Open Coruscant In Her Footsteps

[Nima Deleste]

.

Nima felt a bit disappointed in the stranger's first response since it was implied that she has not seen the specific type of hilt Nima was looking for. However, an interlocking lightsaber hilt was also interesting. For now, the first part of the deal was covered. The real disappointment would come with the second response, but not because of a failure: "There are things that Jedi aren't supposed to do". Those words felt disgusting and irritating, but none the less the second part of the deal could still potentially be covered.

Reaching towards a small hidden pouch behind her, Nima would pull out a handheld holoprojector, turning it on to reveal a projection of a crystal. "A sun crystal, on Endor. A noblewoman client from Onderon wants one. I know the exact location already and could do it myself. However, having you along to handle problems would be easier. I will be leaving soon, maybe tomorrow." Nima held up a single finger towards the Zeltron, continuing on: "We will not share the reward for the mission. I get the reward for the job. Your reward is the information and help I can provide you. The noblewoman might also be able to provide more information on the pirates or your sister."

Placing her hand back down, Nima would grab her drink again and childishly sip on it, waiting for the stranger's response. This would be the first job Nima would do for someone without expecting credits in return from them. The stranger seemed alright, although the Jedi part of them was annoying.

@Catbert

 

[Lani Tallis]

Endor, huh? That was on the other end of the galaxy from where the Jedi were. Even getting there to meet up with the Zeltron would be a challenge. Let alone getting that crystal thing... Wasn't Endor like, a forest planet? Or a gas giant with many moons? Regardless, it was probably dangerous and unwise for an aspiring Jedi Padawan to... "Ok, I'm in," Galania blurted out reluctantly, still not sure it was the right idea. But it was better than wallowing in doubt.

So far, Lani hadn't picked up anything about the other Zeltron's demeanor and emotions that'd dissuade her. Or at least not enough to weigh against a chance to track down Nykoria. The noblewoman having more info about the pirates sounded too good to be true. And the fact that the other Zeltron got a little worked up when Lani brought up the Jedi and their restrictions. Of course, there were also things such as "You don't take a stranger for an important mission", but Galania was oblivious to that.

The Zeltron took a comlink out of one of the pocket and pressed a button. If her vis-a-vis had a comlink on her too, it would buzz with a "new contact / handshake request". A convenient way to exchange contacts without having to write down comms. "I'll have to leave Coruscant with the Jedi, but call me, and I'll be there when needed."

With that done, the Zeltrons could probably figure out the rest on the comms, so Galania stood up again. It was high time to see what Drastus was up to... And maybe check out the club and see why Nykoria bothered with it.

@sayso

 

[Nima Deleste]

.

Nima was a bit surprised to feel her commlink buzz. She placed the holoprojector back into the pouch and pulled out her commlink, accepting the request. "I didn't know it works like that..." Nima thought to herself. From the way the Jedi stranger talked, it appeared as if they did not have a ship on their own, which means they might arrive on Endor with friends. Having more than one Jedi around would be bothersome, but also potentially dangerous. As she knows how some Jedi treat force-users unwilling to join their order. However, she would keep quiet for now.

Before the stranger left, Nima had one last thing to ask of the stranger: "Police report about force users on 1231. You and your friend?" Nima paused to take a sip of her drink before continuing,"No need to answer it now, but the next time we meet I would like you to provide me an answer to this question: Why are Jedi fine with committing criminal acts if it helps their order, but look down upon those who have also partake in criminal activity; including those who do it to survive?" Nima knew that if the job she offered involved stealing, killing, or helping a criminal organization, then the Jedi would have declined the offer. Although it was purely an assumption, Nima felt confident that the stranger and her partner were the cause of the commotion on level 1231. The Jedi ways were horrid and rotten to Nima, and through personal experience, she understood why her father left the order long ago. The fall of both Jedi and Sith orders would happen, only time would tell when.

With everything settled, Nima started to drink from her glass again, using her other hand to shoo away the stranger. Once the stranger was out of the room, with the door shut, Nima would set her glass back down to begin preparing for the job. Reaching underneath the table, Nima pressed a few buttons in a specific sequence to open a panel in the wall by her right side. A computer would be revealed, and Nima would access the Holonet to send a transmission to Onderon. "Tell Lady Atiress to expect my arrival in a few days, with the sun crystal" Once the transmission was sent, Nima reached under the table to hide the panels again, sitting down after to relax. It could be awhile before she returned to Coruscant....

Spoiler: OOC

Exit thread attempt unless something would cause Nima to act again such as loud commotion outside the room, or someone coming into the room.

@Catbert

 

[Corran Velt]

Ah, so Francis didn't mean literal family. Well, at least not in his case. He was just here to support his friend, the Zeltron, with the search for her literal family. Corran only nodded in symbolism of understanding. A nearly untouched glass of Tisane slid towards the undercover ranger. He glanced at it and gave a gentle tap against the rim with his own drink, like a small toast. The beverage's previous owner had run off to the restroom in a hurry, so he decided not to partake but didn't vocally decline it either. Better to just seem friendly.

The younger man leaned in to say something and Corran tilted his head to listen above the din of the bar. What he said forced genuine surprise on the blond man's face. His eyes went wide and his jaw hung open for a moment before being clamped shut. It was unbelievable. Francis spilled the beans on nearly everything and then some. They were there at the disturbance the other day. And what was that about a Sith? Wait, they were looking for a Jedi? One that lived on Coruscant? Did that mean France was a Jedi? That name he said. Nykoria. Something felt familiar about that too. Why did that feel -

A flash went off like a paparazzi droid's camera in the ranger's memory. Nyorkia Tallis as Ilana had introduced her at the Arkanian's chateau. The colorful Zeltron, scarred from battle, politely corrected her. Kori. She was at Sector Ranger headquarters. Corran's eyes rapidly shifted to the closed door where he had seen the back of another Zeltron. They were looking for a relative. Family. The undercover ranger closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. From the outside it looked like he was thinking intently, but in truth he was suppressing a groan. Why do these situations always return to Force-users causing havoc?

Finally, Corran sighed and blinked his eyes a few times. "Sith, huh? Whenever they are around that's trouble. At least that's what it seems like on the news." He took a few sips from his water and stared into it for a few seconds. He'd want to know more about that Sith, but not here. Bait was needed to draw them away from his crowded place. "This uh... Kori, right? Is she Zeltron too? I think I saw her once. Friend of a friend thing. I wonder if my friend saw her recently..." The lieutenant mused aloud.

@Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drast smirked internally as he leaked the info, he was all about the reaction. He figured whatever was happening behind that closed door was a real waste of time or at least would lead nowhere good. If this guy was what he thought he was or even if he wasn't, but was as good as he claimed, maybe he could help them find Kori. "Truthfully, Sith or Jedi, they been making a lot of negative waves. But family is important, as I'm sure you know." A paused as he took a sip from his glass, the use of the nickname was an odd jump for someone who was little more of an acquaintance, so he took note of that.

"Kori is what her friends called her, yeah. Anyways, us normies go to the Jedi for help, they turn us away, shrug off the disappearance. So, we came here only to find her place already under investigation by the police due to some deranged Sith, riots in the streets. We heard she used to come here some and here we are. Mind if I get the name of the friend? We leave in a few days, and any lead can help."

@Catbert @TerranSteel

 

[Lani Tallis]

The stranger's question—or rather, a statement—about the recent commotion caught Lani off-guard. Already by the entrance, she turned to the other Zeltron again. The statement/question was followed by some anti-Jedi rhetoric; the other Zeltron's feelings on the matter couldn't elude Galania. She already knew the answer to the question, but decided not to leave it for the next time. So, Lani simply complied with the stranger's gesture and left the room, closing the door behind her.

As Lani walked outside the backroom, she adjusted the leather jacket again. Just in time to hear Drastus talk about leaving in a few days, and leads. She would head towards her friend and the new stranger. The seat between them looked free, and Lani wasn't aware that it had been occupied by Xiann minutes prior. "What's up? Did I miss anything?" she'd stop by Drast's right, not occupying the seat just yet. Her brown eyes—much like Nykoria's—gave the stranger a look-over.

@TerranSteel @Rhogar

 

[Corran Velt]

The ranger lieutenant was starting to get the feeling Francis wasn't telling the whole truth. Police already at their 'cousin's' apartment due a Red Saber being in the area? Followed by riots? Based on the after-action report, the timeline alone of those events seemed jumbled. Disturbances drew the police in and reports by denizens nearby talked about lightsabers and potential force-powers. "Yeah, I can get you the name," Corran replied coolly, taking a brief sip of his water, "Just not here. He's not too popular among certain people." Being a cop who put maybe some of them behind shields would do that.

Moments later, the Zeltron woman he had only managed to get a glance at from before appeared. She wasn't an exact twin, but there were features obviously shared between Nykoria and this girl. The brown eyes most notably. The kind Nykoria had glared at him with. By looks alone, the undercover range knew Francis had lied to him to some degree. This girl looked more like a sister than a cousin. Couldn't really blame him, though. It was safer to shield the truth in times like these. All it meant was Corran needed to get more information.


@Catbert @Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drast was about to say something more when Lani arrived and just at the sound of her voice, he had that patented grin again. "Hey, you. How'd the meeting go?" he'd turn, his hand resting at her lower back. In their time traveling together he had begun to realize that Zeltron's built off of the feelings of those around them, so he would try to bury any potential worry he had about her meeting with whoever was seeing to the Pykes and tried to replace it with hope for his new contact. "I'll get you a drink, yeah? Oh, and this is my new good friend, Corran. He knows a guy that knew your sister. Small planet."

Hand still holding position, he'd look to the bartender "Reggie, get us two more tisanes and a water."

"Sure thing, kid." Reggie said as he set to work getting the drinks ready. Once done, he set the drinks down in front of the trio "Lady, gentlemen."


"So, this unlikable friend you have, he from some kinda gang not serviced on these levels or does he wear a different uniform? Pajamas and the like?"

@TerranSteel @Catbert

 

[Lani Tallis]

Despite the seeming coolness between Druastus and "his new good friend Corran", Galania couldn't but feel that something was left unsaid. By both sides. Still, the Zeltron smirked—mainly because Drast used every opportunity to try and land his hand on her back. An all too familiar tale. "Yeah, looks like everywhere we go, someone knows a thing or two," that was both a remark about "small planet", and a reply to an earlier question.

Regardless, Lani got onto the stool, and soon a glass with a herby liquid landed before her. The young Zeltron didn't ask any questions just yet: Drast was the one better suited for that kind of thing. He had started it, after all. Besides, Lani was late for the conversation, and it looked like that Corran guy would tell them what he knew anyway... Unless he had a play of his own in mind.

For the time being, Galania's brown eyes shifted between the fruity liquid—which she would sip every so often—and the new arrival. Lani didn't catch too much about Corran, except for blond hair, blue eyes, and a scar across the nose. And the irons on the hips. "A friend of a friend, huh? So is this the kind of crowd Kori used to hang out with?"

@TerranSteel @Rhogar

 

[Corran Velt]

At his introduction, Corran gave a little two-fingered waved as a greeting. He didn't want to come across as too interested, though there was plenty of information to be mined about Francis at least. How much trouble had he alone caused in the past few days? The arrival of fresh drinks was welcome enough, but the undercover ranger decided to hold onto his second glass as his last. It was only half-empty. Any more consumption of water and he'd be rushing to hit the head into about 30 minutes.

Quiet laughter erupted from the blond man. "Pajamas? No. At least not during the day time." Was that supposed to be a slight towards Jedi? Not many people he knew disregarded them so casually. Not after the stuff they saw they could do. "My friend either makes good friends or thorough enemies. He's been at it on Coruscant for awhile, so never know when an old hatred could be nearby." That was true for really any Sector Ranger in this part of the planet. You might not get stabbed from the back, but you might get sent to the nearest hospital. "He's a smart guy though. If anyone can be found, he'd know."

He swirled his glass a bit before taking a swig. The girl next to him kept glancing at his direction. Was she sizing him up? Maybe skeptical that he wasn't some street bum or goon looking for a quick steal. On the other hand, the Zeltron looked like she could handle herself. Finally Corran grinned at her, "I'm sorry, and you are? I didn't catch your name. Francis introduced himself and your friend Rin earlier."

@Catbert @Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

"Well, they sound like they might be helpful." Drast would say with a shrug, having pulled the stool out for Lani as she sat, he was a gentleman after all. "If you can reach out, I think we can meet up for information. No comms, just a place and time. Level 107, Karissa's Diner? Early. If he can get intel by then, I have money to pay for it."

He figured Lani was fully capable of catching onto the fake names and supplying one of her own. So he'd take a long pull from his glass of tisane.

@Catbert @TerranSteel

 

[Lani Tallis]

For the time being, Lani sipped on the fruity tisane and let Drast and Corran talk it over. From what she could gather, the stranger's friend could help track down Kori. Drastus—more of a street kid than Galania ever was—even offered terms for a meeting. Lani knew she could rely on him in that regard. Or rather, that she couldn't rely on herself, because she didn't know how to go about it.

The stranger was even so kind as to provide the names that Lani's partners in crime were using. Rin (must've been Xiann) and and... "Francis? Really?!" Because of that, the grin that the Zeltron returned to Corran was actually genuine. "My name is Galania," she replied with her actual name, and then added her last name after a pause: "Tallis."

For Lani, hiding her real name and using a fake one wouldn't make sense. If the friend of the blondie truly knew Kori, he would see right through the ruse anyway. "So, Corran, you think you can work with Frank's terms?" The young Zeltron looked at the man curiously. "If not find my sister, then at least tell us how you know each other?"

@TerranSteel @Rhogar

 

[Corran Velt]

Money wouldn't be necessary. Just information. Like what exactly happened that touched of a riot and if there really was an unknown Sith running around the Coruscanti underworld. If it weren't for the possibility of a recently-released ganger suddenly drawing a blaster at the first mention of a Sector Ranger, Corran would have dispensed with all this spy stuff and gotten on with it. Francis' offer to meet somewhere else wasn't much to the lieutenant's liking either. He had them here and giving them an opportunity to skip town or ditch him wasn't something he considered good judgement.

He was about to offer them slipping to a less-trafficked alleyway and just hashing this out away from the crowds when the girl surprised him. Galania Tallis. There was little to deny now. This really was that Jedi's relative. Corran smirked a little, the rim of his cup against his bottom lip, "Pretty name." Trust begat trust, at least in his personal code. Glass thudded against the bar counter and the blond man began to nod decidedly. "I can work with his terms. Level 107, Karissa's Diner. Bright and early. I'll be there."

Pushing off the counter with both palms, Corran rose to his feet and rotated one of his shoulders in a stretch. He was about to stay goodbye and march off with a wave, but Galania's stare stopped him dead in his tracks. One of seeking. One of looking for answers. How long had they been searching? He inhaled slowly through his nose and signed softly with a reluctant shrug. The ranger just couldn't say no to helping people sometimes. "I'll give you a freebie," Corran said as he tucked his hands into his jacket pockets. "I met her after a disaster. So many were lost but she put herself at risk and protected one of my closest friends. You don't hear about that kind of valor much anymore." He tilted his head to study the Zeltron woman's features for a moment. She seemed good. The best of the bunch he met tonight, even. "I'll catch you two later," the undercover ranger said with some irony as he turned to leave the bar with only a wave of the hand over his shoulder in farewell. Now if only he could get Darmus out of bed to help him.

@Catbert @Rhogar

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drast would nod as the pair spoke, focusing on his drink. He'd offer a nod when Corran began to walk away. He laughed to himself as the man walked. Definitely carried himself as either military or a cop. Even if he was the latter, they'd be unable to prove they were the ones in Nykoria's place, especially with most of the footage on the event centered around the crazed Sith.

As he left, he leaned close to Lani "Fifty creds he's a cop." he said just loud enough for only her to hear. "Oh, and you look nice tonight." he added with a grin before looking around. "Kriff, need to send a search party after Xiann, make sure she didn't get sucked down into an even lower level."

@Xiann @Catbert @TerranSteel

 

[Lani Tallis]

Galania replied to the blond's set-piece compliment with a smile. An extra ounce of trust and a subtle shift in attitude would have their effect on the empathic Zeltron, even if she couldn't quite put it. Corran's agreement to help also contributed to Lani's mood. It remained to be seen how good his sources would be. So far, Lani had found more and less than she had hoped for.

The young Zeltron turned on her stool as Corran stood up and prepared to leave. The sigh and the reluctant shrug couldn't fool Lani; she knew it was concession even before the blond mentioned a freebie. Galania's smirk grew dimmer and more serious as the man spoke. What she heard was no surprise. "Throwing herself into the harm's way to do the right thing? That was so Kori." Suddenly, the Zeltron had a lump in her throat, and had to blink a few times. All she could offer in farewell was that crooking smile and a thankful nod.

Lani watched the stranger go, the back of her elbows on the counter. Drowning in her own thoughts, she had sealed herself off the surrounding emotions, letting them become ambient. That's why she only shrugged to Drast's remark about a Corran being a possible cop. Even the "Thanks" for the compliment would come across as absent-minded. The "Yeah" in response to mentioning Xiann was the same, even if the Zeltron was slowly getting back into the real world.

@Rhogar @Xian

 

[Drastus Drahr]

Drast would place a warm and reassuring hand on her upper back, hoping that both his emotional and physical presence might help belay some of her pain. And. He'd remain quiet as they sat there, drinking from his glass as he gave her time to regather her thoughts.

He'd signal to Reggie for another round, eyes scanning their surroundings. "We'll find her, Lani. Won't stop till we do."


@Catbert @Xian