Coruscant Tales: A bounty worth more...

[Azure Regalia]

than it's price...

(This takes place immediately after <a href=http://pub2.ezboard.com/fswvstitanicstarwarsroleplayingarchive.showMessage ?topicID=3282.topic>"It's been a hard days night..."</a>.)

The Bounty Hunter dozed lightly on the lounge chair she was sitting at, a blaster on her lap, aboard her ship, <a href=http://www16.brinkster.com/caligirls/AzureRegalia/AzureSHIP02.jpg>"Hunter's Fang"</a>, with Sanis still quite unconcsious in the Universal Energy Cage on the other side of the ship, in front of her. She was dreaming about a past long gone for her, and yet so much a part of her. A tormented past, a hard life. Muffled voices, fuzzy images. They all assailed her. A life without remembered beginning, a life-time of turmoil and hardships, a life-end with no path in sight. She knew who she was, but from where she came from she could not pinpoint. A betrayal in the line of work. Unexpected love from an unexpected source. A blaster raised and lowered. A loved one before her, and then suddenly taken from her. Sadness. Pain. Anger. Revenge. A red revenge, pulsating steadily. Redder and brighter, redder and brighter, redder and brighter, redder and brighter, redder and brighter...

The Bounty Hunter stirred and woke with a jolt as a steady beeping brought her back to the here and now. She sighed and ran a hand through her long, red-orange, tousled hair. Reaching up, she saw the little red incoming comm light was flashing. She pressed a button on the wall-mounted computer to silence the beeping, and to varify where the call was originating from. It was from Obroa-Skai. No doubt the Comendant calling to get a report on her progress. She stood, stretching, and noticed with relief that her right shoulder no longer hurt. She looked down at it, peeling away the bacta patch. No wound, no broken bones, no bruises. She flexed the muscles there and felt a slight stiffness, but aside from that, she was fine. Satisfied with the exam of her shoulder, she snapped the strap of her outfit back onto her shoulder and walked over to the comm station just outside of the cockpit. Sitting herself down, she turned on the view screen and answered the call. A rather fat man appeared on the screen.

Yes?

Comendant: Ah, I've finally reached you, my dear. I was beginning to worry. I take it you've been well?

She raised an eyebrow.

Comendant: He clears his throat. I was calling to know if you'd captured Sanis Prent yet? It'd been days since your last contact and I was beginning to think the worst.

His sweet brawling was beginning to annoy her, but she let none of it show onto her face.

He has been captured, and I am now on my way to drop him off and collect my bounty.

Comendant: Oh, this is wonderful news! How simply marvelous! But, my dear, you've done such excellent work, and to have to come all the way here to Obroa-Skai would just be asking too much. No, I have sent a ship to meet you. They will take Sanis off your hands and pay you what is coming to you. You are to rendevous with them along the Hydian Way, between Caamas and the border for the Colonies and Inner Rim. He smiled, an almost assuredly fake smile. It's been a pleasure doing business with you, my dear.

The signal was cut from his side. The Bounty Hunter merely sat there for a moment, staring at the blank screen. Something about this sudden change in the contract made her uneasy. Not to mention the way she'd been assigned this venture. She'd caught wind of the large bounty and had gone to Obroa-Skai to accept it. She hadn't been the only bounty hunter there seeking the job. Many were there at Obroa-Skai, including some well-known names. But what had made this odd, was that each hunter was being interviewed as if they were applying for a job. The normal thing to do would just be to give the bounty to the first hunter that arrived. Some of the elder hunters huffed about this treatment and left, but she had stuck it out. Eventually, she'd been given the task of bringing the bounty in. And, yet, the uneasyness of the whole assignment hadn't left her. Her instincts had saved her more times than she could remember, and they were telling her now to be wary. She would be cautious.

Standing, she headed towards the cockpit and entered it, sitting at the pilots chair. She watched the counter on the navcomp count down to one of the stops. She had taken precaution so as not to be followed, and was making a zigzag of sorts towards Obroa-Skai. The ship reverted to real space, and she calculated a straight jump to the rendevous point. It would take no more than a few hours at most. Setting the navcomp, she watched the stars stretch into hyperspace. She sat there for a moment, still pondering the events of the past few days, her dream, and then the call.

Shrugging the thoughts away, she stood and headed back into the lounge, sitting herself at the chair. As she sat, a soft moan came from within the Energy Cage. She looked up to see Sanis stirring, and propping himself on all fours, evetually kneeling there rubbing his jaw. He looked up to find the black hole of a blaster barrel staring him in the face from the other side of the ship.

The Bounty Hunter smiled and spoke.

Welcome back to the living, sleeping beauty.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis looked up at the huntress, his normal social graces now somewhat lacking. Gingerly, Sanis leaned back until he was sitting up, and staring into his captor's face. His body ached all over, but he couldn't give a damn at the moment. Right now, all he knew was that he didn't see Daleethria anywhere. Sanis could only think of a few possibilities, and the one that flooded prominently into his mind was that the huntress had killed her. Sanis pushed away the thought. If that were the case, she'd better never let him out of the energy cage, because he would take her reptilian head off.)

What did you do with her?

[Azure Regalia]

She sneered and rolled her eyes. The only person he could be referring to was the girl.

Oh, please. I'm only a monster when I'm paid to be so. She's fine and back at your appartment, no doubt still dozing. Her wounds have been taken care of and she'll be right as rain and awake, and no doubt looking for you, in a few hours.

She reached into a small cabinet to the side of the chair and tossed a small pack into the energy cage through the bars. The pack sizzled slightly as it made small conact with the bars, and came sliding to a halt next to Sanis. She gestured towards it with her chin when Sanis gave her a quizical look.

Rations and mini-med pack. Like I said, I'm not a monster unless I'm paid to be so.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis looked down at the rations and medical packs, not touching them. He instead looked up at the woman.)

You know, for huntress, you're either dumb or masochistic. Outlaws may not live by many rules, but one they respect is to never hunt their own. You're gonna find your tail in the middle of a helluva lot of professional issues for this. I wouldn't be suprised if you're already being tracked down. Outlaws take offense to these kinds of things, and I'm sure they'd offer to take you in for cheap.

(Sanis tossed the rations into one of the energy bars, incinerating them)

You'd better hope your employer kills me, because I'll make you wish you never touched Daleethria, or myself for the matter.

Unless you have anything particuarly important to say, I'd get back to flying the damn ship, because I don't want to see your frelling face until I'm out of here.

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter shook her head and tisked, touching her hand to her chest. She mocked him.

You're breaking my heart, Prent.

She spit his name out irreverently. Then she mocked again.

Oh, look, I'm so frightened I think I'll shake my scales off.

She sneered and stood walking up to the cage. She pointed a finger at him and spoke angerly.

And don't you EVER talk to me about touching someone close to you. That's half the reason I took this job. Do you HONESTLY think I'm stupid enough to go after another Outlaw?! I know the consiquences, but I did this of FREE WILL! And it wasn't for me, or that fat bastard on Obroa-Skai I did this for, not even the MONEY! It was for someone else you probably couldn't even recall even if I picked that half-brain of yours with a toothpick!

She snarled.

There's nothing more I'd like to do than kill you right here on the spot, but I respect bounty contracts. I respect business deals. It's my LIFE! And I don't need some self-absorbed, piece of krasst telling me what laws I should and should not be following!

She whirled, heading towards her chair and sat. There she remained in silence, staring at Sanis. Hating him. Wishing she could just blow him to hell.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis watched her as she turned away. So, it was something personal then. It made sense. You didn't hear of many Outlaws breaking the code simply on a whim. It might net you some money, but in the long run...it would get you killed. However, it all changed when there was personal business at stake.

Sanis wondered...who would hate him enough to do something like this? Okay...maybe too broad of a category. Maybe he just needed to narrow it down.)

For somebody else, huh? Somebody I know?

(Maybe Sanis had won too many hands of Sabbacc against another man of the trade, and he took it the wrong way. Stranger things had happened, although Sanis would've let it slide if it were his situation.)

[Azure Regalia]

She eyed him. Why should she answer him? Why not let him wallow in his curiosity? Maybe, by some chance of weird luck, it'd kill him. And, yet, she answered him anyways.

Tell me this, Prent. How would you feel if that girl back there in your apartment, whom I'm assuming means the world to you, was suddenly taken away from you? The life gone from her eyes, and you were left alone in this dark, miserable universe? How would you feel?


She leaned forward, still pointing the blaster at him while it rested in her lap, the hand holding the blaster almost shaking with rage.

How would you FRELLIN FEEL?!

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis didn't really like the question turned around on him like that, especially with the huntress holding the blaster the way she did. Nevertheless, he thought about it.)

I don't know. I just met her a few months ago. She's so different from me in almost everything she does, yet I think it fits her perfectly. I guess if she died, I would feel like I was partially blind to the galaxy. She helps me open up to a lot of things.

(Sanis snapped out of his thoughtful monologue, and looked back at the huntress.)

Why do you ask?

[Azure Regalia]

She blinked, and leaned back.

Because you are the instigator to the reason for my blindness in this galaxy.

She studied him for a moment.

You wouldn't happen to remember a man, he would have been about your age now, in an expensive casino on Ord Mantell about four or five years ago? Good gambler, running a streak of luck so unnatural, most people called him the King of Gamble?

She snarled and leaned forward again.

The very man the owner of the casino hired you to kill before he bought out the frellin place with his lucky wins??

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis thought back. That job had been four years ago. It was a standard hit, for 75,000 credits. Nothing about it seemed out of the ordinary, although Sanis made it a point not to ask when it came to business. Apparently the owner of the casino didn't like the man's luck, so he hired Sanis to fix the problem. Open and shut. Sanis wasn't there to be anybody's moral compass...he was there to simply do the job. It wasn't his fault the man was in such dire straits.

Sanis brushed the stubble forming on his chin with the palm of his hand.)

Lady, that job was four years ago. You mean to tell me that you've been planning this out for this long, just so you could get me back for a 75 thousand credit hit?

(Sanis shook his head slightly.)

Look, I don't even remember the guy's name, and I hardly even remember anything else about him. I'm sure he had all kinds of redeeming qualities and whatnot, but the fact of the matter is...he was an assignment. That's all. My employer killed the man, I just pulled the trigger. I kept my mouth shut, I got my money, end of story. Lets not cross the wires between you and me, because its pretty damn obvious you're blurring the lines between business and pleasure on this one.

(Sanis shrugged off angrily, looking back up at her)

So what was the guy's name?

[Azure Regalia]

She sighed and shook her head. Somehow talking to the man that had been the target of hers for the past few years was easing the pain. She cursed herself for that.

His name was Vince Furllion. Ace gambler on all Ord Mantell.

She took on a sense of remembering, her eyes gone into the distance of the past.

He'd actually been an assignment of mine. Some guy wanted him captured for impregnating his sister. Quite funny if you ask me, but he was paying well. So I took the job. I finally caught Vince and was about to bring him in when I was jumped by about four other bounty hunters. This was way off the Code, and told them I had a stake in this one's bounty. They all laughed and informed me it was a bit of a game the guy wanted to play. Send five hunters after one target, and watch each hunter go after each other to get the target. Apparently I had a rep for following the Code as a religion, so the guy hadn't told me this particular detail. That SO infuriated me. I killed the four hunters since they'd already broken the Code, brought Vince to the guy, demanded my money, got it, contract was over, killed the guy, and set Vince free.

But the damn man wouldn't leave me alone, and followed me around. He started to grow on me. Finally on Ord Mantell he asked me to marry him and I accepted. That's when I was going to give up bounty hunting and the various other jobs I did. Up until then, I'd known nothing but misery and scraping to see another day, ever since I was an infant. I wanted to live a normal life with someone I cared deeply about.

Her eyes closed momentarily.

The next day I was holding his dead body in my arms.

She opened her eyes, a fire of hate swirling in them, and locked them with Sanis's.

I instantly used my talents aquired from years of survival and found who'd placed the death mark on his head. The casino owner was so helpful in giving me the name of the assassin, I killed him swiftly, right in between the eyes.

I'd looked everywhere for some dirt on you, and I knew there was plenty of it. All I had to do was wait and see who would place the bounty on your head. Two weeks ago, my chance came, and you became my target.

She became silent for awhile, letting all this sink in Sanis's head. Why she'd told him all this, she couldn't quite figure out. But, somehow, she figured if he was a dead man anyways, he might as well know.

So now you know the back story.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis sighed slightly)

Well, for what its worth, I'm sorry Vince had to die. I don't particuarly enjoy putting out hits, but its a dirty and well-paying job. If I could make the same money hauling space garbage, I'd do it...but its just not the same.

(Sanis' brow furrowed slightly)

And as far as anything else you're expecting from me lady, you can forget it. I know damn well what I'm doing every time I squeeze the trigger, and I don't need a vengeful huntress trying to expound a moral dilemma on me. I'm sorry he had to die, but I don't regret what I did. Its my job.

(Sanis leaned back slightly)

I know you'd love to see me get killed for this, and you must be enjoying yourself right now, but maybe you should step back and realize that for a quick fix of revenge, you're gonna make things one helluva lot more difficult on yourself.

[Azure Regalia]

She eyed him and shrugged.

I understand about business. I understand about jobs. I understand about contracts. You and I deal in the same type of business, albiet I may twist some things to suit my needs. But I'll have you know, I have NEVER twisted anything until that fateful day back on Ord Mantell. I was strictly by the book.

She sighed.

And I know that hollow feeling will still be here in me, and I'll live with this the rest of my life. Yeah, maybe I'm happy I'm turning you in, and yeah, maybe I'm being very irrational about this. But, at the time, I felt it was the thing to do. And one thing I don't do, is go back on what I've started. I always finish.

She shifted in her seat and leaned forward.

I know life isn't easy, and once I've delivered you, I'll most likely find a quite place and lay low for awhile. Life is difficult, and it always has been for me from the start. It'll be just like any other day tomorrow.

The wall mounted computer near her began to beep. She leaned back and touched it's keypad to see what it was beeping about. This time it was letting her know they were justa few moments from reverting back to real space. She stood and gestured towards Sanis with her blaster.

I'll be but a moment. Don't go anywhere.

With that, she made her way into the cockpit. The ship eased out of hyperspace, slowing towards the coordinants that had been given her. She started scanning for the other ship, and caught it's signature just a few kilometers off from the point of rendevous. She would not uncamoflage her ship until she was side by side with the other vessel.

She continued to scan the other ship, noting it's shields were up, but it's weapons powered down. Standard proceedure. She frowned, still wondering why such a remote place had been chosen. The feeling of uneasiness began to grow in the pit of her stomache. Still, she had a job to finish.

Sliding her ship along side the other vessel, she opened communications with them.

Obroa-Skai vessel. This is the "Hunter's Claw". I have your bounty here. State how you would like him delivered.

Obroa-Skai ship: This is the "Glimmer Spice". We are receiving you loud and clear, "Hunter's Claw", but we're not seeing you.

The Bounty Hunter chuckled and flipped a switch, bringing the ship out of camoflage. It's bio-skin wrippled a moment and took on it's normal hue of blues. She heard a small intake of breath from the comm.

"Glimmer Spice": Oh. There you are. Means of delivery will be linking of our two ships via the airlocks. We want him undamaged and alive.

It shall be so.

"Glimmer Spice": Very well, "Hunter's Claw". Connection tube is being attached.

The Bounty Hunter heard the slight scrape of a large object being pressed against her ship. She checked her instrumentaion to make sure it sealed properly around the air lock.

Seal confirmed. Unlocking air lock hatch.

She pressed a button, and the hatch popped, releasing a hissing sound. She walked back into the hold and stood before the cage. Without a word she punched a few buttons on her wrist gauntlet. A small droid came hovering out of a hidden alcove and sailed through the bars of the cage towards Sanis. She looked at him.

Just a precaution.

The seemingly harmless droid beeped once, and extended long grappling arms from it's spherical shape. Sanis didn't put up too much of a fight in the close quarters, so it was relatively easy for the droid to put the stun cuffs on his hands and ankles. Once the droid was done, the cuffs activated, being held together by a ray of magnetic energy, the ones at his ankles being long enough for him to walk without running, and the ones at his hands to just keep his hand at bay.

The men aboard the "Glimmer Spice" were just ascending down the latter from the hatch when the droid hovered back into it's alcove. The Bounty Hunter turned to Sanis.

Well, Prent, looks like the party's arrived. But I fear I won't be staying around for the festivities.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis smirked as the droid prepped him for delivery)

Yeah, well...just watch your back. I guess I'll just be civil about this and say goodbye. Hope you found whatever it was you were looking for.

[Azure Regalia]

She watched Sanis a moment more, and then turned towards the two men entering her ship. That uneasy feeling growing by the second. She flipped her high yield personal shield to ON, and then deactivated the cage, and grabbed Sanis by the arm, easing him out. She kept Sanis by her side, her blaster trained on his rib cage, and acknowledged the two men with a nod of her head. What appeared to be the lead man, spoke.

Lead man: Miss Regalia? We are the Comendants deputies. I am Hephmin Krell, and this is my partner Ethan Bjall.

Krell gestured towards Sanis.

Krell: And I assume this is Mr. Sanis Prent.

He flicked his head towards his partner, and Bjall came and grabbed Sanis by the arm roughly, dragging him towards the ladder.

Bjall: The boss will certainly happy to see you, Prent.

He smirked.

Krell: You've been a great help in capturing this man. He disrupted a rather young spice trade being built up on Coruscant, vital to the Comendants, er, research on the drug's effects.

She couldn't help but snort. Research my a$$.

Krell: As promised, your reward of 700, 000 credits for Mr. Prent's capture.

Krell handed her a small data pad. Taking it cautiously, she looked down at it for a moment.

Krell: A pleasure doing business with you.

In that split second it took to look down at the pad, and to hear Krell's voice, she heard the ominous whine of a blaster being fired.

The next thing she knew, she was slamming against the bulk head of the hold.

[Sanis Prent]

(For the life of him, Sanis couldn't figure out why in frell that the commendant of Oboa-Skai wanted to capture him. The spice thing? Oh, that was maybe a slight annoyance at best, but enough to put a bounty on him? Crazy. Also, Sanis couldn't believe how cheaply he went for. A damn lousy 700k. In Sanis' mind, he was worth no less than two million.

Sanis' train of thought was broken as blaster fire rang out. One of the Commendant's men fired a shot at Azure. Sanis' eyes widened. Ah frell! He knew the huntress was in for it on this job, but he didn't expect her own employers to pull a fast one.

Using the shot as a distraction, Sanis reached up and slammed his cuffed wrists into the nose of the heavyset man who was restraining him. He fell backwards against a bulkhead, cursing at his broken nose. The other man turned to see Sanis, and as he was rather tied up and unarmed at the moment, Sanis decided to close distance before he could get a shot off. Sanis lunged at the man...which was more like a leaping trip. He clubbed at him with his shackled hands, and tackled him to the ground, praying to whoever was listening that the Imp didn't get control of that blaster any time soon.)

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter propped herself up and stood off the floor. She staggered and rubbed her chin, still holding the data pad with her free hand. She looked at it and saw it was blank. No money. That was the SECOND time some frellin male had taken a shot to her chin, and this was the SECOND time she'd been betrayed in an assignment!! She'd had quite enough!

She looked with some astonishment at Sanis grappling with Krell, while Bjell was nursing what seemed to look like a broken nose. She quickly punched a few keys into her computer gauntlet, and the little droid she had summoned before, silently whizzed along the ceiling and headed into the other ship. Djell was now beginning to forget about his nose and started to pull his blaster free from it's holster, aiming it at Sanis. Now, she didn't care if Sanis had jumped these guys for her sake, or for the sake of escaping, but right now she was mad as hell. She snarled and lunged at Djell who managed to get a shot off that went wide. She slammed, fists first into his face. While he was still dazed, she stepped behind him, grabbed his neck, and twisted it hard. The bone cracking under the stress was unmistakeable. She dropped the body and looked over to where Sanis was still battling with Krell.

She raised her hand to send a plasma bolt at Krell, but Sanis kept getting in the way. Why should she care? Why didn't she fire?! Ah, frell! The little dorid she'd sent into the Obroa-Skai ship had come back, hiding itself back into it's alcove. She lowered her hand and studied her computer gauntlet for a moment and looked up satisfied. Hitting another set of keys on her gauntlet. The cuffs engulfing Sanis's hands and ankles dropped to the floor.

Her assignment was over. Contract ended.

[Sanis Prent]

(As the handcuffs clinked free from Sanis' wrists, he promptly pinned the man's left shoulder to the round with his right hand, and delivered a series of quick punches to his face. The man fumbled for his blaster, but finally Sanis connected with a shot that sent him out. The struggling man stopped, and his blaster clattered to the floor. Sanis sat up slightly, glad that the two Imperials had been taken out. Out of the corner of his eye, however, he noted the fallen man's blaster.

Quickly, Sanis lunged for the weapon, scooping it up and pointing it at the huntress. He didn't really know what he was doing, but suddenly things had gotten rather weird. Without the contract in place, he honestly had no clue what to expect.)

So, what do we do now?

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter eyed Sanis, then at the blaster in his hand pointed at her, and then just chuckled. She raised her hands slightly.

Would it surprise you if I said, "I don't know"?

She shook her head.

I don't expect you to understand my way of working, and certainly not my way of reasoning. In another life-time, a time where I had not known Vince, I probably would have easily obliterated you right where you stood. No problem.

For emphasis, she pointed at the several small security blaster canons that were now solidly trained on Sanis. They'd been activated by her once she'd released him from his shackles.

But, because I knew Vince, and remembered something he'd once said, I did what I did. Yes, I was blind with anger; anger at you.

She began to move forward slowly.

And yes, I was ready to strip you of your hide and make wallpaper out of it.

This brought a twitch to Sanis's cheek.

But, the fact of the matter is, after seeing I couldn't fire Krell without hitting you just confused me. Then I'd remembered what Vince had told me so long ago when a man had cheated against him: "Why seek revenge? I still wouldn't have the money afterwards. I'd still have what I had had before."

She stopped her momentum, standing next to Krell, and hauled the large man onto her shoulder, recieving a puzzled look from Sanis.

Yes, you caused my blindness. But this little skuffle opened my eyes again. Don't get me wrong, I'm not getting soft.

To emphasize this, she flung the large man towards his dead comrade, watching him collide solidly against the hull interior.

Perhaps I'm just getting wiser with every passing day and event.

She turned her full attention to Sanis.

And maybe what you said triggered that memory. Who knows? Odder things have happened in this universe.

She shook her head.

I really don't know what you're going to do now. My contract for your bounty is over and I have my money.

She snarled turning, stalking towards the two fallen men.

But I sure as hell know what I'm going to do. I'm going to go visit a certain fat commendant on Obroa-Skai, She punched a few keys into her computer gauntlet and several hover droids came out of their hidden alcoves and began to haul the fallen men through the airlock and into their ship. and show him why it's unwise to cross a Bounty Hunter.

She watched as the last man was taken away into the other ship.

Especially me.

[Sanis Prent]

(Still holding the blaster, but now using it for mainly emphasis on his words, Sanis looks incredulously at the huntress)

Are you off your repulsors? Yeah, you got a few toys and all, and yeah, you're pretty good at what you do, but running straight through Obroa-Skai and taking out the commandant...you're frelling asking for your head to be cleaned out by blaster fire. A one-woman army isn't gonna cut it against a heavy Imperial garisson. Assuming you even make it planetside, you'll be dealing with a few thousand troops after you, and I'm pretty sure by now that our beloved commandant is already looking for you.

(Sanis mock-saluted with the barrel of his blaster)

Good luck and all, but count me out of this one. You've already given me one-too-many headaches for a day.

[Azure Regalia]

She looked at him and smiled, ignoring the blaster all together, and brushed past him to the cockpit to seal the air lock and detach the connection tube.

I'm not too worried about his army. Just before you took out that last guy, my hover droid came back from his little mission aboard their ship. It'd copied and compiled a message from Krell from past logs and sent it to the Commendant informing him the task was done. As for the money, it has been automatically transfered to one of my accounts, but won't show up missing on the Commendant's reports until 48 hours from now. So, I have two days to get my job done.

She finished her task and looked back to find him looking at her, with a look on his face that told her he thought she had completely fallen off the back end of a churnip lift.

Look. I know you think I'm loony for doing this, but it's like you said yourself: Don't mess with Outlaws cause it'll just come right back and bite you in the arse.

She looked away momentarily and muttered under her breath.

This whole mess is like deja vu.

She turned to him again and leaned back slightly, furrowing her brows together.

Come to think of it, I'd think you'd be mad as hell at this guy for putting a price on your head?

She narrowed her eyes.

Maybe you shouldn't preach what you dont', or won't, do.

She turned back to her control panel, preping for a hyperspace jump to Obroa-Skai.

Besides, they won't be expecting me, and...

For emphasis, her skin's color rippled and she disapeared as her Cameleon-like skin camoflaged her. She then pressed a button on the ship that did the same to it. The seemingly empty space sitting in the chair spoke.

...they won't see me coming...

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis gave a sigh of resignation as he twiddled with the blaster. Okay, sure he'd love to take the guy who put a bounty on him to the cleaners, but at the same time...he didn't exactly see this one fitting into his business scheme. Revenge was more of a hobby, not a lucrative practice. Sanis shrugged, and gave a wry smile.)

I don't suppose it would matter worth a damn if I said no to the whole thing, would it?

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter came out of camoflage and was now moving the ship into position to blow the "Glimmer Spice" into so much space dust.

Not unless you feel like swimming through space.

She pressed a button and watched a quad burst of high energy blaster cannon fire sail through the vacuum and obliterate the other ship.

She jabbed a thumb behind her.

Airlock's that way. Be sure to close the door up tight behind ya.

She chuckled knowing full well Sanis wasn't quite ready to make the jump to meet his Maker. Somehow, he didn't strike her as the type.

With that, she pulled back the lever and both watched the stars streak into the familiar lines of hyperspace on the way to Obroa-Skai; one wanting nothing more than to vape the entire planet, the other wanting to be a million lightyears away.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis flopped into the copilot's seat in a rather protesting manner. His fingers twiddled over the blaster which he set in his lap. This was one damn-fine predicament. He was more or less being conscripted into service...or so it seemed. Looking around and muttering slightly, Sanis reclined the seat, and realized he was still in his white boxer shorts and his undershirt.)

So, you got any spare clothes, or should I just dance around Obroa-Skai in my underwear?

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter made a quick sweep of the instrumentation before looking at Sanis. But this time, she REALLY looked at him. Through all of the fighting and hullabaloo, she hadn't really taken a look at what state he was in... fahsion wise, that is. Now, she took into account what he'd said and imagined him running around Obroa-Skai in his underwear waving a blaster. It was too much for her to hold back and she began to chuckle, eventually bursting out into a laughing fit.

Well, Prent, that would be a site to behold. You running around in your drawls waving a blaster. New fashion statement?

She was laughing hard. Oh she hadn't laughed like this in years. When was the last time? She was shaking her head and trying to calm down. Oh, it'd been a good four years. She blinked as her laughter stopped abruptly... the last time she'd laughed was the day before Vince had died. Puzzled, she looked at Sanis who was looking back obviously waiting for an answer.

Ummm... yeah. Back there. Take the hallway, pass the first door on your right and then enter the next door on your left to my quarters. There's a wooden trunk in there with some clothes. Pick what you need.

An aftershock of giggles proceeded her instructions and she turned back to look at the controls. She liked the feeling to be able to laugh again; it helped to releave her of some stress. But she was slightly shocked at how it had come from the man that had murdered Vince. She shook her head again, thinking. Perhaps tomorrow wouldn't be like every other day. Who knew?

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis opened up the trunk, and began to sort through some things. The clothes were a little loose, but other than that, they were fine. Some nice boots, a button-up shirt, some dark pants, and a bantha-skin jacket. Sanis held the jacket, ready to put it on, when he noticed some stitching on the inside of it. Leaning closer, Sanis could read letters stitched into the lining...

...Vince Furrlion.

Sanis sighed audibly. He wasn't sure he liked the idea of wearing the clothes of the man he had killed. He grimaced...it might stir up some more angst from the huntress. Then again, she insisted.

Reluctantly, Sanis slid the jacket on. It was soft and comfortable, and roomy enough to conceal a few weapons. Sanis smiled. At any rate, Mr. Furrlion could dress well enough.)

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter sat at the pilot's chair a moment longer, and got up just after Sanis had left for his new clothes. She had no doubt he'd find the name inside the expensive bantha hide jacket. It was a way of her making peace in some sense of the word. She'd remembered another line Vince had said to her when she'd been laughing, "Wounds may not heal completely and most definitely will leave scares. But the healing process must start somewhere; and more times than not, they start with you." She sighed finding herself making her way to the small kitchen through the first door in the hallway. It'd been quite awhile since she'd eaten and she was half starved. She started scrounging through the small cupboards when she heard a skuffle at the door. She looked up to find Sanis standing there, in Vince's clothing. She half smiled.

Not bad. The jacket looks good on you, albiet slightly large. But, all in all, not bad.

She chuckled remembering the man running around in his underwear waving a gun, and went back to searching that cupboard, finally fetching a can of food.

At least you're not in your underwear anymore.

Opening the can, she poured it's contents into a metal container and set it to heat in a small oven. She looked back up.

Ship rations. Not a gourmet meal, but it works.

She walked to the small refrigerator unit and pulled out two drinks, tossing one to Sanis, who caught it, and then made her way over to the computer terminal.

She started punching away at the computer console, trying to see how she could sneak into the Commendants headquarters.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis sat down beside the huntress, looking down at the computer screen)

So what's the plan? There is a plan, isn't there?

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter stopped her searching on the computer and gave Sanis a side-long glance, slightly puzzled.

Are you telling me you've changed your mind and are actually going to DO something?

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis shifts in his seat, looking away in an annoyed fashion)

Well yeah...don't let it go to your head or anything. I'd just like to find myself off this little joyride of yours in one piece, and since you're obviously nuts enough to do this, its pretty obvious you're gonna need help.

So yeah, I'm in...but don't pat yourself on the back for it.

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter looked back at the screen before her, chuckling slightly.

Well, I'm still doing some reserach on our fat friend here. He's got plenty of dirt on him, but nothing in the forms of formulating a plan...

She looked at Sanis.

... yet, anyways.

She was silent for awhile looking back at the screen. Having been able to slice into the database on Obroa-Skai through the same carrier wave numbers that had been on the "Glimmer Spice", she was finding interesting things about the Commendant. And some things she just didn't want to know.

There were several plans to go with. There was the suicidal approach, the stealth approach, or the covert approach. The suicidal approach basically spoke for itself. Basically, gangbusters-style your way into the fortress and hope you got your job done. She didn't really like that idea unless it were for a really, really last option situation. The stealth approach was what she knew how to do without thinking about. But if Sanis was going to be helping, it would be hard to camoflage him in the same way she did. Now, the covert approach was a possibility, but until she could find something that they could hide as in the database, they were pretty much stuck with stealth. She sighed and tilted her head to crack the bones in her neck. She began to rub the stiffness on the back of her neck with her hand. No doubt too much stress and lack of sleep had caused the soreness.

She was almost to the point of saying they'd have to go with the stealth plan, when she leaned forward as something caught her eye.

Well, now. This is quite interesting.

[Sanis Prent]

(Watching the huntress eat, Sanis was reminded that he hadn't eaten in quite a while...considering his melodramatic incineration of his rations in the energy cage. Hmm...damn, he was now regretting that. As she studied the data readouts on her computer, she leaned forward as something piqued her interest. Also wanting to know what was up, Sanis leaned in)

What'd you find?

[Azure Regalia]

Just before Sanis had asked her what she'd found, she'd spied him looking at her as she ate some of the food she had just heated. She sighed. Getting up momentarily, she headed to the kitchenette and prepared something, bringing it back and handing it to Sanis.

Don't incinerate it, this time. If you're gonna be a part of this little mission, you might as well have your strength and wits about you without being in a state of starvation.

She gestured towards the screen, getting back down to business.

Well, looks like the Commendant likes women. I mean, I have yet to meet a man of any species who doesn't, but it appears this guy REALLY likes them. He has about a dozen concubines.

She wrinkled her nose and muttered.

Actually, they're more like slaves from what I've heard.

She propped her elbow on the console studying the screen. A plan started to form in her mind as the covert idea started to take shape. She continued digging about the Commendant's little escapades with his pet women and discovered a shipping schedule. This time her eyes opened a bit wider and she smiled.

She swiveled in her chair and looked Sanis up and down, frowning slightly. Hmmm... some things would obviously need changing.

She swiveled back to look at the screen and kept reading the shipping schedule. She needed a name... somewhere... AH! Here we go! She put a search on the name of a man she'd found, coming up with information on a place that sold the Rare and Exotic. She put through a different slice for the shop, and got a load of names and information on several females; all being exported to different crime bosses and such. She was looking for a particular name. The Commendants name. Scrolling, scrolling, scrolling... there! Well, now, it appeared the bastard had ordered yet another female slave for his enjoyment, and she was to be delivered... scroll some more... tomorrow.

She turned her head to look at the chrono mounted on the computer and smiled again. They'd be in orbit of Obroa-Skai early tomorrow morning. Easy enough. She slid her seat to the comm unit and put a message through to the shop indicating the message was from the Commendant and he'd canceled the order. She waited a few moments and caught the returning confirmation from the shop on a loop carrier wave. The Commendant would never know what had happened. Never-the-less, she set a security catch in the event the shop tried to contact the Commendant. It would be directed to her comm and never be seen by the Commendant himself.

She slid back into place at the computer terminal, and called up the woman that was to be delivered. The Bounty Hunter found a picture of her and studied it. After a moment, her skin began to ripple into different shades until it matched that of the woman's, then the hair, then the eyes. Soon, the Bounty Hunter sported a fair complection, jet black hair with silvery-green highlights, and deep-sea green eyes. She smiled and turned to Sanis.

I think I have a plan.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis smirked...he had a pretty good idea exactly what she was up to. Shrugging, he scrutinized Azure)

You know, I never pictured you as a brunette.

(Sanis smiled, and began to quickly eat his rations. Oh man, he was starving! As Sanis ate, he looked at the huntress. She seemed to pull off the disguise incredibly well, to the point that Sanis had to wonder just how many times she'd been doing that around him. He knew once for sure at the art festival...but aside from that?

Sanis stopped between bites of his food.)

I never got your name.

[Azure Regalia]

She eyed him.

Maybe it's because I never told you my name.

She continued looking at him. One of those thugs from Obroa-Skai had said her last name and she was pretty sure Sanis was smart enough to remember. But, somehow, she got the feeling he wanted her to say it. She shrugged. If they were going to work together, names were always a good place to start in working out plans.

The name's Azure Regalia.

She smiled as Sanis took another mouth full, then gestured towards the screen.

But, for this little opperation, my name is Sellien...

Then she pointed a finger at Sanis.

...and you are Ton Kregan, owner, seller, and deliverer for the shop Kregan's Rare and Exotic Goods.

She looked him up and down again.

Of course, we're going to have to "camoflage" you as well.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis smiled slightly)

Well, Azure...I'd like to say its a pleasure to meet you, but the jury's still out on that one.

(Azure began to discuss other details of the plan, as well as Sanis' part. Sanis stopped between bites, his brow creasing slightly)

Wait...what do you mean by "camoflage".

(For some reason, Sanis didn't like this.)

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter chuckled.

Relax, Prent. When I said "camolage", I didn't mean you'd have to change your entire appearance or disapear all together. No, all we have to do for you is change your hair color, eye color, and add a nice big scar running down the right side of your face. Oh, and we'll have to tattoo your left shoulder. How do you feel about having a half-naked woman on your arm? It'd be fake, of course, but our fat friend the Commendant wouldn't know.

She pointed to a picture of the man he was evetually to resemble.

Shouldn't be too difficult.

She then stood looking at her tail.

Of course, my tail will have to go. This is probably the only part of my job I hate.

She walked down the hallway and disapeared into her room, emerging with a large case in her hand. She handed it to Sanis.

Here. When you're done with your meal, start changing your appearance. All the things you need are in there. And start practicing your acting.

With that, she walked again into the hallway and locked herself in the bedroom for a few moments.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis finished up his rations, and began to dig through the case...pulling out all sorts of cosmetic tools. Taking his shirt off, Sanis began to use dermal putty to cover up knife wound scars and other pre-existing tattoos. Next, he applied the fake tattoo to his shoulder. Next, he used a different dermal agent to create the appearance of a scar on the right side of his face, matching the picture on the screen. After this, Sanis inserted two colored contacts into his eyes, and then used an aerosol can to spray hair color into his hair, changing its color. Sanis gave himself a good look in the mirror, and back at the computer screen. It wasn't perfect, but it would fool most.

Next, Sanis began to watch video recordings of the man in question. His body language, his accent, his word choice. Sanis began to mimic them all, putting the videos on repeat, and mocking the man in the mirror. All the while, Sanis had to admit he felt extremely stupid putting the charade on. Oh well...it didn't seem like he was getting his way on the matter. He'd just have to grin and bear it for the moment.)

[Azure Regalia]

A moment later, the Bounty Hunter emerged from her room, walking slowly down the hallway. Her backside was a bit numb, but she'd be fine.

When she emerged into the lounge, she found Sanis had changed himself quite well into Kregan. She smiled... not bad, not bad at all. It would do.

When he heard her approaching he turned. What met his eyes was not the Bounty Hunter, but a scantly clad "rare and exotic" specimen. She sported a very tight, sheer in all the right places with opaquness in those areas left for the imagination, green cat-suit with silver shimers here and there. Her hair was left down and long, and her face was done up with makeup to match the suit. Everything one would expect of a concubine. She smiled.

From this point forward we are not the people we once were. From here on, we are from Kregan's Rare and Exotic Goods.

She pointed to him.

You are Ton Kregan...

She gestured towards herself.

...and I am Sellein.

She walked towards the computer console and punched in a few buttons. The ship shuddered slightly, changing into an illusion of one of Kregan's ships. She called up a picture of the ship, so that Sanis could see what it looked like. She made a wide gesture.

And this is the "Silver Lady", Kregan's personal ship.

She looked at him fully, smiling wryly

This should be fun.

[Sanis Prent]

(As Sanis began to practice Mr. Kregan's crooning accent and brash facial expressions, he noticed Azure return. He looked at her, and she was totally different than before. Not only colors and complexion...but Sanis also remembered her having a tail of some sort. To the best of his knowledge, she couldn't exactly withdraw her tail up inside her or anything, so the curiosity was indeed valid.)

Uh, Azure...didn't you have a tail last time I checked?

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter winced slightly. She had known that eventually he'd wonder and the curiosity would overwhelm him. She shrugged and gingerly sat down on the leather chair in the lounge.

Yes, I did have a tail. Still do... sort of. I could very well camofladge it to seem it's not there. But with the nature of this particular mission, I had to deal with it another way, so as not to have to concentrate to hard on my disguise.

She looked at him.

This might brand me a masochist, but I cut it off.

She saw Sanis's eyes visibly widen, with his mouth dropping open slightly. She waved her hand.[/

Oh, do close your mouth, Prent, before you drool on the plating. It only hurts for a few moments. And I can regenerate it at will. So, it's no problem.

She leaned back into the chair.

Right now, I suggest some rest before our reversal to real space. Should be in another...

She looked at the wall-mounted computer.

...four hours or so. Enough time for a quick nap.

She closed her eyes, and then cracked one open, pointing at him.

And no funny business. There's more than just me keeping a watch on you.

She smiled and made herself comfortable, dozing off lightly.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis grumbled slightly, tucking the blaster away as he let his seat recline. He hoped this little alliance wasn't going to be a continuous thing. She cramped his style. Slowly, Sanis tried to get some sleep.)

[Azure Regalia]

--------------------
Four hours or so later.
--------------------

The wall mounted computer kept time rather precisely. And exactly on the dot the Bounty Hunter had set it, it went off.

She stirred in her chair, uncurling herself from the curled up position she had been in. Blinking the sleep out of her eyes, she glanced up at the small computer and shut the alarm off. She stretched, the suit she was wearing tugging in just the right places. She hated wearing things like this, but it was part of the disguise. She sighed and stood, looking over at a still sleeping Sanis. She tilted her head slightly. He was out. Completely out. She scratched her head lightly, letting her fingers run down the length of her hair. Well, she had given him a good fight, and he'd put up a valient one too. She'd be tired too. But, it was time to prep for the mission.

She walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder, shaking gently.

Hey, Prent. Time to wake up. We'll be back in real space in little over ten minutes. You gotta get ready to play your part.

She slid her hand off his shoulder and walked towards the cockpit.

[Sanis Prent]

(Groggily, Sanis roused himself from sleep...wishing he was back on Coruscant. Grumbling to himself, he looked in a mirror, making sure his disguise was still in effect. It was. Fixing his hair slightly, Sanis made sure he was ready to play his part...albeit unenthusiastically.)

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter sat at the controls in the cockpit, watching the navcomp count down to the reversal to real space. She looked out the cockpit and watched as the star-streaked lines became once again stationary dots in an inky black void. And below the shp, turning in it's orbit, floated the blue and green world of Obroa-Skai.

Almost immediately the comm started beeping with an incoming message from Obroa-Skai, The Bounty Hunter stood and moved towards the comm gesturing towards Sanis.

Come on, Prent, or rather, Kregan. She's your ship now, hence this is your call.

She sat herself at the leather chair placing a gold colar with chain around her neck. She watched quietly as Sanis placed himself in front of the comm. He pressed the receive button.

Obroa-Skai: This is Obroa-Skai flight control. State your business.

She remained quiet and Sanis prepared to answer. It was now time to play the part of a pasive pleasure slave being delivered to her new master.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis raised an eyebrow, as the comm unit switched on. Time to act.)

Obroa-Skai, this is Silver Lady. Request permission for landing clearance, regarding special delivery to the Commandant.

[Azure Regalia]

Obroa-Skai: Copy "Silver Lady". Transmit landing code.

The Bounty Hunter watched as Sanis pressed a button that would transmit the code she had plucked from the Commandants own files. They were recent and should give them no trouble.

A string of numbers appeared in the screen as the code was received by the Obroa-Skai Flight Control. Then a few moments of silence. Those few moments made her tense slightly, but then the reply came soon after.

Obroa-Skai: "Silver Lady". Code received and varified. You are clear for landing in Section 3A, Pad 2. Proceed directly to that destination via the beacon signal.

A small pinging began to emit from the speakers on the comm as the ship picked up the landing beacon. Automatically, the ship vered in that direction and began it's ascent to the landing pad designated for it.

The ship landed without so much as a bump. The ships scanners picked up two gaurds standing outside, waiting for "Kregan" to come out with the merchandise. The Bounty Hunter sighed softly. As much as she wanted to give the Commandant what was coming to him, she hated to be the "decoration" so to speak.

She watched as Sanis came over and looked at the chain. Slowly he grabbed it and began to walk, no doubt thinking the Bounty Hunter would come. Oh, she'd come, alright, so as to play the part, but first thing was first.

She grabbed the chain and yanked it in her direction, pulling Sanis back, making him stumble, only to have his face brought very close to hers. She had him by the collar, a very serious tone in her voice.

Try not to let this little charade run away with you. Other than that, you're doing just fine.

She let his collar go, brushing it a few times, and then gestured towards the door with a flourish of arm.

Both began walking towards the door, and it slid open. Sanis walked down the ramp first, with the huntress in tow. Both guards looked at Sanis and then looked even more at the Bounty Hunter. She had to keep her temper in check. If she'd had her way, those two men would be missing their eyes right about now.

Keeping a passive look on her face, she followed Sanis silently, letting him do the talking as he should.

Soon, the real fun would begin.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis smirked as he walked outside the ship, letting the wind blow his hair back. Offhandedly, he stroked his artificial mustache, as Ton Kregan would most likely do. As he led Azure down the gangplank, he narrowed his eyes and smiled a thin weasely smile, gesturing for the guards to approach. When the came close, Sanis spoke in a accent-laden voice.)

Eh, how you'se guys doin', eh? Ton Kregan, at ya service, ya know. Say eh...where's yer boss, eh? I gots a bit of eh, hehe, precious cargo, ya know?

(Sanis tugged slightly at the chain for emphasis)

So eh...whaddya say we ya know, part companies and so and such, and gets down to meetin Mr. C, eh?

(Sanis had to smile a little. Of course he was gonna enjoy this a little bit.)

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter had to keep a straight face during the entire time Sanis spoke. She also had to keep the surprise out of her eyes. She'd expected him to pull off the prank with no problem, but he was making an art out of it. Almost like she did. She had to admit, this impressed her quite a bit. Goodness, could her respect for the man be actually growing? She chuckled inwardly. Not likely.

She stumbled forward slightly as he gently tugged on the chain. She brought her stumble to a hault just inches away from one of the guards. As she stopped, the small strap holding her tight suit up, slipped off her shoulder. Blushing furiously, she began to back up when the guard grabbed her just above the elbow. He pulled her close to him and looked her up and down, smiling oily. He addressed Sanis.

Head guard: Well, we have to check this precious cargo to make sure it's safe for the Commandant.

The Bounty Hunter had to keep her anger in check and remain with a slight fright in her eye. While this close to him, she was already working, checking to see the type of armament the soldiers on the compound carried and their communication devices. The other guard was coming up to get a look at her, after having inspected the ships ID, at the same time he was pulling out his comm. Standard comm unit. She was pretty sure the Comm Traffic Sifter she had tucked away in the gold collar was picking up the security channels. Those frequencies would come in handy later.

Having finished her check of both guards, she pulled her arm free from the harsh grasp like a frightened child and scurried to stand behind Sanis. Both guards laughed.

Head guard: Oh, she's a slippery one. The Commandant should like this one.

Still chuckling, the second guard spoke into his comm unit.

Second guard: This is guard post 3A, Pad 2. The "Silver Lady" has landed and her ID checks out. Mr. Kregan is here to deliver his cargo, scheduled for today.

Obroa-Skai security: Copy, guard post 3A. Security escort on its way.

The secnd guard put his comm unit away as the escort arrived in an open speeder.

Head guard: Mr. Kregan? You escort to the main palace.

He gestured with his hand. Sanis smiled, playing with that fake mustache. She followed him into the speeder, but not before beingpatted indignitly by one of the guards as she got in. She whirled and was about to do something horrible to his face with her camoflaged claws, when Sanis grabbed her hand. He tisked and seated her down in the speeder, grinning wide. The guard laughed again.

Head guard: Add fiesty to that list.

Then the speeder sped off towards the palace. When they got there, they were escorted to a waiting area. They'd seen some other people waiting in another hallway. Most likely other's who wanted to see the Commandant. The escort led them into a room.

Escort: The Commandant will be with you shortly after some of his other interviews.

After the escort had closed the door, and locked it, the Bounty Hunter began to look around. She was searching the place for bugs that were no doubt there. And not to mention hidden cameras of sorts. Sanis seated himself at one of the plush couches. She stood a moment longer and then sat next to him. Reaching into her collar, she pulled out the Comm Traffic Sifter, and slipped it to Sanis. Concentrating, she looked into his eyes, making a mental connection.

<This will help to sort through the security frequencies. I have been able to spot a few bugs and only a couple of cameras, but there may be more.>

She pulled out a small device that resembled a data pad from inside the backside of the collar. It was flexible and easily held in the palm of one's hand. She slipped that to Sanis also.

<When the Commandant comes in, he will no doubt want me to demonstrate some of my "abilities". While I'm distracting him, you go over to that desk there. Inside the desk, probably in the right drawer, there should be a small computer panel. Insert the Sifter into it's data feed pocket. from there you should be able to find the security channels that feed to this room. Loop the recordings of use sitting here. It'll appear we're still waiting for Fat-boy.>

Sweat was beginning to show on her forhead. She wasn't use to this mental connection and it was draining.

<The data pad is to then set in motion a small alarm for one of the rooms on the other side of the building. Most security personel will go there. Then when I have incapacitated the Commandant, we will set the building's interior security system to an overload and blow the place. Then we make our way back to the ship as security personel.>

The plan was sound, but eventuallities always occured. She broke the connection and slumped in the couch, running a hand across her brow. She could hold mental connections for a short time and with only spurts of information to give. But she had needed to give him the instructions. She was gald she'd had those four hours of sleep before hand.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis wasn't unaccustomed to telepathic communication, as Dalee had used it solely. Therefore, Sanis barely flinched when Azure spoke to him in that manner. He didn't expect it, but it wasn't as much of a shock anymore, considering some of the other things this woman could do. Sanis nonchalantly took the equipment, tucking it into his side jacket pocket, as he sneered, stroking his mustache. He knew he had to play the game as well, and was ready to go.

Looking from side to side casually, Sanis slowly and almost imperceptibly nodded his head, letting Azure know he understood. The two of them waited for the Commandant to see them.)

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter laid back on the couch for awhile, looking at Sanis through her periferal vision as he put the items she'd given him away in his pocket. He was playing the part well. The arrogance, hottiness, the smirk... she almost wondered if he even HAD to act. She smiled slightly and stood, stretching, looking around the room with a wide-eyed expression, curious about everything. She herself continued to the play tye part of a play-thing. She couldn't stray far from "Kregan", for he had her on a small chain. She was just about to curl up on one of the cushioned seats when the doors slammed open. She whirled at the same moment Sanis stood to look at the man entering.

The man was huge, both vertically and horizontally, sported various medals and rank bars, and was without a shadow of a doubt the Commandant. He lumbered over to stand in front of Sanis and extended a beafy hand. He grabbed Sanis's hand, engulfing it in his own, and shook it hartily.

Commandant: Kregan! You old scoundrel! How are you? I see you've brought me yet another beautiful specimen. How you come across these rare and exotic females will forever be beyond me. But I'm not complaining. If it weren't for you, I'd be quite bored on this planet.

The Commandant slapped Sanis on the back in a freidnly gesture, herding him closer to the Bounty Hunter. She merely looked at both men, blinking her big green eyes. The Commandant reached out a large hand and cupped it under her chin, examining her face.

Commandant: Oh, she is lovely. Shall we proceed, then, with the demonstration?

The Bounty Hunter knew this was coming, and to act the part she looked at Sanis expectantly. She saw him nod and begin to move away as she proceeded stand before the Commandant. The Commandant sat in a large leather chair, it's back facing the desk. Good. That would make it easy for Sanis to do his work. The Commandant then pressed a few buttons on the arm of the chair, activating the sound system and bringing on a soothing, sensual music. The Bounty Hunter danced to the music, twisting, rolling, extending, and elongating her body to accomodate it's harmonies and melodies. The Commandant was enraptured. She continued to dance, all the while keeping an eye on Sanis and the job he had ahead of him.

[Sanis Prent]

(As soon as Azure went to work, Sanis slowly approached the desk, presumably to get a better view of the Commandant's take of the situation. Sanis leaned over the desk.)

Some piece o' work 'dere, eh?

(As the Commandant agreed, Sanis slowly opened the right desk drawer, careful not to make a sound. With a deft movement, Sanis slid the sifter into the datapad, and began to cycle through the room's security system, noting key pickups and frequencies, and setting them all to fluid feedback loops. It would take quite a while for anyone to discover the change, and by then...it would be too late. Within two minutes, Sanis had locked down every security channel that fed into the area. With a careful hand, Sanis slid the drawer shut, and stroked his prosthetic mustache, signaling to Azure that the security in the room was disabled. From this point, it was her show.)

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter saw Sanis signal he was done. Moving closer towards the Commandant, she began to motion she was going to sit on the arm rest of the chair he was in, when she abruptly snapped her elbow back, smashing the Commandant's nose. The large man stood up, stunned, letting out a string of choice curse words. He glared at the Bounty Hunter vehemently, raising his hand to back hand her in the face. He caught the hand easily, and held it. This brought a puzzled look on his face as he found he could not move the hand. She began a slow squeezing of his wrist. Soon, bone was heard cracking. The Commandant yanked his hand free and stepped back. He whirled to look at Sanis, who now had a small hold-out blaster in his hand.

The Bounty Hunter snarled lightly, letting her charade drop. The disguise she held melted away into her nature skin and hair color. She was smiling now, her fangs quite evident. She saw recognition register in the Commandant's eyes. He reached for the chair, slapping the alarm, but the sound of the alarm issued in another part of the complex; somewhere on the other side of the palace. She glared at him.

No one betrays me and lives to tell about it.

The Commandant looked genuinely perplexed. He turned to Sanis.

Commandant: Kregan! Do something, man! Use that damn blaster already!

Sanis looked down at his blaster and back at the fat man, and shrugged. The Bounty Hunter started laughing, addressing the Commandant.

You're pathetic. Did you honestly think you'd be able to pull off what you attempted to do? Make off with the bounty and have me vaporized? Not bloody likely.

The Commandant showed fear in his eyes, then his entire face changed. He actually smiled. And it was ugly.

Commandant: My dear Regalia. Did YOU honestly think I thought you were that much of an amateur?

He turned to Sanis.

As for you, you must be Prent. Of course, how would you know Kregan always sends me a bottle of Chandrilla wine when I inform him I have no need for new specimens. It never goes on record.

He snapped the fingers on his good hand, and immediately one side of the room errupted. The fake wall that was there had been hiding about eight soldiers, all carrying heavy blasters... and all trained on the Bounty Hunter and Sanis.

The Bounty Hunter stood silent, eyeing the four blasters staring at her. This was going to prove to be an interesting escape.

[Sanis Prent]

(Thinking quickly, Sanis eyed the Commandant's Corellian heavy blaster lying on the desk. Biting his lip as he thought, Sanis lunged forward...not at the blaster, but at the other side of the desk, pulling it back towards him with all his might. When that happened, the desk toppled over on its side, providing a great cover for blaster fire. The Commandant's pistol clattered to the floor, only a foot away. Sanis snatched the pistol up, and popped up over the desk, blasting two of the guards in the chest.)

Azure, take cover!

(Sanis ducked down quickly as blaster fire sprayed angrily in his direction, peppering the desk and area around him with pock marks)

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter wasted no time. Even at the same tme Sanis spoke, she was already moving, camoflaging herself. Being close to the Commandant, she slashed at his face vertically along his cheek. The poison in her claws wouldn't kill him, but it certainly would slow the fat bastard down. At the same time, she used the momentum to carry her into a side sumersault that sent her behind a large bookcase.

The Commandant himself yelled out in pain at her claws slashing his cheek at the same time he dove behind the couch to be with his guards.

Behind the side of the book case, she didn't have much room, having to squeeze herself into the small area. From her spot, she watched the guards continue to attack the desk Sanis was hiding behind. A few bolts sizzled past her as the guards attempted to find her. She may be camoflaged, but even in a heavy fire fight, she needed cover. She cursed, looking and wishing for a weapon. Then it dawned on her. She'd read in some old manuals that Imperial library's always held a weapon in a book slot. She wracked her brain, seraching for the title of the book. This wasn't exactly a library, but knowing the Commandant, she'd figured he might put it in every damn room in his palace.

Slithering along the floor, she began seraching the book shelf. Where was it? It should be here... hopefully. She was sl8ithering along the floor to the next book shelf. She searched it as well. The fire fight continued all around her. One more bookshelf. If it wasn't there, she might as well crawl to one of the dead guards and take the weapon from there. But that would put her in a dangerous spot near the others. Se searched the last shelf, and was ready to give up when she found what she was looking for. "The Complete History of Corvis Minor". One of the most boring things to read, but a perfect place to hide a small hold-out blaster. She pulled the box free and reached inside, grabbing hold of the cold metal of the blaster. Freeing it, she aimed it at the guards and began firing, moving as she did so. She dropped three more guards as she fired.

She was almost at the desk where Sanis was when a stray bolt hit her in the shoulder, spinning her slightly and ropping her. A brilliant flash exploded in her vision as her head hit the edge of the large chair the Commandant had been sitting at. Frell it all! Having been dazed, her camoflage dropped prematurely. She lay there blinking, watching as the remaining blasters near her came to rest in her line of vision. She snarled.

The Commandant stood, swaying slightly as the poison began to take effect. He caught himself though on the back of the couch, aiming a blaster steadily at the Bounty Hunters head. He bellowed towards Sanis.

Commandant: Prent! Cease your fire or your partner in crime here get's to see what the inside of her head looks like.

He gave her an ugly grin, to which she spat in his general direction. The small spit of saliva ladned inches from his hand, sizzling and melting the fabric of the couch where it touched.

[Sanis Prent]

(From behind the desk came a voice)

Is that a fact, huh? Frell it...go ahead and kill her, man. I don't give a damn.

(As the Commandant took time to digest this unexpected answer, Sanis popped up quickly, squeezing off a shot that slammed through the Commandant's chest. At the same time, he kicked a rolling chair towards the other guards, hitting one in the side and causing him to fall on the other. Buying Azure enough time to duck for cover, Sanis once again ducked behind the desk.)

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter winced as the sting in her shoulder increased as her fast healing abilities began to work. She heard Sanis's reply and almost laughed. Oh, she could just feel the love in the room.

The bolt came out of no where, slamming into the Commandant's chest. She blinked and dove behind the large chair she'd hit her head against. She heard the large man grunting and cursing, but he still sounded pretty much alive. Damn. The firing ensued again. This time, she'd had enough.

She was royally pissed. She'd been betrayed. She been injured. She was to the point of going completely insane. Her eyes began to glow a bright yellow. She let out a low rumbling growl, a sound which did not belong in such a body. She stepped from behind the chair, possibly having gone utterly mad. Those glowing yellow eyes bore into the Commandant's as he stood, supported by a guard.

He's not my partner.

With a terrifying roar, her features began to change. Not in a camoflage sense, but actually CHANGING. Transforming. The Commandant and guards just stared, the firing slowly dieing. They'd not expected this, and the Bounty Hunter used the technique of surpise to her advantage.

What happened next, no one would ever believe possible.

[Azure Regalia]

The clothes she'd been wearing tore away from her skin as her features grew into hard, tough scales, creating an armor around her body. She bent down, on all fours. Her claws grew larger, her tail re-emerged, growing larger, her body grew in length, her fangs became longer, and her face elongated. Soon, she stood there, panting from the extersion, but a walking arsenal of armor, claws and teeth. She no longer resembled a reptilian humanoid, but rather a full-fledged reptile. She roared again and lunged at the Commandant, bowling over the remaining guards with her massive tail. She stood over the Commandant, growling. One of the guards picked up his fallen blaster and aimed it at her, ready to fire. She looked up at him and lunged at him with surprising speed, wrapping her massive jaw around his neck and tearing out his esophagous. The man gurgled and then dropped. She turned her attention back to the other guards, who were now firing blindly at the reptile in there midst.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis came up over the desk for another shot, and saw the large creature)

Holy sh...

(Sanis dropped down fast, unsure of what he had seen. Peering over the desk again, he saw Azure...but not Azure. She had changed into some bizarre reptilian creature, and was fighting everybody. Regaining his nerve, Sanis quickly sprung up from the desk, unloading his pistol into two of the guards as he jumped to the ground, unable to be supported by the weakened and blasted desk.)

[Azure Regalia]

Sanis had just dropped the last two guards. She angled towards the Commandant who was now crawling towards the loced door. How unfortunate for him Sanis's little programing had locked it with a code other than the one that was previously programed. The Commandant tried the door keypad, hope still etched on his features that he would escape alive. She began to move slowly in his direction, beginning to breathe hard at having to keep this form. When he realized he was trapped he turned, wide-eyed and began pointlessly fireing again. She swatted the blaster away, nearly taking his hand with it. She hissed, grinning with those large teeth of hers. Her voice came out raspy and deep, but destinctly female.

No one EVER betrays me. And lives to tell about it.

She placed a massive clawed paw on his stomache and pressed down, opening several small wounds with the sharp tips. The Commandant screamed, but the scream was cut short as she opened her mouth wide, biting down on his head. It was gruesome. She snapped down, liquids and such spilling and spraying everywhere. With a mighty yank, she tore his head from his body, tossing it aside. It flew through the air, bouncing off the wall with a sickening, wet thud, and rolling to a stop near the desk where Sanis hid behind.

Licking her chops clean, she sauntered away from the body of the Commandant, limping slightly because of the wound in her shoulder, and turned to face the desk. She gave what was the equivelant of a smile to Sanis, who was peeking over the edge of the desk.

Mission main objective complete. Now let's get out of here.

[Azure Regalia]

With a sound between a grunt and a whimper, she dropped to the floor. She squinted her eyes shut, thinking hard to re-transform herself back to her original form. All her features shrunk back to their original size. She lay there for a moment, panting and shivering slightly. The hair on her head was completely wet from the transformations growth back to her original features. She sat up slightly, her hair drooping to the front of her as she did so. She was regaining strength from sheer will, but was still exhausted. Yet she knew she still had the task of getting out of this hell hole.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis began to rifle through the broken desk, searching for something. Quickly, he moved from drawer to drawer, until he found it. Removing the small dataslip, Sanis placed it in his jacket pocket, and stood up)

Lets go.

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter looked up as Sanis began to depart towards the door. She winced, placing her weight on her feet, and walking a bit unsteadily over to the coat rack to get the Commandant's huge over coat. The outfit she'd been wearing was in shreds, and there was no way in hell she was following Sanis out that door butt naked. She drapped the large coat over her shoulders, buttoning it up and rolling the sleeves up to a comfortable height. Grabbing one of the guards blaster rifles, she walked towards the door. Her shoulder was still bleeding, soaking slightly through the fabric of the coat. It should clot soon, but because of the transformation, it had drained her and would be awhile before her body came back to functioning normally again.

She didn't speak so as to reserve energy, so she merely nodded to Sanis to open the door. It slid open. She peeked from behind Sanis's shoulder and saw the corridor empty. No doubt the alarm on the other side of the compound that they had set up had worked. Everyone was still there. Well, this should make their escape easier then.

All they had to do was walk down the hallway and outside, and hope there was a speeder parked there to take them back to the landing pad.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis caught a peek at the naked woman as she walked to find proper coverings.

Nice ass, he thought.

Checking the charge on the heavy blaster pistol, Sanis policed up another blaster rifle, as well as a few tibanna clips from the weapons. When he had what he needed, he turned to the now-clothed Azure.)

You gonna make it?

[Azure Regalia]

She sneered slightly, though it was hard not to be thankful for the question. She sighed.

Yeah, I'll be fine. Let's just get out of here. Preferably alive.

She looked down at the spot where the blood stain on the overcoat continued to grow. Damn, why didn't it clot?! She thought back to when she'd transformed and did a mental calculation on how long she had been in that form. She winced. Too long. She was going to need a bacta patch with clotting agents soon, or she'd slowly bleed to death. Great. Just great. She didn't voice any of this to Sanis. The last thing she wanted was for him to think her weak and vulnerable right now. True, she'd trusted him this far with the mission, but trust was something she counted on from second to second. The future could hold anything.

Clamping her mouth shut, she brushed past Sanis into the corridor. Quiet. As she silently walked down the corridor, she began to wonder if she could possibly camoflage herself. She attempted to, but found she was still too weak from the transformation. Damn. She staggered against a wall, bumping her injured shoulder against it, but catching herself with a clawed handed. Idiot! She hissed softly between her teeth against the pain. Idiot, idiot, IDIOT! She straightened, angery at herself for showing weakness, especially in front of Sanis.

Determined not to let that happen again, she continued walking as though nothing had happened.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis nonchalantly tucked the blaster he commandeered into his jacket, walking slowly and leisurely down the hallways, and slipping a hand around Azure as he did, if anything to keep up the guise of normalcy. They passed several imperial officials, and a few other stormtroopers and similar personnell. Eventually, they reached an intersection, and Sanis turned Azure to the left.)

C'mon...ship's this way.

[Azure Regalia]

The hallways had been quiet for the most part until they reached the reception areas. As they walked through, both the Bounty Hunter and Sanis kept it cool. When Sanis put his arm around her she wanted to violently swat at it, but she knew that would attract unwanted attention. She kept her mouth shut and fumed inwardly, focusing her mind on getting out of there alive.

When they turned the corner, she took a couple of strides faster than Sanis, to release herself from his hold. She stopped next to the door down the long corridor. The door slid open silently and the Bounty Hunter took a peek around the door jam. Outside was a parked speeder. Good. But around the parked speeder were three Stormtroopers. Bad. They seemed to be just chatting, with their helmets off. She tucked her head back in and the door slid silently shut again without notice.

She looked at Sanis.

I don't suppose that blaster you picked up has a silencer on it?

Her heart sank a bit as Sanis shook his head in the negative. Damn.

Well then, Sanis, how are you at hand to hand combat? In other words, how are you at coming up to someone from behind and snapping their necks before they feel your fingertips?

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis looks at Azure with a strange look in his eye)

Its funny that you should mention that. I used to live in a temple, and was trained by the greatest Kung Fung master in all the land...

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter blinked, looking at Sanis as though the strain had finally made him crack.

You've got to be kidding me?

She was shaking her head slightly, and peeked outside the door again.

Well, it's either now or never. And I'd rather it was now than never, cause I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to.

With that, she slowly crept along the wall of the steps towards the troopers. The first one never saw or felt her coming and was dead with a snapped neck before he hit the ground. The next to go down was his buddy with a broken nose rammed into his brain with a flat palm.

While she was busy dropping the second trooper, she hoped Sanis had moved in on the third trooper, for no doubt the man was coming around and getting ready to call for back up on his commlink.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis snuck up behind the third trooper, and tapped him on the shoulder. When the trooper turned around, Sanis extended his left hand toward the man, with his thumb up.)

Hey! Look at my thumb!

(The trooper glanced down at Sanis' thumb at about the same time Sanis smashed him across the face with a right cross, knocking the trooper out.)

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter had just a glimpse of the third trooper falling after a loud smack. She turned towards the parked speeder the three had been conversing around, with Sanis just ahead of her. She saw moment to her left and turned, just in time to see a fourth trooper with commlink to his lips yelling something, raise a blaster in Sanis's direction.

She reacted without thinking, bringing her confiscated blaster to bare on the trooper at the same time shoving Sanis forward into the speeder.

Prent! Get down!!

Her shot was fired as she pushed Sanis down, at also the exact same moment the trooper fired. The trooper's shot sailed through were Sanis's head had been moments before. Her shot rang true, and hit him in between the eyes, dropping the trooper instantly.

She winced. Her shoulder began to hurt again after the strain of bringing her left arm up so quickly to shoot the trooper. She grit her teeth and jumped into the speeder with a small groan, sliding into the driver's seat. She turned to Sanis, who had only been stunned for half a second before plunging into the speeder's passenger side. She spoke to him through slightly clenched teeth, fighting back the pain she was feeling.

Let's get out of here. That trooper made a call. Security is gonna be a bitch now, and getting to my ship isn't going to be easy.

[Sanis Prent]

Leave that to me!

(Azure began to floor the speeder, racing back to her ship. Sanis' mind began to race, as he thought up a quick plan.)

Azure...pop the trunk.

(Sanis fed another tibanna cartridge into his blaster, readying it to fire.)

Your ship...you can remote trigger the gangplank, can't you?

[Azure Regalia]

Dispite her curiosity and want to inquire, she waisted no time in popping the trunk at Sanis's request, all the while keeping the acceleration peddle pressed firmly against the speeder's floor.

She turned her head for a split moment, catching Sanis reload his blaster. She looked back at the road, heading for the landing area, and the pad that held her ship.

She barley heard Sanis over the wind, and did her best to make sure he heard her over it's howl.

Yes. I can.

Keeping one hand on the wheel, she slipped the other into her hair, just behind her ear, and pulled forth what looked like a small remote, about the size of her pinky finger.

It's signal isn't as far reaching as my computer gauntlet's, but it works just as well. We just need to be closer to my ship.

She held it up tightly so Sanis could see it. Then a red light began to flash on the speeder's console, just above the small radar. Several blips were headed in their direction at high speeds. Uh-oh.

Uh, Prent, whatever you're doing, better do it fast...

She pointed to the console, showing him the radar and it's blips.

Cause we've got company!

[Sanis Prent]

(With a bit of stuntman's bravado, Sanis leaned over, grabbing the edge of the trunk, and pulling the cover back towards him, and holding it with all his might, as the wind resistance threatens to pull it out of his hands. However, the trunk top provides excellent cover as a blast shield, as Sanis crouches behind it, peppering pursuing speeders with strafing shots)

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter turned for a second to get a glimpse of what Sanis was doing. Her face wrinkled for a moment as she puzzled over what he was doing, before realization dawned on her. Using the trunk as a shield. Not bad. She was impressed, to say the least.

She turned her attention back to the road, which was rapidly coming up to the gates for the ladning pads. But, the gates were closed. Damn! And those gates weren't your everyday chain link fences either... they were high energy voltage beams. Get stuck in oe of those and you end up looking like a crispy fry. She began to think fast. How far was her ship from the gate. Hmmmm. Not too far. She tried her remote, but the ship did nothing. Damn again! Still too far for the mini-remote to access the ships computer.

She looked at the radar again, and saw the other speeders still pursuing them. Wait a minute. They were in a security speeder. Surely there were some weapons or something aboard. She half turned towards Sanis as she opened the compartment on the passenger side.

Hey, Prent! See if there are any weapons in the trunk! We need something to take down that voltage gate, or we're gonna end up getting fried extra crispy!

She found several small gas bombs in the compartment, alog with a few small blasters. Nothing big, though the gas bombs might slow their pursuers down. She grabbed one and popped it's pin, tossing it out. It rolled under the speeder a few times and then exploded into a thick cloud of a greyish smoke. That should do the trick while she figured out how to get past that gate.

As they grew closer, she looked over the gate trying to find weakness of any kind. Nothing. Then her eyes wondered over to the guard house. Then down towards the ground. Closer to the gate... There. She could see a small cable no doubt attacked to the generator that fed the gate it's power.

She grabbed a few of the smoke bombs and threw them in the back seat so Sanis could get at them if need be. She did likewise with one blaster, but the other she kept. Using her right hand to drive the speeder, she aimed the left with the blaster over the edge at the cable. Her left arm was hellishly stiff from the blaster wound, and it hurt. She grit her teeth and fired. She missed. Krasst! She aimed and fired again. Missed again! Her arm was shaking from the strain and she had to admit to herself she may not be able to hit it with her shoulder in such a condition.

She half-turned again, bringing in her left arm, and speaking to Sanis.

Prent! There's a cable in between the voltage gate and guard house, there, on the corner!

She pointed, though she didn't think that had done much of anything in a rapidly moving vehicle.

If it can be hit, it may disrupt the flow of volts going through those beams!

She wispered under her breath.

I hope...

[Sanis Prent]

Krasst!

(Sanis braced, changing hands as he held the trunk back, and repositioned his body on the back seat. At the speed they were going, the wind resistance was hellish, and Sanis was having a difficult time even hanging on to the trunk cover. Now, he had to find a decent weapon.

Sanis leaned around the side, keeping low to avoid any stray blaster fire. As he did so, he kept a steady hand on the trunk top, making sure it didn't slam on him.

Sanis strained, peering over so he could see the contents in the trunk. Dammit...a few boxes of medical supplies, tools, and wait!

A repeating blaster rifle!

(Sanis grinned triumphantly, licking his upper lip slightly as he reached. With a few seconds of strained effort, Sanis snagged the firearm, pulling it back and ducking once more behind the trunk top...just in time.

However, there was no time for celebration, as the speeder was quickly approaching the energy gate. Sanis' eyes narrowed, until he saw the power cables that Azure was talking about.

With one hand steady on the rifle, and the other hand holding the trunk top upright, Sanis leveled off the repeater at the cable, and fired. Greenish bolts of energy careened outwards, towards the small power cable. Most were missiong, going over and under the cable.

Sanis glanced down...not much time left. With steely determination, Sanis righted his aim, and continued to fire. The speeder was getting dangerously close...as Sanis finally hit the cable, severing it.

The energy field in the security gate flickered and died, just as the speeder zipped through.)

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter had to keep from flinching as the speeder lurched through the gates just as the electro-field sputtered and died. She found herself holding her breath and let it go, taking a quick glance back towards Sanis, who was busy throwing smoke canisters and shooting anything that moved behind them. She cursed something under her breath about him having taken long enough to take the gate down, but she was greatful it had gone down before they'd reached it.

Up ahead, she could see the nose of her ship beginning to peek from behind a small hangar. She tried her short range comm to her ship again, but it still showed the distance was too far for the short range signal. Frusterated, she vowed to put a stronger signal chip inside the miniture transmitter.

They were beginning to near the ship at an alarming rate. Soon the ship was in full veiw once she'd turned the corner around the small hangar. But what greeted her made her heart fall to her stomache. Surrounding the ship were a good three dozen soldiers, along with two speeder tanks. She turned, yelling in Sanis's direction.

Prent! We're coming in range of a small army, and we're not quite close enough to the ship for my transponder to activate it!

She felt close to panic, when her thought porcess kicked in. She got an idea. She yelled back at Sanis, reaching around.

Hey, Prent! You still got that data pad I gave ya? See if you can't interface it and the miniture transmitter! Maybe we can get a stronger signal and get my ship off the ground before we run into the party up ahead!

She'd never really prayed before, but now she found herself praying that this idea would work.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis nodded, letting go of the trunk cover and riding low in his seat. Snatching the datapad out, he took the remote from Azure and began to open some paneling, splicing some wires together.)

Azure...speed up, and ride low!

(Blaster shots peppered the air around them, as the speeder began to move faster and faster. Sanis spliced into the datapad's transmitter, increasing its feed range. Crossing his fingers, he tapped the "Open" button. Peering up, he saw the gangplank slowly drop on the ship, up ahead.)

Alright!

(Sanis lurched backwards, snatching the trunk lid again, and pulling it towards him.)

Swerve! Swerve like mad! get those troops outta the way, and drive up the gangplank!

(Sanis reached over the trunk, blasting another stormtrooper)

Hurry!

[Azure Regalia]

She was driving like a crazed Bantha on crack. The speeder was going so fast, it almost made it impossible to swerve. At the last minute, before scraping up the gangplank, she gave the throttle of the speeder a hard yank, sending the nose of the speeder skidding across half of the troopers parked outside of her ship. Some were smart enough to dive, while those not so quick got hit, falling and careening over like giant dominos. The nose of the speeder smashed into the metal plating as she veered it into the cargo bay of her ship. Thank the maker it was a small speeder. Anything larger, and it wouldn't have fit!

She jumped out of the speeder and yelled out to the ship.

RETRACT GANGPLANK! CLOSE HATCH!

The ship beeped and complied. The words were barely out of her mouth as she hit the floor plating and fell to her knees. She was tired. She'd lost blood. She snarled and looked to the cockpit and suddenly saw everything blur slightly. She shook her head, and began to stand and promplty fell over again. This wasn't going to work. Her head was pounding. She couldn't think straight. There was nothing for it.

She hated to do this, but she had no choice.

Prent, the only way to get out off this plent alive and away from those fighters is to manually fly. You're gonna have to fly the ship.

She spoke to the ship again.

Authorization: RegaliaBetaOmegaDelta33421. All controls are hereby granted to Sanis Prent.

The ship beeped three times quickly.

With a last effort, she yanked the data pad from Sanis's grip and punched in a code. The code had been planted while in the office to manually set all the hangar bay doors here in the complex to to short out and seal. That would slow the Imps down enough for them to make their getaway.

Small explosions were heard outside as the speeder tanks began to fir upon the ship. She turned her head, her vision still blured, having made her way to one of the seats in the living area. She grit her teeth as she hauled herself into the chair, and yelled in Sanis' direction.

Fly already! Get us out of here!

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis ran/stumbled into the cockpit, slamming into the seat as he cursed. His shoulder had smashed into the dash when they slammed the speeder up the ramp. It was probably dislocated.)

Ah fracking krasst...

(He took roughly 2 seconds to situate himself. Steering controls, mooring...thrust!

A speeder tank and several troopers were blown back as the Hunter's Fang lurched into full acceleration from mooring, shooting skyward at near-suicidal speed. Sanis could feel himself getting pressed against the seat as inertia pummeled him)

Cross your fingers!

(The ship raced skyward, with blaster bolts from auto turrets and fighters hot on their heels)

I'm calibrating shields to aft. Azure! Snap out of it...you're gonna have to do the hyperspace calculations. I got my hands full here!

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter growled a curse under her breath as she barely heard, or even understood Sanis' command. If only she hadn't been injured and lost all that blood, she'd still be in full command of her senses. As it was, she was losing everything quickly. Her vision had gone completely blurry and it was only through knowing her ship that she was able to turn around in her seat and feel the wall-mounted computer. She switched the command from touch to voice activation and proceeded to make a hyperspace calculation to take them back to Corucsant.

Computer, cal... calculate hyperspace jump to Coruscant. No direct routes. Use zigz... she took a breath zigzag calculation AlphaZeta. Confirm.

She sat there, straining her hearing as the computer varified the orders given it. When she was sure it had been set, she gave it the final command.

Execute.

Soon a beeping light in sync with a green light blinked on the cockpit console. The coordinates had been set and the ship was ready for the jump.

The Bounty Hunter sighed a relief and then everything went quiet.

[Sanis Prent]

(With the occasional thump of laser blasts against the rear deflector, Sanis pulled back the idle, and opened up the engines, sending Hunter's Fang into hyperspace with a sudden bang.

Watching the stars slip into beams of light, Sanis slumped against his seat. It was only then that he noticed that Azure had passed out. At first, he thought about getting her to a cot, but he was a bit too tired himself to move anywhere. He just sighed, and waited for the journey to conclude.)

[Azure Regalia]

A few hours later.


The Bounty Hunter found herself in the middle of a heated fire fight. They were almost to the ship. They? She swiveled her head to find she was watching herself and what appeared to be a speeder with a man perched on the back of it. Zooming in as it were, she saw the man was Sanis Prent, and she was piloting the speeder. The fire intensified. Soldiers everywhere. Speeder tanks. Her ship. It wasn't responding to her short range radio. She blinked.

And was suddenly thrown inside the ship, hitting the cold floor hard enough to make her jaw ache. But she was still watching herself leap from the speeder. Yet her jaw ached. Her teeth began to hurt too. Odd. She hadn't watched herself hit anything. She blinked again.

And the ship was flying. Evading fire. Escaping into the safe recesses of hyperspace. She was safe. But her jaw was aching. And her teeth hurt. Had she hit something? She blinked.

And blinked again. And again. Blink.

The Bounty Hunter suddenly sat up and hit her head against something metalic and hard. Grunting she laid back down, rubbing her head. It had only been a dream. A dream of their escape. So they had escaped. Hadn't they? They must have. Headaches weren't this real if you were dead. Wait. Lying down??

She found she had been blinking for quite some time, but if she could recall, the wounds she had aquired and the constant movement had drained her of quite a bit of blood, affecting her immune system's fast healing. She squinted her eyes, shutting them tightly and then opening them. Bright lights assailed her eyes, and she squinted again. Blinking back tears, she opened her eyes fully and looked around. She was in her quarters on her cot, being treated by the small hover-med droid that she'd purchased with the ship. That's what she'd hit her head against. damn droid had been too close. Either that or she'd been too sudden in her bolt to sit up. But that didn't explain the pain in her teeth or ache in her jaw. She looked at the droid.

Satis.

The droid beeped and spoke in a metalic voice.

HM-01: Huntress, you lost a lot of blood. Your vital signs began to become unsteady and that is when I'd been activated.

That's right. She'd forgotten she'd had the two hover-med droids programed to activate when her vital signs had become unstable. But she'd never had this happen before. Now she was glad she'd done that programing.

HM-01: Your vital signs show to be stable and your blood count is back to within normal parameters. The wound to your shoulder has been patched with a 48 hour batca patch and will need to remain on for the wound to heal. Your sleep cycle has helped your body to regenerate and the small cuts that had been inflicted during your escapades are now completely healed due to your fast healing.

She absorbed all it said and then asked it a question.

If all seems to be fine, then why does my jaw and teeth hurt?

The droids manipulator arms began to replace and store the med supplies in their proer order in the ships cabinets as it answered.

HM-01: From the rapid eye movement just a moment ago, I assertained you were dreaming. You were gritting your teeth and tensing your jaw as well. I assertained this also to the dreaming.

She blinked and slowly sat up, letting the dizzyness wash over her.

Oh.

She really had nothing else to say and simply wanted to get back to the cockpit of her ship. She dressed into her normal clothing and was about to walk out of her quarters when it dawned on her she hadn't seen Sanis anywhere. She turned back to the hover-med, which was now settling back into it's recharge slot.

Where is Prent?

The droid beeped.

HM-01: He is being treated by HM-02. You will find them both in the cargo/living area.

With that, the droid went silent for it's recharge cycle.

Sighing, the Bounty Hunter made her way to the cargo/living area, which in reality was part of the cargo bay, but because of it's proximity to the cockpit, it had been renamed cargo/living area. When she got there, everything was in order. The computer console. The small table. The kitchenette. And Sanis, lying on a small cushioned cot on the floor, with the second hover-med hovering nearby, tending to it's tools. She looked at him and saw the droid had done it's work and patched Sanis up. Cuts were bandaged, while other larger wounds had small bacta patches on them. She turned to the droid.

Satis.

The droid beeped and spoke with the same metalic voice, only a different pitch.

HM-02: His vital signs are within normal parameters. He had no life threatening wounds. He is merely resting his body now.

She humphed softly. Yes, she could see he was resting. Fast asleep. So much for the "doctor's" prognosis. She addressed the droid again, on her way to the cockpit.

Retrieve your tools and return to your recharge socket.

The droid beeped once and did as it was told, finally nestling into it's socket for recharging.

The Bounty Hunter eased herself into the seat of the cockpit and ran a finger over the console. It was beginning to attract dust. She'd have the cleaning drois tend to it later. She read the travel log for this leg of trip, and saw the ship had made it's programed "zig zag" route towards Coruscant. It had made several jumps already from several star systems, easily throwing off anyone that might be following. And she knew there had been no way of planting a tracking device on board with the electro shields up while it had been parked. The circuits to such a device would have been fried. Not to mention who ever might try to plant it. They had escaped completely.

She watched the navi-comp count down to their reversal to real space. It would be another ten minutes or so. They'd soon be back at Coruscant, and she'd be able to drop Sanis off and purchase some lost items during this whole escapade.

It had been fun. She rubbed her forehead again. But she still had a headache.

[Sanis Prent]

(With a deep sigh, Sanis's eyes opened. In an instant he was awake. Tilting his head, he noticed that Azure was as well. He sat up, rubbing his shoulder that he had dislocated. Between everything that had happened in the past few days, Sanis was gradually becoming sick and tired of the endless string of problems. He hadn't eaten much, hadn't bathed, and had been beaten six ways to sunday. At least he'd had the foresight to arrange for his compensation.

His left hand tightened around the dataslip that he had swiped.

Yes, that would compensate very nicely indeed.

Sitting up with a sigh, Sanis glanced to either side as the droids scurried away.)

I take it we haven't arrived at Coruscant yet.

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter continued watching the stars streak by the window shield, every now and then glancing briefly at the counter on the navicomp. She stretched slightly in her seat, moving her limbs around, even swishing the tail that had since grown back from the trek on Obroa-Skai.

She had to give a small smirk as Sanis asked his question. My, how immpatient he was. It's a wonder he's lived this long.

What? Don't tell me you're not having fun?

The sarcasm was more than evident in her voice, and it dripped oily as she spoke. Oh, she was just as sick of him as he probably was of her. No, she was probably more. Though it could be a toss up.

She humphed.

Keep your shirt on Prent. We'll be at Cosuscant in just a few moments.

She watched the counter come closer to zero.

I'd say... about... now.

The counter stopped it's counting at zero as the ship's computer instructed the hyperdrive to switch off, and transfer power to the sub-light drives.

The Bounty Hunter expertly brought the ship around towards the planet's night side. The thousand of glittering lights on the planet welcomed them back from their little escapade.

She nestled the ship into a line of ships going towards the planet, and once it was her turn, she spoke to flight control and had a landing berth assigned to her. She angled the ship in the direction of the docking bay that had been given her, though she would not be landing for long. She would merely be dropping off her pasenger.

As the ship came about, she landed it softly on the docking bay's rough floor, and watched as various techs came by to offer her service to her ship. Through the window shield, she waved them away. This was a quick stop only.

She stood and faced Sanis, walking briskly past him. Going up to the small computer terminal in the cargo/lounge, she pressed a few buttons. She read what was on the display. The ship would not open to vomit her pasenger out until she was good and ready to let him go. Then she turned and faced Sanis.

Well, Prent, you're here and relatively in one piece. Have a nice life.

She turned to look like she was about to hit the key-code to open the hatched, but continued turning, bringing around a small hold-out blaster. She pointed it directly at Sanis.

Come, come, Prent. I'm not an amateur.

She hit a button on a small console to the left of the computer terminal, activating a small hover droid to come and hover next to Sanis' head. It looked harmless enough as it extended a small grappling hook, but with a closer look, one could find a small opening near the grappling hook where a small blaster was consealed, and very active.

The grappling hook took hold of Sanis' left hand, squeezing ever so much, until the hand was forced to open. Out fell the data slip. Another grappling hook emerged from the droid's body and grabbed the slip. Then, without so much as a second glance, the droid floated to where the Hunter stood.

Really... you shouldn't grip one hand and not the other in strange and untrusting company. They may get suspicious. But I'm sure you knew that already.

She took hold of the data slip and called yet another droid. This one, however, looked like an info-gathering droid. It sported a small screen and keypad. She would have used her computer terminal. But she didn't trust Sanis anymore than she trusted a krayt dragon taking a nap. She slipped the data slip into the slot to the right of the small screen and read what it's contents were. One eyebrow went up as she read it. Then she smiled, slipped the data slip out, and tossed it back to Sanis.

What I don't pinch is not mine. But that doesn't mean I don't get curious.

She holstered the blaster and ordered the droid back to it's slot. She reached a hand around to press the door release button, just stopping short.

Oh yes. One more thing. You wouldn't happen to know of a weapons dealer here on Coruscant where I could purchase some, shall we say, unique items?

edit~ for large sig

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis had expected about as much. After all, dealing with a nefarious snake such as Miss Regalia begged such a circumstance to occur. While there was little honor among thieves, there was at least enough to ensure that what little bounty Sanis could squeeze out of this fiasco, he would keep to himself.

And even if Azure stared at the dataslip for a whole day, she'd never be able to decipher its true importance. Sure, it contained account numbers to 3 relatively-large money markets in Coruscant banks, but the good Comandant didn't exactly keep a treasure trove to himself. The money in itself would barely compensate for Sanis' headache. No, it was other information on that slip that was of great interest to the Outlaw...

...and could help him write his own ticket to fortune.

The fact that only the Commandant's initials appeared on the account statement was a good watermark that the jolly old imperial didn't want anything about these funds pointing back at him. And a few lines down...the reason why.

There was a co-signer on all three accounts in the portfolio. Yargo the Hutt. Sanis and Yargo had somewhat of a sordid past a few years ago, when the glitterstim trade was a little better. Yargo was one of the "second-hand" spice-czars. He didn't have direct access to Kessel or its massive bounties, yet somehow he managed to keep a firm grasp on the spice trade for years, cornering a good 40% of the market, together with the other Hutt cartels. How the Hutts could strangle the spice trade with no direct connection to Kessel was a mystery that had often kept Sanis up at night. But up until now, the only thing Sanis knew was that he would load about 100 or so korgs of raw glitter every other month from Nal Hutta, and slip discreetly into the Core Regions...no questions asked. The spice sold itself easily enough, and Sanis took his "commission" off the run. It kept him happy enough to keep his mouth shut, and look the other way.

However, the spice trade wasn't what it once was...ever since the Sith took Kessel. With New Republic customs cracking down on every Outer Rim port-of-call, you couldn't slip a lump of coal past their blockades without it coming out a diamond. The Hutts lost their nerve, settling only for an easy sell, once in a blue moon.

The drop in business meant the drop in brokers. Without increased shipments, Sanis could no longer keep up the smuggler's life.

In a nutshell...the entire reasoning for Sanis' move to Coruscant lay in the dataslip. In addition, his salvation lay there as well. However...all of that would come to pass later on. Sanis was a long way from using this piece of information.

Smiling, Sanis once again secured his grasp over the dataslip. He looked at Azure, contemplating her question. She needed an arms dealer.

Was that a favor? Sanis would sooner give Azure a solid gold ewok than give her a favor. Then again...as much as he wanted to spit every ounce of contempt back in her face, he held his cool. After all...there was some honor among thieves.)

Not to my knowledge, Azure. But Coruscant's a big place. If I find anything that you'd be interested in...I might give you a call, sometime. Until then...

(Sanis gestured at the door)

...I'd rather not spend another second on this damned ship.

[Azure Regalia]

She couldn't help but smile at his last comment, and even emit a small chuckle. Yes, he was just as sick of her as she was of him. No doubts there.

She finally hit the button, opening the hatch, and releasing her passenger. She gave him a half-hearted mock salute.

I'd like to say it's been fun, but my head still hurts. Maybe when it stops throbbing I'll remember to thank you for your company.

She fell silent for a split second, wrinkling her nose slightly.

Maybe.

[Sanis Prent]

(Sanis glanced back at Azure as he exited the ship. As much as he was tired of the whole ordeal of breathing the same air that she did, he had to at least admire her professionalism to a degree. It wasn't much, but a small consolation. Then again, Sanis couldn't exactly find a kind goodbye in his vocabulary at the moment.)

Well...have a nice life. Lets hope we don't meet again.

(Shrugging off a nagging feeling of the contrary, Sanis walked down the gangplank, returning to terra firma, or at least the closest thing Coruscant had to offer. He turned around as he reached the end of the stairs, watching Azure as the gangplank retracted. He smirked, and gave a mock salute.

To be honest, he really didn't know if this was the end, or the beginning.)

[Azure Regalia]

The Bounty Hunter made her way back to the cockpit and began to ascend to the heavens. Funny how her last visage of Sanis would be of him smirking while saluting her. Something kept nagging at her. Somehow, she had a feeling this wouldn't be the last time she'd be working with the outlaw. Life had a strange way of screwing you over at times.

She angle her ship towards a hyperspace vector towards Nar Shadda. She didn't have time to search for a weapons dealer on Coruscant. Besides, she had some money now to upgrade some of her ships systems. As if they needed more upgrading. But more never hurt.

She hit a button on the navi comp and the ship lurched into hyperspace. She'd return back to Coruscant after this little errand.

Coruscant had way too much to offer for this to have been her only stop. Too many opportunities in her line of work. And lots of credits to be had.