Jovan Station

[BrianM]

"Very well, Caden. Proceed with care. We will watch your back." Like the others, Brim entered Zilla's separately from Caden, taking a table with a good view of the establishment, and ordering a drink for himself.

[tomcat]

Caden broke from the group and walked across the street. He entered the small courtyard where patrons were already beginning to fill up tables in small groups of two or four. The Bestinian looked around trying to observe as many people as he could, but trying not to make eye contact. He passed through the doors and made his way to a table in Zilla's main dining room. Caden saw Kara enter from an opposite entrance and take a seat at a long bar. A few minutes later, Britton and Kaida entered the outside patio and took a table there, leaving Brim to come in by himself a litte while later. Of all of his friends, it was Brim who grabbed the most attention from the diners in Zilla's Cafe, but he was soon forgotten as everyone returned to their own business.

Sam stood sentry not far from where they had all separated. His tactical programming was tagging each individual inside and outside of the restaurant, assigning threat levels and determining kill percentages based on range and current conditions. The droid ignored most of the data that was being produced, but still appreciated the fact that if something did happen, he could kill almost 75% of his targets from his position within the first minute of conflict. All the while that he assessed the situation within the confines of Zilla's the droid also monitored all pedestrians that walked past the restaurant, again prosecuting them for threats.

The lunch hour passed.

Zilla's began to empty as the patrons completed their meals and returned to business of the day. Around the companions, the restaurant staff commenced the evident preparations for the dinner time rush, working around them all as they did. Caden made eye contact with his friends around him and each gave the same befuddled look. No one had approached him. No message or contact was made. No strange calls came to the restaurant seeking someone named Dan. Caden shook his head. It was a bust and an absolute waste of time. Throwing a couple credits on the table, he stood up and with a nod to those who could see him, left the restaurant. Sam tracked in on him as he left and kept careful watch of him as he crossed the street back to where they had all originally started. The droid moved out of his position and joined Caden. A few minutes later, the rest of the companions were also present.



I have removed 17 credits from each character (except Sam) for their lunch and tip.

[donimator]

Sam reported only the normal activity outside of the restaurant while the rest waited it out inside. Nothing out of the ordinary. No suspicious contacts. He internally linked to the datanet to see if any messages had come through. He noticed his sentient companions seemed anxious. As they gathered together as a group once more, Sam picked up his scanning to see if anyone marked them assembling again.

[ZehnWaters]

Britton rejoined Caden, his arm around Kaida (still trying to maintain their cover).

"This whole trip has been a waste of time and money!" he hissed under his breath, trying incredibly hard to keep his anger in check. 

[sdrotar]

Britton rejoined Caden, his arm around Kaida (still trying to maintain their cover).

"This whole trip has been a waste of time and money!" he hissed under his breath, trying incredibly hard to keep his anger in check. 

"Not entirely," Caden said, not yet interested in explaining why until his cargo was in their hold.
"Besides, we may still meet Senator Organa... and I'm not sure that Dan's contact's given up. He or she may just be re-assessing his options, given that Dan wasn't there, and I was."

Caden looked around, from corner to corner across the busy thoroughfare.

"In fact, whoever it is might be watching us right now - that's what I would do - and noticing that we're all together. No need to give up just yet."
He clapped Britton on the shoulder and motioned toward the docks.

"Let's get back to the ship - at least the money part might be on its way to a temporary solution there as we speak."

[Jingo]

"I just hope this whole thing isn't some elaborate setup," Kaida frowned as she detached herself from Britton, keeping a wary eye out.

She followed Caden back to the starship, scanning the streets and buildings for any sign of danger. Maybe their information was compromised and this just a ruse to get them all together, to get a count of the Aegis's crew, to get them out in the open, away from the relative security of the ship.

She kept her hands free and ready to draw her blaster if needed, but outwardly trying to appear nonchalant and carefree.

[ZehnWaters]

Britton grunted a dissatisfied reply but continued on with everyone.

"Sam, did you get anything from your position?" Britton asked.  "Anyone suspicious?"

[donimator]

"Nothing. Some people came. Some people left. Some people passed by. But none gave any indication they were searching us out or watching."

[tomcat]

Very cool! Characters talking to one another... Tommy likey!



The companions turned their course back towards the Aegis. Some were frustrated, but Caden's good mood seemed to temper most. Everyone wondered at what he might be talking about, but assumed that the man had created some new work for them, and by his mood must be of real value.

They took a set of stairs down that switch-backed through four tiers of landings and finally deposited them on a busy road on the Docks. There were nice elevators and escalators in the center of the Resort level that would have been less laborious, but Caden felt the need to be more inconspicuous. Across the street from where they stood was a mammoth repair shop within which sat a well used YT-1300. Sparks spattered from her outside hull as a technician welded on a new patch. There was a group of at least seven non-humans milling about discussing the ship. Brim noticed one of his own kind standing in the center of the group his finger outstretched and pointing at a human male shop owner. The conversation could not be heard.

On their side of the street was a long row of storage units. Some had their doors open and interiors exposed, but most were closed and secured. Between every third or fourth unit was a thin alley or mechanic access passage. The group made their way down the street in the direction they needed to go, passing other pedestrians as they went. They made a right turn, then a left, but then stopped when they saw a massive celing conduit that sagged from its coupling. Electricity sparked and flared above, all the while station workers and repairmen set about re-directing traffic and pedestrians and a repair lift was risen into place.

The companions could see the entrance to their docking bay not twenty yards beyond the blown out conduit, and some cursed that they'd now need to make the long way around. Sam eyed the damage and wondered what could have happened. They turned around to head back and immediately noticed the figure standing there in the long, hooded cloak.

[tomcat]

Sallo stood across the bay looking at the Aegis. He knew it was the ship he was looking for. He also could tell that the vessel was vacant for no one had exited recently to speak with the freight handler that had just deposited what looked to be at least twenty-plus tons of merchandise.

He made his way to the dockmaster's shack and a few credits passed made it so that he had the freight manifests in his hand. He looked down the list and saw no listing for the Aegis' cargo - that meant it was not moving through legal channels. The Duros dockmaster took back the manifest, as Corbin queeried, "So, where is that merchandise going?"

The dockmaster looked, "What merchandise?" Sallo dropped another twenty credits on the counter, which disappeared in the Duros long fingers. "Oh, that cargo. It is being moved to Taris."

"Thanks," said the bounty hunter. He turned, walked out of the office and looked around the large hangar bay. Jovan was not an Imperial hot spot, although he had seen a few of the stormtrooper contingent that was stationed here, but still he did not want to have the same thing happen as did on Cloud City. This time he wanted a quick, easy grab and then be on his way. If he made his attempt here, near the Aegis, his mark might have another chance to get away. No... he needed to track them on the streets here and do it quick and quiet.

Sallo walked back towards the Aegis and then moved to find a nice quiet place to hide, and watch.

[donimator]

Sam immediately scanned the figure as best he could and discerned no visible threat. He just looked too interested in them. Friend or foe, he couldn't say, but he was getting tired of looking over his shoulders. Sam plotted the quickest, most public alternate route to the docking bay and sent it to Caden's communicator. Staying in the open may be to their advantage, especially with the Imperial presence. He kept his vocalizer low, "Britton, remain with me. We will tail the group and see what this being wants. Very visibly. I tire of running. Let's let them know they are being watched."

[watanabe]

Kara sat at the bar and nodded to the bartender.

"Something hard that'll help me forget my luck." she called out sliding a few credits onto the bar as she glanced around the room to see if she or her companions were being watched.

OOC:

Perception +10 =

Rolled 1d20 : 1, total 1

[ZehnWaters]

Britton nodded slightly.  He placed a hand on Kaida's shoulder then slipped to the back with Sam.

Rolled: 19+8 = 27

[Jingo]

Kaida glanced at the sparking electrical conduit that blocked their route to safety, and then eyed the hooded figure watching them. "Caden," she said softly, "do you believe in coincidences?"

She wondered. Was this another bounty hunter or could it be their contact, or something else entirely?

[tomcat]

"In this instance, you can believe in coincidence," replied the hooded figure, surprising Kaida that her soft spoken words were heard. "But your actions thus far today would allow for little else. If you were trying to be discreet in your movement, it was not attained."

The companions sized up the man - just over six feet, with broad shoulders framing a slender, but athletic, body. The cloak was draped over his face in the style of the Jedi, although the clothing were not of the same loose-fitting type that the Jedi were known for. No weapons were evident either in a holster, or aimed at them. The latter fact brought a bit of relief to the young noblewoman.

The figure spoke again, "You will follow me."

The statement came with no option in its inflection. To add credence to what he said, the figure turned from the group and began to walk back the way they had come.



do you follow?