[SW-TOR] In a cantina far, far away...

[Mixxi]

The cantina was dark and smokey, just the way she liked it, with the obligatory Twi'lek dancers moving to a pulsing beat. The patrons looked relaxed, and Kitkala Mapp wondered if Nils was putting tranqs in the drinks or the smoke generators tonight. The bartender in question seemed to hear her thoughts, because he caught her eye and winked before turning to place a large, smoking concoction in front of a couple of Rodian tourists.

The small blonde with the rather large blaster strapped to her thigh slipped into a corner booth and unslung a sythsilk bag from her shoulder, easing it down gently on the padded seat beside her. Nils was padding toward her table, oblivious to the fact that the tiny paper umbrella in the Rodians' drink had just burst into flame. The Rodian female batted at the flame and managed to knock the umbrella onto the table, where it ignited the accumulated alcohol spills of the last two days.

Kit nodded her head in the direction of the distressed tourists as Nils arrived at her table. "You really should wipe down those tables more often," she commented.

Nils glanced over at the couple and then grinned at Kit. "Nah," he drawled. "The synthohol keeps things nice and sterile. Besides, now they'll have a good story to tell back home. One that doesn't end in them getting robbed and shivved in an alley. They're lucky! I should charge them extra."

"I'm sure you will. I'll take the usual."

"The usual...on the house, as usual." As he turned, Nils spotted the bag. "Nothing for me to worry about in there, is there?"

"Delicate, not explosive. And not alive. I can't vouch for the buyer who's meeting me, but I'm hoping he will be alive...at least long enough to pay me."

As Nils wandered away toward the bar, Kit settled back, easing her right leg out and rubbing the numbpak on her thigh under her pants. A little time to relax would be good. Business was booming right now, and that could make for some busy...and painful...workdays. Letting the throb of the cantina wrap around her, she lazily watched the door for her contact to arrive.

((Thought I'd get the SWTOR RP ball rolling. It may not be the Shaggy TaunTaun, but it IS a cantina. I wonder who else is here or about to arrive...  ))

[Vilidius]

In a nearby booth, a figure reclined with his back against the wall and his legs stretched out along the bench. His face was hidden within the shadows cast by his draped hood. He hadn't moved for as long as anyone in the cantina could recall, with the possible exception of Nils. Everyone gave him a wide berth. His characteristic jedi robes and the sense of watchfulness he projected left the impression that something sudden and dangerous might occur at any moment.

The languid music paused and the bar stood quiet. Suddenly the jedi moved, and his head jerked upwards. "Gah!" he exclaimed.

Nils approached his table, as patrons looked on. Vilidius pushed back his hood to reveal a shock of white and gray hair, unkempt and standing on edge. He rubbed his eyes blearily.

"Have I been here all night, Nilly?"

"And most of today also, old friend. I didn't care to wake you."

"Well bless you for that. Now bring me something to wash away the taste of whatever you last served me, and a chaster for that as well. And don't let me forget to pay you this time! I can still pay my own way in this galaxy. Now where the hell are those credits..."

He began rummaging through his robes, piling various odds and ends on the table. Nils was busy behind the bar, assembling something that was both alcoholic but might also pass for a late breakfast. Vilidius was muttering to himself as he dug around in his pockets. "Damn council, pensioning me off. As though I need their lifelong charity. I know it's in here somewhere. Ah ha!"

He withdrew a credit chip from inside the deepest recess of his robe, and his elbow knocked the pile of possessions on the table. His lightsaber rolled off the top and landed on the floor with a distinct thud.

[Gith]

[OOC: Given that Kel Dor are not currently, nor do I think they will be at release, a playable race, I am going to leave Val Gith's race somewhat open to interpretation for now until my options are solidified. My whole character was based around Kel Dor culture but I can alter it such that he is the same person simply a different race and somehow got where he is now by other means]

Working as a rogue Jedi for the Republic during times of war certainly did have Val Gith moving throughout the Galaxy quite a bit. Having "requisitioned" the ship the Jedi had given him during his time of official duty he could travel somewhat undetected due to replacing all signatures of the ship with "replacements" as to avoid detection. A new paint job and no one was the wiser.

The latest gang Val was trying to infiltrate and collect evidence on he now knew had its home base on [whichever planet we are on given that no one has mentioned yet]. Having already established himself as a trustworthy information gatherer and errand boy with lower level lieutenants, Val was on his way up the ladder toward the top. Not a fighter, but more of a stealth infiltrator, Val was selected by the gang leaders for the very talents he was using to gain access to their organization.

Val did enjoy the irony.

Although Val was indeed a Jedi, he had not been called by that title for a few years. The politics of the supposed "peace" treaty had frustrated him and he had abandoned the task force he was a member of and gone rogue to protect the Republic in his own more effective [in his own opinion] way.

His average sized alien physique was not covered in the telltale robes of a Jedi. Rather, Val was clothed in military fatigues and his lightsaber was hidden well somewhere on his person. If ever searched his lightsaber always seemed to avoid detection given Val's abilities with Force deception. Wearing armour and a trench coat made him look more like a mercenary than a Jedi, however there was the odd lack of any visible weapons.

THUD

Val looked discretely at the lightsaber hitting the ground across the room from his, marveling at a Jedi that would treat the symbol of his order with such disregard.

"Late ..." Val thought to himself as he waited for his new contact in the private booth section of the cantina that was raised over the rest of the area. A man by the name of Morsel; an odd nickname but who was he to speculate as to how he acquired such a handle.

Always bordering on paranoia while dealing with violent gangs, Val sat there, soaking in the emotion of the people around him, searching for any hostility that may indicate a double-cross or that his cover had been blown. He did not like the look of a group of 2 trandoshans and 1 zabrak that had entered a while ago and had cast more than a few glances in his direction. They were armed and armoured ...

Always knowing his exits, his back to a wall, Val was ready for whatever was to come. And no matter how well armed they were, it was hard to hit a target they could not see--Force concealment was such versatile and useful ability, one which Val excelled at. He could always follow them later and work from there if his cover was blown.

[Cyrian]

"As I have attempted to explain, I do not know who you are referring.."
         These soft words came just before a rather large and solidly built man in old and tattered black robes was shoved quite violently through the doors and into the cantina, sprawling him across the floor. To anyone seated close enough he would look to be young, perhaps no more then 21 or 22 years old, with a black wrap tied around his face, covering just his eyes. 
   
       The young man stood up, took a deep breath and proceeded back out the doors. Suddenly there was the sound of blaster fire, followed closely by the ignition sound of a lightsaber and then another. Not a standard second later, the sound of heavy footfalls beat a hasty retreat off into the distance.
 
       When the doors opened once again, the man entered on his own two feet, walking slowly with a odd, peaceful smile on his face.  To anyone observant, there was a silvered cylinder attached to each hip ring of his belt, tucked just below the fold of his shirt wrap.  He turned his head slowly from side to side, obviously not seeing anything due to the blindfold, but apparently he was pleased enough with what he heard and smelled to sit directly at the bar with his back to the doors.  There he waited comfortably and patiently for the next step in his journey to show itself.

       

[Gith]

Feeling the rise in choler from the group of three that had been eying him, Val decided it was best to make the first move lest he cause a fight to break out in a Cantina and risk the safety of Republic citizens. Seeing Nils heading back toward the old drunkard of a Jedi, Val intercepted him with an outstretched hand.

"You can let me give the old man his drink Nils."

"You can give the old man his drink." Nils muttered awkwardly and handed Val the drink.

"Thank you Nils. Be on your way."

Val had heard Nil's name but otherwise didn't know him from atom. So many weak minds so easily influenced ...

He walked quickly up to the table with the clumsy Jedi at it and set the drink down in front of him. "Hello. My name is Val and I am in need of a diversion. Care to chat for a while?"

[PinkRose]

((Val Gith, Nice use of the word, choler. Never heard it before and had to google it. Also, if a planet hasn't been decided and you need one for your story, choose it. That's how it works around here. I now return you to the thread because I can't come up with a background yet. But I have a glimmer.))

[Mixxi]

Kit raised an eyebrow at all the silver cylinders that were being flashed, either unobtrusively or noisily. Nils was attracting an impressive clientele these days. Turning from the intriguing enounter between the dangerous-looking newcomer and disheveled Jedi, she took a moment to appreciate the rear view of the young man who had entered most recently and nodded approvingly. Very impressive.

Her sightseeing was cut short by yet another arrival (a big night for Nils!), and this one made her roll her eyes and sigh. Her customer. Her customer himself. Not a contact, not a go-between. Her customer. What the hell was he thinking?

She resisted the impulse to put her head in her hands as the extremely high-ranking and well-known Senator from Meiros sidled over to her table and winked at her. His bodyguard looked extremely embarrassed.

"May I buy you a drink...good looking?" Oh no. He didn't really say that, did he? The decibel level in the bar dropped precipitously as the resonant tones of the famous orator rolled outward from the small corner booth, and then, with the audio equivalent of a blink, rose once again.

[Vilidius]

Vilidius picked up the drink and gulped about half of it quickly.  "Thanks," he said. "You're uglier than the usual help around here, but at least you're fast."

He held the drink out at arms' length, pointing towards the floor, and the ice clubs clinked as his hand trembled.  The fallen lightsaber leaped off the floor and flew into his chest.  He caught it clumsily on the rebound with his free hand and slipped it into his robe.  Then he swept the other pile off the table into a large pocket.

"My name's Vilidius.  Vil to my friends; you're not one of those.  And you can chat for as long as you want, but when you're done there's still going to be a brawl.  The one on the right will move first."

He ran the back of his hand roughly across the side of his face to gauge the length of his stubble.  Three days, at least, since he'd been home to clean up properly.  No loss there, really.  No one to care one way or the other.

Too many things were happening in the cantina, and too many people were out of place.  Nils seemed oblivious to the situation but he was standing conveniently behind the most heavily armored portion of the bar with his concealed blasters in ready reach.  The dancers took a break.

Vil looked around to gauge the likely causalities.  The Senator stood out like a sore thumb.  The young Miraluaka seemed able to take care of himself, but he might have been distracted by his own recent altercation.  The blond looked competent, at least.  The two Rodians were directly in the line of fire.

"Please feel free to shoot first.  I won't judge."

[RavenMiles]

 Just then a body came crashing throw the window. He hit the far wall, and landed on the floor. He was up before the crowd could move. He was a bald man with a red goatee. in both hands was a orange lightsaber, and on his face was smile.
The three Sith came throw the window. lightsabers in hand.
"What was it you said Jedi scum?" the leader asked.
" I think it was something about you and your mother. Oh ya and a Nerf Herder." the man answer. " By the way the names Raven. Raven Miles Jedi Knight. And you are about to have a bad day." he told them. Then he force pushed them. The leader was ready, but the other two went back out the window. So Raven charged the leader.

[Mixxi]

"Please feel free to shoot first.  I won't judge."

((/ooc *snark*  ))

Kit had snatched up the synthsilk bag and was on her feet before the last crackling shards of transplast hit the floor. Ignoring her customer and speaking directly to his bodyguard she barked, "Dancers' dressing room," and started along the wall toward the rear of the cantina. She noted with approval that the Zabrak bodyguard didn't hesitate but started hustling her charge immediately in the same direction.

The Senator was not cooperating, though, and he stood entranced, looking toward the center of the commotion. "Oooh. Orange. You don't see many of those..." he exclaimed, ignoring the attempts of the bodyguard to move him. Kit figured that in the chaos, no one was going to be listening to her, so she lifted the bag and waved to get his attention. "Holocron." The senator's head snapped toward her, and he finally began moving, following the treasure he coveted.

As she moved, Kit kept an eye on all the strangers, curious how they would handle developments.

[Gith]

"Please feel free to shoot first.  I won't judge."

Val raised an eyebrow [if indeed his as of yet undetermined alien physique even includes eyebrows] at the shakey Jedi at the table with him.

"You are probably right. I am attempting.."

And about now is when Raven comes crashing through the window in a blaze of plasma and snarky comments.

"Correction. I WAS attempting to avoid a commotion and any possible injuries to the citizenry. Oh well." Val shrugged his shoulders in resignation. "Goodbye Vilidus who is not my friend" Val smiled and dropped a Force cloak around himself, disappearing as everyone's heads were turned toward the Jedi with the orange lightsaber. "If you require some amusement, follow those trandoshans and zabrak out when they leave. I'll be waiting."

Val picked his way around the cantina patrons to an exit, making his way around to within eyesight of the front where the over zealous orange lightsaber wielding Jedi had stupidly charged into a 3v1. Perhaps Val would help if it looked like a fellow Jedi was going to end up in trouble. Or perhaps he would simply assume a surveilance position and await the three aliens that were apparently dispatched instead of Morsel to end his relationship with the gang he was currently in the midst of bringing down. For once his cover had been blown. "I wonder how that happened ...? Val thought to himself, displeased with this outcome. Rarely was he thwarted in his efforts to infiltrate gangs, this being one of those rare occasions.

If the old man Vilidus did indeed follow the group he could be of use to locate their base, hopefully at least. He was a Jedi and hopefully could handle himself, but if not, he could at least cause a diversion with his shaky old man routine while Val entered under cloak to kill the gang leaders. When the information gathering approach went South there was always the more direct approach. Val was sure the Republic appreciated these unexpected gifts whether they came in the form of incriminating evidence that they could act on or the heads of those they already knew to be corrupt.

"How things have changed ..." he thought, musing over the last 7 years. To think he had been on his isolated home planet of Dorin living happily as a youngling learner until three years after the sacking of Coruscant. And now all this.

[RavenMiles]

 As Raven charged forward, he dropped to his knees. Using the spilled drinks to slid him across the floor. At the same time he flip the lightsaber in his right hand over.Using the hilt of his lightsaber  he hit the Sith leader right in the Sith jewels. As the Sith bent over, he brought the other lightsaber down. Taking the Sith's head. As his head rolled across the floor. One of the other Sith came back through the broken window.Raven spun around, and using lightsaber he flipped over. he put the blade right in the middle of his chest. Then he swung his left hand around, and took his head too. He jumped up and was ready for the third one. But he did not come. He walked to the window, and looked out it. Buy their was no one. He turned around to see an old human lady still sitting in her chair. With no table and still holding her drink. With a smile and a wink Rave said " hows my hair, dose it look all right?"

She looked at him and with a half smile and said "yyyes iit looks fine."

Raven used the force to right her table. Then he turned around to talk to the bartender.
"Sorry about the mess. The order should pay for the damages." he said

Then he noticed a old Jedi sitting in one of the booths. "Vil is that you?" he souted.

[Vilidius]

[ooc: Sorry for the delay everyone.  I had to compare some notes with Raven and set things up.]

The shabby old Jedi was still seated in much the same position.  He acknowledged Val's departure with a vague wave of his hand.  As one obnoxiously young Jedi was replaced with another (seriously, when did they all become children?) the wave turned reflexively into a peremptory gesture.

"I am not the man you are look...  Ah, nerf pellets!  Why in hell are you here Raven, and who sent you?"

Vilidius scanned the room again.  Nils seemed more relaxed, and releasing his hold on the concealed blasters.  The tourists were still in shock but the regulars were recovering.  The pressure had been released for the moment.  Not to say lightning might not strike twice in a row, but the room had lost the sense of inevitably impending violence.

"Okay, fine.  If you're here to talk we'll do it properly.  You can tell me what's brought you so far towards the ass end of nowhere on the way to a tidier bar."

He downed the rest of his drink quickly, and tipped his hood to Nils.  Then he wrapped an arm around Raven's shoulder and began steering towards the door.

[RavenMiles]

Raven smiled at Vil and moved with him torwards the door.
" So here is the door i would have used it, but i saw three Sith padawans tormenting a small child. Well, i could not let that one go.Still can't believe the one was able to force push me threw the window. It was a sham i did not want to kill them. they were young and maybe i could have  brought them to the light side. Well any way, i am here for the council. Their is something they need me to find. The trail lead me here and when council found out where i was. they asked me to find you and tell you they would like to talk with you."
Raven stopped at the door and opened it for Vil.
"It was nice to see you Master. But i think i will stay here for now. May the force be with you." he said as he bowed his head.

He then turned and walked torwards the bar.

[Gith]

Having found a good vantage point from which to observe the cantina exist, Val sat there waiting for people to emerge. Specifically the group that had obviously been sent by the gang he was investigating to "talk" to him. "I wonder what I did to reveal myself .." Val thought to himself as he waited, disappointed with the situation.

Val sat up a bit from his concealment as he saw the reckless young Jedi emerge from the exit with the old man he was sat with briefly. The younger of the two then reentered the cantina and the old man was left outside. "Settled down in there by now I would imagine. They should have noticed I am gone by now," he thought, waiting for the trandoshans and zabrak to emerge.

Eventually they did come out, arguing quietly amongst themselves as they set off down the street toward an unknown destination. When infiltration went south this was the next step in the process–stealth reconnaissance. Time to follow them and see where their stronghold is located, however many days that would take.

"Here we go ..." he thought as he uprooted himself and followed, keeping himself concealed as he did.

[RavenMiles]

As Raven got close to the bar he felt it. Some thing was not right.
"Is their a back exit to this place?" he asked the bar tender.
Niles replied "yep, dressing room." a waved a hand to the dressing room at the side of the stage. Raven ran straight for the back. As he entered the dressing room. he saw the Senator his body guard and a small blond with a big blaster. this could be fun.
"HAY, SENATER. WHO IS YOUR NEW FRIEND.?" Raven yealed

[Mixxi]

"HAY, SENATER. WHO IS YOUR NEW FRIEND.?" Raven yealed

Kit's first reaction was just to keep going, but she distrusted the Senator's ability to keep his mouth shut, especially given his obsessive fascination with all things Jedi. Turning back reluctantly and trying not to be distracted by the various Twi'lek undergarments festooned around them, she exchanged an eyeroll with the Senator's bodyguard and stepped between her customer and the hot-headed Jedi.

Deliberately pitching her voice low to encourage him to do the same, she smiled at the Jedi and asked, "What can I do for you, noble master?"

[RavenMiles]

At last he had found them. Raven was not sure witch one had the Holocron. I wonder if i asked if they would just give it to me.
Raven moved up to the three. He was not worried about the guard or the Senator. He looked like he was about to p**s himself. Her on the other hand, could be trouble.
He put his hands on his belt, Making his robe move back. showing his lightsaber in holster stared to his legs. With a smile he said.
" I will double what the Senator is paying you."

[Vilidius]

Vilidius stood by the door and looked over his shoulder.  It seemed the all the drama in the cantina had not, in fact, been exhausted for the present.  He wondered if there was anything he could contribute to the situation.  He wondered if it was worth bothering.

There Raven stood, brash and brazen with the arrogance that only a young Jedi could possibly muster.  Showing his lightsaber to the world at every opportunity like some kind of over-compensating flasher.  A credit to his master, surely, who did the same damn thing in his youth.  Maybe he would have outgrown the habit, had he lived.

Now Raven was confronting a Senator - apparently.  Vilidius wondered briefly what kind of Senator this sector could possibly muster up, but experience had taught him that no matter how unfortunate the population, or how miserable their circumstances, there was always some "representative of the people" ready to rise to the surface with the promise of change.

Knights of the Republic and politicians and dueling in the streets and always some critical force-damned mission to undertake which could only end in someone's noble sacrifice....  Enough.  There was more than enough of that ten years ago to last several lifetimes.  Why in hell would the Council want to talk with him now after all these years?  Enough already!

To the eyes of any observer, or at least any but a mind-reader, a bleary old drunk paused momentarily in the doorway.  For a moment he seemed to straighten and his eyes blazed briefly.  Then he sighed, and shrunk in upon himself, and walked slowly from the cantina.

(OOC - Exit stage, simply because I've got so much administrative stuff to do here and I already spend too much time on TOR.  But since we've established proximity to one another, if anyone wants to arrange a less crowded scene in the same vaguely defined area please let me know.)

[Mixxi]

((/ooc Okies, so ValGith and Vilidius are off to pursue their own agendas. I've lost track of Rhaeton during all this. Is he still drinking at the bar?))

Kit didn't have to look at the Senator to sense his rising panic at the Jedi's words. She could only imagine the inner battle he was fighting between his desire for Jedi artifacts and the increasing signs that his career was about to disappear in a huge puff of scandal. If she played this right, she might be able to salvage further deals with this most lucrative of clients. But it was going to cost her.

She smiled at the bald Jedi and reflected that his beard and his lightsaber were truly appropriate to this fiery personality. She would have to proceed cautiously.

Stepping back to stand next to the senator, she said, "I believe you are under a misapprehension, master Jedi. The Senator, through me, has rescued this holocron from some...undesirable elements. I believe his intention is to restore it to its rightful place with the Jedi Order."

Next to her, the senator started violently, and Kit realized that at the same moment she was elbowing him in the ribs, his bodyguard had ground her boot heel into the poor man's foot. Kit would have to remember that Zabrak's name. She was quick on the uptake.

"Uh...um...yes! Of course," the senator stammered, and managed to close his hand on the bag that Kit had shoved into it. "A gift for the Jedi. And...of course...I would like to remain an...er...anonymous donor." The senator held out the bag to the knight.