The good ol' days. (Flashback)

[Crosby]

With the recent spike of smuggling activity Jotunn Tol spent a good amount of time in the space port cantina. It was filled with smoke, half naked women and drunk thugs always looking for trouble, his kind of place. After years of patronage he was treated like a king, everyone knew who he was and the only trouble he got was from... well, drunk thugs looking for trouble.

This particular day he was just there for repairs. He was taking several crates of illicit spice processing machinery to the core worlds from Nal Hutta. One of several of the deliveries he had made to through Alliance space in the last months. Agna the Hutt, the slug Jotunn smuggled for had recently made a deal with some of the home world Hutts to set up spice processors in different sectors so they could save money and have the spice prepared after it gets to its destination.

While his co-pilot and first mate Iricich was busy working on the ship the smuggler dropped in to have a drink. He walked over to the bar and tapped on the tender's back, He turned around and gave Jotunn a dirty look and the smuggler scowled back. They stared each other in eyes from across the bar until the man couldn't take it anymore. He burst out laughing and yelled "Jotunn!" and the two shook hands.

"What happened to your run to Corellia... or wherever you were going?" he asked.

"Were having some trouble with the hyper drive on the Vetitus had to fly back. I didn't wan't to take it back down to Hutta though, I don't trust that Toydarian port master down there." Jotunn replied.

"I know what you mean... Oh wait, I have to tell you something, men have been coming in all day asking about you. I did a check on you after lunch and you've got a price on your head."

"What? By who?" Jotunn said with panic in his voice.

"... the Alliance."

 

[The Shiznit]

It was almost guaranteed that this contract would be difficult for Vin to complete. It was only the third mission for the young bounty hunter, and the Alliance had given him the minimum amount of details on the smuggler he was to bring back to them.

Jotunn Tol, human smuggler.

No lead to start with, and not even a description! It was almost as if they didn't take him seriously. Vin had vowed to show them and boy did he have something to prove. Failing his second mission put Vin in a bad position, if he failed again his reputation would be ruined as nobody would ever take a bounty hunter with more failed missions than completed missions seriously. Plus this smuggler had made quite a name for himself, and bringing him in would catch the eye of future contractors, and earn Vin the respect of other bounty hunters.

The ship lurched as it pulled into the docking space, bringing Vin out of his brief daydream. From the information he could gather from informants, Jotunn Tol frequently visited this planet, but then again it was Nar Shaddaa and all criminals often visited this "paradise". After docking Vin quietly gathered his blaster, a few smoke grenades, and headed for the exit. His first stop, the place that everyone goes to when the want information, the local cantina.

Walking in with his head down Vin tried to draw little attention to himself, the worst thing he could do is scare off his prey. Settling himself down in a chair off to the side Vin leaned back, and began watching the nearest Twi'lek dancer and listening intently to the music of the talented Bith. Briefly glancing around the cantina Vin pinpointed five humans, all now becoming suspects. He would give it a few minutes before contacting the bar tender, and finding out if the smuggler he was looking for was indeed one of the humans in attendance today.

 

[Crosby]

((Good post. (: ))

Jotunn was deeply unsettled by the news of a bounty on his head. Even more so that should he run a hunter there was no leaving the system with a broken hyper drive.

He figured the best thing he could do was wait it out. "Unlock the back door and keep an eye out for me, yeah? I'll bee at my table" the man said to the bar tender, Mnurru was his name. Jotunn shot a quick glance at man walking through the door, by his manner Jotunn knew there was something off about him. But he never saw him before and marked it off to paranoia. He walked back to his table pulling the chair around it to were it was facing the door and took a seat.

He was thinking about all the times he dodged Alliance ships, all the spice he smuggled into their territory.

 

[The Shiznit]

Minute after minute slowly ticked by as Vin watched the moves of the dancers. He concurred that the blue Twi'lek moved more fluidly than the others and if he wasn't there for business he may have made a move hoping to get lucky.

Finally he decided to make his move. Walking up to the bartender Vin ordered some Corellian ale before taking a seat at the bar and sipping the drink a few times as he pondered how he would go about asking for this smuggler. Deciding upon his role Vin finally asked the bar tender a question.

"Hey, you wouldn't happen to know somebody that I can get some spice from would you?" It was an honest question, not too forward yet it would hopefully give some insight to his target.

(OOC:Thanks :) I was thinking you could play as the bartender too since he is on Jotunn's side)

 

[Crosby]

Mnurru, the bar tender, handed the man a glass of Corellian Ale, he had been watching him as the man looked at the dancers. He was watching everyone, but he had a bad feeling about this guy. The only difference between him and the other hunters is that he wasn't hounding the bar tender with questions. Then, the man asked his question about spice.

"This isn't that kind of bar, friend." he replied "Plus, this is Nar Shadda, just walk outside till you see a women with too much make up on and too little clothes and ask her where she gets hers." he continued with a laugh. He glanced over at Jotunn, but then looked the other way so he didn't draw attention to the smuggler.

 

[The Shiznit]

As Vin listened to Mnurru he began to think the man took the question the wrong way. Maybe he thought Vin wanted to buy a little bit of spice from him, or someone else. Guess he would have to be a bit more straight forward if he wanted to get any information this bar tender could possibly have. After speaking the bar tender looked around the bar but Vin just determined it wa normal, he was after all in charge of the bar so scanning the place was a part of his job.

Taking another swig of his ale Vin continued the conversation. "I don't think that would help me get me what I want. A small bit of spice yea, but I was looking for more of a business opportunity. A Nar Shaddaa bartender seems like just the person to point me in the right direction, towards a supplier." Vin took a few more sips of his drink, which little by little loosened him up. "A finder's fee can always be given out to the person that helps me..." Vin hoped the bar tender would be interested in getting paid for setting up a business deal, and he would get a real nice lead to his target.

 

[Crosby]

((Sorry if this is kinda shitty, i'm a bit out of it right now.))

Mnurru had been around. he wasn't a genius, but he sure was street smart and he knew what was what on Nar Shadda. He could tell something was off about the supposed wanna be dealer. "Look kid, I don't know if you know what you trying to get yourself into." Mnurru said as he poured a glass for another patron and slide it down the bar to him. "Your clearly not hear for the trade, you don't look the type. Tell me what your really looking for, and then we'll start talking credits."

Meanwhile Jotunn had let himself get distracted by the dancers, watching them move was one of his favorite parts of this bar.

 

[The Shiznit]

Vin gave a goodhearted laugh after the bar tender spoke. "See that is why I'm looking for this business. Nobody will suspect it, I mean you just said it yourself I don't look the part. Now I also know that you know something about this trade and it would make it a whole lot easier for both of us of if you helped me meet a potential client."

Vin was a bit annoyed at this point and he really just wanted to move on. Maybe this bar tender didn't even know of any smugglers, maybe he did but that person wasn't who he was looking for, and maybe he was trying to help hide his friend. All of those scenarios could be true, but Vin was beginning to doubt he would find out which one it was.

Beginning to try and find a plan B Vin scouted the bar again. It was down to four humans now, one off to the side watching the dancers, two playing pazaak, and another at the bar. Maybe he would try to join the pazaak game and get information on those two, or trying the shifty looking Nautolan in the corner to see if he knows anything before moving on and addressing the other humans, that is if the bar tender still refused to help him...

 

[Crosby]

"Right..." the bartender said looking the man in the eyes "Who exactly do you want to meet, kid? This whole moon is full of producers, distributors, and transporters..." He then offered to refill the mans drink by holding up a new bottle in a pouring motion to the man. If the man said "transporters" that would make him suspicious, why would a man need a smuggler before he got the spice deal.

Jotunn was getting bored, he was never good at keeping a low profile and the dancers had ceased to please his eyes. He looked around the room for something to do and spotted a couple of men playing pazaak. He got up and walked over to the table, while his friend Mnurru looked watched him with a confused look on his face.

He playfully said "You guys wanna play against a real man?"

 

[The Shiznit]

Finally the bar tender seemed to give in a bit, and Vin was managing to make some headway. "I'm looking for someone to bring the spice to me. There is no way I'm not risking the flight to Coruscant, but if someone can bring me a nice shipment I have many people hooked on the stuff that will pay good money for a regular supply." Vin grinned as he spoke about selling spice to the people of Coruscant, it actually didn't sound like that bad of a deal. Maybe if he could take the smuggler's spice before turning him and then get even more credits for selling the spice on top of the bounty for the smuggler.

When the bar tender offered to refill the drink by doing a clear pouring motion Vin nodded in agreement. One more drink wouldn't hurt, but if he had too many more the price could raise to the point where Vin was forced to run out on the bill. He softly giggled to himself thinking of the last time he ran out on a bill, sometimes you just can't get pay that much when there is a perfectly good way to avoid parting with the lovely credits.

Out of the corner of his eye Vin noticed one of the four humans join the other two playing pazaak. A smoke bomb on the table and then all three where his, it was a perfect plan, but he had no idea if one of them was actually the smuggler. What if he just brought three regular people to the Alliance? It would make him look like a fool towards the Alliance and blow his cover, so there was no way he could risk it.

 

[Crosby]

"100 credits minimum, if you can't pay that then walk away right now because I won't argue with little girls." Jotunn said as he shuffled the deck, he was known for his high betting, even in just a bar game. Jotunn did an elaborate trick that he learned on Zeltros, something your average local wouldn't be able to know. Another thing that separated him from the common rabble was his outfit, he dressed himself in very expensive clothing, not like a public figure but like a successful spacer.

As Jutonn played he was cleaning the poor gamblers out, just a couple of hands in he got in a tie at 20 with the man sitting across from him. On the another players turn Jotunn noticed a sneaky move by the man he tied with. "Hey! I see reaching into your jacket sleeve pull it out!" the man pulled out the rare +/- card that would win him the game.

Back at the bar Mnurru talked to the man, he felt that no bounty hunter was as persistent as this man and assumed that he was legitimate. He decided to give him a hint, "Look, I can't quite help you... but maybe someone here might be able to help you out" he then glanced at the table and back at the so called spice merchant.

Meanwhile, with some threats for Jotunn the spacer that cheated was forced out of the table and a seat was empty.

 

[The Shiznit]

Vin finally got somewhere with the pesky bartender who wished to keep his patron's anonimity. The bartender gave a jerky head nod over towards the table of Pazaak players. It should he was willing to help but not give it all away at once. That was fine by Vin, he always enjoyed a challenge. "Well thanks for your help. Hopefully he won't give me as much a hassle trying to set up a deal." Turning back to the game Vin noticed an outbreak between two of the players that lead to shouting, and one player leaving the table leaving his seat available to anyone else who wished to play.

Taking the opportunity Vin strolled over to the table and sat himself down in the newly available seat. The player next to him told him of the high buy in, 100 credits, seconds after he got settled in the chair. Picking the credits out of his pocket and placing them on the board Vin didn't want to waste a second, Pazaak wasn't a game he was good at and he planned on making money tracking this Smuggler not losing some. "So which one of you wants to make some money smuggling spice into Coruscant?" Direct, and to the point. It could flush out the smuggler causing him to run, or intrigue him with the offer to make some money. Either choice was good for Vin, as long as he didn't have to spen any more credits on this game.

 

[Crosby]

Jotunn didn't recognize the man, most of the bounty hunters that came after him nowadays usually have made names of them selves. He was still cautious though, the ones who would spend big money on a bounty were usually well acquainted with Jotunn. This was the first time the republic was even interested in the man, and truth be told, he was flattered; but that meant they didn't quite know his reputation as well as the average local spice lord.

When the new man sat down it was not long before he started asking questions. Jotunn knew better than to offer himself to smuggle the spice, but he was bored and he decided to try and play a game with the man. "Coruscant?" he asked "That's a bad run, no money to be made with all the spice that's already there." He then motioned for the bar tender to refill his glass and leaned back to wait for the game of both cards and words to progress.

 

[The Shiznit]

One man answered the question on spice and his response made Vin believe he had at least some knowledge of spice, and Vin was even more intrigued since the man was a human. Could he be the spice smuggler he searched for? Possibly. Leaning forward Vin took a goo hard look at the man. "I believe there is always good money to make. I'll worry about finding buyers in Coruscant, just need someone willing to take the risk and bring it to me. You seem to know a thing or to about spice, know anyone that may be interested in this run?" Vin wanted to get right to the point, almost ignoring the cards all together.

When the bar tender came over to refill the mans drink Vin tried to make eye contact with him hoping the bar tender would add to his tip and motion to which man was indeed the smuggler. Vin had his ideas, but knowing for a fact who it was would only make things a lot easier for him. Plus it would let him end this dreaded game sooner so Vin silently prayed the bar tender would give him another hint.

 

[Crosby]

Jotunn listened to the mans reply, he had his suspicions before but he was beginning to suspect his new acquaintance of being there to kill him. "One of the golden rules of the trade, or so i've heard, is to always be prepared. To me, that sounds like common sense." He told the man in a condescending voice. In the long run he intended to raise the bets higher and higher until anyone undetermined would walk away and confirm his suspicion... but things changed.

Mnurru pored Jotunn a new glass and Jotunn picked it up looking at it, that's when he met eyes with Vin and nodded his head in Jotunn's direction. The light was hitting Jotunn's glass that he could see Mnurru perfectly in his Corellian Ale while he refereed the bounty hunter to him. He quickly emptied his glass in one gulp and said "Excuse me, i've gotta go to the refresher." and walked away leaving all his credits on the table.

The refresher was a small 6' by 6' room with no windows and only one door out that was inexplicably made by reinforced steel. There was only a sink and a toilet. Jotunn pulled out his comlink and tried to contact his friend Iricich. "Iricich, how are we on those repairs." he whispered.

"Whats that?" a reply soon came.

"The repairs, how long we got left?"

"Maybe an hour."

"Well pick it up... we got trouble."

 

[The Shiznit]

The bartender gave the hint Vin desperately needed, but it was almost like he gave the smuggler a hint in his drink. Maybe a note? Either way the smuggler quickly stood up, excused himself from the table and then headed off to the bathroom. Vin could always follow but that would give off even more suspicions than he already was. On the other hand if he didn't follow the smuggler could get away. Sure this smuggler might not even be the smuggler he needs but this smuggler could know the one he was looking for. Convincing himself quickly Vin stood up from the table as well but couldn't run after the man since something else caught his attention. The human had quickly left and forgot to pick up his credits, and this action lead to Vin stopping by the mans seat and grabbing the credits he left. In an attempt to not look like a total thief Vin made up an excuse for his actions. "I'll bring these to him, no reason for him to lose all these credits." Turning and following the man he pocketed the credits after he was no longer in view of the men at the table, and then leaned on the wall next to the door leading to the room the man had just entered. He would have to come out and some point, and then Vin would make him answer a few questions.

 

[Crosby]

Jotunn was certain there would be a fight so he spent his time in the bathroom preparing. He pulled his blaster out of it's holster on the side of his hip and began to think of a plan. He knew he wanted to get as close to the man as he could so he was more in his element rather than in a blaster fight with who as far as he knew was a sharp shooter. From there he would try and fight in hand to hand combat and maybe clinch him to force his opponent to the ground and get to a point where he could get away.

Even though Jotunn knew there could be a diplomatic solution to this he was in the mood for a aggressive one. It had been to long since he had been in a good fight.

The man readied himself by the door, expecting his opponent to be right outside, and kicked the controls on the front of it causing it to slide open.

 

[The Shiznit]

Vin waited outside the door for a little bit passing the time by wondering if there was a window in there that the man could get out of. Maybe a secret door? If there was a secret passage in their Vin's chance at finding out who exactly the man was would be down the drain. The man would know his face and he would have no chance of sneaking up on him again, and the man would mostly likely go into hiding which would make his hunting extremely difficult.

The door to the small room opened up suddenly, but the man did not pop out right away. It left Vin with enough time to throw out a question. "You get stuck in there? I mean a little bit longer and I would have been forced to piss in a cup." Laughing at his own joke, Vin hoped the man would believe he was only waiting in line to relieve himself rather than stalking him. Not wanting to take any chances, or take the man for a fool that would fall for his trick, Vin placed his right hand on the blaster pistol holstered at his hip.

 

[Crosby]

((This might be a really short post, I can't think of much to write about the situation.))

Jotunn didn't care what the man said, he didn't even process it. His opponent was on the other side of the door and that's all that mattered. The smuggler switched his pistol to his left hand and came out swinging. He was in survival mode, the thinking part of his brain stopped working when he left the bathroom. His first strike was going to be a lunging right straight aimed right at his opponents nose.

Maybe he would use the momentum to shoot for a take down, or maybe he would get stopped by the man with a clever counter to Jotunn's brash actions before he could even land his strike. Either way, it was going to be one hell of a fight for Jotunn and the supposed bounty hunter.

 

[The Shiznit]

It didn't take long at all... A few seconds at the most. The man charged out of the room without uttering a single word, and swung a haymaker right for Vin's face. With little to no time to react Vin could do only one thing, take the punch dead on and hope for the best. He wasn't expecting the man to come out swinging so the punch landed right on his nose and the force of the blow caused Vin to stumble back wards and fall right on his behind. Attempting to give himself time to recuperate, Vin lifted out his pistol and fired it blindly. Hopefully the shot would cause the man to duck for cover, and give Vin the time to find cover of his own to begin their firefight.

Once the blaster shot rang out the entire cantina's attention was drawn to the two men. The music stopped playing, the dancers halted dancing, women ran out screaming, men grabbed their blasters, and some left quickly not wanting any part of what was occurring. The bouncer, and bar tender would most likely be drawn into the scrap hoping to break it up and prevent an all out brawl, or any damage done to the establishment.