Where Stardust Gathers
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Nar Shaddaa – Mid Levels
Neon light drowned everything in these levels, making for high visibility but also very dark corners. These corners were where Juniper had hunted for the past few hours, just out of sight of her target. It took a good set of eyes to catch a shapeshifter in a large crowd. They changed suddenly but subtly at the same time; unless you were studying them, you'd likely miss it. That was exactly what the huntress was doing, studying.
The target had changed three times that Juniper had been able to count so far. She had even lost them once. They had shifted into a Zabrak, then a Chiss, and finally a Human. She concluded it was a tedious task to change, and doing so often was tiring. This meant the target was likely already running from something, or trying to prevent themselves from being found. Juniper had limited knowledge of these shapeshifters called Clawdites, but she knew they were tricky to pin down.
The mark, a murderer named Jik Jik, responsible for gruesome deaths all across the Outer Rim, was used to being followed, so Juniper had to change it up. Instead of keeping close and on him like a dog, Juniper gave him space. Nar Shaddaa was vast, but even when the walkways were empty, the lights were overwhelming enough to throw your senses off. You didn't see that shadow move- it was just a neon flicker between motions. That wasn't a hunter about to nab you- that was just a shadow.
It had been going well, until Juniper accidentally knocked into a passerby, who stumbled into a cart and sent a large crate crashing to the ground. The resulting noise drew attention, along with a few choice words about Juniper needing to watch where she was going. That was when Jik Jik looked back and saw her, someone he had already noticed earlier in the day. Putting two and two together, the Clawdite bolted down a corridor.
Not wanting to give him room to change again and vanish, Juniper called on the Force to quicken her pace, but it wasn't enough. By the time she reached the end of the corridor, it opened into a large cantina filled with aliens from all over the galaxy.
Juniper needed to act fast. Jik Jik was not afraid of collateral damage, and Juniper had no interest in innocents dying needlessly. She would have to lure him out of the cantina if she wanted a clean capture. To do that, she needed to scare him, no easy task when dealing with a shape-shifting murderer.
Her dark eyes scanned the room, searching for someone who could help. Someone inconspicuous, but competent. The cantina was filled with Bith, Gamorreans, and even a Wookiee, but they were too obvious. Instead, she settled on a nondescript man at the bar. There was something about him, something hungry, that suggested he would do.
Approaching the bar, Juniper used her striking features to catch the attention of the Rodian tending it. "Two whiskeys. One for me, and one for my friend here."
She glanced toward
Joren Vale
as the bartender poured the shots, sliding them in front of them. Juniper picked up her glass and turned slightly toward him, speaking over the low roar of conversation filling the room."Juniper." she said, just enough to draw him in, her manicured fingers sliding the other shot toward him. Her gaze flicked between the exits as she waited. "Do you feel like making a lot of money tonight?"