Liar In The Lion's Den

[Brent Fury Drast]

The events in this thread still take place before the Atlas thread.

⌬ THEME ⌬
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Brent wondered how he had convinced Arda to go along with this plan. Even for him, it was a little bit on the crazy side. We're going some place that will allow us to infiltrate some pirates. Technically Brent had not lied. He had ommited the fact that the place they were going to was just the pirates' hideout and primary place of business while wearing a disguise.

His XS-100 settled as it kicked up some dust. Inside it was just the two of them and Brent's pilot droid. The pirates had been convinced that his ship was carrying some battle droids that could really up their game in the pirating market. "Bzzt~ alright, it's just the two of you?" The voice over the commlink from the pirate's overlook tower had established communications. The base had a few light laser cannon turrets for detering aerial attacks but they were no good against stuff already landed. Still that meant that his ship would have a tough time getting out of this lion's den in one piece.

"Yup." He said in response over the link before cutting it. The two Jedi had to seem like they were black market dealers. "You ready to try your hand at some acting?" He turned in his pilot's seat so Arda could hear him wherever she was on his ship.

Brent was dressed in a simple drab disguise. It was meant to appear less jedi like than he normally did. Then again he rarely ever wore robes. But this said shady black-marketeer. He wondered what Arda had picked. "I don't usually help women put on their clothes but...I suppose I can give you a hand if need some help with your's." He knew that if Arda was within sight of him she would probably force smack him or at least roll her eyes. It was like his seventh sense, being able to tell when the Grandmaster was dealing with something he stirred up. By now he hoped that she knew the man only really did it to get a rise out of her in a playful way.

@GABAdactyl

 

[Arda Breaux]

Arda knew he wasn't telling her the entire plan to this adventure, however, it had been a while since she had caused pirates a hard time so she thought this would be an opportunity she could utilize. It had been a while since she was able to work with Brent and as much as she has moved worlds with the weight of her eye rolls, he always surprised her with his ideas. He took risks, some not very well calculated, but they seemed to get the job done with the least amount of collateral. The trip to Ryloth was filled with jabs from Brent trying to make small talk, trying to make her laugh, she knew his tactics and it amused her he was really putting the effort in. However, it wasn't to say a smirk or two did not break thought.

As they arrived to the twi'lek home world, Arda had changed into her garb, even as going as far as dying her hair plum and her cheeks adorned semi-permanent tattoos of circuit lines that started at her cheek bones and ran down along the sides of her neck. She walked into the cockpit as Brent called out something about helping her get dressed, she stood in average smuggler's attire with her arms folded across her chest. "Over my dead body, Brent." she kept a serious face for as long as she could before the smile came.

"I'm ready for this, its been a while since I swindled pirates." she sat in the copilot seat and check her blaster before holstering it. Her saber was hidden on herself and she leaned back in her seat, her eyes narrowing from the desert sun of Ryloth. She pulled out a tie band, pulling her hair back and out of her face, it was uncanny seeing her hair this color again. She had not dyed it since becoming Knight.

@Darasuum

 

[Brent Fury Drast]

When Arda came into view he gave her a look that said he was rather impressed. A nod and smile followed with a chuckle. "You dirty-up real nice." He joked but still genuinely thinking she looked pretty good.

"Why'd you have to add 'pirates' onto that? Ohhh, have you been swindling people recently that aren't pirates?" Brent knew she probably had not meant it that way but he did not really have an off switch. It was meant to be rhetorical anyways. "Don't let Master Swan see you with the new hair color. She'll think you're trying to be like her. Even though you wear it better." He added a wink and shortly after his helmet came around his head to conceal his face.

Getting up he moved to the portion of the ship with the loading ramp. He set the ship's security system into lock down just in case the pirates tried anything. Even a real smuggler would be paranoid when dealing with these criminals. Ahead of the ship, some twenty meters away was a dozen different pirates. Most of them had mis-matched armored flight suits. Some of them had ruffian armor. Each of them had at least a side arm and vibro blade but only half of them carried simple blaster rifles. They were not pointing them at anything in particular, just standing by as an informal honorguard to the mostly cybernetic leader. His own blaster was still holstered for the time being and beside him there seemed to be a twi'lek aid. Half the pirates were twi'leks, male and female, but the rest were an assortment of other species.

At the bottom of the ramp he turned his head to the side and spoke only loud enough so Arda could hear him. "So...you wanna be the boss or should I be the boss?" Brent was fine with it either way. Taking orders from Arda was never really an issue for him. But this technically was his plan and generally his antics could make other people feel uncomfortable. "He'll probably want to deal with the boss." Whichever option the undercover jedi chose would still lead Brent toward the man and his posse of pirates. "Welcome to Ryloth. I Jonn Stokker, leader of this outfit. I hope the trip was not too bad. Would you like something to drink out of the sun before we get down to business?" He looked between the two of them wondering which one to talk to since he had given first introductions. To Brent it seemed like force manners but at least he did not start off with pulling a blaster on them. Things could be worse.

@GABAdactyl

 

[Arda Breaux]

Arda looked away when he winked at her, feeling herself become slightly bashful in all his playful teasing, cheeks reddening in response. An odd sensation and it made her more self-consciousness of how she was presenting herself around him. Though her mind argued with those feelings, ideas about nothing to prove to him, but yet, she had everything to prove to him because she was the Grandmaster, the weight of not only the entire Order sat on her shoulders, but the fate of the Alliance did so also. Remembering these, she seemed to fall back into her Master role and followed Brent down the ramp and off the ship, her brow narrowed as she squinted, eyes still trying to adjust to the desert sunlight. The arid air parched her throat almost instant and she glanced at her partner in shenanigans.

"You're the boss, Boss!" she raised her eyebrows with the emphasis of Boss; her experiences with pirates was always matched with an unwanted flirty conversation and Arda did not wish to entertain today. Besides she wanted to see how Brent did under some pressure, recalling a mission when he was first a padawan, swindling a ship from pirates...now that she thought about it, Brent may have a ship swindling problem.

They approached the pirate leader, Stokker and Arda took note of the dozen that stood around with him, cautious of what tricks of their own they would try to pull. She remained quiet as she would let Brent speak, her eyes though scanned their surroundings, and her senses reached outward. The Light felt warm from within, she could feel the Force guiding her attention back to Brent and then to the cybernetic pirate leader. She wasn't too crazy about being out numbered, but she was a Master Jedi, being outnumbered if things go bad was something of her specialty. This could be worse.

@Darasuum

 

[Brent Fury Drast]

He was the boss. Awwwwyeeeeaaaah. I'm tha baawss! underneath his helmet he could not help but smile at the thought. hmm, I could capitalize on this. Don't let this opportunity go to waste Fury. Already some mischievous thoughts were coming to mind.

When Stokker asked them about refreshments Brent turned his currently helmeted head to the side to look at Arda. "Yes...yes I think we will." On the one hand they were going even deeper into enemy territory but that was why they were here in the first place. The two jedi needed to get even further in to disable the anti-air batteries, neutralize security measures, all that jazz.

Their host took them into the base, leaving most of the guards outside save for four that accompanied them. Each of the pirates continued to give the disguised duo glances. Brent just interpreted as underworld paranoia. This is where you belong Brent. You're a droid salesman. A black market criminal droid salesman. Yeah. Even though he was wearing a helmet he was worried it would show that he was faking. Normally he acted pretty well. The confidence came naturally and acting like he belonged wherever he was trying to go usually worked. For some reason he did feel a little worried though. Perhaps it was the presence of Arda that made him a little more anxious. Gotta look good in front of the GM

Finally after walking down a few halls there was an open common area. It looked more or less like a bar only instead of chairs and proper furnishings there were old crates, ship seats and benches removed from their original vessels. No two tables were alike, made from cut pieces of metal and other material that had been taken from ships most likely. A single bar counter a few meters long with a few dozen bottles of alcohol sat to one side.

Stokker waved off the guards save for one. The three pirates moved to a table and joined a few other thugs that were eyeing the two jedi. A serving droid stood behind the bar. It was cleaning a cloudy glass that would not get clearer no mater how long it tried to wash it. "Order anything you like. It's on the house. Though unfortunately we have only about six different drinks I'm afraid." He turned away from Arda and Brent. "Where's the music! Come-on." In the corner a trio of pirates that looked like they regretted taking some mediocre spice got up and moved onto the poor excuse for a stage. They began to play some music. "Yes um. Thank you." He realized that he had not asked Arda what her cover name was. "What's your alias? Kurt Falconer I think will be mine. Top that." He asked the woman telepathically. Hopefully she came up with something before they got to the bar.

@GABAdactyl

 

[Arda Breaux]

When she had given him the green light to be the boss in this operation, she could feel a moment of elation and excitement come from the Knight and a mild quirk of the eyebrow as she gave him a glance signaled that perhaps he should keep his focus. However, his charismatic demeanor had no doubt would not cause any agitation with the cybernetic gang leader, but this would also allow for the Jedi woman to keep surveillance on her surroundings without needing to split her attention to two places. He invited them inside, Arda assumed that was a good thing, good so far, minus the suspicious looks they got as they passed his crew onward into the compound. Though her eyes were kept ahead, her senses could pick up more than what the eyes could see around them.

Once they arrived to the main hall, others were chased out except for probably who Arda assumed were his closest henchmen in the gang and a few guards. It seemed fitting, there tended not to be too much to do until the next job came through or laying low until things blew over. So the best thing to do was drink and Arda certainly remember her underworld days back on Corellia and this brought a moment of nostalgia. She felt the Force waft from Brent as the name Kurt Falconer bubbled in her mind and this time the woman raised both eyebrows and side glanced at Brent "Kurt Falconer".

She replied though, a single name that she used to call herself back on Corellia, CUR. She walked up to the bar along Brent's side, the droid paused in its cleaning, readying itself for the order from the two business associates.

"Ale, any that you have." she said and turned to face the rest of the bar, her eyes falling on Strokker and then rest of the members of the gang who had remained present until the droid plopped a bottle on the counter for her.

@Darasaurus

 

[Brent Fury Drast]

Stopping at the bar he would raise a hand and point towards Arda. "I'll have the same." He said after Arda. His still helmeted head looked to the side trying to appear casual. The eyes behind it took in the host of pirates in the room and what they were doing. The brigands continued to glance over towards them since they were the new unknown factor in their den of criminal activity.

Brent did not need to look at Arda to know she was also suspicious of each of them. Her name was odd but he did not protest. Maybe she was going for a cool singular moniker like some pop-singer or serial killer. Plenty of people did it. Plus it just sounded like a slur that her fake backstory would have made into her name. Cur, once an innocent girl who had a loving father until he was killed by gangsters. She grew up and sought them out, exacting her revenge. Now she goes by the otherwise insulting name of Cur that is now made to represent the strength of her convictions. Badass. Brent nodded to himself, probably making it look like he was moving to the beat of the otherwise lack luster musical performance.

Stokker was still busy, talking to one of his henchman. It gave the two Jedi time to plan something. In a hushed whisper he spoke to Arda. "So...we can either take all of these guys out here and now and then storm our way into the rest of the base oooor...one of us stays here while the other uses the bathroom." Hopefully he did not need to explain what would happen if one of them left under the false pretense of relieving themselves. It meant splitting up and required one of them to distract Stokker along with his associates until some damage was done. Brent was fine doing either option. If they choose the later then the Drast was also comfortable with either occupying the pirate leader's attention while Arda did some damage out of sight.

@GABAdactyl

 

[Arda Breaux]

His mind was noisy as she caught some static of his thoughts, she took a sip of her drink and turned to face the rest of the pirates in the den, the music starting going and Arda thought it wasn't half bad. Probably was better playing here than for some greedy hutts who would shoot you on the moment they disliked a note. Arda noticed a couple more pirates entered, not realizing what was happening between their boss and them at the counter. They approached Stokker and Arda watched them carefully, her head floating with the thoughts as Brent spoke softly to her. She tilted her head subtly, grinning as though he was whispering just a tad too softly about something more desirable than here. However, Stokker would leave the den and the pirates who entered came up to the bar, one of them eyeing Arda and grinning, slightly toothless.

"Hey babe, haven't seen you around these parts before." he raised his eyebrows glancing only once to the droid to order himself a drink, "I'm Tib, who might you be?" he asked. Internally Arda sighed, the woes of being female.

"CUR." she spoke, not willingly giving up any additional information until she was absolutely pressed. However, Tib would stare at her with awe, possibly shock.

"The same CUR from Corellia? Errand runner?" he questioned and Arda felt her stomach drop, of all the people in the galaxy, this one remembered the street rat from Corellia. Things could get awkward real quick. "I heard you got picked up by Imperials! Oh kriff, what happened?"

Arda's cheeks turned bright red and she found a strand of hair to twirl around her finger, "You got time for a story?" she asked.

"Anything for the gorgeous CUR." he said tipping his glass to her own and she clicked his glass with a grin and took a sip, his buddy also became interested also. It would certainly give Kurt time to use the restroom.

@Darasaurus

 

[Brent Fury Drast]

Arda did not seem to give a direct answer to which option she picked. But that was also likely due to the new arrival of several more pirates. Sand particles dusted from their shoulders with the first few steps inside so that meant they had been outside. Most likely they were looking to have a couple drinks after being on patrol or coming back from some nefarious errand.

One of them took an immediate interest in the disguised Grandmaster. Brent's eye cocked underneath his helmet at their early exchange. I'll have to ask for an explanation later. The Drast thought to himself before taking it as a cue to leave and go do his snooping. "Excuse me. Gotta go take a wizz."

With that said he turned to head towards one hall. "That way." One pirate said. Brent stopped and looked in the direction he had been pointing. "Oh...uh...thanks friend." He said despite knowing that his target was still deeper down another corridor. It looked like he would have to take a roundabout way.

The man followed the direction and headed to the bathroom and stopped at the door. Looking up and down the hallway he checked to see if anybody was watching. But nobody was present and so he trotted past the bathroom and down another curved hallway. Why can't they just label stuff like 'Authorized personnel only'. At least the Empire did that. Brent complained.

Rounding another corner he was confronted by a large nikto with a vibro pike. He stared down at Brent. The Vibro-pike lowered into a guarded position. The Knight raised his hands as if to show how harmless he was. At least that made the nikto decide not to immediately attack him. "What are you doing here?"

"uuuh..." He thought about using the bathroom excuse but that was just too cliche. So instead his hand dropped and grabbed the haft of the pike below the dangerous blade. With his other hand he swung out and clocked the nikto across the jaw. While his left hook was pretty solid, enough to usually knock out a normal person, Brent was glad he was wearing modified shock boxing gloves. The burly pirate could have probably gone a few rounds with wookiee by the looks of him.

Even with the gloves on Brent wiggled his hand in the air to loosen the muscles. Hitting the Nikto had still felt like punching a wall. Now he just had to worry about dragging the unconscious corsair into a stand up supply closet along with brooms. Brent pushed the door, trying to keep any of the cleaning supplies from falling out. "I swear by the Force-" he muttered in frustration a moment before the door clicked shut. Letting out a sigh he could return to looking for the more delicate systems he was after. I hope Arda is having an easier time.

@GABAdactyl

 

[Arda Breaux]

Indeed, Arda was having an easier time...

They had moved to a large table and Arda was not too excited when other pirates joined in to listen to her story about escaping Imperial custody. Though the ale and enthusiasm for anti-Empire shenanigans was keeping them hooked, she made sure their attention did not stray to her missing partner. Just a little nudge with the Force to keep them all turned to her, but she was uncertain how long the trick would work before their own sheer will would out number her own ability.

"So wait, how did you get off Corellia?" one asked as Arda paused to take a long drink from her ale.

"Had a run in with Roz, remember that hag of crime lord?" she asked the pirate, "That witch decided to use me to get to one of her own, which is low, to pull in neutral parties, violates a ton of codes there, but I was lucky to have some favors that got me a quick ticket out of that hell hole, to a new hell hole across the galaxy." she laughed and the group laughed also, however, their mingling would be cut short as Stokker came back inside. She sensed he was a bit annoyed at the party that had cropped up while he was gone, and Arda took one more big drink before preparing for trouble.

"Where's your boss?" he grumbled, "Where is the rest of you supposed to be right now?!" he growled and about half the pirate group jumped up and quickly left the den, leaving Arda and the others.

The woman shrugged her shoulders, "He's had constipation issues, so it may be a while." she nodded, but Stokker did not look convinced. Arda watched him carefully, an eyebrow quirked to see if he was going to sit or continue to storm. The silence was only a few seconds long before he took a seat, waving for the bar tending droid to bring him a drink also.

"Fine, so what can you tell me about him?" he asked and Arda felt surprised at the question and really hoped she could buy Brent more time. She shrugged and leaned back in her seat.

"What do you want to know?" she asked lacing her fingers together behind her head, "Are you going to offer me something that he can't meet?" she asked the Force flowed through her, reaching out, trying to figure out the pirate's intentions.

@Darasaurus