Ask Nar Shaddaa Forceful Ticket Resale

[Vri Nama]

Nar Shadda, 21:13 Local Time
The Holo-Circus Nightclub​

Before booking a no doubt dubious flight back to her homeworld of Corsuscant after her last job with the Zaa Fenn, Vri decided to see if the organization needed anything else punched, shot, or blown up while she was in the neighborhood. So she was both surprised and delighted to find the growing crime family had more use for her particular brand of skull-cracking, specifically in the form of getting some underground fight club tickets away from a slaver and his current side piece. Now, Vri couldn't muster two spice-addled brain cells to care about the galactic slave market, but beating valuable things out of people was a personal specialty so she leapt at the operation.

The target zone was a dingy nightclub on one of the lowest levels of the already dingy city, which apparently served as the Nikto's homebase so people could find him and cut deals. The 'merchandise' themselves weren't kept on site, but from what Vri had seen watching the door for the last half hour or so, there were plenty of bouncers and guards inside. Good, just going in and roughing the guy up would have been too easy and a few thugs with blasters always made a shakedown operation more interesting. She had her guns, her swoop gear, and she'd taken a tiny dose of spice a few minutes ago just to make sure she was ready for a fight, there was only one thing missing: her partner.

Just like the last operation, Vri had been assigned someone to help her pull this mission off, but so far Vri hadn't seen blue-hide or tail-head of this 'Pidge Batana'. Granted, Vri had only been sitting out across the street from the club for half an hour, and hadn't sent a single message to Pidge even after Hesse put the two of them in touch, but still. Vri's already thin patience had become non-existent and she was starting to seriously consider just slapping on her helmet, blasting down the door, and lighting the place up like a Life-Day tree. Hopefully the Twi'lek would get there before Vri decided to do something explosively stupid.

@Kestrel

 

[Pidge Batana]

Pidge made a mental note to never, ever use Nar Shaddaa public transport again. It was not her first time visiting the stinking ecumenopolis filled with petty thieves to some of the most dangerous men and women in the galaxy, and likely not her last either.

The twi’lek herself had begun to climb the ranks in her syndicate. Now she was called upon for more than the trivial matter of minor banking fraud or simple slicing. In fact... She could flatter herself and say that the Zaa Fenn were taking advantage of her previously untapped technical genius and nosing-around prowess. Even the Droid Grotta and wider Crymorah organizations had treated her as little more than a handy mechanic or expendable infantry. Little did they know her boundless curiosity and meddlesome tinkering had the ability to bring down monarchs, to ruin the economies of entire systems. Now, perhaps she was getting a bit ahead of herself, but given enough time and a fancy enough datapad, she could. And with the credits from this mission... she could achieve that greatness.

A gruff, foul smelling Trandoshan shoved passed the woman, brining her wandering, fantastical thougths back to reality. She had the ability to be versatile, but not long ago, she had been dancing in a cantina nights and logging treatment plans in a medbay by day. It would be some time before she had enough credits to afford anything so fanciful, even with her foray into the criminal world. Next time, though, she really must rent a speeder. The hover train was running 17 minutes late, and making a good impression on her new partner was key.

Finally, after a few more agonizingly long minutes in the suffocating air of the crowded compartment, Pidge hopped out at the street corner, carefully avoiding a large puddle of oily sludge. Flickering neon lights tacked onto a shoddy duracrete building indicated she was indeed in the right spot- The Holo Circus Nightclub, home to the resident scum of the galaxy. It could seem hypocritical for a scoundrel to consider herself morally superior to other criminals, but at least the teal Twi’lek had standards. And anyone who traded in the blood and sweat of beings was below them. She only was required to steal the tickets for entrance to an arena held by Xaa Hafven, but no one would complain is she wiped all his files and emptied his bank account, surely.

Vri was... Hard to miss. The brightly colored hair and enough weapons and equipment to fill a small bunker made her partner visible enough. So perhaps they weren’t going to go for subtlety. Even in the lower levels, no one carried around that much firepower on their daily constitutional. Flicking her hood back, Pidge smiled widely and approached, blaster tucked neatly in her knee-high boot. “Hey Vri! You’re certainly looking prepared. I’m sure you know I’m Pidge. Now, onto business. Let’s save the small talk and get a drink together after, eh? Any plan?”

@The Captain

 

[Vri Nama]

Vri wasn't sure what she was expecting in her partner, but the perky, upbeat, grinning Rutian that approached her certainly wasn't it. Generally, people in the Syndicate operated on a spectrum from cold-methodical killing machine to bloodthirsty murderhobo, so it was genuinely odd for her to see someone so clearly, enthusiastically chipper.

"...okay first off, slow the frak down," She began, straightening her back and standing up off her bike. "Second, if you're here to help me steal those tickets I was just gonna spring for the blasters-blazing approach. But if you got a better idea, I'm all ears."

Vri wasn't sure to what to make of this little ray of blue sunshine, and openly stared at Pidge as if she had a third lekku growing out of her face. This job required either a lot of firepower or, worst case scenario, cunning strategy and so far all Pidge seemed to bring was a can-do attitude. Still, if she the Zaa Fenn sent her along on this operation she had to be more dangerous than she looked.

@Kestrel

 

[Pidge Batana]

If the rodian’s reaction was anything to go by, Pidge had probably come on a bit too strong. The huge, speckled eyes stared at her so intensely she blushed slightly. Undoubtedly, the other woman had been expecting someone a bit different. Many of her colleagues were a bit more... rough around the edges. She’d have to remember to avoid smiling next time. Big criminal names didn’t do happy. Still... she got into the business for the very purpose of her own fun. Seeming bubbly and shallow tended to disarm people rather quickly. Then the scoundrel realized her mistake.

She could wear many hats, play any part. There were classics: the dumb drunk girl, the smooth seductress, the mysterious slicer, the coolly tempered spy. Unfortunately, she had gone a bit overboard with the facade, being both a happy-go-lucky gal and a mysterious criminal who was too serious to skip small talk. No wonder Vri was confused. Chuckling nervously, the former dancer made an attempt to relax her posture. She’d go for the enthusiastic scoundrel.

“My bad-“ Vri was still staring. Did she have something in her teeth? Running her tongue around her mouth to catch any uninvited leftovers, she continued. “Assuming you are actually Vri Nama, and I hope you are, because Preef will be so mad if you’re not, I am your partner. i’m actually okay with small talk if you’d like, but it didn’t seem right to strike up a conversation about the weather when you can barely see the sky through the smog. Anyway- the plan. I need to find the tickets. I can rifle through his desk while you distract anyone coming my way by shooting at them?

@The Captain

 

[Vri Nama]

Vri took a minute, watching the little gears turn in Pidge's head before the Rutian replied with a very long explanation that she only mostly listened to, and which ended with the idea for Pidge to go on ticket-hunting duty while she shot up everyone in the bar. That had pretty much been her plan from the get-go, so it seemed like they were on the same page already, which meant they could get to the fun part faster.

"First, I am Vri Nama," She said, taking the helmet from her handlebars and slapping it on her head. "Second, do you think you can sneak this past the front guards?"

Vri patted the cut down EE-3 carbine hanging from the other side of her bike, since Vri knew the guards would be quick to check her for heavy weapons, but a pretty little Twi'lek like Pidge could probably smuggle a flamethrower through the door if they were properly distracted. Vri wasn't concerned about being thrown out for having a cut-down rifle on hand, she just knew places like this tended to mark out heavily armed customers, and if they thought she just had a pistol and her fists she might be able to take them by surprise.

@Kestrel

 

[Pidge Batana]

The task seemed simple enough, but Pidge glanced doubtfully at the blaster carbine slung over the Rodian’s bike. The guards would have to be practically blind to miss the heavy weapon being paraded through the door. It was hardly something she could subtly stuff down her shirt. Playing with her right lek, still absentmindedly displaying a ditzy facade, the twi’leks bright eyes scanned the EE-3. Too bad there wasn’t a case or she could pretend she was a musician fallen on hard times. Then the idea occurred to her.

A moment later a striking teal Twi’lek waltzed up to the guards, humming slightly and moving as if she were marking out a dance routine. The blaster swung gracefully in her hand, yet she paid no mind to the two tired looking men, instead smugly smiling to herself.

One approached and cleared his throat. “Lady. You can’t bring that in.“

Acting surprised, as if she hadn’t noticed him, she giggled condescendingly, causing him to raise a confused eyebrow.

“It’s not loaded silly-“ The cold of the magazine in her waistband caused her to squirm slightly. “I’m here to perform. Haven’t you heard of interpretive dance?” Pidge knew full well interpretive dance had nothing to do with rifles, but the guards probably didn’t. Deciding she’d better demonstrate, she balanced the blaster vertically on her hand, wiggling it to keep the center of mass above the base, then tossed it, clumsity caught it, and did a flourish.

“I uh. I’m still practicing.” Without waiting for the man to raise another question, she slid through the doors with a gleaming smile and a little wave. No she would wait for Vri


@The Captain

 

[Vri Nama]

Well kriff, not only did Pidge manage to sneak the weapon through the front door checkpoint, she actually managed to walk the thing openly past the guards in exchange for some kind of balancing act. Tailheads, they could waltz into any bank vault in the galaxy if they bat their eyes and gave a decent excuse, it was incredible. Vri would definitely be buying a round or three for Pidge when this was all over, but first they needed to actually pull this heist off.

Apart from her carbine, Vri's only visible weapon was a simple blaster pistol and her swoop-suit was designed not to look armored at first glance, so as long as she kept the helmet off through the door and didn't look like trouble, she should get in without a pinch. Sure enough, once she got to the door the two quarter-witted thugs stepped aside and let her through without much more than a once-over to note her weapon.

"Fark, Blue, that was smooth." Vri quickly slid up next to Pidge and grabbed the cut-down carbine, loading it before awkwardly stuffing it into her jacket. This disguise would maybe last five minutes, especially if the guards were paying attention, but at least she wouldn't walk in with the thing on full display.

"Here's the plan," She whispered. "You go in first, get as close to the backroom door as you can without drawing attention. I'm gonna raise some serious Hell and try to get everyone's attention. Sound like a plan?"

@Kestrel

 

[Pidge Batana]

There was nothing a wink and a smile couldn’t do. Well, perhaps there was, but that could be accomplished with a wink, a smile, and a sudden case of wandering hands. Pidge smirked at her partner-in-crime’s compliment, drawing out the magazine gingerly. The other woman loaded the blaster with a practiced ease and slid it under her coat. The disguise left a significant amount to be desired, but the presence of a loaded rifle would not go unnoticed much longer. She just had to get out of there first...

Nodding silently in response to Vri’s orders, the Twi’lek slipped away. While her smile and posture had commanded the guards a few moments before, her visage was neutral and her walk boringly un-showy. So focused was she on the door in the back, behind the bar, that she ran rather hard into a tall Nikto. He smelled of strong liquor, and his slurred words indicated he’d had more than his share of it.

“Watch‘it, darling. Go’n gemme a drink now for the trouble, will’ya?” He snarled through a tight smirk. The heavy body conveniently blocked the aisle, so booking it wasn’t really an option.

“I’m afraid I don’t work here. I can hail you a speeder taxi, though.” It took every ounce of will she had not give any sass to the man. Pidge had too often been disrespected by cantina-goers and could her own in a fight, but she was trying to be unobtrusive, here. One wrong move and she could easily become a spectacle.

Apparently that had been the wrong answer.

“Yee’ll do what I ask’ya, little twerp.“ Despite his lack of coordination, the man connected a balled fist to her stomach hard. Completely unprepared, Pidge doubled over and wretched, wheezing to get her breath back. He raised a hand again, but she deftly dodged, midriff still searing with pain. An EE-3 would hardly be the most imminent concern in the Circus now.

@The Captain

 

[Vri Nama]

Vri managed to find a small alcove in the lobby that wasn't directly covered by any of the guards or patrons, so she could stand there casually for a minute and let Pidge get into position. From her corner, she spotted at least five guards, two by the backroom door, one by the bar, and two sitting by a Nikto that was very clearly their intended target. If Vri wanted to make absolutely sure they got the tickets, she would need to waste him first before he got away.

Even if Pidge hadn't gotten tangled up with a drunken Nitko, Vri likely wouldn't have come up with a better plan than what she tried next. She slipped on her helmet, pulled the blaster from her jacket, and made a mad dash to the bar, firing blindly at Naish Genn's private table before throwing herself over the bar circular, central with a thud. From what she saw before she hit the floor, she'd killed one of the guards outright, wounded Naish, and sent the place into a blind panic as patrons scrambled to escape the sudden violence.

She had everyone's attention, now all she had to do was keep their attention and kill the VIP without getting her head blown off.

@Kestrel

 

[Pidge Batana]

Thankfully the Nikto ceased to be an issue rather quickly. Pidge hadn’t anticipated the possibility that the situation could escalate more, but apparently where she saw an obstacle, Vri saw opportunity. The blinding streak of blaster fire whizzed by as she instinctively dove to the floor. That was one way to do it, she supposed. One guard had hit the ground dead, their target was injured, and her path to the door in the back was clear.

Still, the Twi’lek doubted her partner was paying close attention to where her bolts were landing, so she crawled along the floor until she reached the Durasteel gate. Adrenaline pumping, she pulled herself up and fumbled with the access panel. It was locked. Damn. She could hardly pull out her datapad and wire it to the thing. A fumbling hand grabbed a spike and jammed it in. Thankfully, the security wasn’t too good. Within a few seconds the door slid open. She was in. Now for the prize...

@The Captain

 

[Vri Nama]

Thankfully, in the crush and scramble of slavers, drunks, and escorts scrambling to escape what was clearly going to be a major shoot out, Vri got a little reprieve to roll her shoulder (bruised from the landing) and regain her sense of direction. She'd hit one of the guards at least, and given all the loud Huttese cursing coming from across the room the VIP was still here as well. Good, that gave her more opportunities to properly excavate his head with a blaster bolt.

Vri drew the Power 5 blaster from her hip with her free hand and laid the barrels of both weapons on the counter, using it to steady the weapons while she fired over the crowd toward the target and the entrance. This kept everyone's heads down, focusing on the less-than-precise blaster fire coming from the bar rather than a certain blue figure huddling tight around the back door.

"C'mon then you kriff-kickers! I got a bolt for everyone!" She was screaming partially to keep everyone's attention, and partially because she was in the middle of an adrenaline rush and starting to feel really good about this operation.

@Kestrel

 

[Pidge Batana]

The room was small and the thin walls did little to dampen the sound of Vri’s escapade. That woman knew how to cause chaos, alright. The glee in her voice was palpable. If the Twi’lek was not on a mission, she would have sat back and watched, drink in hand. Unfortunately, time was of the essence, and there were only so many bolts in the rodian’s cartridges.

Pursing her lips, Pidge scanned the cluttered room. It looked to be an office of sorts. A computer was perched on a grungy looking table, half buried in junk and papers. There were also a few credits lying tantalizingly on the desk. If she were a warlord, where would she hide her tickets? Behind a firewall? It the third cabinet from the top? A shiny knob caught her eye. Vaguely tuning into the sound outside, she carefully twisted the thing. It slid open, clearly well oiled.

The small closet inside hummed with energy. A maze of wires and conduits twisted together three lit panels. A red security light blinked. Slipping on her gloves, the slicer got to work.

The interface was easy enough to open, but it was passcode guarded for obvious reasons. Guessing passwords was rarely a wise tactic- unless one had a good guess or enough tries to attempt all permutations, and the scoundrel had neither. The thing was, planning ahead was rarely her style. It was not the first time she would have to come up with something on the fly. Time to start figuring out where the tickets weren’t. Covered fingers swiped across the screen deftly, switching off an unlabeled system, hopefully the security one. Alas, the guess had been wrong. The lights shut off.

@The Captain

 

[Vri Nama]

If having a stranger open fire in the bar and dive behind the counter led to chaos, then having the lights go out led to pure pandemonium. Any civilians still cowering behind tables or chairs started screaming, while the guards initially fired an uneven volley into the walls and ceiling before realizing that they weren't hitting anything. Vri, for her part, sat quietly behind the bar for a moment, trying to figure out if they'd somehow shot out the lights during their crossfire, before shrugging her shoulders and crawling along the inside track of the bar to reach the opening at the far end.

She decided to reposition herself in the dark, inching over fallen bottles of booze and the corpses of the bartenders in the dark to reach a better position. Unfortunately, she hadn't really wondered how she would find a better spot in the darkness, or what would happen if the lights came on while she wasn't behind cover.

"I farking hope Blue found what we're looking for..." She grumbled under her breath while grasping in the dark between the bar and a nearby table.

@Kestrel

 

[Pidge Batana]

Kark. Well that hadn’t been it. Pidge blindly probed the electrics board for the switch with one hand while trying to find a hole in the security system with the other. Finally, a sweaty palm found the override electricity switch and pressed it. The lights crackled back on. Back to square one. Fingers flew over the keyboard to open the man’s file. It only took two tries. “Circus” was not a very strong password.

Unfortunately, the owner of the establishment had not been very organized. The Twi’lek scanned the documents in his inbox to no avail. Was it more likely to be in “Attachment 3142“ or “Attachment 3168”? A quick subject search lead to nothing. Perhaps it was in Kintan or Huttese. The huttese translation yielded results, causing Pidge, not for the first time, to wish she had learned the language. Having to translate via tech was tedious and unreliable. She inserted a downloading peg and copied the files before deleting the originals. It was done.


@The Captain

 

[Vri Nama]

By some act of universal mercy, Vri had managed to crawl to cover behind a large, overturned table when the lights came on, sparring her from being caught in the open once the thugs could finally see where they were shooting. Which gave Vri a few seconds of sweet, sweet not-getting-shot-at while she poked her head around the table and spotted her target, who was also in the process of peeking over his table barricade and gesturing for someone to take a look behind the bar.

The man wouldn't get a chance to regret his decision, as Vri managed to put a bolt right through his one big, bulbous, bloodshot eye. The primary target was down, no one was going to be claiming their stolen tickets any time soon, so all they needed to do now was escape. Which would be hard, considering Vri revealed her position by liquifying their target's head from across the room, causing the remaining thugs to fire on her from multiple angles. All she could do from her current position was aim her blasters blindly around the corners of the table and fire wildly in the general direction of the incoming shots.

@Kestrel