Private Force and Karma

[Lord Ki]

"A TANK?!"

A voice erupted as some soldiers looked back towards where it came from. Only ten hours ago did Darth Reficite get a call saying a tunnel had been found near the Citadel of his, one that had been used to smuggle possible illict goods. Judging from his own voice in the darkness and some of the soldiers backing up, he was not in a good mood.

"Not only have my guards failed to guard against intrusion but a (*@%ing tank was able to fit in here to! What was it going to do, blast us to oblivion during service?!"

Coming out from the darkness, stood a staunch yet straightened up individual. A long dark cloak that had been lifted in the water so far. Approaching the tank, he would let his hand glide over it as he was just impressed but also infuriated. They had only discovered it, after apparently over two months of service. There was rumors of some items being misplaced but now it made all the sense, even the Sithspawn that supposedly "Escaped" in the past few months even! Moving around it, he looked around for any signs...other than the flooding, it seemed to be a moot point.

"I am missing...seventeen suits of armor, fourteen alchemized blades and five sithspawn, one large enough to eat the tank itself. Not including others not found or listed, I want someone here to find them...I don't care how, I just want them found! Follow the tunnel! There has to be some detective among us!"
Trayze Tesar

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT OBJECTIVE - ANSWER THE CALL

BLUFOR - The House of Marr

OPFOR - ENEMY UNKNOWN

TARGETING ACTIONS - Lord Ki
Location: Room 34, Darkstar Dormitorium, Little Firefist, the Town of Desolus, Saijo

---

It was a mercifully slow day on Saijo, where the rote routine of academic study and practical acumen dominated the current days that Trayze found himself in. From reconnecting with his lost family, to the daring battles in Kathol, to an honest to God heist to Korriban...Trayze Tesar lived in interesting times.

But once again he mercifully found himself with a cup of tea, a holoslate, and some homework. Never did he think to miss the mundanity of Academic life, nor did he think to consider it a source of respite between the rigorous dog-eat-dog training of the Palace of the Silver Rain. Yet despite all he had done, all he had seen, he was still a mere Acolyte. At first, it hadn't bothered him, until it blatantly did as Malum vaunted further and further in clear power and stature-first as Lady Ophidia's apprentice, then gathering the disparate members of the House of Marr, and who knows what he'll do with what they recovered on Korriban? He was a dutiful servant of the law, and sworn to protect and serve first and foremost, a Sith second. But as the former life he had drifted further behind, and the Sith seemed to surround and seek him out like squid-wolves on some hapless burgwhale, he couldn't help but feel a little self-conscious.

His mood was slightly lifted, but at the same time plummeted, as what was meant to be a focusing smooth jazz was interrupted by a saccharine Hutt-pop song, Call Me Back, Call Me Baby. Jarring genre transition aside, it meant that not only was his secret means of communicating with his boys back at the P.D. still undiscovered, but that they were contacting him. Surging to his desk drawer, and pulling his burner comn, he pressed it to his ear.

"Speaking."
"Got a minute?" came the reply.
"Tunkley?" Trayze was elated, though he kept his voice calm. Even with all the precautions he kept, it didn't ensure that people would be deaf. "Juthrand gettin' too hot for you?"
There was a dry hack of a chuckle, Tunkley may have been many things, but a quitter was not one of them. "No, job for ya."
"Chief wants me back already?" Trayze inquired, making his way over to the couch and sitting down. While in theory and in hope he would go back to the familiar world of detective work, he didn't actually think it was going to happen. At least, not this soon.
"Pshah! She misses ya, but not that much..." Tunkley chuckled. "Pull up your comp, does a "Darth Reficite" mean anythin' to ya?"
A cursory look on the 'Net did little to reveal intel-other than Darth Reficite is a Sith Lord, an Alchemist, rarely shows his face, and a recluse. "At least until a 10-62 happened." "Ya'd think Lord Reficite would've turned ta' his peers or th' relevant parties..."
"Yeah..." the officer concurred "Buuut...'Is Lordship asked for a Detective."
And there it was, a golden opportunity, but he would recall his father's words well "the only free cheese is in a rat-trap", and this was doubly true for the Sith. "...Pagin' him my 10-41...now." Somewhere, in Juthrand, an innocuous ping would occur that one (currently inactive) "Detective Trayze Tesar, Badge 443-222-8091" would like to assist in the matter.
"Thanks a million, Tesar." Tunkley would smirk behind the staticy connection. "Between the alchemized blades, the absentee Sithspawn, and the karking tank, this would've been way above even my paygrade."

If Trayze Tesar had a cup of tea in his hand, the poor couch would have suffered from a genuine spit take. "...Ah'm sorry, whaddya mean by a tank?"

 

[Lord Ki]

"My Lordship, we apparently have hit into a snag..."

There was an unusual setup now in the Chamber of Sacrifice, deep within the Nexus of Rebirth. With what had happened in the past twelve hours, there was an emergency junction, to halt all rituals in the Nexus, including sacrifices until the crime...well more or less theft had been solved! A large throne like chair was placed near the back of the chamber, against the wall with throw pillows and impromptu seats being made along all the caskets inside the room. Those who have entered could feel an uneasy feeling though just the look of this, it almost resembled a form of slumber party or some old kids going to the graveyard. While a tad comical, it was all in serious behavior, Darth Reficite having been furious and already having trashed one room for failure, the other ritualists thought it be wise to be in a room where the damage could be least severe.

Across there was four different individuals, three being male with one female having been sat across from the other. One of the three males was in front of Lord Reficite, almost in a bit of a worry as he held onto his hands together tightly. There was almost an aura in the room that could be told...Reficite did not want to hear any more mishaps. Leaning onto the side of his large thrown, left hand knuckles holding up his helmet, he glanced along the room before finally speaking.

"What...kind of snag is it this time?"

"We have checked the serials of the tank...they been scratched out along the barrel, along the treads. It is possible the Galactic Alliance-"

"The Galactic Alliance would have destroyed us all if it was the case by now. We would been dead and it would not been a single tank! Why would they even steal Sithspawn, much less take just a few articles when they can set charges under us!"

"It is unlikely thou-"

"It is more likely you are incompetent and failed to use logical means...what about the engine, the reactor?"

"What about it?"

"Was there markings on it, serial numbers?"

"Wait, they can actually have seri-"

That was the final bit of information that poor ritualist got to say before being lifted up in the Force. There was a loud scream as the poor soul was thrown literally out the room, through the large slab doors and crumbled quite quickly outside the room. The two guards having stationed there, stood there stoic though seem to have been used to this kind of behavior. Having fools in the court room, sometimes all that is required is to throw them around. The ritualist in question groaned on the ground heavily, it was audible and could be heard he was still alive as he glanced towards another of the ritualists.

"Almost three thousand years of living...and not a single soul with more brains than ten. Is that infernal detective coming or not?! I cannot stand any more news!"

"Actually my Liege, the department has notified us one is available. A one Detective Tesar, a good one from what we hear."

"Excellent, I want him brought up to speed the moment he arrives, have him come meet me after he has a good idea what he is up against."

"Of course Sire...also Ritualist Taoi forgot to mention something else."

"What?"

"They tried to extract the pieces out to close the tunnel...they jammed it into the walls sideways and it won't move now."

Anyone within earshot could hear Reficites entire scream of just anguish over the sheer stupidity of the situation he was now placed into. If the Detective even got close, he could even hear that scream from the room down several levels.

Trayze Tesar

 

[Trayze Tesar]

CURRENT OBJECTIVE - ANSWER THE CALL

BLUFOR - The House of Marr, Lord Ki

OPFOR - ENEMY UNKNOWN

TARGETING ACTIONS - Lord Ki
LOCATION: the Nexus of Rebirth

---

Trayze however did hear the remnant echoes-the echoes of something far far more alive than the stench of death that wafted through him in the Force. Or rather, he had heard the poor ritualist being flung out of the throne room, the subsequent discussion, and it was all Trayze could do to brace himself from the perhaps justified but still emotional outburst of his newfound...client? It was difficult to ascertain what Darth Reficite had hoped their relationship would be - if any.

It was a pity too, though the echoes of the souls and the Force were far more subdued and controlled than back on Korriban, he now came prepared and appreciative of the Nexus' purpose. Far from being the reclusive avant garde abode of a Sith Lord, it served a practical, if one could even dare to say altruistic purpose. The vaunted "Chamber of Renewal", in keeping with the naming convention of the Nexus, was essentially the closest thing to an Emergency Medical Centre that the Sith had. Should a Lord of the Sith, whose renown and skill be unable to attain the myriad methodologies of immortality, they would have their soul reinterred into a clone body. He had admired the craftsmanship, if such a word could be used for what was done to the Force Nexus, as a spherical shape scream of Dark Side Energy rang through his being like a caress of tinnitus. Trayze had pondered the old Sith riddle of the cycle of Death and Life - the answer being Rebirth. It all sounded shockingly "Jedi-ish", and considering this place is a Force Nexus a more complete understanding of the Force was needed to master such a locale.

Over his tenure of his sudden insertion into the Sith Order, Trayze had become more comfortable with his connection to the Force and the Dark Side. By no stretch of the imagination was he a ritual casting sorcerer, that honor would no doubt go to his cousin Malum, but the experience he had gained in his previous career combined with his blood proved that he was a consistent contender with most other Acolytes and newly minted apprentices, and had even begun to appreciate not only the practicals of the Sith ways, but even some of the theoretical as well.

Yet when his first impression of Lord Reficite was seeing a presumed lackey being flung out the door, another lackey being shouted down after what was frankly a rookie mistake. Seriously, did they try to bring the "tank" in through a smaller hole that the burglars used to insert themselves? Why not bring it outside? Surely there were a few Acolytes who could lift the tank from the waters. Trayze thought to himself with a sigh. So far, Reficite was the epitome of the parodic snubs of late night "undignified" comedy routines, and water cooler anecdotes. Thankfully, you don't have to like someone to benefit from them.

Helping hoist the Ritualist back to his feet with the Force, Trayze took the liberty of approaching the Throne Room. What beheld Darth Reficite's sight was an unusual one, for while it was clear that this Kiffar was trained in the Force, he did not carry himself similarly to most Acolytes-or even dress the part. Rather than the robes befitting a student at the Academy on Saijo, or any retinue of a Sith Lord, Trayze seemed to wear a palette swapped and custom made variation of the atypical Imperial Police Field Detective - Rural Divisions, slouch hat tucked under his shoulder-insignia facing upwards. If Reficite had visited a more rural portion of a planet, where slouch-hatted sheriffs sought out smugglers and ne'er-do-wells astride swoop bikes, this seemed to be the cloth of which Trayze had been cut from, which was further accentuated by the fact that Trayze had both a lightsaber and a pair of pistols, the latter of which the Kiffar seemed more comfortable with. The demeanor of the Kiffar was plain to Darth Reficite, for although the Kiffar was powerful, and ancient Sith blood flowed through his veins, an Acolyte he remained...unfettered, unguided, unrooted, though he disguised his disdain for what he believed was churlish antics by all parties present.

Clearing his throat, Trayze bowed, placing the hat over his heart with discipline that came with a decade of service. "Milord Reficite." the Kiffar began, "Trayze Tesar, Sub-Lieutenant Detective. Badge number 443-222-eight-oh-niner-one." With that, he procured with one hand from his vest pocket his official ID, denoting who he was and the officiality of his presence here. "Ah am on lease from the Besbarran Parashiens Precinct, Besberra, at the request of the Jutrand High Commissionaire in regards to the Nexus Specialty Ward." despite the rather...coarse brough that Trayze spoke in, REficite could detect the astuteness and professionalism that the Detective carried himself with...as well as the subtle comnlink-turned-recording device that he was sure that the Detective would play off as "simple procedure, more to ensure that I don't tresspass upon your rights".

Pocketing the ID once again, Trayze gave a weary but polite smile. "Now that the formalities are out of th' way, would you mind if Ah ask y'all a couple questions, or would now be a bad time?"

 

[Lord Ki]

The entry of the long awaited detective, finally got Darth Reficite some relief...at least mentally. The picture described was what he exactly saw of and what was required...an honest officer who was a field detective. Slouch hat seemed a tad out of place but he would forgive it, styles and times passed him by often and made him forget what he first known, would never fit in with the now. What caught his immediate attention was the lightsaber, though possibly hanging differently than the pistols which was noted. Closing his eyes for a few seconds, he reached out into the Force and sensed him...it was obvious, even in the swirling Nexus they were on. It was merely to ensure that there was some longer use than short term as his eyes reopened.

The badge number was relayed out towards him, some of the others in the room looked towards Reficite as if waiting for something. He did not seem to note suspicion as he was expecting this though the name of the Precinct was a bit different from what he was used to. The man was formal, something that seemed rare and have some form of politeness, something even rarer. With his knuckles still on the side of his helmet, he gave a inquisitive nod from where he sat before finally glancing back at the others to speak.

"Not at all, it is just rare that someone such as yourself is respectful in an age of impatience and the luck of asking for one of skill, to be also possibly one of our own. Yes, speak your questions and mind, we will answer to the best of our ability. The sooner we have this situation handled, the sooner the Chalice can refill. We may have at least five days before it starts to run out."

Seemingly respectful for a Sith Lord, it was almost odd how quickly he switched from being so overtly angry and agitated...though then again, having lived several lifetimes can do that to a person. Glancing his eyes back forward, the others seemed a tad agitated. This was the supposed Chamber of Sacrifice yet it was just quiet. People die in here often, coffins littered the area but no one seemed to answer what why ceremonies had stopped. Strangely enough, from how he sat, revealed his unique lightsaber around his backside.

Trayze Tesar

 

[Trayze Tesar]

MISSION ACTIVE - INVESTIGATE BREAKING AND ENTERING

BLUFOR - Lord Ki

OPFOR - ENEMY UNKNOWN

MISSION OBJECTIVE(s):

• Interrogate Darth Recifite [TERTIARY]
• Gather Suspects [PRIMARY]
• Investigate the Crime Scene [SECONDARY]

TARGETING ACTION(s) - Lord Ki , et al.
LOCATION: the Nexus of Rebirth - Chamber of Sacrifice

---

Oh kark me a cervix, Trayze thought bitterly to himself, one of those types of robed bastards...
With the equivalent of an internal sigh, the Kiffar reminded himself that one didn't have to like someone to work with them. Though in a place called the "Nexus of Rebirth" with a rather mercurial Sith Lord? He'd rather get this done ASAP.

For those uninitiated in the Force, it was an awkward couple of heartbeats as the Acolyte didn't even bother to look at Lord Reficite, or anyone for that matter. It was a lazy blink from what few could espy of the Detective, but for all the disdain Reficite may feel at the irreverence towards him and a place this sacred, he would note the slightest twitches of hairs and finger joints, and the telltale sign of the Force being used. Some Acolytes, when first initiated into the Sith Code would take the words "Peace is a lie, there is only Passion" to be directed to them, as they would be the hammer and everything else as a nail.

Yet what Trayze lacked in maturity in the Force he made up for in ingenuity and maturity in his mindset, for the Force was neither a hammer nor a nail as it wafted from him across the room, but rather like the calm surf of an ocean...or an underwater predator utilizing echolocation to discern its next target. Reficite may recall, in his many long years of studying the Force and its many mysteries, the unique ability of the Kiffar: Psychometry. Indeed, even as the Detective was now making his subconscious investigation of the area, he was recording his findings in his technote-pad, kept snug and secure in his workpack allowing his hands free to interact or counter any ambush. It wasn't the strongest power, and in fact it took the Kiffar a few seconds to focus his findings and tell the notepad what to do, but he was ultimately sending impulses that the program on his notepad could extrapolate as data - A simple process did not always mean an easy one.

Trayze meanwhile did not care for what Reficite thought, only on his investigation, allowing his perspective to taste the dust in the coffins, any sweat, erratic pulses, or nervous ticks that the servants may have. They were most likely innocent, as it was extremely unlikely that just any two-bit pickpocket could just waltz in and stole even a tenth of what they did-and even professionals required intel on attacks beforehand. While the investigation seemed rote, the usual "Where were you during the night of the break in? do you have any enemies that would have wanted specifically what they did?" and for good measure "Five days until the Chalice starts running out, but how long until it's empty...and what happens when it does?"
This and many other issues, such as a tank being driven into the backyard of Jutrand, was what perturbed the Acolyte...in addition to what he saw when his mind's gaze reached out for the hems of Recifite's own aura.

Abruptly opening his eyes, he stifled the clearing of his throat, and made a polite request to the Lord of the Nexus "If you would be so kind as to gather all of the servants-" he gestured to those present, and implied any who were beyond. "As well as any who were involved in the days up to the incident in someplace...safe." He wanted someplace where they wouldn't have to corroborate their alibis too much, though he would find a way around it. He couldn't detain them in cells, because then they might double down or, if they're particularly canny, get litigation involved. Nothing kills quite like bureaucracy.

"In the meantime, would you be so kind, Lord Recifite." he would look upon the Sith with a polite smile, but an unseen probing would be done by the Acolyte to one far above his power, if nothing else than out of duty to scrutinize every possible angle. Trayze wasn't sure quite how insurance scams among Sith would work, but to quote his old chief "remove what is impossible, and whatever's left, no matter how improbable, outlandish, or mundane, ought be considered"... "To escort me to the scene of the breaking and entry, and give me your account for the incident, and anything leading up to it." Revealing his notepad, and activating it truly, he gave the illusion of a meager and attentive detective.

 

[Lord Ki]

The questioning was simple as he nodded and motioned with his hand, slowly propping himself up a bit further up. Gazing upon his subbordinates, he spoke out with a command...though he had read the others mind very well and kept his mouth shut on it just for the moment.

"Of course, can you gather everyone here for questioning? I assure no one should be dead on our watch just...yet."

When the next part was given, he nodded and stood up, moving towards the Acolyte as he started to speak but was speaking through what he read of the other...first.

"Let me answer these first...our enemies are so many it is unfathomable. Pick a name, the Jedi, any Sith that wants to sabotage, the Bryn'adul if they even got wind, a celestial! Yes there is many but the purpose and section of attack is what concerns me the most. My guess is some from a sith cult operation to outfit or profit...or those accursed Darkwire folk. My guess though is someone wanting more power...it is to precise for much else"

"As for what will happen...I only had this situation twice. Once in war, once due to a lack of common sense. If it runs out, it can create a rift in the Force and brought the Netherworlds worst into our reality. Safe to say, that is not something we truly want...that is also the most optimal. The other time it became a wound in the Force, screaming in eternal pain...either result, cannot occur here."

With him now face to face with the other individual, there was almost little height difference he could tell as he stared right at him from a few feet away, hands behind his back. A military stance perhaps? Was he trained? Making a motion with one hand, he would lead him towards where the strange tunnel room was not to far from this room itself.

"Mentally you need to work on defending your mind. But yes, I will be so kind to guide you there. I was at the time working on the Chalice, I am one of the very few given access to...it been temperamental and required a firm grip unless...well, you heard the two possible results.

Walking with the Acolyte, he passed by several as they started to gather in their respective rooms. No one was bowing, it was ordered to be as such while the detective was here.

"Leading up to it...we were speaking at the time a few days ago some weapons were missing. We guessed at the time that some were keeping them as their own weapons. Then we did inventory...we noticed more than that was missing and then as we investigated, one of the Sithspawn went on a rampage and broke through part of the wall...or the holographic projection so to speak. It lead straight into the tunnel, we don't know why it came from there but only foolish, brave or stupid would do that."

Turning, he put his hand on the others shoulder for a moment, his words trying to speak but in that moment, the Psychometry may have kicked in and the words drowned out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------

The wind was blowing hot, all around was nothing but sand and sandstone itself. There was heaving in his breath, barely seen was two lightsabers, one in each hand as the person in question dashed forward, on top of a rounded structure. It was a spaceport of some kind, nearby was an individual coated in black armor with a long armored head, almost like a cone. Giving a loud yell, there was the activation of both lightsabers as blue and green filled his vision. The other activated a red lightsaber as it blocked both lightsabers as they tried to strike from the side as he tried to keep it away from himself. The two seemed to still battle with their strength, holding it as the mask seemed eerie, as if similar to the one Darth Reficite wore but not exact.

"This ends Darth Kai! No more!"

The lightsabers moved in a flurry as they dueled for a few moments before he was pushed back with the Force, tumbling back. Rolling back up, he skidded back a few feet while blocking with each strike with one or both of the lightsabers, on the defense. Getting a rather rough kick, he was kicked down and smashed into some form of scaffolding down below, laying on his back as he slowly tried to stand back up with the cone headed like Sith Lord looking down upon him.

"I was wondering when that Jedi side would die....Acolyte Arbosa."

----------------------------------------------------------------

"-hen we found out about the tank, that is when I decided a person of your stature should honestly be here. See, here is the tank...somehow positioned like this."

Reality was put back in, it was almost in a shock that it even happened. In retrospect and not to even Darth Reficites own actions, he was still considered "dead" legally. Anyone could actually read him the more they tried to interact with him in this way. This is a good chance to exploit or learn a lot from him this way...but it left a lot of questions opened from the experience. Who, what and why did that all happen?!

The tank though was before the detective, some were still hard at work attempting to remove said tank from the environment. Lots of tracks was here and even touching the tank would reveal that it was led by some strange group though it notably had a male twi'lek, a green one that seemed to be...similar to the others. How curious. Any other information found could be very well traced or thought on.

Trayze Tesar