How Far Will You Go?

[Doyle]

Commander Stokely McFadden, (Stokes to those that knew her), hardly ever set foot on a planet's surface. Her whole life and command had been in space. And she was perfectly fine with that.

But today was different. Her Captain [member="Matthias Hull"] of the Commonwealth had entrusted her with a sensitive task. As all of the other operatives were currently engaged on other assignments, she was needed to follow a lead. There were rumours of a powerful superweapon being built by the Sith. For the most part that organization had been quiet and/or fighting amongst themselves. But that was probably a ruse, a cover for what was really going on. Stokes was being sent to find out through any means necessary.

After some digging and with the help of an old boot camp college by the name of Eko, the two entered a bar. The lights were dim, and the music playing was quiet enough for people to converse without shouting. The two of them were dressed in civilian clothes, and as Stokes had rarely left her ship, she wasn't going to be recognized as an officer of the Commonwealth. For this assignment, it was perfect. But hopefully one that she didn't have to do too often.

Spoiler

The two of them walked over to the barkeep, Eko acting very much like the bodyguard that he was, eyes scanning the crowd. Stokes didn't offer up a smile or anything. "Whiskey, double-shot."

"And for your friend?"

"He's fine."

The barkeep merely shrugged and got her her drink. Stokes took it without so much as a thank you and studied the patrons inside. According to their lead, the man should be coming right on schedule. Some people were obsessive-compulsive that way and really liked their schedules. It gave this kind of assignment an easy start.

[member="Veino Garn"]

 

[Veino Garn]

Dr. Zathra Skae strode into the cantina, his black hair tied back into a pony tail above his pale skin. He paused at the doorway, frowning at the crowd, and checked his chronometer. He stood there, waiting as it counted until exactly the right second. Then he strode forward, paying no attention to the others, except the two by the bar that he had never seen before. He gave them half a glance, but kept walking. The other patrons moved aside for him.

A serving droid rolled up to him, but the scientist waved it off with a hand.

"The usual."

The droid stopped, turned and rolled to the bar while the man took a seat. Then he settled back in the booth, staring at a datapad.

Dr. Skae was, for the most part, a rather average sight for a human, average height, long black hair, green eyes, dressed in an unassuming brown coat, white shirt, and black trousers. On most worlds, he wouldn't even warrant a second glance. What set him apart was the burn scar that ran down the right side of his face, down his neck, and then beneath his clothes. It burned a bright red, sometimes even seeming to pulse.

The droid returned momentarily with a bottle of whiskey and a glass, setting them on the table and then wheeling off, leaving the good doctor alone.

But good was a matter of perspective and most people didn't see him that way. Certainly not with what could be found on the datapad he was looking at, although most people would never understand it. It was just a long stream of number and symbols, apparently bound together in some massive equation that streamed down the entire screen. It was the secret to his project, guarded now only by his anonymity and the fact that it was utter nonsense to most of the galaxy.

But the two newcomers were making him suspicious. One didn't come to a bar and not get a drink. Nor had they been there on any of the previous evenings. He shut off the datapad and poured a glass of whiskey. The clock was ticking for his meeting.

[member="Stokely McFadden"]

 

[Doyle]

Stokes took a swig of her whiskey, looking ever so bored as Dr. Skae stepped in the doorway and waited before heading further in. Eko didn't need to nudge her or say anything. He turned his attention elsewhere while the Doctor made his order and then slid into the booth.

After a couple of minutes, the two made their move. Eko slid in the booth on the same bench as Dr. Skae, blocking him against the wall, while Stokes slid into the bench across from him and placed her drink on the table. "Mind if we join you, Doctor Skae? I didn't think so."

It wasn't as though she waited for an answer from him. Stokes just carried on, her cold eyes never leaving his for a moment. "Being a creature of habit is your own worst enemy. But thank you. It just makes our game a little easier to start. Now it's a very simple game, and you're the next contestant, Dr. Skae. Whatever happens in the game will all depends upon you. So..." She nodded to Eko, who then proceeded to place one of his hands on the Doctor's shoulder. "...we have a room all set up. You can bring your whiskey too. It might even be helpful. And of course if you win the game, you'll be rewarded. So...shall we?"

[member="Veino Garn"]

 

[Veino Garn]

[member="Stokely McFadden"]

The good doctor raised an eyebrow as the two strangers approached. He tapped a button on the side of his datapad and slipped it into his coat as the two sat down. Otherwise, he made no response as they sat in and sat talking, either when he got trapped in or the one put a hand on his shoulder. As Stokely spoke, Dr. Skae pulled up a pair of spectacles and polished them on his coat.

"A game, you say?" His voice was quiet, almost indifferent, as he placed the spectacles on his face. "I must say the concept is intriguing." He took a sip of whiskey, studying them both. He leaned forward, hunching his shoulders above the drink. "Let me propose a game at first. I say what I know about you from this little encounter and for each correct one, you buy me another whiskey."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Such a game should benefit us both. I get drunk. You may get what you want easier." He tilted his head to stare at them, but then continued. "You note my habits, yet you've never been here. As such, you are connected to a group with intelligence capabilities, probably a government of some sort. Probably minor since you don't have any other accomplices. Military, I presume, given your straight-forwardness, rather than an intelligence agency."

A gleam appeared in his eye and a small smile pulled at his lips. "But you're not in uniform so you could be shot as spies." His smile widened, never reaching his eyes. "You owe me whiskey, I take it."

 

[Doyle]

Stokes smirked. Dr. Skae seemed to be rather used to this type of game. No doubt it was a consequence of his job. But no matter, he was partially right. "There are a few snitches in here, as you can imagine." Instead of ordering him another whiskey, she just picked up his bottle and poured it into his glass.

Despite his movements, Eko still kept his hand on Dr. Skae 's shoulder. He studied the man, as one in his profession would do. It was hard to read the bodyguard and that was what made him so good at his job.

Stokes looked to the bottle, reading over the label while she spoke. "Shall we go somewhere more private? Or shall we just do it all here. It should only take a few minutes to clear everyone out. Either way it'll just be the three of us."

Eko moved quickly, reaching into Dr. Skrae's coat with his free hand and removing his datapad, watching Dr. Skrae's reaction to indicate whether or not what was in there was important.

[member="Veino Garn"]

 

[Veino Garn]

[member="Stokely McFadden"]

Skae shrugged at the comment, "Of course there are snitches. But a snitch without one to snitch to is quite useless." He took another drink of whiskey before offering it them as they poured some more from the bottle. Tragic, really. He had been angling for a bottle to take home as well. But, he could work with just one bottle for the night. It was more than enough to get him to the point he desired to reach, unbound by common cognitive inhibitions in regards to considering the potential of his ideas and his research.

He shrugged, "Perhaps we should retire to somewhere more private. These friends of mine do not take kindly to being interrupted from pursuing the reverent bliss of alcohol." He smiled at her again. "And I do not think you desire any... altercations. This world is not kind to altercations where violence is involved."

He remained impassive, however, as the other one pulled the datapad from the jacket. "Careful with that if you will," He studied them both, "I get paid less than you two do."

That was technically true, as he was personally paid very little, but room and board were provided, as was all the funding or slave labor needed for his project. And what a project.The thought of it made him smile, and he left it, even with these two clearly watching him.

"Shall I get a room? Or do you two have a suite already arranged for the evening's festivities?"

 

[Doyle]

Stokes just smiled right back to him. Though inside she wasn't quite smiling at all. Something about this man unnerved her, though what that certain thing was, she wasn't quite sure as of yet. No doubt she'd find out soon enough. Eko handed her the datapad. "Thank you." She started to slide out of the booth, while Eko guided Dr. Skrae out of his seat. "We have our own room ready, so there's no need to trouble yourself."

Once they were all out, Stokes took the lead and brought them over to a back room. She unlocked the door and stepped in, moving to the side to allow Dr. Skrae and Eko to walk in after her. In the room was nothing but two chairs set across from eachother and a light overhead. As the two walked in, she would close the door behind him and lock it. "Have a seat. Any one you'd like." She looked to the datapad and attempted to turn it on. "I don't know of many Doctors that don't get paid very well. But then again, these are dark times and often people like to take advantage of others for the sake of the industrial military complex and conquest. Wouldn't you agree?"

[member="Veino Garn"]

 

[Veino Garn]

[member="Stokely McFadden"]

Dr. Skae shrugged as they not so gently led him out of the booth and into the back room. He kept himself calm, casual even. Not even close to being disturbed by what was all going on. The same small smile still played on his lips as he studied the two chairs and the table. The smile quirked a little farther upwards at that point. It was clear now how this was going to play out. But he could work with that, begin adjusting variables and measure the responses.

He was a scientist. It was what he did. The first variable relied on social norms that varied by situation, unspoken but expected. That was the first one to manipulate. He brushed off Eko's hand from his should and strode forward, taking a seat on top of the table, reaching up to give the light a tap. Skae slid himself around the table to face her, laughing softly.

"My dear officer friend," His voice was light and jovial, "Clearly you must know very few doctors then. Even still, I am a theoretical engineer. I just... imagine things." He raised his hand to trace it through the air, like some invisible comet. "Nobody cares about ideas. They're not profitable."

Industrial military complex and conquest. So that was this was all about. They had an inkling that something was going on. Perfect. His masters would be pleased. The time was soon coming.

 

[Doyle]

A brow was raised as Dr. Skrae just sat himself on the table. Oh he was quite used to such games. That was being made quite clear. But perhaps he enjoyed toying with people. If he was being paid to imagine things, then who knows what types of things he liked to think up?

Stokely looked down to the datapad as it turned on. Various numbers and symbols scrolled through the screen. Only a small portion of it could she understand. She then looked up to the mad man before her. "However did you get that impressive scar? Was that from one of your recent ideas?"

Eko was curious as well. He just stood there watching, arms folded over his chest, studying Dr. Skrae and choosing upon which bone he might like to break first, if need be.

[member="Veino Garn"]

 

[Veino Garn]

[member="Stokely McFadden"]

Skae's hand went up to his face, tracing along his cheekbones and jaw, before down to his neck. The smile widened to maniacal proportions.

"Oh this?" He clapped his hands together and settled back farther on the table, crossing one leg above the other. "Let me tell you a story. A story of ego gone too far and sanity lost and enlightenment gained." Then he hopped up off the table and began to pace back and forth, eyes feverish. "I had a vision you, of a universe without pain. Without suffering. Without all these things that bring us pain. But to remove all these torments? Impossible!"

He threw his hands in the air and spun on his heels, ponytail whipping behind him.

"The only answer was death. But how could one bring death to all living thins in the universe at one time?" He shrugged. "Impossible! But a system at a time! Now that has been accomplished in the past and theoretically could be again!"

Light glinted from his teeth, almost supernaturally bright.

"I reached this revelation when I was hit by another speeder," he spun around to face them, "I died then and saw the entirety of the universe and the Netherworld." His eyes flashed. "And my face melted. I watched it happen and then I knew that the only way to save the galaxy was to bring about its destruction. For only then can we transcend this physical realm."

 

[Doyle]

Dr. Skae was a little more ....insane than either of them had anticipated. But then he could probably be doing that just to throw them off. They listened to the man as he used a bit of theatrics to tell his tale. What he had spoken of however, fell in line with the rumours that had brought them into this investigation in the first place.

Stokely stepped forward to the man with a hardened stare as she studied him. It was a moment before she spoke. "So you died, was brought back and now you figured that the best way to save the Galaxy was to destroy it? Did you create something to accomplish this?"

If that was the case, then it would all make sense. More than likely the Sith or Mandalorians would have taken advantage of the man's intellect and used it for their own ends. All good people would be destroyed, leaving only those that wouldn't defy, wouldn't revolt.

They couldn't let that happen.

[member="Veino Garn"]

 

[Veino Garn]

[member="Stokely McFadden"]

So they were interested. Perfect, what an opportunity to lure them in an see the results of their labors. Dr. Skae stopped his pacing and took his seat on the table again, face completely composed and serene. Word of their work had begun to leak out into galaxy. Well, that was something to be used to their advantage. He tapped his fingers together for several moments and then leaned forward conspiratorially.

"Theoretically?" Yes, he had theoretical models to accomplish such a thing, and even one to destroy the galaxy in one shot. Trigger the black hole in the center to began rapid expansion and destabilize the orbits of all the systems. It was perfect, but the technology did not exist. Not anymore at least. The Rakatans, perhaps, had such technology... but no... he was falling down a bunny trail. He needed to stay focused on what he was doing.

Baiting in a target for the testing of his weapon.

"Or actually? Because there is a significant difference between the two, even with the inverse proportionality of potentiality and technological capabilities of the galaxy at large." How much longer could he bait them out before giving them what they wanted? Probably not much longer, but it was worth a try.

 

[Doyle]

[member="Veino Garn"]

Stokely eyed the man. He seemed to be stalling, or playing them or both. She took a step towards Dr. Skae, arms folded across her chest. "Did you build such a weapon, or not?" If he had, then there was no time for games. If it was still under construction, then even better. Whatever it was, he was not going to leave the room without giving her the details. And she prefered things to be straight to the point. Dr. Skae wouldn't want to test her patience.

 

[Veino Garn]

[member="Stokely McFadden"]

She was growing bored with the game. Skae respected her for that and for getting straight to the point. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and smiled. A simple, knowing smile. A stream of numbers flashed across the datapad screen and he paused to read them. The smile broadened. It was indeed time. He clapped his hands together and jumped up off the table, stalking forward a few steps.

"Oh, yes." His voice was quiet and calm- but triumphant. "Yes I did. And it's ready. The time has finally come for the galaxy to at last know peace." He stepped back and set down on the table. "How does that make you feel, officers? Be at peace, the need for military might has ceased to exist."

He crossed his legs and raised an eyebrow. "What now? Are you going to shoot me? Torture me for more information? Try and make up for all the time you've lost talking to me, knowing that any moment, your homeworld could cease to exist? How does that feel, knowing that success could mean failure?"

 

[Doyle]

Stokely furrowed her brows. Be at peace? Military might has come to an end? But what of those that wielded such a weapon? Were they not using their own military might to create it and fire it when it was ready? Everything in the Galaxy could never be destroyed. That was her way of thinking. Surely the creators and those that funded such a project wouldn't be committing suicide after all was said and done. No. They would save some worlds for them to conquer, and the war machine would continue on. There will always be jobs for people like her, and even for people like Dr. Skae.

Her eyes narrowed slightly as Dr. Skae tried to get under her skin. Perhaps he was a little bit, but she was keeping herself under control. Mostly. Eko remained where he was. He just needed the signal.

Stokely shrugged her shoulders as she stepped forward towards the Doctor, her arms still crossed. "What homeworld? Those like me were born on a ship. The risk of losing our ships is high in times of war, and even in times of peace. So we learned to let go a long time ago." Her hand then shot up when she was close enough, wrapping her fingers tightly around the Doctor's throat as she spoke quietly. "I don't need to torture you. I'm sure that you would gleefully enjoy the challenge of seeing if our forces could stop this weapon in time. It is in that joy that you'll find yourself unable to resist giving us more information, right?"

Of course if he wasn't, Eko could become very persuasive.

[member="Veino Garn"]