A Day in the Countryside (Zilfer, Semi-Open)

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Aerith watched as the two men advanced, steel in her eyes and in her bearing. She was in a classic saber fencing stance, which seemed to amuse the two men wielding vibroswords. One bowed mockingly. The other curtsied.

Aerith glared.

The first man walked forward and swung his sword in a clumsy chop. Aerith ducked to the side and swung her saber down onto his arm. Hard. The blade cut through his muscle to the bone, and his arm hung at an awkward angle, the sword dropping from his hand. He let out a scream and writhed on the ground until Aerith kicked him hard in the head and he passed out.

She looked at the second man with a smug look.

He was no longer mocking. Instead his jaw was open and he tentatively advanced. When he made his swing, it was controlled and he remained balanced, not overextending himself. He wasn't overconfident.

Aerith caught his blade on hers, but swiftly disengaged and sent her own saber streaking towards a weakness in his armor on the side. He managed to catch that on his own blade, but Aerith pressed on, using her agility in footwork to her advantage. She managed to drive him backwards in a flurry, then to her great delight he fell backwards over a protruding tree root onto the damp sand, his sword falling to his side, where a quick kick by Aerith's boot sent it flying into the lake.

Her own saber moved straight to his throat, where she held the tip right against his skin.

At that moment she caught Zilfer looking at her. She looked back.

"I hope I'm not boring you," She said innocently. Or mock-innocently to be more precise.

The man on the edge of her sword gulped nervously.

[Zilfer]

"Actually I'll have to admit that I'm impressed with your swordsmenship. Not bad," said Zilfer turning his attention back to the assassin for hirer who was at his mercy. Truthfully him and this person shared a similiar job though he couldn't say these were the most skilled assassins he had run into. There had been one hit in the past he had managed to scrape by, with a head to head with someone of deadly percision. Never found out who that was though. "So unless you want to lose your head over this matter I think it'd be best if you started talking."

"Look, I don't know nothing. Took the job because it paid and really who cares about who your killing," said the man and Zilfer's eyes narrowed quite a bit at that last part. Not in some fake bravado that he had just insulted Aerith, no it was the form in which the conducted his business. Who cared about who the target was? You don't just take a job without researching who your going to kill, it just.... wasn't done. If you wanted to stay living in this field. Looking at the two corpses, he thought that it spoke louder than words now.

"You know something, a handler, go inbetween. Did you meet this 'guy' and how do you know it was a guy?" asked Zilfer pressing the man further.

"All I know is he was a pretty shady guy.." said the man and only continued when Zilfer's lightsaber got a little closer to his throat almost burning his neck hairs. "Black skinned, cornrows for hair and wore a stupid mask. Went by the name "Mr. Dark". He was paying good money though, 10,000 credits just to take the job and a lot more once the job was over. Found out she took strolls out here and it wasn't hard to bribe one of landowners to look the other way. Also had learned she was stupid enough not to have any gaurds!"

Bribery something one could always count on, it just depended on who the bribe was and what you wanted done. Most people would take a bribe to look the other way, I mean most people didn't want to know what you were up to in the first place but it couldn't be that bad could it? 'Ah some people's ignorance....' Zilfer mused.

"Looks like you were wrong about the guards," said Zilfer who's contempt was clearly showing. Then he continued on a small rant. "And so you thought you could just waltz in here and kill her? Well I can tell you, you've definatly earned with death, a bounty on your head, and the illwill of the future countess of Criaxia."

The man's eyes went wide for a second realizing that. "I didn't-"

"Well that's just too bad," said Zilfer looking to Aerith once more. No doubt she wouldn't go easy on this man but it was her world, and he didn't know laws around here because quite frankly he never lived by the law. "So what do you want to do about these posers? Jail for life or some send them off to work in a place worse than death?"

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

"Ten thousand credits?" Aerith said haughtily. "I feel insulted."

Was it really so pathetic that some hired goons could be persuaded to murder a leading Sith aristocrat for such a trifling amount of money? Aerith herself made so much vastly more that the amount seemed trivial. The idea someone would actually kill for it was surreal, strange beyond reckoning.

For a few long seconds Aerith stared at the two conscious men trying to make up her mind what to do. There were a great many options to deal with.

The first was the simplest. Kill the survivors, leave them to rot. Of course she could also call the authorities on her comm. Or some combination, but she had a better plan in mind.

But first, she had an image to protect.

"Zilfer," She said in her most gracious and regal voice, "Cauterize that wounded man's arm. I have a plan for the rest of you."

Aerith pulled out her comm from a saddlebag and thumbed the emergency channel with a slender finger. She spoke into it in her most calm and collected voice, stating there had been an attack that was foiled, but a man needed medical attention, giving her exact position. There were promises of an air medical response vehicle inbound, and then Aerith excused herself and cut short the channel.

The young Sith aristocrat pulled her saber up from the man's throat and wiped the blade clean on tall grass, speaking as she did so.

"You two are now being hired by me. You will find the man who hired you and kill him. When you return to my estate via the front door, I will pay you fifty thousand credits to share however you see fit. I will also pay for your friend's medical treatment. In exchange, you will never trouble me again. Are we clear?"

Aerith fixed her sternest look on the pair as the man below her scrambled to his feet and stood by the side of his comrade.

[Zilfer]

Zilfer didn't quite agree with her tactic but it did have one advantage of riding them of the ignorants before them. He took his lightsaber to use on the man who's arm had been wounded by Aerith. Grabbing the arm none to gently he looked at the man.

"You might feel a little..." said Zilfer but that was interupted by the man's loud shout of surprise as Zilfer put his lightsaber close enough to cauterize the wound. "Now it won't get infected, if you have any money I'd still get that looked by a doctor like Aerith suggested."

He knew these guys didn't have much longer to live if they did decide to try for the even larger sum of money. It would be smarter for them if they got the hell out of dodge, but depending on their previous employer they may not leave loose ends. The guy they described he chalked up to one of two kinds of people. The creapy weirdo's that wanted a play at power or this was someone who knew what they were doing. The mask part struck him as odd, though it could have been as simple as wanting to conceal his idenity. He lowered his voice so it would be hard for the two men to hear.

"If they go after this man they are as good as dead, something doesn't sit right here. Someone out there wants you dead and was willing to pay money, not much mind you but he seemed to know just the right people to ask for the right amount of money. He must have saw some skill or thought you'd make a careless mistake," said Zilfer whispering to Aerith. "Not that I don't doubt your skill with a blade, but I think if either of us had been caught unaware by five men even as poorly skilled as these ones, death would be a possibility."

Even he didn't like to admit his mortality, and he was sure Aerith with her noble and haughty demeanor wouldn't admit much of it either. He could see the aircraft already headed this way. He didn't have much more time, he figured Aerith would go her way and he would either disappear before the aircraft landed or be lead away somewhere with the two others.

"I must impose perhaps another inconvience upon you Aerith. I don't think whoever this 'Mr. Dark is, is going to let it lie. He'll try again though whether it will be through more hired goons, or if he'll try personally I don't know. You don't know anyone matching the description do you? Black skin, and wear's cornrows in their hair?" asked Zilfer no longer whispering. As the sound of the air craft began to get louder.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

Aerith whispered back to Zilfer in a very similar tone, hopefully to dispell his beliefs.

"I know that. But this gets them out of my hair, and if they do succeed my worries can be stilled for a while. Even just an attempt on him will delay his actions enough for me to regroup. I win either way."

The Sith aristocrat looked up and saw the airspeeder hovering, lowering slowly to the ground.

"As to the man, I don't recognize the description. However, I do have an array of options for you. I already owe you a figure. You can add to it by investigating this man yourself, or by staying at the estate and helping to arrange security. I could use assistance right now, and you seem professional. I prize myself as a judge of character, and I feel confident in enlisting your services. And of course you will be well-paid."

The airspeeder touched down and the engines whirred into a quiet standby mode as a pair of medics walked out and surveyed the scene, looking at the injured men. Obviously an explanation was in Order, and Aerith gave it. More or less.

"I was attacked by some of these men while reading, those standing defended me after switching sides. You will escort them and the wounded to the nearest hospital, and you will not detain them. They are under assignment from me now."

The medics nodded and with a "Yes Lady Vand" they sprang into action, dealing with the wounded and rounding up the would-be assassins. As they did that, Aerith walked over to her horse, placing her book into a saddlebag and patting the creature's neck tenderly. Tyuru was still wary after the weapons fire, but was quickly calmed again.

The future-Countess looked at Zilfer again.

"If you are coming with me, you can ride behind me. If not, this is where we part ways."

[Zilfer]

Zilfer waited for Aerith to explain, he had to admit he was glad she hadn't decided to rid herself of him as well as the criminals, that was just what he needed. Another fight away from security, though apparently he hadn't made her as angry as it originally appeared. She even offered him a job, which he was really in need of. Not that he was going to make it that apparent, having a cool and level head about it had always served him well in the past. Make them think you don't need them, but they need you. Didn't quite work out that way in this case but hey, you got what work you could.

"I shall see to your security, though some of my methods may be unorthodoxed, if you can live with that the next few days that would be fine," said Zilfer not quite explaining what exactly that meant. At one of her later comments he smirked. "Well I hope your not just saying that because I have a lightsaber."

'A sword for hire... didn't Bermfad had a word for that?' thought Zilfer a moment. He couldn't recall the Mandalorian term so he gave up. When she offered him a ride it was again his turn to be surprised, and he raised an eyebrow to that.

"You sure that won't cause a scandal of sorts? You riding in with either a commoner, or a man that looks like he's ready for war?" asked Zilfer before slowly moving towards the horse. He however did enjoy the thought of riding this beast he had just met. No doubt he'd enjoy the experience. With that he spoke again not giving her a moment to reply as he swiftly climbed up the horse behind her. "Since you insist however..."

He found it somewhat slightly odd to balance but would be able to manage he figured.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

"I can ride in with whomever I choose," Aerith said candidly as she rose into the saddle. "My father is off the planet, my brothers are currently... indisposed... And the servants are fiercely loyal to the Vand family. They would do nothing to tarnish my name."

Zilfer quickly mounted the horse and placed himself behind her, half on the saddle and half off. It was quite apparent that he would fall off after a short distance unless there was some kind of corrective action. In fact, somehow she doubted he'd ever ridden before.

"You will have to place your arms around my waist. I will permit this. However you will mind your hands."

The prospect of being handled, even platonically, was not thrilling to Aerith. It wasn't that she found the company of men somehow more distasteful than that of women, it was just that she found the idea of intimiate contact with anyone rather flat and unappealing.

Eventually she'd need to be a mother in order to continue her bloodline, and perhaps she would find sexual activity enjoyable, some sort of dirty pleasure, but she really didn't find the concept appetizing at all. More like drudgery.

However, maybe this Zilfer would clean up considerably over lunch, which was fast-approaching.

Aerith squeezed with her knees and her horse started to walk, breaking into a fast trot as she wheeled around back the way she'd come, towards the estate.

[Zilfer]

“As you say Princess,” said Zilfer in response to she could ride with however she wanted. He made a note that her father was off world, wondering if that was why this ‘Mr. Dark’ had chosen to strike. Then he entertained another thought, wondering just for a moment if the attack had an ulterior motive. One that wasn’t quite apparent.

When Aerith told her that he’d have to wrap his arms around her, he obliged though he was a bit far past the years he would have made some naïve comment in what he thought was good humor. Instead, he just confirmed his understanding, setting his hands around her stomach. Noting that the horse responded to a squeeze of her legs, he made note of that later in case there ever came a need.

Pressing a button on his datapad he brought up one of his contacts who came on the link a little louder than he would have liked.

“HEY! Zilfer what are you doing! Long time no see what can I do for ya, chummer?” asked the voice over the comlink.

“I need you to run a quick search of anyone using the handle ‘Mr. Dark’ on the planet of Craixa, think you can do that?” asked Zilfer and there was a moment of silence before he heard keys starting to drum away in the background. ‘He never did like touch screens did he…?’

“So it looks like, there have been multiple contracts by a guy going by the name Mr. Dark. No information on his identity, your not thinking about taking a job from this guy… are you?” asked his contact.

“Why do you ask Tarl?” countered Zilfer wondering what Tarl had just found out. Needless to say Tarl was the best at digging things up, or at least the best Zilfer had worked with.

“Whoever he’s hired has wound up dead not long afterwards from ‘accidents’, and not the pretty kind either. He’s got a track record…. Hold on a second.” Came Tarl’s voice again. It gave Zilfer a moment to digest the information. “He used to work for the hutts, for a long time. Can’t seem to figure out why there was a falling out but it seems to have happened a few years ago, since then he’s been arranging private jobs. Latest one as you said was on Criaxa, on some noble lady and…”

“Yes Tarl, you know cutting out at the important parts doesn’t make it any more dramatic,” said Zilfer. He was letting the conversation go on so that Aerith could hear just what they were facing. Better not to keep her in the dark.

“There’s a hit out on you, but the number can’t be right. Who did you piss off to get 100,000 credits put on your head? It says they want you alive,” said Tarl who’s keys were typing away furiously. Probably helped having more than two hands.

“On me? I can’t say I’ve done too much in the last year or so, I just got back from an…. Extend vacation.” Said Zilfer trying to avoid the subject as to why he actually took to living up on the deserted planet Chinine out far away from civilization. He was already beginning to miss it with this complicated mess.

“I think you killed his boss,” said Tarl, and with that Zilfer was forced to remember the event that had sent him into solitude. He had killed a mobster that had killed his Master, well the chain of revenge was back to haunt him.

“That’s all I needed to know, thanks Tarl.”

“Hey, wait a minu-“ started Tarl but Zilfer had already hung up on him.

“Seems like my past comes back to haunt me, not sure why this guy wants you dead as well, but maybe you’d be safer if I wasn’t near you. Putting all our eggs in one basket probably isn’t the wisest course, though it might draw him out,” said Zilfer who receded into silence for awhile.

He definitely enjoyed the ride reaching out with his conscious, towards the horse. He hardly ever done this so it was a bit clumsy but he tried to project good will, and a sense of amazement towards the creature. He rather hoped this didn’t spook the horse in the middle of their ride back to the estate.

[Lemur, The Kool-Aid Guy]

"We'll both be safe at the estate," Aerith said in a matter-of-fact tone when Zilfer finished with his conversation. As he'd been talking, the black horse's brisk trot had carried them a considerable distance. They were now on a hill overlooking a forested valley, and on another hill on the far side was a sprawling country estate, big enough to be a town of its own, brimming with lofty structures, some towers five stories high. It was a monument to opulence.

It was the Vand estate.

Aerith slowed her horse and came to a stop before a well-travelled path leading down into the forest.

"This enemy won't know he failed for a while yet, it buys us some time. Security is already very good at the estate, and as soon as I arrive I plan on doubling the security. I will call the government for guards, and they will arrive soon. In the meantime you may safely stay as my guest. Provided you behave accordingly. Lunch is at one, tea at four. Dinner is eight. Breakfast is nine. You are expected to dress nicely for meals, even if there are no other guests for the meal. We can go over all the rules of conduct later."

The young aristocrat looked over her shoulder, rotating in the saddle to face Zilfer better.

"Understand that I expect your best behavior."

Aerith was serious on that count. Her home was her castle, in an almost literal sense, and she administered it in her own way. That was, in a word, elegant. Any deviation from elegance would not be viewed favorably.