Bothawui - It's A Wild Goose Chase, Or is it?

Learning of the recent events with the Sith had placed time against Terand. If Lancer's last tip about Bothawui didn't prove useful, then he'd have to set the search for Master Onasi aside and continue with his primary mission. Bothawui was a vast source of information if you had the contacts. Terand would have to find out where Lancer went by finding a Bothan named Mel, but where to start?

Since the Sith now controlled the galaxy and the fact that the new Emperor Malas had placed a hefty bounty on Terand's head, he couldn't travel about so easily as throw his name and Jedi status out like he had before when searching for Lancer's bread crumbs. Instead he wore a large black cloak that covered his Jedi Adventurer robes and electromesh armor as well as the phrik vambraces, shin guards, and his weapon belt. What could be seen of his face was that of an old man. With the help of some makeup, his face was all wrinkly with long grey hair coming down the sides of his head.

As Terand walked down the street, he hunched his back and added a limp on his right leg while placing all his weight on a metallic walking staff. The staff wasn't too thick or too thin, just enough to fit comfortably within the palm of his hand and still remain durable under pressure. Anyone looking at him would pass him off as some old man, which was what he wanted everyone to think.

Deciding to go about this the usual way, Terand hobbled off to a local cantina. Sitting at the bar, he spoke to the bartender with an aged and weak voice.

"What do you have wet?"

(Using my assassin, Harmony)

The Jedi sitting at the bar had been foolish in attempting to physically disguise himself. The people after him were far too smart to not see past it, and those that didn't have the force were already on his trail anyway. For such a handsome prize, it was hard for Harmony to not be attracted to the idea of tracking a Jedi when he got the call on it. The man, Terand, had made the most vital of mistakes on Taris, and he had yet to learn of it evidently as he sat relaxed at the bar. Harmony would remind him why wanted men were, by general rule of thumb, not supposed to be hanging around public bars when they have one of the largest bounties of all time on them.

The cantina was overlooked by a two story commercial space known as "Bernie's Storage Lot". A fairly simple building by itself, but with the thousands of containers holding people's valuables or not-so-valuables, whatever it was that people chose to store in this ghetto area, it turned in to a regular maze. Harmony had to take the fire escape just to get up to the roof of the building, where he had his chance at the man.

Looking around he noticed a few things about this space, the dumpsters below had not been checked in weeks, and depending on the landing, he would be able to safely jump down to the ally if need be. Also, the hatch leading to the second floor of the storage facility, a small square hole big enough for one man to scale up or down the seven or so ladder notches, had its lid removed sometime before, and sat just five feet behind him.

The human sat down his equipment on the ground next to him and hopped up to the ridge in the top of the building to adjust the sights on his weapon. The item, which required quite a strong person to even carry, was what he liked to call a grenade launcher. Rather devastating, rather loud, rather fun. This particular model had three canister sets to it, frag, or as he labeled it, kill, flash, and gas. They could be rotated through simultaneously and were pretty easy to use. The other weapons were laying about on the roof, a large caliber sniper rifle equipped with a silencer, an assortment of blades, most vibro woven, and last but not least, his own invention, the M-99, which was essentially a large sonar gun, not unlike the types whale used, magnified to shoot at an astonishing 3,000 wave lengths, a pretty amazing weapon. Also, he had his blaster and own blades on his person.

Zoning in he found two windows in the front of the place, one in clear view of the bar area, and the other just in front of it by a few feet. Both easy shots, and neither would be heard over the speeders outside and chatter and music of the local pub. Perhaps this would end just as easy, but he doubted it. A quick shift in body weight and he found himself shooting the first round, a stunner straight through the window the bar couldn't be seen on. The next followed was a killer, which he shot right down the bar in a perfect line for the "old man" he had been stalking. Before it even broke the window the flash of the stun would have hit the visitors inside and Terand would find the much more deadly cousin of the first assault rolling right underneath his bar stool in a matter of seconds.

With the second succession, Harmony jumped from his perch back onto the more solid roofing. He grabbed the M-99 and sat it over the edge of the base wall that kept people from falling off. He had the front half of the building in his sights and was waiting for any movement... he didn't want to give the Jedi any chance to breath. He would be in serious trouble if he killed the man, but he doubted a Jedi would be so easy to take care of, not yet anyway.

Terand had just received his drink when his danger sense kicked. He could feel the hostile intentions against him through the Force. It seems a bounty hunter wasted no time for a pay day. Without wasting any time, he hopped the bar as the stun shot took out some of the bar patrons. The lethal shot had then taken out the stool Terand had occupied moments before. They party had started before he could have his first drink.

Thinking quickly, Terand figured the odds may be on his side since he was wanted alive. Malas made sure of noting that by mentioning a bounty being placed on his killer. Logically stunning weapons would be used. His brown gloved hand slid into his cloak to pull out mask. His free hand pulled off his make up before he placed the mask over his face and then brought both the hood on his robes and his cloak over his head. Now he was prepared in the event of gas. Removing one of his bladed blasters, Terand stayed close to the floor as he crawled behind the bar to the far end and out of sight from the windows.

The back door he was going for was out of sight for anyone on the rooftop across the street. This allowed Terand to slip out the back room of the cantina and into the streets. Now was not the time to rush into a fight and that's just what he would've done by going out the front door where an obvious ambush awaited. The bounty hunter would have to chase down his pay check if he wanted it.

(My apologies for taking so long, I was in a small car accident last night on the way home from practice and we had to get that taken care of so I completely forgot to come back and reply)

The blasts could not be heard over the noise of the busy street, but they could be seen and felt. The smoking remains of the bar brought a small white cloud to the roof of the interior that slowly crept out the shattered windows. Harmony slowly counted backwards from twenty in his head, and no sign of life other than a few lucky patrons of the bar made had it out. The two he saw stirred an even bigger panic on the streets, blood gushing from various spots on the body, limbs missing. Those were the two sitting on either side of the target.

Looking at the window that had given him a direct view of the man would prove whether he had hit the target or not, unless the body somehow had flown out side that area. He doubted it, and climbed back to his perch to get a solid look. Damage critical, from what he could see through the obscured smoke the wooden bar table, not unlike most bar tables in the galaxy, was hollow at the bottom to store the alcoholic beverages not out on the counter. These were often times just extras, but either way, a hollow shell would prove most deadly for the jedi knight.

"Hopefully not too deadly though," he chuckled to himself.

(I assume you jumped the bar directly over where you were standing since you didn't really say)

The area that the grenade had rolled to was decimated. Large and small metal fragments littered the walls and ceiling around it. The implosion of the grenade, the one that sends the metal furiously across that place, created a ripple effect in the foundation of the wooden base of the bar, then the small blast that comes with frag grenades would open a huge gap in it, shattering the bottles beneath as well. The fragmentation would shoot through the bar wood like a knife through warm butter, hitting all around where the jedi was trying to take refuge.

(Normally I would think that a point blank blast from such a device as a fragmentation grenade would blow you into tiny little pieces, but since this is a special situation I will allow you to live if you agree with the fact that the bar would have been destroyed under those conditions. Remember, Hollywood is not always correct in what they do =P

If you agree and see this through we can say either a severed limb or some other type of near mortal injury halting your escape completely.)

The Jedi Knight had messed up. Time seemed to slow down for him as the explosion went off. The bar wasn't able to hold up against the frag grenade but it did manage to absorb most of the damage. The blast knocked him face down on the floor as the shrapnel from the bar and bottles blew around and into him. Glass and wood shards had pierced his ass and back. Blood crept down his head from from a blunt object that had hit him and managed to knock the Jedi unconscious.

((Character in play: Ashaiya))

Deciding not too follow Terand yet as he disguised himself she instead made her way off to a shop a few buildings away. A clothing shop, although she lacked any credits she was just there to make sure Terand didn’t find him in a difficult situation. Browsing through the clothing she peered at whatever she thought was cute. Finding a particular top that looked interesting to her, until of course she saw the price and immediately set it down. However wearing the same clothing as she was before on Terand’s ship, just in different colours. With the black leather pants, white top, and a red leather jacket that reaches down to her thighs. She of course had a black belt around her waist that held her phrik lightsaber.

As the lady at the counter at last approached her, curious to if she could help her with anything the sudden commotion from a few buildings pulled her attention away. Quickly leaving the shop she made her way to what appeared to a bar just hit with an explosion. She couldn’t quite see through the smoke however drawing her lightsaber with her right hand she ignited it, the silver beam buzzing as she called out.

”Terand?!”

Though her attention was pulled away somewhat, sensing someone nearby. Since the commotion had pretty much cleared the street of frightened civilians.

Finally, his target was confirmed neutralized, for now anyway. He would have to move quickly so not to let the authorities stick their noses in his business. His weapons were left scattered, but he kept one surprise in hand, in case someone tried to play hero. He seriously doubted it, and up to that point everything had gone smoothly, even his jump down into the dumpster, which was a bit harder than he had first assumed.

He walked quickly yet casually over to the scene. People were running back and fourth from the rubble yet no one really seemed to notice Terand laying unconscious on the ground. No one was playing hero... yet. He cleared his way in and rushed to Terand's side. He remained calm, cool, and collective and implemented the acting skills he had picked up in his more subtle missions to seem genuinely there to help. He had practiced a method like this before, and had fooled more than his fair share of people. Not even a skilled Jedi could detect the deception in his motives. He pulled from his jacket pocket a small black satchel, opened it hesitantly, and pulled a rather large hypodermic needle, the contents of which were a dull green liquid. He gently placed two fingers up to Terand's neck, checking for a pulse, then patted his neck, making sure he hadn't broken anything vital. No, he was fine... or fine for being four feet from a fragmentation explosion. Goody!

He tied a small plastic cord around Terand's bicep to cut off blood to the arm, counted slowly to himself, and then injected the large needle in the arm. Soon the man laying before him would be in a deep slumber. The tranquilizer he had given him was so potent in fact, that it would need a certain time of anacid mixture of which he had on his ship to ever wake the man up. His heart was pumping slightly less than bare minimum blood, so Harmony didn't have the slightest thing to worry about on the way out.

Noticing the female figure at the door shouting the fallen jedi's name Harmony remained calm. He looked back in her direction, calling to her, "Your friend, is this him? He was seriously injured in the explosion. I am a Doctor at Jinuzz Community Hospital, its just a few blocks from here. Help me get him to my speeder, would you?!?!"

As the 'doctor' called out back to her she subsequently made her way in and rushed over to Terand. A doctor would be good however unnecessary.

"Not necessary doctor."

Switching her lightsaber off she moved to the right side of this doctor, placing a left hand on his shoulder to direct their attention to her specifically. She was curious as to what just happened and he may have been a witness. Though simply telling him would not work to her advantage as most were not too welcoming of having an object read off them. Through Psychometry on this doctor's top she could see everything that just happened. Seeing the 'memories' that this object held she could see this doctor was indeed the one attacked. Though she wouldn't make this too obvious yet, as she merely took the moment to use Psychometry.

Turning her attention to Terand, with a quick motion of Force Pull anything that was still currently in him such as glass or wood pieces would be pulled out simultaneously. Quickly in response she placed her hands over his face and began using Force Heal. He wasn't too injured so it wouldn't take too long. Though from what she saw it was nothing short of a miracle he didn't receive too many wounds. But after a minute or so of healing him from his minor wounds she would turn her attention to the bounty hunter.

If jedi mind tricks were the only thing he had to worry about here, then he might just be able to pull of this contract after all. As the female reached out he quickly and hesitantly backed off, stepping over Terand's body to the other side of the room. He would be most uncomfortable with a jedi he had never meant trying to make physical contact were he really a doctor. After all, most people had little to no understanding of the force anyway. For all he knew she could very well have been the perpetrator in this most heinous of attacks. Shifting his weight he stood back up to face her. His concentration was completely on the body laying about on the floor and helping Terand.

Pure as he was being, he'd have to act slightly startled at the acts she had just committed. What with trying to reach out for him and non physically, as far as he could see, pulling the remnants of the wood and metal out of the man, she must be very dangerous.

"You know, I don't really feel comfortable with this unconventional medicine you seem to be all for. I sedated your friend a few seconds before you showed up so I could manage him into my speeder without him being in terrible pain. I don't think that whatever you just did would fix that, and my antacids are at the hospital. Perhaps we should head over there and get this sorted out?"

She took note of his abrupt backing away when she reached out for him. Slightly suspicious as most people wouldn't even been paying that much attention to actually react if confronted with an injured man. Though she would keep this in mind for now as she continued her Force Heal on him. His physical wounds would all be healed by now, though he didn't wake. That was slightly odd taking note of the doctor she then turned her attention to a plastic band around his bicep. Lightly placing her left index finger on it she once again used Psychometry, he previous attempt a failure. However unlike the doctor this band couldn't oddly back away. Through Psychometry she could see whatever the band saw and feel all emotions and intentions at the time from anyone in this 'memory'. Which in this case was the deception from the doctor and the intention to turn Terand in for a bounty.

Obviously a bounty hunter she then looked to the doctor, keeping a grip on her lightsaber once more. She would have to decide on her next action now.

She didn't even acknowledge the questions he had laid out for her. He had yet to figure it out, but she had somehow seen past his act. It seemed almost comical to him she was reaching for her light saber while her friend laid there on the floor. But either way, Harmony left his weapons on the roof, and aside from the "surprise" he had brought with him (yes I mentioned it in my second post, not just pulling it out of the air) he was completely unarmed. Even his skill as a close combat fighter wouldn't be of use at this particular moment. He had failed on this attempt, but he had only lost a battle. The war was up for grabs.

As the female turned to face the front door and grip her saber, Harmony, with a burst of speed, turned 180 degrees and sprinted the three steps to the back door, bursting through it and rolling out to the ally. Getting up and reaching mid stride he yelled back

"I will be seeing you soon!"

With that he disappeared into the crowd gathering outside that kept its distance from the scene due to police now getting control of the situation. He would be back, and he would be prepared to kill the infidel that interrupted his hunt.

One blast was enough to stop the last Jedi he faced in his tracks, he couldn't fathom this one would be any harder. No, the trick here was he was going to have to kill her, and take the target unharmed.

Terand.. Terand... Terand... you my boy, well you are as good as mine if this is the best you can muster.

She watched as the man quickly ran away and sighed, deciding that she would let him leave and didn't bother stopping him with a Force Pull or something. She didn't want to kill him but she knew he would make it difficult. Though turning her attention back to Terand as authority figures at last arrived they stood outside the building and collected information before finally walking in. Asking her if she could describe the man, she did willingly and then refused the offer for Terand to be brought to the hospital. Placing her lightsaber subtly on her waist as they made their way off she placed one arm under Terand's knees and the other around his shoulder blades. Of course she wouldn't be able to pick him up but instead she subtly used Force Push to slightly lift him above her arms. So it would appear she was caring him except where it was far easier.

Bringing him back to his ship she made sure to activate the ship's defenses just in case. Switching the turrets on, activating the motion sensors, and so on out of security. Placing Terand on the bed within the captain's room she sighed as she made her way to the security room and took a seat. The loading ramp had been previously lifted back up, and now she simply watched. Curious as to when Terand would at last awake.

Janella who had decided to stay with the ship, was sitting in her qauters meditating after 4 hours of the gym, followed by 4 hours of lightsaber and force training. She awoke slightly as she felt two presences enter the ship, one considerably weaker than the other. The trainingsaber Master Ranus had given her floated gently in the air infront of her, it slowly declined and fell into her lap as she opened her eyes.

"Master!"

She quickly stood, letting the lightsaber slip out of her lap and rolling across the bulkhead. She went straight to his quaters where she found him lying on his bed in a peacefull slumber, if not slightly pale. She knelt and placed a hand on his forehead which was cold, something was wrong, she could feel it. Standing again she headed to the security room, she enter to find Ashaiya sitting at one of the consoles. She crossed her arms and cleared her throat lightly before speaking.

"What happened?"

"He was attacked by a Bounty Hunter. He's lucky to be still be with us. I arrived just as the Hunter managed to knock him unconscious."

She responded to Janella however didn't bother turning around to look at her. Instead she continued to look at the monitors around outside. Making sure the Bounty Hunter wasn't following them or something. Though she now knew the man's Force presence so she would be able to sense him from a distance away. But just to make sure.

"Something was injected into him. The bounty on him requires him alive, so I'm sure whatever it is it's most likely meant to just knock him out. But I'll be keeping an eye on him just in case."

She fell into one of the chairs nearby, Who could put a bounty on a Jedi?

"Did you get the guy?"

"Unfortunately no. He managed to get away however I've made sure that the authorities on this planet know his exact appearance. He caused enough of a commotion to warrant himself a top priority among them."

Sighing she then remembered Terand still had his mask on, turning around she got up from her seat and made her way to his cabin and then his bedside. Taking his mask off she placed it on a nearby table, following it by stripping him of his weapons she too placed them on the table nearby. She didn't want any accidents to happen if he started to move in his sleep.

She sighed and wandered back to her quaters where she retreived her lightsaber, she then went to the cockpit and sat in the pilots chair. She stared out of the forward viewport at the view of the city below, it started raining shortly before it got dark. She slowly slumped down into the chair with her feet rested up on top of a control panel and fell asleep.