[Jedi Mission] Capturing the Captain

[Cale]

It would be safe to say that no-one particularly liked Eriadu. Probably not even its citizens actually liked the world. It was overwhelmed with its pretensions, and its pollutants, both of the physical and metaphysical varieties. Speciesism was rampant, and outsiders were not particularly well thought of. It was, however, a good place to stage a mutiny and then drop into hiding. Unlike Nar Shadaa, which was policed by the underworld, Eriadu at least had lip-service to law and order, and thus it was far easier to hide from retribution at the hands of some shady investor who had enjoyed the profits from piracy.

Such considerations were in order for Khaimov Tor, given the nature of the mission he was tasked with by the Order. Three Jedi had been dispatched to capture a pirate captain and his crew, if possible. These pirates were a thoroughly unsavory crowd that had been predating upon mostly innocent merchants, and were somewhat known for ruthlessness and cruelty. They happened to be responsible for a large number of thefts of high-value items, from highly visible targets.

In a way, the Kiffar Jedi admired their boldness. It spoke to the depths of his peoples' warrior culture. It also appalled him. As a man who had done his best to leave his past where it belonged, and find true serenity in communing with the Force, these violent criminals were a shock to his system, and a reminder that not all who lived free lived in accordance with his own values. It was a useful thing to remember, given his occasional flights of idealism.

Having been on Eriadu before, he had ensured that he had procured a hotel room that could serve as a base of operations for the Jedi to begin their search. It was not the most well kept of hotels, but it offered a modicum of privacy, and was more than willing to accomodate near-humans, a trait that was rare on this planet.

Whilst he waited for his brethren to arrive, he sat on the bed, quietly meditating.

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

Ze'kyre himself did not care for the world, it was quite overwhelming. The smells were pungent, and there was a thin yet consistent layer of smog that was as encompassing about the city as the Force itself. He knew his Padawan probably felt likewise. After growing up in the wilderness of Galtea and spending the last several weeks on Arbra, planets such as this - overstuffed with industry and pollution - would surely strike her as lacking harmony. Although she had experienced brief instances of towns and cities, this one in particular was quite... disgusting. Coruscant was cleaner than this... Of course, the young Knight had never seen the underside of the city-world.

But Ze'kyre brushed the thought aside as he lead Nakoma through the city. They were discreetly cloaked, Ze'kyre's own hood of smoke grey obscured the features of his face. "Not far now." His thought arrived to her silently. The two Jedi spoke without words as they travelled through the outskirts of Eriadu City. Upon finding the name of the hotel he sought, the Jedi Knight lead his Padawan-learner through the doorway. Good, they were inside now. It looked as though it might rain tonight. His hood remained up. He did not look too far from human, but he would not take a chance at risking suspicion.

A hostess turned to greet them with a smile but with one of his own Ze'kyre cut her off. "No, thank you." With a wave of his hand, he ushered forth an empathic feeling of content, soothing any suspicions their immediacy might have drawn from her. He then lead Nakoma up the stairs, and it was but a few flights before they were on the desired floor.

This is the room. He had not met the Knight he had been sent here to assist, and he did not know the mission either. The New Jedi Order was short on Knights ready to be sent into the field, and there was much to be handled before they could truly reassert themselves as protecters of the Force. Although he had been forced to act hastily, he was happy to be in service to the order.

Privy to the sequence of numbers that would unlock the temporary safe house, the door soon slid open, and Ze'kyre's eyes fell upon the darkly robed Jedi Knight who meditated on the bed. "Excuse us," he said as they stepped into the room. He pulled his hood back as the door slid shut behind them. The silver-white strands of his neck-length hair were pulled back into a tight ponytail, with the few locks too short to reach hanging lazily over his brow. "You must be Khaimov Tor.

"I am Ze'kyre Bladedancer, Jedi Knight. This is my Padawan, Nakoma Gwenelda. I'm sorry if we held you up, we travelled as quickly as we could." He bowed his head in respect for the warrior across from him, and his hands came together at his solar plexus - one formed as a fist, and the other wrapped about it. Travelling was no easy thing as a Jedi, but from what he knew, they had made it with a bit of time to spare.

"I've been told we are to bring back a pirate. Shall we discuss your plan, brother?"

 

[Wolf]

Eriadu was nothing like Nakoma had ever seen before. "Where are the trees?" The words were mostly a thought, but somewhat of a question to her companion. As Ze'kyre led her through the outskirts of the city, the young woman's eyes darted from one scene to the next of her surroundings. Nothing about this world was clean and it caused the Padawan to feel the filth seeping into her body. She did feel somewhat invisible beneath the hood of her black cloak though, but the only true sense of security that she beheld at this moment was knowing that the Echani guiding her was more than capable of handling any trouble that they could possibly face. The thick toxic air that now entered the woman's lungs caused her eyes to water. How badly she wished to hold her breath as she had been practicing during her training.

As the pair reached the hotel, Nakoma was hesitant about going inside. Nothing about the place warranted her trust. She did trust Ze'kyre though, and knew that they had a mission to accomplish. Following him in, they were stopped nearly immediately. The hostess had yet to even complete a thought and the Knight was already dismissing her with a wave of his hand. The Padawan knew that he had used the Force to protect them from any suspicious thoughts that she could have had time to develop had they stood there to speak with her. The young woman stayed close to her Master as he led her up the stairs before them. It did not take the pair long to scale the few flights and they found themselves at a predetermined door.

With the push of a secret sequence of numbers, the door shot open and revealed a modest room which the Knight and Padawan quickly stepped into. Nakoma bristled at the hissing sound of the door shutting behind her. It was this type of technology that she was still adjusting to. Strange sounds and sights were abundant in this new life that she was now living. Pushing these thoughts aside, the young woman focused her gaze upon an unfamiliar figure sitting in meditation upon the bed. Following Ze'kyre's example as he introduced himself and then her, she removed the hood of her cloak and bowed her head in respect.

The woman of the Laku'na tribe now felt as out of place as Ze'kyre. Her raven locks did not flow in the fresh breeze of the forest now, but were instead tied up into a ponytail at the back of her head. Her amber eyes focused upon the stanger as the Knight questioned him about the plan for the mission that was set before the group. The Padawan had very little knowledge about their purpose on this miserable planet. The only thing she did know was that it would likely be a learning experience and she was prepared to face whatever lessons presented themselves in her time upon Eriadu.

 

[Cale]

The arrival of the other Jedi in the building had been noted by Khaimov, in a distant manner. It was one of a hundred items that attempted to disrupt his concentration as they slide their way across his mind, like hot oil on a pan. As the signatures approached, he began slowly rising from the depths of his subconscious, bringing himself closer and closer to full awareness. It was not until the pair had entered the room that the Bear opened his eyes and looked at the physical forms of his companions for this mission. The porcelain-white skin and pale hair of his fellow knight attracted interest at first, but it was the heterochromatic eyes that really caught his attention.

It was a distinctive feature that when combined with the pale skin and hair would stick out on most worlds. Luckily this was not a mission that required a great amount of stealth, at least in the latter stages. The man seemed solid, and moved with the grace of a trained warrior. It was a feature that the Kiffar/Epicanthix half-breed was well familiar with, given that both his peoples natures were martially inclined. The padawan beside him could not have been more of a contrast to her master. He looked them both over for a minute and then slid off the bed, standing slowly. At 6'9, he was well and truly the tallest in the room, and the only hair that was visible was the bushy beard that hid half of his facial tattoos. The necessary clan-markings of his qukuuf remained visible, including the large blue-black stripe on his shaved head.

Dressed in his black robes, he looked like some ancient warrior-priest crafted into flesh. Then he bowed to the pair of them and began to speak.

"I am pleased to see both of you. Yes, I am Khaimov. There is water in the refrigeration unit, should you require something to wash the taste of this world from your tongue." He chuckled softly. "As for my plan, currently the information I have is that we are to capture one Captain Kandar Midanyl, of the Antimony Viper, which docked in the last day or so for repairs. If possible, we are to also round up as many of his crew as we possibly can, but Midanyl is our primary offender, and thus must remain our focus. I would suggest that the crew is seeking shore leave in some of the nearby cantinas, dance halls and brothels. It would, I assume, be wise to secure a crew manifest of some description and begin our hunt with the names of our targets aside from the captain. Do you have any suggestions, brother? Or perhaps you, sister?"

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

Ze'kyre's eyes did not betray any form of surprise as the man rose to his full height, though the Bear, as it were, was decisively the largest man he had ever met in his life, taller even than the largest of his old teachers at the Eshan monastery - a powerful warrior from the clan of Strongmoon. But Khaimov Tor the Jedi Knight held a higher air of ritual, with the facial markings and tribal oddities. The slightly younger Knight could not help but wonder what Khaimov Tor was truly like, how it would be to go with the giant toe to toe. For a brief instant it looked as though a smile tugged at the corners of his mouth, but it was but a microcosmic flash before he set the thought aside. This man was trusted within the Order, he would have faith in the decisions of the Jedi Masters. In any case, something told him he may have his chance to fight beside the man before too long, and to see what expression he had to share of his truest nature.

A slight laugh escaped him, in kind with the other man as he bowed his head briefly, and accepted the hospitality. He walked over to the fridge and opened it, retrieving a canteen for himself as well as one for Nakoma before closing the fridge lightly, all the while listening as the other Knight explained their purpose. "Ah, I believe we spotted a planet-side shipyard near the spaceport we arrived in." Likely it was the one they were docked at, since Jedi often had to travel through the less governed, shadier parts of town, the same type of place one would hide a pirate ship. He tossed one of the bottles to Nakoma, before uncapping his own and taking a sip while Khaimov continued explaining.

When asked for suggestions, the white knight waited a moment. The three of them had been in opposite parts of the room while he had retrieved the water, so he travelled back to Nakoma's side to relieve any anxiety she may be feeling. Ze'kyre knew that she had not had much in the way of acquaintance with other Jedi, especially Knights, and Khaimov was quite the imposing figure. When he looked back up to the man, leading Nakoma further into the room to meet him and speak more comfortably at its centre, he began to pose his thoughts.

"Are you thinking we might approach a member of the crew?" He had been involved in somewhat covert operations on behalf of the Jedi before, and there was no dismissing the notion that he would again given the secretive and hidden nature of their Order. Only the Great Dragon knew what indulgences they had decided to take upon their shore leave, any amount of fascination or substance could surely loosen some tongues. "I believe that may be a good idea. If we can avoid conflict that would be wise." Words Ze'kyre had not been raised to believe, but not all could see conflict as the form of communication that it was, and these were pressing times.

"We will likely have to fight in order to take the Captain, but let us see what knowledge we can first acquire about his position. I don't know if there'd be a physical manifest anywhere but within the ship, but I'm sure someone has drunk enough to start listing names." He looked to his right, and his eyes met Nakoma's. If they were to seek after the crew in such a fashion, he would be introducing her to an even darker side to the civilizations she had come to know throughout their travel to Arbra, where people would be drinking strange liquids, ingesting spices and otherwise acting strangely. She would see women dancing, but not in the way she had learned to dance, she would feel the vibrations of funkier music. But oftentimes the path of the Jedi lead through varying shades of darkness, and she would need to be introduced to such ways soon, that is why she had been brought here.

"What do you think, Nakoma?" He asked using his voice. He had prepared her as well as he could. He had built her proficiency with Shii-cho and other combat forms, taught her the core powers of the Force, and had helped her to hone her mind to be as sharp as any blade. But he knew that whether or nor she felt that she was not ready, or knew that she was, she was right. Through the will of the Force, he knew she would not disappoint him.

 

[Wolf]

As the Knight rose to his feet, Nakoma's eyes widened in surprise. As if his tattoos were not enough to send her into a culture shock, the sheer size of the man was. The people of the young woman's tribe were all roughly her height. She appeared a dwarf in the room standing beside Ze'kyre's frame that came in at just an inch above six feet, and now this curious individual that towered over the both of them. Her amber eyes moved across the man as he introduced himself. "Khaimov..." the Padawan spoke his name in her mind to become familiar with it and to commit it to memory. He continued speaking, describing the mission set before them. This would be Nakoma's very first mission as a Jedi as well as the first time that she would be exposed to a darker side of the galaxy. Until now, she could only base her knowledge upon things that Ze'kyre had described to her...but there were many things that he could only introduce her to and allow her to learn from the experiences.

"We are to capture one Captain Kandar Midanyl..." the Knight's words trailed off in Nakoma's mind and hung there. Through the Force, she could still sense him talking, but the remainder of his explanation became distant as she focused upon the true nature of their mission. "We are going to...capture someone? Is that...allowed?" Her words carried a heavy sense of confusion and concern as she shot them into Ze'kyre's mind. The Padawan's face reflected these mixed emotions as she looked from her mentor back to Khaimov. "Do you have any suggestions, brother? Or perhaps you, sister?" The young woman felt a hard lump form in her throat as she searched for the right words. She was relieved when Ze'kyre walked over to the fridge and retrieved two canteens before tossing one her way. Quickly she twisted off the cap and took several gulps of the cool water while waiting for Ze'kyre to answer the question.

As he began telling Khaimov of the shipyard, Nakoma screwed the cap back onto the top of the canteen and nervously held the water within her tight grasp. Her eyes periodically shifted between her Master and the other Knight. The Laku'na then felt the peace of Ze'kyre's presence ease the tension in her chest as he returned to her side. "Are you thinking we might approach a member of the crew?" The Echani's question caused Nakoma to raise an eyebrow as she glanced over at him. Would they really be able to pull it off without causing suspicion about their identity or their intentions? She was relieved when he mentioned avoiding conflict. The young woman felt ready to face almost anything, when she was not in the midst of looming conflict. It was easy for her to feel secure in her instruction when she was back on Arbra where there were no pirates.

Then Ze'kyre seemed to change his mind and Nakoma could not help but smile out of sheer curiosity. "We will likely have to fight in order to take the Captain, but let us see what knowledge we can first acquire about his position. I don't know if there'd be a physical manifest anywhere but within the ship, but I'm sure someone has drunk enough to start listing names." Nakoma considered these things and weighed the foreseeable options in her mind. "What do you think, Nakoma?" The Knight's words stopped her thought pattern and she sighed. "I think that avoiding conflict, if at all possible, is a wise decision. I do think that conflict is in the nature of these individuals though and will likely be unavoidable." The woman allowed the words to make their way into the minds of the two Knights. She paused for a moment and added, "I think that we should attempt to find out all we can from his crew, but we will need to take care to protect our identity and our intentions."

 

[Cale]

Khaimov listened to the pair as they provided advice, considering their suggestions with grave merit. The young padawan especially seemed nervous and perhaps a little confused as she 'spoke'. Her silent voice floated across his mind, suggesting a course of action that mirrored his own views. Cautious and patient, avoiding risks as much as possible. He found himself nodding in approval regarding her comments, partly to indicate acceptance and partly to attempt to reassure the young woman whose mixed emotions carried beyond herself.

There were, of course, limitations on the amount of cautious behaviour they could engage in. There was a time-limit, after all. But between Ze'kyre's suggestion of approaching the crew, and Nakoma's thoughts regarding their nature and desire for conflict, he thought perhaps there was a workable plan in there, somewhere. Now they just needed to hash out the details and find one of the erstwhile crew.

"I concur with your thoughts on this matter. Caution is to be advised, as is discretion. I would perhaps suggest that we seek out a few members of this crew, and sound them out. From all reports, there is a likelihood of a mutiny anyhow, and if we encourage such actions, the crew may deliver their captain, and any other opposition to their plan to us, especially if we pose as bounty hunters. It does mean we may have to let at least a few of them go, but since such a mutiny is likely to occur onboard their ship, it limits the danger to civilians who may get caught in the crossfire if we have to engage in battle ourselves. Obviously, this is not a fool-proof plan, and leaves some fairly crucial information out, but with three of us making inquiries, we should be able to locate at least a couple of likely pirates."

The giant's voice was soft, and tinged with a somewhat friendly smile, which he directed first at Nakoma and then at his fellow Knight.

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

Nakoma's response reaffirmed Ze'kyre's prediction that she would not disappoint him. "Agreed," he responded curtly before looking back up to Khaimov. The giant of a man began to explain how the crew was preparing to stage a mutiny, an idea that Ze'kyre understood would work to their advantage, as the Bear suggested. "Nothing is foolproof, my friend." From what Ze'kyre had heard, there were some astounding fools out in the galaxy. He reflected on the plan a moment longer, and beneath his armless cloak you could see his elbow sway as he fidgeted with the pommel of his sword. The echani returned to the giant his pleasant smile.

Then he looked back at them, first Nakoma, then Khaimov. "Well let us begin by listing places we would find pirates. We are in the proper part of town... There'd definitely be a group of them at the nearby cantina, I wouldn't be surprised if there's some sort of brothel in this neighbourhood too. Last place I can think of would be at the spaceport still. Likely plenty remaining at the ship. Where do you suppose those planning a mutiny would prefer to meet up?" If neither of them had an idea, Ze'kyre supposed they could go straight to the cantina. They may not find the mutinous pirates, but at least they might find a clue."We may as well begin there, we can share thoughts as we move." Ze'kyre lead back to the door, and allowed it to slide open at his presence.

"Shall we?"

 

[Wolf]

"I concur with your thoughts on this matter." Nakoma nodded as she listened with her mind to Khaimov's theory about a pirate mutiny. The hint of a smile upon his lips was a comfort to the woman as she eased into this very new scenario. She felt as though Khaimov was wise and that this plan could very well work. If the Captain's crew would simply turn him over, then the three Jedi would have very little, if any, confrontation with the opposition. "Agreed", Ze'kyre interjected his approval.

"I think this is a wise plan. Now we must implement a course of action that will bring about the desired result quickly and with little attention brought upon the three of us. The Padawan's words again made themselves present in the minds of her fellow Jedi. Ze'kyre's gaze shifted from the young woman back to his fellow Knight as he spoke. "Well let us begin by listing places that we could find pirates." Nakoma searched her mind for ideas but knew very little of culture outside of her own. She had yet to be exposed to places such as cantinas and brothels and in fact, did not even know what these places were when her Master spoke of them.

"Where do you suppose those planning a mutiny would prefer to meet up?" Again, the young woman thought deeply about the question before arriving at her own answer. "Perhaps they would meet in a very typical place so as to not draw any suspicion?" Her thoughts crossed the room quickly and presented themselves to both of the Knights. Though it was a simple idea, she believed that it could be helpful. If the crew did not wish to alarm the Captain, their behavior would be "business as usual".

As Ze'kyre stepped toward the door, the situation became quite real for Nakoma. They were about to head out into an atmosphere that she knew nothing about. A culture that she had never experienced. A world so very different to her own that she could spend days contrasting the two. "Shall we?" the Echani questioned his student as well as his fellow Knight. With a nod of resolve, Nakoma lifted the hood of her black cloak back over her head and brought the edges to just above eye level. She was prepared to step into the unknown and complete the mission set before them.

 

[Cale]

Wise was not a term that Khaimov would have applied to himself. Patient, meticulous, and self-aware, yes. He also knew the depths that his ignorance ran, and would not compare himself with those whom he believed truly wise. Grand Master Daw, Master Cordatus, Master Rolan-Baatch and Master Haas were amongst those he would deem wise. Had he been privy to Nakoma's thoughts, they would have surprised him greatly.

Ze'kyre's words rang true to him, however. Nothing was foolproof, often because for all their intelligence, even the smartest beings could be foolish. The key to avoiding such was planning, at least for the Bear. The plan that they had was tenuous, but given the lack of information available to them it was the best plan possible.

"There are two Cantinas within close proximity, one that caters exclusively to the non-human population, and one that allows for mixed species interactions. I would suggest the latter would be our first port of call. Whilst the brothel would no doubt be popular, it is also hard to strike up a conversation."

When Ze'kyre stepped towards the door, Khai followed, keeping the Padawan in the middle. He was not certain how well she was trained yet, and so keeping her between the two knights seemed a sensible protective formation.

****

The streets were starting to empty at this point, as the sunlight started to wane. Everyone was either heading into their homes, or making their way to their chosen watering hole, so the streets were relatively quiet. Khaimov kept a wary eye out for any trouble, although with the fierce-looking Echani at the lead, and the towering figure of Khaimov himself, most of the petty criminals weren't interested, and the professionals had far wealthier targets.

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

Again with his hood up, Ze'kyre lead the other two Jedi through the streets of Eriadu, his armless cloak casting a formless shadow about his body. It was not a long journey before they reached the cantina. Ze'kyre had not necessarily known where to look, except for the guidance of the Great Dragon, not too mention the accumulating traffic of mostly humans, the shadier sort of demographic who decided to kick off the night early. The building was altogether nothing particularly descript, a trapezoidal block with a pair of sliding doors. They hissed as they closed behind the three Jedi.

As Ze'kyre, Nakoma, and Khaimov walked through a small corridor that lead to a much larger room, they saw men and women, mostly human yet not exclusively, buying drinks, even as they awaited admission into the main area. Going down a widening flight of stairs lead to the bulk of the cantina. It was much bigger then the white Knight had expected, and the flashing colours and rhythmic music seemed quite strange, yet alluring at the same time. But before they could reach the main hall, they had to pass the bouncer.

The man inspected the three of them as Ze'kyre stepped further. "You all need to check your cloaks at the bar," he said with no tune of hospitality in his tone as his eye lingered on the gigantic form of Khaimov. The Bear was a much larger man than the bouncer, but he did not look up with any great fear. "What are you guys, some sort of mercenaries? You can check your weapons too," he spat.

Ze'kyre knew a simple mind trick would not be effective against such suspicion. This man clearly had a lot of focus given his body building, and he likely cared a lot for his job. So in a flash of silver, Ezyrah's flute was produced from an opening in the grey cloak, formed in front of his right shoulder and still hiding the sword that was strapped to the back of his waist. "Actually, yes. But tonight I explore my other passion while my friends look for work. We are unarmed." Ze'kyre's smile was nothing short of pleasant.

The man looked them over skeptically, but did not open his mouth to form words as Ze'kyre telepathically nurtured the seed of doubt, forcing the thought to take hold within the man's head, yet ever so subtly. Often times live bands were booked to take the place of the holographically projected ones usually used. Luckily, Ze'kyre had ascertained from the sign outside that tonight was one of those nights. A group approached behind them, Ze'kyre looked over his shoulder and saw it was a particularly mottled bunch of disgruntled workers. "Whatever." The bouncer said sharply before stepping aside and allowing them through.

With a friendly nod, Ze'kyre withdrew the flute, folding it in half once again to place it comfortably within its holster across his back, and lead the other two Jedi down the stairs. "Stay focused, Nakoma." The echani's first time in a cantina had been when he was a bit younger than her, and it had been rather mind numbing. He had nearly lost his Master amidst the confusing sights and sounds. Ze'kyre himself remained vigilant as they drawer near the bottom step, scanning the faces and areas as they revealed themselves under the widening archway of the stairs.

 

[Wolf]

As Ze'kyre led the trio through the streets of the city, Nakoma felt secure between the two Knights. She did not allow her eyes to wander as they walked and instead remained focused upon the Echani in front of her. The young woman knew that her face could give her innocence and ignorance away and so she attempted to disappear into the scenery. As they came upon a plain building, the Laku'na realized that this was their first destination. Though she could not physically hear, her mind could sense music and a cacophony of other sounds being contained wthin the walls.

The doors hissed as they shut behind the Jedi and Nakoma took her first steps into a cantina. After a short walk down a corridor that led to a larger room, the young woman saw groups of people waiting in a line to be checked by the bouncer. She quickly realized the purpose of this man and as they moved closer to this inspection point, the young woman grew more anxious. She wondered what would happen if the man discovered that they were Jedi. How badly she wished to ask Ze'kyre but stopped herself at the idea that the bouncer could possibly hear her mental speech also.

"You all need to check your cloaks at the bar." The words did not offer a sense of kindness as Nakoma processed them mentally. Her eyes shifted from the bouncer to Ze'kyre as she wondered how he was going to handle the situation. This was a learning moment and she was sure to pay close attention to his actions. "What are you guys, some kind of mercenaries? You can check your weapons too." The anxiety returned to the young woman as the man now began to inquire about their identity. Again her eyes shifted from the man to her Master and wondered what he would say to appease the questions.

"Actually, yes." The words surprised the Padawan but she knew better than to allow that surprise to be revealed in her mannerisms. Now this man thought that they were mercenaries. As the Knight produced his flute which doubled as a lightsaber, the young woman swallowed hard but did not flinch. "But tonight I explore my other passion while my friends loook for work. We are unarmed." Another lie. The Laku'na realized this was a different world and the means by which they operated were a necessity if their identity and intentions were to remain hidden. As the words left his lips, the Padawan was reminded of the lightweight training saber at her hip. "Whatever", the bouncer's word was laced with irritation as a large group approached behind the Jedi.

The trio made their way down the stairs and Nakoma's eyes widened beyond her control. The pulsating lights of radiant colors seemed to swallow up the room along with the music that was blasting so loudly in her mind, she could barely think. There were groups of people and individuals filliing almost every square inch of the establishment. People were ordering strange drinks of varing colors and sizes, and then consuming them both quicly and slowly. The young woman had never witnessed such a gathering or the activities. There was dancing, but it was not around a large fire and the movements were unfamiliar and quite strange. "Stay focused, Nakoma." Ze'kyre's words brought the Padawan's mind back to the mission at hand and she continued following him through the crowd with Khaimov at her back.

"Please don't lose me in here..." she allowed the anxious words to shoot into the minds of the two Knights.

 

[Cale]

The doors hissed shut behind them, with an almost ominous finality, or so it seemed to Khaimov. He was confident in their plan and in his new comrades, but there was something about this bar that put the kiffar on edge. IT was perhaps the sudden raucous noise that filled the air, or the bland, apathetic looks on the faces of the bouncers. Perhaps it was the Force trying to warn the Jedi of some upcoming danger. Or, perhaps, it was simply the fact that he didn't particularly enjoy crowds of people. He was a mostly solitary creature, not given to many close friendships, or romantic relationships. An introvert who found comfort in the Force, and in himself.

The lies that Ze'kyre told did not bother the gigantic jedi. For someone who was awfully conspicuous, he had done a number of 'covert' operations that required him to pretend to be someone else. There was a knack to it, he found. Knowing who he was as well as he did, he could then pretend to be something different to that. Even subtle changes could throw off those who looked for Khaimov Tor. So it would be here. They were mercenaries, and as befit his stature, he would play the angry giant looking for work, easily confused and taken advantage of.

The anxious plea of the young padawan broke through his reverie, however, and he reached out to put a comforting hand on her shoulder, giving one young man a temperamental glare, warning him off approaching. His empathetic connection to the rest of the patrons of the cantina helped warn him of dangerous and belligerent customers, and he attempted to steer from behind, guiding them through the crowd.

There were a lot of people here, but there were three sets of candidates for potential pirates. One set was a dirty, angry looking set of humans and near-humans, all sullenly drinking and not talking much. A second set seemed about as dirty, but were far more jovial, consisting of more non-humans than humans. The third were nervous-looking, glancing furtively at the crowd. They too were mixed humans and non-humans, but were somewhat better dressed.

"I suggest we start with the happy looking group over there." Khaimov half-roared to be heard over the crowd, nodding at the second group. "We may get lucky."

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

Ze'kyre removed his hood. "Do not fret, Nakoma." He knew that the sights and sounds would be overwhelming for his Padawan, as they nearly were for himself, but he continued to lead her on so that the three of them could continue their search.

The white Knight heard Khaimov speak behind him, and gave a nod as he inspected the group of people of whom the Bear referred to. For the most part they were at least near-human, but with one or two forms of alien sentient Ze'kyre was not altogether familiar with. Nonetheless, he lead the other two Jedi on their way closer to the group, taking position near the bar and turning back so as to have a discreet conversation with the other two.

Ze'kyre noticed that many of their cups were getting low, and figured they may be refilling soon. "One of them will likely be approaching the bar soon." He had to elevate his voice slightly, and his baritone subconsciously matched the key of the musicians. He could not think of a way to approach the whole group and remain low key off the top of his head, but if one of the Jedi could catch one of the group by them self they had a chance to get them talking. "Eavesdrop on them. We need to know if these are the pirates we are looking for." Nakoma had always had an incredibly strong, raw ability to Sense the Force, and with Ze'kyre's training, he was certain she would have the focus to listen to their conversation, despite all the surrounding noise, by feeling their words through the Force.

One of the men turned from the table to make his way to order another round. Ze'kyre gave his companions an affirmative wink before turning to approach the man on his own. It would have been but a few strides of his long gait if it were not such a crowded night. Ze'kyre was happy the musicians would be getting paid, and hoped they would spend it wisely. It was a few moments before he could reach him, however.

And when he did, he took up position immediately beside him. A particularly average looking human-or-near. Ze'kyre did not address the man yet, however, and instead looked across the bar, watching as the bartenders served countless numbers of people. He decided he should get himself a drink of water, but another moment of consideration told him the water in this city was likely as bad as the worst they had to offer. Certainly they would not have any rice wines, a drink he had never had but saw some of the older monks partake in. He had heard of others made from fruit. I wonder how those would taste, perhaps I should order some of that for my friends and I. The bartenders are incredibly busy. Are they ignoring me? I wonder what they're talking about back ther... Damnit, what does a man have to do to get a drink around her?

All these thoughts and observations crossed his mind, yet at the same time he had began to send them to the man beside him, starting only subtly, and allowing his presence to grow within the man's consciousness. Though he could not read the man's thoughts, not without fighting him, his effort still proved fruitful.

"Damn it! What does a man have to do to get a drink around here?" The man beside him said just over his breath. Ze'kyre turned to look at him, then looked back at the bar. His mind had to work quickly, but thankfully he had been properly trained for situations such as these. He redirected his Mind Tricks to the bartender, and before long, another persons drink was put down in front of Ze'kyre.

"You must be new to Eriadu." Ze'kyre smirked at the man, then made to turn away. But just then he stopped, and used the Force to steal the attention of the bartender. "Drinks for my friend, please. On my tab." In autopilot the bartender was susceptible to Ze'kyre's telepathy, and he nodded in reply before taking the mans order. The man Ze'kyre hoped to be one of the pirates turned to the Jedi and clapped him on the back, near his far shoulder.

"Drace Olun, friend," said the man gruffly.
"Atton Broos," Ze'kyre lied.
"What do you do, Atton? You have the build of a soldier." Drace patted his back again, ensuring it was not just the cloak he felt. Ze'kyre's stance remained unmoving, and slightly turned away from Drace.

"I am... something of a mercenary," the Jedi replied. "Why, you are in need of a soldier?"

 

[Wolf]

Khaimov's hand upon Nakoma's shoulder was a comfort. She realized that his size could be a great advantage as the typical patrons were less likely to engage a group with a member that looked like the Bear. "I suggest we start with the happy looking group over there," the Knight spoke and Nakoma's eyes followed in the direction he was speaking. She noticed a rough looking group of humans with a few other species present. "Do not fret, Nakoma", Ze'kyre spoke softly into her mind as they approached the group. The Jedi stopped at the bar and the Laku'na focused on her Master. "One of them will likely be approaching the bar soon", the white Knight surmised.

"Eavesdrop on them. We need to know if these are the pirates we are looking for." Nakoma nodded as Ze'kyre gave her a task that suited her skill set. As the Echani winked and subsequently walked away, the young woman glanced up at Khaimov. With a hint of a smile, she turned back to face the bustling bartenders. She knew better than to close her eyes in a place like this which would make traditional meditation a challenge. Her natural talent for sensing the Force was about to prove quite valuable. Being that she was deaf, the music posed no problem when she shut it out of her mind. Doing so brought her thoughts to a calm and quiet center as she leaned against the bar.

Nakoma could isolate and identify different groups behind her as her mind traveled several feet through the crowd until she began picking up on bits and pieces of a very interesting conversation and raw thoughts that went without protection. "I'm sick of going without pay. When are we gonna get our cut?" an angry voice pierced the Padawan's mind. "I can't even stand to look at the bastard. If we killed him, we'd all be rich!", another equally angered voice interjected before the group erupted in laughter. As the young woman continued to concentrate, she slipped deeper into a very conscious meditation. "I'd just as soon slit his throat myself..." The unguarded thoughts of yet another member of the group were accompanied with dark emotions of malice and avarice.

The Padawan had yet to experience anything of the sort. These emotions and words were all new and somewhat frightening. She blinked deeply several times and then realized that she was hearing another voice in her mind, but it was coming from the direction that she had been staring in for several minutes. A baretender just about Nakoma's age was staring back at her with a raised eyebrow. "You okay miss?" The question had been asked several times though the Jedi did not even realize it. Not wishing to give herself away, the Laku'na nodded and motioned to her ears as she mouthed the words "I'm deaf". The bartender apologized and smiled as she quickly moved on to serve the growing crowd of patrons.

"I think that group is who we are looking for," the Padawan spoke gently into the minds of both of the Knights before continuing with her findings. "They were angry about not getting paid and one even had thoughts of slitting another man's throat himself." Her words were accompanied with a sense of urgency and concern as she lowered her head and slowly turned just enough to locate the Echani in her peripheral vision. Once she spotted Ze'kyre, Nakoma's eyes shifted back to the Bear's face."Khaimov, what should we do next? How do we approach a group with such terrible intentions?" Though her voice reflected the tension rising in her chest, the woman held her countenance in control to not betray her true feelings.

 

[Cale]

Khaimov could hear the anxious tone in the young woman's mental voice, and frowned in a puzzled manner. He hadn't been expecting someone quite so unaware of the darker nature of the world. Briefly, he wondered if it had been wise of Ze'kyre to bring the padawan along, but dismissed such criticism immediately as being unworthy. It was disrespectful not only to his fellow knight, but to Nakoma as well. She was demonstrating that she was more than competent, and exceptionally willing to learn, even when faced with distressing situations.

He couldn't help but admire that.

He paused for a second and then carefully let his words form in his head as he said them. First off, trust in your master. He seems to be working on an invitation to join that lot as we speak." He gestured with his head back towards Ze'kyre and his conversation with the crewman. "But I sense your question is also a little more generalised, and since you will need to know for when you do not have his presence as back-up, especially once you become a knight yourself, here are my suggestions. Firstly, trust in the Force. It is your ally and guides us all subtly along our path. Trust it to lead you into a situtation at the right time, and to help you through it. Secondly, trust in yourself, and your companions. You will rarely be alone on a mission, and where your skills falter, your companions will be able to cover. Third, do not be afraid to confront the darkness. It is the solemn duty of a Jedi to defend those whom cannot defend themselves, and to respect life in all its forms. Even when it comes in a variety that may seem distasteful or unpleasant. But respecting such emotions does not mean we should embrace them. Instead, find a way to slip through those emotions. Present yourself as an ally, and a voice of reason. If they harbour hatred, do not confront it head on, but instead find ways to blunt it, and turn it aside. In this case, presenting ourselves as bounty hunters, interested in taking in the captain, and providing martial prowess to their coup will mean that they find us useful, and will help curb their murderous tendencies."

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

Nakoma's telepathic message reaffirmed the early suspicions, and Ze'kyre was thankful to the Great Dragon that their timing had been impeccable, and their intuition keen. After a thoughtful moment, Drace nodded his head and slimmed his eyes, looking up to the slightly taller echani's oddly matched retinas. "You know, maybe we could work together." It was not entirely the Force that made Ze'kyre privy to the thought behind Drace's sentiment. There was a tangible malevolence behind the human's eyes. Ze'kyre matched his expression with a dark smile.

"I don't know, Drace, do you really think you can afford my services?" Push.
"Kriffin' right we can…" Drace snorted. "In fact, you should bring a team. We've got all kinds of merchandise just waiting to be sold… d"

And pull. "Well, in that case. Why don't we go somewhere a little bit quieter, hash out some sort of arrangement?" Ze'kyre's voice raised by about a third, as he acted out his interest in such merchandise. Undoubtedly, what Drace referred to was the cargo taken by the pirates they sought.

By now the bartender had set a hovering tray in front of Ze'kyre and Drace. "Allow me," Ze'kyre picked it up deftly, and followed his new acquaintance back to the table. It was a short round of introductions, and then Drace explained to his crewmates 'Atton's' profession as a mercenary, his tone holding an underlying message regarding the conversation that had been encompassing the group for several days now. They all seemed to pick up the message, and looked amongst themselves.

It seemed they had been considering hiring such a force since touching down, and it struck them as fortunate how Ze'kyre's arrival played into their hands. But the Jedi soon held up a hand to pause the conversation. "Why don't I grab my friends, they're not far but we should meet somewhere with more space and fewer ears."

"Agreed," said one of the pirates. "We're part of a larger group too." Ze'kyre had somewhat determined that the leader of the mutiny was not amongst these men. Why don't you meet us up in the VIP area, we've got a room reserved.

Ze'kyre nodded and departed the group before taking the few short steps to Nakoma and Khaimov. "You guys heard that, right?" He asked, just loud enough for the two Jedi to pick up easily. "Let's go meet their leader, I'm quite sure we can convince them to mutiny tonight."

 

[Wolf]

As Khaimov spoke gently into Nakoma's mind, he imbued kindness and sincerity. The young woman nearly forgot where she was as he gave her a brief lesson in the middle of the cantina. Nodding, she offered the Knight a smile. "Thank you, Khaimov. I will remember your words." The thought had a short distance to travel from her mind to the Bear's and carried with it deep gratitude. With renewed focus and a sense of peace, the Laku'na glanced across the room at her Master.

Just as she had eavesdropped upon the pirates just moments ago, Nakoma now honed in on the conversation between Ze'kyre and the man that he had been speaking with separated from the group. "I don't know, Drace, do you really think you can afford my services?" Clearly the Echani had been propositioned about work and operating under the guise of a mercenary was working to his advantage. The pirate confirmed that Ze'kyre's services were affordable and then invited him to bring a team to view the band's merchandise.

"Well in that case. Why don't we go somewhere a little bit quieter, hash out some sort of arrangement?" the Knight spoke before lifting a tray of drinks and walking with the man back to the gathering where they made brief introductions. In the meantime, Nakoma informed Khaimov of the conversation if he too had not been listening in. "It looks like we have a foot in the door. The man seemed more than willing to hire Ze'kyre and they've agreed to gather in a more private setting to reach an agreement."

In the midst of the conversation between several members of the pirate group, Ze'kyre raised his hand and spoke, "why don't I grab my friends, they're not far but we should meet somewhere with more space and fewer ears." The pirates agreed and offered a meeting place in the VIP area where they had reserved a room. As the Echani nodded and departed the group, he spoke while approaching his fellow Jedi. "You guys heard that, right?" Nakoma nodded as she caught on to the plan.

"Let's go meet their leader, I'm quite sure we can convince them to mutiny tonight, the warrior spoke into the minds of his Padawan and fellow Knight. The young woman nodded in agreement. "I don't believe that they suspect a thing." Her words made their way into the minds of her companions accompanied with a sense of confidence and readiness for the task set before them.

 

[Cale]

The gratitude from the young woman brought a smile to Khai's face. He had forgotten what it was like to be appreciated, sadly enough. Most of his work was done in a solitary environment, or along-side his former master. Elemia was certainly not known for being satisfied with, or displaying gratitude to her students, current or otherwise. So Nakoma's warm feelings generated similar emotions in the Bear himself. It was perhaps a mutual appreciation society between the three Jedi that were tasked with capturing the pirate captain. In a galaxy that was rather hostile to the order in general, it was good to be able to rely on friends.

Khaimov nodded as the padawan relayed information, his mind slowly pondering the various actions that might be needed further on. There would be violence, of that he was certain. But it seemed as though this way they could gather all the mutineers together, and the captain. Take out the primary target and his allies first, and then subdue the remaining few. It would reduce the opposition to small, manageable groups. It may be that they had to split into two groups, but there wouldn't be three.

The trio of jedi made their way up to the VIP room, to meet Dace and the rest of the Mutineers. Khaimov adopted a silent, looming persona, the kind that many Kiffar tended to use when it came to selling their services. It was filled with confidence, and a general attitude of "I will hurt you if I deem it necessary." It wasn't quite the more sadistic nature of some mercenary groups, but it did speak to martial prowess.

"So these are your friends, Atton? A girl and a giant?" One of the pirates sneered, before backing slowly away as the Bear's angry gaze fixed upon him.

"Now now, Herild. I am certain that Mr. Broos and his associates are very capable at whatever it is they do." A slightly older, harder looking man towards the back spoke up. His voice was authoritative and it was clear that he was used to giving orders. Possibly the first mate on the rustbucket they called a ship.

 

[Resolute\\.ZEN]

Ze'kyre was glad to see that his Padawan and fellow Knight seemed to be developing a friendship. He knew that she had not the opportunity to make too many acquaintances during his rigourous regime, and was happy to know that she had not grown distant from or at all resentful of the rest of their Order. With a smile he turned and lead them up the stairs to the VIP room.

As the three Jedi made their way into the VIP room, Ze'kyre was sure to continue wearing his smile. Sure, it did not set the angry disposition familiarized by many mercenaries, but Ze'kyre had infiltrated a table of these men, playing the role of their friend, and hoped to continue doing so now that they were with the larger group. A dozen men, the monk silently wondered if these were all of the mutineers.

A chuckle escaped him at Herild's affront, but it seemed he would have no need to retaliate, as an older man addressed it. Ze'kyre's gaze fell on the man, the oldest of them all but for one slightly older, and definitely carrying a higher air of authority, betrayed by the hush that fell over the rush of the group after the first mate shut down Herild's joke.

Boldly, Ze'kyre stepped forward on his own. It was not his intention to start a fight here; many of their weapons had been taken but he would be surprised if there were not a concealed blaster remaining on more than a few of their persons. He was not concerned for himself or the Bear, but Nakoma did not have a real lightsaber. Still, the finely honed synthetic crystal he had formed for her coud be easily twisted to turn the slight shock of her blade into an incapacitating one - he had prepared for such an event - and he had taught her to use the blade keenly, relying on her strong sense and her honed control of the Force to defend herself.

But if they needed to see more, he would show them. It was auditioning time.

Still wearing his smirk, Ze'kyre invited up the largest of the men, standing larger than the bouncer they had encountered earlier, yet not quite as tall as the Jedi Knight at the entrance of the room. "Allow me to show you," he said as he clasped his hands behind his back. "Hit me, if you would."

The man looked at the first mate, then back at Ze'kyre, who smiled cheerily. With a grunt the pirate pressed forward with a powerful haymaker, his right fist raising near his ear as his elbow pulled back behind him. When he stepped forward to close the gap between himself and the echani, Ze'kyre bobbed slightly to the right. Then the fist rocketed forth, and Ze'kyre's top-weight shifted over his core entirely to what had been his left.

The undercover Jedi pivoted on his left heel as he brought his right foot behind and around him, spinning a full three hundred sixty degrees as that same foot swung upward. His legs split at the hips while his torso leveled out with the ground. If the man had of been shorter, Ze'kyre would have neded to place a hand on the ground in order to get lower, but there was no need, as he was able to keep his balance even over the one foot due to how straight he could keep it, even as he so swiftly spun about its heel and ball. He showed astounding flexibility as the rear of his padded tabi slammed into the back of the pirates head. The large man fell on the ground behind Ze'kyre as the echani stood back straight and put his foot on the floor between the mans ankles, his pearly smile still present.

An eruption of laughter and mirth filled the room. Ze'kyre knew how to deal with warriors, even those who fought for the violence and not the art. The man was out cold, Ze'kyre had hit the sweet spot in the back of the neck that would have him incapacitated for more than a few minutes. When the laughter died down Ze'kyre approached the first mate, and extended out his hand. "We are good at what we do, thank you. I've heard you might have some work for us?" He asked with the same smirk.

"Your associates have told you my name. These are Dylon Strider," he gestured to Nakoma, "and Tray-var Nakharis," shifting now to Khaimov the Bear. "What is your name, friend? Have you been to this lovely city before?"