The Little Things Give You Away

[Freyja Storm]

​

Ord Mantell, it was a strange planet, constantly fought over but never won. Every side in every great war would fight for the planet. But as soon as they seemed to seize control the populace would rise up and fight for the other side. Over and over it went, fight, conquer, revolt, repeat, that was the cycle of life for the planet. No wonder that crime was rampant and those that controlled the crime were the true masters of the planet, not the galactic government which wanted to control it. Ord Mantell had fallen out of sight of the Sith Empire after its assimilation of the Republic five hundred years ago. So it sat alone, in the mid rim without a government to overthrow it turned in on itself, street wars began, gangs rose and fell and finally when the dust settled one Gang and one Gangster King rose above them all. Welsham Bodor, was this Gangster King. He ruled half the planet with an iron fist, the other half paid him well to stay away.

Bodor was the reason that Freyja was stood on this dusty planet, a dark green sea in the distance crashed against the nearby cliffs, it was a tranquil scene. Only destroyed by the constant noise of starships flying in and out of the spaceport behind her. She lent over the rails, looking down towards the large town, some on the planet called it a City but that was being more than generous. She hoped to spot some of Bodor's men whilst she waited for her two associates, the more information they could gather before the job the better. A theft was only good on two occasions, the first when it was so quick that the victim didn't even know what happened. The second when it was so planned out the victim thought he was getting a gift not having one taken away.

The wind blew in her bleach blonde hair, her utility clothes covered up most of her body, a more revealing outfit was in the duffle bag at her feet encase she had to use something other than the blaster at her hip and the sword over her shoulder to get what she wanted. Freyja tapped her nails on the metal rail as she waited.

@Andrewza
@BlackJack

 

[Jake2]

Jake could smell the ocean as he walked but the fresh breeze of a green sea was over powered by decay and filth. Jake would say the city was struggling but that was far from true. One had to only look up or open there ears to see and hear the stream of freighters coming to know there was money here. Just that the once or should that be the one with all the money did not care to share it with his people. So Jake failed to see how a little robbery would not hurt.



Walking g up the hill Jake went to greet his partner while one of them at least. "sorry I am late. Misjudged the walk. Any case see any thing yet."

 

[Jack Graves]

It was another planet with another name at another time. These all seemed to blend together for Jack Graves who only saw what he always saw. Failure. Whether it was the vagabonds panhandling only to be jumped at days end or the forgotten wreckage of satellites and ships after exiting hyperspace, the bounty hunter couldn't help but see his reflection. All the wreckage of the past in his way, weighing him down, making him drown. He had to keep pushing, just a little bit farther.

He was brought here by rumor like so many other times. It was the illusion of hope that gave him false strength. He was told that this criminal or boss or...it didn't matter, they had something of hers. While there wasn't much beyond that idea it was enough to awaken Jack from his drunken slouching to arrive on this hill. His usual gear on his person the unshaven man seemed to be fairly unimpressive. That being said if push came to shove the bounty hunter intended to shove produce his pistol and ensure one could never push again. Don't push him, he's close to the edge.

All that hidden anger was exactly that though, hidden. What the two might see was merely an older more experienced man on a job like many others. He was the outsider here it seemed, that meant he brought the outside perspective. That beyond anything was his value to this group. Five feet away now he raised his hand,

"What's on the vine?"

A curious greeting, but one they agreed upon with an agreed upon answer. Such games were sometimes required by the squirrelier types, but no matter. Producing a cig he lit it up and took a puff as he waited for the answer. If it wasn't right he'd move on and find someone else in this exact spot at this exact time. Whatever didn't make sense he supposed.

@Braden Drake @Andrewza

 

[Freyja Storm]

Freyja turned to see the pair walk up the hill one after the other. The age difference was striking, they had only communicated via holo-message before and that was always text-based. She had a rough idea of what to expect, but perhaps her visions of her companions were to formulated by her time with the Imperial Military. Neither fit that mould and part of wondered how both of them would fare in an Imperial training camp. She chuckled at their different greeting, with the younger one a more jolly than the serious older gentleman. She was easily split between them in ages and Freyja wondered if that meant she needed to keep them from squabbling. 'Fun' she thought to herself.

"Nothing, it's in the bottle." She replied to the older gentleman. Turning away from the railing, she faced the pair. "Nothing above the normal for this place. A lot of alcohol, fights and disappointing men." She said to the younger one. She held her hand out to the both of them in greeting. "Octavia." They had used numbers when setting up the original job and even though they now were face to face, Freyja was still worried about using her true name. She could never know who was in her sisters pay.

@BlackJack @Andrewza

 

[Jake2]

From on top the Hill one got a better view of the city, or what ever this really was. Taking a breath in Jake faced his partners again, it was clear he was the youngest but not like that fact was a shocking revaluation. Still in a job like thus Youth could help.


"while guess I will be first, names Jake there is no last name. Now that, that is over we can focuse on the big picture. We kind of need a plan and to get a plan you need information. Information that we all so don't want the people here knowing we want. So do we know where the vault is, how guarded it is and what is our escape route off this rock"

 

[Jack Graves]

Hearing the expected reply, Jack somewhat relaxed. You could never truly relax in hostile space and in this galaxy it was all hostile space. As the woman talked to the boy, Jack looked him over, barely pubescent and deciding to take lives. When you took a job like this it was always implied someone could die, including you, that was something you just had to settle with in your head. Many have no qualms with this on account of them not having much in their head to begin with. Besides 'youthful optimism' Jack could see a tell-tale lack in this one. Made him willing, but hardly able. Hardly Jack's concern, he was here to do a job and get paid and last he checked the survival of all his companions wasn't a requirement.

"You can keep calling me Six" He said with finality. After his run in with associates of his Ex-Wife he wasn't too keen on sharing his name either.

As he listened to Jake abuse oxygen in the vain pursuit of contributing to what he might think is relevant information, Jack attempted to feign interest. His attempt involved him not looking as the lad spoke then immediately talking to the other adult,

"So we don't have a plan"

It wasn't a question nor an accusation. It was a statement as flat as the cardiac line. Death. That's what happened to those who decided to try something without a plan. Not every time, but the dice of fate wasn't something Jack was willing to roll. He hadn't exactly been on a hot streak.

"I'd say the obvious first step then is to head into town for a drink"

Gesturing to the other two with what might appear to be the semblance of a smile, he continued

"I'd say we look like a new family of off worlders coming to settle"

He awaited a better idea, he was a patient man after all.

@Braden Drake

 

[Freyja Storm]

Freyja first chuckled at the young kid's optimism and his obvious lack of care when giving out his name. He had nothing to hide, which was refreshing, almost everyone she had met over the past ten years had something to hide. The other man had something to hide as well, keeping his alias from the initial communication. She didn't mind, she was expecting one of them to keep their previous alias, her name change was only part of her game to throw them off balance. She let out a little laugh at Six's comment about them being a little family. She looked down at Jake then back up to Six.

"No one would say he got his looks from you though, hun." Freyja said with a smile. "Even though this place is a little off the beaten path, they still won't let a kid go into the bars here." She turned back to the railing and pointed over towards one of the large buildings on the far side, the people were small from the distance but it wasn't far enough to make out their features. "Jake, you see that man in the brown jacket. He has been dealing for the last two hours, he will have some connections to someone important. If you tail him, I'm sure he will lead you somewhere. Plus who would expect you?" She reached into her duffle bag and pulled out a rather non-descript holo caller. "Here, encase anything goes wrong." She said passing one to Jake and another to Six. "I few of the local gang's goons are hanging out by the local cantina, I saw them on the walk up here. Only three, I'm sure a big strong man like you can take care of them. Perhaps get a little info." She finished patting him on the shoulder. She turned back to look over the town. Not giving them a time to answer, or any information on what she would be doing.

 

[Jake2]

Jake gave a stern look at the idea of no plan, so much could go wrong but he did have to laugh at the idea of them being a family. "haa haa while maybe you adopted me, i mean i am a orphan. Either way it a good enough cover story if we ever need one." Jake followed to where Storm pointed. "Mmmm understood so just follow him, though on worlds like this kids like me are often pick pockets and messengers for gangs so i will try to stay hidden best i can" Jake grabbed the holo caller and stuffed it in his pocket before giving a wink and moved off "i will give you a call if i need you .... Cornelia."


Jake moved quickly through the streets before he stood and waited by a corner and kept his eyes on the brown jacket man. though to blend in he went to a stall and grabbed a bite to eat and sat at a bench watching the man as he slowly ate the meal. it was not that tasty and Jake actually regretted not just getting a bottle of water. Still Storm was right he was a dealer, a popular one at that. It would not be long till he ran out and would need more stock and then Jake would follow him.

 

[Jack Graves]

As he said, Jack always gave way to experience and this Octavia surely had it. Looking to the young man again, he did concede they looked nothing alike. Not like his own son. They were a splitting image before something split his son...blinking at the painful memory, Jack focused up for the tail end of her explanation to nod. Seemed logical enough.

As she listed what Jake should do, the bounty hunter half-listened. Having a child tail someone in a place like this seemed smart until everyone decided it seemed smart. Jack had seen when that gambit didn't work enough times now to think it unwise, but he didn't comment because in truth he hardly cared. He'd rope in this job solo if he had to. He needed the money, he needed to keep moving. Whoever he left behind was forgotten. There was no shadow ahead, only behind.

As he heard the kid acquiesce to her request and call her 'Cornelia', Jack wondered exactly how many aliases she could fit into that bodice, Force knew it was tight already. Tactical misnomers aside, Jack simply took this woman for what she was, a gateway to another gateway. All of this was passing, he had the destination to think of and beyond getting their alive the rest was detail.

Speaking of details, 'Octavia' or 'Cornelia' or 'One' or whoever she was didn't seem to be giving many to the patient man, but no matter. Jack was as she said, a fully grown man who could take care of himself and get a job done. Wordlessly he walked away down the hill. He saw Jake running, but didn't match him for stride. Someone should teach the punk that speed just got you quicker to the grave, but it wouldn't be Jack. He hadn't been a father in five years and he didn't intend to start again.

Arriving at what he could describe as the 'local cantina' as it was a cantina localized within this space, Jack saw the Mud Hut as a place self-aware in its mediocrity, but in no way charming due to that fact. It's patrons seemed to be those in between jobs and those jobs seemed to be the temporary type done when opportunity struck. As such 'goons' seemed too generic a term to search for, but sure enough a trio seemed more goonly than the rest.

Deciding to takea subtle approach, Jack took a seat at the bar, lit himself a cig, ordered a drink, and waited. Often these gangster types loved to brag to their friends so perhaps Jack wouldn't have to punch their lights out. That being said, that didn't exclude him from doing it for fun.

@Braden Drake @Andrewza

 

[Freyja Storm]

To be honest, their was little for Freyja to do besides wait. The two main leads she had worked on whilst here were now in the hands of her new associates. Yes it might be risky to leave it in the hands of others. But there was always more people like those two waiting for a payday and a little action. There was enough tongues on this planet that one would always waggle and that is all that Freyja needed. A little information on this vault, once she had that she could work out the next step.

She gave a little smile as she thought of what lay in the vault. Their was no specific reason they were robbing Bodor over any other gangster, criminal or underhanded official. He just happened to be where Freyja decided to go, there was at least a half dozen other targets out there for someone like her to take on. But something about Bodor, Ord Mantell or perhaps the rumoured contents intrigued her enough for her to pick him. Open that Comm link and look about gathering some accomplices. She spotted Six enter the Cantina and wondered where Jake had gotten to. She fiddled the Comm-Link in her hand as she waited.

Spoiler

Sorry for the short post, still don't have access to my computer. But wanted to get this moving still.

 

[Jake2]

Jake watched the man as he sold some product to a string of people who kept walking up to him. In this town on this planet, a dealer like him does not even need to hide who he is. Luckily he was to focused on his task to notice some kid. Though Jake did know that once he moved off it would be harder to stay hidden. After making a deal the Dealer moved off to probably get more supplies. Standing up Jake dropped his food in the trash and brought out the communicator "Hey Octavia, our friend here is walking home now. I will keep you informed"


As the dealer moved off Jake walked behind him. To everyone, Jake was just some kid and no one seemed to pay him any attention. It seemed Jake was in the clear. Soon the guy walked into a compound, The walls were not high only 2m but the gate had a guard. He did not look alert and opened the Gate for the dealer but the was no way to get in quietly, at least not from the road. Either way Jake could see the that there was a 2 story building inside the compound, maybe the Guy that lived inside would have the information they needed.

Slipping into an alleyway Jake pulled the communicator out. "Octavia, I think I found something. That dealer went into a house inside a compound. It is on tempest drive. Should I break-in or wait for you first?" Jake looked at the compound and a side alleyway along the side of it would allow somebody to get inside without anyone on the road being able to see the break-in. Of course Jake would be going in blind though. Still, at least they had the location of the house. If all-out fails they could wait till someone important looking leaves and then grab him.