Private Heavy Bags of Sand

[Kardek Alpha]

THE FAMILY HANGAR ON CORUSCANT / THE HARBINGER / PORT SIDE CARGO BAY / Jenzid Channsalj
KARDEK'S APPEARANCE​

Sweat dripped freely off Kardek as he repeatedly struck at his target over and over with fierce determination. The large and heavy bag filled with sand took the trauma in stride, trembling from the impacts as it swayed with a dull groan against the ropes that held it in the air. Thuds echoed throughout the cargo bay, accompanied by the sharp breathing patterns exhaled from the gunslingers nostrils. While expending quite a bit of physical energy, Kardek's mind was just as equally engaged in deep thoughts... thoughts of his recent conversation with Samuel Exel ... Thoughts of his late wife... Thoughts of his own self-inflicting tendencies and the struggles he faced of finding a new path forward for himself. These thoughts translated into a rather intense martial arts session with the unsuspecting sand bag.

Kardek's Zerek Ascension Node allowed him access to quite a catalogue of different martial art forms, however it was never enough to simply rely on such implants separate from real muscle memory and reflex training. It was a tool, but in order to be truly effective, it needed to become instinctual. So Kardek had established an almost nightly routine of personal training for himself. On this particular night, the gunslinger had failed to close the port-side lift, knowing that traffic within the hangar bay had usually died off by this time. And so the muted sounds of his activities made its way out of his vessel, subtly echoing throughout the larger expanse...

 

[Jenzid Channsalj]

Outfit
Kardek Alpha​

The silver haired woman was becoming acquainted with her new surroundings. Exits and entries, chokepoints, where the best point of ambush could be. The easiest rally points inside the facilities she was allowed.

Her last stop, and least favorite, being the hangars.

Starports and landing areas always tended to be popular hangouts for troublemakers. And shadowing one individual turned into trying to avoid the attention of multiple beings in a tightly packed area.

Assassinations becoming a practice in blending in rather than outright finishing a job.

The sounds of effort and what she guessed were punches filling the air as she spied a single door left ajar in the area. A rise of her brow and moment long stare making her scan the area before slowly moving toward the source.

Hangars were always a strange place, and meetings with new individuals always a possibility. If they were a part of the Family, she had little to worry about.

If they weren't.

She didn't have to make any long trips to dispose of trespassers at least. She crept along, silently moving forward until she could peer inside the ramp and spy someone working out. Her arms crossed at first, not entirely sure how to approach at first.

They had clearance to be in the hangar. Aboard one of the Family's ships. By himself no less.

The way she understood the structure of rank around here, there were seldom few people allowed to just...hang around. And even she was likely pushing the limits of what she was allowed to do. Unfurling her arms, she placed a hand into a pocket before using the other to make sure she cleared the opening without bumping her head.

A loud step onto the loading ramp announced her presence, eye uncovered and glimmering in the dark before she came into the light to address the being currently making himself into a proper mess of a workout.

"Take video. Capture stills. Sell for money. Sure some would like." She tried to joke.

 

[Kardek Alpha]

THE FAMILY HANGAR ON CORUSCANT / THE HARBINGER / PORT SIDE CARGO BAY / Jenzid Channsalj
KARDEK'S APPEARANCE​

Kardek's eyes darted quickly towards the noise at his open lift, his expression a bit fierce do to the nature of his thoughts and the fact that he had not been expecting any company. All he saw for a moment a pair of eyes glimmering from the shadows.

"Who's there." He demanded sharply, his breathing still a bit heavy from the workout. The gunslinger glanced quickly at his blaster that was lying on top of a crate nearby. Usually this hangar was very secure, however one could never rule out the possibility of thieves or thugs.

Then the woman moved into the light, someone that he had seen before on a previous mission. She was with the family, but they had never been properly introduced.

"Take video. Capture stills. Sell for money. Sure some would like."

Kardek stared at her for a brief moment, a rather blank expression on his face as he processed her unexpected presence. He then seemed to snap back to the present moment, chuckling softly at her remarks as he grabbed a rag and wiped the sweat off his brow, "I wouldn't quit your day job." He quipped back with a smirk, tossing the rag down and looking back at the woman. "Jenzid, right?" He recalled her very impressive yet terrifying performance during their last encounter, tilting his head slightly as he studied her from across the hold.

"Come in." He offered with a wave of his hand as he turned around, grabbing his black tank top off the ground and pulling it down over his shoulders. He remembered how her strange green magic had entrapped the guards. She was definitely someone you wanted on your side in a fight. Kardek was curious what might have brought her to his ship tonight. Perhaps she was just passing through. Perhaps she wanted something form him? Nevertheless, he didn't mind the distraction.

 

[Jenzid Channsalj]

Outfit
Kardek Alpha​

"Who's there."

"Just I." She didn't smile, observing his gaze as she stepped into the light.

"I wouldn't quit your day job."

There was visible thought across her features as she picked apart his quip. Recognition flashing briefly before her steps brought her inside the hold.

"Never smart quit what one has trained. Not hurt for extra credits though." She smirked at her own words.

"Jenzid, right?"
"Come in."

She nodded, stepping inside completely. The tank top got a short lived frown from her as she half-leaned, half-sat on the crate with his blaster atop it. A decent defense weapon when it wasn't so far away from someone.

Granted he was likely aware of her magicks already, so surprise was a touch more difficult now.

"Jenzid yes. Jen for short. Bag good for practice. Person better. Not know what they know. Make fun." She leaned back further, hands along the edge of the crate and watching him.

 

[Kardek Alpha]

THE FAMILY HANGAR ON CORUSCANT / THE HARBINGER / PORT SIDE CARGO BAY / Jenzid Channsalj
KARDEK'S APPEARANCE​

"Never smart quit what one has trained. Not hurt for extra credits though."

He couldn't help but chuckle as he pulled the tank top into place across his chest. "True." He confessed, her reasoning was sound. Kardek turned around and wiped his damp hair out of his eyes with a hand as he got a better look at the woman who was now much closer to him, leaning against the crate. She was… cute. Very cute. And deadly. He wondered what her story was.

"Jenzid yes. Jen for short. Bag good for practice. Person better. Not know what they know. Make fun."

He nodded, leaning against the bag, shifting it slightly from his weight. Arms were crossed in front of him as he seemed to be assessing her as an opponent. He had seen enough to know that she would be formidable.

"Jen." He stated thoughtfully, "Kardek. not sure if you already knew that or…" He scratched his chin, his words drifting off as his mind went elsewhere. He was a little weary of her magic, mostly because he didn't understand it. He had gone up against force users before, but that was the first time he had seen anything quite like that.

"Ok... I'll bite." He said finally, nodding his head as he pulled off the bag and stepped towards her, entering into his combat stance. "But I know you've got a bag full of tricks. So let's start off a bit slow, yeah?" He was also a little unsure at how hard he should go, not wanting to send the poor girl spiraling into the hull or something. It was a weird mix… on the one hand, not knowing the full strength of his new bag of sand… on the other hand… not wanting to punch a hole through it either.

Besides… this was just practice…

 

[Jenzid Channsalj]

Outfit
Kardek Alpha​

The chuckle seemed to please her, a layer dropping away finally. She'd made someone laugh. A small victory for her as she smiled.

The assessing look was something she was familiar with.

It used to bother her at the beginning of her career. Clients sizing up their contractor with disdain at not being presented with someone...more. Always a fun experience with those that assumed danger meant a certain presentation.

Disarming worked far better than brute force in her own experience. Even when brute force was required, she only had to be precise with her efforts.

A guided munition compared to carpet bombing she'd been told once.

"Card-ek. Kar-dhek. Kar-dek." She let the name form, working out the sounds before adding on. "Pleasant meeting." She nodded before he took the dangled offer.

Clearly stepping into a combat stance as she pushed off of the crate. Shedding the half jacket and throwing it atop the blaster.

"I'll be nice." She shrugged her shoulders, smile dropping into a professional but excited expression as she weighed her options. Her foot came forward, eye examing his arms, guessing his reach from her almost two-dimensional sight and shifting from floor to head.

He was taller. Not by much but it gave him a few centimeters of reach outside of hers most likely. Judging by the punching bag, he had power behind his swings also. Solid footwork and assessing eyes hinted at professional rather than enthusiast.

Her foot settled on the ground, her arms set for light sparring as she steadied her breathing.

Closing the distance with a quick hop step, she threw a jab towards his chest and kept her footing to the balls of her feet.

 

[Kardek Alpha]

THE FAMILY HANGAR ON CORUSCANT / THE HARBINGER / PORT SIDE CARGO BAY / Jenzid Channsalj
KARDEK'S APPEARANCE​

"Pleasant meeting."

Kardek smirked, nodding slightly. "You as well."

He observed her adjustments to his form. Wise. She was surely highly trained and experienced. But in truth, Kardek already knew this, having been subtly observing her ever since their first encounter. He had played off vaguely remembering her name, but in reality she was at the top of his list for potential candidates for a new team he was beginning to form. This should be an excellent test... facing her himself... Seeing what she was truly capable of. His eyebrows narrowed and face grew a bit intense as he readied himself for their sparring to begin.

He just hoped he wouldn't get sucked to the ground by her mysterious magic...

As she approached and levied her first strike, Kardek stepped backward, attempting to keep some distance between himself and Jen. Distance was his ally, especially against a smaller opponent. He would have the upper hand as long as he kept her strikes out of reach from his core. His arm swiftly deflected the strike, sending the momentum gained away from him as Kardek shifted his body, her fist passing to the side. He continued stepping backward, remaining in a defensive posture, but then bring his leg up outward and then swiftly in towards Jen's stomach for his first attempt at landing a successful strike.