Family Reunion

[Mereel Vaun]

Brig of Valentine's Starship​

En route to the Clan Vaun estate on Glacies Domum​

Spoiler

img src: https://www.deviantart.com/dennis-yeung/art/castle-77537034

​

​

Mereel was stirred from his sleep by the shaking floor as the ship dropped out of hyperspace. He yawned and attempted to shake the numbness out his arms by waving them around in front of him, but found himself unable to. There must have been binders or something else tying his hands behind his back.

Osik.


Double osik.. where's my helmet?

Mereel sat up, finding himself on a thin plastifoam mat shoved against the left side of a brig cell. He quickly glanced around the room trying to find where his helmet had gone off to. Instead of his eyes first landing on his helmet, he saw that [member="Seo Linn"] was across the room from him.

He couldn't keep his mouth shut, "Osik. Seo? Didn't I tell you to run?"

​

[member="Seo Linn"] | [member="Detrik Vaun"] | [member="Koda Fett"] | [member="Auri Vesta"]​

 

[Koda Fett]

It seemed that Mereel was worth all that trouble, even capturing a second target. Surely more credits were to come with it, no? Fett wasn't much of a negotiator, he was known to get what he wanted with ease through one action or another. It was, however, always interesting in seeing an individual deny the Bounty Hunter what it was that he desired, though.

His boots clinged clanged against the metallic interior of the Vessel that he'd seemingly stolen. The truth wasn't as bad, but Valentine may think so as he potentially remains on Carida, for now. The Ugnaut, Boltz, begins to lower the ship into the landing bay. A grinding hiss and a blow of steam came about as the gear touched the surface, enabling them to disembark with ease when the time came.

​Fett stood within the brig, his Carbine in hand as the T-Visor glanced back and forth between the two. The both of them bound at their wrists unable to move them freely. The shields that kept them in place had flickered away, and they could now move. "Get up." The Bounty Hunter demanded, "And walk." He persisted, surely making it clear as to what this is was.

In the meantime, that Ugnaut had sent a message off to Detrik Vaun and his people. Alerting the man of Fett's presence, his intent, and his cargo.

[member="Mereel Vaun"] - [member="Seo Linn"] - [member="Detrik Vaun"] - [member="Auri Vesta"]

 

[Seo Linn]

Coming up out of her sleep when Mereel started moving around, Seo found her arms secured behind her. Her eyes found her companion in a similar situation next to her in a different cell. They were on the same ship as before. One built for the carrying around of prisoners.

She looked at Mereel as he sat up and asked her why she hadn't run when he told her to. While he may not yet know many of her tells, she looked out the door to what would be the entry area where they were taken.

"I was already on the ship with you."

The man ​that had captured them was fast approaching and came into the room once the ship landed. Ordering the two of them up and moving, Seo did as he requested. Around them the force fields faded away and they could leave the cells they had been held in. It wasn't a request for them to start walking and she kept her face passive around him. Mereel might pick up on some of her language and she was tense at the moment. Like a coiled spring, not that she was going to go into any action at the moment. At least not until there was a purpose for it. There was a reason the two of them were alive.

[member="Koda Fett"] [member="Mereel Vaun"] [member="Detrik Vaun"] [member="Auri Vesta"]

 

[Detrik Vaun]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL-g5ca6X_E​

There was an escort waiting on the landing platform, a spacious, circular pad built just off to the side of the main castle. Eight armor-clad mandalorians stood at attention in two rows to either side of the ship's boarding ramp, and a ninth stood facing it, his gauntleted arms crossed. The armor was distinctly mandalorian in style, the T-shaped visor, the shiny metal plates adorning a muted gray undersuit. To a keen observer however, it was clear that there was no beskar on the lot of them. The plates and helms were too shiny, some sort of alloy from Glacies Domum most likely. They were armed with blasters, disruptor rifles in fact. Most governments banned their use, but the men of Clan Vaun cared little for the restrictions set by the rest of the galaxy.

When the bounty hunter descended the ramp with the prisoners the men straighten noticeably. Unlike those in the Empire, Clan Vaun was unaccustomed to dealing with those from other clans. Several of the younger mando'ade puffed out their chests a bit, wishing to provide an intimidating first impression.

"Alor Vaun wishes me to welcome you to Glacies Domum, Koda of Clan Fett. Yours is an old, respected clan and we thank you for your services." The helmeted man in the center gave him a small head nod. His helmet bore seven marks along the thin rim above his visor, right about where his left temple would be.

"Yet we were not expecting to be graced with the presence of a Jedi." This would have likely been followed by the man spitting on the ground if he hadn't been wearing a helmet. There was a deep-seated ire in his voice. "You will present them both before the Alor, and he will see that you are duly compensated. Follow me."

The mandalorian turned without waiting for a response, and the group of nine Vaun soldiers, a bounty hunter, and two prisoners soon entered into the castles interior. They took a series of long winding corridors through the castle, passing rows of shut doors occasionally, other times passing great, open archways that lead into courtyards, or sparring rooms, or elevator terminals. Finally, they came to a single elevator shaft, this one larger than the others, able to hold ten men easily with plenty of room left over.

They filed one by one into the metallic lift, which stood in stark contrast to the earthy tones of the rest of the castle. And then they shot upwards, the inertial dampeners keeping their feet balanced and their lunches in their stomachs.

There were more men waiting when they stepped off the elevator, though they were not armored like the escort was. Two approached the prisoners curtly, taking small circular chips, about inch in diameter, and securing them onto their necks. It couldn't have felt entirely comfortable, and the men made no attempt to be gentle.

Then the escort stepped aside, leaving only the mandalorian officer who had been leading the way to usher them into the adjacent room. The door sealed behind them as they entered. It was a sparse room, empty save only for an impossibly long desk framed in front of an even longer window, which overlooked expansive staging ground atop the castle and beyond to the hills that surrounded the basin where the castle had been erected.

Detrik Vaun rested his elbows on the edge of his desk, his hands folded one into another. His face was expressionless, save for a slight curling frown.

"Leave us." He spoke, making a small waving gesture with his hand. The officer instantly nodded, turned on his heels, and left. "So you've brought him alive. Fortunate for me. I pray he put up a good fight at least." He snuffed a bit, it was almost a laugh.

"Well don't just stand there, come forward. I'll deal with the girl in a moment. You probably have no idea why I put that bounty on you in the first place, do you?"

[member="Mereel Vaun"] [member="Koda Fett"] [member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Mereel eagerly obliged the bounty hunter's instruction as soon as he heard it. He had to be conscious when they took him to his father, and that meant putting up as little resistance as possible until he got to wherever it was they would be meeting. In fact, he had offered up so little resistance that he hadn't said a single thing during their entire trip to Detrik's office, even going so far as not complaining about his missing helmet as the bounty hunter escorted him and Seo off of the ship.

He had far more pressing things to care about than the helmet anyway.

As they followed Detrik's men through the castle hallways, Mereel was a silent boiling pot of emotions. He was now following the lackeys of the being he hated above all else in the galaxy. Slavers, the Sith, any chakaar who ordered planetary bombardments - all failed to hold a candle to the complete and utter contempt he felt towards his biological father he had declared dar'buir - no longer his father. It was the greatest dishonor a Mandalorian could receive, making it the best way he could possibly ever describe his feelings toward the man.

Although he fully planned on killing the man the second he got the chance, he didn't have the benefit of being able to seethe in his emotions during their walk to Detrik. He had picked up on Seo's mannerisms as early as when they had been in the holding cells on the bounty hunter's ship. It was another variable to add into the equation of killing Detrik, something he couldn't leave to risk. Maybe there was something more to it than that, but his primary concern was still dealing with Detrik

So, like Seo, he feigned being calm. Feigning the serenity he felt during meditation, he reached out to her mind through the force.

Easy.. Easy. This is going to be fine. The bounty hunter hasn't killed us, and Detrik wouldn't bring me here just to kill me personally. Loosen up.

She would be able to read through his thin veil of calm as easily as he read through her passivity, but he didn't care. He just had to make sure she wasn't caught up in the line of fire when they reached Detrik.

The shock chips that the guards put on their necks before entering the room didn't hinder his intent, nor did the bounty hunter following them into the room. As Detrik dismissed the last of the guards, Mereel observed the man on the other end of the desk with disdain made clearly visible by the vast amount of light offered by the ridiculous window. He didn't pay any heed to the man's statement about the fight.

"Well don't just stand there, come forward. I'll deal with the girl in a moment. You probably have no idea why I put that bounty on you in the first place, do you?"

"Not particularly, nor do I particularly care -"

Mereel slowly sauntered forward until the leg plates of his armor were pressed up directly against the side of the desk facing the room's entrance. He leaned over the desk, putting his head just slightly above and across from Detrik's. It took all of his self-restraint to resist the urge he was feeling to headbutt the man.

His voice became venom, "unless that is, you invited me back because you want to die with whatever speck of honor you think you still have left. I can help you with that. You with your sword, me with my gauntlet blades.. I think it'd be an even match with your age."

[member="Koda Fett"] | [member="Seo Linn"] | [member="Detrik Vaun"]​

 

[Koda Fett]

In truth, the Bounty Hunter almost scoffed at the mention of 'Clan Fett'. He wasn't welcome with them, or even on Echoy'la anymore. He was a detriment to the Mandalorian people, bringing about his unlawful ways as a Bounty Hunter and nothing more. To be fair, Koda was a Bounty Hunter before he was a Mandalorian, which created a being that cast aside the Mandalorian Culture. Close to being just a man in Mandalorian Armour; he didn't speak the language, he didn't follow that resolnare, he followed his own rules, for those are what matter most to him. There will be no other way about it.

Fett hadn't spoken, only listened. He didn't care for the family squabbles, only the payment he was bound to receive, for not only Mereel's capture but Seo's too. It was only fair, after all. Especially for a people that didn't appear to enjoy the presence of a Jedi.

His booted feet ground to a halt on the interior's flooring, his Carbine cradled in his grip as he stood as still as a statue. There was nothing to the enigmatic hunter who earned his name through efficiency alone, at least in this moment.

[member="Mereel Vaun"] - [member="Detrik Vaun"] - [member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Auri Vesta]

Mere moments after the Clan Vaun officer left the office and shut the door behind him, it once again opened. Whatever confrontation had been occurring between father and son was abruptly halted as a grimy-looking woman with dirty blonde hair was practically dragged into the chamber by two soldiers, who held tightly onto either arm.

"Alor, we found this woman skulking around the castle."

"Hey, I wasn't skulking! I don't skulk you karkhead! I told you I have an appointment."

"All she was carrying were these two blasters, a fusion cutter, and some other small tools." The soldier set her utility belt and holster on the desk. "We believe she was a stowaway aboard Fett's ship, and possibly a collaborator with Vaun and the Jedi."

"I don't know who the hell these people are bud, never seen 'em in my life. I'm just a pilot looking for work. It's been great meeting you and all Mr. Vaun, but I do not want to intrude. I'll find my way out..." But before Auri could get the hell out of there, she was grabbed again and held tighter by the men. A hatch opened in the floor, and a chair rose out of it. They forced her to sit down. It looked like she was going to be here for a while.

[member="Koda Fett"] [member="Mereel Vaun"] [member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Detrik Vaun]

Vaun's face was still as stone while Mereel threatened him. He let the outburst hang in the air for a moment before he shook his head and sighed.

"I assumed you might have learned a thing or two since I saw you last. Hmph. Seems I gave you too much credit. Honor is for young fools. I keep the Resol'nare in my own way, but you get to be my age, you start to make compromises."

Detrik paused when the door to his office opened once again. Wonderful, another prisoner for him to deal with. He was at least amused by the woman's performance, but she wasn't fooling anyone. Vaun pressed a button on his desk, opening hatches in the floor. Three seats rose out of them. One for each of the prisoners. He took Koda as the kind of man who preferred to stand.

"The three thousand credits are yours bounty hunter, I can transfer the credits to an account with the galactic bank of your choosing. If you'd prefer hard currency, my men can escort you to the vaults in Eilydn City. This girl is where things get particularly interesting. I have no open bounty on Jedi, as some clans do. What is her value to me?" It was a bargaining tactic to be sure, Vaun knew exactly how much he was willing to pay for a Jedi. He planned to keep that figure to himself for now though.

"Tell me miss." Detrik continued, now addressing the blonde woman ([member="Seo Linn"]) and gesturing for her to take a seat. "What is a Jedi doing in the company of my son?"

[member="Koda Fett"] [member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Seo Linn]

The Knight made careful and silent observation of everything around them. From the buildings, atmosphere, attitude and the people around them. The marks on the helmet of the man that came to receive them meant little to Seo, but it was a detail she noticed. These people here were nothing like the friendly man she had met on Anaxes that was Mereel.

When he mentioned Seo, there was an ire in his voice that even the modulator couldn't disguise. That tone almost caused her to lift an eyebrow and look at her friend. He was also a Jedi. However if nothing else could be said, the man was polite.

Falling into step next to Mereel and surrounded by the guards, this was the logical course of action. That is until two men approached her and Mereel. In their hands they held silver chips that were custom to be put on some slaves. It was not something Seo wished to have happen to her again. Even with her hands still bound behind her back, a form of resistance was given by her. A slight body twitch, turn of her head or a lifting of a shoulder when he got close to getting it planted into her neck. However, the deed was accomplished and if looks alone could kill, he would have been a steaming heap on the ground.

Even though Mereel attempted to reassure her and what he said was true. If he or they were wanted dead, they wouldn't be walking with slave tags attached to their necks. They were lead into an office where a man was sitting at a desk waiting for them. She listened silently to the conversation happening between Mereel and his father. The physical similarities were too great as well as age difference to be anything less than a father or maybe uncle. Her intuition told her this man was his father though.

If she could have elbowed Mereel, she would have done just that his words. It was obvious he did not like the man, but blood was blood and family was everything. Things were interrupted though with the arrival of a fifth person. Another female was escorted into the office and three chairs were brought up from the floor. She and Mereel currently had devices in their necks that if they resisted they could be rendered helpless in moments. There was no point in delaying what was expected and Seo took a seat in one of the chairs provided.

Alor Vaun suddenly turned his attention to her and asked what she was doing in the company of his son. That confirmed her suspicion on them being related and made her feel pretty good about her observational skill in the matter.

"We were on Carida attempting to pick up some supplies to help provide for those in the Core that suffered from the attacks of the Sith."

The answer was totally true, kept short and simple. As was her nature of saying only what was needed to get a message across, Seo kept it that way.

[member="Detrik Vaun"] [member="Auri Vesta"] [member="Koda Fett"] [member="Mereel Vaun"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Mereel was gathering the saliva to spit in Detrik's face when he was distracted by the sound of the door behind him opening, followed by the tone of a familiar voice.

Mereel slowly turned and his eyes confirmed what he already knew. The contempt he was feeling for his father made it easy for him to keep disbelief from making itself apparent on his face. He didn't display a single change in stance or emotion as his oldest friend somehow managed to work her way into this situation, which was probably a good thing because he had no idea what Auri was doing here, and she was clearly trying to feign disassociation.


Although he saw that Auri and Seo were now both seated, Mereel didn't move an inch from where he stood. Detrik would have to use the chip on Mereel's neck if he wanted his son to sit, and even then he would only be laying wherever it was he fell.

Mereel remained silent as Seo answered Detrik's question, but as soon as she was done he was back on the man's case. "Don't worry Detrik, we weren't together because we were trying to muscle in on your business. Jedi help Jedi sometimes, especially when whatever it is you are doing doesn't involve peddling kriffing spice."

[member="Auri Vesta"] | [member="Detrik Vaun"] | [member="Koda Fett"] | [member="Seo Linn"]​

 

[Koda Fett]

The Bounty Hunter, as expected, was loyal to the credit. There was no creed, or people he belonged to. Alone in a Galaxy where it is money that matters most, one could hardly blame the Mandalorian even if he was no longer apart of a Clan, or a House. It was in his nature to be this way, and so it was only a matter of time before Fett found himself cast aside, killing and capturing for any and all who will pay the rather exorbitant fee. Only a result of DNA, really.

"Three hundred​ thousand." Fett retorted in an accusatory tone, believing Detrik attempting to take him for a fool. Fett knew the price going in, and he knew it going out. "I'll take nothing less." He assured the Vaun Alor, not taking so much of an interest on the others nearby. Even the rowdy woman who had entered, supposedly a stowaway upon Julian's ship.

As for the Jedi? Koda wasn't as indifferent towards them as he was most, instead he loathed them. Every fibre of his being, responsible for almost everything that had gone wrong in his existence. Yet, that didn't show. Fett was to speak in his typical disinterested tone - albeit it muffled - displaying no particular emotion as he claimed, "If you won't pay for her, the Sith will." That much was true. Fett had worked extensively for the Sith Empire, becoming an 'attack dog' for the Emperor, or so it had been said.

A nod was offered in the direction of Auri, his eyes remaining on Vaun beneath the battle-scarred Mandalorian Helmet and pitch black T-Visor. "As with her." This, unfortunately for Auri, was also true. Fett didn't come to bargain, he came to get paid. If Detrik wasn't willing to provide, then his business could migrate elsewhere. Afterwards, his left hand had provided a small, electronic device that was typically used to transfer funds into a bank account. It was extended outwards for either Detrik or one of his men to take it from him.

[member="Detrik Vaun"] - [member="Mereel Vaun"] - [member="Seo Linn"] - [member="Auri Vesta"]

 

[Detrik Vaun]

"In truth, spice is of little concern these days, but I didn't bring you here to talk about business." The rumor that Mereel was training with the Jedi proved to be true, how interesting. Vaun wanted to get to the matter at hand, but he would need to satisfy the bounty hunter first.

"Of course, of course. I misspoke." He said, taking the payment device from Fett's hand. Detrik ignored Mereel, looming over the desk. If he was stupid enough to try anything with his hands bound, he would receive a shock akin to a low-intensity stun bolt.

"Three hundred thousand will be transferred for your services. For the girl, well.. What do Jedi go for these days? Fourty, fifty thousand? Sending her to the Sith would be a waste. What would they do? Execute her? Experiment on her if they're feeling particularly bored?" Detrik, like most mandalorians worth their salt, didn't hold a very high opinion of either Jedi or Sith. So much war and bloodshed. It was the ideologues who had the most blood on their hands, not men like him. Of course, when counting the copious shipments of weapons of war his company provided, he could hardly take the moral high ground.

"Captured Jedi are a dime a dozen to them. I'm sure you wouldn't get much better than my estimate."

Having a Jedi in this situation could be useful. He'd originally only expected to deal with his son, but honestly this could prove to make things easier. If he couldn't persuade Mereel, perhaps Mereel's friend could do it for him. The other girl was at best a wild card, but she'd been behaving so far.

"As for the "pilot", I'll pay her weight at the price of ryll, seeing as you hauled her here at least. I'm feeling generous today."

[member="Seo Linn"] [member="Mereel Vaun"] [member="Koda Fett"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Mereel had never expected to feel a positive emotion from anything Detrik ever did, but he couldn't help himself from feeling a speckle of relief as the man corrected what had seemingly been a slip of the tongue. While his personal history with the man made it so that he detested Detrik more than any individual Sith, he had bore witness to the Sith's complete lack of regard for human suffering first hand on several occasions, and realized that the fate of his friends fared much better under whatever plot Detrik had in store for them.

The hatred he felt for Detrik had been just barely kept in check for the entirety of their interaction so far, but the reserve of anger he had held back was temporarily abated by the revelation that Detrik was seemingly the lesser of two evils for the first time in his life. The thought sent a revolted shiver down his back.

Still, he didn't know have the slightest clue of what Detrik wanted from him and his compatriots - or at least himself and Seo. He could rationalize why Detrik wanted Auri. She was a pilot, and if he had known she also happened to be an experienced smuggler he would've recruited her into his ranks of underworld scumbags in a heartbeat.

However, he wasn't sure what Detrik wanted from Seo, or even himself for that matter. There were too many possibilities he could think of for why Detrik might want Seo, but virtually no reason could be provided to justify why Detrik had even considered bringing him back home alive.

"A couple of years ago you were still sending death squads after me. I know you didn't grow a heart while I was gone, so tell me what the hell you want from me and what the hell you are planning on doing with her."

He nodded his head towards Seo as he said 'her'.

When Mereel had heard the bounty hunter's price, he figured that Detrik must have wanted something desperately from him. Whatever Detrik's scheme was, he was betting that he was an important component of it, and that meant he had some sway over the situation. He now knew that his own body and perhaps even his life were things he could bargain with in this scenario. Detrik's pitch was going to have to be good if he wanted Mereel's involvement in his plot.

[member="Detrik Vaun"] | [member="Seo Linn"] | [member="Koda Fett"]​

 

[Koda Fett]

Fett had only ever come to Vaun's Palace for one reason, and that was for the credits he was owed. It had only become something else when both Linn and Vesta had gotten themselves involved, but there was always room for one more in the cargo hold- even two, perhaps a third. As long as they had a price on their head, they were always worth something. They were bound to have a visit sooner or later.

The Sith preferred to pay Fett more than he deserved in an attempt to keep him aboard. A successful attempt, of course. The Bounty Hunter had sold many a Jedi off to the Sith, and they paid a fair fee. In fairness, however, Koda had often exaggerated the importance of the aforementioned Jedi, gathering more of a pay. They had no reason to doubt him, either. What Detrik offered? Far less than the Dark Lord was to, even for the standard Jedi. That man had more than enough credits to throw around as if they were nothing.

"Jedi sell for a hundred thousand." Fett informed Detrik. Not adding anymore onto the topic of the Jedi, letting his bargaining opponent become aware of his staunch stance. Nothing was added in regards to Auri, that deal was settled.

[member="Mereel Vaun"] - [member="Detrik Vaun"] - [member="Seo Linn"] - [member="Auri Vesta"]

 

[Detrik Vaun]

"Very well." Vaun conceded, feeling in no mood to haggle. Normally he argued a price as a matter of principle, not because his clan was particularly tight on funds. It was a small hit, and would soon be a short line on an expense report filled with payments to smugglers, hired guns, and durasteel mine operators.

"One hundred thousand for the Jedi. Ten thousand for the other girl. Do we have a deal?" He had already punched in the numbers on the payment device, he needed only to submit it. While he waited for the bounty hunter to respond, he turned his attention back to his son.

"Ah, you remember the death squads do you? That was a favorite punishment of mine for a while. Someone cowers from a fight? Can't protect a load of cargo from pirates? I'd send them after you to restore their honor. The men started to figure out it was equivalent to a death sentence, so I gave up on the idea. I hope it kept you on your toes." He laughed. Mereel was a fierce fighter, he'd gotten the best training a young Mandalorian could receive, experience. Detrik had always admired the idea of the Mandalorian mercenary. Before the clans had reunited shortly before the Gulag Plague had begun to spread, they'd been scattered across the galaxy, leaderless. There was something noble about those centuries in exile. It had bred strong generations of warriors, hardened by a galaxy filled with a thousand woes. The Empire that controlled Mandalore today was but a pale imitation in Vaun's eyes.

He'd been bitter when his son had ran away from home, but that had been years ago. The bounty had nothing to do with the rift between him and his son.

"I have no wish to kill you, regardless of your abandonment of the clan. I would have allowed you to stay in exile under other circumstances, but my daughter is missing. You're the best lead I have to find her." He let that rest for a moment. "Though I appreciate the work of Koda Fett, this is no job for a bounty hunter. Family look after their own. You don't know about her do you? Did Captain Tucker not mention it? He probably didn't know you were unaware. Brieda is your half sister, but Vaun blood flows through her veins. I- I fear the worst."

His eyes dropped for a moment, blink and you were bound to miss it. Mereel had probably never heard his father's voice falter that way in his life.

[member="Koda Fett"] [member="Mereel Vaun"] [member="Seo Linn"] [member="Auri Vesta"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

Mereel let a short sigh of releif slip past his guard as he listened to Detrik accept the bounty hunter's hefty ransom for Seo. After that though, his self control was put to the test.

With the exception of a single vessel, he had tried his best to kill every one of his father's hunting squadrons down to the man. Now Detrik was telling him that the only reason he had sent them after him in the first place was just for kicks.

He was radiating anger in the force. And was only able to keep himself from unleashing on Detrik because he knew that the bounty hunter would be able to stop him before he could kill him. At least that was true for the way he wanted to kill Detrik.

He wasn't able to retain his anger however, as Detrik followed up his sick laugh at the expense of his own men by telling his son that he had somehow reproduced after he had left the homestead. Anger turned to revolt turned to pity as he realized another being in the galaxy had to grow up with the same terrible waste of breath as him.

He was almost too busy being sorry for someone he had never met to notice Detrik's singular moment of weakness as it unfolded right in front of him, but he had picked up on his father's stammer, and for the first time in his life he thought Detrik might have cared for something beyond influence or power.

His boiling blood was reduced to simmer, and he looked over his father with cool disdain as he spoke,"Tell me what you expect me to do, specifically, and I just might hear you out for your daughter's sake."

At oldest, the poor girl could have only been fourteen, maybe fifteen years old. That meant at best Detrik had ruined her life one year ahead of Mereel's.

His pity for some unknown girl didn't distract him from what he needed to do though, and now that Detrik had told him he was his best lead for finding her, he was in the mood to bargain more and more.

[member="Auri Vesta"] | [member="Detrik Vaun"] | [member="Koda Fett"] | [member="Seo Linn"]

 

[Koda Fett]

The Bounty Hunter had received all he had come for. A single nod of the head in Detrik's direction confirmed that the prices were fine, and perhaps he had grabbed more than he originally figured. Koda never was much for bargaining, but suppose he got lucky when dealing with a man that's patience for such a thing was thin already. The Vaun was sure to hand across the device back to the Mandalorian, and in that moment Fett was to take it back, placing it within a pouch. Although, not before a brief glance as to confirm the transaction had truly transpired

No words were required, and his business had been concluded. Fett had begun to turn around, walking in the direction of the doors he was bound to pass through eventually. Disappearing from view, and departing the familial matter he had no place within.

It wasn't as if he desired to be caught up in it, regardless.

[member="Detrik Vaun"] - [member="Mereel Vaun"] - [member="Seo Linn"] - [member="Auri Vesta"]

 

[Seo Linn]

While there was nothing else directed at her that did not mean Seo couldn't make observations about things. Her mind took in details of the men and woman around her. The way they acted, any body language they showed and the words used.

It was clear neither the father or son approved of the other. As if they wanted to deny any relation, but were unable to. The past actions of Detrik while poor had been his attempt to make his son better as a fighter. On par with what she knew of the Mandalorian culture. That knowledge was limited however. Something she would have to remedy especially if she would be spending more time with Mereel.

The reason for the reunion was revealed and it almost brought a lifted brow from Seo. She sat impassively though and just mentally made note of this information. A feeling came to her she would be helping to find this daughter.

There were the snide comments between the two of them, anger hanging in the air and it threatened to explode. Luckily Mereel was able to control his temper and he withheld from a physical attack. Tone was everything though and he made it clear to his father he was not happy. Then again she wasn't exactly pleased either.

As the business went on between Detrik and Koda, the price paid was surprising, but again she made no comment. No need to draw any further attention to herself. Pleased to be alive, relatively in one piece and almost unharmed was a bonus. Glad to be able to sit, her legs were aching and quick medical care they had been given was starting to wear off. Pain relief would be nice, but she wasn't going to ask for it.

When Koda went to leave, again she did not react or show she had noticed. For all intents and purposes it would appear she was staring ahead and not paying attention to anything. That was far from the case though and she missed very little.

[member="Koda Fett"] [member="Mereel Vaun"] [member="Detrik Vaun"]

 

[Detrik Vaun]

Detrik watched the bounty hunter leave before answering his son's question. His more curious side made him wonder what the lonesome hunter's story was. Every man, and woman for that matter, had a drive. Knowing a person's goals was the key to getting the most out of them. Detrik's handling with the bounty hunter had been uncharacteristically clumsy, less amenable than he'd hoped. Perhaps the weight of his missing daughter was to blame.

"I want you to find her. Regardless of what I may think of you, I know that you have abilities that prove invaluable. It's something of a family secret that there are those among us who can command the Force. Not a favorable trait to a Mandalorian clan, so our ancestors didn't often speak of it. But that, along with your common blood, makes you the primary candidate to find her." He shifted backwards in his seat a bit. Finally, he was able to unravel his plan. It was a desperate attempt, anything involving his son was, but he felt it was his best bet.

"As for the ladies in our company, I wish to get my money out of them. I don't believe a kidnapping investigation is outside of a Jedi's purview. And the smuggler, I assume a friend of yours despite her protests, will no doubt know the region where she went missing. You'll need an expert if you hope to navigate Imperial space undetected." Again he paused. He had no doubt that the information was sinking in, but it was his style. He liked to give a moment to breath until he plunged into the next matter.

"And if family is not enough for you, I do have a second motivator." He'd been addressing the whole room, but at this he stared right at Mereel. "Your friends aboard the Iviin'yc bravely attempted to chase after you and have been apprehended by my men. For their safety, I would very much appreciate you accepting my proposition."

[member="Seo Linn"] [member="Koda Fett"] [member="Mereel Vaun"] [member="Auri Vesta"]

 

[Mereel Vaun]

As soon as the bounty hunter walked out of the room, Mereel realized that he had the opportunity to finish what had started a decade ago. He still felt his connection to the force, the shock collars on their necks and the binds on their hands were the only thing keeping them in check. His simmering blood retained its heat, but he wouldn't spring into action immediately. He wanted to get as much information on his sister from Detrik as he could before he tried anything in case he succeeded.

While Mereel was normally terrible at holding a poker face without his helmet, his loathing for Detrik made it incredibly easy for him to not convey any emotion besides annoyance as the man revealed the tidbit of family history and what he had in mind for Seo and Auri. He didn't even let out a puff of air to indicate he thought his plan for the two of them was extraordinarily overoptimistic - although the roles he had chosen for them were actually a stroke of unintentional brilliance. Auri was the most well traveled person he knew, far beyond even himself in terms of systems visited. Doubly brilliant because he had met Seo during a 'kidnapping' investigation, and she had told him she had prior experience in investigating lost persons and items.

However, the luck of Detrik's plan ended there. If they were put together on a starship, there was no way Detrik would be able to stop either Auri or Seo from running off at some point during the search. Auri had incredible luck and no small amount of cunning, and Seo was a trained Jedi Knight. Even if Detrik made some of his enforcers go with them, it would only delay the inevitable if either of them wanted to jump ship.

Mereel wasn't able to keep himself so collected when Detrik told him what he was using for leverage. Adrenaline rushed into his veins and fire shot into his eyes as his father uttered his threat on the crew of the Iviin'yc.

An invisible grip took hold around Detrik's neck, "Should have got force nullifying collars you di'kut."

He had been living with mostly the same people aboard that corvette for the better part of a decade now. They were the closest thing he had to family, and the vessel the closest thing to a home.

Mereel tightened the force choke, "Aliit ori'shya tal'din. If you've harmed a single crewman on that ship, I'm killing you, and then I'll find Brieda.." He let his voice trail off.

Aliit ori'shya tal'din - family is more than blood. The man he had declared unfit of being a father, the man whom he had renounced all connections to by Mandalorian custom, had threatened the only family he had formed and had left after leaving home - and it made him more angry than anything had in his life. He was enraged to the point of meaninglessly implying the murder of a blood relative he had never met.

The grip tightened further.

[member="Auri Vesta"] | [member="Detrik Vaun"] | [member="Seo Linn"]​