What makes you tick? (Etti IV)

[Jennifer Blanchard]

Jenn was doing alright. She’d been taking a few contracts to do some computer slicing, and some little bits of slicing for her own profits. Nothing major, just hacking bank accounts linked to mystic Force groups. Like Jedi, mainly. Maybe the Baran Do didn’t say to do that, but they also didn’t say not to. And she was just loyal to the power that it gave her, not anyway that this girl, tattooed and working to take down the governments and corporations with her terminal, was going to be loyal to space wizards.

Making her way to the Core, the dark haired girl figured it was now or never. She had a ship from Santhe and was getting specialized equipment sent her way from Browncoat Arms, mainly through her employer in Bright Star. That was something new, not having a face to put to her employer. But right now? She didn’t have anything to worry about. And now, she was over on Etti IV.

Former home of the Corporate Sector. Time for some investigation. She was hoping someone would see what she was doing, and give her a hand, or a challenge. Finding herself in a café attached to a library, she was filing through the records and looking to see what made this world tick. There was money here. Maybe someone could exploit that.

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax Bane wasn't too fond of the corporate sector, but he had some Red Ravens business to do on Etti IV so he forced himself to stomach it for the sake of the job. After a couple of business meetings, the Ravens secretary stopped in a cafe to rest his bum leg. The Chiss, dressed in his usual black trenchcoat, black boots, and well, black everything ordered a caf at the counter, his eyes scanning the place. There wasn't anyone too notable in the place, and better yet, no one noticed him. That was good. Cryax needed to blend.

In the back of the caf was a curious little library and he decided to suss it out. Ever since he heard about the bounty on his head, he made the rounds in a place before he settled in. In the library was someone rifling through Holorecords.

"You know, you'd probably find alot more of whatever it is you're looking for on the HoloNet." he said with a smirk.

[member="Jennifer Blanchard"]

 

[Jennifer Blanchard]

Jenn was doing a lot of work. She had her retainer, which was nice, for Tion, but there were always other things she could do. And that meant finding her own fun, and own ways to cause a bit of hassle for local governments. Information was probably the best form of trade, after all. Could move governments, and topple others. Watching the people coming and going in the café, with a half aware eye, as she was worried on the terminal in front of her, but able to listen with the Force, something she learned from the Baran Do.

She then heard someone she missed coming in. Looking up from the records, she tried to give him a smile, to cover her surprise. “Yeah, the ‘Net is my next step. But here… It’s a bit easier to find where I need to go.”

And what systems to break into. That was the real clutch. And what was a Chiss doing out here? Weren't they all supposed to be leading fleets?

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

He knew the look. From the way she was dressed to the intensity she had while she was sifting through data, the girl had slicer written all over her.

"So what is it that you're looking for?" Cryax normally didn't like to be this forward, but the Ravens were always looking for bright young talents and Lysle might even give him a commission if she was that good.

"From the looks of you I bet it's the thrill of going where you don't belong." he gave her a slight grin. "Let me know if I'm getting warmer."

[member="Jennifer Blanchard"]

 

[Jennifer Blanchard]

Jenn liked that people could peg her. It made it a lot easier than having to have the inevitable discussion of ‘oh, what do you do’? That got on her nerves. Data was something that needed to be found and used by everyone. Running a hand through her hair, she looked at the Chiss.

What was she looking for? Whatever she could find. “Y’know, browsing, seeing what I can turn over, and what can be useful.” She wasn’t that good with a blaster, so her real weapon was data. As awesome as that was. ISO anyone?

“Well, that doesn’t hurt. What are you out here for?” Did she cross the wrong network? Someone after her? Nah... right?

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

He nodded at her and smiled. She was a smart girl to dance around the words without actually using the phrase "slicer." After all, he could easily be an undercover cop.

"I'm here for some business." He said, leaving his original intentions on Etti IV vague. She didn't need to know that part of it. "And a little bit of recruiting actually." he continued with a grin.

"I head up a group of slicers who are a bit more organized. We work out of Antecdent for a group called the Red Ravens. Are you looking for work?"

He held out his hand and gave her his slicer alias, "The name's 'Bug.' Maybe you've heard of me?" He vainly hoped that some of his cyber-exploits had made it all the way out here to Etti IV.

"And you are?"

[member="Jennifer Blanchard"]

 

[Jennifer Blanchard]

Jenn wasn’t raised dumb. Growing up on Nar Shaddaa, she knew that it wasn’t until you absolutely trusted someone did you trust them with more than pleasantries. Sure, it could be crazy, but that was just how she did it. Besides, she could get plenty mental stimulation off of the HoloNet. Looking up from the stacks, she quirked up an eyebrow at him.

Recruiting, huh? That was interesting. Reaching out with the Force, she was trying to get a feel for him, but still… she wasn’t at all good at reading emotions, only hearing or seeing that which was hidden but still there. If that made any sense. She was all being mystical, she knew, but again, protection.

“Red Ravens, I’ve heard of y’all. And I’m working for someone currently, but I’m always looking for more credit.” Sure, she had a really solid retainer, but if her interests and the Ravens didn’t overlap, that wouldn’t hurt, right?

Unless they had some bear trap Force users that were hunting her.

Not that she thought she had an active bounty…

Bug, huh? She thought it was a handle she recognized. Not that she was from Etti IV, more a Tion Sector and Hutt Space child, herself. "Sounds familiar. I try to keep my name under wraps, and well, don't stick close to one." She smiled at him.

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

Cryax had a brilliant mind, and while his intellect usually kept his thoughts well-protected, it wasn't completely impervious to Force users. There was no malice in his thoughts, merely a vague curiosity about the young slicer he was trying to recruit.

The Chiss nodded, understanding the need for anonymity in their line of work. "If you're looking for some extra credits, we could always use good people. You'd probably have to prove yourself by taking a small job at first. Siphoning credits. A small-scale DDOS attack. Something like that. Then we could work you up to bigger things."

He took her hand and put something in it. A matchbox from the Red Raven Casino on Antecedent.

"Whenever you're ready, come to Antecedent and ask for me by name." Cryax grinned. "Or you could always just stay out here on the streets."

[member="Jennifer Blanchard"]

 

[Jennifer Blanchard]

Jenn wasn’t much of a strong Force user, unlike most in the galaxy, she was only good at a handful of powers. Her training was limited, and she was an adult when she started learning the Force, so most training was focused, as she knew how to handle other issues that may arise without the Force, or avoid them.

She was listening, and watching the Chiss named Bug. Siphoning credits and small attacks? That was simple. It just meant where she was going to focus her attacks, certain companies she couldn’t attack, but it never said she had to worry about where else she was going. So long as that was able to happen, she’d be fine. “Sounds interesting.”

Very interesting.

“And when are you heading back there?” She had a few things to finish up out here, open a track to the data and send it off to the right people, then she was free.

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

"I was hoping to haul jets outta here tonight. I don't have a ship, but if you want a ride to Antecedent, I can spring for a shuttle ticket." He smiled. He didn't know for sure if she was hinting at coming back with him or what, but he felt like he needed to manage her expectations.

"I'm not trying to be presumptuous, but I can't put you up or anything. Once you're planetside, you're on your own. I can recommend some good hotels and cheap apartments though."

He smiled hoping that didn't offend her too much. "You might want to give me some kind of name. If we're going to be travel buddies, I need to know what to call you."

[member="Jennifer Blanchard"]

 

[Jennifer Blanchard]

She had her own ship. Of course she did. She didn’t like having a home base, but a home that could move? That was a dream. Granted it made her not have a state… if she could get a job with the Ravens and Tion though, she would at least have two home ports. And that could be fun.

“I am sure I can get my own ride there, might be a few days behind you. And covering a place to live will be easy.” Depending on Antecedent docking fees, obviously. And well, if he could put her, she’d be down. Chiss were… different.

Could be fun.

“Well, you can call me Jen. And like I said, a few days behind, unless you want to help slice local government and treasury systems and help me put in a backdoor so I can keep watch on whats going on?”

And steal funds.

[member="Cryax Bane"]

 

[Cryax Bane]

He blinked his red glowing eyes and grinned at Jennifer. "We have another slicer named Jen in the Ravens. We're going to have to get you nicknames to tell you apart."

"I'd love to help with your, uh, project, but unfortunately I'm needed back at the casino tonight. Besides, you don't seem like you need my help."

He smiled at her as he turned to go. "Look me up when you're in Antecedent and I'll get you all your CryptNet clearances. I can introduce you to other members and the other slicers, too."

"Good luck with your search, Jen." He nodded towards the archaic Holo files and took his leave.

[member="Jennifer Blanchard"]