The shadow moved through the apartment quietly, knowing his time was running short - the Bakuran federal guards would be returning soon, he was sure.
He carefully took the scanner from one of the utility pockets on his chest and held it over anywhere the two strangers had been in the room. The red scan crossbeams went back and forth and on more than a few occasions beeped with a captured print. It was then quickly compared to that of the Senator's and all other individuals that 'worked' for him, until it was determined to be unknown. Once determined as a new print, he would take it and compare it to the Coruscant database of all known printed scans (which were plenty with the many hand access scanners that were throughout the galaxy). He had silhoutte data, voice data, and soon potential prints - all of which would lead him to an identity of these new 'investigators'.
Lastly, the shadowy figure used one more talent that he possessed. A talent that was known to only a few, and one for which he was able to demand such a high price for his information. He closed his eyes and began to feel the room, allowing the Force to move within him enabling an impression of the room and all who had been in it within the last couple of hours.
There was a sudden sound at the door. The shadow quickly came from his trance and looked in the direction of the apartment's entrance. Like a blur, he moved through the apartment to the bedroom where the great window was still blown out. Without a thought, the shadow dove out into the night air and plummeted to the streets below.
Brim watched as the others came out of Skully's to the waiting speeder. Caden aided the wounded Kex, while Dan carried the limp, but conscious, form of Neja. Kara led up the group, keeping an eye out for any new dangers. She was still a stranger to this group, and though she had risked her life for them, it was now time to decide whether she would follow them deeper into their intrigue... and whether or not she was wanted.
"That was fun," Caden said as the speeder whisked them away, sarcasm dripping in his voice. His side still stung him, more so now that he had a moment to think about it.
He turned to Kara. "Nice shooting back there. Thanks... again." He looked forward through the windshield and the quickly back again. "Not that I'm complaining, but why are you helping us in the first place?"
Caden knew that good Samaritans were few and far between in the outworlds, and besides, Caden didn't presume their new friend was one of them, anyway. Everybody has an angle.
Sam brought up the city map in his memory and plotted a course that would keep them away from the main streets. He asked his companions where they wanted to go, but for a short time took a winding course that he hoped would identify if they were being tailed.
Perception +9
Roll d20 + 9 = 12+9 = 21
"Do what you can to lose any possible tails and then we need to get back to the Senator's man," replied Dan. "The young lady would be safest at that location. But first, we need to ditch this ride."
Brim nodded towards Kex, "You do not look well, friend. How bad is it? Do you require a physician?"
The Naboo pilot could only mumble a response to Brim's inquiry. He was in shock and fading in and out of consciousness. The strain of the night's activity had taken its toll on Kex, after the man had taken such a grievous wound. It would be some time needed in a bacta tank before he would recover.
[OOC:] For the most part, Kex is being written out due to Nico's busy personal life. He may re-enter the game in the future but for now, he is on the outs.
With a grim expression Brim turned the rest of the group. "Senator Ranie might not have a proper facility at his home to treat Kex. What he needs is a hospital."
[OOC:] Going to give this a little bit until Nick posts, and continues dialogue with Caden, as to why.
"Well, we can try to at least stabilize him," said Dan. "Someone give me a hand." Dan takes a moment to find the medpac in his utility belt and kneels next to his friend, assessing the wounds and applying what little skill at first aid he had.
OOC:
Treat Injury - Roll(1d20)+6: 12,+6 (includes medpac) Total:18
Force Point - Roll(1d6)+0: 4,+0 Total:4
TOTAL: 18 + 4 = 22 (7 + level WP healed)
If someone successfully uses Aid Another, +2 bonus could be applied.
[OOC:] All right, I am going to move on the story. Kara can explain why she is giving aid, and what compensation - or whatever - she wants from it - later. (i.e. a lift off the planet, etc.)
Dan's ministration helped the wounded Kex, but still the pilot from Naboo swooned into unconsciousness. Brim and Qinos both realized it to be best, for now Kex no longer shifted about causing the wound to become agitated.
With no more moans of pain, the vehicle became silent. Sam had made contact with the senator's people and an air-speeder had designated a rendezvous. The droid steered the speeder in the direction, winding through roads that led out of the city.
Soon, the companions exited the stolen speeder and walked over to climb aboard the more official and luxurious speeders of Kal Ranie. Neja was allowed to enter first and then Kex, and then the companions jumped in as they had the opportunity. Caden looked to the driver, as he climbed aboard, pointing back to the speeder they had just vacated. "That one might be useful in the investigation. Assassins drove it and you may be able to get an identifying print or regsistrar."
Senator Ranie's mansion appeared once more on the horizon, windows glowing against the night sky. The air-speeder wound round the building to come to the large garage where it, and the other vehicle that had transported them, was housed. The companions exited the vehicle and Kex was taken away by a medical team that lived in the manse. Neja, too, was taken away to a place where she could get cleaned up and made to feel safe. The rest of the party was asked to follow the chief of staff to Senator Ranie's office. All could see the concern on Kal's face, once they entered. The door was closed and Ranie stood, "A gunfight!? In town!? I am getting news of a firefight! Is this how you are to run an investigation for me? I am trying to keep this quiet!"
"Well, sir, it appears someone is making a concerted effort to eliminate any leads to the murder, and some of them weren't so discrete," smirked Dan. Getting serious, he continued, "We did what we had to in defense of the young woman and ourselves; we never sought those confrontations."
Quote from: tomcat on Mar 10, 2009, 05:27 PM
The rest of the party was asked to follow the chief of staff to Senator Ranie's office. All could see the concern on Kal's face, once they entered. The door was closed and Ranie stood, "A gunfight!? In town!? I am getting news of a firefight! Is this how you are to run an investigation for me? I am trying to keep this quiet!"
"
Gee, Kal," Caden snapped. "Sorry we didn't stand around -
quietly - and get killed for you."
He made a show of touching his side, revealing the scorch marks and the mottled skin on his side; his own souvenir from a blaster bolt.
"We got the girl, and we got her
before she got murdered.
Twice. In the meantime, I have a hole in my hide and my co-pilot's lucky to be breathing. So save your preaching for someone's who interested...
Senator."
Caden turned on his heels and left the room. His old friend Kal hadn't fully revealed what they were in for, and he didn't appreciate it one bit. He went to check on Kex and seek care for his own wounds.
[OOC:] Very nice post, man! ;)
OOC: Sorry I didn't post earlier, I kept looking at the other thread... cause I'm not very smart.
IC:
Kara followed them into the senator's office and was starting to feel nervous. She had never been one to deal with the higher crust of society except when cheating them on a repair bill or in the gambling halls. But when the Senator started complaining about a gunfight she just shook her head.
"Typical upper class, send us out to do the dirty work, and when they find out guns get fired and knives get pulled on the streets, they complain like people are mobsters." she muttered as she found a wall to lean against. She looked around at the rest of the group. "I don't know what is exactly going on, but all I know is that this guy better be paying you well."
Kal fumed as Caden stormed from his office. The senator knew the man was right, but he was still irrate. Not so much with the people before him, because Dan was correct in saying they had not sought out the fight, but Ranie was upset with the situation. It was bad enough that a highly public official was slain so publicily, but also now there were assassins working the streets trying to eliminate witnessess. If it got any worse, Kal's worse fear could come to fruition and Imperial Governor Wilhelm might station a garrison of stormtroopers on Bakura.
All along, the planet had maintained it autonomy through political negotiations, mineral agreements, and essentially cowing down to the Emperor's will. Because of this, the regional governor only paid them the slightest of interest. Ranie did not want that to change. He would not see his world any further under the heel of the Empire!
He shook his head in resignation, when he finally noticed Kara. "And who are you?"
"A problem solver." Kara said. "I fix things, you name it, speeders, spacecraft, broken down droids." she looked at the droid in the party and blushed. "No offense."
She looked back at Kal. "There I was walking down the street, your group here was making a peaceful inquiry, and then a gang of thugs came in blazing, shooting to kill. I stepped in and helped to take down the thugs, thought unfortunately I had to use my blaster on the full setting there. Now I'm just tagging along, you know, maybe I can get a free ride off this rock when this is all said and done."
"If my vote counts in any way, I'll say you have," replied Dan. "Um, by the way, we've not been formally introduced -- I'm Dan Quinos," he offers, sticking out a hand.
Sam looks to Kara, remembering to turn his body so that his optical scanners actually face her, "I'm pretty good at self-repair...but there are some spots even I can't reach," and continuing in a perfectly matter-of-fact tone, "Can I have my jacket back?"
Looking to the senator, Sam adds, "Senator, I started a video recording when the shooting started. I believe we eliminated everyone, but if there's anyway we could access the secure systems to try and get an identity match, it may provide a lead to who was behind this."
When the conversation had died down, and the group was mulling over the violence of the evening, Brim offered up the other evidence that had been discovered.
"Our search of the apartment revealed a location that needs investigating ... Kreyvahl Storage"
Kal listened to first the droid, and then Brim, while Dan and Kara made each others acquaintance. The senator's mood was quickly beginning to change and he made a mental note to go and find Caden to apologize.
But first, looking at the droid and not knowing really how to relate to it, because the Bakuran culture had removed most artificially intelligent machines from their day to day living, Ranie nodded. "Err, yes, there would be no problem at all for you to download your video files into my government mainframe and I can have the Burea of Investigation do some comparitive research. It shouldn't take too long to run the faces through our database." It was Brim's statement that piqued the senator's curiosity even more, "What is Kreyvahl Storage? And where did that turn up in the apartment? The police found little to nothing, and definitely not that name."
Keeping an ear to the conversation with Brim, Dan handed over the data they found and code cylinder(?). "This is what we found," said Dan.
Kara stayed silent as she was still fully trying to figure out what was going on with this investigation. She did trade back the clothing she took from Sam for her jacket, with a polite nod.
Caden felt the chill of the bacta fluid, as it was spread on his wound, but then immediately felt it warm and ease the pain that had pulsed there with the beating of his heart. The medical technician completed her task, and then took a large bandage and set it over the wound, the adhesive edges holding it in place. "You'll wanna leave that on for an hour or two so the bacta does not get wiped away, but then take it off and let the area breath." She smiled and turned from the Bestinian and went to see to Kex.
Across the room, Neja was also being attended to by another medical technician. She had somewhat recovered from the evening's excitement, but still, Senator Ranie wanted her observed. After all, she was the only one who saw his friend die and she might be the best clue to solving the why.
Caden drew his shirt on, but left it unbuttoned. The man sat there quietly and watched as his friend was worked on, mindlessly fingering his holster and vest that lay beside him. His mind was still fuming over the senator's accusations, when the door to the infirmary opened and Ranie entered. The senator held up his hands, in a manner of surrender, and weakly smiled at Caden. "I apologize, Whitesun. I had no right." Kal extended a hand to Caden and waited for the other man to take it.
Back in Ranie's office, the senator had left the rest of the companions with multiple tasks. Kal had given the others access to his computer to run the multiple tasks necessary to see what they could find. Sam had finished downloading all of the video files and the droid was expertly going through the frames isolating faces and cutting the images out. The computer then mapped each image, taking in all of the time data, weather, lighting, distance, and other factors that the droids own sensors had recorded from the battle scene downtown. With all of the variables, the mapped facial images were then turned into three dimensional images and each of the assassins' heads were now slowly rotating on the screen. These were being compared to government files - civilian, military, and criminal - to make any matches. So far, the name Cho and Tank were shown under two of the heads.
Sam wrote the two mens' dossiers to his own system and analyzed both. It was very basic - criminal files on both; theft, public brawling, and one murder. Cho was a man who would take money to perform any type of job. Tank had been a bit slow in the brain, and always found himself in trouble. One last thing the droid noted was that Cho had a purchased ticket off of Bakura to the planet Rodia.
Brim and Dan had taken another terminal and had looked into the local listings of businesses, one in particular - Kreyvahl Storage. The name showed up on the computer screen directory, the address the same as they found on the code cylinder. The company's description stated that they had over 200 bays available for storage of items. They also had over 50,000 terabytes of data storage available for any person needing to store data.
Kara, who found the droid... well, a droid, decided instead to sit with the man and Rodian. She sat with her boots up on the desk, reading the screen along with her companions. No matter what they found here tonight, it would have to wait until morning for they were all exhausted.
Quote from: tomcat on Mar 21, 2009, 05:19 PM
The senator held up his hands, in a manner of surrender, and weakly smiled at Caden. "I apologize, Whitesun. I had no right." Kal extended a hand to Caden and waited for the other man to take it.
Caden too was too tired and sore to protest, and he could see that the man meant what he said. He shook his hand, saying, "I know you wanted to keep this quiet. I know why. Believe me, I did too. Everything we did was in defense; these guys were brazen - they came at us in the middle of a public street with guns blazing."
"Whoever we're dealing with clearly isn't afraid - of the police, the government, anyone. Usually, that means they've got friends in high places."
"I'll go share this with the Senator -- why don't you get some refreshment?" offered Dan.
- - - - -
"Or low places with the right connections and enough credits either way," added Dan. "I know we've been careful as we could up until now, but going forward we need to be extra vigilant. If whomever is behind this is persistent, and I believe so, the next encounter we have won't be just some apparently random thugs."
[OOC:] Hey Matt, Dan is adding to a conversation between Ranie and Caden and those two PC's are in the infirmary, while you are still in Ranie's office. If you want to have had Dan go to the infirmary also, and maybe be walking in to add the dialogue, that is cool, just let me know.
"Yeah, never underestimate what a person will be willing to do for credits. Work for a repair company in the bad part of town, and you'll see a wide variety of what beings will do to earn and spend their creds." She looked around at the others. "Now I could use a good shot or five of something strong, I haven't had a good drink since I got to this backwater slum."
Quote from: tomcat on Mar 22, 2009, 07:16 PM
[OOC:] Hey Matt, Dan is adding to a conversation between Ranie and Caden and those two PC's are in the infirmary, while you are still in Ranie's office. If you want to have had Dan go to the infirmary also, and maybe be walking in to add the dialogue, that is cool, just let me know.
OOC: I like Dan's addition - maybe dropping in on the two just as Caden finishes speaking? I think it adds to the scene.
[OOC:] Works for me, too. Just RP it out for continuity. ;D
Ranie and Caden both looked up as Dan Qinos walked into the infirmary, adding to the conversation. "The question is, how high up?" asked Ranie in response to Caden's remarks.
Qinos held out his hand with a piece of paper and showed the two the details he and Brim had found on the storage business. The code cylinder was not the 'key', per se, to whatever kind of locker that Seelig had, although it would act as one. The facility opened at 8:00 AM the next day.
Kara and Brim were left alone, with Sam, in the office and the Corellian decided she would find what she desired herself. Always loving a hunt, Brim decided to accompany her - as both found the droid a bit boring to be around. Kara left the spacious office and wandered around a bit, making her way through the living room, past a kitchen area, and finally to... a game room? Yes, two large billiards tables sat side by side and a dart board hung on the wall. There was also a long bar at the far end of the room and she and Brim hurried over to it. The back shelf was lined with many liquors, most native to the planet, but a few unique bottles that had may their way out on some merchant's freighter.
Never one to turn down a free beverage, Brim slipped behind the bar, found two glasses, and picked an interesting looking bottle of local fare. The Rodian poured two substantial drinks and slid one over to Kara.
"It seems we share the same fate ... Kara is it? You and I both stumbled into this group by chance, and now we find ourselves in the midst of an interesting hunt ... er ... mystery."
In typical boring droid fashion, Sam takes the lull in action to perform his routine hour shutdown for maintenance. If uninterrupted he will be good for another 100 hours (take that organics!)
Kara made her way around the bar hoping for a bottle of Daranu, it had been a long time since she had tasted the beverage made from terriberries, and then fermented in the sweetgreen fruit hard nut shells. It was an amazing drink, and she usually tried to have a few quickly, as 30 minutes after the first one, the alcohol would kick in, and it would be lights out.
OOC:
Just for those who want to expand their star wars alcohol list:
http://blogs.starwars.com/abelgpena/23
Abel Pena, the author, is one of the writers for several of the star wars saga edition sourcebooks.
Quote from: donimator on Mar 26, 2009, 04:20 AM(take that organics!)
[OOC:] That's great, Don! (D Yea, Sam will be uninterrupted, as the whole of the team will be bedding in for the night. I am still trying to get some kind of answer as to where the group wants to go next, but I will continue to probe with dialogue...
Also, I am not real knowledgable with off-world foods, drinks and games... so if billiards and darts were not in Star Wars, insert what you'd like. But, I am going to make the assumption that since there are humans out there, they too would like to hit a ball and throw a dart. Thanks for the beverage list, Nick, that is a huge help. ;D
Kara was ecstatic to see the small fifth of Daranu sitting there on the top shelf. She grabbed the bottle even as Brim finished pouring her a drink. Looking up, knowing what she did about the liquer, she gave the Rodian a smile and then grabbed another couple snifters and poured two shots of her own.
In the infirmary, Kal looked to the two men he had hired to do his investigation, "We need to search this storage place for any of Seelig's possessions. I want to know what he had there needing stored, and again, if it is personal, I want you to keep it quiet." Then the senator looked to the girl, "Have you questioned the young lady at all?"
She was his only key to his friend's death and Kal wondered if it were best to get her off this planet.
OOC: I apologize about that... skimmed right over the changes in venues :-[
"Not yet, the excitement of two gunfights and people out to get her has worn her down -- and us, frankly. We should get to that tomorrow before heading over to the storage unit, though. I have a feeling that more answers, more questions, and more blaster bolts will be coming shortly," cautioned Quinos.
"Very well," said Ranie. "Caden, you get some rest and feel better. I will show the rest of your friends to their accomodations. You shall continue your investigation with first light."
In the game hall, Brim and Kara stared at the walls and each had a sheepish grin (if a Rodian could grin). The Daranu had had its quick effect and both didn't feel the need to rise from their seats. Heads slumped as the alcohol worked its magic.
In the office, Sam's optics lit up and the droid came out of his rest cycle. The room was dark, as was the rest of the house and so the droid only moved about as needed. He stood quietly waiting for his companions to awake.
The rest of the Senator's house, lay quiet in slumber.
[OOC:] You may see the XP table to see the rewards given thus far.
The next morning dawned with brilliant sunshine and the large manor slowly came to life. Huge windows framed the ocean side of the house, and Dan stood there with Brim admiring the natural beauty of Bakura. The coastline stretched off as far as the eye could see and was a mix of rocky cliffs, topped with a huge evergreen forest, and deep blue oceans far below. Add in the sun and Dan couldn't imagine a more spectacular sight.
The morning bell chimed the call to breakfast and the two gave each other a nod, one following the other. Brim wondered what had happened to Kara. Was she still snoozing in the bar? He had risen earlier and made his way to his room. He had very little after effect from the booze, his Rodian biology absorbing and disposing of the toxins.
[OOC:] Everyone is in the dining room eating breakfast, please RP amongst yourselves to decide your plan of action. Thanks.
Kara stumbled into the room, her hair a mess, looking like she had gone 10 rounds with a Rancor the previous night. She found her way to an empty chair and more fell into it, than sat. While the sight was beautiful to most, she was blocking light from reaching her eyes and groaned.
"Man, that Daranu is some amazing stuff, you could knock a Rancor half-way across the sector with a bottle of that stuff." Kara looked around the table looking for something along the lines of soft fruit or bread that she could eat.
Caden, feeling much better after the bacta treatment, walked into the room and stopped at the window to make a low whistle.
"Nice view," he said. "I'm obviously in the wrong line of work."
Flopping himself down in the first open chair he could find, Caden started wolfing down one of everything that was within reach. While not quite ill-mannered, he definitely carried himself at the table like a man who was used to eating alone.
He looked around sheepishly and realized what he was doing; not that it stopped him.
"I was thinking," he blurted out in a muffled tone, as he was still chewing on... something. "We should check out that storage center today, yeah?"
He swallowed his bite and then continued, to no one in particular. "But let's shoot first this time."
The next sound of his mouth was a sharp crunch as he swiftly bit into an unidentified fruit. Caden held it up and looked at it oddly, as if he didn't recognize what it was. Then he shrugged his shoulders and gobbled the last of it down.
Kara groaned at Caden.
"Do you mind chewing a little bit quieter?" She started looking around the table for a cup of caf to help nurse her massive hangover.
Never one to turn down a free meal, Brim sat at the table contentedly munching on a modest selection of the foods offered. As he swallowed a particulary tasty bit, he noticed how Kara suffered across the table. It always amused the Rodian how humans loved their drink so much, but could barely handle it, usually paying a price the following day.
After Caden suggested the course of action for the day, Brim added, "Let us hope that no shooting will be required today, friend Caden. After all, we will be in a public place in the daylight. Shall we take a more discreet approach?"
Quote from: BrianM on Mar 30, 2009, 08:26 AM
After Caden suggested the course of action for the day, Brim added, "Let us hope that no shooting will be required today, friend Caden. After all, we will be in a public place in the daylight. Shall we take a more discreet approach?"
After hearing Brim's remark, Caden quipped, "We
were in a public place in the daylight yesterday..."
He then looked to Kara and said something that sounded like "sorry", but it was difficult to tell since he was already back to gnawing on another muffin.
Kara nodded and stood up.
"Where is the refresher in this place? I need to use the bathroom."
Sam activated from his post in the room and managed a mechanical "Good morning" to the group. He walked over to the table and pulled out a chair as if to sit, then not trusting in its sturdiness remained standing.
"Of the men who attacked us, I could only identify two in the planetary records. The leader, Cho, the one who followed us to the bar, is just a hired gun. He did have a ticket booked to Rodia, though."
"Brim, do you have any contact on your planet that might be able to look into that a bit more? Any plans he may have had after arrival? Seems a strange place just to visit..."
Then considering his last remark he looked again to Brim, trying to inject a hint of courtesy into his vocalizer, "No offense, Brim. It is a big galaxy, so why Rodia? I am just curious if he had a reason for going there relsated to all of this."
Brim turned to Sam. "Unfortunately, I haven't been to Rodia for many, many years. There's no one for me to contact there. As to why this Cho would go there ... we do know that there was a Rodian among the group that attacked the Senator. I'm confident this will be confirmed by the young woman. Perhaps Cho and the Rodian planned to travel together."
"No offense has been taken, Sam. Sadly, because of the actions of a few, my people have become known as thugs and ruffians throughout the galaxy. Rodia is like any other planet, though - it has great beauty, and many good people."
Staring at the table and shaking his head, Brim added, "My young nephew Greedo, though ... unfortunately he is one who seems destined for trouble ... I foresee him as having a tendency to shoot first."
;D
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Han_shot_first
"Well maybe if you reacted faster, you could've gotten a shot off first, eh?" ribbed Dan. "I will admit, I'll likely be more itchy to the trigger myself but stealth is the MO for the day. But actually first, we need to question Neja -- after a good night's sleep she should be more fit to talk. Once we have a bit more intel, we'll be better prepared for the storage facility."
Leaving the room, Kara looked around for a refresher where she could have her privacy and get herself out of her current hangover.
OOC:
Look for refresher, go inside, and lock the door.