Watchful Gaze

[Phil]

-- Hanna City, Chandrila --
​

CDR-382 stepped off a public transport as others passed by him to disembark and to board the bus he just left. He somewhat stood out like a sore thumb in his full suit or armor, but it was not uncommon to see such a sight. He lacked his own personal shuttle and ship, so he mostly hitched rides or rented his own until he found a ship more suitable. Not much time had passed since he left the Refuel Station in the Hydian Way, where he met the Mandalorian Tionas Skirata and was hired to be his body guard, maybe even more as the Mandalorian had promised. He took a look at the business card he was given one last time to confirm his location.

Suite 200 1406 Presidium Way, Hanna City, Chandrila.

It was followed by another language he could not understand, nor could anyone he asked, and only assumed it may have been in Mando'a. Shrugging some, CDR looked around and saw he was on the right track as he approached the building that shared the address on the business card. Aside from his armor he wore, he only had his side arm on his hip and remained holstered there; the rest of his gear and belongings were at another hotel room he secured for himself. But even then, he felt he would not need his pistol, nor his armor here.

But stranger things have happened.

 

[Tionas Skirata]

The doors to 1406 Presidium Way opened for the Mercenary CDR-382, chiming melodiously as they did so, revealing a pristine white interior bustling with business activity. Accountants went to and fro, men in suits moved in small groups speaking hurriedly in low tones. In the corner, two law enforcement officials were speaking to a harried looking twi'lek. In the center of it all, like a small dictator, a Togruta secretary waved towards CDR-382 beckoning him.​

 

[Phil]

CDR took in the lighting and pristine looking interior of the building, obviously not used to such sights as he went to look around, spotting a woman he assumed worked here waving to him. He walked towards her, noting the two law enforcers in the corner as he made not to not even touch his holstered blaster unless it was a real necessity.

"I'm here to see someone, his name is Tionas Skirata." He spoke to her, presenting her the business card as proof. "He should be expecting me."

 

[Tionas Skirata]

The Secretary looked up at him, an eyebrow arched. Then pressed a button, not saying a word to the mercenaary in front of her. After a moment, she spoke into her headset. "Hey Gina, it's Linette I have a uh... Mercenary here to see Mr. Skirata. Yeah. Uh huh. Okay." After a moment, the Torgruta Linette turned to look at CDR-382. "Alright sir, the elevator in the back. Gina will buzz you in." Linette smiled pleasantly and pressed a button, the elevator opening behind her.

Once CDR entered the elevator, it would remain empty on the ride to the second floor. The second floor, as opposed to the rest of the floors, had no label. It was simply labeled Suite 200. The elevator would ding, and open to a plain room with wooden walls and a soft, green carpet. In the center, sat what could only be Gina. Gina, was in fact, a man. Standing in at about six four, completely bald and with a set of impressive tattoos about his massive biceps. As CDR enters, he looks up and speaks. "You the Merc he mentioned?"​

 

[Phil]

Again, CDR was taken back by another sudden change in scenery as he walked into the new room. While he couldn't feel the carpet entirely, it was still something somewhat new to him since he can't remember the last time he walked on clean carpet. It was then he noticed the man sitting down infront of him, asking him a question.

"I am. My... uh... name is CDR-382." He addressed himself.

 

[Ender]

The man grunted, and suddenly began to morph in front of CDR's eyes. His skin rippled, tattoos unwriting and hair began to sprout in a grotesque way, rapidly growing out into a shoulder length style, a deep red, as the man began to shrink into what looked much more like Gina. Gina, as it happened, was a clawdite. "Senator Skirata will see you now." She, it, stood and turned to the door behind her. It was simple, a study wooden design. She knocked twice, and pushed the door open. "Senator, Mr., uh, 382 is here to see you."

At the opposite end of the room, sitting behind a small desk that had a variety of datapads and actual, paper reports, strewn about sat Tionas Skirata. Gone were his blue and white beskar'gam, replaced by the blue tunic and gold piping of his usual republlic senate attire. The middle aged Mandalorian's eyes twinkled as the tall mercenary entered his office. "CDR, welcome!" He stood from his desk, smiling. On his desk was a container of a clear liquid, its label written in Mandalorian. There were two glasses and, similarly, two chairs. He gestured to the one opposite his desk and spoke. "Please, sit."​

 

[Phil]

Doing as asked, CDR made his way into the room, releasing the locks on his helmet half way and removing it by the time he reached the chair. Though the uniform Tionas wore was not what he was expecting, he didn't mention it. Instead, it was Gina that intrigued him for the moment.

"Interesting bodyguard you have back there." CDR only guessed as he took his seat, his helmet resting in his armored lap. A changling like him, or her, could catch several people off guard like it did him.

 

[Tionas Skirata]

"What? Gina?" Tionas smiled, sitting down and pouring himself a drink. "Found Gina when she was a kid, boarded a derelict ship back when I was still part of the Mandalorian Fleet. Scared half to death, tried convincing me she was a kath hound, almost worked too. If it weren't for the tears in the hound's eyes." Tionas' smile faltered a bit, and he looked at the desk for a moment then looked up at CDR. "Welcome to my day job. Senator Tionas Skirata, representative Concord Dawn." Tionas then poured a second glass of the clear liquid, and offered it to his guest. "Ever drink tihaar, CDR-382? It's sweet, but it burns."

Tionas took a drink and smiled. "It's a Mandalorian standby, best painkiller I've ever had." Tionas leaned back, setting his drink on the desk. "You keep up much with current events, CDR? There's a war brewin' in the outer rim, and my planet is stuck smack dab in the middle of it. Concord Dawn follows what Mandalore says, and so we are expected to join the war effort." Tionas paused and looked at CDR and added "Not that I mind, of course."​

 

[Phil]

"I can't say I have." He answered until now, taking a careful sip of the tiharr he was unfamiliar with. It was just as Tionas had described, and felt it's purposes for both a refreshment and a painkiller was not exaggerated.

When it came down to business, he set the glass back into the desk and looked to Tionas. "I have been a little out of the loop for a few weeks... until recently. Heard a strange broadcast on most frequencies, sounded almost like a rambling on a 'War with the Jedi' was fast approaching. Republic Citizens United from Sullest, they called themselves." He explained to Tionas, glancing around for a brief moment, then turning back to the Senator. "Unless there is another war that Mandalore is interested in."

 

[Ender]

Tionas sorted through the various items on his desk, picked up one of the actual paper reports and began to flip through it. "Ah, yes. RCU, out of Sullest." he continued flipping through the pages of the report. "Kidnappers, the Jedi, as far as I'm concerned. Breaking up family, teaching children that the whole galaxy revolves around the will of the force. Jettise!" Tionas practically spat the last word, the Mandalorian word for Jedi. Then he sighed, dropping the report. "But a war with the Jedi? No, I do not look for such a war. He next grabbed a datapad, sliding it across the table to CDR. "Latest reports from the Border, two ops ran by the newly formed Border Alliance troops. Recently lost their commander, though, sadly. Being led by one our own senators. Decent fellow, I like him well enough."

"The first op, on Serenno, was a bit of a cock up really. Bombers on a recon mission?" Skirata shook his head before continuing. "However, the second op on Yavin, now that's where we've got some real meat." Skirata leaned forward and pressed a button, allowing some recorded footage of a Sith base to play. "Looks to me as if the rumors are true, and we've got bona fide Sith on the outskirts of the Republic Border."​

 

[Phil]

Tionas would get no arguments from CDR about the Jedi. While he had never ran into one before, he heard plenty about them on his journeys and they struck him as a highly religious group of the wrong sort. Good intentions as they may have never means they mean well for the galaxy as a whole. He slid the data pad over to him, picking it up as he looked over the report of the Serenno report. He glanced through it some, shaking his head a little before setting it down when the footage of Yavin played. Between the two, he felt the Sith were far worse; it was a Jedi who went over the edge, or the Dark Side as they called it. Murders, deceivers, the kind you could never trust for anything.

"I have no love for the Jedi, nor hate, but these Sith are a far bigger menace then the Jedi could be. If I know Mandalorians, they won't take this trespassing lightly."

 

[Ender]

"No, I wouldn't. Of course, I am not Mand'lor." Tionas snorted, standing and looking out of the small window behind him. This was his battlefield, and this was his prison. Enough foreplay, it was time to tell CDR why he had been brought here, to Chandrila. "You took the news that I'm a senator rather well," this much was true, Tionas was impressed. "And as a senator, I am confined here, to keep order. But I was once an admiral, and an admiral still knows how to lead whether or not he is on the battlefield or not." Turning to face his armored visitor, he leaned in. "This is politics, and I cannot let the public know all of my acts. I asked you to come here as a bodyguard, but what I truly need is a man who I can entrust with contacting certain parties I cannot."​

 

[Phil]

Instead of remaining seated, CDR rose to his feet as his helmet slid under his right arm. This must have meant what Tionas meant the other day, and he just confirmed it. Rather he really needed a bodyguard, unless that role was filled by Gina, CDR was sure Tionas would have said so. No, the Mandalorian Senator needed someone to do the things that no Senator should be caught doing, and CDR completely understood.

"I understand. Whatever you'll have me do will remain between the two of us." And who ever may also be a part of this. He thought to himself silently.

 

[Ender]

One of Tionas' datapads chirped, and he looked down at it. With a curious look upon his face, Tionas made a grabbing motion above the datapad, then threw his hand towards a screen on the wall next to the desk. It blew up with a live newsfeed.

Tionas stared open mouthed at this news revelation. "What...what...what ARE they doing? An tsad droten dini'la!" This whole republic is insane! Tionas switched to Mandalorian in disbelief and rage as the nesfeed showed Sith in the senate chambers. "Why didn't anybody tell me THIS would be happening!?" Tionas roared, throwing a report at the screen, it bounced off harmlessly as Tionas sat heaving in his chair. He turned to CDR "This whole damn senate is out of its mind, don't they know that those men are those who want us all dead!?"​

 

[Phil]

CDR looked on at the news feed, and his original expressionless look turned into a frown as he listened in and watched what unfolded, followed by the data pad flying into the screen. He turned towards Tionas, not sure exactly how to approach the enraged Mandalorian on this revelation.

"I would say to relax, but I won't. What the hell are Sith even doing there?" Taking a chance, he grabbed the container and refilled both his and Tionas's glasses. It was better then telling the man to calm down as CDR downed his in a single gulp, ignoring the burn down his throat as he looked on. "Are these the fools that have you frustrated? That they would so openly allow Sith so close to them?" CDR started to put the pieces together in his head, putting his helmet down on the desk.