Fiat Justitia

[Aretsuya]

THE BUDPOCK VINE

Unidentified Assailant Claims Life of Notable Barrister

5:30PM. An attack on Dr. Giles Degersted has been reported next to the City Centre at Ballistica. The victim, a 42 year old barrister, had been shot several times in the lower abdomen by what appeared to be shards of scrap metal, as evidenced by the bloodied fragments found some distance behind the exit wounds on the deceased’s lower back.

Forensics reveal that these wounds had penetrated deep into the flesh, rupturing several major organs and spreading infection in its wake. Such abrasions have never been officially recorded before, owing to the fact that no such weaponry of today shoots out shrapnel as projectiles into the victim’s body.

Furthermore, Degersted’s ID card, credit cards, and all manner of other personal valuables appear to be missing. The Trust Bank has announced that most of Degersted’s money has been withdrawn in increments at various locations throughout the city, with the majority of the transactions having been made last night, shortly after the presumed time of death. Mr. Havonhoff, one of Degersted’s clients, alerted the police after the advocate uncharacteristically failed to arrive for a consultation on time, and neglected to answer any calls.

Miss Nancy Gren, a local barmaid, was the one who stumbled upon the cadaver upon returning from her night shift. “At first, I was wondering why there was a still figure around the edge of the street. When I saw what it was, I was absolutely horrified!” she stated.

Officials have dubbed this mysterious assailant as the “Ballistica Bandit.” Closer inspection has revealed a distinct correlation between the murder of Dr. Giles Degersted and a series of other missing person reports that have been filed across the region over the course of the past month. Although previously assumed to be unrelated, the bank frauds and hefty transactions, made shortly after the disappearance of each of the individuals, seems to be inherent to each of these crimes, thus suggesting a common culprit. No other body has yet been reported.

Owing to the numerous attacks on these innocents and consequent identity theft, the police warn fellow citizens to keep any and all information pertaining to their identities (such as bank account numbers) absolutely confidential, not to be disclosed to anyone. This criminal has also been suspected for taking large unverified loans under the aliases of numerous citizens, thus causing the financial institutions to wrongly accuse these victims of identity theft. As these crimes are not self-revealing, they can continue for a good amount of time without any detection. These connections have only been made recently following the implications of Dr. Degersted’s untimely death. Police are actively investigating each of these cases.

The unusual shrapnel wounds and steadily cumulating total of missing funds and other valuables is a matter that affects every resident of Budpock. If any information about the suspect can be brought to light, please contact your local authorities.

- J. Learner.

---


“Ballistica Bandit? Couldn’t think of a crapper name for me, could they?”

Aretsuya huffed pompously and disregarded the holographic newscast almost immediately. She had other things on her mind right then.

The moon shone dimly on the murky footpaths, illuminating the cracks and crevices of the already broken down pavement. The pale, dismal light polished her smug features, her face dotted with beads of perspiration, gradually growing colder by the second. Just as her heart skipped a few more beats than it should have.

The sirens howled menacingly, as Aretsuya shoved the carcass further back into her ship. She had breached open the doors of a crime she hadn't intended on committing at that precise moment, so she had not an idea about what to do with the damned soulless corpse. Kitty Colster was being so darn annoying, with her "meet me in the back of this alley, blah blah blah." and then demanding more credit than what she deserved. The deal had been for Colster to sweep up the mess Aretsuya made, good and clean, owing to the fact that Kitty worked for the law enforcers there anyway. But she just couldn't help but get herself carried away, and ordering more pay than what they had initially discussed. Otherwise, she'd give Aretsuya's name in, and ... well, who the hell cared anyway. There would be no point speculating over the possibilities if the wayward officer of the law (Aretsuya scoffed at the thought) were dead, so the scarlet-haired woman just stuck the shrapnel canon into Kitty's chest and, bam.

There was the ugly, haunting glow of the tall, rusty streetlamps. Aretsuya did not feel as bright as they were, but rather as dull-witted as the moths bumping into the sides of the scratched glass. Flickering, one, two, and then out. Is that how Kitty felt during the last few minutes of her life? She didn’t care. That bastard was the one who had gotten her into all of this. She only needed to rely on herself to get out. Only herself. No time for the news flashes now.

Funny how the media at large viewed her. It made the lass feel so... important. Heh, good one.

The shadows of the trees looked eerily like ghosts, disturbing the clear roads and gliding into the alleyway where Aretsuya stood. She would be damned if she was found out, if she just remained standing there. Mission: Get rid of Kitty's body, take her stash and run for it. Maybe grab a few new gadgets for her ship while she was at it. All money is good money, after all.

An orchestrated cacophony of restless pups, a wail of sirens, distant yet so close, and all went quiet. Her irritation at Kitty was slowly transforming into fear for what was to happen next. And if something was to happen...

She wasn't going to wait around long enough to find out.

Hesitantly, Aretsuya withdrew from her reverie and headed towards her ship. The adrenaline pumped through her veins as she quickened her pace and ran in and out through the different paths of the streets, until finally, observing a hazy sea of smoke up ahead as the vessel’s ramp descended in greeting, she lessened her speed to an ambling traipse and made for the control panels, letting the ship’s doors slide shut with a muffled hiss behind her. She lit a cigar for herself as the hormonal surge receded and stretched, smirking lusciously, and allowing the nicotine to work its wonders into her head. Bliss.

“Where to now, lass?” she muttered to herself. Coruscant. That always seemed like the best destination for one itching for trouble.

[Jora Res]

"{This conversation is over Hijin.}" Jora said, anger rising in the tone of his voice. "{You don't have the cash. You don't get the information.}"

"Not like I need it anyway." the short blue furred Squib barked as he jumped out of his seat.

The critter stomped out of the Green Star and into Coruscant's busy streets. Jora gritted his teeth as he watched his long-time customer leave. He'll be back. Jora mused as he massaged his temples, and ordered himself another hot cup of coffee.

Information was easy to come by; it just cost a sum of cash most couldn't afford. Hijin had come in wanting some dirt on the local swoop gang, the gang however accounted for twenty percent of Jora's business. Dirt on them would be worth quite a bit to anyone.

The coffee came, steam still rising from the cup. The Gran lifted the cup to his mouth and took in the scent. It was wonderful. He titled the cup letting the liquid energy slide down his throat. The intense heat was soothing and calmed the Gran's nerves. There were more people to deal with and he needed what breaks he could get.

[Aretsuya]

The whir of the metallic giant still left the woman's ears tingling. It grunted, as she whacked at the doors to ensure they stayed shut, and the floors seemed to rattle from the impact. Darn thing wouldn’t slide shut unless she battered it down. Aretsuya couldn’t wait until she could grab hold of a better spacecraft. The name Ground Titan suited the wreck just fine, a large pile of metal scraps stuck together, as if with rusted nails and crafted by handicapped ten year olds. It did, after all, work best on land. That is, until the wheels gave way from a rougher than average terrain. At that point, Aretsuya would be screwed over. Bugger.

The young lass glanced back once more to see if her ship was still standing strong, or at best, holding together, really. She pulled her jumper down a bit lower, covering the few centimeters of bare midriff. The chill of her beloved craft still clung onto her back, refusing to let its master leave without it. After that, she was plenty glad to have left for the swarming streets of Coruscant. Anyone would rather adhere to the agonizingly hectic air of the city streets, anyway.

Aretsuya strolled along the many streets and alleys, enjoying the feel of the extravagant manner that came along with the dazzling planet. Each corner on each road suggested something suspicious or just plain interesting was going on, and the girl loved exploring the nooks and crannies of the assorted cities. Lights flashed on and off, gilded with even brighter rows of blinding flares. As people exchanged pleasantries with one another, the sirens resumed their shrieking, pursuing one offender after another. There seemed to be no sleep in this city. Just the right place for a vivacious young lady.

However much Aretsuya would have loved to stick around and just watch the many colours glide along the paths, snaking their way up the roofs and windows, she had work to do. She hadn’t a proper contract in ages, and honestly, if she didn’t get one fast, she would be stuck on this planet with a rickety ship. Who knew how long it would last anyway? Everything else was a minority now, and she needed money. Fast.

Dusting away the invisible specks of dirt from her shirt, she eyed the buildings around her, hoping to come across a good place to stretch and relax, while thinking up potential candidates for her next mission. The Green Star. She smirked, her round, cerulean eyes dancing with pleasure at the thought of the opportunities there. The Green Star was well-known for its shady comers, and if she wasn’t one herself, she wouldn’t have bothered to traipse into the uncertainty that awaited there.

At first, Aretsuya held her head high, entering haughtily, back straight and nose in the air. She felt like a queen next to the occupants there. Aretsuya loved knowing that she was not only the best deal around, but the best eye candy most places had to offer. From her brightly dyed red hair to her pencil thin heels, she felt more confident than ever, especially after spotting the various eccentric beings around her. Her tall, willowy figure sat itself down and the woman ordered a strong shot of espresso. She needed to rejuvenate, after all.

While she sipped away at the bitter liquid, she couldn’t help but notice that a strange, furry blue individual had gotten itself stuck in a rut with an even stranger being, though this one looked more intimidating than the former. The blue thing seemed to have wanted some information from the three-eyed alien, who refused straight-out, due to some circumstances she figured was related to finance. Eavesdropping or no, she knew she had found a golden opportunity, and ran after the – well, whatever it was.

”Not having a good day, are you, Sir?”

Hijin, (she supposed that was his name) stopped and swerved back, eyes widening with fear at the sight of the woman in pursuit. His neck craned forward and Aretsuya guessed that if it attempted to progress even a millimeter forward, it’d snap and the scared little eyes in their sockets would burst.

“You overheard, did you? You’re after me?”

“Only after the information you require, sir. For a certain fee, of course. I assure you that you’ll be able to manage it.”

Hijin looked uncertain and Aretsuya furrowed her brows, trying to mock his grave expression. Sympathizing with the contender was a good way to show that you were sincerely interested.

“And what makes you think that you’re up for the job?”

“Me? Well, I’m the best that’s ever been around, Sir. I’ll dig up every little thing you need to know about that gang. I guarantee you won’t regret it.”

[Hijin]

Hijin gently brushed the fur which had risen at the back of his neck down out of fear. The motions had a calming effect that slowed the pace of his racing heart down to its normal speed. Slightly more comfortable then a moment ago, he inspected the woman closely. Her appearence didn't bother him as much as Jora's did. Those three eyes staring into your soul. He shivered. She may be a better person to deal with.

"Okay, deal." he said extending his furry hand in a shake hoping her hands were clean. "What's your price? It better not be as outragous as Jora's. I need that info."

[Aretsuya]

Having succeeded in seizing the odd little being's interest, she engrossed herself with a cigar, reaching for her ornate silver case and eventually, lighting the stick and propping the case back into her pocket. She teased the little stick of nicotine with her slender fingers and after some time, resolved to taking a puff. At first, she wasn't sure whether she wanted to shake his hand or not, but in order to make herself seem a bit more... approachable, she took it.

She let go. She felt the urge to wipe her hands but decided against it. Aretsuya didn't want to put him off already.

"Really, it depends on how much information you want."

The girl was once more fixated on inhaling a few deeper drags, permitting the smoke to create tiny spirals in the air. Eventually, her eyes rested on Hijin again. She felt much more bold on the job.

"Name a price, and I'll see if I can take the job."

[Hijin]

Hijin instantly became delighted upon shaking the woman's hand. It had been six months or so since he'd last got a taste of a cig, its familiarity came back in a wash, and intensified his ever present craving for nicotine since he'd quit. Deep inside he cursed the addiction.

He watched the embers at the tip of the stick brighten as she inhaled. How he wanted to join her in the comfort of smoking. He hesitated to ask if he could nab one off her, but she continued with the current subject.

"Twenty-five hundred credits. I want to know about this gang's connections. They're backed by someone, what with all the cash they got their hands on and what they're up too." He replied quickly, his mind still focused on the cigar.

It was killing him watching her smoke. Hijin bit down on his tongue rather then having asked for one. He would beat this addiction.

[Aretsuya]

"Twenty-five hundred sounds fine, but..."

Her lips formed a very genuine little pout, and she let the crimson strands cascade over her long, thin face, her gestures expressing apprehension and worry. In an attempt to look perturbed, she crossed her arms and tilted her head to the right. Yet, Aretsuya couldn't help but notice that Hijin's eyes were more focused on her cigar than anything else.

Hijin's face was stretched out into an awfully pained expression, and his focus on the whole deal seemed to be lacking, mainly because his eyes were targeted on her having a smoke anyway, and the deal all depended on whether he was satisfied with her price or no. The lil ol' lady had to make some sacrifices, if she was going to do this right. Frustrated, she snubbed it out and her eyes lingered on him, once more.

"A girl like me can't possibly survive off of that, what with the rate of inflation and the economy," she cooed, making her eyes as large as she could without appearing too inauthentic. "Why don't you throw something along and help me out here?"

[Sorsha Kasajian]

[KASAJIAN TOWER, CHIBA DISTRICT]

:: Sorsha had just finished a meeting with Surron Startech, one of her legitimate partnerships. Now she was having a private word with one of her sub-lieutenants about a far more shady matter ::

"The Zann Consortium? Are you sure?"

[Garrik]

"He was denying it, but we got him hanging by the Lekku."

:: Garrik laughed malicously as the Twi'lek shrieked in the background ::

"Our boy wants to cut a deal."

[Sorsha Kasajian]

"He should have been more honest with us about his dealings."

:: Sorsha frowned. She hated people who tried to work both sides of the fence. It was nothing less than a personal insult ::

"Space him."

:: With a dismissive gesture, she turned off the Comm. It was time to step out for awhile ::

[Hijin]

Hijin sighed internally, a mixture of relief and loss, as Aretsuya dashed the smoke. He realized then that she had a knack for reading people and playing off them. Her expression trying to play off his good will now. Inside Hijin wanted to play along, but this was an eat or be eaten world. Aretsuya made that clear in her own way.

"You make due with what you can get in Ivisisec." He chose to mimic her expression as he spoke, pulling the look off better than she had herself. He did have the cute, fuzzy critter appearance to rely on. "You're human, that's automatically one up on me in this world. Besides twenty-five is all I got to spare. If you want something extra you should see my buddy L'Vek. He's busy with that gang right now though. L'Vek's a human, so you could work you're charms better on him than me as well."

[Aretsuya]

Eyes observing the furry blue alien, Aretsuya acknowledged him finally with a nod, though she wasn't sure if it was the appropriate response. She was grateful that she had gotten the deal so far. Having been "out of work" for so long, it was a welcome change.

She was still watching him very closely, however. Hijin struck her as being a bit odd, just the way he did and said things. It was almost as if the ratty little being had more insolent things up his sleeves, and she was itching all over to pull them out.

The girl flipped out her commlink and beamed a jolly grin at his direction.

"This will only take a minute, honey. I'll take care of everything."

She took a few steps back, pursing her lips and contemplating on what to do.

"However, I do want an initial deposit."

With that, she stepped back into the cafe and sighed with relief at the convenience of everything so far.

[Sorsha Kasajian]

:: Sorsha's transport arrived outside the cafe. She was accompanied by a Mandalorian in a black leather duster. This was Mato, one of her top enforcers. She glanced at Hijin dismissively as she entered the cafe, her attack dog in tow ::

[Jora Res]

Jora was still sipping his coffee when the girl who'd chased after Hijin returned. He'd have to watch her if she was going to be cutting into his business within Invisisec.

Arriving shortly after Aretsuya was someone most unexpected, Vigo Sorsha Kasajian. The Gran kept his attention to the coffee and newspad infront of him, so as not to stare.

This was a surprise for him considering Sasseeri had an operation set up nearby. That's what Hijin had wanted to know about, but didn't meet the amount of credits requested in return for the info. What was going on in this part of town? Territorial disputes? Jora would notify Lorn when he got the chance.