Foul Play

[Travis Caalgen]

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​

It rarely, if ever, rained on Coruscant.

Systems that had been in place since the days of the Old Republic usually ensured this, meaning today was somewhat of a rarity. Droplets could be heard pattering against the clari-crystalline window that overlooked the Government Center, the reflection of a figure appearing on the material and moving closer, revealing the visage of one Travis Caalgen. He turned to stare at the scene behind him, a corpse splayed over the carpet of the apartment that he and his agents currently occupied.

"Right, what a case we have on our hands here. Senior party member deceased in his apartment, no discernible cause of death." The commissioner reiterated, taking a drag of the cigarette in his hand "Slicer team - scrub all of the electronics on the property and purge data related to the Confederation before the CSF gets here." Caalgen paced in front of the window, considering something before addressing the others.

"The rest of you should begin a search around Level 1138, sector H-19. I have intelligence that suggests he frequented several establishments in that area." He informed, waving them off, "Let's get to work, don't draw any undue attention. The chancellor wants this covered up as best as possible."

He took another puff from his cigarette, watching them leave. All that was left was to wait for the CSF to arrive and raise hell.

 

[Eisenweber]

Lynda Dorn
Coruscant, Coruscant Federal District, Level 5217
Nearby: [member="Travis Caalgen"]

"Beck, put that away before you hurt yourself." Lynda intones with a snarl that while not seen could certainly be heard, the Junior Officer promptly complied and slid away his Blaster Rifle. An antique design used during the Clone Wars and produced for Coruscant Security Force due to its' modest dimensions, hitting power and stun setting the latter of which was frequently used in the course of their duties. "I was just having a look at it." Officer Randall Beck protested whimpily sliding away his Deecee with a prompt urgency, mildly embarassed the more senior Security Officer had caught him, without so much as turning their helmeted head. He couldn't help but query this fact. "....How did you see me?" The question results in a grin stretching out across a pair of full pursed lips splitting over two jaws worth of beautiful pearl-white teeth underneath, giving Beck a reply that they both had no doubt heard a million time in their youths as school children.

Holding a large chocolate frappe in large papercup in left-hand, twirling a rattling loop of keys in the right Lynda offered a mechanical explanation through their annunciator. "I have eyes in the back of my head." The truth was the Police Probes assisting the half-squad of Officers in Dorn and Beck had their receptor feeds placed in low resolution small squares on the holographic display plastered against the inside of the one-way opaque visor. One of them silently purred down the hall behind Beck and Dorn for evidence recording purposes, although it was redundant since their displays were already committing everything to their on-board memory. "That's it, room Three-Hundred and Twenty-Four." Beck's voice leaves its' annunciator with the mature metallic rumble known to all Coruscanti Citizens and Residents who had heard the Security Force's Officers communicate with one-another, a distinct sound ubiquitous with the planet. However, their shared comlink couldn't conceal Beck's inexperienced and juvenile tones from Lynda's ears.

Neither amused or appreciative of Beck pointing out the obvious. "Thank you for pointing out the obvious." Lynda's voice bit back at their Junior's enthusiasm handing the rattling obnoxiously large keychain over to Randall. Raising a firm fist and banging it against the door in three hard albeit not unkind beats on the Durasteel Panel barring their entry into the apartment. "Coruscant Security Force, Old Marketplace Security Area Command, Warrant Number Zero-Seven, One-One-Four-Three. Performing Welfare Check on behalf of concerned neighbours. Would you please come open the door so we can verify your wellbeing?" It had been several days since their last sighting, that wasn't cause for concern in and of itself but when coupled with reports of a foul smell? Lynda suspected a suicide though with local surveillance software suspiciously playing a loop that had only been noticed in the last hour the former Death Trooper had a belief no matter how much they wanted it to be untrue that something more sinister was occurring here.

 

[Varian Alaric]

Varian Alaric "Corvus"
Mercenary | Gun for Hire | Bounty Hunter
Coruscant, Lower Levels, Sector H-19, Level 1138
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Morals, ethics, accountability, they were all strange things. They were all strange notions and ideas developed by people who tried to explain the mind. The mind itself was an unexplainable and incomprehensible object. Everything was known about it in regards to biology and the study of the body, the brain, everything involving sentients. And yet, it was completely misunderstood. The brain isn't a biological subject to be probed, dissected, taken apart, and studied. To do such things was to try and understand what 'thinking' was, what 'freedom of will' was. Though the physical study of the brain did no such things, it didn't delve into thoughts and idiotic notions, free will and restrained ideas, all it did were look at everything with a very scientific approach. The idea of thinking itself was impossible to identify and study. Much similar in fashion, to the idea of morals and ethics. One day somebody could be happy and an anarchist, the next day they could be depressed and be a pacifist. Morals and ethics themselves were subject to a person's current health of mind, their current well-being. Thoughts, morals, ideas, ethics -- they all depended upon a person's goals and more importantly, the people they cared for.

Which was why Corvus had a man by the throat. Not through the usage of the force, no, he was using his own physical hands to grapple at the man. His finger's slowly squeezed around the man's neck, limiting what air that was left in the man's lungs by a large portion. Varian wasn't here on any contract by that mountain of a man, Har'xa Escala, he was here on his own personal agenda. He was here because of what he had heard on Byss from one 'Seargent Lannik Kriffing Hayes' in regards to the whereabouts of someone the man held close to him emotionally. Marriskcal Lati, Marr...someone who the former Knight of Ren held in high regard both as a comrade in battle and as a dear friend. He had never known what had happened to the blond-haired woman who he remembered had on a few cases even clung to his arm, literally. At the time he had been embarrassed of course, but now, now when he looked back on such times, it brought a smile to his face. A smile which was rare to see on his face as of late. Alaric had no ideas as to whether she was dead or alive and he intended to find out. It was his duty to do so, it was his obligation to do so. After all...he had left her without word or warning...

...alone.

"Tell me again, this time with your mouth and not your eyes, where did you see this blond-haired woman?"

"T-the one with the First Order insignia?"

"What do you karking think?"

"It was l-level one-thousand, nine-hundred, thirty-one."

Releasing a pleased sigh, Varian released the man's neck from his cold grip, causing the sputtering figure to collapse to the ground. Before he could get up, one, two, three, hard kicks were thrust into his side. Kicking the man once more in the stomach, the armored and clocked male turned away from the hunched over hermit who held his side in pain.

"What the hell! I...i told 'er where she at!"

"That's what you get for tampering with information, karking bastard."

As Varian walked away from the man, a green light flashed on the HUD of his helmet. It was a message. A message about...an imperial being murdered?

Oh just kriffing great, can't the Imperials do anything themselves? They have all of that money, what do they spend it on? Fancy balls?

| [member="Lynda Dorn"] | [member="Travis Caalgen"] |

 

[DT-2319]

While the slicers went about their duties scrubbing records, DT-2319 sat in an unoccupied apartment across the wide chasm that separated Coruscant's buildings. His assignment was one of the more simple—set up a sniper's nest, and observe through the window the suite that formally belonged to one of the Core Confederation's higher ranking party members. He had a fairly decent view of many things, including the corpse and Director Caalgen both.

His eyes were drawn away from the morbid sight by a flutter of movement off further away; he turned his rifle slightly, and watched as Coruscant Security Force members walked down one of the outer hallways. Once they turned and passed out of view of the large window along the hallway, he activated his helmet comm. "Director Caalgen," came his monotone voice. "Coruscant Security Forces arriving at the suite in twenty seconds." He shifted back, looking again through the suite's window.

So far as he knew, his goal was to watch the suite in case their unknown assassin attempted to return for any reason. Likely attempting to steal information after the apartment had been cleared of the dead body and locked down, was Nineteen's guess. It wouldn't be the first time he'd seen it happen. "Ready to engage if necessary."

[member="Travis Caalgen"]

 

[Seto Du Couteau]

Seto Du Couteau, Commissioner First Class
Location: En Route to Restaurant 'Royale', Sector 1138 Sector H-19
Actions: Discover if Force Users were used to assist or commit the crime

Civil happenings, and chaos filled the air, such a hectic city planet for Seto to even attempt a constant Force search. Perhaps though what had made it easier was his intense focus to keep his Force signature narrow, the young Du Couteau would have admitted that it helped with situations such as a murder case but Seto knew the reason of his own sharp focus.

He steps moved swiftly across the hallway, already a location had been provided from Intelligence and now the newly christened Commissar, Seto took a sharp intake of air. The tragedy of a loss of life hardly ever fazed the young Du Couteau, the galaxy was filled with arbitrary deaths of innocent people, but Seto barely stood in the room with the blood for a few minutes. Too soon. His lips twisted into a sneer at the sight as he continued to walk to the lift.

Sounds of boots stomping echoed through the hallway, Seto maneuvered himself quickly out of the way to more Security forces entering the area and properly create a restricted zone until all evidence had a chance to be checked and anyone left inside the area questioned. His own hand held on to his data-pad, so far nothing new was added but not exactly unsurprising, if political leaders left a detailed note of how they died Seto would pinch himself to wake up from his dream.

His eyes fell upon a different stream of data, one from his little probe droid he had decided to keep after a few adjustments to its core programming. 'Spot' delivered reassuring news of his larger inner conflict, and he had to figure out how to deal with Marr eventually. A few words and understanding certainly brought both of them important closure, but now with the large dark cloud cleared it allowed the light to shine on other important issues between them.

The lift took Seto downwards and he quickly moved out to find his speeder and get him to those establishments this poor Party Leader visited so often. Find some patterns, find some patterns. Seto mused as he cast his gaze back to what 'Spot' was providing to him. The young Commissar had two puzzles facing him and with a third looming over his head so graciously provided by his own blood family.

Seto gestured for his driver to ready the speeder and as he sat inside, "To Level Eleven Thirty Eight, Sector 'H' Nineteen. A place called 'Royale'." He quickly ordered, his eyes returned back to his data-pad and his thoughts scattered across all these potential solutions.

"It's like trying to outrun the devil," Seto muttered to mostly himself.

Spoiler: Tags

[member="Lynda Dorn"] | [member="Varian Alaric"] | [member="Travis Caalgen"] | [member="DT-2319"]

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Marriskcal Lati
Equipment: Lightsaber (Blue) & Throwing Knives
Location: Level 648, Sector H-25, Coruscant
Objective: Unknown
With: [member="Seto Du Couteau"] ('Spot')

​

Coruscant was… painful.

It was a cacophony of noises and odours, grating and distracting.

It burned brightly with all the flames of the living, their presences an overwhelming torrent to her sharpened senses.

For one who was used to the silence of the bastion and its austerity, the chaotic nature of the core world was vile. And the thought of her once home only brought a bittersweet twist to her lips.

She wondered how was Primat doing, for he was the first to leave.

She wondered how was Kaiah doing, and wished her all the love and luck in the galaxy that she would find the answers she was seeking for.

Most of all, she wondered how was Eight doing, and if he would be alight with the same fury and betrayal that once filled her soul when he found out she had abandoned him. And even if he were, she deserved it.

Marriskcal knew that she should bury her past and continue her journey onwards with clear eyes. But she found herself in a stasis, unable to return to the only the existence she had known and reluctant to discover what her future held. Lost and adrift, she moved through the motions of the living like a pale wraith.

It was a strange new world that she lived in now. And perhaps she would have embraced it with zest and curiousity, but living with Seto and the memories of her rage and betrayal and regrets she felt for him… was difficult. There was a distance between them that has never been there before. Afflicted by guilt and remorse for her deed, the blonde both shadowed and avoided her brother.

And this was one of the instances where the shame that suffused her became too much. Marriskcal has escaped from the beautiful mansion, disappearing into the maze-like levels that Coruscant was famed for. It has been hours since she had wandered around aimlessly, until she found herself on a quiet neon-lit street far away from the glitz and gilt of the upper levels, where broken people and abandoned things gathered.

Fragile and melancholic, it almost felt like she belonged amongst them.

It was then that she saw a sheen of light against a metallic surface. Her smile curved into something gentle and sweet, for she did not want to worry the familiar machine that was trailing after her at the behest of Seto. The blonde stepped towards the narrow alley in which Spot was lurking in.

“I saw you,” Marriskcal beckoned for the little droid to come out of its hiding place, giving it a sigh and pout as it appeared before her. “…It’s not you, Spot. It’s him.”

While she was touched that her brother was worried enough that he was keeping an eye on her even while he was busy with work, the feelings of guilt continued to deepen.

“I know not of what you are inquiring about. There is nothing wrong between us.”

Even with her fervent denial, Marriskcal felt a little lighter with the small machine staying by her side.

​

 

[Arahael]

Location: Coruscant Defense Force headquarters
Objective: Brief the force on the new direction

The vigilant sentries stood to attention as Max approached the grand front of the building, then both saluted in turn. Upon walking through the large double doors, a hall filled with CDF troops were lining the walls in formation. There was complete silence, apart from the echoing steps of a senior officer towards him.

Few had seen much action since the days of the Galactic Alliance, and the troublesome era of Coruscant First. Max had run against them at the time, but the politics became just that much too dirty. Nevertheless, there was no doubt that they were all ready to protect the bright jewel. Their allegiance would have to alter, however. Not just towards Coruscant, but for a Confederation greater than that, in the same way they had served the Galactic Alliance.

The officer halted, saluting "High Marshal. We are ready for your address."

Upon reaching the back of the hall, Max turned to face the lines of troops. A news crew was quietly ushered into the hall, and with a quick command, the troops turned about as well. "Thank you all for assembling here, and most of all for your continued dedication to the CDF. Coruscant has been through a wide array of changes in recent history, and you would all know the challenges this presents as well as anyone. I would like to also thank those who have put in an effort to strengthen Coruscant in government, despite the disagreements we may have had with them. Now, however, is a time to focus on where the Defense Force goes from here. Our part in the Galactic Alliance provided stability and safety, but that was in no small part due to our greater cooperation with other systems. I fear that the issue of forceful and harmful subjugation is becoming an ever closer threat, requiring action on our part." Max paused to take a better look around the hall.

"I believe that a Confederation founded on the values of equal system treatment, and respect of citizens will be vital to the future of this planet. Most of all, we need to learn to come back to the table and cooperate with others in the galaxy. What I am here to ask of you therefore is this: Think about who truly has our best interests at heart? Your duty is to protect Coruscant. But if the time comes, and another foreign power comes our way, think about who sent a messenger and who sent a soldier."

 

[Kier Grey]

Kyle Whir,
Coruscant, Coruscant Underworld, Level 648
Tags: [member="Varian Alaric"], [member="Marriskcal Lati"]

Kyle's boots carry the Coruscant Security Officer along a concrete sidewalk characterized by cracks that marked its' ruination. "Dispatch this is Car Three, standby to receive audio and visual link from my helmet feed, out." The reply went across Whir's digital comlink in a tight binary beam translated appropriately. Stepping into a tight alley, Kyle's tandem brass eye lenses focus on their target a young woman with blonde hair kneeling on front of a small droid the Coruscant Security Officer couldn't help but notice her age the powersuit's onboard computer rapidly took a scan of her features and clothing before its' metallic voice echoes through Whir's helmet.

"Suspect Identified: Marriskcal Lati, suspected Visa fraud." It confirmed and reinforced what Kyle already knew, that was the former Security Bureau Agent Lannik had mentioned. But Lati was more to Kyle than just some suspected unlawful arrival or former First Order spook, no. She was much more than that but the young woman would not recognise their shared service together atleast not yet here in this alleyway. A pair of Police Probes float above Kyle's helmet head as he advances towards Marrisckal and the whirring quaint joint spot in a steady patient step. "Miss Lati? Sergeant Whir, Coruscant Security Force. Tactical Operations Division, was wondering if you have a moment to answer some questions?" Kyle's hands held no weapon, although a long rifle was slung over right shoulder on a magnetic strip. With a DC-15A short-barrel blaster right holstered against right thigh. Instead of reaching for a weapon as they might have in their days as a Death Trooper, Kyle's hands produced a notebook with the Force's crest emblazoned proudly on its' leather front page.

"Don't mind the droids." Their voice was a metallic rumble through a vocal distorter, like a palatable wet landslide through a baritone vale. Kyle nods towards the level hanging about two-hundred levels above their head, but beneath that the pair of Police Probes who whirred and bobbed harmlessly in the air their cameras narrowed on Lati with sirens silent they merely observed. "They're probes, just recording our interaction. I'm obligated to inform you that they're recording" Kyle forced a false smile on their lips that could be heard even through their metallic distorter.

 

[Travis Caalgen]

Director Travis Caalgen​

Equipment: Simple Suit - Concealed Blaster Pistol​

Location: Coruscant, Coruscant Federal District, Level 5217​

Status: The Usual Suspects​

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​

"Copy, Nineteen. Keep watch for if they try anything funny, but do not engage if they apprehend us." Caalgen asserted, speaking into the communicator that was strapped to his wrist.

The knock on the door finally came, much to the chagrin of the middle-aged Imperial. He hastily motioned for his team of agents to cease what they were doing and return the place to how it looked before the ISB got their hands on it. They worked swiftly as he approached the simple durasteel door that separated him from the officers on the other side, the director snuffing out his cigarette and storing it away to dispose of later.

With a final glance cast back at his collaborators, he thumbed the switch on a panel next to the door, a hydraulic hiss signalling its opening. The corners of his lips curled inwards, forming a sheepish smile on Travis' features, his mouth pursed and his eyes vacant of emotion save for a small amount of embarrassment.

"Good evening, officers." He hesitated, unwittingly trying to cover up the scene behind him with his wiry form, "We discovered a rather unfortunate...incident...on these premises, apparently a terrible fate befell our...friend..." Caalgen moved to the side, allowing them a direct line of sight with the body crumpled on the carpeted floor.

[member="Lynda Dorn"]​

 

[Eisenweber]

Lynda Dorn
Coruscant, Coruscant Federal District, Level 5217
Nearby: [member="Travis Caalgen"]

Lynda's sharpened senses could perceive the sound of several voices and discordant footsteps on the other side of the door. "Sounds like a party is going on in there." The straw in chocolate frappe rises in left-hand sliding through an open small diameter port in helmet and into the Officer's mouth and sucked down in an obnoxious hollow cardboard rumble with flippant nonchalance. A Hydraulic hiss echoes down through the hall, the Durasteel partition slides open and with its' recession, Lynda raised an eyebrow higher by the second as a rather macabre and comical scene was revealed. A room filled with men wearing blue nitrile gloves with white sterile bags wrapped around their shoes. Travis' excuse bought himself no reprieve from the Coruscant Security Officer who with a disturbing calm lowered the frappe and dropped her collapsed stun baton out of a black cylindrical pouch attached to the upper breastplate. "Alright, Sir." Lynda breathed out just short of a sigh to the man's sheepish thin smirk. "Your 'Friends' are going to have to step out of the apartment and get down on your knees facing the wall against the wall behind me." The woman's voice was warped into a deep baritone by her helmet's annunciator. "Cross your feet over one another and place your hands on your head." Lynda took a step back, the two Coruscant Security Officers obstructed the hallway in both directions shepherding Caalgen's men into what was undoubtedly detainment.

"At this time you're being detained." They warned and activated the visor-rune for the comlink Channel shared with their Junior subordinate. "Beck, Get three other cars down here and a Wagon. Oh, and call Forensic services we've got a death of a person." A few minutes pass with Caalgen's men held in detainment facing the wall. Then ten minutes pass and Lynda thoroughly search the suspect and places any items on his person in plastic evidence zip-lock bags and place them in the boot while Beck ushers Travis into the back prisoner seats of her their Panther Police Interceptor, giving a lingering throught to the concealed blaster pistol she seized from his waistband, that was highly suspicious and damning to the Law Enforcement Officer. "Only Undercity Gangers and Civvies do that, and this guy doesn't strike me as a Civvie" Lynda thought climbing into the Driver's seat with a lazy slump she grunted and turns helmet head to Officer Beck before glancing over shoulder towards her prisoner. "We're heading back to the Old Market District station now, where we will begin our formal investigation." Lynda explains casually to Caalgen.

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Marriskcal Lati
Equipment: Lightsaber (Blue) & Throwing Knives
Location: Level 648, Sector H-25, Coruscant
Objective: Stay out of trouble, hopefully
With: [member="Seto Du Couteau"] ('Spot') & [member="Kyle Whir"]

​

“… It’s really not safe for you follow after me alone. The people here may take try to take you apart and sell your scraps for credits.”

A movement, and the guise of a harmless young lady slipped, a wary gleam alighting in her clear blue eyes as she turned to regard the armoured figure that stood before her.

In the fleeting moment it took for her to do so, Marriskcal released her firm grasp over her abilities, allowing her senses to expand in the small area. And almost immediately, the hundreds and thousands of tiny flames and their tooloud thoughts and intense joydespairangerbetrayal emotions assaulted her. Vile, so very vile. While it hurt, the former Guard suppressed the noise with the same ruthless efficiency that formed the core doctrine of her life.

When she gave the figure a glance with her sharpened senses, he glowed. All life had a potential in them, and some appeared as a flicker of a flame, while others burned bright and intense. And Sergeant Whir’s presence? It had the same distinctive ragged flame-in-the-wind feel as the ALPHA team Death Troopers she had been assigned to once upon a time.

So while Marriskcal was not afraid of this being that towered over her, she remained cautious. She stood her ground as he approached her, her features maintaining a calm veneer even as she kept her senses alert for any signs of treachery. Her body stilled as his arms moved, but unwilling to cause further trouble for her already beleaguered brother, the young woman waited.

And when he produced a notebook, a soft breath left her. Ignoring the concerned beeping of Spot at her back, she took a step forward, and crafted a pleasant smile for the law enforcer. “But of course, Sergeant Whir.” Even if she very much minded being recorded, it was not like she could protest the matter without raising more suspicions.

“How may I help you?”

It did not escape her notice that despite the distorted rumble of his voice, his accent was familiar.

 

[Kier Grey]

Kyle Whir,
Coruscant, Coruscant Underworld, Level 648
Tags: [member="Varian Alaric"], [member="Marriskcal Lati"]

Kyle's hand sheathed in an armoured gauntlet pinched the pen tightly in right-hand scribbling down notes visibly, holding the open booklet in front of their mid thorax which corresponded to just above Marrisckal's head such was the disparity between their respective heights with gaze lowered to the high galactic letters now taking form across off-white pages Sergeant Whir spoke offering an explanation for the informal street interview. "I'm performing an investigation, regarding suspected Visa fraud and I believe you can help me." The mechanical tone is filled with an eerie foreboding as if knowing more but disingenuously feigning a tactful ignorance, without giving any hint towards this through their tone. Sergeant Whir was adept at lying and concealing their intentions through voice from behind a featureless helmet they'd always been known to more tellingly convey feeling in subtle bodily motions and queues although this too is alleviated by the current occupation with transcribing the conversation and where it currently occurs copying translocation data displayed against helmet-mounted display into the legal document.

"Have you been on Coruscant long?" Whir already knew the answer but thought it would help break the palpable icy tension between the Civilian and Police Officer. "I would like to perform a formal interview back at the Station. You're not obligated at this time to accompany me at this time, but in the event you don't I'll just secure a warrant from the Court..." That was a threat, a polite threat conveyed with a cold mechanical certainty but a threat none the less, one that suggested there was already enough incriminating evidence that Whir was confident they could secure an arrest warrant upon application to the Federal Court. That or they are bluffing although would a woman lost on a foreign world really want to take that chance? Kyle very much doubted the idea although very little intention was given towards actually charging Marriskcal at this point more than anything they wanted to get them somewhere the Probes wouldn't be watching and bystanders couldn't possibly be listening their familiarity with Lati's face was something they desired to keep a secret from everyone at least for now...

Kyle had another idea in mind to get her to co-operate that didn't involve violence and it would imply a familiarity with the Woman when she yet stood with the First Order, that if nothing else might convince Lati it was in her best interests to comply. "It'll only take around two hours for me to satisfy my inquiries at this point." Steadily Officer Whir begins sliding their notepad away, their helmet recorder still active. Hoping that the reassurance might be enticing enough to secure compliance if they hadn't already.

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Marriskcal Lati
Equipment: Lightsaber (Blue) & Throwing Knives
Location: Level 648, Sector H-25, Coruscant
Objective: Try not to get into even deeper trouble
Tags: [member="Kyle Whir"] | [member="Varian Alaric"]

​

Despite the placid mien she wore for the law enforcer, Marriskcal was wary and quickly finding herself becoming more and more displeased with the predicament she found herself in. But she was also well aware that cooperating with the other would only mean that this little bout of unpleasantness would be over sooner. And so, the young woman waited for him to continue to speak, her head raised so that her gaze could peek over the edge of the notebook and settle on the faceplate of the officer.

As soon as the words ‘visa fraud’ left him, realisation dawned and tendrils of apprehension began to thread through her aura. Without much knowledge on the internal workings of the Coruscant Security Force, she was unsure if the words that followed were something that was allowed. The quietly confident hint in his voice only made her hesitation more palpable as she found herself unable to refute them. But Marriskcal has never appreciated threats, and as subtle and polite as it was, her vivid blue eyes narrowed faintly.

It was only when Sergeant Whir had added in the final sentence did the lines of her shoulders lose some of its tension. While she was still frustrated, this proposal meant that she would not have to trouble Seto at the very least. With her lips compressed into a thin line, she gave the other a curt nod. “Very well, two hours seem reasonable enough,” she acquiesced, keeping her own response fleeting and mild. Though the desire to retort was there, Marriskcal knew better than to allow her temper to reign over her senses.

But there was one more thing she needed to do before she followed the law enforcer. She turned, giving Spot a shake of the head to discourage it from following after her. After all, there was no point in getting her friend in trouble, especially if Sergeant Whir suspected it of relaying any potential sensitive information. Marriskcal's voice was soft but firm as she reasoned with her droid companion, “Return to Seto's side, Spot. I'll be fine.”

Giving a final glance and a faint nod to assuage the subdued droid, the blonde allowed the officer to lead her to one of the airspeeders she has seen patrolling the ecumenopolis. With the other focused on the route and her attention occupied by her thoughts of her impending interrogation, it did not take long before the police interceptor reached its destination.

​

 

[Varian Alaric]

Varian Alaric "Corvus"
Mercenary | Gun for Hire | Bounty Hunter
Coruscant, Lower Levels, Sector H-25, Level 648
| [member="Marriskcal Lati"] | [member="Kyle Whir"] |
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Even though he was being paid to help the Imperials of the Core Imperial Confederation by Har'xa Escala, that didn't exactly facilitate that he needed to help them with everything. After all, he was more of a fighter than any actual detective. Come to speak of it, his education was lacking as well considering the only university-level education that he had received was from his homeworld of Tamora...a rural, farming world. It still amazed Varian how he had come so far despite his relatively 'limited' upbringing in regards to rural living. Some days he would wake up and think he was still living on Tamora, though those were just dreams now and eventual future prospects. For the time being, he held no desire to go back to that backwater world, back to his home. It wasn't a case as to hatred for his family and parents, no, he loved them, all of them. It was more-so a case of a certain significant other, Varas, who he took to Tamora. The trip had been good and worthwhile that was for sure, though the former Knight of Ren didn't favor going back to any place where the two of them had once spent hours and hours together. It brought too many painful memories to the forefront of his mind, it brought with it the nagging of once beautiful ideas for him and her which had merely been squashed like an insect...quick, and without warning.

Even with the information that Marr had been seen on level one-thousand, nine-hundred and thirty-one, the young man had instead decided to go up to level six-hundred and forty-eight instead. He knew Marr and he knew that she wouldn't venture down in the lower levels, the Coruscant Underground. While true that she could have been kidnapped, of course, Varian refused to believe such a fact. He knew what she would do if she was in trouble, at least, he believed that he did. Though truth be told, it had been many months since either of them had seen each other...so anything was possible.

As soon as Varian had reached level 646 he came across the site of two people going into some sort of patrol speeder, a speeder that he has seen before. They were commonplace among Coruscant, they were a symbol of the Coruscant Security Force...an organization which Alaric had once considered joining. The thought still did cling to the man's mind, after all, it could be a way for him to try and do good in this Galaxy despite everything that was going on. At least...at least then it would be better than being a no-good, Gun for Hire who's loyalty was to that of the highest bidder. Despite his wanting to join, the man chose not to. Last time he had trusted an organization and went into it whole-heartedly, he had been appalled by their lack of moral standing and their lack of restraint in killing there own. He wasn't about to make the same mistake a second time.

The former member of Ren used the HUD of his helmet to zoom in on the pair and he identified her...or at least, someone who appeared like her. Varian couldn't identify if it was her from this distance though he didn't much care, he would go to the station and then wait for her and whoever was accompanying her there...

...it didn't take long for him to get there...

 

[Kier Grey]

Kyle Whir,
Coruscant, Coruscant Underworld, Level 652
Tags: [member="Varian Alaric"], [member="Marriskcal Lati"]



Kyle guided the Panther Police Interceptor through Coruscant's streets with safety and proficiency in equal measure it was more like a skater grinding deftly along ice, they had to ascend a few levels to reach the local Underworld Station. Kyle ushered Marriskcal Lati into an interview room through the normal street entrance rather than entering the tall walled building through the rear prisoner processing entry as the woman was not under arrest at this time. A mysterious individual who Kyle briefly studied was waiting in the Station's secure lobby, on the other side of the Transparisteel-partitioned service desk a uniformed officer stood in Navy Blue Duraplast plating so he must have been attended to already, Kyle thought there was something familiar about the cowled individual's armour design they'd certainly seen it previously on a nearby core world the pieces were starting to fall into place. "Is that your next of Kin?" Kyle asked while escorting his female charge towards a nearby door behind which was an interview door. They built the interview room doors into the Lobby to prevent letting Citizens get access to the secure parts of the station.

The former was somewhat surprised to the latter's compliance, beginning the interview Kyle sat in a chair opposite Marriskcal several cameras within the room remembering every gesture and word spoken within that compact space, two hours later Sergeant Kyle Whir began concluding their interview. "Thank you Miss Lati, this will greatly aid with my inquiries." Not only did Sergeant Whir have a camera on the desk next to their elbow with its' eye pointing towards Marriskcal they scribbed quickly away at their notebook. "You are being released without charge at this point." Kyle began with the cold familiar certainty of their helmet's vocal distorter. "This 'Seto Du Couteau' he is your next of kin Correct?" The question comes after a brief analysis of case notes through the notebook, Seto was the prime suspect for being the supplier of those forged Visas permitting the both of them to stay on Coruscant ostensibly with justification. It was a very complex case, they both possessed valid passports and were entered into their immigration databases. Kyle had to begrudgingly respect the methodical nature of it all even if this sentiment isn't outwardly expressed. "Should I contact them and arrange to have you picked up from the station? It's not safe to be out at this time in the evening." The concern was real even if Marriskcal might have suspected it feigned from the Police Officer, Kyle intended to follow-up on Lati once they got off-duty which coincidentally coincided with the conclusion of their interview. It was time for them to sign out their equipment and go home. "Or is that man wearing the strange outfit out in the lobby your ride home?" The questioned was intoned, regardless of the answer Kyle knew this hadn't ended here.

Kyle had other plans for Marriskcal and Seto, their mind stewed obsessing over the pair knowing them from another life and another time. It pulled and twisted their consciousness to be torn between the anonymity of their office and necessity of fostering trust between the three to reach a conclusion to this case. Kyle looked at Lati and saw what they had seen countless times on countless battlefields; fear. It was fear, she was running from something and Kyle thought no they knew it was the First Order but only if she would admit that fact and threat her Visa was obtained fraudulently they might be able to start the process of getting the couple Political Asylum. Kyle knows they would have to pursue them away from work, for perhaps they would recognize the Officer's actual voice and face and if not? Nothing of value would be lost, but they stood to gain a resolution and perhaps a successful prosecution.

 

[Marriskcal Lati]

Marriskcal Lati
Equipment: Lightsaber (Blue) & Throwing Knives
Location: Level 652, Sector H-25, Coruscant
Tags: [member="Kyle Whir"] | [member="Varian Alaric"]

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Her steps were brisk and measured as she followed the law enforced out of the interceptor and in to the station. The harsh light overhead was a stark contrast to dim exterior of the underworld levels she was exploring and it took her several blinks to grow accustomed to the sudden brightness. Her senses remained calm even as it permeated throughout the station, wary and searching for any signs of treachery and danger.

It was only when Sergeant Whir mentioned a ‘kin’ that her gaze sidled to a side where a figure encased in armour loomed. As the other male has sealed his Force abilities and refused to even draw on it ever since he had left First Order space, only a flicker of flame was left, just enough for the blonde to discern that he was a living breathing being. The presence that she felt from the man she used to call ‘brother’ felt unfamiliar, and there was nothing to distinguish it from others.

A mere flame amongst the thousands that crowded the levels above and below.

Shaking her head slowly, Marriskcal dismissed the figure and followed the officer into the room without another glance back. And they spoke at length, with the blonde answering his questions the best she could. Some of the words she spoke were truths as she knew it, others were a vague blend of truth and subtle deflection crafted in such a way that it was difficult to discern its veracity. After all, she was living a life where she could trust no one other than her brother, even while their relationship were still fractured.

By the time two hours drew to a close, the young woman felt drained and hollow, her head throbbing with her senses active throughout the interval. Even then, she gave Sergeant Whir a wan smile, inclining her head a grateful nod. “You are most welcome. I am mostly glad to find myself out of trouble.” Because while Marriskcal did not care much about her own wellbeing, she very much did care about being a further burden to her brother.

“And yes, he is.” There was a shade of pride and shyness in her voice as she answered the other. Now that she has felt the burn twice, Marriskcal knew now how easy it was for her to be left behind. She remembered the hurt and rage then as she pursued his back, her blade primed to fell a traitor. But even after she had tried and failed to kill him, instead of continuing his journey onwards on his own, Seto had turned back and wiped the tears from her eyes. And he continued to look after her, even taking her along with him as he returned to the service of his previous regime.

Walking out of the interview room, Marriskcal could sense his sincerity through the flow and her gaze became warm. “And no, it is fine. He has been busy ever since he made the decision to return to work. I do not wish to bother him.” With her focus on the officer and her developing headache, her shoulder hit the armoured figure from earlier. “Ah– My apologies,” she said absently before continuing her conversation with Sergeant Whir.

“You do not need to worry about me, Sergeant Whir. I am quite capable of taking care of myself.” By now, her disappearance has probably been noticed and it would not be long before her brethren would be sent after her. It was… easier for her to be alone when they finally caught up with her. For her once Lord and Master was not a forgiving man, and Marriskcal has both failed in her duty and broken her oaths. She paused at the entrance of the station, giving the much taller male a final nod in acknowledgement. “If there is nothing else, I will take my leave.”

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