Opportunity (Open)

The Mandalorian shrugged as she explained her confusion at the change in the bike. When she picked up the cube, he moved over to the swoop bike, taking a seat. He gripped the handles experimentally, shifting around slightly in the seat, before coming to a rest. He paid no mind to Swindon while she began setting up the cube, instead choosing to tap around at the control panel on his bike. He muttered in annoyance as he worked the touch controls, something about 'factory settings' coming out of his mouth as well as words from his own language. The broken galactic standard sounded odd coming through the filter, but the Mandalorian seemed too focused to be paying any attention to what he was muttering.

When the lights flickered out, he turned to Swindon expectantly, not that it was possible to see him in the dim light of the cube. He tapped something on control panel, and it brightened slightly, exterior lights brightening on the outside of the speeder. The black clad armor did not reflect the light however, only the visor. The trick of the light made it appear as though the visor was floating in the air rather then being attached to a body.

The visor stared at her in the darkness, or what little of her was visible if the helmet's HUD did not illuminate the room for him. When the building's lights flickered back to life, he looked around, taking it in appreciatively. Or at least he was until everything became overcharged, lights blowing over his head. He put an arm over his helmet reflexively as sparks rained down on him, not that he was in any danger beneath the metal plating. The Mandalorian didn't seem too phased however, moving over to the door control panel while Swindon retrieved her box. With a click, the exterior bay door opened in front of his swoop bike, bringing light flooding in with it. With the light back, his temporary invisibility was gone, and he moved away from the bay controls and back onto the speeder.

“I wouldn't worry about the lights,” he told her, seeming to notice that she was slightly distraught at the outcome of her experiment. “You'd probably be fired after the detective comes back for you. I wouldn't worry about it.” It wasn't much, but the small consolation was the nicest he'd been to her so far.

“Well, unless this is a clever ruse on your part aruetti, that box of yours seems to make power. But, anyone can see that, and I don't have enough expertise to examine that thing for myself. But one of my team should know at least enough to tell if your claim is accurate in the slightest.” At that, he scooted forward slightly on his seat. “If you're up for this, hop on. Seeing as you don't have a ride anymore,” he said, hinting further that he had indeed been watching her, “I suppose I won't make you take a cab. Not that I'd give you the address anyway.” He waited for her then, letting her grab whatever she wanted to take with her. It wasn't exactly the best idea to return to the shop now that she'd destroyed all the lights and would soon have the CSF after her.

The Mandalorian waited for her – albeit impatiently – as she asked for a moment, tapping his fingers rhythmically on one of the swoop's handlebars. The visor followed her as she collected a few things, the man's head rolling towards each shoulder after a bit as though attempting to crack his neck. He continued to wait while she positioned herself behind him, though his entire body held an intensity to it, like a coiled viper waiting to strike. And yet despite that, it was almost the most relaxed he had seemed since first appearing in the garage. He looked over his shoulder at her when she mentioned her inability to afford a cab, and something that almost sounded like a chuckle came through the sealed filter on his helmet.

He turned back around once he was certain she was ready, shaking his head and muttering something under his breath in his native language when she mentioned him watching her. The swoop bike raised further off the ground, and soon they were off, flying into the sky and towards the main airways. A glass screen extended from the front of the speeder, protecting them from the oncoming wind and giving the ability to speak. It was another moment before the Mandalorian decided to answer her question, once they were surrounded by the whirring of other vehicles repulsorlifts.

“No, it wasn't at that, but I didn't watch you for long. I've been to busy running around and keeping things in order. I handle the grunt work mostly. And the killing. Hands on things.” It was the closest he'd come to actually admitting to killing the senator the detective had spoke of, even if it was a relatively new development. “The others do most of the watching, and the planning. It's a good system. And I wouldn't worry about the cab. Unless you do something stupid and I have to kill you,. . . “ he continued on without missing a beat. The way he spoke of it, it seemed cold blooded murder was something that was a part of his day to day life. “. . . then the repair cost for the speeder is still yours.”

The bike began to dip downward, heading into one of the massive thoroughfares that led into the deeper levels of Coruscant. He broke away from the main airway then, staying closer to the edge of the sheer hole so as not to tip Swindon, or her cat, too far forward and avoid the inevitable pull of gravity whisking them away from the swoop. That was how they proceeded as he continued on, circling deeper and deeper towards the core of the planet.

“Five thousand credits for the timely repair, plus the cost of the repair itself. Doing as you did, I can probably file the expense as say, seven thousand credits. That's enough to get you a fairly new civilian speeder of some sort. Or whatever else you chose to do with it. Not that any of that will matter if your interview goes well and you decide to take the job.” The distaste in his voice as he finished that sentence made it sound almost as though he didn't approve of even giving Swindon the option.

“I'm sure you've got more questions, but save them aruetii. I'm not much for idle chatter, and someone will be more then happy to answer whatever you want to ask when we get to where we're going.” He made it a point to leave out exactly where they were going out of his final statement, and from then on he was as silent as a rock.

The rest of the ride wasn't too long, but they'd descended nearly another two thousand levels before the swoop broke away into Coruscant's undercity, winding down the airways in what was clearly more of a slum then a proper living space. From somewhere below the sound of laser fire echoed up to them, but they were quickly away from it, passing by stim shops and bars, strip clubs and gun stores. Before long they were leaving even the more populated areas behind, sweeping into what seemed to be an abandoned factory district, complete with a few homeless squatters scattering at the sound of the swoop passing over head. Around another corner, and they were pulling into a garage, the Mandalorian slowing to a stop. If there was anything clear about the location, it was that no one was likely to find them there.

The warehouse hangar itself had a starship dominating the majority of the area, was a Kuat D84-Mantis Patrolcraft, It's main guns folded over its wings, cannon pointed directly at the entrance. Below it's extended ramp sat another swoop bike, this one a 74-Z but painted in the same fashion as the one Swindon had repaired, as well as an airspeeder with an open top. With ease, the Mandalorian set down next to the unused vehicles, waiting for Swindon to climb off before doing so himself. Without a word, he began leading Swindon to a door in the back of hangar, when another figure appeared out of it.

At first glance, she was definitely human, red hair flowing down towards her back, two deep green eyes that stared them both down, the faintest of smiles etched on her lips. She was not pretty, though not quite ugly either, 'plain' quite literally being the most suitable descriptor in her case. She was nearly a foot shorter then the tall Mandalorian next to Swindon, but it was clear by her frame that she was still fit. Unlike the man however, she held a different pose, more at ease with the world, without giving off the hint of being ready to do murder at any instant. The black armor marked her as a Mandalorian as well, though the helmet and gloves that sealed the suit were missing. And, unlike the man's armor, the black plates were framed with a purple trim around the edges, giving the armor a somewhat lighter appearance.

“Homicide. Welcome back. I see you brought the inventor with you,” the woman said cheerily as she walked towards them. As the man in black nodded silently in affirmation, it became clear that she had not been speaking of a homicide, but rather that was the name the man was acknowledged by. The woman rolled her eyes at him, and he continued on, muttering in his own language. Whatever he had said, the woman shot back at him something in the same language, with another roll of her eyes and a scolding tone to her voice.

As 'Homicide' continued on through the door and out of sight, the woman approached Swindon with a sway to her step,giving off a hint of hidden agility behind all that black plate. “Don't mind tall, dark, and brooding. He doesn't like our orders to try and recruit anyone that shows some promise. You must be Swindon. I am Rhithia Fong. You can call me Rhit. It's nice to finally meet you.” Rhit gave Swindon another warm smile, and it was clear that she did not share 'Homicides' distaste for recruitment.

Rhit let out a small laugh at Swindon's words of Homicide's kindness, though she did not specify why. Neither did she deny it, merely seeming amused more then anything else. At the confession of Swindon's unease, Rhit frowned slightly but nodded, clearly understanding. The circumstances would likely be strange to anyone in her circumstance, and Rhit confirmed as much for her.

“That's alright, this type of recruitment isn't the most conventional. Isn't every day a contract killer offers you a job and brings you back to his safe house.” Rhit laughed at that, shaking her head at just house ridiculous it sounded. “Don't sweat it. I can promise you there are much stranger things in the galaxy.” Rhit watched her, seeming to size her up a bit while Swindon gazed around the hangar. Besides the ship and speeders, there wasn't much more in the room besides a few empty storage crates piled by the doorway Homicide had disappeared through, their lids strewn about and propped on the wall next to them.

“Our equipment is in the office space,” Rhit said, seeming to read Swindon's sweeping eyes. “Come on, I'll show you around and then you can let me have a look at this box of yours.”

Rhit motioned for her to follow, and headed back in the door, out of the warehouse hangar. As they entered, it looked almost like a command center. A dozen holoscreens lined the wall on the left, each one displaying different images. One screen held smaller images, which on closer inspection showed the outer portions of the warehouse, as well as the hangar bay itself. Another four showed a number of different news stations, each reporting on different aspects, but none with anything out of the ordinary. Most of the rest were indistinguishable, save two.

One was very clearly a still image that had come from Swindon's workplace, the image of her speaking with detective Stormrider filling the screen. The lens had only taken in the back of Swindon's head, focused as it was on the detective's face. The other was extended slightly from the wall, and also contained a picture of the detective, though not the same one. It was filled with varying information about the man, and based on the logo in the top right of the screen it looked to be the CSF's own dossier on the detective. The information scrolled up, on to new details, as the third member of this team read over the information.

“Swindon, this is Blink.” The seated Mandalorian gave a small wave over the shoulder without turning around, clearly invested in whatever research she was doing. From the build, it looked to be a woman, the armor plating mimicking Rhit's in its configuration. The armor itself was painted black like the other two Mandalorians, though where Homicide's was only black and Rhit's was black and purple, Blink's plating was framed with golden trim, and the small cloak running off her shoulder sparkled with golden color as well. It was clear now the differences in color had some meaning, though Rhit did not offer any explanation.

In the center of the room sat a medium sized holodisplay, with a breakdown of what seemed to be part of the city illuminated above it. On one side of the holomap, there was a ship landing marked with a 'X', and the top of a building some distance away had a circle on it, which trailed off on a line that eventually ended at the end of the map. On the wall to their left next to the door, was a fold out shelf that had an assortment of weaponry and gadgets on it, half of which were blatantly illegal. Rifles and pistols, a vibrosword and daggers, stun grenades and electronets and more were easily distinguished, with the top shelf occupied by a rifle that was half as tall as Swindon with a large scope mounted on the stock.

The left wall itself contained a table where a Mandalorian helmet and gauntlets, black as night and trimmed with purple sat, most likely belonging to Rhit. A pistol rested besides them as well a disassembled personal energy shield, wires and pieces scattered about, along with a few other tools common in repairing electronics. The far wall had a hallway leading back into a few other doors, most likely what the Mandalorians used as their own rooms for the time being. Most strangely however was what looked to be a number of explosives, eight in total, placed strategically on the walls.

“I doubt Homicide bothered to give you much of any explanation, so I suppose I can try,” Rhit began, giving Swindon time to look around the room. “We work for the Ramikad Syndicate. It's a mercenary organization that got it's start in bounty hunting, using teams to capture targets instead of hunting alone. Now, we handle a lot more, though we still break into teams. We're Assassin Team Cuir – that's Mando'a for four. I handle the tech, equipment, and piloting, Blink handles planning and infiltration, and Homicide does the dirty work. So, how about you let me have a look at this cube, and we can get down to your interview. If you're still interested of course.”

"I would really like the interview... I've... Not got much of a life to leave behind."

Rhit nodded, putting a hand on her hip. “Neither did we when the Syndicate picked us up. Homicide was locked up on a prison ship, Blink was lifting Stims off junkies, and I was working for nothing at a tech support call center.”

“Gonna give her our life story Rhit?” Blink asked from over her shoulder, and the two of them fell silent.

"But the detective caught ... Homicide's speederbike and armour on one of those holo-things... Surely this means you can't go out and do your work if the police force know a Mandalorian killed the Senator?"

“Senator was our last contract on Coruscant. We move from lowest risk to highest, just in case something goes wrong. Which, in this case, it did - Homicide never should have been seen. Not that it matters now.” Rhit walked with Swindon to the table, moving the shield aside and clearing a space for her to work.

Rhit smiled at the cat, shaking her head 'no' when Swindon asked if she was allergic. She gave the cat as small pet as Swindon pulled the cube out of the bag, then looked at the piece of technology like a starving person at food.

"..This is the ... cube."

"It overcharged the mechanics... I haven't made a controlled energy output... so p-please don't plug it in to anything that you need, otherwise it might heat up and break... But the cube itself was made to produce it's own energy when left alone."

"Well." Swindon hesitated. "That's what I made it to do, anyway.."

“I'll be able to check and see if it does what you say, since you already proved it makes power at the garage,” Rhit said, gently taking the cube and placing it front of her. She had a seat, taking her tools before carefully dissecting the outer casing of the box. She immediately began tracing the inner workings, her tool following wires noting each individual connection. It was a slow and arduous process, but Rhit eventually began speaking again, relaying her findings to see if her suspicions were accurate.

“Definitely no energy throttle, that's for sure, and it doesn't look like there's much of a heat sink either.. . . You. . . I'm not even sure I understand it. You have the base capacitor but somehow it's. . . bypassing the law of thermodynamics entirely and recycling it's own output.”

Rhit frowned, spinning the cube slightly to view the bare components from different angles. “There are other devices like this you know. Prosthetics use some sort of unending battery, and I've heard lightsabers do as well. Highly guarded secrets those, nothing I've ever gotten to examine. The possibilities for this. . . .” Rhit sighed, and began putting the cube back together, securing things together in the devices housing.

“What exactly did you do here? It seems to work but I don't understand how or why. I'm no quantum scientist after all.”

As Swindon explained the workings of her device, something seemed to click with Rhit. Here eyes spoke of recognition, then panic. Wide-eyed, she worked hurriedly and precisely to put the object back together fully, having the metal casing back in place as fast as she could without risking any type of damage. Even after Rhit had the object back together, she looked around the room hurriedly, finding a smaller metal storage container. Carefully, Rhit placed the device inside the box. Over by the holoscreen's, Blink had abandoned her search, leaning forward towards the two of them, hands on her knees and staring at the box.

“I've heard stories of people who tried adjusting diatium power cell output,” Rhit explained, and based on Blink's apparent unease the other Mandalorian had as well. “The explosion was enough to vaporize everything within five klicks.” Rhit looked back at the box with unease, then sat back down, glancing at the crate yet again as she tried to calm herself.

“I. . . suppose that answers the question though. I didn't realize that was plasma though. Kriff, if i'd touched that with anything. . .” Rhit shuddered again, leaning back in the chair. It didn't seem like she wanted to consider just what might've happened if she'd tried anything more invasive.

“Danger or no,” Blink said, her filtered voice coming through a bit gruffly for a woman, “There's no telling what you might be able to use something like that for if you could minimize the power output.” Blink's visor gazed toward the sealed container, clearly still a bit uneasy about having it nearby, then turned back to her screens, back to whatever it was she'd been working on.

Rhit nodded to herself, brushing her red hair over her shoulder and shook her head gently. “Well Swindon, I supposed you've earned yourself an interview at the least. Though, if there's any questions you have before I call the boss, feel free to ask.”

Over by the viewscreens, Blink shook her head and mumbled about 'kriffing rookies' while Rhit stood up. “What do you say we leave the tinkering for when you've got some better tools, hm?” Rhit didn't seem very fond of the prospect of Swindon further altering the energy source. She watched the cat crawl back inside the bag, a smile creeping back onto her face. With a sigh, she stood up, heading over to the holodisplay in the center of the room, and with a few touches on one of the control panels the map flickered out of existence. The three dimensional screen faded to a backdrop of blue lines intersecting in a grid pattern, and she pressed a few more keys on the control panel.

At Swindon's question of who the boss was, Rhit smiled, turning away from the panel. “She goes by Heirophant. Founded the Ramikad Syndicate – and our clan – over fourty years ago.”

“And she still manages to kick everyone's ass in sparring,” Blink grunted, seeming a bit sour about that fact. Rhit added a laugh and nodded her head in agreement.

“She's the reason we are what we are. Brought everyone together and keeps us that way, small as we are. I think if she could have her way, she'd have every bounty hunter working together. She puts a lot of faith in loyalty in camaraderie. Though, things are a little heated right now, with the Death Watch causing problems for the clans.” Rhit's expression drooped to a mix between sadness and anger, while Blink scoffed at the name.

Any further explanation was cut off as a burst of static came from the holodisplay, though no image accompanied it. Rhit frowned, fingers working on the devices controls, but despite her efforts no image came through.

The voice came through despite the display problems, resonating in the room. It was smooth and concise, and even without a face the voice alone spoke volumes about the one behind it. It felt as though respect for it's owner was both deserved and expected, as a stalwart general or skilled politician's might. There was no question that this Hierophant commanded a great deal with her voice alone, yet there was no malice in it. Years of experience coated the patient voice instead, and it lost none of it's imposing presence despite the slight static of the communicator, or the tell tale signs of words spoken through a helmets filter.

“What do you need Team Cuir?”

Rhit balled a fist, placing it over her chest in a form of salute, though it was unclear whether or not Hierophant could see them or not. It was possible Rhit wasn't sure either, but held enough respect for her leader to do so anyway. “To report,” she began, giving Swindon a reassuring smile.”We've fulfilled the contracts, with a slight mishap on the final one. Homicide was spotted, though they don't know much of anything besides he's a Mandalorian in black armor.” Silence was all that came from the comm, and Rhit continued on. “In addition, we've located a skilled young mechanic who also. . . created a prototpye self-charging diatium power cell while fixing Homicide's speeder.”

“Are they with you?”

“Yes, Heirophant.”

“An impressive claim, and Rhithia has always been honest with me. I doubt we'd be having this conversation if they'd not told you a little at least of what they're doing. And yet here you are.” the voice on the comm stated, clearing addressing Swindon now. “I don't care what you were before now. All I ask is loyalty and dedication. If you are skilled, as Rhithia believes, we will find a place for you.”

Heirophant's focus changed, back to Rhithia before Swindon had a chance to speak. “Forgive my haste, but I've a battle to attend, if that is all.”

Rhithia frowned and nodded, saluting the air again. Blink turned around in her chair at that, seeming a bit surprised. “There is nothing to forgive. Ret'urcye mhi, alor.”

“Ret'urcye mhi, cuyan.Aliit ori'shya tal'din.”

“Aliit ori'shya tal'din.” The farewell seemed ritualistic, but once it had ended Rhit severed the connection, turning to Swindon. “Concord Dawn has hired our fleet to protect them from Death Watch raids. Most of our forces are busy there. The fighting is almost constant, but we've not lost a battle yet. We've got the advantage of knowing when they're going to attack at least. Likely a fight is about to occur. Still, she's given leave for you to come with us when we leave Coruscant. Likely she'll meet you in person when we arrive.”