Private Until Proven Guilty

[Vera Mina]

"Why must Morale enter the equation, Jedi?" Vera questioned as she led Pradd Miolonn .

"It's not cheating. Seduction has always been a useful tool for the sexes. You think people don't swoon at a Jedi waving a pretty blue blade around? Well, not me, but I am simply illustrating a point." Vera explained as she walked up to the cherry red speeder.

"A sway of the hips, a flash of a smile, sweet whispered words. Is this not infinitely better, infinitely more subtle than say, grand theft auto right out the gate?" she asked as she started the speeder, waiting for Pradd to hop in.

"Of course, to each their own. I simply use what I was given creatively. You're still relatively new to your own profession. You'll understand what I am saying more as you get older."

 

[Pradd Miolonn]

"Why must Morale enter the equation, Jedi?" Vera questioned as she led Pradd Miolonn .

"It's not cheating. Seduction has always been a useful tool for the sexes. You think people don't swoon at a Jedi waving a pretty blue blade around? Well, not me, but I am simply illustrating a point." Vera explained as she walked up to the cherry red speeder.

"A sway of the hips, a flash of a smile, sweet whispered words. Is this not infinitely better, infinitely more subtle than say, grand theft auto right out the gate?" she asked as she started the speeder, waiting for Pradd to hop in.

"Of course, to each their own. I simply use what I was given creatively. You're still relatively new to your own profession. You'll understand what I am saying more as you get older."

"What the Kriff.. A Jedi cutting clones, soldiers and droids in two is sexy now?" Pradd followed Vera as she got to the Speeder bike, he sat and continued the discussion. "No I never thought that they would 'swoon', no." Pradd sighed and answered, "I mean, that's straight out manip-" Well Pradd also thought about his word, entering the mind of a weak sentient being isn't also the best thing, it's true. "Nevermind, but this isn't infinitively better too. Using someone's hormones to influence him, is worse than straight out changing his mind for a few seconds, no?"

"You understand that I'm a Jedi from like what.. My four years old? And I've been a padawan from my eight years old too? So it's been seven years. I do not know thethe Force entirely because of a lack of masters but.. That's about it, I think that I won't understand what you're saying, even in a few years." He said, as the speeder started.

 

[Vera Mina]

"You would be surprised at what others find stimulating. But I am not talking so much about results as I am about perception when it comes to Jedi. There are not a million budget romance novels and Holonet fan fics involving Jedi characters for nothing." Vera replied as she started the speeder, pulling up to the security booth and retrieving her bag that had the handgun in it before pulling out and racing into the open air.

"And what makes you believe Hormones are worse than the Force?" she politely questioned as they piloted.

"With the former, you put your best foot forward, and induce a natural change that comes from within. When someone gives me what I ask after I play up my beauty in those situations, at that point, it's really more their idea to do it then it is mine. And the change in their thinking lasts longer. And if you are really persuasive, you can work the same target repeatedly."

They were in the open air. It was about an hour before noon.

"With your method, you momentarily twist their perception unnaturally into agreeing with you. It's much easier to screw up if you don't know what you're doing, and if you fail, the target is often more hostile, like that guard was. They may even resort to violence next time they encounter you."

She shrugged at Pradd Miolonn

"If you listen to nothing else I say to you, at least remember this essential: You get more with a spoonful of hormone honey, then a mouthful of Force Imbued Vinegar."




OOC: will introduce Assassins after your next post, heads up.

 

[Pradd Miolonn]

"You would be surprised at what others find stimulating. But I am not talking so much about results as I am about perception when it comes to Jedi. There are not a million budget romance novels and Holonet fan fics involving Jedi characters for nothing." Vera replied as she started the speeder, pulling up to the security booth and retrieving her bag that had the handgun in it before pulling out and racing into the open air.

"And what makes you believe Hormones are worse than the Force?" she politely questioned as they piloted.

"With the former, you put your best foot forward, and induce a natural change that comes from within. When someone gives me what I ask after I play up my beauty in those situations, at that point, it's really more their idea to do it then it is mine. And the change in their thinking lasts longer. And if you are really persuasive, you can work the same target repeatedly."

They were in the open air. It was about an hour before noon.

"With your method, you momentarily twist their perception unnaturally into agreeing with you. It's much easier to screw up if you don't know what you're doing, and if you fail, the target is often more hostile, like that guard was. They may even resort to violence next time they encounter you."

She shrugged at Pradd Miolonn

"If you listen to nothing else I say to you, at least remember this essential: You get more with a spoonful of hormone honey, then a mouthful of Force Imbued Vinegar."




OOC: will introduce Assassins after your next post, heads up.

Pradd was surprised, he doesn't go to the holonet often, and it isn't his habit to 'inspect' the Holonet while he's off. But this, is minimally frustrating, getting the imge of the Order changed for one's stimulations. Pradd would want to puke just by hearing it. He'd then say "People's trash make other's treasures.. I guess?" After alot of time on Coruscant, Pradd forgot how he hated these speeders. No one ever respect the law when coming to civilized driving.

"I do understand your point of view, but, even if you do not really know what you're doing, the target won't be hostile unless they aren't weak or from a race that is protected from mind tricks. In the worst case scenario, the weakest guy that you trick will simply fail to do your request or won't do it, going as usual with a mini blackout. And if trying to trick a strong mind, in worst case scenario, it could damage his mind forever. But the Order doesn't always take that risk."

He then stopped talking because of the loud noises, it didn't really bother him but, it didn't also help him debate on mind tricks with a, I quote, lawyer that is, for him, annoyingly artificial. Who know how much cases she nailed with her body? Corrupting people, going senators after senators. Assemblies after assemblies.

 

[Vera Mina]

"Yes. People's trash, other's treasures." Vera agreed with Pradd Miolonn

She listened to his explanations about mind tricks.

"I dunno...I have seen one or two people in the past get violent when a Force User tried it. But perhaps I am simply wrong on the matter. Perhaps those were isolated incidents. All I am saying, is to not discount the value of alternative methods of persuasion. Diplomats use this all the time."

Vera then noticed another speeder, this one a glossy black with tinted windows. She made a turn, and it followed them, keeping four speeders back.

"Don't turn around or react. Black speeder, four vehicles back."

Vera casually made another long turn and the black speeder adjusted and followed. Another black speeder then joined, this one slightly farther behind.

"We spooked someone..." Vera remarked. "Do not attack until fired upon. That way, we'll be able to claim self defense.

Vera subtly unzipped her jewel encrusted hand bag, slowly palming the silver plated pistol with a pearl grip very stealthily as the first speeder drew closer when she made another turn and then slowly descended beneath the tips of the sky scrapers.

The window on one rolled down and Vera tensed.

An arm reached out, firing a silenced blaster, that Vera barely moved out of the way from, and with a practiced grace she returned fire with a single shot into the cockpit, killing the one who had fired and forcing the driver to veer away.

The Other Speeder swung in, it's side passenger, dress all in black with a black mask, firing an SMG at Pradd.

 

[Pradd Miolonn]

"Yes. People's trash, other's treasures." Vera agreed with Pradd Miolonn

She listened to his explanations about mind tricks.

"I dunno...I have seen one or two people in the past get violent when a Force User tried it. But perhaps I am simply wrong on the matter. Perhaps those were isolated incidents. All I am saying, is to not discount the value of alternative methods of persuasion. Diplomats use this all the time."

Vera then noticed another speeder, this one a glossy black with tinted windows. She made a turn, and it followed them, keeping four speeders back.

"Don't turn around or react. Black speeder, four vehicles back."

Vera casually made another long turn and the black speeder adjusted and followed. Another black speeder then joined, this one slightly farther behind.

"We spooked someone..." Vera remarked. "Do not attack until fired upon. That way, we'll be able to claim self defense.

Vera subtly unzipped her jewel encrusted hand bag, slowly palming the silver plated pistol with a pearl grip very stealthily as the first speeder drew closer when she made another turn and then slowly descended beneath the tips of the sky scrapers.

The window on one rolled down and Vera tensed.

An arm reached out, firing a silenced blaster, that Vera barely moved out of the way from, and with a practiced grace she returned fire with a single shot into the cockpit, killing the one who had fired and forcing the driver to veer away.

The Other Speeder swung in, it's side passenger, dress all in black with a black mask, firing an SMG at Pradd.

"What the Kri-" Pradd didn't have time to think, he quickly took and ignited his lightsaber, successfully blocking the blaster hits. One of the lasers would go back to the aggressor, shooting him at the right pulmonary artery, completely liquidizing the said artery and organ.

"In the air, really?!" He'd keep his lightsaber near him, completly taking the Form III to defend himself from the blasters. "This isn't the most advantageous position, get us in the high ground!" He'd then stay aware and again block two blasters shots directed on his liver.

 

[Vera Mina]

Vera grinned and gunned the vehicle upwards, dodging another blaster bolt. She shot one Assassin that had been firing at Pradd Miolonn , the bullet tearing through the Assassin's head and making him fall out of the vehicle.

Another vehicle in the distance, this one had a pair of integrated blaster Cannons in the front. It let loose a spray of fire, and she yelled at Pradd to watch out as one of the bolts pierced the back, causing their bike to waver and lose altitude. She fired at the windshield of the third vehicle, piercing the front and causing it to veer off course.

"Engines damaged. We're losing altitude!" she yelled.

 

[Pradd Miolonn]

Vera grinned and gunned the vehicle upwards, dodging another blaster bolt. She shot one Assassin that had been firing at Pradd Miolonn , the bullet tearing through the Assassin's head and making him fall out of the vehicle.

Another vehicle in the distance, this one had a pair of integrated blaster Cannons in the front. It let loose a spray of fire, and she yelled at Pradd to watch out as one of the bolts pierced the back, causing their bike to waver and lose altitude. She fired at the windshield of the third vehicle, piercing the front and causing it to veer off course.

"Engines damaged. We're losing altitude!" she yelled.

"Oh dear.." Pradd would say, quietly. A burst of blaster fire would be directed to him, incapable to block it with his lightsaber, he quickly used to Force in order to stop them. Pradd would then concentrate and redirect the blaster fires at vehicle who changed track.

The said vehicle windshield would explode, shattering the glass at the driver and gunner, badly wounding them. Pradd would see the driver loose control while crying in pain, soon enough crashing in a skyscraper. "I got their cavalry out of here! just land us somewhere safe!"

 

[Vera Mina]

Vera took them lower than normal. Not to the underworks, but to the point where it got much harder to see the light of the sun. They were in a section of Coruscant that had a lot of automated factories. Vera set the speeder down at a parking space and got off, grabbing her jewel encrusted handbag that had an extra clip of ammo and immediately got out of the vehicle.

"We'll need to procure another form of transportation." Vera said casually. "I'll handle that...we need to move quickly though. I doubt that was the last of them."

She paused, turning to Pradd Miolonn .

"By the way, are you alright?"

 

[Pradd Miolonn]

Vera took them lower than normal. Not to the underworks, but to the point where it got much harder to see the light of the sun. They were in a section of Coruscant that had a lot of automated factories. Vera set the speeder down at a parking space and got off, grabbing her jewel encrusted handbag that had an extra clip of ammo and immediately got out of the vehicle.

"We'll need to procure another form of transportation." Vera said casually. "I'll handle that...we need to move quickly though. I doubt that was the last of them."

She paused, turning to Pradd Miolonn .

"By the way, are you alright?"

He'd get out of the said vehicle, also switching off his lightsaber. Pradd would take a look and see if someone still followed them. He'd then see one of the assassins landing at three superior stages.

Pradd would check for any injuries before answering, but he'd only find his clothes with holes and burned parts. "I guess I'm fine. And you, no debris or blasters shots touched you?" Pradd would then think My god, none of this would have happened if I took the fighter..

 

[Vera Mina]

"I'm immaculate..." she assured Pradd Miolonn when he asked her physical condition. And indeed, not a hair looked out of place. As statuesque as before she left the prison.

"You should be encouraged by the aggressive response we've gotten so far. It means we are on the money..." Vera mentioned as she walked through the streets, keeping note of the other Assassins on different levels as she walked.

"Quick, head under cover..." Vera said, ducking under a fabric canopy from a nearby hotel, and then between buildings, and the obfuscation of certain nearby comm towers, until she gestured to a construction site for a building.

"That should buy us a few minutes..." Vera said as she crossed the threshold barrier to the unfinished building and ducked into the first partly formed garage.

"We'll need a way to shake or dispatch them. Ideas?" she asked.

 

[Pradd Miolonn]

"I'm immaculate..." she assured Pradd Miolonn when he asked her physical condition. And indeed, not a hair looked out of place. As statuesque as before she left the prison.

"You should be encouraged by the aggressive response we've gotten so far. It means we are on the money..." Vera mentioned as she walked through the streets, keeping note of the other Assassins on different levels as she walked.

"Quick, head under cover..." Vera said, ducking under a fabric canopy from a nearby hotel, and then between buildings, and the obfuscation of certain nearby comm towers, until she gestured to a construction site for a building.

"That should buy us a few minutes..." Vera said as she crossed the threshold barrier to the unfinished building and ducked into the first partly formed garage.

"We'll need a way to shake or dispatch them. Ideas?" she asked.

Pradd would look at Vera, and hell yeah, she didn't change from when they left the Prison. Well, Pradd still needed to think on how he could repair his damn clothes, one thing is sure, he won't be able to go back to the Temple like this.

After thinking about if he was paid, he'd say "Am I even paid to protect you, this would be encouraging, if I wasn't the one taking the shots." Pradd would then hear "Quick, head under cover..." from Vera, which isn't tthe best thing to know. His answer would be a simple "Uh?" he'd look at the situation and then follow vera in her actions. "I'm not sure if this is safe though.."

"Well, I could try and distract them while you come back to the prison and do your lawyer things? I can meet you at his cell when I'm done with them, I guess."

OOC: I'm sorry, I forgot to post and just saved.

 

[Vera Mina]

"They have both our scents, unfortunately." Vera replied as they reached the interior of the construction site. "And besides...it would be rude of me to leave a teenager to the wolves."

She peered out of a window. A small squad was quietly, subtly making their way past crowds to try and reach the Construction site.

"I couldn't leave, even if I wanted to. But if we are smart, we can route these bastards utterly." Vera said gathering up some emergency flares, from a nearby toolbox as well as what appeared to be a large industrial nail gun."

"Can you use your Jedi power to float one or two flares around while they are lit up?" Vera asked. "I ask because my idea is we lead them into a trap deeper in the building. There are only four of them, armed with rifles."

Pradd Miolonn

 

[Pradd Miolonn]

"They have both our scents, unfortunately." Vera replied as they reached the interior of the construction site. "And besides...it would be rude of me to leave a teenager to the wolves."

She peered out of a window. A small squad was quietly, subtly making their way past crowds to try and reach the Construction site.

"I couldn't leave, even if I wanted to. But if we are smart, we can route these bastards utterly." Vera said gathering up some emergency flares, from a nearby toolbox as well as what appeared to be a large industrial nail gun."

"Can you use your Jedi power to float one or two flares around while they are lit up?" Vera asked. "I ask because my idea is we lead them into a trap deeper in the building. There are only four of them, armed with rifles."

Pradd Miolonn

[/QUOTE]

"Darn it, these hunters will not let us get outta' here before they have our heads.." Pradd would then listen to Vera, chuckling when she said 'Jedi power'. He then answered by a simple, "Yes, yes, I think I can do that. But you know, I can try and deflect the blaster bolts with my lightsaber. That could give them a scare."

As said, he'd then proceed to light up three flares, make them levitate and ask Vera, "What do I do with them now? Not saying, but I'm not the most brilliant Padawan with the Force."

He said, stupidly underestimating himself. But in one aspect, he was right, Pradd was much more brilliant in dueling than using the Force. He really needed to polish his skills after this mission.

 

[Vera Mina]

"I need you to move them around at random in this structure. Use them to distract or harrass..." Vera explained. "But directly engaging them should be used only after a distraction. We want all of them alive and coherent enough to answer our questions. I will use disabling shots. Never fight multiple people at once if you don't have to. And if you ever do have to, a patient strategy will yield more results than a violent blitz. And speak volumes about your self control."

Vera walked rapidly to a nearby column, signaling Pradd Miolonn to hide as they were almost here.

OOC: Pradd, you can take out two or three of the four if you want, just leave at least one for Me to defeat in my response post to your next one.

 

[Pradd Miolonn]

"Alright, this is where the fun begins!"

Pradd would then do as Vera said, hiding and bonking those bloody hunters with the Force as they try to get up. It was fun, seeing them shook by glowing sticks trying to hit them. Even if it was, kinda consuming mentally. After twenty to thirty bonkings, one would fall, his teammates would try to help him.

And at this moment, Pradd would run at them, neutralizing the first by slicing off his right foot. He'd then jump at the second one, Force pushing him, making him unconscious. The third and fourth ones would be braver than most, firing three to four shots at Pradd. Well, he'd simply block them with his lightsaber.

The fourth would quickly ignite a portable flamethrower, it wasn't in Pradd's advantage.. He'd just retreat, quickly going back as he block several blasters bolts.

He'd proceed to go back near Vera, breathlessly saying, "They're kinda faster, and smarter than I thought."

 

[Vera Mina]

Vera watched and studied from the shadows as Pradd Miolonn demonstrated his battle prowess, showing creativity in dispatching the first two, though he struggled with the second and third one.

He was a beginner. No savant with the Force or the Saber, but he was not an incompetent, like her initial assumption of him when he had shown up drunk had surmised.

As he retreated to her position, Vera nodded politely.

"Allow me..."

Vera snapped from cover and fired center mass at the first shooter, aiming expertly and hitting the first man in the ribs, dropping him and causing him to scream. The man with the Flamethrower wheeled on her position, but a bullet fired from her severed the igniter at the front of the flame nozzle, rendering the fuel unable to ignite.

The man holding the Flamethrower dropped it as Vera pointed it at his head. She kicked the other one's gun away.

He drew a hidden pistol up his sleeve and tried to aim but he hesitated when he saw how steady her aim was on his head.

"Now, I bet you're wondering, 'Am I fast enough to dive away from that headshot when she pulls the trigger?' Well, to be honest, in all this excitement, I'm rather curious about whether or not you could, myself. But seeing as this is a Silver Heat Semi-Automatic, and will blow your head clean off at this range if you're wrong, I suppose the question you should really ask yourself is 'Do I feel lucky?' Well..." she trailed...

"...do you?"

The man dropped his back up and kicked it over to her.

"Now..." Vera said. "Who the hell are all of you? Remember, I'm a lawyer, and if there is anyone who knows a lie when they hear it, it's a lawyer."

"Ain't that the fething truth..." the guy muttered. "We're mercenaries. Anonymous contract from someone using an Alias called Golden Needle. He gave us half a million credits up front, half for completion of killing you."

"Me? Not the Jedi?"

"We didn't even know he was Jedi until he popped out the saber."

"Does this have anything to do with that admiral?"

"Maybe. Soon as you took the case, We got four different offers for your head. We went with the highest paying one."

"Pradd, call the authorities, these gentleman have interviews to complete with the Police." Vera said calmly. "And good work by the way."

 

[Pradd Miolonn]

Vera watched and studied from the shadows as Pradd Miolonn demonstrated his battle prowess, showing creativity in dispatching the first two, though he struggled with the second and third one.

He was a beginner. No savant with the Force or the Saber, but he was not an incompetent, like her initial assumption of him when he had shown up drunk had surmised.

As he retreated to her position, Vera nodded politely.

"Allow me..."

Vera snapped from cover and fired center mass at the first shooter, aiming expertly and hitting the first man in the ribs, dropping him and causing him to scream. The man with the Flamethrower wheeled on her position, but a bullet fired from her severed the igniter at the front of the flame nozzle, rendering the fuel unable to ignite.

The man holding the Flamethrower dropped it as Vera pointed it at his head. She kicked the other one's gun away.

He drew a hidden pistol up his sleeve and tried to aim but he hesitated when he saw how steady her aim was on his head.

"Now, I bet you're wondering, 'Am I fast enough to dive away from that headshot when she pulls the trigger?' Well, to be honest, in all this excitement, I'm rather curious about whether or not you could, myself. But seeing as this is a Silver Heat Semi-Automatic, and will blow your head clean off at this range if you're wrong, I suppose the question you should really ask yourself is 'Do I feel lucky?' Well..." she trailed...

"...do you?"

The man dropped his back up and kicked it over to her.

"Now..." Vera said. "Who the hell are all of you? Remember, I'm a lawyer, and if there is anyone who knows a lie when they hear it, it's a lawyer."

"Ain't that the fething truth..." the guy muttered. "We're mercenaries. Anonymous contract from someone using an Alias called Golden Needle. He gave us half a million credits up front, half for completion of killing you."

"Me? Not the Jedi?"

"We didn't even know he was Jedi until he popped out the saber."

"Does this have anything to do with that admiral?"

"Maybe. Soon as you took the case, We got four different offers for your head. We went with the highest paying one."

"Pradd, call the authorities, these gentleman have interviews to complete with the Police." Vera said calmly. "And good work by the way."

Pradd would quickly get out of position, observing Vera as she, well even Pradd didn't know, was she going to shoot 'em? Not a question to ask now, one of the mercenaries is bleeding to death. "About that, this man is bleeding to death, I'll call an ambulance first if you don't mind.." He said, in a calm but concerned way.

"Oh and, thanks by the way!"

After saying this, Pradd would take his Comlink and contact the clostest Hospital. After that, he'd call Coruscant's lower levels authorities, who mainly consisted of GADF's new shock troopers and police droids.

As for the one unconscious, Pradd would go towars him and slap him several times, it would work after thirty or so seconds? He'd wake up, completly unaware of what's happening and would quickly hop in the Police speeder without problem.

"Wait a damn minute, no bounty on me? That's.. A hit for the ego but good news, I guess. -
Anyways, were we going next, with uh.. Our transport being damaged?"

After a bit of thinking, Pradd said to himself: "Would be fun to see him dodge this. Wouldn't have let her kill him anyways though.."

 

[Vera Mina]

"You're welcome..." Vera replied to Pradd Miolonn , watching the others taken away by the police. She gave a simple statement, and given her sterling rep as a lawyer, it was quickly accepted.

"Admiral Taylor's apartment is still where we were heading originally. But seeing as our original ride was destroyed..." Vera trailed, reaching into her handbag and pulling out a comlink.

She talked with someone on the other end and then shut it off.

"I called in a favor. I try not to for stuff like this...but after the crap we just went through...I think a little indulgence won't hurt."

Vera gestured Pradd to follow her to the edge of the construction site. After a few minutes, a large, used imperial combat shuttle descended from the sky.

"At this point, why take chances?" Vera joked dryly as she stepped aboard as it landed. But because it was a combat shuttle owned by Vera, a butler droid waited aboard, to serve bottled water.

"We should be ready for surprises at Admiral Taylor's apartment. I sorely doubt a spook is going to have an ordinary security system..." she said, waiting for Pradd to get aboard.

 

[Pradd Miolonn]

"You're welcome..." Vera replied to Pradd Miolonn , watching the others taken away by the police. She gave a simple statement, and given her sterling rep as a lawyer, it was quickly accepted.

"Admiral Taylor's apartment is still where we were heading originally. But seeing as our original ride was destroyed..." Vera trailed, reaching into her handbag and pulling out a comlink.

She talked with someone on the other end and then shut it off.

"I called in a favor. I try not to for stuff like this...but after the crap we just went through...I think a little indulgence won't hurt."

Vera gestured Pradd to follow her to the edge of the construction site. After a few minutes, a large, used imperial combat shuttle descended from the sky.

"At this point, why take chances?" Vera joked dryly as she stepped aboard as it landed. But because it was a combat shuttle owned by Vera, a butler droid waited aboard, to serve bottled water.

"We should be ready for surprises at Admiral Taylor's apartment. I sorely doubt a spook is going to have an ordinary security system..." she said, waiting for Pradd to get aboard.

As Pradd got in the combat shuttle, he said, "Huh, why didn't we take it earlier? It could have been way better than being shot down." Pradd sat down and saw the droid, he took the water from his hand and began drinking it. "Oh nice. - Sorry, it's been hours since I laste ate.. Or drank. Could we make a stop near a shop, I'd like to eat too."

"As for the Admiral, I'm pretty sure he would have told us if he had life-threatening traps.. Right?" Pradd said, as he quickly finished the bottled water.