Ask The Galactica

[Arla]

Per my new OP template, thread is death enabled​

A lot had changed since Arla last saw Nakoa. The two were kindred spirits in a lot of ways, and although she'd planted the idea for her new ventures in her mind, it was a work in progress still. She'd given him a few more details of the proposed ideas, and with that they had decided it was time to meet up in person again.

Galactica station was the ideal place for them to meet namely because it could easily serve the exact function they were looking for. A station that catered to the wealthy and sophisticated, it had only been recently built and moved to space, currently floating along one of the major hyperspace lanes.

It had cost Arla - and certainly Nakoa as well - no small amount of money to rent out rooms for the week, but that wasn't her concern. If this panned out the way she hoped, it would be a small investment in the long term.

She took a seat in the hotel lobby and looked out at the empty vastness of space. It was a harsh reminder that only a few centimeters of glass and steel separated her from a horrible death in a vacuum... and yet, it was still somewhat fascinating to her. She'd grown accustomed to it a long time ago: living in space on a ship.

What she could say, though, was that this station seemed to have everything. Private gardens, pools, spas, the works. Anything the super-wealthy could want. Arla probably could have gotten used to this.

 

[Nakoa Singh]

Much had changed, and much was still the same. Nakoa wandered the galaxy picking up knowledge across its far-flung planets building a foundation that only he would probably understand. He grew more skilled, more versatile, digging deeper into esoteric things. Raw power had yet to bloom, although he seemed not to be in a rush from the tone of his and Arla's conversations.

One of which drew them to Galactica. It was such a new design it could even move, albeit slowly by all accounts. A favor or two and some aurodium got Nakoa a room and things to wear. Expensive, and their plan was something of a gamble. But then, a calculated risk was hardly a risk at all.

The suit he showed up in was white and sharply tailored, a tunic-like suit beneath the jacket. Various earrings shone by ink-black hair that was tied back in a neat loose-top braid rather than his usual 'whatever that's good enough' kind of bun. Only one thing might be off- if Arla noticed or even cared- the lack of a tie. Instead, his gills were covered by the usual cloth.

Nakoa strode into the with a stick of licorice root in his mouth, chewing away at it thoughtfully as he spotted Arla. The scuff of his shoes against luxury carpet signaled his arrival by her side, amber-gold eyes looking out the window along with her with a subtly pensive expression. What could he be considering? Philosophy, the risks ahead, perhaps aspects of morality?

"Ties are bullshit," he stated with deep-seated certainty before turning to look at the Nightsister. "It's good to see you."

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla cast a glance over in Nakoa's direction and actually cracked a smile at seeing him. The list of people in the galaxy that she genuinely liked who weren't biologically related or Nightsisters was very short, and he had managed to actually make it on the list.

Good to see you, too, she said, seemingly not having thought anything of his tie comment. Why was he even talking about ties?

Not sure I understand the "tie" thing, she simply said. Although she wasn't in true dress clothes, the blue and black robe-esque clothes she wore were of higher quality than she would normally adorn. Made of fine silks and extremely expensive. It paid off to at least not stand out any more than they had to.

I could get used to being on the Galactica, she said before adding, probably. It was a great deal different than being on Dathomir, but there was no denying the fact that there was a lot of luxury to be had here, and she enjoyed comforts more and more as time went on and she saw more of the galaxy.

Ready to stir up some trouble? she asked. It would, of course, yet again probably fall to him to do any smooth talking, though she probably should at least attempt to get better at that, shouldn't she? Probably.

 

[Nakoa Singh]

The Wrean's lips curled upward when Arla smiled at him and turned back to the window overlooking the vast emptiness of space. Stars twinkled here and there where they weren't concealed in the running lights and thrusters of busy station traffic. It was all so small.

"Huh? Oh- people often wear them with this getup. Just complaining aloud." He also just thought they looked boring, but that was another matter. Nakoa glanced over and back again. "You suit that finery," he commented before turning fully to look her direction, a sly grin spreading across his face. "Always."

By now he was used to taking the lead in talking people into things. Putting on a charismatic mask for people was tiring, but then, there was something satisfying about making things happen with just a few words. It was useful. He wondered if that's how any of the galaxy's most famous politicians felt.

He inclined his head toward the lift that would lead them to the greater station from their somewhat isolated hotel. "What's first on the list?"

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Thank you, she said simply in reply to his compliment. Ties were strange. How obnoxious and unpleasant she had to imagine those were.

He asked what the first issue on the list was, and Arla paused a moment to think.

We need to find leverage on the station's administrator. Violence, blackmail, or anything else will work. I'm not picky, she said. She had thought about trying to kidnap his family and hold them for ransom until he signed over the station, but she had her doubts on whether that would work.

Second will be getting a meeting with him to use that leverage, she said. She could have brought some Anzati onto the station as well and just killed the man, but that was more expensive and more problematic in its own way.

Or I could rewrite his mind, she said, thinking about an old ritual of control that her mother had taught her. She had once used it on the Senator of Cato Neimoidia, but that was many years ago.

 

[Nakoa Singh]

Nakoa's hands casually found his coat pockets, a thumb tapping thoughtfully against the smooth fabric. After a few seconds, he reached out and flicked against the glass with a soft thwap. "Modern but quality construction, custom model. Very expensive. Administrator known by owner or owns it himself, not a random hire; protects investment. Not a corporate holding." The Wrean took in a short breath of air, lips curling with a sharp look in amber-gold eyes.

"I suspect dark deals were buried in building this station. Shall we dig?" People who ran or owned places like this always had things to hide, skeletons in their closets. Most people couldn't find that sort of thing, but Arla and Nakoa weren't exactly your average investigators. He gave the Nightsister a pensive look.

"Suggestion of blackmail could get us close enough for... rewriting? How does it work?"

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla nodded as he mentioned that they should start digging. We'll find something. Starting with the people the administrator is close to. He owns the facility, she confirmed. He had had it built with his own money and the money of his investors.

Complicated ritual, takes a couple of hours usually of uninterrupted time, she said. Longer the stronger the mind is, and I imagine the administrator is no fool, she said. It was... an option, and maybe one that would be more possible after they had softened his mind with some blackmail. Difficult to say.

Basically, requires a short term kidnapping, she said. Which could mean that simply breaking in and performing a kidnapping could work, but on a station like this it could prove difficult.

Thoughts? she asked. It was a rarity for her to ask that, but in his case, she respected and liked him.

 

[Nakoa Singh]

The long, slender fingers of his fight tapped in rhythm along Nakoa's right hand, pinky to thumb in sequence, over and over as he considered one thing or another. As Arla explained in vague terms how rewriting might work, he snapped his fingers. "His will can be weakened if I observe him a short while." His sect had their own tricks of persuasion and Nakoa suspected his tactic and Arla's would mesh quite nicely.

"Blackmail leads to a meeting. Then we can secure him and use your method." He nodded, supplying his thoughts. This more cautious approach also left room for a more straightforward approach if it was necessary at some point. The less anyone- the administrator in particular- thought something serious could be happening on Galactica, the better. "I'd rather not shoulder into his office through the sort of droids this place can afford if we don't have to, yes?" That didn't mean he wouldn't. He just preferred not to. Fighting droids wasn't all that fun, anyway.

Nakoa gestured toward a map console on the wall. "Like to start at casinos in places like this. Drunk gamblers like to talk."

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla tried to remind herself that the violent approach wasn't always the best approach, and that she needed to stop being lazy about how she dealt with things. That was why she had begun to push herself out of her comfort zone, but she knew she still had a very long way to go.

It would probably be best not to, she agreed. She didn't know what his technique was for weakening the man's resolve, but they would find out in time.

To the casino, then, she said, heading out of the building and down the "street." A tram system connected everything in the station, and she climbed aboard one marked for "entertainment" district. The trip took only about two minutes given the station's relatively small size, and in short order, they were at the casinos.

In space, there was no true "night" or "day" so people came and went as they pleased, keeping to their own time tables as they chose. Most seemed to still run on whatever their home-time was, and that meant that there were people bustling about the area around the clock.

Arla moved in and took a seat at one of the roulette tables, setting down a "small" bet that was really way more than she wanted to spend. But everyone here betted high.

Care to get us some drinks? she asked, giving him all the more reason to go snooping around where the drunk people were at.

 

[Nakoa Singh]

And to the casino they went. Nakoa fished a thin cigar from his jacket that he idly twirled between his fingers, eyes focused nowhere in particular on the way there. Arla hadn't specified a drink so he went with his usual when he was spending money; Navarro tequila old-fashioned, solid splash of ginger beer, chili garnish. He was just waiting on the drinks, eyes wandering freely, when he noticed he noticed he was being stared at.

A Zygerrian woman who'd been three bar seats over was now two bar seats over, one hand holding a nearly empty glass of brandy. Nakoa put on a friendly expression and scooted on over as the drinks were passed along.

Over at the roulette table, a posh-looking waiter droid showed up to offer Arla her drink. "From the gentleman in the white suit," it said with that sort of professional monotone. If she looked over at Nakoa he'd certainly look like he was having fun. Unless you knew what it looked like when he was actually having fun, in which case it looked entirely fake. Hard to tell with him sometimes.

"Oh my gosh, like, I love that thing you're wearing!" Came a bubbly voice from somewhere off to Arla's left. It emerged from a collection of gold-and-pink clothes, jewelry, and bright blonde hair. "What's it caaallleeeed?" Arla's greatest challenge yet.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla sat at the table and started playing, uncertain how she was supposed to gain anything useful out of being here. She couldn't just ask people directly, so she was going to have to try to be subtle.

What was she wearing? Arla looked down at what she was wearing. It's a Jym-Fey robe, she said. Designed on the planet of the same name, they were known for their comfort and fine design. Arla had to admit she hadn't been disappointed, and it even came in her favorite blue and grey. Though based on what the woman was wearing she doubted that the robes were really to the woman's taste.

Have you been to this place before? she asked, deciding that in this case her "small talk" might actually serve a purpose.

Meanwhile, over at the bar, Nakoa would have to contend with a less ditzy, more sophisticated woman. The Zygerrian somehow gave off the vibe that she was more than she appeared.

I'm sorry, I don't mean to stare, but you look familiar. Have we met before? she asked.

 

[Nakoa Singh]

Flashing a charming little half-grin, Nakoa slid into the seat beside the Zygerrian and leaned against the counter. "Really? Stare as you like- but I'd have remembered such fine fur as yours." He tilted his head just slightly, dangling the jade and gold earrings in a fetching sort of way. The woman waved her hand dismissively. One couldn't see the flush of skin through the fur, but the way her ears twitched gave away the game. "Oho? Something in the eyes was familiar dear, my mistake." One of Nakoa's eyebrows raised.

"No mistake at all. I was just thinking of finding fine company. What m-?" the rest of what they talked about would be drowned out to even Arla's part-Sephi hearing by the dramatic gasp of the pink-clad woman next to her. "Oh my gods like, is that like an underground brand? Oh my gods." She seemed very excited by the idea of whatever the hell she was talking about.

An abnormally small canine creature that resembled a short-furred rat more than anything else emerged from her sparkling, diamond-encrusted purse. It shivered constantly. "Like, yeah! I live here, duh." She giggled like what she said was unbearably funny.

"What about youuuu girl?" She swiped a black and gold charge card marked with the Galactica insignia across the table. She wasn't the owner, but surely there was some connection there.

@Phoenix

Dice Roll: 20/20 charisma

 

[Arla]

Arla wanted to start groaning as she listened to the girl... well, it had to be called "speaking." A mixture of giggling, drawn out words, and exclamations that meant that about 50% of her "speech" was just meaningless noise. After having watched an abundance of holos of her father, she had gained a sense that he was a no-nonsense sort of man, and she had acquired that from him. How did he tolerate people like this?

No, it is a planet, she said, matter-of-factly. Her attention did perk up slightly when the girl admitted that she lived here. That meant she would know things about the planet. Maybe they could just kidnap her and... wait, no, that wasn't what normal people did, was it? Mind trick? She'd file that one away as a solid "maybe" and stick with "asking questions" for now.

So you know all about this station, then? I am new on the station, and a sucker for gossip, she said. Of course, that was a lie, but if it would get her blackmail dirt, then well... for Arla that was subtle.

 

[Nakoa Singh]

"Whooaahhh. A whole planet that makes clothes? Totally fetch." Yeah, she didn't seem to really get it. The mysterious young woman in pink giggled to herself and bet a ridiculous amount of money on the roulette table. "OOoo you're like, new here? It's the best place eeevvaarrr." Arla's deadpan delivery didn't deter the dits whatsoever.

"There's this great taco stand in the center ring-" In fact, she started to vomit unhelpful information at a breakneck pace. Nakoa meanwhile seemed to be having a much more calm and normal conversation with the Zygerrian woman. Somehow he'd managed to get her to do most of the talking, although he did sneak Arla a sympathetic glance for her plight and hoped the alcohol might help.

"- oh and there's this rumor about one of the like, bits that's still under construction? That it was ordered by a Hutt or something but like, no one lives theeerrree. Oh and-" Something actually useful among the drek, maybe? If Arla could get her to focus.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Arla had a momentary desire to ask the woman if she'd been dropped on her head as a child after the planet comment, but decided better of it. Was she actually this dumb? Were people actually this dumb or was this all some sort of a scam? Arla's eyes momentarily narrowed involuntarily as she studied the woman who continued to babble on.

The Hutts? Oh boy. Arla's last run-in with a Hutt had been several years ago and it ended badly. Violently. She had a feeling if there was another one, then the same thing was going to happen here.

She may have been wanting to be more diplomatic, but then she remembered something. The Shadow was her tool, and she didn't have to make her own life miserable.

There was a faint wisp of green at her fingertips as she plucked the Shadow strings running into the woman's mind.

Tell me about this Hutt, she said. It was subtle enough that it could have just been a normal part of the conversation, but just nudged her to be a little more focused. It was actually rather elegant and smooth. Maybe that was how to do diplomacy! Yes, Arla was killing this.

 

[Nakoa Singh]

At first Arla's mental nudging would feel a moment's resistance, but then it passed as if there was nothing there at all and the young lady began babbling away. "Like, some important Hutt was one of the investors I guess? Duh something. Dobby, uh... Oh yeah! Durr, I think. 'Course he dead now but-" She continued on from there. In short, according to rumor, there was a Hutt-centric living area of the station that was currently marked 'under construction' instead. Despite that, whispers mentioned covered figures entering and leaving the area.

Out of the corner of vision Arla would notice Nakoa patting the Zygerrian woman's hand in sympathetic fashion, a very convincing expression to match on his face as he offered her another drink. She declined and passed him a business card before stumbling off elsewhere. Notably, two guards at the cantina's entrance nodded respectfully as she passed by. Another couple of moments and Nakoa had left the bar with his drink and gone to a neighboring roulette table.

Arla's datapad pinged under whatever name she'd saved Nakoa as. >Head of security. Suspicious newcomers. Central ring, level 5, sector 3. Construction area. Instructed not to investigate. For the briefest moment he'd make eye contact with the Nightsister before looking away with a tilt of his head. As her roulette table spun, the ball nearly slipped over, but then fell back. She'd just won her latest bet.

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

After Arla got the information she was looking for, she just kind of... stopped listening to the woman. Hutts were on station and had backed this thing. That was concerning in its own way. Or at least it was potentially concerning. She wasn't interested in starting a war with the Hutt Clans, but then, Durr was gone. If these were some of his cronies then maybe getting rid of them would have been a good thing at this point.

She checked her comlink as it beeped, looking down at the message. Well, she supposed she had an idea of where they needed to go then, and now she knew what they'd find there.

Before she could send any kind of a response other than a nod in response to his head movement, she heard the roulette ball pop with a satisfying click and was pleasantly surprised to see that she had won! And she hadn't even cheated! Unless Nakoa had cheated for her, in which case that was nice too.

Thank you for the conversation, she said to the other woman. I need to take my leave and cash out, she said, not explaining where she was going, but hoping the woman would at least leave her alone. She scraped up her winnings and headed out before anyone could object, meeting Nakoa a few minutes later.

Our construction area is filled with Hutts. I'm hesitant to make any kind of move against them. At least not if they're connected to the current power of the Clans proper, she said in hushed tones.

 

[Nakoa Singh]

The lady in pink appeared distracted by hearing herself talk after Arla left the table with her winnings. Nakoa left his own table not too long afterward after only a couple of spins and met up with Arla. The Wrean's eyebrow raised at the news. There was a pause. "Literally?" He didn't know if she meant actual Hutts or Cartel members and felt the need to check.

"Either way-" "OOoohmygosh THERE you aaarrreee," came the siren call of the woman in pink as she flounced around a Sabacc table. Based on her general unsteadiness she was drunk. "You disappeared and I thought you were gone foreevvveerrrr." Nakoa stared at the person and then let a smirk show up on his face. "Make a new friend?" he teased Arla.

"Whoaahh are you like, honeymooners or whatever?" His face twitched. "No." "Whaat but you where from whence the hurhgblrgh..." Whatever she was saying turning turned into gibberish and then trailed off as she fell over. The bouncers came over and retrieved her with a sigh like it was a regular occurrence.

Nakoa cleared his throat as if he had nothing to do with it, although Arla would obviously know better. "Check it out? The construction area."

@Phoenix

 

[Arla]

Allegedly, Arla said in response to his question. She didn't know exactly what the Hutts would mean for them, but she was sure it wouldn't be great.

They were going to launch forward with the conversation when "she" returned. Arla almost audibly groaned at the sudden appearance.

Hm, she grunted in response to Nakoa's teasing. Yes, it seemed Arla had made a new friend...

Thank the Fanged Spirit for small mercies, she grumbled when the woman finally keeled over into unconsciousness. Arla thought she had been rid of her and then was starting to think she'd never be rid of her.

Subtle, she said appreciatively.

Eventually, they made it to the construction area and Arla paused, standing silently in thought. If they are Hutt Cartel, we don't want to kill them. If they're just wealthy Hutts then we can deal with them. First step is to find out who we're dealing with, she said.

Her eyes started sweeping over the area. It was a "construction" area, and at least the outside of the area was designed to look like it.

She ducked under a hanging girder before pointing to an upper catwalk area.

We can get a better vantage from up there, she said before hopping up onto a large construction vehicle and vaulting up to a low-hanging palette suspended above and finally leaping up to the catwalk.

She headed inside, hearing the sound of music emerging from below her. The sounds of singing pierced the air, and as they progressed further she saw the bustling of some employees - organics and droids - coming out of the small building below and into another building.

 

[Nakoa Singh]

Looking mildly amused, Nakoa just made an "Mm" type sound as they moved along. When Arla started climbing stuff the Wrean grinned, loosened his suit jacket, and moved to follow. He clambered up and leapt across obstacles, at times seeming like gravity wasn't quite working against him the way it should, until he finally climbed up to the catwalk beside Arla.

Once there he unbuttoned and rolled up his sleeves to just below his elbow before swinging the jacket casually back across his shoulders. Amber-gold eyes narrowed as they looked below, catching the singing and movement of people. His head tilted slightly. "Wrong uniforms," he commented. Particularly a group of mostly twi'leks- both male and female- in skimpy attire. It certainly looked like something a Hutt would pick.

The entrance to the building the employees entered was tall, wide, and double-doored. Jazz echoed from inside, a live band and singer both from the sound quality. Nakoa gently stroked his braid with a thoughtful look on his face. "Something's off." He didn't know what it was and so didn't elaborate.

Stalking quietly along the catwalk he moved to a spot overhead the building. No guards visible on the outside. His lips curled downward right before he set straight down on the catwalk. "Keep watch. Please." At which point his eyes would flash a blue-ish color before he closed them. Down below among the girders and construction materials, a cat stiffened and hissed, swiping at the air, before becoming still.

It strode toward the building a moment later, at first stilted like it was on puppet strings before smoothening out.

@Phoenix