Private Dead End

[Tendra Daklan]

Grumani Sector, Planet Jutrand, Harvana Harvest Event Podracing Rotunda
Then

Mass panic and unrest was to be expected in the few hours following the terrorist attack, but fortunately for those coordinating evacuation efforts, the Havac Elite had yet to resurface after detonating multiple explosions along the surface of the city-planet. Here and now, the force was strong, an audible echo of fear and loss within the minds of the Jedi dispatched to rescue those in the targeted areas. For all their wisdom and power, Jedi alone would not be enough to wrangle in such a disaster, those in official positions of authority granting landing clearance to known and nearby vessels capable of rendering aid.

The expansive streets surrounding the rotunda worked well as a makeshift landing zone, allowing medical vessels to touch down and treat the injured, while land and airspeeders ferried others to safety. Everyone on scene was on high alert, but there were always those opportunists, able to take advantage of the chaos and turn it to their favor.

The pair of large airspeeders resting upon the wide metallic road were nearly full, and ready for lift off, when Commander Krotan heard what might be a tracker tone, it's beeping pace increasing as it eventually drew closer. Lifting an arm and waving to the pilots, the man hastily ushered the vehicles to take-off, a thin layer of sweat forming upon his brow as his hand hovered near his holster belt. As the speeders lifted up into the air, the datapad Arekk held began to calm, it's incessant beeps slowing as the distance between man and vehicle grew further.

Krotan had always known that linking the airspeeder IFF transponders to match his CR70's, regardless of the questionable legality, would prove useful someday. Was the younger man before him some sort of bounty hunter, tracking a target? It wouldn't be much of a surprise, even during a situation as unfortunate as the one that Jutrand found itself in. Despite the revulsion he felt brought upon by his own assumption, Krotan proceeded professionally and with caution, stepping away from the landing zone, amidst the slowly thinning crowds of officials and injured.

"You don't look hurt, son. Tensions are high here, and there's a lot of work to be done." Perhaps the younger, roguish-looking man who was clearly after something, could be convinced to leave without making a scene.

 

[Arekk]

JUTRAND, GRUMANI SECTOR​

"Commander."

The young man greeted Krotan with a military-style salute, fingers almost touching his forehead while the back of his boots clashed together. Old habits die hard, they say. His blue pools dangled past the man for a brief second before refocusing on him.

"I'm aware of the rescue effort undergoing right now and I completely understand the situation, however..."

He took a pause to collect his thoughts before continuing.

"I'm looking for someone. Surely you must know something."

Arekk brought the datapad up and tapped on its screen, flickering through multiple files until he found the one that contained important information about his mentor and old friend. Pointing between the screen and Commander Krotan, the young man pressed on with his inquiries.

"Have you seen him at all, here, in Jutrand?"

As with everything else the information would not be given to him for free, he knew that much, specially with the on-going situation with the terrorist attack. Just by looking around one could tell the situation was worse than it looked like.

"Any intel would be greatly appreciated."

This would be harder than he thought. Kark.

Tendra Daklan ​

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[Tendra Daklan]

Immediately, the Commander knew that Arekk was not what he appeared. Arching a brow in intrigue, Krotan gave the younger man a slow nod as he reached out, cautiously taking the offered datapad into his own hands. It had been an hour or more since his initial arrival on the city-planet, and there was no way Krotan had forgotten about the passenger he had brought along aboard the CR70 corvette.

Lifting his gaze from the datapad, Krotan still could not determine the intentions of the young man before him. He did not look like one to have any business with Jedi, but he almost sounded like one to the Commander. Direct, confident, yet also considerate. Krotan held out the handheld device, giving a brief nod of affirmation, before removing the military cap from his short, slightly grayed hair.

"Yes, Master Taidarious was dropped off at the Jedi Temple, only a few hours earlier," the Commander said, surprisingly even himself with his lack of discretion. After a moment, Krotan did not think it entirely unfounded however, regardless of however baseless his impression of the stranger before him was. Though military backgrounds could be faked, they were hard to act in most cases.

"Didn't give us a channel to contact him through, so I can't give you more beyond that."

Krotan knew that the Jedi was now likely elsewhere on the city-planet, considering the multiple explosions that had been set off in what seemed to be random sequences. Repulsorlift engines roared, the many piloted and automated vehicles on site continuing to do their part during the crisis.

"What's your name, son?"

 

[Arekk]

JUTRAND, GRUMANI SECTOR​

"Arekk."

The sudden realization that he was on the right track and closer than ever to find his old mentor made his heart race, years of built up what-ifs and why's came crashing down on him suddenly. It had been too long since they had separated and went their own ways so this felt like a small win in his eyes.

"Is he helping with the rescue efforts over there or did he have a different reason?" It could've been both if one takes into consideration how Tugoro just was. "Thank you for this information."

The young man pondered heavily as to where had Tugoro gone to and why, there was always a reason. Being a few hours behind his trail made him feel a little bit disappointed but the fact that they were on the same city-planet increased the chances of finding Tugoro.

"If he returns tell him that I'm looking for him. He'll know who I am."

And with that, Arekk brushed past Commander Krotan and disappeared in the horizon with the hope of finding his old Jedi Master.

Dead end or not he would try his best.

Tendra Daklan​

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[Tendra Daklan]

Try as he might, Krotan didn't think that Arekk would have much success in his quest, unless he really was a Jedi after all. Finding anyone on a city-planet could take a great deal of time, and that wasn't accounting for the current panic and various service lockdowns now in place due to the bombs.

At least now with the young man's name, Krotan could perform some sort of background check, assuming he had not been given a false alias. "I entered a secure channel in your datapad, you can use it to contact my ship. Jutrand was never my destination, so I won't be sticking around for long. Don't think the Jedi will return, either."

A curt nod in conclusion was all that the Commander could do now, unable to help Arekk any further at the time being. Soon, his corvettes would be leaving the planet, ready to regroup with the rest of the small Republic remnant fleet they were apart of.

Now

Though communications between them were usually brief and unenlightening, the Commander did his best to not forget about his promise to Arekk, not being one to disregard his word so easily. Communications would have continued too, had reception on the other side not gone dark for Krotan one day as he attempted to send a transmission to the Ebon Hawk. It had been some time since they had last spoken, and if Arekk had not already given up his search since then, he probably had now. Krotan did not know whether the young man he had met was still alive, only that the galaxy today made those chances very slim indeed.