Fire in the City

[Garza]

Traveling in "Foxtrot", his fathers old ship, Darren Shaw was looking for a signature that had came to him when he had been leaving Tatoooine. He tried to track it before he had to leave but he couldn't find it. Infact it was getting further away from him as he stood there. He went back to his ship and medated on where to look.

Darren had been walking around the local shops on Utapau. Just checking out the locals. He had been following a signature of a mystierous person. It was different than other ones that he has felt. It wasnt all dark or all light. It was different. Not normal from what he has felt before. Darrne had to find out what it was. It kept bothering him as if it were calling out to him saying "Come find me. Catch me if you can."

He would walk through the crouds to see of he could find them. He was set on finding this sorce. Feeling his way around he came to a old abandend building. It was a little out of the way from town. Darren started to walk up the steps to what would have been a porch had it not been missing most of its planks. He knocked on the door, and said "Hello? Is anybody here?" as if to taunt him the Force signature was fading away again. Darren became one with the force like he has done many other times, and could feel living things in his vicinty. Not to far off north was the signature and it was moving. He was going to move out and follow it when he felt another presence near by.

 

[Alexander Ienovo]

Alexander squinted at the merchant through the smoky haze caused by the lit cigar between his teeth, although he was wearing his signature black power armor, he wasn't here on a military mission. In fact the leader of the Dragon's Maw was enjoying a rather profitable game of Sabacc after they had negotiated a deal for raw ore. With the Dragon's Maw about to recruit more men, the master armorers would need the raw materials to make their trademark black battle suits. Tossing more chips to indicate he was doubling the table stakes, he grinned when the merchant shook his head and folded. "That was a pleasure gentlemen and ladies. Until next time, the last round is on me."

The assembled aliens at his table cheered, as he swiped his credstick on the droid bartender to signify the purchase. Even if he purchased several rounds he would still come out ahead on the last hand alone. Gathering his winnings, he emptied the contents of his glass and stubbed out his cigar in the ashtray before heading out of the bar. Time for a short walk to clear the air since the team was still loading the ore in their cargo bay.

 

[Garza]

Darren could tell that this other presence was powerful and would do anything to get what they want. If this person was following the same signature that he was then he would have to book it. Darren went in to the abandoned shack, and looked around. there was a table, and a set of chairs in the center of the room. A kitchen off to the side, and a seprate room with a bed. Darren something was underneath the covers.

Being careful Darren rased his hand, as to fire lightning from his fingers, when he pulled off the covers. The smell was over powering through his helm. there was a couple sleeping together and they had been clearly shot by some solid object. "Poor them" He though to himself, but he couldnt do anything about it. They were dead for a long time before he even got there. Covering them back up he left the room and exited the front door.

Darren was walking north. going toward the signature.

 

[Vault]

Lon walked through the market districts, he didnt know what the man he was looking for looked like, all he knew was the man wanted illigal weapon modifications, and he had to bring them to him. Lons buyer called himself sailmist, obviously an alias, nobody could really know who he really was. The smuggler was used to it, it was unlikely to have a buyer who used his actual name. Aimlessly Lon wandered through the maze of small shacks of cheap shopkeepers trying to cheat people out of a few bucks. A small bar signaled Lon where he would be meeting his buyer

 

[Doviculous]

Doviculous hated this planet, hated the people too. So, why was he here? Well, Doviculous had no clue as to why he was here, last time he remembered anything was roughly around last night after he beat some floozy in a drinking contest and took her in one of the upstairs bed chambers... or at least he hoped it was a her. He shook his head, dispelling the rather bittersweet recollection as he pushed his way out of the bar and walked out into the somewhat crowded streets dressed in a rather messy short-sleeved gray shirt and brown pants with big black leather boots coated with studs. He kept his lightsaber in a holster on the side of his boot, much like how a commando would keep a razor sharp knife used to slit an unsuspecting enemies jugular when they weren't looking. He shuffled to the other side of the street, and leaned against a wall for support as he tried to dispel the horrible ache that was plaguing his head at this moment before turning around to rest his back against the wall and stare out at the people walking around like a bunch of cattle. He tasted bile in his mouth and spat it out on the ground with a look to match what he tasted in his mouth. Oh well, maybe things would get better...

 

[Alexander Ienovo]

All around him, the crowded streets were full of people. All rushing off to their private agendas, maybe heading home, going to meet a lover, it was the same a scene as any he had seen on over a dozen worlds. The faces might be different but the goals are the same. Coughing into his hand, he frowned when he saw the small flecks of blood on his gauntlets. The doctors said the cancer was still there and all the smoking in the world was not helping. The cyberlung could only do so much after all.

Alexander didn't care, he would stop smoking when he was dead and buried, not any moment sooner. So what if he liked to smoke and occasionally indulge in a few drinks. His vices were all he had left. That and the remnants of his command.

Striking a fresh match, he let the flame burst and steady itself before drawing in another breath of carbon infused smoke. Just another town in the middle of nowhere, he wondered how many of these people were up to mischief tonight.

 

[Garza]

Darren was returning to the city. He did not find what he was looking for. Darren was walking by a card game match, and one man left while he still had his money. It was a good choice for the man. he started to lite what looked like some smoking agent. there was some blood on his hands that he didnt see before. but the man acted like it didnt matter.

Darren walked past the man and noticed that he was different from everyone else. He was more armored than Darren was, so he must be some sort of trooper or heavy armored Jedi. Though he didnt see a lightsaber. Darren came up to the man and said "If you dont mind I'd like a smoke?"

 

[Alexander Ienovo]

Alexander was smoking in peace when someone spoke to him. Turning to face the voice, he glanced at the armor and the obvious weaponry before reaching slowly for his pack of cigarettes from his side pouch. Handing it over along with a old style burnished silver lighter, he took another puff before saying in a voice gravelly from too much alcohol and tobacco abuse, "Never thought I would see the day a Jedi would be joining me for a smoke."

 

[Vault]

Lon walked into the bar, being viligant towards the common thugs. A man sat at an empty pazaak table by himself, seeming to be waiting for someone. Lon had found his buyer, he sat down and got his pazaak deck out of his pocket while the other man did the same. Lon's deck wasnt very good, it wasnt supposed to be, it always went this way, he would play pazaak, lose, and give the buyer what he wanted as a prize, it made the whole thing look normall so the law enforcement wouldnt think too much about it. It was a silent process, most of the time the smuggler never even said a word to his buyer. This time was different though, his buyer looked scared, "are you okay?" Lon asked, but as soon as the words came out his mouth, it was too late. Lon felt the cold end of a blaster on his head.

 

[Garza]

Darren took the cigarette and the lighter and puffed on it a few times before answering. "Well im not a normal Jedi." He saw that the man was checking him out, and possably thinking about 400 ways to kill him with a spoon. Although it wouldnt be very easy for him. He started to say "What would your name be?"

 

[Vault]

Lon closed his eyes in frustration, he took every precaution, how did he fall into a trap? "Hello Lon" a familiar voice played from the man holding the gun to his head. "Hey Lancer" Lon replied comically, the gun was pressed more tightly against his head after saying what he did. Lancer was a republic officer who was assigned the job of catching Lon 2 years beforehand, everytime Lon had an encouncter with the man lancer got more stratigic in his next trap. "Get out of the chair and put your hands up" Lancer ordered, Lon did as he was told, "sorry buddy, but if you think this is the day you send me off to prison, your wrong" Lon said with his eyes closed tight as a flash grenade dropped to the floor and blinded all of the republic troops with lancer. Lon took off running, turning his jacket inside out and stealing a hat from a shop keeper, he was able to put on a fictitious disguise. Lon looked around for a place to sit, and a table with an armored gentleman and a jedi with a smoke sticking out of his mouth sat with one empty chair. Lon walked cautiously toward the table and took a seat carefull to hide his face as republic troops wandered around looking for him. "Hey fellas, hope you dont mind if i join you, im in a little bit of hot water here"

 

[Alexander Ienovo]

Alexander was about to reply when another man suddenly joined them. From the way he was trying to avoid notice it was clear he was the target of the Republic troops wandering about. There was an old saying his father taught him a long time ago, the enemy of my enemy can be a friend.

"Not here too many eyes. Follow me." He said, with a commanding tone used to having his orders unquestioned. He lead them back into the bar into the deeper sections where smoke and shadow reigned and more than a few patrons were busy drinking their problems into a stupor.

Pausing at the bartender, he said, "Looks like we got a spot of trouble. There are Republic troops right behind us looking for me and my friends. Maybe there be a back way out of here?" The bartender smiled and pointed to the door which lead to the kitchen, palming the cred chit Alexander slid his way.

The kitchen was a riot of screaming aliens one would think they were heading into the cooking pot. Come to think of it, Alexander decided that it might be better not to look to closely what was in the pots in the first place. Finally, they emerged out the back where they hailed a cab and got in. Giving the driver an address downtown. Alexander leaned back and looked over his shoulder. "Looks like we lost them. So son, care to tell me what that was all about?"

 

[Garza]

Darren had followed the man he was talking with when another person came, and asked for a safe haven from the Republic. He didnt like them ether and thought it would be okay if he were to join them. Looking at him, he clearly saw that this man was a smugler of some type. After getting into the cab, and the man he was having a smoke with asked who he was, Darren put his input in there and said "first your name. i think it would be good to know who we are talking to."

 

[Alexander Ienovo]

Raising a snow white eyebrow, the combat officer said, "You can call me Alexander. And you are?" The way he pronounced his name stressed hard emphasis on the first syllable, and the rest pulled out in a slow drawl.

 

[Garza]

"Darren, Darren shaw" Alexander sounded like a milatary man, and it showed. He had armor from head to toe and it was ether the medium or the heavy variant. He looke toward the smugler and indicated that it was his turn.

 

[Vault]

Lon was thankful for his saviors "and, my names Lon" the smuggler sounded, "i was doing a job here, but that republic officer, Lancer, has been on my tail since coruscant" Lon admitted

 

[Alexander Ienovo]

"Well the Republic, in my experience, can be a touch heavy handed especially when it thinks it is in the right. Would either of you gentlemen object if I offer we grab a few drinks when we get off?" Alexander could use a little food in him, after all it was nearly dawn on this world and nothing went down better than eggs and glass of scotch.

 

[Garza]

"Its fine with me, and we may need to be careful since the Republic is looking after us now. We may need desguises" Darren thought about what they would do with the smugler, and what would happen to the three of them.

 

[Vault]

A grin appeared on lons face "well, disguises are my specialty" he spoke

 

[Alexander Ienovo]

Alexander took them to a cafe near the space port it was anonymous being one of the dozens scattered about that serviced spacers round the clock. After they placed their orders and server had left to prepare their orders, Alexander leaned back in his chair, swallowed half of his scotch and said, "So why is the Republic after you, Lon?"