heart.

There were the mites, burrowed into the scalp of one balding guard, feeding on the dried flesh where his hair used to be. The fly that buzzed around the counter across the room, landing to sip nutrients from the basket of fruit Lonn had left out to long. There were the other rooms and their inhabitants, still conversating, guarding, or engaging in... activities. Their surface level thoughts brimmed, and he could feel them as if they were his own. During times like these, he could finally, truly see.

The profane world didn't catch his notice, especially since it didn't offer any useful insights. He could feel the moving photons of the 73 inch holoprojector, the catch in the air conditioning, and other useless facts. The guards were armed, something he already knew. None of it caught his interest besides the distance of the shuttlepad; 100 feet long. "A bit unnecessary." Was all he thought, even as the door opened wide.

The instructions were simple. Stealth his way as far as he could, stop her from escaping, and don't leave bodies. There were three guards, all stationed at different points in the room. Taking on all three with hand to hand combat would be quite difficult, seeing as these were all trained men. "Coverin' fire; try 'ittin one if 'e ain't near me."

Seamlessly, he went from standing at his full height, to crouching and moving through the room like a burglar. He didn't make his way in very far; the door opened into a thin hallway, with a few large pieces of art stationed on tall, thick podiums. From the furthest in the hallway, he slipped behind it, and from there, the room opened up. The silkthreaded sofas, neo-retro chairs, and various pieces of art didn't really jive well with all the marble, from the floors, to the countertops.

"Rich people..." he thought to himself, glancing at the nearest guard. He was a few feet away, standing next to the sofa their target was sitting on. The other was past the countertops on the lefthand side of the room, and the other was standing by the doorway out to the landing pad. Attacking one would leave the other two free to act, and leave their target free to escape.

Turning to his partner, he pointed at himself, than at the closest guard. Than, he pointed at her, and pointed at the guard near the doors. He thought his directions were fairly obvious... hopefully. Kara was free to do as she wished, and so we he.

He just hoped that whichever decisions they made payed off.

The podium and art piece he stood behind, heavy as they were, began to shake. The nearest guard turned his head at the commotion... and that was when he saw the man in black. Without any warning, the podium and it's contents flew at the man, several hundred pounds of stone smashing into his frame. Bones shattered, and it was only because Laeonas redirected the trajectory into the maple coffee table that the man wasn't crushed. Standing up, he'd throw himself over the marble countertop, and rush to close the 6 foot gap between him and the nearest guard.
​

@Eccles

 

[Kara Zaa Fenn]

Lenny moved in and Kara followed, making sure the door closed behind them. She felt her heart pumping and she tried her best to focus on the here and now and not let her mind wander off and get distracted. This was the real deal and it was just the two of them. They needed the element of surprise or Kara was sure they wouldn't make it out of here alive. She could almost see her lifeless body getting thrown off the balcony, acidic rain drenching her clothes and wet hair covering her face and the grievous wound where her right cheek had once been. No, focus! Kara shook her head as they got closer and finally got their quarry in their sights. She spotted the three guards, understood Lenny's instructions and just as she was about to turn towards the door to the landing pad when she got distracted by the podium suddenly started to wobble. What the Kriff, things like that didn't happen just because, No, Kara, focus! her right eye looked passed the sight of the blaster pistol as she took one more step and dropped a knee to steady her aim.

Hanako Lonn had just served herself her third glass of Chandrilan wine as she switched the channel to the Crime Watch News channel with Rynn Run and.. Preef Callo, again. She shook her head in disappointment as she had always much preferred to look at the beautiful Zeltron, Vana Walk, before her unfortunately accident of getting infected with the AMS virus. Come to think of it, a trip down to Zeltros would do her good. Indulge in some spice and feminine beauty, release the stress of this whole Blackwell feud-

A sudden noise startled her and she turned towards it just in time to see her favorite artpiece, a sculpted piece of heavy stone, crash into one of her guards with a surprising speed. The sound of his ribs breaking under pressure was horrifying and Hanako immediately dropped low to the floor, her glass of wine tipping over and staining her couch while the heavy artpiece crashed into the coffee table between her and the holo-screen. She yelled, or cried, or shrieked, but one thing was clear: fear was suddenly overwhelming her and she had not idea that at this moment Kara pulled the trigger.

The guard over at the door to the landing pads had been just as surprised as Hanako, but unlike the spoiled executive he was a trained soldier and instead of soiling himself he checked his priorities. Get Hanako to her shuttle, asap. He drew his own blaster pistol from its holster and was about to dash over to the couch to grab the Czerka executive when a stun bolt hit him square in the chest. This startled him even more and he looked at his blastvest in confusion. No scorchmark, was something firing stun bolts? From where!? His eyes went up again, scanning the room only to be able to watch Kara pull the trigger again. He tried to dodge it, but it seemed like that first hit had slowed him down somewhat as he watched the bolt get closer and closer and hit him right on the unprotected right shoulder. His body froze and as a jolt went through his body he was unable to properly guard himself from his fall on the marble floors, landing head first and knocking him unconscious.

Lenny brushed passed her and Kara was confident that her companion could deal with the last guard as efficiently as he had done with the first, so she got back up to her feet and quickly moved over to the couch she last saw the target on. "Hanako Lonn!" Kara called out as she stepped over the guard with the crushed ribs and aimed her blaster at the Czerka executive as the latter was jammering and trying to crawl away from her on the marble floor. Let's just say the tight dress she had been wearing didn't quite help. "You're under arrest in the name of the Republic," Kriff it felt so wrong to say that. Especially considering she'd been the one that made it possible for the Sith to massacre that Sector Ranger prison on Byblos. Playing both sides.. playing only the side with the credits and the willingness to pay her. Whatever got her through the night.

Hanako turned over to her back and looked at Kara with mascara-stained eyes. For someone who had so callously ordered the kidnapping of little girls and the murders of no doubt countless of competitors, she seemed so full of hatred and fear. There was no resignation to the fact that this was probably her just and inevitable due. "Republic has no jurisdiction in the corporate sector," she hissed, but what came next probably didn't surprise her at all. "No rangers here, Hanako-" Kara grinned, "-just mercs looking at a payday."

Mercenaries were just the kriffing worst, weren't they?


@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

The guard had hardly had time to even draw his blaster when Laeonas slammed the full force of his frame into the man. He was larger, but with the impact consolidated to his lower abdomen, the man still stumbled backwards, dropping his blaster. The guard still managed to get into a fighting stance, recuperating from the blows quickly. Laeonas held off of engaging again immediately, holding back to gather his own strength. What came next could've been put an award winning action holo.

The guard threw a punch right at Laeonas' face, but the man's left arm came up to stop it. Rather than allow the punch to connect entirely with his arm however, Laeonas held his forearm at an angle, and pushed against the incoming force. The man's fist slid past, leaving a bruise that throbbed, but nothing significant. The guard had nothing to protect himself with, his entire torso completely exposed, and Laeonas' arm past the reach of his own. There was no stopping the barrage that followed.

Moving against the man's momentum, Laeonas' fingers clenched into a fist, and he threw the weight of his entire left side into the punch forward. Connecting with the guard's jaw, his upper half was visibly thrown backwards. Laeonas' right arm came up in an uppercut that connected right at the bottom of the guard's ribs. Pushing up into his stomach, knuckles met with rib bone, and both would crack from the force. Finally, Laeonas arms reached around the man's back, connecting and meeting in between his shoulder blades.

Pushing downward, he brought both his fists into the man's back. Waiting for his torso to meet it, Laeonas knee hit the man square in the torso. Resting on his knee, Laeonas hands came down again and again, crashing into the guard's back. Even with cracked right knuckles, the man kept going, beating in the man without a shred of mercy. That was, until the end, when he tossed him down to the floor.

Flying to his grip, the man's blaster found it's way into Laeonas' left grip. Boots clacked as he made his way over, an icy glare shooting out from those aquamarine eyes. Without warning, the woman was pulled up into the air and off her feet, and she began to claw at her neck as an invisible force began squeezing at it. Flicking his blaster to stun, Laeonas fired at the woman, incapacitating her. Her limp body dropped to the floor, unconscious, though she'd wake up coughing like a wretch.

"Child kidnappin', corpo simpin', fancy dress wearin' security detail 'irin' ****." He spat, listing off the insults in disgust. "Did Ai tell ya 'ow much Ai 'ated this bitch while we were on tha way 'ere?" He asked, casually turning to his partner. "I mean, it's one thing ta work fer karkin' czerka, but ta kidnap a child... even tha worst gangs back 'ome wouldn't stoop that low." He growled, spitting a disgusting loogey down at their quarry's face.

"C'mon, call it in. Ai don't wanna spend a second longer while we're 'ere... and Ai need a bacta rub fer mae 'and."
​

@Eccles

 

[Kara Zaa Fenn]

What happened the second Lenny joined shocked Kara and it took all of her mental constraint to make that unnoticable for her compatriot. So that's what had happened before. He was a Force user and by the way he used it he looked much more like one of the Sith that had tried to invade Byblos than the Jedi who had protected the innocent from their tyrranical rule. Hanako Lonn was a terrible person, true, but Kara had also done things there were no excuses and by the looks of it, so had Lenny. At least he kept her alive, although spitting on her face as she lay there unconscious was really unnecessary.

"You do realize that now that you've knocked her out," Kara pointed at Hanako and then towards the access door leading to her private landing dock, "that's you're gonna have to carry her, right?" This little fact amused her more than she let on. Served the impulsive Force-user right. "We have a rendezvous point with the rangers just outside Corporate Space, so let's not delay. I'm sure Czerka has security team on its way already." It's not like they had made sure not to trip over any silent alarms or anything and by this time the three unconscious guards at the public landing pad would've no doubt be found. Time was becoming a more important factor and having to carry Hanako, though petite, wasn't exactly gonna go faster than having her walk to her own shuttle and punch in the access codes.

Brushing passed Lenny, for he knocked Hanako out so he was carrying her, Kara made her way through the door and onto the landing pad. Here was to hoping her personal codes were written down in the shuttle's console. If not, they'd have to wait and wake Hanako up.. that wasn't going to be pretty. Luckily the shuttle itself was unlocked and Kara didn't delay to sit down in the pilot's seat and get started with the departure checklist.

Looks like... yes, Hanako's codes are on the kriffing checklist. Gotta love rental pilots. "Oi, Lenny-" she called out for her companion, "-get Hanako inside and let's go."

@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

He took a few more minutes to glare down at their now subdued quarry. She didn't look especially evil from the onset; not like many of the Sith he'd met, clad in black and prowling around like night terrors. That didn't wash away the look of disgust on his face. Turning to his partner, he didn't see much of a visible reaction on her face. He was a bit surprised, seeing as she'd been unable to comprehend a guard choking just 15 minutes ago.

In any case, his feelings on the woman were clear as day. Laeonas had done things he wasn't proud of, some of which could probably earn him a spot on the bounty boards. He'd pissed off plenty of people; a hutt had tried killing him, and a Sith was hunting him. However, these were beings Laeonas already thought were scumbags, so being on their bad side didn't matter. The things he'd did to get on their badsides also weren't nearly as immoral as attempting to kidnap a child.

No, in his mind, there was no comparison between the two of them. Laeonas did what he did to meet his comparatively small ambitions, or to simply survive. This... person... had everything she could ever want. He doubted that this apartment, which was bigger than an entire floor of the tenament he'd been born in, was the only one she had. What could the life of a child be worth that could mean so much? Was she going to unlock the secret to eternal life? Would it grant her access to five dozen highly attractive naked male servants at all times? What motivations could possibly cause someone to threaten to murder a child?

His moral compass wasn't strong by any means, but sinking so low was absolutely off the table for him. Kara quipped about how he had to carry her, and his grimace of disgust was replaced by a rather neutral glance. "...didn't ya just see what Ai did?" He asked, slowly standing up. He looked a bit threatening for a second, especially as the woman's unconscious body began floating off the floor as well. However, he allowed it to fall, draped over his shoulder, waist resting while her torso hung over his back, and the legs over his front.

Following his partner out, he didn't struggle as much with walking as one might expect. The man was strong, despite his lack of bulk. He'd spent his youth eating little more than protein and hauling crates around. Since than, his diet hadn't really changed at all. He was able to carry the woman, left arm slung over her waist. His right hand was beginning to throb with pain, but he pushed it aside. They had to get out of here, quickly.

His partner seemed to find success in getting the shuttle ready. "Good, no 'oldups." He called, boots clacking against the durasteel landing pad. He managed to reach their getaway vehicle in a timely fashion, entering besides her. "Got anythin' ta keep 'er ands tied?" He asked, resting their quarry in the seats behind them.
​

@Eccles

 

[Kara Zaa Fenn]

Kara was beginning to think she might've underestimated the volatility of her chosen companion and that frightened her somewhat. It was taken all of her mental powers to make sure she wouldn't be recognized as scared, surprised or shocked at Lenny's Force-sensitivity or how he chose to wield it. She didn't need him acting the same way when they reached the rendevouz, having said that, best Lenny didn't know where it was in case he wanted to ditch her along the way. "Just strap her in and watch her," she told Lenny, who, for his obvious combative prowess, didn't seem to realize that 'rope' wasn't something you'd typically find in an executive's shuttle.

Finishing it the checklist, Kara started the engines and engaged in takeoff, opening a comm-line and hoped for the best. "Czerka Control, this is shuttle C-231. Heading off planet."

It was quiet for a moment as Kara directed the shuttle not towards Czerka's own orbital station, but roughly towards the side of the planet that allowed hyperspace travel towards the Republic. Unfortunately that didn't go unnoticed as the comms buzzed to life, "Shuttle C-231 is assigned to Executive Lonn. She's under house-arrest per the Board of Directors. Turn around." Kriff, turning around wasn't an option, but neither was engaging in a dogfight. She had to think of a way to get, hmm maybe, "Are you trying to get me fired?" Deliberate pause, "Hanako Lonn is the Regional Executive of the Raiobello Sector. She's what, three months away from being that board? How much do you think our jobs mean to her?" For most ordinary employees in a galaxy with billions unemployed on every planet, the threat of losing a job usually meant they'd go to any length in order to keep it and- "Personal Flight Codes?" -it worked like a charm. Personal Flight Codes were used to let executive sign-off and take responsibility, in a way. Luckily for Kara, those were on the checklist, too. "Sierra-Sierra-Charlie-Yuma Niner-Six-Three"

It didn't take long for his reply this time, "You got a green light for off planet travel."

______________________________________________________________________________

The autopilot did most of the work once they hit hyperspace and Kara had begun to raid the minibar between the seats of a sour-looking Hanako and her Force-using compatriot. "Iridonian whiskey, sweet-" she grinned a thankyou to the quarry and offered Lenny a glass, -to a job well done."

Few hours from now and they'd be delivering Hanako to the Sector Rangers and cashing in another big paycheck. Life was good, she slung back the shot of whiskey and savored the burning sensation in her throat. It was almost enough to let her relax after a long day's work, but there was still one other thing on her mind: "So, Lenny. I've only ever heard of the Sith using the Force like you did today." In other words, are you a Sith, Lenny?


@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

The fear in her was faint, but it was something he could pick up on. She hid it fairly well; a useful talent, to be sure. In their line of work, putting on an air of bravado got you hired. These days it seemed so silly, since he was able to dip into the surface thoughts of others. Even skimming hers, it was obvious that she was afraid.

With Kara taking off, Laeonas kept his sights on their quarry. Even as she lay in the seat behind the two of them, there was no telling when she'd wake, and if she'd attempt something. It could only take a five minute slip up for her to wake up while they weren't paying attention, and she could send out a distress call. Strapping the woman in, he reached out again with the force. The universe opened up to him, and everything began to shift.

He'd concentrate on the executive's mind. He could feel her neurons working, still in a panic after the forced incapacitation Laeonas had put her through. As he started to meditate, he focused on projecting an aura of calm, peace... and fatigue. The woman's mind, previously having tried to do all it could to wake her, began to calm. He'd tricked it into simply putting her to sleep, and they wouldn't have to worry about her waking for hours.

That should have been the end of it, but evidently, there was one last challenge they had to deal with. Hearing his partner talking on the comms, he'd listen carefully to the conversation playing out between her and air traffic control. It was brief, but she seemed to have convinced control that, if she wasn't able to get off word, their asses would be collectively mowed. He'd hold his breathe after she gave the codes.

There was nothing he could do if things went wrong. It was all on her.

But it didn't go wrong. No, they were able to punch through the atmosphere, and leave. She'd let their ship tear off through the stars, and Laeonas finally breathed a sigh of relief. "...Ai've 'ad a few close calls in mae life, but holy SHITE was that a nail biter!" He exclaimed, belting out a laugh. "Karkin' brilliant, couldn't 'ave done it better maeself."

--------

The next few hours were dull, until they weren't. Laeonas had decided to take a nap in his chair, though it was still faced towards their unconscious quarry. He'd been awoken by his partner rummaging through the refrigerator bolted into the cabin. Craning his neck to see what she was up to, his lips curled into a grin when she pulled out the bottle. "Ai'm more an ale guy, but Ai won't complain, booze is booze."

He’d take the glass, swirling it’s contents around for a bit and than downing them. Nothing beat drinking to the knowledge that he was going to be making bank… well, a few things did. Meditating for a few hours always put him in a terrific mood. He didn’t abuse spice, but the few times he took it, he always had a good time. Things came so natural, and people just had a tendency to take off the-

“So Lenny, I’ve only ever heard of the Sith using the Force like you did today.”

The man’s rather pleasant train of thought was cut off by a rather…stinging question. As he held the glass in his hands, his partner would be able to see the slightest shaking in his fingers. His glance shifted from the glass, and fell on her. Indignation had painted itself across his face, but it suddenly shifted to a cruel grin.

“Because Ai am.” He whispered, floating the bottle out of her hand and into his. “Ai am Darth Stolas, and Ai have searched far and wide for an apprentice.” He spoke in a foreboding tone. Slowly he stood, towering over the sitting woman in his black outfit. “Swear yerself ta me, and Ai shall not unleash tha FULL POWER OF THA DA- tha- tha dark— pfft…” he tried to keep up the act, but it was no use. The man starting sputtering out into laughter, and than broke into a full cackle.

“Oh mae GAWD, really? Ai mean, if Ai were a Sith, why would I even bother keepin’ ya around? No reason fer me t’not just pump ya full of lightnin’, and take the whole bounty fer maeself. ‘Ell, AI could probably sell this ship to! Ai’d make laike… six grand?” He finished, almost asking her a question by the end. Regardless, he poured himself another glass, before reaching over to hand her back the bottle.

“Look… if Ai’m a Sith fer chokin’ out a guard defendin’ a child kidnappin’ bitch, and chokin’ out said child kidnappin’ bitch, there’s a lot more Sith out there than Ai thought.”


​

@Eccles

 

[Kara Zaa Fenn]

Kara didn't buy Lenny's joke for a second, after all, she had worked with Darth Stolas before and there was a reason a Sith would keep her around. After all, she was the only one who knew where the rendevouz point was. "You might be right," she sighed, thinking that there were indeed a lot more Sith out there than the HoloNet broadcasts showed. The galaxy only knew about how many, four? Meanwhile she was certain that a lot more Sith broke into the Byblos prison to free two of them. On information she had sold them.. she took the bottle and refilled her glass with guilty eyes. The whiskey didn't burn as much anymore. Not enough to dull the guilt, anyway. "Just dont use it in front of the Sector Rangers," she warned, putting the bottle back in the mini-bar and returning to the pilot's seat. "Don't want them shorting me for cooperating with the enemy and all that."

Thirty minutes later the shuttle touched down in the hangar of a space station and the second Kara exited she saw the four armed rangers waiting for her. One of them, a Shistavanen, stepped forward. "Kara Lok?" She nodded, "I'm Sector Ranger Narr Noft, his eyes gazed passed her towards the shuttle, "You brought us Hanako Lonn? Alive?" She nodded again, "Bit beat up, but alive. Send me the credits and she's yours." she'd make the fifty-fifty split with Lenny later.

The Shistavanen growled under his breath. Apparently he wasn't the biggest fan of bounty hunters. Once he saw Lenny exit with Hanako he'd simply nod and transfer the funds while his three fellow rangers took custody of their corporate executive to stand trial for kidnapping.



@Tom

 

[Laeonas Tannaras]

He'd been disappointed by her reaction, both from a lack of her falling for it, or laughing afterwards. Frowning, he sat back, drinking a bit more from the glass. He'd observe the woman's face, a sunken expression of guilt drawn over it. Cocking his head to one side, he leaned forward, mainly motivated by curiosity... and admittedly, a bit of empathy. Her comments about cooperating with the enemy caused a wave of annoyance, though tempered by having gone over this already. "Kara, Ai'm gonna spell this out one last taime; Ai'm no Sith."

He stood up, setting the glass down and heading into the shuttle's refresher. He changed out of the stuffy suit he'd been in, and was now simply wearing a black undershirt and black matching shorts. The cufflinks were in one of his pockets. While he hated them, he would one day understand how to use them. He looked at her a final time, the expression still on her face. Taking a deep breathe, he'd sit in his seat again, leaning forward.

"...talk t'me after we get paid." He stated in an uncharacteristically flat tone. For the rest of the flight, he'd remain sitting there, waiting to arrive. By now, he actually was able to get some decent meditating in, drinking in the force-- however little there was in hyperspace-- and simply immersed himself. He didn't want to prod into Kara's thoughts-- nor could he, really. Only the most basic, surface level thoughts could be perceived.

There was... guilt. He couldn't grasp anything more, but it matched her expression well. He just... didn't understand it. She'd brought up the Sith, and he'd told a shitty joke; now she was sad? The man didn't have much time to ponder the answers to these questions, nor was there a purpose in it. He'd only know the truth if she was willing to reveal it.

When they arrived, he had the Czerka exec slung over his shoulder. He'd nod at the rangers, and he wondered if any of them would recognize him. Some of his aliases were definitely wanted. At their direction, he'd toss the woman down, letting the officers properly apprehend them. The credits were transferred, and their job was finished. All that was left was his cut... and a few unanswered questions that he hadn't even properly asked her.

"...where Ai'm from, tha law doesn't mean shit dependin' on 'ow many creds ya'v got." The man muttered, watching the officers cart off the hunters' hard fought prize. "Pay officers enough, and they'll ferget that they saw ya beat a guy 'alf t'death. They'll ferget that yer gang boss ordered a hit on that store. They'll ferget everythin'... sometimes they'll even join in." He went on, and without any other changes, his lips curled up into a smirk.

"Ai thought th'at was 'ow it worked everywhere... but Ai'm clearly wrong. Th'at bitch is gonna 'ave ta get some nice defense if she doesn't want ta spend tha rest of 'er life in a karkin' cell." He went on, chuckling. Something about the rich bitch getting what she deserved filled him with pride. For once in his life, he was on the side of justice, and one of the elites he so despised was the one he'd brought it to.

"Guess all it takes is tha right man... or woman." He said, turning back to his partner. His smile faded, and his arms crossed over the other. "...ya looked laike ya were down in tha trash compactor. Kriff's goin' on, girl?" He asked. They could've simply gone their separate ways... but Laeonas wasn't interested. Not just yet.
​

@Eccles