Private Ready or Not, Here I Come

[Mercy]

TERMINUS
Iliana Röhr

Mercy didn't really enjoy being within the borders of the Sith Empire.

It was too... organized, lawful, like a cold calculating machine. Unfeeling and constantly crushing things underfoot. Not that Mercy minded when people got crushed, that would have been hypocritical. But the fact they made it so impersonal was a sin to Mercy. The only world that she could stand to step foot on was Terminus. While nominally under Sith control, it still had that grime and dust to it. Criminals littering the corridors and streets of the shadowport.

There were more Sith here now, of course. The ones that had less interested in the tight structure and laws of the Empire. The ones lower on the pole who were looking for ways to increase their standing in ways that were... frowned upon by the Sith council.

Mercy just liked the ability to breathe in the air without having to scowl at yet another Lord telling her what to do because they were a 'Lord' and she was a 'Knight'.

She casually walked into an alleyway. Distant from the main road and with a courtyard adjacent. Perfectly isolated for a business deal. Which is exactly what was happening. Mercy didn't particularly care, she was just minding her business. Until the blaster shots started, one of which ran right past her and ruined her favorite coat. "What the f-" Mercy hissed there as she quickly ripped it off and threw the ignited coat to the side.

Oh, someone was going to pay for that.

With their face.

She changed her trajectory and moved towards the gunfire.

 

[Iliana Röhr]

I L I A N A⠀ RÖ H R

TERMINUS​

Drip... Drip... Drip...

Stillness in the air, a leaky faucet, dust choking the entire courtyard. "11,000 credits, the best I can do..." Ily' pointed out, her hired bodyguards, local scoundrels, shooting looks at one another upon hearing how much she had on her. Negotiations seemed to be going smoothly, she got along well enough with her client- a young Sith lord whom she had sought out for intelligence on the markets within The Sith Order.

Something felt off, however. His own security detail seemed particularly spread-out, seeming almost nervous. "That won't do..." grinned the young Sith, "you'll fetch a much nicer price as a captured spy!"

"Wh-" Ily' exclaimed, startled as blasters were pulled. She barely had a moment to react before blaster fire began; Her hirelings dead within seconds. She took cover, gripping her sidearm tightly as if it owed her money- not wanting to risk moving out of cover. It didn't take long for the Sith's own hired help begin closing in, however.

"This isn't very amicable, Stavros..." she called out nervously, knowing she didn't stand a chance...

"Grab her!"

Mercy

 

[Mercy]

Iliana Röhr

Mercy walked onto the courtyard and the geniuses currently attacking Iliana decided they would shoot first, ask questions later.

Several blaster shots hit her straight in the chest.

They were already moving on to handle the woman behind cover, thinking they resolved the situation. They hadn't noticed the blue hue running along her skin that had absorbed the blaster fire like it was nothing. The Sith was too busy gloating on having practically captured Röhr already. A classic case of counting the chickens before they hatch.

She dispelled any notion that this would be nice and simple by picking up a piece of concrete. Then she threw it so hard it ran straight through one of the henchman's head like a bullet.

"You know, it's not very nice to ruin a person's coat or shoot at them without apologizing." The Sith seemed to recognize what they were dealing with a moment later and immediately threw lightning in her direction. She quickly crouched down and settled behind the cover with Iliana. "You seem like a nice lady, cute too, any particular reason that jackass is throwing lightning around like candy at us?"

She picked up another piece of stone and threw it just as quickly before ducking behind cover again.

Another body collapsed to the ground.

They stopped pushing forward after that, which gave them a respite.

 

[Iliana Röhr]

I L I A N A⠀ R Ö H R

TERMINUS​

Ily' scoffed amusedly. Caught in the crossfire and concerned about her jacket?

She did admire the distribution of concrete, however.

"You seem like a nice lady, cute too, any particular reason that jackass is throwing lightning around like candy at us?"

"Ha!" she chuckled to herself. "Nerf herder thinks he can sell me for more than I can offer," she spoke through gritted teeth, henchmen still closing in. Iliana's suit scuffed and dirtied, her face telling a story of familiarity and terror- this wasn't her first scuffle but it was soon growing to become her most dangerous. She looked the buff lady up and down quickly, "Sorry about your jacket," she mused, "I can pay- if you can help me-" a shot landed by her head, hitting the concrete pillar she sat behind.

"- Help me get rid of these karkin' idiots... Are you okay?"

She noticed the blaster marks on her chest, and her concern grew further. There wasn't much time left, however, and Ily' had no combat experience herself- and her poor grip on her blaster showed it.

"Uh... Need this?" Ily' offered her sidearm- and judging by her skill with concrete, she even begin to couldn't fathom what the lady would do with a blaster- even if injured...

Mercy

 

[Mercy]

Iliana Röhr

"Selling a woman of your stature? How rude." Mercy purred with a smirk as her eyes flicked down to the gun on offer. "Um." She patted Ily's hand gently.

"No offense but I think you need that one more than I do."

Another burst of lightning ripped through the air right above them. It would be only a few seconds before the dipshit Lord realized that he could just throw lightning directly into the cover. The only thing keeping him from that doing was probably the desire to keep Iliana alive. Mercy didn't want to give him the time to start second-guessing himself on that front though.

Without saying another word, she suddenly leaped up and over the cover. The Sith grinned, about to say something with a very stupid smug expression on his face that really infuriated Mercy.

So she didn't let him.

She leaped straight into him, smashing a fist into his gut, forcing him to double over and then grabbed his lightsaber. Within a split second in that chaos, Mercy ignited the red saber straight through his skull. The haum was satisfying, as was the limp body collapsing to the ground. The remaining guards took one look at that maniac of a woman with the remnants of their boss at her feet.

Then they ran off.

"Oh, come on now, it was just getting fun!" Mercy yelled out after their retreating form. "Pretty lady, you can come out now, the danger's over for now."

 

[Iliana Röhr]

I L I A N A⠀ R Ö H R

TERMINUS​

"Selling a woman of your stature? How rude." Mercy purred with a smirk as her eyes flicked down to the gun on offer. "Um." She patted Ily's hand gently.

"No offense but I think you need that one more than I do."

"Oh-" stuttered the financier, rather confused by the whole ordeal. She flinched at the lightning hitting the concrete behind her and watched as Mercy leapt out of cover. She didn't see what happened next, but it was dramatic & quick- much to her surprise.

With a sense of relief, she peered out of cover to check if Mercy was still alive- which she thankfully was.

"Oh, come on now, it was just getting fun!" Mercy yelled out after their retreating form. "Pretty lady, you can come out now, the danger's over for now."

"I... hate this place," she arose, dusting off her lovely Epican suit. "Ugh- that'll be expensive to repair..." Her eyes met Mercy's as she approached her saviour, "Well, I suppose these will serve you better than they did him," she reached into her coat pocket and pulled out some cred sticks, "it should cover your uh- services?"

Her eyes drifted down to Mercy's blaster-covered chest, "how are you still alive?!" she exclaimed, genuinely surprised.

After a few moments of catching her breath, and feeling uneasy with Stavros' limp body next to her, she continued. "Thank you," she paused for a moment as if remembering something important. "Ah! This-" she pulled out a tungsten coin, "-is also for you!"

She had handed the woman a business marker- a coin of extreme value amongst herself and her people. "If you ever need anything, ask me- find me- call me, I'll come find you!" she frowned slightly. "Though... my talents are more... economical and legal than violent," she mused, gesturing to the scene around the pair. "I may still be of some help."

Iliana's face lit up as she glanced once at Mercy- an odd sense of familiarity from a time gone by- almost as it was a memory brought on by the symbol on the coin. She squinted, her brow furrowed in surprise, "is... that you, Mercy?" she eyed the lady up and down. "You've... grown! When was the last time we saw one another- Epica?!"

She snapped back to reality for a moment, looking around at their surroundings. "Perhaps we should get out of here?"

Mercy

 

[Mercy]

Iliana Röhr

There were holes in her coat, but otherwise Mercy seemed remarkably undamaged. For a moment longer the blue hue stayed, clinging to her skin, and her undershirt too before it vanished. A hint of what had transpired.

"Oh, I don't die easy. People like Stavvy here." Kicking his limp body with a casual gesture. "...discover that a bit too late unfortunately."

She accepted the coin with a quizzical look. It looked familiar. Very familiar in fact.

Mercy was about to lay the link herself, but Iliana got there first. Blinking she looked up to the woman and then it hit her. "Oh, wow, Röhr? Look at you, darling." She purred and her arm wrapped around her shoulders. As if it belonged there as Mercy guided Iliana away from the courtyard. Seemingly agreeing it was time to leave the dead Sith body behind before people started asking questions.

"I may have grown, but I don't quite remember you being this much of a knock-out." Teasing her lightly, her muscular arm staying right where it was, very presumptuous.

"How's Ivory and the Fam doing?" Mercy had always had good relationships with the Family. First with Ivory, then after that with Malcoma. Through those connections she had often rubbed elbows and shoulders. Though never went so far as to join the group fully. Mercy never had played well with others for the long run.

"And what are you doing with the Sith? They are a sordid bunch you know. Can't trust them."

Ironic considering Mercy was a Sith herself.

 

[Iliana Röhr]

I L I A N A⠀ R Ö H R

TERMINUS​

Ily' rolled her eyes at Mercy's charm, a grin formed on her face as she did so. "Ever the charmer, Mercy- it's... been a while," she huffed in amusement. Raising an eyebrow as Mercy's arm soon met her other shoulder and they began to move on from the scene of the crime unfortunate situation.

"Ah- The Family..." she hesitated for a moment, frowning as they continued their walk. "Not great, I'm afraid... Something happened- a job gone wrong, an investigation too close, everyone just went dark suddenly," she sighed, quietly reminiscing.

"Everyone has gone their own way, myself included," her voice perked up a bit. "I've gone independent now! Which hasn't been a smooth ride-" she gestured back to the courtyard they left behind, "as you've just experienced..."

Ily's eyes squinted, "As for that Sith, I had assumed that I could rely on their discretion and motivation- for cold, hard credits..." she pointed out to the cred sticks she had given Mercy earlier. "I needed information, 'ins' so to speak, ways into the infrastructure market, and our 'Sith' friend had that information..."

She continued walking, allowing Mercy to guide her- a sign of trust for her old associate. "... Thought he could sell me for more, something about... being a spy? I didn't know they could do that lightning thing though..."

Her head cocked to the side curiously, looking up to her old friend; "What're you doing here?"

Mercy

 

[Mercy]

Iliana Röhr

"Oh, you know me, darling. I enjoy a good stroll that gets me in and out of trouble. Lucky for you, I suppose. I don't think Stavros would have been too gentle with you if I hadn't been around." Squeezing her shoulders lightly, almost casually, as she checked out the coin that Röhr had given her. "You know, Ivory gave me one of these too a long time ago. I think I still have it somewhere. I wonder how many people have two of these at once."

A click of her tongue.

"Being independent suits you, Röhr. Take it from me... better to wrap yourself in independence and be free." It was why Mercy had never formally joined the Family, even if she had enjoyed her time with some of them.

It made her curious though.

People like Ivory didn't just disappear for no reason. She wondered if something had happened to her. Mercy wasn't one to be overly sensitive, but it would be a shame.

That lady had always managed to bring the party.

"Well, why don't I help you again?" Mercy grinned there. "I am not a Sith Lord perse. But that has never stopped me doing stuff most people consider impossible." She slowly stretched, letting her muscles roll with a satisfied groan. "Infrastructure market though... that could mean a whole lotta things, my dear. But... I have people who owe me a favor, I can figure out where dear old Stav was getting his information. With him dead, I think I can yank that network from him and take advantage."

A knowing smile to Röhr.

"They will require a Sith on top, babe, so don't get too ambitious."

 

[Iliana Röhr]

I L I A N A⠀ R Ö H R

TERMINUS​

Ily' raised an eyebrow; A Sith on top? Two business markers? An offer to track down the information she needed?

There was more to Mercy than she anticipated. Though she did chuckle slightly at her offer, "Mercy," she grinned, "you saved my life, and you clearly helped Ivory Stroud when she needed it..."

"... I believe it's supposed to be the other way around- I should be helping you!"

"I'd happily take you up on your offer, but perhaps I could do something for you first? Over a drink?" she continued, still brushing dirt off her rather expensive suit.

Mercy

 

[Mercy]

Iliana Röhr

"Oh, don't worry, darling. I am sure you will be very helpful to me." She drawled lazily with a little smirk. "But sure, you can buy me a drink, it's a date." Iliana might remember that Mercy was a relentless flirt. And the fact that she quite often took women with her, once the night was over, she would never have seen Mercy leave with a man once the night was over.

Both were quite important pieces of information.

"So, how's business doing, now that you are independent."

Then a beat, as Mercy glanced back to the shot-up alleyway. "Well, I mean, besides the endless shit show that was today." Mercy assumed that this was an edge case and that usually Röhr had much more success.

Or her memory was really failing her.

 

[Iliana Röhr]

I L I A N A⠀ R Ö H R

TERMINUS​

"A date..." Ily' muttered to herself, almost finding herself grinning again. She did, in fact, recall that Mercy was quite the flirter the few times they met- and she found it entertaining that it was still the case.

As Ily' & Mercy meandered on, she had no idea where she was being led but she felt safe with Mercy- a combination of familiarity and the knowledge that Mercy had a business marker.

"So, how's business doing, now that you are independent."

Then a beat, as Mercy glanced back to the shot-up alleyway. "Well, I mean, besides the endless shit show that was today." Mercy assumed that this was an edge case and that usually Röhr had much more success.

She grinned, "Usually much better than... this," Ily' mused. "And much more profitable, most of the time-" she continued, opting to speak in a hushed tone for the next part. "I've been doing a lot of work in Confederacy-space, and I've been looking into some High Republic investments... Not broken into Sith markets yet, however."

Ily' frowned for a moment, "...I figured it's a good idea to stay away from Alliance space for the time being- with everything that went on The Family."

After a few moments, she caught up with herself and snapped out of her frown; "-Anything that includes money means I'll try to be there. Equity, banks, trusts, infrastructure, procurement- Heck, even advisory services," Ily' illustrated, pointing out that she had been busy and, shockingly, more successful.

Her eyes flickered to Mercy, "all things I could help you with, perhaps?" she smirked, subtly offering suggestions on how Mercy could best use that favour.

Mercy

 

[Mercy]

Iliana Röhr

It would be soon clear enough where Mercy was leading Röhr. It was a nice enough looking bar a few blocks over. Fairly busy even at this time a day and the perfect way to obfuscate their involvement in any rough housing a few streets back.

"Let's sit in the corner booth, shall we?" Clear vision lines, so if someone was coming for them, they'd see it in advance.

She'd help Röhr slide in, hand holdings her for a moment, before joining herself.

"Mm, possibly. But I am just a brawler, darling. A nightmare with fists. I don't really know what I would do with financing or banks. Anything I want... I just take."

Her eyes lingering on hers at that last line before Mercy smiled and flagged over a waiter.

Ordering a drink for herself, before waiting expectingly to see what Röhr would order.

 

[Iliana Röhr]

ILIANA RÖHR
Terminus

"Sure."

Ily' slid into her seat, taking full advantage of the hand offered. Her eyes skittered cautiously across the venue cautiously, indicating that perhaps she hadn't quite calmed down from her interaction with the young Sith.

It was pleasant enough. Well maintained, the clientele seemed mildly more welcoming than what one would find on a backwater hovel. The smell of alcohol & spirits filled the room, while chatter from its patrons filled the open room.

"Mm, possibly. But I am just a brawler, darling. A nightmare with fists. I don't really know what I would do with financing or banks. Anything I want... I just take."

She squinted coyly at Mercy's comment, intently choosing to not engage- at least not yet. Her eyes met the waiters who had appeared rather quickly. "Uh- Revnog, if you will..." she offered a polite smile, once again turning back to Mercy once the waiter had departed.

"You know-" she thought for a second. "I may have overcomplicated what I do..." Ily' pointed out, making every effort not to be asked to perform an assassination or heist through the business marker- it was not her forte, and her network wasn't quite up and running, yet.

"... I give money to people who have a good, profitable idea. They take that money and spend it on something that makes more money," she paused, watching the waiter swiftly place their drinks on the table. "Then, once they've made that money, they give money back to me with a little extra on-top- which is my return on investment."

Ily's hand hovered over her glass, still shaking slightly. Bringing it to her lips, she took a sip- letting out a sigh as she did so. After a few moments, she returned to her conversation with Mercy.

"So... let's say our young Sith 'friend' came to see me about an idea he had for his business- let's say starting a power-company with his weird lightning fingers," she mused, grinning to herself about the idea. "I like this idea, so I give him... 500,000 credits, with twenty-four months to pay and a twenty-percent interest rate- which is how I make money from these kinds of investments..."

Ily's hand reached into her jacket pocket, pulling out a cigarra tin. She'd offer one to Mercy if she so wished, taking one for herself also and lighting her own and her old friends- if accepted. She took a quick puff, blowing out smoke as she did so.

"Of course there are other considerations, collateral, penalties for defaulting or refusal to repay," her face hardened, as if reliving a difficult memory. "It's quite easy to find people to... resolve these issues, to get me my money back one way or another..."

She snapped back to reality, offering a polite smile to her friend. "Anyway, you flirtatious so-in-so, this is something that I can offer you, something that's I specialize in... Of course I can arrange new homes, new identities, I can arrange-" her voice hushed, not knowing who's listening. "- more illicit favours: heists, bounties, and so on..."

"Just an idea!"

Of course, Ily' was nervous about owing favours. Her trade relied on them, as did her life. Friends here, enemies over there, a favour to stop one from becoming the other and creating problems. She didn't feel like she'd have that issue with Mercy, but she was still cautious nontheless.

"How's your drink?" Ily' smirked.

Mercy

 

[Mercy]

Mercy smirked at the explanation, but she didn't stop Iliana Röhr .

Why would she?

She loved the sound of Röhr's voice and she was getting it for free. It would be coarse to interject when she seemed to enjoy explaining it too. It was the natural consequence of her own presentation really. Mercy often acted more like an animal, a predator on the prowl, than a person. Little did she or many people know that Mercy was in fact a noble woman. A princess, even. Someone with a highly cultured education. She knew which fork to use for what.

Among other things.

"Mm, that does sound interesting, darling." Reaching out to let her finger tip run along Röhr's knuckles even as she sipped from her glass of Corellian Red. "I will keep it in mind. Who knows, maybe I will need some help, financial or otherwise."

She did have ideas, but they usually had to do with destruction rather than construction.

"Oh, it's rather good... yours?" Leaning back a little as she got thoughtful. "You know, I have been considering setting up some... enterprises within the Sith borders that will be... less than legal." Even the Sith had rules that had to be adhered to. Which meant there was profit to be made from breaking their little rules.

"Do you enjoy working independently? Must be a different tack from working with the Family at least."

 

[Iliana Röhr]

ILIANA RÖHR
Terminus

Ily's ears pricked up, having cautiously been eyeing Mercy has her finger traced her knuckles moments earlier. "It's..." she hesitated for a moment in her response. "I do miss them, they were my family- I grew up with them..."

She paused for a second, wondering why she was oversharing with her old friend- perhaps through the flirtations she felt comfortable with Mercy. Perhaps she felt a feeling she hadn't felt since the fall of The Family. "My business has taken a very different direction- a more profitable one perhaps."

"But my life back then was much easier, I will admit..."

Her eyes met with Mercy's. "I can help you with your... 'enterprises,' you know..."

Mercy

 

[Mercy]

Iliana Röhr

She nodded and patted her hand lightly.

"The loss of old friends is regrettable, but happens quite often with the lives we live, does it not?" A bit of sympathy there. Something that Mercy didn't offer all that often, but even a creature such as herself. A true nightmare. Could have friends that she missed for one reason or the other. "But I am glad you have found a profitable path forwards regardless."

A little squeeze of her hand and then letting go, right in time for that trademark smirk.

"Mm, Röhr, you really don't like being in someone's debt... or is it just my debt you do not wish to be in?" A bit of a tease there, but Mercy wouldn't be surprised if that was the case.

Being indebted to a nightmare, even a friendly one, could be rife with anxiety.

 

[Iliana Röhr]

ILIANA RÖHR
A Bar on Terminus

Gaze still on her companion, she squinted her eyes as she felt a brief squeeze upon her hand. Ily' let out a small sigh as she continued to listen to the confident words of the lady by her side.

'I've... heard stories about your escapades,' she began, a small smirk tugging at the corner of her lips nervously. 'Stories of the things you can do- whether they merit any truth or not I don't know...' continued the financier, her free hand tracing the base of her glass.

She hesitated for a moment, trying her best not to offend. 'Yes, you're right- I don't like being in anyone's debt. But you... I've meandered down dangerous Coruscanti alleys filled with rival gangs, I've had several standoffs with the crime families of Epica- Heck, I've even negotiated with the Zygerrians for a brief time at the behest of Mairéad Solus ...'

'But you, there's been rumblings of what you've been doing, what you've done, what you can do... The others? Idiots with blasters, the lot of them.'

As expected, she had been keeping tabs on the previous associates of The Family where possible. Yet this one- this woman before her- was different. She did not posture, did not boast. Power sat with her as naturally as a glass of revnog in hand.

Iliana leaned back slightly, tone soft, almost admiring. 'It's rare,' she said, swirling her drink, 'to see someone who doesn't just survive the chaos, but bends it. Most leave trails. You… you leave possibilities.'

A pause, deliberate, before the faintest curve of her lips returned. 'And possibilities… well, they're worth more than any blaster.'

Mercy

 

[Mercy]

Iliana Röhr

The more she spoke the hungrier Mercy was getting.

It truly was the case that the entrance to her heart was paved by endless compliments, praise and worship. The first two she was getting right now, but Mercy bet she could make Röhr a supplicant to her by night's end. One way or the other.

"You know, I don't quite remember you having a silver tongue like that." She said with a smirk. "But I will make good use of it, I promise." She took another sip from her drink, thoughtful now.

"Come work for me." She said suddenly and even surprising herself.

Mercy hadn't been expecting to end this night by trying to recruit Röhr, but she was starting to see some possibilities. "I could use someone who speaks the legal tongue of business. I will protect you, make sure you won't have to duck away from blasterfire again... and you will fill our pockets with legitimate money, filtered through the dirty wealth I offer."

Legitimate business opportunities... these were things leaning dangerously close to what Mercy had been trying to avoid most of her life. But when packaged by a pretty face like her, Mercy couldn't help herself.