Tansactions of War

[Gillian Katar]

She didn’t move for a long moment, her body still, limbs hanging long and loose at her sides and the blue light along her visor faded to black. She felt that coiled anger gripping, twirling and writhing in her chest continue to suck at her energy like a corrosive poison. The battle was over now, she needed to calm down from the bloodlust that gripped her body like a vice -and that came from complete stillness.

Slowly, slowly the smells, the sounds of the world around her ebbed away to a silence, and like the drips of water the anger was stifled and snuffed out, the tension left her shoulders, her heart rate returned to normal, body temperatures returned to a manageable rate and slowly she opened her eyes, the visor shining a clear blue once more. It had been some time since she lost her cool like that in a battle. Gillian’s gloved hands, clothes clothes stained with blood, bone marrow and brain matter dirt and soot. The apprentice released a long sigh and finally slipped the held saber into place on her back before pinching her shirt and pulling it up. The bullet hole completely punctured her body firing through her lower back. A wound that barely missed her lung and spine she was lucky but this was going to be a taxing few weeks as her body recovered from the shot.

Now for the cleanup, she pulled her gloves off one finger at a time and spit someone else's blood from her mouth, she was going to be here awhile. Still, her meditation payed off and she had an eerily collected calm wash over her as she turned the visor’s light to the shattered horizon. It was littered with the concave husks of Ranchors and battered hulls and barges. Fires still needed to be put out and smoke turned the once blue sky a sickly amber that rained ash down upon them. Wireless orders filtered through her visor as she advised her droid squadrons what to do and where to secure with the cleanup and scavenging efforts. They would get this whole mess cleaned up before someone nosy decided to look into the finer details of the Trade Conglomerates intentions.

The hounds of war had their fill today, The only thing that could have matched the sight of destruction was the fields of bodies they would now have to comb through, rebel and the reanimated corpses of her masters hoard made the smell noxious. Slipping her gloves into her back pocket Gillian turned her gaze towards the mercenary she had befriended over the few hours of carnage. Stepping over bodies she approached [member="Malcom Renolds"].​

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”You’re a good shot.”​

She gave him an easy smile as she rubbed her neck and looked back over her shoulder to where she felt her Master ([member="Matsu Xiangu"] ) linger. Those tunnels will take some time to clean out and search through.

”Should I come to you?”​

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She asked, knowing full well she would receive no answer, only a strong urge to follow to remain in place, she didn’t have enough control over her own force to fully communicate in such a way. Quickly though she turned her attention back towards the Merc standing across from her, she extended a hand, tipping her chin in a sharp nod towards the sizable rifle she had landed with. ”She treat you well? I’ve seen her kick back fracture a guy’s collar bone.”​

 

[Malcom Renolds]

Malcom heaved a heavy sigh as he looked back over the now quiet battlefield. It was always amazing to him how after a fight that brought about its own version of hell on earth, things could become so peaceful and serene so quickly afterward. Not even the sound of birds or insects now broke the quiet that lay over the field of war. Casting a glance toward the borrowed heavy rifle (hand cannon), he pulled out a rag from his pocket and began to clean it. He wasn't about to return such a magnificent weapon to its owner dirty.

Continually looking around to make sure everything stayed peaceful, his glancing caught the form of [member="Gillian Katar"] as she was lifting her shirt to tend to a wound. "God almighty." He thought to himself. "She fought that ferociously with a bullet hole through her like that...?" He shook his head in admiration. The seasoned Mando was used to seeing that kind of tenacity from his own people. And sure, every culture or group of people had them, those driven warriors. He just wasn't used to seeing them outside his people. This woman had it in spades though. He wouldn't bother her though, instead sticking to his current task till she finished what she was tending to.

Another glance caught the person of [member="Matsu Xiangu"]. Her skills and horde of undead were a major reason the tide of fortunes in this battle turned in their favor. While he still believed her "army" was creepy as hell, he couldn't argue against their effectiveness. While she may very well be a Sith and his sworn enemy. Today they had put aside those differences and fought together, and fought well. Amazing what a little harmony could do....he thought ironically in this ghastly field of dead men. In fact, he was about to go over and introduce himself, finally, when Gillian approached.

A smirk flashed across his face under his helmet at her comment. "And you're pretty wicked with that saber of yours." To her next question, he gave a nod as he handed over the now cleaned weapon. "Aye, she did indeed. It's a fine piece. And I suspect if I hadn't seen you using it just before you handed it to me, I might be feeling it a bit more." He added with a roll of his shoulders and a crack of his neck. Scanning the area once more, he asked, "So...what's next? Have you heard any further orders? Or are we about done here?"

 

[Matsu Xiangu]

[SIZE=10pt] “We’ve taken the last outpost on the West end of the tunnels and we’re turning it over for information now. It seems they weren’t even close to finishing the larger experimental weapons we discovered in the lower levels, but the plans are quite elaborate and might possibly be viable,” the man reported to Matsu, a Trade Conglomerate engineer that had come in after the main fighting to see what was salvageable from the large-scale operation the Stratus Sphere had been hiding beneath Sullust’s crust. There was a hint of nervousness in his voice, an unsettled glance to the side as he tried to keep an eye on the zombie stumbling around aimlessly a ways off behind Matsu.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt] “Very good, what else?” the Sith Lady prompted, the idea that others might be bothered by her rotted army not crossing her mind.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt] “Uh..well…they seem to have been working on a superweapon. Rudimentary, but sometimes you don’t need finesse to build something eff—KARK, what is that thing doing?!”[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt] Matsu looked over shoulder, realizing the Dead man had come up very close behind her, reaching out to try and play with her hair. It was reaching out for her but staring at the scientist.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt] “Don’t worry. It won’t hurt you unless I tell it to,” she said, one side of her mouth quirking up in a smile she didn’t realize was wholly inappropriate if she was trying to reassure the engineer.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt] Said engineer gulped, clutching his clipboard.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt] “I will, um, report to you as soon as I learn anymore,” he reassured before taking the chance to dismiss himself, scurrying down the tunnel and screeching as another two Dead came shuffling and hissing from a tunnel to the right they’d been exploring while waiting for their Master.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt] The zombies that hadn’t perished in the fighting moved along behind Matsu as she climbed back up towards the entrance to the massive tunnel system, tracking the signature of her apprentice towards her location. Her style had not changed much in the years since she’d seen her, and in many ways she reminded Matsu of her younger self – fiery, violent. Control was a trait that had to be learned, and Matsu knew Gillian was aware of the consequences should her behavior cost Matsu or her allies their prize.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt] When she caught sight of her apprentice, she saw the Mando that’d seemed to have materialized out of nowhere on the battlefield. She had no love for their kind, her experience lending her to air on the side of violence where the warrior culture was concerned. But this one had helped her and her apprentice and the results had been nothing short of satisfying. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt] She gave them both a nod as she joined their conversation quietly, leaning against a rock that jutted from the wall. Gillian carried herself with a natural confidence that might have convinced Matsu she was born on a battlefield had Matsu not known the truth.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=10pt] “We’re about done,” she answered, having conferred with Detox and radioed to Xenia far, far above the planet. Negotiations still raged far above their heads and Matsu planned on catching a ride up to the station to join in, but there was clean-up to supervise for the moment. “What’s your name, Mandalorian?” [/SIZE]

[member="Malcom Renolds"] | [member="Gillian Katar"]​

 

[Gillian Katar]

Gillian looked over the mercenary beside her. With the flames of the battle being extinguished around them and she frowned, bending her arm behind to her spine, feeling the curved twin sabers slipped into the gentle pocket on the small of her back. She would need to clean them properly and something deep within her told her that the cleaning of her sabers called for a much more intimate atmosphere, somewhere away from everyone else. She seemed much more collected than the reckless violent person in the war, almost a different person. Still she brushed the bright blue hair from her visor. ”Thanks.” Her voice seemed a bit distant, Looking into the orders carrying from her droids currently a few leagues underground cataloging all the surplus items discovered underneath. She took the gun with one hand, feeling it’s weight but barely reacting to it as she dropped the butt to her heel and held it at her side.

”She’s SS. But you handle yourself pretty well.” The gun was originally made for droids because of the kick back, this guy must have a lot of battle damage himself if he could continue to take the brunt of her guns. Matsu’s aura warranted she stay in place, quickly she caught sight of her master approaching them, walking through the sea of bodies with a fluid sort of grace. Some of her living dead stirred around her as well, chewing at the air aimlessly as they wandered, now just harmless smelly corpses with white sightless eyes turning in all different directions.

Gillian made an effort to ignore them. ”We will be here for awhile, as for you. I don’t know Malcom, I wasn’t the one who hired you so I don’t know what they wanted you to do.” her arm moved up quickly, pushing the shoulder of a corpse that was wandering too close to her, dead fingers reaching delicately for her arm. Her small shove made it stumbled back, wobbling like a large sack of water. She didn’t even give the corpse a look, it wasn’t like it could see her anyway, she only pointed –a haggard babysitter and said ”Five feet. All times. You smell disgusting.” She growled to the body who seemed to stare aimlessly before shuffling off back towards the oncoming [member="Matsu Xiangu"].

<<::Safety crates of C4 and Bk-497 have been secured.::>>

Her droids information flashed in the corner of her mind. She gave confirmation before pulling out her own data pad and dropping the information into the quota of recovered items. They were lucky those explosives didn’t go off. ”My droids are working in salvage. We have another squadron working on the detention of still alive rebels.” She knew Matsu probably didn’t care much for any survivors, but it was worth saying that there was some effort to not kill everyone –yet.​

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[member="Malcom Renolds"] | [member="Matsu Xiangu"]​

 

[Malcom Renolds]

Malcom shrugged his shoulders. "I was simply hired on to help suppress another worlds defenders. Didn't really care who, so long as I was getting paid. My employer however, seems to have disappeared on me...a rather distressing turn of events that is. I mean don't get me wrong. It was a good fight. But a man has to eat. I guess I will now have to pay this person a social call soon." He relayed wearily, not relishing the thought of having to forcibly collect what he had actually earned honestly.

When her master approached, he could feel the darker presence seem to take hold of the area. It didn't really so much bother him as much as it made him take notice. When she said they were about done, he gave a quick nod. "Good. I can use a sandwich." He quipped casually. It was then of course that he started staring at the random undead picking, poking, and prodding at the two woman. A rather grossed out sneer began to take over his face as he continued to watch the interaction and how they didn't really seem to notice the nagging zombies much. "Eh, on second thoughts, never mind..." It was then one thought it would be a good idea to start inspecting Malcom's armor from behind him, causing him to flinch a bit. Pulling out his pistol, he blew the things head off.

Turning back toward the Sith he shrugged uncaringly while pointing his pistol at the now motionless corpse. "I uh....I assume you can bring 'em back?" Holstering his pistol, he smiled. "And the name's Renolds. Malcom Renolds. How about you, Sith?"

[member="Gillian Katar"] | [member="Matsu Xiangu"]

 

[Gillian Katar]

Gillian settled onto a large stone as Malcom spoke. Draping the massive weapon across her lap to slowly break the weapon down to a more travel manageable size. Sliding the last bullet from the barrel her head flicked up to look at him quickly. The Trade Conglomerate handled all sorts of transactions, Xenia handled many transactions and it depended wildly on whom he was speaking of to pay a "visit" to. Because if he expected to try and choke Xenia for money he was going to be looking down the business end of her pretty rifle very quickly, Gillian didn't care how much chummy camaraderie they formed over the fight.

<<Who hired him?>> She asked Matsu, her words echoing within her masters ears, like a whisper just behind the Sith's form. Looking over to her as the Cyborg twisted off the massive barrel and the gun folded into something half it's size. More of the woman's undead seemed to linger around her, shuffling and tripping over the dead like a parade of the drunk and the disorderly but Gillian learned not to care much about them rather early on. Their eyes are what frightened her, the death and reanimated living shuffling about under Matsu's control stirred a feeling of unease she didn't choose to delve further into. They were dead, it was gross, but shooting them was a waste and she jumped as Malcom fired one into the skull of one that seemed more curious than anything.

Heaving a deep sigh through her narrow nostrils Gillian shook her head, rubbing her forehead as she slid off the large scope. "No. dead twice usually means they stay that way." She muttered, shrugging, falling more silent as her Master chose to speak.​