Now This Is Podracing!

[Cira]

@[member="Jorus Merrill"] @[member="Sarge Potteiger"] @[member="Ayden Cater"]

A clawdite. There rose her brow ever higher. Her first instinct was to narrow her gaze. She was after all the secretive sort. It was her nature. None the less, she kept the lightly amused poker face.

"Is that so?" there was a mild bit of humor in that, "So why did you find that mildly hilarious?" she asked curiously, probing for more. Just why did a spice up infochant think she was a Clawdite. She was ever so careful about her shifting. Had her curious just what other rumors were out there about her...

At least, it was until the Jayne wanna be Sarge spoke up. THAT drew her attention, narrowing her sight and ire upon Sarge. As soon as he sat down, the Force shot out to grip Sarge's throat.

"Call me a queen one more time, and I'll have fun cutting out your tongue."

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Tegaea graciously accepted the credits from @[member="Zero"]. "Nice work! I need you to take a tour of the area around the pod racing course. Identify and map any potential traps or hazards. You're not supposed to be there, so keep to the shadows. When we race, I want no surprises, got it?"

She left the others to fix the pod. She had other business to attend to.

Leaving Trant's shop she headed quickly and quietly through the streets until she came to a small and otherwise unobtrusive house. She entered, using a special key, and went inside. The room beyond the door was one which was full of high tech equipment, monitoring gear and all manner of gadgets. As she entered, the two people inside reached for their guns, then relaxed.
"What's the news, boys?"
"The transport arrived yesterday. It's got everything you wanted."
"Excellent. And our competition?"
"Preparing for the race. There's a lot of mercenaries though. Some are Gran and Dug, others are imports. We've been noticing them coming in a few at a time."
"Who are they with?"
"Not sure, but it looks like someone's got an interesting in winning the race...or at least using it."
"Two can play our game it seems. Be ready to contact @[member="Cira"] if anything comes up."
"Yes, ma'am!"

Tegaea went to a collection of cases packed near the wall. Removing the lid of one and produced one of Omega's new weapons. The boltgun was so lethal looking that she caressed it for a moment before putting it back. In the next case she had a suit of armour as well.
"I'll be back for a quick wardrobe change before the race. Good work."

She slipped out of the building and returned to Trant's shop as though nothing had happened....

 

[Jorus Merrill]

@[member="Cira"] @[member="Sarge Potteiger"] @[member="Ayden Cater"]

"Why's anything funny?" he opined philosophically. "I mean, there's more things in heaven and in earth that get dreamed of in my philosophy, so who knows-"

And she started choking a fool. Jorus's eyebrows rose. He pondered the shotgun, but heck...a choke wasn't too bad. If it got worse, of course...

"I think we need to find Sarge a girl who knows how to keep his tongue on a leash. That...came out wrong. So did that."

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

@[member="Cira"] @[member="Jorus Merrill"]

"I don't think she'd appreciate finding out how good I can be with my ton-", the last bit of that particular word was cut off as once again she decided that choking him was the best way to go about things. Who knew she had feelings to hurt. "F-fine.", he grunts, not even bothering to reach for the invisible hands around his neck.

"Only if you stop being a cold hearted queen."

There was the line... about two kilometers behind him.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Tegaea Alcori"], @[member="Allaina Mare"]

Siobhan had been working on the pod for quite some time when there was suddenly a beeping sound from her comm. Grunting and sweaty from working on the vehicle, she activated it.

"Yes," she grunted, not immediately seeing who was calling.

"Look who's answering the batphone," the apparently permanently cheerful, chipper voice of Heli drawled when a miniaturised hologram of the Cathar sprouted out of the comm.

"How do you know this frequency? It's for job use." It was the special one.

"Hello, information broker, amazing catwoman," Heli said matter-of-factly, as if explaining the simplest facts of the world. She tilted her head sideways to look at Siobhan, dressed in trousers and tanks.

"Something really proven by stalking after my number. Blue Queen truly has nothing on you when it comes to snooping," Siobhan pointed out sarcastically, though she sounded good-natured and amused, her features softened.

"Oh, you're being very covert. You're not thinking of racing, are you? I know pod racing is rough and exciting and some people get a thrill from risking their life at it, but you can't ram your way to victory," the Cathar pointed out smugly.

"Hence why I telekinetically grab large speeder parts and toss them around," Siobhan said dryly, though with a small smile. "So, want to share any intriguing revelations, oh keeper of secret knowledge?"

Heli chuckled. "What, I can't just call and chat with a good friend? 'Tis must be a bleak, deprived world. Sending you my coordinates. Classy place. Pop by...I might have something," she gave Siobhan a toothy grin.

Siobhan smiled, though she made a show of pausing, as if considering the offer. "I'll see and check in, you make it worth my while? Try not to get caught requisitioning shiny jewellry and force me to bust you out."

"Have I ever disappointed? Be a dear and take your Mis...pardon, your boss along with you. It's time I met her. So many fun tales to..."

"Heli. Remember who got those vamps off your back," Siobhan reminded her.

"Oh, don't worry. I'll keep all the embarrassing details and holopics under wraps. Scout's honour." Well, one of her IDs had been a scout once, so it counted. "See you then." The holographic image flickered and then the connection was cut.

 

[Cira]

@[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

Cira wasn't joking. And frankly... she had enough. She had warned Ayden before. She had warned him to control Sarge. She was the Prex of Omega Pyre. His insubordinate tendencies in front of others, had frankly, gone far enough.

It was a good thing that the shuttle hadn't lifted off yet, because it would make this all the more easier.

"Stop the shuttle," she said coolly. The order, as expected was followed. She didn't let go of the Force choke. Instead she stood. As the small shuttle landed, Cira stood, her hand extended out as she lightly levitated the bulking man over to the hatch.

Once there, her free hand slammed on the console, the lines of her face stern as her golden eyes flared. Dust and wind blasted the inside of the shuttle, tearing loose tendrils of auburn hair from the thick plait of hair.

"Since you cannot follow instructions well from your Prex," up her hand went, trailing him just in front of the hatch. "Then let me make it a bit easier for you."

With a single shove of her mind, she attempted to shove him out the hatch onto the dusty ground outside.

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

@[member="Cira"]

If ever there was a grin on Sarge's face... it was now. Punishments did work on him; in a round about sense. She'd just earned a modicum of respect from the unbalanced man - she'd backed up her words with action.

About time someone did that around here.

Unluckily for Cira... Force Pushes didn't do a whole ton to him. Unless she put any significant amount of power behind it, he was going to stay right where he was. That is, annoying her.

Why did she think he was able to talk so readily while being choked?

There was a reason the Force Null man made a good assassin; it's because he was about as Force Dead as a Vong. "You can put me down now.", he snorts with his voice cracking a little - pressure was pressure after all.

"I get the point. I'll stay behind and twiddle my thumbs until something goes so south you have no other option but to use me for the only thing I'm good for; killing people."

"I'm well aware of my place, contrary to what you think."

She'd played to his tune beautifully. Pushing buttons, egging on her on, nudging her towards the cliff of making her choice; leave him be and decide he's harmless, or actually do something about him. Both ways wound up in his favor, eventually, at some time and place.

It was just a matter of how quickly they reached their destination.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

@[member="Cira"] @[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

Jorus rolled his eyes. "Sarge, you're measuring your junk again. Versus a woman. And I think you're losing."

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

@[member="Jorus Merrill"]

"You just had to ruin the one time I'm being serious."

 

[Cira]

@[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

Cira met Sarge's predatory gaze, assessing him from head to toe. The null of the Force around him was one of many particularly irksome features, but that didn't mean she couldn't use what was around him to drop him down a peg or two. He had a certain knack of pressing her buttons, and she responded in kind.

She caught that self satisfied grin that curved his mouth and she gave him her most frostiest look, much practiced on drunk, randy would be contractors. His condescending high handedness was making her more angry. There they were, gazes locked and standing in that frozen tableau. Aggression charged the air and would be felt by all.

Until Jorus managed his little quip.

Dropping her hold on Sarge, she narrowed her gaze, giving him a faint sardonic smile and inclined her head as if to say, You win this time, Sarge.

"Don't count on it twice," she murmured.

 

[Sarge Potteiger]

@[member="Cira"]

Sarge felt the pressure ease off on his throat and he smiled faintly as he was let go. He didn't push the button to seal the hatch; he wouldn't presume too much right now. Both brows raised beneath his visor to let her know 'I heard that' and he walked towards her slowly.

Pausing, he leans in to whisper something only she would hear.

"You did good, Queen. I'll try and reign myself in. Just try 'n keep me occupied."

Smirking a bit, he goes to take his seat once more.

Resting his shotgun upright between his knees, he gives Cira a firm nod of his head.

 

[Jak Sandrow]

@[member="Siobhan Kerrigan"]

Jak walked into the garage where he could see Siobhan tinkering with the pod. "I found a good set of power converters. The old pair burned through." Sitting down, he handed Siobhan the converters. "So, were we going to put weapons on it, or not?"

 

[Ayden Cater]

@[member="Cira"], @[member="Sarge Potteiger"], @[member="Jorus Merrill"]


Throughout this whole episode, Ayden simply sat there with his hat drawn down over his eyes. At the back-and-forth between Sarge and Jorus, a small smirk crept onto his face and he pushed the hat up at one corner to get a good look at the scene. This promised to be interesting. It seemed as if an understanding could finally be had between Sarge and Cira. Time would tell. In the meantime, Ayden sat up in his seat and tossed the datapad onto the floor. "Alright then. Let's get going. I just assume limit my time around Hutts"

 

[Tilda Sai]

@anyone by the pod race

​

​

Managing security of the Omega Pyre team during the event took the bulk of Anika Od'Manteiv's entire focus. With her height, it was impossible to miss her. Cold. Calculating. By the book. The Anaxi native did everything according to protocol. In front of her, at the small pourstone building that doubled as a forward operating center, Anika lightly awaited the display of the Intel cadet next to her.

"Security cameras online," said the Togruta next to her.

"Good." came the terse reply. Impeccable down to her uniform, without a single hair out of place, Anika stood and gave a curt nod. "Bring them all up on display."

"Aye aye, Major Od'Manteiv," came the reply with a chirp. Within seconds, a dozen holodisplay screens went online in front of the Anaxi. With a shrewd gaze, the Od'Manteiv orbs that were known to shift with her moods turned to slate; it was strictly business now.

"I want any suspicious movement reported to me immediately," came the terse order.

"Aye sir!"

"Good."

 

[Jorus Merrill]

@[member="Ayden Cater"] @[member="Cira"] @[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

As the situation defused, Jorus relaxed. Because there was no real way to hold onto tension without making it crystal clear that he'd been ready to jump in if the Prex really had attempted to teach Sarge a boss-level lesson. Ayden's aura of cool irritated Jorus for some reason, probably because he himself had been so tense about the whole thing.

"So. Let's get some gas, yeah?"

The ship set down, and Jorus re-evaluated his shell gun's ordnance. It would do for now, but he made a mental note of what to load next. Just in case. Shell gun half-raised, he was first out of the hatch. No ambush, no nothing.

 

[Cira]

@[member="Jorus Merrill"] @[member="Ayden Cater"] @[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

Cira gave a short nod of confirmation. "The town shouldn't be too far off. " she informed, pulling out a powercell to check it for her blaster. She had her sabers, but they were hidden under her trench coat, clipped to her belt.

"Keep a wary eye out. As I mentioned, there's been talk 'bout Bango Gora slavers. " in the event none of them were too familiar with the deadly Force-worshiping cult, she continued, " What snippets of information we gathered is that they are a cult who worship Bogden as a deity... nasty folk... " of course, some say they were merely spacer stories, figments of imagination. Like the boogie man or the headless Sith Lord of old Corellian myths. Reavers.

 

[Jorus Merrill]

@[member="Cira"] @[member="Ayden Cater"] @[member="Sarge Potteiger"]

"It just so happens I know a guy who used to like hunting Bando Gora with nerve gas. Glowing blue eyes, he said - something about how their drugs mix with the Dark Side. Weird powers, he said."

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

@[member="Jak Sandrow"], @[member="Tegaea Alcori"], @[member="Allaina Mare"]

Siobhan gave Jak a look, nodding when he showed the power converters. Between the two of them he was the mechanic, he was the one who would tweak it. "Good work, get those power converters installed. As tempting as installing a blaster cannon would be, this race is weapons-free."

Or rather the pods were. She was reasonably certain that the takeover would not be resolved purely on the race track. She stepped away from the pod, wiping away the sweat with a towel and telekinetically pulling a bottle of water and having a quick drink, then pulled her leather jacket on. She noticed Tegaea return, but didn't query the reason for her brief disappearance, just stepped over.

"Got a call from my contact, boss," she said with a smile. "Said she's got some info that could be useful for us. What with us facing all the competition and the fact that many of them won't be shy about using using their guns to stop us from taking over. She's at Club Ishtar."

 

[Valiens Nantaris]

Club Ishtar was a gaudy and sleazy place set back from the more sophisticated (such as they were) parts of the city. As Siobhan and Tegaea approached they came across a couple of Gamorrean guards who grunted at them suspiciously.
"We're here to see a friend," Tegaea stated coldly.
The guards moved aside and let them, unwillingly, through.
Inside was the traditional den of inequity and vice one associates with such places. Various females of different species gyrated across stages, powerful drugs and drinks were sold in equal measure, and the lighting was dim.
Tegaea kept her guard up. Letting it down even for a second to eye the attractions could mean disaster.

 

[Siobhan Kerrigan]

Ishtar was the traditional wretched hive of scum and villainy. Dim lighting, attractive females from various species were gyrating on poles or making themselves comfortable on the laps of various patrons.

Most of the patrons were of the gangster type, though here and there a few young and bored aristos, no doubt eager for some sordid excitement on the wild side, had found their way into the club. They were taking quite eagerly to alcohol and drugs, the smell of death sticks hung heavy in the air.

No doubt a great many of them would wake up with their riches stolen. Siobhan recognised some chaps from Nar Shaddaa, they pointedly looked away after a few angry scowls.

She kept her hand close to her lightsabre and stayed on her guard, as tempting as the dancers and scantily clad waitresses were. Gamorrean and Wookiee guards eyed them suspiciously. Regardless she moved on, leading Tegaea up the stairs and then towards a backroom. Armoured thugs stood guard, affixing their gazes on them.

Siobhan confidently sauntered forward. "Here to see Bela Talbot. She's expecting us," she said calmly, the lightsabre on her belt and the holstered blaster clearly visible.

"The trouble magnet. Yes, she mentioned you," the leader of the guards, a tall, attractive-looking female with elfine features and pointed ears, dressed in armour, said dryly.

"Mentioned me, huh?"

"You cause large-scale property damage, blow up every speeder you're in and your appetite is ravenous," the guard leader said deadpan, gesturing them through. "Don't cause trouble. We're watching."

"I never cause it. It just finds me." Siobhan said with a wink, passing through the door. Inside the small room was less gaudy than the rest of the club, with actual lighting and several leather sofas.

Heli, dressed in leather pants and a black duster, sat in a leather sofa, her feet propped up on a small table. Two lackeys flanked her, making comments to which she like every good boss paid no attention. A Twi'lek dancer made flexible moves on a pole.

"Look who found her way to my humble abode. Nice to see corporate living hasn't made you too respectable!" she said sarcastically.

"Bela Talbot, huh? What happened to playing Baronness Aisha?"

"It forced me into stuffy company, so I retired her. If need be, I might reanimate and promote her to countess!" Heli quipped.

"Make her less stuffy this time," Siobhan said, stepping forward as Heli got up to embrace her. Incidentally Heli's tail moved up Siobhan's back and stroked it.

"You're just sour because you couldn't get into her pants and she had a boyfriend!" Heli responded with a toothy grin, giving Siobhan a quick kiss before turning to Tegaea.

"And you must be Tegaea. Pleasure to finally meet you in the flesh. The tales don't do you justice. Siobhan here has told me so much about you. She actually got sappy sometimes."

Siobhan looked just a bit annoyed. "Heli..."

"What? Don't be shy, hun," the Cathar said amused, stretching out a furred hand to Tegaea. Clearly Siobhan was destined to constantly get trolled.