Our Collective

[Kalak the Raykkan]

[member="Arian Lenar"]

The Raykkan halted in his tracks.

They had just entered the little tunnel next to Hub 3 and would need to turn one more corner, before they'd arrive at the spot. This was important enough to stall their destination time though. One jump, another one, a third and now Kalak was facing Arian, looking down on him with something akin to either pity, curiosity or barely restrained disgust.

Difficult to say with eyes almost dripping fire.

Who really knew what a Raykkan's expression meant? Unless you could actually make sense between the different aromatic scents they excreted into the air, which wasn't the case here.

"Figgs is new to this game, lad." Kalak explained patiently. "Oh, he's been running the plant for a decade now, sure, but he never actually had to worry about protection and all that shet. Got solved for him, you see?"

"So, he's a novice to the People's policy."​

​

If Kalak's hands weren't busy holding him up, he would have snapped his fingers in agreement.

"Exactly that. Now, I don't know about you two? But if my protective network suddenly fell away and I was surrounded in the middle of gang-land by gangbangers and other waste... I'd get nervous, no?"

And nobody wanted a karking novice with a gun blasting off a shot before they could come to terms.

 

[thegreatbeyonder]

"I never speak in hypotheticals... I wait and see, I'd rather react than attack."

Perhaps that was the pilot in him, but often those who take the first step are blind to the positioning of their opponent. They can only guess what will happen, but if you wait for them to make the first move then you can react accordingly. There is no guess work when you can see exactly what's happening in front of you. Only a well executed ruse would ever be enough to fool someone, and if Arian guessed correctly he didn't see Kalak as easily fooled.

Nonetheless he wasn't about to argue with his boss on the rules of engagement. "I have your back no matter what. If he brings trouble then he'll find a bolt between his eyes."

Arian surprised himself with the gumption in his comment, though it didn't show.

He was an excellent pistoleer, but far from a cold-blooded killer. He'd defend himself if need be and protect his employer too, but that was about it.

 

[Kalak the Raykkan]

[member="Arian Lenar"]

"That's a good lad." Kalak nodded with a satisfied nod, before jumping back around and resuming his trajectory.

"Careful with the Raykkan, lad," Pike mumbled between her breath as some distance appeared between their boss and themselves. "Seen that one eat a Rodian alive, 'cuz he insulted his mother... wasn't a pleasant night at all." Before Arian could reply the merc already moved further, past the waiting Raykkan and into the shadows. While the two of them were busy inside, Alavar would make sure that everything was on the up and up outside. The last thing they wanted was to get caught with their pants down during the act, no? They'd have the support, if it was really necessary, she would be watching after all.​

​

The Raykkan on the other hand simply looked on with amusement, until Arian had caught up with him. Then they continued the path, walking up the stairs.

It would even be mildly comedic how Kalak had to jump one step at a time to get upstairs. But he did it with practiced ease and did not even miss a single beat during the feat. Even the cigar was balanced properly between the teeth in the meantime. At the top he waited for Arian by the door, because sadly he couldn't open it himself.

His hands were full after all.

 

[Dyxra'a]

Reclining in her seat, Dyxra'a - now clothed in her customary shirt and waistcoat combination - was bathed in a blue sheen as she sat, reclining back in her seat, before three translucent screens from which the blue light was being emitted from. Grey eyes flickered from screen to screen in rapid succession, passion and a dark sense of joy shining within their slate-hued depths, reading the scrolling mass array of numbers and text as it ran before her eyes. Information was the lifeblood of all societies, all conquests and all objective and, at her fingertips was the lifeblood of gangs and criminal enterprises that grew upon Nar Shaddaa like mold, the lifeblood of the corrupt security and the lifeblood of her family. For Dyxra'a, it was always a euphoric experience whenever she sat down and was able to bask within the depth of the electronic world of the holonet.

Fingers danced across the keyboard before her, inputting and altering commands as the programs she had long since embedded within the systems she now so easily exploited - left to fester, inactive, within the systems since she had first returned to the so-called Smuggler's Moon - were brought around from their slumber. Low, hissing chuckles would sporadically sound from her as she would notice the futile and desperate attempts to halt her in her tracks, manned by the desperate gangs who were watching their access to their own systems slowly be locked out one by one and sought to get ahead of her before they ran out of time, and turn her attention briefly towards them. Which, due to the suddenness of her attack and groundwork she had set months prior, always lead to the same result: the budding enterprises left to hopelessly watch as funds and information began to slowly drain from their reserves.

Shell company after shell company would be the ones to momentarily benefit from this loss before it was transferred from one to another. In the end, the muddled trails and a mix of legal and illegal activities would soon mean that it would, eventually, be deposited into one of the many second-hand accounts that she controlled - not that the person who's account the name was under would realise, due to the fact that they wouldn't even know of the account in the first place - and beyond the grasp of those she had stolen. Whenever such an event would happen, a stuttered sigh of pleasure would drop from between green-tinted lips. Oh how she loved the sense of victory.

A sudden anomaly in one of the data dumps scrolling in front of her eyes quickly caught the Falleen's attention as a low, husky chuckle sounded out into the quiet. "Naughty, naughty."

----------

"So, what this job again, ma'am?"

His question earning him a baleful glare from the Chiss sat next to him as he began to lower the speeder he was piloting into an empty bay beside one of the many bars that populated the underbelly of Nar Shaddaa, this one just as filthy as the rest of them. Of course, he already knew the answer, had committed it to memory the first time that he had been told. It was an order from the Boss after all. She had been the one to drag him up from being a street rat hooked on spice and gave him a job, responsibility and duties - the very things that had helped him order his life - after all. Yes, spice still called to him and yes, he listen to that call often. But, the Boss did not fault him for that weakness, the Boss still accepted him as he was and continued to employ him, continued to ensure he had a roof over his head and a bed beneath his body at night and food three times a day. So, an order from the Boss was an order he would follow no matter what.

But, he would never fool himself into believing that the Boss truly cared and loved him like family would. No, that honour belonged to Lady Kana'sosu'ligue; a title she had been jokingly given by his mates years prior and one that had stuck. The two women had blown into his life together, bound to one another through whatever trial it was that had forged them both. Neither one cared for anyone like they cared for the other and each showed it in unique ways. The Lady by worrying and fussing over the Falleen, letting her guard down around the Boss and even letting her address her as 'Asosul' - an honour she allowed no other. For everyone else, she was stern, never cold but always controlled apart from in the times that she would worry over the Boss and was to always be addressed as Kana'sosu'ligue; even if him and the others chose to address her as Ma'am or Lady. As for the Boss, well, the Lady was the only one who could control her, reign her in and address her as 'Dyx'; no other could get through to the Falleen, especially when she got into one of her states.

The worry that curled across the Chiss' features, the worry she only showed for the Boss, was what lead to him asking his question. Let her annoyance towards him bubble and grow and, most importantly, let it overwhelm her worry for the Boss. As such, when that baleful glare was directed towards him all he did was let a cheerful and dumb smile curl out from beneath the knotted whiskers of his beard as the engine of the speeder shut off.

"I am not answering that damned question again. Now, get your useless arse out. We've got to get moving." Jumping out of the speeder, Asosul chose to ignore the chuckles of her human companion and instead send a message to Dyxra'a through her connection to the holonet through her cybernetics. 'Arrived. Directions to meet up with these agents?'

 

[thegreatbeyonder]

Arian would've been miffed by Pike's comment if he weren't so focused on doing his job.

That being said, he was still somewhat distracted by the way the Raykkan moved up the steps, but kept his eyes on the path ahead. Once up the steps he took the cue and moved to the door. He pressed his hand on the control panel, activating the door which slid open with an audible hydraulic hiss.

He then stepped inside, and stood at attention. Allowing Kalak to walk inside with the dignity owed to his station. Or at least that's how bodyguards operated. Arian's mere presence wasn't simply for protection, it was a show of force. Anyone who had the means to keep a hired gun also had the means to use that gun if necessary.

The gunslinger stood in silence, waiting once more to follow his employer's lead.

He wondered how Pike fared in the meantime, and if anyone would actually try to get the drop on them.

 

[Lok Xiangu]

All of chit happened. A whole lot happened.

Three more of Lok's men were out of the fight but were deceased when one of them fumbled a thermal detonator which resulted the deaths of those three soldiers. In return, several of the Ganks died when other thermal detonators and concussion grenades were thrown at them. They either died from vaporizing from the thermal grenades, by the shockwave of the concussion grenades, or by the suppressing fire from the Mandalorians when escaping from the explosives.

For the Outlaw and his team, it looked bad for them as they were in fighting on foreign grounds and could have other surprises for them. It was bad in the sense that they were losing numbers. Sure, backup had came in one Force User which probably wasn't enough. Not when there were still a few Ganks, a Hutt with a stun net launcher, a bounty hunter, and a Jedi.

There were four remaining Mandos including Lok that were still on their feet. The Jedi successfully pushed off the trio Mandalorian squad off of their feet but was soon attacked back with a combination of slugs and one wrist rocket missile. Their molecular shielding activated which would be useful in defending themselves against the kinetic energy of the slugs, but it wouldn't protect them from the slugs that would be released on them. They immediately took cover from the same damaged table and were being more cautious than ever as they had to deal with unique hostiles at almost every corner of the palace. Their HUD and sensors would alert them of what was going on around them.

As for Lok, Kota's whipcord did tangle him resulted him to falling down to palace's floors. It was just in time to evade from the unforgiving stun net fired by Gorba which would be worse than the whipcord. However, Lok's jetpack would be disabled as his backside made impact and his back being bruised, and yelping a quick pain noise. The Munin would roll over behind a dead retainer and attempt to free himself of the whipcord.

"Evoros, you better do something with these fethers," the Outlaw said with his tone being serious and panicky.

[member="Koda Fett"] @Ar'ekk [member="Gorba the Hutt"] [member="Evoros"]

 

[Arekk]

The shockwave sent the squad of Mandalorians a few feet back but considering their agility and battle experience they regained footing and set themselves up on advantageous yet open positions. He was attacked back with multiple counts of arsenal, the walls breaking and shaking as he ran for cover, avoiding the incoming missile and acid slugs thrown at him in retaliation. The Jedi remained hidden between the shadows although his lightsaber beamed brightly when ignited, making him easy to find in dark places. A quick look within the main fight zone determined that only three Mandos and the bounty hunter remained with one missing, their apparent squad leader.

Ar'ekk moved towards the gunfire and engaged the remaing squad of Mandos hiding behind a broken table, his lightsaber penetrating through their armors as he slaughtered them in a merciless manner except for one, knocked out cold by the young Jedi with his fist.

Yet, the fight was not over.

"You." he pointed at [member="Koda Fett"], motioning him over. He walked around the room in a taunting manner, reading every movement done by the bounty hunter. Ar'ekk swung his lightsaber around, the signature hissing sound loud enough to be heard by everyone and the bright blue beaming plasma making the throne room light up as it never did before.

[member="Lok Munin"] [member="Gorba the Hutt"]

 

[Hazel Zanteres]

It wasn't exactly an uncommon sight to see someone decked out in armour and weapons walking the streets of Nar Shaadaa, but Hazel still drew eyes to her as she carved a path through the crowds.

She maintained a distance from Jest, following behind but far enough that it wasn't apparent they were moving together.

And while the slicer moved through the crowds with ease; blending in like anyone else. Folks moved out of the way of Hazel, who let out an intimidating growl any time someone was being too slow or tried to cut in ahead.

Eventually they reached a cafe, Chunk-Bo Holonet in fact. About half a minute later, Hazel followed Jest into the establishment. Already he was at work with one of the terminals, the Hapan decided to take up the one next to him, mindlessly occupying her time while the slicer did what he did best.

She gave Jest the slightest of nods in response, not giving him a vocal answer. Hazel switched the terminal over then, focusing on local news to keep up to date on what their little distraction was going to case.

[member="Jest de Rous"] | [member="Janeth Farr"] | [member="Sanguinaria"] | [member="Antherion"] | [member="Evoros"] | [member="Dyxra'a"] | [member="Malen"]​

 

[Lemon]

The Bounty Hunter kept his eyes locked onto the Jedi, even when they pointed towards him and beckoned him forth. He replied with a hidden sinister smirk, taking slow steps towards the Throne Room as the Jedi taunted his way about. Meanwhile, Fett in his Mandalorian Armour took to the skies inside the Throne Room, hovering above the Jedi but just out of reach as the Jetpack projected and spat flames.

"What's your business, Jedi?" He asked with a hint of bitterness in his voice, and despite the question and surprising lack of violence he sure looked ready to go with that EE-3 Carbine raised down towards [member=Ar'ekk]. Bobbing up and down, his side cloak that looked to be an oversized rag simply flailed about. The Mandalorian was confident enough, he'd seen the downfall of the Jedi and had his fair share of Jedi Kills to his name, both in the past and present. He was certain he could take him, all it took was being cautious of positioning. He'd prefer range, but if need be Koda would be more than ready to take him on hand-to-hand.

These Jedi, nothing more than a corrupt order that managed to survive through the centuries, even when he saw their destruction centuries ago. They were to blame for the Clone War, the one thing he knew for certain. All of his brothers killed due to the poor leadership and a sense of importance from them. Among them were some exemplary warriors, but nothing that could redeem them. They were at the top of the food-chain, but as far as Fett could see, that was about to change.

 

[Kalak the Raykkan]

​

"Karking schutta, you think you tough, huh?" Knife went stab, stab, stab, stab, stab, cut. slice. Blue skin turned crimson as pressure caused blood to spray in all directions. Pike didn't seem to mind as she pushed herself off and her heel came slamming down on the knee of another thug trying to crawl away from her.​

​

But the exploits of Pike and her ways of taking down ambushes before they could fully materialize weren't as important as Kalak slimming his way into the Node 3. Figgings was already waiting on them, wringing his hands nervously as pitch black eyes slipped off towards an undisclosed point over Kalak's expansive shoulders.

"Fig, old friend, good of you to have us," Kalak greeted the Bith amicably before making more room for Arian to come in as well. "This here is my friend Mr. Lenar. He is my pilot." Sharp teeth flashed in a chuckle. "Ain't easy to fly myself, you understand."

Figgs gulped once, before trying out a friendly smile.

It looked more like he had swallowed something foul and was now nauseous. "Hello? I-I hope your trip went well??"

Kalak looked over to Arian. "Well, Lenar, how was our trip? You flew after all."

 

[Arekk]

"My quarrel is not with you, bounty hunter." he replied back to [member="Koda Fett"] as he opted for a more defensive stance, adapting to the current situation they found themselves into. With the Mandalorian hovering over his head by utilizing his jetpack, Ar'ekk moved a few steps back in case he decided to send a few shots his way with the EE-3 Carbine held in his hands.

Ar'ekk had fought many battles and faced a plethora of opponents in his life and nothing seemed to oppose any resistance to his smart tactics and intelligent decisions made under duress. But to succeed he had to lose many of those fights as reflected upon his body; a missing arm and a mask to cover an eternal memory of fallen friends. He felt no desire in taking the Mandalorian's life in that moment considering he posed no threat to the Hutt or to himself. The Jedi and the Clone Wars had occured many ages ago, even before Ar'ekk was conceived to this world and as such he would understand any reasoning whatsoever regarding that matter.

That sense of brotherhood was nothing but a mere cheap speech so the top of their chain could survive while the rest were left to rot. If death was something his opponent deserved, the Jedi would be happy to deliver some of that to solve the issue at once.

"You can go or we can fight. Either way, one of us will have to die."

Silence and coldness could be felt in the Throne Room.

 

[Lemon]

The Bounty Hunter kept hovering, idly as he aimed down towards the Jedi that shifted his stance and positioning. "Not very 'Jedi' of you." He'd comment, "Jedi heads are worth a lot to the Empire. So, I'll be bringing it to them now." He taunted, soaring off backwards as he properly brought up the EE-3 Carbine, firing sporadically towards the four corners of the Jedi, each three shot burst would've proven difficult to deflect considering the rate of fire and excellent accuracy from the seasoned Soldier turned Bounty Hunter.

He kept flying backwards at a high speed, out of range for any lightsaber attack the Jedi could attempt. The area within the room was plentiful, he had enough space and manoeuvrability to keep the Jedi at a respectable distance.

Fett cared not for the Jedi's sense of justice and lust to aid, as far as he saw it, [member=Ar'ekk] had intervened in something he had no part in.

 

[Arekk]

His decision for an intervention wasn't to deliver justice and aid those in need but rather a more personal interest in financial matters and whoever standed in his way to obtain what he wanted would perish and he would do anything to make that feeling become true. [member="Koda Fett"] threw several blaster shots with an exquisite precision towards the Jedi who managed to deflect the first two thanks to his fast adaptation to the Soresu stance and the second one almost hitting one side of his right shoulder.

"The war might have taken my arm but you will never take my head. I'll put you down as the dog that you are, bounty hunter." he barked at the Mandalorian flying away in his jetpack, thinking how scared he was that such an opponent would have to be moving further away from him to stand a chance.

Ar'ekk kept in mind the distance between Koda and himself and switched tactics immediately. Whilst still holding the defensive position with his lightsaber blocking his entire body, the young Jedi threw several Force shockwaves the bounty hunter's way with the hope of bringing him down to the ground and Force choke him for a final word.

 

[Lemon]

Fett had been flying away, the words from the Jedi had left him somewhat amused. Though that changed when he was knocked about in the air from the Force Shockwaves, yet he wasn't brought down just yet. Instead he turned on his opponent, and aimed his left wrist upwards before firing a anti-infantry missile towards him. Assuming the Jedi would be forced to dodge said missile, Koda would take the time given to land on one of the balconies in which he would then begin sending more shots from his EE-3 downrange.

He didn't offer any words in response, deeming them unnecessary.

[member=Ar'ekk]

 

[Arekk]

The incoming missile was about to hit Ar'ekk straight in his face, a brief flashback hitting him right there back to the day of his despair. Just like on the battlefield, an explosion about to occur. Luckily, the Jedi managed to get back into reality and dodge the anti-infantry missile which hit the wall behind him. He rushed for immediate cover as his lightsaber was turned off to avoid being detected, hiding beneath the darkness to gain an advantageous position.

The hissing of his mask could be heard besides the bounty hunter's jetpack moving about, who landed somewhere nearby and shot back with his EE-3 Carbine.

Ar'ekk stood against a wall for a couple of seconds to regain his depleted energy. His eyes closed as the young Jedi attuned himself with the Force. Only those who trusted in the Force could truly understand how much of a powerful ally it could become during battle.

[member="Koda Fett"]

 

[thegreatbeyonder]

Arian followed in after his boss. A very obvious blaster pistol hung in a holster at his hip, and although his hand was resting, a familiar eye would notice how ready it was to draw.

He eyed the Bith but kept his peripheral vision focused on their surroundings. Taking note of any obvious defenses or trap points he could find. The room itself was simple enough, if not a bit messy. Clearly there was a security system in place but not of the violent variety. He took Figgs for a coward because of it. Ready to save his own skin at any moment but hesitant to do the damage. People like him would rather pretend that dirty work never came across their desk.

The pilot nodded his head when Kalak addressed his presence, then spoke when he was prompted.

"Oh the trip was mostly uneventful..." He began with a mundane tone. "Though you'd be surprised how dangerous space can be. With a thin layer of steel between you and a vacuum of complete death... Will you suffocate first? Freeze? Be cooked alive by lethal doses of radiation? We made it in one piece, that's really all anyone can ask for." Even if it wasn't Kalak's intentions, he tried his best to use the talk point as an intimidation tactic against Figgs.

A subtle reminder of what happens when things don't go according to plan.

 

[Lemon]

Fett cared not for the force, believing it existed but did nothing but involve those with it to think of themselves as a higher being. Disgusted by it's over-reliance, no man with real skill needed the force to get by. Though this Jedi was gone, at least for the moment. He took it upon himself to plant his right knee up onto the balcony's railing, and then he'd temporarily remove his right hand from his blaster to then pull the rangefinder over his visor. Scanning the area as his vision cycled to thermal imaging, a blip showing somewhere ahead of him.

Though as the Jedi was unseen and had possibly set a trap or even an ambush for the Bounty Hunter, he stayed put. Simply paying attention to his radar with a firm grip on his Carbine. "Come on, Jedi. You can't hide from me." He taunted once again in the attempt to test this Jedi's willpower. Maybe he couldn't passively sit by as a threat is hurled his way.

Immediately afterwards, the Bounty Hunter murmured some words from underneath that battle-tested and infamous helmet of his. Though the Jedi wouldn't know what was said, he would be aware of what came of it soon enough. It was a dangerous game in this Underworld, all kinds of danger lurked about. Perhaps [member=Ar'ekk] underestimated his opponent today. Surely a lesson he would learn from if the case.

 

[Kalak the Raykkan]

[member="Arian Lenar"]

Chuckle turned into a bright warm smile, if not for the rows and rows of sharp teeth glittering in response to the show.

Lenar had done exactly as Kalak hoped and it was paying off in dividends. If Figgins could have gone more gray and sweaty than he probably would have turned into a puddle of Raykka swamp right in front of him, he didn't reply immediately either. Instead gulping, wringing his hands more while trying to give a pleasant smile but now it was looking like he actively wanted to throw up, before taking another look over Kalak's shoulder. It was the gaze of a man desperately hoping that salvation was right around the corner.

A blaster shot rang out through the night.

Figgins jumped in surprise, but all Kalak did was tilt his head thoughtfully.

"That was your ambush I reckon, chump." Brow ridges shifted upwards as Fig tried to stammer out an excuse. "Fig, buddy, it's okay. I would have done the same thing in your situation. Probably be more successful about it, but, hey. At least you tried!"

For some reason this seemed to give Figgs some backbone.

"I am not your buddy nor your friend, guy! I don't want you here." The last thing said with such resoluteness that it made Kalak chuckle, before looking over to Arian.​

​

"He doesn't want to be my friend, Lenar, can you believe it?"

 

[thegreatbeyonder]

Arian wasn't surprised. He had guessed right, the Bith's a coward.

Then he heard the distant shot. Pike. He made a mental note of it. Arian followed Kalak's move, and in the blink of an eye his hand swept down and delivered the barrel of his blaster into an upright position. He took a few steps forward so that Figgs had no choice but to stare down a gunman.

"If I were you I'd really like to have a friend right now... A friend wouldn't let his bodyguard leave you in a dumpster somewhere. A friend takes care of you, gets rid of your problems, and props you up so you never have to worry about a thing ever again." Gunboat diplomacy had its charms. Speak softly and carry a big stick and all that. Arian knew the method well from his time with the Navy, he just scaled it down to a sidearm in a dark room.

Of course he was only capitalizing on Figgs' fear. He wouldn't shoot unless Kalak demanded it.

 

[Kalak the Raykkan]

[member="Arian Lenar"]

In a regular situation that would be that.

There was clear leverage here and Figgs didn't really stand a chance, but the Bith was drawing from a false sense of bravado right now. Fear was clouding his judgement and he mistook wounded pride with an actual chance to stand against the tide. So when Lenar went for his blaster, Figgs did the same and immediately pointed the barrel at Kalak's head. To the Raykkan's credit, he immediately froze up and even slowed down his breathing. Even a single stray squeeze in passion or fear could have his brains splattered against the wall.

"I will shoot his brains out!! Look at me, I will!"

Kalak wasn't a brave sentient. Not by a long shot, but there were situations were fear made sense.... and this wasn't one of them. He noticed Arian casting him a look, searching for guidance in a suddenly karked-up situation.

The bodyguard didn't get the nod of execution.

"You will... shoot my brains out? Think you have seen too many movies, Figgins." The crawl of ghost nails ran across Figgs' brain tissue and it caused him to widen his eyes. "You made a mistake here, chump, first real mistake you made this night."

"We could have been friends," The insidious influence wrapped itself around the Bith's brainstem. "Could have been partners," It squeezed down tight and the Bith suddenly found himself unable to move, while his arm involuntarily started to move up and up.

"Could have been steadfast allies."

From one moment to the next Figgs would find that the barrel of the hold-out blaster was now brushing his own over-sized head by the temple. Kalak studied him, the layer of thin, slick transpiration covering his forehead and the smaller beads just above the mouth. The Bith tried to say something, but even his throat was constricting against his will. He couldn't even move- his very body rigid tight and forced into standing like a statue with nowhere to go.

Kalak relaxed.

"Do we really need him, Lenar?" The Raykkan asked conversationally, but the answer was already known. Kalak had already mentioned that the Bith was important to their efforts here and that it would be far more complicated to do without him.