Chapter 2: Forges of Ithyari

[Drake 53]

Tak had noticed the guards and the cameras defending the gates up to the next level of the city where the sensor building was. He nodded in agreement with Layla and said, "Not to mention the fact that their backsides are covered through an extensive network of contacts and allies. That's why we have Kenzie, afterall. He'll find a way in."

The building was protected by a security net. That much was obvious to him before they even got to where they were. He knew Aston would be able to slice through the network without too much difficulty and find them a way in.

Takeshi took out a small scanner, disguised as a pocket-chrono, from his jacket and glanced at it. Instead of showing the time, however, it displayed different information such as biological life signs, audio waves, electromagnetic fields, and the like. He quickly cycled between the readout screens, confirming the presense of the six guards and the EM readings from the cameras and security field in the gate and perimeter fencing around the building.

[Vergere 1]

The man grinned. "Straight to business. I like that in a woman."

Brier sighed, and looked around the market behind the man, before obviously looking him over, head to foot. "I'm waiting for an answer, hotshot."

He shrugged, and moved to lean up against the wall beside her, looking around too, making the entire meeting between them appear casual to the quick glance. "Thought you might like a tour of the city, not ever having seen you here before." He looked down and over at her, his eyes searching her face as she continued to look straight ahead. "I can show you the ins and outs of the market, in case for some reason, you get on the wrong side of the law."

She glanced over at him quickly, looked discreetly over at Szen again, then looked around the market once more. "What makes you think I'd do that?"

Kier grinned. "Oh, not all guys take to losing their homes as graciously as I do, even if it is a pretty girl that gambled it out from under their feet. And those of us that like to tempt the law need to stick together, Miss Tsal."

She didn't answer for a few long moments before sighing and shaking her head. "I can't believe I'm doing this." She turned enough to point a finger at him, making his green eyes dance in amusement. "Fine. I'll let you show us around. I gotta wait for my dancer though. I don't want to lose her - took me a while to find one as good as her. This is no time for me to be looking for a new one."

He smiled and leaned back against the wall casually. "I have all the time in the world, my lady."

Brier just groaned inwardly before watching the market goers for a while longer.

[Ender 8]

Jaim played along. "Well, how hard can it be? Doesn't seem like they've had much inter-planetary competition of late."

He nodded the slightest of nods towards the guards.

Edited September 5, 2007 by Ender

[Ayingel 24]

Szen looked at all the bangles, the different colours of each one catching her eye. She finally settled on three silver bangles with little stones of different colours in them. As she paid for the bangles, Szen looked back over her shoulder at Captain Brier. Seeing the man in front of her, she almost forgot the bangles, but grabbed them and placed a hand on her blaster as she crossed the walkway. Szen quietly got closer, but as she got within a quiet shooting range, he turned around and leaned against the wall. She pulled her hand away and fingered the bangles again, resuming her part.

Giving a sheepish smile, she looked down. "I finally found the ones that I was looking for."

[Drake 53]

"Agreed," said Tak. "I doubt they've seen much action of late. The competition will probably be lax. If it comes down to that, we shouldn't have problems in forcing our way into the market."

[Rogue 4]

"A little persuasion and they might let their guard down." Layla ran a hand back through her darkened hair. "But Kenzie's going to have to work his magic alright."

[Vergere 1]

Brier glanced down at the bangles she got and nodded. "Very nice. Very pretty." She nodded to the man beside her. "Kilee, this is Kier Taylor. A horrible sabacc player that has offered to show us around the area, and perhaps some of the more interesting parts of town. Taylor, this is Kilee, my dancer. Be nice."

He smirked. "Yes ma'am."

Brier groaned and rolled her eyes, a gruffness to her voice throughout the conversation. "Well, lead the way, hotshot. See if you're better at not getting lost than you are at playing games of chance."

Although the man remained cocky and arrogant, he was (mostly) respectful to Brier and Szen as they walked, giving them a better tour of the market area than they would have gotten on their own. He walked at a comfortable speed for both of the women with him, and due to being known in the area, even though it was as a smuggler, he was able to bribe a few people to allow himself, Brier, and Szen into areas that Brier or Szen would not have been able to get into without his help, allowing her to take note of various relay systems and in closer to the factories to see how they were laid out. She continued to keep an eye out for people following them or that were becoming too suspicious of their little party, but they remained unnoticed throughout the tour of the city, blending in just fine with their assumed identities, and Szen doing an amazing job of keeping in character herself. Brier made a mental note to tell her so, when they had the opportunity at a later time.

[Mara 29]

With his comm turned down to low volume, Kaden began to feel sleepy. He shook himself awake and switched over to his ship frequency.

"Artie, monitor my life systems, okay? I don't want to fall asleep, so keep an eye on my heart rate and other things."

His droid tootled a short reply and dialed back into the squad frequency. Artie was hoping for a good story.

"Thanks." He switched back to the lower volumed squad frequency as well and dug his datapad out of his bag. Kaden thought he might find something on there to keep him busy and his mind awake. He scrolled through a few of his latest sim missions, reviewing them.

Reading through one of them, he absentmindedly pulled a ration bar out and began chewing it.

Edited September 6, 2007 by Mara

[Drake 53]

"Persuasion?" Tak asked with a smirk. He waved a hand in front of her face, mimicking the mind trick hand motion the Jedi use. "Like this?"

They crossed the street across from the entrance to the upper tier of the city. Tak led the way to a small kiosk that looked to be equipped with repulsor lifts for easy mobility. He payed the vendor with a couple credit chips and received three processed and heated tubes of meat resting in a bread bun. The vendor called them 'dog logs." Tak was dubious but he had eaten similar meals and this batch smelled particularly appetizing.

After adding some toppings to his dog log, Tak commented, "I wonder if they make them from real dogs..." He took a big bite and smiled happily as he chewed.

[Rogue 4]

"That really doesn't look as appetizing as you're expression would make us believe." Layla remarked, taking a look around. "Looks like it's about time to head in though. Everybody else should be heading back."

[Drake 53]

He gave her a funny look. "Are you serious? This is delicious!" He looked at his chrono. "Yeah, we should start heading back. We'll find out what Kenzie knows." He took another bite and started walking back down the street.

[Rogue 4]

Layla sighed, extending a hand in his direction in defeat. "Oh just gimme the dog...whatever."

[Drake 53]

Tak laughed and passed her the food. "A delicious and nutricious dog log! It just sounds appetizing, doesn't it?"

[Vergere 1]

After having a thorough look around the market, and getting some good information on the relay networks and the factories, Szen, Brier, and Kier dropped by a bar for a drink. Brier listened to the conversations around her to get a good feel of what the denizens of the bar thought of the planet in the way they spoke, not really paying much attention to what the Corellian was saying at all. She was able to feel the people out and understand what the underworld thought of the world and the Imperial rule over it as she sipped on her drink. She returned her attention to Kier after a while, amused at how his stories were captivating Szen.

Amused, Brier shook her head. ?Stop weaving your tales, Kier. Leave her alone." She glanced at the time. "We need to be going here in a minute."

[Rogue 4]

"Sounds like something a child would ask for. 'Mommy mommy I want a dog log!'" She laughed. Ayana certainly would. She'd try anything once. Or twice for good measure. Of course she didn't say that with Jaim around. The less people who knew about Ayana the better.

I'm a bad influence on her.

[Vergere 1]

Kier frowned, ?Oh, leaving so soon? You haven?t even been able to swipe me of all my belongings yet.?

Brier shrugged, and glanced over at Szen. ?We have places to be. Perhaps another time.? She nodded to the man, and stood to leave, motioning to Szen to do the same.

Kier stood as well, and put a hand on Brier?s arm. ?Nuh-uh. I gave you two a pretty nice tour of the market. I deserve some payment, Miss Tsal, even if you do like to leave me bankrupt in your wake.?

She raised a bored eyebrow. ?Fine. Kilee, we?ll leave after this smuggler gets his payment.?

Brier grinned wolfishly at the taller man. ?You asked for it.? She turned so she was facing him before pulling him close and kissing him solidly, arms snaking up around his neck. After holding it for a bit, she pulled away, leaving the Corellian looking dazed. She smiled cutely and unconcernedly, ?See you next time you?re on Nar Shadda, Taylor.?

She turned and walked out with Szen, ignoring the looks on peoples faces, including Kier and Szen, as they left the bar and headed back to the hotel, not saying another thing about the smuggler, instead bringing up the bangles Szen had bought earlier up again.

[Ayingel 24]

Szen smiled shyly at the man as the two women got up to leave. And when Brier kissed the man Kier, she couldn't wipe off the face of shock that came with it. She couldn't even stop when they left the bar.

What was that? It was raging so loud in her head, she couldn't keep it in anymore.

Interrupting Brier, "What was that back there? Who is he, really? And what about Nar Shadda?!"

[Drake 53]

Layla, Jaim and Takeshi were nearly back to the hotel when Tak stopped in front of the cantina across the street.

"I guess there's time for one harmless drink, no?" He grinned and led the other two in.

It looked fairly seedy and they received several glances and stares when they walked up to the bar. Most of the men made no hint of disguising their oogling of Layla. Tak remained wary of all of them. Many of the people in the cantina were drunk and had significantly reduced inhibitions. They also had reduced resistance to Layla's pheremones. He knew that she had significant control over her own pheremones but he also knew that there would always be residual odours that couldn't be taken away completely.

Tak was contemplating how wise coming here with a Zeltron was, especially when they wanted to keep a low profile, when he spotted a familiar figure out of the corner of his vision. He turned to look but only found a shadowed doorway.

I could have sworn...

He was drawn from his thoughts when the bartender asked, "What can I get for you?"

"Hmm?" he said. "Oh, I'll take a Flameout. A Durindfire cocktail for the lady and," he glanced at Jaim for a moment, judging a good drink for him. He made a decision and said, "He'll take a Corellian whiskey." He tossed enough credits to cover the drinks on the counter and looked around again for the figure he spotted before.

***

The figure had sunk back into the shadows when the man at the bar turned to look at him. The trio were unwise to come here. They could be spotted and identified by others like him. The others, of course, were not nearly as smart as he was. They would only pick up on something if it was dangled in front of their faces like a piece of meat.

Right now that piece of meat was standing at the bar with those two other men. He had been tracking her for some time now, since before she suddenly disappeared from the face of the galaxy. Now, months later, she appears here, on an Imperial world, in disguise and flanked by her New Republic friends.

When the one man at the bar turned back to look for him once more, the figure left through the shadowed corridor and went outside to wait for the trio to exit. He would watch to see where they went and possibly what they were doing here. He would track the woman back to wherever it was she was now hiding and drag her back to his employer.

As a bounty hunter, that was his job and he would do so to get paid. He always did so because he was one of the best at it. It was what his once proud race had become these days.

The bounty hunter climbed a ladder leading up to the roof of the cantina and hunkered down in hiding to await the departure of his target. He called up two images on his helmet's heads-up-display. One he had just taken of his target in disguise and the other of his target unaltered. Upon comparison, there was no doubt that this human woman was indeed the Zeltron Layla Nasrin.

He would hunt her down. He would capture her. He would bring her back to Corellia. He would get paid by Deign Argos.

Because that was the Mandalorian way.

Edit: Please, no one do anything further with this bounty hunter fellow. He's going to lead us into a new story arc later so don't try to kill him or anything. I know you're itching to do bounty hunter stuff, Ender...but you'll get your chance soon!

Edited September 6, 2007 by Drake

[Rogue 4]

"You're a generous man today Jast. Keep throwing your credits away and eventually--" She turned to him to see him focussed on something, face distressed. She lowered her tone. "What's wrong?"

[Drake 53]

Takeshi turned to Layla and smiled reassuringly. "Oh nothing, Im. Just thought I saw someone I recognized. It was probably nothing, though."

The bartender returned with their drinks. Tak took his glass and took a drink of the strong liquid. Though not the best he'd had, this Flameout was mixed fairly well. It left his tongue burning and his throat feeling cold. The sensations were mild compared to what he enjoyed but they were good enough.

He looked to Layla and her phosphorescent cocktail. "How's the drink?"

[Rogue 4]

"Not the best I've ever tasted, but not the worst either. Everything tends to be...stronger on my homeworld, you know? But you're welcome to try it." She winked. "How about yours?"

[Drake 53]

"Good enough to strip the rust off a seized cargo hauler. Not as strong as I'd like but I'll live." He took a long drink.

[Princess 35]

Nima piped up. "Ok you two. Hows about when we get back to base, I set up an obstacle course, and the two of you race it. Naturally the rest of the squad, minus dull boy in 11 over there will use the race as an excuse to get drunk, carouse, and probably start a fight with the Mynocks. Of course, we'll also make bets. What do you guys say?"

[Bad furday 57]

Arlan cheered.

"We can have it run through the forest and canyon, with a bar set up at the finish line! We ought to have some hovercams film it, so that we can broadcast the event on the base's closed circuit holovid!"

Laughter greeted his suggestions.

[Vergere 1]

Brier just raised an eyebrow at Szen, her features and expression annoyingly unhelpful to the other girl. "That was called a kiss. He is Kier Taylor, a crappy gambler. And Nar Shadda is none of your concern." She just smiled, but her eyes twinkled with that amusement she'd had at the briefing earlier that day, even as she kept in character. She looked around casually and unperturbed as they walked. "Come on, stop gawking. We have somewhere to be."

Edited September 6, 2007 by Vergere