Bounty: One Misstep Leads to Another [EA, MA, LA]

[Niall Organa]

The group managed to get Melv secured and turned in without any further difficulty. And it wasn't long after that the group found their way to a nearby diner; after all, the hunt had been long.

Niall frowned down into his cup of caf, neither drinking nor eating.

[Shaisha Vreysk]

Refraining from food for now, the femme sith helped herself to some of the caf, idly wondering how she ended up here with three members of the Republic.

And the silence... stars, the silence would kill her soon.

"All three of you are here for the peace summit?" she asked, cringing at her own banal question.

[Lt. Varra]

By contrast, Varra seemed pleased at the success of the operation, smiling as she ordered a big meal at the diner; or perhaps she was still a little tipsy from all the drinks imbibed while wearing down Melv's defenses.

Noticing Niall's long face, she urged him, "Cheer up, Niall. We got the bad guy, and no one got hurt. I count that as a win."

[Niall Organa]

Niall looked up from his mug, raising his eyebrows. His lips twitched. "Yes. We're all here for the peace talks. And yourself... ah, Lady Shaisha?"

Niall sighed, offering Varra a wan smile. "You're right, of course. I suppose I just expected to feel something more, after. Maybe... maybe it's a bit better, now."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"Yes," she nodded and took another sip of caff.

"So what is it that you do to scum like that in the Republic, as death is off the books? Community service?" There was a slight smugness in her eyes that at least wasn't reflected in her curious tone.

[Niall Organa]

Niall looked at Shaisha, his expression neutral. "That depends somewhat on the particular world. It is a Republic, after all, and member worlds have some flexibility to their laws. One some worlds, I expect he would eventually be executed. Not on Alderaan, though, where I expect him to stand trial."

His lips twitched again, his grey eyes lighting ever so slightly. "And what about in the Empire? Would he have made it out of the bar we found him in?"

[Shaisha Vreysk]

Shaisha scoffed slightly. "Had it been my family dead because of him, he would not have left that bar alive. I am a Sith, it is in my right to execute those who have transgressed against me, or the Emperor's laws."

"Were you an Imperial, sure, you could take him in alive, but he would be executed or put to slave labour shortly."

[Niall Organa]

Niall's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. "I see." He was silent for a few moments. "I gather this is a right that only Sith have. I hope all your Sith are very competent indeed. After all, Melv was taking the bounty on a murderer when he killed my sister."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"One does not survive Korriban without becoming competent in some way," she gave a wry smirk. "But I am not aware of the full details of the circumstances of this particular death. Would you be so kind as to elaborate?"

[Niall Organa]

"In some way." Niall echoed, a smile touching his lips.

"But yes. You've certainly earned that. And more, besides." He took a sip of his caf, seeming cheered somehow, despite the dark nature of the conversation. "I'm sure you know that my sister was killed during the fight between Melv and the bounty he sought. You must have learned that much in order to find us." A respectful nod. "As it happens, Melv's bounty was a murderer. More than once, as I understand it. It was for his crimes that the bounty on him was placed. And that led Melv to bar where he killed my sister."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"Was aware he had killed an Alderaanian woman, which was a mistake, hence the bounty on his head, and there was some chatter I picked up on that said that there would be some Alderaanians on-planet looking for revenge. Or rather, justice," she gave a slight nod. "Any idea who this bounty was that he was pursuing? My sources seemed unclear as to whether or not Melv was successful in getting his target."

[Lt. Varra]

"Oh, Melv nailed him all right," Varra volunteered between gulps of hot caf. Sharing the info seemed harmless enough, she thought. "A scumbag named Vedantam who liked to kill women. The planet's better off without him, honestly."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"At least he served some purpose despite his mess then," she nodded slightly and flagged the server down to bring her something to snack on. "Good professionals are hard to come by."

[Niall Organa]

The look Niall gave Shaisha was faintly exasperated, but perhaps also faintly amused, his lips twitching again. "Yes, well, he wasn't that good of a professional if he killed my sister, was he?"

He sighed, smiling slightly. "Right. I'd better eat something too. I am hungry, after all." He added a few items to Shaisha's order.

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"Not Melv," she gave a pointed look. "Just a general comment that good professionals are hard to come by... as seen in the case of Melv. Had he been a good professional, he wouldn't have ended up in this situation."

With the order placed, she leaned back in her seat and took a long drink from her caff.

"Been a long day today, and not even half-way through. Did you guys hear the explosions at the spaceport this morning?"

[Niall Organa]

"Ah, I see." Niall nodded. "My apologies, Lady Shaisha. I misunderstood. Perhaps if Melv had been more professional, he wouldn't have started a fight in a crowded bar."

Reminded, Niall took a drink of his own caf, folding both hands around his cup.

"Explosions? No." He shot a quick glance at Varra and Alysele. "I hadn't even heard of them? What happened?"

[Alysele Cortess]

Aly was uncharacteristically quiet, drinking her beverage. She withdrew her hood, blonde hair styled neatly... if a bit hurriedly. She tried hiding the pain in her leg, and was managing well so far.

"Nothing of explosions that I have heard." She frowned. "I would not think that is usual even for the Smuggler's Moon."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"No?" she cocked her head slightly to the side. "Two Imperial ships were targeted this morning, right after landing. No words on the casualties yet, as I assume Intelligence is either keeping those details under wraps, or they aren't worth mentioning, but the spin is already that it was a hit from the Republic."

The Sith put down her empty mug on the table.

"Of course, the spin would've been the same, were the positions reversed, though I'm more inclined to believe a third party is responsible."

[Niall Organa]

Niall grimaced ever so slightly, glancing at his two Republic companions.

"Your assessment is a good one, on every level. No doubt we would be accusing the Empire if positions were reversed." Niall said as he turned back to Shaisha. "I hope that your people are alright. I assure you that the Republic is earnestly interested in these peace talks. I assume you would say the same about your side." His fingers tapped his mug. "It does beg the question of who the third party would be."

[Alysele Cortess]

"There should be many parties interested in the status quo, I assume... or someone who has a grudge against the Empire." She glanced at Shaisha, then looked away. "We are not the only one, I assume." She put a hand on Niall's shoulder. "But this is true, we did not do it." At least that I know of.

"Any other attempts that might be connected?"

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"There are always parties interested in keeping the status quo of the war, on all sides," she remind the others as her caff is refilled. "Though I wouldn't go as far as to honestly say that all the Imperials here are in favour of peace. And I'm not naive enough to assume such from the Republic either."

Aly's touch to Niall earned a curious glance from the Sith.

"Not that I'm aware of at the moment, but there will be other reports, I'm certain. If no bodies have turned up before the day is over, then I'd say something is wrong." Shaisha had no idea how right she'd be, considering there would be at least one murdered Sith before the day is over.

[Niall Organa]

Niall gave no visible reaction to Aly's hand on his shoulder. Aly could feel him relax slightly. "Yes." He sighed. "You're probably right."

"Lady Shaisha..." Niall began. "It was stressed to me that it would be unsafe to walk about alone, here. Perhaps the rules are different for Sith..." His lips twitched at that. "But nevertheless, I appreciate not only the favor you've done, but also the trust you've extended to us. That means something, to me." His grey eyes narrowed ever so slightly as he looked at her.

[Alysele Cortess]

Well, that rule was new for her. Which was lucky, as she already broke it that day.

She withdrew her hand, to drink from her kaf. "Indeed. It is refreshing to know that there is variety among the Empire."

[Shaisha Vreysk]

"No such warning was given to me, but my master would not have sent me here if he did not believe me capable of handling myself. Then again, most people seem to think twice about confronting a Sith," she smirked confidently, and the ordered snacks arrived promptly. "Glad to hear it. And I will honestly say that the trust shown today means something to me, as well. Believe you will find most of my fellow Sith and Imperials to be a wide variety of people..."

She picked up a piece of pickled orobird egg, "though you need not be concerned for my safety if that was on your mind. We are taught to always be alert for danger, because Peace Is A Lie."

[Lt. Varra]

"You seem to know what you're doing," Varra agreed with a nod. "And it was decent of you to help out with this errand."

"I think peace between our two sides overall is going to be a tough sell for the diplomats," she admitted. "But I'm glad we've had a chance to be friendly on a personal level. Maybe that's a start, anyway, eh?"