Of Treachery, Subterfuge, and Packages.

[Kella]

ooc// Here we go! //


Airborne! Glem leapt over the low barrier, the cartilage of her legs bending as she landed on the other side, not even pausing to look back. They were stupid if they thought a simple roadblock could deny her passage.

Up a fire-escape, around a corner, down through the alley, scale a fence! Ha, nothing stood in her way. The sound of whirring transports faded in and out of clarity as Glem ducked around a hundred obstacles. The higher she climbed in the city, the less the acrid smell of smog clung to her lungs. It smelled so much better in the upper-city. Rusty metal gave way to polished chrome, gang look-outs to city police. Glem was equally out of place in both arenas, which was to say, she was equally comfortable. When you're a Gungan off Naboo, you tend to stick out. that's life. You live with it.

The Corellian capital was a curious place, but not unlike the rest of the core worlds. It had its own brands of scum and bigotry. Glem silently leapt across a row of market awnings, their owners more than used to her presence. When she'd first started using the shortcut, they'd found it prudent to yell at her, but when they found it did no good... well, Glem was hard to catch, and they left her alone.

Glem drove her staff into the ground, hands gripped tightly across its smooth brown and white length. She used it as an anchor point, swinging a bend tight.

Her turn brought her into a low tunnel, and her pace lessened only slightly. The grate above struck stripes of alternating light upon her lilac skin, glinting off the inky violet tattoos which snaked swirls across the back of her Haillu and arms, then disappeared under her pastel green shirt. Her nails glinted also, a dark poison-green. And then she was back in the light again, deposited onto a bustling city street.

And there, across the street, was the object of her sprint. The cantina. Newly earned credits shuffled quietly in one of the hundred pockets that coated her dark cargo-pants. Nothing like a drink and some potential business to reward a trip to the undercity.

No smile crossed Glem's face as she made her way across to the cantina. Only a few pairs of eyes followed her as she sauntered purposefully through the wide entrance. She wasn't unattractive for an 'alien' species, and so many of the patrons got so drunk, they'd ogle a Gammorean. However, most of the regulars had learned not to mess with Glem. She liked it that way. It usually only took one rendezvous with the staff she wielded with surprising dexterity to defer further... attention.

And then she felt something groping the small of her back. Glem grimaced darkly, thinking on how much she hated new patrons as her staff swing instinctively. Of course, it met its mark, and the human male was sent sprawling across the floor, stunned but not unconscious. His buddies chortled Drunkenly. Glem directed her glare toward them, and they wisely shut up.
Humans. Such an odd bunch. So... inconsistent. Most of them just thought they ran the show, regardless of how insignificant they were. Figures.

Glem made her way to the counter, a shrug in response to the bar tender's exasperated look. Glem giving concussions to patrons wasn't exactly good for business, but on the other hand, it was about time some of them learned a lesson. Glem was an odd character, but he liked her well enough. She tipped well. He slid Glem her drink as she handed over the credits. No words were exchanged. Glem wasn't exactly unpredictable.

Cold against her tongue, Glem relished the treat. Its only pleasure was its taste, however, for depressants and stimulants did less than agree with Glem's amphibious biology.

Glem enjoyed the cantina, if she enjoyed anything. Her life wasn't exactly butterflies and roses. The atmosphere was relatively relaxing, for a Cantina, and there was such a diverse patronage that Glem didn't feel quite so... exotic. Her dark violet eyes scanned the room, searching for familiar faces. Customers. She saw none, but they usually sought her out anyway.

The seat she chose was in a secluded corner, but not too far removed. Glem could watch the patronage come and go, without being noticed too much herself. She was easy to find, if you knew what you were looking for. The acoustics were just right, that she could hear much of the conversation in the place. Helped her zone in on potential business. Credits didn't make themselves, after all.

And so, Glem sat back, ears and eyes sharply attuned, waiting for employment to come knocking on her door.

Metaphorically speaking, of course.

[starwarsgirl008]

Ty strolled into the Corellian cantina, her black high heels echoing throughout the bar. Naturally they match her black suit, and dark black hair tied into a sharp pony tail. A thin smirk was on her face, one that was hard to catch at a first glance.

One would question why such an important figure found herself in a run down gathering place for the scum of the Galaxy. Within the last week Ty was in her high calss Courscant condo, recieving all she asked for.

This question really had two answers. Ty recently had greatly insulted none other than the Jedi High Council. Her words seemed to disperse onto the streets of Coruscant, and Ty had to lay low until the people of Coruscant became distracted by another event.

Now, this response would only answer half of the question. Yes, the event mentioned above may have forced Ty to leave Coruscant for a while, but why travel to a Corellian cantina? This answer lied in Ty's secret pass, within a promise she had made to herself. Ty wished to bring an end to the Galactic Republic, and she knew she could not do it alone. Her previous attempt on Nar Shadda ended in failure, but Ty learned an important lesson: even the scum of the Galaxy has talent.

Now, the wealthy looking woman walked through the building, attracting many, if not all, eyes. She found a table in a far off corner, where she sat. It wasn't after too long that the crowd of creatures turned away from Ty and went back to their drinks and conversations, leaving Ty to investigate the mass of creatures for herself. She couldn't help but notice a measily Gungan sitting a few tables down from her...

[Kella]

ooc// hehe, Measily Gungan. xD If Glem could read minds, there would have been... words. *snickers* //

Glem eyed the new patron, but the set of her eyes didn't make it immediately obvious. What a strange woman. Fiercely dull. She had one of those faced that seemed so oddly familiar, yet not personally so, that Glem had a feeling she'd berate herself for not seeing it sooner if she ever found out the woman's identity. Which wasn't likely, unless the woman became a customer. And she wouldn't become a customer, unless she initiated contact. Glem wasn't really a go-getter when it came to business. She found that sort desperate and pitiful.

Glem made mental note of the woman's popularity among the patrons. Many were ogling, but some bore the same odd expression of unplaced familiarity that Glem felt. The woman bore herself like she mattered. And that's probably how she expected to be treated.

Glem once more raised her glass, thoughtfully running her tongue along the back of her teeth. Her only real interest in the woman was whether she would make a good client or not. Glem didn't deal in intrigue.

[starwarsgirl008]

Of all those who eyed her, the Gungan stood out most to Ty. It seemed the Gungan was not only looking, but observing in a sense. Ty had worked through years of simply watching people, and she developed almost a six sense of being able to tell a person's mindset or train of thought simply by their appearance and their actions. Ty also got the look the Gugan was giving her a lot: the "I know your face, but not who you are" look. Ty's face was on bilboards throughout the Galaxy, she spoke at public events and was often in the newspapers. Practically everyone knew her face, but perhaps not who she was at a first glance.

Ty decided to put the Gungan out of her misery and introduce herself. Perhaps something good would come of it? And so, she slowly rose from her seat and walked over to the Gungan's table. With a smile, she sat down and extended her hand. "I saw you watching me, and decided it be best for me to introduce myself. I am Ty Lee Jing, Minister of Defense of the Republic." she said, awaiting her new found acquiantance's answer.

[Kella]

Glem gave the Gungan equivalent of raising an eyebrow. She eyed the woman's hand. Humans had the oddest of traditions, she mused.

"Don't you have anything better to do with your spare time?"

She huffed with a touch of incredulity as she leaned forward and shook the woman's hand. Glem didn't offer the woman a seat. She'd probably sit down anyway.

Glem made note of the fact that the woman had noticed her so quickly. She was probably one of the perceptive types. Makes it easier to manipulate your way to the top of the pyramid. Coincidentally, inter-personal relations was not one of Glem's strong points. Not that she really cared. Sure it was handy, but she made her credits anyway. Glem was subtle of movement and bearing. However, her tongue was the opposite. She was frank, and forward. The quality had even been called endearing once, though Glem didn't quite trust that source.

In any event, it didn't really matter as Glem sat in her chair, looking up at the woman. She wasn't intimidated. She was female, and she couldn't use the force. Glem relaxed. At this point, Glem realized she hadn't offered her own name.

"Glem A'quae, CEO of GMPS, Glem's Message and Parcel Service." Her tone mocked the way Ty had presented her own occupation.

[starwarsgirl008]

"Hmm..." Ty responded in a rude tone of her own. "Listen." she said, losing her "nice girl" voice. "Let say I have some power in this Galaxy. I can have an army on your doorstep in the snap of a finger if I wanted. I could put you behind bars for a crime you have never comitted. Lose the attitude."

With introductions out of the way, Ty hoped this Gelm character got a feeling for who she was. She continued, "So what exactly does this 'buisness' of yours do, and why are you hanging out in this scum place?" Ty asked. "And if the answer is what I think it is I may have use for you, at high rewards of course..."

[Kella]

Ty's threats met apathetic ears. But all rudeness was forgotten at the mention of business.

"I deliver messages. And Parcels. Kinda like it says in the name. Faster than anyone else around here, mind you. I've a knack for shortcuts. I know this place better than most of the locals. Sound useful?"

Even as she spoke, Glem was trying to figure Ty. Her previous question still hadn't been resolved. Why was a high-raking Republic official hanging in a Corellian Cantina? Such things weren't unheard of, but they were certainly... suspicious. Several possibilities came to Glem's mind. One, the woman wasn't really the Minister of Defense. She was just some Nobody trying to get attention by impersonating a Republic official. Two, She was somebody important trying to get information by becoming the double of a Republic Official. Three, she was who she said she was, and she was heading a sting operation. Not that Glem did anything technically illegal... but the law didn't always agree with her interpretations.

Either way, Glem wasn't about to let her guard down. As if she ever did. And she wasn't about to loose the attitude either. She'd spent too many years as a Slave to ever relinquish even the slightest hint of her freedom. She was still mildly claustrophobic, in both literal and figurative respects.

[starwarsgirl008]

"I am not looking for a delivery service." Ty said, straight and forward as not to mislead Glem. "At least, not now." she added, keeping an open mind.

"Tell me Glem, what do you think of the Republic?" Ty asked, hoping for a particular answer. "And don't worry, be completely honest with me." she added.

[Kella]

Glem paused thoughtfully. She had a feeling the question was more important than it might seem.

"The Republic? I have no particularly strong opinion. It has its bigotry and corruption, but what politicians don't? Their trade laws can be tedious and a pain, but they manage to do a decent job of keeping order. Better than some Sith Lord or other ruling, at any rate." She shrugged. "Besides, I have no patience for skuttle-but. Politics are a pain in the neck. Nobody ever keeps their promises. Regardless of what happens to the Republic, I'll still be around kicking, so it's really little concern of mine."

What Glem spoke was genuine. Her only interest in the Republic was the way in which it benefited her. Panic and failing economies were bad for business, and neither were present currently, so Glem was satisfied with the ruling body. Rulers and Dictators like the Ancient Sith were usually much more prejudiced than the Republic politicians, which tended to make Glem favor the latter, being a Gungan and all.

Glem wasn't quite sure why Ty had posted the question, however, she was prepared to assume the worst. Knowing her luck, Glem was being profiled as some sort of traitor/spy against the Republic. Or for them, heck, Ty could be a traitor. Glem only cared as much as it concerned her own hide.

[starwarsgirl008]

Ty knew her next words would have to be chosen carefully. She wasn't sure if the Gungan was who Ty thought she was. "You seem like one favoring buisness over else." Ty stated. "You must occassionaly run into some illegal smuggling of sorts. Wouldn't it be nice if those laws disappeared for you, and only you, not your competition?" Ty asked. She could easily turn the offer into a threat, but for now she would play it nice.

[Kella]

Glem considered the offer thoughtfully. Which was to say, with a great deal of suspicion. The offer was good. Too good.

"What's the catch?"

Glem's tone made it clear that her mood was... Open. She would rather continue as she was than be endebted to some stranger. Glem's last, and only encounter with debt had left her scarred both emotionally and physically. She wasn't keen to even get close to a repeat occurence. Then again... There was a whole new world of trade that could be opened... That, and Glem got the feeling that Ty would not be pleased with a denial of her offer.

Which narrowed the decision down to one question, which was not nearly as simple as it seemed. Was it worth it?

[starwarsgirl008]

"Let's just get a few things straight before I continue to explain myself." Ty said, ensuring Glem she knew what she was getting herself into. "The thing, or rather things, I am going to ask you to do are completely illegal. If you get caught, there is no gurantee that I can, or even will attempt, to get you out of prison. You will be on your own there." she began, staring into Glem's eyes, and ensuring she remained focused.

"If I ever feel, for one second, you are about to turn on me, I will send you to prison for the rest of your life." Ty said, quickly making that detail clear.

"And last, but certainly not least, this conversation never happened. If you are questioned by anyone you only know me by face, not personally on any account."

[Kella]

Choices. Oh Calamity. How Glem wished she could just get all the information upfront. This was worse than a bad Personal Comm contract. Stupid fine print. Glem wouldn't be getting the details until she committed. Great.

Sure, some excitement would be fun. This was like making a jump for the first time, and not knowing whether or not you'd stick the landing... but Glem was exceedingly rational about risk assessment. If she suceeded, she'd probably go to jail. If she failed, she'd definitely go to jail. There was this teeny weeny, off chance, that maybe, she'd be able to walk a way at the end a few thousand credits and memories richer. Glem didn't like off chances. And so, she decided to do what had always served her well. Be frank.

"Look, this offer is tempting, but I'm not about to risk my rump for some woman I met in a bar. Lifting trade regulations is tempting, yeah, I know. But I manage alright now. I'm not in prison. Freedom has its perks. I'll run whatever you want, I'll deliver messages. I might even be persuaded to do some 'observing'. But I'm not going to do anything illegal. I have enough trouble nipping at my tail as it is, I don't need to be on the Republic's bad side as well. No credits can buy my Freedom."

Glem's tone was firm, but careful. She'd made her position clear. The woman could take it or leave it. But Glem didn't take risks just to take risks. She was content if she was Free. Hunger, Thirst, Poverty, all those things paled in comparison to Slavery. And Prison was just one step up from that. Her business was doing fine before, and it would still do fine without this woman's 'help'.

ooc// Do excuse Glem's feisty-ness, she really does have a mind of her own... //

[starwarsgirl008]

"Ha, ha, ha!" Ty bursted out in a wicked laughter. "I am beginning to like you."

She pondered on Glem's words for a moment, and then spoke. "I hope you can realize something: I am the Republic. You shouldn't be saying 'on the Republic's badside', you should be saying, 'on my bad side'!" Ty said.

"And," she added, "What if you didn't know this operation was illegal?"

[Kella]

Glem really didn't see what was so funny, but it seemed just like this woman to have a warped sense of humor.

"Yeah, that'd work great if I were stupid, or ignorant. But I'm not." Glem shrugged, then adopted a tone of mock-regret. "Guess I'm not the Gungan for the job. But I'm sure you can find someone to manipulate into doing your bidding. There are plenty of jellyfish here on Corellia."

They were bold words, for someone with so little information. But it was in Glem's nature to be unabashed. When one is chained for so long, one tends to take a little too well to Freedom.

"Well, I do wish you luck in finding your pawn. And just like you said, this conversation never happened."

Glem nodded cordially and waved a hand, then brought her glass to her lips once more. He would be more than content to leave the dangerous offer behind.


~


A sneer smile curled her lips. She watched the Minister of Defense converse with a Gungan. Her eyes darted along the woman's face, mapping every motion, imagining the sound that came with it. So the minister wanted to hire somebody. How... advantageous. She smiled wickedly, gray eyes harsh and cold like Arkanian winds. The sneer harshened her angular features, making knife-sharp shadows upon the gray-palor skin that belonged more in a grave than over coursing blood. Raggedly feathered hair spilled out in front of her face, as dark as a no-moon night, trailing down to rest ever-so-slightly upon her shoulders. She made no move to push it aside.

She simply tapped her fingers along the table-top, pads touching silently, ebony nails curled out of the way. Her left hand held an icy glass, but she never brought it to her lips. She simply watched the Minister, observed the Gungan, features hidden behind feathered black shadows.

This would be most advantageous. Most advantageous indeed...


ooc// There's your NPC, starwarsgirl. ;D If she is not to your liking, do not hesitate to let me know. For reference, her race is Nagai.
And Zab, since this kinda went in an unexpected direction, feel free to have your character hire Glem for a delivery, or NPC someone to order a delivery to Typhoon/yourself. Or you can do something completely different. //

[starwarsgirl008]

Ty smile faded into a frown. Glem was not who she was looking for and she wasn't happy about it, and she wanted to show it.

As Glem lifted her glass, Ty quickly lifted her hand with a slight tap on the bottum of the beverage, causing it to spill all over Glem. Dashing up from her seat, Ty began to ran away, not caring where she was going, as long as it was away from Glem. Ty wasn't safe in the little cantina, and she didn't have the best defense skills.

As she ran, Ty suddenly felt her foot get caught in the leg of a chair. She fell to the ground, preventing any major injury by catching her fall with her hands. As she glanced up, she noticed a strange woman staring at her...

[Kella]

Glem sighed, the cold liquid quickly soaking through her clothing. It wasn't the first time her tongue had gotten her in trouble. To a degree, she'd been expecting something of the sort. A quick pass with her long tongue, and much of her face was clean.

Suddenly, a Gizka appeared and leapt up onto Glem's lap, slurping at her still-wet neck. Glem rolled her eyes. Greek always seemed to show up when he was needed, but he never stayed back at the apartment like a good little Gizka. He always found his way home again, in any event, and the surprise was welcome.

His tongue tickled, and Glem initially tried to push him away, but being covered in Gizka slobber certainly beat being sticky, and so she relented. Greek cooed happily. Glem caught another patron staring at her with wide eyes, and the resulting death-glare was enough to make him wisely turn away.

Though, Glem did watch with satisfaction as Ty tripped. A smug smile crossed her face, and she stroked Greek behind his ear-nubs, which produced another coo. Maybe it hadn't been such a bothersome encounter after all.


~


"My, my. What a mature way to express your displeasure." The voice was soft, barely more than a whisper. But at the same time, it held a sharp chill, and its effect wasn't unlike a spider crawling up one's arm. She stood, and proffered a delicate hand. Her spindly fingers were death-cold as she helped Ty back to her feet.

Now that the woman was standing, her peculiar mode of dress became apparent. Her build was petite, her height average. She appeared delicate, but held a hidden sting, like an ebony wasp. A pseudo-corset wrapped tightly around her torso and down to her hips, where it anchored a knee-length skirt. The entire length was slitted on each side, so that no movement was restricted. Shadows twirled around to hilts, one on each hip, which held short and deadly daggers, ornate hilts catching the light with their unique design, delicate geometry of sharp angles. Black fabric snugly coated her legs, even where the skirt revealed their length. She wore black shoes which were more like slippers, soft leather with no sole, that made her footsteps silent. The slippers were held in place by crimson ribbons, which crissed and crossed up her calves, tying off just below her knees.

A gauzy cloak, light like spiderweb, hung from her shoulders, its uneven hem just brushing the floor. A unique clasp upon her right collar-bone held the dark cloak fast. The silver was molded into a Lunar moth, circumscribed by a four-strand braid. Detached sleeves encapsulated each fine-boned arm, beginning in the center of her upper-arm and trailing down to her wrist, where a silky finger pressed ought across the back of her hand to catch upon a jeweled ring on her middle finger.


Though her hair trailed down and obscured some of her features, as it shifted, her face could be seen. Her angular features were young, her eyes timeless, and her bearing confident. She was obviously young, but to judge her mind as such might have been a mistake.

The slightest of smiles caught thin lips painted charcoal black.

"I am Sheera Lunae," She said in that spider-crawl voice, "Ty Lee Jing, Minister of Doubt of the Republic. To become acquainted is a pleasure. I see that you are looking to hire. If you can present the proper... motivation, I will ensure that you are not disappointed by my... services." She bowed her head slowly, elegantly, making sure the significance of her words was understood. "Please, sit. I believe you and I have matters to discuss."

[starwarsgirl008]

Ty graccefully took a seat across from the woman. She began to realize she had overheard much of Ty's conversation with Glem.

"Very well." she began, "I will offer you the same deal that I offered that scum over there." Ty pointed to Glem and then continued, "however, I will greatly encourage your cooperation, as I don't like to be turned down twice in the same day." Ty grinned.

"I offer you this: 1000 credits for the mission ahead, and as much immunity from the law as I can provide." Ty explained.

[Kella]

Sheera's mind worked lightning-fast. One thousand credits, job security. The offer was... decent, but not great. Under normal circumstances-- as if circumstances were ever normal-- Sheera would have refused. However Sheera had motivations other than monetary gain, for she got the distinct feeling that this Ms. Jing was on... less-than-friendly terms with her employer, whether they knew it or not. For you see, Sheera had a certain... grudge, you could say, concerning the Republic.

"I think that would be an acceptable arrangement." She cocked her head to the side and found particular interest in some feature of the ceiling for the moment, and exaggerated posture of thought. Her eyes arrowed back to Ty, though her head remained in its position. "I trust you will give me every bit of information you possess that is pertinent to the task at hand. I do not appreciate being left in the dark."

Sheera's voice was still barely above a whisper. Even if she had wanted to raise her voice, it would not have been possible. The slight undulations of her throat as she spoke clustered shadows around a wide scar. Its jagged length arced diagonally across her neck. Years ago, when her limbs were still gangly and her mind not grown, a piece of shrapnel had come within millimeters of stealing her life away. While that she had kept, it had still stolen her voice, destroying one vocal cord and damaging the other. It had never healed properly. But those memories had been mulled as much as could be, and Sheera spared them little thought, nowadays.

Her posture relaxed, though her eyes never left Ty's. "Shall I be presented with said details here? Or would a less... accessible place be preferable. To hear is not the only way to observe a conversation."

[starwarsgirl008]

"Oh, now where's the fun in that?" Ty responded to the woman's first comment on recieving information. "I need to give you as little information as possible- I don't want anyone connecting me to this operation." she continued, "However, if you prove worthy there may be a few extra thousand credits I can scrape up for you." she jingled a little chang purse in the woman's face.

"Now, here is what I want you to do." she began, leaning in closer to the woman and now speaking in a whisper voice, ensuring no one could hear her, "There is a letter in my left pocket. In a few moments I will walk outside. You will slowly count to 77, no more, no less, and then walk outside. After reaching the door take 8 fairly large steps before taking a right. I will be turned around at this point. You will come up behind me, reach into my pocket and take out the letter, as if you were a pick-pocketer. From there you will take it to the Jedi Temple on Coruscant. Ensure that it is only read by the eyes of the High Council, and no one else. Return to this address on Coruscant for your reward." Ty explained, slipping a crumpled piece of paper across the table.

"Good luck." she mouthed to her acomplice before standing up and walking out the door.