Ask The Gift That Keeps on Giving

Nymeria

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Somewhere, Obroa-Skai

This was not the first time Nymeria had visited the planet of Obroa-Skai, the Obroan Institute had proved a useful resource in the past for one of her endeavors for the Eternal, and re-establishing some new contacts within the institute had been a priority after starting her new life. One of those contacts had finally paid off, and she had received a tip about a new item that had appeared on the local black market. One that matched the description of something she had long had her eyes on. It also helped that the item had a huge bounty placed on it by Crimson Dawn, saved her the trouble of having to look for a buyer.

Of course, because the planet was under Free World jurisdiction, and with is came some complications. She had need of a fast getaway if the need arose, and able hands to help her if things got messy. So she had sent out feelers, and had been informed of someone who fit the bill. They had communicated and set up a meeting, and she now waited on a crowded street on the other side of the city from the Institute. Hidden just inside a dark alleyway, waiting for her contact to arrive, she stood leaning against the wall, just watching the crowd move by. Dressed fairly innocuously, a blaster hidden away under her jacket, she was waiting across from a motel sign that would mark the spot where they were supposed to meet. Her contact in the Institute, new to all this, had wanted to meet at a cantina near the institute. But she had overruled his suggestion and insisted they meet here, and asked her new smuggler friend to meet her here a little before her contact would show up. Which, she realized as she took a look at her chrono, ought to be any minute now.

 

Terra Lanris

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Terra's attempts at setting up a legitimate business had eventually brought her back to a life of shady, semi-legal endeavors. A job to "acquire" an artifact for the Crimson Dawn. She needed the money.... wasn't that how all terrible decisions started off? A hint of desperation? So she'd joined Crimson Dawn in full.

As she understood it, there might be a need of a ship and a smuggler after the grab itself.

She pulled up to the agreed location on her speeder bike. The helmet - which was only a rational thing to wear - was concealing her face with her horns still poking out the top. Buying tiefling-specific clothing could be such a pain sometimes...

You Nymeria? she asked. She didn't have a witty introduction like she had when she met her last contact. There was no interesting puns or double meanings she could think of about Nymeria. Was it an animal on Game of Empires? She thought so... maybe she could have used that... too late now.
 
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Nymeria

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She didn't know much about her contact, all she had was her name. So when someone pulled up on a speeder bike and asked for her she had to assume it was her. Immediately her eyes were drawn to the horns poking out of the helmet, and her thoughts immediately went back to the little shindig at her palace, the place had been crawling with Tieflings, and here was another. Was she attracting them somehow? Not that she complained, she couldn't deny that she liked them horns.

"Terra I presume?" She asked as way of a reply, and pushed herself off the wall, taking one last look at her chrono as she did so. "Aren't we punctual?" The comment was accompanied by a smile as she stepped forward to get a better look at her helmeted contact, and to let her get a better look at her. "That's good, time's money!"

She was about to say more, when her attention was drawn by someone walking straight for them, a mousy looking man dressed like the stereotypical nine to five paper pusher. Approaching them tentatively, hands held before him, held to keep the nervous shaking in check.

"Uhh..I know i'm early, but I would have been late with the next shuttle, so I thought better to come early." Just rambling nervously, he looked from Nymeria to Terra, and his eyes lingered for more than a few moments on her bike. "I..I'm Martin." He fell silent, his nervousness getting the better of him, but he finally mustered up the courage to give Terra another glance. "Nice bike!"

 

Terra Lanris

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No good business runs behind schedule, she replied, glad to see that her contact was here as well. She didn't even know when she'd adopted that view. Probably while trying to get her shipping business online. When shipping, running on schedule was a must.

She didn't even expect the woman to reply with her own, basically comparable statement about time being money. She snickered slightly at the irony and nodded. You're not wrong.

Their contact approached moments later and introduced himself. Nice to meet you, Martin, she said. Yeah, she kicks butt. Great speed and even better maneuverability, she said, talking about the bike as he complimented it.

She flipped up part of the faceshield so that her eyes were showing. You got something for us? she asked.

Her head turned to look back over her shoulder. She wasn't sure if anyone would be coming down the street, but no one was likely to care about them.

You already drawn up a plan for this or we brainstorming? she asked her partner. She also wondered to herself what kind of relationship her partner had with this contact.

@Wit
 

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At Terra's question Martin imitated her over the shoulder check, just his attempt was full of nervousness and would make almost anyone paying attention to them think that he was up to something fishy. So before he could draw more attention to them Nymeria grabbed him by the shoulder and pulled him into the alleyway, where the darkness provided some cover.

"What did I say about playing it cool?" There was a stern note to her voice, and Martin gulped visibly and nodded nervously. Nymeria shook her head and held out a hand towards him. "The chip?" Martin nodded nervously and tried to pull something out of a pocket, only finding what he was looking for after a few failed attempts. He held out a datachip for her, and she quickly slotted it into a datapad to confirm it had what they needed. She pulled out a high denomination credcard and tossed it to him,. "Wait for a while after we leave, and then head back."

Not waiting to see if we complied, she returned her attention to Terra. "Let's talk as we move," stepping up to her and her bike she gestured towards the back of the bike, "mind if I jump on?"

If Terra didn't object she would jump on behind her, grabbing her waist tightly from behind, and would start talking once they were moving.

"Head south, two blocks from here. There's a club we should check out. Martin traced the gem to an auction run by the slug who runs the place and drew up a list of items that were sold in the same batch. I was thinking we can sweet talk our way in and then scope out the place, try to get our hands on his ledgers. See who the buyer was."

@Phoenix
 
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Terra Lanris

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Terra watched Nymeria deal with the man, almost treating him like a child, and she stifled a laugh behind her helmet. This guy was not cut out for a life of crime or spying that was for sure.

She waited until Nymeria climbed aboard as well, heading down the street as directed and pulling to a stop.

Tell me that Martin means we won't have to break into the institute directly, she asked as she glanced to the destination they had arrived at.

The club looked... upper end. I'm not sure they're going to let us in there, she said. She was dressed like a biker (and was a Tiefling to boot), and she glanced back at Nymeria.

You'll probably have a better chance inside. I can find a way to assist from out here. Stay on comms and I'll try to find my own entrance to poke around, she suggested. Surely there was some basement entrance or upper window that was open. Nymeria, on the other hand, looked like she belonged in a place like this. Gorgeous woman that she was.
 

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"Mhm," she hummed in reply to the question about Martin and the institute, "at least for now. But don't worry about Martin, he has a tendency to poke his nose where it doesn't belong, but he won't cause any trouble. His poking got him into trouble once and I helped him out, so now he owes me."

Once they reached the club, Nymeria jumped off the bike, and didn't object at Terra's suggestion. "Alright," she replied as she slipped an earpiece into her ear, "ping me once you're in."

She began walking towards the bar, and as she reached the entrance she flashed a smile at the bouncers waiting outside, but one of them held up a hand to block the way. He held out a datapad towards her, and a number flashed on the screen. "Really," she asked skeptically, "a cover charge?"

Before she could get an answer a group of togorians approached the entrance and got waved in. Within moments Nymeria spotted a bothan, an amaran, and a cathar got waved in while a few humans and patorans had to line up to pay behind her. As realization dawned on her about the sort of clientele that got in for free, a simple oh escaped her lips. She paid up and entered the club, and made her way towards the bar to get a drink. It was always good to have a drink in hand, and as she placed an order and waited for her drink she activated her comms to check on Terra.

"I'm in, all good out there?"

@Phoenix
 

Terra Lanris

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Terra wasn't having the easiest time outside as Nymeria made her way inside the club. She'd walked around the building twice and still didn't have a great route in. Her tail flicked in annoyance and her mouth scrunched up slightly.

I might have to get more aggressive with this... she muttered to herself. She moved around to the rear of the building and waited at a rear entrance to the building, double checking her pistol was set to stun and looking up and down the alley.

Just give me a few, she replied to the call from Nymeria. Within a few more minutes the door slid open and she moved on her opportunity. With a flicked glance up and down the alley she grabbed the man and shoved the barrel of her pistol into the poor cook's belly and pulled the trigger. The stun shot had been set to full charge and hit like a pile of bricks.

He crumbled to the ground and she kind of unceremoniously dragged him a little bit as she slipped her pistol away. She shoved the trash and his body into the dumpster with a great deal of effort and used his badge to get back into the building.

With a pistol on her hip, a helmet in place, and biker clothes on, she absolutely did not look like she fit here so she moved quickly and carefully through the back rooms, looking for a discrete way to get upstairs where she might get something of value.

I'm inside, she said. I think I need to find a disguise or some crap, she said.

How're things going for you?

@Wit
 

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"Look for a fur suit or something." There was a touch of bitterness to Nymeria's reply as she flashed an important looking guy a smile, and got not even the slightest reaction, "Never been in a bar where I felt this invisible, it's like I'm covered in Hutt slime, the way everyone ignores me."

Sipping on her drink, she continued wandering the club, till she spotted a stairway that lead to a higher level, what seemed to be the V.I.P section. If they were going to find the owner anywhere, it would be up there. Now all she needed to do was figure out a way to get up there.

"I might have found something." She passed word to Terra as she took measure of the two guards who stood besides the stairway, blocking her way. "Second level, seems to be the place to be." With that update she let her glass drop from her hands, catching it on her foot and letting it slide gently to the ground so that it didn't break. But then she immediately kicked it away, straight for the foot of one of the guards. As it smashed against his shin, the guard jerked in pain, and bent over. As the other guard turned to help, lacking the training to expect a trap, she ran forward through the crowd and slipped up the stairs behind him.

Another drink already in hand, she began moving up the steps, and came out into a posher and slightly less crowded version of the level below. A number of tables and comfortable booths lining the edges of the floor. "I'm up," she whispered, letting her eyes wander but finding it hard to spot their query, "could use another pair of eyes if you can spare them."

@Phoenix
 

Terra Lanris

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Huh? she said into her comm at the fur suit comment. She really didn't know what that was about, but she did manage to find a small dressing room that she guessed was for some of the performing girls or something.

She snatched some clothes that looked like they'd fit her and stashed most of her gear, shoving the pistol into a rather large purse and slinging it over her shoulder. It didn't all go together great, but it would do for the moment.

She headed to the upper floor, slipping by in the mild unrest that Nymeria had caused. She saw a higher class of clientele up here, and she spotted Nymeria shortly. She made her way over as discreetly as she could, deciding that this dress wasn't really designed for a tail and hating absolutely everything about this job so far.

I'm about ready to just start stunning people and dragging their butts out of the way, she grumbled. It wasn't professional, but that was what she was wanting to do and she wanted to grumble to someone about it.

Anyway, I bet the ledgers and records are in the back room, she said, nodding to a door at the far side of the room outside which two men in suits stood, brooding.
 

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Nymeria gave Terra a quick once-over as she stepped up besides her, and a small smile appeared on her lips. "You look nice," she replied, "maybe once we're done here we can grab a drink, have a little celebratory dance."

Not sure how the tiefling would react, she didn't give her the opportunity to blow up at the comment and began walking, hoping that she would follow. Having already used a distraction once to get past some guards, she wondered if something like that would work again. "Come on," she said as she spotted what she was looking for, "I've got an idea."

Coming to a stop near a couple dancing not too far from the back room, she tapped the woman on her shoulder. "Hey, mind if I bum one?" She raised her hand to gesture with two fingers near her mouth, making the gesture asking for a cig, and the woman smiled and held out a case for her. Pulling a fancy looking cig from an even fancier looking case, she used the woman's lit cig to light her own, and returned to Terra with a wave of thanks. "Get ready to slip in," she told the tiefling as she took a quick drag, "I'll buy you some time."

Taking a few steps away from Terra, she began dancing, swaying to the music, moving closer and closer to the back room door. As she moved she let the glass in her hand tip, letting most of her drink spill to the ground, and she let the cig drop straight onto it. The alcohol caught fire, and burned away in one quick, harmless flash. But it did what they needed, as a few shouts went up, Nymeria's own scream among them. For a few moments there as chaos on the floor, and though she could not see Terra, Nymeria hoped she was capitalizing on it.

@Phoenix
 

Terra Lanris

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Terra didn't have time to respond to Nymeria's comment, and she was almost thankful for that because she wasn't really sure how to respond. She'd turned and quickly walked away, however, and Terra was left standing there baffled for a brief moment before snapping out of it.

It didn't take long for Nymeria to come up with a distraction, however. Fire was always a good distraction, and in those brief moments, Terra did, in fact, slip into the room in question. Compared to the club, it was quiet inside. Or at least relatively quiet. There must have been stellar sound proofing in here and she wasted no time int starting to rummage through the books and papers on the desk.

I'm inside, just... let me know if anyone's coming. I'll be as quick as I can, she said, moving with all speed to look through papers, datacards, and datapads.

She was quite nervous and her eyes flicked up to see where she might run or hide if someone were coming. Please, no one start coming over here, she thought to herself.
 

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Nymeria didn't notice Terra slip in, for she had her own troubles to deal with. One of the bouncers, who had noticed her little stunt, walked up to her and stopped her from slipped away. "Miss, come with us please."

Realizing that it wasn't a request, there was nothing she could do but go where they lead, which was to one of the booths, another bouncer standing in front of it. Inside was an older gentleman, though calling him a genetleman might have been a stretch. But from Martin's info she recognized him as the owner of the pub.

"So," he said as he took a deep drag from a cigara, "why are you trying to burn down my bar?"

The other bouncer had now stepped up behind her, and between the two of them they blocked all avenues of exit. Left with nowhere else to go, she improvised. Putting on a charming smile she stepped forward, and leaned forward to scoop up a glass from the table.

"How else was I supposed to get your attention? It didn't seem like you were about to invite me over otherwise."

For a few moments she thought the ploy had failed, she was very much not his type. But then he let out a loud laugh, and gestured for the Cathar sitting besides him to slide over, and patted the empty seat.

"Is that so, wanted to talk with me did you? Why don't you come over and tell me all about it?"

She continued smiling, and walked over, taking the seat. Hoping that Terra found what they needed, before she was forced to do something she might regret.

@Phoenix
 

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Terra's lucky stars must have been watching over her today because no one came to investigate her. As it turned out, it was because they were too busy detaining Nymeria instead. Not that Terra knew that, of course.

She jammed her small knife into the drawer of the desk and pried it open, finding the ledger inside. She moved quickly, starting to scan through the pages to find what she was looking for before realizing something else.

Screw it, she said, and shoved the whole, but small, book into her purse as well. Yeah, easy enough. They could look at it more closely later. Besides, the sooner she got out of this snooty place and out of this dress, the better. She decided she didn't like this planet very much.

Now she just needed to find a way out of here.

I've got the ledger, just looking for a way out, she said, hoping she would get some help or a response. What she received instead was the sounds of some rather inappropriate advances being made to Nymeria that were picked up by the comlink and caused Terra to cringe.

Plan B, she thought to herself, but actually had no real idea what Plan B was yet. Maybe starting an actual fire or setting off a fire alarm. Yup, that would do it.

She got to work on that immediately, really pushing the flames to a roar. Benefits of being fireproof, though she was mindful not to burn her clothes off or the ledger. That would have been bad.

The flames began to rise and spread, triggering the alarm a few minutes later.
 

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Nymeria had handled scum of this sort in the past, not that it made things any better. She just knew the extensive shower she would have to take when this was all done. Se was keeping up impressions though, making the appropriate amount of contact, saying the right words, just keeping him interested.

When she heard Terra's voice in her ear though she almost broke character, such was the relief that she felt in that moment. But she still needed to figure out a way to get away from the slimeball. Thankfully Terra seemed to have ideas of her own, and soon enough there were shouts of fire, and this time they weren't short lived like with her earlier stunt. Mr. Slimeball sat a little straighter besides her, and his head snapped to stare at her, an accusing look on his face.

"Hey, I already got what I wanted. That's likely the real deal."

Missing just how honest she was being in that moment, he didn't question her, she had been sitting right there after all. "Go!" He shouted at his men, urgency in his voice. "See what's going on!" Not that there was any need, the fire was beginning to spread now, and Nymeria could see it clearly from where she sat.

As the other girls also noticed the flame, they started screaming and running for the stairs. Taking that as her clue, she too jumped to her feet and followed. Only hailing Terra on the comms as she was running down the stairs.

"By Jabba's stinky balls," she tried to call out over the comms, though how much Terra would catch over the screams she did not know, "I hope that was you. Meet me outside, before this place burns down!"

@Phoenix
 

Terra Lanris

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Terra was off and on the move quickly as the fire spread. The bouncers burst into the room and Terra leapt through the flames and just past them. They were a little bit too slow to catch her and she slipped into the now screaming crowds as they ran.

She pushed past them and headed back toward the way she had come, grabbing her things and bursting out into the street.

Yeah, it was. Let's get out of here, I got what we need, she said, fighting with her dress more than anything at this point. She absolutely needed to get out of this crap.

She actually had to stop and change before she was out of danger... in an alley. Gotta do what you gotta do, and Terra had to do this. Fortunately, no one stumbled across her and she booked it back to her speeder bike moments later.

I'm at the bike. Hurry it up, I want out of here, she said, glancing nervously back and becoming very mindful of her blaster again.

@Wit
 

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Nymeria moved through and with the crowd, doing her best to not get crushed as the flames above sent everyone rushing for the exits. A few bumps, some shoves, and a few smacks were the prize she had to pay for getting out before anyone tried to stop her, or the situation inside got worse. All in all, a fair trade.

Once outside she moved with the crowd for a bit, taking her down a block or so, time in which Terra herself got out and changed. So by the time she contacted Nymeria she had walked in the opposite direction for a few minutes or so. "Okay," she replied when Terra did finally reach out over the comms, "headed your way now."

She was careful as she walked back, looking around to make sure she hadn't picked up a tail. But it seemed like things had gone alright for once, and there wasn't much they had to worry about. At least not at this very moment. She spotted Terra and her bike soon enough, and didn't say a word as she jumped on behind her. "Let's get somewhere quiet, see what the ledgers say. We need to plan our next steps."

@Phoenix
 

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Terra waited for her partner to climb on the speeder and zoomed off like the devil was on her heels. She tore through the streets, more comfortable with this than with what she'd just been doing. They were flipped off a few times as she weaved between traffick, probably making her passenger nervous, but her tail flicked slightly. She loved this part and it was practical for their escape!

She started slowing after several minutes, pulling to a stop inside a small restaurant that looked like it had a quiet atmosphere. She covered up her pistol and climbed off the speeder, heading inside and getting a table for the two of them.

She pulled out the ledger and slapped it down on the table for the two of them.

We got it! she said excitedly, a grin spreading across her face. They had a long way to go still, but it was a start.

How'd you get involved in this anyway? You Crimson Dawn too? she asked.
 

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Slipping into the seat across from Terra, Nymeria grinned as she opened up the ledger and started flicking through the listings. There was a lot of good info in it, much more than they needed, and some of the entries were deliciously inviting. Either used by them, or sold to the right party, they could make a lot more than they originally set out to claim.

Closing the ledger as a server droid rolled up to their table, she quickly ordered a coffee, and waited till Terra had placed an order and the droid had left before answering. "I..not really, at least not in any official capacity." She wondered how best to explain how she had stumbled upon this gig, and went for a partial truth. "I used to work for someone who liked knowing things, and when that gig ended I just couldn't walk away. I liked stealing things and.."

She paused as the droid returned with their orders, and she leaned forward when it left. "The thrill of taking something that wasn't yours, the rush of outwitting someone and taking something from them. You know what I mean, right? I just couldn't stay away." She grinned, and poured some milk into her coffee before dumping about half a dozen packets of sugar into the cup.

"Crimson Dawn," she continued after taking a sip, "just happened to be where this line of work pulled me towards, so here I am. More of a consultant than a real member at the moment. Which.." She paused as she gave Terra a knowing look. "Which I guess you are?"

@Phoenix
 

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Terra listened to her story. It was always fascinating because everyone had their own story of how they got into this business. It was so different from Terra's story, but she'd met people who had almost the exact same path as her own before.

Want some caf with your sugar? she asked with a laugh as she watched how many sugar packets Nymeria poured into her cup.

Thievery and double crossing were the name of the game, weren't they? But information gathering was what the Crimson Dawn had always prided itself on in the old days. Terra wanted to see those days again, and if she could convince an information broker to join... all the better?

Crimson Dawn indeed. Fairly new member, and... she tilted her head to the side slightly ...possibly looking to recruit. You interested? she asked.

Lot better to have consistent backing than being out on your own barely scraping by, she said. And she should know. She'd turned to Crimson Dawn because scratching out her own business in this galaxy was exceedingly difficult. Money begat money.
 
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