The Rebel Faction

"No. We agreed on the price beforehand, remember? Or is your cranium too full of
vacuum to understand that?"

The Trandoshen snarled out a response in his own language, apparently not appreciating the reference to his intelligence. Sylva Knight shrugged.

"You can take it or leave it. I don't care, as long as its at the promised price. Running these types of weapons isn't the easiest thing in the universe."

Another response, this time harsher.

"Fine. In that case, I'll go ahead and leave. I'm sure there's someone else out there who wouldn't mind such advanced technology."

The alien was practically screaming at her now.

"Oh, your boss wouldn't like that? I'm terribly sorry for you."

He rushed at her, intent on taking her throat in a pincher grip in his blind rage, but to no avail. As he neared her, Sylva slipped to the side, stuck out a foot that caused him to stumble, and pinned his throat to the wall with her right hand. He let out a few choaking, unitteligible words before collasping to the ground. She let go with a snort of digust and moved quickly out of the dark room, into a busy hall. People should at least have the sense to hire competent thugs.

"I see you took out Rashi. Impressive."

Sylva glanced up to see a tall human male matching her stride along the crowded corridor. He smiled, a malicious grin that plastered the cruel face into an even more hideous mask.

"I'm here to pick up Dainl's cargo."

"At the same price the trandoshen offered?" she retorted, quickening her pace ever so slightly.

"Of course." He kept up with her easily and quickly grabbed her left arm in a claw-like grip, guiding her toward a dimly lit bar. "Let's talk in here, shall we? Don't want to attract too much attention."

She only cast him a single annoyed glance before going along, silently fuming. A good day this is turning out to be.

Sylva had taken almost as much as she could stand. The man didn't seem to have an end to his available breath for speaking, and he was starting to repeat himself. She had remained silent throughout the entire episode, except for the occasional "no." As of now she was simply fingering the mostly-full glass that held a mild wine. She wasn't much for getting drunk and losing her senses. The man, on the other hand, had collected over five tankards on the table space in front of him. All were, incidentally, empty.

"Sho wadya say?" His speech was hopelessy slurred, and Sylva decided that if he wasn't going to end it himself, she would have to do it for him. Leaning in over the table, she whispered a quiet yes. He leaned forward as well, a sudden leer crossing his face, at least until her right hand whipped out from under the table and caught his throat. She found the pressure point just below and behind the ears easily and squeezed with two fingers. There was a slight pop. Letting go in disgust, Sylva leaned back in the booth as the disconnected head rolled to the side, still attached to the neck by skin and muscle, and the body fell over. Idiot.

Turning around in the booth, she leaned up against the wall and put her feet up, sipping a little from the glass and looking around the room. No one had noticed herself and the thug; they were too far back in the shadows. That was good. The less attention she accquired the better. She relaxed somewhat after giving every patron of the saloon a thorough once-over, but quickly glanced again as two Rodians stood and began yelling at a man in a corner booth. Other customers as well as the bartender didn't give them a second glance, even when two blaster rifles were produced. To Sylva the situation became quickly clear. Two weapons against none. The guy was helpless.

Sylva considered the situation as she took another sip of the wine. She usually wasn't given to helping people, but this was just a little unfair. They hadn't even given him a chance to fight. At last she set the glass on the table, casually drew her hand blaster, and squeezed off two shots. They flew across the room straight into the backs of the bounty hunters. Mission accomplished. With just as much unconcernation, she holstered the blaster and turned back to her drink, hoping she wouldn't regret having done that. Sometimes it paid to stay out of other beings business. And sometimes it paid to buy in. One never knew until one tried it.

The man was staring at her with a mixture of astonishment and suspicion, and he certainly had a right to. Perhaps she would shoot him now that the Rodians were out of the way, or perhaps she would turn away and not give him a second thought. He had no idea, and at the moment, she didn't either. Then an idea sparked in her brain.

She waited until interest in the man had worn off somehow before raising a hand and gesturing him to come over. He gave her a look of puzzled suspicion (which she had expected) so she moved both empty hands to the top of the table in an exaggerated motion and gestured again with a jerk of her head. All of those weapons were just sitting in the hold of the Starwind, gathering dust. If this guy would buy them, more power to him. If he wouldn't...well, she could always find out exactly what reward the Rodians were hoping to cash in on and take it herself.

3/10ths of a light year from their designated target, the crew of the Vendetta were running through their pre-combat checks, prepairing her for the challenge ahead. Every man had a task, and every one of them knew their duty. The bridge was a bustle of activity, just like the rest of the ship was.

Just thinking about what was going to happen was enough to make Prince Gorma smile.

The attack on the seemingly asteroid was so much more than a petty raid. It was the first step in restoring Black Sun to its former glory. This was the beginning, the first step in its return to power.

Today would be a day he would long remember.

Well, he didn't blaim her for that, that's probably what he'd do too in that situation.

But he really wanted that Skipray, at least... But he didn't have the credits for what she was asking for unless he dipped deep into his reserves.

"Wait..." he said, not quite desperitly,"I can give you 100,000 for the Skipray..."