Log:For the Love of Literature

For the Love of Literature

OOC Date: May 1, 2020
Location: Bakura
Participants: Netep Muri (GM), Eriu Jynx, Barad, Domino Graystorm, Lokir, Liz'diot, Nerys Arda

(Visual Aid [1])

Muri's minions are directed to a set of coordinates which, as theyll discpver, happens to be a dock on the river. Surpriiiiise....

"So...what d'ya think?"

Muri is perched on the prow of their awaiting transport, legs dangling over the edge and mooring cable held in hand. Her other arm makes a grand flourish to the rest of the skiff. It's pretty run of the mill, except for the color and the slight tilt to the right bringing that side a bit nearer to getting wet, should waves or unforeseen sloshing occur.

In other words, it's a green disaster. No wonder she picked it. She couldn't look more proud or dignified, in spite of her selection.

'Little Green' is dressed like a grownup, showcasing her thirty years in attire more befitting the woman of learning that she is. Dark denym slacks tuck into low-heeled boots that are polished to a sheen. A dark green blouse shimmers beneath a tailored, navy suit jacket. Her hair IS colored to match (the boat) but is free of its usual bits and baubles, pulled instead into a knot at the low of her neck and left to fend for itself from there. Those missing beads and flotsam are hidden away in a tiny pouch like a more conventional osma, strung 'round neck and tucked under shirt. She looks more prepared to attend a symposium than engage in a little B&E.

The shit-eating grin remains unchanged, however. "I got it for a steal." Whether that's a figure of speech or not is anyone's guess. "So c'mon, then. It's a bit of a haul down the river, but fewer eyes 'round the docks than the street, yeah? I recommend sittin a bit more weight on this side." Her thumb indicates over left shoulder.

Eyeing the boat as it leeeeans to one side, Eriu cautiously boards. "I am not dressed for getting wet, Muri. No swimming suit under this get up." For once in her life she's wearing armor. Tugging and pulling at in places she mmmms as she once more gives the ship a skeptical look.

"So I am here because I like you and well..Ormund is not here right?" The famed plant mentioned, she gives a slow side eye about the entire thing, even squatting to try to get a look into nooks. She need nto be told to sit on the higher side of the boat and quickly does so.

"I hope you bought insurance."

Nerys, as was her wont, always erred on the side of caution, and so, when she touched down on the planet, she came loaded for, well, space bear, probably. Her light powered armor, and her backpack on her back, no doubt filled with all of her bits and bobs. a scabbard was secured beneath the backpack, for an over the shoulder draw, but anything else she night have been carrying had to be large enough to fit in that pack. The location was easy enough to find, and she made her way towards Netep, pulling up short for politeness sake. "Are we allowed to hang over the side and dip our fingers as we go??" She did not wait for permission though, simply stepping aboard and heading for the left, as instructed.

Barad sits on the side of the boat that Muri's left shoulder indicates could use the weight. Ha! Finally. Comes in handy. Still a bit 'space-lagged' from the long long long long, long long hyperflight, Barad isn't talking much, his big 'ole floopy ears rocking to and fro with the motions of the watercraft. EJ's mention of the carivorous plant earns a pensive expression and a bit of a frown. That plant eats Klatooinian paddy frogs. How rude! Also: basically, kind of revolting. Barad balances his weight carefully against the gunwale of the startling green watercraft, just in case of emergencies. "Here's a 3D holo of 'Professor Ila' from the cam at the hospital" Barad mentions, passing the 3D photo around to anyone who might be interested. "We might be seeing him again, before all this is over and done - with. . . " Barad hopes not, but, hey, it's possible. Barad spends the early portion of the journey just watching the water. Not a lot of water on Klatooine. Nor on Nar Shad, for that matter. Assuming you mean "clean, running water . . . "

"No! No! No!" Comes the shrill voice of Liz'diot THE OMNISCIENT! "Phewie! This is all wrong." He had a hand held mirror in one hand and a caniwster of lipstick in the other. his 'disguise' if it could be called that was a mash of a poorly put together fake go-tee along with some badly smudged lipstick, likely done like that as a result of all the boat tipping. Him and his swanky hover chair sat in the back corner, as it was likely heavier than anyone else, and probably a lot of the problem with balance at this moment in time. "Would you please stop moving! UHG." He tosses the mirror and canister into the water, effectivly giving up. "In sufferable pathetic FOOLS."

Lokir looks at the water, then to his own armor, and back to the water. "Is this a pool party? Or should we be ready for...wet work?" Lokir is wearing a crested heln rather than his usual decorative dome protection. Gingerly, he steps aboard.

Domino stops, her arms cross and she just points at Lokir as if saying 'this is all your fault' before her shoulders slump and she giiiiingerly eases aboard, looking for handholds and easy access to a means to bail if things begin to sink fast.

"Insurance?" Netep's smirk says not. While everyone gets situated, she gingerly crawls her way back into the skiff and yanks the maglocked line free. She's standing at the helm like she /looks/ like she knows what she's doing, but...

"Associate of yours?" she mutters to Lokir with a skeptical look to that ominous suit of armor climbing aboard(Dom). A hand reaches into the bag at her feet and tosses the noisy Bith some lipgloss. Because everyone sacrifices for the cause, sometimes.

"Let's hope not," Muri grumps to Barad and starts up the skiff. It lurches a bit but begins to putter away from the dock with ease. "The home we're going to visit is owned by Nirroz Vaan. Some scholarly shmuck who sent Ila to do the job."

By some miracle, the skiff survives the sunset cruise, toodling along the river toward the residential areas. After a long while, she starts to steer in toward a private dock. "Shud mention that Vaan is waaaaay protective of his stuff, so. Expect security. On the upside, the local culture shuns droid tech, so...no drones?" She souds hopeful.

Eriu is one of the lucky few that remains untouched by the questionable water. Instead she shifts on occasion and manages to remain perfectly dry. Score one for the Hapan. She narrows her gaze on the camera and out slips a knife. Like Crocodile Dundee she whips out the blade and watches it connect with the camera. Those might be her armored fists going into the air.

Score two for the Hapan. YAAAAAY Crowd goes wild! OOOOOH RAHHH. In her head of course.

Nerys, for what it was worth, did appear to be having the time of her life on that very, only mostly passable excuse for the ship. She did not even seem to mind when she found herself swamped with a random passing wave. One of the benefits of being in a self-contained, mostly suit. "At least it isn't sand." Once she had righted herself, she took the time to rummage in her pack, securing a baton she pulled from it to the side of her bag, within easy reach. Once they arrived, she waited to disembark, scanning the surround for anything they might need to handle. "I make at least one camera pointed towards the docks, on that wall there." Beat. "Ah, well, this isn't a moment of, 'there went the element of surprise.'" And then she was out. because anything was better than that 'boat'.

Lokir raises his fists, ready to fight, the glint of Metal Knuckles can be seen on his hand.

Barad steps adroitly ashore with surprising alacrity, speed, and grace for someone so . . . . round . . . and lumpy and bulldog -lookin'. Don't judge a book by its cover, in all cases. Well, except, just possibly - maybe today. Just this once. "Okay guys, here's the kind of Book we're lookn' for." Barad pulls up the Holo -3D image of the book that 'Professor Ila' -- likely -not- his real name -- had showed to Barad at the hospital desk. As an "image of an image," resolution really isn't the best. It's got weird symbols on it, in some language no one really speaks. Actual pages. Made of actual paper? Or vellum, or . . . something. It's . . . a Book.

"Why am I riding with you Fools, when I have Superior Repulsor Lifts at my beck and call, YASSSSS." Says the 'smart' Bith as he's disembarking in his hover chair and taking a nice tip into the whater. "WHAT?!?" He disappears for a moment before the chair bobs up, surfacing. His listick even more in ruins along with the fake hair that's hanging off. "Phewie...." He manages to get on dry land or at least a dry surface, continuing along with the group. "A Sec..." But someones already taken care of it. "Feted..."

Lokir hops off the boat lightly, thrilled to be back on solid ground. Moving softly, he does his best to slink along the camera-side walls and keep out of sight via tree cover as he looks for an easy access point on the wall with the camera. <Flatline here. Are we going in silent, or weapons free? Treasure room on top floor?>

Domino ignores any wary glances shot her way. The armor's meant to be intimidating but at least she didn't wear her knight's mask with it. She wastes zero time getting off that damned...vehicle. Her head swivels scanning their surroundings but spotting nothing that has gone unnoticed or unremarked she continues to simply lurk and bring up the rear. Her voice distorted and robotic sounding <<Split up one team on first one scalinging to third floor and meet in middle or a single team?>>

Cam, what cam? Netep is too busy trying to keep the skiff in place for folks to safely-er-ehm. She leeans over just in time to witness Liz pop back up and hover his way to dock. Oh, thank goodness. Cuz she can't swim.

"Who knows where he keeps his stash. I've never actually been inside," Muri loud whispers while tossing her bag to dock then reaching for the mooring....erk. Her shimmery blouse was too slick. Netep reached too far, slips over, but clings to dock, meaning just her shins get soaked while she scrabbles back to solid ground. Son of a...

This is your boss tonight, guys. Shaking out her wet boots. "Let's take a peek in if we can, but looks like there's a trellis with some vines, hey? Second floor balcony could be an alternative way in. Follow me!" And off she goes scurrying from bush to bench to tree toward the tri story edifice like it's a damn war zone. That she's clearly never experienced.

Which probably explains why she yelps ten feet into the air when a sudden HISSSS FZZZZT-TZZZ-T of lawn irrigation kicks on, sending arcs of dastardly wet across the gardens, all angles. Seriois footwork required!!!! Netep abandons her slinky approach and just RUNS for the home's rear archway. And collapses. On the wet grass, under a window-one of the left.

Eriu desperately tries not to laugh as she sees Liz bob over the edge. Oh right! Worry. But she is off the boat too, boots hitting the dock after her secret inner celebration. Success! But now they have to focus on the task at hand and she is very much hoping Netep knows her way around.

"Wait what?" Wrong. Netep knows nothing and the Hapan makes some comment under her breath. "This is fine," she finally whispers.

Glancing aside at Muri as she takes off. EJ half shrugs and moves to follow after, her only to hop dodge and turn aside as she watches Muri launch herself and hit the ground.

She stares for a moment and then just picks her way across to crouch. Crouch and watch Muri.

Nerys, having gotten herself mostly together, and not seeing sign of security dashing out pell-mell, settled herself, turning just in time to catch sight of Netep almost nose-diving into that beautiful lagoon. She shook her head, though there was something amused in the line of her shoulders as she moved to assist if it was needed. Only for Netep to take off like a hare. Well, in for a credit, right? Nerys took off behind the woman in green, or, perhaps that was the green-haired...whatever. She was juking and jiving avoiding the worst of the water. Soon enough, but not silently, she was at the side of the building, helmeted head scanning the side of the building. "Looks like someone's home. Window, to the right of our location. Second floor balcony might be the better option. Looks like the door might be ajar."

"There is ...holy trees..those look huge on the inside. Wow...what is this place, Muri? What sort of people do you know?" THis is asked in a hush as she peers just over the sill of the left window. "Cool...and yes..definitey someone in side." More important that as EJ motions to Nerys.

Barad hunkers down behind the wall as the . . . . lawn sprinklers . . . commence their very- non- lethal firing pattern. Hm. Well, that's much more friendly than . . . well, just about every other situation Barad's ever had to dodge a ranged 'attack' in before. No mortars. No blasterfire. No bunkers. Unless, hm. No, no bunkers. No one who's sane puts -trees- in bunkers. OK. Barad offers to just walk up and ring the doorbell, but, he's forestalled. What fun is that? Barad waits, then, to see what the 'funner' plan turns out to be!

Somehow, by some miricle, Liz makes it through the obsticals but careens into a nearby tree trying to stop. BANG. "PHEWIE." He manages to recover quickly, looking inside a window of the building they are arriving at. "Herm... INDEED. The Lights are on... and a big tree. Yellow Bark... YASSSS."

Lokir pauses a minute to consider if Muri was the best untrained operative he'd ever encountered or the absolute worst trained one. As he peaks quietly around, he finds the sprinklers surprisingly distracting as they fill the air with the scent of water. <Folks, keep in mind, target is very sensitive about his cups and utensils. If things go south, we may get some traction by taking...culinary...hostages...>

Domino snorts and mutters, <<Fear not I'm not here to antique, Just going to have a look.>> and she is so prococcupied with looking for a way up she marshes less than stealthfully through some bushes but pauses, shrugs, and keeps seeking a way up to investigate that open balcony door <<MEans security is probably disarmed or zoned which means I can let the rest in without worry for an alarm."

"What?" Muri more quietly whispers this time, peering up into the window like a professional peeper to see this oversized houseplant. "Oh-hoho..." Is she jealous of that foliage? You bet. Namely, for the seductively sweet, addictive fruit growin from its branches. Namana...Her meandering train of thought gets jerked back onto the rails though when it's announced that there is a person inside? Aw, frink.

"Vaan was /supposed/ to be at a symposium.." she checks her chronometer. "For another two hours at least." You can hear the confusion turn to disappointment in her voice. Furthered by a long look over shoulder to the skiff. Canem SAID he'd be here. Just yesterday, in his response to her favor. A quiet, plaintive sigh turns skyward to stare up Domino's climbing ass. And follows. "Be careful, don't...touch...just be careful. And quiet! I don't know who tha is in there." Clumsy as she's been thus far, she seems to have too easy of a time shimmying up that trellis and slithering over the balcony rail.

Namana in the raw form? Eriu does not recognize it. Not this way. In a bottle yes. But it is not in bottle form so the Hapan has no idea and is now wondering why Muri looks to be excited about it. "Its a plant." she remarks to her cohort. A plant. Nothing.

"Maybe he's got some 'company'," she suggests with air quotes involved. She reaches up then and deciding that it might be best to join the others begins to pick her way up to the second floor on the exterior of the house. Its nothign overly skillfull but it does the trick. She heaves hesrelf up onto the balcony after the others and touches down and then looks to unknown robed figure and Muri.

Nerys, moving into position behind, first the Knight, then Netep, then the Hapan, she of the fine, fine knife throwing skills, followed up fourth in line. She did not immediately move for the door to test it. Instead, she stepped off to the side, retrieving the baton from where she had attached it, and slipping her fingers into the rings at its center, the bow telescoping out and readying itself. "I will cover you."

Barad watches the cat - burglary crew" make their way up to the balcony via trellises, vines, sketchy - looking hand - holds, and a whole lot of whipsering. Barad watches the sopping wet lipstick-besmeared Bith slice into the keypad at the archway - door. Barad nods slowly to no one in particular and then picks the least - weird - seeming of all of the remaining essential jobs. "Getaway Driver." Erm. "Getaway boater." Or, whatever! Barad watches the boat. From . . . inside the boat. While listening for sounds of detection, distress, or dripping. Because: Well, who knows, at this point! :)

Liz watches as those who wish, start climbing up to the balcony's edge. He grumbles, his large black eyes behind his goggles squinting in contempts. "Fools..." His chair turns and starts towards the keypad panel that he had noticed before. Pulling out his datapad he draws a link and goes to work. Before long, the Keypad enters green. DING... "Ahhhaha.... YASSSSSS." If the door opens, he moves inside without hesitation.

Lokir easily lifts himself up onto the second floor, finding quick handholds. Clearly, this is not the first time he's scaled a wall--though oerhaps the first time it was so well-manicured. Why risk an alarm when the window is open? Unless...<Stay alert for guards or hidden security.>

Domino loiters on the balcony in her robotic voice <<I'll stand sentry while you do-..er. Do whatever.>> In short the figure knows half a dozen strangers stumbling through the house could be disasterous and somehow she is declining first row seat to this show

It's about this time that both Muri and her player realize she's left her blaster pistol in her gear bag, but dammit, she's taking point on this anyway. Not because she is feeling particularily brave or capable but because she has nowhere else to go due to all the other bodies crammed up here. What's the weight limit? That question to self is all thr encouragement Muri needs to eeeease on in there.

"Oh, my.." the 'phew' is uttered under breath, nose wrinklin with displeasure. So...musky. Musk. Omg is this what she smells like to people??? Netep hopes not, creeping forward with jaw gaped wideopen in awe at that monstrous tree growing up throug a cylindrical atrium fom below. And up through almost to next level. And those fruits, they're....bobbling? Ohno---

The crack of a shin into a halfopen crate is followed immedistely by the sound of the rest of her hitting the tile floor. And freezing. Full body cringe. Ya know, maybe it's good that the PI isn't here to witness this.

EYEROLL. "Liz...why you gotta be so Bith..and loud. He's so loud. Can hear him from here," she remarks and is about to slip in with the others - oh yes. She does successfully even. Eriu is about to whisper something to the others who did not take the direct approach with Liz but instead have shown off their ability to use their limbs.

Until Muri.

EJ straightens up and just turns to look at the other woman. "So is it okay to talk now?" Said almost at a normal volume." Because if I have to smell this any longer due to taking our time I might lose my sense of smell..or at least wish I had."

She reaches a hand down to help Muri to her feet.

Nerys, glancing over at the Knight as they stepped out of the way, moved ahead to make her way into the second floor, keeping well back of the rest, so that she could provide cover if needed, without having to shoot through someone who would prefer not to be shot through. She was so thoughtful. She scanned the floor as she moved, attempting to look for, well, whatever it was they had come for.

Barad waits, pleasantly oblivious, watching the play of shadows over the water and listening to the lapping of the waves against the side of the boat. Barad grins a bit as he sees Liz's successful "breaking and entering" move, -minus- the "Breaking." Deft. Impressive. It's a bit harder to tell what's been going on up there with The Balcony Crew, on account of the wall, the vines, the trellises and the various shrubberies. Hm. Barad waits and listens, one hand on the tiller, both floopy ears leaning forward.

Liz really isn't trying, he's not a quiet fellow and certainly not some type of ninja. He turns his head towards a door, hearing a loud thumb inside. "Interesting..." He would go and open up bu the smell suddenly stings his nostrils. "WOAH, GROSS!" He exclaims, "This smells worse than the Stinky one." For those who don't know, that was Netep. Ej is lucky the Bith didn't hear her as they were in seperate parts of the establishment currently... but it did cause him to sneeze... or that was the smell. Eiher one, the bith starts to wretch.

Lokir slides into the home smoothly, avoiding any obvious giant trees on the way in. Still, there's way too much noise. Up until this point, it's been games and fun. But now is tims for Lokir to earn his money. <Keep it quiet. This is the most dangerous part. Hand signals unless we're under fire. Combat folks take point from now on. Get the book and get out. 3 minutes max.>

Domino is blissfully ignorant as she stands guard out on the balcony, free from wreched stinks or the sound of wretching. Arms cross and she checks her timepeice idly before fingertips begin to drum on the armor.

Noisy intruders and stanky aroma aside, this home really is quite lovely. Minimalisic design meets nature, these first two levels. Nirroz's houseplant collection dwarfs Muri's for sure, but the tree and burbling spring at its base are obviously the pride and joy. There are few, thoughtfully placed decorations and they look expensive.

But...couple of things.

1) A spunky hiss and tinny whine sounds from some of the branches spanning into the second level. The sound of claws rasping against bark materialize an actual, furry form. And it looks pissed. Muzzle wrinkles, whiskers flare. Angry....angry feline. Also, not a small feline.

2) While Liz is busy puking on these polished floors, the door to what's evidently a study zips wide open and the man from Barad's helpful recording steps out. A finely tailored suit sleeve first, at the end of which is a pistol, aimed at the side of the oversized cranium. The gold-skinned fellow gives a sneer and judgemental tsk. "What's the matter? Scent glands of the cratsch not agreeing with you?" Tucked under his other arm is a small, leather bag. "Maybe it's best we move on back into the fresh air, mm??" A motion for the door.

Muri's too busy staring at the cratsch to protest Lokir's three minute rule. But she does whisper "It's more than just a book...."

Bith. Ugh. Eriu was about to complain again when she heard what was going on below but then there is wild face sticking out the tree. "I hate wildlife," she says, trying to move around and away from the branch to hug the wall and get towards an area where she can get a view of Liz with whoever is below?

Muri's ex? Muri's pusher? Could be anyone.

She is just about around and suddenly sees the movements and pulls knives as she instinctively tosses them. There is a scream as well. Definitely a scream. Death by animals or plant. Neither are preferable.

Nerys frowned, which, well, who could see it behind her helmet as the feline clawed its way out of the tree. Well, here's to hoping that 'not just the book' did not continue on to 'it's the cat too' because she raised her weapon, taking aim at the feline. She had a quip coming, but she was busy. Quip after. The slightest thrum vibrated along her hand as she powered the arrow, the energy bolt following the two, or was it three knives she saw darting towards the feline in the split second before the red energy impact sent the feline, hopefully, to its death. Would it stop the smell though?

Barad squints just a bit as the vague and undefined faintest hint of a trace of a scent of something . . . . something . . . something bad . . . Barad's big 'ole flat cold wet black nose can't quite identify. Thankfully. Or maybe just doesn't want to? Either way, Barad - in - the - boat remains blissfully ignorant of the stench and, indeed, the cat - fight in general. Which, by now, has wound its way to its conclusion in the death of the . . . aforementioned. Barad watches the house. Barad listens. Barad waits.

Liz stared, those big black eyes behind the tetan goggles stared. "HEW... HEW... HEW..." He laughed? Oh Force was this Bith Crazy. "How /dare/ you insinuate that I do not have a right to be here you bloated cad. I'll have you know, I'm with the Droid Enforcement Buro and we know you've been harboring illegal Mech-" That's when the Knives and the bolts hit... killing the threat. "HAH! SURPRISE!" He points a lanky finger, "YOURE DEAD!" A look up towards EJ. "What took your poopyheads so long?"

Lokir growls low and steps to the ledge of the Atrium. This wasn't good. But they had the higher ground and Lokir could take the heat. He leaves his com open as he gets a clear view below and sights the man in the finery. "Put the weapon down. You've lost. We'll destroy everything in this house and leave dust in our wake if we have to. Or you can play nice and keep your head, hot beverage mugs, and home intact. Drop the gun or we start cracking plates and skulls. Now."

Domino wonders idly while she waits outside where it's quiet, free from stink or commotion <<How we coming along?>>

Snazzy-suited Ila just /stares/ at Liz. The mop, the smeared makeup the...terrible attempt at convincing him he's been shot when it's the cratsch that comes toppling out of the tree with a meaty thud. Amber eyes roll in his skull and he's about to just step around Liz for the door when suddely a big boy from upstairs is barking.

Ila frowns, juts his jaw stubbornly to the side and scoffs. Loudly! "I've got all I came for," he calls back. "You do what you like to the place."

Muri groans, hand of protest coming up too late to save the tree's personal security system. The cratsch. "That's not Nirroz!" she complains at Lokir, striding boldly toward the tree to peer down now that the kitty's gone.

"Miss Muri, is that you?" Ila sounds genuinely surprised. Impressed, even.

"Kriffin...the frell you doin here?!" she shouts down.

Maybe they weren't the only ones with a mind to rob.

Nerys is given a look of grateful relief. Its dead. Smell is still there. "That stink is going to get into everything. I swear," she mutters and frowns, rolling her shoulders as she straightens up and clears her throat. No screaming anymore but then there are loud voices..voice. One voice. Lokir is given a look as she steps forward to get a look down.

"Wait..you know this person and he is not the owner. Muri..." there needs to be some explaining. "Lets get whatever you are looking for and get out of here now. Yeah? EJ turns and heads for the lift to head down and pilfer through the room just vacated by Ila who is given a side look as she passes. "Liz. Ila." Professional up nod.

Nerys, clearly having no fellow feeling where stinky felines are concerned, simply stepped to the center of the atrium, coming up not far from where Netep was peering down at....well, whomever that was. She did not lower her weapon, instead training it on the man in question. "Have him turn out his pockets and open that bag. If he has what we came for, I am not in the mood to let him walk out with it."

There comes a cry from the other room that was just left. "I FOUND IT! I think?" Eriu is out of sight but she's found something.

Barad 's big 'ole floopy ears catch the remote sounds of shouting and shooting. Hm. That could be good. OR, it could be less - than - good. Probably the latter. Barad waits fro the sound of screaming. That'll be the tell - tale sign. OR, well, it usually is. Barad gets ready to start the boat, just in case. I mean, can't hurt, right?

"What?! Noooo! Kill him! Come on, pleeeeaaase!" Liz pleads as Ila begins to step around him, the hover chair urning to follow. "Phewie!" His fingers ball into fists and his the arm rests of his hover chair. "That's it!" He had almost forgotten about the stink, "OH no..." He's vomiting again. "You know him? What? Feted third dimensional beings!" He throws up his hands in DEFIANCE.

Lokir nods down at his opponent. "Good call." <Keep him under wraps, folks>. With that, Lokir starts stalking the wild goose of a book, turning the joint over like a seasoned cat burglar about to hit the score of a lifetime--and pausing to collect and "borrow" pen caps, paper weights, a wine glass...anything resembling items of dubious sentimental value. Lokir wanted true "insurance" in case the real master of the house appeared.

Still, if Lokir could avoid it, he wasn't going to steal or break anything beyond the mission parameters if he didn't have to. It would all stay intact and on-premises, if it could. A man who would hold a seven-year vendetta and commit drug-related felonies over tawdry trash...was a man to truly fear.

Ila laughs disdainfully at EJ's enthusiasm, knowing damn well what they must be here for, as he is the one who did the dirty work on Nirroz's behalf. "Come now...would I have troubled it all the way here just to take it again?"

"It's the guy!" Muri gesticulate at EJ when she goes by, as if that explains everything. "The man I met with to discuss the tome I've been translating and I declined to see it and some hours later I awoke in Barad's clinic. The bastard drugged me and STOLE..." hold on, she's taking a deep breath "THE BOOK. For Nirroz. Also a few other things that to you will likely seem arbitrary so I kind of need to spend more than three minutes here searching. Look for small statues, a jar of black sand, a thornbush rhizome..." Is that it? "And that damn book!"

Netep takes her stomping upstairs. Fweeeeeee up the lift. Ila, meanwhile, gets busy doing the opposite when he tries to make a run for it and slips the sole of his fine leather shoe in Bith vomitus spatter. FWOOOP.

The sound his forehead makes when it strikes floortiles can be heard at least one level up.

"MY BOOK IS NOT OUT THERE" Muri fusses ito her comlink to the sentry on balcony.

"Shoot him." Is all EJ remarks before having disappeared into the study. She is not only finding what she thinks is the right thing but other things as well. She does return, her pockets bulging a bit on her void armor. There are pockets. And she's utilized them. Muri knows the right kinds of people.

She holds up the book. "Is this it? Tell me this is it?" She turns her head to watch as Ila lays on the floor. "Well that seems fitting. Look Liz..how successful you are!" She winks at the Bith and then offers the book over towards Netep. "Yes? Its going to cost you for the work to get this smell out of my hair."

There is a quick tick of her gaze to keep her attention on Ila - JUST - in case.

Nerys, who was really not enjoying this at all, took aim at the, well, whomever he was, she didn't know and probably didn't care, as he tried to mosey his way out of the building. Only to slip in the Bith's carefully laid trap. It was all about spin. Again, that slight thrum of the bowstring and a bolt hit the floor just off to the side of the...whomever he was, she cared even less now. "That was a warning. Don't expect a second one. Who wants to rifle his pockets?"

Barad hears more shooting, faintly, and more shouting. That's about par. Barad can't actually -hear- the bodies hitting the floor. But, he knows. That's just how things work with this crew. Meanwhile, the boat still has a "crew" of "one." Barad keeps watch, waiting for the moment when that's no longer the case . . .

"Of course I'm successful, you painted Whore!" Liz practically shouts towards EJ, "I'm a Sixth Dimensional being! Liz'diot THE OMNISCIENT. HELLLOOOOOO." THat last bit, emphasised as if it was already common knowledge through out the entire galaxy. As the energy bow arrow comes crashing down near Ila, the Bith humms lowly, "YASSSS. MURDER. CONTINUE.... dewit. I shall stuff his oraphices with EXPLOSIVIES. Ha... AHAHAHA. HAH!" He farts, "Phewie..."

Lokir hears the sound of blaster fire and doesn't hesitate. Carefully cradling a plastic bag filled with tea saucers and buttons and dumb science awards, Lokir's other hand still has no trouble lining up a shot at the prone man in the fancy vomit. A quick double tap. "We give our warnings now?"

"WHAT?" Muri's green, floofy ponytail hangs over the third floor's railing. All she can see is branches and fruit and what might be a dead cratsch down there. "WHAT HAPPENED? I CAN'T.." see. Ugh. "DON'T KILL HIM," she stipulates much too late, to be hearing the sounds of energy bolts. "Frink," sworn more softly and she resumes her ransacking of the third floor. Gentle, respectful ransacking. Even still, it's a big job. This upmost level is indeed the treasure trove of clutter. Organized clutter, though. And clean.

Lokir's rummaging about the tea saucers has also knocked about some medicine vials. Prescription meds. Lots.

Unconscious Ila is at the mercy of his rival intruders. Turn out those pockets if you so desire! See what he was hiding in that bag.

Suddenly there is a jubilant cry from on high. Sounds like she's found somehing.

The handing over of said volume is forgotten when Liz speaks to her like that. "What did you call me you festering sack of flesh?" Hapan bristling right before the eyes of all. She flushes slightly in anger and her amber eyes glint dangerously close to murder.

Her nose wrinkles upwards. More and more so as she is now smelling bith bile and the creature scent. UGH. It takes her a moment as she is assualted by the smells. Her hand lifts to her mouth and BARELY. Just barely does she manage not to add to the contents already on the floor.

"We do if we need him to talk if what we're looking for isn't here." See? Nerys could be reasonable. "Since we've apparently got a shopping list now, we need to get moving. I'm not coming back here again. Get whatever there is to get and let's get out of here." Nerys moved away from where she had been standing, calling back on the comms, "Sir Knight...if, within the next little while, you see someone that's not one of us running out covered in...Bith vomit," he could wake up, "feel free to shoot him in the knee." Beat, "If you're feeling generous." That's right! Share the workload.

Barad is reasonable. Most of the time. Reasonably patient. Reasonably cautious. And now those two traits appear to be on a collision course in the reasonably near future. Bard clicks on the comms: "<<Hey, how're we doing on time?>>"

Liz reaches into a comparment in his chair, pulling out disposable likely medical gloves he stole from somewhere on the Whale. He starts to put them on his lanky hands, snapping the rip back against his wrist. "INDEEEED-UH..." Then, he pulls out little balls of clay and hovers his way over towards the unconcious body of what Ila. "You heard me, HUMON...." The Bith says matter of factly as he starts to pull of Ila's clothing, looking through his satchel and pockets and the like. "Noone has ever said anything so nice to me before." Hard to tell if he was being serious or sarcastic. The Bith pulls out some shiney medalions and a really cool stylist. He gets way more excited about it than he should. "WOAH, GIMMIE. SO COOL!" He's forgotten about inserting any explosives.

Lokir heads up to the third floor, to join Muri and wrap up the search. <Got some prescriptions here, some glowing crystals, and some funky plants. Take a look, boss. Or out it all in the trinket bag. We're out of time. Let's bug out while we still have heads and aren't in jail.> Lokir helps Muri give the third floor a final(?) look. But he's prepared to stuff her in the bag next.

Domino mutters <>

Netep's got a deathgrip on this itty bitty statue but doesn't NEED both hands to paw over what Lokir brings her. Her, in her nest of bookstacks. Muri's died and gone to heaven, maybe. "No..interesting but no, no but---no." She's not going to steal the man's plants. Or she might. One of the smaller, potted varieties is placed nearby atop book stack. "His health must be...mm. That'd explain some things," she sighs and rubs her face before unfolding from her book nest and motioning for Lokir o follow her. A point up to the top of a bookshelf where she can see but not reach. "These 'totems', they...Kurtzen believe they can be made stronger by puting themselves into things like...spiritually? There's beensome professional beef between us over the years and I guess this was is way of trying to thieve from my essence to bolster his?" Or so says the signifcance of those smaller items.

Killing. EJ has maimed and harmed others but killing is not her thing and she stares down at the ill fated poisoner. "Nothing worse than landing in Bith Bile. Especially from you," she remarks as Liz goes hog wild over something. A curious tilt of her head and she keeps watch over the prone figure. Knife drawn in one hand, the book cradled in her other she starts to eye the rest of the building. Time to wander a bit, within eye sight for the moment unless something shiny catches her eye.

Then it will be her's. She hears nothing going on upstairs and thus blissfully rifles.

Nerys lowered her weapon, allowing the bow to retract into its innocuous baton shape and she slipped it back into its place on her backpack as she made her way to the crate on the floor with her. This she cracked open, slipping her backpack down to the floor as she began stuffing the jars into her backpack of holding (true facts), before she made short work of riffling the rest of the floor she could access easily. A book, but not the book, and a comic went in there as well, and what meds looks interesting to her. "Got some sediment jars from...Socorro, looks like. I'm taking them with us." And that was it for her floor, "I'm ready when the rest of you are." She was on her way to the lift. Technology, such a treat.

Lokir helps Muri pry down the items from the upper shelf, including the weird box of thin hides that smelled like nerf leather. "Ok, boss. Let's pull up the wheels. We're in a deep felony here. Stick whatever you want in the bag, including your friend downstairs. But we really gotta go."

Domino reports, <<Clearly no additional guards or if there are you all can handle them. I'm going to make sure the way back to the ship is clear. Wrap it up. Flatline, I'll meet you on Nar.>>

Barad toggles comms and echoes Lokir's sentiments. Or, pre-sentiments, as the case may be . . . "The Time is of the Leaving, and the Leaving is of the Now"

"Yeahyeahyeah I know but---YES" Triumph number two echoes around the chamber as Muri caresses the leather binding of that old piece of mystery literature with a loving touch. "From the forgotten bowels of the Empress Teta library, this."

She doesn't elaborate HOW it's come to be in her possession because as Lokir says, time to go! The statue tucks into jacket pocket, the book hugged in both arms, and she makes for the Lift.

Brief stop on level two though, to snatch handfuls of the namana fruit from tree and throw them into Lokir's bag. Cept tHe one that finds safer keeping in her teeth. "Nnchu ind?" She asks Nerys with mouth full, juice dribbling over chin. The time for care is over. It's time to get gone. And hope somebody else found her gnarly stick.

And so they go, loot in tow, running pell mell down the lawn to Bara, who's kept such dutiful watch over the skiff. Much later, namana swallowed, they will get a lovely serenade for the ride back to rental dock from the little linguist herself. So happy, is she.