Enforcing an Advantage

[The Wook]

The Wook reached out the side of his landspeeder and handed a datapad with a rough picture of a female figure to Callen Shaw. Only part of her face was visible. On the split screen next to her, was a much better quality picture of a Zabrak who was missing half his horns and had a scar going across his face. "Huurh aaaaahnr huurh uuh aaahnruh aarrragghuuhw wrrhwrwwhw uughguughhhghghghhhgh huuguughghg raaaaaahhgh" he growled, referring to the Zabrak. "Huuguughghg huurh uughghhhgh uughguughhhghghghhhgh, uughguughhhghghghhhgh uggguh aarrragghuuhw hnnnhrrhhh huurh raaaaaahhgh huuguughghg huuguughghg raaaaaahhgh Raaaaaahhgh uughghhhgh." He took a drag on his e-cig, and let out a thick cloud of vapor. A streetlight overhead flickered into life for a brief moment before dying. A faint drizzle fell from the sky. Not enough to soak people through, but enough to discourage most people from taking leisurely strolls on the streets.

"Uughghhhgh uggguh huurh uuh uugggh aarrragghuuhw aarrragghuuhw Raaaaaahhgh Raaaaaahhgh. Aaaaahnr huuguughghg aaaaahnr wrrhw uughguughhhghghghhhgh, huuguughghg huurh uughguughhhghghghhhgh uughguughhhghghghhhgh. Uughghhhgh hnnnhrrhhh raaaaaahhgh aaaaahnr" The Wook looked over at Jace Varrow, another man he'd hired for this job. The Zabrak was a tough customer, and the two would definitely need to work together to take him out. "Uughguughhhghghghhhgh huuguughghg, uggguh uuh huuguughghg raaaaaahhgh raaaaaahhgh aarrragghuuhw uughghhhgh aaaaahnr huurh huurh aarrragghuuhw uughghhhgh uughghhhgh." He nodded at the both of them and waved his hand. The thief probably didn't have long before the Zabrak caught up with her.

@Raydo @TheRevanchist

 

[Callen Shaw]

Callen stood in the light rain where he had been told to wait for The Wook. He had never met the gangster before but was glad at the opportunity to make a good impression and maybe land a connection for future work. He pulled the collar of his jacket up a little bit closer to his neck to shield himself a bit more from the rain. It was just heavy enough and just cool enough to be unpleasant outside.

The wookie pulled up in a land speeder and handed them a data pad with pictures of both of their targets. The mission was straightforward enough. Find the woman before the Zabrak, take him out, and recruit her to the Cartel. Simple.

Seventy Thousand credits was certainly enough for Callen to be extremely motivated to bring this thief on board. She must be something special for this much trouble.

The Cartel boss pulled away and left the two men standing on the abandoned street. Callen pulled a cigarette out from a pocket and lit before offering the younger man. "Callen." he said offering the man a handshake. "Lets get going. We can probably start by asking around at some of the cantinas around here." he said starting to walk down the street. "Besides, I could use a drink"

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace stood near Callen as the Wook approached the wookie towering over the youth, while unable to understand the wookie he pieced together what they needed to do, and the price was rather nice as well, he could use some cash. Left standing beside the older criminal, he introduced him self and offered his hand, Jace returned the shake. "Jace." he replied, and listened as he voiced his opinion on what're do, Jace couldn't find anything to disagree with so he nodded along with Callen's plan, and followed beside him as they walked towards the nearest cantina.
"Drink sounds good, any thoughts about the other guy? Could be trouble."
Asking for the older man's thoughts on the matter of the bounty hunter might prove beneficial before they ran into him, or if, maybe the guy would get some bad food poisonining and be unable to find his target. Yeah right, if the teen had learned anything since joining the Cartel it was that nothing was ever easy, and if looked like it was, you would be wrong, but if the older man had any plans to deal with him he'd like to know.
@Raydo

 

[Callen Shaw]

They took off walking down the street, ducking into a cantina just as the rain started picking up. He exhaled smoke as he walked to the bar and took a seat. "Of course it will be trouble. That's why were are getting paid." he said chuckling.

He took another drag from his cigarette as the bartender came up. "What can I get you boys." the woman asked, smiling in the way that all bartenders smile when they want you to think they are interested, but really they are just pulling for a tip. Callen didn't mind. They all played the role in the Galaxy. He winked at the woman. "I'll have a whiskey." he said looking to his new partner "Come on, first round is on me." he said. He would lay a couple of credits down on the table.

The bartender set the drinks down on the bar in front of them. Callen nodded and gave the woman a smile before leaning back in his seat. "So how long have you been in the game, kid?" he asked curiously.

It was good to get to know the people you were working with, especially when it would likely come to violence before the night was over. He took a drink from the glass of light amber colored liquid. It wasn't anything special, but he had drunk worse in better looking cantinas.

 

[Jace Varro]

Grinning at the response to his question he followed Callen into he cantina, scanning the area for any signs of wither of the marks, finding none, not like he expected they'd be that lucky, it would have been nice though, following the older man to the bar he takes thereat beside him, ordering a whiskey as well after his offer.
The bartender returning with their drinks his fingers wrapping around his glass when the question came from his new associate, it was no surprise to the youth given his age, it irked him but Callen wouldn't know his past, and so he'd let it slide off him am answer.
"I've only been a part of our band of merry men for around six months, but I've been on the wrong side of the law since I was just a snot nosed kid who would rather skip school and handg with the street gangs back on Randon." he pauses and takes sip of his drink, setting it on the table before continuing. "Much to the dismay of my father, who was a copper, I guess I joined in with the group because they weren't like him. Started as lookout, and rose up through all that kid crap, was a messenger before I caught up with someone who stole from our Vigo, and here I am. I may be young but you can trust that when it hits the fan, I'll be ready."
Jace chuckles as he mentions his father's disappointment, getting genuine amusement from the thought, there was also emphasis on the word 'was' but not elaborating, and instead giving a short rundown of his criminal history, minus his father's untimely demise, that wasn't something you just told someone on the first meeting, 'hey I'm Jace. I killed my daddy, trust me to watch your back... Yeah that goes well... not.' he thinks to himself before finishing his statement by patting his hip where one of his blasters is holstered, He'd keep his eyes peeled for that bounty hunter, he wasn't going to die yet he had future plans and dying wasn't one of them.
"What about yourself? when did you fall into this chaotic wonderland?" he asks before sipping off his drink waiting for his response.

 

[Callen Shaw]

He had often wondered where he would be if the Galaxy had thought to give him a parent that gave half a damn about him. Maybe he would have ended up in the same spot, like his partner next to him, or maybe he would have ended up living a better life. Likely, he would have just turned out boring and average, struggling to squeak out a living for him and his family. Sounded boring, but some days it sounded like a paradise. "I grew up on the streets in Coruscant. Wasn't ever given much of a choice." he said with no regret or remorse in the voice. It just was what it was. "Ended up in Prison more than once. The last time I decided to head to the Outer Rim and have been here since." he said polishing off the last of his drink.

"Well, as much as I would love to sit around drinking all night, I don't think I want my arms ripped off by a Wookie. Lets split up and ask around. You ask after the thief and ill ask up on our Zabrak friend." he said as he lit another cigarette. "We will meet back here in twenty." he said as he released another small cloud of smoke in the already hazy room.

He motioned for bartender again where he would start as he nodded to the kid as he made his way out into to the bar for his own investigation.

"Let me get another whiskey. Also, I have some credits if you could help me out with a project im working on. Should only take a couple of minutes." he said winking as he flashed the small pile of credits.

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace listened intently to Callen as the older man told of himself, He wasn't to surprised by the admission of prison time, throw a rock in this room and chances are you'll hit a former con, Jace even accepted that someday in the future he could be doing a stint at a fine Republic establishment, came with the lifestyle.
Letting out a chuckle at the mention of keeping his arms, the older man picking to ask about the bounty hunter, he didn't mind the older criminal taking charge, only idiots stopped learning from more experienced people, you just had to be careful not to ever trust anyone.
"sounds good, I'll go ask around see if I get any bites."
Swallowing the last of his drink he pulls from the bar and slowly makes his way around the room, asking about the thief and showing the captured image of her... Having asked nearly everyone he tries one last time, stepping up to an old man about to open his mouth to ask the man holds his hand up stopping him from speaking.
"I already know what year gonna ask kid, and it's the same answer you got from everyone else, we ain't seen her. I'd remember seeing a good looking girl like that come in here. Try another cantina, or maybe some street rats, they see pretty much everything." Sighing the teen thanks the man, who in returns clears his throat in the manner of everyone who ever hustled credits for information, and held out his hand palm up. Rolling his eyes, he grinds his teeth and drops a few credits into his hand. "Be thankful that I need all my energy cells, and don't want to risk not having one when I need it."
The old man gives a chuckle pocketing the credits. "Ain't nothing free in Nar Shadaa, my boy as you welll know." returning to the bar he walks up to Callen letting out a soft sigh he speaks hoping that he'd had better luck than himself.
"No luck on my part, seems she hasn't been here, try another place or ask around the streets, Any word on our buddy?"
Pausing as he remembers Callen's asking him to help with something, while not fully trusting the man, he hoped that it was nothing that would get him dead before he payment. "You said you needed help with something? not gonna end up with hole in my back for it am I?"
He finishes his statement with a chuckle and a grin, not allowing any of his distrust to slip, he hoped his partner wasn't trying to get him prematurely knocked out from the Cartel rat race, so he'd try to garner a little favor, and hope for the best.

 

[Callen Shaw]

He spent the next while asking various people about their Zabrak target. The bartender wasn't much help but he was able to point out a person who knew a little bit more who led to another person and another. Soon he had pieced together where the Zabrak lived, and where he liked to drink. Really the only two things that mattered. They already knew who he worked for and the type of work he did.

He returned the bar and waited for Jace to return. He saw him talking to various individuals but didn't bother to interject. He wasn't here to coddle the kid and Callen knew how much he, himself hated to be watched over. So he turned his attention to flirting with the bartender and drinking.

Jace soon returned and delivered the bad news. It didn't speak against his skills, that was just how to work was. Sometimes you got lucky and sometimes you didn't. Besides, they had a lead. "Hrm?" he said asked as he raised an eyebrow. "I was asking the bartender for help earlier." he said as she walked by and smiled at him again. "And I don't think you can assist me with that type of work." he said looking over to the kid and chuckling.

"Well, I found out a good bit about our Zabrak friend. We should be able to find him and hopefully, he would lead us to our thief." he said standing up and making his way for the door. "Alright." he said as they stepped back out on the street. "I know where he lives, and where he likes to drink. Where do you think we should start?" he said as they started walking in the general direction of either place. They were both in a nearby warehouse district but were far enough away that they may on reasonably get one shot at finding the Zabrak before they had to do some creative catch up work. He had found the information so it was only fair the kid make the next hard choice.

 

[Jace Varro]

Chuckling at the misunderstanding he was glad that Callen's efforts proved more fruitful, having both he location of his place of residence and Cantina he frequented.
Now faced with the choice of where to go next both had pros and cons and the youth weighed them out in his mind, trying to find the better path.
On one hand they had his home, if he wasn't there they had a chance to find something that could point them to the thief, if he was there they could either try to eliminate him here or follow him.
Then on the other hand the Cantina could very well be his frequent spot because of his target's actions and he's just waiting for her to show and claim his bounty, or he could not be there. Jace let's out a sigh as he mulls this over.
"Well, I say we try his place first, at the very least should he not be there we could find some info on our girl, and if he is, either follow him to the girl or get rid of him then focus on her. Either way we can narrow the field"
Turning to face the more experienced criminal he shrugs his shoulders to convey his feelings that no matter which one they did would lead them down the path.
"Hopefully we can catch him with his pants down and get this over with nice and easy, but I have a feeling that won't be the case, so lead the way." he finishes and waits for Callen to lead them to the home of the bounty hunter.

 

[Callen Shaw]

He put another cigarette in his mouth and held the lighter to one end. "Sounds like a solid plan." he said nodding. "Though, I hope he is wearing pants. Its too early to have to fight a half-crazed naked Zabrak." he said chuckling.

They may there way towards the warehouse district to one of the shadiest looking apartment buildings Callen had ever seen, which was surprising because he lived in the Nar Shaddaa slums. The lift didn't work, of course, and the Zabrak lived on the 28th floor. He gave his partner an annoyed look as they began to make the climb. "He better be up here.." he mumbled.

It took them several minutes to climb the impossibly long stairwell before finally coming to the 28th floor. They stepped out into the moldy smelly hallway, lights flickering down at the end. "Balla must not pay for shit.." he said scrunching up his nose at the smell. They came to room number he had gathered from the bar. "Keep a lookout for a sec." he said pulling out his tools for picking the lock. The lock was nothing special and Callen quickly unlocked the door.

He opened the door to find their Zabrak, very much pantless as he snorted a line of white powder off an impossibly dirty table. The jump enforcer reacted quickly, pulling a blaster out and firing it at them. Callen only just ducked back behind the door before he was shot. "I blame you for this..." he said through gritted teeth as he pulled his own blaster out.

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace chuckled at Callen's response and set out for the Zabrak's hidey hole, heading towards the warehouse district they arrived at the decrepit apartments, walking in and heading to the lift which they discovered was dead... of course.
Hearing his partner's grumbling to him that the the bounty hunter better be there, he smirked as he followed up the twenty-seven flights to the Zabrak's floor, amused but even he wasn't looking forward to the climb.

"Kriffing stairs." Jace mumbles as he steps into the dank hallway beside Callen, lights flickering. Agreeing with Callen's statement of Balla's lack of upkeep 9f his own assets, sad really.
Reaching the door Jace keeps a lookout for anyone as Callen makes short work of the door lock. Jace wondered for a brief moment if his partner had a touch of the force, he seemed to call how he Zabrak would be found.. It was a little unsettling having an offhand remark become reality. slamming his back against the other side of the door from Callen as he hastily avoids the blaster fire from the Spiced up bounty hunter.
Pressing the button on the back of his neck his helmet Springs up around his head and locks with a soft hiss as he unholsters his CSR-2A blasters.
"I blame you for this." Callen spits out at him through gritted teeth. Letting out a laugh he turns to the older criminal, his voice coming out clear through the helm.
"My fault!? You're the one who had to go and say you hoped he was wearing pants, so I see this as your fault.. I so did not want to see that, and besides-
his reply interupted by a blaster bolt zooming past his face, pointing his gun around the doorway he fires blindly thrice, hoping to either buy a little time or get a lucky shot, he smiled behind his helmet when he hears a groan, curses and a thump.
-At least now we know he probably hasn't found her yet. So what do you say we put this Zabrak in the ground, get the girl, and get paid? Then we can laugh about all of this over a drink, first rounds on me this time."
He finishes his his earlier interupted retort to the Criminal on the other side of the doorway. it had been awhile since he'd last been in a life or death situation, but he was calm, how hard could killing one Zabrak be?
@Raydo​

 

[Callen Shaw]

Callen would need a lot more than a single drink to erase this scene from his mind. The Zabrak inside continued to yell at the top of his lungs, as he fired both of weapons at the door. “We may actually need something stronger than liquor tonight kid..” He said as the boy jumped out and fired hitting the Zabrak once.

The shot didn't even seem to phase the hunter who continued to fire at them. Callen kneeled down against the cover of the wall before leaning over and firing three shots. The Zabrak was focused on firing at their chest level which bought him a second to place his shots. All three struck true, cause the Zabrak to stumble backward but he still managed to stay in his feet.

Now spotting Callen he fired several shots. “What did this guy take?!” Callen yelled. He had to be close to going down, but sooner or later one shot was going to connect with them, and they would likely go down in a hit or two. Until this guy was dead, he would prove to be a danger.

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace couldn't believe that the bounty hunter was still standing, with a seeming endless supply of ammunition, four shots had been sunk into the nudist bounty hunter and he seemed to be going strong, hearing Callen's shouted question he couldn't help but laugh.
"Whatever it is the Hutts should give it to their heavies, an army on this kriff would be unstoppable."
Bracing himself in preparation to fire, the Zabrak alternated blaster fire low and high in attempt to keep both himself and Callen in cover, when the blaster fire shifted lower he pokes his head and blaster around the corner aiming for center mass he can only let off two quick shots, bolts grazing only grazing him, as the bounty hunter quickly returns fire Jace barely pulls back in time, blaster bolt nearly striking him in his helm.
"You know.. It's times like this when I really wish I had a Thermal detonator."
The teen relays to his partner, holding the 'e' in really longer than usual emphasising his wish for one of those deadly little gadgets.
Poking the barrel of his blaster around the door he lets off a few suppressing shots hopefully he could keep his blaster fire focused on him and give Callen an opportunity to put this Rancor masquerading as a Zabrak down.
@Raydo​

 

[Callen Shaw]

Jace drew the man's fire and Callen placed three more shots into the man. Two striking the man in the chest and one in the head. This time the man fell. Drugs would only take you so far. Callen leaned against the whole, letting out a sigh of relief before pushing himself up.

The smell of burning flesh filled the air as they entered. The Zabrak lay dead, looking at the ceiling with still crazed eyes. It was unnerving. Callen kicked his guns away just in case. "Hopefully he has something here on finding the girl." he said holding up an arm to his nose. Living on Nar Shaddaa, Callen was just stranger to unpleasant smells, but this room was up there with the worst of them.

"Keep an eye out for anything on Balla as well." he said eyeing the room. It was a mess even before a small firefight had broken out. Now it was nearly destroyed. He doubted they would find much useful information but anything to could get back to Wook would be useful.

"Ill start in the back room, you can start here. We will need to move quickly before the thief gets away." he said already beginning to search for any intel.

 

[Jace Varro]

Jace enters behind Callen, helmet collapsing back into hiding with the press of a button as his partner kicks the now dead Zabrak's weapon away, scrunching his nose at the smell he wished he'd kept his helmet up as he glances down at the corpse he grunts.
"Tough old bastard, Sure leave me with creepy naked dead guy."
He calls out after Callen as he Heads to the back room. The first thing he did was pick up a dirty shirt from the ground and dropped it over the Zabrak's groin, now a lot more comfortable he begins to search the room, tossing off the cushions on the couch he he finds a small data pad and begins to search through the files, precious bounties, debts owed, dirt on Balla... A Gamorrean mistress... Eww. His thoughts now plagued by disturbing images of hutt-gamor love.
Pushing forward he continues to sift through the info, there she was the target, either this wasn't his main datapad or he kept most info in his head, he managed to find a cantina she frequently visits, and a clearer picture, they'd definitely be able to recognize her now, he copies the info to his storage device, he doubted the wook would care about the mistress but he took that too, just in case.
Walking to the table he inspects the Zabrak's chosen drug, scraping what's on the table into the bag beside it he pockets it, he could sell it to some idiot, or find out what the he'll it was.
If it could make a man a beast it could be useful, heading towards the back he calls out to his partner in crime.
"I didn't find much, got a better picture and her favorite watering hole, also seems Balla has a Gamorrean mistress, but other than that nothing out of the Oink-anary, so please tell me you got something."
He hoped Callen had better luck, this day just seemed to be hitting one road block after another and while they got the main target out of the way a little bonus never hurt, they needed to find that girl.
@Raydo​