Ask Nar Shaddaa I Got The Credits, You Got The Gun?

Neera Nazneen

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Nar Shaddaa, otherwise known as the ‘Smuggler’s Moon’. An entire world, dedicated to pirates and outlaws, operated entirely under the discretion of the Hutt cartel. Here, business was betrayal... so, why the kriff were these goons taking this so damn personally?! They just wouldn’t give up! For a good hour now, these backwater scrubs had been chasing Neera; from the gambling burrow, all the way up to the strip, they were just hot on her heels. She couldn’t even catch her breath.

Total drama queens. It wasn’t like she stole their merchandise or anything, she just took the credits she was owed...and then some. That’s what you get when not paying for service rendered.

Dashing in and out of the crowd, Neera kept an eye on her back. Only three were trailing her now. A Devaronian was in the lead, followed by two Nikto. Their blasters were out, and one even popped off a shot, aiming into the air to try and disperse the crowded street.

“Find that kriffing harpy!” Sounded like the Devaronian was the one shouting; he had a nasty temper. No sense of humor whatsoever.

People dived in and out the way, attempting to avoid being shot themselves. Neera used this, slipping in and away through a narrow side street. “Damn it, can’t these guys take the hint?”

Not willing to keep this up all night long, the Nagai con artist looked for an alternative. She needed muscle, and she knew just where to find it. Good thing she was only a few blocks away from the local mercenary waterhole. With any luck, she’d bag herself a bargain of an enforcer.

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Covax

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It had been some time since Covax had set foot on the slug moon. With Preef's passing, Zaa Fenn moved much of it's day to day operations into the core. Putting efforts into controlling profits and less on controlling the map. But as an Enforcer for the family, time to time he was still required to make appearances. To keep the rank and file in line.

It was for that reason he was at the Meltdown, checking in. He was bellied up to to the bar. Helmet resting in the seat next to his own. Lunch resting before him with a tall cold glass of beer. He was about to cut into his steak when blaster cut the air outside. He paused, and glanced toward the door. Giving it a three count in his mind before returning his attention to his meal.

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Neera Nazneen

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Neera didn't immediately bolt into the mouth of Meltdown. That in itself was a sure-fire way to get shot. Instead, she slipped in calmly, only pausing once to glance behind her. She'd managed to create some distance but it wouldn't last. She'd have to play this quick. Still, rushing in, panicked and scared? That wasn't a good look. Immediately, it sent out a message that you were weak, in need of help. Vulnerable. Immediately, negotiations would be stacked against you. People didn't help out of the goodness of their hearts. Kriff no. It was all about the credits.

Deciding to test out the waters, Neera readily flashed some of her own. "Shot of whisky. Hold the ice." She paid the bartender and downed it one. The drink bite at the back of her throat, making her shudder, but damn if it didn't hit the right spot, taking off the edge.

"Anything else?" A simple, yet loaded question. The bartender (a green-skinned Rodian) knew a client when he saw one. Only two types of people walked into his establishment. Mercs and people looking to hire mercs. For a fee, he made the connection.

"Well, now that you mention it..." She then stopped, noting the alien's awaiting hand. Payment upfront? Typical. With the sound of blaster fire getting closer, Neera flicked across another bar of credits. "I'm in a bit of trouble. Need some muscle to get help me out. If they can get me off-world, like asap, even better."

Keeping it cool, Neera waited, again her gaze trailing back to the entrance. Rudeness wasn't going to get her any favors but damned if this alien wasn't taking his sweet time! He seemed to ponder, looking at who was on offer before deciding. With a cock of his head, the barkeep drew attention to a man seated nearby. "Covax's your guy. Highly recommend. Talk to him."

Not one to doubt, Neera took the hint and moved further down the bar to meet her man. Time to start negotiations. Hopefully, this guy wasn't a haggler. Time was running out, with the shouts outside growing louder. Those goons from earlier must be in the streets, wouldn't be long now before they start casing establishments.

"Covax, right? I got a job if you're interested. Short term gig, real simple like."

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Covax

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Covax was stabbing another bite of his meal into his mouth when the door of the bar slid open. The faint sound of a mob in the distance, but moving closer. The Enforcer glanced up from his plate, eyeing the woman walking in from his narrowed brow. She tried to give the appearance of calm and cool. But her own eyes gave her away.

His gaze shifted to the bartender who was already looking to the enforcer for approval. The human gave a barely noticeable nod before returning his attention to his meal. If he was going to have to work, he wanted to finish his plate while it was still warm.

Meanwhile the green skinned Rodian played his part. Serving the woman her drink and acting as the go between. He took his fee as the nervous woman slid him the credits. Pausing to act like he had to think about it, but really only waiting for Covax to have his fill and wash it down. When the Rodian seen the Covax lift his glass he knew he was ready.

For his part, Covax was ready. He finished the meat and even ate most of the greens. Washing it down with the beer as the near-human walked over. The enforcer returned to glass to the bar table before looking at the woman, listening to her offer. As she finished her sentence, one of the goons walked in but didn't eye her yet.

"I'm listening?" he toyed.

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Neera Nazneen

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Neera (vaguely) knew the game and if you wanted results, you had to play, even if it was by the rules of others. It didn't really matter much, so long as the end justified the means. If she got out of this alive, there wouldn't be much to complain about.

At least the enforcer didn't straight up decline. That was a good start. Pushing it further, she gave a breakdown, making sure to keep it short and sweet. This wasn't the time to tell stories. Under different circumstances, she might have given it the soft approach but right now, she couldn't waste her breath. "I need to haul my ass back to Coruscant, and well, a couple of grunts are making that difficult. Get me off-world and I'll pay you for the trouble."

When the doors of Meltdown opened, she visibly stiffened. Crud. They found her already? To her credit, she didn't look; reacting would be a dead giveaway. Instead, she took a seat and tried to make herself small. This wasn't her first rodeo. Heck, if it was a one-on-one fight, she might have tried her luck, but three on one? That was too risky.

"Yeah...it would also be great if you shoot them before they shoot me." She said this in a hushed tone, her head lulling to the side in which the goon was standing. She didn't need to look, she knew. Her 'sixth sense' told her as much.
 

Covax

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Covax kept the Ithorian thug in his peripheral view. To T faced alien had his blaster in hand but at his side. Wisely not being aggressive, least not until he could find the girl. Who was sliding into the seat before Covax. Offering the enforcer a pleasant looking meat shield as she explained her situation, and her offer.

As it happened the job was easy money, he was already planning on returning to Coruscant and the Quick Draw Cantina where Zaa Fenn had it's base. He gave a look as if he was mulling the idea over, in truth he had already made up his mind. The thug wasn't a local of his crew or any in the Crymorah that he was aware of. So he was fair game so far as Covax cared.

Finishing with his little game of toying with the woman's emotions, he stood then. Quickly grabbing his hand cannon from his hip to level it over Neera's shoulder, and firing a shot. Removing half of the alien's face before he had time to lift his own weapon.

"Sure, why not." he said, looked over her to check his work. Giving a pleased expression.

He then holstered his weapon and returned his helmet to his head. "We'll take the back exit, cut threw the alleyway." He said turning to lead the way. Moving with no more sense of urgency than a nerf herder.

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Neera Nazneen

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"Geez, a little warning would have been nice!" For a second there, Neera thought she was the one about to be shot. Usually, people had tells, subtle shifts of the body; when read properly, they could almost transmit their next intentions. Covax must have been a pro because he gave away nothing, not until the very moment his finger was on the trigger.

Lucky me. Looks like I'll be getting my money's worth...

To be honest, it was a good shot. Completely out of nowhere; the goon never saw what hit him. The barkeep, however, was not so impressed. "Not again! Oi, Covax! Who's gonna clean this up?"

Not wanting to stick around and find out, Neera jumped the table and trailed the enforcer, following him out through the back. The guy didn't seem to have a care in the world, but her? She couldn't help but try to hasten the pace. "How far away are we from your ship? The Sooner we're off-world, the better. And just so you know, none of this is my fault. I just took what I was owed..." As well as a little extra. That's what happens when you skip out on payment.

Though Neera has visited Nar Shaddaa off and on, she admittedly wasn't as familiar with all the alley routes; she trusted Covax knew where he was going because right now, she sure as kriff didn't. They'd taken so many turns now, she was utterly lost. Then again, maybe that was a good thing, maybe it would delay the rest of the bantha batch. Really, how fast could they find them in a maze like this?

....Apparently, they were pretty damn fast.

Shouts could be heard from the other end of the narrow alley. A moment later, a Nikto rounded on their corner. "Found 'em!" From the looks of it, he was on a comlink, radioing in their position.

Great...juuuuuuust, great.

 
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Covax

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"What, you want me to yell duck and only you get the hint. That's only in the holovids." He retorted. Most who knew Covax, knew he didn't much use foreplay. If he was hired to hit someone, well that's exactly what he was going to do. Of course that wasn't always to his favor but it worked more often than it didn't.

"You have no idea." He said as he continued for the exit.

"You or that shit server droid, It's why the family pays you so well." He replied to the bartender over his shoulder. "I'll make sure you get a bonus if they don't fine the body after a week." He was out the door and down the alleyway before the Rodian had a chance to say another word. Partly because he was done talking with the man, and partly because if he did cause more damage to the bar, the pay might come out of his own accounts. Cutting into his profits.

He pace didn't quicken however, even as this young woman seemed to have the fear of a Sith Lord after her. He glanced behind his shoulder now and again to make sure she was still there. But otherwise strode on in the same clam but deliberate march. "Not far now, just on a pad a few blocks over. Why you got a hot date or something."

The joke would of landed a little better had her stalkers not fount them so quickly. The Nikto was blocking their exit at the other end of the alleyway, and found the sounds of it, a group was kicking down the back door of the bar and hot on their heels. The group would be on them in less than a minute.

"Fuck, how much did you take ?" He ask rhetorically. Without warning, the Enforcer snatched Neera round the waist and pulled her to him. Just above his boots. Then activated said boots, Suddenly thrusting the pair into the air and out of the alleyway. Onto a rooftop.

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Neera Nazneen

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Ha. Well, wasn't this pleasant? An enforcer with a sense of humor. "This might surprise you but I have places to be. People to see, stuff to do." If Neera wasn't pulling in jobs then she wasn't pulling in any credits either, and at the rate she spent them? Well, that was just bad for business. With things drying up on Nar Shaddaa, it was most certainly time to look for greener pastures, for clients who could appreciate her finite skills.

Spotting the Nikto just after Covax, Neera skidded to a stop. "Kriff. Some men just don't know when to give up." Tight spaces weren't exactly the best setting for a shoot-out, especially with such little cover.

Enemy to the front, and enemies at the back. Classic pincher movement; if they spent too long fighting the Nikto, the goons behind them would break through the door. What option could they possibly have now?

The frustration in her must have been evident, especially when answering Corvax's rhetoric. "I told you, I only took what I was ---- OWED!" Being so focused on the situation, Neera was caught off guard by the enforcer's sudden grip. The next thing she knew, they were both airborne!

She wasn't expecting the boot but it was a welcomed surprise. The look on the Nikto's face was certainly priceless.

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Covax

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Once on the roof the odds were now more in the merc's favor. Covax quickly set them down just a couple of feet from the edge. Letting Neera get her feet under her before he leaned out to look for the goons, spotting the Nikto.

Pulling his pistol once more, he laid down a few bolts toward the thug. Not really aiming at the moment. Rather just making the goon run for cover. It was rather unlikely that these street level thugs had the gear to hold their own with Covax but he also wasn't a betting man.

"That should get us a little time." He said looking back to the gaunt(ish) looking woman. He stood then and started to move with some purpose once again. "Lets go before this gets expensive for you." He moved round the roof tops Putting a few building between them and the alleyway before he looked around for a latter or stairs.

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