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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Apr 11, 2020 17:04:32 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Apr 11, 2020 17:04:32 GMT -5
“It’s... hard to explain.” Io’an scratched the back of his head as they walked on. “Well, that’s not quite right either. It’s not that it’s hard, it’s just not consistent. Sometimes I just see flashes, one after the other.” Io’an snapped three times, rapid-fire. “Sometimes it’s a single vision. Sometimes I see through the eyes of whatever left the echo.” He shuddered, remembering the last time the power manifested — when he’d experienced the terror of a lone Archeri left confused and afraid in the Augur Hawk after the Coalition destroyed the hivemind.
“I’ve never tried it on a person, though,” he admitted, eyeing Kathar. “I’m not sure that it would work, but it’s an interesting proposition. If you’d be willing,” he started, gaze breaking away, “I could try with you. Perhaps once this is done.” The Force moved through Kathar in a way that it didn’t for most objects. That was true for any living being, but must be especially so for a Jedi.
Io’an smiled as they paused outside the Weary Spacer. “Though I’m going to owe you something at this rate, if you let me try that and give me some Shien advice.”
They could handle such haggling later. Io’an’s last thought on the matter, as the door opened to re-admit them to the grungy cantina, was that he felt quite fortunate for having crossed paths with Kathar. Master Yiu had always said the Force guided everyone’s steps, led them on through life whether they knew it or not.
Io’an wasn’t quite so fatalistic as his late mentor, but he couldn’t deny the luck in meeting the handsome ginger.
He stretched his senses out, in echo of Kathar, as they stepped into the bar, but learned nothing more than the Jedi had. A few patrons glanced their way but paid them no serious mind. They’d not been there when the fight broke out; as far as they could tell, Io’an and Kathar were just another two in to enjoy the establishment’s services. The table he’d taken cover behind stood upright now, though still unoccupied, and the floor had been mopped and dried since their departure.
Io’an glanced over all of that as he pushed deeper, searching for any echoes, any remnants of the earlier confrontation. The Force was turbulent, like the choppy air left in the wake of aircraft. But Io’an could feel something faint, near the bar itself.
"You're not welcome here. You or your friends." Io’an blinked. He’d focused so much on his delving that he missed Kathar talking to the droid and the irate cantina owner’s arrival.
“Sir,” he started, approaching the bar with his hands up in appeasement, “I should apologize for what happened earlier. When I came in I didn’t mean to-”
“What part of ‘not welcome here’ don’t you get?” The owner glared at Io’an. “Especially if you can’t even look at me straight, boy.”
Io’an’s face flushed. He’d avoided eye contact, partially from habit, and partially to look for the source of the reverberance in the Force. It was so faint and weak. “I’m sorry, sir,” Io’an leaned against the bar, setting his jaw as he forced himself to look the man in his one good eye. “But the truth of it is, those men from earlier attacked me and we have to find them before they hurt someone else.” It was, perhaps, an exaggeration of their cause, but Io’an raised his voice in a pleading tone as he spoke, until every eye in the cantina was on him, Kathar and the owner.
The man’s eye narrowed and Io’an feared he’d gambled poorly. “And why,” the man started slowly, voice low as his gaze switched between the pair of Force users, “should I help, you? Jedi." Io'an flinched at the weight the man put on the title. It was not friendly. "That is what they called you, right?”
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Apr 13, 2020 5:15:07 GMT -5
Post by Symm on Apr 13, 2020 5:15:07 GMT -5
Io'an's approach was a stark and, frankly, refreshing departure from Karn. Kathar imagined that if the Sith were here, the bartender would have their face smashed against the floor and a boot on their throat while Karn demanded answers. He imagined he would have to step in, smooth things over and calm the Sith down to avoid unnecessary bloodshed; words which he expected Karn would scoff at indignantly. There is no such thing as unnecessary bloodshed, he would say.
Or so Kathar imagined. He caught himself going down that rabbit hole while Io'an attempted a plea to conscience on the bartender. Kathar admonished himself and brought his attention back to the real world, disturbed at how quickly his thoughts turned to the Sith. What was wrong with him?
"Why yes, sir, they did call us Jedi." Kathar stepped forward, inserting himself slightly between Io'an and the bartender. "And you should help us because it's good business. Let my friend here look around," Kathar gestured around the room, catching Io'an's eye and glancing away quickly, "and you and I can discuss terms, then you can throw us out. Otherwise, I'm sure the other patrons here would be more than happy to hear how thankful the Republic and Jedi Order is for your years of helpful service."
That was it. Kathar had officially spent far too long in Hutt Space. The words, practically extortion, dangerously manipulative, felt like poison on his lips, but he knew it was the way of this part of the galaxy. While the bartender hovered between outraged and concerned, Kathar gestured for Io'an to move on, to look for whatever he could.
"So, do you have any idea where they got to? The people who called us Jedi?"
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Apr 13, 2020 16:45:09 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Apr 13, 2020 16:45:09 GMT -5
Io’an gave Kathar a quick, grateful smile as the Jedi spoke up to support him. He was no Jedi, but Kathar hadn’t dispelled that misunderstanding. For those who didn’t regularly deal with such things, what did it matter, especially if it helped them along toward their goal? The faster they could move on, the faster they could track down the bounty hunters, and more likely they were to avoid getting ambushed again.
“Thanks,” he said quietly to Kathar as he moved away along the bar’s length. The Force still echoed, but faintly. Io’an could feel himself getting closer to the point, then further, as he tried to find it.
Meanwhile, the cantina owner watched Kathar silently for a long, uncomfortable moment. “You assume a lot, Jedi,” he said, voice low and hard so that it didn’t carry. “I don’t know what it is you want or why you think I give one shit about the Republic, but if it gets you two out of my damn hair...”
Io’an gasped suddenly. He crouched at the bar’s far end, fingers pressed to a spot on the wall. He remained there, eyes shut and intense focus on his face as his body tensed, then relaxed. When he opened his eyes, stared distantly around, as if unsure of where he was, then shook his head, looking embarrassed.
The bartender frowned, eye watching Kathar with a ‘what-the-hell-was-that’ expression crossing his face. “You know what,” he said aloud. “I don’t want to know. Once we got those bounty hunters up — the ones that didn’t go running — they said somethin’ about heading to Starwake, a few districts over. What they’re doin’ there, I can’t tell ya, but that’s all I know.”
“It’s a nightclub,” Io’an said. He gave Kathar a long, significant look as he returned to the two. The psychometry worked. “I... they’ve got friends there, or something like that. It wasn’t clear.”
The bartender gave Kathar and Io’an a look as if they were both crazy. “I think it’s time you two head on. You got what you wanted.”
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Apr 17, 2020 6:04:54 GMT -5
Post by Symm on Apr 17, 2020 6:04:54 GMT -5
There was little to add. Kathar smiled to the bartender and nodded in his direction, "Yes, I think it is time we move on. Thank you for your cooperation. Probably best you don't mention this to anyone unless they start to think you helped us?" He turned away and walked to the door, pausing only to wait for Io'an to follow.
Once they were outside, Kathar allowed some tension to flow from his shoulders. This whole assignment in Hutt Space was going to add some grey to his ginger well before his time.
"So, guessing you got something off of the wall then? Really strange. I thought I saw something for a moment, like energy flowing from you into the wall then back to you." Kathar brought a hand up and rubbed at his chin, thoughtful, "I guess it's something like that. An exchange. Must be something to experience."
He allowed Io'an to lead, hopeful that the younger man knew the way. "I hope this isn't going to ruin your business here, by the way. I know being associated with a Jedi isn't great for reputation in this part of the galaxy.
"What was your business here, anyway? You mentioned some trade opportunities. You a merchant?" He asked, all innocent tone. Kathar knew there was more to that; the Sephi had dropped more than a few hints that he wasn't all that he seemed.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Apr 18, 2020 9:57:04 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Apr 18, 2020 9:57:04 GMT -5
With a parting look at the bartender, Io’an followed Kathar out of the Weary Spacer and back out onto the street. So they had a bit of intel. Not much, but it was more than they’d had upon their return to the bar. He closed his eyes, pressing a hand to his temple as he tried to squeeze out some of the fog lingering from the psychometry-induced vision.
“I did,” he said, opening his eyes to look at Kathar. “That could have been what happened, I don’t... I don’t know.” Io’an shook his head. “As I said, I don’t know how to control it, it just happens. And when it does, I lose myself until the vision — the sights, the sounds, whatever comes to me — is over.”
He frowned, brows knitting. That was the first time he’d put psychometry in such words. It was the first time he’d heard, with his own ears, how vulnerable the visions left him. A chill rolled down his spine. Why, he could not say. It wasn’t like Kathar was hostile.
They began to move again. Io’an’s thoughts turned inward, to the vision and to his dull, lingering headache, until Kathar spoke up again.
He couldn’t help but laugh at the question, though he watched the Jedi for a long, quiet moment from the corner of his eye before speaking. Kathar’s tone was innocuous enough, but his inquiry was anything but.
Bad business, to have loose lips with a Jedi in Hutt Space. All the same, Kathar leaped to Io’an’s aid when he didn’t have to, and had been nothing but enjoyable company since. “Not a merchant,” he said, chuckling again as he put his hands back into his coat pockets. “I wouldn’t be any good at that anyway. I’ve never been much of a people person.” Io’an smiled, though a bit of trepidation, of self-doubt, slipped through.
“I guess you could say I’m a field agent and tech support, depending on what needs doing,” he said simply. “Work for a small organization. I’m sure you’ve never heard of them.” A coy smile and a wink, and Io’an abruptly changed subjects.
“Oh, the barkeep said something about Starwake being a few districts over. I think I can get us there, but we should probably get a ride,” he glanced at the ever-darkening sky. “We could walk, but it’s already getting late.” Another long look and a hint of amusement crept onto his face and into his voice. “I don’t suppose you frequent nightclubs often, do you? They don’t strike me as a very ‘Jedi’ place to go.”
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Apr 26, 2020 18:56:56 GMT -5
Post by Symm on Apr 26, 2020 18:56:56 GMT -5
There was little else to do but nod at Io'an's attempt to explain psychometry. Kathar couldn't blame the other man for his inability to put it into words: From all he'd read on the subject, even masters of the ability found it challenging to describe it to those without the power. Feeling wholly inadequate to assist in Io'an's understanding, Kathar stayed quiet and kept on.
"You're probably right," Kathar replied. He believed Io'an: It was a big galaxy, and there were a lot of small organisations out there with their objectives in mind. There was no evidence to support Io'an belonging to anything but a legal operation beyond being in Hutt Space; despite Kathar's feelings about the place, he knew that there were people here that were trying to make an honest living.
Kathar nodded, looking around and spotting a speeder stand down one of the main roads. "There," he said as he pointed in that direction. He set off towards the bay.
"You'd be right about that, though from spending more time here I've been doing a lot of things that wouldn't strike people as very 'Jedi' things to do." It wasn't that Kathar was doing anything illegal; it was just very different from life in the Temple.
Kathar waved at a droid-driven speeder, which pulled up to the two and beeped questioningly at them. "Club Starwake. You know where that is?" The droid beeped once again and the translation to basic printed out on a little screen; not everyone could understand droids, after all. "Good."
He hopped in and, after Io'an joined him, the two got whisked away across the town.
Arriving just outside the club, Kathar settled up with the droid and disembarked. "Have you been to many clubs? I might have to follow your lead here."
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Nov 30, 2020 9:57:50 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Nov 30, 2020 9:57:50 GMT -5
Io’an couldn’t help but smile at Kathar’s answer. A Jedi in a nightclub; what a thing to imagine. “Don’t worry,” he said trying his best to put on a confident face as the droid-driven speeder pulled up to haul them off across the city, “I’ll show you the ropes.”:
He climbed in after the ginger Jedi and they were off.
The ride was short enough, and Io’an managed not to feel too awkward sitting in the back right next to Kathar. Not that the Jedi had given him any reason to feel awkward, but it was hard not to steal glances or mutter something stupid to break the occasional silence that stretched out as they rode on.
Io’an was the first out of the speeder once they arrived and threw his arms out and over his head to stretch. While Kathar handled the payment, Io’an looked to their destination.
Club Starwake had, miraculously, escaped the worst of the Archeri occupation. Some damage lingered on its facade, with scaffolds erected and fresh repair work still obviously in progress. Light spilled out into the street as the night continued advancing its hold over the darkening skies. People milled about outside, and Io’an could feel the pulsating of life from within the club almost as easily as he could hear the dull thud of bass seeping out to the street in time to colorful, flashing lights. Qiki would probably love the place.
As Kathar came up from the speeder, Io’an looked over his shoulder and noticed, at a far corner of the club’s front, a tree rising up from through split-open duracrete. It was pale, with a whitish-grey trunk and branches. No leaves swayed from its branches; they were mostly barren, save for a few violet crystals, each about the size of his hand, hanging from the upper boughs. A makeshift fence of metal crowd control stanchions surrounded the tree, keeping anyone from getting too close.
Io’an jaw tightened as a flash of anger overcame him. An Archeri tree. Why is that barricade up around it? Why haven’t they torn it down?
He hadn’t realized his hands were clenched to fists until he noticed Kathar standing right next to him, and he forced himself to exhale and relax.
“I’ve been to my fair share,” he said, putting on a smile that was more than a little forced as he shoved the tree out of his thoughts. The Jedi’s presence relaxed him, at least. He gave Kathar a quick eyeing up and down and nodded. His attire didn’t really scream ‘partier’ (though neither did Io’an’s, for that matter), but he at least didn’t look like the spitting image of a robed Jedi strolling into a club. And who can blame anyone for not being up on the latest fashion after the attack of the horrible fungus monsters?
“At least you sort of look the part.” Io’an’s smile was more earnest this time as he motioned for Kathar to follow him, “otherwise we’d have to make a shopping stop first.”
A smile line led into the club, with a bouncer at its head. People were moving in quickly enough; it was still relatively early. “The way I see it,” he went on, voice low for Kathar’s ears, “we’re two friends here for a good time, maybe to see if we can find some company for the night. Or...” he said, stomach fluttering and the tips of his pointed ears reddening, “we’re here... y’know... together.”
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Dec 5, 2020 21:24:26 GMT -5
Post by Symm on Dec 5, 2020 21:24:26 GMT -5
Growing up on Coruscant, one might think Kathar would be well accustomed to bright lights, gaudy facades, and throngs of people. The equation changes dramatically, however, once you factor in the lightsaber. When Kathar looked into the club, felt the throb of the Force that flowed through everything, clustered so tightly, the Jedi felt out of his depth.
Lucky for him, the Force had brought him together with an adept companion.
He looked towards Io'an, putting the crush of people out of his mind, just in time to catch the clenched jaw and balled hands. Kathar stepped up beside the other man, letting his gaze trace the path to the tree. Ah.
It was a source of frustration that Kathar could not relate. He wished that he had been active during the Archeri invasion, but he'd spent it defending the Jedi Temple. A task worth doing, certainly, but it doesn't help the sense of guilt he felt for not helping. It was one of the reasons he'd forced himself away from Coruscant, became more involved in the galaxy; somehow, he needed to make up for his perceived debt.
For now, Kathar said nothing, but he kept Io'an's reaction in the back of his mind. Something to talk about, if they ever got another quiet moment.
"Oh, good," Kathar replied with dry amusement, "fashion has never been a strong point. I just grab whatever is left-to-right in my closet." Mostly true - he made a conscious choice not to wear the Jedi robes, especially in this part of the galaxy.
The line snaked forward, and as Io'an spoke, Kathar leaned in closer to hear him over the sounds of the club and party-goers. He nodded as Io'an spoke to their reason for being here if they were asked, "Whatever you feel is more appropriate." Kathar didn't seem perturbed with either suggestion and, in reality, he wasn't. Whatever was necessary to get the job done.
He missed the flushing of Io'an's ears, concentrating instead on the line ahead and bouncers they were about to interact with. Kathar prepared himself, ready to roll out their story, prevent their weapons being taken away, but the Gamorrean guard simply grunted at the two and let them pass without incident.
Curious.
Immediately upon entering the club, Kathar was temporarily blinded by a strobing light. He raised his hand in front of his eyes, blinking away the temporary burn-in. The guard shoved a pole-end into Kathar's back, but it was to keep the man moving, to keep the line going. It seemed they were more interested in capacity than security.
He spied what looked to be a bar, and Kathar started walking over there, grabbing onto Io'an's hand to drag the poor man behind him, between the crush of people. The Jedi paused halfway there, pulling back close to Io'an's ears with a slightly raised voice to be heard over the pumping music, "Where do you think our friends would be?"
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Dec 7, 2020 11:00:17 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Dec 7, 2020 11:00:17 GMT -5
They moved along through the line, which advanced faster into the club that Io’an expected it might. Why worry about security when you could stuff patrons into the place until it came apart at the seams. All that money lost in the invasion won’t make itself back up, Io’an thought, darkly. Whatever his thoughts on the place’s business, Io’an’s attention quickly returned to Kathar as the Jedi gave clearance to move ahead with either proposed cover, should they need it.
Io’an nodded simply as they shuffled on toward the entrance, though he was quietly uncertain. Certainly, he was more familiar with one option than the other, but it’d feel terribly rude to impose his wants on the Jedi. If only Qiki was here, he lamented silently. She’d know what to do in a situation like this — she always did.
They approached the entrance and a large Gamorrean bouncer. Io’an braced himself mentally... only for them to be hurried through with a grunt and a shove.
“Well that was easy,” he muttered to Kathar once they were inside the club proper. Stuffing patrons in indeed.
Club Starwake’s interior was much like any other nightclub Io’an had visited. Bright lights, deep, pulsing bass as the speakers blared out some music he didn’t recognize. He got a passing look at the dance floor, a large circular space in a built-in depression in the heart of the club, before Kathar’s hand was on his and he was pulled off to the side with a start.
His ears reddened again at their hands touching, but he managed to mostly keep his composure as he stumbled through the crowd after the Jedi. They seemed to be approaching a bar, though Kathar stopped en router to check in with the Sephi.
“I dunno,” Io’an said, louder than he normally would have for all the noise in the bar. He squinted, trying to focus on the Force through all the noise and the overwhelming roar of so much life squeezed into so small a place.
There wasn’t much to feel, without knowing what he was looking for. He and Kathar were the only two trained Force-users, as far as he could tell, though even that was admittedly difficult to tell here.
Io’an looked around the club, straining for clues as to their target’s whereabouts. The bar occupied a significant space on one side of the club, with seating and standing areas ringing the dance floor. At the far end, dancers--he assumed ones working for the house--danced at the front of the floor above the crowd on raised circular platforms with flickering holographic lights surrounding them.
Io’an spotted a stairway and lift that led to the club’s upper level, which also ringed the open space above the dance floor. A velvet barricade blocked entry to the stairway and a much more put-together-looking guard than the big oaf outside kept watch between it and the lift.
A big man that smelled of alcohol bumped into Io’an and cussed at him for “blockin’ the damn way” and Io’an, flustered, motioned for Kathar to keep leading on toward the bar.
“I think,” he said, trying at once to stay quiet for privacy and talk loud enough for Kathar to hear him, “there’s a VIP area upstairs. At least if this place as anywhere like the Bl-” He cut himself abruptly, recalling that he’d been purposefully opaque with Kathar about his work. Awkward. “Other places I’ve been to.” A less than graceful recovery, but it’d have to do. “I don’t know for sure that what we’re looking for is there, but seems like a good place to start.”
If they could find a way to get there.
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Jan 7, 2021 18:14:47 GMT -5
Post by Symm on Jan 7, 2021 18:14:47 GMT -5
There was little to enjoy here for Kathar. The thumping music and strobing lights reminded Kathar all too much of a battlefield. He did not relish that comparison.
He stepped up to the bar, situated on a slightly elevated platform to allow all patrons to see it from where-ever they were. Clever - and useful. When approached by the bartender, a robotic servant, Kathar gestured at a nearby patron's glass and raised two fingers. He didn't particularly care what the drink was - but best seen cradling something, at least.
As Io'an raised the possibility of a VIP area, Kathar nodded and looked up. There he traced the railed off area, finally settling on the stairway with the guard. He noted as various patrons tried to get in, only to be forcibly turned away by the woman.
"Looks like they're a bit more selective about that. I'd say you're right." Kathar turned slightly, glancing back at Io'an. It hadn't been going over the Jedi's head that Io'an was circumspect about his employment. "Lucky you've spent a lot of time in places like this, I suppose."
The bartender droid deposited their drinks - some noxious concoction that smelled overly sweet while also extremely alcoholic. Kathar hid his disgust while he passed over a cred-stick. "Thank you," he said to the droid. "I think," he said to himself.
It was as Kathar slid Io'an's drink across to the other man that he saw an opportunity. A human woman stumbled down the VIP stairs, clearly inebriated, laughing at the guard as she passed. The guard woman simply smirked but did nothing to stop her.
"Here's our chance," he murmured to Io'an, before pushing off from the bar, drink in hand, expecting the younger man to follow.
Kathar slipped easily through the crowd, seemingly to naturally follow the tide of movement of the dancers. For a moment he thought he'd lost his target, but then spotted her through a gap between the masses.
Slipping free into a circle of calm, Kathar stepped up to the woman. "Excuse me, you're going to take us to the VIP area," he said, calmly and confidently.
The woman turned to Kathar, scowling, before shaking her head and continuing on her drunken way. Kathar reached out and grabbed her arm, turning her around to face him, "We're with you, and you're going to take us to the VIP area."
Io'an would feel it - the subtle touch of the Force, reaching out to pierce through the clouded mind of the woman. This wasn't one of Kathar's strong suits, but the woman being drunk already made this much easier.
For a moment, it looked as though she would fight it. Then she laughed and turned around, throwing her arm over Kathar's shoulder, "You're with me, and I'll take you to the VIP area."
Kathar reached out to throw his arm over Io'an's shoulder, as the woman started to guide them back towards the guard.
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Rugs
The ring-dang-doo, now what is that?
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Jan 11, 2021 16:50:02 GMT -5
Post by Rugs on Jan 11, 2021 16:50:02 GMT -5
“Yea,” Io’an said, turning his head slightly to hide a subtle blush. “Lucky us.” Was that a gentle barb from Kathar? Had the Jedi picked up more than Io’an wanted him to know from the near-blunder? Or am I worrying about nothing? Io’an rolled his shoulder, trying to act natural as he watched the bartender finish their drinks. He considered, silently, that it might be best to tell Kathar the truth of his work — or at least that he was with the Exchange — once this was over. He might owe the Jedi that much, at least, for his help.
Regardless, he pushed all that out of mind for now as the droid delivered drinks to Kathar, and the ginger, in turn, pushed one over his way. It was sweet and stronger than it looked. Io’an forced a breath out between pursed lips after taking a quick swig of it. “That’s a ‘forget your worries’ drink,’” he muttered, half to himself, half to his companion — though Force only knew if it carried over the relentless noise inside the nightclub.
Io’an was about to strike up conversation — he figured they’d be in the club for a while waiting for an opening to make their move — when Kathar muttered something about their chance and moved off. He hurried quickly along with his drink in hand, despite a total lack of desire to drink more of it.
“Kath... ar,” he said, splitting the Jedi’s name as he slipped nimbly around a couple who were too drunk and concerned with each other to pay attention to foot traffic around them, “where are we-”
The VIP area. They were approaching it, and Kathar’s attention seemed to have locked onto a woman who was heading toward the stairs up to one of the higher floors. Io’an put on an air of confidence as he followed Kathar, and just in time, as the Jedi approached the woman and — with more self-assurance than Io’an figured he could ever manage such a situation — informed her that she’d be taking them up to the VIP area.
At first, the woman took to it about as well as Io’an expected, but when Kathar insisted again, Io’an felt it--the Force, moving subtly beneath the nightclub’s white noise, from Kathar to the woman. As soon as he felt it, Io’an understood: a mind trick, and a successful one.
The woman acquiesced and Kathar slung his arm over Io’an’s shoulder. The Sephi felt his pulse quicken as he got pulled in closer to Kathar, but managed to keep cool. Externally, anyway.
The guard eyed them suspiciously as they approached, but gave the woman they were with a look and a shake of her head, then waved them through and up to the VIP area. It all seemed too easy to Io’an, but he wasn’t one to turn away a gift falling into his lap.
“Y’know,” he muttered for Kathar’s ear as they ascended to the next level, “you’re pretty good at this.”
“So tell me again, why am I paying you idiots,, if you find not one, but two[/b] Jedi and let them just.... Walk away?”
Ghrikk Abren rubbed his horned head, holding a pack of ice to where the Jedi had knocked him out. One of the Jedi. There weren’t supposed to be two. One of them would’ve been headache enough, but two... “Boss, y’ain’t bein’ fair to us here,” he said. “We almost had one of ‘em, but the other one came in outta nowhere and everything went to sh-”
“Do I need to remind you,” the Boss’ eyes burned with fury, even through the flickering hologram, “what is at stake here?” Ghrikk flinched. At least they weren’t in the same room. The Boss loved throwing around those magic powers he got after getting over the Archeri infection when he got mad, and he wasn’t very good at controlling them.
“You bring me the Jedi, and I take them to our friends in the Empire,” the Boss was saying, as if talking to children. Ghrikk wanted to look at the rest of the gang and roll his eyes, but that wouldn’t work with the Boss watching. “They set me up, and I make sure you idiots are set for life working for me. Not to mention the 10,000-credit bounty. But none of that happens if you keep fucking it up.”
“Yea, but Boss,” one of the others said, cautiously. “We need some help to deal with both ‘em. Maybe if you came to help us out...”
Ghrikk sighed, thankful that the cushioned seats in their private lounge were at least comfortable. This meeting was going to take a while.
The nightclub’s and VIP area more expansive than it looked from the ground floor. A wide atrium in its center overlooked the main dance floor below, and paths split off to a variety of areas. At one end, an array of private booths--split off from each other to give a facade of privacy but otherwise open--offered a clear view of the main stage on the ground floor without the annoyance of the crowd of regulars. The opposite end hosted a set of rooms, some with clear windows to see inside, and others completely private.
Io’an reached out with his senses, searching for leads, and felt his cheeks heat up at what he felt coming from the closest of the private rooms. Keep it cool, Io’an. Keep it cool. At least they could rule out that one. Probably.
“Sorry we got here so late,” he said to the woman leading them on to... somewhere. “You know how it is out there since this place opened back up. But, ah, where are we heading tonight?”
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