Bespin: (Black Sun's) Cloud City

[Piccolo]

"That my friend, was none other than Rane Scando."

 

In Piccolo's mind that was not a good sign. The bounty hunter was hot on her trail and his investigation was going nowhere. Piccolo landed the Howling Runner at the spaceport.

 

"We'll interview the people here first. Someone may have spotted her."

 

They filed out, and Piccolo approached a worker. He displayed a hologram of Reagan's likeness.

 

"Have you seen this woman?"

 

Before Piccolo could react the man produced a stun baton, ramming the stunning electricity into his ribs. He crumpled, momentarily paralyzed. He managed to squeak out a few words as the man began to flee.

 

"Stop . . . . hi . . ."

[handofthrawn]

ShadowFett spun and fired several stun bolts at the fleeing worker, dropping him in his tracks.

 

"Ryan, identify that man," ShadowFett commanded. Then he turned to the unconsciouss form of Piccolo, "Piccolo...great. We're losing time here! We need to stop Rane Scando from finding McGreggor before we get a chance to protect her!"

 

"I guess I should carry on until he revives..." He stood up and asked the nearest Bespin worker if he'd seen McGreggor. The worker took him to flight control where he learned that the only ships having left in the last few days were headed an unknown location or weren't scheduled.

 

ShadowFett handed the worker a handful of credits and headed back out to the ship, "Ryan, drag Piccolo onto the ship. We're waiting for him to revive in a more secure area."

 

ShadowFett hoped Piccolo would revive before Rane Scando found McGreggor. If only they had been trcking him...

[Dark Prince Ryan]

Ryan grabs the Piccolos ankles and literally drags him aboard the bounty hunters ship. He sits down and waits for them revive.

[Piccolo]

Piccolo was never quite unconcious, just stunned. Being part Trandoshan, he recovered quickly, and pushed past Dark Prince Ryan, making his way to ShadowFett. After a quick conversation he learned that Shadow had discovered Reagan was flying a YT-2400, and working under the name Raina McFay.

 

"He gathered the team together. Look there's nothing more we can do now, except wait some more. No one here has any clue where she was headed. My recommendation is we go to the Last Call, and hope something turns up."

[handofthrawn]

"You think people there might have something to say?" ShadowFett asked, "Maybe Adi-Wan, who helped start this mission, is there too. I mean it's possible isn't it?"

 

"It settled now," Ryan said, "Piccolos take us to Coruscant then?"

[Piccolo]

Piccolo nodded his agreement.

 

"It's agreed then. I don't see how we have any other choice."

 

The Howling Runner headed for Coruscant.

[Carlch_Trgoth]

A small Tie-fighter came out of the clouds of Bespin. It was the Rift Shift.

 

"Bountyhunter Carlch Tr'Goth, Captain of the Rift Shift, wishes to land on Cloud City for refuelling and information."

[Carlch_Trgoth]

"I suggest that you let me land." He says. "Or else, you'll have a Tie-fighter, loaded with heavy protontorpedoes, falling down on you. The meters are already on critical."

[Carlch_Trgoth]

He decided to try to land on an empty platform, hoping that the guards wont shoot him to pieces first.

[Carlch_Trgoth]

He walks out of his ship, on to the platform.

"Hello?" The only reply is a faint eco of his own, raspling voice.

"Well, I'll just fuel it up myself and go look for somebody to pay for the gas." he says to himself. Before he goes inside, he dispatch one of his spy-droids to look for lives on the planet.

 

"Hmm! There's sign of recent fight here. I wonder what happened."

[Jaster_ognaJ]

*The Wild Tangent flies to Bespin, and lands in the docking bay.

Jaster steps out, adjusts his tie, and sets out with is cane making a soft clacking on the ground. He makes his way up to a casino/bar and asks the Bartender:

 

"I'll take a Ithorian Hammer and the whereabouts of one Rane Scando. He's about yay tall, probably with a stunningly beautiful women, he's kinda a pervert, prbably grabbing a guys back side or something *shudder*. So, Can you help me put?"*

[Carlch_Trgoth]

The man behind the bar replies:

"Hey, I'm no bartender. I'm here looking for people. It seems like the place is empty, but i haven't got so far yet. I'm still waiting for my spy-droid to come back. Let's have a drink while we waits. If I understand correctly, you are also a bountyhunter!?" He picks up two bottles of unknown contents and start mixing two drinks.

[Jaster_ognaJ]

"Why, Yes I am. I take that you are too. Well tehn, you are right! I am on company time, so lets have a drink!"

 

 

*After about 3 hours worth of full drinking and chatting, Jaster stands up. With his Bionic body, he feels does not feel dizzy at all.*

 

"Well, I got a comm for Black Sun, they need me at the Citadel. Here is my comm number, if you ever need help from me or Black Sun, just call that number. Or even, come over sometime and apply for a job. Until then, peace."

 

*Jaster walks out, boards his ship and flies to Coruscant.*

[Carlch_Trgoth]

Carlch, who had heard everything Jaster said, but not registred anything, took the card, wached him leave, then passed out where he sat.

He woke up about two hours later. His three livers had worked dubble-time to be able to withdraw the effects of the alcohol. He walked for the door, changed his mind and walked over to the counter.

"Here you are!" he said and slammed onehundred credits on the counter.

"Now, let's leave this forsaken place." he sighed, when he packed his spy-droid.

[Carlch_Trgoth]

When he arrived at Rift Shift, he saw that he had forgot to turn off the pump. He looked around to see if anyone saw hin and turned it off.

Five minutes later, the Rift Shift was leaving the planet.

[Tarrian Skywalker]

Just wanted to let you know that you can not double post. I realize that you posted a day a part, and I realize that you were posting off the planet. But in the future, Just edit you last post with a line to devide the posts.

[Carlch_Trgoth]

Shall think of that in the future

[Sayn Ta]

A modified, red N-1 Starfighter flies the the immence blanket of clouds near Bespin. After gaining clearance to land, the ship docks and the piloit exits...it just so happens that the piliot is a Jedi Knight.

 

Sayn Ta emerged from the tight confines of the Starfighter with much speed. Nearly jumping to the ground, the Gungan was quick to take off her helmet and breath in the fresh air.

 

Sayn checked into a hotel in the upper levels of the city. Upon arriving at her room, the Gungan flopped on her bed and fell fast asleep....

[Ob Ordeena]

A battered multipurpose corvette, an old model created years before by the Corellian Engineering Corporation, emerges out of hyperspace. The old corvette is soon joined by two equally old and battered YT-2400 light freighters, and several blastboats and starfighters. The ships, following the old corvette, quickly head over to a nearby planet - an immense gas giant surrounded by a number of moons. Bespin. The ships head for Cloud City, the floating metropolis suspended high among the pastel clouds of Bespin. As the ships near the city, three cloud cars appear to greet the arrivals. The cloud cars guide the old corvette to one of Cloud City's more important docking bays, while the other ships blast off in a different direction.

 

Twin blasts of smoke jet out from underneath the old corvette as the ship's landing ramp extends. As Ob Ordeena strides down the ramp, followed by two Gamorrean guards and a couple of Rodians, a huge door opens up on the opposite side of the docking bay and a scruffy-looking protocol droid emerges. The droid hobbles over to Ordeena, and bows.

 

"I am TC-42, how may I be of service?"

 

"Take me to the Baron Administrator's headquarters; I am in charge here now. I'm here to put this place back on schedule."

Edited June 1, 2004 by Guest

[Piccolo]

Piccolo had heard the call sent to Coruscant. The Howling Runner landed on Cloud City. The bounty hunter exited the Firespray unsure of where to go next.

 

Well, I'm sure they'll contact any bounty hunters that arrive eventually.

 

Piccolo would have sent one of the other operatives to investigate this potential mission for the Black Sun, but they were all predisposed. He had considered not even bothering to come. He had never liked Ob Ordeena. He found Twi'leks in general to be sneaky, their venomous tongues spit nothing but lies. And Piccolo's unparalleled memory recalled their only encounter.

 

I had arrived on my homeworld, the waste of a planet Tatooine. Ronet Farr was in charge of the Black Sun then, during Smash's brief illness. The Black Sun sought the location of the Bug Army, but Ob refused to reveal his knowledge. He had stupidly tried to coax Piccolo into stepping on the trap door, where, no doubt, some hideous beast lay in wait. The alliance between the two organizations had meant nothing to the Twi'lek, with Smash and Wyhl gone there was no one to enforce it. By the time Smash returned, so had Wyhl, so my retribution was impossible with Wyhl protecting Ordeena.

 

However, the prospect of employment overrode his suspicions. Ob still worked for Wyhl he was sure, and the Hutt was someone he did, if not trust, at least respected. Piccolo was tempted to remove Ordeena now.

 

What's to stop me? Accidents do happen, if a Twi'lek should somehow lose his footing and be thrown off Cloud City, how could I be blamed?

 

But Piccolo realized such thoughts were foolish. He had no doubts the Twi'lek deserved death, but it would pit the Hutts and Black Sun against one another. He was content to wait until the perfect opportunity arose. For now he would investigate this mission.

[Reagan McGreggor]

Reagan landed on Cloud City and headed out to look for Piccolo. Her information said he was here. She wanted to get this over with so that she could settle some scores with Rane.

 

As she walked, she thought about the night before. Funny...she never would have taken a risk like that before. Getting hurt was not something that she care for very much. He had made her feel more then she ever had before. what she had given up to him was herself. She wondered what the Family would think, but then...other then Airleas...she really didn't care.

 

Unaware of where she was walking as she was in a world of her own thinking about the events of the night before, she bumped right into Piccolo. "Uh...sorry about that...but I was actually looking for you. Do you have time to talk?"

[Vladimir Faust]

Despite an earlier promise to have met Reagan at the cantina at Tatooine, Faust, always ready and on the hunt, left word for her there that he was off again, heading out to Bespin to inquire about a new set of bounties being offered by the Hutts.Despite his better judgment that he should wait at Mos Eisley, just in case, Faust was not one to sit around. His early bounty on there proved quite easy and Faust relished at being able to test out some new toys with what ever Ob might want.

 

Havng dropped the remains off on the world of Davos VII, Faust took the Bhelliom across the galaxy, landing on Bespin and wondering what Wyhl the Hutt's majordomo needed bounty heads for. As he set down into the atmosphere and streaked towards cloud city, Faust opened a small vent, trying to dispell the scent of burned flesh that his bountyhead left behind in his craft.

 

A faint unease crossed his mind, setting down on Bespin, remembering how he'd enacted a blood fued with it's owner. The faint unease was immediately disspelled, a quick data check showing KVC no longer owned Bespin (the sale of which proved quite lucerative) and it eventually made it's way into Hutt hands (at a bargin price).

 

Faust found himself pleasantly surprised soon after landing, not only seeing Piccolo, but Reagan as well. Giving them a wan smile, Faust decided it best to try and play it cool, his left hand flexing slightly. Though the contest might be pleasurable to resume, he was here on business and decided civility would be in order.

 

"Fancy seeing the two of you here," Faust states non challantly, strolling up to Piccolo and Reagan. "I'd figured you might turn up. I'm glad to see your duties at Black Sun haven't kept you out of the game and the thrill of the hunt." Faust turns to Reagan, giving her a polite, and brief tip of the head in semblance of a bow. "Reagan, glad I caught you before you dashed half way around the galaxy to Mos Eisley but I was informed of a need for hunters here, so I left a useless seeming message there." Faust chuckles softly, carrying his usual confidence and swag. "Though from the looks of things, you probably haven't mentioned our little partnering to the esteemed head of Black Sun yet. Well dear, no time like the present."

[Ob Ordeena]

The Baron Administrator's head office is located at the pinnacle of a massive command tower in the middle of Cloud City. The head office serves as Ob Ordeena's base of operations; it is here where Ordeena conducts all of his important meetings. Just now, Ordeena is meeting with Cloud City's security chief, a gaunt Rodian Ordeena had brought along from Tatooine. The Rodian informs Ordeena that two bounty hunters had arrived, and of course, the beautiful smuggler. With a sly grin on his face, Ordeena swivels his over-sized chair around so he could look out over the expanse that was Cloud City ”“ things had never looked so good. After several long moments, Ordeena turns back to his security chief and orders the Rodian to bring the bounty hunters before him, one at a time. The Rodian leaves a moment later, and Ordeena turns to his protocol droid, TC-42, who had been patiently waiting in the shadows.

 

"I want the gas mining operation back on schedule by the end of this quarter. When things are running smoothly again, I want you to prepare a dossier to send back to Tatooine. You are to shave ten percent off the total, and add it to my private accounts. Yes, that is in addition to my salary. Now get out of my sight."

 

TC-42 nods, and hobbles off as Ordeena leans back in his over-sized chair, and puts his feet up on his huge desk. The gangster, for he definitely was a true gangster now, folds his hands together and contemplates his next actions. Meanwhile, Ordeena's security chief heads down to the open docking bays, and finds standing with Reagan McGreggor and Piccolo. The Rodian, adjusts the blaster pistol at his side, and steps forward. Two big Gamorrean guards also step forward as the Rodian gestures to Faust and Piccolo.

 

"Ob Ordeena will see you now. Wait, first you, then you."

 

The Rodian points first to Piccolo, and then to Faust.

 

"Follow me."

[Piccolo]

Faust.

 

Piccolo was surprised Faust would get back into the game so quickly, and even more surprised he already knew Piccolo had assumed leadership of the Black Sun. He had told only Payne. The importance of this little excursion had just doubled. He spoke to Reagan,

 

"I'm surprised you would be willing to partner up with Faust considering he tried to kill you. That's usually not a good sign, in my experience. If you are willing to wait, we can talk after I speak with the Twi'lek. "

 

Piccolo was amused by the three guards that had come to retrieve him. Their facial expressions, the way they walked, the tone of the Rodian's voice, all screamed of overconfidence.

 

These three are fools if they think they could even stop the lowliest of bounty hunters.

 

Piccolo followed the guards.

[Ob Ordeena]

One of the big Gamorreans remains behind with Vladimir Faust as the Rodian and the other Gamorrean lead the green-skinned Piccolo to the Baron Administrator's head office. The three of them walk in silence for several minutes, until they reach a turbo-lift blocked by two more Gamorrean guards. The Rodian mutters something in a strange language, one not used by the general populace, and the two Gamorreans step aside. The Rodian smirks and gestures for Piccolo to enter the lift first. Moments later, the three of them exit the lift and stand before even more guards ”“ this time a mixture of Gamorreans, Rodians, and Humans; eight in all. Once again, the Rodian mutters something and the guards step aside. The Rodian then speaks into his personal communicator and a moment later the door of the Baron Administrator's head office opens. The Rodian ushers Piccolo in.

 

Ob Ordeena stands, and chuckles.

 

"Well if is not the new head of the Black Sun! Don't look so surprised bounty hunter, the walls have ears. I have to admit though, I was a bit taken aback when I heard, but I guess the leaders of some criminal organizations still have to really work to make a living. Anyway, I take it you are here about that job I posted. Why don't you take a seat?"

[Reagan McGreggor]

Reagan was more then a bit surprised to see faust. She noticed his work demeanor and decided to stay with it. No sense in letting everyone in on our happiness. She smiled and looked over to Piccolo. "Well, times change, and I'll wait to speak with you."

 

She watched as Faust and Piccolo were led away. "hmmm, interesting. I think that I will do some checking into this...seems funny that Bespin is now run by Hutts."

[Piccolo]

Piccolo suddenly became very suspicious. This show of force seemed odd to the bounty hunter. He didn't know what the Rodian had been saying, but the creature's mannerisms were open to him. The Rodian was purposefully trying to hide something from the bounty hunter, or trying to intimidate him. Piccolo fancied himself an expert on the behavior of other creatures. Even the way a creature smelled could tell you something of their intentions. The chemicals of most sentients changed with their mood. Piccolo couldn't be sure, but he believed there was something amiss.

 

It matters not. If Ordeena should try something, I am confident I will at least be able to take the Twi'lek out, no matter what happens to me.

 

But perhaps he was blowing his suspicions way out of proportion. This was why he disliked Twi'leks. It was hard to read their intentions. They were all snakes.

 

Except Kamino.

 

As he contemplated what Ob was up to, Piccolo found himself in the presence of the Twi'lek himself. He wasn't surprised at Ob's words. He knew Ob would mock him. His mask well concealed any emotion, Ob had seen no such surprise. Besides Piccolo had realized if Faust knew someone as sneaky as Ob probably knew as well.

 

"I'll stand thank you. Leader or no, I still require the small pleasures in life. Foremost the glory of the Hunt.

 

He leaned forward, his darkened visor staring into Ob's eyes. So many had seen the mask as they begged for their lives. Piccolo had given them no mercy. They had deserved death, but not nearly as much as Mr. Ordeena.

 

"Skip the pleasantries. What do you have in mind?"

[Vladimir Faust]

Faust kind of shrugs indifferently, not really wondering or caring why the Hutt's had Bespin or wanted to keep it."Be right back, dear," Faust calls, almost with a lazy yawn, following behind Piccolo, curious to see what Ob wanted with the bounty hunters.

[Ob Ordeena]

The Gamorrean guard that had remained behind with Vladimir Faust leads the bounty hunter to the turbo-lift that leads up to the Baron Administrator's head office. The brute grunts at the two Gamorreans that guard the lift, and they step aside. When the lift opens, however, it is not for Faust to enter, but for TC-42 to exit. The protocol droid bows to Faust.

 

"Ob Ordeena will be with you momentarily, sir. Can I interest you in a cold beverage while you wait?"

 

Back up in Ob Ordeena's office, the gangster chuckles again.

 

"Straight to business, I like that. Basically I need you to perform a hit. I'm getting back at some old friends that have dropped in on the Hutts over the past few years. The Jedi I want you to kill is called Kirlocca. Kirlocca's a Wookiee, I believe. That won't be too much trouble for you, will it? I'm willing to pay big credits for the death of this one, bounty hunter, so don't mess up."

[Vladimir Faust]

Irritated and impatient, Faust's hands almost reflexively drips to his side. Steadying himself, Faust gives the droid a severe glance, tapping his fingers on the sleeve of his white coat in a steady, steccato drum beat.

 

Just like the Hutts. Offering a cold wait and a cold drink in one smooth move.

 

"No thank you," he states shortly. "I happened upon a rather fine glass of spiced bloodwine earlier and am most satisfied."