Tools of the Trade

[Sorsha Kasajian]

SORSHA'S TOWNHOUSE
MOS EISLEY, TATOOINE

:: Sorsha stretched on the mat in the center of a large gymnasium. It was mid-afternoon, the morning had been spent going over the loot from Belryn's Homestead. Now she took up a fencing sabre, and waited for Bambi Maddox to cross blades with her ::

[Bambi Maddox]

Maddox had been examining the row of swords for some time, indeciscive as to the best weapon to choose.

She ran an inquiring finger along the grip of two or three, but clearly she remained undecided.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Try that one, three blades down from your left hand. I think you'll find it to your liking."

[Bambi Maddox]

Obediently, Maddox lifted the blade from its place.

It had a solid feel in her hand and she eyed its length holding it vertically before her. The lights caught it and kissed its gleaming edge, reflecting a wicked spark in Bambi's good eye.

It was a beautiful weapon, crafted most certainly by a master of the trade. Bambi did not know alot of things, but she had good enough instincts to recognize perfection when she saw it.

It was a match made in, well, where ever such matching of lethal instruments was made. It suited Bambi very well.

She twisted to look at Sorsha over her shoulder.

"Good choice"

Stepping onto the mat, Maddox pulled the blade horozontally through the vacant air in a slow, deliberate draw and took a semi-wide stance in trademark warrior pose, her "sight" side slightly forward.

"Im ready"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha gave a classical fencing salute and advanced, initiating an offense as she touched sabres ::

[Bambi Maddox]

Bambi moved confidently just out of Sorsha's reach, to move in side-steping arc. One arm raised slightly for balance, the other with weapon ready.

Belatedly, and with real dismay, she realised she had no protective padding on at all.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha took advantage of the split second hesitation and advanced with a Fleche manuever ::

[Bambi Maddox]

Bambi twisted her wrist to flick Sorsha's blade off target as the Vigo rushed past her. She spun on her heels to turn facing Sorsha once more.

Then, advancing with a step-slide-step-slide, poked at Sorsha with her blade.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha parried the thrust and smiled, fencing with Bambi at a leisurely pace ::

"You're not bad. Where did you study?"

[Bambi Maddox]

Bambi remained on guard.

"I had a crazy dance teacher years ago who thought fencing was a great work-out. Good for balance and poise and stuff. I took a course to humor him and found it to my liking, so took a few more. My teacher was Yousef Alani, ever heard of him? Anyway,
its been a while since Ive done any real training. Until I met Gry--er an old partner, I never really had need of it. Im a bit rusty."

She made a sudden lunge.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Grym Kandle?" she said as she parried.

[Bambi Maddox]

"Ugh!"

The point of Sorsha's blade peirced through Bambi's tunic and drew blood. Her naming Grym had stunned Maddox to where she had failed to move out of harms way.

Bambi's sword dipped toward the floor and her wary stance was exchanged for an unguarded posture.

"You know him?"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsa stepped back, canting her head at Bambi curiously ::

"I know him by reputation."

[Bambi Maddox]

She nodded in agreement. Though Grym would never be the one to say it, he was a master at his trade. And that kind of expertise can't be kept secret.

Bambi felt the familiar melancholy steal over her whenever she missed Grym.

"At least his reputation is alive and well"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"You believe him to be otherwise?"

[Bambi Maddox]

"I cant really say" she shrugged and lifted her weapon again in an attempt to resume the training.

Maddox didnt want to even think it, let alone admit to what was a steadily growing fear where Grym was concerned.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha frowned ::

"You're bleeding."

[Bambi Maddox]

A quick look to where Sorsha's blade had pricked her and a dismissive "huh" was Bambi's response.

She again lifted the blade.

"Ready?"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha remained where she stood and raised her sword without a word, yet her eyes were studying Bambi intently now ::

[Bambi Maddox]

Bambi moved forward, a feint left, a spin right bringing her sword around in a quick, even arc, meeting Sorsha's defending blade with a clang.

Bambi pressed her weight behind her sword, causing the two blades to ride up against each other in a temporary stalemate of position.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha was pushed back, Bambi holding a slight advantage in height and strength over her. Sorsha became far more aggressive. Calculating and swift as she tested the full measure of Bambi's skill with a blade. She was enjoying herself ::

[Bambi Maddox]

As Sorsha changed into a more vigorous style, Bambi was forced to back off a little in order to open up some maneuvering room.

Not quite at arms length, she loosed a beat on Sorsha's blade, a sharp, short tap that knocked it down a little.

She tapped it again, harder this time.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha retreated then, and waited to see if the momentum would shift ::

[Bambi Maddox]

The tactic threw Bambi, somewhat, and she straightened her posture a fraction as she considered.

A feint perhaps? A frontal charge? Maddox side-stepped in an even rythmic tempo.

"Any suggestions for how I should come at you, Vigo?"

Bambi was, afterall, here to learn.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"I sought to trap you, and you are not easily lured. That's good."

:: Sorsha smiled, ending the match with a salute ::

[Bambi Maddox]

Lowering her sword, Maddox dabbed a fingertip lightly at the dampened red patch on her tunic.

"I should probably take care of this"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Here." she replied, handing Bambi a bacta patch. "The freshers are this way."

[Bambi Maddox]

Applying the patch with a marked lack of finese, Maddox followed alongside Sorsha.

"Tell me about your first kill, Sorsha. Was it a planned thing?"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"My first job was a Baron of the Tapani Noble Houses." she replied as she peeled off her unitard.

"His name was Vlle. He was easy enough to seduce, but his appetites were quite perverse."

[Bambi Maddox]

"I hope you got paid well"

Sorsha's description brought to mind any one of a thousand gross, self-indulgent swine that had sat in the audiences where she danced. The thought of seducing any of those creeps gave her a crawling feeling.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Seventy five thousand gold imperials." she grinned, stepping into the fresher.

[Bambi Maddox]

Seventy five...well, that wasn't too shabby. Not too shabby at all.

Sorsha had a great body, Maddox noticed as the Vigo disappeared into the refresher. She'd have made one heck of a dancer.

All those years Bambi had danced, she'd had no idea what kind of money could be made by whackin' people. She had to catch up.

"So you went in..undercover like. Got real close to the kill, huh" She had to speak loudly so Sorsha could hear her over the fresher. "I always thought that was a mistake." Sorsha poked her head out the door to hear better and Bambi repeated herself. "You know, a mistake. To get so close to the person you were gonna grease?"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"You must be willing to do whatever it takes to make a kill. To become a chameleon if need be. That is the mark of a true assassin."

[Bambi Maddox]

Chameleon

She liked that.

She could do that. Maybe. With practice. She kind of was not the type to blend in, though, she knew. Her height foremost. The eyepatch secondarily. The more she thought on it, the more difficult being a chameleon would be, as willing as she was.

"I probably will have to be one of these invisible assassins, ya know. Im not the easiest of people to change appearance. I may have to focus on other strengths.
What do you think?"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha laughed as she lathered some foam into her hair ::

"I meant from a mental standpoint. I'm hardly a clawdite."

[Bambi Maddox]

"Oh, right" she smiled sheepishly. She had to learn to not be such a literal larry.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha finished up her shower and grabbed a towel ::

"How is your wound?"

[Bambi Maddox]

She dabbed at her side, "Not deep, fortunately. I think I'll live" she grinned.

Maddox moved over further to the side to allow Sorsha to pass by her as she got out of the shower.

"What was it like working for Xizor?"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"I had to remain on constant guard. He was just as interested in frelling me dead as doing business with me, so I dealt with him through less direct contact."

[Bambi Maddox]

"Trickey business assassins working for assassins"

The remark was half in jest. Both women knew what a precarious life they had chosen. Trust was something that was coveted, yet rarely given.

"Guess only the good ones live long enough to see the downfall of their enemies"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"The Guild does have it's advantages."

(bump)

[Bambi Maddox]

Bambi didn't know nearly as much as she would like on such matters and now seemed like the perfect opportunity..

"Such as?"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Freelancers are bad for business. They tend to be amatuers, leave messes behind. It's quite annoying."

[Bambi Maddox]

"I guess with the Guild there are certain standards that have to be maintained. A guarantee of quality in a job, huh."

Or reputation, as Grym might have labelled it. After all -- all one really had was their rep, to either live up to or lose, as the case may be. Grym hated sloppy. Never did sloppy. He would have been such a hit with Sorsha, Maddox felt sure. Bambi had a way to go before she reached his same level of meticulousness in doing things.

"Is there something you specifically want from your assassins, Vigo? Something above the normal that I must not fail you on?"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"Yes."

:: She sat naked as she preened her hair ::

"I wish us to become like Sisters, you and I. Please call me Sorsha. As for doing the work, I'll be instructing you in all things."

[Bambi Maddox]

Sisters?

That was a twist Maddox had not seen coming. Every female relationship she had ever had - from her mother, to her few friends and, most especially, the girls she had danced with - was competition at a supreme level. Everyone was lookin' out for number one, or had something to prove. Comraderie was a farce, a play-act well choreographed between prancing stilettos and spitfire egos.

Bambi dared to imagine what having a sister would be like.

"I would like that very much"

Sorsha seemed completely unselfconscious at her nakedness and Bambi wondered at the confidence and utter lack of vunerability the Vigo displayed. This was a woman who understood her power.

"I hope to never disappoint you, Sorsha"