Proletariat Bounty: Vesper Jame

[Eccles]

Beheading the Coruscant Exchange

Name: Vesper Jame (NPC)
Wanted: Dead
Bounty: 50,000 Credits
Contractor: Black Maw Gang (Coruscant)
Wanted for: Infringing on territory

• Approach with caution
• Roams the Lower Levels
• Rumored Crime Boss for the Exchange

The following thread is part of the [surl=http://www.thestarwarsrp.com/forum/index.php?threads/proletariat-bounty-board.75217/#post-1374656]Crime Wars: Coruscant[/surl] Arc presented by the [surl=http://www.thestarwarsrp.com/forum/index.php?threads/proletariat-bounty-board.75217/]Proletariat Bounty Board[/surl]. Trying to complete this bounty two hunters from the Mandalorian Dominion had to smuggle themselves onto Coruscant. Their names are [surl=http://www.thestarwarsrp.com/forum/index.php?threads/talia-alsaif.64546/]Talia Al'Saif[/surl] -infamous champion hunter and slayer of Dark Lords- and [surl=http://www.thestarwarsrp.com/forum/index.php?threads/kal-titch.74207/]Kal Titch[/surl], the unfortunate man to share a name with an Exchange Enforcer.

Ironically, it was once again a Systech Corporation bulk freighter that smuggled enemies of the planet's regime on world. Where they had smuggled the likes of a Dark Lord of the Sith into the Chandrilan capital five years ago, now it was the twice-slayer of Dark Lords who had been offered the comfortable captain's quarters. As a former security officer onboard Systech freighters like this one, it had cost Kal minimal effort to arrange this deal despite it's absolute necessity for their survival. Talia was a great hunter, but she had long lost the rather convenient option of going incognito. Now, Kal could've hidden her in one of the Catscratch's hidden compartments if it hadn't been for the fact that here on Coruscant the name Kal Titch attracted way too many law enforcers and they wouldn't have been able to get out of the hangar if he got flagged.

undisturbed by customs as Systech Corporation enjoyed a lot of influence in the modern Empire, the pair of hunters could comfortably use the freighter as their headquarters during their hunt. Provided, ofcourse, that their hunt didn't take longer than the three days the freighter crew needed to offload and load their cargo. Kal sighed as he detached the wrist-based microfilament net launcher from his MandalArms Tactical Reconnaissance Armor and shoved hist left hand through the hole before pulling the straps to fasten it. "I wish Systech would've had me borrow those security droids," he cried as he rose from his bed and put his leather jacket on. "It would've helped to distract those enforcers." He dreaded having to face them as all four were easily his betters, despite one of them sharing his name. The automatic door to the hallway opened and bath him in unnatural red light, which meant that the sun had gone down and it was time for them to head out. Putting the two spare pistol mags in the inside pocket of his jacket, Kal shoved the [surl=http://www.thestarwarsrp.com/forum/index.php?threads/sp-30-suppressed-blaster-pistol.74502/]SP-30[/surl] under his belt and pulled the rim of his jacket down to hide it from view. It wasn't an ideal load-out for infiltrating the home of an Exchange Crime Boss, but on the heavily regulated Imperial world it just had to do. With law enforcement cracking down on the gangs and open bounties being put up for all criminals from lowly thugs to crime bosses, just walking around with specialized armor or in open carry of blasters could mean a death sentence.

His quarters had paled in comparison's with Talia's, as the captain's quarters featured both a jacuzzi as a HoloNet cinema room, and as he walked in he half expected her to have fallen asleep in the former as opposed to being geared up for a hunt. Talia Al'Saif, boogeywoman of all criminals in the Galactic Core, hadn't need the money from hunting for seven years and had much more thrilling adventures in the war. That she had agreed to accompany him still baffled Kal whenever he thought back at their conversation on Mandalore. Regardless, without Talia he would never be able to pull this off so he hoped she wasn't of a mind to just keep bathing for three days. "Talia?" Kal walked straight towards the liquor cabinet, "If you're in that Jacuzzi I'm of a mind of joining you," he grinned excitedly, "Know a good HoloNet movie, too. For research purposes," he paused as he poured some Chandrilan rum into a glass, "Two Twi'leks and the slaver."

@Sreeya

 

[Sreeya]

Despite Talia’s exalted positions and all the glamor that came with it, she desperately missed her old days of being a bounty hunter. The profession was difficult when your face was slapped on posters, HoloNet and other avenues of media somehow. Whether it was to brand her a Republic traitor or praise her as Mand’alor, there was always some way she was famous. Talia’s personal life was constantly encroached upon, and she seldom had time to herself.

Thus when the opportunity arrived to go on a bounty hunt came after years, Talia all but jumped on it. She made a point to dig up her old gear, none of which betrayed her as a Mandalorian. She had avoided donning Beskar’gam for as long as she could remember, but she finally had to cave once she became Mand’alor. Nowadays, she was happy to see Ral take up the mantle, as she had never wanted the title.

Talia thought to protest on getting the captain’s quarters, but she wasn’t entirely opposed to getting some forms of special treatment still. She knew once they were actually on the ground, she would become a nobody, and she looked forward to that rush once again. Kal was someone she felt a rare kinship with in that they both had backgrounds being in the Republic military. They both had friends they had to leave behind, and the collapse had been unpleasant despite Talia’s roots being Mandalorian.

She could still recall the days she had been on the war council, right there in the room with the Chancellor. Those days seemed eternities away, and the important conversations and problems faded to dust. Sometimes Talia woke up with a cold sweat, still reliving the nightmare that was being in Chandrilla or Coruscant while the planets came under attack. She saw Prudii’s face, felt the anguish and the pain all over again.

While Kal had expected her to be asleep in the Jacuzzi, he wasn’t entirely wrong. She had been soaking in it a while ago, and was still clad in only a two piece bikini, revealing her still very athletic body. Her skin was a canvas, her body decorated with tattoos from neck down. However, she was in fact preparing for a hunt as she was actively tinkering with her armor that she hadn’t fiddled with in some time.

“Kriff!” A loose part fell off the chest plate, and she tossed the entire thing aside in frustration right as he walked in. Talia grinned at him, not at all concerned about her state of attire, “I’m half tempted to throw this piece of shit armor in there,” She walked over to join him, pouring herself a glass, “Two Twi’leks and a slaver huh? Sounds like a pleasant action movie,” She took a sip from her drink, sighing, “I can’t believe I let you talk me into this. I’ve been out of this business for years. I don’t know if I’ve got it anymore. Will probably fall on my ass stepping off the ship.”

@Ecclessey

 

[Eccles]

Kal shrugged and took a sip of his rum before taking a side glance at Talia's well-trained body. "nice ti-" another quick sip, "-ats." His jacket felt uncomfortably warm suddenly and he laughed uncomfortably, "Those Twi'leks never wear more than you're doing now, actually-" he emptied his glass and took the bottle from Talia's hands, "-do believe they're naked throughout." A sly smile, but he definitely felt parched and everything but sly, so he poured himself another. "As for the bounty,"

He switched the glass of Chandrilan rum to his left hand and his right disappeared underneath his jacket, "I doubt you'll break a sweat." The right hand reappeared and held his SP-30 blaster pistol. "Just be sure to bring a silent blaster like this one," he targeted the bottle of rum to seem like he knew what he was doing before turning it around and presenting Talia with the grip, "I know it's not a flamethrower or a rocket or anything,-" he referred to the Mandalorian custom of refusing to be subtle about anything in their lives. "-but this baby single-handedly destroyed the Sunspear monopoly with the hunter's guild." Not that the Bounty Hunter's Guild was still around, Talia would know that better than anyone seeing as she was one of its leaders at one point. Regardless of history, Kal was sure that the Proletariat -Diva Tumi's old club- swore by the SP-30 now and that was good enough for him. The bounty they would be going after was classified as an assassination, technically, but Kal had reclassification in mind that would better suit his personal objectives. "I'm going to take two Systech knockout-grenades with me," he took the glass of rum back into his right hand held up his wristguard so Talia could see. "This thing shoots out a net and with Vesper knocked out we will be able to get her back on the ship in a jiffy." He'd take her onboard the freighter and bring her with him to Quesh, where the Catscratch was docked. That way he had plenty of time to make her talk and he'd get to postpone the decision on her life for a good few weeks.

 

[Sreeya]

Talia began to raise her eyebrow as he spoke, but he saved himself in the end, muttering something about her tats. She sighed, “I miss the days when I was surrounded by naked Twi’leks…” She reminisced for a moment, distracted away to allow him to snatch the bottle from her hand. Life had been different when she was nothing more than a bounty hunter. Talia indulged all her vices without a care in the world. These days she was too noticeable to wander into any random joint, and she was in a relationship or something.


She had to laugh as he stressed that this job required discretion, “I think you forget where my origins are. The flamethrowers and rockets started after my BHG days,” Talia walked over and disappeared for a moment to change. She came out moments later wearing armorweave, placing her armor plates on afterwards. Talia recalled his words, “Sunspear was always Zae’s thing. I used it but found it a bit…excessive. One time it overheated and almost exploded in my hands,” She grimaced at the memory, “Mind if I smoke in here?”


Talia followed closely behind him, feeling uneasy about being on Coruscant, “What do we know about the type of ‘friends’ she has? Any event she’s attending?” She missed the days of disguising herself to sneak into important events and galas to capture her target. Her last memories of Coruscant still haunted her, and she only hoped she had faded more into obscurity since five years ago to make the extraction as painless as possible.

@Ecclessey

 

[Eccles]

Making a waving gesture, Kal hid the SP-30 blaster pistol underneath his jacket again. "It's not my ship," he said, meaning that he didn't care whether she smoked in there or not. "All I know is that Vesper Jame is unlike any crime boss I've ever seen," he paused, unsure how much Talia knew about his past, "-and I've seen my share." It wouldn't be the first time he'd kill one, either. While his infamous companion had battled and killed the Mand'alor in single combat during the Invasion of Coruscant, Kal had for the first time fired blasters with the intent to kill. Entire gangs had been blasted in the many raids [surl=http://www.thestarwarsrp.com/forum/index.php?threads/sey-dewitt.73639/]Captain DeWitt[/surl] had issued on the underworld. The memory of [surl=http://www.thestarwarsrp.com/forum/index.php?threads/liat-onn.75501/]Liat[/surl]'s devilish grin as he deployed dozens of suicide drones still disturbed his dreams six years later and yet there had never been a moment of regret. Many of those creeps, being much like T'rung Pluatta is now, had deserved their fate. Kal knew that Vesper was different. "She understands that it was a mistake for the Exchange to step out from underneath the shadows,-" that little fact he had picked up from a fellow inmate when he was still locked up in a Coruscant detention facility three years ago. "-like they did eight years ago when they allied with the then Sith Brotherhood."

Kal gave a Systech deckhand fifty credits when the latter pointed him to a speedercab as they descended the freighter's ramp. "You might not believe it," he grinned and opened the speeder's door for Talia, "but Vesper runs a bar in the Republica 500. Clientel includes Moffs, High-ranked military officials and teenage popstars."

 

[Sreeya]

“A bar? Shit, why didn’t you say so,” Talia grinned, “I would have worn proper attire,” She quirked an eyebrow as he opened the speeder door for her. With her time on Mandalore, little gestures like opening doors for a lady weren’t so common, and the subtlety struck her. An amused grin graced across her face though she kept her thoughts to herself, sliding into the speeder. She glanced over at Kal, observing him quietly. Why was he so keen on this? There almost appeared to be an unhealthy obsession with Vesper.

The speeder took them towards a bar she recognized, though it was communicated as a lounge to the wealthier clients to take away the seedy edge. Talia found herself amused, as she had frequented this establishment before on the arm of some important son of a bitch that ran a company she wanted to devour. That life was far behind her, though she still kept a firm grip on all her assets that hadn’t been liquidated by the Republic following her attack on Mandalore.

As they arrived, Talia exited the vehicle, forking out a large amount credits in preparation. When IDs were shown at the door, she took off her helmet, winked at the open mouthed gaze she received and shoved the credits towards the bouncer to make her way in. Talia didn’t need unwanted attention, not here.

The bar scene was what she missed most about her days on Coruscant. Even now, the music thumped loudly, a twi’lek danced up on a stage, leaving very little to the imagination in her choice of attire. The entire lounge was a mix of pink and purple, lighting effects fluidly moving all around as the smell perfume hit her like a thick, tangible wall to traverse through.

“Did you know this place has a seedier lower floor? Most people don’t know it exists,” Talia could barely make herself heard over the noise, “But I bet you that’s our best way of tracking her. If she’s as good as you say she is, she’s very much aware people are after her.”

@Ecclessey

 

[Eccles]

"Eh," Kal stammered as he watched Talia slid into the speeder. "-didn't think you'd ever go without armor-" he met her grin with one of his own and sat down beside her. "-being mandalorian and all."

The speedercab was driven around by a mute droid, which was great because everyone knew sentient cabdrivers were waaay too talkative. There was a small screen in there that showed commercials or public announcements in a five-second interval wherein Kal recognized his former commander of the Coruscant Defense Force, now called Governor DeWitt, speak about hostilities in the lower levels and how he advises offworlders not to travel down there. Kal almost wanted to point out to Talia that he had served with Sey DeWitt when the lights flashed and the droid's head turned, shit the bucket of bolts needed a destination. "Republica 500, cantina on 4325th level."

As the speeder sped off towards the luxury building where by chance Governor DeWitt also lived, Kal imagined bumping into him and he wondered if his rumored "re-education" had changed the man he had looked up to. Perhaps it was better not to know, especially since he needed his time to think of the many possible ways he planned to confront Vesper Jame. Who was her enforcer that told everyone his name was Kal Titch? Was it one of the thugs he put behind bars when the Republic still existed or someone else altogether?

Talia was the first to exit the speeder and stun the bouncer with her good lucks and reputation, which was just typical for a reality star on Coruscant. Kal frowned as he got his own I.D. papers, but the bouncer's reaction to his name surprised him. "Welcome back, Mr Titch." He had never been there before and after an awkward smile he quickly followed Talia inside.

The music hit him, as a familiar Twi'lek [surl=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EddjOiFcp9Y]sang a familiar song[/surl]. "I swear I've seen her sing at the Proletariat once," he mumbled just as Talia told him of a seedier lower floor.. Had she been here before? Who was Talia Al'Saif? "Better not run into any Imperial officials, though-" he tried to be cautious, -but I suppose that's-" a burly human man bumped into Kal and nodded his head towards a side-door, "Vesper wants to see you."

Kal turned to Talia and shrugged, "That was easy."

"Identification!"

An Imperial officer approached the pair. He was clearly intoxicated and intrigued by the only helmet-wearing female in the lounge. "I am Moff DeWitt's top military advisor and I command you to take off that helmet," he told Talia as he uncomfortably shifted his weight from his left to right foot. Kal was stunned, he wasn't a hero to come up with quick solutions and the only thing he could come up with was telling the burly thug to 'handle it'. That would probably not end well, though, so he hoped his companion was a fast thinker.

 

[Sreeya]

Talia heard the welcome and caught the uneasy look on Kal’s face, “If there’s something you’re not telling me, now would be the time to spit it out,” She wasn’t one to beat around the bush. Talia hadn’t gotten anywhere from hemming and hawing, and her brutal personality was part of why she was efficient. If Kal was playing an agenda of his own, she would have no qualms with turning on him. For now, she simply watched him and his uneasy body language.

As the burly man approached them about meeting Vesper, Talia quirked an eyebrow, “Now I know something is fishy,” She hadn’t come entirely unprepared, and she had packed some knives Kal didn’t know about. Despite her outwardly nonchalant demeanor, Talia was a hunter in the end. A hunter never let her guard down no matter who she was with.

The Imperial officer got right to the point, putting them in an awkward spot. The burly man wasn’t very useful, and his attempts at talking only roused more suspicion from the Imperial. Talia glanced over at the man, eyes narrowed behind her helmet, “Top military advisor eh? Sounds important. Wanna kiss?” In the blink of an eye, she lurched her head forth, slamming it directly into the man’s face in a classic, violent Keldabe kiss.

The man stumbled back, nose bleeding profusely and eyes watering just enough to give them a window to get away. Talia quickly blended into the crowd with the others, relying on the thug to get them to Vesper before the drunk officer could get anyone to believe his story. She whispered angrily to Kal as they descended down a flight of steps that led to the underground section of the bar, “You and I are going to have a little chat after all this.”

@Ecclessey

 

[Eccles]

Eyes widened, heartrates shot up and as the Imperial Officer's blood flowed Kal could barely react in time to follow the Mandalorian through the crowd. She sure could think on her feet, but the way people treated Kal hadn't gone unnoticed with her either. Kriff, that Talia was a smart fish. "It's not what you think," he stammered as he barely evaded a collision with a HoloNet moviestar. "Hey that's-"

Upstairs the whole lounge seemed to explode in shouting and calls for legionnaires to apprehend 'that bitch', but down here in the seedier part no one seemed to care and that surprised Kal who immediately halted his step. Humans and aliens alike were playing Pazaak, Sabacc and Dejarik while smoking cigarra's and openly snorting Glitterdust. It was the exact opposite kind of lounge than the upstairs public room and if there was one place in Coruscant that screamed Exchange than it sure was here. "I'm not so sure this is safe," Kal said and his hand went for the blaster pistol underneath his jacket.

"Don't worry about the Imperial," the burly thug followed them down the stairs, "if he comes down here he'll wake up as frontline trooper enroute to Telos." The man grinned, showing an abundance of teeth made from kyber crystals, which explained why he talked so slow. "But this is an Imperial world, don't they have-" Kal began, but got interrupted with a shrug, "-some laws the Governor implemented in favor of private property acquired since Imperial occupation."

Kal was impressed. The Exchange seemed to have more influence in Coruscant than ever, yet somehow managed to remain completely in the shadows. He wondered how Vesper Jame could've gotten to Sey, though, but knowing his former Captain there was no doubt he was getting something out of this deal himself. "We're here for Vesper, actually-" he couldn't help but reveal as he released the grip on his blaster and gestured to both the thug and Talia that they should probably find a seat. "My headbutting associate is in possession of the Onderon Crown Jewels." He hoped Talia would play along, because despite the fact that their theft six years ago was a well known fact and she was on the planet of Onderon at the time, she wouldn't be aware that Kal was actually offering the real deal. The Onderon Crown Jewels were safely locked away on the Catscratch and he had the pictures to proof it. That said, he should probably have told her the details of his plan beforehand.

 

[Sreeya]

Talia wasted no time in making her way down, hearing the commotion erupting behind her. She was not one to be fazed by people calling for her head, as she had countless posters and demands for her execution on Coruscant. Her crimes against the Sith ensured even that part of the galaxy called for her death. It was strange to her when someone didn’t want her dead. She cast a sideways glance at this Kal person. He probably had his own agenda against her as well, but who knows.

The lower levels of the lounge were more to her liking. The scent of spice was thick, the air almost a tangible wall of smoke from hookah and clouds of herbs. Talia had to grin beneath her helmet, thinking back to the days where she spent time in this very place snorting lines of powder off the tits of some twi’lek woman. Those days were seemingly far gone now, and she found herself nostalgic. As Kal muttered about it not being safe, Talia chuckled, “Oh put your big girl panties on. It’s not even that bad here.”

The thug that was leading them seemed to keep his senses about him, cutting through the crowds and taking them where they needed. Talia kept shooting glances over at her ‘comrade’, noting how out of place and almost on edge he seemed. What was he playing at? He had the telltale signs of someone that was entirely uncomfortable with where they were and a fear of getting caught. Talia kept her demeanor relaxed, listening as he rattled off utter horseshit about some Onderon jewels.

Talia picked up the cue, nodding nonchalantly, “Aye, we wouldn’t come here without bringing a sweet deal for someone of her caliber,” The delivery was flawless, and her body language did nothing to detract from it. The thug’s eyes widened, but he nodded in the end, leaving Talia and Kal be to go fetch his boss.

Talia took a seat away from the crowd, across from Kal. One of the advantages of the lower levels was that everyone was too inebriated and messed up to notice any suspicious activity going on. Talia lifted the visor of her helmet just enough to keep it over her eyes and the bridge of her nose. She lit up a cigarra, taking a drag before offering the pack to Kal in case he wanted one. With the moment of privacy offered, Talia eyed him for a moment, “Cough up. Tell me the real deal. Trim the fat. Go.”

@Ecclessey

 

[Eccles]

A teal-colored Twi'lek brought Kal a glass of bantha milk with a hint of Glitterstim, "Hey how did you know?" He cried of joy and greedily took the glass to his nose. That specific drink wasn't something that was usually served and he only found out about it when he found the recipe onboard his starship. It was peculiar and definitely an acquired taste, but Kal had quickly sworn by it wherever he went. "But Mr. Titch," the Twi'lek smiled, "-we know this is your signature drink."

Kal did his best to avoid Talia's gaze. "I -uh, thanks." This was all becoming way too surreal. First of all, he knew he had never been here before and yet the doorman recognized him by name, the owners invited him to the private lower level and they even had his favorite drink delivered by a Twi'lek of his favorite color. What was happening here...

"I can't explain, Talia-" he began just as the Twi'lek invited herself to sit on his lap and took a cigara from the pack Talia had offered Kal. She eyed Talia with interest, as if she had more interest in the strong independent woman than she had in the unshaven man passed his prime and leaned in across the table to show off her cleavage and ask Talia for a light. It took Kal off guard, but not enough to shoo her away. "Vesper will be able to explain."