The Opening Curtain

[EmKay]

[member="Coren Starchaser"]

SLUIS VAN

Tachon hummed a little tune to himself whilst he lounged upon the exceedingly uncomfortable cot upon which he found himself. The monotonous tap-tap of a guard's boots strolled near, reached its closest point, then carried on. He took a deep sigh and closed his eyes, a sense of laziness coming over him, while he mulled over his charge. Murder. A delightful thing to end up in prison for, but all Zur-Ksi could say was that he'd been given a bad contract. He made a point that he only took marks on his odd bounty hunt that wouldn't land him in jail. The security officers wouldn't have any of that, though. Dead is dead, after all.

So here the Iridonian was, prince of his little cell. He'd been in worse conditions, to be terribly honest, but it still wasn't... ideal. Especially with the term hung over his head since his fine was too high for him to cover on his own. Maybe if he wasn't decrepit by the time he'd be out of this situation, he'd see that sleazy human about the raw deal he was now in. Not even paid, gods dammit. He tapped his foot with a degree of irate impatience. He was almost tempted to make a jail break, but then the other prisoners would want in on it, and he obviously wouldn't let them out. It'd just create worse problems later. Oh well. Maybe he'd get lucky and someone would give him a hand in here.

Ha.

 

[Light Rises]

The Sluissi jailer was making her rounds that night. A stun baton on her hip and a hold out blaster in her chest holster, the one sitting under her leather jacket. The charge, was it even really given out yet? She wasn’t sure, but there were people accused of murder in these halls, and was she nervous? No. Susie the Sluissi came from a long line of law enforcement officers. And the worst of people were transferred to be dealt with by the Galactic Alliance.

Her job right now was to make sure that the prisoners were ready for transfer. It appeared the Alliance was finding a way to re-educate the prisoners. She didn’t care what they did, just that they were going to be out of her jail, and that was the important part. That would be when two guards came in, Sullustans, these two, armed to the teeth.

"You Zerksi?" The first one asked, in clipped basic.

[member="Tachon Zur-Ksi"]

 

[EmKay]

[member="NPCs by Corey"]

Tachon perked at the mention of his name. Whether it was from curiosity of being so mentioned, or out of mild insult of it being so butchered, he was not entirely sure. He didn't bother to face the others, but he could tell by the chitter-chatter pronunciation and vocal tones that they were Sullustans. Funny, diminutive aliens, but he did not want to make them mad. Angry Sullustans tended to be rather, well, inconvenient. Lethal, if trained.

"Yeah, Zoor-Ks'ai," he answered while correcting them all at the same time, "Why the sudden attention?"

 

[Ruby Rose]

Ruby walked up to the front gates of the jailhouse wondering what Zoor Ks'ai had done to get himself in this mess. Walking into the room with the jailer, and hands her some paperwork. "Prisoner Transfer for one Zoor-Ks'ai, he's to come with me" The jailer at the desk calls the two back and i walk over to your cell, rapping three times on the door "I swear, you owe me for this Zoor" I'm not going to make a habit of this.

[member="Tachon Zur-Ksi"]

 

[EmKay]

[member="Ruby Rose"]

The next voice caused the Iridonian to sit up and pivot to see what it was coming from. The girl he saw was certainly the last little thing he'd expect to see in a prison, but her paperwork and authoritative tone made him take a mental note to not underestimate this girl. Apparently those papers were enough to get him out of a cell... for now. The Sullustans backed off as instructed, and the Slussi jailer tapped a command key to unlock Cell 18-B. Tachon's demeanour changed slightly. He wasn't prince of his cell anymore, and that kind of made him sad. The man was naturally happy to be out of prison, yes, but he had become a little cozy. He made his way to the bar door and slid it open.

"I appreciate being let out and all," he stepped out of the cell and stretched, "but who are you, exactly?" he couldn't help the question.

 

[Ruby Rose]

[member="Tachon Zur-Ksi"]

Ruby steps back as the door clangs open, her cloak flapping slightly from the wind it causes as she looks up at the much taller Iridonian, only standing at 5'4 herself, the bronze colored disk worn on her back giving her a slightly larger profile. "What do you mean let out, this isn't a release, its a transfer, didn't you hear me? " She looks up and winks at you as she says this, "Now lets go, and i'd recommend not attempting to escape, I won't hesitate to put a couple rounds into you if you run." She waits for you to step out of the cage and takes a position slightly behind you and to the right.

 

[EmKay]

[member="Ruby Rose"]

A twitchy grin played across Tachon's features. It made him look a little psychotic, but he hoped this girl would know better than to suspect him of treachery. He was bad-tempered, violent, and a little off his rocker, but he had two things he tried to avoid: jail, and death. Given the current situation, compliance was his only viable option. Otherwise he'd face one or both of those unwanted outcomes. Still, he had banter to keep up with as he advanced toward the exit with his escort.

"Of course, but even as the transfer is, you've let me out of that cell. Even if it's just to go to another." he gave a friendly nod to one of the guards, who just stared at Zur-Ksi as though he were completely mad.

 

[Ruby Rose]

[member="Tachon Zur-Ksi"]

"I can understand wanting to stretch your legs after being cooped up in there." I'm helping this merc...he better not turn around on this, he's lucky he's part of the alliance. As we walk outside we gather up your things they had on them and I carry the bag over my shoulder, then leading you outside to a freight speeder. "Alright, hop in, you're loose now, care to explain how you got caught up in there during your mission? To answer your question from earlier, my name is Ruby Rose, a bit of a freelancer if you will, my blade is to those who need it, and you my friend, seemed to need it." She throws your things in the trunk and gestures for you to hop in the drivers seat.

"

 

[EmKay]

[member="Ruby Rose"]

This whole situation left Tachon wondering if he'd gotten in far deeper to local politics than he'd intended to simply by ending up in jail. He'd overheard something about the Galactic Alliance Rehabilitation Programme from the jailer, and wondered if this uncanny release had something to do with that. Those thoughts rustled in his mind uneasily as he slid into the seat of the speeder, clicking the restraint harness into place and feeling the engines thrum to life under his hands.

"Nice to meet you, Ruby," he said while he swung the vehicle around the parking area, "I'm Tachon. Tachon Zur-Ksi," he pulled up to the exit, "And before we go any further, and before I answer your question, know that I appreciate your help, but I can't help the feeling there's an inescapable catch." with that, he swung out into the only opening of traffic that presented itself, or would for quite awhile, and quickly accelerated up to speed. Tachon knew where he needed to go from here, unless redirected: the landing bay.

He had a ship he needed to check up on.
With his luck today, it was probably impounded.

 

[Ruby Rose]

She looked over at the newly liberated Iridonian curiously, trying to discern his intentions now that she had freed him from his imprisonment. Where will he go first now that he's free I wonder, that should give some indication of his character...

"Inescapable? I wouldn't say that, think of it as... repayment for being let out of your sentence. Your crime would have either had you locked up in that little cell of yours for a long time or put to death, both rather...unfortunate results of your mission don't you think? I merely want to see if you are truly capable of... joining those who are free from those bars once again, you can always go back if you'd prefer that tiny cell."



[member="Tachon Zur-Ksi"]

 

[EmKay]

[member="Ruby Rose"]

Inescapable. She could condition it with the typical 'well you could always go back', but for someone of Tachon's stature, there was no contest. He turned a corner, following road signs.

"Mission, yes... An unfortunate deal, that was..." his voice was a low rumble, practically a growl, while he thought of that turn of events. He'd have to hunt down a certain someone later on, that was certain. They were on the final stretch now, the space port in sight. He vaguely wondered if Ruby would assume he was going to try making a break for it. He was smarter than that, though. Or at least not that foolish.

 

[Ruby Rose]

Hmm, the spaceport, he isn't planning on trying to run off after just getting out is he?
"Planning on going somewhere Tachon? You still haven't explained exactly what the circumstances were that landed you in that prison. I'd expect a little bit of trust seeing as you're no longer trapped in that infernal pit." She looked forward at the spaceport and back to you, noting the growl at the mention of the mission wondering what exactly happened. He didn't seem to be the type of person to just randomly murder someone, there must be more to the story than that...

 

[EmKay]

[member="Ruby Rose"]

Storytime.

"Just making sure my property is where I left it. As for the details of the mission, I'm an odd job kind of guy. Smuggling within reason, helping get kittens from trees, bounty hunts," Tachon slowed and pulled into the spaceport lot, "I do my best to be selective on bounties. Kill bad people, don't get jail time," he pulled the car to stop, "You're not obligated to believe me when I tell you, but the man who gave me the bounty swore that the man I was hired to kill was of the highest, most unspeakably decorated criminal record. You can imagine my surprise when there was a security team expecting my exit from the premise." he shut off the speeder and unharnessed himself.

"You can believe me, however, that for my species and what I'm sure you know of Iridonians - if I were as psychotic and violent as my charge implies, we wouldn't be having this conversation."

With that, he stepped out of the speeder. Zur-Ksi fully expected Miss Rose to follow along, but at this point the man was fuming and paid her no regard unless she spoke. He could handle a lot of Sithspit, but when you betrayed him you put a death mark on yourself.

 

[Ruby Rose]

She chuckles softy at the thought of you saving kittens, realizing that she had probably done the right thing and pulled a mostly innocent man from a position he shouldn't have been in.

"So you were made to kill someone who wasn't guilty of wrong then set up to take the fall? Sorry to hear that, I feel like i can believe you. You've given me no reason to mistrust you so far, but I will be keeping an eye on you. If you'd like, what is the name of the individual who set you up. We could possibly go pay them a little...visit and I'll judge for myself whether this was a good choice or not. Does that sound fair to you?"

Ruby gets up out of the speeder, following along with Mr. Zur-Ksi into the star port.

"I'm aware that we would not, it is part of the reason why I'm going to help you in dealing with the one who did you wrong before they can do such a thing again to another innocent."

This Iridonian had peaked her curiosity, his temperment much different from others of his kind, she would follow him and assist for now, making sure he was as he claimed and not misleading her.

[member="Tachon Zur-Ksi"]

 

[EmKay]

[member="Ruby Rose"]

He could understand her wariness. You spring a shady Iridonian out of jail, with no real knowledge of him or his past, and only his word to go on. A race known more for bloodthirst than reason. It was a concept even Tachon sometimes didn't understand. He could only peg his altered behaviour on multicultural conditioning and that old man all those years ago. His attention heightened when Ruby mentioned paying the other man a visit, and as he led the way toward Docking Bay 66, he had a moment of 'sure, why not'.

"Alstar Halcyon," he said with obvious disdain, "Rich man up in Abregado-Rae. Probably had me eliminate some business competition or anti-corporate idealist," he went through several doors and scanners, "I'm reasonably sure Abregado is far from the... Galactic Alliance?" he offered the question to fact-check himself, "Your coverage, but it's right at the other end of the Rimma Trade Route." he muttered some incoherent ranbling about businessmen and lack of self-respect, then mashed a button on Bay 66's door to make it quickly open.

Zur-Ksi's demeanour visibly changed, awash with relief and a small level of joy, upon seeing the Night Avril exactly where he left it, unmolested. His Firespray was a relic of his past, but she was a good ship and never let him down. Next to himself, it was the only thing he felt he could rely on. In a sense, he shared a Corellian's perspective when it came to his starship.

 

[Ruby Rose]

"Hmm, that's pretty far out, but I've always been a bit of a drifter so going outside of our boundaries doesn't bother me much. I promised you I'd help you in proving your innocence did I not? I don't go back on my word Zur-Ksi, or do you prefer Tachon? Besides, if this man is taking of advantage of others, killing innocents for no other reason than to further his own personal gain, he is a cancer that should be removed."

Rose follows you into the bay, her eyes going over your ship, looking over its armament and engines, the gears turning in her mind as to what kind of upgrades and changes could be used to improve the craft. Not that she had the capability for the parts, she was nearly broke after dumping almost all of her funds on the Crescent, her own ship just two hangars down.

"What do you say, just take your ship, or shall I take mine and meet you there? You will meet me there correct?"

Her eyes land on you as she says that last part, almost as a warning and a message, "Don't betray this trust, or you will regret it."

[member="Tachon Zur-Ksi"]

 

[EmKay]

Tachon liked this one. It wasn't something he'd say aloud, but the toothy grin he wore upon hearing her offer would tell more than a simple phrase would. He spun gently on his heel to face the young woman, and gave her an estimating look. She wanted to barter his freedom for service, but this was a much sweeter bargain than he'd initially thought he'd be privy too. He noted her warning look, but he decided to just let that topic drop. He would prove his personal code through action, not words. Words could be used in all the wrong ways, but action was almost always true.

"You help me exact this act of justice, and you'll have earnt my allegiance to your Alliance." he stated simply, before turning away to board his Night Avril, "You're free to come along, or to take your own ship. Either way, I'll see you in Abregado." he stepped up the Firespray's loading ramp and made his way to the cockpit.

Today went from terrible to excellent, and if all went well, he wouldn't have to rely on kittens to pay for food anymore.

[member="Ruby Rose"]

 

[EmKay]

[Disregard. Internet boggled and double-posted.]

 

[Ruby Rose]

She stops as Tachon spins around, eyeing him curiously, wondering what was going through the Iridonian's mind. She would join him on his ship and have X4 pilot the Crescent behind them, traveling was always better with someone to talk to anyway.

"Don't think of this as me trying to earn any allegiance Tachon, think of it as us working together to bring down a corrupt person who doesn't deserve what he has. I'll join you for the trip, always a better flight with someone to talk to."

Ruby was starting to like this guy, he was definitely different than most of his race, merely stuck in a bad situation. He was definitely force sensitive, she'd keep an eye on how he acted during the upcoming mission and perhaps consider training him in the ways of the force. She chuckled to herself, If only old man Seb was still around, he'd probably laugh at the thought.

[member="Tachon Zur-Ksi"]

 

[The Angry Cheese]

Tracinya had been observing them for a while, now. And hearing their conversation was... interesting. This could be a much-needed cash in for him, be it through an employer or spoils. Either way, he would be sneaking onto their ship.

All because I had to be an idiot and get my ship stolen...

Shaking the thought off, he sneaks along the hanging rafters of the hanger bay ceiling, literally on top of someone else's personal shuttle. When they enter the shuttle, he'll use his wrist-mounted ascension cable to quietly lower himself to the floor, than sneak on board when they are out of sight. His EMP module should be able to knock out any unwanted security measures, including hanger bay cameras. For now, though, all the Mandalorian bounty hunter had to do was wait for the right moment.

Once they enter the ship, he fires his cable into the ceiling, sliding down with barely a sound, before stopping about a foot from the ground. When he detaches the cable, he is able to shift his wait to land on all fours, as silent as a Loth-cat stalking its prey. And apt description, considering he would soon be stalking a new target. Activating the EMP module on his gauntlet, he slips onto the ship, armored gloves searching the seams in the walls and floor as he searches for a smuggler's hideout of some sort, being careful to limit the sound of his armored footfalls.