Ask Closing In

[Cipher Six]

The Imperial Knight would have known that they were being sent in to work with an undercover agent - specifically Cipher Six. They weren't given intel on the entire op beyond just showing up. Discretion was mandatory.

Six had no idea who was selected, and she was wary about it. She didn’t see Imperial Knights any differently than Sith - they were still Force users that likely pushed their will on others to get their way. As a result, most of them were reckless. The Imperial Knight assigned to her had the potential to collapse this entire operation if they were the cocky type.

The agent was waiting for them in an alley, smoking a cigarra while standing under an umbrella to shield herself from the rain. She was leaning against the wall, dressed like a civilian in a black coat and some boots. She checked the chrono. The Knight should be arriving any time now.

@Phoenix

 

[Varyn Atrix]

In a way, this was just like old times for Varyn. Out of armor, sabers tucked under his clothes, a pair of jeans and jacket to blend in on the streets, and working intelligence. It was... actually, it felt good. He didn't realize just how much he had missed this side of the business until right now.

The information he'd been given was incredibly sparse, but he'd learned how to improvise with the Jedi. Mostly because, well, you know, the Jedi were useless and gave him absolutely no support. He had to give credit that the Empire was much better about that.

You wouldn't have a flame? My light seems to have run out? he asked, holding out a cigarra of his own. It was a challenge phrase that he'd been told to use to confirm his contact, and the expected answer would be "sorry, mine has just run out as well."

He let his senses run out around him, not having to turn his head all around to watch those around him. It was a useful skill, but he still found himself fighting the urge to cast a quick glance over his shoulder.

 

[Cipher Six]

Six was visibly surprised to spot who had been sent her way. She recognized him as Varyn Atrix, former Jedi turned Sith turned Imperial Knight. A Captain at that. She knew he had some friends in the ISB that vouched for him, but she was still wary. The agent paused before speaking, “Sorry, mine’s just run out as well..” She said quietly, her hawk-like gaze scrutinizing him for a moment.

She jutted her chin for him to follow her. As she was in the Oracle’s inner circle now, Six had more freedom and chances to operate alone. She had been on this job for months and she had proven herself reliable as an insurgent. Six led Varyn through an alley and into a discreet building that looked like an abandoned apartment complex. A few flights of stairs and she used a key to open the door, revealing a neat little apartment room that had been ditched a while ago.

Six walked over to reveal a large box. There was a contraption that was a locking mechanism, but it had an appearance similar to a Sith holocron. She looked at Varyn, “Any chance you know how to open this?” She recognized the markings as Ancient Sith, but that’s where her knowledge ended.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn didn't miss the look she gave him, but what exactly was going on in her head was a mystery. Maybe she didn't like Force-users, maybe she didn't like people she didn't know, or maybe she was just naturally suspicious of everyone. He guessed it was a bit of all three. Ciphers weren't known for their overwhelming trust in others.

And a Cipher she was. She gave the correct response to his challenge, and he was satisfied. He fell in behind her as she walked, and finally gave a quick glance over his shoulder that revealed no one to be following them.

The building they walked through was abandoned, and he couldn't help but think to himself "what if this is a trap." He of all people knew how allegiances could turn when one was undercover, but somehow he expected the Empire did a better job of supporting its operatives than the Jedi. Ironic.

They finally reached a small apartment and he stepped inside, looking around and noting that it was small but practical. Not so different from the year or two that he'd lived out of his ship. Practical, went where he went... but now that he was an Imperial Knight he had proper living quarters.

His eyebrows rose as she produced what looked like a holocron, but based on the presence it gave off in the Force, he guessed it wasn't one. Still, it had... something strange about it.

Force lock? he asked, his face twisting up in thought for a moment. No, not a true Force lock, he realized. It was like the old locked doors from Coruscant when the Jedi had still roamed the planet.

He sat at a chair, setting the device on the table in front of him and closing his eyes to reach out to the Force. He let his energy flow down into the device until he found the trigger and popped it. His eyes snapped open as the device began to hiss and whir, the sides of the pyramid falling open and revealing a holomessage of a tall, shady person. The voice was garbled by a voice scrambler.

Take the key to Docking Bay 52 on level 46 and access The Executor. Dial the eighth number down on the comlink register, the message said, and Varyn looked down at the key inside the box.

 

[Cipher Six]

Six watched as Varyn worked. She was very uncomfortable around Force users, and now she was alone in a room with one. She tried not to think about the fact that he could easily invade her mind or throw her through a window. They were irrational fears, but they came from a lifetime of family that served under the Sith. Her palms grew sweaty as he did his tricks on the box. At the end of it, there was a click and the box opened.

The agent watched quietly as the holo projected. She recognized the figure as the Oracle immediately even though the voice was scrambled. She heard the feminine voice when she met the figure in person.

“The Executor…” Six remarked quietly, “The Oracle has given several missions out to people before asking to meet at that rendezvous point. I’ve never been there,” She turned to look at Varyn, “I’m Jenna Barnes for this role,” She finally told him, “I’m part of an insurgent group that has been launching attacks against the Empire and siphoning supplies. We have reasons to believe that there are Imperials still committing espionage from the capital and other strongholds. The mastermind of all this is a figure known as the Oracle. It was only recently that I learned that it’s a woman,” She knew this was a lot to take in, but she had to get him up to speed for him to be useful. If he was here, it meant he was cleared and authorized to receive this intel once he arrived, “I’ve been running operations to get into her inner circle and I finally have. I’m noticing a pattern where missions closer to her involve transporting goods to this Executor and other smuggling operations…and less focus on Imperial attacks like she has the lower grunts do.”

Six let him digest all that for a moment while she packed up the box as if it were untouched. They would have to go to the marked place soon, “I’m not supposed to have help for this drop,” She said quietly as she met his gaze, “You’ll have to keep a low profile. Any suspicion and they blow my brains out.”

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Jenna Barnes, he thought to himself, repeating it several times under his breath to commit it to memory as he listened to the rest of her cover story.

The Oracel, then, I take it, he said as she talked about the woman in charge of it all. It was likely, but it didn't hurt to simply confirm it as he put the pieces together in his mind.

Artifacts? he asked. A transition from attacks to goods was a large change. Weapons and explosives, too? he asked, assuming it was to make ready for the attacks.

She's supporting the Sith, then. Other people can't open this, he pieced together. An artifact that could only be opened by a Sith meant there were Force-users involved.

I'll stay out of the way, he said, his face growing far more serious as he said it, eyes meeting hers. He knew the stakes on these types of operations, and he wasn't interested in getting her killed.

I can get to the upper catwalks of the hangar and keep to the shadows. If you keep your comm open I can hear what's going on and assist from a distance, he said. With any luck, she wouldn't need him, but luck hadn't really been with him recently.

 

[Cipher Six]

“We never know what gets transported,” She answered him, “It’s always some nondescript container. This is the first one that I’m personally seeing up close and I noticed the Sith design.”

Six technically hadn’t worked with an Imperial Knight before, especially not in a high stakes operation like this. When he mentioned going to the catwalks, she had this eerie image of him creeping around like a spider. Force users were always spooky and shady to her. Which was hilarious considering her line of profession. Six said nothing to his suggestions, her eyes calmly surveying him as if he were some moderately interesting piece of artwork in a museum.

She put an earpiece in, giving him the channel for them to stay in touch. Six checked her chrono, “Come on, it’s time,” She said as she grabbed the box and started walking towards the rendezvous zone.

The docking bays were deserted, a light drizzle still pouring. Six glanced over her shoulder a few times. She felt uneasy knowing she was being followed, even if she reminded herself it was by someone on the same side. Six could see a figure waiting for her up ahead and she mentally prepared herself to face whatever caricature she came next.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

He nodded as she mentioned this was the first time she had seen one of the packages up close. He wondered just what kind of person they were going to be running into and what kind of conspiracy they were up against. It was all kind of exciting, if he were honest, which, of course, he wasn't going to be. He had to stay cool, calm, and collected. The perfect ISB operative.

No, but really, this was fun. He just needed to make sure his partner didn't get killed. Probably was less fun for her, but that was why it was all kept behind his mask of stoicism. They'd be fine.

She, however, looked pretty uncertain about him. She looked at him like he was some sort of exotic (or maybe psychotic) animal in a zoo. Could he just tell himself that she thought he was cute? He certainly could tell himself that. So he decided he would.

He stood to his feet and followed her through the streets. The rain that began to fall was all the more reason for him to put his hood up a bit and cover his face, using the Force to help him guide his way through the streets.

He kept a close invisible eye on his partner, wrapping around the side of the docking bay so that he could enter unnoticed. He pried his utility knife into the control panel and hotwired the door, which snapped open a moment later for him to slip inside.

True to his word, he made his way to the catwalks of the building. Designed for superior side maintenance, fixing the retractable roof, and other odd jobs, it gave him a decent view of the meeting below. He crouched low behind one of the roof control panels and waited.

You have the package? a Gran man said. He was all eyes and long snout, and he somehow managed to give off the impression of a scowl despite his very alien expressions.

 

[Cipher Six]

“I do,” Six said, “But I was told to confirm that you’re the correct buyer by seeing you access the box,” She was bluffing on the spot. If Varyn was watching, he would see her delivery was completely flawless, as if she had been doing this job for ages. Six almost looked bored, briefly glancing at her chrono before looking at the Gran again, “Oracle set these rules after we lost some people during the strike on Serenno. Can’t risk this getting into the wrong hands.”

Six slipped in actual facts to sweeten the deal. If the Gran was Force sensitive, he was likely Sith and they’d find out right away. If he wasn’t the intended target, he would lead the way to the actual target. Of course, there was a chance that he simply tried to attack her first, but she doubted it would be in his best interest. The goal was to coax out the person that would open the box.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn watched from above as they spoke. No pleasantries, straight to business. His fingers danced along the outline of his lightsaber hilt hidden under his jacket, the familiar reassurance of its presence always there for him when he needed it.

He could hear it all through the comlink.

For a long moment, the Gran stood there, staring at Six as if evaluating her. Varyn could tell he was tense. He could tell the Gran felt that something was off but he couldn't tell what it was.

Fine, but not here. Something here isn't right, he said. Varyn knew that feeling. The hair on the back of your neck that stood up when you were in a trap. He may not have been able to sense Varyn, and Varyn was fairly sure he didn't know that Six was a double agent or anything, but sometimes it was just enough to know that your gut was turning.

The Gran turned and started to head toward one of the private offices for the dockmaster.

I don't think he knows about you, but I'm going to hang back, he whispered into his comlink so it would play through her earpiece. He didn't want to say any more than he had to lest he distract her, and he couldn't very well explain the reason he thought she should go with him was "the Force." He could only hope that she'd trust him, and if not... well, she was a professional and could improvise if she didn't want to go with the Gran into the offices.

 

[Cipher Six]

Hang back? What the fuck? Her jaw tightened and her fingers briefly curled into fists, but she otherwise didn’t externally reveal how uncomfortable she was. Six had to trust Varyn. After all, her handler reminded her that he was the best.

“Of course something isn’t right,” She called out to the Gran with a tone of irritation as she walked with him, “You’re prolonging this process when I have another job to do,” Six remarked as she took in sight of her surroundings. There was no denying the anxiety she felt, and she actively had to curb it. She knew Sith were notorious for delving into minds. As ISB, all agents were trained in ways to resist. However, if this was a powerful Sith, even she could get her thoughts scraped out.

“Why not out there?” Six asked the Gran quietly as they entered indoors, “I didn’t think anyone else ever came this way..”

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn gritted his teeth together, but he trusted the Force. The fact of the matter was that the Force was a tool that had saved his life on more occasions than he could count, and he knew it wouldn't let him down now.

He watched as she headed into the office, and he knew there was no way for him to get a visual without blowing his cover. Instead, he focused on minimizing his presence in the Force and obscuring his intentions in it as well. He wanted to make the situation as difficult and clouded to read for their opponent as possible.

Inside the room, the Gran turned back to look at her when the door closed and shook his head.

Felt like someone was watching. I don't sense it now, he said, pausing for a moment in thought before shaking his head and shrugging.

The box, he said, extending a hand for her to hand it over. When she did, he took it and repeated the process much like she had seen Varyn do earlier. Closed eyes, a moment's silence, and then the box popping open, though the Gran quickly stifled the message inside and didn't remove the key.

Tell Oracle if we're changing protocol, I wanna know ahead of time, he grumbled and started to simply walk away without another word.

 

[Cipher Six]

If there was any sense of panic at the Gran admitting he felt he was being watched, it didn’t manifest on Six’s face. She calmly stood there as he opened the box. She knew right away that he was Sith. Six had to act fast, so she relayed whatever code she could to Varyn. She had no clue how powerful this Sith was and if she attempted to engage, she could potentially die right away.

“You know.. I’ve never seen one so close before,” She said, suddenly very impressed, “A real…” She lowered her voice and whispered, “Force user,” Six smiled, “You can do all kinds of tricks, can’t you?”

Six couldn’t oversell it, so that was all Varyn was going to get. She flashed the Gran another grin, “Let me know if I can make some special demonstration requests some time when we’re not working,” She gave him a wink before letting him walk away. She, however, lingered there just for a moment. Six was exceptional at reading body language. If his suggested anything but receptiveness, she would wave a flirty goodbye and simply leave.

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Sometimes it would have been really, really great if Varyn were about 50% less oblivious. Unfortunately, as it turned out, he just assumed that her comments to the Sith were part of her cover, and the fact that they were a code or compliment for him went right over his head. For someone as smart as he was, he was not always very smart.

The Gran, fortunately, was also oblivious to the fact that any of it may have had a double meaning. He was, however, totally in to the flirting.

I'd love to. Maybe later tonight, even, he said. Oh yes, he wasn't thinking with the head that had three eye stalks.

Varyn was a sudden mixture of strange thoughts. Impressed that she had managed to ingratiate herself so quickly and by the smoothness with which she operated, but somehow also unhappy that... well, no, that didn't make any sense, did it? Why'd he care who was flirting with who. That was just dumb. Varyn wasn't that kind of dumb, right?

The Gran took the box, but left behind a comlink code before slipping out the other side of the office, leaving Varyn and Six to both breathe a sigh of relief.

 

[Cipher Six]

Six emerged some time later with the comm number handy. She knew the Gran would show. She could always tell these things. She kept walking till they were well out of the dockyard and out of earshot of anyone listening. She only slowed down when she found an alley in the city districts. She was just another face here amidst the crowds. If Varyn was as good as Levik believed, he would have tracked her just fine.

She drew out a cigarra and lit it, inhaling before releasing a cloud of smoke. She glanced over when he emerged, flashing him a grin, “Did you get to do your wall scurrying?” Six asked as she blew out more smoke, “I’ve got a date with our Gran friend later. I’ll pick somewhere obscure where you can jump him and do your thing,” She said it all nonchalantly as if she were discussing the weather.

“I can’t tell how powerful he is, but he easily opened the box,” Six looked at Varyn to see if that meant anything. She checked her chrono, “I meet him in two hours.”

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn heard the man leave, and when he was satisfied they were gone, dropped from the catwalks to the floor below, landing quietly and smoothly before heading out to the street and smoothly sliding up to walk next to her.

Catwalks only, I'm afraid, he said with a hint of a smirk on the corners of his lips. Still, an interesting conversation, it sounded like, he said, face growing more serious. His eyebrows knit together in a frown.

What about tailing him? he asked. Or finding a way to plant a tracker on him? Might be riskier to your cover, but so is him going missing, he said.

But if we could find a way to slip a tracker into his comlink or something like that, we could track all his movements and cross reference them with other information Control's gleened, he said.

 

[Cipher Six]

Six scoffed at his idea, blowing smoke out of her nostrils, “You must be joking,” She said dryly.

“I’m not going to do whatever unpleasant thing he wants to do once he gets me alone,” Six stated flatly. Planting a tracker meant him coming and going without realizing what happened. That meant she had to entertain him until he left, “You’re a Force user. Use the Force to overpower his mind. Are you a Knight Captain or what?” She said with a glare, “I’ll do my part to bring him out where he won’t have any lackeys with him. It’s your problem to figure out how to deal with him.”

Six wasn’t going to do all the work and let him pick his nose in the shadows again. She was about to drop the entire idea when she thought of something, “I will tell him where to find me and then I’ll be a no-show. You put a tracker on him,” She said as she looked at Varyn, “Deal?”

 

[Varyn Atrix]

I don't blame you, but that's where taking suddenly ill comes into play. No one can fault someone for getting sick halfway through a meal, he said. She seemed thoroughly unconvinced.

Unless he was an acolyte and poorly trained, there's a 50/50 chance any sort of mind attack like that won't work and I'll just have to kill him, he said. Part of being a Knight-Captain was knowing his own weaknesses and limitations and addressing them appropriately. Could he kill the guy? Almost certainly. Could he mentally dominate him? He was less confident on that.

If it comes to that, I'll at least take his comm so it can't be traced back to you, he said.

The plan seemed agreeable to him. Worst case scenario, they removed a Sith from the equation, and best-case, they got to track him down.

They headed back to the apartment and Varyn took a seat in the same chair he'd been in earlier, hoping to be as unobstructive as possible unless he was instructed to sit somewhere more comfortable. The idea of "make yourself comfortable" had never resonated with him and simply taking for yourself like most of the Sith had done had never been his way either. Probably - or definitely - why he was here today instead of with them.

So how'd you get into this line of work, Cipher? If you're allowed to talk about it, he asked. He didn't know her real name, he didn't know what she could tell him, and he didn't really know her at all. But he certainly wouldn't mind getting to know her a little better.

 

[Cipher Six]

Six reached for a bag of meat snacks to nibble on while they waited. Her diet was almost exclusively carnivorous, though she did enjoy sweets. She glanced at him as he made conversation. Six stared at him for a few seconds, “Six,” She corrected him, “I’m Cipher Six. And I went through the academy on Ziost and went into a specialized school for agents,” Six explained, “The way I scored on the classification exams made me a shoe in for this role,” There was a tone of pride in her voice. Becoming a Cipher was incredibly difficult and generally required superior intellect. Something she often didn’t see in Imperial Knights who often relied too much on their little magic abilities.

It was the truth and generic, “Your story is far more interesting, however,” Six said as she sat down on a sofa. She popped another meat snack in her mouth, “From Jedi Shadow to a brief stint at the ISB to now de facto leader of the Imperial Knights. You have quite the decorated career,” She smirked at him, “You’re something of a celebrity in the spook circles.”

 

[Varyn Atrix]

Varyn's eyebrows rose slightly as she corrected him about their naming conventions. Good to know, won't forget that, he thought to himself.

Six, he repeated with a nod. He listened as she talked about her role and how she had come to be in her position. It made sense to him, and he couldn't deny it was impressive. He knew the reputation the Ziost academy had had. The fact that she was the top of her field there was no small feat.

Wow, that's impressive, he said genuinely, but she was already moving on to him. Whether it was interest in him or a lack of desire to talk about herself, he wasn't sure, but he would yet again choose to think that it was the former. Was he deluding himself thinking that she liked him? Yeah... probably. Maybe. But you know what, who cared? What was the worst that could happen? Okay, probably something catastrophic with his track record, but screw it.

Oh, uh, heh, well I'm flattered, he said, reaching up to scratch his head. He was proud of that reputation, then, but it wasn't one he had really expected. He just kind of did what he felt needed doing.

Oh, he hadn't really actually commented on that, had he? He probably should. Yeah, it's been an interesting journey. Just trying to do right be people, you know? he said. He had no idea if she knew. He really didn't know her that well even though he seemed to be developing some sort of an odd crush on her. Probably a bad idea.

But, ummm, I feel like I'm better at - or at least enjoy more - the intelligence game over open battlefields, he said.

So Ziost, were you part of IAF before going off to agent-school? he asked.