The trio, standing to the side drew his attention. In theory there was no reason they would as Coruscant's lower levels were saturated with young males of many species, come in the hopes of making a better life for themselves, most failed and ended up either barely making ends meet or resorting to crime, an option that promised a decent quality of life but often ended in a quick, violent death. Perhaps that's why TK noticed them, the result of living long enough in the undercity where one quickly learned to spot potential dangers...
On closer observation he quickly noticed other things he noticed other things, they stood tall and straight backed unlike most who slouched under the weight of their daily existence, exuding an air of confidence. The cyborg was also noteworthy as though cybernetics were not uncommon they were often bulky, lower quality makes yet his were pristine... yes the three were trouble for some poor sod.
That would be all the thought he'd give them till after turning a corner he noticed they were still behind him. They kept their distance and when he stopped at a kiosk to buy a ready meal they waited till he started moving again. He forced himself to remain calm, suppressing the urge to run even as his hand swept by where his holster should be and not for the first time he cursed the Empire for banning private blaster ownership, than cursed this New Republic for upholding that ban.
So he forced himself to walk calmly to his apartment, casting quick look back as he opened the door and confirmed that the trio were still there, and had stopped. Locking the door behind him dropped the food on the counter and moved to the sofa, lifting the seat as as if preparing it for the night only to reach into the storage space there and pulled out an old bag, it's original olive faded grey. He yanked back the fasteners and revealed its contents, at the top two dark orbs glared at him from over a scowl.
Slowly, almost with reverence, he pulled the helmet from the bag and put it aside before pulling out the remaining plates and the black body glove which he slid on as soon as he stripped from the civilian clothes he had been wearing.
It was tight, tighter than he remembered, especially around his stomach and it stank of damp but a sense of comfort washed over him. He started sliding on each piece of yellowed white plasteel and with each piece his comfort grew, as he strapped on his belt his hands stopped shaking and as he slid on the helmet and took his first breath of stale smelling air as the helmets systems flickered to life.
For the first time in years he felt alive.
The helmet fully booted and his vision switched from the narrow view from his vision slits to the wide view of his hud and he quickly prepared the couch as if somebody was sleeping and fished in his belt, pulling out an ION mine.
Placing it by the door he found a corner where could hide from the front entrances view and turned off the lights, if they were indeed coming for him they would find that this trooper still had teeth.
Nothing happened.
Time moved and he crouched waiting in the darkness of his room, the faint blue glow of artificial lights from outside the room the only illumination save for his helmets low light setting.
More time passed and still nothing as his legs began to protest at his posture. He kept waiting even as doubt entered his mind, perhaps he had mistaken? It could have been a coincidence. After all, why would somebody send thugs after him?
His hud flashed and he heard it, movement. The stairs groaned as several beings moved up them, the faint sound of boots hitting the floor outside his door and than the sound of someone fiddling with the lock.
TK shifted his weight, his hand moving up, fingers gripping the remote detonator.
The doors slid open, footsteps sounded and just as the first shape came into view he pressed the trigger.
Even as the scream sounded and the shape shifted to look back he pounced, grabbing the hand holding the hold out blaster and twisting even as his other hand slammed into his enemies nose.
There was a cry of pain but he paid the first thug little mind as he already moved to the next. He had already turned back to him, throwing aside what looked like a rope and his hand moving under his coat.
With one hand the TK grabbed the hand, pushing the thug back even as the other drew his side arm and, thrusting it into the thugs gut, he pulled the trigger.
The sound came out muffled but the smell of burnt flesh and ozone was unmistakable, the thug looked at him wide eyed as he slide to the ground.
The stormtrooper shot a quick glance to the third one but seeing him still twitching on the ground turned to the first.
His boots stomping on the man's hand drew a cry of pain, one he ignored.
-'Shut up. Look at me.'
He growled, the voice changer in his helmet making his voice sound like it should for the first time in years.
The thug looked up and his eyes went wide, "Good" the TK thought, this should make getting answers out of him easier.
-'Let's talk.'
He growled again. If they had assaulted him in the street that could be seen as blind chance but this? Following him from the station and hacking his door meant he was targeted, knowing who and why could be useful.
The thug nodded before gritting his teeth and for a crucial second the stormtrooper waited before kneeling, a hand shooting forward to force the jaw open but the thug began to convulse and the trooper moved back as the thug shook violently before going limp.
The trooper ground a curse between his teeth and glanced toward the cyborg, saw that he too had gone limp and hissed in annoyance. He had no way of knowing what had happened but he did know one thing, he should leave in a hurry.
Depending on one's point of view it could be a good or bad thing but none of the neighbours showed up, knowing life if they had heard the commotion there reaction would be to double check their locks and hope that whatever was going on would not hurt them.
The trooper gave the bodies a quick pat down and as he expected he found nothing worth noting and so moved to shove his meagre positions into a bag before throwing his coat over his armour and pulling up his hood left the apartment.
The rest of the night passed in a flurry of action. Nobody waited outside for him so made to disappear in the alleys of his district. He moved through them before coming out in front of the station where he paused in the shadows and observed.
He heard the sound of his optics focusing and refocusing as moved his gaze along the late crowd. Nobody stood out like they had and he decided to risk it, stopping himself as he remembered, he was in his armour.
He fought a moment, the urge to just go strong but he forced himself to take his helmet off, the systems blinking off before the faint hiss of it unsealing and he pulled the helmet off, he blinked to the naked world as the scents of Coruscant returned. He felt naked again.
Ensuring that at least his hood was up he made his way to the station, just another soul in the never ending stream of beings.
-' Go right on in honey!'
The droid chirped as he entered the 42. He had spent the better part of the night travelling, and slinking into shadows to ensure he wasn't being followed before spending the better part of the morning observing the building.
He saw nothing that would imply it was under observation so eventually he entered, walked past the droid, stopping just short of entering the bar to look around, nothing seemed out of place, before entering.
Behind the bar was the red skinned near-human he had questioned before but there was a second being as well. The red skinned saw his approach and the professional smile vanished as she turned to the other and said something he didn't hear.
-"White" I assume?'
It had to be an alias as the name suited her too well as the face that turned to him was not so much pale as white, as was her hair and if it wasn't for her make up there would colour at all. He briefly wondered whether the albinism was natural or the result of several generations living in Coruscants under city.
-'You're the bounty hunter asking after Zyb.'
She stated rather than asked but he nodded all the same, not bothering to correct the bounty hunter bit. She sighed and looked to colleague who nodded before turning back.
-'Teekay was it? What do you want to know?'
The repressed the urge to correct her by giving his number and instead focused on the matter at hand.
-'Your friend here said you were on reasonable terms with Zyb, even talked with him before his death.'
-'Yeah, and?'
She interrupted, he bit back the urge to reprimand her.
-'Did he say anything?.'
She snorted and had opened her mouth to a snarky reply but stopped herself, something in the man's eyes told her that was a bad idea.
-'He was always talkative once drunk, lots of jokes and funny stories.'
Her friend snorted at that and moved away when both shot her a look, White continued.
-'If you were his friend you would know the type.'
-'He ever tell you the story about transporting fuel on Bakura?'
She smiled and nodded, her tone becoming friendlier.
-'Yeah, lots of that.' - she paused, and looked away, a thoughtful expression appearing.
-'Though yeah, he kinda stopped with that before he was murdered… he became a sad drunk if you can believe it.'
-'Do you remember anything that he said?'
She looked down, resting her head on her hand and a silence fell before shaking her head.
-'Sorry but no. I mean I get a lot sad drunks so I kinda zoned out, nodding my head as you do.'
He leaned back in annoyance, was this it than? As he thought on what to do White stood with an uncertain look on her face before shrugging.
-'Zyb had a room here, CSF was all over it but maybe…'
His head shot up at that.
-'Can I see it?'
White had to ask her boss first before they went several floors up.
The room itself was small, barely enough room for a bed and closet.
-'Hasn't been cleaned yet but I don't know what you expect to find that CSF hasn't already nabbed.'
The boss grunted as he and his muscle observed TK go over the room, looking into closet before he began lifting the linuliom covering the floor.
-'Oy!'
The boss started but stopped as the man looked at him with eyes that made him reconsider his objection. TK continued looking under the floor before turning to the bed. Pulling it aside he again looked over the floor before he pulled a knife from under coat and began to pry up the boards. The boss looked on as a hole appeared in his floor and the vandal put his hand in retrieving a small box.
-'How'd they miss that?'
TK glanced at him before tapping the box with his knife.
-'Dampens a scanner, unless you know what you're looking for you won't notice it.'
The boss grunted, not knowing what to say. The trooper looked over the box before he found where it opens, he gave a tug before looking into the hole he had pulled it from. It was of course locked and didn't seem to be anything hidden in the hole so TK made another round of the room. Looking at the lock again he reached to his belt and pulled an encryption rod and though it entered easily enough a few turns soon brought up an error message drawing a hiss of frustration from the trooper.
- 'You know… '
Boss started and when he saw TK turn to him he continued.
-'I could hook you up with a guy that can crack things open. Course I'd need some cash to set up the meeting… you understand?'
TK sighed in annoyance, he did understand.
TK found himself sitting at a damaged table in a booth at a dingy diner that smelt heavily of burnt grease and synthetic lubricants. The first coming from the kitchen and the later from the small group of labourers from the nearby plant… or at least that's how he hoped it was.
A cup of sus-caff on the table forgotten as the Devaronian sitting across from with a serious expression, next to him was a young human, who looking over the box with a frown, a tool of some sort in the lock.
A few tables away sat two more aliens that TK would occasionally throw a quick glance at. Though they had come in before the pair sitting at his booth the amount of sly glances they threw his way meant he had little doubt the four were together.
Finally the youth put the box down before muttering something to the alien before walking off to the bar. The horned alien gave a broad smile, exposing his fangs at the human facing him.
-'Yesss. It seems the owner was very keen to keep contents secret, yes? Very akward no?'
TK grit his teeth in annoyance but managed to reply with a simple.
-'Yes.'
As he pocketed the box. The alien continued to grin.
-'Yes, entry to box is possible but take time and effort, time and effort my friend could use to make more credits on easier jobs…'
-'How much?'
The alien continued to smile as he leaned back.
-'Eight hundred.'
TK did not respond immediately, mostly because he had no idea how to respond, the Devaronian continued.
-'Is difficult lock yes and my friend is good, but good work take time, no?'
Eight hundred! Who in Coruscants under city had that kind of money?
-'Take a seat anywhere, I'll be right with you.'
The waitress shouted as the doors opened and a group walked in. TK glanced in their direction on instinct, several males in dirty cloaks, hoods up, probably workers from a nearby plant or warehouse…
No, that wasn't it. They didn't walk like workers, shoulders back, heads high the looked around the diners interior with a professional air.
The alien noticed as well, turning round to see what the human was looking at, hand going under his coat as one of the hooded shapes gaze fell on TK and his hand moved from under his coat.
The crack of blaster fire sounded accompanied by screams, startled shouts, curses as well as the crash of furniture and cutlery hitting the ground.
TK had jumped from the booth as several blasts tore into the seating as well as the Devaronian who was twisted around before hitting the ground.
-'Red!'
He heard someone shout as he drew his blaster, set his sights on one of the hooded shapes and pulled the trigger. Hit in the shoulder his target twisted around before the second shot hit him in the back sending him down. More shots followed and the other shapes fell even as TK felt something slam into his shoulder and the heat spreading through his armour and body glove. That was probably going to sting in the morning he thought grimly as he looked around and saw no more targets.
The earlier smells had now been largely replaced with that of burnt flesh, clothing and ozone as the bystanders from the diner began to cautiously look around now that the shooting stopped. Movement made him turn lifting his blaster to find himself in a stand off with a Zabrak.
-'The hell was that!'
He shouted as the other alien now moved past him to the Devaronian on the ground.
-'Reds gone.'
The Zabrak swore. TK shifted his weight, trying to keep the trio in his sight.
-'No idea but I'm sure I need to leave in case they have friends.'
-"'No idea"
The Zabrak sneered.
-'You expect me to…'
-'Leave it Dusty!'
The youth snapped.
-'If they have friends I don't want to be here when they arrive.'
Dusty snarled something but lowered his blaster, TK following his example.
-'Whatever. Take your box and…'
-'Now Dusty!'
The female Devaronian snarled even as she and the Ugnaut left through the door leading to the diners kitchen.
-'Don't follow us.'
The alien named Dusty snarled as he followed his comrades leaving TK amidst broken tableware and bodies. Grounding a curse between his teeth as he grabbed his things and left.
He didn't get far before sirens sounded and he glanced up to see CSF vehicles flying down. He found that odd, they rarely came this far below the surface, not unless something big was going on and he doubted a shoot up at a greasy diner would count.
Even more surprising was the fact that the road was cut off, masked officers checking the ID of anyone trying to pass, TK ground another curse between his teeth, the day he walks around with his blaster is the day CSF decides to do their job.
Without breaking his stride he turned from the street into an alley.
-'You there! Stop!'
He didn't stop, maybe it wasn't towards him but he picked up the pace and turned into another alley, a good move as soon after he heard armoured boots slamming at the rockcrete and as he dove behind a pile of refuse two shapes in the characteristic armour of planetary security appeared and looked down each of the alleys.
One raised his hand to his helmet and he heard the faint click internal comms activating. For a painfully long moment he lay as the two communicated before they turned around back to the main street. He lay for a moment longer before rising and moving deeper into the winding alleys.
Normally he would avoid such paths, ruled be various gangs as they were, but with CSF out in force he had little option. It seems that the presence of planetary security had scared the gangs into hiding as he came across nobody but a handful of the homeless who hid in the various holes when they heard his steps.
Coming up to another street he slowed down and cautiously peered out. A CSF blockade was set up at the streets end, several armoured officers walking around while others were controlling traffic.
He should have had ample time to duck back in but fortune was not on his side as at that moment one of the officers turned in his direction.
-'Stop right there!'
TK, of course, did not listen and soon heard several armoured slamming the ground behind him as he turned the corner to once again try to disappear into the alleys.
Things did not go well.
Overhead he heard the hum of a vehicle and soon he heard movement from ahead forcing i to another turn, it did not help. Ahead of him he heard movement and came to a halt as he spent a long second looking for a way out.
A small door. Filthy, rusty and almost invisible in the darkness. Without much hope he pushed an it and was surprised to see it swing open, with only a moments hesitation he ducked in, shutting the door behind him.
Finding a bar he slammed it home and gave silent thanks to whoever was careless enough to leave it open. Reaching under his coat he pulled a light from his utility belt as the building he found himself in was without lights. A quick scan of his surroundings showed a storage room of sorts, piled high with various bulky bits of rubbish.
Seeing nothing of interest he moved on down a corridor at the end of which was a faint light leading to another storage area, he turned his light off as a few bulbs gave sufficient light to see by. Here again nothing of interest but a few boxes spread about and a set of rusted stairs which seemed to lead to some sort of control room, not that he noticed at first as on entering he found himself with a blaster pointed at his face.
-'Frak me! You again!'
It was the three from the diner, all three blasters pointing at him.
-'You with CSF? I should blast you head off!'
Not a good situation but he found himself shrugging.
-'They set up checkpoints everywhere, seemed like a good place to avoid the foot patrols.'
-'Heelll…'
The Devaronian groaned as she lowered her blaster, followed be the human.
-'Leave it Dusty!'
-'But…'
The Zabrak looked back to his colleauges before cursing and lowering his blaster as well.
-'I take it there is no point in going that way?'
TK asked. He got a glare from the Zabrak and a shrug from the Devaronian.
-'Seeing as we ducked in here to escape a patrol… no.'
She said as she tugged at her fur absentmindedly. Dusty meanwhile had walked up to the Human and looked into the tablet he was holding.
-'Anything?'
-'I'm looking Dusty, I'm looking.'
-'A way out?'
TK asked, the Devaronian turned to him.
-'Of course "a way out" what else would we be looking for?'
She hissed.
-'Spot!'
The Zabrak barked causing the female alien to turn to him.
-'What? Is our trying to escape the cops some secret?'
TK approached the youth and glanced at his tablet as if the argument wasn't happening.
-'You think there is a way out here?'
The youth glanced at him before shrugging.
-'We were heading towards a maintenance tunnel leading to a lower level but the cops got in the way… I was hoping there would be another route hereabouts.'
As he said that a panel nearby blinked to life and he started fiddling with the buttons there.
-'Looks like we have a garbage chute leading down. Won't be safe or comfy but it's a way down.'
-'Can you get it open Giant?'
-'It'll take a while but…'
The building shook and dust fell from the ceiling, Dusty looked up before turning to the youth.
-'Giant?'
-'Oh no…'
-'Talk to me!'
-'We got CSF in the building!'
Both aliens cursed vulgarly at that.
-'How long do you need to open the chute?'
Three pairs of eyes turned to TK, Dusty's mouth opening to say something but the youth cut him off.
-'A few minutes but…'
-'Get to work.'
TK interrupted him as he set his pack on the floor.
-'Who the hell do you…'
Dusty started but stopped as the human pulled off his coat, revealing the yellowed white armour underneath. As the watched he pulled the helmet from his bag and slide it over his head, the faint hiss confirming the suit had sealed itself and when he spoke it was no longer the tired voice of an old man but the authoritative tone of a Stormtrooper.
-'Someone who doesn't feel like going to hell just yet.'
There were four of them. The CSF moved through the door each covering a different part of the room. Well practised and greatly increasing the chance that they would spot a threat before any of them came to harm… unfortunately for them TK was in position to lob a grenade at them as they entered and timed it so it detonated in the air.
Two were thrown forward by the blast wave, the other two flung back.
Before they could pick themselves up TK had risen and lining up the sights pulled the trigger. The two thrown forward were sent back to the ground but the other two managed to get cover, blast marks appearing around them drawing a hiss of annoyance from TK as he ducked and began moving just as blasts erupted around him.
No doubt one was shooting while the other commed in their situation, they needed to be silenced quickly.
Coming to a halt he lifted his blaster and squeezed the trigger several times, forcing the CSF to duck again, before vaulting over the railing. One of the officers had risen, aiming at where the stormtrooper had been, TK lifted his own blaster, the reticle on his hud moving as he did, and squeezed the trigger as soon as he saw it settle on his opponent.
The first blast went low but the second and third hit the cop in the torso and he fell back, the holes in his breastplate glowing in the dark. As he turned he realized that the fourth was already lining up a shot and there was a god chance he would shoot before the stormtrooper would.
A flurry of shots slammed into and around the cop, mostly around, and he collapsed.
-'Bloody hell.'
Came the Zabraks voice as he and the Devaronian looked out from above at the aftermath. TK did not respond to them, instead he moved cautiously forward and checked each body, the two aliens winced as he stabbed two of the CSF with a blade. That done he moved to the entrance and looked out, empty.
He returned to the room where the two were looking at him expectantly.
-'Well?'
-'Clear.'
He answered briefly before kneeling next to a body and slowly unsealed the helmet. Paying no attention to the revealed face he looked into the helmet, unexpectedly the system had shut down, much as his own would had he been the one killed. With the option of listening in on their comms gone he found and smashed the helmets recording device.
-'So are you one of those fanatics that refuse to surrender?'
He looked up to the Zabrak that had spoken before standing up.
-'No.'
He answered simply. The two aliens looked at each other, doubt evident on their faces.
-'So why would they be hunting you?'
This time it was the female that spoke, TK shrugged.
-'Might be a coincidence.'
He offered half-heartadly, though his helmets voice synthesizer made it sound more certain, causing the female to snort in derision as the male scowled.
-'Bull! Some thugs go in on you, blasters blazing, getting Red I might add, and soon after CSF shows up, another weird thing, nabbing everyone in the area and blasting those that run and all this after we meet up with what turns out to be a Stormtrooper trying to find someone to crack a code!'
TK shrugged but offered no other response causing Dusty to step forward aggressively, his comrade grabbing him by the arm.
-'Hands off Spot!'
-'No Dusty. Calm down!'
-'Calm down!? Reds dead and now we're being hunting because this bucket head is part od some imp conspiracy!'
TK stopped listening as his hud flashed and he looked to the entrance, focusing on the sound being amplified.
-'Back to the control room.'
He barked, already moving up the stairs, the two looking at him mid argument.
-'Who the hell do you…'
-'Now!'
This the they listened, possibly because of his tone, or maybe because they heard what he had heard before, the rattle of something metal moving at a rapid pace.
They had barely covered the stairs when something rolled into the room, extended metal limbs that slammed into the floor, a flash of blue light as its shield deployed and the Droidika began blasting.
TK gasped as a pain spread through his entire body, pain so intense that was with the greatest of effort that he forced himself to stay conscious as the force of the hit sent him to the floor as his hud flashed warnings at him.
Dusty and Spot stumbled into the room on their hands and knees as the Droidika slowly chipped away at the wall.
-'Giant! How's our exit?'
-'Opening but I haven't had time to check the rout!'
Curses filled the air, barely audible over the blaster fire.
-'Times an issue right now!'
-'That droid will hunt us down in the tunnel!'
-'So kill it!'
-'Kill a Droidika?'
TK barely noticed the words being shouted as waves of pain washed over him from his back, gritting his teeth he sat up and began fishing through his utility belt.
-'EMP grenade, need to throw it at its feet…'
Three pairs of eyes rested on him before looking up at the constant hail of blaster fire.
-'Yeah… good luck with that.'
Spot said, TK shook his head as his his hud finally reported the system was injecting him with pain killers.
-'Anyone of you got a good throwing arm?'
-'Do you honestly think I'm going to jump out of cover…'
Dusty began but was interrupted as TK shoved the grenade into his hands.
-'I'll draw its attention, you chuck this at it.'
The Zabrak opened and closed his mouth a few times before cursing.
-'Fine. On three?'
TK nodded and at three leapt out the door, the shots from his blaster splashing ineffectively off the droids shield. The Droidika in turn followed the man's movement, blaster fire marking the walls and gantry in his wake.
Dusty hesitated a moment but jumped to his feet and threw the grenade, the sudden movement making the Droidika swing back as the alien jumped back into cover as a flash of blue light briefly lightened up the room before fading, a few arcs of energy going over the droid before it collapsed leaving the room in complete darkness.
TK groaned as he stood up, his hud flickering before stabilizing and took out his light and setting it on the twitching droid blasted it twice for good measure.
-'Is it dead?'
Came a voice from above, TK did not respond immediately, lifting a hand for silence. His hud flashed a warning and he felt a curse rising.
A short run and looked out the door and saw lights in the distance, the low light setting confirming his fear, a larger force of CSF was moving in and this time they knew they had met opposition. He pulled the door closed and slammed the bar down.
-'What is it?'
-'CSF special weapons and tactics team.'
He answered as his hand went to his ever diminishing utility belt and pulled out a small proximity mine, the last one and moved up the stairs and set it on the first step before rejoining the others in the control room.
-'Over here.'
Spot waved from inside a small chute that opened, tucked away behind a desk. Joining her they closed it behind them and half climbed half slid down a steep chute that that was barely big enough to squeeze down in complete darkness.
Suddenly he heard Spot give a yelped curse and felt her grab his leg and he too suppressed a curse as he was pulled down, trying and failing to find some something grab as he fell.
-'You alright?'
-'Sodoff.'
Came Spots voice. TK lay on his back fighting with the pain of being blasted and a poor landing and what was probably a very large pile of trash.
He slowly stood, a hiss of pain escaping his lips, he was too old for such nonsense he decided. Dusty helped Spot to her feet while Giant was already a distance away waving them over.
-'This way!'
They moved in his direction, TK hesitated a moment before following, after a few minutes Dusty realized and turned.
-'Yeah, no. We've had enough of your remnant nonsense.'
-'Hurry it up! It'll take em a while but CSF is going to send someone down here.'
Giant shouted from up ahead and they started moving again though it was evident that with each step Dusty was getting more agitated. Finally they stumbled down a small slope where Giant was removing wires from a control panel, a massive door swinging open.
-'Once we're through we go our separate ways, you got me Buckethead?'
-'I was hoping we could discuss the job I came with.'
Three pairs of eyes turned to him with a mixture of disbelief and anger on their faces.
-'Are you serious?'
TK shrugged at Dusty's question, the alien stepped up to the trooper all but snarling.
-'Red's dead. CSF nearly killed us too and you still think we'll help in some sort of Imperial conspiracy?'
-'There is no conspiracy.'
Dusty looked as if he was about to punch the man but was pulled back by the other two.
-'We need to leave Dusty.'
The alien shook them off before storming through the door, the other two following. TK stood for a moment before following, closing the door behind him.
The were in a damp maintenance tunnel, the only light the occasional lamp illuminating only the closest area leaving the rest in darkness. They walked in silence, Dusty ahead, his friends behind, casting an occasional glance at the white armoured figure bringing up the rear. After a few minutes Spot stopped and waited for the man before walking beside him.
-'If this isn't some remnant plot what is this about?'
From up ahead Dusty turned and shot her a glare but said nothing more before turning his attention back to what was ahead, Giant had slowed down and was listening in.
TK did not reply immediately, mostly because he was trying to figure out how to present the matter.
-'A friend was murdered and I have, promised to look into it. Nothing but dead ends. He hid that container so I'm hoping there might answers in it.'
The walked on in silence for a moment.
-'That's the truth of it? No Imperial plot to kill everyone on Coruscant?'
-'No.'
Dusty scoffed from ahead, Giant scratched his skull as he spoke.
-'Well, a Stormtrooper would be a poor choice to establish contact. You'd expect a spook to be doing that.'
-'Than why the hell is the CSF hunting him?'
Dusty snarled, TK walked in silence for a moment before shrugging causing another annoyed sigh from the alien.
-'Maybe the CSF wasn't hunting him? I mean those plain cloths guys might have been about something else?'
Dusty scoffed in derision and turned ready to say something though before he could a beeping sounded and the three aliens looked alarmed, Giant fishing in his pockets before pulling out a comm.
-'Yeah boss?'
The voice that came through was harsh, it brought to mind glass cracking underfoot.
-'Giant, how long till you lot are back?'
-'We're making our way back now, an hour, two tops.'
TK looked around saw unease in the aliens eyes as the voice continued.
-'Good. Make sure you drop by first thing, I'd like to chat with our celebrities.'
-'Hell…'
Dusty mouthed, the voice continued.
-'Were you smart enough to bring you client with you?'
-'Uh… yeah boss, he's with us.'
Giant stuttered casting a look at TK, the voice continued.
-'Good. Bring him along as well, I think we'll have a lot to talk about.'
They picked up the pace after that. TK's questions left unanswered save for a quick "not now". Leaving the tunnel they wound up in an alley, somewhere even deeper under the planets surface, a quick glance around showed that even the light from the communication shafts were all but non existent and only artificial lights pushed back the darkness.
Through alleys and streets they came to a stop in front of one of the spires, reaching up to the ceiling, all but invisible in the dark. Several armoured figures stood in front of the building, one of them stepping forward at their approach.
-'I take it Red is the one that croaked. The boss'l see you three now.'
He turned to TK, contempt evident in his eyes.
-'You wait inside till called for.'
He growled as the others opened the doors letting them in. Inside the trio were headed off while another guard held up a hand indicating TK was to wait.
He waited. Occasionally there would be movement, beings walking this way and that, doors opening and closing occasionally allowing the sound of conversations to escape.
Nobody spoke to him so he stood, the pain from his back started to grow again making him wonder how big the scar will end up being.
Finally the guard watching him lifted a hand to his ear, grunted something and turned to the trooper.
-'Follow me.'
He did. The corridor went on for a short distance to a corner behind which stood another two guards.
-'Your blaster.'
He hesitated but the faces around left little doubt what the response to a "no" would be. The guard weighed the blaster in his hands for a moment before nodding and setting it on a nearby table.
-'Leave your bag as well.'
He did, begrudgingly. The guard nodded.
-'Right. Follow me, stop when I stop and speak only when spoken to.'
He nodded and followed the guard through the now open doors.
The room was large but dark, mostly thanks to the thick cloud of smoke, his helmets filters immediately starting as he entered. Numerous tables were scattered about, games of chance and wits in progress at most, and a large collection of humans, near-humans and aliens cast a curious look at the stormtrooper walking through.
TK followed his guide to and central alcove near which Dusty, Spot and Giant stood with sheepish looks on their faces and a large man sat behind a table littered with cards, observed the stormtrooper and slowly drew a long drag on a thick cigar, his white skin standing out in the rooms gloom.
-'So you're the celebrity that got one of my boys killed and brought the CSF in numbers unseen for decades.'
A statement not a question and TK came to a halt, instinctively standing at parade rest, the albino spoke with a casual authority of some one has been in charge for so long command came with ease.
He blew out a thick cloud of smoke as his pale, cold eyes regarded the trooper in front of him.
-'So my little star, you have and damned idea what I'm on about?'
-'No.'
He answered simply. The man turned to one of his accomplices and nodded. The near-human turned on a holo display, the bluish image flickering but the voice came in strong.
-'A possible terrorist attack has been thwarted with one of the would be conspirators were killed in CSF spoke being assured was a planned operation to foil the transition of weapons. However several escaped the scene and are in hiding. If you see them do not engage with them and report their presence to the CSF as soon as possible.'
Several images flashed across the projected image, he recognised the alien killed at the diner and shortly after the tired looking face that had been invading his mirror every morning.
-'Now I know one of those idiots but the other I do not and though they assure me it is you I don't see the resemblance. Mind taking that bucket off your head?'
-'Yes.'
Like in a cheap holo film everything went silent and all eyes turned to TK. The albino pulled a long drag on his cigar and blew out a thick cloud before he spoke, very calmly.
-'Oh? Why?'
-'It's uncomfortable without.'
The albino regarded him coldly, tapping his finger on the table before slowly a smile appeared.
-'Funny. I'll let you have that but a word of advice, don't try to be funny too often.'
-'Understood.'
TK nodded. The albino leaned back and, the smile vanishing from his face.
-'Judging by your attitude you are ignorant of who I am. I go by Bierak, what do you go by bucket head?'
-'TK.'
-'Right Teekay. My workers here say you got in contact with them to crack a box open? Let's see it.'
Before the trooper could say anything one of the thugs brought his bag up and presented the container to Bierak who looked it over.
-'They also said you insist this isn't the plans for some super weapon or some other remnant nonsense ,so what is it?'
-'I don't know.'
Bierak eyes narrowed.
-'I don't know if your a clone or whether all of you bucket heads are this retarded but I strongly suggest you move your brains and give me more detailed answers to my questions. So, what is it?'
TK resisted the urge to repeat his answer and slowly began his explanation.
-'A friend got in contact with me and wanted me to look into his death, dead mans trigger.'
He added the last as he noticed Bierak scowl and decided he needed the additional information.
-'Came up with nothing but dead ends except for that.'
Bierak looked at the cylinder again, turning it over.
-'A piss poor reason for CSF to be hunting you…'
He turned it over again before looking at Giant.
-'And you said you can open it?'
-'Yes boss, wouldn't be easy but I should manage.'
Bierak released another cloud of smoke and set the cylinder down and looked back to TK.
-'You got the money for the job?'
-'No. Not as much as they said anyway.'
The Albino looked at the trooper in silence for a long moment, long enough that some of the thugs around the room began to fidget or shoot questioning looks at each other before Bierak smiled a chilling smile.
-'So trooper, how long has it been since you've had a mission?'
TK did not expect that and he stood in silence as his mind went back to the mad dash from the surface, "It can not fall into enemy hands."
-'A year, give or take.'
-'Dusty, how do rate his performance during your escape?'
-'Errr….'
The alien started, surprised at suddenly being called on.
-'Well… he did kinda do good, I guess.'
-'Spot? Giant? Anything to add?'
-'Not really…'
-'He kinda did most of the blastin'
The albinos eyes shifted back to TK.
-'Tell you what, seein' as you want something from my employees and your short on cash and you got one of my boys dead.'
He paused here as if daring the man to challenge him but with no reaction he continued.
-'A trade. You do a job or two for me, put those killin skills of yours to use and I consider all debts paid.'
TK did not answer immediately. It had been a long time since they beat it into him it was his duty to stamp out beings like Bierak. On the other he had no real alternative to deal with his current problem.
-' One or two jobs, not three or ten.'
Bieraks smile was icy.
-'Of course. I'll even have a bed organized for you. After all, Red won't be needing it. Now I'd suggest you see a doctor about that hole in your back, Malek here will show you the way.'
-'I'd suggest not getting blasted but judging by the scarring you have a habit of doing so.'
TK grunted in response, the doctor sighed.
-'Well, get off my table and get dressed.'
He was glad to do so and soon the body glove was back on and the trooper was fitting the plates back in place.
-'You know, we have an armourer that could look at your armour up and fill in those holes…'
TK grunted again as he sealed the helmet and the doctor shrugged as he picked a bottle.
-'Suit yourself.'
He said before putting the bottle to his mouth and started drinking the contents. Strapping the belt on he turned to the doctor.
-'Thanks for the patch up.'
The doctor didn't put down the bottle but waved at the leaving trooper.
-'Took you long enough.'
Spot said as she pushed off the wall she had been leaning on and waited for the human to walk up to her.
-'The boss put you in with us so follow me.'
-'Your friends bunk.'
TK half asked, half stated. The girl nodded anyway.
-'Not really a friend but yeah.'
Before she started walking, the trooper following in. In silence he looked over the alien properly for the first time, in the light he could see the spoted fur covering her.
-'"Spot" isn't your real name is it?'
He found himself asking, she looked at him with out slowing down.
-'Is "Teekay" your real name?'
-'No.'
-'There you go.'
With that short exchange they fell into silence again, and he followed her to an elevator that took them up several floors.
-'Living quarters.'
She offered as they got out and led him down the corridor.
-'Showers at the end that way, kitchen-slash-common room that way. Everything in between are rooms… this one is ours.'
The door was no different from any of the others, the whole area had the look of minimal investment, function over comfort, it was almost like an Imperial base. The thought made him smile under his helmet.
The room itself was a bit more comfort than function. It was crowded, as every building beneath the plants surface, dominated by two bunks overlooking a central table around which sat Dusty and Giant who looked up at their entrance.
Dusty scowled but said nothing as Giant nodded before returning to the pile of tech on the table.
-'This is your bunk now, I guess.'
Spot indicated one of the mattresses with a shrug. TK nodded and placed his bag next to the bed before sitting down and couldn't help but give a little bounce.
-'Any complaints?'
-'No.'
He answered, all things considered it wasn't bad. As soon as he sat down he felt his body demand rest, discipline required something else entirely.
Fishing out a small box from his bag he sat at the table and opened it revealing a cleaning kit before placing his blaster on the table.
He removed the magazine and proceeded to strip it, looking over each piece as he did. The E-11 was good in that regard as there were few moving parts, the bad side was that it was often poorly calibrated and needed constant care.
Slamming the magazine home he lifted the weapon and waited for the aiming aid in his hud to reconnect and began to focus on different parts of the room… the timing was off.
With an annoyed sigh he put the blaster down and unsealed his armour to remove his helmet and began to look inside.
-'We have an armourer you know.'
He looked up, surprised. He had forgotten where he was, so ingrained the actions he was doing.
-'Yes, I prefer doing it myself.'
Giant nodded but continued looking at the helmet.
-'Got a lot of electronics in there?'
-'Yes.'
Silence fell again as the human continued to work, occasionally setting aside one tool to pick up another before putting them all aside and replacing the helmet.
He once again checked the calibration between the E-11's scope and his hud and found it satisfactory. As he put the blaster back into its holster noticed Giant looking at him.
-'Yes?'
-'Any chance of me taking a look inside your helmet?'
Though it was impossible for him to see the look on TKs face something must have given it away as he lifted his hands defensively.
-'I mean I've seen some helmets, you gotta realize there was a lot of Imperial hardware left behind both times you retreated from Coruscant, but I couldn't get any to work.'
TK stared at him for an uncomfortably long time and just as the alien was about to say something the stormtrooper spoke.
-'The helmets of the corps are coded to recognize a particular trooper, if the system notices a lack of life or someone else puts it on the system will shut down and have to be rebooted by an appropriate user.'
-' Told ya.'
Came Spots voice from her bunk. Giant took a pensive pose.
-'Very well, but can I have a look at you helmets insides?'
-'No.'
-'Tell me you have good news.'
-'CSF lost the suspect, he seems to have disappeared in the lower levels.'
The woman had a face so narrow it brought to mind a blade, you would probably find more warmth in one than in her eyes. Her thin mouth seemed to grow even thinner at the news.
-'I said good news. That did not sound like good news.'
-'No ma'am.'
She had risen from her chair and walked to around an extravegantly large desk, outside the windows Coruscants surface glimmered with lights in the nighttime darkness.
-'One last thread to investigate. One last loose end to be tied up… do you think the chair is going to be willing to hear of another delay?'
There seemed to be no change in the stance or the face of the woman reporting, but she noticed the slight twitch in her throat and her lips tilted ever so slightly upward.
-'Find this nobody. Find him and find out what he knows and do it quickly as I can not guarantee the chairs continued patience.'
-'Ma'am.'
Came the short response before he tilted his head, turned around and left the office. The smile, faint as it was, completely disappeared as she turned away from the empty -room and looked out the windows.
Patience was not guaranteed and she knew that if that patience did run out she would loose more than just the view.
The moment the doors opened the were hit with a wave of noise that crashed into them, momentarily rooting them to the spot.
The club was awash with lights and yet managed to be drowning in darkness at the same time, much like most of the planet if you thought about it. The music, and TK only begrudgingly called it that, consisted mostly of synthetic sounds that reminded him of a cheap engine running and was so loud he immediately regretted conceding to not wearing his helmet.
He was, after all, not alone. Bierak had called in his favour and instructed him to accompany a team on a run and Dusty, Spot and Giant made it clear that a Stormtrooper would stand out even in the crowd of a nightclub. Therefore his armour was hidden under a long, hooded cloak much like the one he had been forced to abandon in the upper levels.
-'Spread out and look casual. I need to check in with our contact.'
Dusty's voice sounded in his earpiece, as it no doubt in those of the others. "Look casual", he figured he could do that till heard a voice through his earpiece.
-'TK, you're not on parade, stop walking so stiffly.'
Ok, maybe not. Figuring that he won't walk stiffly if he isn't walking he stopped next to a small group standing around a cage in which a relatively attractive female was dancing.
-'Hey!'
He looked down to find the source of the voice, a young female human or near-human, it was difficult to say in the poor light and under her heavy make up. Seeing that she had his attention she smiled.
-'You lookin' for a party?'
-'No.'
He said, her smile faltered for a moment.
-'Well I am and if someone were to dish out for the spice I'd party with him all night long.'
"Ah" he thought, understanding finally.
-'No.'
He repeated, she scowled and walked off throwing an insulting term in parting. "Civilians" he thought with derision. Fortunately soon after his earpiece chimed.
-'Gather at the elevator.'
-'What's going on?'
-'Silver says he has a problem with his headset.'
The guy at the console shrugged and turned his attention back to the monitors lining it. The walked to the elevator and waited till the doors opened, his mouth opening to give a snarky comment only it never came out. A barely audible gasp as a armored hand grabbed his throat and pulled him into the elevator where a vibroblade ended his life.
-'You guys alright there?'
The one at the console asked turning around in time to see a white form rush up and slam his head against the console, in a daze he did not feel the vibroblade slam home at the base of his skull.
-'Careful with the console!'
Giant hissed as he moved towards TK, who in the process of freeing his weapon.
-'Sorry.'
Through the helmets voice changer the words came out sounding sarcastic as the trooper pulled the body away giving the smaller human room to work which he promptly did, plugging himself into the computer and began looking through the text appearing.
Dusty and Spot walked in, dragging the second body with them and dumping it next to the other.
-'You got all the blood out of the elevator?'
-'Yeah. You got anything yet?'
Giant didn't even bother turning from the screen.
-'Give me a moment.'
-'No promises. Who knows when the next Abolat will get off on this floor.'
Dusty said as he moved to cover the elevator only to find the Stormtrooper already there. The alien had already opened his mouth to say something before thinking better of it and waving his hand with a sigh instead returning to the buildings command room.
The entire building, and some would say the district, belonged to Bieraks rival, a being going by Abol. The task was simple, kill the man in charge of operations in the district. Some sort of tit for tat killing common in the underworld, TK found himself uninterested in the details, what mattered was that while this was going on Bieraks men were looking into Zyb's locked box and this killing was part of the payment.
-'Found him, top floor room 502.'
-'Any security?'
Giant fiddled with console and the image on the monitors changed.
-'From. What I can see we've got just one guy near the elevator and another one in front of the door, I'm guessing it's 502 anyway.'
-'Any chance of seeing inside the room?'
Giant fiddled with the console again before shaking his head.
-'No. It looks like the place is off limits.'
-'Sounds promising.'
Dusty said with a pensive look.
-'Means it's more likely he really is there.'
-'Spot, switch with me.'
The Devilruk confirmed and left the console, replaced by the trooper.
-'Show me the feed of that floor.'
He said, Giant flipping a switch and the image on the screens changed.
-'You expecting something?'
Dusty challenged, the trooper shrugged.
-'Want to see the general layout, possibly entries for security.'
"Good point" the Zabrak thought, something he should have thought of, something Red would have.
-'Giant, any chance of seeing anything in any of those rooms?'
The youth fiddled with the controls again.
-'Most are off but some I can.'
-'Lets see what we can expect up there.'
A few movements on the console and the images on the monitors changed again.
One seemed to show kitchen, another an empty room while a third seemed to TK a torture chamber, there even seemed to be someone there. A psycho of some sort as who would be grinning so broadly at being strapped down with the torturer approaching, in a very impractical outfit…
Oh, he realized before shaking his head. Civilians.
-'Wonder if they have this to gather blackmail material on clients?'
-'Likely. Check if there is anything of the like.'
Dusty and Giant exchanged their own thoughts on the matter and the small human began going through the data. The trooper looked at the two.
-'Shouldn't we get going? Before someone shows up?'
-'It'll only take a moment.'
TK shrugged and joined Spot at the elevator.
-'Something up?'
She asked as he took up his position on the other end.
-'Your friends found evidence of unorthodox facilities on the VIP floor and think there might be something valuable there.'
She looked at him with a raised eyebrow before realization dawned on her.
-'Oh. Depends on whether they can actually identify somebody.'
Shortly after the other two joined them.
-'Find anything?'
She greeted them, Giant nodding.
-'Maybe. Bierak will have the final say.'
-'What about the feed?'
Giant turned to TK and tapped the cybernetics in his head.
-'It's all here. If you'd let me tinker with your helmet I could send it to you directly.'
The helmet gave no chance to see the facial expression underneath though Giant had a suspicion it would similar to the scowl etched into the plastoid.
-'Never mind.'
The man said as the doors opened and the piled in and instead hooked into the control panel and worked on them.
-'Access to the VIP floor granted.'
-'This is it, get ready.'
Blasters were readied and when the doors opened an armed thug looked, the look of surprise on his face shifting to panic as he tried to bring his own weapon up.
TK lashed out, the butt of his E-11 connecting with the guards nose sending him to the ground with a pained gasp, immediately after the trooper was on him, a vibroblade slamming into his throat.
-'Quickly! In case they heard that!'
Dusty hissed and they moved down the corridor, as they reached the end another guard appeared and Dusty charged into him, grabbing the blaster and yanking it up as he thrust his own into the guards belly and pulling the trigger.
He collapsed, the smell of burnt flesh around him as the other looked down both ways of the corridor.
-'That way.'
Giant said simply and led to way to another door where he began to fiddle with the control panel, the others forming up around and keeping a lookout.
-'I'm in.'
They shifted, readying to move in. Giant raised a hand and began folding fingers.
3
2
1
The doors opened and four blasters pointed in, the attackers met with blaring music and a small crowd staring at them in various states of undress.
TK fired followed by the others and shouts and screams sounded almost louder than the music.
Almost as soon as it started it was over, bodies sprawled around the lounge, furniture turned over and the small mountain of alcohol and spice on the floor, the stench of burnt flesh and ozone heavy in the air.
-'I thought he was supposed to be alone.'
Spot managed, looking around wide eyed. Before anyone could say something TK's monotone voice sounded over their ear pieces.
-'Stay frosty. We still need to clear the place and confirm the targets death.'
He was moving before he finished speaking, opening the first door and his blaster barking almost as soon as he did.
-'Clear.'
Came his voice as he moved further into the apartment. The trio shared an uncertain look before following. The stormtrooper seeped the room before moving towards another door which he entered and soon the heard the sound blaster fire from inside.
-' Clear.'
TK's voice came in over the comm and the three began looking the bodies over. Dusty threw a look over his shoulder and seeing the trooper hadn't returned yet hissed.
-'I thought imps were supposed to be crap shots?'
-'Does it look like it?'
Giant hissed back, pointing at the bodies. They fell silent as TK walked back in.
-'Found him?'
-'Yeah. Bastards here.'
Dusty answered holding up a body by the head.
-'Giant take a mug shot.'
No sooner had the youth did as told than over the music they heard the sound of a comm chimming.
-'We should probably leave.'
Dusty surmised their situation.
-'I think you need this Tari.'
She looked up at that and smiled at the steaming mug.
-'Haku, I think I love you.'
He laughed at that, placing the mug on her desk.
-'Remember those words next time I ask you out.'
She laughed and picked up the caff.
-'Well this is definitely improving your chances.'
He winked and took the his inbox. Despite the late hour there were plenty of CSF officers at their desks, a constant reminder of the lack of personnel the planets security forces suffered from.
"Even fewer know." she thought grimly as she glanced at the nearby desk, already cleaned and awaiting its new user.
-'You better not be thinking it's your fault.'
Haku said, seeing where she had looked, making her shake her head.
-'I'm aware, still it never gets easier and the chief…'
She stopped and hurriedly put the mug to her mouth, casting a look around. Haku did as well and leaned in.
-'She seemed to be in a hurry to close the matter, didn't even want to wait for the autopsy.'
Tari nodded and put the mug down.
-'Yeah, still got to get that. Feel like coming along?'
-'Such a romantic invitation with the miss Tari? How could I refuse?
This required a trip the lower floors of CSF precinct where they were assailed by the smell of sterilization fluids.
-' Bethree, is the doc in?'
-' Should be in his office, officer.'
The droid reported as it continued to sterilize tools. With a "thanks" they went further in, rapping her knuckles on the door Tari stuck her head into the office.
-'You got time doc?'
"Doc" turned out to be an older human in a fashionable hair cut and the attempt at a matching beard. He looked up only slightly annoyed.
-'Lucky for you I just finished my lunch.'
-'It's night time doc.'
-'So it is.'
He grunted as he checked his timepiece before standing up with a sigh.
-'So yer here for the KIA.'
He stated as he left the office. Telling the B3 to tell anyone who might come he was busy doc led the two officers to the morgue.
Unsealing one of the bodies he pulled it out and began pointing out each injury.
-'Cause of death varies but are either the result of concussive damage or blast wounds, the stabbings were just a guarantee.'
-'So they ran into a psycho of some sort?'
The doctor snorted.
-'I recall mention of a Droidika being knocked out as well, and the recordings in the poor sods helmets being destroyed.'
-'So a highly functional psycho.'
Haku summarized to which doc shrugged.
-'It could be worse than that.'
-'How so?'
Doc pulled out another body.
-'Notice these blast wounds. Precise shots to kill or incapacitate the target.'
-'So our psycho is a good shot, great.'
Taro shrugged making doc shake his head with a sigh.
-'Look again. How many bodies have you seen with such precise wounds? How many since the rebels... I mean Republic retook Coruscant?'
The two officers looked at him with raised eyebrows drawing a sigh from the doctor.
-'Think what you will but in my experience only Imperial stormtroopers are this precise.'