Bureaucracy Is Hell, But Coruscant Is Worse

[Insanity]

(Gotta love Dictionary.com when your brain goes blank)

The Coruscanti Moonshade sat in orbit over the planet of it's namesake and possibly it's original construction, just one of many ships waiting in orbit for its turn to dock. Sometimes, he considered just ditching the ship at a scrapyard, getting a good deal off it, and taking the civilian shuttles across the galactic expanse. Sometimes, anyways, during moments like these. Whoever invented the pencil-pusher jobs of space control on Coruscant really needed to get spaced, of that he was quite sure people would agree.

Amused by his thoughts, he had started to ignore the pencil-pusher on the other end of the voice comm as it droned on, looking out at the planet and ships that filled the viewport of the Moonshade. Coruscant was beautiful in its own way, mostly in part to the terraforming that was left from the ancient occupation of the Yuuzhan Vong that hadn't been removed in order to expand the planet-spanning city. The planet just seemed to glow with all that light, dotted with dark spots and blue where plants and small oceans were.... He hated this planet so much, yet he had to keep coming back here to maintain his identity as a citizen from Coruscant.

At least Corellians had a better planet... Why not pose as one, maybe? But then again, he knew it didn't make a difference. He refocused on the voice coming over comms, the words he longed for and dreaded emerging: "... can now land, eastern hemisphere visitor docks. Have a nice day." Relaxing into the pilot's chair, he started the Moonshade's engines up and began the descent planetside, bypassing still-waiting ships and Coruscant law enforcement patrol vessels. The atmosphere of Coruscant may as well not have existed as he breezed through and began to level out over the planet's surface, skimming past towers and aerial traffic. Mid-way to the landing docks, he received another contact on the comm and flipped it on, not paying too much heed as he sent the ship higher to avoid colliding with another landing ship.

"Yes, who's on this comm, if you don't mind me wondering how you found me?" He purposefully made himself sound tired and irate, the latter being incredibly easy to do since he really was feeling it. Whoever was on the comm didn't answer, simply seemed to have gone away. Eyeing the controls, Vaerin eased the ship down onto a dock and started the checklist down, engines getting cut last. Then he waited, his finger ready to switch the comm off at a moment's notice. "You're the smuggler operating between Imperial and Alliance space, correct? The one with ties to some big groups on both sides?" He felt himself freeze up as he eased his finger from the switch, leaning heavily back into the chair. "And? If I am a smuggler like that? You want me to smuggle someone or something between here and there?"

The voice on the other end chuckled, the answer decidedly strange to Vaerin. "No, but I'll keep you in mind if I do." The click of comms being cut on the other end seemed flat in the confined space of the cockpit, and he could see a suited Alliance official with an armed escort approaching. Covering his face and groaning from frustration, he pushed himself up and picked his cloak up off the cot as he made his way towards the boarding ramp, lowering it as the cloth settled around him. The guards and the official seemed to freeze when they saw him walk off the ship, the sight of the black cloak such a striking symbol for such a long time.

He ended up walking towards them and stopping a few feet from the group, an amused grin spreading across his face. "Something the matter, sir? I've never had an official come meet me after I docked here before." That seemed to relax the official, though the two escorts seemed to get even more on edge. Shame, but he wasn't here to make friends with these unexpected visitors. "Ah, well, Captain...?" Vaerin let his grin spread, slowly letting the Force trickle into the official's mind, making the man relax as he answered. "It's Vaerin Naleen, sir. So, you were saying?" The official seemed to frown and turn towards one of the escorts, who shook his head and turned his attention towards the aerial traffic for danger. The official sighed and turned back to Vaerin, a speculatively considering look on his features.

"Well, Captain Vaerin, we received information from an unknown source that your ship might be transporting Sith and Jedi artifacts from Imperial space. The source is supposedly reliable, thus we were dispatched." Vaerin let a speculative, shocked look wipe away the amused grin, one hand reaching up to lightly stroke the scar on his right cheek. "I see. Well, search my ship if you like. Do I need to be present or can I go and get myself drunk as I was hoping to do once I took care of docking fees?" The official shifted his weight a bit, side to side, before shrugging. "If we don't find any Sith or Jedi contraband aboard, we'll take care of the fees for you. For now, just stay here with Officer Lettow here." Motioning for the officer on his left to follow him, the official entered the Moonshade while the second officer eyed Vaerin, who just shrugged and looked around for somewhere to sit.

 

[GreaterThan]

Abel stood against the wall, by this point...a little more than pissed off. Coruscant had never been his favorite place to visit, but his contacts had requested...no more like demanded that he meet them here for the pick up.

"Mr. Sidaal...I'm sorry, but it's going to be a little while before we can repair the damage...the mechanic is running a little late." An official said walking up behind Abel and explaining the issue stoically. Abel turned to the man and grinned. "Don't worry about it, if you people aren't capable of fixing a simple...well dent...I will just do it myself another time. Tell the guy who hit my ship to just get out of here, tell him to pay my fees and go...now." Abel's sarcasm shined brightly through, much like it normally did as he expressed his displeasure with the situation. "Oh, and by the way...don't call me Mr. anything, my name's Abel." The official looked at Abel oddly before nodding his head and turning to walk towards his station.

Abel figured that was the sign that he was free to go, so he began to make his way towards the bay door. After everything he had been through today...a few drinks sounded like heaven. As he walked towards the exit, his focus was pulled towards a man who was talking to an official and his two guards...'What the hell is that all about.' Abel thought to himself, stopping his stride and turning to watch, hoping to enjoy a show.

 

[Insanity]

Vaerin sighed as the search seemed to go on longer than it should have, idly tapping one gloved hand against his thigh beneath the cloak. The officer, Lettow, heard it each time, grinding into his thoughts, just tap tap tap tap. The officer groaned and started to reach for his head as the tapping stopped, Vaerin having turned, a cruel smile playing out over his features. "Tell me, officer, Lettow was it?, what the message from the supposed contact of yours was."" Lettow found himself answering, dictating the message as far as he had heard it. "A smuggler with Imperial and Sith ties has been smuggling artifacts to and from the Core worlds, tracked to Coruscant. You and Officer Marlowe have been tasked with searching the ship and detaining the smuggler if proof is found."

Lettow finally managed to reach up, removing his helmet to rub his shaved head, pain growing as Vaerin applied some more Force-pressure on the man. "Good, good. Now, very slowly, you are going to board my ship and shoot both officer Marlowe and the higher-up with him. Then you will come back out here, leaping off the edge of this dock to your death, in an attempt to silence the pain coursing through your mind. Understood?" Officer Lettow winced as the pain tripled, a whimper escaping his lips as he straightened as well as he could. Eyes glazing slightly, the poor fool began to walk towards the Moonshade, checking the charge on his blaster. Vaerin watched as the man entered the ship, soon followed by the muffled sound of blaster fire.

He sensed the official's life-force fade from his senses, and then one of the officer's. Lettow's, not Marlowe's. Worrisome, that. Reaching beneath the cloak, he gripped the hilt of one of his two lightsabers, taking a few steps outside of the ramp's viewing range.

 

[GreaterThan]

...Abel stood in utter shock at what he had just observed. It seemed as if he was the only one aware of the situation, and he honestly had no idea what to do. 'Was this guy a Sith, a Jedi jackass gone rouge, or were his actions justified?' Abel decided not to risk confrontation, and instead turned and walked away, trying to mind his own business for once. As he walked, his curiosity began growing rapidly...this was not a good situation, and he knew that just walking away was his best option. He once again began his walk towards the hangar exit, having definitely just seen a show that was much more intense than he expected.

 

[Insanity]

Vaerin twitched slightly as his senses felt a new life-force nearby, his gaze turning towards Abel's back as he walked away. He froze, shocked at his own foolishness. A witness was walking away, slowly but surely. A blaster round went out where he had been standing earlier, vanishing into the air beyond the dock and thus futile, but enough to bring his attention back to the the current issue to contend with. Pulling the lightsaber hilt into the open, he flicked it on, the void-like blade of it seeming to take in light slowly, as if killing it. The surviving officer crept down the ramp, the blaster aiming towards Vaerin as he started a run towards the man, blade coming up for a quick neck-cut. He missed by a few inches as the man fell back, saving himself for the moment.

The officer saw Abel then, calling out in a hoarse scream. "Help me, this man's a traitor!" The cry ended with a strangling sound as Vaerin thrust the blade down and into the man's chest, gripping one shoulder to lift him away and toss the body down towards the lower levels of Coruscant, maybe even a forest. Whatever was below. Then he turned back to the last issue, letting the blade deactivate and slipping the hilt away to the loop on his suit's waist. He began a slow walk towards the exit as well, mulling everything over.

He had gotten caught up in a mess, and most likely been recorded by a security drone or two. Activating the comlink inherently designed into his suit, he whispered instructions to the astromech aboard ship to relocate elsewhere and switch to an alias, until such time as he needed to get off-planet. the ship starting up behind him, he was left with considering his next action. He was exposed now, and he hated it. He'd have to work something out, or kill some people. Assassins could be bought, of course, used and discarded afterwards. "Always something to fix..." he whispered to himself, pulling the the helmet of his suit from the back-straps and adjusting it over his head, the face-visor sliding down as he adjusted his hood over it.

 

[GreaterThan]

"Damnit..." Abel solemnly whispered to himself before turning around. He had now been compromised, he was now "involved" in this situation, something that he knew wouldn't turn out picture perfect...this was definitely more than he signed up for. He suddenly didn't care about his damaged ship or his contact meeting, the only thing that worried him was getting out of this situation before it escalated any more. He simply stood staring at the man, a slight grin breaching his face...hopefully his sarcasm and quick thinking will get him out of this...but probably not.

 

[Insanity]

Vaerin simply wanted loose ends tied up, no matter the means. Violence came secondary, persuasion first. So when Abel stopped walking and turned, motionless, Vaerin simply continued his approach, stopping once he was just barely beyond the reach of most bladed weapon types. "You've just witnessed something best forgotten, I believe... So from my point of view, I have three choices. The first, the simplest, is to see which one of us would survive an encounter like the one I was just engaged in. The second is we talk this over, maybe exchange insurances - say, two hundred credits on my part, your name and usual contacts on yours - or the third, which I prefer the most. The third is that I offer you a job, you do it to the best of your ability and then some, and then you get paid and forget it ever happened." His voice trailed off, the breathing apparatus built into the hermetically-sealed helmet giving his voice a metallic, darker tone, perfect for intimidation.

Behind him, the Coruscanti Moonshade lifted off and flew from the hangar, changing it's transit ID to that of an alias, as well as locating an unused hangar elsewhere. Now he could concentrate fully on the task at hand, no nagging worries to bother him.

 

[Neo Shark]

Kusac was running late. Having met the contact and delivering the message he had decided to go see the sights. In typical style he'd lost track of time and now he was going to miss his ride. Making an incredible racket in his Templar armor, Kusac jogged to the hangar bay where his ship was located. A small blinking light suddenly appears in the corner of his HUD, signalling an incoming transmission.

"Where are you Captain? We need to be leaving soon."

"I'm almost to Hangar bay 24."

"24? But we're docked at 13."

"...shit, I thought we were at.." Before he could finish the sentence Kusac turns a corner and passes through the entrance to 24, running straight into someone. With a startled oof he slams head-on into the humanoid, sending the both of them tumbling to the ground. Momentarily stunned it takes a few seconds for Kusac to gather himself and roll to the side.

"I'm real sorry about that mate, didn't see you in time. Let me help you up." As he leans down to give him a hand Kusac notices a malevolent energy approaching them. Because he'd been maintaining his usual Force Cloak, limiting his other abilities and senses, he hadn't noticed this presence until he was practically on top of it. Forgetting the person he had just ran over he instead turns to face the potential threat with a calculating gaze. Watching the hooded figure from behind his own visor he waits.

((ooc:equiped with standard gear, link in sig))

 

[GreaterThan]

Abel listened to the man's speech. He was clearly trying to intimidate Abel, something that extremely difficult to do. Abel laughed at the very thought, then thought over all that the man had said.

"Listen, if you think that just because you can play with beam swords that you can take me...your gravely mistaken. I don't have anything against you, or what you did for that matter. I mean hey, I understand that sometimes situations turn out badly and things have to be handled accordingly. With that said, I'm not going to fight you; you haven't done anything to provoke me...well other than your weak attempt to scare me, and I'm definitely not giving you my information...come on, do I look that stupid. So the way I see it is like this, I shouldn't even be here for one, I have no interest in reporting you, and it's not like I have your name and address in my little black book, so this should've never happened. As for your job offer, I'll do just about anything for the right price...so please, tell me more."

Abel smiled with his last remark, he did have a job to do already, but a few extra credits wouldn't necessarily hurt, and would definitely get him out of an unnecessary fray...so he would listen to what the man had to say.

As Abel waited for a reply, a third party crashed into him, taking him by surprise, and knocking him off his feet

 

[Insanity]

Vaerin simply listened to the witness's dictation, mulling it over as he considered it. A person who just wanted to avoid conflict, it seemed, but had a will of their own. He found it amusing, if a somewhat refreshing experience. So maybe he could solve a few problems altogether. Why not? "Well then, I'm sure if you can overlook the death of an official and two officers simply trying to enforce their petty, insubstantial laws, then we can discuss work for you and your possibly-large and well-connected contacts that you must have. I need information, which politicians, minor and major, who might be willing to spur the military reformation of the Alliance into hyperdrive, as it were. For each one you get me information with which to work, you'll be compensated to the best of my ability."


"I'm sure that if I can establish contact with these individuals, you'll find yourself with more than enough work to pay for an early retirement somewhere remote. Mandalorians seem to have a nice, open culture, don't you think? Just an idea where to retire, that." He chuckled, the sound abnormal from the sound-processing it underwent. it didn't last though, as another humanoid suddenly flew in and collided with the witness, Vaerin grinning within the helmet. Interesting developments abound, it seemed, though whether this new one was to his advantage or an obstacle to be surmounted, he was interested in finding out.

(OOC: Halo armor :) We just need Master Chief to barge in yellling 'CORTANAAAAAAAA' <<)

 

[GreaterThan]

Abel pushed the person off of him, and stood to his feet.

"What the hell is wrong with you...Watch where you're walking you jackass." He said as he turned to look at the massive alien that knocked him down...'First a rogue guy with a lightsaber...now a giant cat...this day just keeps going in the wrong direction.

 

[Diran]

Funny how fate handled things.

Indeed, there was security drones, as well as spy drones, floating about; in the culminating conflict, the Alliance went to every measure to ensure all spies and traitors could be eliminated accordingly.

Diran was enjoying a Rubian Bliel in his personal chamber within the Congress building, his purple robes nearly touching the ground despite the fact that his feet were propped upon the desk. The artificial sunset tended to lose its wonder after so many viewings, and to one as generally disinterested in that ridiculousness as he it was more commonplace to spend his evenings and nights watching something more realistic and engaging on the Holonet.

Word had trickled in slowly of the detected disturbance, first through CorSec then to the Congress building itself; any odd chance of Sith presence must be taken seriously. Diran soon found himself escorted by his token bodyguard through a dimly-lit corridor to another small sideroom where a handful of security and CorSec personnel were viewing the feed.Seems like we may have a problem about, indeed Colonel? he piped to the Senior Officer. "Indeed so sir, after the report is prepared we can send this to Tython and CorSec Head-"That won't be necessary; this could be just a freak with a lightsaber. Allow my little guard contingent to engage this man, surely I can be trusted enough to hold him in custody until a further investigation is warranted, right?

Not long after, the four guardsmen would be moving via shuttle to the nearby docking platform, Diran strolling about outside the Congress building with his personal bodyguard, wrapping up that Rubian Bliel. Just what had he stumbled upon?

 

[Neo Shark]

His offer of help ignored he instead kept his focus on the other individual. A quick stretch and flex helped hide a check to make sure his weapons hadn't been detached during his tumble. From behind his helmet he quietly scanned the surroundings with his eyes. Though there was no evidence that anything had happened, he couldn't shake the feeling that something had.

"Well now, I was thinking about being a gentleman and offering to help you up and appologize. But seeing that you obviously don't need help I'll go ahead and save it for a rainy day."

Turning to face the hooded man fully Kusac gave him an imperceptible once over. "Sorry if I intruded on a private conversation. I was looking for my ship and apparently I had the bays confused. You wouldn't happen to know where I can find bay 13?" For the moment he would ignore the tense atmosphere and see how they'd react to his interruption.

 

[Insanity]

"I'm afraid I'm newly arrived and was discussing business with my associate here, as he said he knows some quite skillful tour guides. The street-savvy kinds, not the skillful scammers, that is." Vaerin was calm now as his mind mulled over the opportunities that were gathering, the urge to laugh at his constantly shifting luck a barely supressible urge. The grin spread as he reached out with the Force, checking for more life-signs and finding none in a dangerously close proximity. "Well, I'm afraid me and my associate should move on for now, as I'm starting to want a drink and maybe a small dinner. if you'll excuse us?"

Raising a hand, he'd give a half-bow towards the humanoid, his Force aura shifting towards a calm, unfocused gray as his emotions stilled and were replaced by a benign amusement. Nodding at the witness, now a possible employee, he'd motion with his other hand towards the main corridor beyond the hangar. "We can, of course, aid you in locating your hangar if you would like. I'm sure we could spare the time before resuming business."

 

[GreaterThan]

Abel nodded towards his possible employer, still pondering what exactly still awaited him with this untimely and unlikely alliance that he now found himself in.


"I agree...It is about time that we made our leave. We still have business to attend to, but I'm sure that we can spare the time to help."


Abel once again let a smirk appear, this entire situation was getting out of hand, but despite his worries, Abel just couldn't wait to find out how things would unfold.

 

[Diran]

Fine thing, technology, save for its small, insurpassable flaws; like decoding sound in a planetary city from a drone some hundred feet away from a specific incident. The intelligence report, sadly, had no audio recording; only of a lightsaber-armed gentleman defending himself against a lunatic. Diran reminded himself as he returned to the air-conditioned Congress building, offering cordial acknowledgement to a colleague or two, that he always wanted to buy a Jedi...or a Sith.

It was at that moment that the select shuttle, one more accustomed to families than troop transport, would bring itself teetering upon the edge of the platform; and as one of the Celandonian guardsman was piloting the other three would bail out. The first briskly paced towards the fallen personnel, moreso to secure the body; the other two would trot over to the threesome. Their Sorosuub sidearms would not be drawn, yet the hands would rest upon the holsters as the trio would be addressed. "You, sir, with the lightsaber," as Vaerin was identified, "Your detention is requested by Senator Diran of Celandon, pending the investigation of why the fallen security officer attempted to assassinate you. Do you wish to comply or prove the understanding of the scenario mistaken?" No regard would be given to the other two, at least not anything past acknowledging looks.

 

[Neo Shark]

Shit. Although the mood had taken a turn for the better he couldn't forget the previous sense of wrongness. It could possibly become dangerous, but he'd definitely want to keep an eye on these two.

"That would be greatly appreciated. I'm afraid I'm not too familiar with this place so your assistance would be welcome." With his senses hightened he'd have a few precious moments to react to any sudden movements, but two against one made terrible odds. "If you two kind gents would lead the way I'll follow along behind." His attention elsewhere Kusac doesn't notice the steady green light in the corner of his HUD.

 

[Insanity]

As he was about to give another half-bow and lead the way out of the hangar, the sound of the transport would oblige him to turn, watching as three armed guardsmen, armor and arms different than the ones he had manipulated and killed, split up. One, he noted, moved towards a pile of crates. Apparently his astromech had dumped the body on the ramp there instead of taking it in the ship. Something to note for future reference, if possible. His attention turning back to the two guardsmen still approaching, he waited until they spoke.

Well, they had been watching and he had been too slow to move on. Distractions and opportunities, always too good to pass up. "I see. As I cannot prove that the situation is misunderstood, nor came my associate here," waving a hand back towards Abel, "I'll willing come with you and explain as best I can the circumstances of the security officer's apparent demise. Though, this man here does seem to need directions back to his hangar and I had just offered my aid in that endeavor." He motioned towards Kusac, making the motion wistful as if offering aid had been something he was eager to have done.

 

[GreaterThan]

'...Uhh, really...really, I seriously can't catch a break today' Abel thought to himself as the authorities approached and demanded cooperation. Not knowing what else to do, Abel just smiled sarcastically and waved...'I'm such an idiot...' he thought silently as he did so.

His options at this point were limited, he had done nothing wrong...but hadn't done the right thing either. He had absolutely no clue where any of this was going, nor did he know what consequences awaited him for his decisions. All he could do now is stand there and hope for the best...A fire fight would be fine with him, hell he might even pull out his vibrosword, it seemed like it had been forever since he had gotten a chance to put his years of training to work, but that was absolutely a worse case scenario.

 

[Diran]

The guards would exchange uncertain looks as how to advance with the situation; their training had been about keeping a Senator from being murdered, not detention of Jedi. The one to the left would bring his Commlink to his mouth, exchanging a few muffled words with someone clearly outside of the spectrum. The procedure only took a moment before the guard returned his attention to the three, "I apologize, but Senator Diran finds it difficult to continue to delay intelligence personnel from an investigation. You, sir, with the lightsaber, are required; you others may do as you please." The other guard present would mumble into his commlink as well, bringing the guard having a little slapfight with the droid far back near the cadavar to disengage and calmly, but purposefully, approach the situation.

In the Congress building, Diran found himself rather backed to a wall. Forgive me, Colonel, but I do not think it wise to create a security scare. I do maintain, with experience in identifying such scenarios, that this gentlemen with the lightsaber has been acting in self defense. "It certainly doesn't appear that way to me, Senator," the Colonel would hotly retort, "It looks like murder to me. Through our bylaws I am required to submit to your authority, for now; but please understand that this conversation, and your explanation, will be recorded in the report." Diran made a rather nasty face; things were getting complicated, and within a few seconds the Colonel would be shifting from some obvious discomfort, As you wish, Colonel, but I assure you that I am capable of finding a logical explanation to the situation so that your offices can address real security breaches. Good evening.