The Shadow of Csilla
The door closed behind the last briefing staff member, leaving Shade and Laara alone with the fading glow of the holoprojector. Their assignment was straightforward on the surface: locate a former private security contractor who had disappeared with sensitive information, recover the data intact, and preferably bring the man back alive. Civilian casualties were discouraged, discretion was preferred, and the vague warning that someone else might already be searching for their target suggested there were details their employer had chosen not to share.
Shade remained beside the conference table, datapad in hand, her dark armor bearing nothing that identified her with any particular organization. Her black-and-silver hair had been gathered into its familiar braid, and her crimson eyes eventually wandered from the remaining holographic map to the Mandalorian she had just been partnered with. They had never worked together before, and Shade knew little about Laara beyond what the contract had provided. Her gaze briefly settled upon the considerably less subtle rotary cannon the other woman had brought along.
"I admit, when they mentioned the possibility of requiring additional firepower, I wasn't expecting someone to take it quite so personally."
The faint amusement in her expression made it clear the comment wasn't criticism. Shade glanced toward the map again. "They've given us three possible entrances, two known associates, and assurances that they'd prefer the surrounding neighborhood remain approximately where we found it." Her eyes flicked toward the cannon once more. "I suspect that last part may have been included specifically for you."
Shade set the datapad against the edge of the table. They'd have time to discuss routes and contingencies, but she wasn't inclined to begin their first assignment by telling a stranger how to do her job.
"I'm Shade. Properly this time, without someone standing at the front of the room telling us where we're going and how much we're being paid to get there." She offered Laara a small inclination of her head. "Before we decide how we're approaching this, I'd rather know who I'm working with. So, Laara Saxon. What should I know?"
For the moment, Shade was considerably more interested in the woman who had apparently looked at a rotary cannon and decided it needed a name.
Laara Saxon
Shade remained beside the conference table, datapad in hand, her dark armor bearing nothing that identified her with any particular organization. Her black-and-silver hair had been gathered into its familiar braid, and her crimson eyes eventually wandered from the remaining holographic map to the Mandalorian she had just been partnered with. They had never worked together before, and Shade knew little about Laara beyond what the contract had provided. Her gaze briefly settled upon the considerably less subtle rotary cannon the other woman had brought along.
"I admit, when they mentioned the possibility of requiring additional firepower, I wasn't expecting someone to take it quite so personally."
The faint amusement in her expression made it clear the comment wasn't criticism. Shade glanced toward the map again. "They've given us three possible entrances, two known associates, and assurances that they'd prefer the surrounding neighborhood remain approximately where we found it." Her eyes flicked toward the cannon once more. "I suspect that last part may have been included specifically for you."
Shade set the datapad against the edge of the table. They'd have time to discuss routes and contingencies, but she wasn't inclined to begin their first assignment by telling a stranger how to do her job.
"I'm Shade. Properly this time, without someone standing at the front of the room telling us where we're going and how much we're being paid to get there." She offered Laara a small inclination of her head. "Before we decide how we're approaching this, I'd rather know who I'm working with. So, Laara Saxon. What should I know?"
For the moment, Shade was considerably more interested in the woman who had apparently looked at a rotary cannon and decided it needed a name.
Laara Saxon