The Real Folk Blues

[Zandra Tal'verda]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zEJW_j8bjmg

The skinny echani stood on the stage. The lights dimmed, pale blue, making her sequined white dress glitter like magic, changing color here and there. She wore black gloves all the way up to her elbows. The band behind her played a chill jazzy number.

Zandra had found a new hobby during her years alone. Singing. She was far from perfect. She had flat notes, and sharp notes. Her voice sometimes cracked. Yet, when she sang, that was part of the appeal. There was emotion in her song, on her face. She held the microphone several inches from her face, swaying with the music. One of the straps on her dress slid off her narrow shoulder.

This casino didn't know who she was. If they did, they would not have hired her to sing tonight, nor would they have allowed her 'assistants' backstage. Not on a night like tonight. Not while one of the Galaxys most successful business owners was a guest. She saw him in the audience. She locked eyes, smiled, then turned her gaze away, off the the side of the stage.

She blinked twice at the person waiting in the wings. The signal. The last few bars of her song.

Show time.

 

[Rex Power Colt]

This wasn't Rex's usual job. He was the man who charged a front line, one hand spraying and praying, the other one flipping you off. Now, he was in charge of thinning guard numbers. More fisticuffs, less explosions. More stealth, less patriotic background music and car chases. Watching the figure on the stage from far off with a pair of binoculars, he finally noticed the signal. He took a nearby vase off its pedestal and set it on the ground to signify that he had gotten the message and wasn't just wandering off to blend in.

He walked down the stairs, staring at the steps before him rather than anything else. He was dressed relatively nice, but he was definitely laid back and wearing casual clothing. He was wearing his Viola Coat along with his casual clothing. He made his way to the kitchen and pushed past the doors. He had been told that there was a worker's lounge in the back around here. This was where he was meant to go. Half the security detail was supposedly off-duty here, waiting to relieve their compatriots in an hour or so. This politician must have been quite paranoid to have this many guards with him...or something serious was going down.

A man with a clipboard almost stopped him, but Rex pulled back the lapel on his coat and revealed his gun. The man assumed Rex was security and quickly scurried off. Rex finally found the lounge, went inside, locked the door, and turned on the confused occupants. The chefs and servers couldn't hear the muffled blows and grunts past the hiss of steam and clattering of dishes and utensils.

[member="Zandra Tal'verda"]

 

[Grrwunhoooll Agaburry]

This was not his usual environment, In fact he even dressed for the occasion as he sported a casual look that included a tatooine type of turban and X-1 combat goggles. The attire gave Nulgath a mercenary look but that was all. Holstered in his vest hidden was a verpine shatter pistol and a shoto saber. Always fit and deadly for whatever came at him, weapons aside the Epicanthix was ready to relax for the real storm came.

Casino's were always a good place to disappear in and none would expect that a Sith was in their midst's. Sitting at a table Nulgath gave a gentlemans clap for the stunning lady singing. She was beautiful, a wonderful creation of galaxy with a amazing gift. As more sudden movement continued at the stairs Nulgath gave no expression as a security looking figure marched his way into the kitchen.

Was there trouble already?

@Rex "Power" Colt
[member="Zandra Tal'verda"]

 

[Dom Volaju]

Dom idly swept the floor near the walls of the periphery of the casino's showroom dressed as a custodian in grey overalls. He had been there for over an hour, sweeping away while listening to the entertainment on stage. More importantly, he was casing their mark's security team. Dom and his new group of "friends" had learned in advance of the presence a quite wealthy business magnate-- a certain Mr. Chen-- in this very casino at this very hour. [member="Zandra Tal'verda"] had hatched a plot to kidnap him and hold him for ransom. It seemed... amateur, but Dom needed the money.

Tonight, he would be in charge in handling their targets' security goons. There were two by the outer wall behind the seats, and a third sat next to the businessman. They were only lightly armed-- the casino would only allow security personnel into the premise with holstered pistols on safety. Of course, the casino didn't allow janitors any weapons. Dom would have to ad lib this one. He moved around the perimeter, still sweeping. "Pardon me," he mumbled as he swept around the feet of one of the bodyguards. He looked towards the stage; there she was, dressed to impress and slowly lulling the audience into a trance with her sweet tones. She blinked at him, the signal. Dom bent down to pick up a small bit of plastic. Just as Z finished the song and the audience began to applaud, Dom swiftly swung his broom-handle up at the bodyguard, cracking him in the chin. Another swing to the temple incapacitated the mook, sending him convulsing to the floor. Although the applause had muffled the sounds and kept the audience unaware of the scene unfolding behind them, the other guard had seen his comrade fall to the floor. With a shocked look on his face, he hurriedly reached under his jacket to draw his sidearm. Dom dashed towards him and just as the bruiser pulled his weapon out and pointed it, Dom deflected the bodyguard's hand upward. The gun discharged into the ceiling, alerting the entire casino to what was unfolding. The now-screaming audience cowered under their seats. A spinning kick to the face of the guard sent a few teeth bouncing across the carpet floor, his stiff body crashing over like a falling tree. Dom quickly grabbed the gun and wheeled around towards Mr. Chen. His personal bodyguard had risen up out of his seat, and he and Dom pointed their weapons at each other in an ol' fashioned standoff.

C'mon dammit, where is everybody? he thought.

[member="Zandra Tal'verda"]

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

The audience was sufficiently distracted by her preformance, and so the real work could begin. She couldn't see with the bright lights in her eyes now, but she knew that behind all the applause, her crew had gone to work. Stage one was a success. Now onto stage 2.

The lights dimmed again while Zandra bowed, but unlike before, they did not come back on. There was some confusion in the audience as the realization that the lights had been off for just a little too long started to hit. A low mumbling went up all around her, masking the soft click, click, click of heels as the echani walked off stage, tearing her gloves off with her teeth. She left them laying on the stage as she walked back behind the curtain, the red light from the dressing room sign back stage was all the light she needed. From under the slit in her glittery gown, Zandra pulled a blaster pistol that had been strapped to her thigh. A tiny thing. Delicate. Zandra didn't like messing with guns when she didn't have to. She liked to get up close and personal with her target, get real friendly before snapping their neck. Really get to know the real person behind the mask they wore every day.

she kept walking, knowing that everything would play out according to her plan. And if it didn't? Well, then they'd improvise. For now, she had sweet sweet chaos on her side.

As she walked along in the dark, using the faint red glow to guide her way out. She went right through the door backstage and was in a lit hallway. As she walked on, she sang her jazzy melody to herself in a low voice.

"Don't care for me, don't cry, let's say goodbye. Adieu..."


[member="Dom Volaju"] [member="Darth Mudrac"] @Rex "Power" Colt

 

[Jake Shukalar]

Jake saw the signal, and waited until the power went out. This was his moment to use his skills to take out the other guards around their target. This would make it easier to take them, and the whole op would go smoother if they were removed. He quickly, but silently moved towards the man and his guards. Like a Strill stalking its prey, he used his vibroknife to take out the first guard, puncturing a lung, which made it impossible for him to let out even a small cry. Silent and deadly. He loved the dark, It was always easy to hide in it. Especially when you had excellent nightvision, because you had your eyes closed stimulating the rod cells of your eyes adjusting them for night vision. He quickly located the other two body guards and circled around until he was behind the next. This one noticed him though and got out a small cry of astonishment as the knife once again found it's mark. The last body guard, knowing now that the lights weren't coming back on put on a pair of nightvision goggles and drew his blaster. Jake quickly found a pair stored on the belt of the guard that he just took out and stood up to blend into the crowd. Slowly moving into a position where he could take out the final guard,while putting on the goggles. Then a blaster shot pierced through the air. There wasn't going to be any more stealthiness about this mission any more. Sheathing his knife, he drew his pistol and tried to get a better shot in all of the panic that ensued.

[member="Zandra Tal'verda"]

 

[Llkt'tudrin'wyshd]

Dressed to impress in a tailored, black waistcoat over the top of a presses, high collar white shirt and black trousers and shoes to accompany the look with a short, black blazer hanging from his shoulders and blending in with the numerous other members of staff milling around the main floor beneath the stage, arms laden with silver platters as they wove their way through the red cloth and candle topped tables that littered the space in a stylish manner was Ydrin, a former noble from Naboo turned pirate.

This was the first job he had been on with his new crew, the one with Zandra Tel'verda as his Captain, and he hoped that the planned heist went well. However, logically, he did not believe that it was as he understood that the saying 'No plan survives contact with the enemy' was true under many, many conditions. Nether the less, he had accepted the job which had led to him wandering around the main floor, tray in hand, a fake smile on his face and the comforting weight of his revolver resting in his holster hidden beneath the blazer.

Up on stage was the lithe figure of his Captain, dancing in a glittering dress as she sung in the microphone held close to her face. She was not the best of singers, that much Ydrin could tell, but it was not the fact that she could carry and keep a tone, which she couldn't, that was making Zandra popular, it was the pure emotion etched into her face and forced into her voice that was capturing the attention of the gathered crowd.

Watching carefully the swaying image of Zandra, Ydrin caught sight of the wink, the signal for the plan to start, but made no move to start. From what he had seen, the guards surrounding the mark, a Mr Chen, were numerous and Ydrin did not think that his allies could clear the room themselves, so kept quiet and played himself as the hidden ace, following the flows of the crowd until it was time to act.

When the lights went out and nervous murmuring began to rumble around the dark room, Ydrin joined in, shifting and mumbling as he lined himself up with a shot to Mr Chen. When the blaster shot was redirected away from his new ally, he was relieved even as he ducked to emulate the crowd. Stealthily moving, Ydrin removed his revolver and slowly advanced only to curse as his second ally made everything worse by pulling his own blaster. While the whole thing could have been salvaged and kept quiet with a bit of political manoeuvring, now it was clear that this was an attack.

Cursing sharply under his breath, Ydrin launched himself at the target while cocking and firing the slugthrower in his hand. With a click and muffled blast a slug left the barrel at 760m/s in a cloud of smoke, splitting the air before it as it travelled to make contact with the target's main bodyguard's head and carry straight on through in a red mist of blood. Like a puppet with their stings cut, the bodyguard collapsed to the ground in a boneless heap.

Reaching Mr Chen while cocking the pistol, causing a click to ring out as the revolving mechanism that gave a revolver their name rotated to sloth another bullet into the chamber, Ydrin pressed the barrel of his weapon into the man's temple. "Mr Chen, I am someone you may call Y. It is a pleasure to meet you, sir." As he spoke, Ydrin's voice was calm and smooth as he manipulated his voice to hold a slightly hypnotic and calming tone that was resonate with his target on a subconscious level. "If you would not mind, could you please ask your guards to lower their weapons? They are putting my friends at risk death, and I do not like that." Jerking the man sharply and twisting his arm behind his back, Ydrin pressed his pistol into the man's temple a slightly bit harder.


[member="Jake Shukalar"] | [member="Zandra Tal'verda"] | [member="Dom Volaju"]

 

[Edward Blake]

Great. Crowd control. What a lovely job he had.

The Comedian sighed in his seat. He blended in well, dressed to impress with a smart three-piece suit and a black bow tie. The only noticeable difference from him and the others was the smiley face button sitting on his left lapel. Fortunately, it seemed that most here didn't recognize the iconic accessory of one of many infamous soldiers and mercenaries.

The briefcase was sitting next to him in the plush red chair. It had taken a pretty penny and some skullduggery to sneak in a case of this size in here, but it had been done days in advance, planted in a certain drop off spot. It had everything he would need for this little job.

As blaster shots rang out, Blake sighed. He casually ducked his head down and opened the case, producing a collapsible rifle that alternated between stun and kill. He quickly assembled it and loaded a power pack in there, then attached a launcher to the bottom muzzle of the rifle, intended for riot gas canister use. Last, but not least, Eddie produced a cigar and a lighter, taking time to light the smoke and puff while the whole scene went down.

A standoff, huh? Well, Mr. Chen looked like he was about to piss himself with that revolver shoved in his face. At his order, the guards lowered their weapons. Blake then stood up, coughing lightly to bring attention to himself. The wealthy men and women surrounding him grew wide eyed while the Comedian struggled not to laugh as he spoke up.

"Everyone stay down and don't try to be a karkin' hero. This'll all be over shortly if you play your cards right."

Blake chuckled at his own joke shortly. They did call him The Comedian for a reason. But now his attention was on the possible dangers in the auditorium.
Namely, the guards, who still had their weapons in hand.
"Drop the guns, kiddos. A couple of credits isn't worth dying for."

[member="Ydrin"] [member="Jake Shukalar"] [member="Zandra Tal'verda"] [member="Dom Volaju"] [member="Darth Mudrac"] @Rex "Power" Colt

 

[Jake Shukalar]

Jake saw his ally, [member="Ydrin"] Take Chen and secure him, threatening him with a slugthrower. Not many of those revolvers left. He thought to himself. He decided it was almost time for the group to make a hasty retreat. The gunshots would have complicated things, and he knew he should get their ride out of here ASAP. Running outside of the building, he saw a startled man starting his speederbike and grabbed him off of his vehicle before he could drive it away, commandeered it to get to his ship about half a kilometer away. He knew the man was in no danger, so "Borrowing" his transport wasn't an issue of conscience at the moment. Reaching his ship, he fired up the engines, and took off, putting on the helmet , but not his armor. He merely wanted to use the com system to contact his allies to let them know the new plan.
"I made it to the ship, Get the vip to the roof and I will pick you up once you reach it." He knew this would be the best course of action, as the police force had most likely already made it to the casino and were setting up a perimeter around the building, via ground, and air support would be on the way as well. He would'nt sit on the roof waiting, because that would make it too obvious as to what he would do, but he would be ready to get there in less than 30 seconds of being notified of the group's arrival. he hoped that everyone heard the plan.
[member="Zandra Tal'verda"] | [member="Dom Volaju"] | [member="Darth Mudrac"] | @Rex "Power" Colt |

 

[Rex Power Colt]

The lounge was a mess of bodies and broken furniture when Rex was done opening up a can of whoop-ass, much to the chagrin of the off-duty bodyguards. The doors slid open to permit him through and he was gone before a servant came in to check on the bodyguards. He came out onto the main casino floor to find mass panic rather than a job that should have already been done. The "package" was secure, but a crap ton of witnesses and dead or sleeping bodyguards littered the area. Speaking to [member="Jake Shukalar"], [member="Edward Blake"], [member="Ydrin"] and [member="Dom Volaju"], he said,

"Dammit! You should all be done! The police are going to show up faster than moths to fire! I will slow police down! Get these people out of here! We don't want a hostage situation!"

And with that, he walked back into the kitchen. Finding the nearest freon and gas pipes, he yanked them off of the wall and set them to leak. Turning around to face the stunned chefs and servers, he waved his two heavy blasters around and said,

"There's a gas leak. Get the hell out of here, idiots!" He then walked over to the fire alarm and pulled it. That should create more confusion and spur every civilian on to leave the premises and make the cops' perimeter job even harder with needing to process, organize, and calm everyone.


[member="Darth Mudrac"] and [member="Zandra Tal'verda"]

 

[Edward Blake]

"Sorry to disappoint you folks with all your gambling wants, but... get the hell out of the casino!"

Blake fired off several riot gas canisters in the cornors of the large room. Patrons began to scatter, coughing their way to the exits. The Comedian looked expectantly at [member="Ydrin"] . Hopefully a slugthrower to the face was enough to discourage the mark from running.

He surveyed all the people fleeing the gas as they glanced fearful glanced his way. If he was recognized and identified, the GR would have a PR nightmare. Eddie smiled at the thought. He didn't mind working for them, but things had been too peaceful lately. Too much diplomacy. This was much more preferable.

The Comedian saw a guard, hacking and half blind, attempt to squeeze off a shot at him. It went wide. Blake's, however, did not. A canister hit the unlucky bodyguard directly on the head, and he went down, hard.

Only a few more people had to leave...

@Rex "Power" Colt [member="Jake Shukalar"] [member="Zandra Tal'verda"] [member="Dom Volaju"] [member="Darth Mudrac"]

 

[Grrwunhoooll Agaburry]

As the turn of events quickly sloped down into chaos Nulgath exhaled some. It seemed it was ahrd to find a decent place to relax at as a normal man, perhaps he should accept that he was in fact not normal and superior compared to everyone else here. The whole time while the people around him were moving about Nulgath sat in his seat listening to everything. But hearing about a gas leak forced him to slowly get up and direct himself toward the exits.

On his way to the exits two thugs confronted him as they eyed his person. Blasters held at Nulgaths head, their were no words needed for what the men wanted. As the Epicanthix looked both in the eye he said calmly. " Your lives are pathetic."

Both thugs smiled as they attempted to shoot Nulgath but something didn't let them. Some how frozen in place unable to control themselves, they could only look around with their eyes in a panic attack. Walk past the two Nulgath said aloud " I'll leave you two alone.." The two thugs remained frozen in till another group came to rob them and well things did not exactly go well for them. Blaster fired rang out in the Casino as Nulgath exited the building and observed from outside.

[member="Edward Blake"]
[member="Rex Power Colt"]
[member="Jake Shukalar"]
[member="Zandra Tal'verda"]

 

[Llkt'tudrin'wyshd]

Ydrin sighed at chaos erupted all around him. 'This was meant to be a simple job. Get in, distract the crowd, take out the immediate threat the guards posed then dim the lights and remove the package.' Letting out a tired sigh, Ydrin turned to leave, forcing the man he held at gunpoint to move so that he would move with him, and guided him through the dark towards the glowing lights of the backstage sign where he knew, from mapping out the location, a back staircase was located that would lead to the roof. 'Next time, I work solo or in a small group, there's less variables to deal with.'

The main reason behind Ydrin's bad mood was that the headache he had been feeling earlier behind his eyes had now grown enough that it had spread to his temples where he could hear his blood rushing through his veins, making him feel like his very skin was throbbing in a constant beat.

Ignoring the threat of weapons behind him, trusting his allies to prevent himself from coming to harm, Ydrin shoved the stumbling Mr Chen before him and through the door, accidentally knocking his captive into a few tables and chairs along the way. "H-hurry u-up and end this, bashards." Ydrin's stutter returned for a moment as he began to speak before he forced it down, focussing on the job. "This has already become too complicated. Let's get this done quick."


[member="Edward Blake"] | [member="Rex Power Colt"] | [member="Jake Shukalar"] | [member="Zandra Tal'verda"] | [member="Dom Volaju"]

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

Zandra was already at the meeting point, confused. Alright. So things had no gone according to plan. She kept her blaster at the ready as she waited by the stage door. Anything could happen with a new bunch of clowns working under you. Republic do-gooders could show up, Jedi could come in, Sith, Bounty hunters... Anything, really. She pulled out a dented pack of cigarettes, grabbed one with her teeth and lit it up. She leaned against the wall.

Yup. Any second now.

[member="Ydrin"] [member="Darth Mudrac"] [member="Edward Blake"] [member="Jake Shukalar"] [member="Dom Volaju"] [member="Rex Power Colt"]

 

[Jake Shukalar]

Jake was just waiting for the group to let him know that they were almost to the roof... he couldn't move in too early, or he would risk his ship and their lives, and they couldn't be on the roof too long waiting for him, or they would probably end up as free target practice for any sniper teams the police would have set up. It was a fine line, and hopefully [member="Zandra Tal'verda"] knew exactly how to handle the situation, no he was sure she did. He merely had to wait. He had taken the ship into the air, and started circling the scene like any individual that was curious as to what happened. He was currently just 'an innocent bystander' to the police force at this time and tried to keep that status as he waited. He hated waiting,but it had to be done.

[member="Ydrin"] | [member="Edward Blake"] |[member="Rex Power Colt"] | [member="Dom Volaju"]

 

[Edward Blake]

Blake grunted in displeasure. This was taking forever. They were gonna be bantha fodder for the police at this point! He was starting to get pissed off at the stupid, ritzy cattle shuffling out, taking their time despite the burning gas.

"Get THE HELL OUT ALREADY!"

He switched to stun and started shooting indiscriminately at the nearest people, who began moving faster if they didn't drop to the floor. Good. These morons didn't understand till someone hit the ground. As much as he would've enjoyed it, killing them would be a nightmare and a liability. Guards? Understandable. It's in the job description. But patrons, ordinary citizens? It'd be called a massacre.

A bodyguard, zealous in his job, attempted to rush Eddie with his bare hands. He threw a right hook. The Comedian ducked and slammed an elbow into his face, breaking the bastard's nose and shattering some teeth. The rest of the guards began to scramble, through blinded eyes and hacking lungs, for their blasters. He was done playing games with them.

Eddie switched his blaster to kill and picked off the remainder of the guards with maximum accuracy. That was messy. But the threat was eliminated. Blake turned and looked for the nearest stairway going up. Next stop, rendezvous point.

[member="Jake Shukalar"] [member="Zandra Tal'verda"] [member="Ydrin"] [member="Darth Mudrac"] [member="Rex Power Colt"] [member="Dom Volaju"]

 

[Dom Volaju]

Dom stood fast, his weapon pointed towards Chen's personal bodyguard. Both men were fixed in a stare of death. Dom grew more nervous, waiting for [member="Ydrin"] to do his part of the gig. He was taking his damn time, it appeared. Then, after a few seconds which seemed like minutes to Dom, his colleague walked up behind the bodyguard with his blaster drawn. Finally, Dom thought. Suddenly, a shot rang out and the air around Mr. Chen filled with a pink mist, consisting of the blood and brain matter of the now deceased bodyguard. Burrying his face in his hand, Dom sighed. I guess that's one way to handle the situation.

At the same moment, [member="Edward Blake"] fired off tear gas into the room. The crowd began to roar with hysteria, and every able-bodied patron made a mad dash for the exits. Dom fought his way through the crowd like a fish swimming upstream as he yelled out to Ydrin “Get Mr. Chen up to the roof!" He made his through the crowd and dashed up the stairs towards the roof. What the others were doing, he had no idea.

[member="Zandra Tal'verda"] ; [member="Jake Shukalar"] ; [member="Rex Power Colt"]

 

[Rex Power Colt]

Rex noticed the shift towards the rooftop, so he also joined the group going up to the roof.

[member="Dom Volaju"] | [member="Edward Blake"] | [member="Jake Shukalar"] | [member="Zandra Tal'verda"] | [member="Ydrin"] |

 

[Zandra Tal'verda]

The Echani said 'feth it'. realzing that nobody was coming to the meeting point. She was testing her new crew on this one. Either they'd pass or fail. Which one that was, she'd know as soon as she got back to the ship. The authorities were starting to mosey in now. She wasn't about to get herself caught because something went wrong with these guys. She puffed on her cigarette, double checking the count on her blaster. She had eighteen shots. Lovely.

Chaos in the halls leading to the rooftop. Still in a sparkly white dress, the Echani knew she stood out. It was fine. She preferred it that way. If she died here, it would make no difference. Her children were grown, her husband was dead. All that she had no was her knives, a tiny blaster, and the rooftop.

[member="Rex Power Colt"] [member="Dom Volaju"] [member="Edward Blake"] [member="Ydrin"]

 

[Edward Blake]

Blake suddenly appeared at the rooftop, stealthy for a guy his size. He looked at [member="Zandra Tal'verda"] and cocked an eyebrow, glancing around but seeing no one else besides his employer.

"Where are all the other nerf herders?! The police are already here, and I'm not gonna sit here and get arrested. We need to move."

True to his word, the casino was beginning to get barricaded from the outside. The Comedian could see SWAT forces setting up already. The flood of patrons exiting would buy them time, but not for long. It was only a matter of time before they shut down the air space and the cops came in.

"I hope our ride is fast, lady..."

[member="Rex Power Colt"] [member="Dom Volaju"] [member="Jake Shukalar"] [member="Ydrin"] [member="Darth Mudrac"]