Open Get The Scientist!

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Spoiler: Get the Scientist

2- Get the Scientist
Location: The Wheel
Classification: Open
Supervision: Self-DM, DD or other-DM
Personnel: Jedi and Indies welcome! @Hera "The Joyful" Albion @Haldir Eressëa
Status: ------

Councilor Hera has made contact with a scientist, Mikkial Zapal @Nor'baal, who has offered to help in finding a way to defeat the Killiks. However, we are not the only ones hunting for this scientist. Get to him before anyone else does, it is imperative that you keep him safe.

(Killiks and anyone else who joins may be after Mikk. Request a DM or, if someone feels up to self-DMing, please use dice rolls for enemy movements and actions.)

Hera had not seen Haldir since their last few interactions at the concert, then the council meeting following. To say they had not met on good terms was a gross understatement. Now, Hera sat on the council and Haldir was signed up for a mission with her. Hera wasn't upset or annoyed that Haldir had chosen to take up this mission with her. Rather, Hera was genuinely a little worried. She did not wish for there to be bad blood between the two of them, as she held no ill feelings towards the other Arkanian.

Stepping off the shuttle onto the streets of Corellia, she headed towards their assigned meeting place. A small cafe had been chosen as the initial location where Hera and Haldir would coordinate, then they could move towards the marked location of scientist Mikkial Zapal. Hera was vaguely aware that the man had a few connections within the Jedi, and she hoped that those could be leaned on to gain his assistance. Hera's plans for the scientist, and any Killiks she could capture alive, were not exactly something the rest of the council knew or sanctioned. But if the others were willing to look the other way, then Hera would get her work done.

Arriving at the cafe, she spotted Haldir and moved to come and sit across from him at his table. Greeting him, she spoke, "It is good to see you, Knight Eressëa. How have you been?"

@Forsythe Crowholde @Nor'baal

 

[Haldir Eressëa]

Though the Knight kept his distance and did his duties away from Jedi worlds and temples, he remained loyal and true to his cause. Despite his distance he kept tabs on the goings on with his fellow Jedi, quietly celebrated their victories, and felt genuine happiness whenever someone rose among their ranks. It was his first time returning to one of the temples, and when he’d caught wind of missions being set up the Arkanian Offshoot thought it was time to keep closer proximity with his fellow Jedi and signed up for one of them.

To his genuine surprise, he would be working with Hera Albion on this mission. Haldir didn’t need to search his heart for any ill feelings – minor or not – about working with her because there simply was none. The Knight only wished that he would be able to express this sentiment properly so she wouldn't need to worry about thoughts of bad blood between them. Despite being a Jedi for years, Haldir painfully remained the introvert that he was. Perhaps it would never change, but only time would tell.

The Arkanian Offshoot was the first to arrive on his and Hera’s designated meeting place. He was dressed in his usual black fashion, his face unmasked for the first time in a long while. His hair, untrimmed for months, was dyed black and was partially tied up behind his head. Black contact lenses hid pale blue irises, and he also wore circular earrings. Right now he looked more like the younger version of one of his cousins. He had tipped her about his appearance in hopes of clearing any unnecessary confusions. The Knight was enjoying a cup of caf when the Justicar– no, Councilor arrived and immediately occupied the seat across his. A smile crossed his face, small yet exuding warmth and welcome, as he tipped his head politely in return.

”It’s good to see you as well, Master Albion,” he greeted her as he lowered his caf. His smile widened a little when he responded to her question. ”A little sleepy from my travels, but nothing that a cup of caf won’t fix. If I may…?” The Knight would move to ask one of the servers to bring another round of caf for her, but only if she would let him. ”I hope you’re doing well.” She looked well, so he didn’t ask the obvious. If she wasn’t? Well, the thought was already in his statement.

”So, we’re looking for a scientist,” Haldir prefaced, gaze meeting the Councilwoman’s.

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Sitting down, she could sense no ill will toward her from her peer and that warmed her heart. Smiling, Hera ordered a cup of caf herself and listened as Haldir spoke. Nodding, she spoke as the pair waited on Hera's drink, "I am well, though perhaps stretched a little thin. But I'll manage. Ah, uh, yes, a scientist. Mikkail Zapal to be specific. Man's a genius in his fields, though definitively also a bit of an eccentric. I don't believe recruiting him will be too difficult, but keeping him safe may prove to be a challenge."

The caf arrived, and Hera took it into a to-go cup. Standing, she beckoned Haldir to accompany her and began walking off. The pair would head in the direction of a small, hole-in-the-wall kind of casino on the space station. While the entire station was a hub of drinking, gambling, and any number of other vices, a few small-time businesses had also set up on the side in hidden alcoves in an attempt to avoid paying their full share of taxes and rent to the station head.

As they walked, Hera would attempt to make small talk, not her best skill. "I trust you've been, ah, keeping well since we last met?How are things?" She did not want to say 'how is Willa?' But that was exactly the thought that crossed her mind as she spoke. Perhaps he would be reading her mind, rude if so, but Hera would not be unsurprised.

Unbeknownst to them, their conversation would soon be cut short.

-------------------------

Inside the casino, far before the Jedi arrived, the situation would be evolving with the scientist and his current patrons. Three Weequay sat opposite a Pazaak table, cards hidden and faces hard, with Mikkail close by. Slamming the table, one of them would demand, "Play your hand! We've been waiting too long as it is!" Before sitting back in his chair. All eyes were on the scientist at this point.

Play your hand.

@Nor'baal @Forsythe Crowholde

 

[Mikkial Zapal]

"I'm thinkin, buddy." Mikk replied to the Wueeqay cooly, his eyes never leaving his hand. In truth, Mikk was trying to work out the best combination of sub-harmonic frequencies to program his datapad to emit, to short the hand and change the cards currently 'floating' in the middle of the table, thus rigging the deck in his favour.

These things took time.

"One second." he turned his datapad over, 'ignoring' an incoming call and gently changed the frequency, causing the holoprojections on his cards to shift. He smiled. "I'll see your bet." Mikk added a handful of credits to the pot, and turned his cards over, revealing his play. The three Wueeguay burst out laughing.

The cards where blank, Mikk had just been caught cheating.

Gently, he stood up, his hands where everyone could see them.

"Always a pleasure." he added, before legging it to the door.

 

[Haldir Eressëa]

Stretched a little thin. Haldir fought the urge to reply that he could somehow relate to her, but the similarities ended with their duties as a Jedi. With his younger brother effectively taking over leadership of their clan, the Knight was taken back into the fold which meant that he was expected to do work for the Erennor family. Currently he was tasked with Killik investigation, a duty that seamlessly blended into his task as Jedi Knight. The reports he had written would be sent both to Hasebe and to the Jedi Council, one an exact copy of the other. And when he returned to Arkania, he would be helping Chie with training the younger members of the clan - combat, disguise, knowledge that would help them once they joined the ranks of the Sector Rangers.

”Nothing wrong with a little eccentricity,” the Arkanian Offshoot attempted to joke to somewhat brighten the mood and to ease whatever worry Hera felt. But she would be able to sense that the Knight was serious about this mission despite his attempt at lighthearted humor. He walked side by side with the Councilwoman but maintained a respectful distance between them as they left the cafe, Haldir already finished with his own drink and quickly paid before the pair took their leave.

While Haldir walked in silence, Hera attempted a jab at small talk. He didn’t stop when she asked her question, nor did he outwardly react when the words came out as if she seemed to want to ask something else entirely. The Knight disliked words being minced nor leading away from what he could literally interpret. If she wanted to ask something directly she was always free to do so, regardless if it could potentially offend him or make him uncomfortable. If Hera expected for Haldir to read her mind, she would either be disappointed or appreciative because the thought never crossed his mind.

The Knight valued privacy - he wouldn’t be so callous as to intrude on someone else’s, especially without their consent.

So instead of trying to wrack his brain as to how to interpret Hera’s question, Haldir replied in a literal fashion because it was what made more sense to him at the moment. ”Difficult, but manageable. I’ve been traveling to neutral worlds where rumors of Killik presence sprout, but I keep running into dead ends.”

Before he could ask her in return (because wasn’t that how normal conversations went?) Haldir, whose senses through the Force were cast out like a net, tilted his head towards the direction of a casino. Amusement, frustration, and exasperation rang through the Force like a comedic melody played on piano keys, but a spike of anger soured the notes. Silently he pointed at the establishment with his thumb and approached, mindful that his strides were not too long or hurried so as not to leave behind his companion. The pair of Jedi entered the casino just in time to hear an irate voice boom across the room filled with patrons.

“You ain’t dismissed, pal!” yelled the impatient Weequay who had earlier impatiently demanded for the escaping scientist to play his hand. “And it ain’t no pleasure… think it’s funny cheating? Well, no one cheats on us-”

One of the trio raised a hand at chest level as if to placate his friend, though his gaze followed Mikk while his other hand hovered over the knife strapped to his waist. “Hey, man, can it, I admit it’s funny-”

“-and gets away wit’ it!”

With an indignant roar, the angry Weequay hauled the chair he previously sat on and sent it flying towards the escaping scientist. Amid the amused howls and raucous laughter inside the casino, the dark-haired Knight kept his gaze on the scientist as he rushed to the man’s aid in an attempt to catch the chair before it could hit its intended mark.

@Black Noise @Nor'baal

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hera nodded in response to Haldir, not really sure of what else to say to the other knight. The two were so unlike each other in so many ways, yet Hera appreciated how they could work together nonetheless. Their unity of purpose in protecting the Jedi and solving the Killik crisis links their threads together. Hera did not enter the casino with Haldir, opting to instead wait outside. It would do them no good if both of them became trapped inside the building for any reason.

The sounds that immediately erupted from within the building brought a smile to her face. Instead of reacting to the shouting, the thrown objects, and the mad dashing of anyone inside, Hera simply stood outside the door with her hands on her hips and a smile on her face. As the scientist exited the establishment, Hera raised a hand and waved in his direction, "Over here! I've a got a job for you sir!"

Unbeknownst to Hera, a single human, upon seeing the scientist and the Jedi, disappeared from outside the casino into a nearby alleyway.

A Joiner.

@Forsythe Crowholde @Nor'baal

 

[Haldir Eressëa]

He didn’t notice that his fellow Jedi didn’t follow him inside, only realizing it after he had caught the chair that was aimed for the scientist who had also seemingly managed to make a smooth escape. Haldir would have chuckled in amusement if it weren’t for three pairs of eyes - and more - now locked upon him. The Jedi lowered the chair, stepped forward still lugging the furniture, then halted by the pazaak table, a look of faux confusion on his face. He deposited the chair in front of him, pointed at the three Weequay, then at the chair as if to say I think you dropped this.

It was not in Haldir’s nature to be a smartass, but there were times where he permitted himself to be one.

And this moment, right now, was one of them.

”Say what?” asked one of the Weequay dumbly. When the dark-haired Knight incognito replied with a series of hand signals, the confusion only grew.

”What’s he sayin’?”

”Maybe he wants to play?”

”No man, I think he’s asking if you dropped the chair or summat.”

Haldir snapped a finger in affirmative, nodding at the Weequay whose hand was hovering above his knife. The latter followed the pale man’s hands when they moved to sign again. ”Oooh! Hahaha, the guy was cheatin’. Real funny if you ask me.”

I’m sorry. Did I interrupt? My bad for letting him walk past. If I had known-

A bright chuckle and a dismissive hand halted Haldir midway. The Jedi smiled and nodded, moving to leave but a hand landed roughly on his shoulder. Knife Weequay’s grinning visage met Haldir’s gaze when he looked over his shoulder, a conspiring glint present in the former’s eyes.

”Wanna play wit’ us?”

A polite and respectful shake of the hand and more raucous laughter later found Haldir following the grey-haired scientist to the exit. Dark gaze alighted upon Hera and the man. Before he could approach the pair, however, the hairs on the back of Eressëa’s neck stood, followed by a familiar chill running down his spine. He paused abruptly, eyes searching. The feeling of being watched was nothing new to the former Sector Ranger turned Jedi. The catch was that he wasn’t the one being directly watched, but his colleague (and the scientist, in turn). Still he heard and felt the metaphorical pin drop through the Force, sending ripples that alerted the currently unmasked Knight.

The only problem was that he had looked a little too late on a nearby alleyway where the Joiner disappeared into. The human was already gone the moment his gaze fell to the spot the latter previously occupied. Hurried footsteps carried him towards Hera and the scientist, and Eressëa's concern would be obvious to the Councilwoman through the Force – and Haldir was not even trying to hide it, though it would be clear that despite not directly knowing the cause for concern he was sure that Hera would trust her instincts and have faith on her fellow Jedi when he spoke straight to the point,

"If we got what we're looking for," he told her, gaze flicking ever so subtly towards the scientist and back at Hera, "then let's leave."

Although he did not mean to be needlessly rude by being so direct, Haldir would have to save an apology for later. If his instincts about being watched were true, it would be best for the three of them to depart now before trouble found them.

@Black Noise

 

[Hera "The Joyful" Albion]

Hurriedly, the trio fled the scene. Their leaving was pursued lightly, but with the combined efforts of the Jedi Knight and the Justicar-Councilor, their trail was sufficiently covered and they were able to get their quarry off world with little trouble. Finally, a correct step had been taken to help rid the galaxy of the Killiks once and for all.

/end thread