Open Coruscant Wrong Place, Right Time

[Cerri Kyles]

It started with a drink.

No, not that kind. It was only 5 in the afternoon and Cerri wasn't that bad. There was plenty of time after work to hit up a bar and get completely blasted. No, this drink was, unfortunately, just a caf. Getting late on, perk herself up after keeping her peepers on the great unwashed of Coruscant's lower levels, seemed to make sense. Clutching onto the little container for dear life, she leaned against the wall and allowed the crappy caf to wash over her, hoping to drag a little more energy out of herself.

That was when she saw it.

It was pretty ballsy to do it openly like that, though there was a decent amount of people out there. Two people had just walked by each other, passing something. She hadn't seen exactly, but it looked very much like a small package. One of them walked off, a Rodian, while the human he'd handed it to grinned slightly. Mighty suspicious. Without much in the way of concrete orders, Cerri decided she could spare some time for a tail. Tossing the half-empty cup into a recycler, she set off through the crowds.

It wasn't too hard to follow. The human was either too stupid or too confident to think about anyone tailing him through the streets. Cerri followed through the ways, blending in with crowds. He started cutting through smaller, seedier alleys. Cerri kept her distance, making sure her blaster was in quick-draw reach. Never knew when it'd come in handy. Soon enough, the human stopped by an apartment block, near one of the pillars that were dotted around the level. Making a note of the features, she peeked inside the building, intending to follow. The presence of three surly looking men, blasters on their hips, ended that thought.

Crap. A suspicious package, a hand-off and now a guarded building? Three strikes. Organized crime for sure. Round the corner from the front, Cerri pulled out her comlink, posting her message to local law enforcement and Ranger frequencies.

"This is Ranger Kyles, I've tracked a suspcious handoff package to Megabuilding 114-B, Level 914, Coruscant. 3 armed men visible, suspected others inside. Suspected organized crime link. Requesting support."

With that sent, she took a breath and drew out her blaster, ready. With or without support, she'd be going in. Not a chance she was letting this lead go.

 

[Zad Ruzed]

Spoiler: Music OOC

It started with a drink.

Yep, that kind. Zad had been in a bar and ordered a double whisky. He was one shot into the drink when his comlink beeped. Ranger Kyles, suspicious package, three armed men… That all sounded swell and like a routine day on Coruscant. What stood out the most was the location this Ranger spoke of. That made this other Ranger sigh. There was plenty of time to hit up a bar and get completely blasted, but why not now? 914… Why’d it have to be so close?

“This is Ranger Ruzed,” Zad answered Kyles over his link. “I’m in the area, a few blocks down. En route to your location to provide support. Hang tight.” With that, he downed his second shot, paid the bartender and left with an apology after bumping into a Rodian.

He found her posted at a corner hanging tight. He had never met Kyles before but she seemed smart enough already. Approaching, Zad stayed close to the wall and made sure that his counterpart could see him. He came to stand beside her, twisting what was left of his cigarette out with a boot while holding up his badge.

Spoiler

“Zad. Zad Ruzed.” He tucked the badge away and straightened his coat, eyeing the perimeter. “What do we got?”


@Lumie

 

[Cerri Kyles]

Cerri heard the call-in on her com-link. Relieved that she might have some backup, she raised it to her mouth quickly.

"Roger, standing by." She took the opportunity to scout out the back, checking in there was another entrance. There was, but it seemed sealed. A heavy, industrial door that Cerri presumed was for deliveries. Or some serious maintenance. She didn't know, even though she lived in an apartment building very much like that one.

When Ranger Ruzed arrived, she looked over his badge and nodded. Seemed legit. Never met Zad Ruzed before, but she hadn't met most of the Rangers. "Cerri Kyles," she replied, nodding. "Caught a street hand-off a few blocks from here, Rodian and a human. First passed the second a package, 'bout the right size for a block of spice." She mimed with her hands, showing the approximate package.

"Followed the human here, he disappeared up the elevator. Three guys in there with some firepower, blocking access. My gut says some kind of crew but... not sure how big. Or what floor." Venturing into one of these buildings, even with another Ranger, was suicide without more intel.

"Thoughts? I couldn't see the exact floor but I know it was pretty high. Might be able to check the logs. There's another entrance at the back, but it's sealed. Industrial blast door. And I didn't bring my welding kit." Giving the other ranger a smirk as she squeezed the blaster's hilt for comfort.

@Die Shize

 

[Zad Ruzed]

Spoiler: Music OOC [Recurring]

Zad nodded as Cerri gave her sitrep. Spice. No surprise. His own two lips were still tingling from spice, if of the more whiskeyed variant. He considered their position and predicament, all of it spelled out in short and simple speech, which prompted him to draw his gaze over the gal. “Pretty bold,” he smiled. “To tail the tangos on a whim. I’m impressed.” He moved on from that compliment as quickly as he gave it, taking another look around.

“Blast door’s probably a no-go. Even if we get through it there are probably goons with guns waiting on the other side. Let’s check those logs.” He opened his datapad, entered his Sector Ranger credentials and drew up a schematic of the apartment building. His finger pointed the way.

“We’re here. Three douche canoes are there. Elevator climbs up to the top— Ah! See that?” He brought up residency status on one of the upper floors. It was quite low on account of interior design. “That floor’s undergoing more than a paint job. Probably be some time before it’s decked out. Ideal spot for a scumbag to put his bed, or at least to do a deal.” He kept the datapad up in case Cerri might see something he did not; meanwhile, his gaze drifted away.

“See that?” Zad nodded at a maintenance vehicle parked behind a pillar further away from them and the three bouncers. His mind was already made up unless his partner sought to change it. The vehicle looked legit. Even if it was made for just two workers it likely had a spare uniform for either one based on unforeseen working conditions. Otherwise, the pair of Rangers could always just flash their badge and demand said workers to strip, assuming they were sleeping in said vehicle and not in the building. Either way, it was an amusing enough adventure for Zad to grin—and, if it worked, definitely safer than flashing their badges to said goons.

“I always did consider myself a handyman. Just with a blaster as my tool. Might now get the chance to look the part in uniform.”


@Lumie

 

[Cerri Kyles]

"Thanks." It was a gruff response, but Cerri'd never been great at taking compliments. She felt it though, deep inside.

Peering over at Zad's datapad, she looked at the schematic. The residency figures checked out with the presence of a maintenance vehicle. "Why are they never this keen to fix the plumbing on my floor?" Cerri grumbled quietly as she nodded. "Makes sense. If they're doing some major work, plenty of places to hide.

Cerri smirked at Zad's joke, shaking her head. "I prefer something a little more form-fitting, but eh. I've worn worse for work." Without waiting, Cerri approached the vehicle, sliding her badge out of her pocket. She knocked roughly on the side, causing a very irritated-looking guy to open it up, dressed up in a messy, grey jumpsuit. Cerri flashed the badge. Still feels good when I do this.

"Ranger Kyles, this is Ranger Ruzed," she told him tersely, "we're conducting an investigation in the area and we need two jumpsuits. A medium on my end and a...." she started, turning to look at Zad. "A... large. Humanoid, obviously. You have spares in there?"

The worker's face changed from irritation to shock as Cerri barked at him, taking a few seconds to realize what he'd been asked. "We uh... we've got a spare back here but it's... it's only a medium," he told them. Cerri looked back at Zad again, then at the worker.

"You look about a large," she suggested with a small smirk on her face. The worker didn't look impressed.

"You ain't goin-"

"I'm afraid I am, sir. Ranger business. We need your jumpsuit. Apologies, I'm sure Ranger Command can... compensate?" Cerri said, raising her eyebrows. Probably not, but it sounded good. "I'll just wait 'round the corner."

@Die Shize

 

[Zad Ruzed]

Spoiler: Music OOC [Recurring]

Cerri wasn’t one to sit on ceremony as she took the lead to the maintenance vehicle, and that was a quality of character that Zad would remember. He was about to confide in her for a covert operation, and her in him, so trust was a two-way ticket. They found another ticket in the vehicle. As his partner gave the worker the bad news before leaving with a size medium, Zad decided to follow up with some good news.

“You’re doing your world a great service, citizen.” The worker still didn’t look impressed. “I’ll be sure to bump your name to the brass, Danny.” The name was printed on the guy’s jumpsuit.

“Oh look, a Ranger who can read.” The worker spat. “Still ain’t gettin’ my—”

Zad might have flashed the badge just then as a reminder. Flashing his fist was a better idea. Then again, he was on thin ice with Command when it came to such shenanigans, so he flashed a pack of cigarettes instead. “You smoke? Ain’t gonna find smokes as sweet as these on Coruscant, friendo. These will make you forget you wear that jumpsuit even after you put it back on.”

The guy's gaze glued to the Ranger's hand as though it held candy. “Ah, what the hell. Take it.”


Some moments later and Rangers Ruzed and Kyles approached the apartment building where three goons with guns stood like watchdogs. “Damn this getup reeks.” Zad conveyed to his partner while adjusting the blue garments. He carried a toolbox in one hand and a cigarette in the other—a parting present from the pack he would never see again.

“Hold up,” a guard held up a hand, his other trailing his blaster low. “You two chumps aren’t going anywhere without my blessing. What business you got?”

Zad blinked. It seemed obvious enough given their outfits. He was ready to make that clear but decided to allow Cerri the opportunity to prove her negotiation skills. After all, he had a cigarette to smoke.



@Lumie

 

[Cerri Kyles]

All suited up, the two Rangers waltzed into the building like it was no big deal. The jumpsuit was scratchy, rough, and smelt like it'd been dragged through the sewers. She'd pulled her hair right back, fitting a cap over it too. Maybe a smudge of dirt on her face, she'd look like she belonged.

"You're tellin' me," she muttered in reply. Around her waist was a belt, much like most maintenance guys might wear. Except stuffed in the side holster, hidden beneath a leather cover, was her blaster. Not the drill. Just needed to make sure none of the flunkies inspected her too closely. Unfortunately, these flunkies in particular were seeming like they might be a little difficult.

When the guard started speaking, Cerri rolled her eyes. Looked up at Zad. "Can you believe this guy?" she muttered, just loud enough for them all to hear. "Ahem, we're maintenance. We've been outside gettin' our kit ready for the last twenty minutes, c'mon. We're up on 85, electrical problem. Gotta re-route the subsystems carefully 'fore it knocks into a circuit fire. But that's my guy's business," she said, nodding to Zad. Putting on her best 'bored workman' affectation.

"You want me to call up my boss, prove it? Seriously, sooner we start, sooner we can go home. Been on shift all day," she grumbled, one hand moving to her hip. "I just wanna get this done." Fingers drifting towards her holster, tapping above it. Just in case.

Buy it. Buy it. Buy it so I don't have to blast your asses.

A few shared looks, from guard to guard. Cerri looked over her shoulder at Zad. "We just need to zap that subroutine and get done, don't we, man?"

@Die Shize

 

[Zad Ruzed]

Spoiler: Music OOC [Recurring]

“Sure as sugar,” Zad answered his partner with a puff of smoke. “Whole floor’s a shindig of shortages and short circuits. You guys are lucky that greasers like us are here to fix this crap. You know the fallout from one mishap?” He tutted. “Ain’t pretty. So unless we perform a ground fault, overload any neutral conductors and rectify those fusers and feeders digging into the VMM, well, ya'll can kiss your apartments goodbye and I'll collect a free paycheck for a job I got prevented from doing."

The lead guard looked left, looked right. It was the kind of look that could sell tickets to drunks for half price because everyone was too drunk to know the difference. While Zad wrestled with whatever the hell any of that meant, Captain Cronie shrugged.

“No idea what in seven shenanigans you just said but, hey, I’m not losing my own paycheck on account of short...circuits?” He waved the two would-be workers forward. “Whatever. Just hurry it up. No lollygaggin’.”

It was Zad’s turn to look left and right. They weren’t going to get a better shot than this. Snuffing his cigarette out for the second time, he tapped his toolbox in thanks and strolled into the elevator. It shifted upward toward the upper floor. Zad used the time to ask those questions that get asked during awkward elevator silences.

“So…” He glanced at Cerri. “...You ever been skiing? Never been myself, always wanted to. I like snow. It's...snowy..."

@Lumie

 

[Cerri Kyles]

Whatever nonsense Zad came out with had worked. He'd provided plenty of detail to keep the guards cowed, which was plenty fine for her. She wondered if any of it was true. With surly abandon, Cerri approached the elevator with a wave, thanking the guards. Stepping inside and tapping the button, the doors closed.

"Lollygaggin'. Can you believe these guys?" Cerri asked, huffing a little, "what kind of self-respecting criminal says that?" Maybe her opinions on Coruscanti crime gangs had been set too high by bad gangster flicks. As the elevator rose up, Cerri opened the holster, exposing the handle of her blaster. Getting ready, just in case they opened up to a bunch of trigger-happy criminals.

"Skiing? Hm? Never," she said, a little absent-minded as she stared straight on. "There were mountains near where I grew up where you could go but... just never really decided to go." Strange to think of Ord Mantell like that. She just remembered being utterly bored out of her mind. "I prefer beaches."

The doors opened up, right onto a busted-looking floor. Whole wall panels had been removed, leaving half-finished hanging electrics, fluttering in the light breeze. It hinted at an open window.. or something much bigger. With a gulp, Cerri took point and headed out, hearing a conversation ahead.

".... big deal at all. Passed and made. With this we can cut it with the other shit and add it to the supply."

"Alright. Sweet. Cost us basically nothin' either."

"Hell yeah. Guy didn't know what he was holdin'. Tool."

A gaggle of gruff laughter followed as Cerri approached a pillar, peeking round the side. Three men. Nobody openly armed yet. The human that she'd followed to the building, with an older human and a smug Twi'lek. The older man was inspecting the package she'd seen earlier. Just behind where they stood, the wall opened up into a spectacularly chilling view of the whole layer.

Cerri drew her blaster out from her holster, looking to Zad. "I don't see weapons yet. Go in hard?" she asked. She wanted him at her back, just in case. That familiar, nervous buzz there, close to collaring the perp.

@Die Shize

 

[Zad Ruzed]

Spoiler: Music OOC

When the doors opened, Zad was still debating the qualities of sand and snow via internal monologue. He kind of skipped a moment in time by the time Cerri was already out and about. Following her lead, he positioned himself at an adjacent pillar. Taking note of her open blaster, his own was nowhere in sight.

“Play it cool, Kyles. Play it cool.” He looked between the three thugs and wondered how many more might be lingering out of sight, posted up in the greater area or in the rooms lining it. Blaster fire would surely draw them out. Three little shits on the floor. Will kiss a Chevin’s chin if they don’t all report to the same asshole. “After all, we’re fixers, aren’t we? So let’s go fix.”

Without waiting for further input, Zad rounded the corner and approached the trio with or without his partner. All three turned to receive him, looking cautious but not especially so. The younger human spoke up. “Not so fast, handyman. Get over here.”

Zad obliged, coming within arm’s reach, allowing the thug to look him over.

“What’s in the toolbox?” asked the thug.

Zad looked between toolbox and thug as though he had just been asked what day it was. “Tools. It’s a toolbox.”

The thug frowned. “Cute. But I don’t like it when people get cute with me. Open it up.”

“...You got a thing for tools..?”

The thug pulled back one side of his jacket to introduce the blaster holstered at his hip. “Drop the box.”

Zad shrugged. “If you insist.” He dropped the box. It landed on the thug’s foot. He yelped, but not long or loud enough before Zad’s fist shut his mouth up in an attempt to fix his face. He wasn’t getting back up from that punch. In that same moment, the older man, package in hand, began to turn tail and run. The Twi’lek lunged forward.



@Lumie

 

[Cerri Kyles]

Play it cool. Yeah, play it cool. She didn't want to play it cool, she wanted to rush in, grab some arrests and come home a hero. She holstered her blaster again, nodding. She didn't like it, but three against two weren't the best odds. Left the flap of the holster open, though. Easy access.

Cerri followed Zad as he approached the thugs, feeling her heart beating in her chest. Right behind him as the younger thug spoke, the others laughing. Just a big game. Just a joke. Keep on laughing.

Zad made his move. When the box crunched into the thug's foot, Cerri went for her blaster. By the time it'd raised, one guy was clobbered out and another was on the run. She was about to aim for him when she noticed the Twi'lek. Crap! Couldn't let Zad take that one.

She ran into them, shoulder-bashing them down and shoving them into the ground. The guy fell back as he landed on top of him, snarling with anger. He grabbed her, fingers yanking at her hair as Cerri winced. She twisted the blaster round in her hand and slammed down, driving the hilt right into his forehead. He let go after that, sprawled out on the floor.

"Other guy," Cerri gasped as she climbed up, setting off at a run to catch the other guy. "Now it's time for blasters!" she yelled over her shoulder, assuming that Zad would be following her. She was, however, cautious enough to check the corner first before turning into the next hallway. Lucky, because...

"Shit!" she yelled as she moved back, followed by a dark red blast. It scorched the other side of the hallway, leaving a curl of smoke. "Dammit, drop your blaster or we will return fire!" she yelled, trying to stick to the regs before she started blasting in return.

@Die Shize

 

[Zad Ruzed]

Spoiler: Music OOC

“On it!” Zad answered, already on the other guy before Cerri ever had a chance to announce it amid her dance with the Twi’lek. Well, on it in his vision, at least; it took a moment to pop open the toolbox and retrieve the TM-357. The Proposition was a blaster a tad too big to holster on Zad’s belt in the manner that his counterpart had on hers.

A moment later and said partner was on the hunt. Zad was on the tail, five by five. Time for blasters indeed. A red bolt just whizzed by the pair. Kyles relayed the regs. Oh boy but if she wasn’t a by-the-book Sector Ranger. Too bad she was running with a ranger of the sector who would sooner take a shot than read a book—"shot" not restricted to one definition. It was ironic, then, given that blasterfire is exactly what he had been trying to avoid. Too late for that.

Pew-pew! The goons answered Cerri’s less than convincing call. Zad tried to catch her gaze with the shake of the head but was unfazed if she did not meet it. He had his own plans apart from hers.

“Wrong answer.”

With that, he rounded the corner of the wall he hugged and squeezed the trigger. One. Two. Three. The third shot led to the echo of an anguished roar. And that was just blindfire. Zad had yet to aim.

“What are you, Coruscant cops!?” came a call from behind cover.

“Much worse,” Zad answered. Then he took aim. A tango took a bolt to the skull. “Sector Rangers. And here’s my badge.” Another bolt. Another skull—or so Zad hoped.



@Lumie

 

[Cerri Kyles]

Cerri hid back behind the pillar as her call was met by blaster fire. You assholes! she roared in her mind, vowing that she'd dangle them over the side of the building for that. It seemed like Zad had the better idea, just opening up with more fire. He'd taken out one by the sounds of it. Another one.

Cerri leaned around cover and aimed, blaster held in both hands. She fired quickly, her shot smacking into someone's leg. They screamed and toppled over, right into a table by a pillar. Papers fluttered up into the air, confusing matters greatly. Another shot, another blast. It scorched the pillar above her head as she flinched, before returning fire. Another scream. She'd hit someone somewhere.

Cerri looked over, seeing a mass of stunned and wounded men, between the pillars that made up the hallway. More papers and plastic sheeting fluttered in the breeze, coming in from the outside. She kept her blaster readied, aiming down towards them. But nothing moved. Nobody moved, aside from a brief clutching at wounds and groaning.

She looked over at Zad, narrowing her eyes. "That it?" she asked him quietly. Carefully, she stood up and slid around, moving towards the criminals. One step at a time. Blaster still trained in that direction, just in case. Hoping that Zad would keep her covered. When she reached a couple of them, she kicked away their blasters. Right by one of their feet was a battered-looking package.

"Aha," she said, leaning down to pick it up. She tore the side a little, just to peek inside...

"I knew it. Who'd've thought it? Spice," she called back to Zad.

@Die Shize

 

[Zad Ruzed]

Spoiler: Music OOC [Recurring]

Damn. Zad’s hope had not paid off. The bolt missed the skull. His partner fired from beside him. Wailing ensued. He followed with another shot. The bolt struck the shoulder. Damn. He had been aiming for the chest. Kyles, meanwhile, appeared to be aiming for any area that did not directly kill. She posed a question just then. “I think so…” He answered with a peek around the wall with two eyes and a muzzle. Nobody was shooting back. “Yeah that’s— Wait.” He squeezed the trigger. Right to the heart that time, right before douchebag had a chance to squeeze his own trigger. “‘Kay that’s it.”

Kyles advanced and Zad covered her, scoping for any other adventurous henchmen eager to place their bets. Apparently, they had run out of chips. And lost their precious package. That’s a win-win for Team Ranger. “Ya don’t say?” He returned the jest. “How nice of our new friends to hand that over to us. Spice, spice, it rhymes with nice.”

“Damned Rangers! That ain’t yours!” called a voice from out of nowhere. “It ain’t even ours! You don’t know what kinda shit you’re getting into!”

“So why don’t you tell me where you are and then you can tell me all about it?”

“Screw you, pal! Come find me!”

Great. Hide and seek. Hate this game. Zad looked left, looked right, couldn’t see anyone. “I’m moving up. Stay put.” He called to Kyles. His pistol led the way as he stepped past his partner and their package, peered from behind a pillar and spotted an overturned table. Behind it, he saw something else, then a red flash. He dodged just in time then squeezed off his own bolt. The pistol flew out of the shooter’s hand. Crumpled on the floor with his back to the wall was the same older Human from moments ago—the one with the package. He had taken a bolt to the thigh.

“That looks like it stings,” Zad conveyed. His target was not impressed. “Any more of your friends hiding nearby?” The man shook his head. He seemed honest.

“Fair enough.” With that, Zad lowered his weapon, having since received Kyles’ arrival from the corner of his eye. “Now, what was that part about this spice not being yours?” Always a bigger fish...


@Lumie