Canto Bight, Cantonica
A setting sun contrasted against the bright lights that illuminated the darkening sky from the city streets. Nearby, coastal waves softly came in and out against a sandy beach near high cliffs. The city of Canto Bight, with its Naboo-like architecture, looked picturquese. Like many things in the galaxy, nothing everything was as it seemed. Black collar crime was almost totally unknown, thanks to the constant vigilance of the well-trained police. White collar crimes went on without interruption, as long as you didn’t make too many enemies in the process.
Someone running afoul of that common sense was probably why the Sector Rangers were here. An anonymous tip along with some scant evidence and a location were provided to Ranger headquarters back on Coruscant. Either someone in the Canto Bight PD wanted to get even or someone of significant social status wanted to knock a competitor down a peg. Weapons smuggling and arms dealing were a tradition as old as the First Order Crisis on this world, and their suspect was neck deep in dealing it to various criminal organizations. The tip had come with a more damning accusation: selling defective medical supplies. Such resources in the Outer Rim were worth more than blasters and that’s saying something. Catching them in the act was the only way to get hard evidence on them and hopefully tried in court.
The anonymous data-packet suggested an old sauna and massage lounge was the front for the suspect to meet with various dealers or even buyers. It was a small building - only one story - and seemed empty most of the day.
The dwelling the Rangers had taken up in for surveillance was drab, non-descript, and easily forgettable from street view. It was sold as a hotel room for the less ritzy guests to the world – the more common citizens of the galaxy who wanted to catch a weekend of gambling or the sights. It was more like a closet. The bathroom was small. The beds were passable. The windows had blinds, at least. The best thing about it was that it sat directly across the street from the massage parlor. From their vantage point, the Rangers could lie in wait for the right moment to pounce.
The most difficult part so far was that Corran was working in tandem with Ranger Falynn Tikarsis for the first time. Alone. The two had set up their temporary abode hours before and not said much since. Mostly because the young man was pretty anxious about the whole thing. He didn't know her very well and didn't want to make a fool of himself on their first assignment together. Corran was laying on his stomach, peering through some macrobinoculars, mounted on a tiny tri-pod for comfort and stability, that tucked through the blinds discreetly. Like he had been for awhile. Without looking away from his scopes, the male Ranger finally asked, "Do you want to play 20 Questions? Maybe that's not what it's called. The game where you ask each other one question and trade off."
Anything was better than more silence.
@FireSong