Faction Blood On The Dance Floor

[Ivory Stroud]

For ten minutes, she danced - consumed & consuming chaos, shaking off the shackles of responsibility to simply be. At the same time, she stretched out her senses - expanding her mind and embracing the flood of emotions filtering throughout Club Kasakar. While tracking the signatures of her companions, she also began to scan for anything of interest - delving deeper, beyond the maelstrom, into the deeper parts of the mysterious venue...

The club extended above & below, and somewhere beneath her feet, she could sense fear - it felt feminine, and ran like a crimson streak through her consciousness, impossible to ignore. The impression she received gave her an image of claustrophobia; as-if an innocent creature were imprisoned in a space too small to feel safe. Ivory was all-too familiar with this sensation, immediately recognizing the dark resignation & uncertainty of a prisoner held against their will... but, strangely, she could see no further. Her vision was clouded.

The second thing she noticed was that somewhere beyond the stage, past where she'd sent Jai'galaar Gred , was... Dead. Her powerful senses in The Force stopped short, meeting a blank void. There were only a few reasons this could be so... and none of them were good.

Suddenly, a voice piped through the Naehtid Earpiece she wore, shocking her out of her movement-induced trance; the voice of Dominik Borra :

'Niki wore that better

Ivory almost laughed out-loud. The fancy pieces of comms-tech were highly secure, almost impossible to eavesdrop upon, but when she'd purchased them, she'd been warned that some users might experience momentary lapses in radio silence if their thoughts were too strong or emotionally-charged. Whatever the assassin was referencing it, he clearly felt strongly about it. The Donna couldn't help visualizing the red-headed engineer, ignoring the jostling crowd of bodies... but in visualizing her fellow Shadowrunner, recognized a strange tingle at the nape of her neck. Niki Priddy did not feel distant, as Ivory might have expected; instead, the Mafiosa couldn't help feeling as-if she'd turn around at any moment and recognize those wild orange eyes staring at her from across the club.

But that would have been impossible.

The momentary distraction was enough to bring the raven-haired Boss of The Family back to the present. Her heart-rate elevated, Ivory stopped dancing and took stock of her position in the crowd - slipping through a gap in the pile of gyrating bodies in a slow meander toward the bar. As she was nearing the brightly-lit space and breaking through the edges of the dance floor, Dom's voice came through again; this time, a bit more worried:

"Ivory," He meant to communicate to her now, the only woman in the group. "Would you be able to come in and break up something happening in the-"

The Donna visibly frowned, reaching the bar and finding a space between two patrons. She didn't bother reaching toward her ear to touch the earpiece; doing so would have been pointless, and in a place like this, a suspicious gesture. Instead, she formed a sentence in her mind & transmitted back:

<<"I'm by the bar. I can be there in a few minutes. What is it?">>

But, received no immediate response. She reached out again, feeling for Dominik's presence & state of mind, directing her intention toward the bathrooms. She could immediately pick up her Enforcer through The Force, but couldn't detect any real signs of distress.Instead of making a move for the bathrooms, Ivory remained where she was... at least, until she'd had a drink.

As she reached out to flag down one of the bartenders, another voice came in through her ear - this time, it was Mairead's musical tones:

<<We haven't had eyes on for fifteen, can we have an update please>>

Before replying, Ivory took a moment to scan down the bar - recognizing Diocletian Kahmen’’a seated toward the opposite end & nursing a drink, and Ket Van-Derveld seated mid-way down between her & the Ubese Bounty Hunter. As she watched, Ket appeared to be having a heated exchange between himself & a Rodian bartender...

As Ivory began to transmit a response back to their Overwatch ( Mairéad Solus & Jade Solus Skirae ), she felt a forceful wave of violent thought expand outward in all directions; drawing her eye back toward the Lupine Enforcer seated at the bar. She paused long enough to be sure that Ket wouldn't lash out & become violent; when he didn't, she continued... but would be watching him carefully.

The last thing they needed was too much heat.

<<"We're in position. Still waiting to hear back from Dominik on the guns. We're spread out, gathering intel on the inside. Keep an eye on that speeder... I want to know who they are, and what they're doing.">>

That done, she finally caught the attention of one of the bartenders and ordered a drink. She received it almost immediately, having opted for a glass of bourbon, neat.

<<"Ket.">> She said over her earpiece, sending a telepathic message directly toward the Lupine, <<"Do try to place nice. We're here to take the place, not rough up the help.">> If the blonde-haired, blue-eyed killer glanced her direction, she would tip her glass in a toast toward him.

"Guns are secure, Ivory." He reported. "Though the guards may be looking for one of their own now, expect a little bit of confusion."

She swallowed her mouthful of bourbon and turned her back to the bar.

<<"Understood. We won't make our move yet; I need eyes on the back of house. There's a set of doors on the far end of the dance floor, opposite the restrooms; I think it's an entrance to the kitchens. Meet me there. Jai, you too.">>

Jai'galaar Gred

Mairéad Solus Jade Solus Skirae

<<Can you slice local police please if I give you a van reg? I want to know if its one of theirs before anything kicks off. Thanks>> It would take a few moments for them to run the checks, so she just relaxed and kept her eye out.

"Affirmative. Stand by." Elsewhere on Coruscant, one of The Family's professional slicers - trained for the task at hand by The Family's own Dedata | Celty Ree , spoke into the microphone inches from his mouth. The tall, bald-headed Cerean's eyes were entirely shrouded by a visor - which was in-turn linked by a cable to a bank of brightly-blinking lights. The dull, reverberating hum of the numerous mainframes within the secret haven filled the space with white noise; blocking out all sound from the outside world.

The Cerean Slicer paid no mind to his surroundings, as he was unconcerned with life outside of The Digital.

His universe was The Holo-Net, and in that Universe, he was a God.

The information he received was immediately cross-referenced, as a stream of data flooded the Cerean's consciousness. He dove deep into the web of interconnected life that was Coruscant's living Digital Mind-scape, floating not upon a calm sea of infinity but riding the waves of a crashing, ever-shifting Matrix.

After a few moments, without returning to the real of "The Real", his voice returned - speaking directly to the one he knew as "The Witch":

"No Data Found. Vehicle is unregistered; the number provided has no origination."

That was all.

 

[Dominik Borra]

Lone Digger Instrumental
​

The music changed, and the crowd went wild hearing what it was. Seemed popular.

<<"Understood. We won't make our move yet; I need eyes on the back of house. There's a set of doors on the far end of the dance floor, opposite the restrooms; I think it's an entrance to the kitchens. Meet me there. Jai, you too.">>

Dom sent a quick "Affirmative" through the channel and moved his way back to the men's room. If they were going to the kitchens or back rooms, employees would notice. Guards would get notified sooner or later. That meant opposition. That meant more firepower needed than the single gun he had stowed away.

He slipped inside and waited for a man to leave, washing a bit of blood off his hands from Mila. He hoped she was alright. Hopefully, the guards would be occupied with helping her and finding the Twi'lek that hurt her. They'd also be looking for him, but maybe searching the crowd and-

The door opened, and there stood a guard. He walked to a urinal, hardly looking at anybody at the sinks. Dominik raised an eyebrow as the man in the stall walked out, then smirked. The guard eventually finished his business and walked over to the sinks. Dominik turned off his water, flicked water off his hands, and started drying his hands with paper towels. He walked by the guard, catching the guard's eyes in the mirror, watching Dominik.
As he stepped by with wet paper towels Dominik moved quickly, a blur of motion as he covered the guard's mouth with the paper towels and drove and elbow into his neck. The guard was stunned, nerves overloaded to keep his limbs from working correctly. Dominik kicked the guard's legs out from under him and put him in a chokehold, cutting off his airway. It wasn't long before he went limp. Dominik didn't want to kill the man, so a second or two after he played limp, just in case he was playing opossum, he dragged him to a stall.

Locking it, he set the man on the toilet and took off the guard's belt and necktie, gagging him and tying his hands behind his back to a pipe. He would be out for a little while, and only once things were going down would he regain consciousness. Another guy walked in as Dominik was tying him up, and made the comment, "Wow guys, couldn't wait to get home? Had to get frisky in the bathroom? C'mon, I don't want to pee hearing that. I'll come back later."

Dominik rolled his eyes.

Soon after Dominik was walking out, both rifles and pistols tucked away under his suit jacket and around his pants line. He loitered around the back doors Ivory Stroud mentioned, waiting for her and Jai'galaar Gred to show up. Once they did he'd give them their weapon of choice.

 

[Mairéad Solus]

​

Location: On a roof nearby
Objective: guardian angel duty
Tags: Ivory Stroud Jade Solus Skirae Ket Van-Derveld Jai'galaar Gred Dominik Borra Niki Priddy Ragos Terrek

Spoiler: Equipment:

Beskar'gam
Velmorite bladed lightsabers
Knife on ankle
Ladies Watch under body glove
FDS-4F blaster pistol in thigh holster
Several thermal detonators
Absolution rifle
Marzanna
Datapad

<<Will do Donna, stay safe>> Mairéad replied to their leader upon receiving the reply, not long before the reply from the slicing team also came through to them. "What do you think? Police have no records so it isn't one of theirs, roving security? I'm tempted to go take a closer look but i might spook them showing up in this get-up." she tapped two fingers on the edge of her T-visor. Mairéad then paused as if a brainwave had come to her. "be right back"

Mairéad stood and walked to the edge of the building and then gently lifted herself to the next building, one that gave her a view into the distance behind the block containing the club. She waited only a couple of moments until the van came into sight it was a couple of hundred metres away, she did not have long. <<permission for non-combat engagement of the target vehicle?>> The mandalorian communicated to her Donna and she let out a small smile with permission granted. Closing her eyes she reached out her hand and felt into the force, seeking for the element of fire to snuff if out. The burning molecules inside the miniature reactor responded to her touch and began to chill, their atomic shells slowing and all vibration ceasing. The lights on the van flickered and itnswerved slightly as it began to lose power. The drivers quickly responded and just as the reactor went into full cold shock and shut down, the van landed on a nearby platform. <<Digital team, try to intercept their communication, see who they are calling.>>

The driver and another man got out of the van, a devaronian and a human, dressed in black, and with a quick zoom, armed for combat. The human put his finger to his ear as if speaking to someone <<Estamos teniendo un pequeño problema con el motor de la furgoneta, aunque aquí no hay problema. tienes ojos en ellos?>> a voice came through her ear as the digital team came through and fed her a real time communication, the receipt was more heavily encrypted, so she would have to wait for that. "Chit! That's Zygerrian,

<<Donna, keep an eye out for a Zygerrian, the van crew are communicaring with someone in there and they are speaking Zyg, they might have eyes on you.>>

chit!"

Spoiler: translation

we are having a little engine trouble with the van, no trouble out here though. you got eyes on them?

The two men continued to fight in the engine compartment when the door slid open and another large creature disembarked, a hurglic with a heavy blaster rifle on his back. At least it was unlikely there was too many more soldiers in the van with the big guy, but you never knew.

Mairéad hoped her concern would lead to nothing, maybe it was a coincidence, that these guys were here and they had eyes on someone else entirely. But if anyone could see her eyes wider and her eyebrows raised they would know her feeling on coincidence.

 

[Jai'galaar Gred]

Jay simply gave a slight nod at hearing this. Someone else may've thought he was nodding at someone who caught his eye or to the beat of the music, but he would simply start walking towards the door's slowly, pulling his hood up while he was in the thick of the crowd. It was easy. Just slip through. He could tell EW was following, which made things easier. As he continued moving, he'd feel a tap on his shoulder.

"Well Mr. Cloak and Dagger, why don't you stay and dance." Jay just sighed a bit. He wouldn't show his weapons, but he would give a firm look.

"Maybe later. Have some business to attend to." Of course he wasn't exactly planning on returning to the dance floor, but he'd get himself to the doors and quickly and quietly as he could. It seemed odd to him that someone wanted to dance, but meh. To each their own. He'd keep going before eventually making it to the door. And so he'd walk up, slowly reaching in to get is revolvers, cartridges, and knife. He'd tuck them all in nice and snug before looking up at Dom.

"I feel a lot safer with these." He then looked around, waiting for Ivory.

Dominik Borra Ivory Stroud Jade Solus Skirae Mairéad Solus Ket Van-Derveld Niki Priddy Ragos Terrek

 

[EW-031]

EW would look, quickly floating along with Jay to see what was going on. She could help right? She did need someone with hands to help when it came to the plans she came up with, so hopefully this would work. The tactical droid was also surprised how easily Jay seemed to walk past someone. Strange. She thought showing interest was something that would at least be more entertained then an obvious "No." It wasn't a no, but she knew what he meant. He had no plans on dancing. Nope. None.

Maybe she could strategize with one of the others on a way to get him out there later. Everyone else seemed to have a better grasp of "clubbing" as they seemed to call it, and clearly EW wasn't doing a very good job and encouraging Jay to be social. Maybe strategic and social thinking didn't mix..... No that couldn't be it. She just had to think of a new plan with someone more knowledgeable.

Dominik Borra Ivory Stroud Mairéad Solus Jade Solus Skirae Ragos Terrek Ket Van-Derveld Niki Priddy

 

[Harvey Denson]

Location: Club Kasakar, Coruscant
Objective: Find the Informant
Tags: OPEN
Soundtrack: Fly Like An Eagle

Harvey closed the door of the patrol speeder and leaned against the vehicle, taking in the exterior of the infamous Club Kasakar. He always takes a moment to get his bearings before beginning an investigation. Go over the case notes, brush up on the facts, take a few swigs from his flask. The essentials. The last few weeks had been particularly interesting within the CSF. He deserved every drop of bourbon he could sneak down.

Between the ongoing war with the Brotherhood of the Maw and the newly ignited conflict with the Empire, the Alliance has been spending most of its time and credits on foreign soil. The Coruscanti Underworld never lets an opportunity pass, and the illusion of distraction has sparked a sudden rise in crime across the ecumenopolis. Consequently, four unsolved murder cases have slid across Harv's desk in the last month, all with concernedly similar characteristics; Working women, all humans, killed with a blade outside of several nightclubs in the Underworld.

If it weren't for an undercover informant reaching out to his unit, Harvey and the rest of Homicide would still be canvassing strip joints and bars across three different levels. All he had to do was find her and see what leaks out when he pulls off the patch.

"Shouldn't be too bad," he reassured himself as he crossed the busy walkway to the entrance.

The neon signage on the face of the club glowed eerily through the haze of steam that lingered perpetually in the Underworld's atmosphere, casting ominous hues of cyan, pink, and purple through the fog.

"At least no one else is dead... yet."

 

[Jade Solus Skirae]

She observed the area continuously getting bored out of her mind atleast it was until Mairéad Solus reported the speeder and her findings as well as the people coming out and the arm's she moved closer incase she needed to intervene she put herself cloaked so she could move without them seeing her, it made her anxious a little having them here when the Donna and her party are also here. Part of her wanted to just take them down now and be done with it but if they aren't here for the Donna then what are they here for.


Ivory Stroud Ket Van-Derveld Jai'galaar Gred Dominik Borra Niki Priddy Ragos Terrek

 

[Ragos Terrek]

Something hard and sharp tapped Ragos' shoulder. He swiveled in his seat at the bar and found himself staring into the piercing gold eyes of a female cathar. She was sleek and dangerous as a dagger in her black shimmer-silk dress. She gently placed an orange-furred hand on his shoulder, thin claws lightly tracing along the fabric of his jacket before retracting.

"Hey there," she said in a coruscanti accent smoother than the silk of her dress.

"Hey yourself." Ragos said.

"Do you know where I could find some…" She rubbed her finger across her nose.

"Nah. That chit aint me darling." He told her.

"C'mon, I can pay." She pulled a fat stack of credits from her clutch.

"Feth do I look like?" He asked her sharply. She wrapped one arm around his neck and pulled herself close. He felt the hand slide down his shoulder and over his chest until it stopped somewhere between the barstool and his thigh. Her face was so close he could feel her breath on his; warm and sweet smelling.

"Let's talk this out somewhere more private." She suggested gesturing toward the bathrooms. Ragos stopped thinking with his big brain and nodded in agreement. "You first and I will follow in three minutes." She whispered in his ear sending a chill down his spine and a warmth up his leg.

Ragos got up from his seat and walked around the dance floor nearly running into a guy being followed by some kind of floating orb.

"Watch it mutha sucka." Ragos said but the words were drowned out by the music. A few more paces and he would be at the bathrooms when suddenly he was grabbed roughly around the neck and arms. The club went dark when a rough sack was shoved over his head and he could feel himself being dragged to force knows where.

He knew they left the club because he could hear doors open and the music fade before a short time later another set of doors opened and he was taken further, turning once or twice. Chit, he could hear the music again but there was other noises too clanging and sizzling, shouts and gas flame.

The hood was removed from him after he was shoved roughly into a chair and bound. He was in the kitchen area of the club and standing in front of him was the cathar girl.

"So you think you can come in here and sell your Karking junk huh?" She asked

"What the Feth is going on?" Ragos asked. He screamed when the cather bashed his leg with a meat tenderizing mallet. What the frell was going on?

"Nobody sells that Karking junk in here." She informed him. "Too much Karking heat. Boss don't like heat."

"I told you, you crazy btch, I don't know what you're talking about. I don't sell chit." She hit him again in the same leg and again he screamed.

"What you thought you making credits was more important than this place staying clean?" She asked before striking him again this time in the hand. He was pretty sure he had screamed then too but he could hear it over the sound of his hand breaking.

"Kark you." He said defiantly. He realized the first time she hit him with that fire forsaken mallet that it didn't matter what he said. He wasn't here to confess, only to be taught a lesson.

Ivory Stroud Dominik Borra Diocletian Kahmen’’a Mairéad Solus Ket Van-Derveld and others I can’t remember Jade Solus Skirae Niki Priddy

 

[Ivory Stroud]

Nearby: Dominik Borra Jai'galaar Gred EW-031
Family Tags: Mairéad Solus Jade Solus Skirae Ket Van-Derveld Diocletian Kahmen’’a Niki Priddy

Ivory left the bar, first glancing down the long line of patrons to exchange looks first with Diocletian Kahmen’’a , then attempted to catch the eye of the Lupine, Ket Van-Derveld ... but she had little luck. He seemed entirely absorbed into his role as a customer of the establishment. To The Donna's surprise, he had even seemed to pull in a wild-looking woman in a loud, sparkly outfit. Ivory couldn't help but chuckle; unsure of whether to be happy for him, curious, or concerned.

She was last to arrive at the double-doors to one side of the large room; finding her two enforcers, Dominik Borra & Jai'galaar Gred waiting for her in a small pocket of dark solitude. EW, the floating orb, also joined them. The crowd around them formed a perfect bubble of ignorance.

Ivory joined the two men, giving each a subtle nod of recognition. The look on her face had changed - her lips, set into a grim line & her eyes as cold as durasteel. She reached out, accepting one of the blaster pistols for Dominik. She glanced at it - albiet briefly, so avoid drawing attention to herself - and, seemingly satisfied, nodded to the two men. Then, using her other hand, signed in Code-sign:

<Quietly. Move together.>

Then, she turned away, tucked her blaster behind her thigh, and led the way cautiously through the doors and into the back rooms of Club Kasakar.

The trio found themselves in a connecting hallway with pale purple walls and black floor-tiles which reminded Ivory of Obsidian stone. The doors swung shut behind them, blocking out a fraction of the noise & vibration on the dance floor beyond. Above them, ceiling fixtures radiated dull white light - gentle on the eyes. Ahead of them, the hallway split - first, into a hallway on the right, then at a right angle further down to the left. There were no doors they could see, and they were alone...

For now.

Ivory led the way, flanked on either side by her two Enforcers and the floating droid. They kept their weapons low, but all their senses were primed; if anyone rounded a corner, they'd find themselves face-to-face with a pack of hunters primed for the kill.

As they approached the hallway on the right, all three could hear the unmistakable sound of a scream echoing across the pale purple walls... At the end of the hallway, a set of large metal double-doors were shut. The Donna exchanged looks with the two men at her side, hesitated... then, a second scream (this time, louder and clearly in-pain) reached their ears from beyond the set of doors. Both Jai'Galore & Dominik saw the expression on the woman's face change. Wordlessly, she directed them to flank either side of the hallway, and for Jai to watch their back... then, they began their approach.

The trio staged on the door, readied their weapons, and each man on either side gripped the cool stainless handles of a door and waited for The Nod.

When she gave it, the doors swung open and all four of them entered, weapons held at low-ready. The Family paid special care to their tactical training, and already the small group had worked together in places far more chaotic & dangerous than the Underworld Venue. Each took a slice of the pie, covering a quadrant - prepared for anything. Ivory personally took their front.

The doors revealed what was obviously the kitchen of Club Kasakar... and at first, it appeared entirely deserted. Stainless counter-tops, white cupboards rising from floor to ceiling, and a low wall separating the main cooking area were entirely unstaffed - but the sounds & smells of an operational kitchen remained. Mysteriously, at least one oven and a pot of something-or-other bubbling away had been abandoned. Were it not for an echoing feminine laugh from somewhere deeper within, the small fire-team could have immediately assumed they were alone.

Ivory led the way, every movement as fluid as quicksilver, even in her heels.

Together (with EW hanging back to monitor their rear), they passed through the immediate prep-area into a small section beyond - a storage room set aside from the kitchen and connected by a small hallway. At the very end, flanked on either side by closed doors, hanging strands of dull plastic protected the entrance to the storage area; concealing whatever was beyond it. But all of them could clearly see the room was occupied.

A feminine figure in a black dress was the first thing they noticed. Even without a clear picture, blocked as it was by the plastic covering the doorway, they could see another individual seated in a chair directly in-front of the woman. Ivory took a moment to glance at her two companions, again giving them The Nod.

This was where it would begin.

Together, they moved like wraiths down the hallway... leaving the kitchen behind.

When they finally struck, they did so with speed, surprise, and overwhelming violence.

All three entered the storage room at once, with Ivory in the lead. In her periphery, she could see a suited human male, taller than her, standing to one side - the side closest to Dominik - with the guard's hands clasped in-front of him. His presence had been hidden by the confined space beyond. Instead of directing her attention to him, The Donna's weapon bore down on the feminine figure in the black dress, who swiveled on her heel to identify the sudden burst of sound and motion behind her.

At the precise instant Ivory pulled the trigger, she recognized the woman as a Cathar. The creature's orange fur shone in the bright lights above, and twin emerald-green eyes widened in surprise at suddenly being face-to-face with an Angel of Death bearing down upon her.

The first bolt of burning light struck the Cathar woman in her chest, burning a hole through the thin silk covering, scorching away the fur on her chest, charring her flesh, and boiling the blood pumping through her heart instantaneously. As the cat began to fall, Ivory fired another shot - striking the corpse again in the face mid-collapse. Another report sounded a foot away as the man standing guard over whatever had been happening moments before was likewise dispatched.

Ivory didn't bother checking to see if he, too, was on the ground. She knew her people; knew they did the job, and did it right.

The dark-skinned man seated in the chair in-front of her was dressed in an expensive scarlet outfit, and he was strapped to the uncomfortable metal seat as-if he were a prisoner. Immediately, Ivory recognized the tell-tale signs of torture. The dark-skinned man's hand had clearly been broken, and he glared at her with pain and rage in his eyes... but also a note of surprise.

She'd taken a gamble, but assumed they were far-enough away from the excitement of the club that their moment of violence had gone unnoticed. All the same, however, she expected her escorts to keep an eye on the hallway while she tended to the injured man.

"That looks like it hurts." She said to him, lowering her blaster before moving to release his bindings.

Ragos Terrek​

 

[Ket Van-Derveld]

He sat there, quiet as the Rodian bartender had scurried off to fix his drink. If he even returned, let alone with said drink, the Lupine wouldn't touch the thing anyhow. Damn Rodian would try to poison him like he did that time about five or six years back when that damn Hutt out of Nar Shaddaa had put a price on his head for laughing in his face and slaughtering half the party-goers at his 'palace' when the slug had the audacity to suggest he pay him tribute for conducting business within his territory on the smuggler's moon. Yet another one of a hundred tales of adventure within the long and bloody story of Ket Van-Derveld. Quickly, he caught the attention of one of the human-looking drink slingers, and waved him over.

"Three fingers worth of whiskey, on the rocks, if you pLeASe."

The bartender didn't even move more than a foot or two as he grabbed a rocks glass from under the counter, and a dusty bottle filled with a murky brown liquid from one of the middle shelves. He tossed a few cubes of ice into the glass, clinking away as they settled and then floated as the whiskey poured freely. Sliding the glass over to him, Ket slid a fair few credits over to him, which the bartender took with a smile, moving on to the next patron. Turning on his stool, he lifted the glass to his lips, sipping at it, the liquid within producing that familiar & comforting warmth it always did.

As his sapphire-hued eyes looked around the large room, the colorful lights strobing and flickering away and music loud with it's thunderous bass, it hit him like a stray slug to the forehead. He could feel her near, and the voices in his head quieted as they realized she was not just nearby, she was here, now, live and in living color. Reds, blues, & sparkling silvers, all blurring together in random patterns as she danced away in the throng of sentients. And as he watched her, the song playing began to crossfade into something else. Something much more heavy, still laced with that electronic thump, yet with a dark and pulsating beat.

Before Ket was even aware of it, he was already on his feet, boots moving one in front of the other. He could sense his compatriots, all doing as they would. Ivory Stroud moving past, giving him a glance as she passed him, and then Diocletian Kahmen’’a , headed toward the back beyond the bar. He could feel Jai'galaar Gred and Dominik Borra , their tense readiness as they waited on the Donna. The others were all doing as they were meant to be, yet Ket had seemingly gone off script in his tunnel vision. Yet, nothing could be further from the truth. When she was near, he became even more focused, his senses hyper-attuned to their zenith, if not pushing farther within the Force.

Soon enough, it would seem as if time around him began to blur into a form of hyperspace all it's own, and only she stood as a visage clear as the waters of Lake Vasterly back on Figaro Favoura VII. He'd reached out within the tendrils of the Force as he moved toward her, gently nudging the kine to either side as he did. And soon enough, there she was. Dancing like no one was watching, hips swaying to and fro, arms raised up and hands twirling to the beats of the music. As he seemingly floated up to her, a hand slid forward, resting upon her hip as he began to move with her, bodies becoming perfectly in sync with one another. A wide grin played on his lips, terrifying to anyone who might have gazed upon them at that moment. But not to her, oh no... She knew all too well, what that grin was and what it entailed.

With a whisper, he spoke, the Force carrying his voice to her ears so that she might hear him unhindered. His voice coiled around her mind, and licked at her very soul as they swayed to the beat, entangled within one another...

"Mmmmmm... My Ruu..."

Curupira Hawk

Ragos Terrek | Mairéad Solus | Jade Solus Skirae | Niki Priddy​

 

[Mairéad Solus]

​

Location: On a roof nearby
Objective: guardian angel duty
Tags: Ivory Stroud Jade Solus Skirae Ket Van-Derveld Jai'galaar Gred Dominik Borra Niki Priddy Ragos Terrek

Spoiler: Equipment:

Beskar'gam
Velmorite bladed lightsabers
Knife on ankle
Ladies Watch under body glove
FDS-4F blaster pistol in thigh holster
Several thermal detonators
Absolution rifle
Marzanna
Datapad

Mairéad felt the spike of violence in the force, although she didn't recognise it for what it was, just a feeling that quickened the heart and prepared her for battle. Her marks too knew something was. She heard their radio crackle into life, she couldnt hear the incoming, but the response was enough for her to know to act.

"Ok, saquemos nuestro equipo del camión, estaremos allí a pie lo antes posible...

....porque la maldita cosa está rota!"*

"Oh no you won't..." she smirked as she quickly targeted the truck, locking on and firing one of her miniature proton torpedoes. It looked through the air and punched into the cabin, blowing the tuck apart and a shower of sparks and knocking the hurglic down on his ass, the big brute could take the hit though and despite a gash on his bicep, he picked up his heavy blaster and began peppering Mairéad's position with fire, blowing chunks of concrete out from behind her and encouraging her to take fire. She immediately shared her targeting information with Jade Solus Skirae to help her if she wished to outflank and to help her keep a low profile until she wished to engage.

Mairéad looked around the corner and fires with her wrist mounted pistols, trying to keep both of the target's heads down. They were taking it in turns to fire then duck. "These guys seen professional, Akaanir pirusti Jade!"

Mairéad span her hand around and summoned a lance of pure cold and firing it towards her enemy. It exploded in a cryotic blast behind them, shards of frozen shrapnel, more than a hundred degrees below freezing peppered her foes from behind, searing any exposed. This would hopefully be all the distraction they would need to get close and deliver the killing blow.

Spoiler: *translation (zygerrian)

"Ok, let's get our gear out of the truck, we'll be there on foot ASAP... ....because the damn thing is broken!"

 

[Dominik Borra]

Lone Digger Instrumental
​

Jai'galaar Gred had his own weapons, so only Ivory took a gun off his hands. Smaller weapons were better for these tighter quarters, so he drew the other blaster. With two more rifles ready for whenever someone needed them inside his large coat and with The Donna's Nod, they went in. The sound quieting down was a relief, however small. And purple walls? The whole place felt like they were under a UV light, but the lights above were a silent cold white. He followed Ivory Stroud 's lead all the way to the storage room, footsteps quiet on the void-black floor.

The screams of someone hurting. Really hurting. Sounded like routine torture or something. Some poor sap who had touched the wrong girl, sold bad drugs, or snuck in, maybe. Saving him would ally himself with The Family at least for the night, and this would be a way to take out someone of at least Management position. Undoubtedly there would be muscle with whoever was doing the torture. Dominik had all this in mind when The Donna gave another Nod.

They burst into the storage room and Dominik marked for guards, one in each corner of the room. One woman with a fur coat was in the middle and a man was tied to a chair in the middle. And as Dominik brought the blaster up the guards were just starting to react, their hands all respectfully clasped infront of them. With the way they reacted, hands moving up to their suit coats, their blasters would be in shoulder holsters. Too far away. Dominik had already put two blasts in the nearest guard's head, and as the second guard's hand was inside his coat Dominik got him too. They dropped instantly. There was two other guards, but those were on Jai's side. He'd leave them to him.

Only after Ivory had shot the woman dead did Dominik realize that she wasn't wearing a fur coat, but she was a Cathar. Interesting, but not important. Ivory moved to release the man's bindings, but would only have her hands and teeth. Dominik pulled out a small knife and cut through one arm's bindings. "What's your name?" He'd ask before handing the knife over to Ivory and movee back to the door. There wasn't any way to see through it, so he simply put his ear to the door and listened closely.

 

[Jade Solus Skirae]

Location: On a roof nearby
Objective: guardian angel duty
Tags: Mairéad Solus Ket Van-Derveld Jai'galaar Gred Dominik Borra Niki Priddy Ragos Terrek

She kept mobile and near by as Mai continued her scouting before she started her rampage she leaped down behind some of the Zygs that were more focused on the blownup truck and Mairead then her as she snapped the neck of one of the Zygs and crushed the neck of the second one, She moved quietly up to the two firing at Mai her blades out and Decapitated one of them straight up before she fired several shots with her pistols into the Hurglic and kept firing into the same spot until it shot out through the other end of his thick skin and hide making sure it was his heart before picking up the surviving gear from them didn't want them in the hands of a random begger and have them get heroic.

 

[Jai'galaar Gred]

Jay would slowly follow Dom and Ivory, a revolver in his right hand, and a vibroknife in his left. Call it a hunch. He looked around, letting EW keep a rear guard before hearing the screams. Something was familiar about them. As they came up, EW stayed outside the door, allowing Jay, Ivory, and Dom to slip in, at least until the guards attacked from their hidden corners.

Jai had to react quickly as a lifetime of training and instincts kicked in. He quickly jabbed the reverse gripped knife into the closest guard before heaving them into the other, jamming both into the wall. He'd then quickly press the Rim into the outer most guard. They needed to stay quieter? He could manage that. Jay pulled the trigger, point blank. Wasn't necessarily his cleanest moment, but it was quiet. He quickly slid his knife into it's scabbard before walking up and seeing who all the fuss was ab....

"Well, well. If it ain't dealer who tried to take someone else's shop. Don't believe we got to finish our discussion last time."

Dominik Borra Ivory Stroud Jade Solus Skirae Mairéad Solus Ket Van-Derveld Niki Priddy Ragos Terrek

 

[Ragos Terrek]

He sat there, eyes closed, his breathing heavy and ragged as he tried to disassociate from the pain. The cathar woman said something but he could not focus on what it was or if it was even him she was talking to or about. Even with his eyes closed and half delirious from pain there was no mistaking the sound of blasters going off. Ragos opened his eyes just in time to see his tormentor eat a blaster bolt to the face.

That's better than you deserve, schutta. He thought bitterly as he stared at the corpse, glad to see the cathar dead but sore at losing his chance at revenge.

He watched in silence as his torturer's killer lowered her blaster and approached him slowly. She looked to be human or near enough to not make a difference. From her clothes he would guess that she wasn't CoruSec, that and her shoot first ask questions later approach. She looked older than him and yet there was denying she was pretty.

"That looks like it hurts." She said as she made to unbind him.

No chit. He thought but kept to himself, she was after all trying to free him and holding a blaster.

"I'll survive." Is all he managed to say to her before they were joined by another, this time a male humanoid. His attire did not scream CoruSec either but it definitely scanned as professional and did nothing to calm Ragos in any way, though when he cut loose one of Ragos' arms that went a long way.

"What's your name?" Snazzy dresser asked as he gave the knife over to pretty woman.

"Y'all seem like the type to kark with discretion." He said, turning his gaze between Snazzy and Pretty as he talked. "How bout we just forget names entirely."

"Well, well. If it ain't dealer who tried to take someone else's shop. Don't believe we got to finish our discussion last time." Said a new voice and Ragos looked up to see a face he had hoped to never see again.

"I don't know what the feth you're talkin bout. I don't know you." Ragos lied.

Ivory Stroud Jai'galaar Gred Dominik Borra

 

[Curupira Hawk]

Location: Dance floor
Objective: Dance / Find Ket
Wearing: This
Tag: Ket Van-Derveld
CC: Ivory Stroud Jade Solus Skirae Jai'galaar Gred Dominik Borra Niki Priddy Mairéad Solus Ragos Terrek

Her body moved, limbs almost erratic to the strong beats of electronic music. She could be tempted to drink, yet Curupira didn't need anything to keep her on the dance floor. It was her own little world, her little fantasia. Her fingers twisted and hands rose above her head, neck twitching back to let her eyes follow. The Witch knew she had an audience, the only one that mattered. It was all she needed to know.

It occurred to the dyed blonde that the people around her still lived.

My, my... how much we have grown, Ruu considered and smirked. Silly, wasn't it, all. Not too many people would take notice in life and death around them. There weren't too many people she knew who could say they got a kick out of her lover's murdering escapades. The music began to shift, from the distorted to dark, from fast to heavy. Her whole body began to change its beat to the pattern forming.
​

When the sun sets, we're both the same
Half in the shadows, half burned in flames​

He drew nearer, her wolf. She could almost feel his heartbeat against the beats she was dancing to, without looking. Curupira could tell Ket was coming, she needn't have looked. Instead, she continued to temp, the little joys of their own dance; the very one they began the moment Ruu walked through the doors of this club. The Witch spun as Ket joined her, seeing a familiar grin as he put his arm on her, continuing to dance without stalling.

The way his words sounded, they tickled against the soul. "Mmm," it was music to her ears, the beats around them feeling irrelevant in the second as her own voice projected back to him unwillingly, naturally. It was something unlocked inside her that Curupira had never known she had until their reunion, and now, it was as easy as breathing to reach him, to reach all his demons at once. "We playing games?" He was, after all, not by himself here, she knew that already.

Maybe she wanted to play too. ​