Private Seven West & Questions

[Mara Odim]

​

Seven West District
Coruscant


District Seven West wasn't famous for much of anything except it's giant square metal lakes. Four giant bodies of water that were originally fabricated as part of a nearby Industrial Zone. Two of which, were still used today for industry and metalworking. The other two however. Are now commercial. Boating, fishing, swimming, underwater elecro'ball, etc. Just about every water sport you could think of. Seven West had them. All four bodies of water were smashed together side-by-side like four giant metal swimming pools. Overshadowed and surrounded by sprawling commerce towers and rust-bucket industrial labyrinths. A pure reflection of a tired busy city. Shrouded in dark, deep, and murky waters.

Charming. It was not.

Mara Odim stood on the metal shoreline of Pool Two. Pondering the bright morning vista that lay before her. Behind her was a street market filled with common vendors and local cafes. Puffs of smoke and busy little peoples. Before her was a quiet shoreline filled with improvised docks and tight little rows of sailing vessels. Probably hundreds of them. All mixed together. Rich and poor. Luxury and ram-shackle. Gold leaf and scrubbed rusted algae. Big and small. All crammed together in the common pursuit of water access and a sailor's salty freedom.

And it smelled kinda gross this morning too. Bleh.

"So?" A dark-haired human male approached from the police car and handed Mara her morning caf, "...Where do you want to start?"

His name was Shang Villers and he was a local cop. A good one too.

"Well. Let's start with the sister ship. The luxury yacht that sat right next to her that night. I'd like to see where they were moored before trouble happened." Mara nodded in reply.

"Sure sure. She's right there." Shang pointed to the biggest ship in the harbor. "The Maiden Voyage. Or, that's what she's called anyway."

"They won't mind if we slip aboard? Don't see much security right now."

"Nah. Same company owns them. Same one that hired us too. And that other guy. It's fine. Besides... She's scheduled for maintenance anyway. No crew. They'll have her dry docked by tomorrow. Come on. We'll be fine."

Shang and Mara both checked their phones for messages. Then took a sip of their coffee and began the short walk from the car to the pier. Anxious and ready for a new mystery to begin. Three days ago a perfectly good corpo luxury yacht just disappeared from it's watery berth, right here on this pier. So now it was up to the Jedi, the local police, and even a few small-time Bounty Hunters to find her.

The question was: where did The Intrepid disappear to?

Kei Amadis

 

[Kei Amadis]

Uneventful trip to the core, shuffling paperwork for the new independent governments in Silver Space. Ready to get out of the bureaucracy! He was with his crew relaxing by one of the pools, not a great area but Elara was having some peace, and Zacka was snoozing comfortably under his fedora. His kid Mathayus liked the holoshow going on, and that was enough for today.

"JoS," Jack of spades, "you available for a detour?" Came the all too familiar voice over his comms.
"AoS I'm with my family" Kei replied curtly.
"It's in your area Kei. One of your delegation has gone missing. Cheshk"
He nodded firmly, duty called. "Send me the details."

Kissing his wife, then his son, he waved to the other crew. Getting the details over this wrist device. Rhrawlu a young female wookiee wildcard joined him on a skimmer boat, reminding the older Master to suit up with aquatic gear, rebreather, and a temperature regulator.

......

"What navigational data will they have?" The Jedi Master asked his companion.

"Probably nothing in a place this small." Rhrawlu roared, not an ocean, doubting if they were keeping serious tracking-gps on anything here. She knew her boats, one of the remote islander Wookiees. Perfectly suited for this and handling it like a pro.

Amadis scratched his grey stubble, more grey than color on the mature Jedi Master. Not like he had the pull with the planet government to ask for favors, like he would have back on Kashyyyk or silver space, have to do this old-fashioned way.

The pier at the adjacent pool two would soon be joined by one stubbled Epicanthix, in traditional silver triple ward armor, minus the helmet, with brown cloak over the top. A young female Wookiee piloting a fancy surface skimming craft, passable at a hover on land but especially good on water. Security services stopped them from coming aboard the peer directly until they'd exchanged a few words. There was a Jedi's calm and steady insistence vs bureaucratic red tape.

".... part of an ongoing senate negotiation," the security entered a few details, "yes, an elder wookiee. Name is Cheshk," clearing his throat, "C H E S H K" His companion roared in a growl, "long white hair, large claws..." he breathed in a great deal of calm. "Yes. Speaks in Shyriiwook with regular growls and howls. Breathing out, "here on diplomatic business. No he's not related to the singer...."

One Jedi Master and Wookiee companion ready to be saved from bureaucracy at any time.

Mara Odim

 

[Mara Odim]

Shang stopped for a moment and tapped Mara on the shoulder. Then pointed over to the new arrivals,

"Friends of yours?"

He meant the Epicanthix male. Nobody ever knew what a Wookiee was doing.

"Nope. But they seem like the type I'd usually bum around with, eh." She shrugged playfully. But. Then again? Why not? Mara gave a familiar nod and Shang nodded in kind. Then he turned to yell at the corpo security nearer the big boats.

"Yo. Fella's. Yo!"

The two corpos slowly turned around. Dismissively.

"Yo. Hey. They're with us."

Shang gestured for Kei and Rhrawlu to come aboard and join them on the metal pier. The two corpos turned to face each other. Pondering for a moment. Then shrugged. They knew cops would be snooping around today. They didn't realize cops and senate investigations meant the same thing. Pfft. Whatever. Crap job anyways.

Mara folded her arms and waited as the two corp guards finally relented. Shang likewise sipped his caf in mild amusement. This was a public pier after all. No need to bug people. But well, corporate types like to think they own 'everything' anyway. Figures. Thugs would be thugs. No matter how well dressed they were.

"Public pier." Mara shrugged as the newcomers approached. "What was all that about? You two lose a luxury yacht too?"

Kei Amadis

 

[Kei Amadis]

Amadis grinned in relief, "Thanks." Saved from red tape.

You two lose a luxury yacht too?"

"Friend," came the reply.

"Diplomat," Rhrawlu roared.

"Diplomat from Kashyyyk, last seen on a missing ship here." Kei scratched the back of his neck, working out where to start. "New governments. New treaties." He kept details as plain as he could, not wanting the headache of paperwork relived again. The Jedi Master settled his senses. Reaching out for any clues as they spoke. "Master Amadis, order of the Silver Jedi." He shook anyone's hand firmly if they took it.

Younger and more impulsive Rhrawlu was less intent on peacefully waiting. "He's important to me, us." She growled and made sure the boat was moored properly. Amadis translated, "she's worried about him." Her tone probably said that much. Youthful tawny brown fur, limber and pacing, concern in her young eyes. "Any leads?"

Where to start. Something….

He knelt down to look at the pier closely. Taking several steps back toward where he'd docked, and doing the same. Not able to shake a feeling. As he walked he pushed down with his foot, making sure it took this weight. About halfway between the edge of the pier, and where they stood he knelt down.

"This one's loose."

With a flick of his wrist device, straight to it, he began to pry up part of the metal pier. Much to the pier guard's wide-eyed eyebrow-raising. Lifting it to find a small black liquid. "Fresh paint." Amadis said with a scratch of his stubble, probably the last day or two. The Jedi Master would follow their lead on this if they had a plan to investigate.

Mara Odim

 

[Mara Odim]

The corps weren't the only one's raising an eyebrow. Mara seemed puzzled herself as Kei immediately set to work deconstructing the pier. Though she did shake hands and complete introductions,

"Mara. Alliance Knight. Coruscant Temple."

"Shang. Partner. Generic human." Her dark-haired grumpy-looking companion replied in tandem. Though, he never did stop side-eyeing the Wookiee. First time, I suppose. Kinda shaky about that one.

Then Kei mentioned fresh paint. That gave Mara the idea to share.

"Public pier. Public waters. Crowds and boats intermingle here." She pointed to the cityscape beyond. "No cameras or droids from the business side or down near the warehouses, over there. But plenty of private security on the larger boats. Private owners though. Private data and all that."

She pointed to the large luxury yacht just nearby. The Maiden Voyage.

"My partner and I were gonna take a look through that ships cam footage. She's a sister ship and the company that's paying the bill owns her. Easy access. If a little dark inside."

She shrugged. Being invasive was kinda her thing. Personal space didn't really register with Mara. So when she just casually mentioned striding aboard a corporate owned luxury yacht with a high class security system? Yeah. It was just business as usual. Alas. Poor Shang had other problems on his mind. He just kept staring at Rhrawlu out of the corner of his eye. Still unsure just what kinda creature she was supposed to be. Hmm? Walking carpet, maybe? Jedi Super Berserker? Gah. He still had no idea what to think about that one.

"You two are free to join us. Should be pretty quick. However. I have no idea what kind of footage they keep aboard. Could be just blurry motion clips and such."

She shrugged again. It wasn't a great start. But then again? She wasn't exactly in a hurry this morning. And she still had coffee to keep herself awake. So, that was a win. Probably.

Kei Amadis

 

[Kei Amadis]

Shang. Partner. Generic human.
"Rhhroaaaaarrrwlw Brunnnnwnw," Rhrawlu introduced herself after Shang, still agitated.

Never a mission that Kei didn't come back covered in grime or dust. Knelt down on the public pier, lifting pieces that hadn't seen the light of day in force-knows how long. Satisfied, he fixed the pier back together and rubbed his hands on his cloak to get the muck off. Making sure to get an impression of the black paint on his sleeve as he did so.

Mara was direct and so was Kei. He'd go through hell for the right people. Years of Jedi training had toned back his nature, but not all that much. Plenty of, "private security see anything?" Amadis asked Shang watching him calmly, or was it a see no evil arrangement? Shang wasn't a Jedi, so he guessed that was his specialty.

You two are free to join us.

"Thanks." Amadis nodded firmly and began striding straight to the boat Mara pointed toward. The older Epicanthix moved with a limp that often acted up. "Hope you Alliance types can keep up," the older Jedi grinned, ignoring his own limp. His attention was fixed on that boat like a rock. Offering a sense that Kei would search 500 boats when someone needed his help.

Stopping before their entry, there was a feeling he couldn't place. Looking at the paint on his cloak.

"Frwowwwlll Vewb Vewb," Rhrawlu said to Shang from the rear. Kei was too busy typing something into his wrist device to notice. He wasn't a slicer, and he didn't have any alliance credentials, so he left it to them to make an entry, moving behind to make cover. Left up to him he'd probably cut through the side of the cabin, unsure if the pier security would be happy with that outcome! The Jedi Master instead shifted himself and his large wookiee counterpart to give them a wall of shaggy fur and badly shaven stubble to work any magic behind.

Mara Odim

 

[Mara Odim]

Mara moved to keep up. Walk and talk. Shang meanwhile, kept a good distance so as to better observe Kei and Rhrawlu's mannerisms. Dispassionately professional, mind you. It wasn't personal.

"Nothing helpful. Private security personnel was added to the pier after the disappearance as an act of caution. Mommy corp didn't believe having man power on-site was necessary beforehand. As, well... You'll see."

She tossed a pebble at the side of the moderate vessel.

Bzzz

Ray shielding. Invisible to the eye except perhaps a slight shimmering at the waterline. A solid almost-physical barrier. Her pebble plinked off the side and fell into the water almost immediately.

"Ray shield." Shang nodded matter of factly. Just in case anybody needed a verbal reminder. "...Fancy. Hmph."

Mara nodded. Then turned to Rhrawlu,

"Wookiees have better eyes than most. Spot the emitter yet?"

Easy task. Even for the uninitiated. The answer was clearly those hanging digital boxes along the upper cabin's roofline. They just screamed security emitters.

The Wookiee almost smiled at the ease of the task. "Rwwuu." Then pointed.

Shang seemed impressed. But it was Mara who spoke first,

"Bingo."

She extended her palm and focused on the emitters. High above them. ...Then. She suddenly relented. Then turned to Kei.

"Erm. I'm just going to break them just a teeny tiny bit?"

She pursed her lips. As if asking for permission.

"Unless the Silver Jedi among us has a better method of disabling a shield unit? Hm?"

I mean. She wasn't being provocative. At least, not on purpose. Mara Odim was honestly curious if Kei had any tricks up his sleeve for this one. Every Jedi was different after all. Some could even go "Ghost Form" and just wisp right through shields. Or... Ya know. Silly stuff like that. Mara alas. Possessed no such 'Ghostly' skills.

"Two cents before you start. ...Look. No turrets. Two cams though." Shang pointed to the boat. "Might want to hit those before we start picking up the companies bill. Feel me?"

Ah. He meant: Kill the cameras before you start with any 'necessary' property damage. Right. Cop stuff. The usual.

"Ah. Right." Mara nodded. Then turned back to the newcomers. Fair enough.

If Kei didn't have brave ideas, she'd telekinesis "turn" the cams, then the emitter. Should be as easy as jumping aboard after that. Start poking around.

Kei Amadis

 

[Kei Amadis]

Today was going to take more than a singular but notable blockade of stubble and Wookiee fur hiding it to get in.

Erm. I'm just going to break them just a teeny tiny bit?

Asking Kei Amadis if she should break something to help someone else, was met with a bold grin. "Maybe it was already broken?" He gave Mara a knowing look. Amadis didn't have any ion charges or tools with him today. In usual missions, he'd have something for disabling droids or electronics. In senate negotiations or while out with his family, he was only in armor as that had been drilled into him on so many painful occasions.

Two cams though, Amadis nodded firmly. Two cams that were now pointing upward at an odd angle filming the sky. Putting his hands behind his back nonchalantly. He'd had exactly the same thought Mara had the second they were mentioned.

Kei's wookiee companion roared something, and his grin braced. "Are you sure….." Splash. One underwater Wookiee, off in the water looking for a way under the shields. She was probably not going to have any luck getting in. Amadis scratched his stubble. Having a look underneath the ship could help either way.

"Could be a silent alarm." Hell, he wasn't an engineer and preferred route one anyway. "Your call." Her superiors were here, he was just a troublemaker from out of town. You know in his advancing years he liked that idea more than he should. "Can always blame me," he offered, standing at her side. He could call in a tech for clear-up duty at the end.

Deepening his calm on the moment, breathing out, he tried to anticipate any eventuality they could not see. Which was always the problem on days like this. Half-underwater wookiee-speak told them their furry companion had no luck getting in on her own.

Mara Odim