“Time to Kill”(open)

[Sasha Horizon]

Her gown flowed around her, sitting crossed-legged as if it were second nature. The concealed dagger spun in the palm of her hand, only to dance across her knuckles.


Sasha’s gaze never once left the Neti. The assassin analyzed his movements, which were slim to none. He never moved a muscle, even as he spoke he was the first one she couldn’t read. Which made her uncomfortable.

One thing she new for sure and gathered he made it very easy for her to fill in the blanks. Her employer’s contact was only via holographic imaging. Sasha put two and two together that her new friend could become anything he wished. She had no doubt that this was part of his grand scheme.

It was a dead give away when he said”I do not doubt you have the power to take a life” her employer said the same thing.

“How generous of you allowing me to kill every one else” licking her lips . “ I will bring him to you. As you well know from our previous conversations, No questions about how they die. Yes I know you hired me. I will pass your tests, and rise above your expectations.”smiling wickedly”

“Trust me when I say this, I’m not your typical assassin. You are right I have abnormal strength. I want the power you secretly keep from me”

Sasha was speaking to him as though he didn’t already know. Perhaps she was insinuating the obvious.

“It appears we both mad the right decision, This deserves a toast, a vintage wine mabe. A taste of things to come. One that would symbolize an oath. I know of your order and the sacrifice.”

Sash had already made up her mind as soon as he revealed his true self.

[Professor Mors]

The revelation that the assassin had seen through his disguise so early on caused the Neti to break into a dry, raspy laugh. "Good, very good", Sa'ato crooned, giving a light clap of approval, "Your thirst for power will serve you well Young One– of that there is little doubt". Despite the brief merriment, the professor's stony composure quickly returned. He strode toward the nearest window and looked out onto the street below. "I would not wish to celebrate prematurely", the arboreal academic commented in an even tone, "You may save that toast– and your oath of fealty until after your mission is complete". Sa'ato turned his head to cast a gilt eye toward the woman.

"I will, however, honour your request, and your patience–", the Neti explained, "I believe I have a two hundred year old red label from Borleais back aboard my ship. Consider it a signing bonus". Rather than shift his body, Sa'ato continued to twist his head and neck such that he could look directly at Sasha while his torso stayed facing forward, "As you are probably aware, Gannick has a warehouse in the eastern city district that he uses to launder funds and conduct illicit business after-hours. It is staffed by no less than ten humanoid guards and a half dozen security droids at any one time. It is always lousy with cameras, autoturrets, and any number of intruder countermeasures–".

Only once he had seemingly finished did the Neti twirl his head back and turn his body back toward his newest hire. He then extended a courteous hand toward the door, "For your trouble, I will be waiting with a small hovercraft two alleys over that will bring us to the spaceport once you've collected the mark". Sa'ato paused for a moment, then smiled slightly once more, "I would wish you luck, but those that follow the Dark Side should always endeavor to make their own fortune"...

[Sasha Horizon]

Every day of her life had led up to this moment, she had always believed every decision she made would eventually lead to something greater; a life of purpose.

What she thought was a simple contract had turned out to be more complex than she could have fathomed.

“So it’s all set then; I will bring him to you. I will be discreet in killing the others. I have a plan to utilize the security droids” smirking as she was about to embark on her new journey.

Sasha had to prepare and gather her gear. She had already scoped the place he spoke of. She had already gained access to the security system and had complete access on her data pad. With in minutes she had already disabled the droids and gave herself access to any entrance point.

She would be able to track and watch the guards movements and choose where and when she would dispose of them. Sasha even left a remote drive for him on the table so he watch her every movement.

Sasha preferred hand to hand combat, as well as CQC. Her gear was a reflection of that. Her combat suit was suited just for that. One dagger had its own strap on each thigh, two vibrio swords latched to either side of her hip.Health packs if she needed them and ammo for her side arm, usually ending in one signal head shot.

Ninety percent of the time the roof access was the clear choice. This time wasn’t any different. Scaling the soffit she pulled herself up entering a window, which she had already disabled the window locks. Sasha left the cameras enabled only to her data pad just for her mentors watching pleasure.

[Professor Mors]

Sa'ato monitored Sasha's progress from afar with mounting intrigue. While there had been subterfuge and theatrics in his recruitment of the young assassin, now the professor was being served a performance in turn. Given how quickly the woman neutralized the droids, the academic realized her preparations for this particular mark were weeks, if not months in the making. It pleased him to see she had a strong grasp on mechanical and interfacing basics. The Dark Sider was not, however, looking for the services or skills of a hacker. No, Sa'ato was keen to see how his potential hire measured up in combat. Stealth was never a guarantee, and no assassin could hope to last long in his service if they lacked the means to survive a protracted battle.

Thankfully, Gannick's goons were something of an eclectic bunch. Five or so were your standard, run-of-the-mill humans, barring the occasional cybernetic implant or modified weapon. The other's, Jonas' old guard so to speak, were far less common. A former bounty hunting duo, a Gotal and a Gand, with their many tricks and traps were most recent on the higher payroll. They were joined by a more aged, four-armed Besalisk, who, when sober, saw to maintaining the group's various instruments of death, and maintained a small hand cannon for their personal use. Smallest of the posse was a Barabel, very much a student of Sasha's bloody business and hiding countless blades on their person.

Last, but certainly not least, was a titanic Wookiee with chestnut fur that had been burnt, torn, or matted in numerous places. A veteran of many a colosseum tour, the hulking gladiator needed little beyond what his own arms could provide. Woe to any, the Neti contemplated ahead of Sasha's entrance, that found themselves in that iron grip…

[Sasha Horizon]

Sasha smirked this was going to be the highlight of her day, Gannick must have gotten word his life would be in danger. There were a lot more guards than the last time she had scopes out the place. At least this time around they were well suited and the assassin was up to the challenge.

Smiling into the camera knowing the professor was watching her movements, now was the time to prove her worth. Sash had her work cut out for her, this was not going to be an easy task, one wrong move and she would end up fighting them all at once. A veteran sith would be able to handle them all at once. She had had to be strategic in handling them.

The two humans were her first choice, she knew she was stronger than both of them, and she didn’t want to bloody her blades on her first kill. They would have to use their implants if they had a chance to over power her. One had turned and walked down an adjacent hallway while another continued on his path. All he had to do was look up and he would have seen her in the rafters. With a swift motion she had already wrapped her leg around his head. With another motion his body laying face first on the ground, her left thigh suffocating him. She needed to kill him before he used his cybernetic implants. Smirking as she felt his neck snap and his body went limp. Taking his side arm which she thought might come in useful. She needed to hide his body, Sash knew she had to remain unnoticed. Opening a door to her left she she dragged him into the storage room and stuffed him into a locker.

Closing the door behind her, she waited in silence. It wasn’t long, little did the human know that his coms had been jammed and his words fell on deaf ears. Sash knew she could keep up the act of secrecy for too much longer but these two she was having fun with. The other activated his cybernetic implant as he walked closer to her location.

Sash swung the door open taking him by surprise. Shaking her finger at him as he went for his weapon. “Are you afraid? “ licking her lips “But you will be”

“Of you! Pfft I think not”

They exchange rounds, alternately punches only to be blocked by each one respectively. He blocked her advance with her knee aimed at his head pushing her back countering with a boot to her stomach.

“That almost hurts” with a sly smile. Sash wasn’t about to admit that it actually did fortunately he didn’t break any bones. Now they were just battling each other’s egos. He wasn’t about to bested by a short buff women who he was now starting to think maybe she was a little stronger than him.

“There’s more where that came from “ Sash sensed his hesitation. “

“Your afraid!” A serpentine smile creased her lips. She looked absolutely evil. And his facial expression was priceless.

She advanced in full force, blocking each other’s advances, and she connected hitting him in the side winding him. Taking his head in her hands she continued driving her knee into his face. Blood spattered everywhere, until he fell to his knees before her.

Unsheathing her vibro sword, thrusting the blade into his chest. With a quick retrieval she spun smiling as his loped to the ground leaving nothing but a corpse.

Sash had to act quickly this was taking to long and she knew the others would come looking for them if they didn’t check in.

[Professor Mors]

"There she isssssss!", a reptilian voice hissed, as a trio of throwing knives soared through the air toward Sasha. Whether the lady assassin evaded or not, she would clearly see the dark, lidless eyes of the Barabel glaring at her from across the warehouse. Hurried footsteps followed from the opposite direction, and a humanoid shape gradually came into view. From behind insectoid-like photoreceptors, a masked Gand levelled his sights at Sasha, and began to take aim with what was likely a disruptor rifle or similar energy weapon. The prospective Dark Sider was now hemmed in on two sides, but she was hardly out of options. The reptilian blade master was sprinting to close the gap, which could afford precious seconds to handle their colleague before they fired in turn.

From the other end of the recording, Sa'ato smirked with curiosity. While Sasha could likely dispatch either foe in isolation, dealing with them in tandem would require even greater precision than normal. There was, of course, the added factor of time as well. Whether or not the biggest and most imposing fighters on Gannick's payroll had heard the commotion was yet unknown to both the Neti and his would-be candidate. If a two-on-one evolved into a four-on-one, success could not be guaranteed. And, as it was likely the ferocity of Sasha's initial attack drew the notice of the Barabel, her next counterattack could prove even more destructive. Whatever happened, the professor was doubly-intrigued to see how things developed going forward…

[Sasha Horizon]

Sasha had managed to put herself in immediate danger allowing herself;becoming outnumbered. Firstly the Babal sent through the air a trio of throwing knives.

Sasha only smirked knowing they were all going to die. She knew she had to act quickly The ugly Gand was the closest diving towards him, she drove her vibro sword into his abdomen. After a quick retrial with her left boot on his chest she used him as a shield as the three daggers finished the Gand off.

Smiling she grabbed the lopped off head in her hand with a whirlwind spin with as much force as she could muster her attention was focused on the other Babal. Her aim was true hitting him in the abdomen throwing him backwards giving her the advantage to focus on the human.

“What have we here?” He said slyly eyeing her with contempt. She would make him pay for his mockery. “ The thought did cross my mind in killing you quickly; I think I would rather make you beg for mercy. But you will find none.” She smiled wickedly. “As for your friend he will suffer the same fate if he interferes. The human or the reptile were of little concern to her. She only hopes the Wookiee hadn’t heard the commotion and wondered in on their little affair. She could handle these two and hoped the human signaled the reptile to hold long enough so she could dispose of him.

“You have some spunk” he said causticly.
“I should have threw his head at you instead” Sasha laughed. “You should be asking how many limbs he tossed before losing his head and how many you are about to lose.”

Now really but he didn’t have to know that. The more he feared it would be more likely he would make a mistake and then assassin would have control over the situation.

The last Babel was furious having his comrades head Mealy wounding him. At least he wasn’t completely stupid, he thought twice after gaming his composure. The two of them squared off against each other, he had the sense not to get involved. The reptile had been working with him for some time and new better. Once he had his sights set on a target it was wise not to intervene.

He was about to split and tattle tale about what was transpiring, for some reason he kept quiet and only wanted to watch. If she won he would probably regret the decision.

[Professor Mors]

Though the Barabel had regained their composure, they couldn't help but release a reptilian hiss in anticipation, and quickly drew both of their dueling knives. They began to spin the blades between clawed fingers, obviously hoping to confuse their foe and obscure intention. One, twice– three times the durasteel twins leapt forth in feints, no doubt testing the reflexes and range of the toned woman that stood just ahead. Sa'ato, all the while, watched the visual feed for a few moments, before closing his eyes to navigate the ensuing melee through his thoughts. The malice of both parties was palpable, and both Sasha and her opponent drew strength from a shared bloodlust and animal instinct.

The Neti, however, had the added bonus of what the Force could telegraph, and felt a strong confluence of energy wrap itself around his would-be colleague and the Barabel. The reptile, having gathered his data, was clearly ready to go for the kill, and in a flash, initiated what they hoped would be the first and last strike. Introducing a weapon they had 'hidden' before, the Barabel opened this new attack from below rather than above, lashing out with their scaly tail in an effort to rob Sasha of her balance. A mere second later, the reptilian assassin shot forward, one dagger thrust out toward the bulked-up blonde's midsection, and its sibling spinning around to try and slash at her neck. It was a practiced, deadly manoeuvre– and not one the average human could hope to evade…

[Sasha Horizon]

Her reptilian counterpart thought he could destruct her with the assemble of the twirling of his blades. At least he wasn’t as clumsy as he was stupid. His attack with his tail was an addded attempt to throw her off guard, and the added lunge to her midsection in hopes to slice her neck.

She had used this distraction herself many times to disarm her opponents to give her the advantage. She saw it coming before the reptile saw how she would react.

With a downward thrust of her sword entering into a side roll she had already pinned his tail, as she watched him thrust into thin air slicing into a shadow that wasn’t there. He was completely unaware that she was already behind him.

With a slight kick he stumbled forward with now where to go. Retrieving her sword all he could was look up to her as she lunged her sword into his back.

Now the human attacked her from behind, which she had already spun around, parroting his attack she grabbed his wrist with one hand she felt it break twisting it in the opposite direction.

With her quick reflexes she stabbed him in the leg with her dagger twisting in a clockwork formation she was able to flip him over so he knelt down in front of her. His back towards her, placing him in choke hold suffocating him until she heard his neck snap.

As of now all that remained was the Wookiee. Regaining most of weapons to their respective places. This next and last battle will determine whether or not she would take a place at her masters side. At this point her attention on Gannick has taken a back seat. She had soon realized his apprehension was the least, but her ability to make it to him alive, all masterminded by the Neti to prove her worth.

One thing the professor wasn’t aware of she had trained on keshhakk with the wookies to become as strong as she is. Probably why she looks as she does. When Jafarda appeared, the two of them only shared a common look. The two embraced a hand for a moment and spoke in Wookiee to each other” Gannick is yours, I won’t stand in your way” the Wookiee spoke”I’ll fight beside you before him, he’s down the hall on the left”

Embracing another hand the Wookiee agreed to accompany her as they apprehended Gannick. Jafarda agreed to come with her with Gannick to the professor. She thought it best that he meet the professor he could be a valuable ally.

[Professor Mors]

"Most unexpected", Sa'ato quietly remarked as he witnessed Sasha's act of diplomacy. No, not diplomacy– a show of kinship. Evidence that, despite her demeanor, she was capable of relationships not built– or at least not severed with violence. Truly, just when the professor felt he finally understood the assassin, she surprised him with an unseen depth. So much the better. The Dark Side demanded more than one-trick, one-dimensional warriors. If the woman could cultivate proper connections, real or manufactured, given the needs of any one assignment, she would only prove more valuable to the Order. Now, however, the final test was at hand.

Even from a distance, as the professor lay in wait aboard the nondescript hovercraft, he could feel the manic shiver of Gannick's fear. His compound had fallen quiet, his guards had not returned, and even a cretin such as Jonas had at least some inkling of what was knocking on his door. Armed with a blaster pistol, he waited like a frightened narglash, his knuckles turning white from an overactive grip on his weapon. Tasting the sheer terror of his thoughts, the Neti smirked at how overconfident the man had been during their previous 'negotiations'. Sa'ato would almost have pitied him were the human not so unforgivably obnoxious. Soon enough, the professor would extract what little intel the bumbling bureaucrat had left.

Then, and only then, he would call upon Sasha again to put them out of their misery…