Private Tough Crowd

[Iella Sunscream]

Location: Nar Shaddaa, Leaning Rancor Bar
Time: Night

Equipment: M18 Pit Viper , 2x Shiva Knives



Iella had become more and more comfortable in this seedy places. In all honesty she had noticed staying quiet and keeping to yourself tended to reciprocate similar responses from those around you. Then again, she had also seen two people die tonight in this very establishment. How ironic one person had been blasted for looking too long, and another blasted because their failure to make eye contact was taken as disrespect. In any case, things had been quiet for the last hour or so. In front of the young woman, two shot glasses were turned bottom up on the table at her booth. She made no mistake about displaying the fact she was armed either; letting her hand cannon rest on the table in front of her as she puffed on a cigarette. A bad habit, but something she wasn't going to be catching cancer from anyway; as such she did it for the aesthetic of being rough and tumble, and the slight calming feeling that came with the periodic drags.

She still had half a plate of food, resting just next to the hand cannon resting on the table, but was near stuffed... As such, she focused on smoking, and drinking. Peering about and vetting anyone that walked in for a potential wingman for the job she had coming up. She wasn't necessarily expecting to ride with them for long, and had long become accustomed to flipping pucks on her own; though she had a sneaky feeling that it was better to have someone on standby in case things got a little too dicey; even with her extensive body modification. The sounds of laughter, whispers, and joviality were audible all through the Leaning Rancor, but she was eerily silent. Every now and then, she would puff on that cigarette, then look clear across the bar at the Rodian, Twi'Lek, and Trandoshan in the far corner booth. They had been eyeing her ever since she paid for her second shot; probably pegging her as an easy target. Hell, she hoped...

The last few days had given her a secret urge to bust some heads. Though she wasn't going to give the Trandoshan a chance. Even now she imagine shooting him directly in the mouth, and simply boxing the either two with her right hand. One hit to the ribs she wagered... Each. The thought brought a smile to her lips, and she puffed on that cigarette again, blowing the smoke in their general direction.

"Hey!"

She called out, getting the attention of the bartender, and holding up two fingers. She hadn't ordered anything else but Corellian Brandy all night, so she didn't feel the need to elaborate. He also didn't seem confused as he poured them up and sent them over with some young kid... Admittedly probably too young to be in a place like this where random murder was such a commonplace event. The kid carefully placed the shots down on the table, then scampered back to hide under the bar counter; to which she would slide them a little further away from the end of the table.

She had put out something of a feeler ad on the holo-net. Only suggesting that anyone who was down to do 'clean' bounty jobs should stop by on this specific night; and stand by the doorway. So far, everyone had entered and gone off to do their own thing, but no one had come in and stood directly beside the doorway. As such, her attention was split between making sure the trio in the corner knew she was aware of them, and wasn't scared to cut her eyes at them, and paying attention to anyone that might have actually come to find work.

Bao Quayan
SOMNOL-716

 

[Bao Quayan]

Iella Sunscream | SOMNOL-716


Well, it had been about a weeks worth of time since her last job, and she was just about out of enough credits to rent a bed. She hated doing dirty jobs, but she didn't really have any other choice. She picked up a leaflet she once requested a bar tender to hand out for her, looking it over again. Bao was the poor sort to not even own a datapad or a wristcomm, so she had to request people to make physical copies of any job offers for her. Leaning back in a chair at an old table, she perused the leaflets she had. Only doing the odd job here or there, she typically only signed up on specific, one-time contracts, so there were no obligations afterward. But.... being in a crew would give her more than a nights rest, and she wouldn't have to pay for one. And if meals are included? Might be just enough. She unfortunately had no current plans for her future, at this point she was just trying to survive. She was getting tired of that.... she missed the times when she could just.... live.

Suddenly, she dropped the leaflets on the table and leaned back, putting her elbows on the table and covering her face. She had a comfortable room for an entire week, but she was exhausted. The incident of her home was almost half a year ago, but it always felt like yesterday. She couldn't rest comfortably, thinking she was being hunted. She couldn't eat properly, being distracted by her memories and fears. She sighed, slamming a fist into the table as her exposed eye stared at the leaflets. Maybe just one more, to think about what's next for the future.... she thought. Her other hand stopped covering her face and laid on the table as the other one unfurled the fist and picked up a leaflet at random. Huh, just simple bounties. Go out, grab a bounty, haul them back... now, she knew bounties were never so easy, but that was the basics of the game, nothing extremely arduous, at least, usually more than a day. The most effort was actually fighting the bounties because almost always they would never give up. The rest was just... chasing them down or transporting.

She sighed, reading the location to meet up for the job and the name of the one hiring. She couldn't care less about drawing conclusions about jobs or people, because at this point, conclusions were just that, guesses, whether reasonable or not. The only one that really knows the job, and the only one that actually knows the person offering the job, is the one offering said job. Bao went and packed her things up, checking with the front desk to finally check out, unknowing if she'd ever return, but certainly closing out so no more bills would need to be paid. After everything was finished, she headed out to.... the 'Leaning Rancor' bar. That was fun, a place full of drunks and idiots itching for fights, but.... it is what it is. Considering the meeting location, the job offer must not be coming from a gaudy or tactless fool, or at least she thought. Once she arrived, the ad said to just.... wait by the door. So, she did just that, on the left side of the door, out of the way, she leaned against the wall. She seemed to sport no pistol, as far as anyone could see, but she did have a sheathed sword on her suit.

 

[Iella Sunscream]

Iella picked up one of those shots and downed it in a single gulp, growling slightly as she slammed the shot glass onto the counter. Her eyes panned over to the trio again; even if he vision had not been enhanced beyond the realm of what a human was capable of; she noted their sitting positions had changed. So they were really gonna' get kinetic with her huh? She licked her lips, dragging that cigarette again, and letting her eyes rest on them without care for a few beats, grinning even in their direction.

"Waiting on you, you karkin' rejects..."

She had mumbled, her views on the situation hardly having changed. Trandoshan blasted somewhere in the upper lip region, and the other two hopefully succumbing to death due to lung collapse. All they had to do was start it up, and she had no problem finishing it. Eyes scanned back over to them, scoffing and going for another smoke. Sure, she had just had one, but if she had nothing to do with her hands then the next thing was going to be to play with that hand cannon; and she didn't wanna' get blamed for antagonizing them.

She had a very fond respect for the saying ' Give people the rope to hang themselves '. As long as they felt like tying knots, she would keep feeding the line. It was at that point she noted she might have been just tad bit intoxicated; Still she made no motion to the hand cannon on the table, or even made a move for it. Thought she was keenly aware of what would happen if one of them ate a Disruptor round; and it wouldn't be pretty. She wasn't entirely sure how the ammunitions worked perfectly yet, but she heard they were quite destructive... Even so that the Jedi shunned the use of the weapons, saying it was a disrespect to the Force or something of that nature.

Unfortunately for them, she didn't share any Jedi views, and had no issue putting all three down. As she was shooting a glaring side-eye in that direction, a new face came in. Iella was about to look away when she noticed the woman had stopped by the door, and seemed comfortable there. She was just walking around with a sword? She liked the aesthetic, but wondered if she was any good at it...

Eyes panned slowly from her, to the trio, and back to her...

The diabolical gears were a turning... In any case, for now she would put two fingers in her mouth an emit a low whistle in Bao Quayan 's general direction. That got more than a few heads turning, but she would be making eye contact with the woman when she waved over over with two deliberate tugs of her fingers.

SOMNOL-716

 

[SOMNOL-716]

//LOCATION: LEANING RANCOR, NAR SHADDAA
CURRENT OBJECTIVE: ACQUIRE A JOB
CURRENT MOOD: ANNOYED//

The pursuit for perfection is not an easy path, not even for those designed for it. There are always bound to be pitfalls, factors out in the expansive galaxy out of the control of even the most perfect beings.

SOMNOL-716 walked up to the Leaning Rancor, each measured step perfectly reflecting the last, a beautiful series of fluid movements, choreography of the most refined degree, that was likely missed by the bleary-eyed, drunk denizens of Nar Shaddaa. Somnol rarely enjoyed making appearances in these dens of vice, for a few reasons. Paramount among them was the fact that many didn't serve his kind, but equally as frustrating was the commotion; his series of finely-tuned sensors could barely keep up with the hustle and bustle. Organics were always moving, making unnecessary gestures; couldn't they just stand still?

But survival requires sacrifice, and that was why he moved into the room, light-footed despite his bronzium carapace, each step poised and propelling him forward. He had made a series of less-than optimal choices. Who could have known that accepting a poorly-paying guard position on a merchant vessel on Nal Hutta would lead to him being stranded on Nar Shaddaa, that same merchant dead in a ditch a few blocks down the way?

Maybe if he had let his processing circuits run for just a few minutes longer, he could have guessed. The man was incredibly crass and talkative, after all. Those directives did not lend themselves well to survival in Hutt Space.

Nonetheless, Somnol was here for a new directive. An advertisement of work, of the bounty hunter variety. SOMNOL-716's database on such beings was limited, but he figured they must be less death-prone than smugglers.

Upon getting within the doorway and stepping off to the right, Somnol realized he was not alone. Someone else was waiting here first. Perhaps they had seen the same advertisement? The droid cocked his head at Bao Quayan , then quickly turned as he heard a whistle. Turned back to the person next to him. Back to the whistler.

The Rancor was truly a place to behold, through Somnol's various invisible senses. The Droid was not adept at picking up social cues, not at all, but even he could sense the thinly-veiled tension in the air, and made sure to keep combat protocols close to mind. The place was like the inside of a bomb. Each piece, properly connected and ignited, could create quite the explosion.

What art might be created from the blast zone, Somnol wondered.

- Iella Sunscream -

 

[Bao Quayan]

Iella Sunscream | SOMNOL-716


After standing at the door, sometimes staring at the leaflet or just scanning the room, she heard a drunkard yell out. Now, big talk or just loud talk wasn't surprising in a cantina, but by the words spoke, it was obvious what was going on. Someone a little too full of alcohol, or themselves, were goading an interaction from a group of cantina-goers. Yelling? Fighting? In a cantina? We're lucky it isn't every hour, but it's as common as a glass hitting the counter. But this cantina would come with a couple little surprises that Bao wasn't entirely expecting of.

Suddenly, she heard a whistle, a whistle that would literally get everyones attention. Bao instinctively looked up to see said drunkard who called out a nasty looking group, to be whistling at her. Then the drunkard tried to call her over. Is this a cat-call or an invitation to talk? Wait, was this her contact for the job offer? Oh feth. Just before she made the decision to get up from the wall and proceed over, a droid walked in. She looked over at it since it stopped to look at her and the whistler. Several times it made glances to her and the whistler and honestly, Bao was just a bit creeped out. She made a confused look at the droid before leaning up from the wall, "don't ...stare at me, droid." She gave it a little nudge, doubtful if it would even recognize such a gesture or even realized it happened since it was such a small abrasion against their arm structure. She just wanted to get the point across the droid was being weird.

After leaning up from the wall, she proceeded over to Whistlin' Dixie over here, but not before giving the robot one more distained look. She then focused on the intoxicated bar customer, with the only intent to ascertain whether this was the person making the job offer or not. If she was going to be flirted with, she'd just walk away. She really couldn't deal with a rowdy drunkard hitting on her tonight. "Yes, you called me over?" She asked after getting close enough for a casual conversation, leaning on one leg and putting a fist on her hip, ready for slurred words and confused sentences.

 

[Iella Sunscream]

As her fingers had fallen, she noted the droid enter and initially cringed a bit. She couldn't help it but droids could be intentionally... Unintentionally? Just... Creepy sometimes. She stared at it dully to the point she realized it had also stopped in the doorway.

"Oh..." she mumbled, wondering if it had missed her motioning...

"You too droid!" she called aloud, putting out her cigarette on the table (though there was an ashtray just a bit out of her reach. Iella pulled her plate close, leaning over and taking another bite to eat. After she did that, she would lean back and munch; casting a glance to the corner, noting the trio seemed taken aback that their solo target had become a trio as well.

"Yes, you called me over?"

"Siddown"

She responded, half slur- half slang. Still she weapon had remained untouched in the table, drawing a lot of attention; taking attention away from the fact she had two way more dangerous items stashed on her person. Had she not been inside a bar that was well populated, she could've ended this staring content in grand fashion already. Though, thermal detonators were a different type of beast. Type of thing you had to be real careful about using inside the limits of a city.

She would skip a few beats, waiting for the droid to walk up to the table (if he would) and observing him while holding her falafel type sandwich. She stared at it up and down, and took a bite while observing him. Did she really feel comfortable riding with this guy alone one a ship?

"You too, have a seat..." she said, resting the food back on the plate, and letting her eyes bounce between them.

Call her a speciest, but she would regard Bao Quayan first, as she was human; her excuse if called out for this would be she had arrived first.

"Order some food, and a drink..." she would would lick at her own teeth, then up-nod the droid.

"What's your designation droid? And where's y-.. Your eye? Or photo- whatever" she would say, peering over his frame for defects, or damage.

Bao Quayan SOMNOL-716

 

[SOMNOL-716]

There was so much going on around Somnol. So many strange sounds, movements, heat signatures that blended together, making the entire bar appear to be one living, breathing individual. It was overwhelming, to say the least. His sensors were working on overdrive trying to capture all of the information. So it would come as no shock that he was surprised by the sudden prodding of his arm.

Bao Quayan pushed him. Somnol could tell from her posture that she didn't mean to start a fight. Still, it did shock him a little, as he turned his head mechanically down towards his chassis, as if he were looking at where she touhed him. Not that he had to, he had perfect awareness of his surroundings.

//My apologies for disturbing you.// Somnal's voice was chipper, proper, more like a protocol droid offering afternoon tea than a security bot in the pits of Nar Shaddaa. He watched as she began to leave, throwing back a look at him he didn't understand, before walking towards Iella Sunscream .

Once again, Somnol's attention was pulled by the whistler. She was calling him too? His head swiveled to look that direction. The rest of his body swiveled in tandem, and he began to pick his way across the bar, careful to avoid bumping into anyone. He had a close call, with a tipsy human swinging out a careless hand. Somnol's sensors, now in overdrive, warned him of the rogue appendage, and he took a sudden step back, narrowly avoiding it. He continued his way forward, until he was at the table.

Even as Iella observed him, he observed her with his multitude of sensors. Thermal detonators had a particularly spicy electromagnetic signature, and he could tell she possessed at least one on her person. There was a blaster on the table, perhaps an intimidation tactic? Somnol identified her as a force to be reckoned with.

Meanwhile, the pusher had barely any electronic signatures on her. It was odd, to say the least.

Somnol waited for the other new arrival to speak first before offering a cheery reply. //My designation is SOMNAL-716. I am a BLX-Labor Droid.//

There was a sudden shift in the droid's posture. He bowed, in a very natural, organic way. Once the animation was done, he returned to his previous pose. A discerning eye might see his bronze casing was dented slightly, but the filigree was incredibly detailed, beautiful, if one cared to look. A more discerning eye might see the glint of vibroblades within his forearms, ready to be deployed from the wrists at a moment's notice. Labor droid, sure, but obviously with major modifications.

//You are referring to my photoreceptors? I ripped them out myself. But rest assured, I can see just fine. Now, I believe we may have some business.//

 

[Bao Quayan]

Iella Sunscream | SOMNOL-716


Bao internally sighed, a drunkard asking a pretty lady to sit down and order some food, then quickly distracted by a lone, rogue droid in the bar. She wanted to speak, but she decided it didn't matter when the slurring person with a blaster at the ready started up a conversation with the droid. Quayan grabbed the hilt of her vibroblade as a precautionary tactic, as it seemed she was itching for a fight, and had already angered some other patrons. Perhaps not a cautious behavior towards the droid or drunkard at the bar, but she didn't want to be jumped by some angry drunkards. As for the droid, Bao may not even really register on their sensors as a thread. Bao had absolutely no electronic devices, and the only metal on her person was perhaps some clothing buttons attached to her suit, and her vibroblade which was sheathed. She either used her wits and luck to sense danger, or she was trained in a far more complex and arduous combat technique. Or.... she was just poor.

Immediately after the droid finished their sentence addressing their identification, she spoke up, "I am Bao Quayan, and I have no need nor the funds for food. Who are you, if you are able to speak?" She didn't say it to intentionally anger the patron, her tone was more inquisitive than insidious, but it was honest. The individual was already slurring their words and Bao didn't want to waste her time. The leaflet said to stay by the door, and if this wasn't the person hiring, then Bao wouldn't be at the door but distracted and appearing as any other bar patron. She also never sat down, as she was trying to ascertain the situation. If this was.... potentially.... the person offering the job - as it seemed the droid assumed such - then it was going to be a very long day.

 

[Aayla Shan]

(Ignore, ALT post.)

 

[Aayla Shan]

Ignore again... llol

 

[Iella Sunscream]

She sensed an attitude from the woman, but wasn't about to mention it... Now, anyway. Noting the woman had denied her hospitality she would swallow the food in her mouth and deadpan to her once, a brief cut of her eyes on her; scoffing aloud and lifting that other shot to down it. It as well was added to the other shot glasses dotting the table. Groaning as burned its way through her system, she shook her head, and regarded Bao Quayan Bao Quayan .

"Didn't ask you to pay for food, Ms. Bao... I said order some food, and a drink... That's it... And both of you can call me Hound for now..."

The hell happened to her cigarette? She patted her vest pocket, and slid another to light; once that was done, she took a long drag, thinking about what the droid had said. Shaking her head ruefully.

"That chit is too long, I'll call you Sommy or Som. Now, I'll pay you guys good, and I don't want either of you thinking I particularly need you riding shotgun... I just realize it can't hurt to have a little backup in these..."

She dragged that cigarette again, glancing back over to the corner, and noticing the Trandoshan had stood up, and had gotten closer. Watching a Pazaak game, and trying to be unnoticeable which was a hoot in its own right. Blowing out a billow of smoke, she would lick her lips and finish that comment.

"Uncertain times... Anyway, this is how it'll go. Sixty-Forty split... You guys will split the sixty percent, I keep the Forty, but I keep any bonuses from any jobs we take... If any. I don't think our droid friend here needs to eat, and I guess you're on a diet or something... So I'll expect you guys to take care of yourselves with your pay."

Iella turned to her left, hoisting up a bag off of the seat, and let it down on the table easily. She pulled out a spread of credits, and let them onto the table with the lit cigarette suspended in her mouth with nothing but her lips. Once they sat there, she would throw it back on the bench.

"This is three thousand credits, that's fifteen a piece... Call it a signing bonus... If you're signing... There's a string attached though... Three of them actually.." she would say, just as the Twi'lek male popped out of nowhere, in close proximity behind him the Trandoshan, and the Rodian...

'All these credits, for me?' he joked, though the muscle he brought with him belied the joking tone. She gave no answer, and didn't reach for her blaster. Simply observing the other two as if she hadn't heard him. Even puffing on that cigarette as her eyes bounced between the pair. As if to cement her disdain for the dregs of society that had just walked up behind them; she would pull that cigarette from her lips, and wag her fingers in Bao Quayan Bao Quayan 's direction.

"Its a diet, right?"

Bao Quayan Bao Quayan SOMNOL-716 SOMNOL-716

 

[Bao Quayan]

Iella Sunscream | SOMNOL-716

Admittedly, Bao was slightly put off by this interaction. No real introduction from the person sitting down, but they presumed themselves as the one making the job offer from the leaflet Bao was just hovering over and trying to sign up for. But realistically, she didn't care. This would be considered distasteful and dishonorable in her culture, but this wasn't her culture. Her culture was dead and gone, and she had to slum it and hitch hike with strangers for the rest of her life, so this new way of life had become her new normal.

Besides, it sounded like a partly lazy job, they wanted to do a job and if something went awry they wanted a bit of back up. But it had to be something big enough since she poured a lot of credits onto the table, especially in eyesight of everyone. If Bao wasn't so deep in thought, and gently watching the rough and tumble lots Iella had been making fuss with earlier, she probably would have pried more into the job. She was about to ask a few questions, but then the rough and tumble boys came to join the party. Bao was not having it.

This is why she had her hand on her hilt. She quickly drew her sword as swiftly and silently as someone flicking a wrist, it slung around and quickly sliced a leather strap on the Twi'leks chest. She did this as silently as possible, as whatever the strap held up fell to the ground. The motion of the sword abruptly stopped after slicing the strap, threatening to pierce the twi'leks neck. "Listen, listen closely," she whispered, "today has not been a particularly fond day, and I'm willing to wager it's been oh so much worse for you, right?" She pushed her sword into his neck, provoking him to walk backwards, non-chalantly. She then grabbed a few of the credits off the table and shoved them against the twi'leks chest, pulling her sword away. "I'm not in the mood for a bar brawl, I have a head ache and I'd just as likely lop your head off to alleviate it. So take these creds, buy a new whatever I destroyed, and walk." She sighed, turning to Iella as she sheathed her sword, but just in case they didn't walk, she kept her hand on her hilt, "consider me signed up...."

 

[SOMNOL-716]

DESIGNATION: "HOUND" ACCEPTED. ADDING TO DATABASE.

Somnal was rather silent as he listened to his possible new employer, making sure to continue his scan of the entire area. Of course, he noticed the sketchy group of three watching the table, it would have been exceedingly difficult to miss, but they seemed harmless. Perhaps if there were two more, and they managed to fan out with blaster rifles trained on the group, and he was caught unawares...

The droid snapped back to reality once he realized he was being spoken to. His name was too long? He had never considered this. A single robotic finger curled around the bottom of his faceplate, as if he were deep in thought. He had seen organics do this before, and wasn't sure quite what for. While it didn't expedite his processing time, it did make him feel more intelligent. //Acceptable,// he said simply, hand returning to his side.

He listened to Hound's terms carefully, reviewing the numbers as she said them. It was disproportionately weighed towards the hunter, but she was also expected to be the most involved in their objectives. It seemed like a fair deal. Not that Somnal was particularly motivated by credits, but maintenance wasn't cheap.

But then, Somnal noticed that those three were on the move. He studied them as they walked, thinking they were oh so stealthy. It seemed their approach wasn't beyond the notice of Somnal's two companions, either. But even before the droid could rotate, the pusher's sword was out and pricking one of them. If Somnal had ocular sensors, they would be wide open in shock. She was quick. Incredibly quick. Somnal brought up a replay of the motion on his HUD. It was entirely natural, entirely controlled. It was art.

What was that one's name again? Somnol hadn't made note of it. He may have to search his memory banks later.

Slowly, deliberately, Somnol's forearms split in half, and blades sprung from them, humming with energy. //Beginning Combat Protocols,// he stated, plainly. But his voice shifted ever so slightly, gravelly undertones adding malicious weight to his cheery vernacular.

//Strings, strings, strings... I do so ever enjoy cutting strings. The one with the sword does not wish for an altercation, but I most certainly do. Please, give me an excuse to cut you, strings.//

Of course, if Bao Quayan 's ploy worked, there would be no need for combat. But where was the fun in that?

//I also accept your offer, Hound.//

- Iella Sunscream -

 

[Iella Sunscream]

So Iella hadn't imaged that attitude then, but also noted her kinetic response was impressive. She had played that out tough, only glancing back at the opposing trio in time to see she had delivered a perfect cut that wasn't lethal... Though, she knew that wasn't by mistake. That woman could carve the flank meat, from the skirt meat of a Nerf's ass with a blindfold on. She dragged on that cigarette, shooting Somnol a wink. Not sure if he could even see it, but he seemed agreeable; she liked them so far. Grinning when the droid unveiled his blades. That grin slowly dissipating as he spoke within the throes of his combat protocol.

Not just him, (excluding how Bao will take it) at that. Everyone in that immediate area deadpanned to the droid, including Iella. They stared, and listened. And Iella couldn't help but remember she was definitely suggesting being on a ship alone with this thing. As he noted the terms were acceptable, she could do nothing but drag that cigarette again.

The goons went from nearly being carved up, to receiving one of the most harsh psychologically trying series of words she had ever heard in her life. The Rodian in tow tugged at the shoulder of the Twi'lek, muttering something to him, to which the Twi'lek would glare between the trio, ragging his shoulder away from the Rodian and turning to storm off. There was something about droids that carried the sense there would be no out if you tangled with one. In this situation, the ploy would work... Was that even a ploy? She would widen her left eye while observing him then.

'This aint' Karkin over... Bantha Poodoo' he hawked up some phlegm, spitting it on the ground before backing away from her weapon and turning to storm off with his gang. Iella watched them go, then cracked a little. Waiting until they were gone to turn to her side in the booth and double over laughing. She seemed tickled. Standing to her full height, which wasn't particularly much at that. She was a rather short girl; her intimidation came from action, determination, and timing.

After she had a good laugh, she would raise a finger to the bartender.

"One more to go Sammy!" she said with a grin, the next few moments seeming to go in fast forward. The shot downed, the groan, and all three sliding out of the Leaning Rancor. She was right intoxicated at this point, but would've taken great offense to Bao's assessment of her efficiency on the bottle. She still had the minerals for work; and Bao wasn't sensitive to the Force either, so Iella would've told her she had no right to even comment. Then again, Iella had also gotten herself drunk to the point that she couldn't do anything but vomit, and pass out before; so she knew where the other came from.

Sliding down the street away from the tavern. A little ways away from that area was a spaceport, and even from this distance her RMS-BC11 Starhammer-class Superheavy Bomber (x) was visible. She wondered if either, or both had vessels of their own.

"So, either of you got a ship. That's mine over there. The Cutter.." she said with a point.

Bao Quayan SOMNOL-716

 

[Bao Quayan]

Iella Sunscream | SOMNOL-716


Bao obviously had the look of frustration, but she kept her attitude in check. Patience was a virtue, but Bao Dynasty understood that Life wasn't always so simple. The potential of a blade was that a key element in its effectiveness was the efficiency of a wrist flick. A weapon usually had to be readied, aimed, positioned against a shoulder even, and that's excluding ensuring it is loaded or if it doesn't jam. If you know the length of your sword, and its cutting power, it becomes an extension of yourself, like when you are able to take a drink or feed yourself when blindfolded. You don't need to see your hand to know where to position it to your mouth, it's just subconscious. Taking a deep breath as her eyes looked to the side towards the droid, the reason she didn't want an altercation was because of the trouble it brings afterward. Although a droid never has to 'worry' as an emotion, Bao didn't want a bounty, expenses for broken furniture, murder charges, etcetera. She just wanted a job, get paid, and sleep in a bed. All the droid needs is a good charge and oil change, they won't have to worry about life.

Once more, she was disappointed as she heard the individual request another drink. Once she heard the hilt click with the sheathe, she started speaking, over the droid if necessary though of course after they finished their spiel about combat protocols, "Firstly," she said in a relaxing, comfortable tone, "I am not on a diet, I am merely poor of this galaxy's currency. Secondly, no, I do not own a ship." She looked over where Iella pointed out for her ship, before continuing, "thirdly.... while I would prefer to speak to you uninfluenced, I'd prefer not waiting until your intoxication is removed. However, I do have a question for you; what is my employers name?" She pointed out the fact that Iella had not introduced herself yet, even though the droid, of all things, had before Iella even addressed it. She refrained from any snide remarks, keeping a behavior befitting a friend, giving the allure that she was kind and respectful, since she didn't need to anger the employer for their blissful habits.

 

[SOMNOL-716]

//Terminating Combat Protocols.//

With the sound of shimmering metal, Somnol's blades retreated to their resting positions within his arms, locking into place with a satisfying click. //And stay out,// he said cheerily, unable to resist the jab, but making sure to lower his volume. They were retreating with their tails between their legs now, but who knows when they will return, and in what number.

From what SOMNOL-716 had seen, the pride of an organic being was wounded rather easily, and they would make a great amount of illogical decisions to save what pride they have left. It was entirely idiotic, Somnol decided, but necessary to keep in mind when dealing with them.

Hound pointed off in a direction, her ship far beyond the range of his sensors. He didn't even bother looking in that direction. Perhaps one weakness of not having photoreceptors; anything beyond thirty meters was invisible to him. The Cutter was an interesting name. Ironic, what with the two mercenaries she just purchased primarily using vibroweaponry.

The droid then focused on what the bladewielder was saying. He wasn't entirely surprised to find that she was poor. That would expain the lack of technology, and the lack of ship, which she elaborated on. He turned his torso and head to the one with the sword, legs still locked in place. //I believe they have identified themself as 'Hound'.//

He couldn't speak on her behalf of how drunk she was. To be honest, Somnol had difficulty grasping the concept. But it appeared to him that all her faculties were functional.

//I also do not possess a ship, and I am also incredibly poor. Truly, we are the finest mercenaries you will ever hire.// Somnal paused for laughter. Whether it was filled or not was entirely up to present company.

SOMNOL-716 turned his head towards where Hound had gestured, as if looking at the ship. He wanted to inspect the vessel, so very badly. If he were to spend any amount of time on this 'Cutter', he wanted to ensure it wouldn't explode upon leaving this planet's upper atmosphere. Somnol might survive such an event, but he doubted that his fellow hire, and employer, would not be so lucky.

- Iella Sunscream - Bao Quayan -

 

[Iella Sunscream]

Iella was about to snap at Bao for missing that point, and nodded as the droid recalled the name she had given them. As she walked, she took a random glance over her shoulder, spotting what do you know... A group of seven following them, including their previous friends from the bar. "I swear, I hate this fethin planet..." she mumbled, reaching down and priming her blaster. Though, she didn't stop walking.

It was then, she sort of narrowed in on Bao, and what she was saying. Wh-. Th-... A-... She deadpanned her, and shook her head.

"I'm S-.. Sorry, are you lecturing me? Sure, I get it.. I drink from time to time, but if I recall I recently made you.. Both of you, relatively un-poor; so the last thing I need is lip."

Iella said this while keeping her emotions relatively cool, and not making it seem like she was yelling; though her tone was serious in nature. She looked the woman over, then leaned forward as if she was looking around her at SOMNOL.

"See, be more like Sommy; he's optimistic. Aaaand, he remembers my name. And just in case you're suggesting I tell you my actual name? I would argue that bit of information became irrelevant somewhere past the eight-hundred credits mark."

She didn't laugh at SOMNOL's joke, barely registering it as something that was supposed to be humorous. Then again, the drone was practically singing about dismembering people ten minutes ago, she didn't expect him to be the group comedian. Or maybe she just didn't see his humor yet...

Well, his little song and dance about dismemberment was a little funny... Well, moderately funny... She was going to laugh about it in her room later.

"Now, Ms. Bao.. If that suffices for you, you're my bodyguard until you leave my service. And SOMNOL, if you can manage it I'd like you to pilot, and look after the ship while we work this next job... W-.. When I get the next job"

she cleared her throat then, wondering how they would react when they figured out she didn't exactly HAVE a job lined up for them... Hell she imagined they would have been happy; they had basically been paid to do nothing in particular (for now).

She glanced over her shoulder again... Chit... Ten people. As such, she stopped on a dime, and drew that blaster. An equal distance to the ship, and the encroaching gang. Ironically, both the ship, and the gang were either in, or entering a range of thirty meters.

"Ms. B, unless you're blaster resistant, you may wanna' get behind me or Sommy..."

SOMNOL-716 Bao Quayan

 

[Bao Quayan]

Iella Sunscream | SOMNOL-716


(Admittedly missed the part about Hound, I'll play it off. I'm semi starting combat, but I'm not calling any hits. You guys can freely see and call any hits Bao makes, but you can take the most kills since she is only fighting one per fight)

Bao looked over to the droid and nodded to it, a typical humanoid show of respect, in response to them stating the identifier 'Hound' for the employer. "Ah, I see.... my apologies, I must have missed that as slightly insignificant as my focus was more on the drunkards you were goading into a fight. Speaking of which..." She said nothing after that, at least, concerning the sentences subject. Doubtful of the droids understanding of what that mean, but she wasn't sure if Iella would pick up on it considering her current state, the conversation, and her tracking of the individuals behind her. However, even while she was silent, she couldn't help but give the droid a confused look as they said 'we are the finest mercenaries.' It was just a little awkward to be included.

Her silence was abruptly over when the Hound started taking offense to her single mention of her alcoholic trance, actually being partially annoyed that a fly on the wall mention was going to turn into an entire conversation subject becoming utilized as a way to show dominance. "If you seek a lecture, I'll give you one better. It would be nice to strategize someone not inebriated, and that is all I meant, I don't care if you drink yourself to sleep or stupor, just don't get us killed," what Iella didn't know is that any ounce of alcohol had the chance of just killing Bao, so she had personally made it a habit to be as far away from the stuff as possible, even as a cooking ingredient. But how careless people were with their lives, she didn't care. But Bao would be endangering herself while in Iella's care, and that's what mattered.

However, yet again, Bao wasn't paying attention to Iella's last remarks. She understood the position Iella wanted her for, but she would easily miss the mention of 'getting the next job.' She was trying to listen for how close the individuals that were following them were, the entire time she kept her hand on the hilt. When Iella turned on her heel, a quick thought crossed Bao's mind about how surprising it was she didn't trip herself, but it was quickly gone when she noticed Iella pulling her blaster. "Oh, we're engaging them now, when they gathered their numbers? Alright..." but Bao didn't hide, instead, she drew her blade as she turned and suddenly leapt into the air. Sprung on one foot, it looked like she jumped roughly 12 meters in the air.... towards the goons. The movement was similar to that of a Jedi or a Sith, although if anyone could sense force sensitivity, she would seem the opposite; void of life. By the time she reached them, weapons fire would already be going off. No doubt Iella would already be firing bolts down range. Bao just took on opponents one by one, any that weren't engaged by the Droid or anyone Iella wasn't firing on so she wouldn't be in the crosshairs. Each opponent she defeated, she killed. Each opponent she killed, she beheaded, like she said before.

 

[SOMNOL-716]

Neither of them appreciated his joke? Oh well. Tough Crowd.

Somnol accepted Bao Quayan 's nod of respect, and mimicked it back, attempting to convey cameraderie. If they were working together in the near future, Somnol supposed they should have a working relationship. If they hated each other, that could complicate the mission. So, he tried his best to be cordial. The last thing she said confused him.

//'Speaking of which'? Speaking of what?// He said it just a little too loud. Per the rules of grammar, she should have continued that thought. Whatever context was there completely sailed over his cranial plating. He ignored it. Maybe it wasn't important.

The moment passed quickly, however, as they began a rather heated debate on the correct percentage of alcohol one could consume before becoming prone to error. Somnol turned his head to the side, pretending to give them privacy. It was useless, since his sensors didn't rely on the direction of his head, but they would understand the gesture.

His sensors pinged, letting him know that there was a group following them. Somnol ignored it. Plenty of people walked around here, and how would he know if they were the same people from inside the bar? All humanoids looked alike to him.

SOMNOL-716 turned his head back to them when Hound mentioned his role. Ship piloting? It would be simple enough. He had a scomp link, so interfacing with the ship would be no issue. When she said she didn't have a job lined up, the droid's mathematically perfect gait hitched in surprise. Surprising.

He was about to say so when he suddenly noticed the bounty hunter's blaster raise behind them. Somnol's forearm blades began to slide out as combat mode was activated. He didn't need to say when he began combat protocols, he just figured it was polite to let people know.

That was not the case here, as the swordwoman leapt into the air, farther than any average humanoid had any right doing. Somnol's sensors identified and categorized the fine particulars of the jump even as she was still midair, landing right in their midst. He studied the path she took, and even as his blades were still popping from his arms, he followed it. It was eerie just how similar his jump was to Bao's; launched from one foot, incredibly graceful, hands positioned as if he were holding a sword.

He had analyzed exactly how she had moved, and copied it perfectly. Quite the skill.

Well, not exactly. His jump wasn't nearly as high, but it still managed to get him close enough to his targets. By the time he was through with his leap, his blades were slashing out, purring like kittens.

//It seems like a poor business practice to hire help for jobs you do not have lined up yet,// the droid said, even as he walked up a goon's arm with his blades, first piercing the wrist to disarm, then the elbow to incapacitate, and finally the armpit to kill. //You would be better served by... Oh my, that's a lot of blood... paying us on a case-by-case basis.//

Somnol took a moment to unsheathe his blade from the fellow's corpse, letting the vibrations shake off the blood. He sensed another goon lining up a punch towards his turned head, and quick as a bullwhip, his entire body rotated on his hip joints. He caught the fist on his blade, and pushed it into the man's arm. Seeming not to notice the sudden scream of agony, Somnol mused to himself.

//Then again, having hired muscle on a retainer fee helps with situations like this.// The statement was followed by a contemplative slash through the poor guy's shoulder, removing the source of his agony. A small push sent him to the ground, where he would likely bleed out.

//Any thoughts?// Somnol said, turning to the one with the sword, severed arm still firmly attached to his forearm blade.

- Iella Sunscream -

 

[Iella Sunscream]

Okay, she knew she had paid them, but as Bao had entered the fray she raised her disruptor to fire, hesitating as Bao briefly entered the line of fire. She aimed a little to her left, but there was Sommy dism-... He was... By the Force...

Iella glanced behind herself, noting there was no one on the street, then back to the casual slaughter taking place in front of her. Glancing down, she would return her blaster to its holster, and walk towards the duo; combined they killed eight people, the other two scrambling and dodging; scurrying off into the shadows with speed. She made a point to step around the rapidly forming pools of blood, and right up to the droid;

"Lemme' y-.. You got a piece... Stuck on there"

She would tug that arm off of his wrist-blades, turning to locate the owner, and leaned over to place it on the deceased mans chest. She glanced around at the two then offered a nod.

"We should go.." Iella noted with a chuckle, playing an abrupt game of hopscotch through the blood and gore, and settling into a moderate gait towards the spaceport.

She hadn't ignored Bao's comments, but instead had silently committed them to memory. She had no interest in getting them killed. Hell as green as she was to this kinda' stuff, she... Well, she cared for them already. She just knew better than to say that, when they could still turn on her. Credits didn't breed loyalty, it was something that took time to be earned.

Within some moments, she would have been paying off the docking fee, and walking up the ramp to the ship. She stopped atop the ramp, and turned to look back at the city, noting she might have picked the perfect pair for whatever job would rear its head. That being said, she better not give them a big head. A flying blades-man, and a quirky droid that... Did he say he was a protocol droid? The hell factory did he come from?

"Chit... Well, we better make ourselves scarce.. Sommy, once you get familiar with the ship, can you take us to Coruscant; I think we might have a business opportunity there. And Ms. B, feel free to sleep wherever, there's more than one empty room aboard. Make yourself at home.. I'm gonna pass out, and uh-.. Think about some stuff"

She admitted, a little awestruck at how quickly the group had been taken out; with such precision, and without a lick of damage to the city. If it was here she wouldn't probably been liable for a fair amount of property destruction. She had some stuff to learn...

With that, she would turn and yawn, stumbling her way to her room, and hitting her pillow face down with a sigh. Not but five minutes after that, unless bothered she would be sound asleep, door locked of course; cause she was not about to wake up to SOMNOL standing over her, watching her sleep.

(Last post from me for this thread.)