A Shot in the Dark [The Darkmeld, PM to join]

[Chevu Visz]

Location: Woostri, Amanha Beach Resort

Bathing suits, large-brimmed hats, and dark sunglasses were hardly attire one would expect from a group of shadowy Jedi watchdogs, but a white sands beach on Woostri turned out to be the perfect place for the first meeting of the Darkmeld, the covert internal affairs unit created by Jedi Marshal, Chevu Visz to spy on the Galactic Alliance’s triumvirate. A recent decision of Grand Marshal Omai Rhen and his other Marshals as well as the nonchalance of Nemo Ven, when challenged on it, had sparked Coren Starchaser’s paranoia about the intentions of the upper echelons of the Alliance. To assuage his fears, and yes, to satisfy her own kernel of concern, Chevu initiated this first meeting for the clandestine watchdog group.

Security at the Amanha Beach Resort was air tight. The waves of the oceam could scramble listening devices from afar. Furthermore the Woostoids themselves knew some of the best encryption methods in the galaxy due to their culture’s natural affinity for computers. The messages sent to each would-be member’s Datapad was so heavily-safeguarded, even Spark Finn would be impressed. Once the message flashed onto each recruit's screen, it was revealed to be sent from a person with the callsign, “Snow,” based on Chevu’s Arkanian roots.

The Mirialan herself lay on a wicker lounge chair with her Datapad in hand. Her fellow Darkmelders would arrive soon. She could have been just another bikini-clad, green-skinned hotel guest, one with a few extra bottles or ten of sunscreen for the ghostly Spark. Her BB-8 unit, Two Bit circled the perimeter of the beach, looking for any sign that she’d been followed.

Now, she just waited.

[member="Tionne Thanewulf"] [member="Peyton Steele"] [member="Spark Finn"] [member="Harmon Taldan"]

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Chevu Visz"] [member="Tionne Thanewulf"] [member="Peyton Steele"] [member="Harmon Taldan"]

A blonde wearing high-waisted navy-shorts with a light blue-buttoned down shirt tucked in at the waist traipsed down the beach. Prescription sunglasses perched on the bridge of her freckled-nose. Spark and nature didn't exactly do well.

#sandSANDsandsandeverywhere #yuck #ImmakillChevu

At least, that's who she guessed this Snow was. The encryption was very advanced and triggered her curiosity enough to show. A small smile touched her lips as a BB8 unit rolled and chirped across her path in the sand. Just like Bees-neeze, except not blue. Were they all sassy? Shaded-gaze squinted ahead, zeroing in on a green-bikini form.

#yupChevu

Gangly-form stiffened slightly and paused. If she could face a giant sarlaac pit, she could certainly face this. The blonde approached from Chevu's side. "Figured it was you. How many others are we expecting?"

She really hoped Coren wasn't coming. She still hadn't seen him since that i-Comm text. She still didn't want to.

Bony-butt lowered into a chair across from Chevu and under an umbrella.

#woesoffairskin

 

[Harmon Taldan]

[member="Chevu Visz"] [member="Tionne Thanewulf"] [member="Peyton Steele"] [member="spark finn"]


Harm had been on some resort planets before. Some on contract with the Corps, training planetary forces and what not, other times for R&R. This would likely prove to be slightly different than either of the previous types of experience. He wasn't likely to get drunk on this trip, as Corps members tended to do when on R&R, and he wasn't in armor or uniform. He was, in fact, wearing a pair of midnight blue board shorts with tribal-esque designs in a lighter blue under a white button up shirt that was left unbuttoned, showing his abs and chest. He was in decent shape, nothing body-builder, but well toned. Random scars were on his abdomen and chest, but not enough to be an ostentatious display of tough guy. He wore a pair of sturdy sandals and a pair of sunglasses.

He saw further up on the beach, a pair of women talking. A BB8 droid was rolling around in the sand. He knew one of them, Chevu Visz. He'd been in battle with her, and knew that she was a real stand up person. The other he didn't know, but he assumed that this meet up was to introduce new people and a new idea. In his peripheral, he saw the force ghost of the Twi'lek that had been with him since Chazwa. She didn't speak, but merely watched. He approached the pair and smiled as he took his sunglasses off.

"Hey there, Chevu." He nodded to Chevu, waiting for acknowledgement before turning slightly to the other woman. He held out his hand to her. "Harmon Taldan, most call me Harm."

 

[Peyton Steele]

It wasn’t that she was an agent of the Crimson King, no, that probably happened sometime, in another world, another place, but Peyton Steele wasn’t really the type to do the beach. She felt a bit awkward, to be honest, and looked around. Running her hand through her loose blonde hair once more, she took in the games and the water.

Well, she was used for her looks to get into many places, so who would be suspecting her to be able to kill everyone here with nothing but that volleyball and the net?

It didn’t take much to find Little Green, but there were a few others around her. What did the message say exactly? Right, no, Peyton, that was definitely Chevu’s droid. So what if you don’t have a droid? You make do with your datapad and wit. If not your guns and stun batons.

She approached, but kept watch, nodding to Chevu in acknowledgement.

[member="Harmon Taldan"]
[member="Spark Finn"]
[member="Chevu Visz"]

 

[Chevu Visz]

Two Bit immediately came rolling back at [member="Spark Finn"]'s arrival. His excited bleeping told her he was looking for her astromech, also a BB-8 unit.

"Sorry, buddy," she said to her droid. "Organics only today." A sad beep was his response.

The Mirialan rose to her feet, brushing the sand off her legs. She turned to the slicer who was hugging her arms around her pallid frame. The other woman looked about as comfortable as someone in an iron maiden.

"Just a handful of others," she answered. "Small operation, but heavy hitters. Like you. Don't worry, Coren won't be here."

It was almost like she read the woman's mind.

[member="Harmon Taldan"] was the next to arrive. "I know you, Harm," she said with a grin. Well, not personally, but they'd flown together in Coren's squad so she recognized his voice at least. "Glad you could make it."

The next person to arrive was [member="Peyton Steele"], the cute blonde agent, and sometimes mission partner for Chevu. Yeah Chevu still had a crush on her, but today was all about business, so she kept her lingering glances to herself. She nodded back in acknowledgement and then turned to the group.

"Right. We're waiting for one more. Not sure if she'll make it or not, but either way let's get started. First, we all need call signs, and ones that aren't immediately obvious. Mine is Snow because I grew up on Arkania. While we're waiting for [member="Tionne Thanewulf"], give me your call signs."

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Chevu Visz"] [member="Peyton Steele"] [member="Harmon Taldan"] [member="Tionne Thanewulf"]

Tilting her head up, she looked at Harm from beneath the shades of her sunglasses. Thin-fingers came to wrap around his own in a quick handshake. It was clear physical touch...at least with strangers, wasn't her thing. But she managed a timid smile. "Spark. Spark Finn."

The blond-technopath maintained a neutral expression on her face as she sized up the other blonde on the beach. The one Chevu nodded to, not the one playing volleyball across the way or the one paddle-boarding on the surf. The beach always brought out the blondes.

#blondesholler

Color not from the sun tinged her pale cheeks as Chevu confirmed her unasked question. Coren wasn't coming. Great. So it was just her, these guys, and the woman Coren cheated on her with. #Alliancelyfe

"Hold up, Snow," thin-form squirmed in her seat. "I get that we're waiting on...someone else but I wanna hear your high-level pitch for this and what kind of safeguards are in place that you might've thought about. Cause I've definitely got some questions." Fingers came up to adjust the sunglasses on her face. More out of habit than necessity.

 

[Peyton Steele]

She looked at the gaggle of people. A few so far, she knew Chevu, recognized Spark as she was on a watch list, and wasn’t sure who Harmon was, but if Chevu trusted him? She trusted him. And the watch list? Well, wouldn’t you watch a known mechu deru expert if she was around your neck of the woods? Yeah, so would Galactic Alliance Guard.

Peyton didn’t have a droid, she did a lot of work on her own, but if she did? It’d not be the BB unit. She’d get something like a probe droid. Something that could sneak around and break into things. Maybe she should talk to that Talith girl, she made that floaty bot.

Intel, she could handwave knowing things.

“Call signs? And Thanewulf, huh? Lot of Jedi in this… what we all about Li--- Chevu.” Not Little Green, not here.

And Chevu was taller than Peyton, but shh.

When Spark spoke up, Peyton nodded. She was in Intel, what was this whole thing?

[member="Spark Finn"]
[member="Chevu Visz"]
[member="Harmon Taldan"]
[member="Tionne Thanewulf"]

 

[Chevu Visz]

Chevu spread her hands at the group. "Alright, I get it. You want to know the details first. Fair enough." She didn't need to explain the part about Coren leaving. That much everyone knew.

"Let me preface this by saying that I genuinely trust our leadership's decisions. Particularly when it comes to Master Rhen promoting [member="The Revenant"] to the rank of Jedi Marshal. I don't need to list the man's accolades. He more than deserves the role. And I trust him. When he was in jail, he spent some time showing me his memories, and it convinced me that he is no Sith. That being said, with so much at stake, everything we've all built to make this Alliance happen, Coren's leaving got me thinking. Perhaps there could be more than meets the eye, behind the curtain. None of us are privy to those closed door meetings of Nemo Ven and Omai Rhen. We don't really know what's going on."

A green hand rose to her chest as she panned her gaze to each one. "Do I want to spy on my own organization? No. But blind trust seems naive."

She let out a long exhalation, unaccustomed to being the orator.

"I think it's worth making sure that all of our leaders are what they say they are."

Reaching into her beach bag, Chevu handed Spark some sun tan lotion. "Here, you look like you're burning already."

[member="Spark Finn"] [member="Peyton Steele"] @Harmon Talman [member="Tionne Thanewulf"]

 

[Zonia Kalranoos]

"I'm not a Jedi, Steele." the redhead retorted from behind the umbrella, then made her way to greet individuals [member="Chevu Visz"] had summoned on Woostri - "Not part of the New Jedi Order anyway."
The way Tionne said it sounded all to apologetic. She removed the goggles from her head, merely to see all faces in natural light. The light-skinned Hapan was clad in dark gray long sleeve shirt and a pair of cargo pants of the same hue; sunbathing was out of the question.

"Chevu...Steel, Finn..." the ginger-maned woman greeted, then extended a hand towards the only man among them - "I don't believe we've met. Tionne Thanewulf."

At the mention of [member="Coren Starchaser"]'s name, Tionne's grey eyes narrowed a notch. She was not all too satisfied with Coren's decision, but understood him. He was the kind of man who couldn't condone a course of action which was misaligned with his inner moral compass and gut feeling. Thanewulf sat down by Chevu, boot-clad feet entrenching themselves in the sand.

"What Chevu is trying to say is..." Tionne added while glancing sideways to her Mirialan friend - "We shouldn't be entrusting the fate of the Alliance in the hands of only three people. During our siege of Kiffex, Xan let a Sith slip past our border security and appear directly infront of us in GA space. For what reason exactly, we still don't know. But we do know Chief of State Xan didn't do this on her own accord - she had consent from the other two."

The Hapan looked away, into the distance, where sea met the horizon.
"This worries me too."

[member="Chevu Visz"] [member="Spark Finn"] [member="Peyton Steele"] [member="Harmon Taldan"]

 

[Chevu Visz]

"Knight Thanewulf," said Chevu with a nod. Two Bit chirped a greeting at the red-haired Hapan and gave her boot an affectionate little nudge.

Chevu regarded the group, her gaze panning to all of their faces. It was a good number to start with. Her eyes stopped on the slicer. So much would hinge on Finn's participation. Sure there were skilled slicers outside the Alliance, but bringing an outsider in was much too dangerous. There was Brandon Horn, but compared to Spark? He was a...what did they call them? Script kiddies?

Her dark eyebrows arched at Thanewulf's revelation about Xan. That was news to her. Chevu added another bit of troubling news to the stack.

"What's also worrying are the rumors I keep hearing about former criminals joining our ranks, for example one who was quite notorious in the Black Sun. Now, I'm not saying these folks are bad people. Hell, we've all had to beg, borrow, and steal for the Alliance. But hearing about these crime lords in our ranks cements my decision to have an internal affairs group."

Was this the hardest she could sell it? They could all be arrested for treason or worse, but this was something she felt strongly about. She pounded a fist into her palm for emphasis.

"It has to be done in complete secrecy for our own safety."

[member="Peyton Steele"] [member="Spark Finn"] [member="Harmon Taldan"] [member="Tionne Thanewulf"]

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Chevu Visz"] [member="Harmon Taldan"] [member="Peyton Steele"] [member="Tionne Thanewulf"]

Freckled-nose scrunched in thought. She too, didn't know about Xan's action on Kiffex. And that was saying a lot for the slicer. And this idea was set-off from [member="Coren Starchaser"] leaving?

#frickenStarchasers

The unopened bottle of sunblock rolled in her hands as she stared at in thought. #SPF1250 "I don't think it's a bad idea but," sunglasses-gaze looked up at the others, "it wouldn't need to be kept secret just for our own safety. It would be for the safety of the Alliance. If others found out about this?" Free-hand motioned around them. "It would tear the organization apart. A very new organization apart."

It would take away trust in the current leadership, trust among its members, and extinguish morale. It was a HUGE risk. But was it a larger risk not to do something? And what about the bigger picture? Internal affairs was one thing but they'd each better not lose sight of the central mission of the Alliance. The big picture.

"Chevu, have you planned out contingencies for if this did leak out?"

What would damage the Alliance the least?

 

[Harmon Taldan]

Harm did what he did best, and observed the goings on. He was the odd one out in more than one way, being the only male didn't bother him, it rather flattered him in fact, but he could feel that he was the least powerful of the ones present, force wise, and he had the least amount of interaction with anyone in this group. He only knew Chevu from flying a few missions with her. He knew he was here because he was relatively unaffiliated with the Alliance, showed a genuine care for the Alliance's mission, and had shown himself to be trustworthy. The others probably brought real skills to the deal, so he'd have to make sure he stayed sharp at all times.

The Triumverate was acting in ways that weren't anywhere near transparent, even to fairly highly ranked members of the Alliance. A criminal element was growing within the Alliance, purportedly as allies, but it was still questionable. Criminal activities could destabilize planetary governments and generally make the Alliance have to split attention from external threats to one's at home. All in all, Harm was surprised that an internal affairs type organization didn't already exist, but he also didn't truly know how old the Alliance was, only that it was growing. Harm focused on each speaker in turn. He didn't have anything useful to add quite yet, but he wanted to keep up.

[member="Spark Finn"] [member="Chevu Visz"] [member="Tionne Thanewulf"] [member="Peyton Steele"]

 

[Chevu Visz]

“Right. Contingency plan,” The Mirialan nodded at Spark, her expression brightening. If they could get Spark onboard, Chevu would sleep better at night. “If our activities leak out and the triumvirate try to arrest us, we’ll go underground, live like outlaws. We’ll still hit the Sith, but do it on a smaller scale. Coren and the Starchaser clan will take us in, I’m sure.”

They would, wouldn’t they?

“The Darkmeld, as we’re calling it, isn’t something that you should join lightly. It could end your career in the Galactic Alliance, as well as have you blacklisted across the galaxy.”

The question was: if found out, would the triumvirate view them as traitors or concerned watchdogs? It was hard to tell. But power corrupted and powerful positions attracted the corruptible. The GA hierarchy certainly wasn’t immune to it. A slicer like Spark was probably used to living on the fringes. But the Jedi Marshal was worried about the others, especially Harmon and Peyon who were military folk. Chevu hated to do it, but if any among the group said no, she’d have to do a mind wipe. The Mirialan carefully studied each face before she spoke again.

“So, are you in?”

Immediately Two Bit chimed in with a whistle, and Chevu smiled down at him.

“I know, you’re in, buddy. I was talking to them.”

[member="Harmon Taldan"] [member="Spark Finn"] [member="Tionne Thanewulf"] [member="Peyton Steele"]

 

[Harmon Taldan]

There was a distinct difference between military people and most other types. Some would call it discipline, others said it was a conditioned lack of concern for the future. Neither is entirely correct. There is conditioning, there must be to get people to point a lethal weapon at another person and pull the trigger without freezing up. There is discipline, such is necessary in order to have any given strategy survive contact with the enemy, as well as being able to alter tactics depending on the situation. So, in a sense, those things are true. However, the largest difference between military people and most other types was the ability to live with the decisions they made on the fly. Harm had been observing everyone, especially Chevu, and hadn't heard anything he disagreed with.

"I'm in. I left my world for the chance to go out and about and see the galaxy, what better way to do that than when on the run." He said that with a grin. He looked for a moment at all the others, whether or not they were in didn't affect his choice, he didn't really know any of them, and they didn't know him. For that matter, the Triumvirate had even less knowledge about him than these people did. His best use would likely be as a mole, attached to operations that he would be attached to anyway, and reporting back on what was going on. Being outside of the chain of command had definite advantages.

[member="chevu visz"] [member="spark finn"] [member="tionne thanewulf"] [member="peyton steele"]

 

[Spark Finn]

[member="Harmon Taldan"][member="Chevu Visz"][member="Tionne Thanewulf"] [member="Peyton Steele"] [member="The Revenant"]

The slicer wasn't typically an emotional person but she couldn't help the stiffening of her shoulder blades when Chevu mentioned Coren and his group as contingency. #easyforhertosay #awkwardbantha #fethno. That said, the usually logical and not emotional blonde could see the logic behind the group. And what better way to keep tabs on the group than be in it herself?

Watchdogs for the watchdogs?

#headspin

Opening up the sunblock, she sprayed some on her pale arms. She listened as Harm finished up. Good for him because Chevu....probably had other contingencies in place. It was clear that the secrecy of the group was a top priority. Mulling over the internal debate, thin lips finally parted. There was risk and potential loss on both sides. But it made more sense to be on one side than the other.

"I'm....in. But so help me. If this group starts in-fighting, I find out someone is going after leadership on fabricated data, or we lose sight of the Alliance's mission statement, I'll wipe you off the grid so fast you'd be lucky to get a job cleaning mynock snot off a viewport."

The bony-gangly girl took a breath.

"And there's one other thing you should know, sources say Gabe turned down the Marshal position."

 

[Peyton Steele]

Peyton did this a lot. Sit and listen. The blonde was a forger, she was a white collar criminal, well… reformed, sort of. But one thing she was, was quiet. She knew what to say every time she spoke, in order to get what she wanted. Half the reason she was hired by Intelligence was her record of what she could do, forgery, and confidence schemes, and knowing what to steal. The other half? She was very collected, every step, every outfit, every word, could be used to her reward. No, she wasn’t always a honeypot, sometimes she just worked very fast and knew how to strike hard.

“We can keep an eye on everyone. Former criminals, they’ll work as long as you give them credits and a challenge.” She shrugged that off, it was a past life of hers.

“While I don’t necessarily agree with Starchaser, as we did just get an apprehend order for him, well, he might not be wrong. Force users, no offense, use their religion to get a lot of their goals done. But I’m standing with the Alliance, knowing there are others watching is nice. I am not going to worry about the Jedi, let the mystics worry about the mystics. But keeping the State and Military in line? That’s what I’ve been doing. I’m in here, but, yeah, we work to keep the Alliance sound.”

Peyton didn’t care about Jedi.

[member="Spark Finn"]
[member="Harmon Taldan"]
[member="Chevu Visz"]

 

[Zonia Kalranoos]

If anything, Tionne appreciated Taldan's dry humor. If he was as half as a practical man he seemed, they would get along nicely. The girls, on the other hand, had far too romantic view of what would happen if the Triumvirate found out they were actively spying on the members of the Alliance, Jedi and non-Jedi alike. The Mirialan was bold, much bolder than her Hapan friend, but sometimes she lacked sharpness which manifested itself through inadequate refinement of her plans. She never lacked initiative, but sometimes needed a nudge in the right direction, where Tionne gladly obliged.

"Let's not kid ourselves. Spying on the Alliance is grand treason. Gallows await us, not a life of a deep space vigilante." said the redhead, kind of bursting their bubble - "There is no contingency plan. I'm done running."

Her attention turned to the lithe blonde slicer, googles lifted above her brow to reveal a pair of almond shaped grey eyes. Out of all the planets and places, Chevu had to choose a beach in the middle of the day. If the Sith don't kill them, skin cancer will.

"Starchaser is not coming back, regardless of Sionoma's decision." Tionne said, then glanced sideways towards Chevu - "He knows something we don't. And you will find out what it is."
Was she asking Visz to spy on Coren too? Well, maybe.

"Xan is hiding something. I can't feel her in the Force." she continued, finally voicing her utmost distrust towards politicians - "Can't sense what she is thinking, or feeling. Something is blocking me."

[member="Chevu Visz"] [member="Spark Finn"] [member="Peyton Steele"] [member="Harmon Taldan"]

 

[Chevu Visz]

At the revelation that Gabriel turned down the Marshal position, Chevu quirked a brow. She was a bit disappointed by the news. Gabriel would make an excellent Jedi Marshal for the NJO, and his leadership could only strengthen the organization. She’d have to find out his reasons at a later date. It was his decision though, and she’d respect it.

Would she spy on Coren? She didn’t have to. She trusted Coren, and knew that he’d tell her anything she needed to know, and all of it in confidence. If she felt the rest of the group needed to know it, she’d tell. The Corellian and Mirialan could have secrets between them as well.

Chevu grinned. They were in. The Darkmeld felt right. How much did they really know about their three fearless leaders? Sure it sounded crazy, but there was an old Sullustan saying that went: “You’re only paranoid when you’re wrong.” The Mirialan felt it couldn’t be more fitting here.

“So, let’s gather intel for starters and meet up again. Tionne and I? Makes the most sense for us to trail Omai Rhen. Peyton and Harm? You guys can duke it between Xan and Ven.”

She gave Spark a look that said, "If you fall, I'll catch you." Or at least it tried to.

“You’re going to make sure we don’t get caught.”

[member="Tionne Thanewulf"] [member="Peyton Steele"] [member="Harmon Taldan"] [member="Spark Finn"]

 

[Writer]

“And what about me?”

Mira chimed in, clad in a floral white and pink floral bikini with a crescent beach hat concealing a majority of her facial features. She was used to the glaring feeling of the sun beating down upon her flesh – after being on Tash-Taral for some time. This sand was different, didn’t feel as dirty and gritty, a nice change of pace. She would look back to the blue and white BB unit and gesture towards Two-Bit. “Go make a new friend, hmm?” The sound Pixel made was one of disappointment and perhaps even annoyance as he bumped her leg and rolled on past her. Mira brought her foot up and flung sand in his direction before he could make it too far which of course, only irritated him further.

She glanced around the area before taking a seat upon one of the lounge chairs on the outer skirts of the group. As she sat down, she noticed a bottle of sun-tan lotion that apparently [member="Chevu Visz"] had handed [member="Spark Finn"]. Coral eyes looked up to Spark as she gestured towards the lotion. “Do you mind, if I have some of that?” She didn’t want to burn of course; a nice tan would be ideal. She looked to Chevu and winced slightly. “I do wanna apologize for being late – sort’ve got caught up with a personal project.”

[member="Tionne Thanewulf"] | [member="Peyton Steele"] | [member="Harmon Taldan"]

 

[Chevu Visz]

Chevu turned to face Mira and grinned. "Glad you could join us." At the arrival of another BB-8 unit, Two Bit began beeping and babbling away so loudly, it drew heads from all over the beach. Chevu shushed the astromech with a sharp hiss.

"Way to be clandestine, Two Bit."

She shook her head at the group.

"Sorry. He gets overly-excited sometimes."

She titled the umbrella to give the young woman a bit more shade. For a planet submerged in water, it sure was hard to get cool out here. The Mirialan nodded her head at Mira.

"I'm thinking that maybe you could find out if there are any business deals that seem suspicious. Are there any gifts or bribes coming through from the Sith? Check ship manifests? See if any of our higher ups are getting any special deliveries? Think that's something you could do?"

[member="Mira Rekali"]