Go Kiss a Hutt

[Skrik Piper]

So, he wanted to show off. And was that Jedi form?

That was Jedi form.

She only needed one more significant cue to satisfy her suspicions and this fight would become more than just a bit of practice. Things would be getting messy.

Skrik allowed him to expend his strength in this display and lift her saber towards the ceiling. As he did so, she rotated on the ball of her plant foot and sent her other foot blasting towards his midrib, the blade of her boot leading as she aimed to propel her sparring opponent into the wall. There was more to swordfighting than sword work. She had not been trained like a Rattataki for nothing.

[member="Ballen-Ist"]

 

[Ballen-Ist]

Everything was going perfectly, it seemed. This had turned from a weapon testing into a true battle. Having altered [member="Skrik Piper"]'s trajectory, a grin would spread on the boy's face, his eyes and mind peering forward to examine her movements. Indeed, she was suspicious about something, it all was in the way Ballen maneuvered his sword, of course. As the white skinned Rattataki surged forward, the boy would simply stand there, his torso clenching up as he flexed his abdominal muscles. Skrik had more than proved her physical strength, but he did want to test it on himself. Her powerful kick came rocketing forward after his sword collided with the shoto, it's impact forcing him backwards.

His boots would skid across the ground after he blow landed. Rather impressive, the pain was present, however bearable. There would definitely be a massive bruise on his chest after this. "Indeed, you are good," He would comment, "Though you still haven't answered me."

 

[Skrik Piper]

She dropped the shoto saber into a passive-defensive position and relaxed her stance slightly--though not relaxed enough to allow for a cheap shot. Studying him, she cast a quizzical look, quite confused. Was he trying to play mind games with her? Why was he speaking so passive-aggressive? "Okay. What are you meaning I am not answering you? I have going to keep the saber, or no? I have said yes, keeping the saber.

"But I am having something to ask you," she continued, intently studying his body language, "You have not told me your name. And you are knowing mine, or no?"

[member="Ballen-Ist"]

 

[Ballen-Ist]

"You don't want credits? Really?" He would question, pacing back and forth now. The distance between the two was considerable, either one of them would have to move closer to be able to even attempt a landing blow. "I can offer you more than the saber, you know." He would mutter, his eyes keeping focussed on the white skinned female. "Yes, you'll keep it, no doubt, but don't you want more?" He would hiss, continuing to speak shortly after.
"What is it you do, exactly? Are you a mercenary? If so, work for me." He stated, choosing to ignore her question of his name. "That is irrelevant, Skrik. He would say, using her nickname. I know your name, of course, I always do my research before approaching the target."

 

[Skrik Piper]

"Want more?" she repeated, unsure of what he was leading towards. "What are you going offering?"

In her most casual manner, she deactivated the lightsaber and clipped it to her belt while taking hold of her dormant electrostaff in her other hand. She was beginning to get the impression that he never truly needed her help 'testing' the weapon. "Okay. I am not a mercenary. I am a fight club teacher, you having seen? Why are you interesting in me that you are researching?" How much did he know? Was he already fully aware of her personal crusade?

[member="Ballen-Ist"]

 

[Ballen-Ist]

"Because, you've caught my attention." He would say, watching as [member="Skrik Piper"] deactivated the shoto saber, clipping it to her belt among the other weapons. This time, she drew the electrostaff, another formidable weapon. He had not instructed her to test it, so it was a surprise when she took it from it's holster. Was she becoming hostile? No doubt she was, for Ballen-Ist could sense the curiosity in her. She was anxious, yet eager to hear more of what he knew. Surely there was some sort of secret she had been keeping, however it was unknown to the boy.

Reaching into his cloak, the young cloaked boy would withdraw a datapad from within, his arm extending to hold it out to Skrik. "I know more than you think." He muttered, a bluff obviously. If she were to take it, she would be viewing a profile of collected information on one Tugoro Taidarious. A picture of a brown haired boy would be upon the electronic screen, giving her a detailed look at his youthful face. "He's a Jedi." He spoke.

 

[Skrik Piper]

Suddenly, everything was making sense. He had come here to appraise her skills and see if she was capable of facing down a Jedi. Jedi... Of course.

Firmly grasping the datapad, she eased her composure ever so slightly and studied the information presented to her. An ex-slave, now Padawan learner of the Jedi Order. Force users who had known lives of bondage were the worst kind, always out to avenge their blessed existence. She grit her teeth in disgust. After a few long moments of examination and deep thought, she returned the datapad to the faceless stranger.

"Is he here?" she simply asked.

[member="Ballen-Ist"]

 

[Ballen-Ist]

"Of course not." He stated, shaking his head from side to side. The target's location was currently unknown, however he did know of a few individuals that the young padawan hung around. "Keep a look out for one Carden Lorps as well." He would say, before continuing, "The two are sometimes together, if you cannot find the Jedi then find the hunter." He spoke, obviously referring to Lorps. "He is simple minded, unlike you and I. Simple tactics could be used to extract the information subtly."

"Coruscant or Kashyyyk are your best bets. Tython as well, but that is the Jedi's main world."
[member="Skrik Piper"]

 

[Skrik Piper]

Skrik nodded, mentally indexing all this information for later use. However, she was wondering how he knew enough about her and what stock he had in her offing this dynamic duo of sorts. "What are you having profit from this?" she questioned, an eyebrow raised sky-high, "How much is it paying?

"And..." she added, hesitation evident in her voice. "How if I am fearing of flying?"

[member="Ballen-Ist"]

 

[Ballen-Ist]

"Profit? This is not profitable for me, rather you. Can't you listen?" He would question, returning a raised eyebrow.
Ceasing his paces, Ballen-Ist would become motionless, the duo still standing on the dojo's arena. "The pay? Depends on how you go about it. I hear lightsabers go for a lot on the market." He would speak again, aiming to lure her in with greed. "Along with your prize, I would also pay a wealthy sum of credits for his execution. How does...Twenty thousand sound?" He asked the female, wondering if she would take the job. [member="Skrik Piper"]

 

[Skrik Piper]

Twenty thousand. "Okay. That is a lot of money," she admitted. "...If half is upfront, or yes?" Ten thousand for the effort, ten thousand for the kill. There was no way anyone was going to cheat her out of a full twenty thousand if she had anything to do with it, and she flexed her right arm while twirling the electrostaff in her left for effect.

"If I am having free transport. And I have wondering how am I finding you for the pay when I kill?" With a warning gaze she pointed a finger at him. "I am not working for everyone. It is rare. If you will not be paying after, I will be hunting you as well. You are not cheating me, or no?"

[member="Ballen-Ist"]

 

[Ballen-Ist]

"Twenty thousand upfront." He stated boldly, a grin forming beneath the cloth that guarded his face. "After that, it is your choice whether you complete the mission." He would continue, listening to the other things she had to say. This one had a lot of questions, what was even more annoying was the way she talked. "I have connections, I will give you access to private transportation. I don't cheat, if you do...Well, let's just say it wouldn't be in your favor."
[member="Skrik Piper"]

 

[Skrik Piper]

Skrik nodded at everything he said, quite satisfied with his answers. Finally, with electrostaff still tightly in hand, the half-Rattataki stepped forward and extended her long arm to offer her hand. "Okay. We are having a deal, or yes?" Any sign of hesitation, and she would withdraw her hand. Any sudden moves from him, and she would bring her weapon down on his sad, cloaked skull.

She smiled warmly.

[member="Ballen-Ist"]

 

[Ballen-Ist]

His black clothed arm would rise from beneath the dark cloak, his gloved hand seeking to grasp around the Rattataki's own. He would shake her hand firmly, nodding to her, "It is a deal, on my honor." He spoke. "I suggest tailing Carden Lorps first. Should be easy. Good luck." He would say, handing her a single plastic-like card. It was a credit cheque, entitling one [member="Skrik Piper"] to twenty thousand credits. Once she looked up from the currency, he would be gone.

 

[Skrik Piper]

Carden Lorps... Small game, apparently--short work and easy pay. But she did not see any point to killing him if he was not a Jedi. The Forcebreaker glanced back up at her employer.

But he was no longer there. Was her hearing really getting that bad? She turned about to search in all directions, but only caught the disintegrating glint of light as the door to the basement closed. He was fast, she would give him that much.

And she was still not convinced that he was not a Force user himself. But for now, she had a target picked out. She would have to learn more about her employer later--maybe from the very victim she would be taking. The hooded creature seemed to have a vendetta against this Taidarious, so she was sure she would be learning more in due time.

Putting away her weapons--including her new toy--Skrik headed back up to the great outdoors and set out for one of her favorite joints where her favorite people hung out. Tomorrow, she would worry about finding this Carden Lorps.