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[Raphael Valtiere]

Pieces have been set in motion, even if not by willingly by the Sith Order. Nevertheless, the galaxy would not offer them any mercy or a stroke of luck for them to escape on. Whoever remained true to the Sith could no longer enjoy the prosperity and indulgence that had taken place before. That meant they would have to start from scratch, possibly even in a disadvantageous position, and claw back to what they previously had gotten through blood and sweat years prior.

Compared to his fellow "brothers" and "sisters", Raphael's emotional investment into the Order was not as strong. The relinquishing of his saber at the time had been easy enough for him as he wielded it only for a relatively short period of time. Despite his vacant connection, the Sephi saw a clear road being formed to his goal if he had the discipline to achieve it. Even though the strike from the Imperials had been agonizing, it was not a finishing blow, and opportunities had been created for those that had the awareness to spot it.

Because of those reasons, Raphael found himself on Koda Station, his Starblade freshly landed as he exited from the ship in his armor. While the sinister appearance and the combination of his height made a menacing image, the lack of his saber really didn't separate him from any of the common smugglers and masked criminals or bounty hunters that roamed the station. In replacement, a collapsible vibro-sword filled his shoulder holster, fellow knives also stowed away on various points of his body.

Once more, the Pure Sephi found himself completely surrounded and mired in trash, the living and non-living kind but at this point, he's grown used to it. There were more important details to worry about and he did just that. His emotionless mask scanned the area around him before he found painted directions, one of the arrows leading the way to a cantina. Without hesitation, Raphael began to walk.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Nakoa Singh]

Koda station was damn near in the middle of nowhere, a location that largely catered to an odd mix of local planetary farmers, transports, and intergalactic smugglers. Basically it was the spaceborne equivalent of a small town dive bar/fuel station. No one gave a damn who showed up so long as they didn't cause trouble and paid their tab. Nakoa'd been there before a few times on his way to other places.

Now he was in here in relatively casual clothes, moisture-retaining breath mask hanging from his neck as he drank cheap spotchka from the bar and snacked on dried local fruits. A contact of a contact had pointed a client his way. The Wrean wasn't well known by any degree, but within some circles he did have a reputation for figuring things out and/or finding things. Particularly if the client paid.

This didn't change once he'd abandoned both Sith Order and Empire. If anything he became more available. Gotta fund xenoarchaeological expeditions somehow, right? Also, fuel and food. Winning gambling games only went so far in any given place.

Nakoa glanced up when an armored stranger walked into the cantina. Which was like a fourth of the clientele, so he ignored it until they approached his own table. The message specified a specific corner booth table. Once Raphael showed up there the amber-gold eyes would glance up again and gesture amiably to the seat opposite.

"Unusual this year, eh?" he asked, a basic code phrase to make sure this wasn't some random person. Not like Nakoa recognized them otherwise.

@Orbit

 

[Raphael Valtiere]

Entering the establishment, the Sith attention was directed to the specified table in their exchanges. Approaching and arriving in a short time with his long gait, he at first remained silent as the two entered a respectable distance to each other. When the first half of the phrase was given, Raphael responded with the second half, his smooth voice turned into a unrecognizable and mechanized tone, "But as always, never unpleasant." Confirmation made, he took a seat across the Firrerreo.

When he adjusted his limbs to the seat, one hand slipped underneath the folds his suit and pulled out a credit-chip. It was gently placed on the table before a two fingers pushed it across the wooden service. "For your investigating services," the mechanized monotone voice commented when the chip reached the other side. It was the last of the credits that Raphael had in his personal account, everything he had placed into this plan.

The masked Sephi would let Nakoa check the account and transfer if he wanted. If he did, he would reach about halfway through the process before a question was pushed out, "Where is it?" The fellow Sith would instantly understand what he meant, it being the whole point of their meeting.

While he would have preferred to work alone, this task was beyond the scope of his abilities. His father had taught him how to be a lone wolf but times were different and that became no longer possible. This was part of his adapting to the Sith's new way of life, the transformation unpleasant but necessary.

 

[Nakoa Singh]

Nakoa popped one of the fruits into his mouth, chewing thoughtfully in silent reply to the other man's answer, head tilted ever so slightly as if listening to some distant sound. After a moment he returned to the dull blue spotchka, drinking down a good amount from his glass. They slid the jar of it over toward Raphael, offering to share as was Nakoa's custom, and plucked up the credit chip in the same motion.

Placing it away on his belt, he leaned an arm against the table. "Most rumors were wrong. Last reliable sighting was in a private collection on Batuu." He paused, sipping at his spotchka. "Shall we go?" That was, after all, the deal. Just knowing where something last was didn't mean one could actually get it. Besides, this was part of how Nakoa got paid.

Still, he was kind of surprised it wasn't a Hutt sitting on it, but pirates. Or rather, a 'legitimate transport operation' once founded by the infamous Hondo Ohnaka. There could well be other things of interest there, but somehow Nakoa doubted it was actually Batuu any longer. That'd be too easy, but there was likely a trail to follow somehow or other.

@Orbit

 

[Raphael Valtiere]

To hear confirmation that the item had actually been located was reassuring to the Sephi. The fact that what he searched for wasn't false rumors or legends people had just made up in their free time had reignited the flame within him. Not only would this little operation not be a total waste of money, but it would be the first step that would eventually open a lot of doorways for his future.

While he was pleased that the item was real, he still wasn't completely satisfied. Raphael almost appeared frozen, as if waiting for the man to continue. When asked if he was ready to depart, his mechanical voice would respond almost instantly, "No." There would only be a brief pause before he repeated his earlier question, "Where is it?"

In the last few weeks, Raphael had the rug pulled out from him a couple of times and he was sick of it. It was a feeling he wasn't used to and one he did not want to be familiar with. For that reason, he wanted more than just a name of a planet but a specified location, owner, defenses, possible other locations. While Nakoa's intention may have been to fill in his client on the way, Raphael's was to stay put until both were equally prepared for what they could come across.

After what almost felt like a drawn out a second, the Sephi gestured to the Firrerreo before adding, "Please, we have time to discuss." There was no rush as the piece had remained where it was for most likely years and will remain that way.

@Mr. Teatime

 

[Nakoa Singh]

The Wrean grinned in a satisfied sort of way as the tall stranger asked for more specifics. They actually liked when people asked more than the bare minimum of questions. Things were more interesting that way, and more importantly, it hinted at a sense of determination. Or desperation.

"No trouble. I've already been paid, yes?' Singh sipped at his drink. "Long ago there was a scoundrel named Honda Ohnaka, infamous during the Clone Wars. In the age of the Empire, he created a "legitimate" transport business." Here he literally made air quotes with his fingers. "What remains of it was last in possession of the item. They are, however, frequently raided by the Veiled Sorority." Nakoa seemed very amused by this information, for one reason or another.

"Either of them could have it. It is either on Batuu, guarded in their treasury... or on Takodana, where the Veiled Sorority has moved since the Hutt takeover of Ord Mantell."

@Orbit

 

[Raphael Valtiere]

Through the Wrean's smile, it appeared Raphael's question was exactly what he wanted or at least reassured his contact in some way. In return, Nakoa would just be greeted with the barred eyes of the metal mask but undeniably attentive. The disguised Sephi would remain in silence as Nakoa begin to delve into the details, listing the two most likely possibilities of where the item was being stored.

Raphael listened to both possibilities, satisfied that what he had been searching for had actually became within reach, but discontented as well with the possibility it has been moved. As Nakoa explained the rest, the Sephi would be lost in his own mind, the mask offering cover for him to do so. Admittedly, he knew very little about the Veiled Sorority and that bothered him greatly. An unknown enemy was the most dangerous one. For all he knew, they could have already have the item in their possession and lost in their network forever.

The Sephi knew little about this Honda Ohnaka too and it reaffirmed his decision to have Nakoa included. His royal life on Thustra kept him contained to that planet for most of his life, leaving his connections and understanding of the galaxy in some areas... wanting. The Wrean made up for his deficiencies and appeared to be a well placed investment so far as he finished speaking.

There was more details he wanted but in light of the new information, the idea to depart became much more appealing. Raphael spoke with his mechanical tone, "If this Veiled Sorority managed to acquire the item, I would assume it would make enough waves for you to pick up. Raids on transports are much different then raids on a treasury. That leaves a higher probability then that the transport company still maintains their... ownership." There would be a momentary pause before he asked, "Batuu then?" Even though he asked Nakoa, Raphael would push his chair out before standing to his full height, his head barely missing the light as he stepped out from the table.

@Mr. Teatime