An Acquaintance Of The Past

[Mariya Fleischer]

"Okay, turning on the charms huh," Mariya sighed and wondered how often she needed to do this. If the thugs were simple minded enough to be convinced by just talking, sure. Somehow she had a feeling it would require more than mere words. But [member="Rekha Kaarde"] was right to suggest the usage of every advantage they had. She just wished that she was told of the mission beforehand. At least she could haul a bunch of weapons behind in the truck.

"Red Star Gang. Never heard of them before. But considering I haven't returned to Nar Shaddaa for quite a while..." she frowned, "And no, I have never rode a Thranta before. Must be quite an adventure."

There were certain gangs that would last a long time and there were others which would appear and disappear just as quickly. The so called Red Star Gang probably belonged to the latter, but it did not mean it would be any easier.

The speeder was reducing speed now, a sign that they were near to the destination. Mariya made a quick check on the blaster on her waist to make sure it was loaded. If the need arose, she could at least fire at her heart's content without worrying about a lack of ammunition. A few minutes later, the vehicle stopped in an underground parking lot.

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[member="Mariya Fleischer"]

"Yeah, you don't need a weapon do you? I mean...I'm thinking that whatever we need, they got it already, probably better. They tend to be heavy handed I have faith in us." Just then she turned the lights of Coruscant faded slightly giving over to a bit of darkness that added a bit of ambience .

"They are a minor gang trying to make a name for themselves. They were causing some trouble over in Coalition space and figured since Coruscant was close why not try a hand. It's easier for them to hide on Coruscant, more hidey holes than anything. More corruption too." Rekha pulled back the throttle to slow them down.

"We are looking for Big Red Circles...that's their mark." Slowly cruising to find a hide out. They looked harmless right? Two women drinking and talking they wouldn't expect trouble from them right?

Maybe.

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

"I'll make do with whatever weapons I have," she shrugged as the vehicle continued on through the parking lot after stopping. Apparently they needed to look for red circles somewhere else. Mariya tried her best to scan the surroundings as the speeder cruised by the area, looking for the distinct markings. Then she decided that it might be better to use her goggles, which she had tucked in her utility belt. She popped them on her head, the familiar green glow greeting her.

Much better.

The night vision mode allowed her to look further in the dim lightning. It didn't take long for her to nudge [member="Rekha Kaarde"] and point towards the left. A four storey apartment in the distance with circular markings on the floor.

"That's the place? I am guessing you want to talk to their boss. Meanwhile..."

Mariya cloaked herself with a casual tap on the device on the belt. She could still be seen, her silhouette showing in such close proxmity. It still served its purpose, allowing her to sneak around undetected in dim lighting conditions.

"I can tag along behind from a distance. Or find my own way in through a window or something.

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[member="Mariya Fleischer"]

"Yep I want to talk to their boss. Four stories, can bet they are on the top floor for the advantage point. " Rekha nodded, "it probably to our advantage you find a window. Meet me on fourth floor. "

Wasn't a bad thing right, Mariya could get through the riff raff and she'd be the bait. She could handle. The speeder turned and settled down. "Big red circles...defaming property and.we that is not a great circle" Rekha slipped out of the driver's side. Immediately in the doorway a greeter. "yep here we go."

Rekha didn't look back not wanting to give anything away. Mariya would have the opportunity to get inside.

"Hey you. I"m Rekha Kaarde I think you boys have something of mine." She strode forth with intent, purpose, no fething fear. She got close enough to where she could now put her finger on the guy's chest.

She stuck her finger into his chest, "YOU. ARE. IN. MY. WAY." Each time she poked him in the chest making her point. "I want to see your boss..." The greeter growled and looked out he could have sworn there were two of them,

"What are you looking at hmm my car what you want that next....not likely...your boss....let's go."

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

The mercenary silently hopped out of the speeder while [member="Rekha Kaarde"] walked up towards the door. Her invisibility was only good enough to hide herself from a distance. Thankfully, the street lightning was poor and the door guard was being distracted by her friend. The blonde took the opportunity to make her way towards the house, using the shadows as cover. The security cameras would not be able to pick her out, but a shining torchlight used by a guard patrolling the higher floors would. The last few meters were the most difficult, with a roaming spotlight covering a huge area and two additional guard scanning the area.

Mariya waited for the right moment, which did not seem to come. After a minute, she gave up and decided to use a distraction. A small pebble from the ground would serve its purpose as she tossed it towards the opposite direction. The guards momentarily glanced at the noise created by the pebble, giving her a tiny window to slip past. That she did, racing through the spotlight in less than two seconds and crouched behind the building wall. Judging from the sounds made by the guards, she was not spotted.

Time to climb.

She unhooked the grappling hook from her belt and aimed for the rooftop, which managed to latch itself nicely. She gave the rope a nice tug, feeling the secured tension before starting her ascent. Slow and steady, just like what she had learnt in the past during her military days. Her hands managed to grab hold on one of the fourth storey windows and she took a peep. It was dark, but her goggles allowed her to see in the darkness.

No one in the toilet.

The mercenary climbed through the window and landed softly. She made her way to the toilet door and gently opened a crack to peep through. A corridor, rooms along the sides. Mariya crouched low and sneaked her way through the corridor, trying her best to figure out which room belonged to the gang leader. A drunk thug almost caught her, but she swiftly knocked him out with a punch to his jaw and dragged his body away back into the toilet. He would sit comfortably in the cubicle while she made her way back to the corridor.

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

The watch dog grunted at Rekha, she in turned growled back. "That would be today to see him, not tomorrow." though given the late hour tomorrow could be just hours away. "I'm tired of you helping yourselves to my good liquor."

She stepped back and looked up her words echoing in the alley, "I'M SICK AND TIRED OF IT HEAR ME!! WE EITHER CUT A DEAL OR I'LL CALL IN EVERY FAVOR I OWE. I BET YOU CHECKED ME OUT, YOU KNOW I'M NOT LYING." She would she'd call every friend who ever asked her for a favor and they would blow this four story popcicle stand off the face of Coruscant.

There was a buzzing sound, watchdog picked it up nodded, talked, groaned and hung up. Rekha moved forward, "Move." He stepped back immediately someone met Rekha inside and began the pat down.

"Watch it in most placed you'd have to pay for this so mind your ps and qs." He smiled at her as her eyes narrowed looking at one wrong pat in the wrong place and she'd bite his ear off.

"She's clean"

Man Rekha hoped Mariya made it up there. She needed that element of surprise she got in the lift and headed up.

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

Mariya was indeed on the top floor. She was still at the corridor, using her stealth as much as possible but there were simply too many guards around to explore properly. She was going to have to slowly take them out one by one to proceed. And that she did, with the second guard who was smoking. She tapped his shoulder and gave him a taser on his neck, knocking him out cold. His body was dragged across the floor, back into the usual toilet cubicle with the other guard was.

She snucked out again, this time hearing the lift going upwards. It appeared that [member="Rekha Kaarde"] had cleared the security check and was heading upwards. The good news was that the guards were now focused on the lift. The bad news was that they were all on alert due to the arrival of the smuggler. At least the corridor was now clear. She scanned the closest door, noticing nothing interesting. The next one was the power generator.

The blonde smiled, deciding to sabotage the power to make her life easier. She heard the lift door open and stole a glance out of the door. Yup, her friend had just stepped out. She placed a remote EMP charge behind the generator, slipping out into the shadows. Now all she needed to do was to wait for her friend to meet the gang leader and waited for the right chance to create her distraction.

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

That was the bad thing about separating Rekha now in position had to make an assumption that Mariya had made it up there.

So..Rekha knew she needed to operate on an assumption. Clearing her mind and getting ready for a sarcastic remark to nudge the leader into an action she strode in much as she had when she entered the building.

"OK cupcake we need to talk about you guys taking my stuff." She stood there crossed her arms. She noted that the guy standing closest to her had a blaster, she would need that. Licking her lips preparing to make her move she took those extra steps, "HEY I'm talking to you"

The chair turned, Rekha's mouth dropped open. Holy fething kark was all she thought and she knew it was too late to control her reaction.

"Mon Loup" she didn't know how she said it.

"Mon Cher" His voice was like warm amber liquid heated as he called her by the old name.

She felt like a rock, no worse she felt like a tree rooted to a single spot. With a single hand wave everyone was out.

She wavered a moment, where was Mariya here was a moment and she hoped she was in the room.

"I thought you were dead Mon Loup"

He laughed the sound was deep and genuine, "You'd like that wouldn't you."

"In so many ways" Her voice no longer held sarcasm now it was terse, hinting at the anger she felt. "You're no gang leader, you're the mouth piece." She knew him too well. There's a bigger game afoot.

He nodded a little got up and began to lope towards her.

Instinctively she stepped back. She really wished that Mariya would shoot him now.
"I never get my hands dirty Cher you know that." He was only a couple steps away. Rekha hoped that the anger in her green eyes would make him back up, take stock, and think before he did anything else to tick her off.

"Get your people to leave my stuff alone. I'd have to have to blow this building into little bitty pieces of scraps for salvage." She swallowed hard. She envisioned killing him in many ways and all of them extremely painful running him over multiple times was just one.

He nodded, "The Lucky Lady, I knew it was you. You and you're assumption that luck followed you everywhere. Well Cher here's the deal." He sat on the edge of his desk, "You keep your shipments..but you owe me." His voice was cold any warmth that it had fell away with her sarcasm.

"I'd hate to see that pretty little head of yours laying on a slab somewhere. So listen up. You help me with two trips and we call it even."

She felt the bile in her throat she wanted to vomit on his shoes. "Blood money, protection money cept you aren't say money, credits...you want time...my time."

He nodded, "Yes Mon Cher you want peace...do as I ask or I leave you in pieces."

Now she only hoped that Mariya had a plan to where they got out safe. She didn't trust Mon Loup as far as she could throw him. The shock of seeing him again that was still setting in.

He was trouble there was something bigger going on than him scarfing her liquor. She needed to find out what. She had a feeling Coruscant was in trouble and it wasn't from a gang.

[member="Mariya Fleischer"]

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

More thugs, this time emerging from the room where [member="Rekha Kaarde"] had entered. The conversation was heated, but Mariya was unable to hear clearly. Her biggest worry was the large number of guards outside the room. There was no way she would be able to make it through the direct approach. She sneaked back to the toilet and climbed out of the window, exiting the building from her original entry.

Her legs stood on the window ledge. Time for some more climbing. Slow and steady shuffling of feet against the wall. One leg forward to step on the next window ledge. She made the crossing safely, her body close to the wall again as she moved slowly. A few more steps to the next ledge, with a pipe in the way. Mariya tossed the grappling hook onto the roof again, her body leaning back to hang her weight on the rope. Feet on the wall, slowly moving towards her left and crossing over the pipe.

"I'd hate to see that pretty little head of yours laying on a slab somewhere. So listen up. You help me with two trips and we call it even."

Mariya could hear the conversation clearly now. She clung onto the window ledge and pulled herself up. The Mon Loup dude was still talking, a few feet away.

"Yes Mon Cher you want peace...do as I ask or I leave you in pieces."

That was the last thing he spoke before the mercenary squeezed her arms around his neck, her armoured gauntlets pressing against his throat to choke him alive. It was quite a sight, the man suddenly being dragged downwards by an near invisible opponent. He gasped for air, crawling desperately with his hands.

"Should I kill him?"

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

Oh thank the maker [member="Mariya Fleischer"] had made it in. As Mariya moved to take down the Wolf Rekha instinctively stepped back while the Wolf's guard stepped forward. She quickly moved over and grabbed for his blaster with only moments to spare she managed to slide it out of the holster.

The Guard turned looking at her in surprise. She of course smiled, "no no no, now" She waved the blaster, "down on your belly cupcake" She moved toward the wolf as he struggled for breath. The big man lumbered to his knees then laid down. He wasn't in any condition to fight someone half his size and armed.

She couldn't help but notice how Mon Loup's eyes bulged out, his face was turning purple and every movement could easily be his last. It gave her a sense of pleasure at his discomfort.

She looked to where she thought Mariya's head would be not wanting to give away who she was Rekha nodded a greeting.

"I came here in good faith to negotiate but no you didn't want to do that." She heard movement and remembered there were more goons outside the door. The door they could come through at any time and then the jig would be up, and they would out numbered.

Rekha kneeled on the floor, "all it takes is a word from me and it's all over. I would really like to be rid of you from my life you're nothing more than a parasite that comes along to suck the life out of everyone you meet. Who made you like this??" She shook her head.

"Here's the deal Mon Loup, leave me alone, leave my stuff alone, forget the Lucky Lady exists and if you're really smart you'd leave Coruscant." She hated him with a passion and having Mariya kill him would be an easy, quick solution.

At one time she wouldn't have blinked about saying end it. But being around good people taught her to be a bit more forgiving maybe too much.
"This is your warning next time we don't knock, we don't play nice, we just start blowing stuff up." She tilted her head, "I'm good at blowing stuff up, and I've gotten better so don't test me." Don't make me become what I was she was thinking.

She stood up, "Now my friends and I are leaving. You should to Mon Loup." With that Rekha started towards the door, "My friend" she was talking to Mariya, "I'm leaving you should too."

Rekha kept the blaster, "Been a pleasure doing business with you. Let's hope we don't see each other again" She looked at Mon Loup, "ever".

He struggled for every word, "You'll be sorry Cher." He tried to pull himself forward and stopped his lungs felt like they would explode from lack of air. "Game on." The last words he said before he passed out. Rekha looked at the guard setting the blaster for stun, she shot him. That would raise some eyebrows not her smartest move.

She knew she should have Mariya end the Wolf right there but she wanted [member="Coren Starchaser"] to be proud of her. She could kill Mon Loup but she wanted to give him a chance to walk away no matter what he said right now. She did not want to fall back into the shadows where she felt she had lived for so long. She needed to prove to herself and those important to her who she was now. Even if they didn't know who she was then.

Yeah Coren would say kill evil where you find it. But for her own mind and ability to sleep at night she would do it this way. It might prove to be a mistake.

She decided stairs were better now, she sprinted for the stairs and began down the four flights, sliding on the railing between landings to get down faster. She was now on the second floor, Mariya should be out the window and making her way to the air speeder.

She came out on the first floor panting her brow covered in perspiration. She took a breath and walked slowly to the front, "Been fun boys and girls, see ya round' Rekha was out the door and couldn't walk fast enough without drawing an odd look well she was likely getting odd looks now. She kept the blaster in her hand, just in case.

Just as she was half way to the air speeder the shouting began. "Feth!"

 

[Mariya Fleischer]

It was time to leave the place. The blonde had questions in her mind, such as who was the Wolf and what was his relationship with [member="Rekha Kaarde"]. But that would have to wait till they had gotten out of the building alive. The guards were already suspicious by the whole meetup, and it did not take long for them to discover their unconscious leader. Shouts were heard, weapons were loaded and alarm was triggered.

By then, Mariya was already out of the window, still cloaked. A quick descent from the fourth floor to the ground via fast rope. The rope sounds were covered by the alarm, but her exit was blocked by the guards who had began their lookout for the intruders.

Time to kill the power.

The effect was instanteous. The EMP charge knocked out the lights and the alarm. Darkness replaced the spotlights and the guards had to fumble with their flashlights. She slipped through the area, avoiding the guards just as they found their bearings. The distinct sound of blaster fire was heard as she approached the speeder. Rekha had reached more than the halfway mark to the speeder but the guards were pursuing. The mercenary unclipped the flashbang from her belt and tossed it towards the angry mob. As the area lit up with a brilliant flash of white, she took off and raced after her friend.

"We need to go now!"

That was all she could shout as the two ladies made their way towards their vehicle.

 

[Rekha Kaarde]

[member="Mariya Fleischer"]

They indeed did go right away, Rekha was running making that leap into the driver's seat hitting the start and praying for power all in one movement, thought and breath.

Whatever luck there was it blessed them with a roar and a hum as the two sped off. Rekha didn't look back she didn't dare to she looked across to Mariya yeah there were questions coming. She turned the corner and headed back to the upper levels but not back to the bar. That would be the first place they'd go if they went. No Rekha needed breathing space to answer the questions.

She took another turn and headed down the avenue towards the Alderaan Embassy. She had been there a few times and well had friends. Friends that would protect her for a at least an hour.

She nodded to the guard at the front gate who shook his head disapprovingly. "No wandering."

"Got it" she smiled and passed through to the parking. Finally they stopped. She leaned back and tried to replay the events one by one.

She turned her head and looked at the blonde. "ok, fire when ready" Questions that is ..