Sharing The Past

[Marcus Itera]

Sharing The Past​

Echoy'la Colony, Echoy'la​

[member="Nikole Dorstar"] (Vizsla)​

​

This moonlet was probably one of the strangest things he'd ever been on. Hollow interior, weird gravity fluctuations, and probably one of the most bleak landscapes he'd ever laid eyes on. Well, this place used to be a top secret prison out in the middle of nowhere, so treating inmates with a refreshing atmosphere and environment really wasn't at the top of the owners' priorities.

But that didn't make it anymore easy for Marcus. He just didn't like the place at all. It gave him the jitters, the kind you get when you think someone is tracking you, so you merely keep your pace steady but your trigger finger is as itchy as ever. At least he wasn't alone.

"You sure this is a good enough place to meet? I mean, gross scenery. I don't think their cuisine is any more flavorful than their setting, Marcus." Miranda chimed in, her avatar danced towards the right side of his HUD, providing enough distraction to nearly have the man walk straight into a bulkhead.

"Yeah, it's close enough. If they don't have any good food, I've always got some of those frakking awesome rations in the ship."

"Oh hush. You know those aren't good - you just like 'em because they never expire and it keeps your cheap sheb from spending money."

Marcus grinned. "Thank the gods you aren't a real woman, or else I'd be broke."

"I am a real woman!" Miranda huffed, "And you never get me anything nice!"

"I got you that nice little quantum nanocomputer a while back, didn't I?"

The AI lowered her eyes and her cyan cheeks lit up with a pink hue that appeared to emulate human emotions. Marcus simply gave a satisfying snort of victory before changing the subject, "So we're supposed to meet her at the Radiant Bar?"

Miranda nodded. "I contacted her and told her to meet us there a few standard days ago."

Right. This woman named Nikole Vizsla. When Marcus had initially been recruited into the Mandalorian Empire by an old friend by the name of Isley, he'd instructed Miranda to pull up dossiers on any personnel considered interesting. With a Republic Commando background, Nikole was sent to the top of that priority list and Marcus couldn't wait to meet her.

So, he entered the bar and took a table near the back. Then the waiting game ensued.

 

[Nyx]

Nikole was many things, and a coward was not one of them. For over eight years, she had fought the Republic's enemies on the front lines, losing many of the people she considered to be close friends. For over eight years, she had spilled the blood of dozens, if not hundreds of men, women, and children, all in the name of democracy, of freedom, of the Republic.
Did she regret those days? Yes and no. Her days as a Commando shaped Nikole, turned her into the woman she was today. For every life she had taken, she knew another was safe. And yet, she couldn't help but wonder what would've happened if she had stayed on Taanab, and became a farmer like her parents wanted her to. Would she be married, settled down, with a family? Would there be a little Nikole running around?
Maybe there would, maybe there wouldn't. It was too late now, at any rate.

When a Mandalorian had met her in a cantina drinking her life away, Nikole hadn't thought much of it. What she hadn't expected was for him to convince her to join up with the newfound Mandalorian Empire. Even as she was inducted into Clan Vizsla, she couldn't quite believe it. In the Republic, most of her fellow commandos hadn't been very fond of the Mandos, calling them raiding bullies, and several skirmishes hadn't helped with that. And yet, here she was.
And almost as soon as she had joined up, she'd gotten a message to meet a one [member="Marcus Itera"] at the 'Radiant Bar'. Hmm. Apparently, he was a fellow Commando, and that piqued her interest.
So there she was, dressed in her civies, with a simple leather jacket being the defining feature. She hated her civies.
But she spotted a man fitting the description, and walked over to him, her eyes roaming his form. He certainly had the stance and body of a Commando.
"Marcus? I'm Nikole, Nikole Dor- I mean, Vizsla."

 

[Marcus Itera]

Thankfully, the wait wasn't too long. The bar's patrons were a sort of quiet bunch. Some dusty looking miners played billiards while most of the other patrons simply occupied themselves with drinking away, smoking cigarras, or otherwise having quiet conversations that made the backdrop hum with the murmur of hushed words. Marcus had sat that silently for a few minutes until a server came by and took his order, namely a few shots of their strongest whiskey or ale. Alcohol didn't really affect him - it was impossible for him to get drunk with such a high metabolism and that bio-computer embedded into his abdomen.

He mainly just enjoyed the taste and the burn of his throat. Felt like it cleaned him out. Cigarras were really nice too, the nicotine had a rather calming effect on him though he only liked to reserve those for special occasions. Even being half-robot didn't mean his lungs couldn't suffer from whatever chemicals they laced the things with.

"There she is." Miranda chirped in his ear while outlining the woman's frame with a dull green glow, pulling up information from the dossier file.

Before she strode over, Marcus took it upon himself to give the first sign of trust by removing his helmet and laying it on the table. He rose when she neared, questioning whether if he was Marcus or not.

"Yes, I'm Marcus, Marcus Itera." He gave her a short smile and extended his hand. "Pleased to meet you, Miss Vizsla. Here, have a seat."

Before he returned to his chair, he took a quick moment to give her an appraising look. His artificial eyes raked over her form from head to toe. Dark eyes, dark hair, the posture of a soldier yet she still had the grace and elegance of a woman.

Then he slid back into his own chair. "I'm assuming you know why I called you here today, right?"

[member="Nikole Vizsla"]