Blades and Kurt: Mission One

[Revan Jast]

"A laser glancing off the skull isn't really a nice way to kill someone. Also, bullets in this day and age are considered to be something of a weakness, maybe even a depravity. I wanted to see if you would take the weapon and deliver a messy form of justice... stoop to the level of a cold-hearted killer. You did... but I believe it wasn't under your own senses. You were pumped up on drugs, and I still saw you fighting to not take the weapon."

Kurt stepped away from the wall and hooked his thumbs in his belt loops. "I am damned by all means, Blades, that is what I truly believe, but even in your sordid state of mind I saw you still in there. I think you have hope yet. No idea when your sun will rise, my friend... maybe even tomorrow."

He nodded at Sticks, who seemed to be rousing. "I think your friend is awake. Let us see what your destination is. Perhaps we both go to the same place."

[RobbyL9]

Although he wanted to indifferently tell Kurt to believe whatever he wanted about his hope, Blades decided not to and just remained silent. With a neutral look on his face he nodded and shrugged instead.

"Mmm, hello pard'." he heard the drowsy voice of his partner say "I see you're up, even though you probably shouldn't be." Sticks got to his feet and yawned "Oh well. Wouldn't be the first time you disobeyed a doctor. Just try not to move too fast."

"Oh hahaha." Blades said mockingly "Now refresh my memory if you will... Uh, where exactly are these guys dropping us off with the boxes?"

Sticks got up and shook his head to wake himself "The crew are going to Corellia and have agreed, by grace of gods it would seem, to do me a favor and drop off the equipment for us. They have also agreed to take a detour and drop us off at our next job."

On a dime, Blades' mood changed back to his usual joker self "Heh! Great. Right to the chase, then." he said "So where to? N-no, wait I love this game. Is it uh... Tatooine?" Sticks shook his head "Lok?"

"No."

"Dathomir? Please say yes, I hear that those Singing Mountain chicks can party."

"And they can also tear out your spine using the Force, Blades. But that won't be an issue because we're not going there either. You can also rule out Nar Shadaa, Nal Hutta and Ryloth."

Blades wore an expression that reminded Sticks of a disappointed child "What the hell man? Where else could we possibly go that would have any kind of work?"

"Onderon."

Outraged, Blades cried out "ONDERON?!" making the mother jump in her seat and squeeze her daughter to her even tighter and causing the daughter to cringe "That planet's practically nothing but an artist colony, what could we possibly find there?"

Keeping his temper, Sticks explained patiently "It just so happens that I was able to secure us a nice quiet protection deal that pays decently and should be relatively painless. And before you ask why, let me tell you you don't get to play dumb this time."

Blades pointed at his partner but managed to hold in his words with a grunt. His shrugged his shoulders and sat down on the bed. "Fine, fine I got it. I'd been meaning to get a suntan and a manicure anyway." he said, rolling his eyes and looking over at Kurt "I assume you're not the artist colony planet kinda guy?"

[Revan Jast]

Kurt shook his head. "Looks like you're not gonna make an ass out of you and me. I'm definitely not the artist type of guy. Well, not that kind of art," he added with a smirk. He looked around the room and then back at the two mercs. "I'll be taking my leave then. Other business calls me, more blood to shed and helpless to save, or some shit like that. Sticks, make sure this guy stays off the fucking drugs."

Kurt made a small salute and started for the door, then turned back and walked over to Blades. "I'll trust that family gets a nice life because of you, Blades," he said, punching him on the shoulder. Then, unusual for him, he held up his hand for a 'gangsta whap'.

"See you in another life, brother?" Kurt asked, a small smile appearing on his battle-hardened face.

[RobbyL9]

Blades was surprised to see Kurt holding his hand out like that. It occurred to him that he really must have had some kind of impact on the normally lone-wolf mercenary. "Well." Blades said, getting up "Where he and I come from, we don't salute indoors. It gets you in trouble. But luckily there's something you can do no matter where you are."

Blades slapped his hand together with Kurt's in picture perfect gangsta whap. Totally digging Kurt's vibe, Blades finished up by bumping their shoulders together and shouting "Ooah!". He leaned back out, tightened his grip for a second and let go.

Sticks couldn't help but suppress a laugh. "Well whaddya know about that, Kurt?" he said getting up "I think our sergeant's in love with you. I just know it'll be hard parting, but with the biz being what it is we may actually run across each other. Here's hoping you well." He reached out and shook Kurt's hand.

[Revan Jast]

Kurt nodded and gripped Sticks' hand firmly, then dropped it. "Same to you, Branches." His smile turned into a grin. "Only kidding!"

He turned around and walked out the door, hooking a left for the hanger bay. "May your women be SDT free, may you have never ending drink, and may your bullets always find their targets!" he yelled out as he went.

Once he was on his ship, he removed his weapons and armor and placed them in his storage containers, seating himself in the pilot's seat. He buckled up, ran a hand through his hair, and started up the engines. The small ship took off slowly, turning around and leaving the bay for the darkness of space itself.

Now there's a team you'll only see once in a lifetime, Kurt thought to himself. He upped the ship thrusters, leaving the freighter behind. I have a feeling, deep down, that I haven't heard the last of Blades or Sticks. Men like that can never stay hidden from sight for too long.

It had been a good mission, and a successful one. And he had to admit to himself... working as a team had, just maybe, begun to grow on him. Gangsta whap. Heh, gotta remember that one.

Smiling, Kurt and his ship vanished into the depths of the unknown.

[RobbyL9]

A few hours after Kurt pulled away from the freighter, the skipper had had enough time to cruise into place for the hyperspace run and charge the engines. About a day passed in hyperspace before they finally arrived. The freighter arrived in the capitol city of Iziz thereafter and touched down in the bustling Republic port.

When the loading ramp opened Blades was still putting on his vest over his t-shirt. As he did the last strap and straightened his knife out, he glanced back at the slave family which for some reason had decided to see him off. They were apparently going to stay with the freighter crew until Corellia when they would be offloaded with the rest of the cargo.

Blades waved goodbye, not expecting a response from any of them but doing it anyway. To his surprise, the little girl once again displayed her difference of opinion when she looked sad to see him go and raised her hand to wave. Her mother quickly grabbed her by the hand and placed it back at her side where it was before.

Blades sighed. He knew the woman hated him more than anything for almost murdering her baby, and he honestly couldn't blame her. Much to his surprise, though, she hadn't made the girl throw away his Special Forces tag, which still hung proudly from it's new place. Without a word, Blades walked alongside Sticks down the ramp and out of the ship. He didn't look back.

The two mercenaries started walking out of the starport towards a location on Sticks' datapad. It was a long walk and both remained silent the whole way. The tension in the air was so thick and evident Blades felt he could cut it with his knife. "Well?" he finally said to break the silence "You gonna brief me or not?"

Sticks shrugged "Well that depends." he responded "If I recall correctly it was always you who initiated the whole last minute briefing. Unless you remembered to read and recognize the entire file this time?"

"Okay then. Go ahead."

"As you wish. So I'm sure you're aware that it's election season in the city?"

"I smell politics."

"Yes indeed. Our contact is the head of campaign security for an independent party candidate. He has been stretched thin arranging the security detail so he needed new hands."

Blades nodded his head shrugged as they rounded a corner. "Humoring you for no reason, does the captain actually believe the candidate's life is in danger?"

"Not really. He just feels he has a responsibility to make sure everything is covered. He actually seems very personally devoted to his job."

"Hmmph." Blades muttered "Obsessive creep."

"Nah, I'm actually serious. He even included a personal history of our charge. Pretty rich-"

"Rich puke."

"-but generous at the same time-"

"Has an agenda."

Sticks finally lashed out "Oh shut up! I am sick and tired of your fucking attitude! We have been contracted to do this and we will carry it out. And guess what, if you keep giving me crap on this mission let me tell you something!.." he stopped in his tracks and stared Blades down "We will continue to do do-nothing jobs like this one until you feel like lightening up. And if you don't like that then you can get yourself a new fucking partner!!!"

Blades stared right back with a scowl on his face. Ignoring him, Sticks kept walking towards the blip on the radar. With no choice, Blades clenched his fist and kept going.

Finally they arrived at the campaign headquarters of their charge, an enormous gated estate. Sticks rang the bell, which prompted them to open. As they were walking up to the door, for no reason at all Blades asked a simple question.

"What was her name?" he asked, rapping on the door.

"Pardon?" Sticks replied.

"I just wanted to know her name."

Sticks looked down at the datapad, scrolling through the file with his finger. Arriving at the appropriate page, he answered "Charge's name: Navit Badesha."

"Huh." Blades said, shrugging "What a weird name."