Bespin: (Black Sun's) Cloud City

[Smash Daisaku]

Smash took a sip of his drink. It was excellent."

 

"Well, who else is our ally these days? Who else can be trusted?"

 

Smash lit a cigar and maintained a drink in his other hand.

 

"What planets do we have? Who are we trying to kill?"

[Ob Ordeena]

Ob Ordeena had remained silent throughout the exchange between the two old allies. Now, as Wyhl the Hutt and Smash Daisaku of the Black Sun began to discuss plans for the future, the gangster leans back in his seat and finishes his rather large glass of Trandoshan blood.

 

"Why don't we invite Piccolo to this little party?"

[Wyhl the Hutt]

Wyhl laughs as Ob finishes speaking, then turns back to Smash.

 

Allies, hmm allies. The Elite Mercenary Unit, the Imperials, and th Sith as always. Enemies have grown, with the list starting with the Black Sun. Until now that is. The loose pirates, the rebellion, and some of the Jedi. We have been able to keep a few Jedi in our grasps as "friendlies." However, thier leader would love nothing more then to see our demise.

 

Planets are the same: Bespin, Kessel, Tantooine, Nal Hutta, and a few others. We are planning to take the Hapes Cluster as soon as possible. The women there prove to be worthy slaves.

 

Wyhl gestures to one fo the Hapans before him.

 

As you can see.

 

Clearing his throat Wyhl continues.

 

I would say our first order of business as re-newed allies would be to build up our forces to maximum capacity and show that we are a force to be reckoned with. I have stockpile of WMD and we now have over 100 net bombs.

 

We will be mecriless, the galaxy will fear our wrath more than ever. We will cause carnage unseen since the Arch'tar.

[Smash Daisaku]

"Sounds excellent. I would like nothing more than to see our ties renewed as well as our weapon supplies. Now, about tha Jidai Geki character? What did he want?"

 

Smash shot one of the slaves in the head with a weapon concealed in his cloak.

 

"Don't worry, it's set for Stun."

 

Smash laughed.

 

"It's been a very long time since I've sat amongst the victorious fruits of slavery. Can you believe that there are people around that want to do away with it?"

 

Randomly enough Smash pulled a gun on Ob and fired a shot into his neck.

 

"Don't worry, it's set to Fun. Just a little something I picked up on my vacation. Get Ready. Get Set. Get High!"

[Capt. Phillep]

A Comm on an Encrypted Imperial Channel...

 

As per your request, Lord Whyl. The Imperials are always pleased to strengthen our ties with our Allies. I must say, it distressed me somewhat, to hear of your 'issues' with the Black Sun. Why, I was even requested to handle any outbreaks of violence, personally. I hope the Underworld has settled its differences and learned to play nice... Nevertheless, my Loyal Ally, how may I be of assistance?

 

Grand Admiral Phillep, His Majesty's Imperial Navy

 

End Comm...

[Guest]

Rane Scando pulls back the sleeve of his jacket, revealing a small mechanical device strapped to his muscular left forearm. The veteran bounty hunter presses a series of buttons on the device, and then brings it close to his mouth and mutters a few words in a strange language words into it. Scando then pulls his sleeve back over the device, and returns his attention to his two fellow mercenaries.

 

"Let's go get Raas from the infirmary, and then we can get going. Time is money."

 

The three mercenaries ”“ Rane Scando, Mike Attard, and Ronin Wartide ”“ then head out to find Raas. As they do, a large hatch opens up on the bottom of Scando's ship, the Shadow Rider. A moment after the hatch opens, a dozen round probe droids pour out ”“ the droids are perfectly spherical, and about a foot in diameter. The droids scatter, each heading up into space. As the three mercenaries greet Raas, who was now healed and well, the droids up in space engage their boosters and rocket away into deep space.

[Bounty Hunter Mike]

"I have some other business to attend to, I will meet you at the infirmary."

 

With that, Mike split off from the group, making his way down an adjacent corridor, people scattering out of his path, not wishing to offend or anger the mercenary who's infamy rivalled that of Boba Fett.

 

He made his way through the labyrinthine hallways of the floating city. Taking a series of walkways and turbolifts, he got to his destination, a shop stocking datacards on a series of subjects. After searching for a few minutes, Mike found what he was looking for, a datacard explaining the science behind the most common weaponry in the galaxy, including blasters, vibroblades, sonic weaponry, stun weaponry and grenades, all including detailed schematics of the weaponry and vital parts.

 

Mike tucked the datacard into a pocket in his trenchcoat, and threw a few credit ships on the counter, turning and making his way back up to the infirmary, stopping only briefly to purchase a few weapons to practice what he had in mind on.

 

He met up with his fellow mercs out the front of the infirmary.

[Ronin Wartide]

"Well, lets get down to business. We've got skulls to crack."

 

*Ronin dug around in his pocket and pulled out his pack of cigarettes. Much to his disgust he found that he was out, and he'd get no more of his favorite stimulant until he bought more. Ronin shoved his lighter back in his pocket and waited until nobody was looking to throw the empty package in the corner. If there was one thing Ronin loved as much as stealing, it was littering. Tied at third were smoking and drinking. Ronin thought about how pissed off his mother would be- wherever she was- if she knew what he had become...*

[Guest]

Rane Scando turns to Ronin Wartide.

 

"One of my droids just picked up one of our targets - looks like we are heading back to Tatooine."

 

The veteran bounty hunter then turns to Mike Attard, and tosses the man a round mechanical device.

 

"You can contact us on that. The two of us should be enough to handle this one."

 

Rane Scando then turns around and heads back to his ship.

[Ronin Wartide]

*Ronin nodded and set off for his own ship. After passing through the bioscans and the password locks, Ronin boarded his ship and took off, heading for Tattooine...*

[Bounty Hunter Mike]

It has been too long since I could just sit back and relax Mike thought to himself, making his way back through the corridors of Cloud City to a small cantina.

 

Taking a seat at the bar, he set the silver orb on the wooden surface infront of him, removing his helmet and placing it next to the ball. He signaled the bartender, ordering a bottle of Bespin Port .

 

When the bottle arrived, he took a long swig of the strong liquid, feeling it warm his innards.

 

Removing his datapad, he set it infront of him. Inserting his newly acquired datacard into the recepticle and studying the inner workings of the blaster pistol, paying close attention to the description and workings of the heter valve, the XCiter and the actuating blaster module.

 

He then reached into a bag and removed a Blastech DH-17 blaster, placing it on the bar in front of him. An action which startled many of the clientel, having a known bounty hunter in the bar was nerve racking, but having one remove a weapon was enough to send a few into a panic, but Mike merely ignored them.

 

He reached out with his mind, focusing it on the weapon lying infront of him, his mind questing through the innards of the pistol. His mind moving through the tip of the barrel, passing through the static pulse adapters and the prismatic crystal housing into the Actuating Blaster Module. With a controlled burst through the Force, he cracked the circuitry of the module. He wasn't done yet, his mind pushed further into the weapon, until it came upon the Gas Conversion Enabler, which was more commonly known as the 'XCiter' with a concentrated 'tap' he had effectively broken the power circuits, rendering the blaster useless.

 

The process had taken about a minute, not too bad, for his first try, considering that he was playing it by ear, so to speak. But now that he knew his way around the innards of the blaster, he was confident he could pull off the little trick within a few seconds. But, he had to be certain that the internal sabotage would be enough to stop the weapon from firing.

 

Taking another long swig of the port, he turned around and noticed a man sitting in a corner booth. Donning his helmet and putting away his datapad, he walked over to the human, presenting him with the sabotaged blaster.

 

"Shoot me with this weapon."

 

The man's eyes widened as he glanced up at the hunter. "N-n-no" he stammered.

 

Mike simply unholstered his own blaster, putting it to the man's temple.

 

"Either you shoot me, or I shoot you. Your choice, junior."

 

The choice didn't take long, as he raised the DH-17 blaster, pointing it at Mike's chest and began to squeeze the trigger. Mike stood stock, waiting with a faint doubt in whether his sabotage had any real effect.

 

The man pulled the trigger....

 

Nothing.

 

He pulled the trigger again, but still nothing.

 

Mike brought his gaunleted hand down on the useless weapon, pulling it from the man's grasp, and throwing it aside. Walking past the bar, he grabbed his bottle of Bespin port, barely noticing the odd absence of the orb which was presented to him by Rane.

 

No matter, if he needed to contact the other Mercs, he would just send them a comm message, like usual. The item had most likely rolled off the bar and landed behind the counter anyway.

 

Placing a credit voucher on the bar to pay for his drink, Mike left the bar. And a collective sigh of relief was released by many of the bar's patrons.

 

Mike made his way to his ship, the Shadow Strike ensuring that as soon as Tekkan had recovered, the infirmary would contact him.

 

******

In the small cantina, Daroz Riidan, a small street urchin, an orphan, grasped his new prize which he had stolen off the bar. A shiny sphere. He smiled a grin which lacked many teeth. Perhaps if he sold it, he could eat today.

[Tekkan Raas]

Cold...he was so very cold. From his hairline to his exposed toes sticking out from underneath the blanket the doctors had placed on him his body was completely numb. Though Tekkan Raas didn't know he was laying on a medical table, he didn't know he was on Cloud City, he didn't know he was on Bespin...the last memory he had was being mauled by Geki on Tatooine and even that was hazy. Even with that image locked in his memory at the present his mind was blank. Was this it....was this the edge of nothingness? In his catatonic state he was unaware of the fact that a doctor had now entered the room with a nurse in tow, the two talking softly.

 

Casually the pair made their way over to Raas, the doctor preparing a syringe and the nurse removing the blanket so only the hunter's lower half was covered. With a cloth and an anti-bacterial liquid she cleaned a spot on his right peck muscle and drawing a strange liquid from a medical vile, the doctor plunged the needle into his flesh. The orange liquid quickly moved through his bloodstream, stimulating the dormant muscle tissue and pumping his heart at an accelerated rate to get it accustomed to vigorous activity once more. Instantly the dashing rogue's emerald eyes snapped open to attention and before either of them took notice he had leapt from the table and pushed both of them against the wall, a hand clasped around each of their throats.

 

His vision was still a bit hazy, but he could see well enough to know that two people were hovering over him. The woman shrieked in a frantic tone and the weathered doctor just starred at him in horror, lucky for them his groggy state had temporarily rendered him with only half his strength. Slowly clarity was returned to his sight and seeing that the two he grasped in his hands were only a doctor and nurse, he let them go and stumbled backwards to the table to lean on it for support. He quickly covered his eyes with his hands, the room was so bright...it was almost unbearable. Quickly the nurse moved to a control panel and turning a knob she dimmed the lights.

 

"Thanks, dear...remind me to thank you later for that," he said with a weak smirk.

 

After a few moments of standing there, he turned his head and noticed his clothes were neatly hung up on a hangar and on the ground below them was his armor. Walking over to them, his eyes focused on a group of people starring at him from the other side of the glass. Feeling some of his strength returning to him, he promptly grabbed the back of a nearby chair and flung it across the room, striking the glass hard causing it to reverberate...he never did like people who starred. With that act the doctor left the room, leaving only the nurse behind who was still gazing at him.

 

Placing his pants on he realized that up until now he was walking around stark naked, which explained the stares, but he didn't really care. He donned his combat boots, placed his gun belt around his waist and lastly placed his black trenchcoat on. He starred at his armor on the ground, he could have placed that on as well but it would be too restricting, in his mind his ribs were still cracked...it would have to wait. With a nod to the nurse he walked out of the medical ward and began walking around Cloud City aimlessly, not knowing where to go.

[Jidai Geki]

Comm to Wyhl:

 

I would consider it a personal favour if you turned Tekkan Raas over into my custody.

[Guest]

The Shadow Rider emerges out of hyperspace near Bespin. At the controls of the ship is Rane Scando's droid, RS-9. RS-9 immediately transmits a set of codes to Cloud City, and then heads to the floating metropolis without further ado ”“ no Skipray Blastboats rise out of the clouds to meet the Shadow Rider, Scando and RS-9 didn't need an escort. The Shadow Rider touches down on a private landing pad, one reserved for any member of the Elite Mercenary Unit and Scando himself appears a moment later. Clad in bandages, and sporting a strangely shaped helmet, Scando heads to Ob Ordeena's office to meet with both Ordeena and Wyhl the Hutt to see about getting paid...

[Ob Ordeena]

Ob Ordeena closes his eyes and smiles. As the intoxicants flow through the gangster's body, Ordeena rises and stumbles across his office. Eventually Ordeena comes to a stop before a tall, slightly scruffy, statue of a disfigured alien figure. Ordeena pulls at the statue's arm and an opening appears on the statue's side. Ordeena pulls out a large heavy repeater from the opening, and begins to fire at the remaining dancers within the office. Eyes glinting, and with a wide grin played across his face, Ordeena stumbles back to his over-sized chair behind his even bigger desk. As two droids enter and carry away the remains of the dancers, Ordeena pours himself another drink.

 

"Let's get back to business, shall we? Where on the seventh moon of Magramor is Piccolo? Wasn't he invited up?"

 

With that, Ordeena jumps up onto his desk and begins to sing.

 

"Now I'm headed down to Tatooine and that's my word

I'm on a big ship, 'bout to move these birds

And if these crime lords don't let me sling

I'm out there robbin' everything

Got a brand new blaster and a P-89

Yeah he's a hustler, man I stay on the grind

9 grams of heroine, 100 grams of coke

12 O's of mushrooms, 2 pounds of smoke

3 gal's of dust juice, and a tank of L.S.D.

And a 1000 pills of every kind of ecstasy

Hash, ha-sheesh, I bought a '62

When I was younger with my crew

I had them slaves sniffing Bothan glue

It's 40 cinnagrams, to them trucka's and bammer's

And I can chef up a miracle with Arm & Hammer

I'm a hustler, man I supply the fiends

I'm a hustler, Daisaku I'll sell you a dream..."

[Ronin Wartide]

*Ronin's ship landed next to Rane's dropping the recently captured ship by the business district. Ronin walked out and talked briefly with the dealer, selling the stolen goods to the Hutts in exchange for cold hard credits. Ronin loved Credits. He placed the most of it in his ship and kept a little for himself, stopping at service station and requesting that his ship have a full tune up while he was working. Ronin paid in cash, something the Hutt merchants were strangely accustomed too, and bought a new pack of cigs while he was still there. Ronin grabbed his bag full of decapitated Searcy head and caught up with Rane, throwing the bag at Ob's feet as proof of their success.*

 

"That's one."

[Ob Ordeena]

"Excellent, now go get the other. I will contact the Sith once you have killed them both ”“ you will receive your payment once the other has been killed. Do you understand?"

 

Ob Ordeena downs a fifth of vodka.

[Ronin Wartide]

*Ronin looked up at the new and ethanol improved version of Ob Ordeena. He the liked this way better than the old Ob. Ronin could relate, and if it weren't for his being so busy, he'd join him. He couldn't though. Sadly, Ronin had to get back to work. Ronin helped his comrade turn around and head back to the infirmary with BHM and Tekkan. Ronin took a big puff on the cigar that he was chewing on, as it had gone out a little while back.*

 

"So, what's the game plan?"

[Guest]

After spending several long, somewhat agonizing minutes in one of Cloud City's seedy infirmaries, Rane Scando emerges, clad in civilian clothes, and armed only with a blaster. Scando nods stiffly to his fellow mercenaries, and then pulls a small syringe out from the inside of his dark jacket. After injecting himself, Scando leaves the others, and heads to one of Cloud City's various weaponry shops. After about three quarters of an hour, Scando emerges, carrying two large blaster rifles, and an assortment of smaller weapons. After heading back to the others, Scando tosses one of the large blaster rifles to Tekkan Raas. Scando shoulders the other, and begins to speak.

 

"I've got a plan on how to bring down our last target. To start with, we're going to split up again ”“ Raas, you're with me. We'll take my ship and head to Coruscant. I will openly challenge our little friend, while you cover me in case he tries anything fishy. Wartide, you know what to do once I've drawn our little friend away from the Black Sun's base..."

[Bounty Hunter Mike]

Mike was laying on a couch in his ship, enjoying one of the few moments of down-time his hectic life made available to him.

 

In one hand he had a glass of fine, single malt scotch, in his other hand was the remote to his sound-unit. He sat back, listening to the reverberations and distorted whine of a electrified string instrument, accompanied by thundering drums and a booming bass sound.

 

He too a long sip from the glass, savouring the taste of the liqour and the pure power of the music. The feeling didn't last long, though, as a flashing light caught his attention on the comm console. Turning the music down to a bare whisper, he activated the console, and listened to the short message from the infirmary, informing him that Tekkan and his fellow mercs were waiting for him.

 

Mike switched off the music completely, and downed the rest of his scotch. Donning his armour, weapons and finally his helmet, he then retrieved his trenchcoat and made his way from the Shadow Strike and down towards corridor AA-23.

 

When he got there, he noticed his allies standing in an adjacent lane.

 

Mike simply walked over to join them,

 

"So, we are going to kill ShadowFett again.You know, I almost feel sorry for him... Almost"

[Smash Daisaku]

IC: "Wyhl, we need to talk about what your man Ob has been doing. He is directly ordering the assassinations of my agents, and I do not condone that under any circumstances."

Edited August 26, 2004 by Guest

[Wyhl the Hutt]

Wyhl looked disgruntled.

 

We must honor our alliances. The Black Sun and Hutt have made amends. I am calling off the bounty on Hand of Thrawn. However, the bounty on Darth Searcy will be paid. I will comm Raynuck and tell him of it. We cannot jeapordize our re-newed alliance so soon. Now if mercenaries start killing allies who is to say they won't do the same to themselves.

 

Wyhl looked to Smash and nodded. Looking back at Ob Wyhl backhanded him. He then pulled him close and whispered.

 

You would send out a bounty on a Black Sun agent with the leader right in front of us. Are you trying to get us killed?

Edited August 26, 2004 by Guest

[Smash Daisaku]

"it is good to see the tensions of the past being put away, so that our organzations may flourish as they once did. After all, there is enough crime to go around."

 

Smash had another drink.

 

"It seems that Coruscant is not the most hidden location anymore. After debate with my staff, we have been flirting with the idea of a secondary location."

 

Smash looked at Ob. He had hoped that the drugs may have calmed his mind.

 

"I estimate that within a matter of days, the new location will be chosen. We shall see."

[Darth Searcy]

A YT-2000 with no name pulls out of hyperspace above Bespin. ITs pilot having no vocal chords, decides to send a message the only way he knows how. A burning message is written in the sky from holes burnt out of the landing ramp.

 

I MUST MEET WITH RANE SCANDO. HE HOLDS ANSWERS TO MY PAST AND MY CREATION.

[Smash Daisaku]

"What do they think this is, an airshow? Show them the antiaircraft fire. Send them a volley,"

 

Smash swallows hard and prepares to refill his drink in hopes of an air battle above Bespin.

[Ob Ordeena]

A small beacon on the far side of one of Bespin's moons suddenly becomes alive ”“ a red light flashes on the side of the beacon, and it begins to transmit a coded message to Cloud City. Immediately, six Skipray Blastboats blast away from the floating metropolis, and enter space. Two of the Skiprays circle around and appear behind the ship that had just emerged from hyperspace; the other four ships just head directly for it. As the two Skiprays follow the ship, atomic rockets ready, and the four others open fire with lasers, Ob Ordeena leans back in his chair and takes a puff of his hookah. The band of four Skiprays succeed in bringing down the shields of the ship that had burned a message meant for Rane Scando, and a moment later, the two Skiprays behind open fire using their atomic rockets...

[Smash Daisaku]

Lords Daisaku and Wyhl gazed with excitement as a worthless ship was thrown into danger above Cloud City. While excitement was something Lord Daisaku certainly needed at the moment, his agendas and scheduling insisted upon his presence upon Coruscant.

 

”œWyhl, I must be off. I have to get back to a planning session regarding our new facilities. I will notify you immediately when they are complete. Maybe I'll have some strippers there and you can drop by. Until then, fare well.”

[Darth Searcy]

The spirit could feel the temperature beginning to rise inside the ship. It began to abosrb the temperature making it stronger, morepowerful. It looks out a hole in the door and fires off volleys of fire into the rockets causing them to explode before reaching the ship, still heading toward the Station.

 

Steel melted and fell away fromthe side of ship. A human form began to appear as if it was pushing through the metal, but ti was not, it was burning through. Rane Searcy, in all its fiery glory, burst through the side of ship, and fell toward the city in the sky.

 

Soon the fiery feet landed on the city and it began walking through, determined to find Rane Scando. It send another message into the sky. It then caused the thermalsto heat, pushing it around the city for all to see.

 

I come in peace. I only wish to speak with Rane Scando. I wish noone any harm. Please let me see Rane Scando. I must speakwith him.

[Ob Ordeena]

A band of guards, following special order from Ob Ordeena, tear down one of Cloud City's empty corridors. As the guards near the area where the security probes had last seen this fiery creature, they stop and arm their weapons. Now, these were not ordinary weapons by any stretch of the imagination ”“ these weapons were designed by Ob Ordeena himself, and that means quality. A few moments later, the guards pass through a secret door, and find themselves upon the fiery creature. Without a moment's hesitation, the guards open fire using their weapons ”“ liquid carbonite blasts towards, and encases the fiery creature. The guards form a circle, each firing. A few moments later, the fiery creature was effectively out of commission ”“ nothing more than a statue. The guards load the statue onto a hover-sled, one that just happened to be nearby, and bring the statue to the area where the EMU happened to be congregating...

[Smash Daisaku]

A comm comes in for Rane Scando.

 

"......The terms we have agreed upon..."