Break-In on Bespin

[JessieTaylor]

Planet: Bespin/ City: Cloud City

Cloud City, the impressive capital of Bespin. Aerena Rann had arrived here not so long ago, along with two companions, partners in a heist that had taken place on Utapau. She had gotten her cut of the profits and parted ways with them, and had gone to a cantina to celebrate. One of the cantina's other customers hadn't taken too kindly to her presence. An old story to Aerena. It happened almost every time she entered a new cantina. It ended with her shooting the man's belt off, and driving him out of the establishment. Afterwards, someone who looked much more out of of place then herself approached her. The funny little man with glasses seated himself across the table from her. Aerena thought he was kind of taking a liberty, but she let it pass. He didn't look like some drunk who wanted company, he looked like a business man who wanted to make a deal. Raising her eyebrow, she folded her arms and leaned back in her seat, waiting for him to speak.

"I saw everything," he said nervously. "Impressive. I think-" He lowered his voice slightly. "I think you are just the kind of person I need for a little job. Are you... for hire?" he asked hopefully.

Aerena remained expressionless. "Depends on the job, but in all likeliness, yes. Tell me what you want."

The man hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Alright. I need something... retrieved from someone's house."

"In other words, you want me to steal." Aerena interjected.

"Oh, I wouldn't put it so crudely as that." he said quickly.

"But I would." she said bluntly. "Now, what is it and where is it?"

"Then you'll do it?" he asked triumphantly.

"Perhaps, if you give me what I need to know. I don't work off of 'I need you to steal for me.'"

"Of course, of course. It's an old relic, about half a meter high. Here is what it looks like." he said, pulling out a datapad and showing it to her. "The artifact is from an ancient civilization on Felucia, very rare and precious. It is in the dwelling of Tyrral Sevanar, a wealthy tycoon who lives on the ninety seventh level of the city. Tyrral and I used to be partners in an archeological company. He was dishonest, and smuggled many artifacts away from the site for himself, but this is the only one I want back. Do you think you can retrieve it?" he asked.

"Depends on how much you are willing to pay."

"Will a thousand credits do?"

Aerena looked at him skeptically.

"One thousand, five hundred then. That's all I am going to pay."

Aerena smiled. "You've got yourself a deal."


And that is how she found herself here, in front of Sevanar's mansion. There was a party going on inside, that much she could tell. More lights were on than might be if only the mansion's inhabitants were home, and laughter and music drifted from the house to her ears. Good, all the less chance of her being caught. She pondered how to get in. A guy that rich probably had a security system. She didn't want to set off any alarms. Then again, she didn't want to get caught coming in the front door. She circled the mansion, looking for any open windows.

 

[Minuteman75]

Tyrral Sevanar always enjoyed parties, especially after successful business ventures. It was the same case today as he stared out across the main hall of his mansion. The hall itself and the rooms adjacent to it were filled with a multiple members of Cloud City's social elite. As for himself Tyrral Sevanar, he stood at pair of steps, looking out to the crowd with barley contained glee. Known as a collector of rare and valuable artifacts across the galaxy he was considered with great respect and admiration for his efforts in saving relics away from the ravages of the current war and giving them supposedly over to charity.

Of course the reality of it was that he is actually greed womp rat who kept most of the items for himself in secret while discreetly selling some prices to interested parties. Then he would finally hand out the minimal of these priceless treasures to charitable organizations to keep up appearances. Dressed in an stylish white suit and holding a glass of wine he observe his security guards all wearing suits and concealing were moving about in an patrol like matter.

Tryyal scoff a little, he will have to have a word with his security chief to get the guards to act more sutble so not to alarm his guests. In the center of the hall were a troupe of red Twi'lek dancers performing for all to see as soft music played in the background which calm him now and delayed his call for another few minutes. Meanwhile a few levels below, a canine-like being bruised all over sat down in an cell behind a ray shield, stewing in silent rage at his predicament.

 

[JessieTaylor]

Aerena had almost completed her circle before she found an open window. The lights were off in the room too, so it should be safe to go in. It was a little high, but fortunately, a trellis stood near it. She climbed up the trellis and through the open window. Landing in the room, she could just barely see the door. She walked carefully over to the door. Okay. Her client had told her where to look for the relic. It was in a special room where the man kept all his relics, but she had been given directions from the front door, not the room she had climbed into. It might cause a little trouble, but she was sure she could find it anyway. She slowly opened the door and looked down each of the dimly lit hallways. There was nobody there. Judging from where she had entered the house, she decided to take the corridor on the right.

 

[Minuteman75]

Just as Arena was making her way into the corridor a pair of human guards armored and equipped with rifles were coming from the opposite side of it. Having spent much of the evening patrolling the hallways they were bored out of their minds. The thought that most of their compatriots got the more pleasant duty of protecting the boss at his party angered them. They and a few others spread out were stuck with this kriffing assignment. The duo loudly argued with one another about this situation, not realizing that an intruder was very close by.

"I'm telling you Ryu this sucks." Said the guard on the right where else his partner replied.

"Oh quitting your belly aching I don't like this anymore than you do. Jeez Derek you sound like a whiny Gamorran pig."

"I can't help it the other guys get to be at the party and we're not."

"Chief's orders, I prefer to follow them instead of guarding that bounty hunter the boss gots locked up.

Hearing that Derek moan and added

"Oh don't remind me. That freak gives me the creeps even after we pummel him."

They said that while they turned the corridor.

 

[JessieTaylor]

As Aerena neared the corner, she heard voices. She stopped in her tracks. She didn't know if they would hear her -probably not, while they were arguing so loudly- or if she could make it there before they rounded the corner and saw her, but she turned, and as lightly as she could, she ran for the room she had come from. She entered the room and closed the door behind her, her heart racing.

 

[Minuteman75]

"I'm serious boss should've killed that hunter by now. What's the point of keeping him alive at this point?" Derek added.

"Way above our pay grade apparently. Raynald told me that he overheard the chief and the boss were auguring about it but he didn't catch any details."

"Of course he didn't, Raynald is full of poodoo."

They were about to head for the door where Arenaa when they received a call to turn around head through the artifact gallery. When Ryu acknowledged and ended the call, his partner Derek groaned and interjected.

"Seriously they want go admire that crap?!"

Ryu repiled back as the turn around and went back from where they came from.

"Just shut up and be glad we're not stuck in the security room near here. I don't want to be keep getting stared by that freak."

 

[JessieTaylor]

Aerena waited for a few moments, listening for the guards. Strangely enough, it sounded like their voices were fading. She waited a few more seconds and slowly opened the door. She looked down the hall both ways, but the guards were gone. She headed down the corridor on the right once more but when she turned the corner, there were the guards with their backs to her, walking the way she wanted to go. Great. She backed around the corner to wait for them to get farther down the hall.

 

[Minuteman75]

Within his shielded cell the "freak" that the two guards earlier mentioned stay in his sited position. He stared back at a Sullestan guard that had the misfourne of being his jailer. The Sullestan sweated and tried to look away from him but kept a pistol in case. The shirtless wolf-like being in question was Vilkas, a bounty hunter in service to the Hutt Cartel. He had been sent to investigate Tyyral Sevanar, a business associate of theirs to see if he been keeping his bargain with them or not.

It turn out that Sevanar was in fact cheating the profits and was about to report it when he was discovered and overpowered. Sevanar and his goons "interview" him for a little bit to find out who he is working for but despite the torture Vilkas didn't confess. The only thing they knew that he was a bounty hunter but weren't aware of his Cartel connections...so far. The collector only kept him alive on the chance Vilkas will talk eventually but if he did there no doubt of what will happen next. To die alone for some corrupted intrigue didn't sit well with the Nevlaanian hunter, it was insulting.

Preferences or not, the reality of the situation is that he will likely die in this miserable state. Being cramped up in here soured his mood, remembering how similar it is to when he was taken by slavers. So when he narrowed his eyes further with murderous intent toward the nervous jailer but Vilkas knew that unless the spirits are generous soon he won't escape. Then suddnely as if a prayer been answered, the lights and all the power systems in the lower levels went off including the rayshield that was keeping him back. The jailer yelped in out panic and dropped his gun in the darkness.

Vilkas used it as cover as he rushed away from his spot in spite of the lingering pain he was still feeling. Smelling the guard's scent he followed it to the target and took ahold of him by neck. The Sullestan tried to scream but Vilkas quickly snapped his neck before it can happen, rendering him lifeless. The bounty hunter let go of the body and it dropped with a thud. The lights came back online seconds later Vilkas moved toward the nearby desk that contained his gear.

Once he was done, Vilkas opened the door and made his way down the hallway on right. Wielding his rifle Vilkas made an effort to move about in an stealth-like approach. Minutes later he saw two more guards(Ryu and Derek) opposite of him, to their right flank. They were self absorbed in their grumbling about what happen the lights eariler to notice him, a grave mistake on their part. Slinging his gun back, Vilkas pull out two throwing knives and threw the first blade into the closest one in the neck and collapsed grasping for air.

His comrade horrified turned around screaming and aimed his rifle at toward Vilkas but the second knife flew and stuck him into the forehead. The sentry fell beside his partner both of them dead now. Vilkas walked up to their corpses to take the knifes back when he smelled another scent nearby and looked into the direction and saw...a human girl?!

 

[JessieTaylor]

When they were a little further away, Aerena continued to follow the two complaining guards. She crept along behind them at a safe distance, hoping they wouldn't turn their heads and see her. Then the lights suddenly flashed off. Aerena stopped walking and started to back towards the way she came. If the lights flashed back on, the guards might look behind themselves. If they saw her, she'd have to kill them. She couldn't risk them raising the alarm. Then there was a chance they would raise the alarm before they died, anyways. And if someone found their bodies, the alarm would be raised. It was better all around not to be seen. Then just as suddenly as they went off, the lights came back on, only mere seconds having passed.

Good, they weren't looking back. Aerena continued to follow them down the hall, when the second surprise came. Out of nowhere, a knife flashed through the air and buried itself to the hilt in the first guard's throat. As he collapsed, gasping, with blood spurting from his neck, the second guard screamed and aimed his rifle, but immediately had a knife in his forehead. It all happened so quickly, Aerena didn't have time to get out of sight. Oh, this couldn't be good.

Then it came into view- the thing that had so suddenly brought death to the two guards that had been loudly complaining moments before. What in the universe? Aerena had seen a lot of weird things, a lot of different things, but she had never seen a creature like this. But that didn't matter, the question was what to do. In a split second, different thoughts had flashed through her mind.

Her first impulse was to kill him. But it was an impulse of self defense. She had seen him kill, and she did not want to be killed. But, she had seen him kill who? The guards, who were the bad guys, right? Maybe. A common enemy, at least. Then with a common enemy, perhaps they were on the same side. Bah, having a common enemy doesn't make you friends. And what does being on the same side mean? Were they after the same thing? Then he was dangerous. He was dangerous anyways. He seemed to be sentient, of course, but could he talk? At least, a language she could understand? Had he been a prisoner and now was just mad at everything that wasn't like him, or was he here for a purpose of his own? Enemy or not, that was the question.

"Who are you?" Aerena directed the question at him in Basic, emotionlessly, as she aimed her blaster which she had pulled when the first guard went down. She didn't want to appear friendly and harmless, in case he just wanted to kill her- no point in making him bolder. She didn't want to be overly mean and intimidating either, in case he wasn't intending to kill her. And if he did want to, no point in giving him more incentive. She didn't know why she didn't just shoot him, maybe he wasn't so bad. Didn't deserve to be shot. She didn't like shooting anyone without a good, solid reason. Well, she didn't like it even then, she just had to sometimes, was all.

 

[Minuteman75]

It is a bitter fact for Vilkas to accept that someone so young like the human before him was holding a gun ready to use it. Vilkas guess right away she wasn't working for Sevenar, otherwise she would've shot him already. The bounty hunter stood his ground and examined the youth short distance away and she asked him who he is.

Vilkas paused and for a second his stoic expression broke with open sadness to see that she had been harden and mistrustful. Likely due to the uncertainty and cruelty of this life in the galaxy. He can tell for he is had changed similarly and in all honesty he had no desire to fight and kill somone so young no matter how matured she became. His people's culture cherished their offsprings and Vilkas still believed in that principle even with a girl that is not of his species. Though he still won't hesitate to defend himself but will have regert doing so in this case if it comes that.

Finally a minute later he spoke in heavy accented Basic.

"I am Vilkas and who are you young one?"

 

[JessieTaylor]

"Aerena. Aerena Rann," She replied simply. She wasn't sure how to react. To the way he acted. The silence, studying her. The expression that had passed over his face for a fleeting moment. The way he addressed her. Really? Young one? She wasn't that young, and if anyone else called her something like that, they said kid or girl. It made her uncomfortable. It almost seemed like... pity, or something else like it. She knew what it looked like, though it had been a while since she'd seen anything like it. An image of a certain street on Corellia ran through her mind, a memory of a time long past, when she was younger and on the streets... She blinked and stopped the memory there. She didn't want or need pity, or those memories, either. Well, at least by the way he acted, he didn't seem hostile. She wasn't putting her faith in that, though. She lowered her blaster, though she didn't holster it. She placed her other hand against the wall and leaned against it as she stood and stared into Vilkas' eyes.
"Alright, Vilkas. Now, if you object, that's fine, 'cause it's none of my business, but could I ask... what you are doing here?"

 

[Minuteman75]

Vilkas noticed how easily he annoyed Aerena, it seem to be from when he called her young one. It is a common trend amongst youngsters across many societies inculding himself at that age. The hunter figure it would be best to ignore her youth for now so not to stir up trouble between them. When she asked why he was here, Vilkas' eyes narrowed in fury. Yet his eyes weren't directed to Aerena but in his mind he saw Sevenar, the one who wronged him.

The collector pretended to be a man of culture when in reality he was noting more than a over-rich thief who dared to treat him like an animal. He shouldn't be surprised of the treatment by now since he witness firsthand it plenty of times as a slave then as a bounty hunter. It seem like typically that some people of influence valued their own greedy desires and image more than the lives of those around them. Yet remembering how Sevenar smugly grinned at his suffering and patronized him during one interrogation while spouting falsehoods of releasing him if he talked.

He think himself superior and untouchable. Well then it is time that I prove how wrong that notion is.

Turning away from Aerena, the Nevlaanian proceeded to yank out the knives off the guards' bodies and then grabbed some of their grenades. Once the blades were sheathed he looked back with one eye to the teenager.

"I was held against my will here while on a job. Now...I seek retribution with my captors."

Vilkas suddnely remembered his back that being displayed was scarred from the whippings. The soreness of the pain returned but he was still strong enough to fight which he intends to. Thinking that he added.

"Whatever is your purpose do you what will. As long it does not interfere with my path I do not care."

 

[JessieTaylor]

Aerena watched Vilkas as he reacted to her question. Ooh, somebody was going to get it. She could see the fury in his eyes as he looked at her, yet she could tell he wasn't seeing her. When he turned and reached for the knives, she tensed for a moment. Was she wrong, and she was the one he was angry with? But as he put the knives into their sheaths, she slipped her blaster back into the holster. She listened as he spoke, and nodded. She had seen the scars marking his back, and it put a little spark in her. A spark of anger. What kind of a man owned this mansion? That he would do that, or have that done anyway, to another living being. Well, she was on the right side after all.
"Don't worry, my job won't interfere." She replied to Vilkas as she started walking down the hall.

 

[Minuteman75]

Vilkas simply nodded to Arena and went on his own separate way. He intended to head up for higher levels, where Tyrral Sevanar resided. Eariler he overheard some guards mentioning a celebration the tycoon was hosting for himself. No doubt the rich rat will let himself be the center of attention which will suited fine to him. Well the only problem Vilkas had with the whole thing is the bystanders that will likely get caught up.

He prefer not to cause harm to those who done noting to him even if many of them were greedy fools themselves. That line of thought lessen his rage, making him think a little more rationally than before.

I must careful to direct my aim to Sevanar and his men. It won't be easy but by the Geat Mother I won't cause harm to others if it can be helped.

Meanwhile Mister Sevanar was busy engaging in conversation with some of his guests, oblivious to what's coming for him.

 

[JessieTaylor]

Aerena thought hard, trying to figure out where she was. She walked briskly, looking down halls and peeking into rooms. If only she could find something that she could recognize from her client's directions... Well, first of all, she needed to find a staircase. Staircases go up, and the room she was looking for was on a higher floor. After a while, she located a staircase and climbed it quickly, only stopping once when she thought she heard a footstep that wasn't her own. It was nothing, however, and she moved on. Once she was on the floor she wanted, she was able to figure out where she was, and head for the artifact gallery. She walked stealthily down the halls, listening carefully for any guards. Around the corner from her destination, she stopped. It was possible that he had a guard outside the door of the gallery. She bit her lip and drawing her blaster, she peeked around the corner. Great. A guard. And he had seen her. She quickly stepped around the corner, aiming her blaster at him.

"Just don't. Move. Don't make a sound. And you will live." Aerena eyed the rifle he was carrying and gestured to it with her pistol. "And drop that. Please. I think it's unhealthy for you."

The rifle clattered to the floor and she winced. "Please don't do anything like that again. It might startle me and make me jerk the trigger."

"Who the heck are you? Come on, you can't be serious. My boss is gonna kill me..." He said nervously.

"Just turn around and look at the door." She told him.

He turned as she said, and she walked closer, intending to give him a blow on the head and render him unconscious. Then he suddenly fell backwards at her. Startled, she backed away quickly to avoid him. No. No. Why couldn't he just cooperate? Then as he hit the floor, his legs came up. He was rolling, and kicking at her. It happened so fast, she didn't have much time to react. Her instinct not to kill was overpowering, and she tried to jump out of the way before his feet connected with her. She didn't quite make it, however, and the blow knocked her to the ground. When he kicked her, she had dropped her blaster, and now she fumbled for it. Grabbing it, she quickly tried to aim at the guard, but he grabbed her wrist before it was halfway up. She struggled, but he was much larger than her, and he pinned her arms. She could feel his hot breath on the back of her neck and she felt as if her heart would rush right out of her chest.

He snarled in her ear, and Aerena held her breath. "Stupid girl. I don't know what the heck you thought you were doing, but you're gonna be sorry."

"I... Don't think so." she said as she stopped trying to get loose and brought her boot down hard on his toes. He yelped and loosened his grip. Slipping out of his hands, Aerena bent down quickly and took a firm hold of his leg, jerking it as hard as she could. He crashed to the floor, and she stood and looked at him. He was out cold. His head must have hit the ground pretty hard. She sat on the ground to breathe for a moment. That almost didn't end well. She needed to be more careful. She wasn't treating the job seriously enough. Never underestimate anything or anyone. Rule number one. She rose to her feet. As she passed into the gallery, she saw the guard out of the corner of her eye. Blood was seeping from underneath his head. She wondered passingly if she had killed him. She'd check after she had what she wanted.

In the gallery, she made a bee line for where the relic she wanted should be, honestly uninterested in the old junk around her. But when she reached the spot, she put her hand over her eyes. Really? It was gone. The one thing out of everything here, he had to take that one away. Oh, man. Now, where would he have taken it? It could be anywhere, decorating some old shelf, or maybe a desk. Well, maybe not. If it was some valuable antiquity, he wouldn't just have it laying around unprotected, would he? Probably not. Where, then? Oh. He was hosting a party tonight, perhaps he was showing it off? She turned to leave the gallery and make her way to the party. It was worth checking out.