Ask The Quiet Heroes

[Cipher Six]

This war was a mess, and it was always the ISB that got stuck doing the dirty clean up jobs. Six had kept a lower profile than usual, sticking to the Outer Rim gigs that kept a pulse on all the syndicate operations. While she was able to collect intel, Levik’s death and shifts in the hierarchy had caused clear issues in effective protocol. There were entire periods of time where she didn’t have a handler, and she almost considered actually doing the desk job of an Overseer as was her official rank. Almost.

From the sounds of it, the Empire was taking quite the thrashing and some upstart officer was out trying to make a difference and become the face of the Empire. Six gave no shits about any of that, her focus on discreet operations which finally came from the Director himself. As a result, she found herself on Nal Hutta, dressed like a simple civilian having a smoke in an alley.

She was here to meet with some mook that could get her into places like the target she sought. Sapphire eyes were fixed on the luxurious pleasure barge the Glorious Jewel. She couldn’t dare to hope that Nor’baal himself was in the yacht, but she would carry out the operation all the same. Six glanced at her chrono as she exhaled a cloud of smoke. Her contact would be arriving any moment now.

@Eccles

 

[Dismas Zaa Fenn]

Boz Pity didn't always have great reception. That is to say that when Dismas used his tradecraft to send coded messages over a hidden long-range communication unit, there was a slight delay when it dawned on him that he was getting an immediate reply back.

"Delta, Delta, Zulu, Foxtrot. Zero, Zero, Six, One, Two. Mission. November, Hotel, Tango, Delta. Charlie, Alpha, Golf, Juliet."

"Nal Hutta?" Dismas frowned. He hadn't been to the Hutt homeworld that often, at least, not alone since that one cartel party where he watched that Cathar do a.. thing. "Access Glorious Jewel, what's that supposed to be code fo-ah!" how stupid was he? Ofcourse that was referring to the Supreme Mogul's pleasure yacht that he had heard had its main berth on Nal Hutta. Dismas wondered what the use was to get someone on the yacht, since Nor'baal probably didn't use it during wartime and if he did then Preef would still be there with him. All respect to the Imperial Security Bureau, but Dismas had yet to see someone beat the rodian in a draw and he doubted he ever would.

---

Two days later, after being forced to spend a few peggats on getting Gentis so drunk he'd need a few days to get rid of his hangover, Dismas landed a rental shuttle on Nal Hutta and made his way to the encoded rendesvouz. His contact was supposed be smoking a scented cigarette in an alley within view of the Glorious Hutta and Dismas expected the agent to be one of the special forces types that thing they can beat anyone in a fight. Or some Imperial stiff like Kellan Solari. Instead he found a looker of a woman and he realized he hoped she wasn't his contact at all... he could take her to bed, start a family, introduce her to his mothe-- ehh, nevermind.

"Got a light?" Dismas asked her as he took his pack of scented cigarettes and pulled out a limegreen one, "the pigs at the yacht over there took mine." They hadn't, ofcourse. Dismas had a lighter in his pocket, but this was the agreed upon method of identifying a fellow Imperial asset.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

“Of course,” Six said, offering a smile that revealed just the tips of fangs behind painted lips. She lit the cigarra with a matching lime green lighter, completing their little meeting ritual. She took a moment to assess him, spotting some subtle similarities with another man she knew. Six quelled the thoughts before they surfaced, fixing her gaze back on the yacht.

“I think we may just have to get your light back,” She said, “I need access to the yacht’s pilot droid,” Six explained. She had with her a logic matrix. The component was made to fit with the memory circuit. The logic matrix was given a particular directive written by the ISB, but a flimsy encryption was put on it for show. Once the encryption was easily cracked, it would point to another Hutt as the originator of the directive. Six didn’t explain what the directive was or what the droid would do, but this man had to get her inside.

“I’m Lina,” She said, extending a hand to shake his after she put out her cigarra, “Feel like taking a girl on a tour through the Glorious Jewel?” Six smirked.

@Eccles

 

[Dismas Zaa Fenn]

Alas, the looker was very much the imperial agent he was supposed to meet. Alas, two, she was utterly professional. That was a big throw from his usual connections amongst pirates and the cartel scoundrels he associated with. "Thanks," he puffed at the cigarette after it was lighted by the limegreen lighter.

Getting inside the Glorious Jewel wasn't a small thing. Security was tight as always, but the Imperial Security Bureau had given him two days to prepare for this little job so in between buying Captain Gentis a drink, Dismas had been messaging with his uncle and the gang that followed the old rodian. Preef wasn't great at the whole texting thing, but once you get used to it you don't keep staring at the little dots.

"I'm Dismas," there was no use for him to refuse to share his actual name, for he needed it getting her on board the yacht and.. well, he wasn't a cipher now was he? "and I'll get you your access, Lina." the ruse would be difficult, for whenever he introduced girls to the Callo Gang they used to be spiceheads that definitely didn't dress as simple civilians like this Lina did. Another ruse was probably smarter...

"Just none of that spook shit, okay?" he said as he puffed one last time and killed the cigarette against the wall beside them. It was unlikely they would ask her a lot of questions, because you usually didn't approach the pretty girl that arrived together with the heir of a crymorah crime family. Something about not trying to steal the girl of a man that would be sure to have you murdered.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

“I have no idea what you mean,” She said with a smile at his sentiment about spooky shit. She didn’t miss the way he assessed her attire, “Any role I ought to play to ease things along?” Six was flexible, after all. Dismas had the knowledge of the yacht, the targets and the immediate area. She would look to him to set the perfect cover to let them in as smoothly as possible.

From the looks of it, she could make out that Nor’baal had a lot of extra security and guards patrolling around the yacht in question. Unfortunately, it was higher than the initial intelligence suggested. From the looks of it, their entry was going to be timed with some type of meeting that called a bunch of people to the yacht.

The two would have to get extra slick to find a way in without triggering any alarms and the path to the pilot droid would have extra hurdles.

Infiltration difficulty: 16/20

@Eccles

 

[Dismas Zaa Fenn]

Something about her smile triggered Dismas, who was suddenly reminded of another woman. The news had even reach Boz Pity of her death and the fod with the holographic still of her suddenly felt heavy in his pocket. He would make them pay for it, he would. Even if it meant taking this agent down with him for the greater cause. Director Senyn would probably approve, Dismas mused as he shook his head at this Lina absentmindedly. "Never refuse an adrenal," the astronagivator turned around and lead them towards the Glorious Jewel.

Today was somewhat of an odd day. While Nor'baal Desilijic Fa'athra or really anyone else from the Desilijic clan was absent, there was something of a gathering going on and Dismas was quickly spotted. "Heyo Dismas!" a Twi'lek hailed him over and told a Gamorrean thug to separate the masses so the young pirate and his friend could approach. "They said your mom refused the invite," the Twi'lek seemed to check a list on his datapad, "but noone told me she'd send you, instead." Suddenly the Twi'lek frowned as he looked at Lina, "Whose that?"

Dismas smiled awkwardly and dismissively nudged the Imperial to spread her arms around his waist. "Told her I'd fill her up on champagne and teach her the secrets of the [Catharese] knot on the bridge," Dismas slipped the Twi'lek a few credits and then gestured towards the skyline of the Supreme Mogul's palace in the distance. "Champagne-drenched, bend over backwards looking at the skyline of Hutta's jewel," the Twi'lek clearly bought into the fantasy Dismas was trying to sell and his lusting eyes went to Lina and then down to her chest and finally her hips before he regained himself when another apparent visitor rudely interrupted to tell him his name and that he was on the list.

The Twi'lek shook his head, "Ahh, too bad but the bridge is off-limits today. Something about a starmap update and preparations to use it as the ride to that summit we heard talked about in the senate," honestly, it surprised Dismas that the Twi'lek had watched the senate session. The ratings in hutt-controlled space were usually piss-poor, but perhaps the fact that the heir-apparent to the Supreme Mogul had attended, had made more watch than usual. One would be curious to see who would one day rule over the cartel.

"Kriff, sorry hun-" Dismas let out a defeated sigh, "guess its just the champagne then." The Twi'lek shrugged and motioned for Dismas and Lina to continue into the Glorious Jewel proper.

When the entered the large festive area it quickly became apparent what this party was all about; apparently Skelgok had defeated the Imperials as they tried to raid the spice mines of Kessel. The Hutt himself was absent, but the desilijic clan had still ordered most local vigo's and scoundrels to attend a party in his honor.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

Six had been in this game long enough to play along, wrapping her arm around Dismas and projecting the image of a ditz. Wasn't hard to model since the Empire had several of them already. She giggled at Dismas describing in extensive detail what they were going to do, “Oh Dizzy, you’re making me blush,” She said with a sultry tone, flashing a wink and running her tongue along her fangs to sell it. In line with the hooker routine, she pouted dramatically at the twi’lek’s response, “No bridge? That’s just gonna put a damper on my whole evening..” She sighed. The twi’lek looked helpless, but perhaps a seed was planted that Six could leverage later.

As they walked out into the party, Six stuck with the role. She took off her jacket, revealing a low cut top - always prepared for whatever bullshit role she had to play. Six slipped in as if she was another party-goer, hips swaying to the music as she cheered and clapped to join the crowds. Music was thumping and most of the party goers were drunk already.

She turned towards Dismas, wrapping her arms around his neck to start dancing with him. The music was loud which provided the perfect cover. Six grinded her body against his before leaning in to speak against an ear, “East entryway..that Rodian’s got a pass that could get us access to a control room. We can probably get eyes on the pilot droid from there,” Six said, making it appear externally as if she was giving him all kinds of dirty talk as her nails raked against the back of his head.

@Eccles

 

[Dismas Zaa Fenn]

Dismas didn't know how to dance. Sure, he could slow shuffle and then awkwardly knee the agent in her thigh for a while. That, most likely, wasn't what she wa after. What was it again? Oh yeah, the pilot droid that-

-oh no that's too close. Dismas looked away as his breath quickened and his imagination went back to performing the Catharese loveknot. Just him, and Lina, wherever she'd.. ahh kriff, she's obviouly still working. Kriffing professionals. She had spotted a rodian with an access pass while he had been too busy picturing her naked in compromising positions. "I ehh-" Dismas tried to gather his thoughts as he pulled himself away from her grinding him, "-will think of something."

Dismas turned towards the rodian proper and didn't recognize him. Why would he, he didn't work on the Glorious Jewel, after all. His chest propped up, Dismas drew his hair back with both hands and stepped right up into the rodian's personal space. "What you doing with those bug-eyes, buddy-" some onlookers gasped, "-looking at my girl like that."

The rodian wasn't impressed and his suction-cup fingers barely touched Dismas when the latter stepped back with an indignified look on his face, "You wanna fight!? Is that it!?"

"Chill, choom," the rodian laughed, "I was only looking back at her. She was clearly trying to ogle my peacemaker-" the onlookers now laughed too. That Preef Callo-joke was funny, but he didn't seem to have realized that Lina was looking at his access card and not the size of his rodian schlong in too tight breeches.

Sigh. What a man wouldn't do for a woman.

Dismas sucker-punched the rodian right on his frog-like lips and the rodian recoiled in pain and in fright. "Karking hell not the kisser! Don't you know who I am?? I'm Syl Grappa, I play Preef Callo in 'Preef Callo and the Magnificent Seven' pausing for a moment as Dismas turned to look at Lina with a slight look of confusion. Had she been wrong? Or did she set him up because the ISB had other plans that they didn't think he needed to know..

"Well," Dismas turned back to the rodian and did a little mock-bow, before grabbing the rodian by the tendrils and throwing him down on the ground. "I'm his kriffing nephew and Maff Dulla did it better anyway!" he referred to the original actor playing Preef Callo. This was decades ago now and Maff had long since retired. Syl was the fourth actor to portray Preef Callo on screen.

Unfortunately, for now, there was no way open to the bridge.

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

The fact that Dismas suddenly felt like he had a pistol in his pants pocket while they danced did little to instill confidence. Six watched him get into an altercation with the target and then look back at her bewildered. She tried to make eyes at him to silently signal that the actor did have a special guest pass, but the message didn’t get across. She couldn’t break her own character, so she stomped her foot and crossed her arms, “Always getting into fights, Dizzy! When are you going to pay attention to me?” She huffed, hoping to give him a way out of the mess he was in.

One of the drunk vigos sauntered over, grinning at her, “Hey aren’t you Shere Zaa Fenn’s daughter?” Six blinked, but kept her composure. Her surprise was left entirely off her face. The announcement was loud enough to gather a small group of men around her, “Look at those fangs, she gotta be half Cathar!”

She decided to huff and toss her hair over her shoulder, “Did I say you could talk to me?” Six hissed, “I came here for a night with my boyfriend,” She pointed angrily at said boyfriend that now for some reason had his head under the Rodian’s armpit with a face covered in suction cup finger hickeys. Terrific.

All chances of nabbing an access pass shot, she stomped over towards Dismas, yanking him up with surprising Firrerreo strength. She dragged him out of the party hall and into a nearby refresher. At a party like this no one would bat an eye. Six adjusted her top, glancing up at his ridiculous face, “Too much heat on us,” She said, “I think I can get the twi’lek at the front to give me a tour,” Six said, not forgetting the way he was undressing her with his eyes when they walked in, “I will run out crying because you dumped me and that guy will be my rebound. You… have to find your own way to come up and be useful,” She rattled off the plan on the fly. Her job was all about improvising. Nevertheless, she didn’t burst out just yet, giving him a chance to offer his own ideas. It was difficult to take him seriously with the rodian fingerhickeys on his face and neck.

@Eccles

 

[Dismas Zaa Fenn]

Inside the refresher Dismas took a while inspecting his hickey-filled face in the mirror. They didn't seem that bad, actually. Sure they'd make him look ridiculous but fingers surprisingly didn't create a hickey with the strength of a pantoran prostitute sucking on you neck for a few minutes. "You had to finger an kriffing actor," he shook his head upon hearing the ISB agent say they got too much heat on them now. "A bad one at that," okay so Dismas liked the old Preef Callo movies more than the current generation of overhyped slightly feminine actors that barely seemed able to lift a peacemaker let alone shoot it like the man he knew so well. Kriff. Uncle Preef had actually taught him how to shoot!

There was sting in her follow-up, though. Really? That Twi'lek was overweight and a known bore in the sack. Kriff, Dismas remembered the Callo Gang -the rodian's private gang of gunslingers that were on protection duty for the Supreme Mogul sometimes- joke around about him not even getting it up without first snorting glitterdust off an anus. Still, this Lina was probably a professional that did all it took to get the job done...

"Guess I'll get myself drunk at the bar, then-" his grin was a little crooked, but it did its job of hiding the jealousy he felt towards the Twi'lek suddenly and the quick dismissal this Cathar-offshoot had shot him. "-trying to think of a way I'm going to explain to Shyra that people think she kriffed that Twi'lek." Shyra being Shere Zaa Fenn's actual daughter. Dismas instantly wondered if she had every been able to pull of a catharese loveknot. Might be worth investigating sometime.

Exiting the refresher, Dismas immediately went to one of the cartel goons and gestured towards his own face. "Doesn't Preef have a room on this ship?" he asked, though he already knew the answer, for the rodian was the Hutt's most dependable personal bodyguard. "yeah, so-" the cartel goon seemed to start before he seemingly recognized Dismas through the hickeys, "-ahh, he ain't here but the kolto-" an animated sigh and motion to lead the way followed, "will take care of these hickeys in no time, exactly."

So while they were split up, with Lina trying to seduce a desperate Twi'lek, Dismas was lead towards the private room of legendary gunslinger Preef Callo. The room itself was relatively close to the bridge, just shy two doors of the Supreme Mogul's own private chambers inside the Glorious Jewel. "Kolto was refreshed just yesterday on account of the-" Dismas held up his hand, too much information made him feel like he had to include it into a report and he didn't want to rat out on his own family. The Hutts that killed Julia, however..

"Go back to the party. I'll take a bit, I got-" he gestured towards his torso and groin area, "-more stuff it needs to fix." the guard shot him an awkward look, a mixture of being impressed by the Zaa Fenn heir's prolific lifestyle and disgust over the various injuries such a lifestyle might inflict on him. "Yeah, take all the time you need."

@Sreeya

 

[Cipher Six]

Six did her part, giving the appearance of her mascara running down her face and wearing a pout. She sniffled extra as she made her way past the twi’lek, preparing to leave the yacht entirely.

“Hey, everything okay?” The man asked. The concern in his eyes almost made her feel bad. She nodded as she rubbed her eyes, “I-I’ll be okay.. Let’s just say I won’t be getting my night after all..” Six forced some tears to brim, some even spilling.

“What happened!?”

“Oh just.. He cast me aside like I was nothing and all I wanted was to see the bridge.. It would have made my whole week. Daddy always keeps me on lockdown with all this business with the Empire happening, you know? So I just never get to have fun or.. Break a few rules,” She gave him a sheepish, fanged grin at that.

“Aww that’s a shame..” The twi’lek said, fidgeting a bit. She studied his body language, allowing the silence to grow just a bit longer. She stared at the ground, letting that little nugget of conversation implant in his head, fester, grow into an idea, blossom into her next move.

“I-I should go.. You have a wonderful night,” Six said with a smile, giving the twi’lek a squeeze on the shoulder before she turned and began to walk. One step. Two steps. Three steps.

“Wait!” He called out right on cue.

Moments later, they were making their way up towards the bridge with her arm looped through his. She listened to his stories of growing up on Ryloth before moving to Hutt space after the former went ISC. There was no useful information to extract from there, but she focused on her surroundings as she walked while pretending to hang on every word. Eventually Six suggested having some fun and blowing off some steam.

Once they turned a corner that had a blindspot from any cameras, the twi’lek turned to look at her with a devious grin, “Hey so I wouldn’t mind seeing what those fangs can do..”

Six smiled to flash those exact fangs before abruptly striking him near the base of the lekku. Her other hand muffled his cries, the original strike intended specifically to cause a massive brain bleed that would kill him within moments and look like he simply badly bumped his head. Six dropped him on the ground near a ledge that extended above him to make it look like an accident. Anyone coming across his body would focus on him and not the bride.

She snatched his pass and made her way towards the bridge.

@Eccles