The Demons of War (Alatar Istari)

[Zoltan Rarsk]

Zoltan stared back at his scarred and torn reflection as he sat quietly in the back of the Luxury Landspeeder. Holes and torn flesh adorned his face, all colored in a pale gray, truly giving him the title of "Skull Face." As the Landspeeder slowed to a halt, Zoltan tosses the Durosian driver a few credits and stepped out of the vehicle, and into the light. However, he briskly walked over to a small building nearby and pulled out a small key card and swiped by an automated checker. Once inside, he sat down onto a small, creaking chair, with only a table and another chair as company.

This was the place that Zoltan was supposed to meet with his new partner, a former merc who his informants told him was "A Demon" like him. Intrigued, Zoltan decided to brief her in person on her contract. It was a simple job, but something that needed to be done fast. A Senator by the name of Kay had become real thorn in his side, and Zoltan needed her dead, or the Senate would decry him as an intergalactic war criminal, and he would be wanted by bounty hunters across the known universe.

"Hmmm. She should be coming in any second." He muttered.

[member="Alatar Istari"]

 

[Alatar Istari]

A speeder bike with the marks of battle soon showed up to the place where Zoltan had entered only minutes ago. The figure atop it clearly feminine, but battle hardened and rough, a well used AI-AW sniper rifle strapped to her back and a blaster worn casually in a left thigh holster. The most defining parts that caught people's eyes was that the left arm was metal with a red star on the shoulder, and the mask covering the lower half of her face.

Ghost stepped into the appointed place and scanned the room silently, locating the.. man that was her contact, walking over and sitting in the other seat, folding her hands together in very business-like matter, deciding to go with a bit of get-to-know before they got to the target.

"So you are the one called 'Skull Face'? Your reputation precedes you."

[member="Zoltan Rarsk"]

 

[Zoltan Rarsk]

Zoltan let a dry smirk cross his lips, aligning with the Glasgow Smile carved into his skin. "​The very same to you, 'Ghost'. My sources say you're one of the finest soldiers in the entire galaxy, and so my expectations are rather high, unlike most of the criminal scum I hire. Should I proceed with the briefing and the discussion of your payment, or is there something else you wish to say?" H​e stated in a cordial yet cold tone. Zoltan narrowed his eyes when he saw the weapons strapped across her back, sensing an aura of distrust from simply noticing the arms she carried. '​Well, when you're in this business, one must always be careful and ready for attack.' H​e thought to himself.

Zoltan absentmindedly rapped his knuckles on the cold metal table, awaiting her response.

[member="Alatar Istari"]

 

[Alatar Istari]

Very polite in manner, but straight to the point. He knows what he's doing.. Ghost leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms.

"I've nothing more to say other than continue." She let her smirk match his, though it would be unnoticeable with her mask. Ghost's labored breathing sounded not unlike the great Darth Vader of old through her mask as she waited for the man to continue. This could be an interesting conversation.

[member="Zoltan Rarsk"]

 

[Zoltan Rarsk]

Zoltan nodded, and moved on to his briefing. "​Recently, I've been having some disputes with a certain Republic senator, by the name of Kay. Recently, I had a very enlightening conversation with this politician and she became an irritating and annoying thorn in my side, pushing my plans back by months and nearly crippling my interests and goals. Now, that's why your here: To make her disappear! You understand, right?" He explained with a notable anger in his voice.

Zoltan reached down to next to him and swung up a chrome briefcase, and slid it over to Alatar. Inside the case was a gigantic sum of credits, all for her, as long as she accepted and completed her job. "​Open it." Z​oltan commanded, motioning for her to unlatch the lock on it.

[member="Alatar Istari"]

 

[Alatar Istari]

An eyebrow raised at the commanding tone in Skull Face's voice, but Alatar made no move to open it. Instead she leaned forward into her original position and took a deep breath.

"If I may be so bold as to ask, but I would like a little more information on this.. Senator Kay. You seem to have a very intense grudge on this woman and I would like to know what she did that made her worthy of a silent death by my hand. I don't want to kill anyone so important that I'll have a bounty on my head from the Republic." Ghost had no love for the Republic, but she didn't want a bounty on her head so large that she couldn't enter a civilized system.

[member="Zoltan Rarsk"]

 

[Zoltan Rarsk]

Zoltan disdainfully shook his head as he heard her response. "I'm afraid I can't give you that information, but I know of something that will bring down her entire career, so she obviously doesn't take very kindly to me. I would be typically more informative, but this operation is very sensitive, and must have the highest secrecy." Zoltan informed her. He had greatly exaggerated the importance of the mission because simply he didn't wish to tell Istari about his relationship with Kay, as he didn't need any upstart mercenary to get any ideas.

"So, once again, are you in, or not?"

[member="Alatar Istari"]

 

[Alatar Istari]

Secrecy, I have a few secrets of my own.. Alatar now opened the case slightly, and her eyebrows raised. This man really wanted that Senator dead didn't he?

"I'll accept the mission on one term, you tell me just how important the Senator is, then I will kill her and tell you one secret, of your choice of course, about me in exchange. A secret for a secret." Ghost wasn't one to barter, but she still followed the Bounty Hunter's Creed, which clearly stated no bounty is worth dying for. She closed the attach case, now stuck on the job whether Skull Face agreed to her terms or not.

[member="Zoltan Rarsk"]

 

[Zoltan Rarsk]

Zoltan sneered, before sighing. He needed her dead, and this was the only way to assure that the Senator would remain that way. "Fine. The Senator is sensitive to the force and has recieved some minor training. As we both know, this violates Republic law, and would cause a rather big stir in Republican politics. Her main platform is freedom fighting and liberating slaves within Cartel space." He blankly said, knowing that his description of her might let out the Senator's secret pre-emptively, but Zoltan wanted her gone with a passion.

He beckoned for Alatar to speak, giving a quick motion of his hand.

[member="Alatar Istari"]

 

[Alatar Istari]

Ah, so there is a grudge involved. Alatar nodded slowly. There was more to the story, she could tell, but she didn't want to pry just yet, she had heard of Skull Face's temper about sensitive topics.

"So she is of some importance, but you want her tried by a different justice than the one the Senate would give. I can do that, and now for one of my secrets. I do believe I told you that you could pick." Ghost took out a small screwdriver and began tinkering with her arm. It was acting up a bit from her last job on Dantooine, where a guy had managed to get one of the plates to act funky. That fething bastard had definitely earned the bullet in his throat.

[member="Zoltan Rarsk"]

 

[Zoltan Rarsk]

Zoltan darkly smiled as he heard Alatar's response. "​Smart wording Istari, but don't try to weasel your way out of this. How can I ask of a secret from you when it is exactly that, a secret?" H​e stated with a cynical and jaded tone. Zoltan considered the fact that he could be entirely wrong about her intentions, but years of work within the Intelligence community had caused deep-rooted paranoia to seep into his very being.

Zoltan grabbed the briefcase he had placed on the table, and put at his side, staring at Alatar with an angered glare.

[member="Alatar Istari"]

 

[Alatar Istari]

Alatar's eyes went wide at the sound of her last name, one that she had kept buried for years. She sat there, shocked. How? If she didn't have her mask, her mouth would've been wide open.

"How do you know that name?" Ghost's voice was low and threatening, distrust replacing her shock as she stood up. Her hand dropped to her side, but didn't immediately move to her gun. She felt betrayed somehow. To her parents she was dead, but she didn't remember exactly who had operated on her arm or watched her as she trained.

[member="Zoltan Rarsk"]

 

[Zoltan Rarsk]

Zoltan gave her a mocking grin as he turned to her. "I always make sure I learn about my associates before I hastily rush into a deal. Whether you like it or not, this will always happen no matter how much you'll try to bury your secrets in whatever dark hole you think will hide them. However, since we're associates, I'll never let a word of our conversation reach unfriendly ears, and you have my word on that." ​Z​oltan sternly stated.

He still tightly gripped the handle of the briefcase, prepared to burn the object in case Alatar grew hostile and irate.

[member="Alatar Istari"]

 

[Alatar Istari]

If looks could kill Skull Face would've been long dead. Alatar's glare was hostile but she didn't draw her gun. She didn't want to take blood that was unnecessary.

"If you go back on your word you will regret it." Alatar calmed down enough not to fully go into Ghost Soldier mode. She didn't want a relapse now. Instead she smiled as if nothing had happened and kept speaking.

"Do you want to know how I got this arm? You seemed intrigued by it when I first got here." An obvious distraction, but it was for herself, not Zoltan, and she doubted he would take it the right way.

[member="Zoltan Rarsk"]

 

[Zoltan Rarsk]

Zoltan was ready to tear into Alatar, angered by her meek offering, but he had to remain polite and cordial, and proceeded to move on with her statement. "​Please tell, it's refreshing to meet somebody who shows the scars of battle rather than hiding behind a fake façade." He coolly stated.​ Despite his annoyance, Zoltan was honest with his statement. For too long he had dealt with soldiers and Jedi who fancied themselves handsome yet brutal killers, yet never showed the toll the constant tide of war this galaxy inevitably had on them. This was extremely personal for Zoltan, with his horrific childhood, abuse at the hands of Mandalorians, and betrayal from the Republic.

Zoltan beckoned for her to speak, sliding the briefcase back onto the table.

[member="Alatar Istari"]

 

[Alatar Istari]

Alatar jumped at the opportunity to share her story with another, for she hadn't had the bliss of doing that in two years.She sat back down a far away look in her eyes as she began to speak.

"I was raised by a mercenary for a father. He taught me everything I know and was the best mercenary that I knew of for a long time. When I was old enough for my first true mission with my dad, we found ourselves separated in the middle of a heated battle between the group that hired us and a very fortified base. I, being foolish, tried to face down one of the enemy's swordsmen and lost my arm because of it. Feeling pity for me, he took me as a prisoner and I was used in their latest experiment of a new military prosthetic, the one you see on my arm today. I was in that hell hole for seven years before they decided to let me go." Alatar leaned forward, taking a long breath. She suddenly looked a lot younger, but with a sad look that showed the years of battle, mental and physical.

"Now if you go to the planet Halbara and to my family's home, there are two graves. One for my mother, and one for me." Her story was no less tragic than others that had come before her, but it was her story. One that only two others had ever known, and one of them was dead.

[member="Zoltan Rarsk"]

 

[Zoltan Rarsk]

Zoltan was disappointed in what Alatar told him, as he was hoping for something more...substantial. A lost arm, fancy prosthetic, and the death of a family? Bah, he couldn't use that in the field! The only use for this information Zoltan saw was for possibly blackmailing Istari, and he hope it wouldn't come down to that. "​Fair enough, seems tragic, I send my condolences. So, do you wish to take up the contract and get your reward and my participation within any future ops?" Z​oltan cordially asked.

Zoltan finally passed the briefcase over to her, giving it to Alatar without trying to take it back.

[member="Alatar Istari"]​

 

[Alatar Istari]

"Yes, she'll be silenced. I don't mind having another contact. If you ever need me, you know where to find me." Alatar took the briefcase and made her move to leave.

"It was a pleasure to meet you, Rarsk."

[member="Zoltan Rarsk"]

 

[Zoltan Rarsk]

Zoltan nodded, and gave a short and brisk wave as she left.

"Now, let's get down to business..."​

[member="Alatar Istari"]