Questions Galore

[Garza]

S E R E N N O

Families had power. It was clear by the different people who use credits, mercenaries, and even assassins for their dirty work. Too high-strung to do it themselves, or were cowards hiding behind a locked door. I despised people like this. Hated them even. I believe in strength. Those who are strong, and able to defend themselves were the ones who would most likely survive. People who were cunning, and deceive others to stab them in the back were strong, but hiring strong people because you were weak was... sickening.

Working for the different families, I used my talents as a fighter, and a mercenary to fight my way through troops, and to get into the homes to kill opposing family members. In fact, tonight was a Masquerade Ball. it would be easy for me to blend in. Dressed up in my normal attire, including the mask, I moved past many of the patrons who were enjoying wines, laughter, and gossip. My querry? Lady of the house, Leina. She was a very modest woman who was currently funding multiple known accomplices that were fighting the family I worked for.

Taking a hold of the lightsaber hilt. I walked over towards the lady. I knew her mask, and her bodyshape to tell which person was which. I smiled behind my mask as I walked over to her.

"Ma'dam Leina, may I speak with you about your... hunters?"

The lady knew what I was speaking about. She likely thought I was one of them. Hiding their face because I worked for her. I didn't though. As I moved her into a separate room, I looked for a second to not see anybody for the moment. She turned around,

"What is it that you ne-"

In the middle of her words, I placed the hilt on her chest, and activated the lightsaber.

[member="Terys Rocabel"],

 

[Terys Rocabel]

[member="Atheus"]

"Everything looking good, Shiny?"

"Roger roger. I have not detected any organics in need of medical facilities."

"Good. Let's hope it stays that way." Terys tugged on her dress, uncomfortable with the get-up. She preferred to be in her work outfit - greased up coveralls and her hair pulled back in a ponytail - but alas, her temporary boss had required she dress up. At least the gown wasn't too expensive; second-hand, twenty credits, and easily fitted with pockets that carried around her medicines, meager though they were. The mask she'd been able to make herself, and Terys was actually quite proud of it. Maybe, after this gig was up, she'd keep it and just sell the dress.

Ah, yes, the gig. Being a small-time medic with very few professional credentials meant that she and Shiny had to keep drifting, looking for folks willing to temporarily hire a country girl and her peculiar droid. Her grandma had implored her to come back home and help with the shop, but... Terys had wanderlust coursing through her blood, and that was something not easily rid of.

Standing on the edge of the dancing crowd, she continued to scan the partiers. Her job for the night was to take care of anyone who looked like they'd been drinking too much...or to tend to anyone in the chance of an attempted assassination. Beside her, Shiny was equipped with a generic blaster rifle - set to stun, of course. Terys wasn't a big fan of shooting things herself, and was even less thrilled with the thought of killing someone, but she trusted her droid enough to let him have a gun.

"My lady, would you like to dance?" Out of nowhere, a gentleman dressed for the night had appeared, bowing slightly and extending a hand.

"What? No. I don't like dancing in balls. Too stiff and regal." Terys jerked her head at Shiny, signalling for him to move, but before they could make their escape the gentleman imposed himself on her.

"Surely I can convince you to share one dance with--"

"Yeesh, what part of 'no' don't you understand?" With that, the blonde lifted the heel of one foot and slammed it down on his toes. Amidst the cursing, Terys caught sight of a particular menacing looking fella leading her boss, Lady Leina, out of the room. Now, Terys was not Force Sensitive by any means, but she had a fairly good intuition, and something in her gut was telling her that the situation didn't seem right. "Shiny, follow me. And be on alert."

"Roger, roger."

The pair slithered through the crowd, or at least as well as a girl wearing a cumbersome dress and an old battle droid could manage. Nonetheless, they made it into the hall in time to see one of the doors shut. "Sir, what is it we're--"

The unmistakeable sound of a lightsabre igniting, coupled with a woman's cry, cut off the droid. Terys's heartrate sped up. "Shiny, gun up and ready! Don't shoot til I say so but be prepared!"

"Roger, roger. Just don't take any unnecessary risks, sir."

She hurried down the hall and flung the doors open. The sight before her was one she'd been dreading: the masked man had impaled Lady Leina with a lightsabre, its angry glow lighting the figures ominously. Terys let out a strangled cry, while Shiny, sensing a threat, raised his gun but did not fire.

Mouth agape, the girl choked out, "What have you done?"

 

[Garza]

The activating blade pierced through her like a hot knife in butter. The woman cried out for a single moment as I reached to cover her mouth. With music playing, and trying to resist the sounds, I hoped that if someone would notice, I would be long gone before they went to check out the sounds. However, that would not work out. I could feel someone closing in, and it was the opening of the doors, and the person in a rather loud voice that decided to ask me what I was doing. I acted without hesitation, and without skipping a beat.

My hand reached out to pull the woman towards me through the doors, as well as the droid. Telekinesis was a very useful tool. Even more so when I deactivated the saber with a screeching pop. The doors closing behind her I walked over and held a finger over my mask like it would be over my mouth.

"Why don't you enjoy the rest of tonight's dance like a good little girl."

She clearly saw me kill a leading family member in their own home. I could have very easily have killed her and her reconed BB unit. Instead, she just happened to be in the way. She was expendable to me. However, death was not meant to be here for her today. I was not here for her today, and as far as I could tell, she was not within the family house. Or at least, not an official member.

"You can clearly see I killed her. You can see I am more than capable of handling the situation. So, if you want to live for just a little longer, then leave."

[member="Terys Rocabel"],

 

[Terys Rocabel]

[member="Atheus"]

Terys and Shiny stumbled forward at the invisible pull, her hand reaching out to steady herself and her droid. The B1 battle droid had his gun still aimed at the man, but he did not shoot. Like the good droid he was, he was awaiting the command of his master...who was currently trying not to wet herself. Blue eyes stared wide up at the masked figure before her. He was a little less than a foot taller than her, even less with the heels she currently wore, but the young woman felt small and unbelievably vulnerable. Enough of this! she snapped to herself. Drawing herself up to her full height (5'8" without heels, 5'10" with 'em), Terys glared at this murderer. "I'll have you know, I'm a medic, and it's my duty to treat the injured. I won't be bossed around by a murderer, neither." Chin up, she turned her back to the masked man and knelt down next to the woman.

Oh, gods above, please don't be dead, please don't be dead... Trying to hide the trembling in her hands, Terys pulled off her mask and began to examine the woman. "Shiny, keep your sights on this man. Don't let him get away, even if you have to shoot him." Oh, heavens, this wasn't looking good. Not at all. A little voice kept telling her that there was no way her boss was alive - the gigantic, burning hole in her chest was evidence of that. But as the only medic on the premises, it was her job to make sure.

"Roger, roger." The droid hefted its gun, its blank photoreceptors somehow conveying a sense of...disdain, perhaps? No matter, there were bigger fish to fry.

The examination, predictably, didn't take very long. Terys sat back on her calfs, a hand pressed to her mouth. She wondered what would have happened, had she not been delayed by that idiot. Or if she'd noticed this guy sooner. What she did know, though, was that she had to alert security...somehow. Oh, why hadn't she programmed a keyword or something into Shiny?!

Taking a deep breath, Terys stood up again and turned to face the killer. Her eyes were hard now. She was nowhere near being close to the Lady, but he'd still taken her life in cold blood. As a healer, there was no way she could abide by that. "Why'd you kill her? You from a rival house or somethin'?"

 

[Garza]

Well I guess its a little too late for someone to try and resuscitate the lady who had a smoking hole in her chest. I should have sliced upwards to cleave the upper portion of her body in half, but I was trying to be quick and clean. Rolling my eyes as the woman walked over to the dead corpse of the former lady, she ordered her battle droid to watch me, and to fire if I moved to leave. I rolled my eyes and moved over to sit down. The droid moving to follow my movement as it replied roger to it's master.

I sit down with a groan and a sigh. Propping up my leg on the table in front of me, I then followed up with the other leg. My arms folding together as the woman looked over to me. Asking why I killed the woman. Murder? eh, not really. I shook my head at the woman.

I unfolded my arms for a moment to take off my hood. My jet black, wild hair would now be visible. I doubt she would ever be able to clearly understand what was happening.

"Do you think a Hellyni would be part of a family on this planet? No. I work for hire."

My hood was then pulled back up. It had been down to expose part of my head. Much like the sister species of mine, the Epicanthix, Hellyni looked very similar, and even had the mental barrier to prevent all force abilities from affecting them. I looked up to the droid. It took only a moment, but a wave of my hand shut down it's systems, and the guy was limp now.

"I have no intention on killing you. Nor do I want a gun pointed at me when I am not. You can see where the wound it. It's fatal."

I really didn't want to kill her. Strange considering most other mercenaries would have. Hell, anyone who got in their way was considered expendable. However, I had some form of honor. I didn't kill needlessly. The young woman just happened upon the crime. So, I decided I might give her a break for this once.

"Here's what I can do. You either come with me quietly of your own will, or I can simply end this conversation with another body on the floor. Harsh ultimatum, I know. I can't have you dead, nor snitch on me."

[member="Terys Rocabel"]

 

[Terys Rocabel]

[member="Atheus"]

"Hard to tell, considering I've never met one before."

The man pulled down his hood, fully revealing his mask and a mane of wild black hair. Terys studied him hard; there wasn't much to go on, as his mask covered most of his face, but his eyes were unveiled. It was his eyes that she attempted to commit the most to memory, staring at him defiantly - everyone's eyes were different, and his cold, steel grey eyes were almost unforgettable.

What was she doing?! She snapped herself out of her reverie, looking down. Here she was, unarmed, in a room with a lightsabre-wielding mercenary who was clearly comfortable with killing. She needed to get out first before she could think of reporting him! Granted, she had Shiny, but there was no way in Hell Terys would sacrifice her droid to save herself. He was family to her.

Which explained why she lunged forward instinctively as the man shut down the metal man. Grasping the battle droid with both hands, she clung on for dear life. At this point, if looks could kill the Force User would've been dead twenty times over. "What did you do?!" she exclaimed, looking over Shiny. Terys would have to do a more thorough search, but it appeared as though nothing was fried. Good...otherwise she'd've attacked this Hellyni fella irregardless of whether or not she was armed.

The medic curled her lip. "Die now or die later, is that what you're saying?" Perhaps not, but Terys was pissed off that someone had dared alter her droid without consent. She could feel her rage bubbling up in her, like a boiling kettle about to overflow. But she was not yet so far gone that it was hard to swallow; and swallow it she did. Getting this fella all riled up would not bode well for her. He'd already made it clear he didn't mind leaving - gulp - another body on the floor. Which only left one choice.

"Fine, I'll come. But not before you undo whatever you did to Shiny! He's too heavy for me to carry, and I don't want to drag him. Nor do I want you to get yer grubby hands all over him!" Terys glared daggers at him, daring the masked man to say no. "If you don't, I'll scream, and scream loud. Trust me, these lungs are bigger than you'd think."

 

[Garza]

Never met a Hellyni before. Good. That means there weren't so many of my kind out in the galaxy as I feared to be. I didn't want Sith to find out about my home. I didn't want them to ruin it. How was I doing this? Not sure honestly. Likely just by fighting my way through life and preventing everything I can. Either way, the woman was not happy with the situation she was in. After a very dangerous stare, and looks that were filled with hate, I smiled under the mask.

She knew what might happen. Die now, or later. Now was clear. Later, and she could escape or even just survive because I feel like it. However, I wasn't going to kill her unless she gave me a reason to. With that in mind, as she began to demand I turn back on her droid, so she wouldn't have to drag it or pick it up. As she glared at me, I started to stand up. Threatening me that she would scream. I just shook my head as I waved my hand again. The droid coming back online. Its "eyes" turning on and flashing for a moment before going back to the previous program of holding the weapon out at me.

"One, we both know if you tried to scream, I can make it very difficult. Two, call off the droid with his weapon, and we can walk out of here alive."

It was either this, or her body would be on the floor, and I would have new droid parts for my improvements upon my astromech back at my ship. Reaching up underneath my hood, I held a my hand close to my head, not quite touching it,

"Sometimes, we need to do things we would rather not want to do."

[member="Terys Rocabel"]

 

[Terys Rocabel]

[member="Atheus"]

Terys twisted her lips, but she did as he asked. It was only fair, after all. "Shiny, stand down." The droid complied, issuing his standard "Roger, roger" before relaxing his pose, gun held slack in his arms. She then turned back to the masked man, hesitating. After a moment's struggle, she added in a strained voice, "And...thanks. For turning him back on." As much as she disliked this person, manners were still manners.

Crossing her arms over her chest, the young woman gave him a sort of petulant look. "I guess if I'm gonna be travelling with you I might as well know your name, or alias, or somethin'. Mine's Terys, and you already know that's Shiny. Where in the gods' great universe are you kidnappin' us to?"