Ask When Worlds Collide

[Jace Kryze]

“I say, we all know I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself,” Moff Roger Stenner said as he strode through a corridor towards an event hall that was hosting a celebration for the Empire’s acquisition of Telos IV, “You do know I’ve taken down Sith singlehandedly?” He snickered, glancing over at his babyfaced bodyguard for the evening. Stennar knew he could fight circles around this guy - Imperial Knight or not, "How old are you exactly, my boy? Shouldn't you be in school?"

Far away, Jace was watching through microbinocs as speeders began to arrive at the event. He brought with him smoke bombs, whipcorder launchers and other means to pull off a perfect kidnapping. Stennar was to be captured alive for this private bounty. The man had been a thorn at everyone’s side for years now.

The Mandalorian had to take extra precaution on account of this particular target marked as especially dangerous. It was suggested that he was able to fight off multiple Sith years prior and that made this a job normal bounty hunters avoided. It was classed to be a target for Mandalorians instead.

Jace put the binocs away, popping his helmet on before he made his way towards the building. Mandalorians weren’t exactly known for their discretion, but he would make an attempt at least. He chose to work alone because he was entirely too greedy to share the reward.

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

“I’m nearly twenty Sir” Roman replied, gritting his teeth “and I’ve been squiring for years”. This guy was making him want a cigarra already and the evening had not even got started. “A man of your station is entitled to protection, whether he needs it or not”. He had learnt a little of politicians, and hoped Stennar like flattery as much as the rest.

Roman followed a couple of paces behind the Moff, adorned in his new set of knight armour and wondering if he would really need it. Stennar was a big shot in this sector and beyond from what he could gather, but the guy seemed far too loud and brash to actually be good at his job. Would anyone really want to take him down?

But they were here to celebrate the admission of Telos IV, and the unexpected events there will still fresh in Roman’s mind. He had been assigned to protect a Senator then and found himself kidnapped and nearly killed. He would not underestimate hidden dangers again. He realised now that enemies could strike at dinner parties as well as on the battlefield.

He would be on alert for anything or anyone out of place, and not be made a fool of again.

@Sreeya

 

[Jace Kryze]

Jace studied the puck and all the information he could glean on this guy. He read how there had been a Mandalorian as part of his protection detail. Evidently that Mando and an Imperial Officer were both subdued and Stenner was the one that saved the day. It all sounded like bullshit to him, but they were all angles to consider. Jace had a slicer that owed him her life working to dig up as much data as possible on the target, the party, and the last incident with the Sith.

After he was sent a full set of details, Jace studied it and changed up his strategy. Instead of sneaking in, he strode in with his helmet on and appearing as formidable as possible. He caught a few glances his way along with little whispers. He introduced himself as the bodyguard of Senator Vino Karis, a man that his slicer informed was on the roster but was set to cancel his arrival.

“My client is delayed,” Jace explained to the man out front. Vino Karis was, indeed, set to have a Mandalorian as his bodyguard so it all checked out.

Soon enough, Jace was in the hall full of diplomats and their guards all mingling. He spotted his target right away, though he bristled at the sight of the trademark armor of an Imperial Knight. This could get complicated..

Jace walked right through the crowds towards his target, slowing his approach so the Imperial Knight didn’t tense up.

“Moff Stenner,” His modulated voice relayed, “I’m a big fan. I’m awaiting my client, but I just had to come over and meet a living legend. Not everyday you meet a gentleman that’s accomplished both in the senate and in the battlefield,” He said smoothly, laying it on real thick just like Stennar would like. His visor was on Stennar, but his eyes were roaming over the bodyguard, taking inventory of his loadout.

Roll for entry: 18/20

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

The Mandalorian stuck out immediately in his full armour and gear. He seemed to make a beeline for Stennar from the off and Roman watched him come, dubious. He studied the newcomer’s armour and gear openly, letting him know he had been clocked.

The squire was surprised to hear the praise for Stennar, especially from a Mando. Roman knew enough of their skills and principles to imagine they did not generally have much time for politicians, let alone a guy like Stennar who Roman couldn’t help but feel was a jerk. Was he misjudging one, or both?

”Seven rings, a Mandalorian!” Stennar seemed equally impressed with his admirer. “You honour me sir. I have been fortunate in my endeavours it’s true, thrilling to know word of my skill travels as far as your people, my helmeted friend”. The Moff clapped the Mando on the shoulder as if an old buddy. “I say, shall we have a picture? Two champions of valour and virtue?”. He made to stand closer.

”Perhaps not a picture, Sir” Roman interjected, uneasy about Stennar getting too close to anyone. “There might be, sensitivities…”. He was sure Mandalorian had a checkered history and hoped he was right that the appearance of close ties might upset one constituency or another.

Stennar looked angry at first, but his face softened into a look of resigned disappointment. “Alas, my young man here is right” he said, stepping back from the Mando. “Fragile thing, this peace we have in these parts. Doesn’t do to upset the commentariat. A handshake perhaps”. He offered his hand to the Mandalorian, flashing a trademark grin that he seemed to use for everything.

14/20 interrupt success

@Sreeya

 

[Jace Kryze]

If Jace was irritated at the Squire interjecting, it certainly didn’t manifest externally or in his body language, “Well then we’ll just have to erase their concerns, won’t we?” He said, extending a hand to shake the Moff’s, “Perhaps I can tell you about the Mandalorian culture and show you some of my gadgets,” He suggested, “Maybe over drinks,” He suggested with a slight tilt of his head. He had read about how the man had a penchant for drinking himself into a stupor.

“OOOH Mandalorian gadgets?” Stennar practically giggled in excitement. He looked around himself briefly and his eyes rested on Roman, “Hmm yes, boy, why don’t you get us some whiskeys? Absolutely smashing this event will be!”

Jace stood perfectly still, a knowing smirk gracing his lips beneath the helmet. Once the Squire would step away, he would gesture for Stennar to walk with him towards a corridor. He made sure to take a path that put as many bodies between them and the Squire as possible.

Dice: 11/20 to make Roman get lost lolol

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

Roman had no intention of leaving Stennar's side if he could help it, and he did not train to be an Imperial Knight to fetch whiskies.

"We can order some drinks Sir, if you're sure. They have staff. I should stay with you".

The Moff's grin hardened into something more malevolent. "That's the second time you've tried to interfere with my plans, boy, and one time too many. Get the drinks, now, and I will forget the need to lodge a complaint with your superiors". Stennar half turned back to his new friend, but glanced back for an answer.

Roman was forced to bow his head in apology and withdraw, giving the Mandolorian's impassive helm a cold stare. He strode over to the bar as quickly as he could, ordering the two whiskies and willing the barman to work faster as he drummed his fingers on the polished wood. He glanced back across the room more than once, vaguely spying Stennar and the helmeted head moving toward the far side.

Whether or not the Mando was trouble, he was certainly screwing up the evening.

@Sreeya

 

[Jace Kryze]

Jace hardly had to do any work with the Moff doing most of it for him. Even he had to marvel at the man’s massive ego that would make it impossible to defend him. He didn’t envy the Imperial Knight’s job, watching as he was sent away like some sort of lowly attendant instead of a respectable Imperial Knight.

Once afforded a moment alone, he ushered the Moff away from the crowds, giving some song and dance about how Mandalorian technology was a rare treasure and couldn’t be shared in the presence of crowds. Stennar ate it all up, allowing Jace to take him out into an empty corridor. Once there, he briefly showed Stennar his gauntlet, “And if I angle it just this way-” He began before abruptly following it up with a solid hit to the side of the temple with that same gauntleted fist. Stennar went down like a sack of potatoes.

Really? That was it?

Jace furrowed his brows in confusion, the so-called Sithslayer Hero of Ord Radama slumped in his arms. He didn’t waste time, grabbing the man and activating his jetpack to burst through a nearby window. He used his armored body to crash through it, shattering through glass and shielding the unconscious Moff from harm.

Roll: 12/20 to escape

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

By the time Roman made it to the far side of the room, whisky in each hand, Stennar and the Mando were nowhere in sight.

The squire had a bad feeling immediately. The Moff was not one to retire quietly to a side room or leave in the middle of a party. Roman could not even hear his ridiculous voice. Something was terribly wrong.

The faintest sound of smashing glass caught his ear and he felt a twinge in the Force that drew him to his left. Dispensing with the drinks, he had his saber hilt in his hand and rounded a corner to find a shattered window in one of the corridors. His time in law and order had given him a decent eye for such things and he knew the window had been broken from the inside.

Stennar had been taken. Roman felt it in his gut.

Kicking open the door to the stairwell, he thundered down towards the street below, keying his comm to alert the authorities. He would not have his last act before discharge be buying two overpriced whiskies at a pretentious bar.

10/20 for catch up success

@Sreeya

 

[Jace Kryze]

Jace could see the Squire just barely coming out into the streets from where he was in the sky. He gave the man a salute as he disappeared into the air with his charge. The coast was clear and he was convinced there would be nothing getting in his way. However, Roman had the smarts to actually contact authorities instead of taking everything on himself. Before long, aircrafts began to rise into the air at a moment’s notice. This was a Moff, after all.

He grimaced beneath the helmet, suddenly veering a hard left and coming in low to land in an alley. He would have better cover if he laid low for now. Jace was standing there planning his next move when he felt a bit of warmth trickle against his armorweave. He glanced down to realize that the Moff had pissed himself in his unconsciousness.

“What the fuck?!” Jace hissed, his temper rising to where he saw red. He slammed a fist into the wall next to him, leaving a massive dent. His mind was clouded in rage and he wasted precious moments as he debated just how much of a loss it would be if he brought Stennar in dead. Anything to make up for the unforgivable crime that just happened.

Unfortunately, this would give Roman plenty of time to catch up.

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

Roman emerged into the street to see the bastard Mandalorian zipping away with Stennar in his grip. He even had the cheek to salute as he took off.

The fury that swelled in Roman's chest was salved almost immediately however, as local patrol craft came speeding above the rooftops. Being in the heart of Imperial territory counted for something for once. The Mando had bitten off more than he could chew and he was swiftly sent into retreat.

Roman sprinted after the pair, well ahead of the local law and every sense attuned to the chase. He half expected to see the Mando take off again before he reached him, but he rounded a corner to find the guy fighting with a wall, Stennar's slumped form beside him.

The squire lashed out with the Force before his prey could react, slamming him against the wall long enough to get in close. His orange blade split the air as he faced up to the Mandalorian, holding the tip to the armored cretin's neck.

"You never asked to see my gadgets" he said, with no small amount of satisfaction. Stennar made a low groan off to one side, but Roman paid him no mind. The Moff was alive, which was all that mattered. The squire only had eyes for the mercenary who had nearly made off with him. He was looking forward to making him pay.

Sirens and searchlights heralded the arrival of local forces, but Roman planned to flash his saber and keep charge of this one.

@Sreeya

 

[Jace Kryze]

An unseen force abruptly threw Jace back into a wall. He hit it with a heavy thud, leaving a dent not unlike one from his punch. The Mandalorian may have been caught off guard, but he had been raised for combat at all times. Within a blink, his pistol was in his hand and leveled. It was still set to stun for handling the Moff, and he fired off a bolt towards the Squire’s chest.

“Not much to see,” He said with a cough, unable to bite back the sass despite being in a disadvantaged position.

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

The Mando was fast, but so was Roman. The guy had his complete attention and the Force screamed in warning even as the blaster appeared in his hand. Roman managed to twist away, the shot glancing off his armour, though it meant taking his saber away from the merc's throat.

"Says you" he growled, transitioning into a guard "pissed yourself already?". The Mandalorian was surprisingly chill for a fish in a net and Roman was not sure why he was playing along with the banter. Perhaps it was the adrenaline pumping through his veins.

The locals were hurrying to secure the rooftops and the two ends of the street, but otherwise standing back as the squire and soldier squared up to one another.

Roman stabbed suddenly for the Mando's knee, aiming to catch him between two armored plates, while using his free hand to try and yank the pistol from his grip with the Force.

@Sreeya

 

[Jace Kryze]

“No thanks to your daddy,” Jace growled right as he watched his shot miss. However, that gave him what he needed - the saber out of the way. It didn’t matter what Roman did after that. He felt the Imperial grasp at his pistol and he was vaguely aware of the saber going towards his leg. Jace jutted forward with his helmeted head, intending to collide right with the bodyguard’s unprotected face. The hit would be enough to crack his nose and send him reeling.

Regardless of how that panned out, there were forces gathered on the roof that had their scopes on him. Jace took multiple stun bolts from above and convulsed briefly before collapsing to the ground.

Meanwhile, Stennar finally came to and looked around in confusion, “Ah, beans, I’ve gone and soiled myself, how embarrassing,” He began as if he didn’t just get kidnapped and knocked out, “Say, is that yet another Mandalorian I just took on? Fascinating!” He clapped his hands together cheerfully. No force in the galaxy could contend with Stennar. None.

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

Roman expected some practiced attempt to dodge, or block, so the cavalier headbutt caught him completely off guard.

The unforgiving helmet slammed into his face, knocking him off balance. His saber went wide and any Force grip he had been mustering was lost. Roman felt blood flowing freely from his cracked nose and pain blossomed across his face like a red hot poker.

He did not even have the satisfaction of a counter as several stun bolts lanced down from the rooftops, finally dropping the Mando in a clatter of armored plates.

Roman kicked the guy in the ribs hard, venting some of his agony. Stennar made a noise as if he thought the move ungentlemanly, but Roman simply stared at him, bloodied and panting. For once, the oaf kept his fat mouth shut.

------​

A couple of hours later and Roman was easing back into his armor, coming down from the painkillers and a frenzied debrief with local security. Medics had reset his nose, but there was a fresh gash across the bridge where the impact had broken the skin. His nose would heal, but his pride would take a little longer.

He made his way down to the cells beneath the courthouse, where law enforcement had their Mando abducter locked up tight. It was a little while until the merc's sentencing and he was not getting out of here in the meantime; Roman had seen to it personally.

As luck would have it, the squire had managed to leverage his association with the Knights to stick around, even secure access to the prisoner until the wheels of justice could get moving. It seemed there was no one more senior in the middle of the night, and Stennar had been desperate to get back to his party and recount his heroism.

Saving the Moff and capturing his attacker was good, but Roman really needed to know who sent him to earn big brownie points with his superiors. He weighed up the challenge as the lift headed down. No doubt the Mando would be a grizzled veteran with no intention of talking.

@Sreeya

 

[Jace Kryze]

By the time Roman made his way down, the peacekeepers had a go at Jace already. He was shirtless with his arms chained above his head. Blood trailed thinly from his lips and his muscled torso was bruised where the Imperial Knight had kicked him. Nevertheless, he had a smirk on his face, emerald eyes glinting as he gazed ahead.

“Enjoying your free nose job, page?” He called out with a scoff when he saw the bodyguard from earlier emerge. Jace spat out a glob of blood, clearly unfazed from having taken a beating since his capture. His torso was decorated with tattoos, all bearing significance that none here would understand.

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

More than a few surprises awaited Roman in the cells.

Firstly, the Mando was no old man. He was young, Roman would even say a similar age to himself, with striking green hair and eyes like none the squire had ever seen. There was something almost alien about him, and Roman spent a good couple of seconds taking him in.

They had done a number on him it seemed. The second surprise was the local law were rather old fashioned, having strung the guy up with chains and stripped him to the waist. It seemed a little much to Roman. He had joined the Knights to do something greater than the work of savages, even if he too still felt that primal desire to hurt now and then.

"Looks better than you right now" Roman replied, keeping his cool. He sat himself down on a bench against the wall, lighting a cigarra and putting it to his lips. The cells were so dank a little smoke would do them no harm.

"I didn't know Mandos had such a mouth on them" he teased, "but that's cool. If you've got more than shitty banter then this page might just be your way out of here".

@Sreeya

 

[Jace Kryze]

Jace couldn’t help but chuckle when the Imperial Knight spoke. Did the man realize how nasally and ridiculous he sounded? Any smart quip Roman made was punctuated by a high pitched whistle that made it hard to take him seriously.

“Don’t worry, my mouth is just one of many assets,” He quipped back with a grin. He glanced up where his hands were shackled, pondering ways to potentially break his thumbs to find a way out. His thoughts were interrupted when the page spoke again. He quirked a brow as he looked at the Imperial, “Oh yeah? What do I have to do? Tell the galaxy Stennar the Great beat my ass up and down an alley and saved the day?” He spat another glob of blood on the floor.

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

The Mando was funny. The quip about his mouth actually made Roman chuckle, ruining a perfectly good drag on his cigarra.

”Roger Stennar is a dick” Roman said, giving the Mando a knowing look. He had to have realised. “You could not have picked a worse guy to kidnap”. The infuriating grandiose Moff was the one thing they had in common. “They tell you he was some dangerous mastermind?“.

Roman could still not believe anyone could care enough about Stennar to want him killed. “Who gives out a bounty like that?” he tried “and how’s a guy like you not have better things to do that catch old men?”.

@Sreeya

 

[Jace Kryze]

Jace actually started to laugh at what the Squire said, but not for the reasons the man likely thought. He smelled the smoke from the cigarra and it was almost pleasant in this shithole of a dungeon. Imperials had barbaric practices, and he expected a lot more pain to follow after whatever the hell this guy was doing.

“Sorry, I wasn’t knocked hard enough in the head to fall for your nice Ranger act,” He winked at the Imperial, “I don’t kiss and tell,” He stated simply. He could tell the Imperial was trying to play friendly and act as if they were on the same side to coax out the bounty information, “How about you let me have a drag of that cigarra to convince me?” Jace asked hopefully.

@Alhon

 

[Roman Kallo]

Roman slowly rose to his feet. This one was hard work. The lippy Mando reminded the squire of some of the guys he used to hang with back in his Vaynai days. Young men who had been through so much in their short lives that they trusted no one and nothing, not even simple conversation. Roman was always trying to shed that way of being, but the Mando reminded him it had its uses in tight spot.

"So no kissing" he said, feigning a wistful look "just tell". He stepped closer to his captive, offering the Mando a drag as he asked. He toyed with the idea of making the guy lean down for it like an animal, but he respected the brave face he was putting on, and lifted the cigarra to his lips. Roman's other hand never hovered far from his hilt, ready in case green eyes tried anything stupid.

"I'm sure you're really something all on your own" he said, studying the tattoos traversing the Mando's muscled frame "but believe me, another bounty hunter banged up doesn't do me all that good". It was true; those behind the capture would just send another. "You give me something on who's after Stennar, I can tell this magistrate you've got a date with that you're not worth his time".

@Sreeya