Cantonica Noir (Open)

[Terrek Reese]

​

Terrek had not been off Coruscant in many years, the thought of being away from his element put him on edge. But there was a purpose that had brought him from the fracturing Core Worlds to out in the middle of the Corporate sector. He was on the hunt for the terrorist known as @Zyrias Pax AKA the Canto Chameleon. She had been known to use explosives in populated areas and spread her propaganda through the use of twisted art in the wake of the violence. Terrek had spent weeks tracking her down, and even though the two have not met, Terrek couldn't help but shake the weird feeling off his back that their paths may soon cross. Tracking her from Coruscant all the way to the world of Cantonica to its city of Canto Bight. Terrek was ready to end the chase once and for all and bring justice to the Canto Chameleon.​

He had only been in the world in the past few hours, hearing reports from the local police that the description of her had matched a local patron of the Casino. It was too good for the old man to pass as he checked his gear. An old man like him had to always be prepared. He brought stun cuffs with him, his old DL-18 blaster pistol, and his old combat vibroblade. From what he had read from the file his target was only a kid, but he had agreed that she was far too dangerous to be running around, he stood up lighting a cigarra, enjoying the beautiful atmosphere of the coast remarking at the beautiful scenery of the desert world.​

Despite the beautiful nature of the world, Terrek also couldn't help but feel disgusted by how corrupt the city was. He wouldn't have been surprised if the police had tipped the girl off. In that case, things would get ugly fast. He sighed shaking his head as he put the cigarra out. Turning from the magnificent view of the coast, he had stepped inside the Casino. All around he could see those that were dressed in fancy clothing, adorning radiating clothes, and magnificent jewelry. Terreck sighed to himself knowing he wasn't properly dressed only wearing a black shirt, pants and a black jacket with combat boots. He looked around for where the girl could be. Sharpening his skills he was prepared to enter into the unknown of scum and villainy.​

 

[punchsmith]

-Rook's Tailor Shop, Outer Canto Bight-

Dev took a prolonged sip of his Tevraki whiskey, pushing his top lip down on the glass so's to avoid meeting his teeth with the ice cube. It clinked in a dancing fashion on the glass table next to him where he set it. As the complimentary drink burned down his throat, two small holodroids spiraled about his form and scanned him top to bottom. He regarded them with mild contempt but kept his vision straight into the middle distance of the elegant haberdashery. This planet did not make him comfortable. It was overt in its class stratification, run as if to keep the money flowing like blood circulated veins... but the whiskey helped.

Rook, the old Rodian tailor who owned said haberdashery, sat on a burgundy velvet armchair holding a datapad that ticked with information on Dev's current build. Arthritis was cause for the droids - he was up until a year ago, one of the last tailors to utilize his hands in the process. The Traveling PI grind was cause for some alterations, and though he operated in shadow he hoped to remained sartorially-inclined. Also, it was nice to see Rook; he remained a loyal charge to the dwindling Bexel family and had outfitted each of them in the past - back when they mattered. Discovering that he had a considerable credit left untapped, Dev took this opportunity to blend in with the hoi polloi and visit his old friend while on assignment. [/size][/background]

"What you looking for now, baby Bexel?" Rook peered up from his busy datapad.

"Cruising for a bruising. An old contact, a cop I used to work with on Cloud City, asked me for assistance in catching a known fugitive," Dev explained, not breaking his stare. "Anyway he doesn't trust the local PD. Claims the fix is in, somehow they got a mole. Also fetches a pretty coin too, if I can bring em' in."

"And then what?" the Rodian asked, eyes focused on the measurements.

"And then I get to keep my fancy office atop our old building, remember? The one you had your business on?" Dev pushed back. The Rodian shook his head. "You pay too much for nostalgia, baby Bexel."

Dev raised an eyebrow, went to say something, and sighed. "I'm a steward for my family in the place we've called home for over a century."

"And your family is turning grey and soft in the suburbs of Corellia, and the First Order is degrading the beauty of you city in the sky. Dev, come on now. Graduate to citizen of the galaxy. When this is over, consider it. Do it for your old uncle Rook."

He was right.

Hours passed, and Dev parked his speeder at the valet just outside of the casino. Rook's work was unparalleled: the shawl-collared deep navy tuxedo cut a strong figure on the man, the shirt crisp white and fitted with a tall band collar that rode up his neck but not uncomfortably so. Crimson bloodstripes dotted his pant legs and disappeared into knee high officer boots that shined like obsidian stone. Resting askew on his lapel was a small pin of the two-headed vulpice aka the Bexel family crest. He had a silver cigarette holder pressed between his lips and housing a cigarette. Underneath the tuxedo, rigged behind the tails of his jacket were his twin Relby X-75s. He had a vibrojack stashed in his left boot, just in case noses needed to be broken along the way.

@Zyrias Pa [member="Terrek Reese"]

 

[Zyrias Pax]

Canto Bight was an extraordinary planet, and anyone who thought otherwise needed their head examined. When Zyri wasn’t winning at a table, she only needed to cock her hip and wink her false eyelashes at a high roller, and she’d be back in the green again. Drinks, spice, sex - everything was right at her fingertips, sometimes all three at once.

It would be crazy for any young woman to leave, whether you held an over-inflated sense of entitlement, a wickedly silver tongue or a driving need for exploitation, Cantonica had it all.

But Zyrias Pax was there for one reason and after she executed her mission, she would have to depart.

Flash pop! A holocamera caught her for a moment, adjusting the strap of her impossibly high heels. Even terrorists got blisters once and awhile.

Red carpet properly walked, Zyri sauntered over to a Sabacc table with the bravado only a teenager could muster, the rare time she wasn’t either working, totally focused, or even brooding (also like a teenager would).

“Is this seat taken?” she asked a Zelton in a tuxedo. Fun and rich - a perfect target to grift before she would finally juggle and toss the three thermal detonators in her clutch bag. Funny they could make them so small now that they nestled comfortably against her lipstick and her stolen credits. Speaking of lipstick, she pulled out her new favorite gloss in a brilliant Pyro Flower red shade which matched perfectly with her plunging black gown, blonde wig and black-polished fingernails.

[member="Terrek Reese"] [member="Bexel"]

 

[Terrek Reese]

Terrek had looked around, he was looking for any sign of the fugitive that he was after. He couldn't give himself away too easily, he had no idea if she knew who he was. He kept looking around trying not to look too suspicious. He kept looking, his blaster at the ready, if he knew from experience he knew she wouldn't want to go down so easily at least not without a fight. The more he looked around, he saw beings of all types enjoying the high life, winning various games. It disgusted him, for the most part, it had made him sick to his very core. Still, he pressed onward mingling in with the crowd as much as it sickened him.

He saw a girl that had caught his eye wearing a blonde wig, he couldn't get a good angle from the crowd of people, or from where he was. He figured he would try later but for now, he decided to take a seat at the bar, the human bartender looked at him for a moment, before asking. "Hello sir, what can I get you?" He said adding it with a smile. Terrek shook his head for a moment and responded with a certain roughness to his tone. "I will take the Corellian Whiskey." The Bartender nodded as he poured a glass out for the old man.

Terrek sipped the glass slowly, his eyes still hung to the woman in the black dress, trying to shake an odd feeling off it had meant nothing so far. Perhaps it was just a fluke. Either way, he sat quietly, for now, getting the idea that perhaps the fugitive would come to him.

[member="Zyrias Pax"] [member="Bexel"]

 

[Zyrias Pax]

The Zeltron by her side was attractive, but a little crude. The only reason Zyrias could even distinguish civilized a personality from an unpolished one was because of Ricardo Triem, her first boss on Nar Shaddaa.

Before she found Kur, she worked for a group of “elite” criminals, an oxymoron if there was one. Ricardo probably thought the teenager was more sophisticated than she really was, but when he found out that her designer wardrobe was mostly stolen and most days she subsisted on McYoda’s Gundark-Ear Fries and Flangth-2-Go, he sent her to an etiquette school, maybe the only one that existed on the crime-ridden planet. Zyrias only attended a couple of the classes and then skipped the rest, but she picked up enough refinement to pass for someone influential for infamy, either a holo-tabloid socialite at best, or some kind of Z-list notable at worst.

She checked her chrono. Not long now. The blast would be timed with a few across the galaxy at similar type casino and glitterati spaces. Maximum damage was not the goal. Combined with the string of terrorist attacks, the group which had hired her was after publicity and notoriety versus a high death count.

“You stay right there, sugar,” she said, tapping the Zeltron playfully on the nose and then promptly disappeared, seeking wealthier prey.

An older gentleman looked like a promising target. Zyri had to be careful. Once her brash personality emerged from the practiced refinement she often rubbed anyone over the age of fifty the wrong way.

Still, she could feel his eyes linger upon her, despite the reflection of his glasses somewhat obscuring his gaze. The fugitive walked over close to Terrek and sat on a barstool - only a couple over from him.

“One Daruvvian champagne, please.”

[member="Terrek Reese"] [member="Bexel"]

 

[Terrek Reese]

Terrek was ever watchful of the crowd. Looking all over the crowd, scanning the various tables of games, as well as the many screens of galactic games taking place all over the Galaxy. One could forget all of the horrors of what took place out there in here. There was no War, no suffering, but even then he had seen far worse. He had seen slavery, greed, intolerance, corruption to the very core of the world. It had made him sick as he swallowed another swig of his whiskey. Many of them had not a care in the world of what was going on, and how he could ever find his man here he had no idea, but he had to try.

His eyes kept scanning all over the casino, but no signs of the person's description were present in any of the visiting patrons. He had calmly gone back to his drink, remaining ever vigilant he couldn't stop as he kept sneaking glances behind him, and side to side of him. He had finally noticed the woman in the black dress he saw earlier come over here, but he couldn't say, woman, more like a girl to him close to how his daughter's age. "No... Don't think about that." He said roughly, looking at the floor and trying to repress the memory of his daughter back.

He was here for an investigation, not to reminisce. He looked at the girl sitting a couple seats across from him, seeing her ask for such a drink, he couldn't help but say softly. "Shouldn't you be a little young for a drink?" He said looking at her, studying her closely.

[member="Zyrias Pax"]
[member="Bexel"]

 

[Zyrias Pax]

Zyrias roared with laughter, a musical sound like a long note from a growdi harmonique. But it was not derisive - more of a genuine belly laugh that betrayed how young she really was. She played a little peekaboo around the bar patrons which stood between them and finally slipped off of her stool and slunk over to the man to stand beside him.

In truth, the Canto Chameleon wanted to tell him, she’d ingested likely every type of spice in the Galaxy Medical Compendium, not to mention various alcohol, legal and illegal.

“I’m over twenty-one. Not like anyone is keeping track here. Plus who knows maybe I have a fake ID? Anyway, what’s your story? Why aren’t you gambling?”

There was one thing Zyrias liked more than anything - more than flirting, drinking, snorting spice, blowing things up, shooting blasters and that was credits. She tapped the toe of one heel impatiently signaling that credits needed to start materializing or her time was being wasted, though a smile still lingered on her red lips.

[member="Terrek Reese"] [member="Bexel"]

 

[Jada Raxis]

[member="Terrek Reese"] [member="Bexel"] [member="Zyrias Pax"]

Casino Floor

Jada was one of the pursuers among the Patrons. The Canto Chameleon was a problem. A large problem for the 13th Rail, who'd been tracking her movements through rat holes and spys. As much as she and they loved good barfight, or a straight up duel, what the lady was doing was drawing attention to the place.

A place they frequented.​

​

A place where attention didn't need to be.​

The young Warden was not big on helping some of the more unsavory folks in the Rail, but this was a worthy cause. Take out a woman who caused chaos and madness. Who knew what else.

She crept closer, keeping her eyes down on the table, clad in a black dress with her shock gloves on. They were disguised as slim black smoking gloves, and her short hair was out. It was uncharacteristic. She hated solid ground and hated dresses more. Especially hated the ear piece and contact she had to keep readjusting.

"She's there, table to your left."

She blinked once and glanced over, sizing up the older man with the glasses and the woman impatiently tapping her foot.

"He's a pursuer. Just ran his face in the net."

She blinked again signaling acknowledgement.

"Hang back unless he's about to lose her."

She blinked again.

"Ten on black please. Know what? Make it double!"

 

[Terrek Reese]

All Terrek could do was gaze at the girl before him, arching an eyebrow he continued to stare. Something about the girl he couldn't shake an odd feeling about her. Either way it still rubbed him the wrong way with the words she had spoken. Still the Old Man couldn't shake the feeling that was gnawing at him. Could she be related to the Canto Chameleon he had no idea.

Still this had not stopped him from speaking after taking a sip of his drink. "Hmmm that seems doubtful.. I am just a simple man passing through."
[member="Jada Raxis"]
[member="Zyrias Pax"]

 

[Zyrias Pax]

Zyrias did not notice the woman with the opera gloves. Her eyes were squarely upon the man drinking Corellian whiskey, wondering just how much he was worth. He wasn’t in a tux, though he appeared distinguished and the alcohol smelled expensive. And he was handsome. The Chameleon wasn’t normally attracted to older gentleman, but there was something mysterious and intriguing about the man before her.

Until he said “that seems doubtful.” Whether he was talking about her age or a fake ID, it set off a small alarm bell in her head, but she could not help quipping, “No one around here is just simple, nor are they passing through. Look at her.” Zyri raised her drink towards a Guudrians female dripping with multi colored jewelry, a long sequined gown and fluorescent-hued heels. “That outfit seems pretty complicated.”

“No gambling for you then?” Zyrias gazed at the nearest roulette table longingly. She swirled her straw in her drink, took a long sip and added, “Looks like I need a refill.” Hopefully the man would oblige.

[member="Terrek Reese"] [member="Jada Raxis"]

 

[Terrek Reese]

Terrek continued his look with the arched eyebrow. This girl was interesting no doubt, something he still couldn't put his finger on it. Still he supposed that he would find out soon enough. He looked to where she pointed, obviously trying to make her point quite clear. Then again he wasn't the police around here, he was here only to hunt after the fugitive and bring her back to Coruscant plain and simple. "I suppose you are right about that. Who am I to really say."

She then remarked how he was not here to gamble. He shook his head implying that wasn't his interest. She then drained her drink in one sip, looking at him and saying that she needed a refill. He looked at her and nodded. "The refill is on me." He said placing a credit chip on the table. The bartender noticing the credit chip refilled her drink as Terrek questioned her. "So what brings you to this place?"


[member="Zyrias Pax"]
[member="Jada Raxis"]
[member="Bexel"]

 

[Zyrias Pax]

Luckily the Chameleon drew him in versus repelled him. It was difficult to tell with a man of his age. She was not a classic Coruscant type woman dripping with baubles, expecting the finest of everything. Zyrias could play the part only so well, and then something would slip in the facade - her foul mouth, her crude ink, her lack of knowledge over galaxy politics.

Most men like this nameless gentleman did not reward street smarts. Some did but only a certain kind… agent, law enforcement…

That same prickle again up her spine again which was quelled by the promise of another drink, and then following a second long swallow of Daruvvian champagne, the wariness was almost completely obliterated. Grinning coyly and looking down for a moment, Zyri said, “I came originally to forget about an ex-boyfriend. Bad breakup and stuff.” She shrugged her pale tattooed shoulders.

“I spent a couple of days drowning my sorrows in some of this.” She lifted the glass. “And getting treatments at Zord’s Spa and Bathhouse. Now I’m feeling better. The name's Nicole Thaxton."

The Chameleon’'s fake diamond chandelier earrings sparkled like her smile.

“How about you? What should I call you?"

[member="Terrek Reese"]

 

[Terrek Reese]

Terrek didn't mind the conversation, despite the feeling the girl gave him, he didn't mind it at all. Despite how old the girl was, she seemed to hold a casual conversation quite well. He arched an eyebrow as she mentioned her reason. Terrek himself had not even seen a woman outside of his work in many years. He couldn't get over the murder of his family very easily, and so had stuck close to his work especially with his recent obsession. The Canto Chameleon had caught his attention for months now. And despite the growing darkness coming from the Government, and foreign Superpowers across the galaxy, he had to at least preserve some sense of the law.

When he heard the name, his eyes widened for a moment, but he was quick to try and hide the surprise from his reaction. 'Kark me..' Was all Terrek could think to himself. The Canto Chameleon was right in front of him, clearly unaware of who he was from the looks of it. But he had to admit she hid well, and now he had to play this cool. He didn't know what the girl could do. But he had to stay calm.

He made sure they both got a refill of their drinks, as Terrek tried to play it cool, taking a sip of his drink he spoke calmly. "Interesting... Well, I suppose we all have our ways of coping. The name is Terrek Reese. I have come mostly from business on Coruscant, nothing too special." He said giving her a friendly smile.

[member="Zyrias Pax"]

 

[Zyrias Pax]

The Daruvvian champagne went down so smoothly that Zyrias missed Mr. Reese’s surprised expression. All of a sudden the thermal detonators in her clutch purse seemed very inconsequential, and her loneliness completely palatable and in need of alleviating. It was a long time since she’d had a good conversation. Like a deep one with someone who wasn’t trying to arrest her or sleep with her.

“What kind of business? You make it sound so ordinary, but I’m sure it’s not,” she drawled, basically chugging down the champagne like a girl on a mission. His smile drew her in. Zyrias hugged her clutch tighter.

I could cut and run right now, she thought. Dump the detonators in a trash can where they would be fodder for the mountain of rubbish that sat somewhere on Canto Bight, far away from the wealthy patrons and the pearls they liked to clutch.

But would she be hunted by her benefactor for not completing the mission.

“Just what do you do, Terrek? You sound quite mysterious to me.”

[member="Terrek Reese"]

 

[Terrek Reese]

Terrek was hesitant to respond, he didn't want to give too much away, but he did not want to lose his chance of perhaps catching the chameleon. He sipped his drink slowly, the alcohol's effects touching him with a certain euphoria, but he didn't and couldn't let that stop him. Not now of course and so, he had to be quick on what he had to say, but quick enough not to divulge into what his true purpose.

Still, he couldn't allow her to just simply walk away, no he needed to catch her when she truly wasn't expecting it. That was what he was planning on doing, but just having figured out who the girl was had made him nervous, and a bit uneasy. Either way, he had to figure her out somehow.

He had answered her question slowly, and carefully making sure not to give himself away. "I work in security, just small level stuff nothing too special."
He had said, keeping up the friendly smile, hoping to not making himself or her feel uncomfortable.

[member="Zyrias Pax"]

 

[Jada Raxis]

Casino Floor

[member="Terrek Reese"] [member="Zyrias Pax"]

She hung back, winning round after round using a lil force to aid her. The fools hadn't tamper proofed the game.

She glanced occasionally at the two and moved to another table shortly after, blowing through five rounds as a loss.

Can't be too suspicious.

All the while she watched their interactions.

"That guy is some kind of security." She whispered into her throat mike.

"Yep. Hang back, enjoy the Casino. We'll let ya know what to do."

Gravity was still killing her legs, and being crammed into a dress and heels was not helping.

I'm never doing an op like this again...​

 

[Zyrias Pax]

There was a percussive beat in her head, but it wasn’t her heart sounding out the excited anticipation of drinking the night away with a gentleman that would indulge her taste for Daruvvian champagne. The best she could describe the pulsation was a survival instinct dropping like a bass-drum beat.

Zyrias had been raised by junkers, hand-to-mouth traders, smugglers, salvagers, scavengers.

She could not think of family now, but in a warra nutshell, like the ones sitting on the bar as savory snacks, nothing had been easy for her growing up.

Why should she make it easy for them?

With a promising wink she said, “Excuse me, I need to go to the ladies fresher. Don’t go anywhere, k?” Whatever he was - off-duty enforcement, security guard, retired General, who the feth knew - but she assumed Mr. [member="Terrek Reese"] was enough of a gentleman to not follow her to the women’s room if he wasn’t a small-time security guy as he professed to be.

Slinking off the barstool, Zyrias headed to the fresher, on the way, glancing around the casino floor for various exits and entrances. She caught the eye briefly of [member="Jada Raxis"] who appeared terribly uncomfortable in heels and slipped into the public restroom. At this point, she breathed a visible sigh of relief taking refuge in a stall to take a bio break and re-apply her makeup.

I’ll definitely set the detonators off next, she thought, tracing the bow-line of her upper lip with the Pyro Flower shade. Her benefactor wanted a mass casualty event, but he’d also requested, “pandemonium, fear and intimidation to send a message.” Infused with a bit of revenge and psychosis, that was his vendetta, not Zyrias’s, and while she’d done some heinous things in her young life, she didn’t enjoy killing large groups of sentients. Perhaps the champagne had gotten to her emotions, but this was the only change of plans and Kur's contractor would hopefully never find out.

Yes, the bombs would go off, but only to cause fireworks and not a bloodbath. Not yet, however, as the privacy of the stall gave her at least two minutes of quiet meditation, ,and she made no move to emerge yet.

 

[Terrek Reese]

Terrek smiled, but underneath that was an expression that held one of an inquisitive nature. As she left his eyes followed her form moving towards the restrooms. Terrek knew something was gonna happen, and his fingers were itching for his blaster. Set for stun, of course, he never killed unless it was in self-defense, and he was never one for breaking his moral code anyways. He knew it would be rude to go in and he wouldn't unless something happened, but that doesn't mean he could sit and wait for it to happen. He sat there for a couple minutes finishing his drink and slowly made it over to the restrooms.

His eye glancing at a woman at the tables. He was slightly curious about her as well, getting a strange feeling about her for a moment. He had shrugged it off carrying on with his mission. Approaching the edge of the restrooms, he had settled for waiting on the edge. Standing there as if waiting for something. If the Canto Chameleon was going to set off a bomb, he is damned if he would let that happen, but then again Force knows what she was doing here. She could have just been here for a vacation, still, his own sense of duty and the law had brought him here. And he would not stop till she was behind bars.

He had waited for perhaps the moment to come out, if not that then for something to happen. At last, he would finally catch her, his heart racing, his fingers itching to grab his blaster, sweat dripping in nervousness. All he could do was wait.

[member="Zyrias Pax"] [member="Jada Raxis"]

 

[Zyrias Pax]

You have to come out sometime, she told herself. Yet her palms sweat and adrenaline spiked as it always did right before Zyrias had to do something dangerous. It was both a welcome feeling and something she loathed, the surge in her veins undeniable and better than any spice on the market.

Out there someone else was itching to catch her, maybe more than one person, but Zyrias had a contrac, and the lure of the payday pulled her out of the stall and back onto the casino floor. Slowly at first. But then she began striding back towards Terrek, not taking her eyes off him, tossing her black shiny clutch into a nearby rubbish bin.

Almost immediately the bin exploded, the two thermal detonators throwing trash and shrapnel everywhere. Screams and anguish abounded in the luxury casino.

Zyrias tilted her head for a moment, drinking in the attractiveness of the older gentleman, and then not even wobbling in her high heels, she began to run like a marathoner towards one of the exits.

[member="Terrek Reese"] [member="Jada Raxis"]

 

[Terrek Reese]

Terrek was at first nervous but controlled his breathing, relaxed his muscles as he waited. He knew the girl would come out at some point, but whether there would be bloodshed he couldn't say. seconds felt like hours as the anticipation had started to make him cautious. He started to move slowly this time raising his blaster up and then it hit him. She began running out of the restroom, her gaze on him unphased even as she kept running. He could only stare at her, before she tossed her bag into the waste bin, exploding sending trash and shrapnel flying. Terrek was sent flying and staggered to his feet.

She bolted for the exit, and he pulled out his blaster, shouting as he tried to get an aim on her. "Stop Chameleon!!" He shouted in a commanding tone, unlike the friendly gentle tone he had used with her earlier. Regaining his composure he had steadied himself, his blaster lined up to her, steadying his breath so he can make sure she could be stopped. His index finger slowly squeezed the trigger, and a bright blue ring of energy was sent within seconds attempting to stop her as she made her exit.

[member="Zyrias Pax"] [member="Jada Raxis"]