Ask Crossroads

[Kalique Baize]

Chaos ensued once again, this time after the Hutts tried to capitalized on the chaos the Emperor's death had caused. With the Council of Moffs now in charge, most of the Empire had remained in orderly manner, accepting the change and staying loyal to the Empire in which they placed their trusts in, but Kalique had been fully certain that this was only the beginning of a new chaotic and potentially dramatic sequence of events.

She felt empty once again. The power vacuums would soon fill up again, she had no doubts about that, but the deaths of Varyn, Dram, the countless brave soldiers who had sacrificed their lives on Ossus still left their traces on each and every day. As often, Kalique had busied herself with work, made sure the Squires and Knights alike wouldn't fall victim to potential desperation or seeds of doubt that could easily grow on this future ground, but while the situation in the Knight HQ was stable, ISB seemed to struggle.

She had received Guin's encrypted message at home, but immediately, her stomach had felt as though upside down. The urgency behind her message had been obvious, so Kali hadn't wasted a single moment before she had made her way over to their agreed rendezvous point as quickly as possible. She was in her official uniform, both lightsabers dangling from her belt as she was on duty here. Despite her inner suspicions, she kept her face neutral as she approached the other woman, not trusting they weren't watched here. She was certain Guin had more insights and that they'll get a chance to speak to the Director today as well, but who knew where this all went...

@Xorism

 

[Guinevere Delevigne]

The cloaked figure raced through Raxus with near impunity, the flickering white uniform only just masked by the brown jacket worn overtop. Armed with only her trusty side arm and her usual bag of electronics, the plight of the Empire never seemed to end as yet another threat flared its grotesque nostrils.

It was entirely impossible to know what was going on at the pinnacle of power. The Director of the ISB had orchestrated a takeover in lieu of the emperors' disappearance, although it wasn't entirely known how that had occurred itself. The only person with answers, was in turn not answering any comms.

Guin considered the possibilities and hated all of them, either the Hutts had already tracked him down and done what they do best, or worse...

Strolling to the spot and seeing her close friend waiting there at least relieved a small part of the immense tension that the blonde had been storing. "Kali." She whispered with a jittered voice, leaning in to embrace and hug her. "I'm so glad you came, there's going on, and I was worried you'd be caught up." Her face was caught trying to be tough and brave, and yet she was light years from where Kalique would remember finding the agent originally.

"Can you drive? We need to find the director before they do." Along the way, Guin would explain that they had received intel that cartel members had been spotted all over Raxus attempting to bribe and sway officials, and with the top man at the ISB missing in action, well she didn't have to explain the danger there.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Just as Kalique arrived at the rendezvous, ot began to rain. Thick clouds darkened the sky, big raindrops soon pattered down onto her uniform just before Guin's familiar shape came into the sight. Even if she was all tensed up, her features lightened as she saw her dear friend and the only person left in the Empire she fully trusted.

"Guin...it's good to see you" her features were maintaining composure, yet she sensed her inner turmoil as she shared just as much. As she asked her to drive, she immediately nodded. "Sure". Their vehicle was quickly found, just as the rain grew even heavier and the two women started driving right away with Kali navigating and Guin relaying what she had already gathered.

The more she revealed, the quicker Kalique realized that this was indeed spicier than she had first assumed and that it wasn't potentially the Director that was in need of help as he was facing a potential threat, but who knew, maybe he stoked the threat. "I have a bad feeling about this..." it was intuition, facilitated by the Force.

The further they got, the more she perceived this looming threat of danger that permeated the air all around. An electric tension lingered in the air as they came to a halt, right where Guin had told her to drive and Kalique took a deep breath. "Do you think he'd agree to a chat? Or do we have to find other ways?" she asked seriously, her features somewhat somber.

@Xorism

 

[Guinevere Delevigne]

The cold dark night blended with the rain drops falling against the windshield. Guin had always seen the best in people, but years of service and incidents had been slowly hardening that softness from within. Fidgeting with her phone, the overseer was busy replying to emails while still offering directions for her to take.

Best case scenario they would have the director back in place leading the ISB against the cartel's incursion, at worst they'd have to deal with her literal superior as he held a finger over the pulse of the empire. To say that the pressure was real would be understating the situation, and Guin knew it.

Shaking her head slightly, she wasn't sure. "I mean, we have to try, right?" Picking a few pieces out of the bag and into her pocket, she glanced over to Kalique. "His place is up there, it should have security normally, but I really don't know what's going to happen. I'm gunna need you to have my back." She said with a smile, as if there was any doubt of this.

@LadyRen

 

[Kalique Baize]

Kalique's eyes kept flicking over to Guin, the composed demeanor of the other blonde still a severe contrast to her busy insides. Guin had come a long way, too, and the Overseer was a completely different woman compared to the agent she had met on Desevro all those years ago.

Kalique was more collected now that she was with her best friend, but the closer they got, the more she tensed up again. The ISB was overseeing the Knights, so Kalique had worked with them before on countless occasions, yet it had always been in a much more indirect nature.

"We do". Kalique wouldn't let the Empire descend into chaos, no matter the costs. She was ready for whatever, and wouldn't leave Guin's side. "And I will". She didn't need to solemly promise it, it was understood.

With Varyn dead and Altair gone, she was the only person left in the Empire she truly trusted, apart from Rhia. It was a sad truth, but constantly change was the nature of the latest version of the Empire and once again it was time someone brought back the stability they needed.

Kalique pulled over when it was time and took a last, deep breath. "I'll trust your decisions, Guin". Guin knew the ISB best, the Director as well, and while Kalique had this weird feeling, too, she knew she didn't know the full truth just yet either and perhaps this would get ugly. She was ready.

Kalique had always been loyal to the Empire, she'd protect it regardless of the costs, and it was more than obvious that something was severely off in those chaotic times. Once the other woman would alight, she'd to the same, her own face relatively composed but her mind on full awareness and alert already.

@Xorism

 

[Guinevere Delevigne]

A warm feeling flushed over the Overseer as she watched Kali pull it together. It wasn't any surprise that her best friend was there in a flash to support her, that was a given considering what they both had gone through. Guin was likewise completely thrilled to know that her little sister would always be in safe hands, a similar feeling to how she felt about Jon and his taking care of her.

Nodding quietly, with a grin, the blonde pulled out her blaster pistol and exited the speeder carefully. It didn't take long to cover the distance needed to reach the front door of the apartment complex and with the swipe of her ID tag, the little door buzzer turned green to grant access.

"He'll likely be in the penthouse, which I wouldn't normally have access to." She said with a knowing smile, tapping the small bag of toys she had brought along. The basic security device in the elevator was only designed to limit the number of people reaching the top floor. But this wouldn't normally be an issue, as the ground floor security team themselves would normally prevent access to those untoward.

But the pair was alone as they approached the elevator, aside from some barely visible red markings on the floor by their desks. Guin, held her finger up to her mouth as the situation didn't quite seem right, but nothing seemed to stand out beyond that.

Once inside the elevator itself, the blonde slid her access card over the scanner, then hitting the button for the top floor. In preparation for the visit earlier, she had purposely upgraded her clearance one level which would get them inside. This would potentially get her into trouble later but considering the circumstances it wasn't likely a huge priority at the moment.

@LadyRen