Private Responsibility in Triplicate

[Arris Windrun]

CORUSCANT
FEDERAL DISTRICT
Adean Castor

Located within the ruins of a large building across from the Sith Temple was the temporary administrative headquarters of the Covenant following their conquest of the Core. Most of the busy bodies inside consisted of conscripted acolytes, imperial prisoners, and an assembly of consultants brought on by the promise of pay.

Their job, however, was proving to be an insurmountable task. No - it wasn't the administration of the core that concerned them. It was the management of loot. Of ships, of weapons, and most importantly: the vast network and records seized from the ISB. At her desk, tucked in an office at the far tippity top of the building, with a big gaping hole in the wall that exposed them to the outside air, was Arris Windrun. Metal fingers ran through disheveled blonde hair as cybernetic eyes narrowed at the datapad in her other hand. Others like it, as well as datachits, and even paper copies, haunted the workspace in stacks and piles. To call it organized was like calling the Gank Massacres an accident.

Worse still was the lackluster help. Arris was not cut out for this job, not really, and everyone else was stretched thin on other tasks. Some technicians were supposed to install an old BRT to automate the whole process, but apparently it 'disappeared' in procurement. Coincidentally, a remarkably similar model was recently listed at triple cost on the HoloNet.

So when the cybog heard footsteps and saw the shadow of a figure in the corner of her eye, she raised her voice and called out.

"Hey, you!" Her words cut through the droning of distant reconstruction. "Got a second?"

 

[Adean Castor]

TAG: Arris Windrun

If Adean were here on official business, she'd either be in total bliss or despair, depending on how "official" the nature of her business was. Right now, without any sort of job, it was erring on bliss, aside from the threat of certain doom upon discovery. Sure, it would've been far more lucrative to be here as a spy, or to sell what information she'd already gathered to the highest bidder. But in the moment, Adean was just enjoying finding the information.

There was something freeing about knowing things and not having the pressure of having to report back to anyone. For the first time in she didn't know how long, it felt like a return to normalcy. Her version of normalcy, at least. Meander about, learn and do what you want, and if anyone starts to question it, borrow a name and skip town. All that changed, at least in her mind, was her appetite. And maybe overall ability.

There was a disorganization to the overall area that only seemed to aid in Adean's wanderings. Perhaps a part of her would pity those in charge if she wasn't overtly benefiting from the situation. Maybe. That was a thought for another day-

"Hey, you!" Her words cut through the droning of distant reconstruction. "Got a second?"

Chit.

She could've ignored the callout. Could've pretended she didn't hear, or assumed it was meant for someone else. Yet there was just something about it that tugged at her and saw her poke her head in the office.

"Did you need something?"

 

[Arris Windrun]

Adean Castor

Arris set her datapad aside and leaned across the desk. Disheveled blonde hair across lifeless cybernetic eyes.

"Yeah," she answered.

The Triumvir had seen this one around before, if she recalled correctly, but only at a glance. That meant she wasn't quite sure what her thing was, but she appeared neither an acolyte nor a soldier. Walked with too much permission to be a prisoner or a slave. And now she was here.

Arris waved her in. "Two heads are better than one... is that the saying?"

She flicked through the nearest pile, gathering a handful of folders, and divided them evenly. Maybe a dozen each.

"Congratulations. You're now officially a talent scout." She held half across the table. "Got a name?"

Each folder contained several dossiers. Records on ex-Alliance officers. High-ranking ones at that. Only thing... All of 'em had a long list of controversies. They weren't exemplary officers, no; these were war criminals, dishonorable dischargees, and extremists of one flavor or another. Everything from getting slapped for drinking on duty to disgraceful action in the field marred their records.

 

[Adean Castor]

TAG: Arris Windrun

Well then, this hadn't been Adean's intention. The cyborg before her was one she recognized among the Covenant's leadership, a fact that would've concerned Adean had she not taken in the other's disheveled appearance or the piles upon piles that filled her workspace.

This wasn't an interrogation; this was someone drowning.

In another world, or maybe a few months ago, Adean would've felt the pang of pity for the Triumvir. Perhaps she still would if her own self-preservation didn't conflict with being in close proximity, at least not for an extended period of time.

But it could be useful.

Her brow furrowed as she flipped through the first folder, taking in the long list of crimes and controversies. "Yeah, call me Canari." The name slid from the pages to her mouth without a second thought. "Canari Lordai." One name taken from one page, maybe a victim? Or accomplice? The other, pulled from the second file she skimmed.

"Am I scouting for talent or leverage? For what purpose?"

 

[Arris Windrun]

Adean Castor

"Canari?"

She wasn't sure why, but that name reminded her of a songbird. Not that she's seen many of those in her life.

When Canari asked whether this was about talent or leverage, Arris smirked.

"A bit of both?" Her tone indicated that she hadn't considered the value of dirt in this. "We need to build an admiralty. One with the experience and training to get rolling fast. When the Alliance collapsed, their records fell into the Empire's lap -- and well, now they're ours."

She looked back down at her mess of folders, sifting through them.

"But leverage? Sure, why the hell not?"

The cyborg liked her already.

Before she could say anything else, a sudden quake rocked the building. That was odd for Coruscant. Arris looked around, as if expecting a team of commandos to breach the room, before her eyes finally settled back on Canari.

"Well, that was odd."

The distant sound of scrambling feet confirmed that something was going on, but Arris didn't get out of her seat.

 

[Adean Castor]

TAG: Arris Windrun

A brow rose at the cyborg's explanation, as if to say, 'This is where you start?'. Adean withheld her tongue and the brunt of her judgment, however, still uncertain where she actually stood in this room.

"What do you need more - experience or a known name?" She asked as she divided her files into a few smaller piles. "Are you wanting someone good at their job or someone flashy to bring more to the cause?"

There were three piles forming so far: Absolutely not, reverify their crimes, permissible in a pinch, and a single file that Adean, no, Canari paid special attention to.

"It may also benefit you not to look at the subject of the file, but who exposed them." She slid the open file partially across the table, the page recounting how the officer's second in command caught their superior's attempt at subterfuge and turned what would've been a tragic loss into a close stalemate.

Canari tensed as the room rocked beneath them, teeth digging into the inside of her mouth as she half anticipated the room to collapse in on them. It wouldn't be the first time such had happened to Adean.

As the more man-made sounds continued, concern found itself bubbling up in Canari's throat, though it didn't quite meet her eyes. "Shall I tend with that or...?" She rose to her feet slowly, uncertain if the quakes would begin again, fishing for an opportunity to take her leave.

 

[Arris Windrun]

Adean Castor

"Huh."

Canari was already asking questions Arris hadn't considered. Maybe better at this than she was.

"Capable," Arris answered. "That's the most important quality." Everything else might've mattered somewhere. "People we can put into place and get the job done."

She wondered if this was how the rest of the galaxy worked. Did the encompassment of trillions rely on incompetent people making snap decisions informed by smarter people around them? Arris shook her head at the thought and chuckled lightly. Surely not.

"It may also benefit you not to look at the subject of the file, but who exposed them."

Now that was particularly insightful. Her eyes fell to the file and the detail in question. Maybe her previous assumption was right.

"Shall I tend with that or...?"

Arris remained wholly unconcerned and held a hand up as if to say 'wait.'

"Nah - unless the whole building starts to collapse, I don't really see what the big--"

Another quake followed what sounded an awful lot like an explosion. The cyborg froze in place, metal hand splayed. Lost in thought. She didn't even blink, but that was pretty normal. Her cyber eyes didn't require blinking. If she did, it was for show.

"Grab the files. We'll go somewhere nice."

Slowly, she rose from her desk and walked towards the exit with her own pile in hand. Hopefully, none of the other paper copies were at risk, as not everything was archived. Their walk took them past scrambling staff and soldiers headed for the elevators. That was in the opposite direction, of course. Arris and Canari were destined for an airspeeder parked near their floor.

When they stepped outside, there was a particularly frightened man scrambling to hotwire it. Arris flicked her wrist, sending him tumbling off the side and down a two-kilometer fall. She slid into the vehicle and patted the passenger's seat.

 

[Adean Castor]

TAG: Arris Windrun

'Capable' wasn't an especially helpful answer, seeing as that quality was to be expected from any legitimate candidate. That wasn't a fact Canari felt in a position to point out, however.

She froze in place once the hand rose, limbs not fully relaxing and only tensing further as another shockwave overtook the building. The screams of distant panic were left unheard, buried under months (or was it years now?) of training and internalization, so much so that even the concern that shown through in her eyes and tugged at her brows was a mask put on because the moment called for it.

Moving to grab the files, emerald eyes scanned over the table quickly. She wasn't about to pass up on the chance to get to relative safety, but it also seemed foolish not to try and glean more from the information before her. Just as it'd be unfortunate to lose the organization system she already had. Pulling a standalone document as she grabbed one pile of files, one that just the quick glance had deemed may contain interesting enough information, she slid it between one of her categories of piles to keep them separate. And repeated the process for the second separation. And then a blank page for notes (or a cover).

Following close behind to ensure she didn't get lost in the scramble (though that itself had a temptation, too), she couldn't help but glance back at all the others headed towards the elevators. "Do they not have stairs here?" she wondered aloud, shuddering to think what'd happen if the explosions affected the elevator systems.

Canari didn't watch as the man was flung to the abyss below, her nails suddenly becoming quite interesting. All the desensitization she'd been through thus far, and the more senseless cruelty, still managed to unsettle her. As to, did the casual pat of the passenger's seat that invited her to sit. It easily could've been her falling to her death, and here she was, sliding into a speeder like it was another afternoon lunch break. "So where is this 'somewhere nice' anyway?"

 

[Arris Windrun]

Adean Castor

The speeder ripped through the air as the tower behind them groaned violently. It was a wonder the structure hadn't collapsed, but from their vantage point above, the cause became apparent. A nearly structure meant for controlled demolition toppled towards the side, rather than down directly towards its base. Another cost of the messy occupation where mercenaries and hacks did the work.

"Huh," she muttered. "I don't think that's supposed to happen."

It took her a moment to register Canari's question.

"Oh--" Right. Somewhere nice.

She flew them towards the site of the rotunda. Historically home to mediocre senators, declarations of war, and duels to decide galactic fate. Currently, it was also under construction, as the Covenant converted the structure into a resort for syndicate lords, corporate thugs, and corrupt politicians. So, really, little has changed - if anything, Arris would say it was a more honest portrayal.

But that was not their destination. No, she kept the speeder going low. So low until it disappeared through an underworld portal that descended hundreds of levels beneath the steel surface.

"I know a place. Quiet, inexpensive, and the food reminds me of home." The Talusian slums.

She parked the speeder beside a busy street and hopped out. The whole street was lined with corner cantinas, food stalls, and pazaak dens. At least, the parts that weren't occupied by swoops, their riders, ogling fans, and associated gangsters.

The cyborg looked at Canari with a grin. "It's no 1313 maybe, but a good place to think."