CT-312
Character
Quinn had placed her on temporary leave.
Something about a forced vacation and needing to learn how to take a break. CT-312 had interpreted that as freedom to pursue other productive matters. There was still work requiring her attention within the former Black Sun territories. That had led the Scout to her current location: some club on Dandoran.
Around her, patrons crowded together with their voices competing with the music. The pulsing lights rolled across the matte surface of the camouflaged Halycon’s plating. CT-312 made no effort in joining the “fun”. Instead, BARCA listened for her, sifting through the sounds and separating the overlapping conversations into distinct audio threads. Most were discarded immediately, but anything that might be useful was transcribed. The information was briefly displayed across CT-312’s HUD before being stored as the Scout continued moving slowly around the Club’s floor.
A sharp tone sounded inside her helmet. One of the audio threads had changed. Quickly, multiple threads turned into hurried whispers. A disturbance that spread outward, immediately catching the attention of the club goers. Many turned their heads to see what was happening while others moved away. BARCA highlighted a word repeated throughout the surrounding conversations.
[ SITH ]
CT-312’s brow rose behind the visor. She made her way further into the crowd, towards the source of the commotion. There was a break in the surrounding frightened patrons. A Rodian on the ground, and standing over him was a familiar looking cloaked and masked figure. Recognition followed along with BARCA’s confirmation.
Darth Strosius
. CT-312 had never interacted with the Sith, but she knew of him from the dossiers provided to her as Quinn’s head of security. More recently, the Scout had seen him fighting from the viewing box above the arena on Jutrand Academy.What was he doing this far from Sith Space?
She remained among the onlookers and observed the interaction. A question about the Black Sun and one of its Blackwing Facilities caught her attention. CT-312 prepared to move closer—
Stopping in the middle of a step. Another figure approached the Sith. BARCA found a match from archived records. A Jedi. CT-312 eased back into the crowd, blending with a group of patrons that were pretending not to watch. Her armor became partially concealed in the darkness between each pulse of the club’s lighting. An amused breath escaped through the helmet’s modulator, drowned out by the whispers and chatter around her as the exchange unfolded.
It was strange to hear a Jedi advise the Rodian lying on the floor that his predicament was, in essence, his own fault for refusing to cooperate with a Sith. During CT-312’s brief service within the Galactic Alliance, the Jedi had been rigidly opposed to the Sith. She had witnessed much the same within the High Republic. Merely speaking the word Sith could turn suspicion into aggression with remarkable speed, leading to a witch hunt.
Yet here stood one of their own… speaking calmly to Darth Strosius, while showing little concern for the trembling Rodian at his feet, criminal or otherwise. Most unusual. CT-312’s helmet tilted a fraction as she continued watching.
Perhaps the Jedi were not so different from the Sith after all.
The continued interaction was nothing like the occasional brawl that erupted inside the clubs across lawless space. Eventually, the Rodian surrendered a disc, containing the information the Sith had come to retrieve. The Jedi continued talking as though nothing had happened, even after the Rodian was struck down. There was an uneasy stillness for several seconds before conversation returned. Everyone pretended nothing had happened. Those nearest to the corpse relocated elsewhere.
Only when the exchange between the two had ended did CT-312 step out from among the spectators. BARCA chimed. From the rear of the club, security and sanitation droids had been deployed from the Club’s owner to converge on the corpse. She approached the cloaked figure. “There are more effective ways to make someone talk and hand over information.” Before the enroute droids could reach the body, CT-312 lowered herself beside it and began patting down the Rodian's clothing. “Causing less of a scene and attracts fewer wandering eyes.” Checking the inside of his jacket, her gloved hand emerged with a small collection of credit chips and a personal datapad. CT-312 continued by rolling the body enough to finish the search. “Granted, I’m sure you already know that.”
CT-312 found a concealed packet along his belt, then felt a smaller object tucked behind it. Her fingers closed around it and withdrew a compact encryption key. That explained the bargain the Rodian had been trying to make. Her visor turned towards the Sith while she rose. “Awfully far from Sith space, aren't we, Lord Strosius?”
The cleanup droids arrived behind her, their mechanical limbs extending to secure the corpse. CT-312 stepped aside and allowed them to work. Two miniature slicer droids crawled from separate pouches along her belt and moved across her gauntlet towards the Rodian's datapad and the recovered key. Immediately, streams of information appeared across CT-312’s HUD as BARCA monitored their progress. She faced the Sith fully and inclined her helmet in a brief greeting.
“CT-312.”
There was little reason to pretend he would not recognize her armor that she wore while on duty beside the Princess. “You retrieved your data, but it appears the deceased intended to remain alive long enough to provide the encryption key.” The Scout’s visor lowered toward the disc in Strosius’s possession before returning to his mask. “If I may?” CT-312 extended an open palm between them. “Just to make sure the key works.”
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