Location: Tython, Tython System
[ . . . INCOMING CALL . . . INCOMING CALL . . . REACTIVATING PRIMARY SYSTEMS . . . ]
Dim photoreceptors sparked to life, casting an eerie light into the dark room. However, it took several more minutes for the "consciousness" of Artemis to return from its powered down slumber. At last, the droid moved. Gears whirred, joints clicked from their locked position, and the audio receptors of the droid reactivated to a cacophony of noise. Identifying the holocommunicator as the source, Artemis lumbered towards its work desk, running through its post-activation checklist under one of tis subroutines.
From beneath the table, another figure stirred with its own activation, whistling agitatedly at the disturbance. Artemis ignored the smaller droid, having reached the table and activating its communicator.
A small hologram flickered to life on the palm sized, being no larger than a few dozen centimeters. The light created by this projection cast the room in a bright blue hue that Artemis's receptors could never hope to manage. This new source revealed the room to be some sort of repair shop, with work tables neatly arranged along the walls, great storage crates aligned up to the ceiling, and a squat, ugly speeder not too dissimilar in its function-over-form as its owner.
Before the droid stood a togrutan, one immediately recognized as a well-known middle man for the Bounty Hunters Guild. Namely, he acted on the behalf of the Hutt Cartels - though which family was a mystery few were brave or foolish enough to find out. Artemis preferred to keep it that way, better the cartels keep their secrecy then risk losing such bountiful paydays. Still, Artemis rarely received calls directly from contractors, especially this organic of them all. The Guild liked to keep contracts between them and the contractors - kept the power and control in their hands. To contact Artemis directly was a sure sign this was not approved by the Guild.
"Bounty Hunter Artemis," The togrutan spoke with a slow and cultured intonation, the sort of confidence once used when they were certain in the protection offer to them. While not a
major-domo for one of the families, the middle man clearly held some of their confidence - enough to contact Hunters on their behalf, "I come from the honorable Hutt families with a contract for you, if you are willing to accept."
"
This is not standard operating procedure," Artemis all but growled at the organic, grasping and loosening its hands, "
Why was this not offered to the Guild?"
If the organic was upset by the lack of immediate acceptance from Artemis, he his it well. The confident smirk on his face remained as he stared into Artemis's faceplate.
"The families do not wish to hire a mere Bounty Hunter. They want a professional, and someone to make an example to those who seek to steal from them. Your reputation for brutality certain fits the latter criteria, and your loyalty to the Guild fits the former," The togrutan explained, "Of course, if the issue is one of credits, the family is more than willing to make it worth your while. Triple your usual rate, with half paid in advance and half paid after the job is done."
A lie, of course, or so Artemis's voice pattern detection software told it. They were many far more high profile Bounty Hunters with countless more kills and more subtle executions to their names than it. No, what they likely wanted was loud and violent retribution against whomever had wronged them, and a show for any would-be thieves or dissidents that might try their luck. They wanted a thug that wasn't one of theirs, just in case whatever or whoever had attacked them had stronger backers, and who better than a Bounty Hunter they hired outside the Guild?
Still, Artemis was not one to back down from a job, no matter how difficult.
"
What is the contract?" The droid demanded, sending a silent command to its astromech servant to warm up the engines of the
Hypnos. The diminutive droid whistled its response and rolled out from under the table, headed towards one of the consoles within the repair room.
"A reporter with the "Holo News Network" by the name of Holly Starstorm. A nobody, or so our intel indicates, but one foolish enough to attack the families. My masters do not care how you do it, just ensure she can still be identified after the case. We want an example, not a missing person's case. More information has been sent to you personal account, as well as the location of the first half of your payment. The Family thanks you for your service, Bounty Hunter Artemis." With that, the togrutan bowed and ended the call. The room was cast back into darkness, but Artemis's sytems were already hard at work. It soon had access to all publicly available, and some private, information on "Holly Starstorm". As the Cartel member had claimed, she was an up-and-coming reporter for the "HNN", but hardly fit the bill of someone that would steal from the Hutts.
With the information came the knowledge that local security forces involved with the case were encouraged to ignore Bounty Hunter involvement, specifically in the form of Artemis. Unfortunately, the lack of an official Holopuck would make hunting the woman down more difficult, but Artemis had done more with less.
[ . . . INCOMING MESSAGE . . . SHIP READY FOR DEPARTURE, MASTER . . . ]
"
Good," Artemis responded, both verbally and over its connection to the Astromech, "
Set course to Coruscant upon my arrival. We will be going to the publicly recorded place of residence of Holly Starstorm."
(Forgot to do the @s, lmao)
Holly Starstorm ||
Minerva Fhirdiad
"Artemis" SBD-571
