Shifting Sands (Atretes Rhoujen)

[Madame Cognito]

-ARABIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC-

A three story sandstone building was one of only a few that popped up within the city limits of Mos Eisley. Sheer, vibrantly colored shades covered the third floor balcony entry way. A desert breeze lifted the shade slightly every once and a while. Decorative pillowed seating areas with low sandstone tables adorned the center of these seating areas. A stage remained in the singular top floor room of residence, Twi'lek, Cathar and a Human females danced barefoot in nearly sheer, mid-drif bearing dancers clothes. Ten rough looking males of varying species sat around the table in varying states of sobriety and with drink levels at varying degrees. One of the men was the owner of the gambling den on the second floor. These men were some high roller patrons that were loyal to the money that the den's boss provided and gave no indication that they even cared that this den was working without Hutt kickbacks. A crime punishable by death if discovered.
This secret had been discovered by Arya's Mos Eisley contact, Malon, a trusted Rodian contract giver that was loyal to the Hutts and Arya because she always completed the assignment and kept Malon's reputation high. She had just gotten off of a job that included a burlesque dance that inconspicuously left her mark dead at the foot of her Paradisio Club's stage. Arya was still in the market for a place for her call girls to train in the art of the assassin. Arya had received a message from Malon the following week from Malon about the gambling den job. Arya had been happy to accept the job as it allowed her a nice change of pace from sitting in board room settings negotiating contracts and making plans.
Arisa spoke into Arya's hidden ear piece. She was watching the situation from the Opulence in orbit of Tatooine, "Mission Intel: Target's name is Tylon Merkal, a former gambling den operator that gave kickbacks to the Hutts in exchange for protection. He went rogue after he started feeling that he did not need the protection of the Hutts any longer. The Hutts want him dead for not utilizing them and refusing to give up a cut of the profits being the den is a business operating within their territory. Tylon Merkal is a blackish green skinned trandoshan. He likes to drink a green Tatooine whiskey and wears a golden star pendant on his left cufflink. He fashions himself a rising warlord and has taken to hiring his own private security detail. He has in his employment, a contingent of 30 guards spread across three floors. Only those invited to the den are allowed to entry into the residence. Once inside, the first floor is the lobby with a coat check, guards quarters and a stairwell that leads to the three floors. Tylon's quarters and the dancers quarters are on the third floor. No one is allowed on the third floor unless invited from the second floor or if you're entertainment.

Supplies for this mission have been left in your suite at the Paradisio Club. I took the liberty of providing you with all intel and a layout of the den acquired from my recon mission. That information is with your supplies. By the way, if you need an alibi to get in, tell them one of the dancers, a blonde named Karina Telton, the current human dancer, is a friend that spoke with Tylon's hiring manager about a new entertainer job. Karina is secretly working with the Hutts as a spy and knows of your mission.

If you do not choose the disguised infiltration route, there is also a two story building next door to this residence that may provide a good spot to access the third floor of the residence. Be mindful, however, of that option. There are usually two guards that patrol the exterior around the base of the residence and on the balcony."
"You've been busy, Arisa. Good to know Malon has kept me abreast with all angles of my jobs." Arya said sarcastically as she went over her preparations in her suite at the Paradisio Club.
"Malon knows you're busy with the Paradisio Club and solicited my services to help you pre-job. I know how to run recon. Take this information as you will, Madame Cognito." Arisa said earnestly.
Arya rolled her eyes and went back to her job prep. Wearing a purple, sheer mid-drif outfit, pinned up raven hair, Cathar style eye makeup and a lower face mask Arya stood at the foot of her bed. A small, handled makeup box rested on it. She checked the status of her blades and her small side arms that rested in the box.
[member="Atretes Rhoujen"]

 

[EmKay]

In the Mos Eisely docking bay, the dagger shape of the KWS Morvak sat quietly in its glossy black glory, the viewports hatched and the lights off. Within the complex, cramped interiour of the freighter, amid some stacked crates and spare parts, sat Atretes. Datapad in hand, he flipped through the catalogue of information provided by the Hutts.

Mr. Rhoujen,

It has come to our attention that your performance on Nar Shadaa was well-received and effective. While you did not execute the primary target, your ability to work was noted as well above the average bounty hunter to cross our paths. As such, we have attached a bounty and relevant information to this message. Should you choose to accept, we need only to know if the job was done.

While the message in itself was anonymous, there was no mistaking who sent it. The Hutts either had taken a liking to him, or were trying to play up his ego in an attempt to garner his work. Either way, he needed credits, especially if he wanted a ship to replace his Morvak. She was a good ship, but extremely outdated. He patted the wall and flicked through the schematics, read-outs, guard schedules, internal contact lists, and different recommended avenues of infiltration and/or assault. He sighed and flipped the view on his datapad to his current equipment and abilities.

A rear hostile infiltration could prove the easiest route for him. It'd rely on his skills as a Knight Obsidian rather than on playing a game of deception to creep his way into the establishment. Still, learning some new skills was always a bonus, and he was getting better at interacting socially. Especially after he cut his hair. He sighed and clicked off the datapad, then went to his small room that was the captain quarters. Within was the refresher, a bed, a wardrobe, and a desk, all cramped in the small space. There was barely room to walk. He tossed off his clothing and took a quick shower, then made a final debate on which action to take. Assault or deception.

"Time to step outside your comfort zone, Rhou." Atretes told himself, before getting dressed in a formal suit. Such luxuries were provided to him by the Confederacy as his proof of ability showed, although he'd never made use of this suit until now. After some more preparation to make himself look nice, he chanced one last glance to his sword, pistol, and lightsaber. He got the distinct feeling he would need them, but his choice of objective made taking them nearly impossible. He sighed, and his brow furrowed, but he carried on. After he tucked his datapad into his inner jacket pocket, he stepped around the crates that littered the narrow halls of his ship and unlocked the loading ramp. He straightened his jacket and stepped out into the artificial light that reflected off his shined shoes and polished buttons, and added a strange glint to his pale violet eyes.

"That will be fifty credits, sir." said a dock authority. He was different than the one from the last time he was here. Rhoujen knew that a ship's transponder codes were attached to the docking payment. Long story short, this was an obvious shakedown and they both knew it.

"What you're doing is obvious," Atretes said fearlessly, "And I refuse to partake in the charade." he finished simply. The firm tone took the port authority aback, but only briefly, and after that moment a remote control was in the other man's hand.

"Oh? Well, let me tell you about these auto-turrets surrounding the dock. I can reduce you and your ship to ash." a malicious sparkle was visible in the man's eyes, but it faded as soon as Atretes spoke the five words that would end anyone's sense of grandeur in an instant.

"I'm working for the Hutts." he said, quietly and venomously. The victorious air around the port authority melted and was replaced by a look of shock. His emotions reeked of surprise and fear. "Now, if you don't mind, I am behind schedule." Rhoujen announced matter-of-factly before he pushed past the corrupt official and tapped an external button he'd wired onto his datapad that closed, locked, and sealed his ship.

[member="Madame Cognito"]

 

[Madame Cognito]

In the blistering mid-day heat of the two suns, Arya stood poised in her purple shear outfit, a glittering star ring in her navel, her cat eyed makeup piercing the stares of the guards at the door. "I was told I was able to work her in the lounge." Arya said bluntly as she flashed her eyes and gave them her invitation.
"By whom, this invitation only grants you entry to the second floor. Give me a name of who told you that you were our new entertainer." The skeptical guard stated looking her up and down suspiciously.
"My friend, Karina Telton. She stated that Tylon was looking into new entertainers and I jumped at this opportunity. I would love to work for, as she put it, a nicely accommodating boss like Tylon." Arya stated hoping the last bit of buttering up would help.
"Yes, Karina did tell us of your arrival and the arrangement, but I must check your luggage before you can enter." The guard said approaching her two boxes.
"I understand sir. Precautions must be attended to especially on a world like this one." Arya said confidently as she moved the luggage toward the guard. She had taken the weapons out of the luggage now filled with costumes and accessories. She only kept a toxin vial in her hair that was in an tightly coiled up-do. Arya would be working her magic insure that Tylon would want her alone. She would take him to his room and kill him with her toxin there. That was her plan anyway. In the meantime, Arya awaited the luggage search to conclude.

[member="Atretes Rhoujen"]

 

[EmKay]

The dusty roads through the town were, to say the least, uncomfortable to tread -- especially in this heat. He found himself patting himself down and, blessedly, finding a pair of sunglasses to shield his eyes from the sun and sand. Following the muted beep-beep that was his destination proximity scanner, he wove his way through the city until he was within eyeshot of the building. He leaned against a wall, and pulled out his datapad. A few taps through the screens and messages activated an invitation that was perfectly forged as per the seemingly-infinite Huttese resources. The invitation, code-locked and all, was sent silently through the establishment's local database and slid into a random place in the moderately-long list where he would have easily been missed or lost upon first inspection. Confident that the job was done, he strolled up to the entryway alongside the woman he'd not yet recognised. The security guard automatically locked onto him, looked him up and down, and spoke harshly.

"Invitation?"
"Electronic. I'm on your list." the young man said casually, waving off the hostile tone of the guard with a much more practised ease than those many months ago. The guard stared at Rhoujen warily, and pulled out a screen from the nearby wall to scroll through the list.

"Name?"
"Atretes Rhoujen."
"You're not on here."
"I should be. If not, I'll have to speak with your supervisor about poor bookkeeping."

A tense moment passed while the guard scrutinised the list, and finally found Atretes mixed in with a bunch of similarly-lettered names. The air lightened a little, and then the guard turned back to the young man.

"Possessions?"
"A datapad. I must insist I keep it, if you have plans to confiscate it. My life revolves around the device. Business and such, you see."
The two exchanged looks, and Atretes took the initiative to answer the obvious question.

"I'm unarmed, but you're welcome to search me." he offered. The guard nodded and patted him down, finding nothing but the rectangular shape of his datapad.

With the formalities out of the way, the guard checked Atretes' clearance level through the establishment.

"You appear to have unlimited access," he said, the confusion in his voice apparent, but he kept questioning for people with the proper pay grade, "except for Tylon's personal room -- but you knew that." he finished. Atretes nodded. After a few more moments of 'fact'-checking, and repacking the lady's belongings, the guard cleared them both to enter.

From curiosity, Rhoujen chanced a look at the nearly scantily-clad lady whom he accompanied. There was something strikingly familiar about her, and then he saw her eyes. Such aspects of a person were not easily forgotten, even to an introvert, and a grin played across the young man's face. He kept his voice low enough to avoid unwanted ears, and drew close to her as he passed.

"Fancy seeing you here, [member="Madame Cognito"]."

 

[Madame Cognito]

A playful grin crossed her covered lips as they entered the residence together. She whispered to Atretes, "Fancy seeing you here. The Hutts double dipping on this guy...must have really pissed them off. What is your plan, sir? Work with me or make this a competition? I will be on the third floor darling dancing for our illustrious Tylon."

Arya ascended to the second floor with one box in each hand, she stopped and eyed the goings-on. Like most gambling dens, this one was mostly table games with two bookie stations for the podraces. The zabraki, wookiee and bothan pit bosses all looked imposing enough when surrounded by their equally as imposing private guard of Tylon's. Arya wasn't planning on tangling with them on this trip.

Quickly, Arya ascended up to the third floor and was accosted by the sounds of slow arabesque music coming from a small band in the corner of the room. The dancers took center stage flaunting their assets to the rhythm and beat of the music. As expected, Arya noted Tylon laying against the pillow seating area. A green drink in his claw as he watched the dancers put on their show. Tylon was surrounded on either side by six high rollers equally enjoying the show. Arya was stopped a moment to verify identity. Quietly, Arya explained her connection to Karina, whom looked stage right long enough to see her "friend" and nod at the guard in agreement of Arya's story. Arya, then headed over to the entertainers quarters to get ready.