First Reply Fake It

[Kal]

Coruscant, Upper Levels
Posh Skyscraper
Fake It

Junior Representative Nalthin Keshe was having a bad day, or rather a series of bad days.

It had started when he'd fallen under scrutiny for being a bit too welcoming to lobbyists, escalated when a subsequent investigation into his finances had left him unable to pay his debts to some very unusual people, and, as if the Force itself sought to add insult to injury, he was now possessed.

Straightening the traditional robe he wore with a grin, Keshe - or rather Kal - practised his best senatorial voice in front of the mirror.

"I am Senator Keshe, and I approve of this message. As Senator I will work tirelessly for your interests. Lose the election, why, I would never!"

Oh well, even a Junior Representative had his uses, most prominently the opening of certain doors that would have remained shut to most others. Keshe may not have been good enough to win as promised or repay the campaign funds, but the Investors were not unreasonable beings.

Entering the drawing room, it was not long until a door slid open, his visitor promptly receiving the winning smile that had almost been enough.

"Ah, I am glad you could join me on such short notice. Please, have a seat. Would you like anything, a drink, an appetiser?"


OOC: For obvious reasons, you should probably be someone who could do show their face in public in Galactic Alliance space without being hanged, drawn, and quartered, unless your fake moustache is very convincing. Political types probably work best, but I'd accept a moisture farmer too.

 

[Birdy (CT-5387)]

CT-5387, who also went by the name Birdy, marched down the long corridor of the Skyscraper, heading straight towards the Junior representative’s drawing room. The day before, she got message from her captain saying he had assigned her for an escort mission, which she was more than happy to execute...but her happiness was cut short once she read the fine print of the message which further explained her mission which practically explained she would be pulling a simple “guard duty” than some daring escort mission like she had in the past. But with her unite on an extended leave and being bored out of their minds, at this point, Birdy could care less whether or not this was guard duty or not. At least it was something to do than to sit and stare idly at the wall.

She then gave a small sigh as she stopped at the door of the room and removed her helmet before pushing a button, allowing the door to slide open as she stepped in. The greeting she had received was quite unexpected as she straightened herself and stood at attention before the Junior representative.

“I appreciate the offer sir, but I was assigned to be your bodyguard for today.” Birdy explained though she didn’t snuck a glance at the drinks and food in the corner of the room

 

[Kal]

His offer had been somewhat unusual for a stuck-up senatorial type, then. Something to keep in mind as he perfected his act; today was a practice run, in many ways. A few meetings with minor dignitaries, lobbyists, and the like, accompanied by a bodyguard unaware of Keshe's... compromised state.

"Fair enough." Checking his watch, he nodded to himself. "We have a busy schedule today, lots of hands to shake, but before we go, do tell me a bit about yourself. I like to know who will be keeping me safe." Chuckling drily, he shook his head. "Not that I anticipate any threats to my person. The CSF has been doing an admirable job cleaning up the streets lately, truly admirable."

There was always a chance someone would try to off the good representative, or just send a message. Perhaps someone representing the groupings he had been a bit too close to, perhaps in such a way as to portray him as the victim of coercion, not the corrupt clod he truly was.

Truly, the generosity of the Investors knew no bounds. The sooner Keshe realised that the better.

Birdy (CT-5387)​

 

[Birdy (CT-5387)]

"About myself..?" Birdy questioned with a perplexed look on her face. Never in her short life as anyone ever asked a question like that, especially someone who dabbled in the politics. Most politicians of the GA looked at clones as mere canon fodder, something close to or equal to any war droid, but perhaps...this representative standing in front of her was different, and probably looked at clones in the same way the jedi did; seeing clones as actual living, breathing, sentient beings.

"Well sir," the short female clone began as she remained in her stiff position of standing at attention, "My number is CT-5387, but most of everyone calls me Birdy for short. Like the rest of the typical Fett-clones you see around here on Coruscant, I was created on Kamino from the Yuval-clone template. Although my sisters and I aren't many in comparison, we can fight and protect just as well. I myself is accomplish trooper and excellent pilot."

Kal

 

[Kal]

A clone, then? To think he had just the other day pondered the odd way in which the numberless legions of mortal states grind against each other with no room for individuality. If he peeled off the standardised helmets, how many beneath would be identical clones - he knew the Sith had resorted to such practices to fill the gaps left in their ranks by years of brutal attrition warfare, but what of the other powers?

"Birdy, then. A pilot and a soldier? I imagine your reflexes must be quite impressive, would certainly explain the bodyguard assignment." Smiling wryly, he was about to say something else when a ping from his wrist computer caught his attention.

"Ah, it looks as if my ride is here. Busy scheduling, I'm afraid." Taking the lead while trusting her to have his back, they quickly found themselves at the nearest helipad, a sleek airspeeder having just landed on the platform. Next up, a meeting with a wholesaler about some recent regional instabilities.

Birdy (CT-5387)​

-
OOC: Friendly note that the current Galactic Alliance does not, as far as I'm aware, clone soldiers; they do accept clones that wish to enlist, however. Just in case you didn't know, Chaos is set quite a while after the Canon movies, see "Articles" + "Timeline". It's currently 864 ABY.

 

[Birdy (CT-5387)]

OOC: yeah I had to learn that a while back but thanks for the reminder cause I totally forgot to mention that Birdy (CT-5387) and her sisters were discovered in a stasis pod on the planet Er'Kit. I think I mentioned it on another thread but got it mixed up with this one . Anyways enough with my rambling!

"If if you are not comfortable with me as your temporary guard, I could request someone else to stand in my place if you like?" Birdy said as she saw the look on Kal face. She understood and was use to the weird looks people typically gave her; even more so now that she was years into the future. But she much preferred the weird looks or stares than the pocking and prodding from scientist and historians she meet whilst adjusting to the new era.

Kal

 

[Kal]

Shaking his head at her comment, he took a seat in the speeder, indicating for her to do likewise. "Ah, I believe you are reading too much into that. You are good bodyguard material, I am sure - I just don't expect anything dramatic to happen, though better safe than sorry."

While no threats had been received, the Coruscant Security Force had been given reason to consider him at heightened risk.

All part of the plan, of course.

Droid-piloted airspeeder taking off without further ado, he checked his itinerary once more. A few semi-important players to reassure, political favour to curry, a normal day by all accounts. Truly Keshe lived an uninspiring life, but this was the path he had chosen to walk and steps would need to be taken to keep him on it. Most importantly, he needed to be made the victim; the public loved victims and loathed corrupt politicians.

Birdy (CT-5387)​

 

[Birdy (CT-5387)]

Birdy glanced at the seat he had offered as she was battling herself of whether or not she should take a seat or not. From all the codes and training she'd been through before graduating Kamino, siting down with any political figure whilst on guard duty was definitely a big no-no, so was refusing an order quested by the individual as well. But with representative Kal gesturing her to take a seat, it was basically an order...right?

The female clone then gave a small sigh gave up on her inward battle and awkwardly settled herself across from Kal while looking at him expectedly. "Sooo, since this is my first time serving you sir, is there anything I should know about your uhh daily route or routine?"

 

[Kal]

It was clear she was not used to bodyguard-detail, that was sure. Well, civilian bodyguard-detail anyway - he could imagine the military being stubborn enough to stand while in an airspeeder, as if that would somehow increase their reaction time.

Nevermind the fact that an attack on a speeder in motion was likely to involve a crash and thus them flying all over the place.

"The usual, for someone in my position. Meeting concerned citizens, politicians, and lobbyists, primarily. In private at first, which I imagine is a relief, but I will be attending a few public events later today; the kind of big crowds that makes security nervous, I'm afraid." Another wry smile, followed by a shake of his head. "Alas, any elected official who models public appearances solely on their bodyguards' preferences is unlikely to stay in office."

Birdy (CT-5387)​

 

[Birdy (CT-5387)]

"Don't worry about me sir, it doesn't matter if it's a private meeting or public event, I'll stick close and keep an watchful eye out for you. All you have to do is just focus on your work while I take care of your safety." Birdy said with a sure look written on her face and followed by a friendly flash of a smile as a thought crossed her mind. "I may not look much, if you are ever in need of someone to listen to you rehearse your speeches, I'm all ears."

 

[Kal]

She was confident enough to deal with crowds on here lonesome, good. Not one to get in the way of their charge's business either - a surefire way to be quite popular among those like him, assuming she had the skills to back it up. Dead politicians were quite the bump for up and coming careers.

"Lovely - and I might just take you up on that, though for now, duty calls."

Setting down on one of several landing pads hanging off the side of the stately building that housed, among others, the wholesale importers he would be meeting over concerns that the escalating tensions with the Eternal Imperials would compromise the safety of civilian shipping along the Starbird Trade Route, Kal was well-aware that his bodyguard would likely find the negotiations to come rather boring.

A test of patience, then.

A few more meetings awaited, then a public meeting with some of his constituents. In such an open space, anything could happen.

Birdy (CT-5387)
(Up to you if you want to skip ahead a bit, or introduce the unexpected, or both; chances are I'm down for anything.)​

 

[Birdy (CT-5387)]

Finally, it was time for the Junior Rep - the title that Birdy secretly called Kal - to begin his public duties which, to Birdy's knowledge and experience with guarding senators in the past, involved hours of political figures, waving and shaking hands with the crowd. Crowds...the number one biggest enemy of any guard or individual who was assign for security work, at least to most guards, but not Birdy. To her, the crowds where filled with interesting beings who range from actually law abiding citizens, to insane terrorist, and strangers of them all...fans, people who could careless if the certain politian want to bring slaverly to Coruscant, or eliminate from the entire Galaxy, no these people only cared for the individual in the...strangest ways.

The though made the female close shudder a bit, as the later spectrum of people on her list was the one she least liked dealing with. Depending on what they where doing or attempting to do, a guard counldn't simply throw him/or her to jail or even detain them unless they are a real threat. Hopefully nothing of that sort would happen to day or any that she would have to pull security work.

She then looked at her gauntlet for the time and saw it would be a few minutes until the public began. "Sir?" Birdy called out to the Junior Rep with a light rap on his dressing room door, "Your public meeting or event is about to begin in a few minutes, Are you ready leave yet?" She asked while mentally cursing her self for forgetting what kind of even they were about to head to.

 

[Kal]

Meeting the public; it was pandering, plain and simple, no matter what shape it took. Deep down everyone knew the vast majority of politicians went with the flow of public opinion even when public opinion was wrong... except when their niche (or their major donors) went the other way.

Straightening his inoffensive jacket, Keshe emerged from his dressing room, nodded to his bodyguard, and set off at a steady pace.

"Quite right. Better not keep the rabid masses waiting, eh?" Visible amusement making it clear that he was joking, they made their way backstage, then waited a bit for his turn. Not that he wouldn't pretend to have just arrived upon entering the stage, that made for a better show by far and politics was mostly showmanship, at least his brand of politics. That might need to change for him to become more useful, however.

"You'll want to keep in the background looking alert - but then I suppose you already know that."

Straightening his jacket once more, he headed onto the stage, a smile on his face as he shook heads with the last speaker then moved to the podium. A steady stream of words about justice and steps they were taking to bring further security to their lives would leave his mouth, but it was mostly empty rhetoric; those who really cared about the related policies would likely get the details on the HoloNet.

Birdy (CT-5387)​

 

[Birdy (CT-5387)]

"Note it, now go break a leg sir!" Birdy chuckled before she watched him step on stage. Although she wasn't right behind or even next to the Junior Rep, she still had a good view of the crowd and Kal from the backstage opening where he just exited. Yet a little portion of the right side of the crowd was blocked by the stage's wall, but lucky for her, she could still view that side with the monitors not too far from where she stood. A couple of minutes passed as he was giving his intro and so far - like most of her guard duties or escort mission - Birdy saw nothing out of the ordinary as she kept her eyes peeled at the crowed while occasionally glancing at the monitors behind her.

 

[Naten Harel]

Meters away, on one of the many towering buildings of Coruscant, stood a single mercenary/bounty hunter, staring down the scope of his DXR-6 disruptor rifle ; but he wasn't here to kill Kal . Strictly ordered by his special client, he only had to injure his target. Naten steadied his breath as slowly and steadily shifted his aim at Kal 's shoulder.

Normally, Naten avoided any job that had to do with politics of any side of the Galaxy. Capturing and definitely killing any politician just wasn't his style, know the last thing he needed was to have his head displayed all over the holonet, wanting him dead or alive. Yet this "client" of his offered a rather hefty amount of credits for the job, enough for him to upgrade his ship for another tour around the wild space and back; an offer that he couldn't pass up. On op of that offered, he didn't had to kill or capture anyone, only injure...and that's it.

He smirked once he landed his target at a perfect spot on the guys shoulder then took a deep breath before pulling his trigger.

 

[Kal]

It was a fairly unremarkable event, all things considered, at least until Kal's danger sense flared... only to be quashed, the possessed Representative continuing on as if he had noticed nothing. Indeed, the Representative had noticed nothing, largely dormant as he was. There had always been an "assassination attempt" scheduled, but Keshe had not been told - even Kal had not known exactly when it would take place.

Safety in ignorance, made for a more convincing performance.

Flinching in shock as the bolt struck his shoulder mid-motion, a gesticulating arm falling flat as a significant chunk of flesh and bone disintegrated, Keshe seemed oddly unaffected, at least until reality caught up with him. Body going into survival mode, he scrambled backwards, tripping over himself in the process, hyperventilation seeming almost soundless next to the packing crowd.

This was the hard part; a job-well-done here by his bodyguard would really sell the authenticity of the attack.

Birdy (CT-5387)​

 

[Birdy (CT-5387)]

Birdy crossed her arms while small yawn escaped her lips as she listen to the Rep give his speech. Of course she was still high and alert enough to watch out for his safety...but at the same time...a crowd pleasing public speeches could almost lull her to sleep like the sedatives her medic sister would give some troopers on the field.

But before Birdy could turn around and take another look at the monitors, she saw the Rep suddenly stumble and fall, clutching his aide while trying to get away from the podium. Without a second thought, she rushed to his side and started helping him up at the same time providing him cover by shielding him from the crowd.

"Try to keep your head down sir," Birdy quickly muttered to the Rep before a couple of other security guards came by to help. The whole team where able to move the man towards the back of the stage while one of the guards left to get a medic.

"Just hang in there air, we have help on the way. Now if you can tell me if you seen anyone or anything suspicious as you were giving your speech, it could give us a big lead to whoever is targeting you."

 

[Kal]

If he so desired, he could squash this body's panicking reactions, suppress the representative's spiking fear, and respond with perfect fidelity. To do so would compromise the intended purpose of this whole ordeal, however, and so he let the pain and the fear wash through him, the novel nature of the experience ensuring a laudable performance, at least in his mind. He could see why organics so shirked injury now, beyond the obvious.

"I... I don't..." Blinking in confusion, sweat caking his brow, he seemed to briefly gather his thoughts long enough to respond properly before falling further into shell shock. "I... it came from up high. I think. It was so fast, but..."

Clearly, the representative would not be of much use in identifying the source or purpose of the attack, at least yet. Not much of a surprise, given his background in business and total lack of military experience. Rare were the board meetings where someone pulled a gun...

... at least in the Core. Force knew what went on among the Tiss'shar and those like them.

Birdy (CT-5387)​