Of Meetings and Cantinas

[Lars Warren]

​

It was another night in the Crescant City on Corellia, and another very profitable night for the Patron's Oasis. The club was bustling with activity, as usual. The booze was being drank, credits were changing their owner, spice was being enthusiastically used and the dancers were... dancing. All in all, it was a nice, successful night like any other, thought Lars Warren, the owner of this very fine establishment as he was throwing out a trouble maker. He has noticed that he was bleeding slightly from his shoulder. The punk must have cut him with something sharp. He shook his head and returned inside with a warm smile on his face, going behind the bar to pour the drinks and oversee the other barkeeps. He only hired them recently and they were rookies into this kind of stuff, as young people at the Crescant City usually worked in the industry. Not like Lars was complaining, as exhausted workers meant only more profit for him.

 

[Breeso]

@Prudence

((forgot to tag lol))

 

[Aren Krass]

Aren Krass wore a loose fitting long gray coat, adorned with interwoven armorweave to protect him, and a hat and scarf on his head and neck to semi-conceal his identity. Behind him, waiting at the door and not stepping in, was a squadron of CorSec guards, dressed in their regal blue armor and carrying blaster rifles. To his left was Arritef Selanus, as deadly as ever, and vigilant on the guard. Krass pushed through the quickly opening door, and waded into the establishment infront of Arritef. He immediately saw the owner and smiled,

"Lars. How nice to see each other in reverse situations. Take us to a private room in your establishment. Now."

@Proleptic

 

[Breeso]

Lars looked up and saw the smiling man. "Hm? Uh... Mr. Senator! Is that you? I am sorry I didn't recognize ya! See, ya are wearing even more ridiculous stuff than usual." he chuckled, took a green bottle and poured the liquid into a glass, then placed it in front of Krass. "It's nice to see ya not squirming on floor for once, man. So, whyddya want to see my private room? It's private for a reason, ya know." he asked and then chuckled again. "But we're pals so Imma let ya take a peek." He placed the bottle somewhere under the bar and then waved his hand again, the music returning and concentration of the customers returning to the bar. Lars waved for Krass to come with him, still smiling. He led him to a room almost hidden behind the bar.

This room was small, at least smaller than the club itself. There were some shelves with datapads on them which displayed photos of Lars and some "nerf-herders", including a Rodian named Deenik. There was also a table in the centre of the room with some chairs around it and two cabinets in the corner. Lars motioned for Krass to sit down and then went to one of the cabinets, opened it and took some sort of device, a comm device, from it.

 

[Nor'baal Desajilic]

Softly, the light on the communicator blinked as the connection was made and accepted by the calls recipient, the audio feed activating first - as the communication was answered. The recipient had provided the communicator to Lars for emergency use only, and as such was quite prepared for what he would be needed to say. Kicking into life, the audio feed transmitted an unmistakable voice to those present in the room, deep - yet its usual bombastic nature was replaced with an ice cold patina of thinly veiled disgust.

<Has it really been so Long Senator Krass, that you have already forgotten our arrangement?> boomed the voice from the comms unit, before the holo-projection flickered into being, revealing the Hutt (quite clearly in some form of moving shuttle/yacht) <Or do you need reminding?> he said, his voice rising in volume to match his growing anger. Nor'baal Desajilic Koragga, now fully visible in the room, made a simple gesture toward the door.

<Leave.> he said with deafening finality <Or I will consider this defiance an act of personal vendetta, and a breakage of our agreement.> he added, before facing Senator Krass directly. <If you wish to play this game Senator Krass, I must warn you now - it is a game you shall loose.>

The Hutt made another gesture with his hand, this time toward someone who could not be seen on the Holocall, and the yacht he was in shifted, as if changing direction. <Or do you need reminding in person?> he concluded.

 

[Aren Krass]

Softly, the light on the communicator blinked as the connection was made and accepted by the calls recipient, the audio feed activating first - as the communication was answered. The recipient had provided the communicator to Lars for emergency use only, and as such was quite prepared for what he would be needed to say. Kicking into life, the audio feed transmitted an unmistakable voice to those present in the room, deep - yet its usual bombastic nature was replaced with an ice cold patina of thinly veiled disgust.

<Has it really been so Long Senator Krass, that you have already forgotten our arrangement?> boomed the voice from the comms unit, before the holo-projection flickered into being, revealing the Hutt (quite clearly in some form of moving shuttle/yacht) <Or do you need reminding?> he said, his voice rising in volume to match his growing anger. Nor'baal Desajilic Koragga, now fully visible in the room, made a simple gesture toward the door.

<Leave.> he said with deafening finality <Or I will consider this defiance an act of personal vendetta, and a breakage of our agreement.> he added, before facing Senator Krass directly. <If you wish to play this game Senator Krass, I must warn you now - it is a game you shall loose.>

The Hutt made another gesture with his hand, this time toward someone who could not be seen on the Holocall, and the yacht he was in shifted, as if changing direction. <Or do you need reminding in person?> he concluded.

"Nor'baal." Krass spoke "Can I not go anywhere on my home planet and speak with business owners without you threatening me? Must I cancel any meetings I have with CEC as well, for fear of defying you? This meeting does not concern our arrangement. Go back to having your monkey shit on people."

He stood his ground, waiting for the Hutt to end the call.

 

[Nor'baal Desajilic]

Silently the Hutt allowed himself pause to think, exceptionally briefly, about what the Senator had said. His look soured even more, as the Hutts mind raced, thinking of new and imaginative ways to murder the man - methods that would put some of the most critically acclaimed horror authors to shame. Nor'baal did not like people who went back on deals, and Senator Krass was developing somewhat of a penchant for thinking that he was not only untouchable, but also beyond all reproach. The Yacht in which the Hutt found himself made haste to the bar owned by Lars, a close associate of his.

<So be it.> he stated simply, his voice low, its humor cold. The Senator would pay for his disloyalty, for this break of a deal. The Senator would pay with his life, his property, and all that he held dear. The dear Senator had forgotten one thing, one very important facet of the world, indeed the Galaxy, in which he lived.

Everyone has a price.
​

With a simple movement of his hand, the Hutt sent enough credits to make a grown man faint to the Black Market for Bounty Hunting Contracts, using an anonymous account, the instructions to the recipients clear: ''Target: The Krass Estate. Objective: Obliterate.'' before turning back to face the Senator, and offering a slight bow. Continuing on its course to the bar, the Shuttle increased its speed.

The call cut off.

 

[Lars Warren]

Lars' eyes widened as the communication device was activated. He didn't plan to activate it just yet, he wanted to bargain and talk, but after giving it a thought, this was probably for the best. He was smiling throughout Nor'baal's speech, thinking that watching a Senator get psychologically bullied by an opportunistic ball of slime was one of the finest pleasantries in a person's life that were very rare to witness. However, when Krass insulted the Hutt, Lars covered his mouth with his hand, partly to hide his smile. He then proceeded to play with his beard a little. "Well, mr. Krass," he started, lost in thought. "I think we won't be able to talk today. Can't go against the boss, sorry." He said and tapped his fingers on his blaster, strapped on his right side. He was apparently thinking about something, tapping the fingers on the blaster. "It seems like boss is ought to get ya... and I really need the money. Not to mention his favour." Suddenly, he has decided and gripped the blaster and aimed it at Krass' head, shooting. However, his blaster was old and rusty, not to mention Lars' poor marksmanship skills, so he prepared himself to shoot again.

 

[Aren Krass]

Lars' eyes widened as the communication device was activated. He didn't plan to activate it just yet, he wanted to bargain and talk, but after giving it a thought, this was probably for the best. He was smiling throughout Nor'baal's speech, thinking that watching a Senator get psychologically bullied by an opportunistic ball of slime was one of the finest pleasantries in a person's life that were very rare to witness. However, when Krass insulted the Hutt, Lars covered his mouth with his hand, partly to hide his smile. He then proceeded to play with his beard a little. "Well, mr. Krass," he started, lost in thought. "I think we won't be able to talk today. Can't go against the boss, sorry." He said and tapped his fingers on his blaster, strapped on his right side. He was apparently thinking about something, tapping the fingers on the blaster. "It seems like boss is ought to get ya... and I really need the money. Not to mention his favour." Suddenly, he has decided and gripped the blaster and aimed it at Krass' head, shooting. However, his blaster was old and rusty, not to mention Lars' poor marksmanship skills, so he prepared himself to shoot again.

Aren's eyes darted down as the man's hand landed on his blaster, tapping on it. He tensed his muscles, preparing for movement if he needed to. His eyes were locked on the blaster, and as soon as Lars gripped it he jumped to the side and began running. Within a moment he was through the door gripping the comlink in his pocket and giving it two quick squeezes, sending two clicks to the CorSec team outside.

Krass was pushing through the crowd in the lobby as CorSec poured in, their blaster rifles raised,

"EVERYONE ON THE GROUND. NOW." one of the guards shouted.

Krass had left Arritef in the room with Lars, and hopefully, only Arritef would exit.

 

[Proleptic]

Lars' eyes widened as the communication device was activated. He didn't plan to activate it just yet, he wanted to bargain and talk, but after giving it a thought, this was probably for the best. He was smiling throughout Nor'baal's speech, thinking that watching a Senator get psychologically bullied by an opportunistic ball of slime was one of the finest pleasantries in a person's life that were very rare to witness. However, when Krass insulted the Hutt, Lars covered his mouth with his hand, partly to hide his smile. He then proceeded to play with his beard a little. "Well, mr. Krass," he started, lost in thought. "I think we won't be able to talk today. Can't go against the boss, sorry." He said and tapped his fingers on his blaster, strapped on his right side. He was apparently thinking about something, tapping the fingers on the blaster. "It seems like boss is ought to get ya... and I really need the money. Not to mention his favour." Suddenly, he has decided and gripped the blaster and aimed it at Krass' head, shooting. However, his blaster was old and rusty, not to mention Lars' poor marksmanship skills, so he prepared himself to shoot again.

Aren's eyes darted down as the man's hand landed on his blaster, tapping on it. He tensed his muscles, preparing for movement if he needed to. His eyes were locked on the blaster, and as soon as Lars gripped it he jumped to the side and began running. Within a moment he was through the door gripping the comlink in his pocket and giving it two quick squeezes, sending two clicks to the CorSec team outside.

Krass was pushing through the crowd in the lobby as CorSec poured in, their blaster rifles raised,

"EVERYONE ON THE GROUND. NOW." one of the guards shouted.

Krass had left Arritef in the room with Lars, and hopefully, only Arritef would exit.

Arritef had watched the proceedings of the meeting through the still open door of the back room with ever-increasing agitation and readiness. He was rather tired of the attempts on Krass' life. "I understand that everyone is entitled to their opinion, and that everybody isn't going to agree with ours, but the sheer number of slime that decide to interfere for their own personal gain alone is simply disgusting." He thought.

Arritef watched the barkeep contemplate his weapon and began stepping forward into and through the opened door. He seemed indecisive, but that was often when people were most dangerous. Arritef moved his left hand towards his knife pouch and put his right on the handle of his blade. Arritef was already crossing into the room as the man took the first shots, and Arritef loosed three of his knives with his left hand, aiming one directly for the man's torso and the other two for either side of him, and stepped in front of Krass, calculatedly dodging the somewhat shoddily fired bolts. Analyzing their accuracy, Arritef realized that though they weren't perfect, they were certainly deadly in the right place, and the accuracy was close enough to at least hit an arm or a leg. That would make anyone a sitting duck.

Krass darted from the room, calling CorSec in while he did so. It agitated Arritef that he couldn't cover Krass, just in case of a second assailant, but he had to deal with this man first. He knew he needed to be as efficient as possible to ensure Krass' safety. Arritef would have to be careful on this one. "If you do not back down immediately, your life is forfeit." Arritef said, looking the man dead in the eyes. "I suggest you comply."

 

[Lars Warren]

Lars' eyes widened when the noticed that Senator's personal monkey arrived on the scene. He tried to cover himself behind the table, but he was too slow. One of the knives pierced his arm just as he was trying to return fire at Arritef. Lars yelled in pain, falling on the floor and leaning against the table, his right hand bleeding as it has a knife still sticking out of it. Lars tried to grin but he just made a silly face because of the pain. "Thank ya for your suggestion, mr. Party pooper... I'm gonna take it for now... ugh." He growled out in pain, looking at his hand. "This wasn't... very knife of you... just so you know..."

The moment the CorSec units stormed into the bar, chaos immediately ensued. Most customers screamed and obeyed the law enforcer, but some of the patrons didn't listen so easily. They pulled their blasters out and fought back, taking down many CorSec guards before falling themselves.

 

[Aren Krass]

CorSec lost six of their troopers as bar patrons began returning fire with everything from scatter guns to blaster pistols. Ultimately though, the CorSec guards, their training and armor superior, cut down the bar patron. Krass was immediately escorted out of the bar by the guards, five of them surrounding him so that no one could get a shot to him through them and their armor. Once he was securely onboard and loaded into his seat, his armored shuttle took off, patrol cars flanking it. Krass winced once he was aboard, realizing that several of the patron's blaster bolts hit his armorweave coat, dissipating in the material, but leaving bruises from the kinetic impact.

CorSec returned to the scene and began escorting out any patrons that did not return fire at them. Those that did, if they survived, were arrested. Finally they entered the back room with Arritef and Lars, a pair of stun cuffs in hand. The guard in the lead nodded to the man on the ground,

"Sir, please place your hands behind your back." Should Lars comply, the guard would cuff him and then lift the man up, to head for the back of a squad car. The guard in charge nodded to Arritef,

"Solid work Mr. Selanus."

 

[Proleptic]

Arritef silently nodded and recalled his knives to his hand, stowing them in his pouch. He closed his eyes and took a breath, returning himself to a calmer state of mind, and striding over to a personal shuttle to follow Krass. The last thing he was going to do now was leave his charge alone when he had just nearly been assassinated.

 

[Lars Warren]

Lars stared at the guard. Then at his hand. Then at the guard again. He then growled in pain again as more blood was flowing on the floor. "Son... you must be shitting me..." he said in between his wheezes and quiet moans. However, the CorSec guards just forced him to stand up and then put the cuffs on his hands, his wounded hand twitching rapidly. Lars looked at the captain of the CorSec unit that was just arresting him.
"May I at least know where am I going?" he asked, not even a hint of a smile.

"You are to be put into one of our jails." the captain answered, returning the stare.

"That is it? No trial, no nothing?!" Lars' eyes widened even more with anger.

"I suggest that you should keep quiet, sir, unless you want it to be used against you." the captain rolled his eyes and waved for the guards to take him away. He silently obeyed, frowning and trying to ignore the ever-growing pain he felt in his right hand.

 

[Prudence]

Lars stared at the guard. Then at his hand. Then at the guard again. He then growled in pain again as more blood was flowing on the floor. "Son... you must be shitting me..." he said in between his wheezes and quiet moans. However, the CorSec guards just forced him to stand up and then put the cuffs on his hands, his wounded hand twitching rapidly. Lars looked at the captain of the CorSec unit that was just arresting him.
"May I at least know where am I going?" he asked, not even a hint of a smile.

"You are to be put into one of our jails." the captain answered, returning the stare.

"That is it? No trial, no nothing?!" Lars' eyes widened even more with anger.

"I suggest that you should keep quiet, sir, unless you want it to be used against you." the captain rolled his eyes and waved for the guards to take him away. He silently obeyed, frowning and trying to ignore the ever-growing pain he felt in his right hand.

"Your trial date will be announced within the week. Until then we are keeping you in a detention facility. "

That was the last that the troopers spoke to Lars before loading him into a patrol speeder and taking him away. Scenes outside the cantina clearly showed Lars, blade removed, cuffed, surrounded by guards moving towards a speeder

Before they had exited the cantina one guard had wiped the blood off of Lars hand to form a more presentable image to the press. Within a moment all speeders were away, and the only thing left at the bar were the CoeSec troops, taping up the crime scene.